U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) is defending the most sweeping housing bill in a generation against criticism from fellow Alabama U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, who voted against the legislation and claimed much of its money would go to immigrants living in the country illegally.

Tuberville (R-Auburn), one of five Republicans to oppose the bill, laid out his objections in a Fox News interview Wednesday with host Martha MacCallum. He said the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act routes most of its money through the Department of Housing and Urban Development and adds to the national debt.

“We’re giving more money to an apartment that, to me, is just pushing money out the door, and we don’t know where it goes most of the times,” Tuberville said. He claimed much of the spending would benefit people in the country illegally, saying it is “gonna go to a lot of people that are here illegally to build houses for them.” Tuberville said the bill would do little for the middle class and pointed to a different fix: “If you want to fix housing, drop the interest rate — that’s how you fix housing and make it more affordable.”

Britt, who chairs the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development and secured several of her own bills into the package, rejected that characterization directly.

RELATED: Katie Britt, Tommy Tuberville split on housing affordability bill

“The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act appropriates zero dollars and maintains that illegal aliens are not eligible for HUD housing assistance,” Senator Britt said in a statement to Yellowhammer News.

“What the bill does accomplish is helping move more people from government dependence to economic independence, helping disabled veterans access crucial housing assistance, and helping preserve housing access for more than 400,000 rural families, among a number of other initiatives to make housing more affordable for Americans. There is still more work to be done to ensure young families have an opportunity to own a home, but this bill makes meaningful changes to address our nation’s affordable housing crisis.”

The split surfaced as the bill awaits action from the White House. The legislation cleared both chambers this week, 85-5 in the Senate on Monday and 358-32 in the House on Tuesday, and was sent to the president’s desk.

President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a Wednesday signing ceremony, saying he would hold off until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, a measure requiring proof of citizenship to register and photo ID to vote in federal elections.

Under the Constitution, the bill becomes law without his signature if he does not veto it within 10 days, excluding Sundays, while Congress remains in session.