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Self-Help Builder Newsletter June 2013 Volume 6, Issue # 2 >
Policy update
By Stan Keasling,
RCAC chief executive officer
I am returning from a week in Washington D.C. and I am more
optimistic about the policy and funding outlook today than I have been in
months. It appears that there may be an
agriculture appropriations bill that will pass both houses of Congress. Both
houses are also working on a farm bill, which will come to the House and Senate
for a vote.
On the appropriations front, the House budget set a low mark
for the appropriations committees to follow. In spite of this, the House agriculture appropriations subcommittee
provided $820 million for the 502 direct loan program and $17 million for the
Section 523 self-help housing program. Most surprisingly, they restored the
sequester cuts in the rental assistance program. These numbers are comparable
to or a vast improvement over the Administration’s budget request. Bob Rapoza, Rapoza and Associates, is
confident the Senate appropriations numbers will be more positive and that the
House will adopt the Senate numbers.
The Senate farm bill has a long-term fix for the rural definition.
The bill would extend the “grandfathering” provision for currently eligible
communities until the next Census and increase the maximum population limit to
35,000 people. In the House, Rep. Fortenberry
(R-NE) secured an amendment to the Ag Appropriations bill in the full
appropriations committee that extends the “grandfathering” provision for
communities with fewer than 25,000 people for one year. The bill is now headed
to the House floor for a vote. One way or another it looks like Congress is
moving a new “grandfathering” clause.