Gridlock Broken: Beatty Leads Affordable Housing Bill Breakthroughs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Tonight, in a rare bipartisan breakthrough during one of the most contentious Congresses in recent history, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) secured House passage of five legislative measures to advance affordable housing, empower and protect homeowners, and enable community banks to inject more capital into the housing industry.

The measures passed under suspension of the rules as part of H.R. 6644(link is external), the Housing for the 21st Century Act, moving forward a package of regulatory and community banking reforms aimed at accelerating housing development, protecting homeowners, and strengthening the local institutions responsible for financing housing in Central Ohio and communities nationwide.

The vote comes as Central Ohio families face mounting housing pressures, including rising rents, limited housing supply, and growing concern that working families are being priced out of the communities they call home.

"This overwhelmingly bipartisan housing package is a critical first step towards solving the affordable housing crisis in America,"Beatty said."These bills make key reforms to generate housing development, direct more investment where it is needed, and reinforce the local financial institutions that finance affordable housing projects. I am incredibly proud to advance five of my own bills that will ensure more Central Ohioans have a safe, secure place to call home."

Beatty Bills Included in the Housing Package

Together, the measures combine affordable housing expansion, homeowner protections, and community banking reforms intended to move capital into housing development more quickly, prevent avoidable foreclosures, and ensure local lenders are equipped to finance housing in the communities they serve.

• Provisions from H.R. 2031, the HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act (included in Section 201), strengthen the Department of Housing and Urban Development's HOME program by easing compliance for small properties and increasing flexibility for nonprofit housing providers, so funds can be used effectively to serve low-income and extremely low-income households.
• H.R. 6726, the Reforms to Housing Counseling and Financial Literacy Programs Act of 2025 (Section 405), funds foreclosure mitigation counseling for borrowers who are 30 days delinquent on their mortgage payments, helping families avoid foreclosure.
• H.R. 5913, the Community Investment and Prosperity Act (Section 303), expands banks' ability to invest private capital in affordable housing, small business lending, and community revitalization by increasing the public welfare investment (PWI) cap from 15% to 20%.
• H.R. 3234, the Keeping Deposits Local Act (Section 602)modernizes the treatment of reciprocal deposits to improve liquidity for small and midsize banks, positioning them to expand local lending and inject more capital into affordable housing development.
• H.R. 3709, the Advancing the Mentor-Protégé Program for Small Financial Institutions Act (Section 602), codifies the Treasury Department's Financial Agent Mentor-Protégé Program to strengthen partnerships between large banks, community banks, and minority depository institutions (MDIs), helping smaller lenders grow and better support housing and community development.

Ohio Impact

Several provisions in the package will support Ohio housing organizations in their efforts to increase supply and will strengthen Ohio's community banks and mid-size financial institutions like Fifth Third, Huntington, and KeyBank, supporting neighborhoods seeking solutions to the affordable housing crisis.

"Central Ohio has long been the kind of place where a family can confidently aspire to buy a home, start a family, and retire in peace," said Carlie J. Boos, Executive Director, Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio (AHACO). "As costs rise nationwide, we see just how instrumental affordable housing is to this fulfilling life. The Housing for the 21st Century Act is an essential achievement that protects affordability and expands it to the next generation. This bipartisan legislation serves our people, expands housing partnerships, rewards innovation, and reduces bureaucracy. AHACO is excited to see the vision of Representative Beatty and her colleagues on the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services come to life."

"We applaud Congresswoman Joyce Beatty for her leadership in advancing H.R. 6644 and for ensuring that critical housing and community development priorities are included in this legislation," said Leah F. Evans, President & CEO, Homeport. "These provisions strengthen the tools communities rely on to expand affordable housing, preserve homeownership, and unlock private and public investment where it is needed most. By supporting community land trusts, housing counseling, foreclosure prevention, and increased community investment capacity, this legislation reflects a meaningful commitment to housing stability and economic opportunity for families and neighborhoods across Central Ohio and the nation."

"Congresswoman Beatty continues to be a leader in advancing policies that strengthen communities in Central Ohio and across the country," Ian Labitue, President and CEO, Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County. "The provisions she championed address critical needs in our housing ecosystem, from expanding HOME fund accessibility for land trusts providing affordable homeownership to increasing capital for community development through local financial institutions. As a CDFI working to increase housing affordability, we know these reforms translate directly into more homes for working families and stronger neighborhoods. The Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus & Franklin County commends the Congresswoman for her tireless advocacy and ability to build bipartisan consensus on solutions that make a real impact."

"The mentor-protégé program is a lifeline for small banks like Adelphi, allowing us to get support from different banks on a range of issues, from questions about loan structures to technical support from IT," said Jordan Miller, Chairman and CEO, Adelphi Bank. "We also rely greatly on reciprocal deposits to increase liquidity and improve our standing from the regulators' perspective. I'm grateful to Congresswoman Beatty for championing these policies that provide huge relief to MDIs and small banks so we can empower our community members to build wealth."

"We appreciate Congresswoman Beatty's steadfast commitment to pursue solutions addressing the affordable housing crisis that affects so many individuals and families in Ohio and across the country," said Robert Likes, President, KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment, Affordable Housing. "As one of the nation's leading affordable housing capital providers, we witness every day how private sector investments can change lives-providing stability, dignity, and a foundation for opportunity. This legislation will increase the industry's ability to make those needed investments to help meet the significant need for affordable housing while opening more pathways for people to achieve economic mobility and build brighter futures."

The legislation passed the House and now advances to the Senate for consideration.

Read the full bill text HERE(link is external).

Video available:Congresswoman Beatty delivers House floor remarks on the housing package HERE(link is external).