Appropriations
The House Appropriations Committee approved the 2004 VA-HUD Appropriations bill (HR 2861) for consideration by the full House of Representatives. As reported by the House Appropriations Committee, the bill essentially flat lines funding for housing programs.
According to information from the House Appropriations Committee, HR 2861 provided $18.4 billion for the Housing Certificate Fund. This figure represents a $1.3 billion (or 7 percent) increase over FY 2003. The $12.1 billion provided for Section 8 voucher renewals represents an $810 million increase above the 2003 level, and it exceeds the President’s request by $205 million. The Committee’s press release asserts, “This will fully fund all authorized vouchers based on a 96% lease up rate and the most current cost estimates.”
Housing for Special Populations, the Section 202 program for the elderly and the Section 811 program for the disabled, received flat funding in the House Appropriations Committee bill. These programs received $773 million and $250 million respectively in new funds. Unused money from 2003 will be carried over to 2004. These programs are funded at the President’s requested levels, which are basically the same amount as last year.
The House Appropriators increased funding for the HOME program by $77 million, for a 2004 total of $2.064 billion. Of this, $125 million is set-aside for the President’s American Dream downpayment assistance initiative.
The 2004 VA-HUD appropriations bill (HR 2861) is currently under consideration by the House of Representatives. A vote on final passage is expected this evening.
A handful of amendments to increase funding for housing programs were offered during the floor consideration of HR 2861. The most notable was an amendment offered by Rep. Jerry Nadler and cosponsored by Rep. Nydia Velazquez to increase funding for the Section 8 voucher program by $150 million. The amendment is offset by cutting the management and administration account of HUD’s Working Capital Fund.
This amendment was offered in response to an analysis issued by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) which alleged the amount of funding provided in the bill “would leave 85,000 vouchers likely to be in use at the beginning of the fiscal year unfunded.” A recent e-mail alert by the CBPP commended Rep. Nadler, noted the amendment was positive and appreciated, but also stated it would not be enough to fund all of the 85,000 vouchers it believes are at risk. At the time of posting, the vote on this amendment was not completed.
Amendments were previously approved by voice vote to increase funding for the HOPE VI and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) programs.
Hearings
On July 29, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity will hold a field hearing in Columbus, OH. The topic is “Housing and Community Development Policies in the State of Ohio.” MAHMA Executive Director Steve Gladman is scheduled to testify against the proposed Section 8 Housing Assistance for Needy Families Act (HANF) block grant. Steve’s testimony will mention his affiliation with NAHMA.
The House Financial Services Committee approved the FHA Multifamily Loan Limit Adjustment Act (H.R. 1985), which allows HUD to raise loan limits in high-cost areas up to 170 percent above their base loan limits.
