Over the past few days, the Senate Committee on Appropriations released the first details of the Senate's FY 2019 THUD Funding Bill through Markups by both the Full Committee on June 7th and the THUD Subcommittee on June 4th. The bill's text has, at the time of writing, just been released, and does match the information already released by the Committee. Highlights of the bill are as follows:
-$44.5 billion to be appropriated for HUD (a $1.8 billion increase from FY 2018 Enacted Levels).
-$678 million for Section 202 Housing for the Elderly, with the funds available until 9/30/2022.
-$260 million to reduce lead hazard exposure, with the funds available until 9/30/2020.
-$3.3 billion for CDBG, with the funds available until 9/30/2021.
-$22.780978 billion for Section 8 tenant-based vouchers ($20.52 billion of which will be for renewing expiring contracts). $4 billion of this comes from previously appropriated funds from the FY 2018 Omnibus.
-$11.347 for Section 8 PBRA, in addition to $400 million previously appropriated in the FY 2018 Omnibus (making for a total of $11.747 billion for FY 2019).
-$1.4 billion for HOME, with the funds available until 9/30/2022.
-$2.775 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund, with the funds available until 9/30/2022.
-$100 million for CHOICE Neighborhoods, with the funds available until 9/30/2021.
Additionally, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced a Manager's Package during the June 7th Full Committee Markup. It was added to the bill with Unanimous Consent.
In both the Subcommittee and Full Committee Markups, the FY 2019 THUD Funding Bill enjoyed unanimous bipartisan support, with Senators from both parties going on record praising the bill, and making note of the positive impact this bill will have in their home states. It is therefore safe to assume that when the bill is put up for a vote in the Senate, it will most likely pass. On that note, it is important to mention that House Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has cancelled the August Recess for the expressed purpose of passing FY 2019 spending bills, and voting on the Trump Administration's nominees for various positions.
Read the bill
Listen to the Full Committee Markup
Read the Subcommittee news release with details of the bill
