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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Re: House Passage of the Housing for the 21st Century Act
Date: February 9, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC – Tonight, H.R. 6644, the Housing for the 21st Century Act, passed the House of Representatives with an overwhelming vote of 390-9. This reflects a serious, bipartisan commitment to addressing the nation’s housing affordability crisis. At a time when the United States faces a shortage of 3.8 million homes, this legislation represents meaningful progress toward increasing housing supply and affordability.
By reducing unnecessary barriers, updating federal housing programs, expanding financing options, and strengthening protections for households, the Housing for the 21st Century Act aligns federal policy with on-the-ground realities. Reforms that unlock private capital, alongside targeted updates to HOME and CDBG, better equip states and localities to expand housing supply and stabilize costs.
As the House moves forward, continued collaboration with the Senate will be essential to ensure a final bicameral package that builds on this progress and delivers housing production at the scale families need. A strong agreement would lay the groundwork for what could become one of the most consequential federal housing actions in a generation, expanding housing supply, opportunity, and economic mobility nationwide. Throughout our diverse coalition, stakeholders are excited to be one step closer to getting major reforms signed into law.
“The bipartisan Housing for the 21st Century Act represents a meaningful down payment toward solving America’s severe housing shortage,” said Mike Kingsella, Chief Executive Officer of Up for Growth Action. “By eliminating barriers to building and preserving the housing we need, this legislation takes concrete steps to expand supply and lower costs for millions of Americans. We applaud House leadership for bringing this bill to the floor and confronting the housing affordability crisis with such broad and bipartisan support. We’re hopeful this momentum leads to productive negotiations with the Senate to deliver a comprehensive package to the President’s desk.”
“AARP applauds the bipartisan passage of the Housing for the 21st Century Act, which marks critical progress toward expanding the supply of safe, accessible, and affordable homes—something older Americans care deeply about,” said Jenn Jones, Vice President of Government Affairs at AARP. “Today, more than one in three older households spend over 30 percent of their income on housing—an all‑time high—leaving many struggling to afford other necessities like food and medication. This bill offers real, workable solutions to address the affordable housing shortage We look forward to working with the Senate to advance this important legislation.”
“ABA applauds the House for passing the Housing for the 21st Century Act, which includes measures that enhance housing opportunities across the country as well as several key provisions to help level the regulatory playing field for community banks,” said Rob Nichols, President and CEO of the American Bankers Association. “We commend Chairman French Hill, Ranking Member Waters and members of the House Financial Services Committee for their leadership in assembling and advancing this bipartisan legislative package.”
“The House’s bipartisan passage of the Housing for the 21st Century Act is an important step toward addressing the nation’s housing affordability challenges,” said Bryan Greene, Vice President of Policy Advocacy at the National Association of REALTORS®. “This legislation advances policies to expand housing supply, modernize key federal programs, and strengthen pathways to homeownership. We encourage continued bipartisan collaboration as Congress works to move this effort forward and deliver results for American families.”
“The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) applauds the House for passing the Housing for the 21st Century Act, which includes much-needed, common sense reforms that will help build housing more efficiently, reduce construction costs, and cut red tape to make it easier to build affordable homes,” said Renee M. Willis, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “I thank House Financial Services Committee Chair Hill, Ranking Member Waters, and their colleagues for working together on this important piece of legislation.”
“The U.S. Chamber applauds the passage of the Housing for the 21st Century Act. This bill advances practical, supply‑side housing solutions that strengthen the foundation for business growth,” said Makinizi Hoover, Senior Director of Housing Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “By streamlining development, reducing regulatory barriers, and improving predictability in housing production, the legislation supports a more stable and affordable housing market – helping employers attract and retain the workforce they need to compete.”
“Housing affordability ranks among top voter concerns,” said Laura Arce, Senior Vice President at UnidosUS. “The Housing for the 21st Century Act reflects bipartisan support for solutions to help working families access stable housing and homeownership opportunities. The bill cuts red tape, expands financing, and enhances important programs. UnidosUS supports bipartisan action to advance comprehensive housing legislation.”
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About Up for Growth Action: Up for Growth Action® is a 501(c)(4) federal legislative advocacy organization committed to fostering accessible growth through the removal of systemic barriers to housing development. Affiliated with Up for Growth®, a 501(c)(3) organization, it engages in research and advocacy to achieve housing equity and meet the nationwide need for more homes.