House Passes Bipartisan Housing Bill as Trump Focuses on Affordability Crisis

In a rare display of bipartisan cooperation, the House of Representatives has passed significant housing affordability legislation with overwhelming support from both parties. The bill, which cleared the chamber with a decisive 390-9 vote, aims to address one of the most pressing economic challenges facing American families today: the growing difficulty of purchasing a home.

The comprehensive legislation contains multiple provisions designed to increase housing supply across the country, with a particular focus on “missing middle” housing—the range between single-family homes and large apartment buildings. These measures include incentives for constructing multifamily homes, allowing taller buildings on smaller lots, and streamlining often restrictive local permitting processes.

A key component of the bill establishes a pilot program under the Department of Housing and Urban Development to create “pattern books” of pre-approved housing designs that already comply with local building codes, effectively cutting through bureaucratic red tape that often delays construction.

House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-Ark.) and Representative Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), the committee’s ranking Democrat, led the push for the legislation, demonstrating rare cross-partisan collaboration on Capitol Hill. Their joint effort highlights the widespread recognition that housing affordability transcends typical political divides.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re in a blue city or a red city, whether you’re a Habitat for Humanity in Omaha or a housing developer in Birmingham, Alabama, these issues aren’t partisan,” explained Main Street Caucus Chairman Brian Flood (R-Neb.), who described the bill as “landmark legislation.”

The legislation primarily targets assistance to first-time homebuyers, lower-income Americans, and housing developers focused on small and mid-sized housing rather than luxury construction. This approach aligns with public sentiment—recent polling from Affordable Housing Finance found that more than 60% of Americans support increasing “missing middle” housing options.

Representative Hill emphasized that the bill respects market dynamics. “If there’s not a demand for housing, this doesn’t get in the way of that,” he told reporters. “If there is a surplus of housing and pricing is affordable, then there wouldn’t be that market signal that says we need new housing.”

The House action comes as President Donald Trump has made housing affordability a priority in his second term. Last month, he signed an executive order limiting large investment firms from purchasing single-family homes that could otherwise be bought by American families. His One Big Beautiful Bill Act also included tax incentives for development in economically disadvantaged communities.

Housing affordability has emerged as a critical issue for voters heading into the November midterm elections. The cost of housing continues to strain household budgets across the country, with many Americans finding themselves priced out of homeownership in their communities.

Other key supporters of the legislation include Representatives Emmanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) and Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.), the latter having championed elements that were incorporated into the final bill. Stutzman, who introduced legislation last September to streamline environmental reviews for rural housing projects, urged quick Senate action.

“If House Republicans and Democrats can agree on this package to increase housing supply and lower prices across the nation, the Senate should be able to swiftly send it to the president’s desk,” Stutzman said. “Our constituents need the relief this bill offers.”

The legislation now moves to the Senate, where it will require bipartisan support to reach President Trump’s desk for signature. Given the strong cross-party backing in the House and the pressing nature of the housing crisis, supporters are optimistic about its prospects.