Categories: Federal, Member News
08.09.2021
On August 9th, Senator Schumer released spending level proposals for the $3.5 Trillion budget reconciliation bill, allocating $332 billion to the Housing and Financial Services committee to address housing needs, including the HoUSed campaign priorities. The committee, chaired by Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, will decide individual spending levels. We expect to see $45 billion in the National Housing Trust Fund and substantial increases in rental assistance included. Chair Brown has been working with Chair Waters to align their housing priorities.
In July, the HoUSed campaign gained momentum through the introduction of two bills by Rep. Maxine Waters, chair of the Financial Services Committee. The Housing is Infrastructure Act (HR 4497) prioritizes the campaign’s affordable housing priorities that may be part of the broader $3.4 trillion infrastructure plan currently up for consideration under reconciliation, meaning that it could pass the Senate on a party line vote. The legislation calls for $45 billion in the National Housing Trust Fund, a large investment in Public Housing Capital Repair and robust increase to most HUD funded programs, including an incremental increase in rental assistance.
The second bill, The Ending Homelessness Act (HR 4496) provides a template for a long term solution to homelessness by making rental assistance available to all low income people that qualify for it.
Both bills have already been co-sponsored by 12 members of the New York delegation, including many members of the Financial Services Committee. These efforts have been championed by Rep. Ritchie Torres who led letters to both the President and the House leadership in support of these initiatives.
The Network continued to meet with members of Congress and their staff to encourage co-sponsorship through July. We urge our members to contact their members of congress to support these bills.
Read this oped calling for support of the Housing is Infrastructure bill.