Congress

NH&RA’s Historic Preservation Development Council is working to extend expiring Tax Incentives for historic rehabilitation projects in the Gulf Opportunity Zone in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. These benefits are currently due to expire at the end of 2009. As a result of our efforts we expect legislation to be introduced shortly that will be co-sponsored by Congressman Artur Davis (D-Ala.) and Congressman Charles Boustany (R-La.).

U.S. lawmakers from the House and Senate have agreed on a compromise version of H.R. 2997, which provides funding levels for rural housing programs through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for fiscal year 2010.

National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) has sent a letter to Congressional Leaders seeking provisions to strengthen the Housing Bond and Credit programs.

Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), along with Reps. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and Pat Tiberi (R-OH) have introduced legislation that would make a number of legislative changes to the federal historic rehabilitation tax credit.

The United States Senate passed the FY-2010 the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill (HR 3228) provides $45.8 billion to HUD. The measure now awaits consideration by a conference committee to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate passed versions of the measure.

We are pleased to announce NH&RA has launched a Twitter Feed. Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read short messages known as tweets. We’ll be using Twitter to let our members know about the projects we are working on, provide updates on industry news and developments, live report from NH&RA and other industry meetings and much more…

NH&RA is pleased to announce that it has extended its early registration for the 2009 Fall Developers Forum, November 2-3, 2009 at the Taj Hotel in Boston. Register by Wednesday, September 30 and save $100 off your conference registration fee.

The House Committee on Ways and Means Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) has announced a hearing on tax incentives for distressed communities on Wednesday, October 7, 2009. The hearing will focus on tax incentives for distressed communities, including the Empowerment Zone and Renewal Communities programs, which expire on December 31, 2009.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report and letter to Congress with regards to the future structure and function of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Government-sponsored enterprises that were put into conservatorship under the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) in 2008.

Virginia Representative Glenn Nye (Dem.) recently announced draft legislation that would improve off-base living conditions for enlisted troops with families by making it easier for them to qualify for affordable housing.

Even in bad times, there are many opportunities available for the knowledgeable, well-informed developers. The NH&RA membership is comprised of the most creative and progressive thinkers in the industry. Join us at our Fall Developers Forum in Boston, November 2-3 to learn how your business can benefit now from new programs and new ideas.

If you missed NH&RA’s 2009 New Markets Tax Credit Symposium, July 29 in Woodstock, Vermont, you can still purchase conference materials and audio recordings of the entire day!