Speak Up For Housing: Essential Advocacy Points for December 2025  

Following 43-Day Shutdown, Congress is Back to Work 

 Congress ended its 43-Day Government Shutdown in November, passing a Continuing Resolution (CR) maintaining FY 25 funding levels through January 30, 2026.  

• Congress has passed 3 out of12 of the Appropriations Bills  

• Congress must pass the remaining 9 Appropriations Bills before January 30, including the Transportation-HUD Bill. Congress could also combine these bills into small (minibus) or large (omnibus) packages for the remaining bills, depending on how they think they can best deal with the remaining funding bills.   

• Typically, these are done during the holiday season, providing some pressure for lawmakers to pass the bills before leaving Washington.  

• Congress has the option to pass another CR if unable to pass the 12 Total Bills by January 30, 2026 

Congress Leaves Housing Packages Out of End of Year Defense Bill 

The House did not include two bipartisan housing bills in its annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – a massive, end of year, must pass bill. As part of the much larger package, Congress is able to include bills that are both directly and indirectly tied to national defense, passing them into law. The House and Senate draft separate versions of the bill and later decide which provisions will make it into the final version of the package.  

• The House version left off the bipartisan HOME Reform Act, introduced by Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), though it may be included in the House markup next week.  

• The House version also left off the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act, a large-scale housing package that was included in the Senate’s NDAA bill.  

NAHRO Advocacy Awards are Now Open! 

Do you know any great housing advocates that you think should be recognized? NAHRO’s Advocacy Award nominations are now open! The award recognizes members for their outstanding and innovative achievements in legislative advocacy. This year, NAHRO will recognize both an individual and an agency with the Advocacy Award at NAHRO’s 2026 Washington Conference. Please complete our brief application for consideration (sign in required): NAHRO’s Advocacy Award Application