Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Penn., and Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., the co-chairs of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, say they are committed to ensuring a housing bill reaches President Trump's desk and becomes law, even though the president has refused to sign it.
The two members of Congress discussed their strategy in an interview with NPR's Michel Martin. The housing legislation represents one of the bipartisan group's key legislative priorities for this session.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic leaders have largely backed the co-chairs' efforts, viewing the push as a test of congressional authority against executive resistance. Rep. Tom Suozzi, speaking on behalf of the Democratic caucus members of the Problem Solvers Caucus, has emphasized that housing policy requires bipartisan cooperation and that legislative action should not be blocked by one person in the executive branch.
Progressive advocacy groups aligned with Democrats have argued that housing affordability remains a critical issue requiring federal intervention. They say Congress must act when the executive branch refuses to do so.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican supporters of the effort, including co-chair Brian Fitzpatrick, argue that the bipartisan nature of the legislation demonstrates its merit and that the group will use all available procedural tools to advance the bill. Supporters note that housing policy has traditionally attracted Republican support when it includes market-based solutions.
Conservative critics within the GOP have expressed concern about congressional efforts to circumvent presidential priorities, arguing that such moves could set problematic precedents for future legislative-executive relations.
What the Numbers Show
The Problem Solvers Caucus comprises 58 members split evenly between Democrats and Republicans. The group has successfully advanced bipartisan legislation in past sessions by requiring supermajority support among its membership before advancing any bill publicly.
The specific housing measure at issue would address certain federal housing policy questions that have been under discussion for months, though detailed provisions were not fully outlined in initial reporting on the co-chairs' remarks.
The Bottom Line
The co-chairs' commitment to force the housing bill into law suggests they are prepared to use procedural mechanisms available to Congress, potentially including discharge petitions or other procedural tools that could bypass traditional legislative pathways. Their success would depend on securing sufficient votes from both parties in both chambers.
The outcome of this effort will be watched closely as a signal of congressional willingness to challenge executive branch priorities and the durability of bipartisan cooperation on domestic policy issues.