CARH’S BROADCAST EMAIL – Legislative Update

April 22, 2016

It has a busy week for the House and Senate Appropriations Committees as the budget process continues in the Congress. As was reported in CARH’s April 15^th Broadcast Email, the House Agriculture, Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Subcommittee favorably reported to the full House Appropriations Committee its version of a funding bill for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. On April 19^th, the full Committee considered the Subcommittee’s recommendations and agreed to pass the bill. There were no changes to the recommended funding levels for the housing programs administered by Rural Development’s (RD) Rural Housing Service. The attached chart shows these funding levels, all of which are either the same amount or increases over the current FY 2016 levels.

The Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee has yet to schedule action on its version of a funding bill. However, the Transportation Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (T-HUD) Subcommittee reported its version of an FY 2017 funding bill to the full Appropriations Committee on April 19.  The full Committee approved the bill on April 21. The bill would provide $56.5 billion for programs under the jurisdiction of the T-HUD Subcommittee; $39.2 billion of this total funding package would be for HUD programs, an increase of $891 million above the FY 2016 levels, but $446 million below the Administration’s FY 2017 budget request. The attached chart provides an overview of the recommended funding levels.

The HOME program would receive $950 million, which is the FY 2017 budget request and the same level as the FY 2016 enacted level. As CARH members know, the HOME program was nearly eliminated in FY 2016, but due to efforts of the industry, funding was restored in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113). $11.6 billion would be provided for project based Section 8 rental assistance, a $ 351 million increase over the FY 2016 enacted level. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program would be funded at $3 billion the FY 2016 level of funding and $200 million more than the FY 2016 budget request.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has stated that the plan is to spend 12 weeks on appropriations bills and process as many as possible in that period. The Senate is currently working on H.R. 2028, the Energy and Water Appropriations bill. The Senate leadership has not yet scheduled floor time for the T-HUD bill, nor has the related House Appropriations Subcommittee yet scheduled consideration of its version of the FY 2017 funding bill.

CARH will continue to update members on the FY 2017 budget developments. As indicated in previous emails, the Congressional calendar will be condensed this year due to the November Presidential and Congressional elections. CARH’s Annual Meeting and Legislative Conference will be an important time for CARH members to meet with their members of Congress and staff. At the same time, it is important that CARH members continue your grassroots efforts now so that your Senators and Representatives understand the importance of funding all affordable housing programs.

To contact your Senators, click here.

To contact your Representatives, click here.

Please contact the CARH national office at carh@carh.org or 703-837-9001 should you have questions.