VA-HUD Movement could Advance Appropriation without Omnibus

WASHINGTON-The Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations bill could be passed outside of an omnibus appropriations bill expected for this year. According to NAFCU Director of Legislative and Political Affairs Brad Thaler, "The Senate has a possibility that they could take up their version of the VA-HUD appropriations bill and try to move that forward." The VA-HUD bill includes funding for Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund and NCUA's Central Liquidity Facility borrowing authority and the budget for the Community Development Revolving Loan Fund. The House has already approved their version of the bill. While both bills include a $1.5 billion cap on the CLF, the numbers vary on the CDFI and CDRLF. If the Senate does not pass the bill soon, it is likely to be wrapped up in an omnibus appropriations bill at the end of the session. "They're trying to complete as many individual appropriations bills as possible, but as I said, I think everyone recognizes that there will be several at least rolled into one overall bill that they pass before they adjourn for the year," Thaler concluded. Congress is scheduled to adjourn Nov. 7, but many inside the Beltway believe the session could go on until Thanksgiving.