Democrats in the US Congress have managed to prevent some of the deepest cuts to housing and other social safety net programs sought by Republicans. However, low-income Americans will still feel the impact of reductions included in a new law. The legislation, enacted earlier this month as part of a government spending measure, has resulted in setbacks for Washington's efforts to address the availability of affordable housing for low-income families and the removal of dangerous lead-paint contamination from aging structures. The bills determine funding levels for various social programs, including those for teachers serving low-income students, reducing mortality rates for poor pregnant women, job training for disadvantaged youth, and HIV prevention. Despite being almost six months into the fiscal year, Republicans and Democrats are still debating federal spending priorities amidst a rising national debt of $34.5 trillion. The cost to produce affordable housing has increased by 40% in some areas since the pandemic began. House Republicans initially sought a $1 billion reduction to the Housing and Urban Development Department's 'HOME' program, but a $250 million cut was enacted instead. Approximately three-quarters of eligible households in the US do not receive rental assistance. The new HOME budget is estimated to support around 21,000 new or rehabilitated units nationwide, which is 4,185 fewer than last year. Republicans were successful in securing funding cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, FBI, and other agencies, although not as deep as originally sought. They also achieved a $130 million cut to efforts aimed at helping low-income families reduce or eliminate dangerous levels of lead paint in aging homes, which is significantly less than the over $500 million in savings initially targeted by House Republicans. [cd2e0d1f]
The Biden administration is facing a delay in finalizing regulations to update federal housing rules that could save homeowners nearly three times more money on energy bills than it would add to construction costs. The rule would require new homes to meet stricter energy efficiency standards to qualify for federally-insured loans, potentially adding $560 million in building costs but saving the country as much as $1.5 billion in energy costs over the same period. The final rule is progressing slowly through the bureaucratic process, and if President Joe Biden loses reelection, Donald Trump could have final say over any rule enacted after May or June. Critics argue that the changes would raise the price of new homes and exacerbate the affordable housing crisis. The U.S. has no official nationwide building code, and few states have voluntarily adopted greener building standards. Congress has granted Biden $1 billion to help states adopt stricter codes. The delay in finalizing the rule could hinder efforts to cut back on emissions and reduce energy costs for homeowners. [b48c13e5]
Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, has announced a $5.5 billion plan to address the issue of homelessness and lower housing costs. The funding, provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will primarily go towards grants for state and local governments to create more affordable housing and support economic development. Only five percent of the funding will directly impact homelessness, with $290 million allocated for homeless shelters, street outreach, homelessness prevention, and rapid re-housing assistance. Harris stated that the funding will help more Americans afford a home and lower costs while creating jobs and building wealth. The Biden administration has been struggling with rising mortgage rates and high home prices across the country. Harris indicated that if re-elected to a second term, the administration would continue to work on making housing more affordable. [ecdff8b1]
The high cost of housing and the problem of homelessness in many cities are major concerns for Americans. The U.S. economy is in a relatively strong position, but the tight housing supply and zoning restrictions are especially harmful to those with low incomes. The Biden administration is planning to boost affordable housing programs and the supply of manufactured homes. The delay in finalizing regulations to update federal housing rules could hinder efforts to address the availability of affordable housing for low-income families. The rule would require new homes to meet stricter energy efficiency standards to qualify for federally-insured loans, potentially adding $560 million in building costs but saving the country as much as $1.5 billion in energy costs over the same period. Critics argue that the changes would raise the price of new homes and exacerbate the affordable housing crisis. Kamala Harris, the Vice President of the United States, has announced a $5.5 billion plan to address the issue of homelessness and lower housing costs. The funding, provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will primarily go towards grants for state and local governments to create more affordable housing and support economic development. Only five percent of the funding will directly impact homelessness, with $290 million allocated for homeless shelters, street outreach, homelessness prevention, and rapid re-housing assistance. Harris stated that the funding will help more Americans afford a home and lower costs while creating jobs and building wealth. [4cafc3d3]
The Biden administration is shattering records in all the wrong ways, with the surge of illegal migrants, rise in crime rates, and skyrocketing inflation. American families are paying $15,133 more each year due to inflation. Biden's regulatory agenda is expanding the administrative state, posing a threat to American prosperity. The Trump-Pence administration achieved record success with low unemployment rates and income growth, but Biden has overturned three-quarters of Trump's deregulatory actions and added his own regulations. Biden has implemented over 209 Economically Significant Rules and the federal bureaucracy has expanded under his administration. The cost of essential items has increased due to regulations, and projections estimate that Biden's regulations will cost over $1 trillion over the next decade. Ending the Trump-Pence 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act threatens to undo vital gains. Biden's desire to grow the government on the backs of hardworking Americans is drowning the American dream in regulations and economic mismanagement. [7b3c7115]
T.W. Shannon, an Oklahoma Department of Transportation commissioner, highlights the costly impact of federal mandates on Oklahoma's infrastructure. He mentions that federal mandates require a set percentage allocated to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) for every highway contract, resulting in higher bids and costing taxpayers over $7.6 million more. Oklahoma is being singled out and forced to accept a 20% DBE mandate, double that of some other states, due to a historical grievance filed when Biden was vice president. The lack of available and reasonably priced DBEs in Oklahoma leads to delays and higher costs for contractors. The search for DBEs is time-consuming and costly, with the average contractor spending approximately $2,500 per bid. Shannon supports providing opportunities for underrepresented groups but emphasizes the need to balance that with overall costs and effectiveness. [6ac74bbc]