The US Senate voted 85-5 on Tuesday to pass a major housing affordability bill that also blocks the Federal Reserve from launching a central bank digital currency until 2030. The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives, where its fate is uncertain.
What the bill covers
The measure is described by lawmakers as a broad effort to tackle rising home prices and rental costs, though specific provisions were not detailed in the vote summary. The 85-5 margin signals bipartisan support in the Senate, with only a handful of dissenting votes.
The CBDC moratorium
A key element of the bill is a prohibition on the Federal Reserve from creating or issuing a central bank digital currency before 2030. The ban halts any work the Fed might be doing on a digital dollar, effectively freezing the project for nearly six years. Supporters of the moratorium argued that the US needs more time to study the implications of a CBDC, including privacy concerns and potential impacts on the banking system. Opponents said the ban could leave the US behind other countries that are already experimenting with digital currencies.
The vote came after months of debate on the Senate floor, with both parties framing the bill as a response to rising housing costs that have strained American households. The CBDC provision was added as an amendment during committee markup.
No further details on the housing provisions — such as tax credits, zoning reforms, or rental assistance — were included in the official vote record. The bill's full text has not been publicly released in a consolidated form.
The House is expected to take up the bill after the current recess. Leadership has not yet signaled whether they will bring it to the floor or propose changes.
