U.S. Senator Mike Rounds announced on Mar. 12 that the Senate has passed the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, which includes several key housing priorities for South Dakota authored by Rounds. The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
The passage of this bill is significant because it aims to address longstanding challenges in rural housing and streamline federal processes that can delay development. It also seeks to give communities more flexibility in finding local solutions to housing needs.
Rounds said, “Access to safe, affordable housing is essential to the strength of our communities and the future of South Dakota.” He added, “The 21st Century Road to Housing Act includes several of my bills that modernize rural housing programs and cut unnecessary red tape that slows housing development. These provisions will help expand our housing supply, especially in rural areas where the need is greatest. President Trump and Secretary Scott Turner have made it clear that increasing America’s housing supply is a national priority. This legislation is an important step toward making housing more accessible and affordable for families across South Dakota and the country.”
Among the measures included are updates to the Rural Housing Service, which would modernize U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, align income calculations with Department of Housing and Urban Development standards, streamline foreclosure processes, invest in technology upgrades, ease access to home repair loans, and expand eligibility for loan guarantees. The reforms could help preserve stable housing for about 400,000 rural families nationwide.
Other provisions include efforts to modernize environmental review processes under NEPA for HUD-funded projects and increase cooperation between federal agencies and local governments through delegated reviews. The comprehensive proposal was sponsored by Senators Tim Scott and Elizabeth Warren.
According to the official website, Mike Rounds serves as U.S. Senator for South Dakota and holds membership on committees such as Appropriations and Armed Services. He joined the Senate on Jan. 6, 2015, representing South Dakota with offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Aberdeen, and Washington D.C.
The broader impact of this legislation could be seen in expanded homeownership opportunities, reduced homelessness rates, improved disaster recovery support, increased access for veterans, strengthened program oversight, and better use of taxpayer dollars.
