House Passes Bipartisan Housing Bill as Trump Focuses on Affordability

Legislation aims to boost housing supply and make homes more accessible for first-time and low-income buyers.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan housing bill with a 390-9 vote, marking a rare show of bipartisanship in Congress. The legislation includes measures to incentivize the construction of more affordable housing, such as multifamily homes, smaller lots, and streamlined permitting processes. The bill is aimed at addressing the nationwide affordability crisis, which has become a key focus for President Donald Trump in his second term.

Why it matters

Housing affordability has emerged as a major issue impacting many Americans, with surveys showing strong public support for increasing the supply of "missing middle" housing between single-family homes and large apartment buildings. The bipartisan support for this bill reflects the widespread recognition of the need to tackle the affordability crisis through policy changes.

The details

The legislation includes establishing a new HUD pilot program to provide grants for pre-approved housing designs that comply with local building codes, as well as measures to expand "missing middle" housing options. The bill was co-led by Republican Congressman French Hill and Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters, demonstrating its broad political support. It also incorporates elements of a bill previously introduced by Republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman aimed at streamlining the environmental review process for rural housing projects.

  • The House passed the bill on February 11, 2026.
  • Last month, President Trump signed an executive order to make it harder for large investment firms to buy single-family homes.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States, who has made housing affordability a key focus of his second term in office.

French Hill

Republican Congressman and Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, who co-led the bipartisan housing bill.

Maxine Waters

Democratic Congresswoman and top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, who co-led the bipartisan housing bill.

Brian Flood

Republican Congressman and Chairman of the Main Street Caucus, who hailed the bill as "landmark legislation".

Marlin Stutzman

Republican Congressman who previously introduced a bill whose core tenets were incorporated into the final housing 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.”

— Marlin Stutzman, Congressman (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.”

— Brian Flood, Congressman and Main Street Caucus Chairman (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.”

— French Hill, Congressman and House Financial Services Committee Chairman (Reporters)

What’s next

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

The takeaway

The bipartisan passage of this housing bill in the House demonstrates the widespread recognition of the need to address the nationwide affordability crisis through policy changes that can increase the supply of more accessible and affordable homes for first-time and low-income buyers.