Hill Update: Congress Back in Session
This week, Congress is back in session and may take up a number of bills related to homelessness and low-income housing. Before the recess, the Senate passed its fiscal year (FY) 2008 emergency supplemental appropriations, which included $76 million for 3,000 permanent supportive housing vouchers for the state of Louisiana, a provision that is desperately needed in New Orleans, where approximately 12,000 people, or 1.6 percent of the population, is homeless. Over the next few weeks, the House will vote on its bill, which currently does not include funding for the permanent supportive housing vouchers in the Gulf Coast.
This week, the Senate may also take up the Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of 2008, which passed the Senate Banking Committee on May 20. The bill would restructure government sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, reform the Federal Housing Administration, and establish a national housing trust fund.
Finally, in the coming weeks, the House and Senate will be voting on the FY 2009 Budget Resolution. Before the Memorial Day recess, a conference agreement was reached which would fund domestic discretionary programs at $436.6 billion, which is $22.6 billion above the President's FY09 request and $21.2 billion above domestic discretionary spending in FY08. The Budget Resolution provides a roadmap for appropriators as they move forward with the FY09 appropriations bills, but it is not binding.
Legislative Updates 
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