Washington Update - 10/07/2005 (Plain Text Version)

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Builders Score Key Legislative Win on Endangered Species Reform

The House on Sept. 29 approved H.R. 3824, the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act, by bipartisan vote of 229-to-193. The bill would strengthen existing law by enhancing species conservation and protection efforts, eliminating excessive environmental regulation and giving private landowners incentives to enact voluntary conservation measures.

NAHB designated passage of this legislation as a “key vote” because of its importance to the housing industry. Prior to voting, NAHB sent a letter to all House members urging them to support H.R. 3824 and to oppose a substitute amendment that was to be offered by Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY). The Miller-Boehlert amendment subsequently failed by a narrow 216-to-206 margin. A manager’s amendment to H.R. 3824 offered by House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) was approved and contained several key provisions championed by NAHB to enhance the legislation.

Among its many positive provisions, H.R. 3824 would:

• Eliminate critical habitat from the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
• Require that the statute’s listing provisions be based on the “best available scientific data”
• Ensure that local and regional land use agencies are consulted when the federal government develops recovery plans
• Protect private property rights
• Codify the “no surprises” policy to give private property owners, state and local governments and community organizations the necessary regulatory certainty to continue their species and conservation efforts
• Compensate private landowners for takings under the ESA
• Establish a grant program for private property owners who voluntarily participate in species conservation

While House passage of this bill marks a critical first step, the legislation still faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where such measures tend to move more slowly. NAHB will be working closely with the members and leadership of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to advance similar reforms at the earliest possible date. To view the bill, click here and type H.R. 3824 in the box in the upper left hand corner. For more information, contact Jason Lynn at 800-368-5242, x8470.

Lawmakers Approve Three Katrina Housing Relief Measures

The House approved three bills on Oct. 6 that would alter existing federal housing programs to expedite relief to victims of Hurricane Katrina. H.R. 3896, introduced by Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA), would temporarily suspend certain requirements under the Community Development Block Grant program for communities affected by Katrina. H.R. 3895, also introduced by Rep. Baker, would amend Title V of the Housing Act to provide rural housing assistance for families harmed by Katrina. Finally, H.R. 3894, introduced by Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-LA), would waive certain requirements under Section 8 and other HUD housing assistance programs to help Katrina evacuees to obtain housing.

NAHB signed an industry letter in support of these bills that was sent to leaders of the House Financial Services Committee and Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity. As congressional hearings move forward on Katrina relief efforts, NAHB will continue to work with House and Senate lawmakers to help craft legislation to provide short- and long-term housing relief to residents in the hurricane-ravaged areas. To view the legislation, click here and type the bill numbers in the box in the upper left hand corner. For more information, contact Jenna Morgan Hamilton at x8470.
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House Extends Violence Against Women Act

The House approved a four-year extension of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) 2005 reauthorization bill last week when it folded provisions of the measure into a larger bill, the Department of Justice Reauthorization Act. Companion legislation in the Senate (S. 1197) would add a new section to the law that would address the housing needs of victims of domestic violence. NAHB expressed concerns to lawmakers that some of the housing provisions in S. 1197 could inadvertently create potentially dangerous situations for all residents in Section 8 rental properties. When the bill was considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee, the panel adopted a number of NAHB-supported changes and amendments that addressed the association’s concerns. The House-passed bill does not include the new housing section. It is unclear at this time how the House and Senate will reconcile their two different approaches to reauthorizing VAWA. NAHB will be monitoring the conference closely and working with conferees to assure our concerns continue to be addressed. To view S. 1197, click here and type the bill number in the box in the upper left hand corner. For more information, contact J.P. Delmore at x8470. [return to top]

Lawmakers Buy Time to Complete Spending Bills

The House and Senate last week approved a continuing resolution that will keep the government operating through Nov. 18. The move will allow lawmakers to complete work on their unfinished spending bills for fiscal 2006, which officially began on Oct. 1. To date, only two appropriations bills have been signed into law – the fiscal 2006 Interior-Environment Appropriations bill and the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. For more information, contact Jenna Morgan Hamilton at x8470. [return to top]