House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) introduced on November 21, the “Housing is Infrastructure Act of 2019” (H.R.5187) to invest more than $100 billion to improve housing infrastructure and create jobs.
The bill would provide a one-time infusion of funds, including $70 billion to fully address the capital-needs backlog of public housing repairs, $5 billion to create deeply affordable rental homes though the national Housing Trust Fund, $1 billion to address severe housing needs on tribal lands, and $5 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, among other investments. The bill also sets procurement and hiring goals for women- and minority-owned businesses, including developers and construction company owners.
NLIHC president and CEO Diane Yentel was featured in the media release announcing the bill. She stated, “I applaud Chairwoman Waters and Senator Harris for introducing legislation to make robust infrastructure investments in affordable housing solutions, including the national Housing Trust Fund and resources to repair our nation’s public housing stock. The connection between affordable homes and infrastructure is clear: like roads and bridges, affordable homes are a long-term asset that helps communities and the lowest-income families thrive. It is critical that any infrastructure package includes significant resources to build and preserve homes affordable to our nation’s poorest seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, and other individuals.” This spring, Diane testified in support of the bill before the House Financial Services Committee.
The media release is at: https://tinyurl.com/wyy5d2w
The bill text is at: https://tinyurl.com/yx8e2g85
An executive summary is at: https://bit.ly/33bR66Y
Testimony of NLIHC president and CEO Diane Yentel before the HFSC is at: https://tinyurl.com/w9vkx6k