The House and Senate face a jam-packed agenda upon their return from the August recess with President Biden’s biggest ticket items awaiting immediate action. The window to pass this transformative legislation will not remain open for long.
First up on September 13 will be the House Financial Services Committee markup of their portion of the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill, which is the legislative vehicle for President Biden’s American Jobs and Families Plan. They recently released a chart with topline funding numbers that includes many of CLPHA’s priorities such as funding public housing and Choice Neighborhoods at $80 billion. House leaders are expected pull together all the committee portions into one reconciliation package by the end of September.
In the Senate, moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is telling Democrats to “hit the pause button” on the $3.5 trillion number and aim for a lower price tag. Mired in these negotiations the government’s debt ceiling will be broached, and since government funding is set to expire, a continuing resolution to keep the government running after September 30 will distract Congress’s attention. This could delay negotiations over the infrastructure and reconciliation bills well into the fall, and maybe even into the new year.
Throughout the negotiations, CLPHA will be advocating for our members’ needs to be met, increased funding for public housing recapitalization, and the many programs that touch public and affordable housing.