Just hours ago, the Senate rejected the “The Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act” by a vote of 48-50. The bill would have cut $15 billion in previously approved funding, including cuts of almost $40 million from public housing, $40 million from rural rental assistance, and $141 million from the Capital Magnet Fund.
Thank you for calling your senators and urging them to vote “no.” Your advocacy helped defeat this harmful bill which would have exacerbated the affordable housing crisis across the nation.
Background
The rescission package specifically targeted funding for the Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) program, which allows public housing authorities (PHAs) to hire service coordinators to help public housing residents access resources in their communities. The proposed cuts to the rural rental assistance program would have prevented USDA from fully renewing all existing contracts, causing significant harm to rural residents. The rescission to the Capital Magnet Fund would have reduced private-sector investments in affordable housing and community development.
Because of procedural rules, the Senate had to vote on the bill before June 22 to be able to approve it by a simple majority. After that date, the bill will need 60 votes to pass. The House voted in favor of the bill on June 7.
NLIHC and other national leaders sent a letter to Congress opposing the bill.