Discharge Petition to Push Along Housing Trust Fund Bill

WASHINGTON, DC-In an effort to compel action on the National Housing Trust Fund Act, three US House of Representatives, who are cosponsors of the legislation, have filed a discharge petition. Just last night, Reps. Barbara Lee, Michael E. Capuano, and Bernard Sanders put forth the petition, which is expected to prompt movement of the legislation to the House floor for the requisite discussion and vote. The Housing Trust Fund Act, or HR 1102, would establish a federal fund that would build and rehabilitate 1.5 million low-income rental housing units over the next 10 years–and it would create thousands of jobs in the process.

The legislation has a hoard of supporters, including the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which sent a letter to the House today urging action. And a recent NLIHC poll–which found that 68% of likely voters support the notion of those in higher income brackets paying taxes to fund affordable housing–provides further evidence of the solid backing for this bill.