DCUC Commends Senate Passage of H.R. 6644, “Housing for the 21st Century Act”

Anthony Hernandez

​The Defense Credit Union Council (DCUC) commends the U.S. Senate for passing H.R. 6644, “Housing for the 21st Century Act,” aimed at addressing the nation’s growing housing affordability crisis.
 
DCUC urges both House and Senate leaders to work together to quickly finalize a comprehensive package that expands access to affordable housing and includes bipartisan Central Liquidity Facility (CLF) modernization language championed by Senators Alex Padilla and Kevin Cramer.
 
“The Senate’s action to advance housing affordability legislation is an important step toward addressing one of the most pressing financial challenges facing American families,” said Anthony Hernandez, DCUC President/CEO. “Credit unions stand ready to support solutions that expand access to homeownership and strengthen financial stability for all families and communities nationwide. As lawmakers work to finalize the bill, we strongly encourage inclusion of the bipartisan Padilla–Cramer CLF provisions to ensure credit unions maintain the liquidity tools necessary to continue serving members during times of economic stress.”
 
DCUC has been actively advocating on behalf of credit unions nationwide as Congress considers policy solutions to the housing crisis.
 
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s The Gap report, the United States faces a shortage of 7.3 million affordable homes for extremely low-income renters, leaving only 34 affordable and available units per 100 households in need. At the same time, federal data show nearly half of renter households are cost-burdened, and more than 8.5 million very low-income renters experience severe housing cost burdens, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Worst Case Housing Needs report.
 
For military families, these challenges are often compounded by frequent relocations, rising housing costs near installations, and housing allowances that may lag behind market trends.
 
“Military families face unique housing affordability challenges, and credit unions continue assist in these areas by providing solutions through innovative mortgage products, financial counseling, and affordable housing investments,” said Jason Stverak, DCUC Chief Advocacy Officer. “Ensuring credit unions have reliable emergency liquidity through modernization of the CLF will help maintain mortgage lending continuity, strengthen financial readiness, and support housing stability in military and civilian communities alike.”
 
Additionally, credit unions serve a critical role in helping service members and their families achieve and maintain homeownership by specializing in VA home loans, offering low- or zero-down payment mortgage products, supporting first-time homebuyer programs and financial literacy initiatives, and investing in community-based affordable housing efforts. By providing affordable financial services and responsible lending options, credit unions help families avoid predatory lending and build long-term financial resilience.
 
“DCUC looks forward to continuing to work with Congress and the Administration to ensure the final housing package strengthens housing affordability solutions and supports financial institutions that help make stable homeownership possible for millions of Americans,” says Hernandez.
 
Learn more about DCUC’s recent advocacy on this topic here.
 
1. National Low Income Housing Coalition, The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes (2024).
2. Congressional Research Service. Housing Cost Burdens in 2023: In Brief (2024).
3. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Worst Case Housing Needs: 2023 Report to Congress.

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