Chairman Scott Statement on the ROAD to Housing Act and NDAA Negotiations

Chairman Scott Statement on the ROAD to Housing Act and NDAA Negotiations

Washington, D.C. - Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, issued the following statement on ongoing negotiations to include key provisions of his ROAD to Housing Act in the House-version of the National Defense Authorization Act:

"Families across the country are being crushed by soaring housing costs, and Washington cannot continue to sit on the sidelines. The White House has made it clear that affordability is a central priority, and the ROAD to Housing Act is one of the most effective first steps to increase housing access, expand supply, and lower costs. ROAD provides the largest housing reform package in more than a decade - cutting red tape, unlocking supply, and helping families achieve the stability and opportunity that come with homeownership. As congressional leaders finalize the NDAA, now is the time to deliver real affordability reinforcements for the American people. This is a bipartisan, common-sense package that deserves to cross the finish line," said Chairman Scott.

BACKGROUND:

Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act

The first bipartisan comprehensive housing package advanced in over a decade, the ROAD to Housing Act addresses challenges across the housing ecosystem. It passed 24-0 out of the Senate Banking Committee in late July.

Introduced by Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Warren, the bill is built on years of bipartisan committee work, stakeholder engagement, and multiple hearings.

Key pillars include:

• Expanding and Preserving Housing Supply
• Improving Housing Affordability and Access
• Advancing Accountability and Fiscal Responsibility
• Improving Oversight and Program Integrity

The bill includes 36 member-driven provisions designed to increase housing supply, lower costs, and expand access to homeownership. The overwhelming majority of these bills have a House companion, or are from the original ROAD to Housing Act, which now-House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill introduced last Congress alongside then-Senate Banking Committee Ranking Member Tim Scott. These bills - which touch every title of the ROAD to Housing Act - represent the substantial partnership that Senators had with their House counterparts as these legislative items were drafted. This House and Senate partnership underscores a shared bicameral, bipartisan priority to make housing more affordable for Americans at all income levels.

Throughout the legislative process for the ROAD to Housing Act, key stakeholders from across the housing industry have voiced strong support for the legislation.

STAKEHOLDER SUPPORT:

"NAR applauds the Senate for passing this bipartisan legislation that addresses housing supply, affordability and homeownership pathways. At a time when homeownership increasingly feels out of reach, this legislation offers meaningful, pragmatic solutions to restore opportunity for millions of American families. We commend Chair Senator Tim Scott and Ranking Member Senator Elizabeth Warren for their bipartisan leadership on this critical issue. We look forward to working with Congress and the administration to enact this vital legislation and help preserve the American dream of homeownership for future generations," said National Association of REALTORS® Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer Shannon McGahn.

"NAHB applauds the Senate for passing a bipartisan housing package to fix the housing crisis by addressing our nation's critical lack of housing supply," said NAHB Chairman Buddy Hughes. "Building more homes is the only way to ease America's housing affordability crisis, and the ROAD to Housing Act includes favorable provisions aimed at zoning and land-use policies, rural housing and multifamily housing that will stimulate construction of sorely needed housing."

"The Senate's passage of the ROAD to Housing Act is a win for housing affordability and consumers. "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. "MBA applauds Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott (R-SC) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) for championing practical, bipartisan solutions on housing issues," said MBA President and CEO Bob Broeksmit.

"America's mayors commend the United States Senate for making housing reform a priority and passing this important bipartisan legislation. Solving our housing crisis requires a range of solutions, and this bill provides needed regulatory reforms, the reauthorization of critical programs, and new investments in housing revitalization. We appreciate this bipartisan action and are eager to now work with members of the House to ensure a final bill can soon become law," said USCM President David Holt.

"The housing crisis in America touches everyone, and that's why America's mayors have long made reform a top priority. I am thrilled that our progress has gotten to this point, and I am grateful to the bipartisan group of Senators who share our concern about the rising cost of housing in America. This is an enormous problem, but the ROAD to Housing Act provides a real opportunity to make affordable housing possible for more people. This is a historic and long-overdue step forward. We urge the House to now follow the Senate's lead and make this bill a priority," said Mayor Andrew Ginther, USCM past president and Chair of the Conference's Housing Task Force.

"With a shortage of 4 million housing units across the country, nearly every community is seeking better solutions to meet the local demand for attainable housing. NLC applauds Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren for their leadership in advancing this broadly supported housing package, and the U.S. Senate for accepting the ROAD to Housing Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. The act received strong bipartisan support as a historic step forward in making housing more available and more attainable in our cities, towns and villages. NLC is proud to support this bipartisan landmark legislation that gives communities, builders and lenders more tools and supports necessary to build more homes, decrease costs and open the door to housing opportunity nationwide. We thank the Senate for its action and urge the House to follow suit to move this historic legislation over the finish line," said National League of Cities (NLC) President, Mayor Steve Patterson.

"For many young Americans, the dream of homeownership is slipping out of reach under the weight of unnecessary and burdensome regulations. Senator Tim Scott recognizes the seriousness of this challenge, and Family Policy Alliance is grateful for his work to champion the ROAD to Housing Act," said Craig DeRoche, President and CEO, Family Policy Alliance.

"Through updates to support additional housing construction and preservation, as well as private investment in housing and other community development needs, the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act and CDFI legislation that passed the Senate today will play an essential role in boosting our nation's housing supply and supporting our nation's rural, Tribal, and lower- and moderate-income communities. NAAHL applauds Senate Majority Leader Thune and Minority Leader Schumer, Armed Services Committee Chair Wicker and Ranking Member Reed, Senate Banking Committee Chair Scott and Ranking Member Warren, and Senators Daines and Warner for their work to advance this landmark legislation," said Sarah Brundage, CEO and President of the National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders (NAAHL).

"The housing affordability crisis has impacted every community in America, regardless of politics or geography. We are grateful to Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) for their leadership in ensuring the inclusion of the ROAD to Housing Act in the Senate-passed NDAA," said David M. Dworkin, President and CEO of the National Housing Conference (NHC). As the House and Senate next work to reconcile both of their versions of the NDAA, NHC strongly urges all conferees to ensure the ROAD to Housing Act and CDFI provisions remain in the final legislation. We look forward to working with members of both the Senate and House of Representatives to enact this bipartisan legislation."

"We applaud Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott (R-SC), Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and their Senate colleagues for passing the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025, underscoring the bipartisan resolve to address the nation's pressing housing challenges. Many meaningful and bipartisan proposals aimed at improving housing a?ordability are also under consideration in the House of Representatives. These legislative initiatives take pragmatic approaches to boost housing supply for both rental and homeownership, modernize financing options, reduce regulatory barriers, and promote economic mobility. Together, they present a powerful strategy to confront today's housing challenges," said Corporate Representatives of the Bipartisan Policy Center's (BPC) Executive Council for Housing A?ordability, in a letter.

"The Real Estate Roundtable is pleased to express our support for the … (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025. This bipartisan legislation represents a meaningful step toward addressing one of the most urgent challenges facing our nation - expanding housing supply - for both renters and homeowners - and improving affordability for working families," said Jeffrey D. DeBoer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Real Estate Roundtable, in a letter.

"The ROAD to Housing Act finally treats housing supply as critical infrastructure by pairing zoning reform with smart incentives near transit and modernizing outdated rules," said National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) President Sharon Wilson Géno. "By aligning federal investment with local pro-housing policies, Congress can help renters see real relief while spurring the private capital needed to build 4.3 million new apartments this decade."

"Renters and housing providers can no longer afford the gap between rhetoric and real solutions," said Bob Pinnegar, President & CEO of National Apartment Association (NAA). "The ROAD to Housing Act takes critical steps forward by simplifying voucher inspections and cutting the red tape that delays projects. This bill has the potential to drive faster production, reduce costs and expand opportunities across the country."

"The ROAD to Housing Act is the pro-housing and pro-tech legislation we have long needed to spur housing development and remove barriers to affordability across the nation," said Kevin Donnelly, Executive Director & Chief Advocacy Officer of Real Estate Technology and Transformation Center (RETTC). "Leveraging technology through the use of digital vouchers, enabling data-driven zoning best practices, reducing leasing friction, and helping housing providers streamline operations will enable a greater focus on building and preserving attainable homes for families when we need it most."

"The Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition appreciates the Senate Banking Committee's ambitious effort to expand our nation's affordable housing supply and modernize key housing programs," said Emily Cadik, Chief Executive Officer of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition. "We especially appreciate a number of proposals in the ROAD to Housing Act that will help support affordable housing investment using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which was recently expanded as part of One Big, Beautiful Bill and remains the primary driver of affordable housing supply in the U.S."

"At a time when our nation is reeling from the skyrocketing cost of housing, we applaud Chairman Tim Scott, Ranking Member Elisabeth Warren and members of the Senate Banking Committee for taking this critical step to address the affordable housing crisis," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "Meeting the multifaceted housing needs in rural, urban and suburban communities will take a collection of solutions, and so I am encouraged to see that this bipartisan bill includes provisions to unlock supply, preserve existing housing stock and streamline housing programs. Habitat for Humanity International stands ready to support these and other housing investments that will bring homeownership within reach of more American families."

"Members of the Coalition for Affordable Homeownership applaud Chairman Tim Scott and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren for their leadership in bringing the ROAD to Housing Act to a historic, bipartisan markup. The nation is facing a severe shortage of affordable homes, especially starter homes. The ambitious scope of this legislation confirms the importance of taking bold action to address our country's housing supply and affordability challenges and to create homeownership opportunities," said the Coalition for Affordable Homeownership.

"The Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) proudly supports the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025, a critical step forward in addressing our nation's growing housing crisis. As a national community development financial institution (CDFI) dedicated to creating opportunity and increasing housing stability, LIIF has long recognized that safe, stable and affordable housing is the foundation for thriving families and communities. The ROAD to Housing Act promotes much-needed investments in affordable housing infrastructure that will help expand the supply of homes for all. The proposed provisions reflect the solutions needed to tackle supply shortages and rising costs that have put secure housing out of reach for far too many. These provisions include increased resources for affordable housing construction; zoning reforms; strengthened community development tools; and expanded support for rental-assistance programs. LIIF strongly supports the bill's focus on leveraging public and private capital, plus fostering cross-sector collaboration to scale solutions that meet the urgency and complexity of the housing crisis," said the Low Income Investment Fund (LIIF) in a letter.

"We applaud Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Warren for their bipartisan leadership on the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025. This bill reflects a serious commitment to addressing housing disparities and empowering trusted community-based solutions," said Son Nguyen, Founder & President, Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP).

"We applaud Chairman Scott and Ranking Member Warren for bringing these thoughtful, balanced proposals forward for markup. These provisions will help improve consumer engagement, enhance appraisal quality, and support the next generation of appraisers," said Scott DiBiasio, Director of Government Affairs for the Appraisal Institute on the inclusion of the Appraisal Modernization Act (AMA) and the Appraisal Industry Improvement Act (AIIA).

"We welcome the opportunity to work with lawmakers and stakeholders to help advance the goals of this bipartisan housing bill," said Chris Morton, CEO of the American Land Title Association (ALTA). "By addressing supply issues and expanding access to homeownership opportunities, this legislation supports the foundational American dream of homeownership."

"Communities need clear paths to add homes faster and show measurable results," said Rosanne Haggerty, President and CEO of Community Solutions. "This bill advances practical tools that streamline reviews, unlock adaptive reuse opportunities, and reward jurisdictions that grow housing supply, all while focusing federal investments on the most important result: more people stably housed, faster."

"Senators Scott and Warren are responding to a clarion call from the American people: Make housing more affordable, more plentiful, and more secure for everyone in this country. Their latest proposal includes investments that will spur local economies, support millions of jobs, and drive down costs for renters and homeowners alike - but they are also working to make sure every dollar goes as far as possible, streamlining regulations and cutting through barriers to create more homes for more people faster and cheaper. This legislation is proof that a pro-housing, pro-economy, pro-opportunity agenda is bipartisan. Lawmakers across the board will do well to support this legislation and respond to what their voters have clearly said is their biggest priority: driving down costs," said Shaun Donovan, CEO of Enterprise.

"As the only national housing network dedicated to advancing housing with lasting affordability, Grounded Solutions Network thanks you for your leadership on the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act of 2025. The bill will help our partners address housing supply, finance gaps, and appraisal challenges, and, crucially, elevates shared equity housing. We also are pleased to see the proposed reauthorization of the HOME Investment Partnership program, which for decades has been a critical component of our partners' successful housing initiatives," said Doug Ryan, Vice President of Housing Policy, Grounded Solutions Network, in a letter.

"The Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program is a lifeline for communities in long-term recovery after disasters. However, the program currently must be authorized one disaster at a time, resulting in inefficiencies and slowdowns at the very moment when communities need support to rebuild," said Matt Rowland, Policy Director at American Flood Coalition Action. "American Flood Coalition Action applauds Senate Banking Chairman Tim Scott and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren for including text in this bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize the CDBG-DR program, which would create a consistent, reliable structure to deploy funds without delay after hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other hazards. Permanent authorization of CDBG-DR will help communities recover faster, stronger, and smarter."

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