The Senate has adopted Senator Harry Reid's (D-NV) amendment to the pending jobs and extenders legislation (HR 4213) that would extend the closing date for the homebuyer tax credit from June 30, 2010 to September 30, 2010. The amendment would apply only to purchasers who have satisfied the April 30 binding contract rule for the $8000 and $6500 tax credits. The amendment creates no new eligibility for the credit.
Passage of the amendment (on a vote of 60 - 37) attaches the provision to HR 4213. That legislation is subject to a procedure that will require 60 votes in order to pass. Two efforts to secure the 60 votes have failed. HR 4213 has been withdrawn from consideration for the present. The bill could come to the floor again during the week of June 21, but is not presently on the calendar. If it appears that the bill can secure the necessary 60 votes, it will be considered. Then there will be several more votes required in the Senate. The bill then returns to the House. There is no guarantee that the House will adopt the Senate amendment.
Congress will be in session during the weeks of June 21 and June 28, so votes on the legislation are still possible before the June 30 deadline.