U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar is calling on the president to quickly sign a bipartisan housing bill.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday, June 24, refused to sign the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act until Congress takes up his SAVE America Act, an elections bill that critics believe would disenfranchise a wide swath of voters.
“For too many families, finding an affordable place to live has become increasingly difficult,” Escobar, D-El Paso, said in a statement. “The bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act takes important steps to expand access to affordable housing and help communities meet the growing demand for homes.”
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the most comprehensive housing legislation in decades, is aimed at boosting the U.S. housing supply and helping Americans purchase homes by restricting institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes and removing regulatory hurdles for construction.
“I have long believed that tackling the housing crisis requires serious solutions and bipartisan corporation,” Escobar said. “The overwhelming bipartisan support this bill received in both the House and Senate shows the progress Congress can make when we work together.”
A bill approved by both chambers of Congress and presented to the president while Congress is in session automatically becomes law within 10 days, not counting Sundays, if the president does not sign or veto it — while Trump has not yet vetoed the bill, he has signaled that he will not sign it until the Senate takes up his SAVE America Act.
The U.S. is currently facing a housing crisis where a shortfall of more than 4.7 million homes has “created cascading economic and social challenges, from skyrocketing prices to reduced workforce mobility,” according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In Texas alone, the housing shortage has amounted to more than $38 billion in lost economic output, over $23 billion less in personal income and nearly 323,000 jobs not created.
“By expanding tools to build more housing and strengthening investments in communities, this legislation will help make housing more attainable for families, workers, seniors, and young people,” Escobar said. “I urge the president to sign it into law as quickly as possible.”
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Trump stalls housing bill until election law passes
Reporting by Adam Powell, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Adam Powell, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
