- Senate approved H.R. 6644, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, by an 85-5 vote on June 23.
- Anti-CBDC provision would prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency or a substantially similar digital asset until Dec. 31, 2030.
- Housing affordability package aims to increase housing supply and reduce costs for U.S. families.
- The legislation reflects a bipartisan, bicameral agreement reached by Senate and House lawmakers last week.
- The bill now moves toward a House floor vote before being sent to the president for final approval.
The U.S. Senate has passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a wide-ranging housing package that also includes a provision prohibiting the issuance of a U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC) through the end of the decade.
According to the Senate’s official records, lawmakers approved H.R. 6644 on June 23 by an 85-5 vote. The legislation is designed primarily to address housing affordability by increasing housing supply and introducing measures intended to prevent large corporate landlords from dominating residential housing markets.
The vote marks a significant legislative milestone after Senate and House negotiators unveiled an updated version of the bill last week reflecting a bipartisan and bicameral agreement on the package.
Housing Affordability Measures Drive Core Legislation
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act centers on policies aimed at expanding housing availability and lowering costs for American households. Lawmakers have framed the legislation as a response to ongoing affordability challenges affecting prospective homebuyers and renters across the United States.
Following the Senate vote, House Committee on Financial Services Chairman French Hill highlighted the bill’s focus on increasing housing inventory.
Hill said in the statement:
“Housing affordability starts with supply, and this bill makes meaningful progress toward building more homes and lowering costs for American families.”
The Senate approval follows negotiations between key lawmakers from both chambers, culminating in a revised version of the bill released last week. The agreement brought together provisions supported by both Senate and House members, allowing the package to advance with broad bipartisan support.
CBDC Ban Included Through End of 2030
Alongside its housing provisions, the legislation contains language that would prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing or creating a CBDC, as well as any digital asset deemed “substantially similar” to a CBDC. If enacted, the restriction would remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2030.
The inclusion of the anti-CBDC measure has drawn attention because it is attached to legislation focused primarily on housing policy. The provision reflects a broader debate in Washington over the potential development of a U.S. central bank digital currency and concerns among some lawmakers regarding government-issued digital money.
House Republicans pushed for the CBDC language to be incorporated into the broader housing package during negotiations.
The measure arrives amid broader congressional efforts to establish a regulatory framework for digital assets. In May, the Senate Banking Committee voted 15-9 to advance the CLARITY Act despite opposition from Senator Elizabeth Warren. Warren proposed 44 amendments and argued the bill could weaken investor protections, but the legislation ultimately advanced out of committee.
Next Step Is House Vote Before Presidential Consideration
The bill’s passage in the Senate does not complete the legislative process. The measure must still receive approval on the House floor before it can be sent to the president for final consideration and signature.
Momentum for the legislation remains strong following the Senate vote. Politico reported last week that House Republican leaders planned to schedule an expedited vote once lawmakers returned from recess on June 23.
With bipartisan support already demonstrated in the Senate and a negotiated agreement in place between both chambers, the House vote represents the next key milestone for the legislation. If approved, the measure would simultaneously advance housing affordability initiatives and establish a temporary federal prohibition on the creation of a U.S. CBDC through the end of 2030.
