The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the anti-predatory lending bill by U.S. Reps. Mel Watt of Charlotte and Brad Miller of Raleigh.

The bill, HR 1728 would tighten regulations and require lenders to have proof that borrowers could actually repay their mortgages, Barb Barrett reports. The bill would also require that refinanced mortgages show an actual financial benefit to borrowers.

The legislation is aimed to prevent the surge of shady lending that took place in the runup to the current housing crisis.

The vote in the House on Thursday was 300-114.

In North Carolina, the state’s Democrats were joined in “yes” votes by Republican Rep. Walter Jones.

Republicans Howard Coble, Virginia Foxx, Patrick McHenry and Sue Myrick voted no.

The bill passed the House last Congress as well, but never got anywhere in the Senate. This year, it again goes to the Senate with an uncertain future, as there is no companion legislation.

But U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House financial services committee, told reporters he believes Democrats’ stronger majority in the Senate this year will give them the thrust to push the bill through.