House gives final approval to landmark housing bill aimed at lowering costs

By — Michael Casey, Associated Press Michael Casey, Associated Press By — Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/house-gives-final-approval-to-landmark-housing-bill-aimed-at-lowering-costs Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter House gives final approval to landmark housing bill aimed at lowering costs Politics Jun 24, 2026 8:00 AM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — The House gave final approval Tuesday to a broad bipartisan bill aimed at lowering the cost of housing, with lawmakers in both parties eager to show progress on affordability issues ahead of this year's midterm elections. The 358-32 vote sends the bill to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law Wednesday at the Capitol. The Senate passed the legislation 85-5 on Monday. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. The legislation would reduce federal regulations, streamline environmental reviews, speed up the construction process and curb the influence of corporate landlords by limiting their ability to purchase single-family homes. It represents one of the most sweeping efforts in decades to increase the supply of housing and bring down prices, as voter frustration runs high about the cost of living. Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of California, who helped negotiate the bill, said the median age of a first-time homebuyer is now 40 and rents have soared some 47% since the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our country must do better and today we will," she said. Dozens of bills were combined to create the final package after months of negotiations, creating a rare moment of bipartisanship in a congressional session that has been plagued by bitter standoffs. House Financial Services Chairman French Hill, an Arkansas Republican who worked with Waters and the Senate on the bill, said it is the first time in years that Congress has come together to make "measurable, accountable changes" to the nation's housing laws. The bill will "help build more homes to meet that growing demand and keep the American dream within reach," he said. The bill expands financing and protects renters The legislation on its way to Trump would expand financing, encourage the development of "innovative housing" like modular homes, require new renter protections and enhance programs that aim to end homelessness. It would also offer funding to local governments that build more housing, including Community Development Block Grant money to places exceeding the median rate of homebuilding. It would provide new dollars for communities to turn abandoned infrastructure into housing, and it offers a framework for communities that want to reform outdated zoning regulations, which often limit larger housing developments. ln addition, the bill would raise limits on the number of public housing units that can recei