Senate Passes Fiscal Year 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Bill

Senate Passes FY 2010 Transportation / HUD Appropriations Bill, by a 73-25 vote, paving the way for substantial increases in the Community Development Block Grant and other community development-related programs. The $48 billion Senate bill (H.R. 3288) now faces a conference committee discussion that will determine whether the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative contained in the House bill is allowed to replace the HOPE VI program. Also, differences in the amount of increases for a number of programs will be at stake.

• Community Development Block Grants (CDBG): $3.99 billion, which is less than the House version's $4.16 billion, but $350 million above the level of non-emergency funding provided in fiscal year 2009.
• Housing for the Elderly: $785 million for housing for our nation’s low-income elderly. This level of funding is $20 million above the fiscal year 2009 enacted level and the President’s budget. The funding will be used to increase the supply of affordable housing for the Nation’s growing elderly population.
• Housing for the Disabled: $265 million for housing for our Nation’s disabled. This level of funding is $15 million above the fiscal year 2009 enacted level and the budget request. This funding will provide housing options for the disabled to live independently.
• Housing Counseling: A total of $165 million for housing counseling efforts. This includes $100 million for HUD’s housing counseling activities including foreclosure prevention activities as well as pre-purchase counseling. In addition, $65 million is included to continue the National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling program that began in fiscal year 2008.
• Sustainable Communities Initiative: $150 million within HUD’s Community Development Fund to promote integrated housing and transportation planning. Joining HUD in this initiative will be the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency. The funding included in the bill will provide grants for integrated housing and transportation planning efforts on both the regional and local level.
• HOME Investment Partnership: $1.825 billion, which is equal to the level of non-emergency funding provided in fiscal year 2009 and the President's budget.
• Sustainable Communities Initiative: $150 million within HUD's Community Development Fund to promote integrated housing and transportation planning.
• Choice Neighborhoods: $250 million for HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. This new initiative will expand the successful HOPE VI program. While continuing to focus on improving public housing, it also will address the needs of other HUD-assisted housing. In addition to improving housing and revitalizing poor communities, it also promotes better access to schools, transportation, jobs and other services.
• Homeless Assistance grants: $1.875 billion, which is nearly $200 million above the fiscal year 2009 enacted level and more than $80 million above the President's request.
• Brownfield Redevelopment: Funding for Brownfield Redevelopment is eliminated in the Senate version of the bill, while in the House version it is increased by 150% over fiscal year 2009.  

For a full summary and press release: http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news.cfm?method=news.view&id=e68db9fb-5826-4bf3-a430-23ddead6bd8f