FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Scott Waters | scott.waters@mail.house.gov | (845) 721-9247
Caroline Hunt | caroline.hunt3@mail.house.gov | (225) 244-1086
Washington, D.C. – 7/11/26… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) celebrated the enactment of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, landmark bipartisan legislation that will help address the nation’s severe housing shortage and lower costs for American families.
The United States faces a shortage of as many as 8 million housing units. Regulatory delays and outdated zoning have worsened the crisis, while small and midsize banks that finance new construction have struggled under heavy regulatory burdens.
WATCH: REP LAWLER DEBATES IN FAVOR OF 21ST CENTURY ROAD TO HOUSING ACT ON HOUSE FLOOR
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes real solutions that empower homeowners and renters and strengthen communities and will lead to more affordable choices for all Americans.
“When Republicans set the agenda and focus on results, we can deliver meaningful reforms that lower costs and expand opportunity. By modernizing outdated programs, supporting community banks, and keeping large institutional investors from crowding out families, we’re making the American Dream more attainable,” said Congressman Lawler.
“I’m proud of the work House Republicans did on the Financial Services Committee to get this done, and I want to thank Chairman French Hill and Ranking Member Maxine Waters as well as Subcommittee Chair Mike Flood for their leadership in advancing this critical legislation,” concluded Congressman Lawler.
Putting Families First in the Housing Market
This bill curbs large-scale institutional investor purchases to ensure that American families aren’t forced to compete with Wall Street for a home.
Removing Unnecessary Regulatory Barriers
This bill speeds up homebuilding, including allowing ready-to-use, pre-approved home designs for faster permitting, modernizing federal and local processes, and strengthening community capacity to build more affordable homes in both rural and urban areas.
Modernizing HUD Programs
This bill accelerates development, including updating rules for manufactured homes with HUD as the lead authority, reforming the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (the largest federal block grant for affordable housing), and exempting small-scale projects from burdensome environmental reviews while giving local governments more flexibility.
Enhancing Community Banking Operations
This bill cuts red tape by streamlining exams, expanding access to stable deposits for local lending, and supporting rural banks so they can better serve small businesses, farmers, and families.
Additionally, the package includes the following legislation authored by Congressman Lawler:
- Community Investment and Prosperity Act, which expands banks’ ability to make community investments that promote public welfare and support local economic development.
- HUD Accountability Act of 2025, which requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to testify before Congress annually, strengthening transparency and accountability as the nation continues to face a housing affordability crisis.
- Housing for America’s Middle Class Act, which directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study income parameters for workforce housing and provide recommendations on how federal housing policy can better serve middle-income families.
- Improving Public Housing Agency Accountability Act, which requires annual reporting on troubled public housing agencies, including compliance with federal law, the physical and financial condition of properties, and recommendations to improve oversight and better serve residents.
- Improving Housing Access Act, which directs the Comptroller General to study barriers to housing for seniors and individuals with disabilities and identify opportunities to improve access.
- Superfund Area Facts and Exposure (SAFE) Act, which directs the Comptroller General to study the number of residential units, including public housing units, located within one mile of a Superfund site to understand potential impacts on nearby communities better.
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed the Senate 85-5 and the House 358-32 with strong bipartisan support.
Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.