{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://flood.house.gov/media/press-releases/housing-insurance-chairman-flood-new-housing-law-legislation-american-people", "Housing & Insurance Chairman Flood on New Housing Law: 'This Is Legislation That the American People Can Be Proud of.'", "2026-07-11", "2026", "2026-07", "Republican", "House", "NE", "Mike Flood", "F000474", "flood.house.gov", "flood", "https://flood.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LINCOLN, NEBRASKA \u2013 Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Flood, Chairman of the Housing & Insurance Subcommittee, released a statement following the signing of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act into law. He also attended a press conference in Maumelle, Arkansas, hosted by House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill.\n\nThe housing package includes several provisions introduced and championed by Congressman Flood. The bill marks the first major housing legislation enacted by Congress in decades.\n\n\u201cI am thrilled that the '21st Century ROAD to Housing Act' is now officially law,\u201d said Congressman Flood. \u201cWhile the journey was long and, at times, delicate, we arrived at the right outcome with a meaningful bipartisan housing bill that slashes red tape, lowers housing costs, and helps put the American dream of homeownership within reach for more hardworking families. Simply put: This is legislation that the American people can be proud of.\u201d\n\nCongressman Flood also spoke at House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill\u2019s press conference in Maumelle celebrating the new law, \u201c[A home is more than an asset.] It\u2019s the place where you bring your newborn home to and give her a bath under the sink. It\u2019s the place where you tuck your seven-year-old little boy in, and you say, \u2018I\u2019m doing my part to make sure he\u2019s living in a safe, sound home.\u2019\u201d\n\nVideo of Congressman Flood\u2019s full remarks can be found by clicking here, while the full presser can found be found here. News outlets are welcome to use the footage for reporting purposes.\n\nThe text of the \u201c21st Century ROAD to Housing Act\u201d can be found here.\n\nIn addition to serving as Chairman of the Housing & Insurance Subcommittee, Congressman Flood is the Chairman of the Republican Main Street Caucus.\n\nLegislation Congressman Flood previously introduced that are included in the amended version of the housing bill are detailed below:\n\nThe HOME Reform Act\n\n\u201cAmerica is in the midst of a housing crisis as families struggle to live the American dream due to the shortage of millions of homes,\u201d said Congressman Flood. \u201cThe HOME program is a federal program that builds housing supply, but it has previously been weighed down by regulatory burdens that make it hard to build housing. The reforms in this legislation will result in more homebuilding across the country as we work to tackle our nation\u2019s housing shortage. From Columbus, Nebraska to Columbus, Ohio and beyond, local communities will have an unprecedented opportunity to build affordable homes and directly address the housing crisis gripping our nation.\u201d\n\nThe \"HOME Reform Act\" modernizes the HOME Investment Partnership Program by exempting projects from NEPA and provides relief from Build America, Buy America requirements as well as establishing a \u201csmall project\u201d exemption under Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968. The bill raises income eligibility to 100% of area median income, extends the time communities have to commit funds, updates definitions of affordable single and multifamily housing, as well as allows funds to be used for infrastructure tied directly to new housing, such as sidewalks, sewers, and utility connections.\n\nRead the initial press release on the \"HOME Reform Act\" here. The bill was co-introduced by Housing & Insurance Subcommittee Ranking Member Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO).\n\nUnlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act\n\n\u201cThe Unlocking Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act is an important step towards increasing housingsupply in America,\u201d said Congressman Flood. \u201cEnvironmental reviews can slow housing projects by months- or even years. Currently, those reviews are not properly tailored to the size and scale of housing projects. This legislation is a meaningful step towards fixing that problem.\u201d\n\nThe \"Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act\" streamlines the environmental review process for a range of Department of Housing and Urban Development building activities.\n\nRead the initial press release on the \"Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act\" here. The bill was co-introduced by Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-CA).\n\nThe Housing Supply Frameworks Act\n\n\u201cThe rising cost of housing is putting the American Dream out of reach for working families across our country,\u201d said Congressman Flood. \u201cWe need an all-of-the-above approach to addressing America\u2019s housing crisis. To this end, the Housing Supply Frameworks Act helps establish suggested best practices for state and local governments across the country who want to break down barriers holding back development and innovation in housing and construction.\u201d\n\nThe \"Housing Supply Frameworks Act\u201d requires HUD to publish best practices and guidelines to assist communities in maintaining modern local and state zoning frameworks that support the production of adequate housing options at every income level.\n\nRead the initial press release on the \"Housing Supply Frameworks Act\" here. The bill was co-introduced by Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (D-CO).\n\nThe UNLOCK Act\n\n\u201cThe CDBG program has long been an important tool for Nebraska cities to fund important local projects,\u201d said Congressman Flood. \u201cThis targeted legislation would give communities across the state the flexibility to use CDBG dollars to directly address housing supply needs.\u201d\n\nThe \u201cUNLOCK Act\u201d allows grantees to use CDBG funding for housing developments.\n\nRead more on the \u201cUNLOCK Act\" here. The bill was co-introduced by Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-CA).\n\nThe Rural Regulatory Relief Act\n\nThe \"Rural Housing Regulatory Relief Act\" streamlines environmental review requirements for housing developments built on previously developed infill sites. The legislation reduces duplicative NEPA review processes for projects on land that has already been developed, helping to eliminate unnecessary federal delays and costs. This legislation will help lower construction costs, accelerate housing development, and expand access to affordable housing in rural communities.\n\nMore information on the \u201cRural Regulatory Relief Act\u201d can be found here. The bill was co-introduced by Congressmen Troy Downing (R-MT), Eugene Vindman (D-VA), and Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX).\n\nThe BUILD Housing Act\n\nThe \u201cBUILD Housing Act\u201d updates the NEPA process for housing developments by expanding collaboration between HUD, states, and localities. Specifically, the legislation gives HUD the ability to delegate and coordinate certain environmental reviews for HUD grant programs to state and localities. This bill additionally allows HUD to designate certain housingassistance as \u201cspecial project funds.\u201d By streamlining reviews and reducing administrative burdens, this legislation would help accelerate housing development and improve the delivery of federal housing assistance.", 1, "2026-07-12T07:28:31Z", "2026-07-12T07:30:18Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://flood.house.gov/media/press-releases/housing-insurance-chairman-flood-new-housing-law-legislation-american-people"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.1547311916947365, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}