'We're Taking A Leap In The Right Direction': Tim Scott Praises Bipartisan Work On Housing Crisis

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5 months ago

During a Senate Banking Committee hearing in July, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) spoke about the Road to Housing Act of 2025.

Transcript

00:01Well, now, because we have our quorum present, we'll move into executive session.

00:06I know many of you have proposals in this package that you may want to speak on.

00:12So that we can continue with the voting, we'll hold all the actual comments until

00:18after the vote.

00:19Any amendments will be called up in order of seniority as agreed to, but the ranking

00:23member senators will be permitted to speak on their amendment prior to voting on them.

00:28At this point, I'll give my opening statement.

00:30As many of you already know, this issue of housing is a really important issue to me personally.

00:35Having grown up in a single-parent household, mired in poverty, our first place that we

00:39lived was a rental unit with my grandparents when I was about seven years old, where we

00:44shared a bedroom and a bed with my mother and my brother for a few years.

00:48Then my mother was able to afford a small 650-square-foot apartment for the three of us to move into.

00:57So many Americans are frustrated by the rising cost of housing, and it seems to be a problem

01:04that is so elusive that no one seems to find not a solution to it, because there's not

01:09a solution to it, but even a step in the direction of solving a problem that is so persistent,

01:17so pervasive, that every place in the nation consistently deals with the struggle of increasing

01:23supply, lowering prices at the same time.

01:28For far too long, Congress believed this problem was too big to solve.

01:32Today we're taking a, not a step, but we're taking a leap in the right direction in a bipartisan

01:38fashion.

01:39Many people around the country, frustrated with the way we do American politics, wonder, is

01:45there any issue that brings this nation together?

01:47And I'm here to say hallelujah, we have found one, it is housing, and hallelujah is a southern

01:53term, but it's a term of endearment.

01:55So let us remember that today we are doing something that I frankly hope that we get more

02:01of.

02:02We've had this bipartisan coalition working together on issues of fentanyl that we did last Congress.

02:09I hope that this is a start and a spark for more cooperation on both sides of the aisle.

02:15Thank you to the ranking member for participating and rolling your sleeves up and really getting

02:19into the nitty gritty so that we would be in a position where we could get something done,

02:23not just make a point, but make a difference.

02:27Thank you to the contributions of every single member on this committee, which is really remarkable

02:31that we have a comprehensive housing bill where every member around this dais has made a significant

02:40investment in making America's housing crisis better.

02:46And that is such a blessing.

02:47We have so many provisions, 40 in all, 40 in total, that it would take more time than

02:52I have, more time than I'm permitting myself to have, to deal with these issues.

02:57But let me just highlight a few of them.

02:59Senator Crapel, the Housing Supply Frameworks Act equips cities and states with the tools

03:04to upgrade their zoning and land use policies without stifling federal mandates.

03:11Thank you for leading with Senator Blunt Rochester on this important issue.

03:16Senator Rounds, for years you and Senator Smith have advocated for rural housing.

03:23Today we are getting your legislation out of committee.

03:26Thank you both for your work and your interest in rural housing.

03:30Senator Tillis, as Carolinians, we both know how important it is to ensure that a natural

03:35disaster, when it hits, our constituents can count on relief to arrive quickly.

03:42Your Reforming Disaster Recovery Act will make CDBG disaster recovery program work as intended.

03:49Senator Kennedy, you and Ranking Member Warren took a novel idea to reward communities for their

03:56good work that they've done to increase housing supply and turned it into legislation.

04:02Thank you both for working on an innovative approach called Build Now Act.

04:09Senator Hagerty, for too long, NeighborWorks has been without an Inspector General.

04:16That will end because of you.

04:20Thank you for providing the type of oversight that will allow our efforts to be real and

04:26to have the accountability that is necessary.

04:30Senator Lummis, thank you for introducing the whole Home Repairs Act because no one should

04:37have to live in a home with mold, faulty wiring, or a leaky roof.

04:42This pilot program will be critical in providing help for housing programs and protect the long-term

04:49health of our neighborhoods.

04:52Senator Britt, your Helping More Families Save Act puts families first by promoting economic

04:58mobility and creating a pathway to build financial stability.

05:02This is a critical step towards long-term opportunity and generational wealth creation.

05:09Senator Ricketts, your Streamlining Rural Housing Act will enhance efficiency and eliminate

05:14duplicative regulatory requirements.

05:17This is an important component on the legislation we'll vote on today.

05:21Senator Banks, your work on the RESIDE Act is incredible in helping these strip malls see

05:30a better, brighter future, and that means less blight in local communities.

05:36Senator Kramer, the Choice in Affordable Housing Act streamlines inspections across federal programs.

05:41Your bill ensures that families aren't left waiting for housing just because there's

05:46a lack of coordination across the bureaucracy.

05:49Senator Moreno, you and I led the Community Investment and Prosperity Act, which will unlock

05:54billions of dollars of investment in affordable housing.

05:57Thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and we're glad that you won your race, and you're

06:01here to provide more investment in communities that need it desperately.

06:06Finally, Senator McCormick, your HUD USDA VA Interagency Coordination Act directs these agencies to

06:12work together to improve housing program implementation.

06:15Your bill will make government work better for those who need it most.

06:19I thank you for your service in the military, and I thank you for your service to your country

06:23as United States Senator.

06:25I look forward to working with my colleagues, outside stakeholders, HUD, FHA, and other federal

06:32agencies to ensure all participants in this crucial industry are treated fairly.

06:38Since taking over as ranking member of this committee last Congress, I pledged to make

06:41housing a top priority, and now as Chairman, I have an opportunity to work with you all

06:46to deliver on that promise.

06:48Fortunately my colleagues and I, on both sides of the aisle, share this vision.

06:52Today marks a very important first step toward jump-starting our housing development and making

06:57a real difference in the lives of Americans across the country.

07:00I want to thank my colleagues to the left for your hard work.

07:07There's so many, every piece of legislation I mention, almost every single one, is a bipartisan

07:13bill.

07:14Working together as a committee proves to the American people that we can get things done,

07:19and it requires, frankly, bipartisanship to get to the President's desk.

07:23So that is an exciting thing.

07:25I now move to call up the Renewing Opportunity and the American Dream to Housing Act of two

07:30in 2025, known as the Road to Housing Act.

07:32I ask unanimous consent that we dispense with the reading of all amendments.

07:36Senators will find printed copies in front of them, the text of which has already been

07:40made available.

07:41Is there any objection?

07:43objection?

07:44So ordered.

07:45I now call up Lumas Amendment 5.

'We're Taking A Leap In The Right Direction': Tim Scott Praises Bipartisan Work On Housing Crisis

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