skip to main content

House Passes Transportation, Housing Spending Bill

On June 9, the House passed, 216-210, the FY2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies spending bill (H.R. 2577). The House began consideration of the measure last week (see The Source, 6/5/15); the Appropriations Committee passed the legislation on May 13 (see The Source, 5/15/15).

According to the committee report, the bill would allocate $55.262 billion overall for FY2016. This amount is $1.49 billion above FY2015, but due to a $1.1 billion decline in Federal Housing Administration receipts, the actual allocation is only $25 million above FY2015. President Obama requested an increase of $9.738 billion for these programs in his FY2016 budget request.

The measure would provide $37.739 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This amount is $2.118 billion over FY2015, but $2.901 billion below the administration’s request.

Program/Agency

FY2015

President’s 2016 Request

FY2016

Housing and Urban Development

Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS $330 million $332 million $332 million
Family Self-Sufficiency   Program $75 million $85 million $75 million

 

The Appropriations Committee noted that while it did not include the president’s recommendations for new special purpose vouchers, including vouchers authorized under the Violence Against Women Act (P.L. 113-4), within the Family Unification Program, it encouraged HUD “to facilitate the issuance of vouchers for these and other vulnerable populations as vouchers become available” to public housing authorities (p. 76).