The U.S. Senate approved a major housing package Thursday that includes a measure aimed at expanding affordable housing opportunities in rural Nebraska. The legislation, known as the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, is a comprehensive bill designed to increase housing supply and improve affordability nationwide.
The measure was introduced by Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and combines seven separate housing-related bills. If ultimately signed into law, it would represent the first major federal housing legislation passed in nearly 30 years.
Included in the 303-page bill is the Streamlining Rural Housing Act, sponsored by Nebraska Senator Pete Ricketts. The proposal focuses on reducing regulatory barriers for housing development in rural areas. Ricketts says the measure is intended to help increase the availability of housing for potential first-time homebuyers, particularly in smaller communities where supply has struggled to keep up with demand.
Under the proposal, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture would be required to create a joint environmental review process. Supporters say the change would lower development costs and speed up construction by simplifying federal review requirements.
The housing package passed the Senate on an 89 to 10 vote, with Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer also voting in favor of the legislation.
However, the bill’s future remains uncertain. Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its own housing package, and lawmakers from both chambers may need to negotiate differences between the two versions before a final bill can be sent to the president. Congressional leaders say that process could take several months.
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