REPRESENTING BUSINESS ISSUES
Essential Investments For Oregon Families in Government Funding Package Funding included in Congress’s annual omnibus appropriations package will boost affordable housing, health care, mental health, education, transportation services and more in Oregon
Washington, D.C. | December 23, 2022 | Press Release O regon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announce critical investments in housing, health care, mental health, education, and transportation services across the state as part of the year- end funding package. The legislation passed in the Senate and is expected to clear the House of Representatives this week before being signed into law by President Biden. “At a time when Oregon’s working families are struggling with the high costs of everything from rent to prescription drugs to gas and groceries, it’s critical that our country prioritizes quality, affordable health care, housing, and education—and that’s exactly what this funding package does,” Merkley said. “We’re delivering major investments that will support affordable housing, health care, research, and education, which will have a huge impact on families in every corner of our state and nation.” “I’m happy the policies I’ve championed to make housing, education and health care more affordable in Oregon and nationwide have made it into this year’s government spending bill,” Wyden said. “Oregon families will benefit from increased investments in affordable housing programs– particularly in rural communities– as well as critical investments to improve child, maternal and mental health care. I’m also proud to see Congress invest in our children’s future by making education more accessible and investing in career and technical training. I’ll keep up the fight in the Senate to help Oregon families thrive in today’s economy and for future generations.” Merkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, which wrote the bill and is considered to be one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill. He joined the committee in 2013 so that Oregon would have a strong voice in decisions about the investments our nation should be making. Key elements that will benefit Oregon families in the funding bills include:
Housing Affordable Housing: As rural and urban communities across Oregon continue to experience housing crises, the bill includes an increase for affordable housing programs for some of Oregon’s most vulnerable people—low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities, including $14.907 billion for housing unit specific rental assistance. The bill also protects funding for housing programs that benefit the elderly and people with disabilities. Rural Housing: The Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) and Rural Capacity Building Program received $13.5 million and $6 million, respectively. SHOP provides funds for non-profit sweat- equity homebuilders, such as Habitat for Humanity, to cover land purchases and infrastructure costs. The Rural Capacity funds are intended to build the capacity of rural low-income housing non-profits by providing training, information, technical assistance, and financing. HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing: The program received an additional $50 million to provide rental assistance vouchers for homeless veterans, along with case management and clinical services. This increase will provide additional rental vouchers for veterans experiencing homelessness, and when combined with prior year appropriations and available unleased vouchers, has the potential to eliminate veteran homelessness based on the most recent complete data available. These vouchers have been critical to reducing veterans’ homelessness by 55.3 percent since 2010. Homeless Assistance and Prevention: The bill includes $3.6 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, a $50 million increase that will benefit organizations across Oregon. Within that funding, rapid rehousing programs for victims of domestic violence received an additional $52 million; homeless youth programs received $107 million; and Emergency Solutions Grants—particularly important
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The Business Review | January 2023
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