Senate Unveils Remaining FY 2022 Appropriations Bills Including THUD Appropriations

The Senate Appropriations Committee released nine FY 2022 appropriations bills on October 18, including the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill, which provides funding for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs.

In total, the bill would provide $65.4 billion for HUD programs and activities, $5.7 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level. The bill includes increases in funding to many HUD programs, including the HOME Investment Partnership program and Section 8 rental assistance over FY 2021 enacted levels, but in most cases funding levels are lower than those included in the House-passed omnibus appropriations bill, H.R. 4502. Key program funding levels are listed below.

HUD Program Funding

• $1.45 billion for the HOME Investment Partnership program, an increase of $100 million above the FY 2021 enacted level but $400 million below the House-passed bill and the administration’s budget request.
• $27.7 billion for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, $1.9 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level but $1.5 billion below the House bill. The committee maintains this is sufficient to renew all existing Section 8 vouchers and cover administrative fees.
• $13.97 billion for project-based rental assistance, $505 million more than the FY 2021 enacted level and largely similar to the House-passed bill.
• $3.55 billion for Community Development Block Grants, slightly higher than the $3.47 billion enacted in FY 2021 and $150 million below the House-passed bill.
• $3.26 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, $260 million more than the FY 2021 enacted level and $140 million below the House-passed bill.
• $956 million for Housing for the Elderly, $100 million more than the FY 2021 enacted level and $44 million below the House-passed bill.
• $450 million for Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS, slightly higher than the $430 million enacted level in FY 2021 and $150 million below the House-passed bill.
• $200 million for the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, even with the FY 2021 enacted level and half of the $400 million in the House-passed bill.
• $227 million for Housing for Persons with Disabilities, even with the FY 2021 enacted level and $125 million below the House-passed bill.
• $57.5 million for Housing Counseling, in line with the FY 2021 enacted level and $42.5 million below the House-passed bill.
• $400 million for HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, $40 million more than the FY 2021 enacted level and $60 million below the House-passed bill.
• $3.8 million for the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

In August, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Agriculture and Rural Development appropriations bill which includes funding for USDA rural housing programs at levels largely similar to those in the House bill. One notable exception is that the Senate appropriations bill includes $92 million for the Section 515 Multifamily Direct Loans program, $52 million higher than the House-passed bill.

Republican members of the committee have objected to the proposed FY 2022 bills generally because the percentage increase in non-defense discretionary spending is higher than the percentage increase in defense discretionary spending, whereas they are seeking parity between the two.

A continuing resolution (CR) is in effect until December 3; thus, Congress must either approve final FY 2022 appropriations bills or pass another CR by then to avoid a government shutdown.

For more information on individual program levels proposed by the Senate Committee and contained in the House-passed FY 2022 bill, see NCSHA’s Budget Chart.