Senate Includes CIG Housing Provision in National Defense Authorization Act

The U.S. Senate passed S. 2296, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (NDAA) Oct. 9. This week, the leaders of the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services are expected to begin bipartisan, bicameral negotiations regarding the NDAA bill.

The NDAA bill includes the APTA-endorsed S. 2363, the Build More Housing Near Transit Act of 2025.

S. 2363, introduced by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Jim Banks (R-IN), amends the ratings process for New Start and Core Capacity projects seeking funding through the Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program. Specifically, the bill allows for a positive adjustment for the project justification rating if the project sponsor submits documented evidence of pro-housing policies.

In July, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; and Ranking Member Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) included S. 2363 in S. 2561, the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025. Chairman Scott offered the ROAD to Housing Act as an amendment to the NDAA, and the Senate adopted the amendment.

View APTA’s fact sheet on the Build More Housing Near Transit Act.