The Senate began consideration on October 22 of a four-bill spending package for fiscal year (FY) 2020 that includes funding for affordable housing and community development programs at HUD and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), as well as several key amendments. The chamber will continue debate on the package this week.
The Senate spending bill provides modest funding increases for affordable housing programs, clearly rejecting President Trump’s call for deep cuts to and even the elimination of affordable housing investments. Overall, the bill provides HUD programs with more than $11.9 billion above the president’s FY20 request and $2.3 billion above FY19 enacted levels – an amount likely sufficient to renew all existing rental assistance contracts and to provide level funding or modest increases to most other programs. For more information, see NLIHC’s analysis of the Senate bill and updated budget chart. Congress already passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through November 21. Lawmakers will need to pass final spending bills, or extend the CR, to avoid a government shutdown.
Consideration of this package allows Senators to offer amendments that directly impact affordable housing and community development. The Senate is expected to vote on amendments beginning October 28, starting with amendment #1019 offered by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) that would cut funding below enacted FY19 levels. Please contact your senators today to ask them to oppose Senator Paul’s amendment and support/oppose the following amendments:
Support:
- An amendment by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to prevent HUD from moving forward with its cruel proposal to force mixed-status immigrant families to separate or face eviction and, in worst cases, homelessness;
- Any amendment to prevent HUD from eliminating anti-discrimination protections for transgender people experiencing homelessness and seeking shelter;
- Amendment #1021 offered by Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) that would require carbon monoxide alarms in certain federally assisted housing;
- Amendment #1023 offered by Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) that would allow owners of properties financed through USDA Section 514 and 515 loans to extend affordability provisions an additional 20 years;
- Amendment #1142 offered by Senators Smith, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Jon Tester (D-MT) prioritizing maintenance of USDA rural housing properties through capital repairs, staffing provisions, and enforcement;
- Amendment #1001 offered by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) to require HUD to transfer project-based rental assistance contracts upon termination to other housing providers;
- Amendment #1006 offered by Senator Shaheen calling on Congress to create a tax incentive to encourage owners of manufactured home communities to transfer properties to nonprofit organizations and residents to help preserve affordable homes;
- Amendment #1125 offered by Senator Menendez extending the availability of certain Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funds; and
- Any amendment to increase investments in affordable housing for low-income households, without reducing other HUD funding.
Oppose:
- Any amendment to reduce funding for HUD programs, including amendment #1019 offered by Senator Paul.
- Amendment #1076 offered by Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY) calling for an interagency review identifying fragmentation, duplication, and overlap among federal housing assistance programs and recommending methods to eliminate duplication.
To contact your senators’ offices by phone, call the congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
Read NLIHC’s analysis of the HUD and USDA bills at: https://tinyurl.com/y5ycvkuz
Review NLIHC’s budget chart at: https://tinyurl.com/y6tnabuo