Intense budget negotiations in Washington over the past few weeks have made little reference to funding for the federal Partnership for Sustainable Communities. But Congress is already discussing next year’s budget, and now is the time to weigh in on future spending.
On March 26, President Obama signed into law a final Fiscal Year 2013 spending package which retained the automatic $85 billion in spending cuts known as the sequester. Most federal agencies—including HUD, DOT and EPA—will have to make reductions in spending by the end of FY 2013 on September 30, 2013.
Congress now turns its attention to Fiscal Year 2014’s budget. On March 21, the House of Representatives voted in favor of adopting the resolution sponsored by Congressman Paul Ryan that leaves the sequester intact. The resolution also cuts domestic programs, repeals the 2010 health care act, and overhauls the income tax code, resulting in reduced spending of $4.6 trillion.
Meanwhile, on March 23 the Senate voted in favor of adopting the resolution sponsored by Senator Patty Murray that would replace sequester reductiongs with a combination of tax increases and spending cuts. It also proposes $100 billion for infrastructure investments and worker-training programs over the next 10 years.
As part of the FY 2014 negotiations, members of both chambers must submit funding recommendations by mid-April. Recommendations for programs like HUD’s Sustainable Housing and Communities and the EPA Smart Growth Program will all be considered during that time.
Weigh in on Washington’s debate
As Congress debates 2014’s budget, it’s important for members of Congress to hear from constituents like you.
The President’s budget is slated to be released later in April, and that too will shape the debate on funding for FY 2014. Send a letter to Congress today.
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