Miller-Meeks Votes to Send Historic Housing Bill to the President's Desk
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) tonight voted for final passage of the 21st Century Housing Act, the most sweeping housing legislation in decades, sending the bill to President Trump's desk for signature.
Congresswoman Miller-Meeks has been a consistent and vocal champion of this legislation, fighting to ensure that Iowa families have a real shot at homeownership.
"For years, working families have been priced out of the homes they deserve. Young couples doing everything right, saving every dollar, and still watching homeownership slip further away," said Congresswoman Miller-Meeks. "Tonight that changes. This is the most significant housing legislation in a generation and I am proud to have fought for it every step of the way."
America is in the grips of a genuine housing crisis. The nation is short by as many as 10 million housing units, and the gap between supply and demand continues to grow. Rising construction costs, regulatory delays, and outdated zoning constraints have made it harder and more expensive to build homes. Meanwhile, small and community banks that finance new construction are being squeezed by regulatory burdens that limit their ability to lend. The result is a housing market that is failing working families across the country.
The numbers tell the story. According to the National Association of Realtors, the median age of a first-time homebuyer reached 40 years old in 2025, an all-time high. The share of first-time buyers has fallen 50% since 2007, hitting a historic low of just 21% of all home purchases. An entire generation of Americans is being locked out of homeownership and the wealth-building opportunity it represents.
How the 21st Century Housing Act Delivers for Iowa Families:
- Removes unnecessary regulatory barriers by allowing pre-approved home designs so builders can get permits faster and giving communities more flexibility to produce affordable homes in rural and urban areas.
- Bans Wall Street from buying Iowa homes, ensuring large institutional investors cannot compete against everyday Iowans in the housing market.
- Modernizes HUD programs by updating manufactured housing rules, strengthening the HOME Program, and converting vacant buildings into attainable housing.
- Empowers community and rural banks by cutting red tape and expanding local lenders' ability to finance new home construction for Iowa families, farmers, and small businesses.
- Protects Iowa veterans by improving access to VA home loan benefits and ensuring veterans' disability compensation does not count against their housing eligibility.
- Preserves affordable rural housing for 400,000 rural families whose housing is tied to maturing USDA mortgages.
The legislation includes provisions across twelve titles and was supported by members of both parties in the House and Senate, reflecting the urgency and broad consensus around the nation's housing crisis. The House first passed the bill 390-9 in May, one of the most bipartisan votes of the 119th Congress. Tonight's final passage sends it to the president's desk and delivers on a promise to the millions of Americans who have been waiting for relief.
Click HERE to read the bill text.
Click HEREfor a list of groups who support this legislation.
###