What does Preamble of HR 6644 do?

This bill aims to increase the supply of housing in America The bill has been amended in the Senate

What does RENTAL ASSISTANCE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. of HR 6644 do?

This section amends the 'Rental Assistance Demonstration' language within the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2012 (Public Law 112-55). The amendment extends funding for the program 'for fiscal year 2012 and each fiscal year thereafter,' removing the previous termination date of September 30, 2029. A fourth proviso is removed from the existing language. The amendment expands the scope of permissible means to include 'the adoption of a mandatory tenant lease and management plan addendum'. The Secretary is required to annually assess and publish findings regarding the impact of assistance conversion on public housing preservation, private sector leveraging, resident retention, and tenant rights. The Secretary is authorized to take 'remediative action or impose civil money penalties or other administrative sanctions' for material violations. The amendment clarifies that nothing in this section should diminish or negatively affect the property rights of owners or the rights of tenants.

What does INCREASING HOUSING IN OPPORTUNITY ZONES. of HR 6644 do?

This section defines a covered grant related to housing construction or modification. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may give priority to projects in qualified opportunity zones.

What does WHOLE-HOME REPAIRS ACT. of HR 6644 do?

This section defines terms related to a whole-home repairs program. The term 'affordable unit' is defined as a unit where rent is no more than 30% of the renter's gross income, up to 80% of the area median income. An 'eligible homeowner' must have a household income not exceeding 80% of the area median income or meet other specified income requirements. An 'eligible landlord' owns fewer than 10 eligible rental properties, with a majority of affordable units. A 'forgivable loan' is a loan to an eligible landlord that can be forgiven after three years if they maintain compliance. An 'implementing organization' is a unit of general local government or a State administering a whole-home repairs program. Qualified nonprofits must have received funding through various programs, including the Community Development Block Grant program, and have experience in weatherization or lead remediation. The section establishes a pilot program that terminates on October 1, 2031. The Secretary is required to submit annual reports to Congress summarizing data related to the pilot program.

What does COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AND PROSPERITY ACT. of HR 6644 do?

This section amends the Revised Statutes of the United States. Specifically, it modifies section 5136 of the Revised Statutes (12 U.S.C. 24). The amendment involves replacing the number '15' with '20' in the fifth sentence of the designated Eleventh paragraph. This section also amends the Federal Reserve Act. It modifies section 9(23) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 338a). Similar to the revision of the Revised Statutes, this amendment replaces '15' with '20' in the fifth sentence.

What does BUILD NOW ACT. of HR 6644 do?

This section, titled the BUILD NOW ACT, defines terms related to housing growth and adjusts Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocations. It establishes definitions for terms such as 'covered recipient,' 'eligible recipient,' 'extremely high-growth recipient,' and 'housing growth improvement rate.' Eligible recipients are metropolitan cities or urban counties receiving funds under section 106 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, unless they meet certain criteria (e.g., low median income, high vacancy rates, recent disaster declarations, or lack of zoning authority). The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will adjust CDBG allocations based on a recipient's housing growth improvement rate. Recipients with housing growth improvement rates at or above the median, or those classified as extremely high-growth, may receive a bonus amount. Recipients with housing growth improvement rates below the median may see their CDBG allocation decreased by 10 percent. The Secretary must use data from the Bureau of the Census and Postal Service to calculate housing unit numbers. The Secretary is required to publish an annual report detailing housing growth improvement rates and recipients receiving bonus or decreased allocations. Eligible recipients will be notified of their housing growth improvement rate and receive guidance on policies to increase housing supply. The adjustments outlined in subsection (b) will take effect beginning with the third full fiscal year after enactment and remain in effect through fiscal year 2043.

What does ADDITION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION AS AN ELIGIBLE of HR 6644 do?

This section amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to include affordable housing construction as an eligible activity. The definition of 'affordable housing' for this purpose is based on section 215 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. The new construction of affordable housing is limited to 20 percent of amounts allocated to a recipient. The Act also amends section 105(c)(3) to include new construction alongside rehabilitation. These changes apply only to amounts appropriated after the date of enactment of this Act.

What does BETTER USE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND LOCAL DEVELOPMENT (BUILD) of HR 6644 do?

This section amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act to designate a specific environmental review procedure. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may designate assistance for a special project as funds for environmental review purposes under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. An exception exists where a procedure for carrying out responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act is already specified in law. Section 305(c) of the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994 is amended to include Indian tribes alongside states and local governments. The definition of 'Indian tribe' for this purpose is aligned with the definition in the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996. The designation of assistance under the new section 13 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act generally applies only to funds appropriated after the Act's enactment. If a grantee combines pre- and post-enactment funds for a project, the new section 13 does not apply to that assistance.

What does UNLOCKING HOUSING SUPPLY THROUGH STREAMLINED AND MODERNIZED of HR 6644 do?

This section, titled the "UNLOCKING HOUSING SUPPLY THROUGH STREAMLINED AND MODERNIZED REVIEWS ACT," focuses on streamlining and modernizing environmental reviews for housing-related activities. It defines "infill project" as a project occurring within a municipality, served by existing utilities, located on previously disturbed land, and repurposing land or structures for residential or commercial use. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is directed to expand and reclassify housing-related activities under administrative regulations to align with specific regulations in Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Certain housing-related activities, such as tenant-based rental assistance and supportive services, will be subject to regulations equivalent to "exempt activities." Other activities, like rehabilitation of 1-to-4 unit residential buildings, will be subject to regulations equivalent to "categorical exclusions." New construction and development of housing units, up to a certain number, are also addressed with varying levels of environmental review streamlining. The streamlining applies only to funds appropriated after the effective date of the regulations and does not apply to projects combining pre- and post-effective date funds. The Secretary must submit an annual report to Congress on the reductions in review times and administrative costs resulting from these actions, with a focus on the affordable housing sector.

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Housing for the 21st Century Act — HR. 6644

Q: What does REFORMS TO HOUSING COUNSELING AND FINANCIAL LITERACY of HR 6644 do?

This section amends Section 106 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 to require that recipients of housing counseling assistance are geographically diverse and include organizations serving urban or rural areas. The Secretary is now required to conduct performance reviews of participating agencies, considering compliance with program requirements and counselor performance. The Secretary may conduct periodic on-site reviews of participating agencies. The definition of 'covered mortgage loan' is established, encompassing loans insured by the FHA, guaranteed under the Housing and Community Development Act, or made/guaranteed/insured by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Agriculture. The Secretary may require continued education, retesting, or suspend counselor certifications if they demonstrate a lack of competence. The Secretary may deny renewal of assistance to organizations not complying with program requirements, providing at least 60 days written notice and an opportunity for an informal conference. Borrowers with covered mortgage loans who are 30 or more days delinquent must be offered an opportunity to participate in housing counseling. If certain conditions of the National Housing Act are met, the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund will cover the cost of counseling for delinquent borrowers with FHA-insured loans.

21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

Last updated: 3/16/2026 · Introduced: 12/11/2025

Author: J. Hill (R-AR)

TL;DR (AI)

The Housing for the 21st Century Act aims to increase the supply of housing in America by streamlining and modernizing reviews related to housing activities.
The Act establishes grants for planning and implementation associated with affordable housing, as well as reforms to housing counseling and financial literacy programs.
It also creates an Accelerating Home Building Grant Program to review designs of mixed-income housing and designate them for inclusion in pattern books.
The Act makes changes to multifamily loan limits, updates rules for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and adds exceptions for small-scale housing and community land trusts.
Additionally, it establishes a pilot program for escrow accounts to help families achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency, and requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to testify annually before Congress on Department operations and progress on affordable housing.

119th Congresspassed bothOfficial page

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