Trump delays bipartisan housing bill over SAVE Act

After clearing both the Senate and House this week, the bipartisan Road to Housing Act appeared to be on track to become law.

But on Wednesday, President Trump said he won't sign the bill until lawmakers also pass the SAVE America Act.

At a high level, the Trump-backed measure would:

• Require documentary proof of US citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
• Expand voter ID requirements to include new verification rules for mail-in ballots.
• Direct states to identify and remove noncitizens from voter rolls.
• Mandate that states share voter registration rolls with the federal government.
• Establish new civil and criminal penalties for election officials who register applicants without proof of US citizenship.

But Trump’s wish is easier said than done. The SAVE America Act needs 60 votes in the Senate to overcome the filibuster, but Republicans currently don't have enough support to reach that threshold. While Trump has urged lawmakers to eliminate the filibuster to move the bill forward, Senate GOP leaders have repeatedly signaled they aren't willing to do so.

The housing bill is a different story

The bipartisan Road to Housing Act passed by 358-52 and 85-5 majorities in the House and Senate, respectively. It contains 50+ different measures, with a main focus on increasing the supply of available housing.

The bill would:

• Streamline environmental reviews and encourage local governments to ease zoning restrictions and build more housing.
• Reduce regulations on manufactured homes, lowering costs and expanding where they can be built.
• Create loans and grants to renovate abandoned homes and convert vacant office buildings into apartments.
• Limit future purchases by large institutional investors that own 350+ single-family homes.

Opponents of the measure argue it would do little to create more affordable housing and doesn’t address the skyrocketing costs of labor, building materials, or interest rates. They also say the bill's focus on homeownership falls short of addressing the needs of millions of American renters.

Looking ahead… Despite Trump's announcement, the measure is still on track for approval. Under the Constitution, a president has 10 days to sign a congressionally approved bill before it automatically becomes law.

Even if Trump vetoes the measure, lawmakers approved it by margins large enough to likely override a veto.

📊 Flash poll: In general, do you support or oppose Congress’ new bipartisan housing bill?

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