Housing Affordability Bill Passes the House: LIBRE Applauds Bipartisan, Landmark Effort

The LIBRE Initiative, the nation’s largest center-right Latino organization, applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing bipartisan legislation that takes meaningful steps to expand access to affordable housing and make the American Dream of homeownership more attainable especially for Hispanic families and working-class communities facing rising housing costs. 

Key Provisions in Housing for the 21st Century Act: 

• Modernizes Zoning and Local Development: Directs HUD to provide voluntary guidelines for local governments to modernize zoning frameworks and authorizes grants for “pattern books” of pre-reviewed home designs to expedite local construction. 

• Reduces Federal Regulatory Barriers: Streamlines the housing production process by reclassifying certain housing-related activities as exempt from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. 

• Eliminates the Permanent Chassis Requirement for Manufactured Homes: Allows for more innovative construction methods and making it easier to build prefabricated homes 

• Requires the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Recipients to Report Burdensome Zoning Policies and Devise Plans and Reforms to those laws: Increases transparency around zoning decisions and encourages localities to revise or eliminate rules that limit housing supplies.  

• Increases Oversight of U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Activities and Affordable Housing Providers: Improves public access to information on how HUD funds are spent. 

• Sources.

The bill passed with an overwhelming 390–9 vote, underscoring broad bipartisan agreement that the nation’s housing affordability crisis is placing real pressure on families, including many Hispanic households striving to build long-term financial stability. 

Hispanic families are disproportionately impacted by limited housing supply, rising rents, and restrictive zoning regulations that make it harder to purchase a first home or remain in their communities. This legislation addresses those challenges by increasing housing supply and reducing unnecessary barriers to development.  

Sandra Benitez, LIBRE’s Executive Director, released the following Statement:  

“This legislation marks a promising step forward in reducing federal housing regulations and removing barriers to increasing housing supply and innovation—an important development as Latinos, one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations in the country, continue to seek pathways to build their American Dream. 

We are encouraged by the Housing for the 21st Century Act’s commitment to breaking down federal barriers to housing production and incentivizing states and localities to follow suit. While this legislation is a step in the right direction, the focus must remain on sustained action at the state and local level to unleash the next generation of American housing. Congress should continue to prioritize removing federal restrictions and empowering local innovation, allowing a competitive housing market to deliver the supply needed for future generations to thrive.” 

House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-AK) and Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-CA) led the bipartisan effort, joined by lawmakers across the ideological spectrum who recognize that housing affordability is not a partisan issue. 

The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate, where LIBRE encourages swift bipartisan action to advance these commonsense reforms and deliver real housing relief for Hispanic families and communities across the country.