On July 29, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a Fiscal Year 2011 appropriations bill (H.R. 5850) for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Transportation, and certain other agencies. During floor consideration, the House adopted an amendment that bars funds provided by the bill from being used to prohibit the establishment of any occupancy preference for veterans in supporting housing for the elderly that is assisted by HUD and is located on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) property or is subject to an enhanced use lease with the VA. The House rejected an amendment that would have provided for a $40 million cut in funding for HUD’s new Transforming Rental Assistance program. On July 22, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the funding bill (S. 3644), clearing it for a vote by the full Senate. Read more…