Rep. French Hill Expresses Optimism on 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
(From left: Bill Killmer and French Hill, by Anneliese Mahoney)
WASHINGTON–House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-Ark.) took to the main stage at the Mortgage Bankers Association National Advocacy Conference April 14, expressing confidence about the future of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.
“I think you see by strong votes in both the House and Senate, really over 90% of members in favor, that we have an ability to have a bicameral housing bill in this Congress,” he said. “And I want to make sure that it is one that works for both chambers and that President Trump can sign it into law.”
He acknowledged there’s work to be done–including some sections that MBA has flagged as concerning. But, Hill is working with Senate counterparts to get the “best of those bills together,” he shared.
“We have strong bipartisan, bicameral interest in the theme of what we worked on, which is a deregulatory approach to lower the cost-per-square foot of housing across a number of different aspects, increasing the availability of financing for multifamily and single-family housing, and make it again directly connected to the American people who are short of housing units,” Hill said. “We want this bill to be an overwhelming success that adds to the housing stock, adds to the housing supply, is not a barrier to housing finance–is just the opposite.”
Hill spoke with MBA Senior Vice President of Legislative and Political Affairs Bill Killmer in a wide-ranging fireside chat touching on a number of key housing subjects.
On potential GSE conservatorship exits, Hill expressed caution, saying “this is not just something you wake up one morning and do,” and acknowledging a number of challenges, including the role of Congress.
Looking bigger picture, Hill listed some goals he has moving forward. “I spent all of calendar 2025 and here early in 2026 laying the groundwork for my agenda in housing, insurance reform, capital formation, capital markets, community banking, as well as reforms in the international arena, like at the IMF, World Bank and also trying to hold HUD accountable,” he said. “It would be my goal for the rest of this Congress, through December and into the next Congress, seeing these things passed into law.”
