Meehan Introduces Legislation to Protect Schools, Communities from Tax Delinquents

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (PA-07) today introduced legislation to prevent federal tax dollars from going to landlords who haven't paid their local taxes, which are critical to cash-strapped local public schools. "The Protect Our Schools from Tax Delinquents Act of 2012" requires landlords who receive Section 8 housing assistance payments to be current on their school and property taxes in order to receive federal funding. The National Education Association (NEA), representing 3.2 million public school teachers and staff, has endorsed the legislation.

"School districts and local governments here in Pennsylvania and across the country are facing tough budgets and tough choices," said Meehan. "The challenges they face are significant, but before we cut school programs or lay-off teachers and first responders, we should first make sure landlords who receive federal housing assistance have paid their local property taxes."

The Protect Our Schools from Tax Delinquents Act of 2012 will amend the Housing Assistance Payment contract to require Section 8 landlords to be current on their school and property taxes. The Housing Choice Voucher program, commonly known as Section 8 housing, is a federal housing assistance program for low-income families, and elderly or disabled Americans.

Under Meehan's legislation, public housing agencies would have the authority to divert monthly assistance payments from the delinquent landlord to the local municipality until the property owner is current. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would keep a record of landlords who exhibit a pattern of delinquency, in order to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding future contracts. Meehan's legislation ensures that low-income residents are held harmless and continue to have the same rights as under current federal law.

In endorsing the legislation, the NEA said "The Protect Our Schools from Tax Delinquents Act would help ensure our schools have the resources they need by diverting Section 8 housing payments from delinquent landlords directly to local municipalities. In so doing, the bill would allow localities to fund critical education services, while holding landlords accountable for the taxpayer funds they receive. We are pleased that the bill includes protections for tenants, ensuring that they are held harmless and bear no ill consequences as a result of action taken against their landlords."

"We believe the Protect Our Schools from Tax Delinquents Act offers a common-sense approach to helping ensure resources for our schools. We thank you again for your work on this issue," the NEA concluded.

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