Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (Florida) speaks during the third day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA on July 17, 2024.
Mike Seeger | Reuters
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday voted 358-32 in favor of an affordable housing bill aimed at lowering costs for homebuyers and reining in institutional investors, sending the bill to President Donald Trump’s desk.
The bill, called the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, is a rare bipartisan measure in a deeply divided Congress. After months of debate and different versions bouncing between the House and Senate, it passed the Senate on an 85-5 vote Monday night. Lawmakers reached final agreement on the bill last week.
Trump is expected to sign the bill at the Capitol on Wednesday ahead of a scheduled meeting with Senate Republicans, House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office said.
“With final passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, Congress is clearing the way for American families who have been shut out for far too long to return to homeownership,” Johnson said in a statement after the vote. “This transformative bill will help address housing affordability, reduce regulations so builders can build, limit institutional investment in the housing market, and put the American Dream back within reach of millions of young people and working families,” said Speaker Johnson.
With affordability a top priority for voters heading into the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats and Republicans alike are campaigning hard to pass legislation that would cut red tape to allow more housing to be built and limit the number of single-family homes that institutional investors can buy to 350 units. Republicans are trying to maintain slim majorities in both houses of Congress.
But on Tuesday, the bill faced headwinds in the House, where some conservative hardliners said they opposed the housing policy because it did not include a controversial election bill known as the “Save America Act,” which would require proof of citizenship for identification and voter registration at polling places. President Trump is asking Congress to approve a voter ID bill, even though he doesn’t have enough votes to pass it.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Florida, threatened in multiple posts on X on Tuesday to disrupt the House floor if Republican leaders move forward with plans to expedite the House bill using a process called “holding.” Suspension is a procedure that allows for expedited consideration of a bill and requires two-thirds support on the floor.
The SAVE America Act passed the House in February but lacks the votes to pass the Senate.
“House Republicans are trying to pass a no-voter ID, no-American Rescue Act Senate bill. If we don’t stop the game, we’ll have to fight the rules this week (and maybe longer). I’m not alone. Other House members are frustrated with the game being played. This is a problem,” Luna posted.
Luna was one of only 32 Republicans on the floor to oppose the housing policy.
— CNBC’s Emily Wilkins contributed to this report.
