(as reported in Memo to Members by the National Low Income Housing Coaltion) Both the House and Senate have now adopted the FY10 budget resolutions each of which provides for funding for the National Housing Trust Fund as requested by President Obama.
Budget resolutions provide the framework for the appropriations process by setting overall spending levels, including a cap on the amount that can be spent on discretionary domestic programs such as housing. In good news for advocates, funding for the National Housing Trust Fund is not included within the discretionary cap, but is instead on the mandatory side of the budget.
The next step will be a conference where the differences between the House and Senate bills will be resolved. Budget resolutions do not have to be signed by the President.
The House Budget Resolution, H. Con. Res. 85, would provide about $3.5 trillion for the FY10 fiscal year which begins October 1, 2009. This figure is about $100 billion less than the President's request. While the budget would hold military spending at the level provided by the President, it reduces spending for domestic programs by $7 billion and does not include additional funds sought by the President to address troubled financial institutions. The resolution does provide for the middle class tax cuts sought by the President.
The House resolution also contains reconciliation instructions relating to health care and education. These instructions would require the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the House Committee on Education to adopt legislation meeting the requirements set forth in the Budget Resolution. Legislation developed according to reconciliation instructions is not subject to the 60 vote filibuster rule in the Senate and therefore easier to pass.
The House voted 233 to 196 to adopt the Democratic budget proposal. Twenty Democrats voted against the bill as did all the Republicans.
The Senate Budget Resolution, S. Con. Res. 13, also would provide about $3.5 trillion for the 2010 fiscal year. Like the House resolution, the Senate would hold military spending at the level provided by the President and reduce taxes on the middle class. However, the Senate resolution would reduce spending for domestic programs by $15 billion, almost twice the amount cut by the House. The Senate does not include reconciliation instructions. During debate, several Senators expressed concern that the inclusion of these provisions in the House resolutions would make it likely that reconciliation provisions would be included in the final bill, paving the way to fast track health care and other reforms.
The Senate did adopt a series of amendments, including one offered by Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) to establish a reserve funds to provide additional funds to help stabilize the economy, and an amendment sponsored by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) stating that the remaining funds from the $700 billion dollar Emergency Economic Stabilization Act passed last fall should be used to help save homes and small businesses, provide support for the municipal bond market, make credit more widely available, and provide additional resources for oversight of the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
An amendment offered by Senator Robert Casey (D-PA) was also adopted. This amendment would create a reserve fund for the Long-Term Stability/Housing for Victims Program under the Violence Against Women Act which would provide housing to meet needs of victims of domestic violence. Senator Bernard Sanders (I-VT) offered an amendment which was adopted that would require Federal Reserve banks to identify institutions getting assistance under federal lending programs.
The Senate also adopted an amendments offered by Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AK) to increase the budget to allow for an expansion of the estate tax and one offered by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) that would limit any such expansion unless equal tax relief for those earning less than $100,000 was provided.
The Senate passed S. Con. Res. 13 55 to 43, with two Democratic senators joining Republicans in voting against the bill.
After Spring Recess, Congress will begin the process of reconciling the differences between the House and Senate resolutions, with the goal being to pass a final joint resolution no later than May 15.
Take Action on on redevelopment and help protect housing funds now!
In continuing efforts to increase access to supportive housing for high utilizers of public health resources, and maximize the efficient use of scarce public resources, City and County Departments issued the first collaborative Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) last month.
