HAC News Formats. pdf

July 20, 2017
Vol. 46, No. 15

USDA RD leader encourages full use of 502 direct funds • USDA funding moves to Senate • House takes up HUD funding bill • House leaders proposes budget resolution • Congressional committee holds field hearing on NAHASDA • USDA requests comments on improving its regulations • Comment on new HUD veterans rehab and modification pilot • Committee reviews HUD nominations • Programs, including housing, help children succeed, report says

HAC News Formats. pdf

July 20, 2017
Vol. 46, No. 15

USDA RD leader encourages full use of 502 direct funds. With ten weeks remaining in the fiscal year, Anne Hazlett, Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, has asked single-family program directors in RD state offices to “establish a high priority” for spending all available Section 502 direct funds. She encouraged RD staff to reach out to partners for assistance, and promised additional guidance on tools and resources. For more information, contact state office single-family program directors.

USDA funding moves to Senate. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved an FY18 spending bill for USDA on July 20. The bill has not yet been released to the public. Funding levels for a few of the rural housing programs are available in statements released by the subcommittee, and would keep most rural housing programs at current levels, somewhat higher than the levels in the House bill. The committee included a provision requiring USDA to have an Undersecretary for Rural Development at USDA. Watch www.ruralhome.org for updates on the Senate bill’s contents.
The House Appropriations Committee completed work on its FY18 USDA bill on July 12. It adopted one housing-related change to its subcommittee’s bill, making H-2A visa holders eligible for Section 514/516 farmworker housing.

a. Would become part of Rural Economic Infrastructure Grant program.

b. Budget proposes to rescind unobligated funds from three programs: $11 million from Sec. 523 self-help, $4 million from Sec. 514/516 farm labor housing, and $4 million from MPR.

c. Includes $40 million in advance funding for FY18, so total available in FY17 is $1.365 billion and total available in FY18 would be $1.385 billion.

d. Preliminary, pending release of bill text.

e. Unknown as of press time, pending release of bill text.

House takes up HUD funding bill. On July 17 the House Appropriations Committee approved an FY18 HUD funding bill that would cut most HUD programs. HOME and CDBG would both be reduced. The bill also would eliminate the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. The National Low Income Housing Coalition and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimate that the House bill would eliminate at least 140,000 vouchers in FY18 because its funding levels for Housing Choice Vouchers and Project-Based Rental Assistance are inadequate. The committee did adopt an amendment to the bill expanding the Rental Assistance Demonstration to include Section 202 Rental Assistance Contracts. The Senate has not yet begun work on its HUD bill.

a. The House bill specifies that its entire VASH appropriation is for renewals.

House leaders propose budget resolution. The House resolution released by the House Budget Committee on July 18, would set caps for FY18 spending at the levels the House is currently using as it develops its versions of FY18 appropriations bills. That limit is below the cap required by the Budget Control Act. In later years, funding for domestic programs – both discretionary and mandatory – would drop sharply. The budget resolution also includes significant tax cuts and may become the vehicle for tax reform legislation.

Congressional committee holds field hearing on NAHASDA. On July 21, the House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance will hold a hearing in Wisconsin titled “NAHASDA: 20 Years On.” HAC will submit written testimony for the record.

USDA requests comments on improving its regulations. The department requests ideas on modifying, streamlining, expanding, or repealing regulations, guidance documents, or any other policy documents. Comments are due July 17, 2018. USDA will review comments in four batches: those submitted by September 15, 2017, then by November 14, 2017, then February 12, 2018, and finally July 17, 2018. For more information, contact Michael Poe, USDA, 202-720-5303. The Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity is also still accepting comments on legislative, regulatory, and policy changes (see HAC News, 6/22/17).

Comment on new HUD veterans rehab and modification pilot. HUD requests input by September 11 on the design of a new pilot program that will make grants to nonprofit organizations that provide nationwide or statewide programs serving primarily veterans or low-income individuals. The grants may be used to modify or rehabilitate eligible veterans’ primary residences or to provide grantees’ affiliates with technical, administrative, and training support in connection with those services. Email comments to rhed@hud.gov. For more information, contact Sylvia Y. Purvis, HUD, 877-787-2526 (toll-free) or 202-708-2290.

Committee reviews HUD nominations. On July 18 the Senate Banking Committee considered several nominations, including three for HUD positions: J. Paul Compton, Jr. as General Counsel; Anna M. Farias as Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity; and Neal J. Rackleff as Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. The Committee has not yet voted whether to recommend Senate confirmation of these nominees.

Programs, including housing, help children succeed, report says. “Economic Security Programs Help Low-Income Children Succeed Over Long Term, Many Studies Find,” from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, summarizes the findings of numerous researchers. Economic security programs such as housing subsidies, food assistance, and working-family tax credits not only help families afford basic needs, but also help children do better in school and increase their earning power as adults.