House Passes Bipartisan Housing Bill to Address Affordability Crisis

The legislation aims to make it easier for Americans to purchase homes, a key issue for President Trump's second term.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan bill to address the housing affordability crisis in the United States. The legislation includes measures to incentivize the construction of more affordable housing, such as multifamily homes and 'missing middle' housing between single-family homes and larger apartment buildings. The bill received significant support from both Republicans and Democrats and is seen as a rare show of bipartisanship in Congress. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it must pass with bipartisan support before going to President Trump's desk for signature.

Why it matters

Housing affordability has become a major issue across the country, with many Americans struggling to purchase homes. This bipartisan legislation aims to increase the supply of affordable housing options, which could help more people achieve the dream of homeownership. The bill's passage also demonstrates the potential for cooperation between Republicans and Democrats on important issues.

The details

The bill includes measures to streamline the housing development process, such as establishing a new pilot program to award grants for creating pre-approved housing designs that comply with local building codes. It also aims to expand 'missing middle' housing, the range between single-family homes and larger apartment buildings. The legislation is primarily aimed at assisting first-time home buyers and lower-income Americans, as well as housing developers focused on small and mid-sized projects rather than larger luxury construction.

  • The House of Representatives passed the bill on February 10, 2026.
  • President Trump signed an executive order last month to make it harder for large investment firms to buy single-family homes that could otherwise be purchased by American families.

The players

House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill

A longtime Republican congressman who was one of the main leaders of the bill in the House.

Rep. Maxine Waters

The top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee and a progressive stalwart who was a co-leader of the bill.

Main Street Caucus Chairman Brian Flood

A Republican congressman from Nebraska who hailed the bill as "landmark legislation".

Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver

A Democratic congressman who was a supporter of the legislation.

Rep. Marlin Stutzman

A Republican congressman from Indiana who championed a bill whose core tenets were folded into the final legislation.

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What they’re saying

“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. Our constituents need the relief this bill offers.”

— Rep. Marlin Stutzman (Fox News Digital)

“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, you know, a housing developer in Birmingham, Alabama, these issues aren't partisan. In order to solve the housing crisis, we have to be able to remove a lot of the barriers.”

— Main Street Caucus Chairman Brian Flood (Reporters)

“If there's not a demand for housing, this doesn't get in the way of that. I mean, this requires a bank to be willing to lend a community development program to say that we should spend these dollars to build housing. And 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.”

— House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (Reporters)

What’s next

The bill now heads to the Senate, where it must pass with bipartisan support before going to President Trump's desk for signature.

The takeaway

This bipartisan housing bill demonstrates that lawmakers from both parties can come together to address the critical issue of housing affordability, which has become a major concern for many Americans. If passed into law, the legislation could help increase the supply of affordable homes and make homeownership more accessible for first-time buyers and lower-income families.