Hill Update: Congress Back in Session
Congress Adopts Budget Resolution
Last week, both the House and the Senate agreed to the fiscal year (FY) 2009 Budget Resolution. The final resolution, which is a result of a conference agreement between the House and the Senate, would fund domestic discretionary programs at $436.6 billion, which is $22.6 billion above the President's FY 2009 request and $21.2 billion above domestic discretionary spending in FY 2008. Both the House and the Senate voted largely along party lines, with most Democrats supporting the Budget Resolution and most Republicans opposing it. The passage of the Budget Resolution, which does not require the President's signature, is seen as a significant victory for Congressional Democrats, as the Republican-controlled Congress has been unable to pass Budget Resolutions in recent years.
With the Budget Resolution serving as a roadmap, the House and Senate will now move forward with the FY 2009 appropriations process.
House Holds Hearing on Post-Disaster Affordable Housing
Last Wednesday, June 4, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity and the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response held a joint hearing entitled, "Examining the Roles and Responsibilities of HUD and FEMA in Responding to the Affordable Housing Needs of Gulf Coast States following Emergencies and Natural Disasters." The first panel included testimony from Carlos Castillo, Assistant Administrator for Disaster Assistance at FEMA, and from Jeffrey Riddel, Director of the Office of Capital Improvements at HUD. On the second panel, representatives from advocacy and public interest groups served as witnesses. Almost all Members of Congress in attendance expressed disappointment in the lack of attention given to affordable housing in the Gulf Coast. All testimonies from the hearing and a webcast have been
