General News

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee on January 23 released a draft of its own version of the tax component of the economic stimulus bill (the “Chairman’s Mark”) that the committee is scheduled to mark up on January 27. The House Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees have already marked up and approved the spending and tax portions of the House version of the stimulus bill (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009). The full House could vote on the package next week.

After adopting several amendments, the House Appropriations Committee approved HR 352 on a vote of 35-22. The measure is scheduled to be marked-up by two additional committees before being voted on by the full House of Representatives.

haun Donovan was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 22 as the new Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency has issued its draft 2009 qualified allocation plan (QAP) and market study guidelines for its low-income housing tax credit program.

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) has scheduled a public hearing for February 17 to solicit comments regarding the implementation of the directives in state Senate Bill 2A, which cuts, redirects, and sweeps housing trust fund monies.

The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development has announced it will hold a public hearing on proposed changes to its qualified allocation plan for its 2009 low-income housing tax credit program.

President-elect Barack Obama has named Shaun Donovan, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development as his choice for Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.

The US House of Representatives has released the text for its economic recovery bill. The measure has not yet been assigned a bill number. The measure contains many items advocated for by NH&RA and our Council for Energy Friendly Affordable Housing.

South Carolina State Housing Finance & Development Authority has issued a series of announcements with regards to its low-income housing tax credit program.

The Virginia Housing Development Authority has made available several supporting documents to go along with its 2009 qualified allocation plan (QAP) for the low-income housing tax credit program.

A 2009 Affordable Housing Funding Application and supporting documents were recently made available by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency.

The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund recently announced the opening of its seventh competitive funding round for approximately $3.5 billion in New Markets Tax Credits in 2009.