On Tuesday the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 2016 Transportation-HUD (T-HUD) appropriations bill H.R. 2577 on an extremely close, party-line vote. According to a Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) news blast sent out today, the bill remains largely unchanged from its original form. As CBPP notes, while the bill gives priority to renewing rental assistance for current families, spending limits set forth in the Budget Control Act of 2011 has required the House to make further cuts in both public housing and HOME, in addition to preventing any new investments to restore vouchers cut by sequestration or to quell homelessness. Still, CBPP contends that H.R. 2577 does show significant support for housing choice vouchers, increasing funding for voucher renewals by $665 million.
Not everyone agrees with CBPP’s sunnier outlook on the situation, however, with many such as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) formally expressing dissent and criticizing the bill for freezing or cutting critical investments for assisting vulnerable populations.
H.R. 2577 was introduced in the Senate yesterday, where it is currently under review.
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