Secretary Fudge Testimony at Senate Appropriations Hearing on FY22 HUD Budget

Chairman Schatz, Ranking Member Collins, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee-thank you for this opportunity to discuss the President's 2022 Budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

President Biden has often shared words of wisdom which he learned from his father. Those words are: 'Don't tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value.'

Well, the Biden-Harris administration has issued a Budget that sends a strong message about what we value.

It tells the American people this administration views housing as a foundational platform to help address the most urgent challenges facing our nation-to provide security and stability for those who live on the outskirts of hope; to advance opportunity and equity on behalf of marginalized communities; and to meet the existential threats posed by natural disasters and climate change.

The President's Budget requests $68.7 billion for HUD in Fiscal Year 2022. This amount represents an increase of $9 billion-or 15 percent-from HUD's enacted funding for Fiscal Year 2021.

The American people need every dollar contained in this Budget. We all know the United States confronts a crisis in affordable housing.

Even before the onset of COVID-19, nearly 11 million households spent more than half of their incomes on rent. The pandemic has only made that situation worse-especially for communities of color and for people of modest means.

The President's Budget addresses the affordable housing crisis head on-and dramatically strengthens our social safety net for the most vulnerable among us. It contains $3.5 billion to provide housing and supportive services to Americans experiencing homelessness-including young people and survivors of domestic violence.

It contains a $30.4 billion request for HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program. If enacted, this funding would provide potentially life-changing assistance for an additional 200,000 households.

The President's Budget takes strong steps to expand our supply of affordable housing. This includes $1.9 billion for the HOME Investment Partnerships Program-which helps create affordable rental homes for low-income Americans.

On top of this investment, the President's Budget requests funding to build 2,000 new homes for seniors and for people with disabilities.

In addition, the President's Budget takes bold action to help preserve the affordable housing we already have.

Nearly half of our public housing is more than 50 years old-and many properties face major capital needs. This is not just a safety issue for residents of public housing. It is an issue of both racial justice and climate justice.

People of color represent roughly 70 percent of Americans who live in public housing-and public housing is often located in underserved communities that are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

That is why the President's Budget invests $3.2 billion toward public housing capital funds to dramatically improve the quality of life for residents.

Furthermore, it contains $300 million to help increase energy efficiency, reduce carbon pollution, and boost resilience in public housing.

The President's Budget further advances equity by making significant investments in traditionally marginalized communities all across our country.

It requests $3.8 billion in Community Development Block Grants-including $295 million in targeted funding for historically underserved areas in cities, small towns, and rural counties.

It requests $723 million in Indian Housing Block Grants to help create affordable housing, improve water conservation, and build climate resilient infrastructure on tribal lands.

Taken together, the investments in this Budget underscore the President's belief that every American has the basic right to live each day with security and with dignity.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we have all been reminded of the fundamental role our homes play in how we live, how we learn, and how we work.

Our homes shape everything from our health and safety to our hopes and sense of self.

HUD looks forward to working with each of you to help make housing-for-all a reality in America-and to serve as a responsible steward for the funding entrusted to our Department.

With that, I am happy to answer any questions that you may have.

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