Senate Appropriations Approves Transportation, HUD Bill
In other news from the Senate yesterday, the Appropriations Committee voted unanimously to approve its FY 2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) bill. The bill provides $60.058 billion in funding overall, $2.407 billion higher than current funding levels and $3.5 billion higher than the House. Considering the constraints of the FY 2018 budget cap, the increased THUD allocation is a huge win and allowed appropriators to avoid making the same types of cuts seen in the House THUD bill. The House Appropriations Committee approved its bill on July 17.
NAHRO will provide a detailed analysis of the bill next week.
The future of THUD in both the House and the Senate is unclear, though it is unlikely either chamber moves its THUD bill to the floor. Yesterday, the House approved a four-bill minibus package of spending bills, dubbed the “security-bus” because of its composition of defense and security-related bills. The House will likely adjourn for August recess this afternoon without passing any additional spending bills. The Senate, shifting its focus away from health care this morning, delayed August recess by two weeks to work on nominations and the debt ceiling. It may also choose to move appropriations bills to the floor during that time, assuming Majority Leader Mitch McConnell does not adjourn the Senate earlier than expected.
Housing and Community Development Highlights
- Rental Assistance Demonstration- cap eliminated, sunset date removed
- Public Housing Capital Fund- $1.945 billion, $4 million higher than FY 2017
- Jobs Plus- $15 million, level funded
- Public Housing Operating Fund- $4.5 billion, $100 million higher than FY 2017
- Choice Neighborhoods Initiative- $50 million, $87 less than FY 2017
- Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment Renewals- $19.37 billion, $1.015 billion more than FY 2017
- Administrative Fees- $1.725 billion, $75 million higher than FY 2017
- Ongoing Administrative Fees- $1.715 billion, $75 million higher than FY 2017
- Additional Administrative Fees- $10 million, level funded
- Family Self-Sufficiency- $75 million, level funded
- Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance- $11.507 billion, $691 million higher than FY 2017
- Community Development Block Grant- $3 billion, level funded
- HOME Investment Partnerships- $950 million, level funded
- Homeless Assistance Grants- $2.456 billion, $73 million higher than FY 2017