Senate passes omnibus appropriations act

Late Saturday the U.S. Senate voted to close debate on the 2015 omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 83) and then passed the bill by a voice vote. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives on December 11. President Obama is expected to sign the bill early this week.

In brief, the bill provides the following amounts for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):

• Public housing operating fund: $4.4 billion, $40 million over the 2014 amount
• Public housing capital fund: $1.9 billion, no change from the 2014 amount
• Section 8 tenant-based vouchers: $19.3 billion, $127 million over the 2014 amount (This total includes funding for voucher renewals, tenant protection vouchers, administrative fees, and new vouchers for homeless veterans, nonelderly disabled families, and the family unification program.)

For more details, you can read summaries of the bill here and here.

To receive updates and analysis on the latest PIH news, subscribe to NMA’s PIH Alert and receive a daily email with breaking news and other important information for PHAs and housing professionals. Save 10% on your subscription when you order before January 1 during the NMA year-end sale!