Officials from the White House and Congress have released a unified framework for tax reform, and over the coming weeks Congressional tax-writing committees will begin writing legislation based on the framework. CDFA will work to ensure that development finance interests are represented throughout this process.

CDFA is calling on Congress to create a permanent, special category of federal tax-exempt bonds, which can be used by states and municipalities to support recovery efforts in the areas affected by disasters, both natural and man-made.

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced the Small Business Access to Capital Act, which will reauthorize and improve the State Small Business Credit Initiative. CDFA is very supportive of this legislation, and will continue working to advance the bill in Congress.

Senior White House officials have stated following the release of their tax reform plan that the municipal tax exemption will be preserved during tax reform. However, the nine-page framework does not mention explicitly mention municipal bonds, worrying municipal market participants.

George Friedlander of Court Street Group offers his perspective on the recently released tax reform plan, including how it will fare in Congress and its implications for economic growth.

On September 22nd, Democratic Congressmen and women sent a letter to Ways & Means Chairman Kevin Brady and Ranking Member Richard Neal, asking for their assistance in passing a disaster relief package to aid the communities and regions affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), introduced the Worker Owned Wealth Act, which would authorize a variety of initiatives including a revolving loan fund that would provide low-interest loans through the Treasury Department for employees seeking to purchase or grow a stake of their company.

The Move America Act of 2017, introduced by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and John Hoeven (R-ND) would expand tax-exempt private activity bonds and create a new infrastructure tax credit, to help finance infrastructure projects through private-public partnerships. 

On Friday September 8th, President Trump signed H.R. 601 that will provide funding for the federal government and extend the EB-5 Regional Center Program until December 8th.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board has released an infrastructure finance primer for policymakers in advance of a national discussion on an infrastructure bill. The primer highlights the importance of tax-exempt municipal bonds as a tool for supporting infrastructure development.

A $21 million infusion of funds through the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives (FINI) Program will help families in need of nutrition assistance to receive the services and outreach they need.

The CDFI Fund has announced a notice of funds availability, inviting applications for the FY 2017 funding round of the Bank Enterprise Award Program.

Based on national survey data collected for 2017 CDFA Volume Cap Report, national issuance of multifamily housing bonds are at a 12 year high. The 2016 mark of $14 billion is more than double the 2015 total of $6.6 billion.

The EPA has designed a document for decision makers to navigate the process of investing in water infrastructure. It will help identify what is needed for financial planning, how to fund and finance a project, and consider which strategic approaches can be used to protect local investments.

Good Jobs First has unveiled their "Subsidy Tracker 2" - a new online database for tax-break spending records issued thanks to GASB Statement 77 on Tax Abatement Disclosures.

The CDFI Fund released a Summary Report and data collected on New Markets Tax Credit investments across the nation through fiscal year 2015. For the first time, the Summary Report categorizes all investments utilizing the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

In a recent op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal ("Kill the Loopholes, Including the One for Low-Income Housing"), the authors argue that the low-income housing tax credit should be eliminated. This idea would have detrimental impacts for millions of people nationwide.

For the first time since 2007, national private activity bond issuance surpassed $20 billion in 2016. In fact, 2016 is the first year since 2007 that national private activity bond issuance has surpassed $15 billion.