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For nearly five years, former U.S. Marine Samuel Royer has spearheaded efforts to pass the HELPER Act, a bipartisan bill designed to make homeownership more accessible for America’s civil servants — including teachers, first responders, EMTs and law enforcement officers.
The act would provide affordable mortgage opportunities without requiring a down payment or monthly mortgage insurance. This mirrors the benefits offered to military veterans through VA home loans.
“This bill is about honoring the people who serve our communities every single day,” Royer said in an interview with HousingWire. “Teachers shape our future, police officers keep us safe, firefighters run toward danger, and EMTs save lives. They all deserve the opportunity to own a home.”
Despite widespread support from organizations nationwide and dozens of congressional co-sponsors, the bill has faced repeated obstacles.
First brought before Congress in 2021, the HELPER Act has been reintroduced multiple times since but has yet to pass. According to Royer, the primary roadblock has been political ideology rather than substantive concerns.
“This isn’t a subsidy bill,” he emphasized. “We’re not asking for taxpayer money. There’s no reason for anyone, Republican or Democrat, to oppose this. And yet, we have members of Congress who simply don’t believe in government helping people.”
In addition to his time in the U.S. Marine Corps, Royer is a long-time member of the real estate industry. He currently works as chief production officer for Florida-based Salute Home Loans, a division of Capital Federal Credit Union.
Congressional support and opposition
Royer recalls early bipartisan backing for the bill, particularly from Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), who co-sponsored the HELPER Act in the 117th Congress. But in the next legislative session, Crapo withdrew his support.
“The only reason he didn’t join again was because Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) told him not to,” Royer said. “It wasn’t about the merits of the bill — it was about politics. They didn’t want Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), the Democrat leading the effort, to get a win. And that’s what’s wrong with Washington.”
In the 118th Congress, the bill gained momentum by securing 31 Senate co-sponsors and more than 100 House co-sponsors. More than 600 national, state and local organizations endorsed the measure. But with each election cycle bringing congressional turnover, advocacy efforts have had to restart repeatedly, Royer said.
“We built momentum, then had to start all over again with new members,” he said. “It’s frustrating, but we’re not giving up.”
Teacher inclusion draws backlash
One of the most contentious issues has been the inclusion of teachers in the HELPER Act. Royer said multiple lawmakers told him they would support the bill — if teachers were removed.
“This is the sad truth,” he said. “Some senior members of Congress have told me directly, ‘The bill would pass if you drop teachers.’”
Royer attributes this opposition to political animosity toward teachers’ unions, which overwhelmingly donate to Democratic candidates.
“This isn’t about unions. It’s about individual teachers,” Royer said. “My dad was a teacher. A lot of these members of Congress have parents who were teachers. But because of political grudges against unions, they refuse to support a bill that helps the very people who educated them.”
According to a 2024 report from Redfin, the average teacher could afford to buy only 14% of the homes for sale near their school districts, down from nearly 40% in 2019.
To illustrate the impact teachers can have, Royer pointed to a well-known story involving renowned actor and wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
“I went to high school with Dwayne,” he said. “He’s talked many times about how his football coach, Jody Swick, changed his life. That coach was also a teacher. So are we supposed to pretend that people like him don’t matter?”
Johnson has publicly credited Swick with helping him turn his life around as a teenager, a story he has shared in interviews, including one with Oprah Winfrey.
“Teachers shape lives,” Royer said. “And yet we have legislators refusing to support them simply because of politics. It’s disgraceful.”
What’s next?
Now in its third legislative round in the 119th Congress, the HELPER Act has started again from square one. Currently, it has eight Senate co-sponsors and 15 House members backing it, having been reintroduced in the House in mid-March
“We’re fighting round three,” Royer said. “And we’re going to keep fighting until we get this across the finish line.”
Advocates are urging supporters to contact their representatives and push for the bill’s passage, with more information available at passthehelperact.org.
“If you honor cops, if you honor firefighters, if you honor teachers, you should support this bill,” Royer said. “This isn’t about politics. It’s about doing the right thing for the people who serve our communities.”
