The full Senate began considering the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) bill, S.1243, today. The bill will likely need significant bipartisan support to pass the Senate.
The Senate bill would provide $6 billion more in funding for HUD programs than the House THUD bill.
Here are some examples of how funding in the Senate bill is much better for impacted families, individuals and communities than the House bill:
- The Senate bill would provide $17.6 billion to renew Housing Choice Vouchers, restoring most of the vouchers that are now being eliminated under sequestration.
- The Senate bill would fund public housing operations at $4.6 billion and capital repairs at $2.0 billion in 2014, thereby reversing deep cuts that Congress made in 2012 and 2013.
- The Senate bill would increase funding for homeless assistance grants by $327 million above the 2013 post-sequestration level.
- The Senate provides $55 million and $77 million respectively for HUD housing counseling assistance and National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) Program.
- The Senate bill would return funding for most other HUD housing and community development programs to at least 2013 pre-sequestration levels, including CDBG and HOME.
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Mark Kirk voted in support of the THUD bill in the Senate Appropriations Committee. We now need Senator Kirk to continue support for S. 1243 on the Senate floor.
Please call Senator Kirk to say thank you for supporting the bill in committee and ask that this support continue on the Senate floor.
Please ask Senator Kirk to:
- Make a floor statement about the importance of HUD programs;
- Oppose amendments to reduce funding or harm programs; and
- Continue support of S.1243.
Contact Senator Kirk at 202-224-2854.
Please let us know you made a call by sending an email to bob@housingactionil.org.