Forwarded from the US Catholic Conference of Bishops
Dear Colleagues:
The House of Representatives is debating a bill, H.R. 1427, that has provisions to reserve money for an Affordable Housing Trust Fund. There are two issues we are concerned about: 1) retaining the Affordable Housing Fund in the bill; 2) opposing an amendment that could exclude the Catholic Church and other organizations from using the fund.
The vote could come as early as Tuesday, May 22, 2007.
Please contact your Representative and urge them to support the Affordable Housing Fund provisions in H.R 1427 and oppose the Hensarling amendment #28.
An ALERT can be found below and attached that provides more information. Thank You!
Thom
Thomas Shellabarger
Policy Advisor
Office of Domestic Social Development
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 Fourth Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20017
Direct: 202 541 3189
Fax: 202 541 3339
tshellabarger@usccb.org
**************************
Action Alert!
House to Vote on Money for a National Housing Trust Fund
May 18, 2007
Call Your Representative Today!
The House is debating H.R. 1427, the Federal Housing Reform Act of 2007, with a final vote coming as early as Tuesday, May 22. While the USCCB has no position on H.R. 1427, which establishes new regulations for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks, there are two issues the USCCB is following:
(1) HR 1427 includes a provision reserving some $500,000,000 a year as a dedicated source of funding for an affordable housing trust fund. The Catholic bishops have long supported the creation of a national housing trust fund as one way to meet our nation’s promise of a decent home for every American family. (See Bishop DiMarzio’s Letter.)
A National Housing Trust Fund would serve as a source of revenue for the production of new housing, and the preservation or rehabilitation of existing housing that is affordable for low income people.
The lack of affordable housing in our nation threatens the well-being of families and the economic life of our communities. The lack of housing in our communities affects economic development—businesses simply will not locate in communities where their workers cannot live.
(2) An amendment has been offered (Mr. Hensarling AMENDMENT NO. 28) that would have the effect of excluding the Catholic Church and other religious organizations from using the housing trust funds to help low-income families gain the housing they desperately need.
A similar amendment was offered to a version of this bill in the last Congress. On October 3, 2005, Bishop DiMarzio wrote to then Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert urging the rejection of proposals to restrict eligibility for the affordable housing funds, which would have excluded most Catholic agencies.
“Proposals that would limit eligible recipients to organizations that have as their primary purpose the provision of affordable housing would effectively prevent Catholic dioceses, parishes and Catholic Charities agencies from participating in Affordable Housing Fund programs. Similarly, proposals that would prohibit recipients from engaging in voter registration and lobbying activities with their own funds during the period they are utilizing affordable housing funds would force Catholic agencies to choose between participating in Affordable Housing Fund programs or engaging in constitutionally protected voter registration and lobbying activities with their own funds.
“I urge you to oppose inclusion of these kinds of unnecessary limitations and prohibitions … as [the bill] moves to the House floor for a vote. There are ample ways to write safeguards into the legislation to prevent the diversion of affordable housing funds to uses other than what they are intended without requiring recipients to forego their constitutionally protected rights as a condition for participating in Affordable Housing Fund programs.” (Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio letter on Affordable Housing Fund, October 3, 2005)
The USCCB urges a vote against these types of Amendments. Attached is a copy of Bishop DiMarzio’s October 2005 letter.
ACTION REQUESTED:
- Call Your Representative(s) and urge them to support the inclusion of the Affordable Housing Fund in H.R. 1427.
- Ask them to oppose the Hensarling Amendment #28 whose effect would exclude the Catholic Community from using these funds to help house low income families.
- Please use this toll free number, 877-210-5351, for the congressional switchboard and ask to be connected to your Representative’s office.
For more information contact Thom Shellabarger at 202.541.3189 or tshellabarger@usccb.org
|
