Provision could build more than 130,000 affordable homes in the next decade; more than 6,300 additional units in Washington.
Press release issued 12.21.20
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-secures-provision-to-increase-affordable-housing-production-in-covid-relief-bill_
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced the inclusion of a key provision to increase affordable housing production in the COVID-19 relief bill. The provision establishes a permanent 4 percent floor under the Affordable Housing Tax Credit, which will help close the funding gap for affordable housing projects and provide more predictability and flexibility in Housing Credit financing. Cantwell’s provision could increase affordable housing production by at least 130,000 affordable homes over the next 10 years and build more than 6,300 additional affordable housing units in the State of Washington. This would create 170,000 jobs and inject $18.5 billion into the economy. The COVID-19 relief bill also includes a one-month eviction moratorium and $25 billion for rental assistance, of which Washington state will receive $508,706,000.
The Affordable Housing Tax Credit (also called the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, or LIHTC) is responsible for funding 90 percent of the federally-funded affordable housing construction in our country, and has financed over 3 million affordable homes, including nearly 75,000 in Washington state, since its creation in 1986. The number of affordable housing units the Affordable Housing Tax Credit has built in each Washington state county can be found here.
“Establishing the 4% floor for the Affordable Housing Tax Credit could help us build more than 6,000 additional affordable housing units in the State of Washington and more than 130,000 affordable homes across the nation in the next decade,” said Senator Cantwell. “It will help close the funding gap for affordable housing projects and provide more predictability and flexibility in Housing Credit financing, which in turn will allow developers to target more affordable rental apartments to those who need it most—including extremely-low income households. This bill is a significant step forward in the fight against the affordable housing crisis.”
When the Housing Credit was created in the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Congress set the Housing Credit rate at 4 percent for the acquisition and rehabilitation, or new development, of affordable housing financed by multifamily housing bonds. The credit rate determines how much Housing Credit equity can go into a particular project. However, the actual Housing Credit rates in the market fluctuate according to a formula related to federal borrowing rates. Cuts to federal borrowing rates have dropped interest rates to all-time lows, and as a result, the Housing Credit rates have sunk —the “4 percent” rate is now actually between 3.07 and 3.09 percent in the market.
This means that there is roughly 23 percent less equity per development than Congress originally intended, which has led to less investment in affordable housing. Providing a floor under the 4 percent Affordable Housing Tax Credit will help close the funding gap and provide more flexibility and predictability in Housing Credit financing.
More than 221,000 Washingtonian households are “extremely low-income”—meaning their incomes are at or below the poverty level or 30% of their area median income—and 72% of those households spend more than half of their incomes on housing, according to a report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition. There are only 31 available affordable rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter households in Washington state.
Senator Cantwell has been a longtime champion of the need for more affordable housing. In June, Cantwell introduced legislation that would preserve and expand affordable housing amid the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis and build more than 500,000 new affordable housing units. In 2019 she introduced the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to expand and strengthen the Affordable Housing Tax Credit and better serve at-risk-and underserved communities, and she joined housing advocates around Washington state and throughout the country in a push to improve and expand the credit. And in 2018, Cantwell successfully secured a nearly $3 billion down payment toward addressing the affordable housing crisis, helping to build over 28,000 units and support an additional 32,000 jobs.
Editorial Comment: Apparently, It's okay to give illegal aliens $1800 bucks, while giving $600 bucks to needy Americans!
(2)
Inslee issues proclamations on travel restrictions and updates to existing religious guidance.
Press release issued 12. 21. 20
Proclamation 20-83: COVID-19 Prohibitions on Travel from Countries with 501Y.V Variant Circulation
Today Gov. Jay Inslee issued a 14-day quarantine requirement for anyone returning to Washington state after visiting the United Kingdom, South Africa and other countries where a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, 501Y.V, has been circulating.
Health experts believe this new variant may be more transmissible than other variants. The order applies to anyone who has been present in these countries within the prior 14 days. An individual is permitted to leave quarantine to perform certain essential activities (for example, seek medical treatment), provided that they avoid public transportation and ride-share services, wear a facial covering, separate themselves from other people to the greatest extent reasonably possible, and follow other appropriate social distancing measures. All individuals who are impacted by this order are strongly encouraged to be tested within seven days of returning to Washington.
The full proclamation is available here.
Proclamation 20-25.10: Stay Safe, Stay Healthy
Gov. Inslee also updated Proclamation 20-25 and related guidance for houses of worship, weddings, and funerals. Currently, houses of worship are permitted to hold indoor services with up to 25% room capacity or 200 people, whichever is fewer.
The 200 person maximum attendance cap is being removed in response to the December 15, 2020 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley v. Sisolak, which struck down Nevada’s 50-person attendance caps, interpreting the Supreme Court’s decision in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo to represent a ‘seismic shift in Free Exercise law.’
Because the Governor believes the attendance cap will help save lives, he is converting the required 200-person cap to a recommended cap. The Governor recognizes and respects that it is the role of the courts to say what the law is. The Governor does not intend to re-impose mandatory numerical caps specific to religious services unless the Ninth Circuit or the Supreme Court clarifies the state of the law. Other minor modifications are made to align the guidance documents and the proclamation related to music and singing.
IN OTHER STATE NEWS HEADLINES:
Court of Appeals Division II Moves to New Location in Tacoma January 1st
December 21, 2020
Division II of Washington State’s Court of Appeals will move from its current location in downtown Tacoma’s historic Rhodes Department Store to a new location at 909 A Street in Tacoma on January 1, 2021.
While closed to the public by emergency order until March 31st due to COVID-19, all work of the court has continued throughout the pandemic, including hearing of oral arguments broadcast via TVW, Washington’s public affairs network. Starting in January, judicial offices and administrative staff will continue the business of the court at their new location, utilizing phone, email, mail and other avenues not requiring physical entry for the general public.
Moving during a pandemic has presented its challenges. Despite this, Chief Judge Linda CJ Lee relayed, “Our Court is very excited about this new location because it will allow the court to work more efficiently and better serve the public.”
http://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/?fa=newsinfo.internetdetail&newsid=42849
Ecology completes environmental review for proposed Kalama methanol facility
Analysis will guide permitting decisions for proposed methanol project--DOE
https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/News/2020/Dec-21-Kalama-SSEIS
Statement from Commissioner LeVine regarding the new federal stimulus package
“We are grateful that Congress has extended, expanded and updated the unemployment benefits on which so many Washingtonians and their families rely. The threat of these benefits going away at the end of December was terrifying, and this brings much needed hope and relief for the New Year.
“We will work around the clock and as hard as we can to implement this new legislation as quickly as possible as we know that these benefits provide a critical lifeline to hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians. However, it’s important for people to know that the law made critical changes to the programs and there are many complexities to navigate and resolve. Like all states, we must receive guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor to administer the law and put the provisions of the Act in place.
“We will provide updates through direct claimant communication, the COVID-19 page on esd.wa.gov, outreach to the media and our social media channels in the coming days and weeks as we learn more. Current claimants should continue to submit weekly claims as usual and look out for more updates from us."
https://esd.wa.gov/statement-from-commissioner-levine-regarding-the-new-federal-stimulus-package
WDFW offers special hunt drawing for early hunter reporting
OLYMPIA – Hunters who report their 2020 black bear, deer, elk, or turkey hunting results by Sunday, Jan. 10, will have the opportunity to win one of nine deer and elk incentive permits for fall 2021, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) officials said today.
https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/wdfw-offers-special-hunt-drawing-early-hunter-reporting
(3) In today's headline news
WORLD NEWS:
Mozambique: 250,000 displaced children facing deadly disease threat
A lack of safe water, sanitation and hygiene services have put approximately 250,000 children, displaced by escalating crises in a northern province of Mozambique, at risk from deadly diseases, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned. --UN NEWS CENTER
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1080642
Tigray: Hundreds of civilians reported killed in artillery strikes, warns UN rights chief
Reports of artillery strikes on civilians and mass killings of non-combatants in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, must be investigated and full access granted to independent investigators, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday. ---UN NEWS CENTER
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1080622
World could lose coral reefs by end of century, UN environment report warns.
Every one of the world’s coral reefs could bleach by the end of the century, unless there are drastic reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions, the United Nations Environment Programmed (UNEP) has warned. --UN NEWS CENTER
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1080582
COVID-19 hits trade in Asia-Pacific, but impact ‘less bad’ than elsewhere
Despite a sharp fall in global trade in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and lingering trade tensions, Asia and the Pacific is expected to perform relatively less badly than the rest of the world, the United Nations development arm in the region said on Tuesday. ---UN NEWS CENTER
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1080632
NATIONAL:
Army Nurse Receives First COVID-19 Vaccine at Brooke Army Medical Center--DOD
Government Contractor Admits Scheme to Inflate Costs on Federal Projects and Pays $11 Million to Resolve Criminal and Civil Probes
Schneider Electric Buildings Americas Inc. (Schneider Electric), a nationwide provider of electricity solutions for buildings and data centers with its principal place of business in Carrollton, Texas, will pay $11 million to resolve criminal and civil investigations relating to kickbacks and overcharges on eight federally-funded energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs), the Department of Justice announced today. Under the contracts, Schneider Electric was to install a variety of energy savings upgrades, such as solar panels, LED lighting, and insulation, in federal buildings.--DOJ
HUD SECRETARY BEN CARSON HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AT NEW ATLANTIC CITY ENVISION CENTER
The Atlantic City RX5 Cyber EnVision Center relocated to a larger space in response to increased community need--HUD
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_20_215
EPA Finalizes Action Protecting Americans from PBT Chemicals.
WASHINGTON (December 22, 2020) — As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pursues its mission to protect human health and the environment, today the agency released final rules under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that will reduce exposure to five chemicals that are persistent, bio accumulative and toxic (PBT).
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-finalizes-action-protecting-americans-pbt-chemicals
FINANCE & BUSINESS
Treasury Targets Syrian Regime Officials and the Central Bank of Syria---US TREASURY DEPT.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1220
Two Owners of New York Pharmacies Charged in a $30 Million COVID-19 Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering Case
The owners of over a dozen New York-area pharmacies were charged in an indictment unsealed today for their roles in a $30 million health care fraud and money laundering scheme, in which they exploited emergency codes and edits in the Medicare system that went into effect due to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to submit fraudulent claims for expensive cancer drugs that were never provided, ordered, or authorized by medical professionals. --DOJ
IRS issues standard mileage rates for 2021.
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2021 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-issues-standard-mileage-rates-for-2021
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ISSUES FINAL RULE TO AMEND TIPPED EMPLOYEE REGULATIONS.
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a final rule protecting the tips of employees. This rule addresses amendments made to Section 3(m) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2018.
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20201222-3
(4) NEWS STORY COMMENTARY
'Stimulus' Bill Gives Americans $600, Puts Aside $700 Million for Sudan and It Gets Worse--WJ
Sen. Tulsi Gabbard
$600 is a slap in the face to every American struggling due to the pandemic. You deserve better.
I voted against the 5,593-page spending bill that gave billions to corporate interests, the military industrial complex & other countries, leaving crumbs for you who need help most--Tulsi Gabbard Hibiscus TulsiGabbard.
https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1341223345992462336
Editorial Comment:
If ever there's a need for a veto on a pork filled bill that should about putting America first is this one. Personally, I could use an extra $600 bucks. I agree with Gabbard this bill is a slap in the face of needy Americans.
BIBLE VERSE
Luke 2:8-11 (New King James Version)
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
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