Phil English's Voting Record on Housing for Those in Poverty
new! Opposed Housing Stimulus Plan
In 2008, English voted against a bill that would require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make grants and loans to qualified states, in accordance with HUD-approved plans, to carry out eligible housing stimulus activities. Congressional Quarterly
The bill passed 239-188. HR 5815, Vote # 299, 5/8/08
new! Opposed Revitalizing Severely Distressed Public Housing
In 2008, English voted against a bill that bill to reauthorize the HOPE VI program for revitalization of severely distressed public housing. Congressional Quarterly
The bill passed 271-130. HR 3524, Vote # 18, 1/17/08
new! Voted Against $7.7 Million Increase for Fair Housing & Anti-Discrimination Programs
In 2005, English voted against an amendment to restore funding to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in order to stop discrimination and enforce fair housing laws.
According to the National Fair Housing Alliance, in 2004 there were over 1 million instances of discrimination against prospective minority renters and approximately 500,000 instances against potential minority homebuyers.
The amendment to restore funding passed, 231-191. HR 3058, Vote #338, 6/29/05; Rep. Lee Press Release, 6/29/05
new! Supported Increasing Interest Rates on Disaster Loans
In 2006, English voted against the Democratic amendment to the emergency appropriations bill, which provided funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and for hurricane relief, that would have blocked President Bush's proposal in his FY 2007 budget to increase the interest rates on disaster loans.
By opposing the amendment, Republican Members chose to force disaster loan victims to shoulder additional costs at a time when these individuals were struggling to make ends meet.
Under the administration's proposal, small businesses and homeowners could end up paying an increase of as much as 50 percent in interest rate costs. Committee on Small Business Release
The amendment failed 200-219. HR4939, Vote #62, 3/16/06
new! Opposed Housing Stimulus Plan
In 2008, English voted against a bill that would require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make grants and loans to qualified states, in accordance with HUD-approved plans, to carry out eligible housing stimulus activities. Congressional Quarterly
The bill passed 239-188. HR 5815, Vote # 299, 5/8/08
new! Opposed Revitalizing Severely Distressed Public Housing
In 2008, English voted against a bill that bill to reauthorize the HOPE VI program for revitalization of severely distressed public housing. Congressional Quarterly
The bill passed 271-130. HR 3524, Vote # 18, 1/17/08
new! Voted Against $7.7 Million Increase for Fair Housing & Anti-Discrimination Programs
In 2005, English voted against an amendment to restore funding to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in order to stop discrimination and enforce fair housing laws.
According to the National Fair Housing Alliance, in 2004 there were over 1 million instances of discrimination against prospective minority renters and approximately 500,000 instances against potential minority homebuyers.
The amendment to restore funding passed, 231-191. HR 3058, Vote #338, 6/29/05; Rep. Lee Press Release, 6/29/05
new! Voted To Cut More Than $170 Million from Home Heating Assistance
In 2006, English voted in favor of the final passage of a bill funding the Labor, Health and Education Departments that cut funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) by $176 million from the year before.
The vote came as Americans were about to face the largest one-year jump in home heating prices in three decades meaning that LIHEAP would require a significant amount of additional funding for fiscal year 2006 to avert widespread hardship.
Projections issued by the Department of Energy indicated that home heating prices would average 47.5 percent more in the winter of 2005-2006 than the previous year. CQ House Action Reports, "Fact Sheet No. 109-17 Labor-HHS Appropriations," 6/21/05 & "Floor Summary : No. 109-14 Labor-HHS Appropriations," 6/27/05; CBPP, "Out in the Cold," 10/20/05
The bill passed 250-151. HR3010, Vote #321, 6/24/05
new! Voted To Cut Home Heating Assistance By $22 Million
In 2005, English voted against an effort to strip a 1 percent across-the-board cut to all "discretionary" programs that had been attached to the FY 2006 defense spending bill.
The cuts - totaling $8.5 billion - did not effect veterans' benefits or combat related accounts. However, the provision did include cuts to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP was scheduled to be funded at $2.2 billion for 2006 - only $600,000 more than last year. The 1% across-the-board cut stripped $22 million from the program.
The effort failed 183-231. HR2863, Vote #668, 12/19/05
new! Voted to Cut Housing Funds for Hurricane Victims in Louisiana, Mississippi
In 2007, English in favor of an amendment that would have cut housing funds for families in Louisiana and Mississippi in order to provide funding for hurricane victims in Texas.
In the underlying bill, a proposed $3 billion housing fund provided 75 percent of its funds for Louisiana and 25 percent for Mississippi.
The amendment, proposed by Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX), would have provided Texas with 10 percent of this housing fund, 5 percent taken from Louisiana and 5 percent from Mississippi. Congressional Record Page: H5455; Congressional Quarterly
The amendment was defeated 163-240. HR 1427, Vote #389, 5/22/07