Democratic leaders in the Senate reached an agreement on July 13 to pursue a $3.5 trillion reconciliation package that would be able to pass the chamber without Republican support. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced a deadline of July 21 for Senate Democrats to agree to move forward with a budget resolution with reconciliation instructions, the first step in enacting the reconciliation package.
While details of the reconciliation package are still murky, it is expected to contain several of NLIHC’s top policy priorities, including at least $45 billion for the national Housing Trust Fund, significant funding to address the capital repair backlog in public housing, and an expansion of rental assistance for the lowest-income households, among other robust investments in affordable, accessible housing.
Majority Leader Schumer also plans to hold a vote on July 21 to begin debate on a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package. Senate Republicans have balked at the tight timeline, noting the bill’s text has yet to be written, and the bipartisan group of negotiators have yet to reach an agreement on specific provisions, including how to pay for the package. Some Republicans have threatened to derail the bipartisan bill in opposition to Democrats moving forward with the broader reconciliation package.
As negotiations continue, advocates should weigh in with their members of Congress and tell them to include the robust resources necessary to address the nation’s severe shortage of affordable, accessible housing for the lowest-income people. This infrastructure and recovery legislation is an extraordinary and unique opportunity to invest in proven affordable housing solutions, including rental assistance, public housing, and the national Housing Trust Fund, at the scale necessary. NLIHC urges advocates to continue contacting members of Congress to remind them that housing is infrastructure and must be included in any reconciliation package.
Find out how to contact your members of Congress at: https://tinyurl.com/yb9goyt6
View HoUSed campaign policy priorities at: https://tinyurl.com/4sfyxzrm