Housing Bill Becomes Federal Law Automatically After Congress Clears Veto-Proof Margins

The 21st Century Road to Housing Act became U.S. federal law at 12:01 a.m. Saturday without President Trump's signature. The president declined to sign the legislation after Congress passed it last month.

The measure cleared the House by a 358-32 vote and the Senate by an 85-5 margin. Those tallies exceed the two-thirds threshold needed to override a veto. President Trump said Friday he will not sign the housing bill and linked his decision to the Senate's failure to pass the SAVE America Act.

The SAVE America Act would require photo identification to vote and proof of citizenship to register. President Trump canceled a planned signing ceremony for the housing bill in June over the same demand. He did not state that he would veto the legislation.

The National Association of Realtors reported that the median price of an existing home sold in June reached $440,600, up 1.8 percent from a year earlier. Rep. Jason Crow stated that the rising cost of mortgages and rent are hitting Americans hard.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said last month there is not enough support in the Republican caucus to eliminate the filibuster and advance the SAVE America Act. President Trump urged fellow Republicans to prioritize the election bill before November's midterm elections.