Housing and Urban Development

HUD Spending Bill Approved by Subcommittee

July 2, 2009 On July 1, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved a $126.4 billion FY2011 Transportation-HUD draft spending bill (unnumbered). The measure’s $67.4 billion in discretionary spending is $500 million below FY2010 levels and $1.3 billion below President Obama’s request.

The bill includes $46.6 billion in total funding or the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), $520 million more than FY2010 spending and $1 billion more than the administration’s request.

HUD funding includes the following amounts:

  • $2.1 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants ($195 million over current funding and level with request)
  • $150 million for the Sustainable Communities Initiative (level with request and current funding)
  • $17.5 million for Brownfields Redevelopment (level with current funding; president did not request funding)
  • $200 million for HOPE VI ($65 million over current funding; president did not request funding)
  • $4.3 billion for Community Development Block Grants ($98 million less than current funding and $28 million less than request)

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    NADO Joins with Local Government Organizations Urging Senators to Support Livability Legislation

    November 6, 2009 On November 2, a coalition of national organizations representing local officials sent a letter to Senators urging them to co-sponsor livability legislation (S. 1619) recently developed by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd (D-CT). The letter, signed by the National Association of Counties (NACo), National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), National League of Cities and the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA), can be viewed at www.nado.org/legaffair/livableletter.pdf.

    Regional development organizations are asked to contact their U.S. Senators and urge them to co-sponsor the Livable Communities Act of 2009. The legislation reserves a prominent role for regional councils and RPOs in regional comprehensive planning and project development. For more information, visit www.nado.org/uploaded_files/livability2.pdf.

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    Livable Communities Legislation Introduced in Senate

    August 7, 2009 --On August 6, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) introduced legislation (S 1619) authorizing the administration’s proposed Sustainable Communities Initiative. The Livable Communities Act of 2009, which includes a prominent role for regional councils, RPOs and MPOs, promotes sustainable regional development and aims to help communities cut traffic congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption, protect green spaces and create more affordable housing.

    Specifically the bill authorizes four new initiatives:

    • Competitive Comprehensive Planning Grants will be used to create long-term plans integrating transportation, housing, land use and economic development. Funds may also be used to develop goals and concrete strategies for carrying out regional plans and to make zoning and other code changes necessary to facilitate sustainable development. Consortia of local governments working with a metropolitan planning organization, rural planning organization, or regional council may apply for these grants. Grant awards will be determined by population size. For regions below 200,000, grants will not exceed $750,000; for regions more than 200,000 but less than 500,000, grants will not exceed $1.5 million; and for regions over 500,000, grants will not exceed $5 million. The bill authorizes $400 million over four years for this program.
    • Competitive Sustainability Challenge Grants to assist communities in carrying out sustainable development projects outlined in their comprehensive regional plans. Eligible activities include: investment in transit-oriented development; affordable housing; public transportation infrastructure and facilities; pedestrian and bicycle thoroughfares; redevelopment of brownfield and projects to spur economic development. These grants will also be determined by population size. Grants to regions under 200,000, grant may not exceed $15 million; for regions under 500,000, grants may not exceed $40 million; and for regions over 500,000, grants may not exceed $100 million. The bill authorizes $3.75 billion over three years for this program.
    • Interagency Council on Sustainable Communities—this new interagency council will include representatives from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency and other federal agencies to coordinate federal sustainable development policies.
    • Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities—housed at HUD to coordinate sustainable development policy and administer HUD’s sustainability initiatives; recommend and conduct research on sustainability; implement and oversee Livable Communities grant programs in coordination with the Interagency Council; and provide guidance, best practices and technical assistance to communities.

    To view a section-by section summary of the bill, go to www.nado.org/legaffair/section.pdf. View legislative text,, and to view a one-page summary of the bill, go to www.nado.org/legaffair/dodd.pdf.

    For more information, contact NADO Legislative Director Jason Boehlert at 202.624.8590 or jboehlert@nado.org.

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