“These bills would cut outdated red tape that drives up housing costs and unlock more private investment to expand supply—all without spending a single taxpayer dollar.”
WASHINGTON – Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) today voted to pass the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. This package is the largest housing bill to move through Congress in at least a decade and includes two Husted-backed bills: the Housing Supply Expansion Act and the Community Investment and Prosperity Act.
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed the Senate on March 12, 2026, in a bipartisan vote of 89-10.
“Homeownership is a cornerstone of the American Dream, but today, skyrocketing housing prices have made this harder to achieve. These bills would cut outdated red tape that drives up housing costs and unlock more private investment to expand supply—all without spending a single taxpayer dollar. I’m proud the Senate passed them as part of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, and I’ll keep fighting to get this package across the finish line so more Americans can afford to buy a home,” said Husted.
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act addresses housing affordability by reducing regulations that make it more expensive to build and by empowering private investment in housing projects. Outdated housing regulations account for roughly 25% of costs for single-family homes and 40% of cost for multi-family homes.
Specifically, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes:
- The Husted-backed Community Investment and Prosperity Act, which raises the cap on how much banks can invest in community development projects, unlocking more capital for affordable housing, small businesses, financial education and other critical economic needs in communities that need it most.
- Under current law, national banks and state member banks can invest up to 15% of their capital and surplus in projects that benefit the public good, such as affordable housing, small business lending and community
revitalization. This bill would increase the cap to 20%. - The Husted-backed Housing Supply Expansion Act, which would update the federal definition of “manufactured housing” to include modular and prefabricated homes that aren’t built on a permanent steel frame.
- A provision to add a disclosure to government-backed home loan applications to ensure that veterans are aware of their home loan benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Currently, the VA offers several programs to help veterans buy or build homes.
- Language to increase U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the VA interagency coordination for housing projects, including:
- Directing HUD, USDA and the VA to identify areas for collaboration to streamline and improve housing program implementation; and
- Directing HUD and USDA to coordinate on joint environmental reviews for housing projects funded by both agencies, removing duplicative review requirements.
- A provision that allows the HUD Secretary to give added weight to applicants for competitive HUD grants that are located in or directly benefit designated Opportunity Zones to support housing construction and preservation.
Husted’s support of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act builds off his previous work to increase affordable housing by supporting Opportunity Zones in the Working Family Tax Cuts Act.
Earlier this year, Husted hosted HUD Secretary Scott Turner in Columbus, Ohio. During this visit, they spent time with stakeholders in innovative housing developments and hosted a roundtable discussion with opportunity zone leaders.