Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, sent a letter to the House Democratic Caucus calling for a conference committee to formally reconcile the House- and Senate-passed versions of H.R. 6644, the “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act,” so that the bill can fully address the nation's escalating housing crisis. 

In the letter, Ranking Member Waters explained that despite the bill’s overwhelming bipartisan support in the House—passing 390-9—the Senate version stripped key housing and banking provisions secured by Committee Democrats and introduced new restrictions on housing development that threaten to undermine housing production, raising concerns by housing providers and advocates nationwide. 

“The House-passed version of H.R. 6644 makes long overdue improvements to federal housing programs and includes key provisions that my fellow Democrats and I secured to broaden access to homeownership, expedite building of manufactured housing, make available small-dollar mortgages, better protect borrowers and families living in public or assisted housing, enhance federal oversight of housing providers, and lay the groundwork for the development of new affordable homes across America,” wrote Ranking Member Waters.  “Unfortunately, the Senate removed several critical housing and banking provisions that House Democrats fought hard to include and that make the legislation stronger. Additionally, we need to address stakeholder concerns that have been raised since passage in the Senate, especially about whether the bill now curtails the construction of new homes and creates other unintended consequences. Given these changes, we must reconcile the House and Senate versions to produce the strongest possible housing legislation for our communities at home.” 

In closing, Waters shared the detailed set of priorities which she provided to her Senate counterparts, developed in coordination with House Financial Services Committee Democrats, and offered a side-by-side comparison of the House and Senate bills. A conference committee, she insisted, is the best path forward to reconcile the two versions, restore the bill’s strength, and deliver meaningful relief to struggling families. Failure to act, she warned, risks squandering a historic opportunity to address America's housing affordability crisis. 

Read the full letter here.