by Ethan Handelman, National Housing Conference
On Tuesday, the House Appropriations Committee approved the appropriations bill for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) with only minor changes from the version approved by the THUD subcommittee. The total level for HUD in the bill is at $33.6 billion, which is $3.8 billion below the FY 2012 level. The Committee stayed within the restrictive 302(b) allocation set earlier in the year (see the letter from 1,724 organizations calling for a higher 302(b)).
Committee approval prepares the bill for a vote by the full House, though as yet one has not been scheduled. The Senate’s THUD appropriations bill came in significantly higher at nearly $35 billion, leaving potential for a better outcome for housing if and when both houses of Congress come to agreement.