U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar cheered the passage of a bipartisan housing bill by Congress. Democrats, though, quickly noted the Republican Congresswoman didn’t vote for it. The South Florida Republican missed the vote because of the death of her mother.
Salazar celebrated passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (HR 6644), which cleared the House on a 358-32 vote.
“In South Florida, housing costs are one of the biggest concerns I hear about. Too many families are working hard, playing by the rules, and still struggling to afford a home,” Salazar posted on Facebook. “That’s why I supported this bipartisan legislation. We need to build more housing, cut through unnecessary red tape, and make it easier for families to achieve homeownership.”
However, Salazar missed the vote, something the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee quickly pointed out.
“Miami voters are being priced out of their homes, their neighborhoods, and their communities,” reads statement from DCCC spokesperson Madison Andrus. “If María Elvira Salazar is misleading her constituents and taking credit for votes she couldn’t be bothered to show up for, then Miamians will replace her with a real leader who will fight for their ability to afford housing for their families.”
Salazar indeed missed the vote, and all those cast this week, because of her mother’s death. But her office provided a statement saying she had helped shape the bill through the process.
“Rep. Salazar has consistently supported this legislation throughout the legislative process. She voted for the bill in the House Financial Services Committee and twice on the House floor to advance it to the Senate,” reads a statement from her office.
“The final package also includes her RESIDE Act, one of her signature housing priorities, reflecting her leadership in shaping the legislation. Her support for this bill has been clear and consistent from the beginning.”
Salazar originally released the Revitalizing Empty Structures Into Desirable Environments (RESIDE) Act in September.
Of course, it’s possible the legislation never becomes law regardless of its level of support. President Donald Trump was expected to sign the legislation at an event on Capitol Hill this week but he canceled it amid a fight with the Senate over passage of an election reform bill.
The DCCC last year identified Salazar’s seat among Florida’s “Districts in Play” in the 2026 election cycle.