The House of Representatives has by a vote of 256-168 the 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill (HR 3288) on July 23. The House Appropriations Committee previously approved the measure by a voice vote on July 17. Key funding highlights include:
|
|
House Appropriations Committee |
FY-2010 Budget Request |
FY-2009 Level |
|
Section 8 Tenant Based Vouchers |
$18.2 billion |
$17.940 billion |
$17 billion |
|
Veterans Affairs Housing Vouchers |
$75 million |
0 |
$75 million |
|
Section 8 Project Based Vouchers |
$8.7 billion |
$8.1 billion |
$7.1 billion |
|
Housing for the Elderly / Section 202 |
$1 billion |
$765 million |
$765 million |
|
Housing for the Disabled / Section 811 |
$350 million |
$250 million |
$250 million |
|
Housing for Persons with AIDS |
$350 million |
$310 million |
$310 million |
|
HOPE VI |
$250 million |
0 |
$120 million |
|
Choice Neighborhood Initiatives |
0 |
$250 million |
N/A |
|
Community Development Block Grants |
$4.6 billion |
$4.426 billion |
$3.875 billion |
|
Brownfields Redevelopment |
$25 million |
0 |
$10 million |
|
Public Housing Capital Fund |
$2.5 billion |
$2.244 billion |
$2.450 billion |
|
Public Housing Operating Fund |
$4.8 billion |
$4.6 billion |
$4.455 billion
|
Notably, the Choice Neighborhood Initiatives did not receive the $250 million requested in President Obama’s budget. The committee noted that the program is unauthorized, and duplicative of activities in the HOPE VI program. It is assumed that when and if the program is authorized the $250 million setaside for HOPE VI will be transferred to this new initiative.
Other important policy items in the billion include:
- Sustainable Communities Initiative: The bill includes $150 million within the Community Development Block Grants program, as requested in the President’s budget, for a new sustainable communities initiative to provide grants to assist local communities with integrated housing, transportation and energy planning efforts.
- Loan limits for FHA and GSEs: The bill extends the loan limits enacted in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the end of the 2010 fiscal year.
The measure now awaits consideration by the full House of Representatives. Read More…
