Congress is on pace to wrap up a major piece of federal legislation before leaving for recess.
"Congress is racing toward concluding work for the year with significant spending and tax legislation now slated for final action," reports Jason Jordan, director of policy and communication for the American Planning Association.
In addition to such critical achievements as averting a government shutdown, setting funding levels for the next fiscal year, and addressing looming tax questions, "[t]he package also contains provisions related to a number of important planning programs and generally represents positive investment levels for a number of programs supporting local communities."
Jordan goes on to list the planning-related provisions included in the omnibus bill relating to:
- Transportation (TIGER funding)
- HUD (Community Development Block Grants, Choice Neighborhoods, HOME program)
- Taxes (New Market Tax Credit, Low Income Housing Tax Credit)
- Land and Water Conservation Fund
Planetizen has already caught wind of coverage of the two of the important policies set forth in the Omnibus bill: the beginning of new eras in commuter tax benefits and oil exports.
FULL STORY: Omnibus Tax and Spending Package Supports Key Planning Programs
Omnibus Spending Bill Will Save Transit Grant Programs—for Five Months*
Congress passed a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill to keep the government operating through September that also restores funding to transportation programs that the president had eliminated or greatly reduced. Trump signed the bill Friday.
How Federal Policy Can Support More Affordable Housing in Exclusionary Communities
The recently funded “Yes In My Back Yard” federal grant program provides support for local and state governments to implement housing policy reforms, but it doesn’t go far enough to undo the exclusionary practices of wealthy communities.
Omnibus Spending Bill Expands Low Income Housing Tax Credit
Missed among the coverage of the federal Omnibus Bill on Friday of last week: a long-awaited expansion of the Low Income Tax Credit.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
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Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
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