HAC News Formats. pdf

June 11, 2014
Vol. 43, No. 12

• June is National Homeownership Month • HUD funding bills move forward, differences remain • House considers FY15 USDA bill, White House veto looms • House and Senate differ on requiring ACS responses • Section 533 HPG funds offered • USDA amends IRP regulations • Upcoming Trainings from HAC

June 11, 2014
Vol. 43, No. 12

June is National Homeownership Month. HUD and USDA press releases are online.

HUD funding bills move forward, differences remain. The full House on June 10 and the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 5 approved FY15 funding for HUD. The Senate, with many programs at 2014 levels or at the Obama budget’s level, provides higher amounts than the House for most HUD programs. Amendments adopted on the House floor prohibit funding from this bill being used for the Housing Trust Fund, forbid HUD implementation of a new Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule (see HAC News, 7/17/13), shift $10 million within the Homeless Assist-ance Grants account to the Rural Housing Stability Program, and move $10 million from HUD’s information technology account to the Fair Housing Initiatives Program.[tdborder][/tdborder]

House considers FY15 USDA bill, White House veto looms. The House begins floor debate June 11 on H.R. 4800, its USDA appropriations bill. The White House issued a veto threat, based primarily on the bill’s food and nutrition provisions, and encouraged adoption of all requested changes to the Section 521 Rental Assistance program.

House and Senate differ on requiring ACS responses. The FY15 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations bill passed by the House on May 30 would make responses to the American Community Survey voluntary. On June 5 the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its companion spending bill, retaining the current requirement that those who receive the survey must respond. The ACS provides data on many subjects including housing conditions and costs, and research shows that making responses voluntary would seriously reduce the reliability of data for small areas and Indian reservations.

Section 533 HPG funds offered. Nonprofits, state or local governments, and tribes can submit preapplications by July 28 for Housing Preservation Grants. Contact a USDA RD state office for details and a preapplication package.

USDA amends IRP regulations. Changes to the Rural Business-Cooperative Service’s Intermediary Relending Program are intended to address items based on an Office of Inspector General audit and the 2014 Farm Bill. They will become final unless adverse comments are filed by August 4. Contact Lori A. Washington, RBS, 202-720-9815.

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