Contains PHADA-Opposed Moving to Work Provisions
On June 16, House and Senate leaders released updated text for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. As previously covered in the Advocate, Congress has been debating a bipartisan housing bill for much of the 119th Congress. This newly released bill text was negotiated on a bipartisan and bicameral basis and appears set for passage in the coming weeks.
Disappointingly, the negotiated bill includes the Moving to Work (MTW) provisions that PHADA and its industry partners have consistently opposed. These provisions would impose unworkable reporting requirements on existing MTW agencies and would create a new MTW cohort with extremely limited flexibilities. PHADA will continue to oppose these provisions and will seek their removal prior to passage.
While PHADA is disappointed with the bill’s MTW language, there are other provisions that PHADA supports, including:
- Requiring that HUD study the impacts of Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements on HOME-funded construction.
- Increasing the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) unit cap from 455,000 to 555,000.
- Lifting the public welfare investment (PWI) cap from 15% to 20%.
- Streamlining some environmental reviews.
- Removing prohibitions on Build-to-Rent (BTR) units that were in previous Senate-passed versions.
PHADA expects both chambers to work quickly to pass the legislation. Late on June 16, the Senate passed a procedural vote on the bill by a 87–8 margin. Barring any unforeseen complications, the bill could be sent to the President’s desk before the July 4th holiday.
The Association will provide more in-depth coverage of the bill in the forthcoming edition of the Advocate.