Promoting and protecting nonprofit advocacy for a stronger democracy

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

News Advisory: Nonprofit Gag Provision Proposed for GSE Bill

For more information contact:
Amrit Dhillon, National Low Income Housing Coalition
(202) 662-1530 x222
amrit@nlihc.org

NEWS CONFERENCE ON HOUSE LEADERSHIP PLAN TO RESTRICT LOW INCOME VOTER PARTICIPATION AS CONDITION OF NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING GRANT PROGRAM

Affordable Housing Fund provision in GSE Bill includes language restricting voter registration

WHAT: A coalition of national organizations concerned with housing, community development, people who are elderly or disabled, child welfare, civil rights, voter participation, and rights of non-profits will hold a news conference to voice opposition to provisions in a compromise on H.R. 1461, the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act of 2005, reached by the House Leadership. These provisions will disqualify a non-profit organization from receiving grants from the Affordable Housing Fund (AHF), created by the legislation to develop new affordable housing for low income people, if the organization has engaged in any voter registration and other non-partisan voter participation work in the 12 months prior to application. Any non-profit organization that does receive a grant to develop affordable housing is also prohibited from engaging in these activities, even using private funds. These restrictions are not imposed on for-profit companies. The legislation is slated to go to the House floor next week.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 19, at 10 a.m. EDT

WHERE: National Press Club - Zenger Room
529 14^th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20045

WHO:
Gary Bass, Executive Director, OMB Watch

Shay Bilchik, President and CEO, Child Welfare League of America
Rick Cohen, Executive Director, National Committee for Responsible Philanthropy

Sheila Crowley, President and CEO, NLIHC

Rev. Dr. Willie Gable, Jr., Executive Vice Chairman, National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. - speaking on behalf of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging

Charles W. Gould, President and CEO, Volunteers of America
Bart Harvey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Enterprise Foundation

Hilary O. Shelton, Director, NAACP Washington Bureau

Each guest will give a short statement, and then the group will take questions.

RSVP: Amrit Dhillon: amrit@nlihc.org mailto:amrit@nlihc.org; 202.662.1530 x222