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... President Donald Trump's proposed budget last month suggested entirely cutting housing and community development funds used by state and local governments to improve neighborhood conditions and boost housing supply.

As Capitol Hill kicks off its own budget season, Republicans have advanced a spending bill retaining the grants and are working with Democrats to pass housing affordability legislation that would build on those programs.

"I am disappointed to see [the Office of Management and Budget] propose the elimination of these important programs," Senate Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee chair Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) told Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner at a hearing last week reviewing the administration's request to cut $10.7 billion from his budget -- a 13 percent reduction to its discretionary spending. ...