Fitzpatrick Helps Secure Major Bipartisan Victory to Expand Housing Supply and Lower Costs for PA-1 Families

Washington, DC- Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) helped lead passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a sweeping bipartisan housing reform package to expand housing supply, modernize federal housing policy, strengthen community-based development, and restore affordability for working families in Pennsylvania's First District and across the nation.

The legislation passed the House by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 396 to 13 and now returns to the Senate for further consideration.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act represents one of the most comprehensive federal housing reform efforts in decades. It directly addresses the structural drivers of America's housing shortage-outdated regulations, duplicative inspections, financing bottlenecks, underused properties, and barriers that slow local development.

Earlier this year, Fitzpatrick helped advance the original House housing package, which included three of Fitzpatrick's housing priorities. The updated package passed today now includes a fourth Fitzpatrick measure, further strengthening the bill's focus on expanding supply, lowering costs, and helping communities turn vacant and blighted properties into affordable homes.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes the following Fitzpatrick-supported provisions that will deliver for PA-1, including:

• Accelerating Home Building Act (H.R. 5907): Authorizes HUD to award competitive grants to local governments and tribal entities to adopt pre-reviewed, ready-to-use housing designs for mixed-income developments of up to 25 units. By shortening permitting timelines and reducing costly delays, this reform accelerates responsible homebuilding with 10% of funding reserved for rural communities.
• Choice in Affordable Housing Act (H.R. 1981): Modernizes the Housing Choice Voucher program by eliminating duplicative inspections and allowing remote reviews in rural and small jurisdictions. By reducing red tape and encouraging landlord participation, this reform expands housing access for working families.
• VA Home Loan Awareness Act (H.R. 2362): Requires mortgage applications to clearly notify eligible applicants that they may qualify for a VA Home Loan, ensuring veterans and service members are fully informed of benefits they have earned.
• RESIDE Act (H.R. 5591): Creates a new pilot program providing local communities with grants to rehabilitate vacant, abandoned, and underutilized buildings into affordable homes. This provision helps communities transform blight into housing supply, revitalize neighborhoods, and bring more homes within reach for working families.

"Housing affordability is one of the defining economic challenges of our time because it shapes something deeply American: whether families who work hard, save responsibly, and play by the rules can still build a stable life in the communities they call home," said Fitzpatrick. "Across Bucks and Montgomery Counties, I have sat down with realtors, home builders, lenders, local officials, and families who are living this challenge firsthand. Those conversations became the foundation of this work. We listened to the people closest to the problem, identified the barriers driving costs and limiting supply, and worked together to develop practical solutions that can actually move the needle."

"Today's overwhelming House passage is a major step forward in that effort," Fitzpatrick continued. "The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act reflects the kind of two-party, common-sense leadership this moment demands: expanding supply, modernizing outdated federal barriers, restoring balance to the housing market, and giving communities the tools to turn vacant buildings into affordable homes. These reforms were shaped by real-world experience, built through bipartisan cooperation, and aimed at a clear purpose-lowering costs, strengthening neighborhoods, and keeping the promise of home within reach for working families. The House has acted with clear bipartisan resolve. Now the Senate must do the same."

"Realtors are on the front lines of this housing crisis every day. We see young families priced out of starter homes, seniors unable to downsize, and working households competing in markets where supply has simply not kept pace with demand. When housing production slows, affordability slips further out of reach - and communities feel it," said Chris Beadling, PA-1 Constituent, Broker of Quinn & Wilson Realtors in Montgomery County, 2025 NAR Regional VP (Region 2), and Past President of Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS and Bucks County Association of REALTORS. "Congressman Fitzpatrick has been a longtime partner in addressing these challenges, working directly with Pennsylvania Realtors and local housing leaders to understand the regulatory delays, financing constraints, and outdated policies limiting housing growth. The Housing for the 21st Century Act takes meaningful steps to remove unnecessary barriers, modernize federal housing programs, and strengthen the ability of community banks to finance responsible local development. By expanding supply and empowering local lenders, this legislation will help increase housing opportunities and bring affordability back within reach for Pennsylvania families. We appreciate Congressman Fitzpatrick's longtime partnership, support, and commitment to advancing policies that support sustainable housing growth across our Commonwealth."

Background

Congressman Fitzpatrick has consistently led the charge on affordability-and it remains his top priority for Pennsylvania's First District. Earlier this year, along with his Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, Representative Tom Suozzi, he introduced a comprehensive bipartisan Affordability Agenda that outlines more than 40 commonsense bills capable of delivering immediate relief across five critical areas of household budgets: health care, housing, energy, child care, and food.

Each proposal in the framework has broad bipartisan support and is designed to pass both chambers of Congress - reflecting Fitzpatrick's belief that lowering costs for working families must rise above partisanship.

In addition to the Housing for the 21st Century Act, his recent bipartisan efforts include:

• HELP Copays Act - Legislation to lower the cost of life-saving prescription medications for patients with rare, serious, and chronic conditions.
• Accelerating Home Building Act - Bipartisan, bicameral legislation aimed at increasing housing supply and improving affordability nationwide.
• Caring for Our Seniors Act - Addresses the rising cost of senior care while strengthening the long-term care workforce.
• Affordable Child Care Act - Doubles key tax credits to help working families access quality, affordable child care and put money directly back into parents' pockets.

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