U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) recently introduced the Irene and Lee Tax Relief Storm Recovery Act (S. 3243) which would expand access to the LIHTC and provide affordable housing to families who lost their homes due to destruction caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Similar past legislation, such as the Gulf Opportunity (GO) Zone along the Gulf Coast following hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and the Midwest Disaster Area following extreme flooding in 2008, previously encouraged disaster recovery through the development of affordable housing. S. 3243 would effectively increase the state housing credit ceiling for states damaged by the hurricane and tropical storm including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. The measure has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.

Click here to read S. 3243.