In a rare display of broad bipartisan agreement, the Senate on Monday overwhelmingly approved a major housing package aimed at addressing affordability concerns and increasing housing supply, sending the legislation to the House for final consideration.
The bill, known as the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, passed the Senate by an 85-5 margin and is expected to clear the House later this week before heading to President Trump’s desk. The president is expected to sign the measure into law.
The legislation arrives at a time when lawmakers from both parties are searching for ways to address rising costs that continue to dominate political discussions heading into the midterm elections. Housing affordability has emerged as a major concern for families across the country, with many Americans struggling to purchase homes or establish financial stability.
The package has been championed by an unlikely bipartisan coalition led by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), alongside House Financial Services Committee Chairman Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.) and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).
Speaking on the Senate floor, Scott argued that soaring housing costs are delaying major life decisions for younger Americans.
“They’re delaying marriage, they’re delaying having kids, they’re delaying putting down roots,” Scott said. “Not because they lack ambition but because housing prices are too darn high and housing supply too low.”
Both Scott and Warren pointed to the legislation as evidence that Congress can still work across party lines on major issues affecting everyday Americans.
“Today’s vote proves that it is possible to find bipartisan, common ground on legislation that actually helps the American people,” Warren said before the vote. She also argued that bipartisan legislation does not have to be ineffective simply because it is the product of compromise.
The housing package combines more than 45 separate provisions from lawmakers in both chambers. Among its major elements are measures designed to encourage new housing construction, promote the renovation of aging homes, and provide incentives for local communities to increase housing supply.
One of the most heavily debated sections addresses corporate ownership of single-family homes.
Senate Republicans initially pushed for a complete ban on companies purchasing single-family homes, a position aligned with an executive order issued by President Trump in January. House Republicans sought a less restrictive approach.
The final compromise prohibits companies that already own more than 350 single-family homes from purchasing additional properties.
The legislation also resolves a dispute over a federal disaster recovery grant program. Senate leaders wanted the program extended indefinitely, while House negotiators preferred allowing it to expire. The final agreement authorizes the program for three more years.
Politically, the bill’s passage is notable because measures receiving such overwhelming support from both parties have become increasingly rare. Lawmakers from both sides see affordability as a major issue for voters, and many hope the legislation demonstrates a willingness to address kitchen-table concerns rather than focus solely on partisan battles.
Still, not everyone was convinced.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), one of the five senators who opposed the bill, argued that housing remains primarily a local issue. He said Congress should focus more heavily on balancing the federal budget and lowering interest rates, which he believes are the underlying drivers of rising housing costs.
Sen. Alan Armstrong (R-Okla.) ultimately voted for the measure but voiced concerns that it relies on waiving requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act for certain housing projects rather than addressing broader permitting issues.
“Rather than actually tackling it, and really fixing the problem, it just waives NEPA for housing,” Armstrong said.
Supporters, however, emphasized that the legislation represents only a first step. Warren called the bill the most significant housing legislation Congress has passed in three decades, while Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) described the nation’s housing affordability challenges as a generational crisis.
Both lawmakers argued that additional action will be necessary in the future. For now, the bill’s overwhelming passage underscores the growing pressure on Washington to address affordability concerns that continue to weigh heavily on American families.
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