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  "path": "/u-s-world/2026/06/23/utah-senators-diverge-on-housing-affordability-bill/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-24T01:06:38.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.deseret.com",
  "tags": [
    "pic.twitter.com/HTumPlkPr5",
    "June 23, 2026",
    "House bill aims to make housing more affordable",
    "housing bill",
    "official proclamation",
    "Senate proceeds with housing bill, hopes to send it back to House soon",
    "@SenateGOP"
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  "textContent": "Congress officially passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on Monday which aims to increase housing affordability across the U.S.\n\nIf signed into law, the legislation would be the largest housing package passed in decades.\n\nThe bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support, the final tally at 85-5. The bill then headed to the House where it passed on Tuesday by a vote of 358-32.\n\nThe bill now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk where he is expected to sign it into law on Wednesday, according to White House officials.\n\nUtah Sen. Mike Lee voted against the bill citing concerns about federal overreach. Sen. John Curtis was unable to make it to the final Senate vote due to weather delays, but released a statement praising the Senate for passing the bill.\n\nAfter the bill passed, Lee said in a statement that it did not do enough to tackle housing affordability and would give the federal government too large of a role.\n\n“To truly improve housing affordability,” Lee said, “we must drastically reduce the federal government’s footprint in housing policy, cut federal spending to reduce federal debt … and continue mass deportations of illegal aliens who are placing a significant burden on housing availability and affordability for American citizens.”\n\n> The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will lower the cost of housing.\n>\n> This critical legislation will increase the number of homes available and help more families afford the home they need. pic.twitter.com/HTumPlkPr5\n>\n> — Senate Republicans (@SenateGOP) June 23, 2026\n\nCurtis released a statement saying, “For decades, owning a home has been a core part of the American Dream, yet housing affordability has become one of the most difficult financial challenges that families face.”\n\n“But today, the Senate took a significant step toward delivering meaningful relief for those families by passing the ROAD to Housing Act._”_\n\nCurtis also applauded the bipartisan effort and cooperation that members of Congress demonstrated. Among the 85 Senators who voted in favor of the bill, 41 were Republicans and 44 were Democrats.\n\nAll four Utah Republican representatives — Reps. Blake Moore, Celeste Maloy, Burgess Owens and Mike Kennedy — voted in favor of the bill.\n\nHouse bill aims to make housing more affordable\n\n### How the bill would lower costs\n\nThe housing bill aims to decrease costs by reforming zoning laws that make housing construction difficult. Along with zoning reform, the legislation would streamline environmental reviews and update federal housing programs.\n\nBeyond red tape reform, the new legislation would also come with performance measures that the Trump administration encouraged in order to ensure results come from the changes.\n\nIf the bill is signed into law, $200 million would be provided annually between 2027-2031 for housing construction grants and $100 million would be provided yearly in the same time frame for commercial-to-residential building conversions.\n\nLarge investors owning more than 350 homes would be prohibited from purchasing more homes.\n\nAmong many other provisions in the package, the bill includes an expanded HOME Investment Partnerships Program and increased FHA mortgage limits.\n\n### Trump touts bill and declines in rent\n\nThe Trump administration has put a focus on addressing cost-of-living for American citizens.\n\nIn a press release on Monday, Trump cited declines in rent prices as a result of reversing illegal immigration. The release said that “net international migration collapsed more than 50% nationally in 2025 … easing the crushing pressure on housing.”\n\nLast month, Trump urged Congress to pass the housing affordability bill on Truth Social: “I am asking Congress to pass that bill, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which would ensure that homes are for people, not Corporations.\n\nTrump also announced earlier this month in an official proclamation that June 2026 would be National Homeownership Month.\n\n“During National Homeownership Month,” the proclamation says, “my Administration recommits to making housing more affordable so that young Americans and hardworking families can raise children, build memories, and create a future in a home of their own.”\n\nSenate proceeds with housing bill, hopes to send it back to House soon",
  "title": "Utah’s senators diverge on housing affordability bill as it heads to President’s desk"
}