Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced on December 3 S. 4968, the “HOME Investment Partnership Reauthorization Act” and S. 4969, the “Housing Fairness Act of 2020.” Both bills would authorize an increase in federal funds for affordable housing and strengthen fair housing enforcement at HUD.
The “Home Investment Partnership Reauthorization Act” would reauthorize the HOME Investment Partnership Program for five more years, provide an annual five percent increase of appropriations, and make technical corrections to the program. This bill was first introduced in the House (H.R.7312) by Representative John Garamendi (D-CA). In addition to Senator Cortez Masto, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) cosponsored the legislation.
The “Housing Fairness Act of 2020” would reaffirm HUD’s commitment to fair housing by increasing funding for fair housing programs, making improvements to the Fair Housing Initiatives Program, reinstating the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule (see Memo, 07/27), and providing additional funds for research into housing discrimination. The bill was first introduced in the House (H.R. 149) by Representative Al Green (D-TX). In addition to Senator Cortez Masto, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) cosponsored the legislation.
“For four years, the Trump administration used every opportunity to gut our nation’s critical civil rights and fair housing laws, undermining efforts to undo historic and ongoing, government-driven patterns of housing discrimination and segregation throughout the U.S.,” said NLIHC President and CEO Diane Yentel. “Congress should immediately pass the Housing Fairness Act to rebuild HUD’s commitment to fair housing and civil rights and to take long-overdue steps towards racial equity.”
Read Senator Cortez Masto’s press releasing introducing the bills at: https://bit.ly/3qJiM0f
Learn more about S. 4968, the HOME Investment Partnership Reauthorization Act at: https://bit.ly/3m3Wumo
Learn more about S. 4969, the Housing Fairness Act of 2020 at: https://bit.ly/3oKEuzb
More information about the HOME Investment Partnership Program is on page 5-5 of NLIHC’s 2020 Advocates’ Guide
More information about Fair Housing Programs can be found is on page 7-5 of NLIHC’s 2020 Advocates’ Guide
More information about AFFH is on pages 7-14, 7-21, 7-27, and 7-35 of NLIHC’s 2020 Advocates’ Guide.