The U.S. House Appropriations Committee approved the draft fiscal year (FY) 2023 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee bill along a party-line vote of 32 to 24 on June 30. The bill proposes $62.7 billion for HUD’s affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs – a $9 billion (or 17%) increase over FY22-enacted levels. For full details, see NLIHC’s updated budget chart and analysis.
“The goals of [this bill] are critical and ensure every American has…a safe, affordable place to call home,” said House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). In discussing the bill, Chair DeLauro also shared her experience facing eviction with her family as a child and noted “it is critical that we have strong programs in place to prevent evictions before they happen.”
“There are some really good parts, and good things in this bill,” said THUD Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) in his opening statement. “But, of course, there are also some issues with it.” Ranking Member Diaz-Balart noted that, despite supporting many of the bill’s provisions, he would not be able to vote in favor of the bill because of its high price tag.
At the same time, Ranking Member Diaz-Balart proposed an amendment to change the name of the Manufactured Housing Improvement and Financing program to the Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement program, or PRICE program, in honor of House Appropriations THUD Subcommittee Chair David Price (D-NC). In addition to being a champion for affordable housing, community development, and homelessness programs, Chair Price has been a strong supporter of manufactured housing and the rights of manufactured housing residents. Chair Price is slated to retire at the end of the year, after serving for over 30 years in Congress.
With all 12 spending bills for FY23 successfully voted out of committee, the House may hold a full floor vote on the omnibus spending package sometime in July. U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) announced recently that the Senate would begin drafting, reviewing, and voting on its FY23 spending bills soon after Congress reconvenes following the July recess.
Movement on the appropriations process is welcome news, but because appropriations leaders have not yet reached a topline funding agreement – and because both Republican and Democratic votes are needed to enact an appropriations bill – it is very likely that a final FY23 appropriations package will be significantly smaller than the legislation drafted in the House and Senate. In order to ensure HUD’s vital housing and homelessness programs receive significant funding increases in the coming fiscal year, advocates should continue contacting their members of Congress and urging them to support significant funding for NLIHC’s top priorities:
- $32.13 billion for the Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program to renew all existing contracts and expand housing vouchers to an additional 200,000 households.
- $5.125 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund to preserve public housing, and $5.06 billion for the Public Housing Operating Fund.
- $3.6 billion for HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants program to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
- $100 million for legal assistance to prevent evictions.
- $300 million for the competitive tribal housing program, targeted to tribes with the greatest needs.
NLIHC and our partners in the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding (CHCDF) are also leading our annual 302(b) letter to demand that Congress provide the highest possible level of funding for affordable housing, homelessness, and community development resources in FY23.
Thank you for your advocacy!