Senate panel advances bipartisan housing bill
The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on Tuesday advanced a bipartisan bill aimed at boosting housing supply, improving housing affordability and increasing the efficiency of federal regulators and housing programs.
The committee unanimously voted to advance the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025 — led by Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and ranking member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) — in the committee’s first bipartisan housing markup in more than a decade.
Scott touted the bipartisan effort and noted that it comes as senators' constituents, from all areas of the country, continue to point to housing access and affordability as a top economic concern of theirs.
“For far too long, Congress believed this problem was too big to solve. Today, we’re taking not a step – but we’re taking a leap in the right direction in a bipartisan fashion,” Scott said in remarks at the markup.
“Many people around the country are frustrated with the way we do American politics wonder, is there any issue that brings this nation together and I’m here to say, halleluiah! We have found one – it is housing. And halleluiah is a southern term, but it’s a term of endearment.
The massive legislation contains proposals from every member of the committee. The bill includes incentives for states and cities to boost housing supply, and it rewards communities that do so while lowering building costs. The bill cuts much of the red tape around zoning and building standards and streamlines inspections across federal programs to improve efficiency. It also contains provisions to eliminate duplicate regulatory requirements.
The bill would instruct the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop a loan and grant program for certain homeowners and landlords to help address home repairs and health hazards, among other provisions.
“For years, the American people have called on their elected officials to act to reduce housing costs. The Scott-Warren legislation represents what is possible when both parties put families ahead of politics. It’s a significant step in the right direction,” Warren said in her remarks.
“I’m happy today, but this is only a first step. Congress must do more. I look forward to continuing to work on these issues,” she continued, urging her colleagues to pass the legislation swiftly.