News from DC

I was in DC last week to talk with Congressional staff about the FY18 and FY19 budgets. It is a crazy time right now. Congress is trying to finish the FY18 continuing resolution, which will take us to this fiscal year end, and to figure out where to add the $60 billion in budget authority just approved in the last continuing resolution. At the same time, the President has finally submitted the FY19 budget, which slashed domestic discretionary funding, and then submitted some limited additions after the budget compromise. In other words, Congress has been trying to sort through four budgets simultaneously, and as recently as Thursday, March 8, there was no guidance from leadership. Needless to say, the process is neither rational nor transparent, but that does not necessarily mean that it is without opportunity.

The National Rural Housing Coalition is pushing for a significant $38 million increase in the Section 523 self-help account. We are also asking for the 502 Direct Loan account to increase to $1.2 billion. This would be the first major increase in the self-help program in years, and it would hopefully provide grant increases for existing grantees and some limited funding for new grantees. We are expecting a Congressional sign-on letter to ask legislators to support the additional appropriation. When it comes out, we will forward it to you to ask your legislators to sign on.

Stay tuned, we will send along action requests as there are opportunities for you all to join in the fun.