Early this morning, Congress released the text of the omnibus spending bill, H.R. 2029. The omnibus bill funds all 12 appropriations bills for FY 2016, including Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. Highlights of the bill as it stands are:
- Vouchers would be funded at $19.629 billion, $65 million of which would go to new vouchers. All new vouchers are HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers.
- The HOME program would be funded at $950 million for FY 2016, a $50 million increase in funding from 2015.
- Public housing operating and capital funds would be funded at $4.5 billion and $1.9 billion, respectively.
- One hundred new Moving to Work (MTW) agencies would be authorized over seven years. Contracts of existing MTW agencies would also be renewed under their current terms until FY 2028.
Congress is currently operating under a continuing resolution (CR), passed last Friday, which keeps the government funded through the end of today, December 16. For this reason, it is likely that Congress will pass another CR today to avoid shutdown until December 22. As for the omnibus funding bill, Congress is expected to pass that later this week.
