Congress is back in session this week for the lame-duck session. Work on the omnibus appropriations bill may be wrapped up this weekend.
Appropriations
Although there is no official documentation from the Appropriations Committees of what the Omnibus bill entails, and some final details were being addressed, there seem to be indications the bill will include cuts. In today’s edition of National Journal’s Congress Daily PM, reporter Peter Cohn wrote the omnibus bill will include a 0.75 percent across the board spending cut which will produce a $3.1 billion offset for spending. The article also noted that the VA-HUD provision to move PHAs to a calendar year budget, which saves $1 billion, is in the bill.
There are no official reports of spending levels or housing programs. However, several industry colleagues expect the across the board rescission will bring funding closer to the House VA-HUD numbers than the higher (in many cases flat-lined) Senate figures.
NAHMA will keep members informed when the final 2005 appropriations figures become available.
