VA-HUD Spending Bill Considered by House - Women's Congressional Policy Institute

At press time, the House on July 27 was working toward a vote on final passage of the FY2002 Veterans Affairs (VA), Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Related Agencies appropriations bill (H.R. 2620). Due to several procedural delays on July 26, consideration of the bill was pushed to Friday.

The bill would provide $1 billion for homeless housing programs, a $3 million increase over FY2001 and $5 million more than the President’s request. The Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS program would receive a $19 million increase to $277 million, the same amount requested by the President.

On July 26, a number of Democratic amendments were defeated, including:

an amendment by Rep. John LaFalce (D-NY) that would have increased funding for homeless assistance grants by $123 million. The amendment was offset by decreasing funding for several other HUD programs: it was defeated, 124-300; and
an amendment by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) that would have provided a $195 million increase for low-income housing assistance. The amendment was offset by reducing funding for several other HUD programs: it was defeated, 139-284.

Additionally, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) offered and withdrew an amendment that would have increased funding for VA medical and prosthetic research by $24 million.

Rep. David Obey (D-WI) offered an amendment that would have provided a $1 billion increase for the bill by reducing the recently enact tax cut (P.L. 107-16). Under the amendment, the top bracket would have been increased from the current 38.6 percent to 39.1 percent. The amendment was ruled nongermane.