Federal Legislation
Proposed Changes to LIHTC Approved by US House
If passed by the Senate, it would represent the most significant reform to the LIHTC in decades. Some say it’s still not enough.
Restoring Solvency to the Highway Trust Fund
The Highway Trust Fund, the nation's source of road and bridge funding, went bankrupt in 2008 and has since relied on transfers from the General Fund to supplement fuel taxes. Republican Senators have proposed a new funding source: an EV fee.
Biden's Truck Pollution Rule Hanging by a Thread
Four House Democrats joined all but one Republican to enact the Congressional Review Act to roll back President Biden's rule on heavy truck pollution approved by the EPA last December. The Senate had earlier narrowly passed the joint resolution.
The Surprising Oil Tax in the Inflation Reduction Act
President Biden has made reducing gas prices paramount in his administration, so it was likely a surprise to hear a Republican senator last Sunday warn TV viewers that a revived and increased oil fee in the climate bill will increase their gas costs.
Missing From the Climate-Energy Legislation: Bikes!
Missing from the Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act, the significant climate legislation which passed the Senate on a 51-50 party-line vote on Sunday with Vice President Harris casting the tie-breaking vote, is any mention of bikes.
Senate Vote Illustrates America's Polarized Response to Pandemic
A Senate joint resolution to roll back the Biden administration's only vaccine mandate to be upheld by the Supreme Court passed on a party-line vote on March 2. In Europe, the legislative branch often needs to approve these measures to become law.
Time for a Federal Gas Tax Holiday?
Senate Democrats introduced legislation to lower gas prices by suspending the federal gas tax through the end of the year. General funds would be directed to the Highway Trust Fund to replace gas tax revenue.
Historic Climate Legislation Included in COVID Relief Spending Deal
The $900 billion COVID relief bill along with a $1.4 trillion omnibus bill allowed for the inclusion of unrelated legislation and funding for 2021, from border wall spending to phasing-out some of the most potent greenhouse gas pollutants.
Neighborhood Homes Investment Act Picks Up Momentum
A proposed tax credit designed to stabilize single-family neighborhoods facing growing numbers of vacancies is making its way through Congress.
Neighborhood Homes Investment Act Offers Tax Incentives for Single-Family Rehabs
In struggling communities full of single-family homes, the cost is too high for developers to acquire and renovate blighted properties. The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act would offer an incentive for investment in existing building stock.
President Trump's Plan to Reopen the Economy Rests with States
After initially saying that he had total authority on how and when to reopen the economy, Trump handed the responsibility to the 50 governors to make their own decisions and offered guidance in the form of a three-phase plan that relies on testing.
The Federal YIMBY Act Makes Progress in the House
A federal bill intended to increase transparency in land use and zoning decisions as well as encourage localities to eliminate barriers to housing has advanced out of a House of Representative committee.
Trump's State of the Union: More on Infrastructure in Democrats' Response
The president spoke briefly about infrastructure in his third State of the Union address last Tuesday, urging Congress to pass the bipartisan America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act of 2019. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had a lot more to say.
House Legislation to Fund Vision Zero Investments Proposed
Long-time bike and pedestrian safety champion Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) is among the authors of a new bill to provide federal funding for Vision Zero projects.
Is National Rent Control the Right Answer?
Proposed legislation from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a move toward more progressive housing policy. But critics say the one-size-fits-all approach is not the best solution for addressing the national housing crisis.
Bipartisan Support for Federal Diesel Emissions Reduction Bill
Established in 2005 to reduce toxic diesel emissions, the Diesel Emissions Reductions Act expired in 2016. A bipartisan effort appears to be in place to see it reauthorized this year.
Electric Vehicles See Progress at Local Level but Setbacks in Washington
The new IPCC report calls for decarbonization of transportation. While many cities are attempting to do their part, two recent federal developments in trade policy and tax legislation threaten to will make progress more difficult.
New Surveillance Technology Gathers Plenty of Data, but Who Has Access?
As new technology for data collection becomes available to police departments around the country, concerns grow about what is being collected and who has access.
The AV START Act Raises Safety Concerns
The AV Start Act (S. 1885, Thune) is making its way through the U.S. Senate. Critics say the bill will rush autonomous vehicles to the market, and to the streets, without safety regulations.
More Federal Legislation to Tackle Housing Affordability Proposed
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) has introduced legislation that would tie federal funding to pro-development policies at the local level.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Oxford
Caltrans - District 7
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport
