Yesterday, the House Ways and Means Committee passed its portion of the Democrats’ Build Back Better infrastructure legislation by a vote of 24-19, which included all of the Housing Credit provisions initially proposed. This is a first, but significant step forward in advancing the legislation through the reconciliation process. The House Budget Committee has now received the committee’s legislative text, and will consolidate those recommendations in advance of its own markup, before advancing it to the House Committee on Rules, which is the final procedural step before floor consideration in the House.
During the Ways and Means Committee markup where Members of Congress debated the proposed legislative text, a number of legislators voiced their support for the Housing Credit. In addition, Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act lead co-sponsor and Housing Credit champion Representative Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01) submitted a letter for the record from a number of ACTION Steering Committee members in support of the Housing Credit production provisions included.
There are still a number of unknowns and the potential for changes along the way in Congress. Negotiations over the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better infrastructure package are not nearly finished – with conference discussions yet to come – but the Housing Credit has made it past a key, initial hurdle. Thank you to these Ways and Means Committee Housing Credit champions for their commitment to affordable housing. We urge ACTION members to express their thanks and continue their outreach to raise the visibility of the Housing Credit’s role in infrastructure, so these key expansions to the Housing Credit are included in any final legislation that is passed.
As this is proceeding through the reconciliation process, which is expected to only receive positive votes from Democrats, the next step in advocacy will be focused on outreach to House and Senate leadership, as well as Senate Democrats. Please reach out to Krista D’Alessandro, kdalessandro@enterprisecommunity.org, with any questions or for additional assistance with your advocacy outreach.
