Former President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he had canceled the signing of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, issuing an ultimatum that the event would only proceed once the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act is passed. Trump declared the SAVE Act to be a "National Emergency" on his social media platform, Truth Social.
This move came just a day after the House of Representatives passed the housing bill with broad bipartisan support, voting 358-32. The legislation aims to address housing affordability challenges by increasing the supply of homes and lowering costs. It also includes a provision to ban large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes.
Trump criticized the housing bill earlier on Wednesday, calling it an "Elizabeth ‘Pocahontas’ Warren centric housing bill" and stating it was of "minor importance" compared to other issues like interest rates and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). He emphasized that the SAVE America Act, which focuses on voter ID and citizenship verification, is a more pressing concern, particularly as midterm elections approach.
Trump urged Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, suggesting that "bad Republicans" should approve it or consider terminating the filibuster to ensure its passage, along with "EVERYTHING ELSE REPUBLICANS HAVE EVER DREAMED OF." He asserted that Democrats would act swiftly on such measures and that Republicans would be making a mistake if they did not prioritize it.
The housing package that Trump sought to sign had been the subject of months of negotiations between the House and Senate. It includes measures to relax regulations on factory-built homes, expedite federal environmental reviews for housing projects, and encourage local governments to update zoning policies to facilitate more home construction and alleviate housing shortages.
According to Realtor.com, the median home price nationwide has surpassed $400,000, highlighting the ongoing struggles many Americans face in purchasing a home. House Speaker Mike Johnson had previously lauded the housing bill, stating on Tuesday that it would help restore the "American Dream" and thanking both Republican and Democratic members for their bipartisan efforts in its negotiation and passage.