SUMMARY

A sweeping new housing bill is set to become law, even without the president's signature. The measure passed Congress with bipartisan support, but President Trump refused to sign it in protest of the GOP Senate’s failure to approve his election legislation, known as the SAVE Act. Barring a last-minute veto, the bill will usher in new housing regulations and incentives. Lisa Desjardins reports.

View the transcript of the story.

NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

TIME STAMP: Watch from the START of the video above to 3:55 for the discussion of the housing bill. The remainder of the segment is an update on the health of Senator Mitch McConnell.

News alternative: Check our recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Who supported the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act? Who did not?
2. What are the most important elements of the bill?
3. When was the steel chassis requirement for manufactured housing created and what difficulties did it present?
4. Where in the country will there be new protections for family housing subsidies?
5. How long does Desjardins think it will take for the majority of these provisions to affect the housing market directly?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

1. Do you think addressing the supply side of housing was the right approach for Congress to take? What impact will this bill have on the affordability crisis?
2. What is the significance of this legislation passing with strong bipartisan support? Why do you think this doesn't this happen more often?
3. How else do you think the U.S. government (or state/local governments) could improve the affordability of housing?

Media literacy: Take a look at the below graphic from the National Low Income Housing Coalition displaying the extreme racial disparity in American household tenure. Then, answer the following questions.

1. From what you have heard, do you think the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will address these disparities?
2. Can you think of any historical examples of policies that might have contributed to this problem?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

Conduct a survey to assess the state of the housing crisis in your community. Find five adults you know and, if they are comfortable, ask them the following questions:

1. Do you rent or own your home?
2. How long have you lived there? Has your housing cost burden changed during that time?
3. Have you ever benefited from cost-controlled or subsidized housing?
4. How do you feel about the housing market right now? Can you think of any policies aimed at solving the affordability crisis that have been successful?

When you have completed your interviews, write a brief summary detailing what you have learned. Be sure to include a section at the end analyzing what impact, if any, you think the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will have on any issues outlined by your interviewees.

Written by PBS News Hour Classroom's Intern Henry Mode and Luke Gerwe.

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