Republican senator in shouting match with Trump on Iran as housing bill stalls
Senator Bill Cassidy (Rep -LA) and Demented Donnie got into a shouting match at a Senate luncheon yesterday over the bi-partisan Housing Affordability Bill and the Save America Act which seeks to impose new ID requirements on voters and curtail mail in voting (which the entire tRUMP family personally engages in).
“The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a sweeping, historic piece of bipartisan legislation that passed Congress by wide margins on June 23, 2026, to address the national housing crisis. Though heralded as the most significant overhaul of federal housing policy in a generation, President Donald Trump abruptly canceled the scheduled signing ceremony on June 24, 2026, declaring that he will withhold his signature until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, a separate and controversial voting legislation.
Because the housing bill passed with overwhelming, veto-proof majorities—85-5 in the Senate and 358-32 in the House—it can automatically become law within 10 days if the President does not officially veto it.
Key Provisions of the Legislation:
The bill contains no new spending, but instead targets the crisis by easing federal regulations, expanding the housing supply, and capping corporate market dominance:
Restricting Institutional Investors: It prohibits the nation's largest corporate landlords and Wall Street hedge funds (those owning 350 or more properties) from purchasing additional single-family homes to stop them from crowding out first-time buyers. It explicitly exempts build-to-rent developers to ensure new rental inventory keeps growing.Reforming Manufactured Housing:
The bill eliminates a five-decade-old federal requirement forcing factory-built homes to be built on a permanent chassis (wheeled base). The Bipartisan Policy Center estimates this fix alone will slash production costs by $5,000 to $10,000 per home.
Federal Incentives for Local Zoning: For the first time, local jurisdictions are offered federal grants to cover infrastructure costs (like sewage plants or elementary schools) if they reform strict local zoning laws and permit more construction.
Pre-Approved Housing Designs: Local and tribal governments can apply for funding to draft "pattern books" of pre-reviewed housing templates (like duplexes and accessory dwelling units), drastically cutting red tape and local design approval timelines.
Upgrading Existing Stock & Conversions: The act initiates grant pilot programs to repair aging homes, safely remove health hazards, and fund the conversion of vacant commercial office buildings into residential apartments.
Current Legislative Stand-OffThe legislation was a bicameral compromise spearheaded by a rare alliance between Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in the Senate, alongside Reps. French Hill (R-AR) and Maxine Waters (D-CA) in the House.
President Trump's sudden freeze of the bill has triggered immediate friction in Washington. Trump is leveraging his signature to force Senate Republicans to advance the SAVE America Act, an election reform bill requiring proof of citizenship and strict voter IDs.
However, Republican congressional leaders have privately informed the administration that they do not possess the necessary votes to pass the stalled election bill. Barring a formal presidential veto or an unexpected congressional adjournment, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is legally on track to pass into law without the President's signature.”
“The SAVE America Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) is a high-profile federal bill backed by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans that would fundamentally alter voter registration in the United States. The legislation primarily aims to mandate documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and introduce strict photo ID requirements for casting federal ballots. While the bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives in February 2026, it remains stalled in the Senate due to a lack of the 60 votes required to overcome a Democratic filibuster.
Current Political Standoff
The bill has become the center of a major legislative battle in Washington:
Trump's Leverage Strategy: President Trump has actively used his veto power to force action on the bill. On June 24, 2026, he abruptly canceled the signing of a major, veto-proof bipartisan housing package, declaring he will not approve it—or other crucial legislation—until Congress passes the SAVE America Act.
Filibuster Pressure: Trump has urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Republicans to abolish the legislative filibuster or fire the Senate parliamentarian to push the bill through with a simple majority. Republican leadership has resisted this, noting that even within their slim majority, a few moderate Republicans oppose the bill.
Reconciliation Alternative: House Speaker Mike Johnson recently unveiled a backup strategy to bypass the Senate impasse. He proposes embedding a state grant funding program tied to the SAVE America Act into a budget reconciliation package, though this has drawn mixed reactions from hardline conservatives.
Core Provisions of the Bill
According to the official text tracked on Congress.gov and the White House platform, the SAVE America Act amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to implement the following changes:In-Person Citizenship Proof:
- Applicants must present explicit physical documentation of U.S. citizenship when registering. Qualifying documents include a U.S. passport, a certified birth certificate, a Certificate of Naturalization, or a REAL ID indicating citizenship.
Strict Photo ID Mandates: Requires voters nationwide to present a narrow selection of government-issued photo IDs to cast an in-person or mail-in ballot.
Restricting Mail-In Voting: Restricts mail-in and postal voting exclusively to individuals with documented illnesses, disabilities, military service, or active travel. Mail-in applications and ballots would also require physical photocopies of a voter's ID.
Penalties for Election Workers: Establishes strict federal criminal penalties and permits private civil lawsuits against local election officials who register any voter without verifying physical citizenship papers.
Voter Roll Purges: Requires states to establish ongoing proactive screening systems to identify and purge noncitizens using federal databases, such as the Department of Homeland Security's SAVE system.”
My comments:
I utilized AI to generate the summaries of both Acts to provide background on this issue.
“The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is a sweeping, historic piece of bipartisan legislation that passed Congress by wide margins on June 23, 2026, to address the national housing crisis. Though heralded as the most significant overhaul of federal housing policy in a generation, President Donald Trump abruptly canceled the scheduled signing ceremony on June 24, 2026, declaring that he will withhold his signature until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, a separate and controversial voting legislation.
Because the housing bill passed with overwhelming, veto-proof majorities—85-5 in the Senate and 358-32 in the House—it can automatically become law within 10 days if the President does not officially veto it.
Key Provisions of the Legislation:
The bill contains no new spending, but instead targets the crisis by easing federal regulations, expanding the housing supply, and capping corporate market dominance:
Restricting Institutional Investors: It prohibits the nation's largest corporate landlords and Wall Street hedge funds (those owning 350 or more properties) from purchasing additional single-family homes to stop them from crowding out first-time buyers. It explicitly exempts build-to-rent developers to ensure new rental inventory keeps growing.Reforming Manufactured Housing:
The bill eliminates a five-decade-old federal requirement forcing factory-built homes to be built on a permanent chassis (wheeled base). The Bipartisan Policy Center estimates this fix alone will slash production costs by $5,000 to $10,000 per home.
Federal Incentives for Local Zoning: For the first time, local jurisdictions are offered federal grants to cover infrastructure costs (like sewage plants or elementary schools) if they reform strict local zoning laws and permit more construction.
Pre-Approved Housing Designs: Local and tribal governments can apply for funding to draft "pattern books" of pre-reviewed housing templates (like duplexes and accessory dwelling units), drastically cutting red tape and local design approval timelines.
Upgrading Existing Stock & Conversions: The act initiates grant pilot programs to repair aging homes, safely remove health hazards, and fund the conversion of vacant commercial office buildings into residential apartments.
Current Legislative Stand-OffThe legislation was a bicameral compromise spearheaded by a rare alliance between Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in the Senate, alongside Reps. French Hill (R-AR) and Maxine Waters (D-CA) in the House.
President Trump's sudden freeze of the bill has triggered immediate friction in Washington. Trump is leveraging his signature to force Senate Republicans to advance the SAVE America Act, an election reform bill requiring proof of citizenship and strict voter IDs.
However, Republican congressional leaders have privately informed the administration that they do not possess the necessary votes to pass the stalled election bill. Barring a formal presidential veto or an unexpected congressional adjournment, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is legally on track to pass into law without the President's signature.”
“The SAVE America Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act) is a high-profile federal bill backed by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans that would fundamentally alter voter registration in the United States. The legislation primarily aims to mandate documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and introduce strict photo ID requirements for casting federal ballots. While the bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives in February 2026, it remains stalled in the Senate due to a lack of the 60 votes required to overcome a Democratic filibuster.
Current Political Standoff
The bill has become the center of a major legislative battle in Washington:
Trump's Leverage Strategy: President Trump has actively used his veto power to force action on the bill. On June 24, 2026, he abruptly canceled the signing of a major, veto-proof bipartisan housing package, declaring he will not approve it—or other crucial legislation—until Congress passes the SAVE America Act.
Filibuster Pressure: Trump has urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Republicans to abolish the legislative filibuster or fire the Senate parliamentarian to push the bill through with a simple majority. Republican leadership has resisted this, noting that even within their slim majority, a few moderate Republicans oppose the bill.
Reconciliation Alternative: House Speaker Mike Johnson recently unveiled a backup strategy to bypass the Senate impasse. He proposes embedding a state grant funding program tied to the SAVE America Act into a budget reconciliation package, though this has drawn mixed reactions from hardline conservatives.
Core Provisions of the Bill
According to the official text tracked on Congress.gov and the White House platform, the SAVE America Act amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to implement the following changes:In-Person Citizenship Proof:
- Applicants must present explicit physical documentation of U.S. citizenship when registering. Qualifying documents include a U.S. passport, a certified birth certificate, a Certificate of Naturalization, or a REAL ID indicating citizenship.
Strict Photo ID Mandates: Requires voters nationwide to present a narrow selection of government-issued photo IDs to cast an in-person or mail-in ballot.
Restricting Mail-In Voting: Restricts mail-in and postal voting exclusively to individuals with documented illnesses, disabilities, military service, or active travel. Mail-in applications and ballots would also require physical photocopies of a voter's ID.
Penalties for Election Workers: Establishes strict federal criminal penalties and permits private civil lawsuits against local election officials who register any voter without verifying physical citizenship papers.
Voter Roll Purges: Requires states to establish ongoing proactive screening systems to identify and purge noncitizens using federal databases, such as the Department of Homeland Security's SAVE system.”
My comments:
I utilized AI to generate the summaries of both Acts to provide background on this issue.
