The Senate passed the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act as part of its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The housing bill aims to incentivize communities to rethink policies that may inhibit new home construction and small-dollar mortgages.
The Senate broke its gridlock on the NDAA when it voted 77-20 on Oct. 10 to move the measure forward with the housing bill included within the $924.7 billion defense spending bill for Fiscal Year 2026. The Senate Banking Committee voted 24-0 to advance the ROAD to Housing Act in July.
A coalition of 28 trade organizations representing the mortgage industry and affordable housing advocates voiced their support for the measure in September, urging lawmakers to bring the measure to the floor for full Senate consideration.
“Today, the Senate took a historic step towards addressing our nation’s worsening housing crisis and bringing down costs for the American people by passing the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act,” Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said in a statement following the vote. “This landmark legislation – the first of its kind in more than a decade – takes important steps to boost the nation’s housing supply, improve housing affordability, and increase oversight and efficiency of federal regulators and housing programs. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House to get the bill to the president’s desk.”
Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) President and CEO Bob Broeksmit issued a statement welcoming the bill’s passage.
“The Senate’s passage of the ROAD to Housing Act is a win for housing affordability and consumers,” he said. “Many of the provisions within the bipartisan measure are aimed to take meaningful steps to boost housing supply, cut red tape in federal program offerings, and expand access to affordable mortgage credit for families nationwide.”
Broeksmit praised the work of policymakers across the aisle on legislation championing what he referred to as “practical, bipartisan solutions on housing issues.” He specifically thanked Scott, Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.).
“As the bill moves to the House, MBA will stay fully engaged with congressional leaders in both chambers to strengthen key provisions – including those dealing with lender liability and second appraisals – to ensure the final package delivers meaningful results for consumers, lenders, and the communities they serve,” he added.
It is unclear when the bill will come up for a vote in the House as the chamber remains out of session and the federal government remains in a state of shutdown.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte have put pressure on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to motivate homebuilders to undertake more new home construction – something this legislation could help address.
Among the trade groups undersigned on the September letter supporting the legislation were the MBA, the American Bankers Association, the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Finance Council, the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders, the National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Realtors.