H.R. 1851 – Section 8 Voucher Reform Act of 2007

1. Structured rule.
2. Provides one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Financial Services.
3. Waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except for clauses 9 and 10 of Rule XXI.
4. Provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Financial Services now printed in the bill, shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall be considered as read.
5. Waives all points of order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute except for clause 10 of Rule XXI.
6. No amendments shall be in order except those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution.
7. Provides that the amendments may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.
8. Waives all points of order against the amendments printed in the report except for clauses 9 and 10 of Rule XXI.
9. Provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
10. Provides that, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the bill to a time designated by the Speaker.

RESOLUTION

          Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1851) to reform the housing choice voucher program under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937.  The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with.  All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.  General debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial Services.  After general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule.  It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Financial Services now printed in the bill.  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be considered as read.  All points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute are waived except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI.  Notwithstanding clause 11 of rule XVIII, no amendment to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be in order except those printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution.  Each such amendment may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole.  All points of order against such amendments are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.  At the conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with such amendments as may have been adopted.  Any Member may demand a separate vote in the House on any amendment adopted in the Committee of the Whole to the bill or to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.  The previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

          Sec. 2.  During consideration in the House of H.R. 1851 pursuant to this resolution, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the bill to such time as may be designated by the Speaker.

SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS PROPOSED TO BE MADE ORDER

1. Waters (CA):  #20: Manager's Amendment. The amendment includes increased rent structure flexibility while maintaining affordability requirements, an increase up to 12.5% in first year permitted housing agency voucher reserves, provisions spelling out HUD responsibilities with respect to access to HUD programs for persons with Limited English Proficiency, modifications to voucher inspection requirements, and changes to the Housing Innovation Program. (10 minutes)

2. Velázquez (NY): #23: The amendment requires that public housing agencies selected for participation in the Housing Innovation Program must comply with voucher and public housing domestic violence provisions from the Violence Against Women Act. (10 minutes)

3. Miller, Gary (CA)/Chabot (OH): #13: The amendment will impose a 7-year time limit on participation in the Section 8 program.  The amendment excludes the elderly and disabled from this requirement.  In addition, the amendment provides for a hardship exception. (10 minutes)

4. Markey (MA)/Pryce (OH): #16: The first part of the amendment would make certain low-income tenants of the Heritage Apartments in Malden, Massachusetts eligible for enhanced housing vouchers after prepayment of a HUD mortgage and subsequent ownership transfer of the property without HUD restrictions that may jeopardize the housing affordability.  The second part of the amendment would allow for the transfer of Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contracts in Columbus, Ohio in the University District and in Cincinnati, Ohio in the Over-the-Rhine Community.  (10 minutes)

5. Chabot (OH): #11: The amendment would strike the authorization of appropriations for the creation of 20,000 new vouchers each year for years FY 2008 through FY 2012.  (10 minutes)

6. Hensarling (TX)/Chabot (OH): #10: The amendment requires that all adults in a household receiving Section 8 tenant assistance for more than 7 consecutive years must perform 20 hours per week of approved "work activities."  Exemptions are provided for senior citizens, the disabled, those already exempt from TANF work requirements, and those who cannot access child care.  (10 minutes)

SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER

1. Waters (CA):  #20

2. Velázquez (NY): #23

3. Miller, Gary (CA)/Chabot (OH): #13

4. Markey (MA)/Pryce (OH): #16

5. Chabot (OH): #11

6. Hensarling (TX)/Chabot (OH): #10