Results for

Low-Income Solar Energy Act This bill expands access to solar energy for low-income households, including by expanding the Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program, and directing the Department of Energy to establish a solar financing program.

Low-Income Solar Energy Act This bill expands access to solar energy for low-income households, including by expanding the Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program, and directing the Department of Energy to establish a solar financing program.

Jobs and Neighborhood Investment Act This bill establishes investment programs and generally revises provisions related to community development financial institutions and minority depository institutions. The Department of the Treasury must establish a Neighborhood Capital Investment Program to facilitate direct capital investments in low- and moderate-income community financial institutions. To qualify for the program, these institutions must, among other things, (1) demonstrate specified lending history regarding low-and moderate-income borrowers and other targeted populations, and (2) provide details regarding plans to expand or maintain lending to certain minority communities and historically disadvantaged borrowers. The bill also establishes the Neighborhood Loan Program through the Federal Reserve Board's emergency powers to create a credit facility for small business loans, specifically targeting low- and moderate-income community financial institutions serving low- and moderate-income and minority communities. The bill requires certain amounts available through existing COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) economic aid programs to be set aside for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Regarding minority depository institutions, the bill * establishes the Minority Bank Deposit Program to expand the use of minority depository institutions to hold the deposits of federal departments and agencies, * allows new minority depository institutions to take three years to meet initial capital requirements, and * establishes a program allowing minority depository institutions to apply to receive deposits from certain Treasury accounts.

Jobs and Neighborhood Investment Act This bill establishes investment programs and generally revises provisions related to community development financial institutions and minority depository institutions. The Department of the Treasury must establish a Neighborhood Capital Investment Program to facilitate direct capital investments in low- and moderate-income community financial institutions. To qualify for the program, these institutions must, among other things, (1) demonstrate specified lending history regarding low-and moderate-income borrowers and other targeted populations, and (2) provide details regarding plans to expand or maintain lending to certain minority communities and historically disadvantaged borrowers. The bill also establishes the Neighborhood Loan Program through the Federal Reserve Board's emergency powers to create a credit facility for small business loans, specifically targeting low- and moderate-income community financial institutions serving low- and moderate-income and minority communities. The bill requires certain amounts available through existing COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) economic aid programs to be set aside for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Regarding minority depository institutions, the bill * establishes the Minority Bank Deposit Program to expand the use of minority depository institutions to hold the deposits of federal departments and agencies, * allows new minority depository institutions to take three years to meet initial capital requirements, and * establishes a program allowing minority depository institutions to apply to receive deposits from certain Treasury accounts.

Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act of 2019 This bill modifies the means by which eligibility for low-income housing assistance and tax credits is determined. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is prohibited from considering the New York counties of Westchester and Rockland as within the New York City metropolitan area when determining or establishing area median incomes and income ceilings and limits for the purposes of eligibility for low-income housing assistance. HUD must also assess alternative methods for calculating area median income as well as alternative metrics for use in programs administered by HUD that would make housing more affordable for low-income families in urban areas nationwide. HUD, for the purposes of low-income housing tax credits and exempt facilities bonds, may not apply high housing cost adjustments for any jurisdiction when calculating the area median income or any related metric. A jurisdiction may petition HUD to apply such an adjustment, however. Qualified low-income buildings may not receive a low-income housing credit unless they provide to the relevant housing credit agency certain information required by HUD to determine program compliance. The bill also authorizes through FY2029 certain assistance for jurisdictions for which HUD has applied, or would have applied in the absence of this bill, a high housing cost adjustment.

Low-Income Water Customer Assistance Programs Act of 2019 This bill addresses the access of low-income households to drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services. Specifically, the bill establishes new pilot programs that award grants to help low-income households pay their drinking water, wastewater, or stormwater bills. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency must study the prevalence of low-income households that do not have access to * affordable, functional wastewater services that protect the health of individuals in the households; * affordable municipal stormwater services; or * affordable public drinking water services.

Low-Income Water Customer Assistance Programs Act of 2019 This bill addresses the access of low-income households to drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services. Specifically, the bill establishes new pilot programs that award grants to help low-income households pay their drinking water, wastewater, or stormwater bills. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency must study the prevalence of low-income households that do not have access to * affordable, functional wastewater services that protect the health of individuals in the households; * affordable municipal stormwater services; or * affordable public drinking water services.

Dental Care for Low-Income Veterans Act This bill expands eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient dental services and treatment to low-income veterans. Currently, only certain veterans, including those suffering from service-connected issues, are eligible for dental services through the VA.

This resolution recognizes the contributions of the Free File program and supports its continued success. The Free File program is a public-private partnership between tax preparation software companies and the Internal Revenue Service to offer free online tax preparation and e-filing services to low- and moderate-income taxpayers at no cost to the federal government.

Coronavirus Housing Counseling Support Act This bill authorizes additional housing counseling services for low- and moderate-income families provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Community Economic Development Center Support Act of 2020 This bill requires the Minority Business Development Agency to carry out a grant program for supplying financial and technical assistance, through eligible intermediaries, to minority-serving economic development organizations. Such organizations must provide services to benefit certain low- and moderate-income persons and small businesses with annual revenues of less than $500,000.

Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2019 This bill authorizes rental assistance to low-income tenants of certain multifamily public housing in rural areas and otherwise revises provisions related to low-income housing.

American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2019 This bill addresses housing affordability and availability, makes certain changes to the estate and gift taxes, and contains other related provisions. The Department of Housing and Urban Development shall provide grants to (1) state and local governments that remove unnecessary barriers to building affordable units, (2) states to assist borrowers who have negative equity in their homes, (3) state housing finance agencies to construct affordable rental housing and prevent tenant displacement and harassment, and (4) eligible individuals (generally, lower income individuals who resided in low-income or historically racially segregated areas) to help them purchase their first homes. The bill provides funding through FY2029 for the first-time homeowner grant program established by the bill, through FY2020 for the affordable rental housing construction program established by the bill, and through FY2020 for specified existing rural housing programs. The bill also expands fair housing protections to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, source of income, veteran status, or an individual's perceived membership in a protected class (e.g., an individual's perceived race or sex). Additionally, the bill modifies the estate tax in various ways, including by reducing the number of brackets to three, increasing the tax rates, and reducing the basic exemption amount. The bill also modifies provisions related to gift taxes and transfer taxes.

American Housing and Economic Mobility Act of 2019 This bill addresses housing affordability and availability, makes certain changes to the estate and gift taxes, and contains other related provisions. The Department of Housing and Urban Development shall provide grants to (1) state and local governments that remove unnecessary barriers to building affordable units, (2) states to assist borrowers who have negative equity in their homes, (3) state housing finance agencies to construct affordable rental housing and prevent tenant displacement and harassment, and (4) eligible individuals (generally, lower income individuals who resided in low-income or historically racially segregated areas) to help them purchase their first homes. The bill provides funding through FY2029 for the first-time homeowner grant program established by the bill, through FY2020 for the affordable rental housing construction program established by the bill, and through FY2020 for specified existing rural housing programs. The bill also expands fair housing protections to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, source of income, veteran status, or an individual's perceived membership in a protected class (e.g., an individual's perceived race or sex). Additionally, the bill modifies the estate tax in various ways, including by reducing the number of brackets to three, increasing the tax rates, and reducing the basic exemption amount. The bill also modifies provisions related to gift taxes and transfer taxes.

Improving Low-Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act of 2019 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to establish a transition program under the Medicare prescription drug benefit for limited-income, newly eligible individuals (i.e., individuals who are eligible for subsidies and have not yet enrolled in, or whose coverage has not yet taken effect under, a Medicare or Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan). Such coverage must provide immediate access to covered drugs at the point of sale as soon as the individual becomes eligible for subsidies; coverage also applies retroactively for dual eligible individuals and for individuals who receive benefits under the Supplemental Security Income program.

Improving Low-Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act of 2019 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to establish a transition program under the Medicare prescription drug benefit for limited-income, newly eligible individuals (i.e., individuals who are eligible for subsidies and have not yet enrolled in, or whose coverage has not yet taken effect under, a Medicare or Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan). Such coverage must provide immediate access to covered drugs at the point of sale as soon as the individual becomes eligible for subsidies; coverage also applies retroactively for dual eligible individuals and for individuals who receive benefits under the Supplemental Security Income program.

Housing for Homeless Students Act of 2019 This bill modifies the low-income housing tax credit to allow certain low-income building units that provide housing for homeless children, youth, or veterans who are full-time students to qualify for the credit. To qualify for the credit, the full-time student must have been a homeless child or youth during any portion of the seven-year period prior to occupying the housing unit or a homeless veteran during any portion of the five-year period prior to occupying the unit.

Housing for Homeless Students Act of 2019 This bill modifies the low-income housing tax credit to allow certain low-income building units that provide housing for homeless children, youth, or veterans who are full-time students to qualify for the credit. To qualify for the credit, the full-time student must have been a homeless child or youth during any portion of the seven-year period prior to occupying the housing unit or a homeless veteran during any portion of the five-year period prior to occupying the unit.

Maximizing Drug Coverage for Low-Income Seniors Act of 2019 This bill provides for an alternative process by which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) may automatically enroll certain individuals who are eligible for low-income subsidies under the Medicare prescription drug benefit in prescription drug plans. Specifically, the CMS may use a process that actively matches such individuals with prescription drug plans based on the individual's needs in relation to certain factors (e.g., formularies), rather than the current random assignment process.

This bill extends funding through FY2024 for state health insurance programs, area agencies on aging, aging and disability resource centers, and technical assistance related to outreach and enrollment for benefit programs for low-income, older individuals.

National Climate Bank Act This bill establishes and capitalizes a National Climate Bank to provide financing for clean technology, conduct low-cost procurements used to lower emissions, enable low- and moderate-income individuals to benefit from projects and investments that reduce emissions, and support the creation of green banks, which are public or nonprofit specialized finance entities that use finance tools to mitigate climate change.

Save Affordable Housing Act of 2019 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the low-income housing tax credit, to repeal the qualified contract option for a building that received its allocation of housing credit dollar amount before January 1, 2019, or received before that date, a determination from the bond issuer or housing credit agency of its eligibility to receive an allocation of a housing credit dollar amount. Under current law, properties subject to the low-income housing tax credit are subject to a 30-year affordability period, during which the value of properties is set at a below market rate. The qualified contract option allows property owners, in some cases, to convert to market rate after 15 years.

Save Affordable Housing Act of 2019 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the low-income housing tax credit, to repeal the qualified contract option for a building that received its allocation of housing credit dollar amount before January 1, 2019, or received before that date, a determination from the bond issuer or housing credit agency of its eligibility to receive an allocation of a housing credit dollar amount. Under current law, properties subject to the low-income housing tax credit are subject to a 30-year affordability period, during which the value of properties is set at a below market rate. The qualified contract option allows property owners, in some cases, to convert to market rate after 15 years.

Green Buses for Every Community Act This bill requires at least 10% of funding made available in a fiscal year for the low or no emissions competitive grant program for buses and bus facilities to be distributed to projects serving predominantly low-income communities. The bill defines alow-income communityas any population census tract if (1) the poverty rate for such tract is at least 20%; or (2) the tract is not located within a metropolitan area and the median family income for such tract does not exceed 80% of statewide median family income, or the tract is located within a metropolitan area and the median family income does not exceed the 80% or the metropolitan area median family income.

Student Protection and Success Act This bill establishes certain consequences for institutions of higher education (IHEs) that have low student loan repayment rates or high student loan balances among their students. The bill makes an IHE ineligible for federal student financial aid programs for two fiscal years if a certain percentage of its students are not able to start repaying the principal of their loans by specified deadlines. The Department of Education must award grants to IHEs that have a strong record of supporting low- and moderate-income students. The bill funds the grants by requiring IHEs with certain nonrepayment loan balances to make risk-sharing payments. Grants may be used to increase college access and success for the students using investments and practices such as awarding additional need-based financial aid, enhancing academic and student support services, and establishing or expanding accelerated learning opportunities. The bill also revises the types of student service expenditures and resources information collected by the National Center for Education Statistics.