Center for Non-Profits - House Passes Housing Bill WITH Anti-Advocacy Provision

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Housing bill passes WITH Anti-advocacy provision

(posted 10/27/05)

Late yesterday afternoon (October 26), H.R. 1461 passed the House of Representatives WITH the anti-advocacy language intact. In current form, it prohibits organizations from applying for funding under a new Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) if their primary purpose is not affordable housing OR if they:

Engage in voter registration, get-out-the-vote or similar activities within the preceding 12-month period of applying or during the grant period;
"Maintain an affiliation" with a group that conducts voter registration;
Publicly "promote, support, oppose or attack" a candidate for federal office; or
Lobby, even with private funds, unless the group is a 501(c)(3) lobbying within legal limits.

Significantly, these restrictions DO NOT apply to for-profit entities.

During yesterday's floor debates, the House voted on two procedural motions that would have removed or improved the offensive provisions. Unfortunately, both motions failed by close votes (205-210 and 200-220). Information about how New Jersey's delegation voted is available from the Center.

There are a number of steps this bill must take before it can become law, so there will be more opportunities to continue the fight. We will pass along additional updates and calls to action as more information becomes available. For more information in the meantime, contact the Center or visit the OMB Watch resource page at http://www.ombwatch.org/gseresourcecenter .

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