Appropriations Leaders Consider Third Continuing Resolution as Federal Budget Talks Inch Forward

Appropriations leaders in the House and Senate are considering a third continuing resolution (CR) to extend funding for the federal government and give appropriators more time to enact a federal funding bill for fiscal year (FY) 2022, which began on October 1, 2021. The current CR expires on February 18, leaving lawmakers with less than two weeks to reach an agreement on and enact all 12 appropriations bills.

Congressional appropriators have been locked in a stalemate over topline funding for FY2022, with Democrats pushing for significant increases in social spending programs and Republicans insisting such spending receive no more funding than defense spending. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Richard Shelby (R-AL), the chair and ranking members of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, respectively, and Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Kay Granger (R-TX), the chair and ranking members of the House Committee on Appropriations, have reportedly made progress in reaching an agreement on topline funding in recent days, and a topline funding number could be released this week.

The FY22 spending bill presents Congress with an opportunity to move the nation towards universal, stable, and affordable homes for all by making significant investments in affordable housing, including by expanding the Housing Choice Vouchers program to an additional 125,000 households with low incomes. The House spending bill would provide HUD programs with almost $7 billion more than was provided in fiscal year 2021 and guarantee significant funding increases for nearly all HUD programs, including an expansion of rental assistance through the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance program to an additional 125,000 households. The Senate proposal, however, would provide HUD with over $1 billion less than the House proposal and would not include any major expansion of rental assistance.

Take Action!

Advocates should continue to urge members of Congress to enact a final spending bill that provides the most possible funding for affordable housing and community development programs and includes the House proposal to expand rental assistance to an additional 125,000 households.

Contact your members of Congress today and urge them to enact an FY22 spending bill that includes the major expansion of housing vouchers included in the House bill.