Hill Update
Senate Passes FY 2010 T-HUD Bill
On September 17, the Senate passed the fiscal year (FY) 2010 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (T-HUD) Appropriations bill. The House has already passed its version of the legislation, so the bill now heads to a conference committee. Among other measures, the Senate legislation includes $1.875 billion for Homeless Assistance grants, $320 million for Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), $18.1 billion for tenant-based vouchers, and $8.1 billion for project-based rental assistance. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced an amendment, which was approved, that would provide $200 million in advance appropriations to help communities maintain tenant-based housing vouchers currently in use. Many public housing agencies are experiencing funding shortfalls for these vouchers in FY 2009. The legislation now heads to a conference committee to iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions. If both chambers do not pass the final, compromise version by September 30, when the fiscal year ends, they will have to pass a continuing resolution to act as a temporary stopgap funding source.
House Holds Hearing on Foster Care Legislation
Representative Jim McDermott, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Supports of the House Ways and Means Committee, held a hearing on September 15 regarding the Implementation to the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act. The witness panel represented various stakeholders, including state agencies, national child welfare policy organizations, and a youth who 'aged-out' of care. The hearing included discussions of the need for increased financial resources, coordination of the educational provisions, and clarification on the statute, including supervised independent living as a reimbursable placement. The hearing concluded with a commitment from the Chair to continue to support the implementation of all aspects of the legislation and to better serve families, children, and youth in foster care.
