ROAD to Housing Act Included in NDAA Passed by Senate
WASHINGTON, DC—As previously outlined in CARH’s July 30, 2025, Broadcast Email, the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, passed legislation titled the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream to Housing Act (ROAD to Housing Act).
On Oct. 9, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which notably includes the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act, co-led by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). This marks the first major housing package to advance through the Senate in nearly 17 years, representing a significant bipartisan achievement for housing advocates nationwide.
Central to CARH’s advocacy efforts, the ROAD to Housing Act incorporates Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Tina Smith’s (D-MN) “Rural Housing Service Reform Act of 2025”, a key provision that modernizes and strengthens USDA’s multifamily housing programs. This section of the bill makes permanent the decoupling of Section 521 Rental Assistance from Section 515 mortgages, allowing properties with maturing mortgages to maintain Rental Assistance and remain affordable. It also permanently authorizes the Multifamily Preservation and Revitalization (MPR) program and directs USDA to streamline inspection requirements by coordinating with HUD and other federal agencies, all of which are longstanding CARH priorities.
The broader ROAD to Housing Act focuses on four pillars: expanding and preserving housing supply, improving affordability and access, enhancing fiscal accountability, and strengthening program oversight. In total, the bill includes nearly 40 bipartisan provisions aimed at increasing housing supply, lowering costs, and improving access to safe, affordable homes across the country.
CARH applauds the bipartisan leadership of Senators Scott and Warren and thanks the members of the Senate Banking Committee for recognizing the importance of preserving and strengthening rural housing. The inclusion of the Rural Housing Service Reform Act of 2025 within the NDAA underscores a shared commitment to ensuring that rural America remains a key part of the national housing conversation.
The bill will now move to the House of Representatives for consideration. CARH encourages all members to contact their Representatives and urge support for keeping the ROAD to Housing Act and its critical Rural Housing Service Reform Act of 2025 provisions intact in the final version of the NDAA. While the broader legislation covers many priorities, these housing provisions are essential to preserving and strengthening affordable rural housing nationwide. Even if your property’s mortgage is not maturing soon, long-term preservation requires planning and sustained federal support. Ensuring that these reforms remain in the NDAA will help protect rural housing programs for years to come.
To contact your Representatives, click here.
Please contact the CARH National Office at carh@carh.org or 703-837-9001 should you have questions or concerns.
