On October 9, the House Appropriations Committee approved, by voice vote, the FY2003 Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill (as-yet-unnumbered). The spending measure would provide $90.9 billion in discretionary spending in FY2003, $500 million less than the Senate bill (S. 2797) and $4.3 billion less than the FY2002 level.
The House measure would provide $1.25 billion for homeless programs, including funding to renew Shelter Plus Care contracts, which provide supportive housing for homeless people with disabilities and their families. This funding level is $127 million more than the FY2002 level and $120 million more than the President’s request. The Senate measure would provide an additional $100 million over the FY2002 level.
In addition, both the House and Senate measures would include $292 million for the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS program, a $14 million increase over last year and the same amount requested by the President.
