Congress

President Obama last week signed into law the sixth continuing resolution (H.J. Res. 48) for the fiscal year 2011 federal budget.

Last week, Senate and House Committees took up discussions about proposals to reform the nation’s housing finance system.

President Obama on Friday signed into law the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010. The House last week passed the bill by a vote of 277-148. The Senate approved the bill on December 15 by a vote of 81-19.

Congressman Brian Higgins recently sent a letter to the National Park Service encouraging the service to review its interpretations of the Secretary Standards for Historic Rehabilitation.

Democratic lawmakers on the House Ways and Means Committee have introduced a new bill intended to finance infrastructure investments to create jobs.

Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced legislation last week that would contribute $1 billion to the National Housing Trust Fund for the creation, preservation and rehabilitation of affordable housing.

The PowerPoint presentations from NH&RA’s Annual Meeting & Pre-Conference Symposium on New Markets Tax Credits are now available for download.

NH&RA had perfect weather for this year’s Winter Golf Tournament at the Raptor Bay Golf Club last week in Bonita Springs, Fla. NH&RA congratulates the following prize winners.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) has reintroduced her Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) authorizing legislation from the 111th Congress.

After four days of debate on the House floor, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a comprehensive 2011 spending bill (HR 1) that would trim more than $60 billion off the government’s budget. The U. S. Senate majority Democrats remain at odds with the Republican controlled House of Representatives over the spending bill and are seeking much more modest spending cuts. President Obama has vowed to veto the measure if it reaches his desk in its current form. The current continuing resolution expires on March 4.

In a frank and probing discussion, representatives of NH&RA’s HOPE VI Council and Policy Leadership Committee met with representatives HUD’s Offices of Multifamily Housing, Public & Indian Housing, Urban Revitalization and the Office of the Secretary on January 19 in search of common ground on the Administration’s Transformation of Rental Assistance (TRA) proposal. 

On February 11, the Obama Administration delivered a report to Congress that present a proposal for reforming America’s housing finance market.