NYSPHADA Update - Appropriations Logjam Finally Breaks
Created: 2009-12-10 07:25:08
APPROPRIATIONS LOGJAM FINALLY BREAKS
The Fiscal Year 2010 Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill (which funds public and assisted housing programs) has been packaged together with five other outstanding appropriations bills into an "omnibus" bill. The legislation had been stalled for weeks, as Congressional leadership chose to hold several appropriations bills hostage in order to focus Congress' attention on health care reform. Although Federal Fiscal Year 2010 began on October 1,
2009, only five of the twelve appropriations bills have been passed by Congress and signed by the President. Much of the government has been funded since October 1st by a Continuing Resolution, which continues funding at Fiscal Year 2009 levels. The Continuing Resolution will expire on December 18, 2009.
The bill could be cleared by the United States House of Representatives as early as the end of this week, with Senate action expected next week. If this process is not successful by December 18, then Congress must pass another short-term Continuing Resolution. We are very hopeful for swift passage this week and will keep you informed.
The public housing operating fund is provided $4.775 billion, an increase of $320 million above the Fiscal Year 2009 level, and the public housing capital fund is provided $2.5 billion. The Section 8 housing choice voucher program is funded at $18.2 billion, which is $1.2 billion over the Fiscal Year 2009 level. The HOPE VI program is increased by $80 million over Fiscal Year 2009 to a level of $200 million. The Administration's newly proposed Choice Neighborhoods program is provided $65 million. There was a $1 billion difference between the total spending levels of the House and Senate bills, and many programs received less than what was originally passed by the House and Senate. It is due to your efforts that Congress did not choose to make up their funding shortfalls with reductions in public and assisted housing programs, and instead provided increases. Congratulations!
SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER REFORM ACT REMAINS IN HOLDING PATTERN
While the appropriations process has become active again, the authorizing process remains on hold. Although the House Financial Services Committee passed the Section Eight Voucher Reform Act (SEVRA) this past Summer, it has not yet been debated on the House floor. The causes of the delay include a very full Financial Services Committee agenda dedicated to addressing the current economic crisis, and remaining controversies concerning the bill. It is very doubtful that floor debate on SEVRA will take place until next year. The Senate Banking Committee has not yet considered companion legislation.
Please contact me any time with questions or comments. Thank you.
Melody H. Fennel
Fennel Consulting, LLC
101 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Suite 900 East
Washington, D.C. 20001
phone: 202.742-4557
fax: 202.315-3045