Senate Affordable Housing Committee Chairs and Ranking Members
The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, which provides oversight of HUD housing programs is chaired by Senator Sherrod Brown (R-NC). Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) is the new ranking member, which means he is a leading voice for Republicans on the committee. The Senate Finance Committee oversees all issues related to tax policy, including LIHTC, is chaired by Sen. Ron Wyden and the Ranking Member is Sen. Mike Crapo. The Appropriations Committee, which controls spending for HUD and USDA, is now chaired by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Ranking Member is Sen. Susan Collins. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) is the Chairman and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) is the Vice-Chair of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (T-HUD) Appropriations Subcommittee. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) is the Chairman and John Hoeven (R-ND) is the Vice-Chair of the Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee. NAHMA will be publishing an analysis on the relevant committees and subcommittees soon.
President Biden Signs Executive Order to Further Advance Racial Equity
This week, in order to strengthen the federal government’s ability to combat systemic racism and persistent poverty, President Biden signed an Executive Order, Furthering Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities. The Order creates a new annual process to strengthen racial equity and support for underserved communities. It directs agencies to produce an annual public Equity Action Plan that will assess and include actions to address the barriers underserved communities may face, in accessing and benefitting from the agency’s policies, programs, and activities. It also mandates agencies to improve their quality, frequency, and accessibility of their community engagement, and to consult with impacted communities as each agency develops its Equity Action Plan, funding opportunities, budget proposals, and regulations. Additionally, agencies are instructed to expand procurement opportunities and shorten the supply gap for small disadvantaged businesses through grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and other investments and programs that flow through states and local entities.
Utilizing a whole-of-government approach, federal agencies continue to take action to expand federal investment in and support for underserved communities. For instance:
- HUD is administering $2.8 billion in competitive funding to homeless services organizations across the country for wrap-around services and housing programs for people experiencing homelessness. To combat the long history of discrimination in housing, the Department has proposed a new Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule to help overcome patterns of segregation and to hold state, localities, and public housing agencies that receive federal funds accountable for ensuring that underserved communities have equitable access to affordable housing opportunities.
- The Department of the Treasury established the Treasury Advisory Committee on Racial Equity to provide information, advice, and recommendations to the Department on matters related to the advancement of racial equity, particularly aspects of the domestic economy that have directly and indirectly resulted in unfavorable conditions for communities of color. The Committee is addressing topics like financial inclusion, access to capital, housing stability, federal supplier diversity, and economic development.
To view the Executive Order, click here. To view the White House Press Release, click here.
Schedule a Visit With Senators and Representatives While Attending NAHMA’s March Meeting
While in the nation’s capital at NAHMA’s March Meeting, make sure your voice gets heard on affordable housing issues important to you by participating in an “Afternoon on the Hill” on Friday, March 10th. For assistance scheduling lawmaker meetings with your Senators or Representatives and their staff, which should be arranged in advance, contact NAHMA’s Government Affairs department by February 21st: Manager Michal Machnowski at 703-683-8630, ext. 116 or mmachnowski@nahma.org. NAHMA suggests making your appointments for the afternoon of the last day of the meeting, however we can arrange alternative times to accommodate your schedule. You may search for your elected officials using your address through this website here.