CBDC language tucked into housing bill
Social reporting claims Congress inserted CBDC provisions into a housing bill, a stealth move that critics say could pave the way for a government‑controlled digital dollar despite reported public opposition. The post frames this as a policy backdoor that warrants scrutiny as legislation moves. (x.com)
The Senate approved the substitute version of H.R.6644 — titled the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act — on March 12, 2026 by a 89–10 vote. (congress.gov) The Senate amendment added a new Section (Sec. 1001) that would bar the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve and any Federal Reserve Bank from issuing or creating a central bank digital currency “directly or indirectly” for the covered period, with the prohibition running through December 31, 2030. (govtrack.us) The amendment’s draft text treats a CBDC as a dollar‑denominated digital asset that is a direct liability of the Federal Reserve while explicitly preserving an exception for dollar‑denominated currencies that are “open, permissionless, and private” (commonly described as private stablecoins). (tradingview.com) The CBDC language was not in the version of H.R.6644 initially passed by the House and was folded into the package via the Senate substitute after negotiations in the Banking Committee, a move sources say House conservatives pushed during bipartisan talks. (paymentexpert.com) Two procedural votes highlighted the bill’s rapid trajectory: the Senate voted 84–6 to advance consideration on March 2, 2026 and then recorded the 89–10 final passage on March 12, 2026, but congressional analysts say the Senate’s amendments — including the CBDC clause — make the bill’s path in the House uncertain. (cryptoninjas.net) Heritage Foundation economist Peter St. Onge posted a viral X thread claiming the measure was being “sneaked” into a must‑pass housing bill and citing public opposition figures (his post was reported to have amassed roughly 195,700 views and several thousand engagements by March 26, 2026). (blockonomi.com)
