[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1299 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1299
Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to
H.R. 6644, with amendment.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 19, 2026
Mr. Hill of Arkansas (for himself and Ms. Waters) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules
May 19, 2026
The Committee on Rules discharged
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to
H.R. 6644, with amendment.
Resolved, That upon the adoption of this resolution the House shall
be considered to have taken from the Speaker's table the bill, H.R.
6644, with the Senate amendment thereto, and to have concurred in the
Senate amendment with the following amendment:
In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the
amendment of the Senate to the text of the bill, insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century ROAD
to Housing Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING
Sec. 101. Reforms to housing counseling and financial literacy
programs.
Sec. 102. Federal guidelines for point access block buildings.
Sec. 103. Exemption on construction or modification of residential
housing located on an infill site.
Sec. 104. Database of publicly owned land.
Sec. 105. FHA Small-Dollar Mortgages.
Sec. 106. Temperature Sensor Pilot Program.
Sec. 107. Housing supply frameworks.
TITLE II--BUILDING MORE IN AMERICA
Sec. 201. Increasing housing in opportunity zones.
Sec. 202. Whole-Home Repairs Act.
Sec. 203. Community Investment and Prosperity Act.
Sec. 204. Addition of affordable housing construction as an eligible
activity.
Sec. 205. Better Use of Intergovernmental and Local Development (BUILD)
Housing Act.
Sec. 206. Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized
Reviews Act.
Sec. 207. Grants for planning and implementation associated with
affordable housing.
Sec. 208. Innovation Fund.
Sec. 209. Accelerating Home Building Act.
Sec. 210. Revitalizing Empty Structures Into Desirable Environments
(RESIDE) Act.
Sec. 211. Housing Affordability Act.
TITLE III--MANUFACTURED HOUSING FOR AMERICA
Sec. 301. Housing Supply Expansion Act.
Sec. 302. Modular Housing Production Act.
Sec. 303. Property Improvement and Manufactured Housing Loan
Modernization Act.
TITLE IV--ACCESSING THE AMERICAN DREAM
Sec. 401. Creating incentives for small-dollar loan originators.
Sec. 402. Small-dollar mortgage points and fees.
Sec. 403. Appraisal Industry Improvement Act.
Sec. 404. Helping More Families Save Act.
Sec. 405. Choice in Affordable Housing Act.
TITLE V--PROGRAM REFORM
Sec. 501. HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Reform Act.
Sec. 502. Rural Housing Service Reform Act.
Sec. 503. Incentivizing local solutions to homelessness.
TITLE VI--VETERANS AND HOUSING
Sec. 601. Military Service Question.
Sec. 602. Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act.
TITLE VII--OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Sec. 701. Requiring annual testimony and oversight from housing
regulators.
Sec. 702. FHA reporting requirements on safety and soundness.
Sec. 703. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness oversight.
Sec. 704. Appraisal Modernization Act.
TITLE VIII--ACCOUNTABILITY, COORDINATION, STUDIES, AND REPORTING
Sec. 801. HUD-USDA-VA Interagency Coordination Act.
Sec. 802. Streamlining Rural Housing Act.
Sec. 803. Improving self-sufficiency of families in HUD-subsidized
housing.
Sec. 804. GAO studies.
Sec. 805. Improving public housing agency accountability.
TITLE IX--STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY BANKS' ROLE IN HOUSING
Sec. 901. Community bank deposit access.
Sec. 902. Keeping deposits local.
Sec. 903. Tailored regulatory updates for supervisory testing.
Sec. 904. Credit union board modernization.
Sec. 905. Systemic risk authority transparency.
Sec. 906. Least cost exception.
Sec. 907. Failing bank acquisition fairness.
Sec. 908. Advancing the mentor-protege program for small financial
institutions.
Sec. 909. American access to banking.
Sec. 910. Promoting new bank formation.
Sec. 911. Rural depositories revitalization study.
Sec. 912. Discretionary surplus fund.
TITLE X--HOME-OWNERSHIP FOR MAIN STREET AMERICA
Sec. 1001. Homes are for people, not corporations.
TITLE XI--CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY
Sec. 1101. Central bank digital currency.
TITLE XII--MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 1201. Severability.
Sec. 1202. No additional funds authorized.
TITLE I--OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING
SEC. 101. REFORMS TO HOUSING COUNSELING AND FINANCIAL LITERACY
PROGRAMS.
Section 106 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12
U.S.C. 1701x) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(4)(C), by striking ``adequate
distribution'' and all that follows through ``foreclosure
rates'' and inserting ``that the recipients are geographically
diverse and include organizations that serve urban or rural
areas'';
(2) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Reviews.--The Secretary--
``(A) may conduct periodic reviews; and
``(B) shall conduct performance reviews of all
organizations receiving assistance under this section
that--
``(i) consist of a review of the
organization's compliance with all program
requirements; and
``(ii) may take into account the
organization's aggregate counselor performance
under paragraph (7)(B).
``(7) Considerations.--
``(A) Covered mortgage loan defined.--In this
paragraph, the term `covered mortgage loan' means any
loan which is secured by a first or subordinate lien on
residential real property (including individual units
of condominiums and housing cooperatives) designed
principally for the occupancy of between 1 and 4
families that is--
``(i) insured by the Federal Housing
Administration under title II of the National
Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.); or
``(ii) guaranteed under section 184 or 184A
of the Housing and Community Development Act of
1992 (12 U.S.C. 1715z-13a, 1715z-13b).
``(B) Comparison.--For each counselor employed by
an organization receiving assistance under this section
for prepurchase housing counseling, the Secretary may
consider the performance of the counselor compared to
the default rate of all counseled borrowers of a
covered mortgage loan in comparable markets and such
other factors as the Secretary determines appropriate
to further the purposes of this section.
``(8) Certification.--If, based on the comparison required
under paragraph (7)(B), the Secretary determines that a
counselor lacks competence to provide counseling in the areas
described in subsection (e)(2) and such action will not create
a significant loss of capacity for housing counseling services
in the service area, the Secretary may--
``(A) require continued education coupled with
successful completion of a probationary period;
``(B) require retesting if the counselor continues
to demonstrate a lack of competence under paragraph
(7)(B); and
``(C) suspend an individual certification if a
counselor fails to demonstrate competence after not
fewer than 2 retesting opportunities under subparagraph
(B).'';
(3) in subsection (i)--
(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(4); and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Termination of assistance.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may deny renewal
of covered assistance to an organization or entity
receiving covered assistance if the Secretary
determines that the organization or entity, or the
individual through which the organization or entity
provides counseling, is not in compliance with program
requirements--
``(i) based on the performance review
described in subsection (e)(6); and
``(ii) in accordance with regulations
issued by the Secretary.
``(B) Notice.--The Secretary shall give an
organization or entity receiving covered assistance not
less than 60 days prior written notice of any denial of
renewal under this paragraph, and the determination of
renewal shall not be finalized until the end of that
notice period.
``(C) Informal conference.--If requested in writing
by the organization or entity within the notice period
described in subparagraph (B), the organization or
entity shall be entitled to an informal conference with
the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Housing Counseling on
behalf of the Secretary at which the organization or
entity may present for consideration specific factors
that the organization or entity believes were beyond
the control of the organization or entity and that
caused the failure to comply with program requirements,
such as a lack of lender or servicer coordination or
communication with housing counseling agencies and
individual counselors.''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(j) Offering Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling.--
``(1) Covered mortgage loan defined.--In this subsection,
the term `covered mortgage loan' means any loan which is
secured by a first or subordinate lien on residential real
property (including individual units of condominiums and
housing cooperatives) or stock or membership in a cooperative
ownership housing corporation designed principally for the
occupancy of between 1 and 4 families that is--
``(A) insured by the Federal Housing Administration
under title II of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C.
1707 et seq.);
``(B) guaranteed under section 184 or 184A of the
Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12
U.S.C. 1715z-13a, 1715z-13b);
``(C) made, guaranteed, or insured by the
Department of Veterans Affairs; or
``(D) made, guaranteed, or insured by the
Department of Agriculture.
``(2) Opportunity for borrowers.--A borrower with respect
to a covered mortgage loan who is 30 days or more delinquent on
payments for the covered mortgage loan shall be given an
opportunity to participate in available housing counseling.
``(3) Cost.--If the requirements of sections 202(a)(3) and
205(f) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1708(a)(3),
1711(f)) are met, the fair market rate cost of counseling for
delinquent borrowers described in paragraph (2) with respect to
a covered mortgage loan described in paragraph (1)(A) shall be
paid for by the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, as authorized
under section 203(r)(4) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C.
1709(r)(4)).''.
SEC. 102. FEDERAL GUIDELINES FOR POINT ACCESS BLOCK BUILDINGS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development shall issue guidelines to provide States, territories,
Tribes, and localities with model code language, best practices, and
technical guidance that could be used to facilitate the permitting of
point-access block residential buildings.
(b) Contents.--When developing the guidelines under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall consider--
(1) fire safety considerations, including sprinkler
coverage, smoke detection, ventilation, and building egress
performance;
(2) construction costs and potential impacts on housing
affordability, including the potential for increasing housing
supply in high-cost jurisdictions;
(3) flexibility for diverse consumer needs, including
family sizes, unit configurations, and accessibility;
(4) examples of single-stair codes adopted or considered by
States and cities in the United States;
(5) examples of single-stair codes used in relevant
international standards;
(6) research and model language relating to single-stair
codes produced by organizations that focus on point-access
block building design and building-code reform;
(7) consulting with experts, including developers,
architects, fire marshals, researchers, economists, housing
authorities, and officials in States that have enacted or
piloted single-stair codes; and
(8) alternative methods of safety compliance, including
options that utilize additional passive or active safety
features.
(c) Coordination With the International Code Council.--The
Secretary shall coordinate with the International Code Council to
encourage the International Code Council to incorporate provisions
about point-access block buildings into the International Building
Code.
(d) Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may establish a program to
award competitive grants to eligible entities to implement
pilot projects that evaluate, demonstrate, or validate the
safety, feasibility, or cost-effectiveness of point-access
block residential buildings.
(2) Sunset.--The program established under paragraph (1)
shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of
the enactment of this subsection.
(e) Treatment of Projects.--Projects assisted under this section
shall be treated as projects assisted under the Community Development
Block Grant program under title I of the Housing and Community
Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.).
(f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed
to preempt a State or local building code.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
State, unit of local government, Tribal Government, public
housing agency, nonprofit housing organization, community
development organization, private developer, construction firm,
qualified design firm, engineering firm, academic institution,
research institution, or any partnership or consortium
comprised of 2 or more such types of entities.
(2) Point-access block building.--The term ``point-access
block building'' means a Group R-2 occupancy residential
structure, as such term is defined by the International
Building Code, in which a single internal stairway provides
access and egress for all dwelling units in a building that is
not greater than 6 stories in height.
SEC. 103. EXEMPTION ON CONSTRUCTION OR MODIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL
HOUSING LOCATED ON AN INFILL SITE.
(a) Exemption.--In providing assistance under section 501, 502,
504, 515, 533, or 538 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471, 1472,
1474, 1485, 1490m, or 1490p-2) for the construction or modification of
residential housing located on an infill site, the Secretary of
Agriculture shall not be required to carry out any study or report on
the environmental effects of such assistance.
(b) Report.--Not later than the date that is 5 years after the date
of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Agriculture shall
submit, to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban
Affairs of the Senate, a report that--
(1) determines whether the implementation of this section--
(A) reduced the amount of time it takes to review
an application for assistance under the sections of the
Housing Act of 1949 identified in subsection (a); and
(B) reduced the administrative cost of providing
such assistance;
(2) describes how the implementation of this section
affects the affordable housing sector in rural America; and
(3) includes any legislative recommendations from the
Secretary of Agriculture.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Greenfield.--The term ``greenfield'' means a site that
has not been developed, including a woodland, farmland, and an
open field.
(2) Infill site.--The term ``infill site''--
(A) means a site that is served by existing
infrastructure, including water lines, sewer lines, and
roads; and
(B) does not include--
(i) a site that is served by existing
infrastructure that only consists of a road;
(ii) a site within a census tract
designated as very high or relatively high risk
for wildfire, coastal flooding, and riverine
flooding under the National Risk Index of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency pursuant to
section 206 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
5136); and
(iii) a greenfield.
SEC. 104. DATABASE OF PUBLICLY OWNED LAND.
(a) In General.--Section 104(b) of the Housing and Community
Development Act of 1974 (