The House Committee on Appropriations, ahead of tonight's scheduled markup in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, has released a draft of the FY 2019 THUD Spending Bill. Below are a few highlights-
- Section 8 Project Based Rental Assistance is set to receive $11.374 billion in addition to the $400 million previously appropriated, a total of $11.774 billion of available funds; FY 2018 Omnibus allocated $11.7 billion, meaning that the program would maintain similar funding levels overall.
- Section 8 Tenant Based Rental Assistance would receive a total of $18.476 billion, in addition to $4 billion previously appropriated. Thus the total for Section 8 Tenant Based Rental Assistance would come out to $22.476 billion, and $20.106 billion is set aside in the bill specifically for Section 8 Voucher Renewals.
- Funding for the CHOICE Neighborhoods Initiative is to remain at FY 2018 Omnibus levels ($150 million), and those funds are to remain available until September 30, 2022. As a reminder, funds allocated under the FY 2018 Omnibus are available until September 30, 2020.
- The HOME Investment Partnerships Program is to receive $1.2 billion in funds, a slight decrease from the $1.4 billion allocated in the FY 2018 Omnibus. Funds allocated for FY 2019 are to remain available until September 30, 2022.
- Funding for the Public Housing Capital Fund is to be maintained at the FY 2018 Omnibus level ($2.75 billion), and this funding is to remain available until September 30, 2022.
- The funding for the Public Housing Operating Fund is to be maintained at the FY 2018 Omnibus level ($4.55 billion). Funds allocated are to remain available until September 30, 2020.
- CDBG funding levels are to be maintained at the FY 2018 Omnibus level ($3.3 billion), and would remain available until September 30, 2021.
- Section 202 Housing for the Elderly is set to receive a slight reduction in funds, with an allocation of $632 million (down from the $678 million allocated in the FY 2018 Omnibus). Funds are to remain available until September 30, 2022.
- Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities would see a decrease in funding, with the proposal set at $154 million (the FY 2018 Omnibus allocated $230 million). This funding would remain available until September 30, 2022.
It is clear that the Committee has rejected the Trump Administration's calls for deep cuts to HUD spending, and has also, it seems, chosen to disregard the proposed Rescission Package with this draft of the THUD Spending Bill. While it is not surprising to see some spending cuts, given the Majority Caucus' previous rhetoric about fiscal responsibility, overall the draft shows that key HUD programs still enjoy widespread support from both Parties in Congress.
THUD Bill (HUD appropriations begin on page 83)
Markup
