By Kim Johnson, NLIHC Senior Policy Director
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) sent House lawmakers home on September 16, canceling votes scheduled for the following day so representatives could return to their home districts to campaign ahead of November’s midterm elections. The Senate is scheduled to remain in session until October 2. Both chambers will return from the midterm recess on November 9.
While in session, Senators are expected to work on judicial nominations as well as other legislative issues but are not expected to release the chamber’s long-delayed fiscal year (FY) 2027 spending bills for federal programs, including the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) bill responsible for funding HUD’s affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs. Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) and Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) have been at a standoff over topline funding levels, with Chair Collins pushing for a significant increase to Department of Defense spending, and Vice Chair Murray urging an equitable increase between defense and non-defense programs.
Crowded Post-Election Agenda
With a continuing resolution (CR) set to expire December 11 and work remaining on all 12 spending bills for FY27, Congress has a long list of priorities to tackle after the midterms and before the current congressional session ends December 18. Depending on the outcome of the midterm elections, federal lawmakers may pass another CR to delay finalizing FY27 spending bills until the new Congress begins, giving the new Congress an opportunity to re-draft funding bills; lawmakers may also rush to pass a minibus spending package that would include multiple FY27 spending bills, or an omnibus spending package, which would include all 12 spending bills for the upcoming fiscal year, before the end of the current Congress.
In addition, before the August recess, House Republicans passed the blueprint for a third, $95 billion reconciliation package that would provide additional spending for defense and intelligence operations, farm relief, and administering certain provisions of the “Safeguard American Vote Eligibility (SAVE) Act,” a voter suppression bill championed by the White House (see Memo, 8/3). However, the reconciliation blueprint has not had the support required to pass the Senate, and it is not clear whether congressional Republicans would have the time or support required to pass a reconciliation bill before the end of the current Congress. Congress may also try to enact a disaster supplemental funding package and move other legislative priorities before the year ends.
Use NLIHC’s August Recess Toolkit to Tell Congress to Expand – Not Cut – Federal Investments in Affordable Housing and Homelessness Assistance Programs!
September and October will be a crucial time to lay the foundation for the work Congress will need to finish before the end of the year. There is still time for advocates to weigh in with their federal lawmakers on the importance of expanding federal investments in affordable housing and homelessness assistance. Much like August Recess, the pre-election break in October gives federal lawmakers the opportunity to return to their home states and districts to not only campaign, but to hear from constituents about the issues that matter the most to them.
Advocates can take action today by:
Using NLIHC’s August Recess Advocacy Toolkit for ideas and information on engaging members of Congress when they are in their home states or districts, including:
How to schedule an in-district meeting with a member of Congress or invite an elected official to tour a housing development in your community.
NLIHC’s policy priorities for the remainder of the current Congress.
Links to additional resources for more information and to help understand what the affordable housing crisis looks like in your community.
- Emailing or calling members’ offices to tell them about the importance of affordable housing, homelessness, and community development resources to you, your family, your community, or your work. You can use NLIHC’s Take Action page to look up your member offices or call/send an email directly!
Sharing stories of those directly impacted by homelessness and housing instability. Storytelling adds emotional weight to your message and can help lawmakers see how their policy decisions impact actual people. Learn about how to tell compelling stories with this resource.
Organizations can also join CHCDF’s sign-on letter calling for the highest possible funding for HUD and USDA affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs in any final FY27 spending bills. Read the letter and sign your organization on here.
Visit NLIHC’s Advocacy Hub for more information and resources that can help you take action and help protect the affordable housing programs people rely on.