President Donald Trump canceled a planned Wednesday signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing affordability bill, saying he will not sign it into law until Congress passes an elections measure known as the SAVE America Act.
The legislation, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, passed Congress by wide bipartisan margins.
Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social.
Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency. — President Donald Trump
Trump did not say in the post whether he intends to eventually sign or veto the housing bill. As of publication, it was unclear whether he would sign or veto it.
He also did not detail what specific progress on the SAVE America Act he is seeking before signing.
The cancellation leaves the bipartisan housing bill in limbo despite its passage through both chambers of Congress.
Background
The SAVE America Act, formally the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, would require people to show proof of U.S. citizenship before voting in federal elections and has faced opposition from Democrats. The housing measure is described as the most comprehensive housing legislation in decades, aiming to increase supply and lower costs, including by limiting institutional investors from purchasing certain single-family homes.
The House passed the bill Tuesday, one day after the Senate approved it. Hours before the cancellation, Trump separately downplayed the legislation as “of minor importance compared to lower interest rates.” Under the Constitution, a bill that has passed both chambers automatically becomes law if the president does not sign or veto it within 10 days, excluding Sundays, as long as lawmakers remain in session.
This is a developing story. Virginia Times will update as information becomes available.
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