Congress has focused on avoiding a potential government shutdown while continuing to work through and pass remaining individual appropriations bills. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.-4), now over a month on the job, has found himself beset by some of the same conflicting pressures that felled his predecessor, then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.-20).
Earlier this month, Speaker Johnson unveiled a “laddered” short-term continuing resolution (CR) plan to stave off a government shutdown that would fund the departments of Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Agriculture, and Transportation until January 19. Funding for the rest of the federal government in the eight remaining bills was extended until February 2. Both tracks would fund the government at current spending levels. The stop-gap funding measure is intended to provide lawmakers with additional time to finish setting department budgets for next year via the 12 annual appropriations bills. Thus far, the House has passed seven of the 12 bills, while the Senate has passed only three. These House-passed bills would still need to be reconciled with the Senate.
Despite criticism raised by recalcitrant members of the Freedom Caucus and hardline conservatives against present funding levels, the clean CR passed the House by a vote of 336-95. Ultimately 209 Democrats and 127 Republicans voted for the bill. The Senate moved quickly later that same week to advance the House-passed stopgap funding bill by a vote of 87-11. President Joe Biden has since signed this short-term CR, thus averting a second government shutdown in the past three months.
Congress has less than 20 legislative days between now and the next potential government shutdown, a timeframe that invites some alarm given the sharp divides in the GOP. Only 57% of the House GOP voted for this latest clean stopgap funding measure. Furthermore, some of the remaining five appropriations bills have proven difficult to move individually. For instance, in the Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill, enough Republicans joined in support of an amendment offered by Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.-AL) that would add $100 million in funding to the Community Development Fund for the HUD PRO Housing grant program – which closely aligns with the Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) legislation that that NAA has long supported. This is a win thanks to the tireless efforts of the NAA team and the relationship-building opportunities facilitated by NAAPAC. However, the THUD appropriations bill vote was derailed last minute due to a transportation fight among Republicans over Amtrak funding – an issue that has yet to be resolved.
In addition to YIMBY, NAA’s Government Affairs team is continuing to identify opportunities to pass our industry’s legislative priorities while building out our growing bipartisan list of cosponsors. We are trying to ensure that YIMBY and The Choice in Affordable Housing Act are part of a bipartisan housing package that the Senate Banking Committee is planning. The NAA team is actively working to build support for H.R. 802, The Respect State Housing Laws Act and have the bill language included in an end-of-year spending bill. In a new development for the 118th Congress, Sens. Brian Shatz (D-Hawaii) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) reintroduced on November 18 the Build More Housing Near Transit Act that will provide a boost to competitive grant applications for public transit projects that include housing development near new transportation stations. A House companion bill led by Reps. Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.-5) has also been introduced. NAAPAC continues to be a driving force behind helping get these bills pulled together and introduced. Because of your support, we are able to educate members of Congress about their importance and build momentum behind these bills.
As always, we welcome your input and insight on these issues. If you have questions do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].