America’s housing crisis isn’t just a “housing” issue; it’s an economic mobility issue. When families can’t afford to live near good jobs, good schools, or access to reliable transportation, opportunity shrinks.

The Housing for the 21st Century Act is the kind of practical, pro-supply step that can help unlock more homes and more affordability, by making it easier for communities to build.

But it’s also a reminder of the bigger problem: Congress tends to treat national challenges like isolated battles, passing one-off bills while the underlying system keeps crushing Americans' widely shared aspirations for better job opportunities, education and healthcare. This bill is merely appeasement.

Congress has no excuse for not moving forward on a comprehensive Grand Bargain that improves every American's prospects while reining in an unsustainable national debt.