NCRC 2026
Policy Priorities
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In 2026, NCRC will continue to advocate for a banking system that works for LMI communities and support federal and private investment in affordable housing, small businesses, and CDFIs. NCRC will also explore opportunities to advocate for state and local policies that help close the steep wealth divide. We will be proactive in defending existing laws and regulations, like the Community Reinvestment Act, that strengthen equal credit access and promote fair lending. We invite all sectors — the government, the financial industry, and community groups — to work with us to build a just economy for all.
Working with our 700+ state and local members across 40+ states, our strategic priorities include:
1
Make Banking Work for LMI Communities
NCRC Supports:
The Close the Shadow Banking Loophole Act (S.3538), which will close the “industry loan company” (ILC) loophole by requiring commercial firms that own FDIC-insured banks to submit to the same Federal Reserve consolidated supervision requirements as traditional bank holding companies. It would level the playing field by requiring nonfinancial firms that own FDIC-insured ILCs, such as automakers and tech companies, to be subject to supervision and oversight, thereby promoting a fairer, safer banking system that protects consumers and expands community access to credit.
NCRC Opposes:
- The Main Street Capital Access Act (H.R.6955), which is an omnibus bill that includes many poison pill provisions that would weaken meaningful public participation and accountability, hamstring prudential supervision and tilt the playing field for banks at the expense of consumers and LMI communities. We especially oppose provisions in H.R. 6955 that would fast track mergers while disregarding community input, remove anti-trust review for 97% of bank applications, and make bank consolidation easier.
- The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (H.R.3633), the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act (S.3755) and the Responsible Financial Innovation Act of 2025 (S. TBA): Crypto companies must be accountable to LMI communities. NCRC opposes any digital asset market structure legislation that does not include measurable commitments to LMI communities and strong consumer and small business protections. The current framework risks encouraging regulatory arbitrage, fraud, and deposit flight that undercuts banks’ ability to lend and invest in already financially vulnerable communities.
2
Increase Affordable Housing Supply & Protect LMI Buyers From Investor Takeover
NCRC Supports:
- The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R.6644) is a bipartisan package to increase the supply of affordable housing across the country. The bill combines core elements of the House’s 21st Century Act and the Senate’s ROAD to Housing Act. The bill would increase the Public Welfare Investment (PWI) cap from 15% to 20%, modernize the HOME Investment Partnerships Program and ban institutional investors from buying single-family homes.
- The Downpayment Toward Equity Act (H.R.4069) would provide $100 billion in direct assistance to first-time homebuyers in LMI communities. This includes financial assistance for downpayments, closing costs, and to help buydown mortgage interest rates. HUD would provide grants of up to $20,000 for first-time homebuyers and $25,000 for socially and economically disadvantaged homebuyers.
- The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act (H.R.2854/S.1686) is a bipartisan piece of legislation that creates a federal tax credit to support the development and rehabilitation of single-family homes in LMI communities. The tax credits would be administered by state housing finance agencies and awarded to developers, Community Development Fund Institution (CDFIs) and Community Development Corporations (CDCs) who can use it towards gap financing, which fills the gap between what a bank lends, and the total capital needed for projects.
3
Fund CDFI Programs and Support Small Business Owners
NCRC Supports:
- Continued funding of the CDFI Fund via $324 million in FY2027 appropriations.
- The Access to Fair Financing for Opportunity and Resilient Development (AFFORD) Act (S.3940) is a bipartisan package of CDFI provisions that will strengthen federal support for CDFIs nationwide. We support the inclusion of these provisions in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, or in a standalone bill. The four main provisions include:
The CDFI Fund Transparency Act (S.2704), which would require the Treasury Secretary to testify annually before the Senate Banking and House Financial Services committees regarding the operations of the CDFI Fund.
The CDFI Bond Guarantee Improvement Act (S.1880), which would make the CDFI Fund’s Bond Guarantee Program permanent and reduces the minimum loan size from $100 million to $25 million, making the program more accessible to smaller CDFIs.
The Scaling Community Lenders Act (S.1442), which would authorize the Treasury Secretary to use dividends from the Emergency Capital Investment Program (ECIP) to fund private liquidity facilities that would expand the capacity of CDFIs so that they increase lending in secondary urban and rural markets.
The Native CDFI Relending Program, which would expand Section 502’s Relending Demonstration Program for CDFIs that are increasing access to homeownership for Native Americans residing in tribal lands.
The Investing in the American Dream Act (HR/S.TBA) codifies the previous SBA policy, allowing eligible noncitizens—including green-card holders, refugees, DACA recipients, and asylees—to access SBA financing so long as their business is in the US and is at least 51% owned by a US citizen or an eligible individual legally authorized to work and live in the U.S.