TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

Quick facts

Record: Senate Floor
Section type: Amendments
Chamber: Senate
Date: June 16, 2026
Congress: 119th Congress
Why this source matters: This section came from the Senate floor portion of the record.

Linked context

Bills and resolutions: S.Con.Res. 14 (117th Congress), S. 4784 (119th Congress), H.R. 6644 (119th Congress)
Committees: Committee on Financial Services, Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Committee on Appropriations

Readable version of the official text

SA 5822. Mr. FETTERMAN (for himself and Mr. McCormick) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place in title XXVIII, insert the

following:

SEC. 28__. ARMY RESERVE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, FORT

INDIANTOWN GAP, PENNSYLVANIA.

(a) Authorization.—The Secretary of the Army may carry out

a military construction project for the Army Reserve at a

cost not to exceed $76,000,000, consisting of the

construction of Equipment Concentration Site 24 at Fort

Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, to restore full maintenance and

storage capacity for 130 Army Reserve units across the

region.

(b) Authorization of Appropriations.—There is authorized

to be appropriated $76,000,000, to remain available until

expended, to carry out the military construction project

authorized under subsection (a).

SA 5823. Mr. THUNE proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 6644, a bill to increase the supply of housing in America, and for other purposes; as follows:

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the

following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title.—This Act may be cited as the “21st

Century ROAD to Housing Act”.

(b) Table of Contents.—The table of contents for this Act

is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

TITLE I—OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING

Sec. 101. Reforms to housing counseling and financial literacy

programs. Sec. 102. Federal guidelines for point-access block buildings. Sec. 103. Exemption on construction or modification of residential

housing located on an infill site.
Sec. 104. Database of publicly owned land.
Sec. 105. FHA Small-Dollar Mortgages.
Sec. 106. Temperature Sensor Pilot Program.
Sec. 107. Housing supply frameworks.

TITLE II—BUILDING MORE IN AMERICA

Sec. 201. Increasing housing in opportunity zones. Sec. 202. Whole-Home Repairs Act. Sec. 203. Community Investment and Prosperity Act. Sec. 204. Addition of affordable housing construction as an eligible

activity.
Sec. 205. Better Use of Intergovernmental and Local Development (BUILD)

Housing Act. Sec. 206. Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized

Reviews Act. Sec. 207. Grants for planning and implementation associated with

affordable housing. Sec. 208. Innovation Fund. Sec. 209. Accelerating Home Building Act. Sec. 210. Revitalizing Empty Structures Into Desirable Environments

(RESIDE) Act.
Sec. 211. Housing Affordability Act.
Sec. 212. Rental Assistance Demonstration Program.
Sec. 213. Build Now Act.

TITLE III—MANUFACTURED HOUSING FOR AMERICA

Sec. 301. Housing Supply Expansion Act. Sec. 302. Modular Housing Production Act. Sec. 303. Property Improvement and Manufactured Housing Loan

Modernization Act.
Sec. 304. PRICE Act.

TITLE IV—ACCESSING THE AMERICAN DREAM

Sec. 401. Creating incentives for small-dollar loan originators.
Sec. 402. Small-dollar mortgage points and fees.
Sec. 403. Appraisal Industry Improvement Act.
Sec. 404. Helping More Families Save Act.
Sec. 405. Choice in Affordable Housing Act.

TITLE V—PROGRAM REFORM

Sec. 501. HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Reform Act.
Sec. 502. Rural Housing Service Reform Act.
Sec. 503. Incentivizing local solutions to homelessness.
Sec. 504. Reforming Disaster Recovery Act.
Sec. 505. New Moving to Work cohort.

TITLE VI—VETERANS AND HOUSING

Sec. 601. Military Service Question.
Sec. 602. Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act.
Sec. 603. Veterans Affairs Loan Informed Disclosure (VALID) Act.

TITLE VII—OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Sec. 701. Requiring annual testimony and oversight from housing

regulators.
Sec. 702. FHA reporting requirements on safety and soundness.
Sec. 703. United States Interagency Council on Homelessness oversight.
Sec. 704. Appraisal Modernization Act.

TITLE VIII—ACCOUNTABILITY, COORDINATION, STUDIES, AND REPORTING

Sec. 801. HUD-USDA-VA Interagency Coordination Act. Sec. 802. Streamlining Rural Housing Act. Sec. 803. Improving self-sufficiency of families in HUD-subsidized

housing.
Sec. 804. GAO studies.
Sec. 805. Improving public housing agency accountability.

TITLE IX—STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY BANKS' ROLE IN HOUSING

Sec. 901. Community bank deposit access. Sec. 902. Keeping deposits local. Sec. 903. Tailored regulatory updates for supervisory testing. Sec. 904. Credit union board modernization. Sec. 905. Systemic risk authority transparency. Sec. 906. Advancing the mentor-protege program for small financial

institutions.
Sec. 907. American access to banking.
Sec. 908. Promoting new bank formation.
Sec. 909. Rural depositories revitalization study.

TITLE X—HOME-OWNERSHIP FOR MAIN STREET AMERICA

Sec. 1001. Homes are for people, not corporations.

TITLE XI—CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY

Sec. 1101. Central bank digital currency.

TITLE XII—MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 1201. Severability.
Sec. 1202. No additional funds authorized.

TITLE I—OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING

SEC. 101. REFORMS TO HOUSING COUNSELING AND FINANCIAL

LITERACY PROGRAMS.

Section 106 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of

1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701x) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(4)(C), by striking “adequate

distribution” and all that follows through “foreclosure

rates” and inserting “that the recipients are

geographically diverse and include organizations that serve

urban or rural areas”;

(2) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following:

“(6) Reviews.—The Secretary—

“(A) may conduct periodic reviews; and

“(B) shall conduct performance reviews of all

organizations receiving assistance under this section that—

“(i) consist of a review of the organization's compliance

with all program requirements; and

“(ii) may take into account the organization's aggregate

counselor performance under paragraph (7)(B).

“(7) Considerations.—

“(A) Covered mortgage loan defined.—In this paragraph,

the term `covered mortgage loan' means any loan which is

secured by a first or subordinate lien on residential real

property (including individual units of condominiums and

housing cooperatives) designed principally for the occupancy

of between 1 and 4 families that is—

“(i) insured by the Federal Housing Administration under

title II of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1707 et

seq.); or

“(ii) guaranteed under section 184 or 184A of the Housing

and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1715z-13a,

1715z-13b).

“(B) Comparison.—For each counselor employed by an

organization receiving assistance under this section for

prepurchase housing counseling, the Secretary may consider

the performance of the counselor compared to the default rate

of all counseled borrowers of a covered mortgage loan in

comparable markets and such other factors as the Secretary

determines appropriate to further the purposes of this

section.

“(8) Certification.—If, based on the comparison required

under paragraph (7)(B), the Secretary determines that a

counselor lacks competence to provide counseling in the areas

described in subsection (e)(2) and such action will not

create a significant loss of capacity for housing counseling

services in the service area, the Secretary may—

“(A) require continued education coupled with successful

completion of a probationary period;

“(B) require retesting if the counselor continues to

demonstrate a lack of competence under paragraph (7)(B); and

“(C) suspend an individual certification if a counselor

fails to demonstrate competence after not fewer than 2

retesting opportunities under subparagraph (B).”;

(3) in subsection (i)—

(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and

(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:

“(3) Termination of assistance.—

“(A) In general.—The Secretary may deny renewal of

covered assistance to an organization or entity receiving

covered assistance if the Secretary determines that the

organization or entity, or the individual through which the

organization or entity provides counseling, is not in

compliance with program requirements—

“(i) based on the performance review described in

subsection (e)(6); and

“(ii) in accordance with regulations issued by the

Secretary.

“(B) Notice.—The Secretary shall give an organization or

entity receiving covered assistance not less than 60 days

prior written notice of any denial of renewal under this

paragraph, and the determination of renewal shall not be

finalized until the end of that notice period.

“(C) Informal conference.—If requested in writing by the

organization or entity within the notice period described in

subparagraph (B), the organization or entity shall be

entitled to an informal conference with the Deputy Assistant

Secretary of Housing Counseling on behalf of the Secretary at

which the organization or entity may present for

consideration specific factors that the organization or

entity believes were beyond the control of the organization

or entity and that caused the failure to comply with program

requirements, such as a lack of lender or servicer

coordination or communication with housing counseling

agencies and individual counselors.”; and

(4) by adding at the end the following:

“(j) Offering Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling.—

“(1) Covered mortgage loan defined.—In this subsection,

the term `covered mortgage loan' means any loan which is

secured by a first or subordinate lien on residential real

property (including individual units of condominiums and

housing cooperatives) or stock or membership in a cooperative

ownership housing corporation designed principally for the

occupancy of between 1 and 4 families that is—

“(A) insured by the Federal Housing Administration under

title II of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1707 et

seq.);

“(B) guaranteed under section 184 or 184A of the Housing

and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1715z-13a,

1715z-13b);

“(C) made, guaranteed, or insured by the Department of

Veterans Affairs; or

“(D) made, guaranteed, or insured by the Department of

Agriculture.

“(2) Opportunity for borrowers.—A borrower with respect

to a covered mortgage loan who is 30 days or more delinquent

on payments for the covered mortgage loan shall be given an

opportunity to participate in available housing counseling.

“(3) Cost.—If the requirements of sections 202(a)(3) and

205(f) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1708(a)(3),

1711(f)) are met, the fair market rate cost of counseling for

delinquent borrowers described in paragraph (2) with respect

to a covered mortgage loan described in paragraph (1)(A)

shall be paid for by the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, as

authorized under section 203(r)(4) of the National Housing

Act (12 U.S.C. 1709(r)(4)).”.

SEC. 102. FEDERAL GUIDELINES FOR POINT-ACCESS BLOCK

BUILDINGS.

(a) In General.—Not later than 18 months after the date of

enactment of this section, the Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development shall issue guidelines to provide States,

territories, Tribes, and localities with model code language,

best practices, and technical guidance that could be used to

facilitate the permitting of point-access block residential

buildings.

(b) Contents.—When developing the guidelines under

subsection (a), the Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development shall consider—

(1) fire safety considerations, including sprinkler

coverage, smoke detection, ventilation, and building egress

performance;

(2) construction costs and potential impacts on housing

affordability, including the potential for increasing housing

supply in high-cost jurisdictions;

(3) flexibility for diverse consumer needs, including

family sizes, unit configurations, and accessibility;

(4) examples of single-stair codes adopted or considered by

States and cities in the United States;

(5) examples of single-stair codes used in relevant

international standards;

(6) research and model language relating to single-stair

codes produced by organizations that focus on point-access

block building design and building-code reform;

(7) consulting with experts, including developers,

architects, fire marshals, researchers, economists, housing

authorities, and officials in States that have enacted or

piloted single-stair codes; and

(8) alternative methods of safety compliance, including

options that utilize additional passive or active safety

features.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall coordinate

with the International Code Council to encourage the

International Code Council to incorporate provisions about

point-access block buildings into the International Building

Code.

(d) Grants.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development may establish a program to award competitive

grants to eligible entities to implement pilot projects that

evaluate, demonstrate, or validate the safety, feasibility,

or cost-effectiveness of point-access block residential

buildings.

(2) Sunset.—The program established under paragraph (1)

shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of

enactment of this subsection.

(e) Treatment of Projects.—Projects assisted under this

section shall be treated as projects assisted under the

Community Development Block Grant program under title I of

the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C.

5301 et seq.).

(f) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section may be

construed to preempt a State or local building code.

(g) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Eligible entity.—The term “eligible entity” means a

State, unit of local government, Tribal Government, public

housing agency, nonprofit housing organization, community

development organization, private developer, construction

firm, qualified design firm, engineering firm, academic

institution, research institution, or any partnership or

consortium comprised of 2 or more such types of entities.

(2) Point-access block building.—The term “point-access

block building” means a Group R-2 occupancy residential

structure, as such term is defined by the International

Building Code, in which a single internal stairway provides

access and egress for all dwelling units in a building that

is not greater than 6 stories in height.

SEC. 103. EXEMPTION ON CONSTRUCTION OR MODIFICATION OF

RESIDENTIAL HOUSING LOCATED ON AN INFILL SITE.

(a) Exemption.—In providing assistance under section 501,

502, 504, 515, 533, or 538 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42

U.S.C. 1471, 1472, 1474, 1485, 1490m, or 1490p-2) for the

construction or modification of residential housing located

on an infill site, the Secretary of Agriculture shall not be

required to carry out any study or report on the

environmental effects of such assistance.

(b) Report.—Not later than the date that is 5 years after

the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of

Agriculture shall submit, to the Committee on Financial

Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, a report

that—

(1) determines whether the implementation of this section—

(A) reduced the amount of time it takes to review an

application for assistance under the sections of the Housing

Act of 1949 identified in subsection (a); and

(B) reduced the administrative cost of providing such

assistance;

(2) describes how the implementation of this section

affects the affordable housing sector in rural America; and

(3) includes any legislative recommendations from the

Secretary of Agriculture.

(1) Greenfield.—The term “greenfield” means a site that

has not been developed, including a woodland, farmland, and

an open field.

(2) Infill site.—The term “infill site”—

(A) means a site that is served by existing infrastructure,

including water lines, sewer lines, and roads; and

(B) does not include—

(i) a site that is served by existing infrastructure that

only consists of a road;

(ii) a site within a census tract designated as very high

or relatively high risk for wildfire, coastal flooding, and

riverine flooding under the National Risk Index of the

Federal Emergency Management Agency pursuant to section 206

of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency

Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5136); and

(iii) a greenfield.

SEC. 104. DATABASE OF PUBLICLY OWNED LAND.

(a) In General.—Section 104(b) of the Housing and

Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5304(b)) is

amended—

(1) in paragraph (5), by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and

inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(7) the grantee maintains, on a publicly accessible

website, a searchable database that identifies all parcels of

undeveloped land owned by the grantee.”.

(b) Eligible Activity.—Section 105(a) of the Housing and

Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5305(a)) is

amended—

(1) in paragraph (25), by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in paragraph (26), by striking the period at the end

and inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(27) the creation and maintenance of a database of land

as required under section 104(b)(7).”.

shall take effect on October 1, 2026.

SEC. 105. FHA SMALL-DOLLAR MORTGAGES.

(a) In General.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Housing and

Urban Development, acting through the Federal Housing

Commissioner, may establish a pilot program to increase

access to small-dollar mortgages for mortgagors, which may

include—

(1) authorizing direct payments to mortgagees to

incentivize the origination of small-dollar mortgages;

(2) adjusting terms and costs imposed by the Federal

Housing Administration with respect to small-dollar

mortgages;

(3) providing direct grants for mortgagors who obtain

small-dollar mortgages to cover costs associated with—

(A) down payments;

(B) closing costs;

(D) title insurance;

(4) conducting outreach to potential mortgagors about the

availability of small-dollar mortgages; and

(5) providing technical assistance for mortgagees that

originate small-dollar mortgages.

(b) Report.—Beginning not later than 1 year after the

establishment of the pilot program under subsection (a) and

ending 1 year after the sunset of the pilot program, the

Federal Housing Commissioner shall submit to Congress an

annual report that—

(1) tracks and evaluates the outcomes of small-dollar

mortgages originated by mortgagees as a result of support

provided under subsection (a);

(2) analyzes risks of the pilot program to the solvency of

the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund;

(3) includes data with respect to—

(A) the number of small-dollar mortgages originated in the

10-year period preceding the date of enactment of this

section, including small-dollar mortgages insured or

guaranteed by the Federal Government and small-dollar

mortgages not insured by the Federal Government;

(B) the original principal balance of each small-dollar

mortgage identified under subparagraph (A);

with each such small-dollar mortgages; and

(D) the number and type of mortgagees that offer small-

dollar mortgages;

(4) provides a description of the fixed costs that are

associated with mortgages and the impact of such costs on the

ability of lenders to earn a market rate return on small-

dollar mortgages; and

(5) includes analysis, by regions of the United States,

including rural regions, that identifies regions with the

greatest need for, and the highest likelihood of, the

origination of small-dollar mortgages and regions that could

benefit the most from increased availability of small-dollar

mortgages.

(a) shall terminate on the date that is 4 years after the

date on which the pilot program is established under

subsection (a).

(d) Expiration of Authority.—After the expiration of the

3-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this

section, neither the Federal Housing Commissioner nor the

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may newly

establish a pilot program to increase access to small-dollar

mortgages for mortgagors.

(e) Small-dollar Mortgage Defined.—The term “small-dollar

mortgage” means a mortgage that—

(1) has an original principal balance of $100,000 or less;

and

(2) is secured by a 1- to 4-unit property that is the

principal residence of the mortgagor.

SEC. 106. TEMPERATURE SENSOR PILOT PROGRAM.

(a) In General.—The Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development shall establish a temperature sensor pilot

program to provide grants to public housing agencies and

owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units to

acquire, install, and test the efficacy of approved

temperature sensors in residential dwelling units to ensure

such units remain in compliance with temperature

requirements.

(b) Eligibility.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development shall, not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, establish eligibility criteria for

public housing agencies and owners of covered federally

assisted rental dwelling units to participate in the pilot

program established pursuant to subsection (a).

(2) Criteria.—In establishing the eligibility criteria

described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure—

(A) the pilot program includes a diverse range of

participants that represent different geographic regions,

climate regions, unit sizes, and types of housing; and

(B) that the functionality of an approved temperature

sensor will be installed and tested using amounts awarded

under this section, including internet connectivity

requirements.

covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit that acquires

1 or more approved temperature sensors under this section

shall, after receiving written permission from the resident

of a dwelling unit, install such temperature sensor and

monitor the data from such temperature sensor.

(d) Collection of Complaint Records.—

(1) In general.—Each public housing agency or owner of a

covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit that installs

1 or more approved temperature sensors under this section

shall collect and retain information about temperature-

related complaints and temperature-related violations.

(2) Definitions.—The Secretary shall, not later than 180

days after the date of enactment of this Act, define the

terms “temperature-related complaints” and “temperature-

related violations” for the purposes of this subsection.

(e) Data Collection.—

(1) In general.—Data collected from temperature sensors

acquired and installed by

public housing agencies and owners of covered federally

assisted rental dwelling units under this section shall be

retained until the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

notifies the public housing agency or owner that the pilot

program and the evaluation of the pilot program are complete.

(2) Personally identifiable information.—The Secretary of

Housing and Urban Development shall, not later than 180 days

after the date of enactment of this Act, establish standards

for the protection of personally identifiably information

collected during the pilot program by public housing

agencies, owners of federally assisted rental dwelling units,

and the Secretary.

(f) Pilot Program Evaluation.—

(1) Interim evaluation.—Not later than 12 months after the

establishment of the pilot program under this section, the

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall publicly

publish and submit to Congress a report that—

(A) examines the number of temperature-related complaints

and temperature-related violations in federally assisted

rental dwelling units with temperature sensors, disaggregated

by temperature sensor technology and climate region—

(i) that occurred before the installation of such sensor,

if known; and

(ii) that occurred after the installation of such sensor;

and

(B) identifies any barriers to full utility of temperature

sensor capabilities, including broadband internet access and

tenant participation.

(2) Final evaluation.—Not later than 36 months after the

conclusion of the pilot program established by the Secretary

of Housing and Urban Development under this section, the

Secretary shall publicly publish and submit to Congress a

report that—

(A) examines the number of temperature-related complaints

and temperature-related violations in federally assisted

rental dwelling units with temperature sensors, disaggregated

by temperature sensor technology and climate region—

(i) that occurred before the installation of such sensor;

and

(ii) that occurred after the installation of such sensor;

(B) identifies any barriers to full utility of temperature

sensor capabilities, including broadband internet access and

tenant participation; and

technologies based on—

(i) climate zones;

(ii) cost;

(iii) features; and

(iv) any other factors identified by the Secretary.

(g) Treatment of Projects.—Projects assisted under this

section shall be treated as projects assisted under the

Community Development Block Grant program under title I of

the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C.

5301 et seq.).

(h) Sunset.—The pilot program established under this

section shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after the

date of enactment of this section.

(i) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Approved temperature sensor.—The term “approved

temperature sensor” means an internet capable temperature

reporting device able to measure ambient air temperature to

the tenth degree Fahrenheit and Celsius selected from a list

of such devices approved in advance by the Secretary of

Housing and Urban Development.

(2) Assistance.—The term “assistance”—

(A) means any grant, loan, subsidy, contract, cooperative

agreement, or other form of financial assistance; and

(B) does not include the insurance or guarantee of a loan,

mortgage, or pool of loans or mortgages.

(3) Covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit.—The

term “covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit”

means a residential dwelling unit that is made available for

rental and for which assistance is provided, or that is part

of a housing project for which assistance is provided,

under—

(A) the program for project-based rental assistance under

section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.

1437f);

(B) the public housing program under the United States

Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.);

under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C.

1701q); or

(D) the program for supportive housing for persons with

disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez

National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013).

(4) Owner.—The term “owner” means—

(A) with respect to the program for project-based rental

assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act

of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f), any private person or entity,

including a cooperative, an agency of the Federal Government,

or a public housing agency, having the legal right to lease

or sublease dwelling units;

(B) with respect to the public housing program under the

United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. et seq.), a

public housing agency or an owner entity, as those terms are

defined in section 905.108 of title 24, Code of Federal

Regulations, of public housing units;

the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12

U.S.C. 1701q), a private nonprofit organization, as defined

under subsection (k)(4) of that section; and

(D) with respect to the program for supportive housing for

persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-

Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013), a

private nonprofit organization, as defined under subsection

(k)(6) of that section.

SEC. 107. HOUSING SUPPLY FRAMEWORKS.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Affordable housing.—The term “affordable housing”

means housing for which the monthly payment is not more than

30 percent of the monthly income of the household.

(2) Assistant secretary.—The term “Assistant Secretary”

means the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and

Research of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(3) Local zoning framework.—The term “local zoning

framework” means the local zoning codes and other

ordinances, procedures, and policies governing zoning and

land-use at the local level.

(4) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Housing and Urban Development.

(5) State zoning framework.—The term “State zoning

framework” means the State legislation or State agency and

department procedures, or such legislation or procedures in

an insular area of the United States, enabling local planning

and zoning authorities and establishing and guiding related

policies and programs.

(b) Guidelines on State and Local Zoning Frameworks.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 3 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall publish

documents outlining guidelines and best practices to support

production of adequate housing to meet the needs of

communities and provide housing opportunities for individuals

at every income level across communities with respect to—

(A) State zoning frameworks; and

(B) local zoning frameworks.

(2) Consultation; public comment.—During the 2-year period

beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, in developing

the guidelines and best practices required under paragraph

(1), the Assistant Secretary shall—

(A) publish draft guidelines and best practices in the

Federal Register for public comment; and

(B) establish a task force for the purpose of providing

consultation to draft the guidelines and best practices

published under subparagraph (A), the members of which shall

include—

(i) urban planners and architects;

(ii) housing developers, including affordable and market-

rate housing developers, manufactured housing developers,

cooperative housing developers, and other business interests;

(iii) community engagement experts and community members

impacted by zoning decisions;

(iv) public housing agencies and transit authorities;

(v) members of local zoning and planning boards and local

and regional transportation planning organizations;

(vi) State officials responsible for housing or land use,

including members of State zoning boards of appeals;

(vii) academic researchers; and

(viii) home builders.

(3) Contents.—The guidelines and best practices required

under paragraph (1) shall—

(A) with respect to State zoning frameworks, outline

potential models for updated State enabling legislation or

State agency and department procedures;

(B) include recommendations regarding—

(i) the reduction or elimination of parking minimums;

(ii) the increase in maximum floor area ratio requirements

and maximum building heights and the reduction in minimum lot

sizes and set-back requirements;

(iii) the elimination of restrictions against accessory

dwelling units;

(iv) increasing by-right uses, including duplex, triplex,

or quadplex buildings, across cities or metropolitan areas;

(v) mechanisms, including proximity to transit, to

determine the appropriate scope for rezoning and ensure

development that does not disproportionately burden residents

of economically distressed areas;

(vi) provisions regarding review of by-right development

proposals to streamline review and reduce uncertainty,

including—

(I) nondiscretionary, ministerial review; and

(II) entitlement and design review processes;

(vii) the reduction of obstacles, regulatory or otherwise,

to a range of housing types at all levels of affordability,

including manufactured and modular housing;

(viii) State model zoning regulations for directing local

reforms, including mechanisms to encourage adoption;

(ix) provisions to encourage transit-oriented development,

including increased permissible units per structure and

reduced minimum lot sizes near existing or planned public

transit stations;

(x) potential reforms to strengthen the public engagement

process;

(xi) reforms to protest petition statutes;

(xii) the standardization, reduction, or elimination of

impact fees;

(xiii) cost-effective and appropriate building codes;

(xiv) models for community benefit agreements;

(xv) mechanisms to preserve affordability, limit disruption

of low-income communities, and prevent displacement of

existing residents;

(xvi) with respect to State zoning frameworks—

(I) State model codes for directing local reforms,

including mechanisms to encourage adoption;

(II) a model for a State zoning appeals process, which

would—

(aa) create a process for developers or builders requesting

a variance, conditional use, special permit, zoning district

change, similar discretionary permit, or otherwise

petitioning a local zoning or planning board for a project,

including a State-defined amount of affordable housing to

appeal a rejection to a State body or regional body empowered

by the State; and

(bb) establish qualifications for communities to be

exempted from the appeals process based on their available

stock of affordable housing; and

(III) streamlining of State environmental review policies;

(xvii) with respect to local zoning frameworks—

(I) the simplification and standardization of existing

zoning codes;

(II) maximum review timelines;

(III) best practices for the disposition of land owned by

local governments for affordable housing development;

(IV) differentiations between best practices for rural,

suburban, and urban communities, and communities with

different levels of density or population distribution; and

(V) streamlining of local environmental review policies;

and

(xviii) other land use measures that promote access to new

housing opportunities identified by the Secretary; and

(i) the effects of adopting any recommendation on

eligibility for Federal discretionary grants and tax credits

for the purpose of housing or community development;

(ii) coordination between infrastructure investments and

housing planning;

(iii) local housing needs, including ways to set and

measure housing goals and targets;

(iv) a range of affordability for rental units, with a

prioritization of units attainable to extremely low-, low-,

and moderate-income residents;

(v) a range of affordability for homeownership;

(vi) accountability measures;

(vii) the long-term cost to residents and businesses if

more housing is not constructed;

(viii) barriers to individuals seeking to access affordable

housing in growing communities and communities with economic

opportunity;

(ix) with respect to State zoning frameworks—

(I) distinctions between States providing constitutional or

statutory home rule authority to municipalities and States

operating under the Dillon Rule, as articulated in Hunter v.

Pittsburgh, 207 U.S. 161 (1907); and

(II) Statewide mechanisms to preserve existing

affordability over the long term, including support for land

banks and community land trusts;

(x) public comments elicited under paragraph (2)(A); and

(xi) other considerations, as identified by the Assistant

Secretary.

(1) In general.—The Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse

established pursuant to section 1205 of the Housing and

Community Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 12705d) is

abolished.

(2) Repeal.—Section 1205 of the Housing and Community

Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 12705d) is repealed.

(d) Reporting.—Not later than 5 years after the date on

which the Assistant Secretary publishes the final guidelines

and best practices for State and local zoning frameworks

under this section, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to

Congress a report describing—

(1) the States that have adopted recommendations from the

guidelines and best practices, pursuant to subsection (b);

(2) a summary of the localities that have adopted

recommendations from the guidelines and best practices,

pursuant to subsection (b);

(3) a list of States that adopted a State zoning framework;

(4) a summary of the modifications that each State has made

in their State zoning framework;

(5) a general summary of the types of updates localities

have made to their local zoning framework;

(6) with respect to the States that have adopted a State

zoning framework or recommendations from the guidelines and

best practices, the effect of such adoptions; and

(7) a summary of any recommendations that were routinely

not adopted by States or by localities.

(e) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section may be

construed to permit the Department of Housing and Urban

Development to take an adverse action against or fail to

provide otherwise offered actions or services for any State

or locality if the State or locality declines to adopt a

guideline or best practice under subsection (b).

TITLE II—BUILDING MORE IN AMERICA

SEC. 201. INCREASING HOUSING IN OPPORTUNITY ZONES.

(a) Covered Grant Defined.—In this section, the term

“covered grant” means any competitive grant relating to the

construction, modification, rehabilitation, or preservation

of housing, as determined by the Secretary of Housing and

Urban Development.

(b) Priority.—When awarding a covered grant, the Secretary

of Housing and Urban Development may give additional weight

to applicants with proposed activities or projects that are

located in or substantially and directly benefit a community

designated as a qualified opportunity zone under section

1400Z-1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

SEC. 202. WHOLE-HOME REPAIRS ACT.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Affordable unit.—The term “affordable unit” means a

unit for which the monthly rental payment is not more than 30

percent of the gross income of an individual earning at or

below 80 percent of the area median income, as defined by the

Secretary.

(2) Assisted unit.—The term “assisted unit” means a unit

that undergoes repair or rehabilitation work through a whole-

home repairs program administered by an implementing

organization under this section.

(3) Eligible home-owner.—The term “eligible home-owner”

means a home-owner—

(A) with a household income that—

(i) is not more than 80 percent of the area median income;

(ii) meets the income eligibility requirements for

receiving assistance or benefits under a specified program,

as defined in paragraph (11); and

(B) who is—

(i) an owner of record as evidenced by a publicly recorded

deed, or other document recorded by the Bureau of Indian

Affairs, and occupies the home on which repairs are to be

conducted as their principal residence;

(ii) an owner-occupant of the manufactured home on which

repairs are to be conducted;

(iii) an owner-occupant of the cooperative housing unit on

which repairs are to be conducted; or

(iv) an owner who can demonstrate an ownership interest in

the property, or trust land leasehold, on which repairs are

to be conducted, including a person who has inherited an

interest in that property.

(4) Eligible landlord.—The term “eligible landlord”

means an individual—

(A) who owns, as determined by the relevant implementing

organization, fewer than 10 eligible rental properties, with

a majority of affordable units and not more than 25 total

units, operated as primary residences in which a majority

ownership interest is held by the individual, the spouse of

the individual, or the dependent children of the individual,

or any closely held legal entity controlled by the

individual, the spouse of the individual, or the dependent

children of the individual, either individually or

collectively; and

(B) who agrees to the provisions described in subsection

(b)(3).

(5) Eligible rental property.—The term “eligible rental

property” means a residential property that—

(A) is leased, or offered exclusively for lease, as a

primary residence by an eligible landlord; and

(B) includes affordable units.

(6) Forgivable loan.—The term “forgivable loan” means a

loan—

(A) made to an eligible landlord;

(B) that is secured by a lien recorded against a

residential property; and

not later than the date that is 3 years after the completion

of the repairs if the eligible landlord has maintained

compliance with the loan agreement described in subsection

(b)(3).

(7) Implementing organization.—The term “implementing

organization”—

(A) means a unit of general local government or a State

that—

(i) will administer a whole-home repairs program through an

agency, department, or other entity; or

(ii) enters into agreements with 1 or more local

governments, Indian tribes, municipal authorities, other

governmental authorities, including a tribally designated

housing entity, or qualified nonprofit organizations, to

administer a whole-home repairs program as a subrecipient;

and

(B) does not include a redundant entity in a jurisdiction

already served by a grantee under subsection (b).

(8) Indian tribe.—The term “Indian tribe” has the

meaning given the term in section 4 of the Native American

Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25

U.S.C. 4103).

(9) Qualified nonprofit.—The term “qualified nonprofit”

means a nonprofit organization that—

(A) has received funding, as a recipient or subrecipient,

through—

(i) the Community Development Block Grant program under

title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974

(42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.);

(ii) the HOME Investment Partnerships program under

subtitle A of title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National

Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12741 et seq.);

(iii) the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction grant program

under section 1011 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard

Reduction Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 4852), a grant under the

Healthy Homes Initiative administered by the Secretary

pursuant to sections 501 and 502 of the Housing and Urban

Development Act of 1970 (12 U.S.C. 1701z-1, 1701z-2),

or a grant under the Older Adult Home Modification Grants

Program authorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act,

2024 (Public Law 118-42), or any successor Act, to make

safety and functional home modification repairs and

renovations to meet the needs of low-income seniors to enable

them to remain in their primary residence;

(iv) the Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity

program authorized under section 11 of the Housing

Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. 12805

note);

(v) a rural housing program under title V of the Housing

Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.); or

(vi) the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation established

under the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Act (42

U.S.C. 8101 et seq.);

(B) has coordinated, performed, or otherwise been engaged

in weatherization, lead remediation, or home-repair work for

not less than 2 years;

Agency, or by a State authorized by the Environmental

Protection Agency to administer a certification program, as—

(i) eligible to carry out activities under the lead

renovation, repair, and painting program under section 402(c)

or 404 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C.

2682(c), 2684); or

(ii) a Home Certification Organization under the Energy

Star program established by section 324A of the Energy Policy

and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6294a) or the WaterSense

program under section 324B of that Act (42 U.S.C. 6294b), or

recognized or otherwise approved by the Environmental

Protection Agency as a Home Certification Organization under

either of those programs; or

(D) is a community development financial institution, as

defined in section 103 of the Community Development Banking

and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4702).

(10) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Housing and Urban Development.

(11) Specified program.—For purposes of paragraph

(3)(A)(ii), the term “specified program” means any of the

following:

(A) The Medicaid program established under title XIX of the

Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).

(B) The State Children's Health Insurance Program

established under title XXI of the Social Security Act (42

U.S.C. 1397aa et seq.).

established under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42

U.S.C. 1381 et seq.).

(D) The supplemental nutrition assistance program

established under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7

U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).

(E) The temporary assistance for needy families program

established under part A of title IV of the Social Security

Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.).

(12) State.—The term “State” means—

(A) each State of the United States;

(B) the District of Columbia;

(D) any territory or possession of the United States; and

(E) an Indian tribe.

(13) Tribally designated housing entity.—The term

“tribally designated housing entity” has the meaning given

the term in section 4 of the Native American Housing

Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C.

4103).

(14) Whole-home repairs.—The term “whole-home repairs”

means modifications, repairs, or updates to home-owner or

renter-occupied units to address—

(A) physical and sensory accessibility for individuals with

disabilities and older adults, such as bathroom and kitchen

modifications, installation of grab bars and handrails,

guards and guardrails, lifting devices, ramp additions or

repairs, sidewalk addition or repair, or doorway or hallway

widening;

(B) habitability and safety concerns, such as repairs

needed to ensure residential units are fit for human

habitation and free from defective conditions or health and

safety hazards; or

weatherization.

(b) Pilot Program.—

(1) Establishment.—There is authorized a pilot program to

provide grants to implementing organizations to administer a

whole-home repairs program for eligible home-owners and

eligible landlords.

(2) Use of funds.—An implementing organization that

receives a grant from appropriated funds made available for

this subsection—

(A) shall provide grants to eligible home-owners to

implement whole-home repairs not covered by other Federal

home repair programs up to a maximum amount per unit, which

maximum amount should—

(i) reflect local construction costs and the level of

repairs needed in each unit; and

(ii) be calculated and approved by the Secretary;

(B) shall provide loans, which may be forgivable, to

eligible landlords to implement whole-home repairs not

covered by other Federal home repair programs for individual

affordable units, public and common use areas within the

property, and common structural elements up to a maximum

amount per unit, area, or element, as applicable, which

maximum amount should—

(i) reflect local construction costs; and

(ii) be calculated and approved by the Secretary;

owners and eligible landlords to evaluate, whole-home repair

program funds provided under this subsection with Federal,

State, Tribal, and local home repair programs to provide the

greatest benefit to the greatest number of eligible landlords

and eligible home-owners and avoid duplication of benefits

and redundancies for the same home repairs;

(D) shall require that—

(i) all repairs funded or facilitated through an award

under this subsection have been completed;

(ii) if repairs are not completed and the plan for whole-

home repairs is not updated to reflect the new scope of work,

that the loan or grant is repaid on a prorated basis based on

completed work; and

(iii) any unused grant or loan balance is returned to the

implementing organization, and is reused by the implementing

organization for a new whole-home repair grant or loan under

this subsection;

(E) may use not more than 5 percent of the awarded funds to

carry out related functions, including workforce training for

home repair professions, which shall be related to efforts to

increase the number of home repairs performed and approved by

the Secretary;

(F) may use not more than 10 percent of the awarded funds

for administrative expenses;

(G) shall comply with Federal accessibility requirements

and standards under applicable Federal fair housing and civil

rights laws and regulations, including section 504 of the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794); and

(H) shall ensure that rental properties assisted under

subparagraph (B) shall be treated as projects assisted under

title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974

(42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.).

(3) Loan agreement.—In a loan agreement with an eligible

landlord under this subsection, an implementing organization

shall include provisions establishing that the eligible

landlord shall, for each eligible rental property for which a

loan is used to fund repairs under this subsection—

(A) comply with Federal accessibility requirements and

standards under applicable Federal fair housing and civil

rights laws and regulations, including section 504 of the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794); and

(B)(i) if the landlord is renting the assisted units

available in the eligible rental property to tenants

receiving tenant-based rental assistance under section 8(o)

of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.

1437f(o)), under another tenant-based rental assistance

program administered by the Secretary or the Secretary of

Agriculture, or under a tenant-based rental subsidy provided

by a State or local government, comply with the program

requirements under the relevant tenant-based rental

assistance program; or

(ii) if the eligible landlord is not renting to tenants

receiving rental-based assistance as described in clause

(i)—

(I)(aa) offer to extend the lease of current tenants on

current terms, other than the terms described in subclause

(iv) for not less than 3 years beginning after the completion

of the repairs, unless the lease is terminated due to failure

to pay rent, performance of an illegal act within the rental

unit, or a violation of an obligation of tenancy that the

tenants failed to correct after notice; and

(bb) if the tenant of an assisted unit moves out of the

assisted unit at any point in the 3-year period following the

loan agreement, maintain the unit as an affordable unit for

the remainder of the 3-year period;

(II) provide documentation verifying that the property,

upon completion of approved renovations, has met all

applicable State and local housing and building codes;

(III) attest that the landlord has no known serious

violations of renter protections that have resulted in fines,

penalties, or judgments during the preceding 10 years; and

(IV) cap annual rent increases for each assisted unit at 5

percent of base rent or at the rate of inflation, whichever

is lower, for not less than 3 years beginning after the

completion of the repairs.

(4) Application.—

(A) In general.—An implementing organization desiring an

award under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary an

application that includes—

(i) the geographic scope of the whole-home repairs program

to be administered by the implementing organization,

including the plan to address need in any rural, Tribal,

suburban, or urban area within a jurisdiction;

(ii) a plan for selecting subrecipients, if applicable;

(iii) a description of how the implementing organization

plans to execute the coordination of Federal, State, Tribal,

and local home repair programs, including programs

administered by the Department of Energy, the Department of

the Interior, the Department of Veteran Affairs, or the

Department of Agriculture, to increase efficiency and reduce

redundancy;

(iv) available data on the need for affordable and quality

housing within the geographic scope of the whole-home repairs

program, and any plans to preserve affordability through the

term of the award;

(v) a description of how the implementing organization

plans to process and verify applications for grants from

eligible home-

owners and applications for loans from eligible landlords;

and

(vi) such other information as the Secretary requires to

determine the ability of an applicant to carry out a program

under this subsection.

(B) Considerations.—In making awards under this

subsection, the Secretary shall—

(i) with respect to applications submitted by States other

than the District of Columbia and the territories of the

United States, prioritize those applications with a

demonstrated plan to—

(I) make a good-faith effort to implement the pilot program

in every jurisdiction; and

(II) provide nonmetropolitan areas, or subrecipients

serving non-metropolitan areas if applicable, with a share of

total funds commensurate with their population;

(ii) aim to select applicants so that the awardees

collectively span diverse geographies, with an intent to

understand the impact of the pilot program under this

subsection in urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal settings;

and

(iii) not disqualify implementing organizations that were

awarded grants under the pilot program in prior application

cycles.

(5) Program information.—The Secretary shall make

available to grant recipients under this subsection

information regarding existing Federal programs for which

grant recipients may coordinate or provide assistance in

coordinating applications for those programs in accordance

with paragraph (2)(C).

(6) Grant number.—In each year in which an award is made

under this subsection, the Secretary shall award assistance

to—

(A) not less than 2, and not more than 10, implementing

organizations, as application numbers and funding permit; and

(B) not more than 1 implementing organization in any State.

(7) Loans that are not forgiven.—If a loan made by an

implementing organization under paragraph (2)(B) is not

forgiven, the loan repayment funds shall be reused by the

implementing organization for a new whole-home repair grant

or loan under this subsection, which shall remain subject to

the original terms of the assistance awarded under this

subsection.

(8) Supplement, not supplant.—Amounts awarded under this

subsection to implementing organizations shall supplement,

not supplant, other Federal, State, Tribal, and local funds

made available to those entities.

(9) Streamlining program delivery and ensuring

efficiency.—To the extent possible, in carrying out the

pilot program under this subsection, the Secretary shall—

(A) endeavor to improve efficiency of service delivery, as

well as the experience of and impact on the taxpayer, by

encouraging programmatic collaboration and information

sharing across Federal, State, Tribal, and local programs for

home repair or improvement, including programs administered

by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the

Interior, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the

Department of Energy; and

(B) enhance collaboration and cross-agency streamlining

efforts that reduce the burden of multiple income

verification processes and applications on the eligible home-

owner, the eligible landlord, the implementing organization,

and the Federal Government, including by establishing

assistance application procedures for income eligibility

under this subsection that recognize income eligibility

determinations for assistance using any of the criteria under

subsection (a)(3)(A) that have been used for assistance

applications during the 1-year period preceding the date on

which an eligible home-owner or eligible landlord applies for

assistance under this subsection.

(10) Reporting requirements.—

(A) Annual report.—An implementing organization that

receives a grant under this subsection shall submit to the

Secretary an annual report on initial funding that includes—

(i) the number of units served, including reporting on both

home-ownership and rental units, as well as accessible units;

(ii) the average cost per unit for modifications or repairs

and the nature of those modifications or repairs, including

reporting on accessibility in both home-ownership and rental

units;

(iii) the number of applications received, served, denied,

or not completed, disaggregated by geographic area;

(iv) the aggregated demographic data of grant recipients,

which may include data on income range, urban, suburban, and

rural residency, age, and racial and ethnic identity;

(v) the aggregated demographic data of loan recipients,

which may include data on income range, urban, suburban, and

rural residency, age, and racial and ethnic identity;

(vi) an affirmation that the implementation organization

has complied with the applicable regulations, including

compliance with Federal accessibility requirements;

(vii) in the first year of receiving a grant, and as

certified in subsequent reports, a comprehensive plan to

prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in the administration of the

pilot program, which shall include, at a minimum—

(I) a policy enacted and enforced by the implementing

organization to monitor ongoing expenditures under this

subsection and ensure compliance with applicable regulations;

(II) a policy enacted and enforced by the implementing

organization to detect and deter fraudulent activity,

including fraud occurring in individual projects and patterns

of fraud by parties involved in the expenditure of funds

under this subsection;

(III) a statement setting forth any violations detected by

the implementing organization during the previous calendar

year, including details about steps taken to achieve

compliance and any remedial measures; and

(IV) a certification by the chief executive or most senior

compliance officer of the organization that the organization

maintains sufficient staff and resources to effectively carry

out the above-mentioned policies; and

(viii) such other information as the Secretary may require.

(B) Reporting requirement alignment.—To limit the costs of

implementing the pilot program under this subsection, the

Secretary shall endeavor, to the extent possible, to

structure reporting requirements such that they align with

the data reporting requirements in place for funding streams

that implementing organizations are likely to use together

with funding from this subsection, including the reporting

requirements under—

(i) the Community Development Block Grant program under

title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974

(42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.);

(ii) the HOME Investment Partnerships program under

subtitle A of title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National

Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12741 et seq.);

(iii) the Weatherization Assistance Program for low-income

persons established under part A of title IV of the Energy

Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6861 et seq.); and

(iv) the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-

Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.).

twice during the period in which the pilot program

established under this subsection operates, the Office of

Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban

Development shall complete an assessment of the

implementation of measures to ensure the fair and legitimate

use of the pilot program.

(D) Summary to congress.—The Secretary shall submit to the

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the

Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House

of Representatives an annual report providing a summary of

the data provided under subparagraphs (A) and (C) during the

1-year period preceding the report and all data previously

provided under those subparagraphs.

(11) Environmental review.—A grant under this subsection

shall be—

(A) treated as assistance for a special project for

purposes of section 305(c) of the Multifamily Housing

Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 3547); and

(B) subject to the regulations promulgated by the Secretary

to implement such section.

(12) Termination.—The pilot program established under this

subsection shall terminate on October 1, 2031.

SEC. 203. COMMUNITY INVESTMENT AND PROSPERITY ACT.

(a) Revised Statutes.—The paragraph designated as the

“Eleventh” of section 5136 of the Revised Statutes of the

United States (12 U.S.C. 24) is amended, in the fifth

sentence, by striking “15” each place the term appears and

inserting “20”.

(b) Federal Reserve Act.—Section 9(23) of the Federal

Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 338a) is amended, in the fifth

sentence, by striking “15” each place the term appears and

inserting “20”.

enactment of this section, and every 2 years thereafter, the

Comptroller of the Currency and the Board of Governors of the

Federal Reserve System shall each submit to the Committee on

Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the

Senate, a report, after consulting with the other agency in

the development of such report, about public welfare

investments that were made by associations under section 5136

of the Revised Statutes of the United States (12 U.S.C. 24)

and State member banks under section 9(23) of the Federal

Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 338a) in the 2 previous calendar

years, that—

(1) identifies the number of such investments, broken down

by—

(A) purpose;

(B) type;

bank that made the investment, using not fewer than 4

categories to describe the amount of assets of the

associations and banks; and

(D) State or other location;

(2) identifies the dollar amounts of such investments,

broken down by—

(A) purpose;

(B) type;

bank that made the investment, using not fewer than 4

categories to describe the amount of assets of the

associations and banks; and

(D) State or other location; and

(3) for each type of public welfare investment identified

under paragraphs (1) and (2), a description of the

substantive and procedural requirements that apply to each

type of investment made under—

(A) in the case of a report by the Comptroller of the

Currency, section 5136 of the Revised Statutes of the United

States (12 U.S.C. 24); or

(B) in the case of a report by the Board of Governors,

section 9(23) of the Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 338a).

SEC. 204. ADDITION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION AS AN

ELIGIBLE ACTIVITY.

(a) Eligible Activity.—Section 105(a) of the Housing and

Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5305(a)), as

amended by section 104 of this Act, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (26), by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in paragraph (27), by striking the period at the end

and inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(28) the new construction of affordable housing, within

the meaning given such term under section 215 of the

Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C.

12745), and which shall not exceed 20 percent of the amounts

allocated to the recipient.”.

(b) Low- and Moderate-income Requirement.—Section

105(c)(3) of the Housing and Community Development Act of

1974 (42 U.S.C. 5305(c)(3)) is amended by striking “or

rehabilitation” and inserting “, rehabilitation, or new

construction”.

shall apply with respect only to amounts appropriated after

the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 205. BETTER USE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND LOCAL

DEVELOPMENT (BUILD) HOUSING ACT.

(a) Designation of Environmental Review Procedure.—The

Department of Housing and Urban Development Act (42 U.S.C.

3531 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 12 (42

U.S.C. 3537a) the following:

“SEC. 13. DESIGNATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCEDURE.

“(a) In General.—Except as provided in subsection (b),

the Secretary may, for purposes of environmental review,

decision making, and action pursuant to the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.),

and other provisions of law that further the purposes of such

Act, designate the treatment of assistance administered by

the Secretary as funds for a special project for purposes of

section 305(c) of the Multifamily Housing Property

Disposition Reform Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 3547).

“(b) Exception.—The designation described in subsection

(a) shall not apply to assistance for which a procedure for

carrying out the responsibilities of the Secretary under the

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et

seq.), and other provisions of law that further the purposes

of such Act, is otherwise specified in law.”.

(b) Tribal Assumption of Environmental Review

Obligations.—Section 305(c) of the Multifamily Housing

Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 3547) is

amended—

(1) by striking “State or unit of general local

government” each place it appears and inserting “State,

Indian Tribe, or unit of general local government”;

(2) in paragraph (1)(C), in the heading, by striking

“State or unit of general local government” and inserting

“State, indian tribe, or unit of general local government”;

and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(5) Definition of indian tribe.—For purposes of this

subsection, the term `Indian Tribe' means a federally

recognized tribe, as defined in section 4(13)(B) of the

Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act

of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103(13)(B)).”.

(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), a

designation of assistance under section 13 of the Department

of Housing and Urban Development Act, as added by subsection

(a), shall only apply with respect to funds appropriated

after the date of enactment of this Act.

(2) Exception.—If a grantee of assistance administered by

the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development combines funds

appropriated before and after the date of enactment of this

Act to carry out a project, section 13 of the Department of

and Urban Development Act, as added by subsection (a), shall

not apply to that assistance.

SEC. 206. UNLOCKING HOUSING SUPPLY THROUGH STREAMLINED AND

MODERNIZED REVIEWS ACT.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Infill project.—The term “infill project” means a

project that—

(A) occurs within the geographic limits of a municipality;

(B) is adequately served by existing utilities and public

services as required under applicable law;

not more than 5 acres and substantially surrounded by

residential or commercial development;

(D) will repurpose a vacant or underutilized parcel of

land, or a dilapidated or abandoned structure; and

(E) will serve a residential or commercial purpose.

(2) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Housing and Urban Development.

(b) NEPA Streamlining for HUD Housing-related Activities.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary shall, in accordance with

section 553 of title 5, United States Code, and section 103

of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.

4333), expand and reclassify housing-related activities under

the necessary administrative regulations as follows:

(A) The following housing-related activities shall be

subject to regulations equivalent or substantially similar to

the regulations entitled “exempt activities” as set forth

in section 58.34 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, as

in effect on January 1, 2025:

(i) Tenant-based rental assistance.

(ii) Supportive services, including health care, housing

services, permanent housing placement, day care, nutritional

services, short-term payments for rent, mortgage, or utility

costs, and assistance in gaining access to Federal Government

and State and local government benefits and services.

(iii) Operating costs, including maintenance, security,

operation, utilities, furnishings, equipment, supplies, staff

training, and recruitment and other incidental costs.

(iv) Economic development activities, including equipment

purchases, inventory financing, interest subsidies, operating

expenses, and similar costs not associated with construction

or expansion of existing operations.

(v) Activities to assist home-buyers in the purchase of

existing dwelling units or dwelling units under construction,

including closing costs and down payment assistance, interest

rate buydowns, and similar activities that result in the

transfer of title.

(vi) Affordable housing predevelopment costs related to

obtaining site options, project financing, administrative

costs and fees for loan commitment, zoning approvals, and

other related activities that do not have a physical impact.

(vii) Approval of supplemental assistance, including

insurance or guarantee, to a project previously approved by

the Secretary.

(viii) Emergency home-owner or renter assistance for the

repair or replacement of HVAC, hot water heaters, and other

necessary existing utilities required under applicable law.

(B) The following housing-related activities shall be

subject to regulations equivalent or substantially similar to

the regulations entitled, (i) “categorical exclusions not

subject to section 58.5” and (ii) “categorical exclusions

not subject to the Federal laws and authorities cited in

section 50.4” in section 58.35(b) and section 50.19,

respectively of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, as in

effect on January 1, 2025, if such activities do not

materially alter environmental conditions and do not

materially exceed the original scope of the project:

(i) Acquisition, repair, improvement, reconstruction, or

rehabilitation of public facilities and improvements (other

than buildings) if the facilities and improvements are in

place and will be retained in the same use without change in

size or capacity of more than 20 percent, including

replacement of water or sewer lines, reconstruction of curbs

and sidewalks, and repaving of streets.

(ii) Rehabilitation of 1-to-4 unit residential buildings,

and existing housing-related infrastructure, such as repairs

or rehabilitation of existing wells, septics, or utility

lines that connect to that housing.

(iii) New construction, development, demolition,

acquisition, or disposition of up to 4 scattered site

existing dwelling units where there is a maximum of 4 units

on any 1 site.

(iv) Acquisitions (including leasing) of, disposition of,

or equity loans on an existing structure, or acquisition

(including leasing) of vacant land if the structure or land

acquired, financed, or disposed of will be retained for the

same use.

subject to regulations equivalent or substantially similar to

the regulations entitled, (i) “categorical exclusions

subject to section 58.5” and (ii) “categorical exclusions

subject to the Federal laws and authorities cited in section

50.4” in section 58.35(a) and section 50.20, respectively,

of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on

January 1, 2025, if such activities do not materially alter

environmental conditions and do not materially exceed the

original scope of the project:

(i) Acquisitions of open space or residential property,

where such property will be retained for the same use or will

be converted to open space to help residents relocate out of

an area designated as a high-risk area by the Secretary.

(ii) Conversion of existing office buildings into

residential development, subject to—

(I) a maximum number of units to be determined by the

Secretary; and

(II) a limitation on the change in building size of not

more than 20 percent.

(iii) New construction, development, demolition,

acquisition, or disposition of 5 to 15 dwelling units where

there is a maximum of 15 units on any 1 site. The units can

be 15 1-unit buildings or 1 15-unit building, or any

combination in between.

(iv) New construction, development, demolition,

acquisition, or disposition of 15 or more housing units

developed on scattered sites when there are not more than 15

housing units on any 1 site, and the sites are more than a

set number of feet apart as determined by the Secretary.

(v) Rehabilitation of buildings and improvements in the

case of a building for residential use with 5 to 15 units, if

the density is not increased beyond 15 units and the land use

is not changed.

(vi) Infill projects consisting of new construction,

rehabilitation, or development of residential housing units.

(vii) The voluntary acquisition of properties—

(I) located in—

(aa) a floodway;

(bb) a floodplain; or

(cc) any other area, clearly delineated by the grantee; and

(II) that have been impacted by a predictable environmental

threat to the safety and well-being of program beneficiaries

caused or exacerbated by a federally declared disaster.

streamlining of environmental review for housing-related

activities under subsection (b), the agency actions carried

out under that subsection—

(1) shall only apply with respect to funds appropriated

after the effective date of those actions; and

(2) shall not apply with respect to a grantee that combines

funds appropriated before and after the effective date of

those actions to carry out a project.

(d) Report.—The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the

Committee on Financial Services of the House of

Representatives an annual report during the 5-year period

beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date of

enactment of this Act that provides a summary of findings of

reductions in review times and administrative cost reduction,

with a particular focus on the affordable housing sector, as

a result of the actions set forth in this section, and any

recommendations of the Secretary for future congressional

action with respect to revising categorical exclusions or

exemptions under title 24, Code of Federal Regulations.

SEC. 207. GRANTS FOR PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION ASSOCIATED

WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Eligible entity.—The term “eligible entity” means—

(A) a State, insular area, metropolitan city, or urban

county, as those terms are defined in section 102 of the

Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C.

5302); or

(B) a regional planning agency or consortia of regional

planning agencies.

(2) Housing plan.—The term “housing plan” means a plan

to, with respect to an area within the jurisdiction of an

eligible entity—

(A) increase the amount of available housing to meet the

demand for such housing and any projected increase in the

demand for such housing;

(B) increase the affordability of housing;

disabilities, including location-efficient housing;

(D) preserve or improve the quality of housing;

(E) reduce barriers to housing development; and

(F) coordinate with transportation-related agencies.

(3) Housing strategy.—The term “housing strategy” means

a housing strategy required under section 105 of the

Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C.

12705).

(4) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Housing and Urban Development.

(b) Establishment.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a

program to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible

entities to assist planning and implementation activities

associated with affordable housing, except that such grant

awards may not be used for construction, alteration, or

repair work.

(1) By regional planning agencies.—If an eligible entity

that receives amounts under this section is an eligible

entity described in subsection (a)(1)(B), the eligible entity

shall use those amounts to assist planning activities with

respect to affordable housing, including—

(A) the development of housing plans;

(B) the substantial improvement of State or local housing

strategies;

processes;

(D) updating zoning codes;

(E) increasing the capacity to conduct housing inspections;

(F) increasing the capacity to reduce barriers to housing

supply elasticity and housing affordability;

(G) the development of local or regional plans for

community development; and

(H) the substantial improvement of community development

strategies, including strategies designed to—

(i) increase the availability of affordable housing and

access to affordable housing;

(ii) increase access to public transportation; and

(iii) advance sustainable or location-efficient community

development goals.

(2) By states, insular areas, metropolitan cities, and

urban counties.—If an eligible entity that receives amounts

under this section is an eligible entity described in

subsection (a)(1)(A), the eligible entity shall use those

amounts to—

(A) implement and administer housing strategies and housing

plans;

(B) implement and administer any plans to increase housing

choice, address disparities in housing needs, and provide

greater access to opportunity;

identified in a housing strategy or housing plan;

(D) implement and administer regulatory requirements and

processes with respect to reformed zoning codes;

(E) increase the capacity to conduct housing inspections;

(F) increase the capacity to reduce barriers to housing

supply elasticity and housing affordability;

(G) implement and administer local or regional plans for

community development; and

(H) fund any planning to increase—

(i) the availability of affordable housing and access to

affordable housing;

(ii) access to public transportation; and

(iii) any location-efficient community development goals.

(3) Use for administrative costs.—A eligible entity that

receives amounts under this section may not use more than 10

percent of those amounts for administrative costs.

(d) Coordination.—To the extent practicable, the Secretary

shall coordinate with the Administrator of the Federal

Transit Administration in carrying out this section.

(e) Expiration of Authority.—After the expiration of the

5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act,

the Secretary may not newly establish a program as described

in this section.

(f) Sunset.—The program established under this section

shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of

enactment of this Act.

SEC. 208. INNOVATION FUND.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Attainable housing.—The term “attainable housing”

means housing that serves households earning not more than

120 percent of the area median income, if the majority of the

housing units are affordable to households earning not more

than 60 percent of the area median income.

(2) Eligible entity.—The term “eligible entity” means—

(A) a metropolitan city or urban county, as those terms are

defined in section 102 of the Housing and Community

Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302), that has

demonstrated an objective improvement in housing supply

growth, as determined by the Secretary, whose methodology for

determining such growth is published in the Federal Register

to allow for public comment not less than 90 days before the

date on which the notice of funding opportunity is made

available; or

(B) a unit of general local government or an Indian tribe,

as those terms are defined in section 102 of the Housing and

Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302), that has

demonstrated an objective improvement in housing supply

growth, as determined by the Secretary, whose methodology for

determining such improvement is published in the Federal

before the date on which the notice of funding opportunity is

made available.

(3) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Housing and Urban Development.

(b) Establishment of a Grant Program.—

(1) Establishment.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a

program to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible

entities that have increased their local housing supply.

(2) List of eligible entities.—The Secretary shall make a

list of eligible entities publicly available on the website

of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(3) Eligible purposes.—An eligible entity receiving a

grant under this section may use funds to—

(A) carry out any of the activities described in section

105 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42

U.S.C. 5305);

(B) carry out any of the activities permitted under the

Local and Regional Project Assistance Program established

under section 6702 of title 49, United States Code; and

facilitate the expansion of the supply of attainable housing

and that supplement initiatives the eligible entity has

carried out, or is in the process of carrying out, as

specified in the application submitted under paragraph (4).

(4) Application.—

(A) In general.—An eligible entity seeking a grant under

this section shall submit to the Secretary an application

that provides—

(i) a description of each purpose for which the eligible

entity will use the grant, and an attestation that the grant

will be used only for 1 or more eligible purposes described

in paragraph (3);

(ii) data on characteristics of increased housing supply

during the 3-year period ending on the date on which the

application is submitted, which may include whether such

housing—

(I) serves households at a range of income levels; and

(II) has improved the quality and affordability of housing

in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity;

(iii) a description of how each eligible purpose described

in clause (i) may address a community need or advance an

objective, or an aspect of an objective, included in the

comprehensive housing affordability strategy and community

development plan of the eligible entity under part 91 of

title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor

regulation (commonly referred to as a “consolidated plan”);

and

(iv) a description of how the eligible entity has carried

out, or is in the process of carrying out, initiatives that

facilitate the expansion of the supply of housing.

(B) Initiatives.—Initiatives that meet the criteria

described in paragraph (3)(C) include, but shall not be

limited to—

(i) increasing by-right uses, including duplex, triplex,

quadplex, and multifamily buildings, in areas of opportunity;

(ii) revising or eliminating off-street parking

requirements to reduce the cost of housing production;

(iii) revising minimum lot size requirements, floor area

ratio requirements, set-back requirements, building heights,

and bans or limits on construction that allow for denser and

more affordable development;

(iv) instituting incentives to promote dense development

for communities where increased density is needed;

(v) passing zoning overlays or other ordinances that enable

the development of mixed-income housing;

(vi) streamlining regulatory requirements and shortening

processes, increasing code enforcement and permitting

capacity, reforming zoning codes, or other initiatives that

reduce barriers to increasing housing supply and

affordability;

(vii) eliminating restrictions against accessory dwelling

units and expanding their by-right use;

(viii) using local tax incentives or public financing to

promote development of attainable housing;

(ix) streamlining environmental regulations;

(x) eliminating unnecessary manufactured-housing or

cooperative housing regulations and restrictions;

(xi) minimizing the impact of overburdensome energy and

water efficiency standards on housing costs; and

(xii) other activities that reduce the cost of

construction, as determined by the Secretary.

(5) Grants.—

(A) In general.—The Secretary shall make not fewer than 25

grants on an annual basis (unless amounts appropriated to

provide grant amounts consistent with subsection (b) are

insufficient, in which case fewer grants may be awarded),

with strong consideration of different geographical areas and

a relatively even spread of rural, suburban, and urban

communities.

(B) Limitations on awards.—No grant awarded under this

paragraph may be—

(i) more than $10,000,000; or

(ii) less than $250,000.

the Secretary shall give priority to an eligible entity that

has—

(i) demonstrated the use of innovative policies,

interventions, or programs for increasing housing supply; and

(ii) demonstrated a marked improvement in housing supply

growth, as needed.

(D) Grant administration and terms.—Projects assisted

under this section for activities described in sector 23 of

the North American Industry Classification System shall be

treated as projects assisted under the Community Development

Block Grant program under title I of the Housing and

Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.).

be construed—

(1) to authorize the Secretary to mandate, supersede, or

preempt any local zoning or land use policy; or

(2) to affect the requirements of section 105(c)(1) of the

Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C.

12705(c)(1)).

(d) Sunset.—The program established under this section

shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of

enactment of this Act.

(e) Authorization of Appropriations.—

(1) In general.—There is authorized to be appropriated to

carry out this section $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years

2027 through 2031.

(2) Adjustment.—The amount authorized to be appropriated

under paragraph (1) shall be adjusted for inflation based on

the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Customers published by

the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.

SEC. 209. ACCELERATING HOME BUILDING ACT.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Affordable housing.—The term “affordable housing”

means housing for which the total monthly housing cost

payment is not more than 30 percent of the monthly household

income for a household earning not more than 80 percent of

the area median income.

(2) Covered structure.—The term “covered structure”

means—

(A) a low-rise or mid-rise structure with not more than 25

dwelling units; and

(B) includes—

(i) an accessory dwelling unit;

(ii) infill development;

(iii) a duplex;

(iv) a triplex;

(v) a fourplex;

(vi) a cottage court;

(vii) a courtyard building;

(viii) a townhouse;

(ix) a multiplex; and

(x) any other structure with not less than 2 dwelling units

that the Secretary considers appropriate.

(3) Eligible entity.—The term “eligible entity” means—

(A) a unit of general local government, as defined in

section 102(a) of the Housing and Community Development Act

of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302(a));

(B) a municipal membership organization; and

Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C.

5302(a)).

(4) High opportunity area.—The term “high opportunity

area” has the meaning given the term in section 1282.1 of

title 12, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor

regulation.

(5) Infill development.—The term “infill development”

means residential development on small parcels in previously

established areas for replacement with new or refurbished

housing that utilizes existing utilities and infrastructure.

(6) Mixed-income housing.—The term “mixed-income

housing” means a housing development that is comprised of

housing units that promote differing levels of affordability

in the community.

(7) Prereviewed designs.—The term “prereviewed designs”,

also known as pattern books, means sets of construction plans

that are assessed and approved by localities for compliance

with local building and permitting standards to streamline

and expedite approval pathways for housing construction.

(8) Rural area.—The term “rural area” means any area

other than a city or town that has a population of less than

50,000 inhabitants.

(9) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Housing and Urban Development.

(b) Authority.—The Secretary is authorized to award grants

to eligible entities utilizing funds appropriated for such

purpose to select prereviewed designs of covered structures

of mixed-income housing for use in the jurisdiction of the

eligible entity, except that such grant awards may not be

used for construction, alteration, or repair work.

eligible entities for a grant under this section, the

Secretary shall consider—

(1) the need for affordable housing in the service area of

the eligible entity;

(2) the presence of high opportunity areas in the

jurisdiction of the eligible entity;

(3) coordination between the eligible entity and a State

agency; and

(4) coordination between the eligible entity and State,

local, and regional transportation planning authorities.

(d) Set-aside for Rural Areas.—Of the amount made

available in each fiscal year for grants under this section,

the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 10 percent

shall be used for grants to eligible entities that are

located in rural areas.

(e) Reports.—The Secretary shall require eligible entities

receiving grants under this section to report on—

(1) the impacts of the activities carried out using the

grant amounts in improving the production and supply of

affordable housing;

(2) the prereviewed designs selected using the grant

amounts in their communities;

(3) the number of permits issued for housing development

utilizing prereviewed designs; and

(4) the number of housing units produced in developments

utilizing the prereviewed designs.

(f) Availability of Information.—The Secretary shall—

(1) to the extent possible, encourage localities to make

publicly available through a website information on the

prereviewed designs selected and submitted to the Secretary

by eligible entities receiving grants under this section,

including information on the benefits of use of those

designs; and

(2) collect, identify, and disseminate best practices

regarding such designs and make such information publicly

available on the website of the Department of Housing and

Urban Development.

(g) Design Adoption and Repayment.—The Secretary may

require an eligible entity to return to the Secretary any

grant funds received under this section if the selected

prereviewed designs submitted under this section have not

been adopted during the 5-year period following receipt of

the grant, unless that period is extended by the Secretary.

(h) Technical Assistance.—The Secretary may set aside not

more than 5 percent of amounts appropriated in a fiscal year

to provide technical assistance to grant recipients under

this section and pregrant technical assistance to prospective

applicants.

SEC. 210. REVITALIZING EMPTY STRUCTURES INTO DESIRABLE

ENVIRONMENTS (RESIDE) ACT.

(a) In General.—Subtitle A of title II of the Cranston-

Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12741 et

seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“SEC. 227. REVITALIZING EMPTY STRUCTURES INTO DESIRABLE

ENVIRONMENTS.

“(a) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) Attainable housing.—The term `attainable housing'

means housing that serves households earning not more than

120 percent of the area median income, if the majority of the

housing units are affordable to households earning not more

than 60 percent of the area median income.

“(2) Converted housing unit.—The term `converted housing

unit' means a housing unit that is created using a covered

grant.

“(3) Covered grant.—The term `covered grant' means a

grant awarded under the Pilot Program.

“(4) Eligible entity.—The term `eligible entity' means a

participating jurisdiction.

“(5) Pilot program.—The term `Pilot Program' means the

pilot program established under subsection (b).

“(6) Vacant and abandoned building.—The term `vacant and

abandoned building' means a property—

“(A) that was constructed for use as a warehouse, factory,

mall, strip mall, or hotel, or for another industrial or

commercial use; and

“(B)(i) with respect to which—

“(I) a code enforcement inspection has determined that the

property is not safe; and

“(II) not less than 90 days have elapsed since the owner

was notified of the deficiencies in the property and the

owner has taken no corrective action; or

“(ii) that is subject to a court-ordered receivership or

nuisance abatement related to abandonment pursuant to State

or local law or otherwise meets the definition of an

abandoned property under State law.

“(b) Purpose of Grant Program.—Subject to the

availability of funds appropriated for this subsection, the

Secretary is authorized to establish a pilot program,

spanning from fiscal years 2027 through 2031, which shall

have the purpose of awarding grants on a competitive basis to

eligible entities to convert vacant and abandoned buildings

into attainable housing.

“(c) Amount of Grant.—

“(1) In general.—For any fiscal year for which not less

than $100,000,000 is made available to carry out the Pilot

Program, the amount of a covered grant shall be not less than

$1,000,000 and not more than $10,000,000.

“(2) Fiscal years with lower funding.—For any fiscal year

for which less than $100,000,000 is made available to carry

out the Pilot Program pursuant to subsection (b), the

Secretary shall seek to maximize the number of covered grants

awarded.

“(d) Relation to Formula Allocation.—A covered grant

awarded to an eligible entity shall be in addition to, and

shall not affect, the formula allocation for the eligible

entity under section 217.

“(e) Priority.—In awarding covered grants, the Secretary

shall give priority to an eligible entity that—

“(1) will use the covered grant in a community that is

experiencing economic distress;

“(2) will use the covered grant in a qualified opportunity

zone (as defined in section 1400Z-1(a) of the Internal

Revenue Code of 1986);

“(3) will use the covered grant to construct housing that

will serve a need identified in the comprehensive housing

affordability strategy and community development plan of the

eligible entity under part 91 of title 24, Code of Federal

Regulations, or any successor regulation (commonly referred

to as a `consolidated plan'); or

“(4) has enacted ordinances to reduce regulatory barriers

to conversion of vacant and abandoned buildings to housing,

which shall not include any alteration of an ordinance that

governs safety and habitability.

“(f) Use of Funds.—An eligible entity may use a covered

grant for—

“(1) property acquisition;

“(2) demolition;

“(3) health hazard remediation;

“(4) site preparation;

“(5) construction, renovation, or rehabilitation; or

“(6) the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of

community land trusts or housing cooperatives.

“(g) Waiver Authority.—In administering covered grants,

the Secretary may waive, or specify alternative requirements

for, any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers

in connection with the obligation by the Secretary or the use

by eligible entities of covered grant funds (except for

requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination,

labor standards, or the environment) if the Secretary makes a

public finding that good cause exists for the waiver or

alternative requirement.

“(h) Study; Report.—Not later than 180 days after the

termination of the Pilot Program, the Secretary shall study

and submit to Congress a report on the impact of the Pilot

Program on—

“(1) improving the tax base of local communities;

“(2) increasing access to affordable housing, especially

for elderly individuals, disabled individuals, and veterans;

“(3) increasing home-ownership; and

“(4) removing blight.”.

(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.—The table of

contents in section 1(b) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National

Affordable Housing Act (Public Law 101-625; 104 Stat. 4079)

is amended by inserting after the item relating to section

226 the following:

“Sec. 227. Revitalizing empty structures into desirable

environments.”.

SEC. 211. HOUSING AFFORDABILITY ACT.

(a) In General.—Title II of the National Housing Act (12

U.S.C. 1707 et seq.) is amended—

(1) in section 206A (12 U.S.C. 1712a)—

(A) in subsection (a), in the matter following paragraph

(7), by striking “(commencing in 2004” and all that follows

through the period at the end and inserting the following:

“, commencing on July 1, 2025. The adjustment of the Dollar

Amounts shall be calculated by the Secretary using the

percentage change in the Price Deflator Index of Multifamily

Residential Units Under Construction released by the Bureau

of the Census from March of the previous year to March of the

year in which the adjustment is made, or by the Secretary

using an alternative indicator after publishing information

about such alternative indicator in the Federal Register for

public comment if the Price Deflator Index of Multifamily

Residential Units Under Construction is not available or

published.”; and

(B) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

“(b) Publication.—

“(1) In general.—The Secretary shall publish in the

Federal Register any adjustments made to the Dollar Amounts.

“(2) Rounding.—The dollar amount of any adjustment

described in paragraph (1) shall be rounded to the next lower

dollar.”;

(2) in section 207(c)(3)(A) (12 U.S.C. 1713(c)(3)(A))—

(A) by striking “$38,025” and inserting “$167,310”;

(B) by striking “$42,120” and inserting “$185,328”;

(D) by striking “$62,010” and inserting “$272,844”;

(E) by striking “$70,200” and inserting “$308,880”;

(F) by striking “, or not to exceed $17,460 per space”;

(G) by striking “$43,875” and inserting “$193,050”;

(H) by striking “$49,140” and inserting “$216,216”;

(I) by striking “$60,255” and inserting “$265,122”;

(J) by striking “$75,465” and inserting “$332,046”; and

(K) by striking “$85,328” and inserting “$375,443”;

(3) in section 213(b)(2) (12 U.S.C. 1715e(b)(2))—

(A) by striking “$41,207” and inserting “$181,311”;

(B) by striking “$47,511” and inserting “$209,048”;

(D) by striking “$73,343” and inserting “$322,709”;

(E) by striking “$81,708” and inserting “$359,515”;

(F) by striking “$43,875” and inserting “$193,050”;

(G) by striking “$49,710” and inserting “$218,724”;

(H) by striking “$60,446” and inserting “$265,962”;

(I) by striking “$78,197” and inserting “$344,067”; and

(J) by striking “$85,836” and inserting “$377,678”;

(4) in section 220(d)(3)(B)(iii)(I) (12 U.S.C.

1715k(d)(3)(B)(iii)(I))—

(A) by striking “$38,025” and inserting “$167,310”;

(B) by striking “$42,120” and inserting “$185,328”;

(D) by striking “$62,010” and inserting “$272,844”;

(E) by striking “$70,200” and inserting “$308,880”;

(F) by striking “$43,875” and inserting “$193,050”;

(G) by striking “$49,140” and inserting “$216,216”;

(H) by striking “$60,255” and inserting “$265,122”;

(I) by striking “$75,465” and inserting “$332,046”; and

(J) by striking “$85,328” and inserting “$375,443”;

(5) in section 221(d)(4)(ii)(I) (12 U.S.C.

1715l(d)(4)(ii)(I))—

(A) by striking “$37,843” and inserting “$166,509”;

(B) by striking “$42,954” and inserting “$188,997”;

(D) by striking “$65,169” and inserting “$286,744”;

(E) by striking “$73,846” and inserting “$324,922”;

(F) by striking “$40,876” and inserting “$179,854”;

(G) by striking “$46,859” and inserting “$206,180”;

(H) by striking “$56,979” and inserting “$250,708”;

(I) by striking “$73,710” and inserting “$324,324”; and

(J) by striking “$80,913” and inserting “$356,017”;

(6) in section 231(c)(2)(A) (12 U.S.C. 1715v(c)(2)(A))—

(A) by striking “$35,978” and inserting “$166,509”;

(B) by striking “$40,220” and inserting “$188,997”;

(D) by striking “$57,798” and inserting “$286,744”;

(E) by striking “$67,950” and inserting “$324,922”;

(F) by striking “$40,876” and inserting “$179,854”;

(G) by striking “$46,859” and inserting “$206,180”;

(H) by striking “$56,979” and inserting “$250,708”;

(I) by striking “$73,710” and inserting “$324,324”; and

(J) by striking “$80,913” and inserting “$356,017”; and

(7) in section 234(e)(3)(A) (12 U.S.C. 1715y(e)(3)(A))—

(A) by striking “$42,048” and inserting “$185,011”;

(B) by striking “$48,481” and inserting “$213,316”;

(D) by striking “$74,840” and inserting “$329,296”;

(E) by striking “$83,375” and inserting “$366,850”;

(F) by striking “$44,250” and inserting “$194,700”;

(G) by striking “$50,724” and inserting “$223,186”;

(H) by striking “$61,680” and inserting “$271,392”;

(I) by striking “$79,793” and inserting “$351,089”; and

(J) by striking “$87,588” and inserting “$385,387”.

(b) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section or the

amendments made by this section may be construed to limit the

authority of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

to revise the statutory exceptions for high-cost percentage

and high-cost areas annual indexing.

Federal Housing Administration, in consultation with the

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall conduct a

study to assess the following in comparison to the loan

limits prior to the amendments made under this section:

(1) Whether the Commissioner has sufficient authority to

increase loan limits for each multifamily mortgage insurance

program at appropriate amounts, including to meet market

demand.

(2) The impacts that multifamily loan limit increases have

had, if any, on—

(A) the General Insurance and Special Risk Insurance Fund;

(B) the change in volume of multifamily purchase and

construction lending that is insured by the Federal Housing

Administration; and

change over the last 6 years in—

(i) median and average lending costs as well as rent and

house prices within the multifamily housing market; and

(ii) multifamily housing supply, including the number of

building permits issued as well as housing unit starts and

completions.

(d) Report.—Not later than 3 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Commissioner of the Federal

Housing Administration shall submit to Congress a report

summarizing the findings of the Commissioner for the study

conducted under subsection (b).

SEC. 212. RENTAL ASSISTANCE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

The language under the heading “Rental Assistance

Demonstration” in the Department of Housing and Urban

Development Appropriations Act, 2012 (Public Law 112-55; 125

Stat. 673) is amended—

(1) in the second proviso, by striking “until September

30, 2029” and inserting “for fiscal year 2012 and each

fiscal year thereafter”;

(2) in the fourth proviso, by striking “455,000” and

inserting “555,000”;

(3) in the twentieth proviso, as so designated before the

date of enactment of this Act, by striking “or other

means:” and inserting “or other means, including the

adoption of a mandatory tenant lease and management plan

addendum for a property with assistance converted, if not

otherwise covered by another program, under this

demonstration:”; and

(4) by striking “vouchers to project-based vouchers.” and

inserting “vouchers to project-based vouchers: Provided

further, That the Secretary shall annually assess and publish

findings regarding the impact of the conversion of assistance

under the First Component of the demonstration with respect

to the preservation and improvement of public housing, the

amount of private sector leveraging resulting from such

conversion transactions, the prevalence of pre-conversion

residents remaining in or returning to the property following

conversion, and the effect of such conversion on tenants,

including the impact of such conversion on the rights

maintained by tenants as enumerated in regulations and other

documents conferring rights upon tenants as developed by the

Secretary, and other matters the Secretary may determine

appropriate: Provided further, That the Secretary may take

remediative action or impose civil money penalties or other

administrative sanctions for material violations of a

requirement under the First and Second Components of this

demonstration: Provided further, That nothing in the matter

under this heading shall be construed to diminish, impair, or

otherwise negatively affect the Rental Assistance

Demonstration property rights of owners or rights of tenants,

which shall remain enforceable by tenants, as enumerated in

current law, regulations, and other agency guidance or

notices as it relates to properties converted under the First

and Second Components of the Rental Assistance Demonstration

Program; Provided further, That any property owned by the

public housing agency shall be used to replace, create,

preserve, improve, or expand affordable housing supply,

including as part of mixed use developments, and no

conversion under the Rental Assistance Demonstration shall be

used for sporting, private, or for-profit purposes, excluding

those which maintain or expand housing supply which may use

an affordable housing tax credit or other housing

affordability program.”.

SEC. 213. BUILD NOW ACT.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Covered recipient.—The term “covered recipient”

means a metropolitan city or urban county, as those terms are

defined in section 102 of the Housing and Community

Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302), that receives funds

under section 106.

(2) Current annual growth rate.—The term “current annual

growth rate”, with respect to an eligible recipient and a

fiscal year, means the average annual percentage increase in

the number of housing units in the jurisdiction of the

eligible recipient, as calculated by the Secretary, during

the period—

(A) beginning with the third quarter of the sixth preceding

fiscal year; and

(B) ending with the third quarter of the preceding fiscal

year.

(3) Eligible recipient.—The term “eligible recipient”

means any covered recipient unless—

(A)(i) the median Small Area Fair Market Rent in the

jurisdiction of the covered recipient is at or below the 60th

percentile of median Small Area Fair Market Rents in the

jurisdictions of all covered recipients; and

(ii) the median home value in the jurisdiction of the

covered recipient is below the median home value for the

United States;

(B) the annual rental vacancy rate in the jurisdiction of

the covered recipient is greater than the national annual

rental vacancy rate for the most recent year available, as

published by the Bureau of the Census;

the Secretary allocates funds under section 106, the

jurisdiction of the covered recipient has been the subject of

a major disaster or emergency declaration under section 401

or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster

Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191);

(D) the covered recipient lacks the legal authority to

enact or update zoning and permitting ordinances.

(4) Extremely high-growth recipient.—The term “extremely

high-growth recipient” means an eligible recipient for which

the current annual growth rate is at or above 4 percent.

(5) Housing growth improvement rate.—The term “housing

growth improvement rate”, with respect to an eligible

recipient and a fiscal year, means the quotient of—

(A)(i) the current annual growth rate of the eligible

recipient, minus

(ii) the prior annual growth rate of the eligible

recipient; and

(B) the sum obtained by adding the absolute values of the

current annual growth rate and the prior annual growth rate

of the eligible recipient.

(6) Prior annual growth rate.—The term “prior annual

growth rate”, with respect to an eligible recipient and a

fiscal year, means the average annual percentage increase in

the number of housing units in the jurisdiction of the

eligible recipient, as calculated by the Secretary, during

the period—

(A) beginning with the third quarter of the 11th preceding

fiscal year; and

(B) ending with the third quarter of the sixth preceding

fiscal year.

(7) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Housing and Urban Development.

(8) Section 106.—The term “section 106” means section

106 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42

U.S.C. 5306).

(b) Adjustments to Community Development Block Grant

Allocations.—

(1) In general.—In allocating amounts to an eligible

recipient under section 106 for a fiscal year, the Secretary

shall adjust the allocation based on the housing growth

improvement rate of the eligible recipient, in accordance

with paragraph (2) of this subsection.

(2) Adjustments.—

(A) Housing growth improvement rate at or above median;

extremely high-growth recipients.—

(i) In general.—If, with respect to a fiscal year for

which the allocation under section 106 is being determined,

the housing growth improvement rate for an eligible recipient

is at or above the median housing growth improvement rate for

all eligible recipients other than extremely high-growth

recipients, or if an eligible recipient is an extremely high-

growth recipient, the Secretary shall allocate to the

eligible recipient for that fiscal year, in addition to the

amount that would otherwise be allocated to the eligible

recipient under section 106, a bonus amount, as determined

under clause (ii) of this subparagraph.

(ii) Bonus amount.—For purposes of clause (i), the bonus

amount for an eligible recipient for a fiscal year shall be

equal to the product of—

(I) the aggregate amount by which allocations to eligible

recipients are decreased under subparagraph (B) for that

fiscal year; and

(II) the quotient of—

(aa) the difference in the number of housing units, between

the third quarter of the second preceding fiscal year and the

third quarter of the preceding fiscal year, in the

jurisdiction of the eligible recipient, as calculated by the

Secretary; and

(bb) the difference in the number of housing units, between

the third quarter of the second preceding fiscal year and the

third quarter of the preceding fiscal year, in the

jurisdictions of all eligible recipients that receive a bonus

amount under this paragraph, as calculated by the Secretary.

(B) Housing growth improvement rate below median.—If, with

respect to a fiscal year for which the allocation under

section

106 is being determined, the housing growth improvement rate

for an eligible recipient is below the median housing growth

improvement rate for all eligible recipients other than high-

growth outliers, the Secretary shall decrease the amount that

would otherwise be allocated to the eligible recipient under

section 106 for that fiscal year by 10 percent.

(1) Housing and urban development requirements.—In

calculating the number of housing units in the jurisdiction

of an eligible recipient under any provision of this section,

the Secretary shall—

(A) use the Current Address Count Listing Files and other

data products, as needed, of the Bureau of the Census

tabulated from the Master Address File; and

(B) make calculations at the block level, using boundaries

that reflect the most current boundaries.

(2) Census bureau and postal service requirements.—The

Bureau of the Census and the United States Postal Service

shall provide any relevant data to the Secretary upon request

to assist the Secretary in making a calculation described in

paragraph (1).

(3) Adjustment of calculation periods.—The Secretary may

adjust the calculation periods under subparagraphs (A) and

(B) of subsection (a)(2), subparagraphs (A) and (B) of

subsection (a)(6), and items (aa) and (bb) of subsection

(b)(2)(A)(ii)(II) by not more than 2 months to achieve

alignment with the data provided by the Bureau of the Census.

(d) Annual Report on Housing Growth Improvement Rate.—

Before allocating funds under section 106 for a fiscal year,

the Secretary shall publish a report that—

(1) includes the housing growth improvement rate for each

eligible recipient; and

(2) lists, for the most recent fiscal year for which

allocations were made under section 106—

(A) the eligible recipients that received a bonus amount

under subsection (b)(2)(A); and

(B) the eligible recipients for which the allocation under

section 106 was decreased under subsection (b)(2)(B) of this

section.

(e) Notification; Implementation Dates.—

(1) Notification.—

(A) In general.—Not later than 60 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall notify each

eligible recipient of the recipient's housing growth

improvement rate and whether that housing growth improvement

rate is above, at, or below the median housing growth

improvement rate for all eligible recipients other than

extremely high-growth recipients.

(B) Guidance.—As part of the notification under

subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall share guidance,

including resources developed by the Department of Housing

and Urban Development, on best practices and recommendations

for policies to reduce regulatory barriers to housing and

increase housing supply.

(2) Implementation dates.—Subsection (b) shall take effect

beginning with the third full fiscal year after the date of

enactment of this Act and remain in effect through fiscal

year 2043.

(3) No effect on previous appropriations.—This section

shall not apply to amounts appropriated before the date of

enactment of this Act.

TITLE III—MANUFACTURED HOUSING FOR AMERICA

SEC. 301. HOUSING SUPPLY EXPANSION ACT.

(a) In General.—Section 603(6) of the National

Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of

1974 (42 U.S.C. 5402(6)) is amended by striking “on a

permanent chassis” and inserting “with or without a

permanent chassis”.

(b) Standards for Manufactured Homes Built Without a

Permanent Chassis.—Section 604(a) of the National

Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of

1974 (42 U.S.C. 5403(a)) is amended by adding the following:

“(7) Standards for manufactured homes built without a

permanent chassis.—

“(A) In general.—The Secretary, in consultation with the

consensus committee, shall issue revised standards for

manufactured homes built without a permanent chassis using

the process described in paragraph (4).

“(B) Creating final standards.—The Secretary shall, after

consulting and conferring with the consensus committee,

establish standards to ensure that manufactured homes without

a permanent chassis have—

“(i) a distinct label, with revenue generated to be

deposited into the Manufactured Housing Fees Trust Fund

established under section 620(e)(1), to be issued by the

Secretary distinguishing manufactured home built without a

permanent chassis from manufactured homes built on a

permanent chassis;

“(ii) a data plate, as described in section 3280.5 of

title 24, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor

regulation), distinguishing manufactured homes built without

a permanent chassis from manufactured homes built on a

permanent chassis; and

“(iii) a notation on any invoice produced by the

manufacturer of a manufactured home that is distinguishable

from the invoice for a manufactured home constructed with a

permanent chassis.”.

National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety

Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5403) is amended by adding

at the end the following:

“(i) Manufactured Home Certifications.—

“(1) In general.—

“(A) Initial certification.—Subject to subparagraph (B),

not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the 21st

Century ROAD to Housing Act, a State shall submit to the

Secretary an initial certification that the laws and

regulations of the State—

“(i) treat any manufactured home in parity with a

manufactured home (as defined and regulated by the State);

and

“(ii) subject a manufactured home without a permanent

chassis to the same laws and regulations of the State as a

manufactured home built on a permanent chassis, including

with respect to financing, title, insurance, manufacture,

sale, taxes, transportation, installation, and other areas as

the Secretary determines, after consultation with and

approval by the consensus committee, are necessary to give

effect to the purpose of this section.

“(B) State plan submission.—Any State plan submitted

under section 623(b) shall contain the required State

certification under subparagraph (A) and, if contained

therein, no additional or State certification under

subparagraph (A) or paragraph (3).

“(C) Extended deadline.—With respect to a State with a

legislature that meets biennially, the deadline for the

submission of the initial certification required under

subparagraph (A) shall be 2 years after the date of enactment

of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.

“(D) Late certification.—

“(i) No waiver.—The Secretary may not waive the

prohibition described in paragraph (5)(B) with respect to a

certification submitted after the deadline under subparagraph

(A) or paragraph (3) unless the Secretary approves the late

certification.

“(ii) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this subsection

shall be construed to prevent a State from submitting the

initial certification required under subparagraph (A) after

the required deadline under that subparagraph.

“(2) Form of state certification not presented in a state

plan.—The initial certification required under paragraph

(1)(A), if not submitted with a State plan under paragraph

(1)(B), shall contain, in a form prescribed by the Secretary,

an attestation by an official that the State has taken the

steps necessary to ensure the veracity of the certification

required under paragraph (1)(A), including, as necessary,

by—

“(A) amending the definition of `manufactured home' in the

laws and regulations of the State; and

“(B) directing State agencies to amend the definition of

`manufactured home' in regulations.

“(3) Annual recertification.—Not later than a date to be

determined by the Secretary each year, a State shall submit

to the Secretary an additional certification that—

“(A) confirms the accuracy of the initial certification

submitted under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1); and

“(B) certifies that any new laws or regulations enacted or

adopted by the State since the date of the previous

certification do not change the veracity of the initial

certification submitted under paragraph (1)(A).

“(4) List.—The Secretary shall publish and maintain in

the Federal Register and on the website of the Department of

Housing and Urban Development a list of States that are up to

date with the submission of initial and subsequent

certifications required under this subsection.

“(5) Prohibition.—

“(A) Definition.—In this paragraph, the term `covered

manufactured home' means a home that is—

“(i) not considered a manufactured home under the laws and

regulations of a State because the home is constructed

without a permanent chassis;

“(ii) considered a manufactured home under the definition

of the term in section 603; and

“(iii) constructed after the date of enactment of the 21st

Century ROAD to Housing Act.

“(B) Building, installation, and sale.—If a State does

not submit a certification under paragraph (1)(A) or (3) by

the date on which those certifications are required to be

submitted—

“(i) with respect to a State in which the State

administers the installation of manufactured homes, the State

shall prohibit the manufacture, installation, or sale of a

covered manufactured home within the State; and

“(ii) with respect to a State in which the Secretary

administers the installation of manufactured homes, the State

and the Secretary shall prohibit the manufacture,

installation, or sale of a covered manufactured home within

the State.”.

(d) Other Federal Laws Regulating Manufactured Homes.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development may coordinate with the heads of other Federal

agencies to ensure that Federal agencies treat a manufactured

home (as defined in Federal laws and regulations other than

section 603 of the National Manufactured Housing Construction

and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5402)) in the

same manner as a manufactured home (as defined in section 603

of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety

Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5402), as amended by this

Act).

(2) Energy efficiency standards.—

(A) Manufactured home defined.—In this paragraph, the term

“manufactured home”

has the meaning given the term in section 603 of the National

Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of

1974 (42 U.S.C. 5402), as amended by this Act.

(B) Process.—No energy efficiency standards for

manufactured homes developed by any Federal agency shall have

legal effect unless and until adopted by the Department of

Housing and Urban Development pursuant to the consensus

standards and regulatory development process described in

section 604(a)(2) of the National Manufactured Housing

Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C.

5403(a)(2)).

Development shall—

(i) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of

this Act, adopt minimum energy efficiency standards for

manufactured homes; and

(ii) not less frequently than once every 3 years after

adopting the standards under clause (i), update those

standards.

(e) Assistance to States.—Section 609 of the National

Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of

1974 (42 U.S.C. 5408) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and

inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(3) model guidance to support the submission of the

certification required under section 604(i).”.

(f) Preemption.—Nothing in this section or the amendments

made by this section may be construed as limiting the scope

of Federal preemption under section 604(d) of the National

Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of

1974 (42 U.S.C. 5403(d)).

SEC. 302. MODULAR HOUSING PRODUCTION ACT.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Manufactured home.—The term “manufactured home” has

the meaning given the term in section 603 of the National

Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of

1974 (42 U.S.C. 5402).

(2) Modular home.—The term “modular home” means a home

that is constructed in a factory in 1 or more modules, each

of which meets applicable State and local building codes of

the area in which the home will be located, and that are

transported to the home building site, installed on

foundations, and completed.

(3) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Housing and Urban Development.

(b) FHA Construction Financing Programs.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary shall conduct a review of

Federal Housing Administration construction financing

programs to identify barriers to the use of modular home

methods.

(2) Requirements.—In conducting the review under paragraph

(1), the Secretary shall—

(A) identify and evaluate regulatory and programmatic

features that restrict participation in construction

financing programs by modular home developers, including

construction draw schedules; and

(B) identify administrative measures authorized under

section 525 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1735f-3)

to facilitate program utilization by modular home developers.

(3) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish a report

that describes the results of the review conducted under

paragraph (1), which shall include a description of

programmatic and policy changes that the Secretary recommends

to reduce or eliminate identified barriers to the use of

modular home methods in Federal Housing Administration

construction financing programs.

(4) Rulemaking.—

(A) In general.—Not later than 120 days after the date on

which the Secretary publishes the report under paragraph (3),

the Secretary shall initiate a rulemaking to examine an

alternative draw schedule for construction financing loans

provided to modular and manufactured home developers, which

shall include the ability for interested stakeholders to

provide robust public comment.

(B) Determination.—Following the period for public comment

under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall—

(i) issue a final rule regarding an alternative draw

schedule described in subparagraph (A); or

(ii) provide an explanation as to why the rule shall not

become final.

Homes.—The Secretary may award a grant to study the design

and feasibility of a standardized uniform commercial code for

modular homes, which shall evaluate—

(1) the utility of a standardized coding system for

serializing and securing modules, streamlining design and

construction, and improving modular home innovation; and

(2) a means to coordinate a standardized code with

financing incentives.

SEC. 303. PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT AND MANUFACTURED HOUSING LOAN

MODERNIZATION ACT.

(a) National Housing Act Amendments.—

(1) In general.—Section 2 of the National Housing Act (12

U.S.C. 1703) is amended—

(A) in subsection (a), by inserting “construction of

additional or accessory dwelling units, as defined by the

Secretary,” after “energy conserving improvements,”; and

(B) in subsection (b)—

(i) in paragraph (1)—

(I) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the

following:

“(A) $75,000 if made for the purpose of financing

alterations, repairs, and improvements upon or in connection

with an existing single-family structure, including a

manufactured home;”;

(II) in subparagraph (B)—

(aa) by striking “$60,000” and inserting “$150,000”;

(bb) by striking “$12,000” and inserting “$37,500”; and

(cc) by striking “an apartment house or”;

(III) by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D) and inserting

the following:

“(C)(i) $106,405 if made for the purpose of financing the

purchase of a single-section manufactured home; and

“(ii) $195,322 if made for the purpose of financing the

purchase of a multi-section manufactured home;

“(D)(i) $149,782 if made for the purpose of financing the

purchase of a single-section manufactured home and a suitably

developed lot on which to place the home; and

“(ii) $238,699 if made for the purpose of financing the

purchase of a multi-section manufactured home and a suitably

developed lot on which to place the home;”;

(IV) in subparagraph (E)—

(aa) by striking “$23,226” and inserting “$43,377”; and

(bb) by striking the period at the end and inserting a

semicolon;

(V) in subparagraph (F), by striking “and” at the end;

(VI) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end

and inserting “; and”; and

(VII) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the following:

“(H) such principal amount as the Secretary may prescribe

if made for the purpose of financing the construction of an

accessory dwelling unit.”;

(ii) in the matter immediately preceding paragraph (2)—

(I) by striking “regulation” and inserting “notice”;

(II) by striking “increase” and inserting “set”;

(III) by striking “(A)(ii), (C), (D), and (E)” and

inserting “(A) through (H)”;

(IV) by inserting “, or as necessary to achieve the goals

of the Federal Housing Administration, periodically reset the

dollar amount limitations in subparagraphs (A) through (H)

based on justification and methodology set forth in advance

by regulation” before the period at the end; and

(V) by adjusting the margins appropriately;

(iii) in paragraph (3), by striking “exceeds—” and all

that follows through the period at the end and inserting

“exceeds such period of time as determined by the Secretary,

not to exceed 30 years.”;

(iv) by striking paragraph (9) and inserting the following:

“(9) Annual indexing of certain dollar amount

limitations.—The Secretary shall develop or choose 1 or more

methods of indexing in order to annually set the loan limits

established in paragraph (1), based on data the Secretary

determines is appropriate for purposes of this section.”;

and

(v) in paragraph (11), by striking “lease—” and all that

follows through the period at the end and inserting “lease

meets the terms and conditions established by the

Secretary”.

(2) Deadline for development or choice of new index;

interim index.—

(A) Deadline for development or choice of new index.—Not

later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act,

the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall develop

or choose 1 or more methods of indexing as required under

section 2(b)(9) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C.

1703(b)(9)), as amended by paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(B) Interim index.—During the period beginning on the date

of enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which the

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development develops or

chooses 1 or more methods of indexing as required under

section 2(b)(9) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C.

1703(b)(9)), as amended by paragraph (1) of this subsection,

the method of indexing established by the Secretary under

such section 2(b)(9) before the date of enactment of this Act

shall apply.

(b) HUD Study of Offsite Construction.—

(1) Definitions.—In this subsection:

(A) Offsite construction housing.—The term “offsite

construction housing” includes manufactured homes and

modular homes.

(B) Manufactured home.—The term “manufactured home”

means any home constructed in accordance with the

construction and safety standards established under the

National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety

Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5401 et seq.).

that is constructed in a factory in 1 or more modules, each

of which meets applicable State and local building codes of

the area in which the home will be located, and that are

transported to the home building site, installed on

foundations, and completed.

(2) Study.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this section, the Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development

shall conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on the

cost effectiveness of offsite construction housing that

includes—

(A) an analysis of the advantages and the impact of

centralization in a factory and transportation to a

construction site on cost, precision, and materials waste;

(B) the extent to which offsite construction housing meets

housing quality standards under the National Standards for

the Physical Inspection of Real Estate, or other standards as

the Secretary may prescribe, compared to the extent for site-

built homes, for such standards;

first 40 years of life of offsite construction homes compared

to those costs for site-built homes; and

(D) opportunities for use beyond single-family housing,

such as applications in accessory dwelling units, two- to

four-unit housing, and large multifamily housing.

SEC. 304. PRICE ACT.

(a) In General.—Title I of the Housing and Community

Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) is amended—

(1) in section 105(a) (42 U.S.C. 5305(a)), in the matter

preceding paragraph (1), by striking “Activities” and

inserting “Unless otherwise authorized under section 123,

activities”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“SEC. 123. PRESERVATION AND REINVESTMENT FOR COMMUNITY

ENHANCEMENT.

“(a) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) Community development financial institution.—The

term `community development financial institution' means an

institution that has been certified as a community

development financial institution (as defined in section 103

of the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory

Improvement Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4702)) by the Secretary of

the Treasury.

“(2) Eligible manufactured housing community.—The term

`eligible manufactured housing community' means a

manufactured housing community that—

“(A) is affordable to low- and moderate-income persons, as

determined by the Secretary, but not more than 120 percent of

the area median income; and

“(B)(i) is owned by the residents of the manufactured

housing community through a resident-controlled entity such

as a resident-owned cooperative; or

“(ii) will be maintained as such a community, and remain

affordable for low- and moderate-income persons, to the

maximum extent practicable and for the longest period

feasible.

“(3) Eligible recipient.—The term `eligible recipient'

means—

“(A) an eligible manufactured housing community;

“(B) a unit of general local government;

“(C) a housing authority;

“(D) a resident-owned community;

“(E) a resident-owned cooperative;

“(F) a nonprofit entity with housing expertise or a

consortium of such entities;

“(G) a community development financial institution;

“(H) an Indian tribe;

“(I) a tribally designated housing entity;

“(J) the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands;

“(K) a State; or

“(L) any other entity that is—

“(i) an owner-operator of an eligible manufactured housing

community; and

“(ii) working with an eligible manufactured housing

community.

“(4) Indian tribe.—The term `Indian tribe' has the

meaning given the term `Indian tribe' in section 4 of the

Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act

of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103).

“(5) Manufactured housing community.—The term

`manufactured housing community' means—

“(A) any community, court, park, or other land under

unified ownership developed and accommodating, or equipped to

accommodate, the placement of manufactured homes, where—

“(i) spaces within such community are or will be primarily

used for residential occupancy;

“(ii) all homes within the community are used for

permanent occupancy; and

“(iii) a majority of such occupied spaces within the

community are occupied by manufactured homes, which may

include homes constructed prior to enactment of the

Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards; or

“(B) any community that meets the definition of

manufactured housing community used for programs similar to

the program under this section.

“(6) Resident health, safety, and accessibility

activities.—The term `resident health, safety, and

accessibility activities' means the reconstruction, repair,

or replacement of manufactured housing and manufactured

housing communities to—

“(A) protect the health and safety of residents;

“(B) address weatherization and reduce utility costs; or

“(C) address accessibility needs for residents with

disabilities.

“(7) Tribally designated housing entity.—The term

`tribally designated housing entity' has the meaning given

the term in section 4 of the Native American Housing

Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C.

4103).

“(b) Establishment.—There is authorized a competitive

grant program that the Secretary shall, by notice, carry out

to make awards utilizing funds appropriated for such purpose

to eligible recipients to carry out eligible projects for

development of or improvements to eligible manufactured

housing communities.

“(c) Eligible Projects.—

“(1) In general.—Amounts from grants under this section

may be used for—

“(A) community infrastructure, facilities, utilities, and

other land improvements in or serving an eligible

manufactured housing community;

“(B) reconstruction or repair of existing housing within

an eligible manufactured housing community;

“(C) replacement of homes within an eligible manufactured

housing community;

“(D) planning;

“(E) resident health, safety, and accessibility activities

in homes in an eligible manufactured housing community;

“(F) land and site acquisition and infrastructure for

expansion or construction of an eligible manufactured housing

community;

“(G) resident and community services, including relocation

assistance, eviction prevention, and down payment assistance;

and

“(H) any other activity that—

“(i) is approved by the Secretary consistent with the

requirements under this section;

“(ii) improves the overall living conditions of an

eligible manufactured housing community, which may include

the addition or enhancement of shared spaces such as

community centers, recreational areas, or other facilities

that support resident well-being and community engagement;

and

“(iii) is necessary to protect the health and safety of

the residents of the eligible manufactured housing community

and the long-term affordability and sustainability of the

community.

“(2) Replacement.—For purposes of subparagraphs (B) and

“(A) may not be used for rehabilitation or modernization

of units that were built before June 15, 1976; and

“(B) may only be used for disposition and replacement of

units described in subparagraph (A), provided that any

replacement housing complies with the Manufactured Home

Construction and Safety Standards or is another allowed type

of home, as determined by the Secretary.

“(d) Priority.—In awarding grants under this section, the

Secretary shall prioritize applicants that will carry out

activities that primarily benefit low- and moderate-income

residents and preserve long-term housing affordability for

residents of eligible manufactured housing communities.

“(e) Waivers.—The Secretary may waive or specify

alternative requirements for any provision of law or

regulation that the Secretary administers in connection with

use of amounts made available under this section other than

requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination,

labor standards, and the environment, upon a finding that the

waiver or alternative requirement is not inconsistent with

the overall purposes of this section and that the waiver or

alternative requirement is necessary to facilitate the use of

amounts made available under this section.

“(f) Implementation.—

“(1) In general.—Any grant made under this section shall

be made pursuant to criteria for selection of recipients of

such grants that the Secretary shall by regulation establish

and publish together with any notification of availability of

amounts under this section.

“(2) Set-aside of grant amounts.—The Secretary may set

aside amounts provided under this section for grants to

Indian tribes, tribally designated housing entities, and the

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

“(g) Sunset.—The program established under this section

shall terminate on the date that is 7 years after the date of

enactment of this section.”.

(b) Application.—Grants made under section 123 of the

Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as added by

subsection (a), after the date of enactment of this Act shall

be carried out using amounts appropriated after the date of

enactment of this Act.

TITLE IV—ACCESSING THE AMERICAN DREAM

SEC. 401. CREATING INCENTIVES FOR SMALL-DOLLAR LOAN

ORIGINATORS.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Director.—The term “Director” means the Director of

the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

(2) Small-dollar mortgage.—The term “small-dollar

mortgage” means a mortgage loan having an original principal

obligation of not more than $100,000 that is—

(A) secured by real property designed for 1 to 4 dwelling

units; and

(B)(i) insured by the Federal Housing Administration under

title II of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1707 et

seq.);

(ii) made, guaranteed, or insured by the Department of

Veterans Affairs;

(iii) made, guaranteed, or insured by the Department of

Agriculture; or

(iv) eligible to be purchased or securitized by the Federal

Home Loan Mortgage Corporation or the Federal National

Mortgage Association.

(b) Requirement Regarding Loan Originator Compensation

Practices.—Not later than 270 days after the date of

enactment of

this Act, the Director shall submit to the Committee on

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the

Committee on Financial Services of the House of

Representatives a report on loan originator compensation

practices throughout the residential mortgage market,

including the relative frequency of loan originators being

compensated—

(1) with a salary;

(2) with a commission reflecting a fixed percentage of the

amount of credit extended;

(3) with a commission based on a factor other than a fixed

percentage of the amount of credit extended;

(4) with a combination of salary and commission;

(5) on a loan volume basis; and

(6) with a commission reflecting a percentage of the amount

of credit extended, for which a minimum or maximum

compensation amount is set.

Originators.—In carrying out the report required under

subsection (b), the Secretary shall, in coordination with

relevant Federal agencies that regulate federally backed

small-dollar mortgages and in consultation with the Director

of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund

established under section 104 of the Community Development

Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C.

4703), give due consideration to the practices for

compensating loan originators that are employed by or

originate loans on behalf of community development financial

institutions.

(d) Contents.—The report required under subsection (b)

shall include—

(1) data and other analyses regarding the effect of the

approaches to loan originator compensation described in

subsection (b) on the availability of small-dollar mortgage

loans; and

(2) an analysis and a discussion regarding potential

barriers to small-dollar mortgage lending.

SEC. 402. SMALL-DOLLAR MORTGAGE POINTS AND FEES.

(a) Small-dollar Mortgage Defined.—In this section, the

term “small-dollar mortgage” means a mortgage with an

original principal obligation of less than $100,000.

(b) Amendments.—Not later than 270 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Director of the Bureau of Consumer

Financial Protection, in consultation with the Secretary of

Housing and Urban Development and the Director of the Federal

Housing Finance Agency, shall evaluate the impact of the

thresholds under section 1026.43 of title 12, Code of Federal

Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this

Act), on small-dollar mortgage originations.

SEC. 403. APPRAISAL INDUSTRY IMPROVEMENT ACT.

(a) Appraisal Standards.—

(1) Certification or licensing.—

(A) In general.—Section 202(g)(5) of the National Housing

Act (12 U.S.C. 1708(g)(5)) is amended—

(i) by moving the paragraph two ems to the left; and

(ii) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) and inserting

the following:

“(A) be certified or licensed by the State in which the

property to be appraised is located, except that a Federal

employee who has as their primary duty conducting appraisal-

related activities and who chooses to become a State-licensed

or certified real estate appraiser need only to be licensed

or certified in 1 State or territory to perform appraisals on

mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration in

all States and territories;

“(B) meet the requirements under the competency rule set

forth in the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal

Practice before accepting an assignment; and

“(C) have demonstrated verifiable education in the

appraisal requirements established by the Federal Housing

Administration under this subsection, which shall include the

completion of a course or seminar that educates appraisers on

those appraisal requirements, which shall be provided by—

“(i) the Federal Housing Administration; or

“(ii) a third party, if the course is approved by the

Secretary or a State appraiser certifying or licensing

agency.”.

(B) Application.—Subparagraph (C) of section 202(g)(5) of

the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1708(g)(5)), as added by

subparagraph (A), shall not apply with respect to any

certified appraiser approved by the Federal Housing

Administration to conduct appraisals on property securing a

mortgage to be insured by the Federal Housing Administration

on or before the effective date described in paragraph

(3)(C).

(2) Compliance with verifiable education and competency

requirements.—On and after the effective date described in

paragraph (3)(C), no appraiser may conduct an appraisal on a

property securing a mortgage to be insured by the Federal

Housing Administration unless—

(A) the appraiser is in compliance with the requirements of

subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 202(g)(5) of the

National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1708(g)(5)), as amended by

paragraph (1); and

(B) if the appraiser was not approved by the Federal

Housing Administration to conduct appraisals on mortgages

insured by the Federal Housing Administration before the date

on which the mortgagee letter or guidance takes effect under

paragraph (3)(C), the appraiser is in compliance with

subparagraph (C) of such section 202(g)(5).

(3) Implementation.—Not later than the 240 days after the

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and

Urban Development shall issue a mortgagee letter or guidance

that—

(A) implements the amendments made by paragraph (1);

(B) clearly sets forth all of the specific requirements

under section 202(g)(5) of the National Housing Act (12

U.S.C. 1708(g)(5)), as amended by paragraph (1), for approval

to conduct appraisals on property secured by a mortgage to be

insured by the Federal Housing Administration, which shall

include—

(i) providing that, before the effective date of the

mortgagee letter or guidance, compliance with the

requirements under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of such

section 202(g)(5), as amended by paragraph (1), shall be

considered to fulfill the requirements under such

subparagraphs; and

(ii) providing a method for appraisers to demonstrate such

prior compliance; and

after the date on which the Secretary issues the mortgagee

letter or guidance.

(b) Annual Registry Fees for Appraisal Management

Companies.—Section 1109(a) of the Financial Institutions

Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C.

3338(a)) is amended, in the matter following clause (ii) of

paragraph (4)(B), by adding at the end the following:

“Subject to the approval of the Council, the Appraisal

Subcommittee may adjust fees established under clause (i) or

(ii) to carry out its functions under this Act.”.

(1) Maintenance on national registry.—Section 1103(a) of

the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement

Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C. 3332(a)) is amended—

(A) in paragraph (3)—

(i) by inserting “and State credentialed trainee

appraisers” after “licensed appraisers”; and

(ii) by striking “and” at the end;

(B) by striking paragraph (4);

(4) and (5), respectively; and

(D) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated—

(i) by striking “year. The report shall also detail” and

inserting “year, detailing”;

(ii) by striking “provide” and inserting “provides”;

and

(iii) by striking the period at the end and inserting “;

and”.

(2) Annual registry fees.—

(A) In general.—Section 1109 of the Financial Institutions

Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C.

3338) is amended—

(i) in the section heading, by striking “certified or

licensed” and inserting “, certified, licensed, and

credentialed trainee”; and

(ii) in subsection (a)—

(I) in paragraph (1), by inserting “, and in the case of a

State with a supervisory or trainee program, a roster listing

individuals who have received a State trainee credential”

after “this title”; and

(II) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

“(2) transmit reports on the issuance and renewal of

licenses, certifications, credentials, sanctions, and

disciplinary actions, including license, credential, and

certification revocations, on a timely basis to the national

registry of the Appraisal Subcommittee;”.

(B) Rule of construction.—Nothing in the amendments made

by subparagraph (A) shall require a State to establish or

operate a program for State credentialed trainee appraisers,

as defined in paragraph (12) of section 1121 of the Financial

Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989,

as added by paragraph (4) of this subsection.

(3) Transactions requiring the services of a state

certified appraiser.—Section 1113 of the Financial

Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989

(12 U.S.C. 3342) is amended—

(A) by striking “In determining” and inserting “(a) In

General.—In determining”; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

“(b) Use of State Credentialed Trainee Appraisers.—In

performing an appraisal under this section, a State certified

appraiser may use the assistance of a State credentialed

trainee appraiser or an unlicensed trainee appraiser, except

that the State certified appraiser assisted by a trainee

shall be liable for appraisal and valuation work.”.

(4) Definition.—Section 1121 of the Financial Institutions

Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C.

3350) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(12) State credentialed trainee appraiser.—The term

`State credentialed trainee appraiser' means an individual

who—

“(A) meets the minimum criteria established by the

Appraiser Qualification Board for a trainee appraiser

credential; and

“(B) is credentialed by a State appraiser certifying and

licensing agency.”.

(d) Grants for Workforce and Training.—Section 1109(b) of

the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement

Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C. 3338(b)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and

inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(7) to make grants to State appraiser certifying and

licensing agencies and post-secondary institutions, including

trade and polytechnic schools, to support the carrying out of

education and training activities or other activities related

to addressing appraiser industry workforce needs, including

recruiting and retaining workforce talent, such as through

scholarship assistance and career pipeline development, and

such agencies shall report on the use of funds and

outcomes.”.

(e) Appraisal Subcommittee.—Section 1011 of the Federal

Financial Institutions Examination Council Act of 1978 (12

U.S.C. 3310) is amended, in the first sentence, by inserting

“the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Rural Housing

Service of the Department of Agriculture, the Department of

Housing and Urban Development,” after “Financial

Protection,”.

SEC. 404. HELPING MORE FAMILIES SAVE ACT.

Section 23 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42

U.S.C. 1437u) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(p) Escrow Expansion Pilot Program.—

“(1) Definitions.—In this subsection:

“(A) Covered family.—The term `covered family' means a

family that receives assistance under section 8 or 9 of this

Act and is enrolled in the Pilot Program.

“(B) Eligible entity.—The term `eligible entity' means an

entity described in subsection (c)(2).

“(C) Pilot program.—The term `Pilot Program' means the

Pilot Program established under paragraph (2).

“(D) Welfare assistance.—The term `welfare assistance'

has the meaning given the term in section 984.103 of title

24, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.

“(2) Establishment.—The Secretary may establish a pilot

program under which the Secretary shall select not more than

25 eligible entities to establish and manage escrow accounts

for not more than 5,000 covered families, in accordance with

this subsection.

“(3) Escrow accounts.—

“(A) In general.—An eligible entity selected to

participate in the Pilot Program—

“(i) shall establish an interest-bearing escrow account

and place into the account an amount equal to any increase in

the amount of rent paid by each covered family in accordance

with the provisions of section 3, 8(o), or 8(y), as

applicable, that is attributable to increases in earned

income by the covered families during the participation of

each covered family in the Pilot Program; and

“(ii) notwithstanding any other provision of law, may use

funds it controls under section 8 or 9 for purposes of making

the escrow deposit for covered families assisted under, or

residing in units assisted under, section 8 or 9,

respectively, provided such funds are offset by the increase

in the amount of rent paid by the covered family.

“(B) Income limitation.—An eligible entity may not escrow

any amounts for any covered family whose adjusted income

exceeds 80 percent of the area median income at the time of

enrollment.

“(C) Withdrawals.—A covered family may withdraw funds,

including interest earned, from an escrow account established

by an eligible entity under the Pilot Program—

“(i) after the covered family ceases to receive welfare

assistance; and

“(ii)(I) not earlier than the date that is 5 years after

the date on which the eligible entity establishes the escrow

account under this subsection;

“(II) not later than the date that is 7 years after the

date on which the eligible entity establishes the escrow

account under this subsection, if the covered family chooses

to continue to participate in the Pilot Program after the

date that is 5 years after the date on which the eligible

entity establishes the escrow account;

“(III) on the date the covered family ceases to receive

housing assistance under section 8 or 9, if such date is

earlier than 5 years after the date on which the eligible

entity establishes the escrow account;

“(IV) earlier than 5 years after the date on which the

eligible entity establishes the escrow account, if the

covered family is using the funds to advance a self-

sufficiency goal as approved by the eligible entity;

“(V) for any reason listed under section 984.303(k) of

title 24, Code of Federal Regulations; or

“(VI) under other circumstances in which the Secretary

determines an exemption for good cause is warranted.

“(D) Interim recertification.—For purposes of the Pilot

Program, a covered family may recertify the income of the

covered family multiple times per year at the request of the

participating family, as determined by the Secretary, and not

less frequently than once per year, unless the eligible

entity has established an alternative rent structure with

approval from the Secretary.

“(E) Contract or plan.—A covered family is not required

to complete a standard contract of participation or an

individual training and services plan in order to participate

in the Pilot Program.

“(4) Effect of increases in family income.—Any increase

in the earned income of a covered family during the

enrollment of the family in the Pilot Program may not be

considered as income or a resource for purposes of

eligibility of the family for other benefits, or amount of

benefits payable to the family, under any program

administered by the Secretary.

“(5) Application.—

“(A) In general.—An eligible entity seeking to

participate in the Pilot Program shall submit to the

Secretary an application—

“(i) at such time, in such manner, and containing such

information as the Secretary may require by notice; and

“(ii) that includes the number of proposed covered

families to be served by the eligible entity under this

subsection.

“(B) Geographic and entity variety.—The Secretary shall

ensure that eligible entities selected to participate in the

Pilot Program—

“(i) are located across various States and in both urban

and rural areas; and

“(ii) vary by size and type, including both public housing

agencies and private owners of projects receiving project-

based rental assistance under section 8.

“(6) Notification and opt-out.—An eligible entity

participating in the Pilot Program shall—

“(A) notify covered families of their enrollment in the

Pilot Program;

“(B) provide covered families with a detailed description

of the Pilot Program, including how the Pilot Program will

impact their rent and finances;

“(C) inform covered families that the families cannot

simultaneously participate in the Pilot Program and the

Family Self-Sufficiency program under this section; and

“(D) provide covered families with the ability to elect

not to participate in the Pilot Program—

“(i) not less than 2 weeks before the date on which the

escrow account is established under paragraph (3); and

“(ii) at any point during the duration of the Pilot

Program.

“(7) Maximum rents.—During the term of participation by a

covered family in the Pilot Program, the amount of rent paid

by the covered family shall be calculated under the rental

provisions of section 3 or 8(o), as applicable.

“(8) Pilot program timeline.—

“(A) Awards.—Not later than 1 year after establishing the

Pilot Program, the Secretary shall select the eligible

entities to participate in the Pilot Program.

“(B) Establishment and term of accounts.—An eligible

entity selected to participate in the Pilot Program shall—

“(i) not later than 6 months after selection, establish

escrow accounts under paragraph (3) for covered families; and

“(ii) maintain those escrow accounts for not less than 5

years, or until a determination is made for termination with

FSS escrow disbursement under section 984.303(k) of title 24,

Code of Federal Regulations, or until the date the family

ceases to receive assistance under section 8 or 9, and, at

the discretion of the covered family, not more than 7 years

after the date on which the escrow account is established.

“(9) Nonparticipation and housing assistance.—

“(A) In general.—Assistance under section 8 or 9 for a

family that elects not to participate in the Pilot Program

shall not be delayed or denied by reason of such election.

“(B) No termination.—Housing assistance may not be

terminated as a consequence of participating, or not

participating, in the Pilot Program under this subsection for

any period.

“(10) Study.—Not later than 10 years after the date the

Secretary selects eligible entities to participate in the

Pilot Program under this subsection, the Secretary shall, if

awards were made, conduct a study and submit to the Committee

on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the

Committee on Financial Services of the House of

Representatives a report on outcomes for covered families

under the Pilot Program, which shall evaluate the

effectiveness of the Pilot Program in assisting families to

achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency, and the

impact coaching and supportive services, or the lack thereof,

had on individual incomes.

“(11) Waivers.—To allow selected eligible entities to

effectively administer the Pilot Program and make the

required escrow account deposits under this subsection, the

Secretary may waive requirements under this section.

“(12) Termination.—The Pilot Program under this

subsection shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after

the date of enactment of this subsection.

“(13) Eligible uses of appropriations.—Subject to the

appropriation of funds, the Secretary may use funds—

“(A) for technical assistance related to implementation of

the Pilot Program; and

“(B) to carry out an evaluation of the Pilot Program under

paragraph (10).”.

SEC. 405. CHOICE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACT.

(a) Satisfaction of Inspection Requirements Through

Participation in Other Housing Programs.—Section 8(o)(8) of

the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(8))

is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(I) Satisfaction of inspection requirements through

participation in other housing programs.—

“(i) Low-income housing tax credit-financed buildings.—A

dwelling unit shall be deemed to meet the inspection

requirements under this paragraph if—

“(I) the dwelling unit is in a building, the acquisition,

rehabilitation, or construction of which was done by a

building owner who may be eligible for low-income housing

credits because the building had been allocated a

housing credit dollar amount under section 42(h) of the

Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or is described in section

42(h)(4) of such Code (concerning buildings that meet a

criterion for a certain amount of tax-exempt financing);

“(II) the dwelling unit, during the preceding 12-month

period, was physically inspected and satisfied the

suitability-for-occupancy requirement in section

42(i)(3)(B)(ii) of such Code; and

“(III) the applicable public housing agency performed the

inspection itself or is able to obtain the results of the

inspection described in subclause (II).

“(ii) Home investment partnerships program.—A dwelling

shall be deemed to meet the inspection requirements under

this paragraph if—

“(I) the dwelling unit is assisted under the HOME

Investment Partnerships Program under title II of the

Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C.

12721 et seq.);

“(II) the dwelling unit was physically inspected and

passed inspection as part of the program described in

subclause (I) during the preceding 12-month period; and

“(III) the applicable public housing agency is able to

obtain the results of the inspection described in subclause

(II).

“(iii) Rural housing service.—A dwelling unit shall be

deemed to meet the inspection requirements under this

paragraph if—

“(I) the dwelling unit is assisted by the Rural Housing

Service of the Department of Agriculture;

“(II) the dwelling unit was physically inspected and

passed inspection in connection with the assistance described

in subclause (I) during the preceding 12-month period; and

“(III) the applicable public housing agency is able to

obtain the results of the inspection described in subclause

(II).

“(iv) Remote or video inspections.—When complying with

inspection requirements for a housing unit located in a rural

or small area using assistance under this section, the

Secretary may allow a grantee to conduct a remote or video

inspection of a unit if the remote or video inspection—

“(I) is thorough;

“(II) does not misrepresent the condition of the unit; and

“(III) provides the information necessary to fully and

accurately evaluate the conditions of the unit to ensure that

the unit meets the relevant standards.

“(v) Rule of construction.—Nothing in clause (i), (ii),

(iii), or (iv) shall be construed to affect the operation of

a housing program described in, or authorized under a

provision of law described in, that clause.”.

(b) Pre-approval of Units.—Section 8(o)(8)(A) of the

United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(8)(A))

is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(iv) Initial inspection prior to lease agreement.—

“(I) Definition.—In this clause, the term `new landlord'

means an owner of a dwelling unit who has not previously

entered into a housing assistance payment contract with a

public housing agency under this subsection for any dwelling

unit.

“(II) Early inspection.—Upon the request of a new

landlord, a public housing agency may inspect the dwelling

unit owned by the new landlord to determine whether the unit

meets the housing quality standards under subparagraph (B)

before the unit is selected by a tenant assisted under this

subsection.

“(III) Effect.—An inspection conducted under subclause

(II) that determines that the dwelling unit meets the housing

quality standards under subparagraph (B) shall satisfy this

subparagraph and subparagraph (C) if the new landlord enters

into a lease agreement with a tenant assisted under this

subsection not later than 60 days after the date of the

inspection.

“(IV) Information when family is selected.—When a public

housing agency selects a family to participate in the tenant-

based assistance program under this subsection, the public

housing agency shall include in the information provided to

the family a list of dwelling units that have been inspected

under subclause (II) and determined to meet the housing

quality standards under subparagraph (B).”.

TITLE V—PROGRAM REFORM

SEC. 501. HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS REAUTHORIZATION AND

REFORM ACT.

(a) Authorization.—Section 205 of the Cranston-Gonzalez

National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12724) is amended

to read as follows:

“SEC. 205. AUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAM.

“The HOME Investment Partnerships Program under subtitle A

is hereby authorized.”.

(b) Definition of Community Housing Development

Organization.—Section 104(6)(B) of the Cranston-Gonzalez

National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12704(6)(B)) is

amended by striking “significant”.

Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C.

12721 et seq.) is amended—

(1) in section 214(2) (42 U.S.C. 12742(2)), by striking

“households that qualify as low-income families” and

inserting “families with a household income that does not

exceed 100 percent of the median family income of the area,

as determined by the Secretary”; and

(2) in section 271(c) (42 U.S.C. 12821(c))—

(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking “low-income” and

inserting “families with a household income that does not

exceed 100 percent of the median family income of the area as

determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and

larger families”; and

(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking “low-income

families” and inserting “families with a household income

that does not exceed 100 percent of the median family income

of the area as determined by the Secretary with adjustments

for smaller and larger families”.

(d) Choices Made by Participating Jurisdictions.—Section

212(a)(2) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable

Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12742(a)(2)) is amended to read as

follows:

“(2) Limitation.—The Secretary may not restrict the

choice by a participating jurisdiction of rehabilitation,

substantial rehabilitation, new construction, reconstruction,

acquisition, or other eligible housing uses authorized in

paragraph (1) unless the restriction is explicitly authorized

under section 223(2).”.

(e) Use of Amounts by Certain Jurisdictions for

Infrastructure Improvements.—

(1) In general.—Section 212(a) of the Cranston-Gonzalez

National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12742(a)) is

amended by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

“(4) Infrastructure improvements in nonentitlement

areas.—

“(A) In general.—A participating jurisdiction may use

funds provided under this subtitle for infrastructure

improvements, including the installation or repair of water

and sewer lines, sidewalks, roads, and utility connections

if—

“(i) such participating jurisdiction does not receive

assistance under title I of the Housing and Community

Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5310); and

“(ii) such improvements are directly related to, and

located within or immediately adjacent to—

“(I) housing assisted under this subtitle; or

“(II) housing assisted under section 42 of the Internal

Revenue Code of 1986.

“(B) Application of labor standards.—The labor standards

and requirements set forth in section 110 of the Housing and

Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5310) shall

apply to any infrastructure improvement conducted using funds

provided under this subtitle.

“(C) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this paragraph may

be construed to impose any requirements of the HOME

Investment Partnerships program on housing that benefits from

an infrastructure improvement conducted using funds provided

under this subtitle but was not otherwise assisted under the

HOME Investment Partnerships program.”.

(2) Rulemaking.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development shall issue rules to carry out the amendment made

by paragraph (1).

(f) Per Unit Investment Limitations.—Section 212(e)(1) of

the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42

U.S.C. 12742(e)(1)) is amended by striking the second

sentence.

(g) Affordable Rental Housing Qualifications.—Section

215(a) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing

Act (42 U.S.C. 12745(a)) is amended by adding at the end the

following:

“(7) Qualification exception.—Notwithstanding paragraph

(1)(A), a rental unit shall be considered to qualify as

affordable housing under this title if—

“(A) the unit is occupied by a tenant receiving tenant-

based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States

Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f);

“(B) the contribution of the tenant toward rent does not

exceed the amount permitted under the assistance described in

subparagraph (A); and

“(C) the total rent for the unit does not exceed the

amount approved by the public housing agency administering

the assistance described in subparagraph (A).”.

(h) Affordable Home-ownership Housing Qualifications.—

Section 215 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable

Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12745) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (2), by redesignating subparagraphs (A),

(B), and (C) as clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively,

and adjusting the margins accordingly;

(B) in paragraph (3)—

(i) in subparagraph (A), by redesignating clauses (i) and

(ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively, and adjusting

the margins accordingly; and

(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses

(i) and (ii), respectively, and adjusting the margins

accordingly;

subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively, and adjusting

the margins accordingly;

(D) by striking “Housing that is for home-ownership” and

inserting the following:

“(1) Qualification.—Housing that is for home-ownership”;

(E) in paragraph (1), as so designated—

(i) in subparagraph (A), as so redesignated—

(I) by striking “95 percent” and inserting “110

percent”; and

(II) by inserting “(defined as the amount borrowed by the

homebuyer to purchase the home, or the estimated value after

rehabilitation, which may be adjusted to account for the

limits on future value imposed by the resale restriction)”

after “purchase price”;

(ii) in subparagraph (B), as so redesignated, in the matter

preceding clause (i), by striking “whose family qualifies as

a low-income family” and inserting “with a family income

that does not exceed 100 percent of the median family income

of the area as determined by the Secretary with adjustments

for smaller and larger families”;

(iii) in subparagraph (C), as so redesignated—

(I) in clause (i)(II)—

(aa) by striking “low-income home-buyers” and inserting

“home-buyers with a household income that does not exceed

100 percent of the median family income of the area, as

determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and

larger families”; and

(bb) by striking “or” at the end;

(II) in clause (ii), by striking “and” at the end and

inserting “or”; and

(III) by adding at the end the following:

“(iii) maintain long-term affordability through a shared

equity ownership model, a community land trust, a limited

equity cooperative, a community development corporation, or

other mechanism approved by the Secretary, that preserves

affordability for future eligible home-buyers and ensures

compliance with the purposes of this title, including through

the use of purchase options, rights of first refusal, or

other preemptive rights to purchase housing;”;

(iv) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated, by striking

the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(v) by adding at the end the following:

“(E) is subject to restrictions that are established by

the participating jurisdiction and determined by the

Secretary to be appropriate, including with respect to the

useful life of the property, to—

“(i) require that any subsequent purchase of the property

be—

“(I) only by a person who meets the qualifications

specified under subparagraph (B); and

“(II) at a price that is determined by a formula or method

established by the participating jurisdiction that provides

the owner with a reasonable return on investment, which may

include a percentage of the cost of any improvements; or

“(ii) recapture the investment provided under this title

in order to assist other persons in accordance with the

requirements of this title, except where there are no net

proceeds or where the net proceeds are insufficient to repay

the full amount of the assistance.”; and

(F) by adding at the end the following:

“(2) Purchase by community land trust or cooperative

housing corporation.—Notwithstanding subparagraph (C)(i) of

paragraph (1) and under terms determined by the Secretary,

the Secretary may permit a participating jurisdiction to

allow a community land trust, housing cooperative, or a

community development corporation that used assistance

provided under this subtitle for the development of housing

that meets the criteria under paragraph (1), to acquire the

housing—

“(A) in accordance with the terms of the preemptive

purchase option, lease, covenant on the land, or other

similar legal instrument of the community land trust or

housing cooperative when the terms and rights in the

preemptive purchase option, lease, covenant, or legal

instrument are and remain subject to the requirements of this

title;

“(B) when the purchase is for—

“(i) the purpose of—

“(I) entering into the chain of title;

“(II) enabling a purchase by a person who meets the

qualifications specified under paragraph (1)(B) and is on a

waitlist maintained by the community land trust or housing

cooperative, subject to enforcement by the participating

jurisdiction of all applicable requirements of this title, as

determined by the Secretary;

“(III) performing necessary rehabilitation and

improvements; or

“(IV) adding a subsidy to preserve affordability, which

may be from Federal or non-Federal sources; or

“(ii) another purpose determined appropriate by the

Secretary; and

“(C) if, within a reasonable period of time after the

applicable purpose under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph

is fulfilled, as determined by the Secretary, the housing is

then sold to a person who meets the qualifications specified

under paragraph (1)(B).”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“(c) Qualification Exceptions for Home-ownership.—

“(1) Military members.—A participating jurisdiction, in

accordance with terms established by the Secretary, may

suspend or waive the income qualifications described in

subsection (b)(1)(B) with respect to housing that otherwise

meets the criteria described in subsection (b)(1) if the

owner of the housing—

“(A) is a member of a regular component of the armed

forces or a member of the National Guard on full-time

National Guard duty, active Guard and Reserve duty, or

inactive-duty training (as those terms are defined in section

101 of title 10, United States Code); and

“(B) has received—

“(i) temporary duty orders to deploy with a military unit

or military orders to deploy as an individual acting in

support of a military operation, to a location that is not

within a reasonable distance from the housing, as determined

by the Secretary, for a period of not less than 90 days; or

“(ii) orders for a permanent change of station.

“(2) Heirs and beneficiaries of deceased owners.—Housing

that meets the criteria described in subsection (b)(1)(C)

prior to the death of an owner of such housing shall continue

to qualify as affordable housing under this title if—

“(A) the housing is the principal residence of an heir or

beneficiary of the deceased owner, as defined by the

Secretary; and

“(B) the heir or beneficiary, in accordance with terms

established by the Secretary, assumes the duties and

obligations of the deceased owner with respect to funds

provided under this title.”.

(i) Elimination of Expiration of Right to Draw Home

Investment Trust Funds.—Section 218 of the Cranston-Gonzalez

National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12748) is

amended—

(1) by striking subsection (g); and

(2) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (g).

(j) Adjusted Recapture and Reuse of Set-aside for Community

Housing Developmental Organizations.—Section 231(b) of the

Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C.

12771(b)) is amended to read as follows:

“(b) Recapture and Reuse.—If any funds reserved under

subsection (a) remain uninvested for a period of 24 months,

the Secretary shall make such funds available to the

participating jurisdiction for any eligible activities under

this title without regard to whether a community housing

development organization materially participates in the use

of such funds.”.

(k) Asset Recycling Information Dissemination Expansion.—

Section 245(b)(2) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National

Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12785(b)(2)) is amended by

striking “95 percent” and inserting “110 percent”.

(l) Environmental Review Requirements.—

(1) In general.—Section 288 of the Cranston-Gonzalez

National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12838) is amended

by adding at the end the following:

“(e) Categorical Exemptions.—The following categories of

activities carried out under this title shall be statutorily

exempt from environmental review under the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.),

and shall not require further review under such Act:

“(1) New construction infill housing projects.

“(2) Acquisition of real property for affordable housing

purposes.

“(3) Rehabilitation projects carried out pursuant to

section 212(a)(1).

“(4) New construction projects of 15 units or less.

“(f) Removing Duplicative Reviews.—

“(1) In general.—To the extent practicable and permitted

by law, the Secretary shall ensure that a project that has

undergone an environmental review under this section shall

not be subject to a duplicative environmental review solely

due to the addition, substitution, or reallocation of other

sources of Federal assistance, if the scope, scale, and

location of the project remain substantially unchanged.

“(2) Coordination of environmental review

responsibilities.—The Secretary shall, by regulation,

provide for coordination of environmental review

responsibilities with other Federal agencies to streamline

interagency compliance and avoid unnecessary duplication of

effort under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and other applicable laws.

“(3) Recognition of prior reviews by responsible

entities.—A project may not be subject to an environmental

review under this section if a substantially similar review

has already been completed by an entity designated under

section 104(g)(1) of the Housing and Community Development

Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5304(g)(1)) or by another entity the

Secretary determines to have equivalent authority, if the

scope, scale, and location of the project remain

substantially unchanged.”.

(2) Rulemaking.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue such

rules as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out the

amendment made by this subsection.

(3) Applicability.—Any activity generated under this

subsection would be subject to an authorization of

appropriations.

(4) Definition.—Section 104 of the Cranston-Gonzalez

National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12704) is amended

by striking paragraph (25) and inserting the following:

“(25) The term `infill housing project' means a

residential housing project that—

“(A) is located within the geographic limits of a

municipality;

“(B) is adequately served by existing utilities and public

services as required under applicable law;

“(C) is located on a site of previously disturbed land of

not more than 5 acres; and

“(D) is substantially surrounded by residential or

commercial development, as determined by the Secretary.”.

(m) Application of Build America, Buy America Requirements

for Home Investment Partnerships Program.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development (in this subsection referred to as the

“Secretary”) shall complete a review of the implementation

of the Build America, Buy America Act (title IV of division G

of Public Law 117-58; 42 U.S.C. 8301 note) with respect

to the activities assisted under title II of the Cranston-

Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12721 et

seq.).

(2) Updated guidance.—Not later than 90 days after the

review described in subsection (a) is completed, the

Secretary shall issue updated guidance to clarify the

application of the Build America, Buy America Act (title IV

of division G of Public Law 117-58; 42 U.S.C. 8301 note) with

respect to the activities assisted under title II of the

Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C.

12721 et seq.).

(3) Report.—Not later than 270 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the

Committee on Financial Services of the House of

Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and

Urban Affairs of the Senate a report that describes—

(A) the results of the review required under subsection

(a); and

(B) the guidance issued as described in subsection (b).

(n) Application of Other Specified Statutory

Requirements.—Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National

Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq.) is amended

by adding at the end the following:

“SEC. 291. NONAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR

SMALL PROJECTS.

“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the

requirements of section 3 of the Housing and Urban

Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701u), and any

implementing regulations or guidance, shall not apply to an

activity assisted under this title that involves

rehabilitation, construction, or other development of housing

if—

“(1) the recipient of assistance under this title is—

“(A) a State recipient pursuant to section 216; or

“(B) a participating jurisdiction that received a total

allocation of less than $3,000,000 in the most recent fiscal

year pursuant to section 216; and

“(2) the total number of dwelling units assisted as a part

of such activity is not more than 50.”.

(o) Reallocation Not Available for Certain Jurisdictions.—

Section 217(d) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable

Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12747(d)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking the second sentence and

inserting the following: “Subject to paragraph (4),

jurisdictions eligible for such reallocations shall include

participating jurisdictions and jurisdictions meeting the

requirements of this title, including the requirements in

paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) of section 216.”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“(4) Reallocation not available for certain

jurisdictions.—The Secretary may decline to make a

reallocation available to a jurisdiction eligible for such

reallocation if such jurisdiction has failed to meet or

comply with any requirement under this title.”.

(p) Amendments to Qualification as Affordable Housing.—

Section 215(a)(1)(E) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National

Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12745(a)) is amended by

striking “except upon a foreclosure by a lender (or upon

other transfer in lieu of foreclosure) if such action (i)

recognizes any contractual or legal rights of public

agencies, nonprofit sponsors, or others to take actions that

would avoid termination of low-income affordability in the

case of foreclosure or transfer in lieu of foreclosure, and

(ii) is not for the purpose of avoiding low-income

affordability restrictions, as determined by the Secretary;

and” and inserting the following: “except—

“(i) upon a foreclosure by a lender (or upon other

transfer in lieu of foreclosure) if such action—

“(I) recognizes any contractual or legal rights of public

agencies, nonprofit sponsors, or others to take actions that

would avoid termination of low-income affordability in the

case of foreclosure or transfer in lieu of foreclosure; and

“(II) is not for the purpose of avoiding low-income

affordability restrictions, as determined by the Secretary;

“(ii) where existing affordable housing is no longer

financially viable due to unforeseen acts or occurrences

beyond the reasonable contemplation or control of the

participating jurisdiction in which the affordable housing is

located or the owner of the affordable housing that

significantly impact the financial or physical condition of

the affordable housing, as determined by the Secretary;

and”.

(q) Tenant and Participant Protections for Affordable

Housing.—Section 225 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National

Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12755) is amended by adding

at the end the following:

“(e) Exception.—Paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of

subsection (d) shall not apply to housing under this section

that meets the following criteria:

“(1) The housing is affordable housing with not more than

4 dwelling units, each of which is made available for rental.

“(2) Each dwelling unit in the housing bears rent in an

amount that complies with the requirements described in

paragraph (1)(A).

“(3) Each dwelling unit in the housing is accompanied by a

low-income family.

“(4) No dwelling in the housing is refused for leasing to

a holder of a voucher under section 8 of the United States

Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) because of the status

of the prospective tenant as a holder of that voucher.

“(5) The housing complies with the requirement described

in paragraph (1)(E).

“(6) The participating jurisdiction in which the housing

is located monitors the compliance of the housing with the

requirements of this title in a manner consistent with the

purposes of section 226(b), as determined by the

Secretary.”.

(r) Revision of Definition of Community Land Trust.—

Section 104 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable

Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12704), as amended by subsection

(l)(4), is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(26) The term `community land trust' means a nonprofit

entity, a State, a unit of local government, or an

instrumentality of a State or unit of local government that—

“(A) is not managed by, or an affiliate of, a for profit

organization;

“(B) has as a primary purpose of acquiring, developing, or

holding land to provide housing that is permanently

affordable to low- and moderate-income persons;

“(C) monitors properties to ensure affordability is

preserved;

“(D) provides housing that is permanently affordable to

low- and moderate-income persons using a ground lease, deed

covenant, or other similar legally enforceable measure,

determined acceptable by the Secretary, that—

“(i) keeps housing affordable to low- and moderate-income

persons for not less than 30 years; and

“(ii) enables low- and moderate-income persons to rent or

purchase the housing for home-ownership; and

“(E) maintains preemptive purchase options to purchase the

property if such purchase would allow the housing to remain

affordable to low-and moderate-income persons.”.

(s) Set-aside for Community Housing Development

Organizations.—Section 231(a) of the Cranston-Gonzalez

National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12771(a)) is

amended, in the first sentence, by striking “to be

developed, sponsored, or owned by community housing

development organizations” and inserting “when a community

housing development organization materially participates in

the ownership or development of that housing, as determined

by the Secretary”.

(t) Administrative Reforms.—

(1) Increase in program administration resources.—Section

220(b) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing

Act (42 U.S.C. 12750(b)) is amended—

(A) by striking paragraph (2);

(B) by striking “Recognition.—” and all that follows

through “A contribution” and inserting “Recognition.—A

contribution”; and

paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, and adjusting the

margins accordingly.

(2) Modification of jurisdictions eligible for

reallocations.—Section 217(d)(3) of the Cranston-Gonzalez

National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12747(d)(3)) is

amended—

(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking “Limitation”

and inserting “Limitations”; and

(B) by striking “Unless otherwise specified” and

inserting the following:

“(A) Removal of participating jurisdictions from

reallocation.—The Secretary may, upon a finding that the

participating jurisdiction has failed to meet or comply with

the requirements of this title, remove a participating

jurisdiction from participation in reallocations of funds

made available under this title.

“(B) Reallocation to same type of entity.—Unless

otherwise specified”.

(3) Home property inspections.—Section 226(b) of the

Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C.

12756(b)) is amended—

(A) by striking “Each participating jurisdiction” and

inserting the following:

“(1) In general.—Each participating jurisdiction”; and

(B) by striking “Such review shall include” and all that

follows and inserting the following:

“(2) Onsite inspections.—

“(A) Inspections by units of general local government.—A

review conducted under paragraph (1) by a participating

jurisdiction that is a unit of general local government shall

include an onsite inspection to determine compliance with

housing codes and other applicable regulations.

“(B) Inspections by states.—A review conducted under

paragraph (1) by a participating jurisdiction that is a State

shall include an onsite inspection to determine compliance

with a national standard as determined by the Secretary.

“(3) Inclusion in performance report and publication.—A

participating jurisdiction shall include in the performance

report of the participating jurisdiction submitted to the

Secretary under section 108(a), and make available to the

public, the results of each review conducted under paragraph

(1).”.

(4) Revisions to strengthen enforcement and penalties for

noncompliance.—Section 223 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National

Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12753) is amended—

(A) in the section heading, by striking “penalties for

misuse of funds” and inserting “program enforcement and

penalties for noncompliance”;

(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting

after “any provision of this subtitle” the following: “,

including any provision applicable throughout the period

required by section 215(a)(1)(E) and applicable

regulations,”;

(D) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and

inserting “; or”; and

(E) by adding at the end the following:

“(4) reduce payments to the participating jurisdiction

under this subtitle by an amount equal to the amount of such

payments that were not expended by the participating

jurisdiction in accordance with this title.”.

(u) Minimum Allocations.—Section 217(b) of the Cranston-

Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12747

(b)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (2), by striking “$500,000” each place

that term appears and inserting “$750,000”;

(2) in paragraph (3)—

(A) by striking “jurisdictions that are allocated an

amount of $500,000 or more” and inserting “jurisdictions

that are allocated an amount of $750,000 or more”;

(B) by striking “that are allocated an amount less than

$500,000” and inserting “that are allocated an amount less

than $500,000 before the date of enactment of the 21st

Century ROAD to Housing Act or less than $750,000 on or after

the date of enactment of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing

Act”; and

and

(3) by striking paragraph (4).

(v) Technical and Conforming Amendments.—The Cranston-

Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12701 et

seq.) is amended—

(1) by striking “Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance

Act” each place that term appears and inserting “McKinney-

Vento Homeless Assistance Act”;

(2) by striking “Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban

Affairs” each place that term appears and inserting

“Committee on Financial Services”;

(3) in the table of contents in section 1(b) (Public Law

101-625; 104 Stat. 4079)—

(A) by striking the item relating to section 205 and

inserting the following:

“Sec. 205. Authorization of program.”;

(B) by striking the item relating to section 223 and

inserting the following:

“Sec. 223. Program enforcement and penalties for noncompliance.”; and

following:

“Sec. 291. Nonapplicability of certain requirements for small

projects.”;

(4) in section 104 (42 U.S.C. 12704)—

(A) by redesignating paragraph (23) (relating to the

definition of the term “to demonstrate to the Secretary”)

as paragraph (22); and

(B) by redesignating paragraph (24) (relating to the

definition of the term “insular area”, as added by section

2(2) of Public Law 102-230) as paragraph (23);

(5) in section 105(b)(8) (42 U.S.C. 12705(b)(8)), by

striking “subparagraphs” and inserting “paragraphs”;

(6) in section 108(a)(1) (42 U.S.C. 12708(a)(1)), by

striking “section 105(b)(15)” and inserting “section

105(b)(18)”;

(7) in section 212 (42 U.S.C. 12742)—

(A) in subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii), by inserting “United

States” before “Housing Act”;

(B) in subsection (d)(5), by inserting “United States”

before “Housing Act”; and

(i) by striking “section 221(d)(3)(ii)” and inserting

“section 221(d)(4)”; and

(ii) by striking “not to exceed 140 percent” and

inserting “as determined by the Secretary”;

(8) in section 215(a)(6)(B) (42 U.S.C. 12745(a)(6)(B)), by

striking “grand children” and inserting “grandchildren”;

(9) in section 217 (42 U.S.C. 12747)—

(A) in subsection (a)—

(i) in paragraph (1), by striking “(3)” and inserting

“(2)”;

(ii) by striking paragraph (3), as added by section

211(a)(2)(D) of the Housing and Community Development Act of

1992 (Public Law 102-550; 106 Stat. 3756); and

(iii) by redesignating the remaining paragraph (3), as

added by the matter under the heading “home investment

partnerships program” under the heading “Housing Programs”

in title II of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and

Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies

Appropriations Act, 1993 (Public Law 102-389; 106 Stat.

1581), as paragraph (2); and

(B) in subsection (b)(1)—

(i) in subparagraph (A), in the first sentence—

(I) by striking “in regulation” and inserting “, by

regulation,”; and

(II) by striking “eligible jurisdiction” and inserting

“eligible jurisdictions”; and

(ii) in subparagraph (F), in the first sentence—

(I) in clause (i), by striking “Subcommittee on Housing

and Urban Affairs” and inserting “Subcommittee on Housing,

Transportation, and Community Development”; and

(II) in clause (ii), by striking “Subcommittee on Housing

and Community Development of the Committee on Banking,

Finance and Urban Affairs” and inserting “Subcommittee on

Housing and Insurance of the Committee on Financial

Services”;

(10) in section 220(c) (42 U.S.C. 12750(c))—

(A) in paragraph (3), by striking “Secretary” and all

that follows and inserting “Secretary;”;

(B) in paragraph (4), by striking “under this title” and

all that follows and inserting “under this title;”; and

paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively;

(11) in section 225(d)(4)(B) (42 U.S.C. 12755(d)(4)(B)), by

striking “for” the first place that term appears; and

(12) in section 233 (42 U.S.C. 12773)—

(A) in subsection (b)(6), by striking “to community land

trusts (as such term is defined in subsection (f))” and

inserting “to community land trusts (as such term is defined

in section 104)”; and

(B) by striking subsection (f).

SEC. 502. RURAL HOUSING SERVICE REFORM ACT.

(a) Application of Multifamily Mortgage Foreclosure

Procedures to Multifamily Mortgages Held by the Secretary of

Agriculture and Preservation of the Rental Assistance

Contract Upon Foreclosure.—

(1) Multifamily mortgage procedures.—Section 363(2)(F) of

the Multifamily Mortgage Foreclosure Act of 1981 (12 U.S.C.

3702(2)) is amended—

(A) by striking “or 515” and inserting “515, or 538”;

and

(B) by inserting “, 1490p-2” after “1485”.

(2) Preservation of contract.—Section 521(d) of the

Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490a(d)) is amended by adding

at the end the following:

“(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in

managing and disposing of any multifamily property that is

owned or has a mortgage held by the Secretary, and during the

process of foreclosure on any property with a contract for

rental assistance under this section—

“(A) the Secretary shall maintain any rental assistance

payments that are attached to any dwelling units in the

property; and

“(B) the rental assistance contract may be used to provide

further assistance to existing projects under 514, 515, or

516.”.

(b) Study on Rural Housing Loans for Housing for Low- and

Moderate-income Families.—Not later than 6 months after the

date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture

shall conduct a study and submit to Congress a publicly

available report on the loan program under section 521 of the

Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490a), including—

(1) the total amount provided by the Secretary in subsidies

under such section 521 to borrowers with loans made pursuant

to section 502 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1472);

(2) how much of the subsidies described in paragraph (1)

are being recaptured; and

(3) the amount of time and costs associated with

recapturing those subsidies.

Utilizing funds appropriated for such purposes, the Secretary

of Agriculture may increase staffing capacity and upgrade

information technology to support all Rural Housing Service

programs.

(d) Technical Improvements.—

(1) Authorization of appropriations.—Utilizing funds

appropriated for such purposes, the Secretary of Agriculture

may make improvements to the technology of the Rural Housing

Service of the Department of Agriculture used to process and

manage housing loans.

(2) Availability.—Amounts appropriated pursuant to

paragraph (1) shall remain available until the date that is 5

years after the date of the appropriation.

(3) Timeline.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall make the

improvements described in paragraph (1) during the 5-year

period beginning on the date on which amounts are

appropriated under paragraph (1).

(e) Permanent Establishment of Housing Preservation and

Revitalization Program.—Title V of the Housing Act of 1949

(42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the

following:

“SEC. 545. HOUSING PRESERVATION AND REVITALIZATION PROGRAM.

“(a) Establishment.—The Secretary shall carry out a

program under this section for the preservation and

revitalization of multifamily rental housing projects

financed under section 514, 515, or 516.

“(b) Notice of Maturing Loans.—

“(1) To owners.—On an annual basis, the Secretary shall

provide written notice to each owner of a property financed

under section 514, 515, or 516 that will mature within the 4-

year period beginning upon the provision of the notice,

setting forth the options and financial incentives that are

available to facilitate the extension of the loan term or the

option to decouple a rental assistance contract pursuant to

subsection (f).

“(2) To tenants.—

“(A) In general.—On an annual basis, for each property

financed under section 514, 515, or 516, not later than the

date that is 2 years before the date that the loan will

mature, the Secretary shall provide written notice to each

household residing in the property that informs them of—

“(i) the date of the loan maturity;

“(ii) the possible actions that may happen with respect to

the property upon that maturity; and

“(iii) how to protect their right to reside in federally

assisted housing, or how to secure housing voucher, after

that maturity.

“(B) Language.—Notice under this paragraph shall be

provided in plain English and

shall be translated to other languages in the case of any

property located in an area in which a significant number of

residents speak such other languages.

“(c) Loan Restructuring.—Under the program under this

section, in any circumstance in which the Secretary proposes

a restructuring to an owner or an owner proposes a

restructuring to the Secretary, the Secretary may restructure

such existing housing loans, as the Secretary considers

appropriate, for the purpose of ensuring that those projects

have sufficient resources to preserve the projects to provide

safe and affordable housing for low-income residents and farm

laborers, by—

“(1) reducing or eliminating interest;

“(2) deferring loan payments;

“(3) subordinating, reducing, or reamortizing loan debt;

“(4) providing other financial assistance, including

advances, payments, and incentives (including the ability of

owners to obtain reasonable returns on investment) required

by the Secretary; and

“(5) permanently removing a portion of the housing units

from income restrictions when sustained vacancies have

occurred.

“(d) Renewal of Rental Assistance.—

“(1) In general.—When the Secretary proposes to

restructure a loan or agrees to the proposal of an owner to

restructure a loan pursuant to subsection (c), the Secretary

shall offer to renew the rental assistance contract under

section 521(a)(2) for a term that is the shorter of 20 years

and the term of the restructured loan, subject to annual

appropriations, provided that the owner agrees to bring the

property up to such standards that will ensure maintenance of

the property as decent, safe, and sanitary housing for the

full term of the rental assistance contract.

“(2) Additional rental assistance.—With respect to a

project described in paragraph (1), if rental assistance is

not available for all households in the project for which the

loan is being restructured pursuant to subsection (c), the

Secretary may extend such additional rental assistance to

unassisted households at that project as is necessary to make

the project safe and affordable to low-income households.

“(e) Restrictive Use Agreements.—

“(1) Requirement.—As part of the preservation and

revitalization agreement for a project, the Secretary shall

obtain a restrictive use agreement that is recorded and

obligates the owner to operate the project in accordance with

this title.

“(2) Term.—

“(A) No extension of rental assistance contract.—Except

when the Secretary enters into a 20-year extension of the

rental assistance contract for a project, the term of the

restrictive use agreement for the project shall be consistent

with the term of the restructured loan for the project.

“(B) Extension of rental assistance contract.—If the

Secretary enters into a 20-year extension of the rental

assistance contract for a project, the term of the

restrictive use agreement for the project shall be for the

longer of—

“(i) 20 years; or

“(ii) the remaining term of the loan for that project.

“(C) Termination.—The Secretary may terminate the 20-year

restrictive use agreement for a project before the end of the

term of the agreement if the 20-year rental assistance

contract for the project with the owner is terminated at any

time for reasons outside the control of the owner.

“(f) Decoupling of Rental Assistance.—

“(1) Renewal of rental assistance contract.—If the

Secretary determines that a loan maturing during the 4-year

period beginning upon the provision of the notice required

under subsection (b)(1) for a project cannot reasonably be

restructured in accordance with subsection (c) because it is

not financially feasible or the owner does not agree with the

proposed restructuring, and the project was operating with

rental assistance under section 521 and the recipient is a

borrower under section 514 or 515, the Secretary may renew

the rental assistance contract, notwithstanding any

requirement under section 521 that the recipient be a current

borrower under section 514 or 515, for a term of 20 years,

subject to annual appropriations.

“(2) Additional rental assistance.—With respect to a

project described in paragraph (1), if rental assistance is

not available for all households in the project for which the

loan is being restructured pursuant to subsection (c), the

Secretary may extend such additional rental assistance to

unassisted households at that project as is necessary to make

the project safe and affordable to low-income households.

“(3) Rents.—

“(A) In general.—Any agreement to extend the term of the

rental assistance contract under section 521 for a project

shall obligate the owner to continue to maintain the project

as decent, safe, and sanitary housing and to operate the

development as affordable housing in a manner that meets the

goals of this title.

“(B) Rent amounts.—Subject to subparagraph (C), in

setting rents, the Secretary—

“(i) shall determine the maximum initial rent based on

current fair market rents established under section 8 of the

United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f); and

“(ii) may annually adjust the rent determined under clause

(i) by the operating cost adjustment factor as provided under

section 524 of the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and

Affordability Act of 1997 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note).

“(C) Higher rent.—

“(i) In general.—Subparagraph (B) shall not apply if the

Secretary determines that the budget-based needs of a project

require a higher rent than the rent described in subparagraph

(B).

“(ii) Rent.—If the Secretary makes a positive

determination under clause (i), the Secretary may approve a

budget-based rent level for the project.

“(4) Conditions for approval.—Before the approval of a

rental assistance contract authorized under this section, the

Secretary shall require, through an annual notice in the

Federal Register, the owner to submit to the Secretary a plan

that identifies financing sources and a timetable for

renovations and improvements determined to be necessary by

the Secretary to maintain and preserve the project.

“(g) Multifamily Housing Transfer Technical Assistance.—

Under the program under this section, the Secretary may

provide grants to qualified nonprofit organizations, housing

cooperative corporations, and public housing agencies to

provide technical assistance, including financial and legal

services, to borrowers under loans under this title for

multifamily housing to facilitate the acquisition or

preservation of such multifamily housing properties in areas

where the Secretary determines there is a risk of loss of

affordable housing.

“(h) Administrative Expenses.—Of any amounts made

available for the program under this section for any fiscal

year, the Secretary may use not more than $1,000,000 for

administrative expenses for carrying out such program.

“(i) Rulemaking.—

“(1) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date

of enactment of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the

Secretary shall—

“(A) publish an advance notice of proposed rulemaking; and

“(B) consult with appropriate stakeholders.

“(2) Interim final rule.—Not later than 1 year after the

date of enactment of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act,

the Secretary shall publish an interim final rule to carry

out this section.”.

(f) Rental Assistance Contract Authority.—Section 521(d)

of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490a(d)), as amended

by this section, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)—

(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as

subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively;

(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:

“(B) upon request of an owner of a project financed under

section 514 or 515, the Secretary is authorized to enter into

renewal of such agreements for a period of 20 years or the

term of the loan, whichever is shorter, subject to amounts

made available in appropriations Acts;”;

“subparagraph (A)” and inserting “subparagraphs (A) and

(B)”; and

(D) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated, by striking

“subparagraphs (A) and (B)” and inserting “subparagraphs

(A), (B), and (C)”;

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking “shall” and inserting

“may”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(4) In the case of any rental assistance contract

authority that becomes available because of the termination

of assistance on behalf of an assisted family—

“(A) at the option of the owner of the rental project, the

Secretary shall provide the owner a period of not more than 6

months before unused assistance is made available pursuant to

subparagraph (B) during which the owner may use such

authority to provide assistance on behalf of an eligible

unassisted family that—

“(i) is residing in the same rental project in which the

assisted family resided before the termination; or

“(ii) newly occupies a dwelling unit in the rental project

during that 6-month period; and

“(B) except for assistance used as provided in

subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall use such remaining

authority to provide assistance on behalf of eligible

families residing in other rental projects originally

financed under section 514, 515, or 516.”.

(g) Modifications to Loans and Grants for Minor

Improvements to Farm Housing and Buildings; Income

Eligibility.—Section 504(a) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42

U.S.C. 1474(a)) is amended—

(1) in the first sentence, by inserting “and may make a

loan to an eligible low-income applicant” after

“applicant”; and

(2) by striking “$7,500” and inserting “$15,000”.

(h) Rural Community Development Initiative.—Subtitle E of

the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.

2009 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“SEC. 381O. RURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

“(a) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) Eligible entity.—The term `eligible entity' means—

“(A) a private, nonprofit community-based housing or

community development organization;

“(B) a rural community; or

“(C) a federally recognized Indian tribe.

“(2) Eligible intermediary.—The term `eligible

intermediary' means a qualified—

“(A) private, nonprofit organization; or

“(B) public organization.

“(b) Establishment.—The Secretary shall establish a Rural

Community Development Initiative, under which the Secretary

shall provide grants, subject to the availability of

appropriations, to eligible intermediaries to carry out

programs to provide financial and technical assistance to

eligible entities to develop the capacity and ability of

eligible entities to carry out projects to improve housing,

community facilities, and community and economic development

projects in rural areas.

“(c) Amount of Grants.—The amount of a grant provided to

an eligible intermediary under this section shall be not more

than $500,000.

“(d) Matching Funds.—

“(1) In general.—An eligible intermediary receiving a

grant under this section shall provide matching funds from

other sources, including Federal funds for related

activities, in an amount not less than the amount of the

grant.

“(2) Waiver.—The Secretary may waive paragraph (1) with

respect to a project that would be carried out in a

persistently poor rural region, as determined by the

Secretary.”.

(i) Annual Report on Rural Housing Programs.—Title V of

the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.), as amended

by this section, is amended by adding at the end the

following:

“SEC. 546. ANNUAL REPORT.

“(a) In General.—The Secretary shall submit to the

appropriate committees of Congress and publish on the website

of the Department of Agriculture an annual report on rural

housing programs carried out under this title, which shall

include significant details on the health of Rural Housing

Service programs, including—

“(1) raw data sortable by programs and by region regarding

loan performance;

“(2) the housing stock of those programs, including

information on why properties end participation in those

programs, such as for maturation, prepayment, foreclosure, or

other servicing issues; and

“(3) risk ratings for properties assisted under those

programs.

“(b) Protection of Information.—The data included in each

report required under subsection (a) may be aggregated or

anonymized to protect participant financial or personal

information.”.

(j) GAO Report on Rural Housing Service Technology.—Not

later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act,

the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to

Congress a report that includes—

(1) an analysis of how the outdated technology used by the

Rural Housing Service impacts participants in the programs of

the Rural Housing Service;

(2) an estimate of the amount of funding that is needed to

modernize the technology used by the Rural Housing Service;

and

(3) an estimate of the number and type of new employees the

Rural Housing Service needs to modernize the technology used

by the Rural Housing Service.

(k) Adjustment to Rural Development Voucher Amount.—

(1) In general.—Not later than 2 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall

issue regulations to establish a process for adjusting the

voucher amount provided under section 542 of the Housing Act

of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490r) after the issuance of the voucher

following an interim or annual review of the amount of the

voucher.

(2) Interim review.—The interim review described in

paragraph (1) shall, at the request of a tenant, allow for a

recalculation of the voucher amount when the tenant

experiences a reduction in income, change in family

composition, or change in rental rate.

(3) Annual review.—

(A) In general.—The annual review described in paragraph

(1) shall require tenants to annually recertify the family

composition of the household and that the family income of

the household does not exceed 80 percent of the area median

income at a time determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.

(B) Considerations.—If a tenant does not recertify the

family composition and family income of the household within

the time frame required under subparagraph (A), the Secretary

of Agriculture—

(i) shall consider whether extenuating circumstances caused

the delay in recertification; and

(ii) may alter associated consequences for the failure to

recertify based on those circumstances.

voucher under paragraph (1), the updated voucher amount shall

be effective on the 1st day of the month following the

expiration of the voucher.

(4) Deadline.—The process established under paragraph (1)

shall require the Secretary of Agriculture to review and

update the voucher amount described in paragraph (1) for a

tenant not later than 60 days before the end of the voucher

term.

(l) Eligibility for Rural Housing Vouchers.—Section 542 of

the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490r) is amended by

adding at the end the following:

“(c) Eligibility of Households in Sections 514, 515, and

516 Projects.—The Secretary may provide rural housing

vouchers under this section for any low-income household

(including those not receiving rental assistance) residing

for a term longer than the remaining term of their lease that

is in effect on the date of prepayment, foreclosure, or

mortgage maturity, in a property financed with a loan under

section 514 or 515 or a grant under section 516 that has—

“(1) been prepaid with or without restrictions imposed by

the Secretary pursuant to section 502(c)(5)(G)(ii)(I);

“(2) been foreclosed; or

“(3) matured after September 30, 2005.”.

(m) Amount of Voucher Assistance.—Notwithstanding any

other provision of law, in the case of any rural housing

voucher provided pursuant to section 542 of the Housing Act

of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490r), the amount of the monthly

assistance payment for the household on whose behalf the

assistance is provided shall be determined as provided in

subsection (a) of such section 542, including providing for

interim and annual review of the voucher amount in the event

of a change in household composition or income or rental

rate.

(n) Transfer of Multifamily Rural Housing Projects.—

Section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485) is

amended—

(1) in subsection (h), by adding at the end the following:

“(3) Transfer to nonprofit organizations.—A nonprofit or

public body purchaser, including a limited partnership with a

general partner with the principal purpose of providing

affordable housing, may purchase a property for which a loan

is made or insured under this section that has received a

market value appraisal, without addressing rehabilitation

needs at the time of purchase, if the purchaser—

“(A) makes a commitment to address rehabilitation needs

during ownership and long-term use restrictions on the

property; and

“(B) at the time of purchase, accepts long-term use

restrictions on the property.”; and

(2) in subsection (w)(1), in the first sentence in the

matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking “9 percent”

and inserting “25 percent”.

(o) Extension of Loan Term.—

(1) In general.—Section 502(a)(2) of the Housing Act of

1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472(a)(2)) is amended—

(A) by inserting “(A)” before “The Secretary”;

(B) in subparagraph (A), as so designated, by striking

“paragraph” and inserting “subparagraph”; and

“(B) The Secretary may refinance or modify the period of

any loan, including any refinanced loan, made under this

section in accordance with terms and conditions as the

Secretary shall prescribe, but in no event shall the total

term of the loan from the date of the refinance or

modification exceed 40 years.”.

(2) Application.—The amendment made under paragraph (1)

shall apply with respect to loans made under section 502 of

the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472) before, on, or after

the date of enactment of this Act.

(p) Release of Liability for Section 502 Guaranteed

Borrower Upon Assumption of Original Loan by New Borrower.—

Section 502(h) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472(h))

is amended—

(1) by striking paragraph (10) and inserting the following:

“(10) Transfer and assumption.—Upon the transfer of

property for which a guaranteed loan under this subsection

was made, and the assumption of the guaranteed loan by an

approved eligible borrower, the original borrower of a

guaranteed loan under this subsection shall be relieved of

liability with respect to the loan.”;

(2) by redesignating paragraph (16) as paragraph (17); and

(3) by inserting after paragraph (15) the following:

“(16) Fee.—

“(A) In general.—The mortgagee may charge an assuming

borrower a reasonable and customary processing fee for an

assumption request made under this subsection.

“(B) Maximum fee.—The Secretary shall set a maximum

allowable fee described in subparagraph (A), which may be

indexed for inflation.”.

(q) Department of Agriculture Loan Restrictions.—

(1) Definitions.—In this subsection, the terms “State”

and “tribal organization” have the meanings given those

terms in section 658P of the Child Care and Development Block

Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n).

(2) Revision.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall revise

section 3555.102(c) of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations,

to exclude from the restriction under that section—

(A) a home-based business that is a licensed, registered,

or regulated child care provider under State law or by a

tribal organization; and

(B) an applicant that has applied to become a licensed,

registered, or regulated child care provider under State law

or by a tribal organization.

(r) Loan Guarantees.—Section 502(h)(4) of the Housing Act

of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472(h)(4)) is amended—

(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) as

clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively, and adjusting the

margins accordingly;

(2) by striking “Loans may be guaranteed” and inserting

the following:

“(A) Definition.—In this paragraph, the term `accessory

dwelling unit' means a single, habitable living unit—

“(i) with means of separate ingress and egress;

“(ii) that is usually subordinate in size;

“(iii) that can be added to, created within, or detached

from a primary 1-unit, single-family dwelling; and

“(iv) in combination with a primary 1-unit, single-family

dwelling, constitutes a single interest in real estate.

“(B) Single-family requirement.—Loans may be

guaranteed”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

“(C) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this paragraph

shall be construed to prohibit the leasing of an accessory

dwelling unit or the use of rental income derived from such a

lease to qualify for a loan guaranteed under this

subsection—

“(i) after the date of enactment of the 21st Century ROAD

to Housing Act; and

“(ii) if the property that is the subject of the loan was

constructed before the date of enactment of the 21st Century

ROAD to Housing Act.”.

(s) Application Review.—

(1) Sense of congress.—It is the sense of Congress, not

later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary of

Agriculture receives an application for a loan, grant, or

combined loan and grant under section 502 or 504 of the

Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472, 1474), the Secretary of

Agriculture should—

(A) review the application;

(B) complete the underwriting;

application; and

(D) notify the applicant of determination.

(2) Report.—

(A) In general.—Not later than 90 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the date

described in subparagraph (B), the Secretary of Agriculture

shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban

Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services

of the House of Representatives a report—

(i) detailing the timeliness of eligibility determinations

and final determinations with respect to applications under

sections 502 and 504 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C.

1472, 1474), including justifications for any eligibility

determinations taking longer than 90 days; and

(ii) that includes recommendations to shorten the timeline

for notifications of eligibility determinations described in

clause (i) to not more than 90 days.

(B) Date described.—The date described in this

subparagraph is the date on which, during the preceding 5-

year period, the Secretary of Agriculture provides each

eligibility determination described in subparagraph (A)

during the 90-day period beginning on the date on which each

application is received.

SEC. 503. INCENTIVIZING LOCAL SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS.

Section 414 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

(42 U.S.C. 11373) is amended by adding at the end the

following:

“(f) Funding Cap Waiver Authority.—

“(1) In general.—Notwithstanding any other provision of

law or regulation, a recipient may request a waiver to the

expenditure limit established pursuant to section 415(b) for

amounts provided for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030.

“(2) Waiver request.—

“(A) In general.—A recipient seeking a waiver described

in paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary a waiver

request that includes not more than the following:

“(i) A demonstration of local needs and circumstances that

necessitate a waiver.

“(ii) A detailed plan for how the recipient intends to use

funds.

“(iii) A justification for how the proposed use of funds

supports the most recent Consolidated Plan submitted by the

recipient.

“(iv) Any public input solicited under subparagraph

(B)(ii).

“(B) Notification.—Each recipient shall—

“(i) notify all subrecipients and local Continuums of Care

that serve the recipient's geographic area of the

availability of waivers under this subsection; and

“(ii) prior to the submission of a waiver request under

subparagraph (A), solicit public input regarding the

potential need for and proposed uses of such waiver.

“(C) Approval; publication.—The Secretary shall—

“(i) make all waiver requests submitted under subparagraph

(A) publicly available on the website of the Department of

Housing and Urban Development;

“(ii) not later than 60 days after the date on which the

Secretary receives a waiver request under subparagraph (A),

approve or deny the request; and

“(iii) deny any waiver request submitted under

subparagraph (A) by a recipient that relocates or threaten to

relocate individuals or their property without providing

emergency shelter, rapid rehousing, transitional housing,

permanent supportive housing, or other permanent housing

options.

“(3) Revocation.—

“(A) In general.—A waiver approved under this subsection

shall remain in effect for the duration of the period of

performance of fiscal year 2027 through 2030 grants, unless

the recipient notifies the Secretary in writing that the

recipient wishes to revoke the waiver.

“(B) Notification.—If a recipient intends to revoke a

waiver under subparagraph (A), the recipient shall—

“(i) solicit input from subrecipients regarding the

revocation before submitting the revocation; and

“(ii) provide subrecipients with a summary of the input

and the justification for the revocation in its submittal

prior to notifying the Secretary in writing.

“(C) Publication.—The Secretary shall publish any

revocation of a waiver under subparagraph (A) and the

justification of the recipient for the waiver on the website

of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.”.

SEC. 504. REFORMING DISASTER RECOVERY ACT.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Department.—The term “Department” means the

Department of Housing and Urban Development.

(2) Fund.—The term “Fund” means the Long-Term Disaster

Recovery Fund established under subsection (c).

(3) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Housing and Urban Development.

(b) Duties of the Department of Housing and Urban

Development.—

(1) In general.—The offices and officers of the Department

shall be responsible for—

(A) leading and coordinating the disaster-related

responsibilities of the Department under the National

Response Framework, the National Disaster Recovery Framework,

and the National Mitigation Framework;

(B) coordinating and administering programs, policies, and

activities of the Department related to disaster relief,

long-term recovery, resiliency, and mitigation, including

disaster recovery assistance under title I of the Housing and

Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.);

communities specifically assess, plan for, and address the

housing stock and housing needs in the transition from

emergency shelters and interim housing to permanent housing

of those displaced, especially among vulnerable populations

and extremely low-, low-, and moderate-income households;

(D) collaborating with the Federal Emergency Management

Agency and the Small Business Administration and across the

Department to align disaster-related regulations and

policies, including incorporation of consensus-based codes

and standards and insurance purchase requirements, and

ensuring coordination and reducing duplication among other

Federal disaster recovery programs;

(E) promoting best practices in mitigation and resilient

land use planning;

(F) coordinating technical assistance, including

mitigation, resiliency, and recovery training and information

on all relevant legal and regulatory requirements, to

entities that receive disaster recovery assistance under

title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974

(42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) that demonstrate capacity

constraints; and

(G) supporting State, Tribal, and local governments in

developing, coordinating, and maintaining their capacity for

disaster resilience and recovery and developing pre-disaster

recovery and hazard mitigation plans, in coordination with

the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other Federal

agencies.

(2) Establishment of the office of disaster management and

resiliency.—Section 4 of the Department of Housing and Urban

Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3533) is amended by adding at the

end the following:

“(i) Office of Disaster Management and Resiliency.—

“(1) Establishment.—There is established the Office of

Disaster Management and Resiliency.

“(2) Duties.—The Office of Disaster Management and

Resiliency shall—

“(A) be responsible for oversight and coordination of all

departmental disaster preparedness and response

responsibilities; and

“(B) coordinate with the Federal Emergency Management

Agency, the Small Business Administration, and other offices

of the Department in supporting recovery and resilience

activities to provide a comprehensive approach in working

with communities.”.

(1) Establishment.—There is established in the Treasury of

the United States an account to be known as the “Long-Term

Disaster Recovery Fund”.

(2) Deposits, transfers, and credit.—

(A) In general.—The Fund shall consist of amounts

appropriated, transferred, and credited to the Fund.

(B) Transfers.—The following may be transferred to the

Fund:

(i) Amounts made available through section 106(c)(4) of the

Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C.

5306(c)(4)) as a result of actions taken under section

104(e), 111, or 124(j) of such Act.

(ii) Any unobligated balances available until expended

remaining or subsequently recaptured from amounts

appropriated for any disaster and related purposes under the

heading “Community Development Fund” in any Act prior to

the establishment of the Fund.

Fund shall be used for the eligible uses described in

paragraph (3).

(3) Eligible uses of fund.—

(A) In general.—Amounts in the Fund shall be available—

(i) to provide assistance in the form of grants under

section 124 of the Housing and Community Development Act of

1974, as added by subsection (d); and

(ii) for activities of the Department that support the

provision of such assistance, including necessary salaries

and expenses, information technology, and capacity building,

technical assistance, and pre-disaster readiness.

(B) Set-aside.—Of each amount appropriated for or

transferred to the Fund, 3 percent shall be made available

for activities described in subparagraph (A)(ii), which shall

be in addition to other amounts made available for those

activities.

available for use in accordance with subparagraph (B)—

(i) amounts may be transferred to the account under the

heading for “Program Offices—Salaries and Expenses—

Community Planning and Development”, or any successor

account, for the Department to carry out activities described

in subparagraph(B); and

(ii) amounts may be used for the activities described in

subparagraph (A)(ii) and for the administrative costs of

administering any funds appropriated to the Department under

the heading “Community Planning and Development—Community

Development Fund” for any major disaster declared under

section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and

Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) in any Act before

the establishment of the Fund.

(D) Inspector general.—

(i) In general.—Not less than one-tenth of 1 percent of

each series of awards the Secretary makes from the Fund shall

be transferred to the account under the heading “Office of

Inspector General” for the Department of Housing and Urban

Development to support audit activities and to investigate

grantee noncompliance with program requirements and waste,

fraud, and abuse as a result of appropriations made available

through the Fund.

(ii) Availability.—Funding under clause (i) shall not be

made available to the Office of Inspector General until 90

days after the date on which the grantee plan or supplemental

plan for the grantee is approved by the Secretary under

subsection (c) or (f)(3)(C) of section 124 of the Housing and

Community Development Act of 1974, as added by subsection

(d), is approved by the Secretary.

(4) Interchangeability of prior administrative amounts.—

Any amounts appropriated in any Act prior to the

establishment of the Fund and transferred to the account

under the heading “Program Offices—Salaries and Expenses—

Community Planning and Development”, or any predecessor

account, for the Department for the costs of administering

funds appropriated to the Department under the heading

“Community Planning and Development—Community Development

Fund” for any major disaster declared under section 401 of

the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency

Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) shall be available for the

costs of administering any such funds provided by any prior

or future Act, notwithstanding the purposes for which those

amounts were appropriated and in addition to any amount

provided for the same purposes in other appropriations Acts.

(5) Availability of amounts.—Amounts appropriated,

transferred, and credited to the Fund shall remain available

until expended.

(6) Formula allocation.—Use of amounts in the Fund for

grants shall be made by formula allocation in accordance with

the requirements of section 124(a) of the Housing and

Community Development Act of 1974, as added by subsection

(d).

(d) Establishment of CDBG Disaster Recovery Program.—Title

I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42

U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), as amended by this Act, is amended—

(1) in section 102(a) (42 U.S.C. 5302(a))—

(A) in paragraph (20)—

(i) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);

(ii) in subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, by inserting

“or (B)” after “subparagraph (A)”; and

(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:

“(B) The term `persons of extremely low income' means

families and individuals whose income levels do not exceed

household income levels determined by the Secretary under

section 3(b)(2) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42

U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2)(C)), except that the Secretary may provide

alternative definitions for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,

Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the

United States Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.”; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

“(25) The term `major disaster' has the meaning given the

term in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief

and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).”;

(2) in section 106(c)(4) (42 U.S.C. 5306(c)(4))—

(A) in subparagraph (A)—

(i) by striking “declared by the President under the

Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance

Act”;

(ii) by inserting “States for use in nonentitlement areas

and to” before “metropolitan cities”; and

(iii) by inserting “major” after “affected by the”;

(B) in subparagraph (C)—

(i) by striking “metropolitan city or” and inserting

“State, metropolitan city, or”;

(ii) by striking “city or county” and inserting “State,

city, or county”; and

(iii) by inserting “major” before “disaster”;

and” and inserting “States, metropolitan cities, and”;

(D) in subparagraph (F)—

(i) by striking “metropolitan city or” and inserting

“State, metropolitan city, or”; and

(ii) by inserting “major” before “disaster”; and

(E) in subparagraph (G), by striking “metropolitan city

or” and inserting “State, metropolitan city, or”;

(3) in section 122 (42 U.S.C. 5321), by striking “disaster

under title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and

Emergency Assistance Act” and inserting “major disaster”;

and

(4) by adding at the end the following:

“SEC. 124. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DISASTER

RECOVERY PROGRAM.

“(a) Authorization, Formula, and Allocation.—

“(1) Authorization.—The Secretary is authorized to make

community development block grant disaster recovery grants

from the Long-Term Disaster Recovery Fund established under

section 504(c) of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (in

this section referred to as the `Fund') for necessary

expenses for activities authorized under subsection (f)(1)

related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration

of housing and infrastructure, economic revitalization, and

mitigation in the most impacted and distressed areas

resulting from a catastrophic major disaster.

“(2) Grant awards.—Grants shall be awarded under this

section to States, units of general local government, and

Indian tribes based on capacity and the concentration of

damage, as determined by the Secretary, to support the

efficient and effective administration of funds.

“(3) Section 106 allocations.—Grants under this section

shall not be considered relevant to the formula allocations

made pursuant to section 106.

“(4) Federal register notice.—

“(A) In general.—Not later than 30 days after the date of

enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue a notice

in the Federal Register containing the latest formula

allocation methodologies used to determine the total estimate

of unmet needs related to housing, economic revitalization,

and infrastructure in the most impacted and distressed areas

resulting from a catastrophic major disaster.

“(B) Public comment.—If the Secretary has not already

requested public comment on the formula described in the

notice required by subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall

solicit public comments on—

“(i) the methodologies described in subparagraph (A) and

seek alternative methods for formula allocation within a

similar total amount of funding;

“(ii) the impact of formula methodologies on rural areas

and Tribal areas;

“(iii) adjustments to improve targeting to the most

serious needs;

“(iv) objective criteria for grantee capacity and

concentration of damage to inform grantee determinations and

minimum allocation thresholds; and

“(v) research and data to inform an additional amount to

be provided for mitigation depending on type of disaster,

which shall be up to 18 percent of the total estimate of

unmet needs.

“(5) Regulations.—

“(A) In general.—The Secretary shall, by regulation,

establish a formula to allocate assistance from the Fund to

the most impacted and distressed areas resulting from a

catastrophic major disaster.

“(B) Formula requirements.—The formula established under

subparagraph (A) shall—

“(i) set forth criteria to determine that a major disaster

is catastrophic, which criteria shall consider the presence

of a high concentration of damaged housing or businesses that

individual, State, Tribal, and local resources could not

reasonably be expected to address without additional Federal

assistance or other nationally encompassing data that the

Secretary determines are adequate to assess relative impact

and distress across geographic areas;

“(ii) include a methodology for identifying most impacted

and distressed areas, which shall consider unmet serious

needs related to housing, economic revitalization, and

infrastructure;

“(iii) include an allocation calculation that considers

the unmet serious needs resulting from the catastrophic major

disaster and an additional amount up to 18 percent for

activities to reduce risks of loss resulting from other

natural disasters in the most impacted and distressed area,

primarily for the benefit of low- and moderate-income

persons, with particular focus on activities that reduce

repetitive loss of property and critical infrastructure; and

“(iv) establish objective criteria for periodic review and

updates to the formula to reflect changes in available data.

“(C) Minimum allocation threshold.—The Secretary shall,

by regulation, establish a minimum allocation threshold.

“(D) Interim allocation.—Until such time that the

Secretary issues final regulations under this paragraph, the

Secretary shall—

“(i) allocate assistance from the Fund using the formula

allocation methodology published in accordance with paragraph

(4); and

“(ii) include an additional amount for mitigation of up to

18 percent of the total estimate of unmet need.

“(6) Allocation of funds.—

“(A) In general.—The Secretary shall—

“(i) except as provided in clause (ii), not later than 90

days after the President declares a major disaster, use best

available data to determine whether the major disaster is

catastrophic and qualifies for assistance under the formula

described in paragraph (4) or (5), unless data is

insufficient to make this determination; and

“(ii) if the best available data is insufficient to make

the determination required under clause (i) within the 90-day

period described in that clause, determine whether the major

disaster qualifies when sufficient data becomes available,

but in no case shall the Secretary make the determination

later than 120 days after the declaration of the major

disaster.

“(B) Announcement of allocation.—If amounts are available

in the Fund at the time the Secretary determines that the

major disaster is catastrophic and qualifies for assistance

under the formula described in paragraph (4) or (5), the

Secretary shall immediately announce an allocation for a

grant under this section.

“(C) Additional amounts.—If additional amounts are

appropriated to the Fund after amounts are allocated under

subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall announce an allocation

or additional allocation (if a prior allocation under

subparagraph (B) was less than the formula calculation)

within 15 days of any such appropriation.

“(7) Preliminary funding.—

“(A) In general.—To speed recovery, the Secretary is

authorized to allocate and award preliminary grants from the

Fund before making a determination under paragraph (6)(A) if

the Secretary projects, based on a preliminary assessment of

impact and distress, that a major disaster is catastrophic

and would likely qualify for funding under the formula

described in paragraph (4) or (5).

“(B) Amount.—

“(i) Maximum.—The Secretary may award preliminary funding

under subparagraph (A) in an amount that is not more than

$5,000,000.

“(ii) Sliding scale.—The Secretary shall, by regulation,

establish a sliding scale for preliminary funding awarded

under subparagraph (A) based on the size of the preliminary

assessment of impact and distress.

“(C) Use of funds.—The uses of preliminary funding

awarded under subparagraph (A) shall be limited to eligible

activities that—

“(i) in the determination of the Secretary, will support

faster recovery, improve the ability of the grantee to assess

unmet recovery needs, plan for the prevention of improper

payments, and reduce fraud, waste, and abuse; and

“(ii) may include evaluating the interim housing,

permanent housing, and supportive service needs of the

disaster impacted community, with special attention to

vulnerable populations, such as homeless and low- to

moderate-income households, to inform the grantee action plan

required under subsection (c).

“(D) Consideration of funding.—Preliminary funding

awarded under subparagraph (A)—

“(i) is not subject to the certification requirements of

subsection (h)(2); and

“(ii) shall not be considered when calculating the amount

of the grant used for administrative costs, technical

assistance, and planning activities that are subject to the

requirements under subsection (f)(3).

“(E) Waiver.—To expedite the use of preliminary funding

for activities described in this paragraph, the Secretary may

waive or specify alternative requirements to the requirements

of this section in accordance with subsection (i).

“(F) Amended award.—

“(i) In general.—An award for preliminary funding under

subparagraph (A) may be amended to add any subsequent amount

awarded because of a determination by the Secretary that a

major disaster is catastrophic and qualifies for assistance

under the formula.

“(ii) Applicability.—Notwithstanding subparagraph (D),

amounts provided by an amendment under clause (i) are subject

to the requirements under subsections (f)(1) and (h)(1) and

other requirements on grant funds under this section.

“(G) Technical assistance.—Concurrent with the allocation

of any preliminary funding awarded under this paragraph, the

Secretary shall assign or provide technical assistance to the

recipient of the grant.

“(b) Interchangeability.—

“(1) In general.—The Secretary is authorized to approve

the use of grants under this section to be used

interchangeably and without limitation for the same

activities in the most impacted and distressed areas

resulting from a declaration of another catastrophic major

disaster that qualifies for assistance under the formula

established under paragraph (4) or (5) of subsection (a) or a

major disaster for which the Secretary allocated funds made

available under the heading `Community Development Fund' in

any Act prior to the establishment of the Fund.

“(2) Requirements.—The Secretary shall establish

requirements to expedite the use of grants under this section

for the purpose described in paragraph (1).

“(3) Emergency designation.—Amounts repurposed pursuant

to this subsection that were previously designated by

Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to the Balanced

Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 or a

concurrent resolution on the budget are designated by the

Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to

section 4001(a)(1) of S. Con. Res. 14 (117th Congress), the

concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2022, and

to legislation establishing fiscal year 2026 budget

enforcement in the House of Representatives.

“(c) Grantee Plans.—

“(1) Requirement.—Not later than 90 days after the date

on which the Secretary announces a grant allocation under

this section, unless an extension is granted by the

Secretary, the grantee shall submit to the Secretary a plan

for approval describing—

“(A) the activities the grantee will carry out with the

grant under this section;

“(B) the criteria of the grantee for awarding assistance

and selecting activities;

“(C) how the use of the grant under this section will

address disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of

housing and infrastructure, economic revitalization, and

mitigation in the most impacted and distressed areas;

“(D) how the use of the grant funds for mitigation is

consistent with hazard mitigation plans submitted to the

Federal Emergency Management Agency under section 322 of the

Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance

Act (42 U.S.C. 5165);

“(E) the estimated amount proposed to be used for

activities that will benefit persons of low and moderate

income;

“(F) how the use of grant funds will repair and replace

existing housing stock for vulnerable populations, including

low- to moderate-income households;

“(G) how the grantee will address the priorities described

in paragraph (5);

“(H) how uses of funds are proportional to unmet needs, as

required under paragraph (6);

“(I) for State grantees that plan to distribute grant

amounts to units of general local government, a description

of the method of distribution; and

“(J) such other information as may be determined by the

Secretary in regulation.

“(2) Public consultation.—To permit public examination

and appraisal of the plan described in paragraph (1), to

enhance the public accountability of grantee, and to

facilitate coordination of activities with different levels

of government, when developing the plan or substantial

amendments proposed to the plan required under paragraph (1),

a grantee shall—

“(A) publish the plan before adoption;

“(B) provide citizens, affected units of general local

government, and other interested parties with reasonable

notice of, and opportunity to comment on, the plan, with a

public comment period of not less than 14 days;

“(C) consider comments received before submission to the

Secretary;

“(D) follow a citizen participation plan for disaster

assistance adopted by the grantee that, at a minimum,

provides for participation of residents of the most impacted

and distressed area affected by the major disaster that

resulted in the grant under this section and other

considerations established by the Secretary; and

“(E) undertake any consultation with interested parties as

may be determined by the Secretary in regulation.

“(3) Approval.—The Secretary shall—

“(A) by regulation, specify criteria for the approval,

partial approval, or disapproval of a plan submitted under

paragraph (1), including approval of substantial amendments

to the plan;

“(B) review a plan submitted under paragraph (1) upon

receipt of the plan;

“(C) allow a grantee to revise and resubmit a plan or

substantial amendment to a plan under paragraph (1) that the

Secretary disapproves;

“(D) by regulation, specify criteria for when the grantee

shall be required to provide the required revisions to a

disapproved plan or substantial amendment under paragraph (1)

for public comment prior to resubmission of the plan or

substantial amendment to the Secretary; and

“(E) approve, partially approve, or disapprove a plan or

substantial amendment under paragraph (1) not later than 60

days after the date on which the plan or substantial

amendment is received by the Secretary.

“(4) Low- and moderate-income overall benefit.—

“(A) Use of funds.—Not less than 70 percent of a grant

made under this section shall be used for activities that

benefit persons of low and moderate income unless the

Secretary—

“(i) specifically finds that—

“(I) there is compelling need to reduce the percentage for

the grant; and

“(II) the housing needs of low- and moderate-income

persons have been addressed; and

“(ii) issues a waiver and alternative requirement specific

to the grant pursuant to subsection (i) to lower the

percentage.

“(B) Regulations.—The Secretary shall, by regulation,

establish protocols that reflect the required use of funds

under subparagraph (A), including persons with extremely and

very low incomes.

“(5) Prioritization.—The grantee shall prioritize

activities that—

“(A) assist persons with extremely low-, low-, and

moderate-incomes and other vulnerable populations to better

recover from and withstand future disasters;

“(B) address housing needs arising from a disaster, or

those needs present prior to a disaster, including the needs

of both renters and homeowners;

“(C) prolong the life of housing and infrastructure;

“(D) use cost-effective means of preventing harm to people

and property and incorporate protective features and

redundancies; and

“(E) other measures that will assure the continuation of

critical services during future disasters.

“(6) Proportional allocation.—For each specific disaster,

a grantee under this section shall allocate grant funds

proportional to unmet needs between housing activities for

renters and homeowners, economic revitalization, and

infrastructure unless the Secretary specifically finds that—

“(A) there is a compelling need for a disproportional

allocation among those unmet needs; and

“(B) the disproportional allocation described in

subparagraph (A) is not inconsistent with the requirements

under paragraph (4).

“(7) Disaster risk mitigation.—

“(A) Definition.—In this paragraph, the term `hazard-

prone areas'—

“(i) means areas identified by the Secretary, in

consultation with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency

Management Agency, at risk from natural hazards that threaten

property damage or health, safety, and welfare, such as

floods, wildfires (including Wildland-Urban Interface areas),

earthquakes, lava inundation, tornados, and high winds; and

“(ii) includes areas having special flood hazards as

identified under the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973

(42 U.S.C. 4002 et seq.) or the National Flood Insurance Act

of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.).

“(B) Hazard-prone areas.—The Secretary, in consultation

with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management

Agency, shall establish minimum construction standards,

insurance purchase requirements, and other requirements for

the use of grant funds in hazard-prone areas.

“(C) Special flood hazards.—

“(i) In general.—For the areas described in subparagraph

(A)(ii), the insurance purchase requirements established

under subparagraph (B) shall meet or exceed the requirements

under section 102(a) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of

1973 (42 U.S.C. 4012a(a)).

“(ii) Treatment as financial assistance.—All grants under

this section shall be treated as financial assistance for

purposes of section 3(a)(3) of the Flood Disaster Protection

Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4003(a)(3)).

“(D) Consideration of future risks.—The Secretary may

consider future risks to protecting property and health,

safety, and general welfare, and the likelihood of those

risks, when making the determination of or modification to

hazard-prone areas under this paragraph.

“(8) Relocation.—

“(A) In general.—The Uniform Relocation Assistance and

Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C.

4601 et seq.) shall apply to activities assisted under this

section to the extent determined by the Secretary in

regulation, or as provided in waivers or alternative

requirements authorized in accordance with subsection (i).

“(B) Policy.—Each grantee under this section shall

establish a relocation assistance policy that—

“(i) minimizes displacement and describes the benefits

available to persons displaced as a direct result of

acquisition, rehabilitation, or demolition in connection with

an activity that is assisted by a grant under this section;

and

“(ii) includes any appeal rights or other requirements

that the Secretary establishes by regulation.

“(d) Certifications.—Any grant under this section shall

be made only if the grantee certifies to the satisfaction of

the Secretary that—

“(1) the grantee is in full compliance with the

requirements under subsection (c)(2);

“(2) for grants other than grants to Indian tribes, the

grant will be conducted and administered in conformity with

the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.) and

the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.);

“(3) the projected use of funds has been developed so as

to give maximum feasible priority to activities that will

benefit recipients described in subsection (c)(4)(A) and

activities described in subsection (c)(5), and may also

include activities that are designed to aid in the prevention

or elimination of slum and blight to support disaster

recovery, meet other community development needs having a

particular urgency because existing conditions pose a serious

and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the

community where other financial resources are not available

to meet such needs, and alleviate future threats to human

populations, critical natural resources, and property that an

analysis of hazards shows are likely to result from natural

disasters in the future;

“(4) the grant funds shall principally benefit persons of

low- and moderate-income as described in subsection

(c)(4)(A);

“(5) for grants other than grants to Indian tribes, within

24 months of receiving a grant or at the time of its 3- or 5-

year update, whichever is sooner, the grantee will review and

make modifications to its non-disaster housing and community

development plans and strategies required by subsections (c)

and (m) of section 104 to reflect the disaster recovery needs

identified by the grantee and consistency with the plan under

subsection (c)(1);

“(6) the grantee will not attempt to recover any capital

costs of public improvements assisted in whole or part under

this section by assessing any amount against properties owned

and occupied by persons of low and moderate income, including

any fee charged or assessment made as a condition of

obtaining access to such public improvements, unless—

“(A) funds received under this section are used to pay the

proportion of such fee or assessment that relates to the

capital costs of such public improvements that are financed

from revenue sources other than under this chapter; or

“(B) for purposes of assessing any amount against

properties owned and occupied by persons of moderate income,

the grantee certifies to the Secretary that the grantee lacks

sufficient funds received under this section to comply with

the requirements of subparagraph (A);

“(7) the grantee will comply with the other provisions of

this title that apply to assistance under this section and

with other applicable laws;

“(8) the grantee will follow a relocation assistance

policy that includes any minimum requirements identified by

the Secretary; and

“(9) the grantee will adhere to construction standards,

insurance purchase requirements, and other requirements for

development in hazard-prone areas described in subsection

(c)(7).

“(e) Performance Reviews and Reporting.—

“(1) In general.—The Secretary shall, on not less

frequently than an annual basis until the closeout of a

particular grant allocation, make such reviews and audits as

may be necessary or appropriate to determine whether a

grantee under this section has—

“(A) carried out activities using grant funds in a timely

manner;

“(B) met the performance targets established by paragraph

(2);

“(C) carried out activities using grant funds in

accordance with the requirements of this section, the other

provisions of this title that apply to assistance under this

section, and other applicable laws; and

“(D) a continuing capacity to carry out activities in a

timely manner.

“(2) Performance targets.—The Secretary shall develop and

make publicly available critical performance targets for

review, which shall include spending thresholds for each year

from the date on which funds are obligated by the Secretary

to the grantee until such time all funds have been expended.

“(3) Failure to meet targets.—

“(A) Suspension.—If a grantee under this section fails to

meet 1 or more critical performance targets under paragraph

(2), the Secretary may temporarily suspend the grant.

“(B) Performance improvement plan.—If the Secretary

suspends a grant under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall

provide to the grantee a performance improvement plan with

the specific requirements needed to lift the suspension

within a defined time period.

“(C) Report.—If a grantee fails to meet the spending

thresholds established under paragraph (2), the grantee shall

submit to the Secretary, the appropriate committees of

Congress, and each member of Congress who represents a

district or State of the grantee a written report identifying

technical capacity, funding, or other Federal or State

impediments affecting the ability of the grantee to meet the

spending thresholds.

“(4) Collection of information and reporting.—

“(A) Requirement to report.—A grantee under this section

shall provide to the Secretary such information as the

Secretary may determine necessary for adequate oversight of

the grant program under this section.

“(B) Public availability.—Subject to subparagraph (D),

the Secretary shall make information submitted under

subparagraph (A) available to the public and to the Inspector

General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“(C) Summary status reports.—To increase transparency and

accountability of the grant program under this section, the

Secretary shall, on not less frequently than an annual basis,

post on a public facing dashboard summary status reports for

all active grants under this section that includes—

“(i) the status of funds by activity;

“(ii) the percentages of funds allocated and expended to

benefit low- and moderate-income communities;

“(iii) performance targets, spending thresholds, and

accomplishments; and

“(iv) other information the Secretary determines to be

relevant for transparency.

“(D) Considerations.—In carrying out this paragraph, the

Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to

ensure that personally identifiable information regarding

applicants for assistance provided from funds made available

under this section is not made publicly available.

“(E) Research partnerships.—

“(i) In general.—The Secretary may, upon a formal request

from researchers, make disaggregated information available to

the requestor that is specific and relevant to the

research being conducted, and for the purposes of researching

program impact and efficacy.

“(ii) Privacy protections.—In making information

available under clause (i), the Secretary shall protect

personally identifiable information as required under section

552a of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the

`Privacy Act of 1974').

“(f) Eligible Activities.—

“(1) In general.—Activities assisted under this section—

“(A) may include activities permitted under section 105 or

other activities permitted by the Secretary by waiver or

alternative requirement pursuant to subsection (i); and

“(B) shall be related to disaster relief, long-term

recovery, restoration of housing and infrastructure, economic

revitalization, and mitigation in the most impacted and

distressed areas resulting from the major disaster for which

the grant was awarded.

“(2) Prohibition.—Grant funds under this section may not

be used for costs reimbursable by, or for which funds have

been made available by, the Federal Emergency Management

Agency or the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

“(3) Administrative costs, technical assistance, and

planning.—

“(A) In general.—The Secretary shall establish in

regulation the maximum grant amounts a grantee may use for

administrative costs, technical assistance, and planning

activities, taking into consideration size of grant,

complexity of recovery, and other factors as determined by

the Secretary, but not to exceed 8 percent for administration

and 20 percent in total.

“(B) Availability.—Amounts available for administrative

costs for a grant under this section shall be available for

eligible administrative costs of the grantee for any grant

made under this section, without regard to a particular

disaster.

“(C) Supplemental plan.—

“(i) In general.—Grantees may submit to the Secretary an

optional supplemental plan to the grantee plan required under

this title specifically for administrative costs, which shall

include a description of the use of all grant funds for

administrative costs, including for any eligible pre-award

program administrative costs, and how such uses will prepare

the grantee to more effectively and expeditiously administer

funds provided under the full plan.

“(ii) Use of funds.—If a supplemental plan is approved

under clause (i), a grantee may draw down the aforementioned

administrative funds before the full grantee plan is

approved.

“(iii) Waivers.—In carrying out this subparagraph, the

Secretary may include any waivers or alternative requirements

in accordance with subsection (i).

“(4) Program income.—Notwithstanding any other provision

of law, any grantee under this section may retain program

income that is realized from grants made by the Secretary

under this section if the grantee agrees that the grantee

will utilize the program income in accordance with the

requirements for grants under this section, except that the

Secretary may—

“(A) by regulation, exclude from consideration as program

income any amounts determined to be so small that compliance

with this paragraph creates an unreasonable administrative

burden on the grantee; or

“(B) permit the grantee to transfer remaining program

income to the other grants of the grantee under this title

upon closeout of the grant.

“(5) Prohibition on use of assistance for employment

relocation activities.—

“(A) In general.—Grants under this section may not be

used to assist directly in the relocation of any industrial

or commercial plant, facility, or operation, from one area to

another area, if the relocation is likely to result in a

significant loss of employment in the labor market area from

which the relocation occurs.

“(B) Applicability.—The prohibition under subparagraph

(A) shall not apply to a business that was operating in the

disaster-declared labor market area before the incident date

of the applicable disaster and has since moved, in whole or

in part, from the affected area to another State or to a

labor market area within the same State to continue business.

“(6) Requirements.—Grants under this section are subject

to the requirements of this section, the other provisions of

this title that apply to assistance under this section, and

other applicable laws, unless modified by waivers or

alternative requirements in accordance with subsection (i).

“(g) Environmental Review.—

“(1) Adoption.—A recipient of funds provided under this

section that uses the funds to supplement Federal assistance

provided under section 203, 402, 403, 404, 406, 407,

408(c)(4), 428, or 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster

Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170a, 5170b,

5170c, 5172, 5173, 5174(c)(4), 5189f, 5192) may adopt,

without review or public comment, any environmental review,

approval, or permit performed by a Federal agency, and such

adoption shall satisfy the responsibilities of the recipient

with respect to such environmental review, approval, or

permit under section 104(g)(1), so long as the actions

covered by the existing environmental review, approval, or

permit and the actions proposed for these supplemental funds

are substantially the same.

“(2) Approval of release of funds.—Notwithstanding

section 104(g)(2), the Secretary or a State may, upon receipt

of a request for release of funds and certification,

immediately approve the release of funds for an activity or

project to be assisted under this section if the recipient

has adopted an environmental review, approval, or permit

under paragraph (1) or the activity or project is

categorically excluded from review under the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

“(3) Units of general local government.—The provisions of

section 104(g)(4) shall apply to assistance under this

section that a State distributes to a unit of general local

government.

“(h) Financial Controls and Procedures.—

“(1) In general.—The Secretary shall develop requirements

and procedures to demonstrate that a grantee under this

section—

“(A) has adequate financial controls and procurement

processes;

“(B) has adequate procedures to detect and prevent fraud,

waste, abuse, and duplication of benefit; and

“(C) maintains a comprehensive and publicly accessible

website.

“(2) Certification.—Before making a grant under this

section, the Secretary shall certify that the grantee has in

place proficient processes and procedures to comply with the

requirements developed under paragraph (1), as determined by

the Secretary.

“(3) Compliance before allocation.—The Secretary may

permit a State, unit of general local government, or Indian

tribe to demonstrate compliance with the requirements for

adequate financial controls developed under paragraph (1)

before a disaster occurs and before receiving an allocation

for a grant under this section.

“(4) Duplication of benefits.—

“(A) In general.—Funds made available under this section

shall be used in accordance with section 312 of the Robert T.

Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42

U.S.C. 5155) and such rules as may be prescribed under such

section 312.

“(B) Penalties.—In any case in which the use of grant

funds under this section results in a prohibited duplication

of benefits, the grantee shall—

“(i) apply an amount equal to the identified duplication

to any allowable costs of the award consistent with an

actual, immediate cash requirement;

“(ii) remit any excess amounts to the Secretary to be

credited to the obligated, undisbursed balance of the grant

consistent with requirements on Federal payments applicable

to such grantee; and

“(iii) if excess amounts under clause (ii) are identified

after the period of performance or after the closeout of the

award, remit such amounts to the Secretary to be credited to

the Fund.

“(C) Failure to comply.—Any grantee provided funds under

this section or from prior appropriations Acts under the

heading `Community Development Fund' for purposes related to

major disasters that fails to comply with section 312 of the

Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance

Act (42 U.S.C. 5155) or fails to satisfy penalties to resolve

a duplication of benefits shall be subject to remedies for

noncompliance under section 111, unless the Secretary

publishes a determination in the Federal Register that it is

not in the best interest of the Federal Government to pursue

remedial actions.

“(i) Waivers and Alternative Requirements.—

“(1) In general.—In administering grants under this

section, the Secretary may waive, or specify alternative

requirements for, any provision of any statute or regulation

that the Secretary administers in connection with the

obligation by the Secretary or the use by the grantee of

those funds (except for requirements related to fair housing,

nondiscrimination, labor standards, the environment, and the

requirements of this section that do not expressly authorize

modifications by waiver or alternative requirement), if the

Secretary makes a public finding that good cause exists for

the waiver or alternative requirement.

“(2) Effective date.—A waiver or alternative requirement

described in paragraph (1) shall not take effect before the

date that is 5 days after the date of publication of the

waiver or alternative requirement on the website of the

Department of Housing and Urban Development or the effective

date for any regulation published in the Federal Register.

“(3) Public notification.—The Secretary shall notify the

public of all waivers or alternative requirements described

in paragraph (1) in accordance with the requirements of

section 7(q)(3) of the Department of Housing and Urban

Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3535(q)(3)).

“(j) Unused Amounts.—

“(1) Deadline to use amounts.—A grantee under this

section shall use an amount equal to the grant within 6 years

beginning on the date on which the Secretary obligates the

amounts to the grantee, as such period may be extended under

paragraph (4).

“(2) Recapture.—The Secretary shall recapture and credit

to the Fund any amount that is unused by a grantee under this

section upon the earlier of—

“(A) the date on which the grantee notifies the Secretary

that the grantee has completed all activities identified in

the disaster grantee's plan under subsection (c); or

“(B) the expiration of the 6-year period described in

paragraph (1), as such period may be extended under paragraph

(4).

“(3) Retention of funds.—Notwithstanding paragraph (1),

the Secretary—

“(A) shall allow a grantee under this section to retain

amounts needed to close out grants; and

“(B) may allow a grantee under this section to retain up

to 10 percent of the remaining funds to support maintenance

of the minimal capacity to launch a new program in the event

of a future disaster and to support pre-disaster long-term

recovery and mitigation planning.

“(4) Extension of period for use of funds.—The Secretary

may extend the 6-year period described in paragraph (1) by

not more than 4 years, or not more than 6 years for

mitigation activities, if—

“(A) the grantee submits to the Secretary—

“(i) written documentation of the exigent circumstances

impacting the ability of the grantee to expend funds that

could not be anticipated; or

“(ii) a justification that such request is necessary due

to the nature and complexity of the program and projects; and

“(B) the Secretary submits a written justification for the

extension to the Committee on Appropriations and the

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the

Senate and the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee

on Financial Services of the House of Representatives that

specifies the period of that extension.

“(k) Definition.—In this section, the term `Indian tribe'

has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Native

American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of

1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103).”.

(e) Regulations.—

(1) Proposed rules.—Following consultation with the

Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business

Administration, and other Federal agencies, not later than 6

months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary

shall issue proposed rules to carry out this section and the

amendments made by this section and shall provide a 90-day

period for submission of public comments on those proposed

rules.

(2) Final rules.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue final

regulations to carry out section 124 of the Housing and

Community Development Act of 1974, as added by subsection

(d).

(f) Coordination of Disaster Recovery Assistance, Benefits,

and Data With Other Federal Agencies.—

(1) Coordination of disaster recovery assistance.—In order

to ensure a comprehensive approach to Federal disaster

relief, long-term recovery, restoration of housing and

infrastructure, economic revitalization, and mitigation in

the most impacted and distressed areas resulting from a

catastrophic major disaster, the Secretary shall coordinate

with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to the greatest

extent practicable, in the implementation of assistance

authorized under section 124 of the Housing and Community

Development Act of 1974, as added by subsection (d).

(2) Data sharing agreements.—To support the coordination

of data to prevent duplication of benefits with other Federal

disaster recovery programs while also expediting recovery and

reducing burden on disaster survivors, the Department shall

establish data sharing agreements that safeguard privacy with

relevant Federal agencies to ensure disaster benefits

effectively and efficiently reach intended beneficiaries,

while using effective means of preventing harm to people and

property.

(3) Data transfer from fema and sba to hud.—As permitted

and deemed necessary for efficient program execution, and

consistent with a computer matching agreement entered into

under paragraph (6)(A), the Administrator of the Federal

Emergency Management Agency and the Administrator of the

Small Business Administration shall provide data on disaster

applicants to the Department, including, when necessary,

personally identifiable information, disaster recovery needs,

and resources determined eligible for, and amounts expended,

to the Secretary for all major disasters declared by the

President pursuant to section 401 of Robert T. Stafford

Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170)

for the purpose of providing additional assistance to

disaster survivors and prevent duplication of benefits.

(4) Data transfers from hud to hud grantees.—The Secretary

is authorized to provide to grantees under section 124 of the

Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as added by

subsection (d), offices of the Department, technical

assistance providers, and lenders information that in the

determination of the Secretary is reasonably available and

appropriate to inform the provision of assistance after a

major disaster, including information provided to the

Secretary by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency

Management Agency, the Administrator of the Small Business

Administration, or other Federal agencies.

(5) Data transfers from hud grantees to hud, fema, and

sba.—

(A) Reporting.—Grantees under section 124 of the Housing

and Community Development Act of 1974, as added by subsection

(d), shall report information requested by the Secretary on

households, businesses, and other entities assisted and the

type of assistance provided.

(B) Sharing information.—The Secretary shall share

information collected under subparagraph (A) with the Federal

Emergency Management Agency, the Small Business

Administration, and other Federal agencies to support the

planning and delivery of disaster recovery and mitigation

assistance and other related purposes.

(6) Privacy protection.—

(A) In general.—The Secretary may make and receive data

transfers authorized under this subsection, including the use

and retention of that data for computer matching programs, to

inform the provision of assistance, assess disaster recovery

needs, and prevent the duplication of benefits and other

waste, fraud, and abuse, provided that—

(i) the Secretary enters an information sharing agreement

or a computer matching agreement, when required by section

522a of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the

“Privacy Act of 1974”), with the Administrator of the

Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Administrator of the

Small Business Administration, or other Federal agencies

covering the transfer of data; and

(ii) the Secretary publishes intent to disclose data in the

Federal Register.

(B) Data sharing agreement.—Notwithstanding clauses (i)

and (ii) of subparagraph (A), section 552a of title 5, United

States Code, or any other law, the Secretary is authorized to

share data with an entity identified in paragraph (4), and

the entity is authorized to use the data as described in this

section, if the Secretary enters a data sharing agreement

with the entity before sharing or receiving any information

under transfers authorized by this section, which data

sharing agreement shall—

(i) in the determination of the Secretary, include measures

adequate to safeguard the privacy and personally identifiable

information of individuals; and

(ii) include provisions that describe how the personally

identifiable information of an individual will be adequately

safeguarded and protected, which requires consultation with

the Secretary and the head of each Federal agency the data of

which is being shared subject to the agreement.

(g) Sunset.—The program under section 124 of the Housing

and Community Development Act of 1974, as added by subsection

(d) shall terminate on the date that is 3 years after the

date of enactment of this Act.

(h) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that,

should Congress opt to appropriate funds for disaster

recovery through a similar successor program following the

sunset date, subsection (g) shall not preclude Congress from

doing so.

(i) Application.—Grants made under section 124 of the

Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as added by

subsection (d), after the date of enactment of this Act shall

be carried out using amounts appropriated after the date of

enactment of this Act.

SEC. 505. NEW MOVING TO WORK COHORT.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Moving to work demonstration.—The term “Moving to

Work demonstration” means the Moving to Work demonstration

authorized under section 204 of the Departments of Veterans

Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent

Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note).

(2) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Housing and Urban Development.

(b) Authorization of Additional Public Housing Agencies.—

(1) In general.—After the completion of the initial report

required under subsection (h)(2), the Secretary may add up to

an additional 25 public housing agencies that are designated

as high performing agencies under the Public Housing

Assessment System or the Section 8 Management Assessment

Program to participate in a new cohort as part of the Moving

to Work demonstration.

(2) Name.—The new cohort authorized under paragraph (1)

shall be entitled the “Economic Opportunity and Pathways to

Independence Cohort”.

(1) In general.—Subject to this subsection, the authority

of the Secretary to grant waivers to agencies admitted to the

Moving to Work demonstration under this section or to

designate policy changes as part of a cohort design under

this section shall be limited to the Moving to Work waivers

codified as of January 2025 in Appendix I of the document of

the Department of Housing and Urban Development entitled

“Operations Notice for the Expansion of the Moving to Work

Demonstration Program” (FR-5994-N-05) published in the

Federal Register on August 28, 2020, as amended by the notice

entitled “Operations Notice for Expansion of the Moving to

Work Demonstration Program Technical Revisions” (FR-5994-N-

06) published in the Federal Register on March 20, 2025.

(2) Modifications.—The Secretary may not waive the safe

harbor requirements that apply to the Moving to Work waivers

described in paragraph (1) or modify those waivers in any

other way for the purposes of the new cohort under this

section.

(3) Exceptions.—

(A) In general.—Under paragraph (1), the Secretary may not

grant waiver 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1k, 1l, 1o, 1p, 1q, 6, 7, 9a,

9h, or 12 in the document described in paragraph (1),

including

modifications of or safe harbor requirement waivers for such

waivers.

(B) Specific wavers.—If the Secretary grants waiver 10 or

11 in the document described in paragraph (1), resident

participation in any program administered pursuant to those

waivers shall be optional for purposes of the new cohort

under this section.

(4) Policy options.—In carrying out the Moving to Work

demonstration cohort established under this section, the

Secretary may consider policy options to provide opt-out

savings or escrow accounts and report positive rental

payments to consumer reporting agencies (as defined in

section 603 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C.

1681a)) with resident consent.

(d) Funding and Use of Funds.—

(1) In general.—Public housing agencies in the cohort

authorized under this section may expend not more than 5

percent of the amounts those public housing agencies receive

in any fiscal year for housing assistance payments under

section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42

U.S.C. 1437f(o)) for purposes other than such housing

assistance payments.

(2) Other uses.—Such other uses of amounts described in

paragraph (1) shall comply with all other applicable

requirements.

(3) Formula.—

(A) Renewal.—The amount of funding public housing agencies

receive for renewal of housing assistance payments under

section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42

U.S.C. 1437f(o)) shall be determined according to the same

funding formula applicable to public housing agencies that do

not participate in the Moving to Work demonstration, except

that the Secretary shall provide public housing agencies

funding to renew any funds expended under this subsection,

with an adjustment for inflation.

(B) Administrative fees.—The amount of funding public

housing agencies receive for administrative fees under

section 8(q) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42

U.S.C. 1437f(q)), public housing operating subsidies under

section 9(e) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42

U.S.C. 1437g(e)), and public housing capital funding under

section 9(d) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42

U.S.C. 1437g(d)) shall be determined according to the same

funding formula applicable to public housing agencies that do

not participate in the Moving to Work demonstration.

(e) Selection Requirements.—The Secretary shall select

public housing agencies designated under this section through

a competitive process, as determined by the Secretary, with

the following parameters:

(1) No public housing agency shall be granted this

designation under this section that administers more than

27,000 aggregate housing vouchers and public housing units.

(2) Of the public housing agencies selected under this

section, not more than 12 shall administer 1,000 or fewer

aggregate housing vouchers and public housing units, not more

than 8 shall administer between 1,001 and 6,000 aggregate

housing vouchers and public housing units, and not more than

5 shall administer between 6,001 and 27,000 aggregate housing

vouchers and public housing units.

(3) Selection of public housing agencies under this section

shall be based on ensuring the geographic diversity of Moving

to Work demonstration public housing agencies.

(4) Within the requirements under paragraphs (1) through

(3), the Secretary shall prioritize selecting public housing

agencies that serve families with children and youth aging

out of foster care at a rate above the national average.

(f) Requirements for Selected Public Housing Agencies.—

Consistent with section 204(c)(3) of the Departments of

Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and

Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 (42 U.S.C.

1437f note), public housing agencies selected for the Moving

to Work demonstration under this section shall—

(1) ensure that not less than 75 percent of the families

assisted are very low-income families, as defined in section

3(b)(2)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42

U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2)(B));

(2) establish a reasonable rent policy, which shall be

designed to encourage employment and self-sufficiency by

participating families, consistent with the purpose of the

Moving to Work demonstration, such as by excluding some or

all of a family's earned income for purposes of determining

rent;

(3) continue to assist substantially the same total number

of eligible low-income families as would have been served had

the amounts not been combined;

(4) maintain a comparable mix of families (by family size)

as would have been provided had the amounts not been used

under the Moving to Work demonstration; and

(5) assure that housing assisted under the Moving to Work

demonstration meets housing quality standards established or

approved by the Secretary.

(g) Noncompliance.—

(1) In general.—If the Secretary finds that a public

housing agency participating in the cohort authorized under

this section is not in compliance with the requirements under

this section, the Secretary shall make a determination of

noncompliance.

(2) Compliance.—Upon making a determination under

paragraph (1), the Secretary shall develop a process to bring

the public housing agency into compliance.

(3) Removal.—If a public housing agency cannot be brought

into compliance under the process developed under paragraph

(2), the Secretary shall remove the participating public

housing agency from the cohort and replace it with a

similarly qualified public housing agency currently not in

the cohort chosen in the manner described in subsection (e).

(4) Notification.—Upon removing a public housing agency

under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall immediately submit

to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of

the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the

House of Representatives—

(A) a notification of the removal; and

(B) a report on the active steps the Secretary is taking to

replace the public housing agency with a new public housing

agency.

(h) Comprehensive Moving to Work Reporting and Oversight

Requirements.—

(1) Cohort research.—

(A) In general.—The Secretary shall continue ongoing

research investigations commenced as part of the assessment

of the cohorts established under section 239 of the

Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations

Act, 2016 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note; Public Law 114-113), make

public all products completed as part of those

investigations, and keep such products online for at least 5

years.

(B) Coordination.—The Secretary shall coordinate with the

advisory committee established under section 239 of the

Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations

Act, 2016 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note; Public Law 114-113) to

establish a research program to evaluate the outcomes and

efficacy of the following for all Moving to Work

demonstration agencies designated under the authority under

such section and this section:

(i) The waivers granted to each cohort and whether those

waivers accomplish the goals of achieving greater cost

effectiveness and administrative capacity, incentivizing

families to become economically self-sufficient, and

increasing housing choice.

(ii) The additional flexibilities granted to individual

public housing agencies under each cohort.

(iii) How the flexibilities described in clause (ii) were

used for local, non-traditional activities.

(2) Comprehensive reporting requirement.—Not later than

180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and

annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the

Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House

of Representatives a report that contains the following for

each Moving to Work demonstration cohort under section 204 of

the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban

Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act,

1996 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note), section 239 of the Department of

Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2016 (42

U.S.C. 1437f note; Public Law 114-113), and this section:

(A) The annual administrative plans of each Moving to Work

demonstration public housing agency.

(B) Assessments of longitudinal data, including data on

units, households, and outcomes, which shall be evaluated to

compare changes in the following trends before and after

Moving to Work demonstration designation:

(i) Impacts on tenants based on the following,

disaggregated by the public housing program and the housing

choice voucher program:

(I) Eviction rates.

(II) Hardship policy usage.

(III) Share of rent covered by a household.

(IV) Turnover, including the number of household moves with

or without continued assistance.

(V) Reasons for exit from the program.

(VI) The number and characteristics of households served,

including households with a non-elderly family member with a

disability, households with 3 or more minors, homelessness

status at the time of admission, and average and median

income as a percent of area median income.

(ii) Impacts on public housing agency operations based on

the following:

(I) The number of units, broken down by type.

(II) The size, including the number of bedrooms per unit,

accessibility, affordability, and quality of units.

(III) The length of each waitlist maintained and average

wait times.

(IV) Changes in capital backlog needs and surplus fund and

reserve levels.

(V) The number of public housing units undergoing a

conversion under the rental assistance demonstration program

authorized under the Department of Housing and Urban

Development Appropriations Act, 2012 (Public Law 112-55; 125

Stat. 673) or demolition or disposition projects under

section 18 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42

U.S.C. 1437p), including the number of units lost and the

location of any replacement housing resulting from demolition

or disposition.

(VI) The share of project-based vouchers compared to

tenant-based vouchers.

(VII) The following annual housing choice voucher data:

(aa) Voucher unit utilization rates.

(bb) Voucher budget utilization rates.

(cc) Annualized voucher success rate.

(dd) Demographic composition of households issued vouchers

compared to utilized vouchers.

(ee) Average time to lease-up.

(ff) Average cost per voucher.

(gg) Average cost per landlord incentive.

(hh) Ratio of the proportion of voucher households living

in concentrated low-income areas to the proportion of renter-

occupied units in concentrated low-income areas.

(ii) Characteristics of census tracts where voucher

recipients reside.

(VIII) How the public housing agency met each of the

statutory requirements in section 204(c)(3) of the

Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban

Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act,

1996 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note).

(iii) Impacts on public housing staffing and capacity,

including the average public housing agency operating,

administrative, and housing assistance payment expenditures

per household per month.

could be expanded to all public housing agencies and how each

flexibility enhances housing choice, affordability, and

administrative capacity and efficiency for public housing

agencies.

(3) Public availability.—

(A) In general.—The Secretary shall maintain all reports

submitted pursuant to this section in a manner that is

publicly available, accessible, and searchable on the website

of the Department of Housing and Urban Development for not

less than 5 years.

(B) Other information.—

(i) In general.—The Secretary shall make the annual plan

of the Moving to Work demonstration, the Section 8

administrative plan, and the admission and continued

occupancy policy for each year publicly available in 1

location on the website of the Department of Housing and

Urban Development for not less than 5 years.

(ii) Database.—The Secretary may establish a searchable

database on the website of the Department of Housing and

Urban Development to track the types of flexibilities into

which Moving to Work demonstration public housing agencies

have opted or for which a waiver was approved by the

Secretary, disaggregated by the year such flexibilities were

adopted or approved.

TITLE VI—VETERANS AND HOUSING

SEC. 601. MILITARY SERVICE QUESTION.

(a) In General.—Subpart A of part 2 of the Federal Housing

Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 (12

U.S.C. 4541 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the

following:

“SEC. 1329. UNIFORM RESIDENTIAL LOAN APPLICATION.

“Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of

this section, the Director shall, by regulation or order,

require each enterprise to include a disclosure below the

military service question, which shall be above the signature

line, on the form known as the Uniform Residential Loan

Application stating, `If yes, you may qualify for a VA Home

Loan. Consult your lender regarding eligibility.'.”.

(b) GAO Study.—Not later than 18 months after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United

States shall conduct a study and submit to Congress a report

on whether or not less than 80 percent of lenders using the

Uniform Residential Loan Application have included on that

form the disclaimer required under section 1329 of the

Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness

Act of 1992, as added by subsection (a).

SEC. 602. HOUSING UNHOUSED DISABLED VETERANS ACT.

(a) Exclusion of Certain Disability Benefits.—Section

3(b)(4)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42

U.S.C. 1437a(b)(4)(B)) is amended—

(1) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (vi)

and (vii), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:

“(iv) for the purpose of determining income eligibility

with respect to the supported housing program under section

8(o)(19), any disability benefits received under chapter 11

or chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code, received by a

veteran, except that this exclusion shall not apply to the

income in the definition of adjusted income;

“(v) for the purpose of determining income eligibility

with respect to any household receiving rental assistance

under the supported housing program under section 8(o)(19) as

it relates to eligibility for other types of housing

assistance, any disability benefits received under chapter 11

or chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code, received by a

veteran, but such amounts shall not be excluded from income

when determining adjusted income;”.

(b) Treatment of Certain Disability Benefits.—

(1) In general.—When determining the eligibility of a

veteran to rent a residential dwelling unit constructed on

Department property on or after the date of enactment of this

Act, for which assistance is provided as part of a housing

assistance program administered by the Secretary, the

Secretary shall exclude from income any disability benefits

received under chapter 11 or chapter 15 of title 38, United

States Code by such person.

(2) Definitions.—In this subsection:

(A) Department property.—The term “Department property”

has the meaning given the term in section 901 of title 38,

United States Code.

(B) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Housing and Urban Development.

SEC. 603. VETERANS AFFAIRS LOAN INFORMED DISCLOSURE (VALID)

ACT.

(a) FHA Informed Consumer Choice Disclosure.—

(1) Inclusion of information relating to va loans.—

Subparagraph (A) of section 203(f)(2) of the National Housing

Act (12 U.S.C. 1709(f)(2)(A)) is amended—

(A) by striking “ratio in” and inserting “ratio—

“(i) in”; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

“(ii) in connection with a loan guaranteed or insured

under chapter 37 of title 38, United States Code, assuming

prevailing interest rates; and”.

(2) Rule of construction.—Nothing in the amendments made

by paragraph (1) shall be construed to require an original

lender to determine whether a prospective borrower is

eligible for any loan included in the notice required under

section 203(f) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C.

1709(f)).

(b) Military Service Question.—

(1) In general.—Subpart A of part 2 of subtitle A of the

Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness

Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4541 et seq.), as amended by section

601(a) of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the

following:

“SEC. 1330. UNIFORM RESIDENTIAL LOAN APPLICATION.

“Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of

this section, the Director shall require each enterprise to—

“(1) include a military service question on the form known

as the Uniform Residential Loan Application to include

selection options of `Yes', `No', and “Prefer Not To

Answer”; and

“(2) position the question described in paragraph (1)

above the signature line of the Uniform Residential Loan

Application.”.

(2) Rulemaking.—Not later than 6 months after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Director of the Federal Housing

Finance Agency shall issue a rule to carry out the amendment

made by this section.

TITLE VII—OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

SEC. 701. REQUIRING ANNUAL TESTIMONY AND OVERSIGHT FROM

HOUSING REGULATORS.

Section 7 of the Department of Housing and Urban

Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3535) is amended by adding at the

end the following:

“(u) Annual Testimony.—The Secretary shall appear before

the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the

Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House

of Representatives at an annual hearing and present testimony

regarding the operations of the Department during the

preceding year, including—

“(1) the current programs and operations of the

Department;

“(2) the physical condition of all public housing and

other housing assisted by the Department;

“(3) the financial health of the mortgage insurance funds

of the Federal Housing Agency;

“(4) oversight by the Department of grantees and

subgrantees for purposes of preventing waste, fraud, and

abuse;

“(5) the progress made by the Federal Government in ending

the affordable housing and homelessness crises;

“(6) the capacity of the Department to deliver on its

statutory mission; and

“(7) other ongoing activities of the Department, as

appropriate.”.

SEC. 702. FHA REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ON SAFETY AND SOUNDNESS.

Section 202(a) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C.

1708(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(8) Other required reporting.—The Secretary shall—

“(A) submit to Congress monthly reports on the capital

ratio required under section 205(f)(2); and

“(B) notify Congress as soon as practicable after the Fund

falls below the capital ratio required under section

205(f)(2).”.

SEC. 703. UNITED STATES INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS

OVERSIGHT.

Section 203(a) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance

Act (42 U.S.C. 11313(a)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)—

(A) by striking “Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid

Transition to Housing Act of 2009” and inserting “21st

Century ROAD to Housing Act”; and

(B) by striking “update such plan annually” and inserting

“submit to the President and Congress a report every year

thereafter that includes—

“(A) the status of completion of the plan; and

“(B) any modifications that were made to the plan and the

reasons for those modifications;”;

(2) by redesignating paragraphs (10) through (13) as

paragraphs (11) through (14), respectively;

(3) by redesignating the second paragraph (9) (relating to

collecting and disseminating information) as paragraph (10);

(4) in paragraph (13), as so redesignated, by striking

“and” at the end;

(5) in paragraph (14), as so redesignated, by striking the

period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(6) by adding at the end the following:

“(15) testify annually before Congress, if requested.”.

SEC. 704. APPRAISAL MODERNIZATION ACT.

(a) Reconsideration of Value.—

(1) Federally backed mortgage loan defined.—In this

subsection, the term “federally backed mortgage loan” has

the meaning given the term in section 4022 of the CARES Act

(15 U.S.C. 9056).

(2) Requirement.—The Secretary of Agriculture, the

Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Commissioner of the

Federal Housing Administration, and the Director of the

Federal Housing Finance Agency shall each implement and

maintain requirements that creditors of a federally backed

mortgage loan have a review and resolution procedure for a

consumer-initiated reconsideration of value or subsequent

appraisal in connection with a consumer credit transaction

secured by a consumer's principal dwelling.

(b) Public Appraisal Database.—

(1) Covered agencies defined.—In this subsection, the term

“covered agencies” means—

(A) the Federal Housing Finance Agency, on behalf of the

Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home

Loan Mortgage Corporation;

(B) the Department of Housing and Urban Development,

including the Federal Housing Administration;

(D) the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(2) Feasibility report.—Not later than 240 days after the

date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the

United States shall submit to Congress a public report

assessing the feasibility of creating a publicly available

appraisal database that consists of a searchable and

downloadable appraisal-level public use file that

consolidates appraisal data held or aggregated by covered

agencies, including—

(A) the costs and benefits associated with establishing and

maintaining the public database;

(B) the benefits and risks associated with the Federal

Housing Finance Agency or the Bureau of Consumer Financial

Protection being responsible for the public database and

whether there is another Federal agency best suited for

implementing and administering such database;

privacy-related risks associated with making certain

appraisal data factors publicly available, including

whether—

(i) there are any existing legal requirements, including

under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 (12 U.S.C.

2801 et seq.) and section 552 of title 5, United States Code

(commonly known as the “Freedom of Information Act”), or

additional actions Federal agencies could take to mitigate

such risks, such as modifying or aggregating data or

eliminating personally identifiable information; and

(ii) there are any data factors that, if made public, may

violate conduct, ethics, or other professional standards as

they relate to appraisals and appraisal or valuation

professionals;

(D) the feasibility of consolidating or matching appraisal

data held by covered agencies with corresponding data that

are required and made public under the Home Mortgage

Disclosure Act of 1975 (12 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.);

(E) whether the publication of any appraisal data factors

may pose unfair business advantages within the valuation

industry;

(F) the feasibility of including all valuation data held by

covered agencies, including data produced by automated

valuation models;

(G) the feasibility and benefits of making the full

appraisal dataset, including any modified fields, available

to—

(i) Federal agencies, including for purposes related to

enforcement and supervision responsibilities;

(ii) relevant State licensing, supervision, and enforcement

agencies and State attorneys general;

(iii) approved researchers, including academics and

nonprofit organizations that, in connection with their

mission, work to ensure the fairness and consistency of home

valuations, including appraisals; and

(iv) any other entities identified by the Comptroller

General as having a compelling use for disaggregated data;

(H) what appraisal data are already available in the public

domain; and

(I) the feasibility of incorporating legacy data held by

covered agencies during the period beginning on January 1,

2017, and ending on the date of enactment of this Act, and

whether there are specific data points not easily

consolidated or matched, as described in subparagraph (D),

with more recent data.

(3) Purpose.—The database described in paragraph (2) shall

be used to provide the public, the Federal Government, and

State governments with residential real estate appraisal data

to help determine whether financial institutions, appraisal

management companies, appraisers, valuation technologies,

such as automated valuation models, and other valuation

professionals are effectively serving the entire housing

market.

(4) Consultation.—As part of the information used in the

report required under paragraph (2), the Comptroller General

of the United States shall conduct interviews with—

(A) relevant Federal agencies;

(B) relevant State licensing, supervision, and enforcement

agencies and State attorneys general;

professionals;

(D) mortgage lending institutions;

(E) fair housing and fair lending experts; and

(F) any other relevant stakeholders as determined by the

Comptroller General.

(5) Hearing.—Upon the completion of the report under

paragraph (2), the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban

Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services

of the House of Representatives shall each hold a hearing on

the findings of the report and the feasibility of

establishing a public appraisal-level appraisal database.

TITLE VIII—ACCOUNTABILITY, COORDINATION, STUDIES, AND REPORTING

SEC. 801. HUD-USDA-VA INTERAGENCY COORDINATION ACT.

(a) Memorandum of Understanding.—The Secretary of Housing

and Urban Development, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the

Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a memorandum of

understanding, or other appropriate interagency agreement, to

share relevant housing-related research and market data that

facilitate evidence-based policymaking.

(b) Interagency Report.—

(1) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary

of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the Committee on

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the

Committee on Financial Services of the House of

Representatives a report containing—

(A) a description of opportunities for increased

collaboration between the Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary

of Veterans Affairs to reduce inefficiencies in housing

programs;

(B) a list of Federal laws (including regulations) that

adversely affect the availability and affordability of new

construction of assisted housing and single-family and

multifamily residential housing subject to mortgages insured

under title II of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1707 et

seq.), insured, guaranteed, or made by the Secretary of

Agriculture under title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (42

U.S.C. 1471 et seq.), or insured, guaranteed, or made by the

Secretary of Veterans Affairs under chapter 37 of title 38,

United States Code; and

(including regulations) described in subparagraph (B).

(2) Publication.—The report required under paragraph (1)

shall, prior to submission under this subsection, be

published in the Federal Register and open for comment for a

period of 30 days.

SEC. 802. STREAMLINING RURAL HOUSING ACT.

(a) In General.—Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development and the Secretary of Agriculture shall enter into

a memorandum of understanding to—

(1) evaluate categorical exclusions under the environmental

review process for housing projects funded by amounts from

the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the

Department of Agriculture;

(2) develop a process to designate a lead agency and

streamline adoption of Environmental Impact Statements and

Environmental Assessments approved by the other Department to

construct housing projects funded by both agencies;

(3) maintain compliance with environmental regulations

under part 58 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, as in

effect on January 1, 2025, except as required to amend, add,

or remove categorical exclusions identified under section

58.35 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, through

standard rulemaking procedures; and

(4) evaluate the feasibility of a joint physical inspection

process for housing projects funded by amounts from the

Department of Housing and Urban Development and the

Department of Agriculture.

(b) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development and the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to

the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the

Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House

of Representatives a report that includes recommendations for

legislative, regulatory, or administrative actions—

(1) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of housing

projects funded by amounts from the Department of Housing and

Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture; and

(2) that do not materially, with respect to residents of

housing projects described in paragraph (1)—

(A) reduce the safety of those residents;

(B) shift long-term costs onto those residents; or

residents.

SEC. 803. IMPROVING SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF FAMILIES IN HUD-

SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.

(a) In General.—

(1) Study.—Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary of

Housing and Urban Development shall conduct a study on the

implementation of work requirements implemented prior to the

date of enactment of this Act by public housing agencies

described in paragraph (4) participating in the Moving to

Work demonstration authorized under section 204 of the

Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban

Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act,

1996 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note).

(2) Scope.—The study required under paragraph (1) shall—

(A) consider the short-, medium-, and long-term benefits

and challenges of work requirements on public housing

agencies described in paragraph (4) and on program

participants who are subject to such requirements, including

the effects work requirements have on homelessness rates,

poverty rates, asset building, earnings growth, job

attainment and retention, and public housing agencies'

administrative capacity; and

(B) include quantitative and qualitative evidence,

including interviews with program participants described in

subparagraph (A) and their respective resident councils.

(3) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the

Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House

of Representatives a report on the initial findings of the

study required under paragraph (1).

(4) Public housing agencies described.—The public housing

agencies described in this paragraph are public housing

agencies that, as part of an application to participate in

the demonstration authorized under section 204 of the

Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban

Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act,

1996 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note), submit a proposal identifying

work requirements as an innovative proposal.

(b) Determination.—The requirement under subsection (a)

shall apply if the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

determines that—

(1) there are a sufficient number of public housing

agencies described in subsection (a)(4) such that the

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development can rigorously

evaluate the impact of the implementation of work

requirements described in that subsection; and

(2) the study would not negatively impact low-income

families receiving assistance through a public housing agency

described in subsection (a)(4).

SEC. 804. GAO STUDIES.

(a) Workforce Housing Study.—

(1) Middle-income household defined.—In this subsection,

the term “middle-income household” means a household with

an income above 80 percent but that does not exceed 120

percent of the median family income of the area, as

determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

with adjustments for smaller and larger families.

(2) Study.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United

States shall conduct a study and submit to Congress a report

that—

(A) identifies obstacles middle-income households face when

looking to secure affordable housing;

(B) identifies geographic areas where housing is the most

unaffordable and unavailable for middle-income households;

Federal tax credits, grants, and loan programs, that are not

available to middle-income households due to their income

status, including Federal housing programs designed to

promote affordability;

(D) recommends income and other parameters to establish a

clear and consistent Federal definition for the term

“workforce housing” for use when describing the segment of

housing that could be made available to those middle-income

households in Federal housing programs if funding

commensurate with the additional eligibility were to be made

available; and

(E) analyzes how to modify or newly develop new Federal

housing programs and incentives to include “workforce

housing” if funding commensurate with the additional

eligibility were to be made available.

(b) Housing for Elderly or Disabled.—Not later than 1 year

after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller

General of the United States shall carry out a study and

submit to Congress a report that identifies options to remove

barriers and improve housing for persons who are elderly or

disabled, including any potential impacts of providing

capital advances for—

(1) the program for supportive housing for the elderly

under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C.

1701q); and

(2) the program for supportive housing for persons with

disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez

National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013).

than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the

Comptroller General of the United States shall carry out a

study and submit to Congress a report that identifies how

many residential dwelling units, and how many dwelling units

that are a part of public housing (as defined in section 3(b)

of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.

1437a(b))), are located less than 1 mile from a site that is

included on the National Priorities List established pursuant

to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,

Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9605).

(d) Residential Heirs Property.—Not later than 1 year

after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller

General of the United States shall carry out a study and

submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban

Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services

of the House of Representatives a report that—

(1) establishes a comprehensive definition of residential

heirs property, or family land inherited without a will or

legal documentation of ownership;

(2) examines the occurrence of and consequences to owners

of residential heirs property, and provides an estimate

regarding the number of current residential heirs properties;

(3) describes the objectives and requirements of the

Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act as approved by the

National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in

2010;

(4) details the various resources that may be available to

the owners of residential heirs properties, including housing

counseling, legal services, and financial assistance to

resolve residential heirs property title issues from the

Federal Government, nonprofit organizations, and institutions

of higher education; and

(5) makes recommendations with respect to how to reduce the

number of residential heirs properties, including—

(A) by incentivizing States and other jurisdictions which

enact or adopt the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act or

similar such reforms;

(B) by awarding grants to States and other jurisdictions to

assist residents of those States and jurisdictions to

establish and document property ownership rights or settle a

decedent's estate;

(i) provide housing counseling, legal assistance, and

financial assistance to home-owners and their heirs relating

to title clearing and home retention efforts of heirs'

property; and

(ii) target services to low- and moderate-income persons or

provide services in neighborhoods that have a high

concentration of low- and moderate-income persons; and

(D) by conducting other activities that assist individuals

to clear title with respect to heirs' property and with

general estate planning.

SEC. 805. IMPROVING PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY ACCOUNTABILITY.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Covered public housing agency.—The term “covered

public housing agency” means a public housing agency (as

defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of

1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b))) for which an administrative or

judicial receiver or Federal monitor was appointed.

(2) Inspector general.—The term “Inspector General”

means the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and

Urban Development.

(3) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary

of Housing and Urban Development.

(b) Required Notice.—The Secretary shall require each

covered public housing agency to provide a notice each year

to the Secretary that—

(1) indicates that if a receiver or Federal monitor remains

appointed for the covered public housing agency as of October

1 of the calendar year to which the notice relates;

(2) provides the date on which the receiver or Federal

monitor was first appointed and the projected date, if known,

the appointment of the receiver or Federal monitor will be

terminated; and

(3) identifies the current receiver or Federal monitor

appointed to oversee the public housing agency.

(1) In general.—Notwithstanding any other provision of

law, not later than October 1 of each year, each receiver or

Federal monitor that is currently appointed to oversee a

covered public housing agency shall provide to the Committee

on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the

Senate a written assessment that—

(A) describes the management and oversight activities of

the receiver or Federal monitor for the covered public

housing agency;

(B) identifies the significant factors that led to the

appointment of the receiver or Federal monitor for the

covered public housing agency;

covered public housing agency that have led to the continued

oversight of the receiver or Federal monitor; and

(D) includes a timeline developed by the receiver or

Federal monitor that projects when the factors identified

under subparagraphs (B) and (C) will be resolved.

(2) Additional information.—In addition to the written

assessment required in paragraph (1), upon written request by

the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the

Senate or the Committee on Financial Services of the House of

Representatives, each receiver or Federal monitor appointed

to oversee a covered public housing agency shall promptly

furnish additional or supplemental information requested by

the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the

Senate or the Committee on Financial Services of the House of

Representatives with respect to the covered public housing

agency that such receiver or Federal monitor is appointed to

oversee, including presenting testimony upon request.

(d) Disclosure Required.—The Secretary shall, not later

than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, require

each covered public housing agency to publicly disclose, on

the website of the covered public housing agency, with

respect to each contract entered into by such covered public

housing

agency in the preceding year, the following information:

(1) All material information about the contract, including

the goods and service provided.

(2) The identity of the vendor selected to receive the

contract.

(3) The date of the solicitation of the contract.

(4) The relevant information pertaining to the bids and

quotes solicited for the contract.

(5) The name of the official who solicited the contract.

(e) Inspector General Review.—Not later than 180 days

after receiving a written request from the Committee on

Financial Services of the House of Representatives or the

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the

Senate, the Inspector General shall provide to the requesting

committee an analysis of—

(1) the status of any covered public housing agency's

compliance with any agreements entered into between the

covered public housing agency and the Department of Housing

and Urban Development, including specific areas of deficiency

and progress toward compliance;

(2) a review of actions taken by the receiver or Federal

monitor appointed to oversee a covered public housing agency

and any private sector housing development partners pursuant

to such agreement, including any gaps in oversight by the

receiver or Federal monitor;

(3) an assessment of the physical conditions of housing

provided by the covered public housing agency, including the

status of the covered public housing agency's compliance with

relevant health and safety requirements;

(4) an examination of any allegations of waste, fraud,

abuse or violations of Federal law committed by employees or

contractors of the covered public housing agency;

(5) any additional pertinent information, as determined

necessary and appropriate by the inspector general; and

(6) any recommendations of the inspector general that

relate to how to improve the compliance of the covered public

housing agency with any agreements entered into with the

Department of Housing and Urban Development or enhance the

oversight of the receiver or Federal monitor over such

covered public housing agency.

TITLE IX—STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY BANKS' ROLE IN HOUSING

SEC. 901. COMMUNITY BANK DEPOSIT ACCESS.

(a) In General.—Section 29 of the Federal Deposit

Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1831f) is amended by adding at the

end the following:

“(j) Limited Exception for Custodial Deposits.—

“(1) In general.—Custodial deposits of an eligible

institution shall not be considered to be funds obtained,

directly or indirectly, by or through a deposit broker to the

extent that the total amount of such custodial deposits does

not exceed an amount equal to 20 percent of the total

liabilities of the eligible institution.

“(2) Definitions.—In this subsection:

“(A) Custodial deposit.—The term `custodial deposit'

means a deposit that is not deposited at an insured

depository institution in return for fees paid by the insured

depository institution pursuant to an agreement with a third

party and that would otherwise be considered to be obtained,

directly or indirectly, by or through a deposit broker, if

the deposit is deposited at 1 or more insured depository

institutions, for the purpose of providing or maintaining

deposit insurance for the benefit of a third party, by or

through any of the following, each acting in a formal

custodial or fiduciary capacity for the benefit of a third

party:

“(i) An insured depository institution serving as agent,

trustee, or custodian.

“(ii) A trust entity controlled by an insured depository

institution serving as agent, trustee, or custodian.

“(iii) A State-chartered trust company serving as agent,

trustee, or custodian.

“(iv) A plan administrator or investment advisor, acting

in a formal custodial or fiduciary capacity for the benefit

of a plan.

“(B) Eligible institution.—The term `eligible

institution' means an insured depository institution that

accepts custodial deposits, if the insured depository

institution has less than $10,000,000,000 in total assets as

reported on the consolidated report of condition and income

as reported quarterly to the appropriate Federal banking

agency and—

“(i)(I) when most recently examined under section 10(d)

was assigned a composite rating of 1, 2, or 3 under the

Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System (or an

equivalent rating under a comparable rating system); and

“(II) is well capitalized; or

“(ii) has obtained a waiver pursuant to subsection (c).

“(C) Plan.—The term `plan' has the meaning given the term

in section 3 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act

of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002).

“(D) Plan administrator.—The term `plan administrator'

has the meaning given the term `administrator' in section 3

of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29

U.S.C. 1002).

“(E) Well capitalized.—The term `well capitalized' has

the meaning given the term in section 38(b).”.

(b) Interest Rate Restriction.—Section 29 of the Federal

Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1831f), as amended by

subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the

following:

“(k) Restriction on Interest Rate Paid on Certain

Custodial Deposits.—

“(1) Definitions.—In this subsection—

“(A) the terms `custodial deposit', `eligible

institution', and `well capitalized' have the meanings given

those terms in subsection (j); and

“(B) the term `covered insured depository institution'

means an insured depository institution that while acting as

an eligible institution under subsection (j), accepts

custodial deposits while not well capitalized.

“(2) Prohibition.—A covered insured depository

institution may not pay a rate of interest on custodial

deposits that are accepted while not well capitalized that,

at the time the funds or custodial deposits are accepted,

significantly exceeds the limit set forth in paragraph (3).

“(3) Limit on interest rates.—The limit on the rate of

interest referred to in paragraph (2) shall be not greater

than—

“(A) the rate paid on deposits of similar maturity in the

normal market area of the covered insured depository

institution for deposits accepted in the normal market area

of the covered insured depository institution; or

“(B) the national rate paid on deposits of comparable

maturity, as established by the Corporation, for deposits

accepted outside the normal market area of the covered

insured depository institution.”.

SEC. 902. KEEPING DEPOSITS LOCAL.

(a) Amount of Reciprocal Deposits That Are Not Considered

to Be Funds Obtained by or Through a Deposit Broker.—Section

29(i) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.

1831f(i)) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting

the following:

“(1) In general.—The sum of the following amounts of

reciprocal deposits of an agent institution shall not be

considered to be funds obtained, directly or indirectly, by

or through a deposit broker:

“(A) An amount equal to 50 percent of the portion of the

total liabilities of the agent institution that is less than

or equal to $1,000,000,000.

“(B) An amount equal to 40 percent of the portion, if any,

of the total liabilities of the agent institution that is

greater than $1,000,000,000, but less than or equal to

$10,000,000,000.

“(C) An amount equal to 30 percent of the portion, if any,

of the total liabilities of the agent institution that is

greater than $10,000,000,000, but less than or equal to

$96,333,333,333.”.

(b) Definition of Agent Institution.—Section

29(i)(2)(A)(i)(I) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12

U.S.C. 1831f(i)(2)(A)(i)) is amended by striking “was found

to have a composite condition of outstanding or good” and

inserting “was assigned a CAMELS rating of 1, 2, or 3 under

the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System (or an

equivalent rating under a comparable rating system)”.

(1) In general.—The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,

in consultation with the Board of Governors of the Federal

Reserve System, shall carry out a study on reciprocal

deposits.

(2) Contents.—The study required under paragraph (1) shall

include—

(A) an analysis of how reciprocal deposits have performed

since 2018, which shall include—

(i) the use of quantitative and qualitative data;

(ii) a breakdown of the usage of reciprocal deposits by

size of insured depository institution;

(iii) the usage of reciprocal deposits during periods of

stress; and

(iv) an analysis, to the extent practicable, of end-user

depositors, such as municipalities, businesses, and nonprofit

organizations, that drive demand for reciprocal products;

(B) an analysis, to the extent practicable, of how

reciprocal deposits compare to other deposit arrangements;

and

reciprocal deposits.

(3) Report.—Not later than 6 months after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Federal Deposit Insurance

Corporation shall issue a report to the Committee on

Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the

Senate containing all findings and determinations made in

carrying out the study required under paragraph (1).

SEC. 903. TAILORED REGULATORY UPDATES FOR SUPERVISORY

TESTING.

Section 10(d) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12

U.S.C. 1820(d)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking “$3,000,000,000” and

inserting “$6,000,000,000”; and

(2) in paragraph (10), by striking “$3,000,000,000” and

inserting “$6,000,000,000”.

SEC. 904. CREDIT UNION BOARD MODERNIZATION.

Section 113 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C.

1761b) is amended—

(1) by striking “monthly” each place such term appears;

(2) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking

“The board of directors” and inserting the following:

“(a) In General.—The board of directors”;

(3) in subsection (a) (as so designated), by striking

“shall meet at least once a month and”; and

(4) by adding at the end the following:

“(b) Meetings.—The board of directors of a Federal credit

union shall meet as follows:

“(1) With respect to a de novo Federal credit union, not

less frequently than monthly during each of the first five

years of the existence of such Federal credit union.

“(2) Not less than six times annually, with at least one

meeting held during each fiscal quarter, with respect to a

Federal credit union—

“(A) with a composite rating of either 1 or 2 under the

Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System (or an

equivalent rating under a comparable rating system); and

“(B) with a capability of management rating under such

composite rating of either 1 or 2.

“(3) Not less frequently than once a month, with respect

to a Federal credit union—

“(A) with a composite rating of either 3, 4, or 5 under

the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System (or an

equivalent rating under a comparable rating system); or

“(B) with a capability of management rating under such

composite rating of either 3, 4, or 5.”.

SEC. 905. SYSTEMIC RISK AUTHORITY TRANSPARENCY.

(a) GAO Review.—Section 13(c)(4)(G)(iv) of the Federal

Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1823(c)(4)(G)(iv)) is

amended to read as follows:

“(iv) GAO review.—

“(I) In general.—The Comptroller General of the United

States shall, not later than 60 days after a determination is

made under clause (i), and again 180 days thereafter, review

and report to the Congress on the determination under clause

(i), including—

“(aa) the basis for the determination;

“(bb) the purpose for which any action was taken pursuant

to such clause;

“(cc) the likely effect of the determination and such

action on the incentives and conduct of insured depository

institutions and uninsured depositors;

“(dd) any mismanagement by the executives and board of the

insured depository institution that contributed to the

failure of the insured depository institution;

“(ee) a review of the compensation practices of the

insured depository institution;

“(ff) any supervisory or regulatory shortcomings with

respect to the appropriate Federal banking agency of the

insured depository institution;

“(gg) any actions taken by the Federal banking regulators,

Financial Stability Oversight Council, Department of the

Treasury, and other relevant financial regulators in relation

to the failure of the insured depository institution; and

“(hh) any additional relevant entities or activities that

may have contributed to the failure of the insured depository

institution, including with respect to auditing, accounting,

credit rating agencies, investment bank underwriters, and

emergency liquidity options such as loans from the Federal

reserve banks or advances through the Federal Home Loan Bank

system.

“(II) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this clause or a

report issued pursuant to this clause may be construed to

limit the authority of a Federal agency to enforce violations

of Federal statutes, rules, or orders.”.

(b) Appropriate Federal Banking Agency Report.—Section

13(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.

1823(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:

“(12) Appropriate federal banking agency report.—

“(A) In general.—The appropriate Federal banking agency

of an insured depository institution about which a

determination is made under paragraph (4)(G)(i) shall, not

later than 90 days after the date of such determination, and

again 210 days thereafter, submit a report to the Congress

that discloses the following:

“(i) Subject to such redactions as the appropriate Federal

banking agency determines appropriate to protect personally

identifiable information about customers and other financial

institutions (as such term is defined under section

11(e)(9)(D))—

“(I) all reports of examination and inspection that relate

to the failed insured depository institution in the previous

3-year period;

“(II) all formal communications of a material supervisory

determination conveyed to the failed insured depository

institution in the previous 3-year period; and

“(III) any additional exam reports and correspondence that

the appropriate Federal banking agency determines may be

relevant to the failure of the insured depository

institution.

“(ii) An examination of any mismanagement by the

executives and board of the insured depository institution

that contributed to the failure of the insured depository

institution.

“(iii) Any supervisory or regulatory shortcomings by such

appropriate Federal banking agency with respect to the

insured depository institution.

“(iv) Any dynamics that the appropriate Federal banking

agency determines may have contributed to the failure of the

insured depository institution.

“(v) Any supervisory, regulatory, or legislative

recommendations such appropriate Federal banking agency may

have to improve the safety and soundness of similarly

situated insured depository institutions, the banking system,

and financial stability.

“(B) Protection of sensitive information.—

“(i) Effect on privilege.—The provision of any

information by a Federal banking agency under this paragraph

may not be construed as—

“(I) waiving, destroying, or otherwise affecting any

privilege applicable to the information; or

“(II) waiving any exemption applicable to the information

under section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly

known as the `Freedom of Information Act').

“(ii) Transparency.—

“(I) In general.—A Federal banking agency shall publish

materials contained in a report required under subparagraph

(A) to the fullest extent possible to promote transparency.

“(II) Consultation on omitting materials.—If a Federal

banking agency determines particular materials described

under subclause (I) should not be published, the Federal

banking agency shall consult with the chair and ranking

member of the Committee on Financial Services of the House of

Representatives and the chair and ranking member of the

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the

Senate.

“(III) Omitting materials.—If, after the consultation

required under subclause (II), the Federal banking agency

determines there is a substantial public interest in not

publishing such materials, the Federal banking agency shall

provide those materials to the Committee on Financial

Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate with a

written explanation describing the reasons for not publishing

those materials.

“(iii) Privilege.—For purposes of this subparagraph, the

term `privilege' includes any work-product, attorney-client,

or other privilege recognized under Federal or State law.

“(C) Report extension.—A Federal banking agency may

extend a deadline described under subparagraph (A) for an

additional 60 days, if the Federal banking agency—

“(i) faces ongoing circumstances that require the Federal

banking agency to prioritize activities to promote stability

of the United States banking system; and

“(ii) notifies the Congress of such extension and the

reasons for such extension.

“(D) Consolidated reports.—A Federal banking agency may

consolidate multiple reports required under this paragraph so

long as the individual reports being consolidated all meet

the timing requirements under this paragraph.

“(E) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this paragraph or

reports or materials provided pursuant to this paragraph may

be construed to limit the authority of a Federal agency to

enforce violations of Federal statutes, rules, or orders.”.

SEC. 906. ADVANCING THE MENTOR-PROTEGE PROGRAM FOR SMALL

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

Section 308 of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery,

and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C. 1463 note) is amended

by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“(d) Financial Agent Mentor-protege Program.—

“(1) In general.—The Secretary shall establish a program

to be known as the `Financial Agent Mentor-Protege Program'

(in this subsection referred to as the `Program') under which

a financial agent designated by the Secretary or a large

financial institution may serve as a mentor, under guidance

or regulations prescribed by the Secretary, to a small

financial institution to allow such small financial

institution—

“(A) to be prepared to perform as a financial agent; or

“(B) to improve capacity to provide services to the

customers of the small financial institution.

“(2) Outreach.—The Secretary shall hold outreach events

to promote the participation of financial agents, large

financial institutions, and small financial institutions in

the Program at least once a year.

“(3) Exclusion.—The Secretary shall issue guidance or

regulations to establish a process under which a financial

agent, large financial institution, or small financial

institution may be excluded from participation in the

Program.

“(4) Report.—The Secretary shall report to Congress

information pertaining to the Program, including—

“(A) the number of financial agents, large financial

institutions, and small financial institutions participating

in such Program; and

“(B) the number of outreach events described in paragraph

(2) held during the year covered by such report.

“(5) Definitions.—In this subsection:

“(A) Financial agent.—The term `financial agent' means

any national banking association designated by the Secretary

to be employed as a financial agent of the Government.

“(B) Large financial institution.—The term `large

financial institution' means any entity regulated by the

Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the

Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance

Corporation, or the National Credit Union Administration that

has total consolidated assets greater than or equal to

$50,000,000,000.

“(C) Rural depository institution.—The term `rural

depository institution' means a depository institution (as

defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12

U.S.C. 1813))—

“(i) with total consolidated assets of less than

$10,000,000,000; and

“(ii) located in a rural area, as defined under section

1026.35(b)(2)(iv)(A) of title 12, Code of Federal

Regulations.

“(D) Secretary.—The term `Secretary' means the Secretary

of the Treasury.

“(E) Small financial institution.—The term `small

financial institution' means—

“(i) any entity regulated by the Comptroller of the

Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve

System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the

National Credit Union Administration that has total

consolidated assets less than or equal to $2,000,000,000;

“(ii) a minority depository institution; or

“(iii) a rural depository institution.”.

SEC. 907. AMERICAN ACCESS TO BANKING.

(a) Streamlining Application Process and Review of Capital

Raising by De Novo Regulated Institutions.—

(1) In general.—Each of the Federal financial institutions

regulatory agencies shall—

(A) for the purpose of streamlining the process of applying

to become a de novo regulated institution, conduct a review

of any application forms related to such process;

(B) to the extent practicable, gather information needed

from applicants seeking to become a de novo regulated

institution from other Federal Government agencies or public

sources to minimize information requests of such applicants;

and

Commission, review how de novo regulated institutions raise

capital while maintaining investor protections, including the

impact of—

(i) general capital raising restrictions; and

(ii) capital raising restrictions related to individuals

who are not accredited investors.

(2) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, and annually for 5 years thereafter,

each of the Federal financial institutions regulatory

agencies shall submit to the Committee on Financial Services

of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking,

Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and publish on a

public website of such agency a report that contains—

(A) a description of the actions taken by such agency

pursuant to paragraph (1); and

(B) as appropriate, any administrative or legislative

recommendations with respect to the purpose described in

paragraph (1)(C).

(b) Improving Communication With De Novo Regulated

Institutions.—

(1) In general.—Each of the Federal financial institutions

regulatory agencies shall, at the request of an applicant to

become a de novo regulated institution, designate an employee

of the agency as a caseworker, who may perform such duty in

addition to the other duties of the employee.

(2) Caseworker duties.—Each caseworker described in

paragraph (1) shall, to the maximum extent practicable—

(A) meet with the lead organizers applying to become a de

novo regulated institution to provide a tutorial with respect

to the application process; and

(B) be the primary point of contact of the respective

Federal financial institutions regulatory agency for such

organizers during the application process.

(3) New caseworker.—Each agency described in paragraph (1)

may designate a new caseworker, as appropriate, to support

continuity based on staffing and responsibilities assigned to

the current caseworker.

(1) In general.—At the request of an institution that

seeks to become a de novo regulated institution, each of the

Federal financial institutions regulatory agencies shall, to

the maximum extent practicable, provide a list to such

institution of similar types of institutions that—

(A) were recently approved to become a de novo regulated

institution; and

(B) are interested in volunteering to serve as a mentor to

provide advice about the de novo application process.

(2) Mentorship information.—Not later than 1 year after

the date of enactment of this Act, each of the Federal

financial institutions regulatory agencies shall provide

public information and directions on how an institution may

request a mentor or serve as a mentor as described in

paragraph (1).

(d) State and Stakeholder Engagement Plan.—

(1) In general.—Each of the Federal financial institutions

regulatory agencies shall develop a plan to—

(A) regularly consult with State regulators to promote

cooperation between State and Federal banking and credit

union agencies in the creation of de novo regulated

institutions, including responding to any State regulator

that requests assistance on how a State-chartered financial

institution can request Federal insurance;

(B) regularly consult with stakeholders, including

applicants to become de novo regulated institutions and

recently approved regulated institutions, to inform any

reforms that may support the creation of de novo regulated

institutions, including rural institutions, community

development financial institutions, and minority depository

institutions; and

workshops to assist any interested parties to understand such

agencies' processes.

(2) Submission to congress.—

(A) In general.—Not later than 2 years after the date of

enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, each of

the Federal financial institutions regulatory agencies shall

submit to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of

Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and

Urban Affairs of the Senate the respective plan of such

agency described in paragraph (1).

(B) Public comment.—With respect to developing the plan

described in paragraph (1), each of the Federal financial

institutions regulatory agencies shall—

(i) provide an opportunity for public comments; and

(ii) take such public comments into consideration.

(e) Definitions.—

(1) In general.—In this section:

(A) Federal banking agency.—The term “Federal banking

agency” has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the

Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).

(B) Federal financial institutions regulatory agencies.—

The term “Federal financial institutions regulatory

agencies” has the meaning given the term in section 1003 of

the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act of

1978 (12 U.S.C. 3302).

institution” means—

(i) with respect to a Federal banking agency, a depository

institution (as such term is defined in section 3 of the

Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813)) for which the

Federal banking agency is the appropriate Federal banking

agency (as such term is defined in such section 3); and

(ii) with respect to the National Credit Union

Administration, an insured credit union (as such term is

defined in section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12

U.S.C. 1752)).

(D) State.—The term “State” means each of the several

States, the District of Columbia, and each territory of the

United States.

(E) State regulator.—The term “State regulator” means—

(i) with respect to a Federal banking agency, a State

banking regulator; and

(ii) with respect to the National Credit Union

Administration, the State regulatory agency having

jurisdiction over a State credit union (as such term is

defined in section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12

U.S.C. 1752)).

(2) Rule of construction.—For purposes of this section,

the process of applying to become a de novo regulated

institution shall include the process of applying for Federal

deposit insurance, Federal share insurance, or membership in

the Federal Reserve System.

SEC. 908. PROMOTING NEW BANK FORMATION.

(a) Pilot Phase-in of Capital Standards.—The Federal

banking agencies may issue rules that provide for a 2-year

phase-in period for a qualifying community bank or its

depository institution holding company to meet any Federal

capital requirements that would otherwise be applicable to

the qualifying community bank or its depository institution

holding company, beginning on—

(1) the date on which the qualifying community bank became

an insured depository institution; or

(2) in the case of its depository institution holding

company, the date on which the qualifying community bank of

the depository institution holding company became an insured

depository institution.

(b) Pilot Changes to Business Plans.—

(1) In general.—During the 2-year period beginning on the

date on which a qualifying community bank became an insured

depository institution, the qualifying community bank or its

depository institution holding company may request to deviate

from a business plan that has been approved by the

appropriate Federal banking agency by submitting a request to

such agency pursuant to this section.

(2) Review of changes.—The appropriate Federal banking

agency shall, not later than the end of the 180-day period

beginning on the receipt of a request under paragraph (1)—

(A) approve, conditionally approve, or deny such request;

and

(B) notify the applicant of such decision and, if the

agency denies the request—

(i) provide the applicant with the reason for such denial;

and

(ii) suggest changes to the request that, if adopted, would

allow the agency to approve such request.

(3) Result of failure to act.—If the appropriate Federal

banking agency fails to approve or deny a request within the

90-day period required under paragraph (2), such request

shall be deemed to be approved.

(1) Study.—The Federal banking agencies shall, jointly,

carry out a study on the impact of the pilot program carried

out pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section on

the formation of de novo insured depository institutions,

including such institutions which are rural depository

institutions, community development financial institutions,

and minority depository institutions, taking into account

safety and soundness, promoting competition, and expanding

access to affordable financial products and services to

underserved communities.

(2) Report to congress.—Not later than December 31, 2031,

the Federal banking agencies shall, jointly, issue a report

to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of

Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and

Urban Affairs of the Senate containing all findings and

determinations made in carrying out the study required under

paragraph (1).

(d) Study on De Novo Insured Depository Institutions.—

(1) Study.—The Federal banking agencies shall, jointly,

carry out a study on—

(A) the principal causes for the low number of de novo

insured depository institutions in the 10-year period ending

on the date of enactment of this subsection;

(B) ways to promote more de novo insured depository

institutions in areas currently underserved by insured

depository institutions; and

including institutions which are rural depository

institutions, community development financial institutions,

and minority depository institutions, can utilize the

Community Bank Leverage Ratio.

(2) Report to congress.—Not later than the end of the 1-

year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act,

the Federal banking agencies shall, jointly, issue a report

to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of

Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and

Urban Affairs of the Senate containing all findings and

determinations made in carrying out the study required under

paragraph (1).

(e) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Appropriate federal banking agency.—The term

“appropriate Federal banking agency” has the meaning given

the term in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act

(12 U.S.C. 1813).

(2) Depository institution.—The term “depository

institution” has the meaning given the term in section 3 of

the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).

(3) Depository institution holding company.—The term

“depository institution holding company” has the meaning

given the term in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance

Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).

(4) Federal banking agency.—The term “Federal banking

agency” has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the

Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).

(5) Insured depository institution.—The term “insured

depository institution” has the meaning given the term in

section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C.

1813).

(6) Qualifying community bank.—The term “qualifying

community bank” means a depository institution that—

(A) including its holding company and all of its

subsidiaries and affiliates, has total combined assets of

less than $10,000,000,000; and

(B) became an insured depository institution between

January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2028.

SEC. 909. RURAL DEPOSITORIES REVITALIZATION STUDY.

(a) Study.—The Federal banking agencies shall, jointly,

carry out a study—

(1) to identify methods to improve the growth, capital

adequacy, and profitability of depository institutions in the

United States that primarily serve rural areas; and

(2) to identify Federal statutes (other than appropriations

Acts) or regulations of the Federal banking agencies that

limit—

(A) the methods identified under paragraph (1); or

(B) the establishment of de novo depository institutions in

rural areas.

(b) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Federal banking agencies shall,

jointly, issue a report to Congress containing all findings

and determinations made in carrying out the study required

under subsection (a).

Union Administration shall carry out a study—

(1) to identify methods to improve the growth, capital

adequacy, and profitability of credit unions in the United

States that primarily serve rural areas; and

(2) to identify Federal statutes (other than appropriations

Acts) or regulations of the National Credit Union

Administration that limit—

(A) the methods identified under paragraph (1); or

(B) the establishment of de novo credit unions in rural

areas.

(d) Report on Rural Credit Unions.—Not later than 1 year

after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Credit

Union Administration shall issue a report to Congress

containing all findings and determinations made in carrying

out the study required under subsection (c).

(e) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Depository institution.—The term “depository

institution” has the meaning given that term in section 3 of

the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813).

(2) Federal banking agencies.—The term “Federal banking

agencies” means the Board of Governors of the Federal

Reserve System, the Comptroller of the Currency, and the

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

(3) Rural.—With respect to an area, the term “rural” has

the meaning given that term in section 1026.35(b)(2)(iv)(A)

of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations.

TITLE X—HOME-OWNERSHIP FOR MAIN STREET AMERICA

SEC. 1001. HOMES ARE FOR PEOPLE, NOT CORPORATIONS.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Consumer reporting agency.—The term “consumer

reporting agency” has the meaning given the term in section

603 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a)).

(2) Excepted purchase.—The term “excepted purchase”

means any purchase of a single-family home that is—

(A) newly constructed, renovated, or a rental conversion

for sale by a large institutional investor and not as a

residence rented pending sale;

(B) pursuant to a build-to-rent program where the large

institutional investor purchases, constructs, or constructs

and retains a newly constructed single-family homes to be

managed as a rental property, whether as part of a community

made up exclusively of renter-occupied single-family homes or

as part of a community made up of single-family homes that

are both owner- and renter-occupied;

(i) substantially rehabilitates single-family homes that do

not meet structural or core system elements of local building

codes; and

(ii) makes improvements in an aggregate dollar amount of

not less than 15 percent of the purchase price of the single-

family home;

(D) pursuant to a homeownership program that—

(i) requires rental payments and any other fees that are

not greater than those collected by the large institutional

investor on other similarly situated single-family homes not

covered by the eligible homeownership program;

(ii) is subject to a contract between the large

institutional investor and renter that shall be considered a

consumer credit transaction secured by a dwelling or real

property;

(iii) provides for positive reporting of rental payments to

consumer reporting agencies for any renter, who shall be

informed of and opts into such reporting; and

(iv) requires contribution of meaningful financial support

from the large institutional investor, including price

concessions, for the purchase of the single-family home by

the renter;

(E) pursuant to a program to boost homeownership that—

(i) provides for positive reporting of rental payments to

consumer reporting agencies for any renter, who shall be

informed of and opts into such reporting;

(ii) provides for the right of first refusal and a 30-day

“first look” period; and

(iii) may entail the meaningful financial support from the

large institutional investor, including price concessions,

for the purchase of a single-family home by the renter

(whether it is the home the renter occupies or another home);

(F) in connection with the satisfaction of debts previously

contracted in good faith and where the large institutional

investor has the right to repossess the single-family home

under such contract;

(G) undertaken by a mortgage servicer, lender, or other

entity that has a legal right to a single-family home, for

the purpose of loss mitigation or compliance with servicing

or investor obligations, and not as a long-term investment

strategy, and is solely as a result of—

(i) a foreclosure;

(ii) a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure;

(iii) enforcement of a mortgage, deed of trust, or other

security interest; or

(iv) operation of law following borrower default;

(H) purchased from another large institutional investor

that either owned the single-family home on the date of

enactment of this Act or purchased the single-family home in

compliance with this section;

(I) purchased from an investor not covered under this

section, so long as the purchase occurred not more than 2

years after the effective date under subsection (f);

(J) newly constructed, renovated, or a rental conversion

that is intended and operated for occupancy as part of a

community for households with 1 or more members aged 55 years

or older, and satisfies visitability standards established by

the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; or

(K) purchased through a single purchase or combination or

series of purchases described in subparagraphs (A) through

(J).

(3) Large institutional investor.—

(A) In general.—The term “large institutional

investor”—

(i) means an investment fund, corporation, general or

limited partnership, limited liability company, joint

venture, association, or other for-profit entity that is a

legal entity structured in a manner that is not

aforementioned that—

(I) is engaged, in whole or in part, in the business of

investing in, owning, renting, managing, or holding single-

family homes; and

(II) alone or in concert with 1 or more other entities,

beginning after the date of enactment of this Act, directly

or indirectly has investment control of not less than 350

single-family homes in the aggregate, not including any

single-family home purchased in an excepted purchase made

after the date of enactment of this Act; and

(ii) does not include any local, State, Tribal, or Federal

government entity or instrumentality thereof.

(B) Rule of construction.—For purposes of this paragraph,

an entity has direct or indirect investment control over a

single-family home if the entity—

(i) owns, or has primary authority or fiduciary

responsibility to make material investment or management

decisions relating to, the single-family home;

(ii) is, or directly or indirectly controls, the general

partner or managing member of the entity that owns the

single-family home;

(iii) is or controls the investment manager, management

company, or investment advisor of the entity that owns the

single-family home;

(iv) owns or controls more than 25 percent of any class of

equity interests of the entity

that owns the single-family home, unless such entity is a

passive investor; or

(v) otherwise controls the entity that owns the single-

family home.

(4) Purchase.—The term “purchase” includes any purchase,

transfer, or other acquisition of a single family home,

including through mergers, acquisitions, construction,

foreclosures, or bulk purchases, whether or not for cash

consideration.

(5) Single-family home.—The term “single-family home”—

(A) means a structure that contains 2 or fewer dwelling

units that are each intended for residential occupancy by a

single household; and

(B) does not include a manufactured home, as defined in

section 603 of the National Manufactured Housing Construction

and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5402).

(b) Prohibition on Purchases by Large Institutional

Investors.—

(1) In general.—No large institutional investor may

purchase, or enter into a contract to directly or indirectly

purchase, any single-family home.

(2) Exceptions.—The prohibition under paragraph (1) shall

not apply to—

(A) any excepted purchase; or

(B) any purchase of a single-family home in connection with

a restructuring or other reorganization of ownership of

single-family homes that were owned or purchased on or before

the date of enactment of this Act.

(3) Rule of construction.—Nothing in this section may be

construed to—

(A) require any large institutional investor to divest or

otherwise sell any single-family home purchased before the

date of enactment of this Act; or

(B) prevent the filing of a petition, or otherwise affect

any bankruptcy proceeding, under title 11, United States

Code.

(4) Implementation.—

(A) In general.—In consultation with the Secretary of

Housing and Urban Development, the Director of Federal

Housing Finance Agency, and the Chair of the Securities and

Exchange Commission, the Secretary of the Treasury may issue

regulations in accordance with the notice and comment

rulemaking procedures under section 553 of title 5, United

States Code, to carry out the purposes of this section,

including regulations to—

(i) minimize market disruptions upon identifying a risk of

material negative impact on the housing market, including an

impact on the ability of market participants to dispose of

single-family homes in an orderly fashion; and

(ii) mitigate, to the extent possible, negative impacts on

consumers and communities.

(B) Rule of construction.—For the avoidance of doubt, no

regulation issued under subparagraph (A) may amend the

definitions of the terms defined under subsection (a),

including to—

(i) alter the scope of excepted purchases in a manner that

would undermine the goal of expanding the number of single-

family homes available to individual households for purchase;

(ii) alter any type of excepted purchase in a manner that

would undermine the goal of expanding the number of single-

family homes available to individual households for purchase;

(iii) add any category of large institutional investor as

an eligible class if not determined by this section; or

(iv) alter the quantitative threshold in the definition of

“large institutional investor”.

(1) In general.—The Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development (in this subsection referred to as the

“Secretary”) shall, not later than 180 days after the date

of enactment of this Act, establish a renter outreach

resource that consists of a toll-free telephone number and a

public website designed to assist renters of residential

properties owned by a large institutional investor in—

(A) notifying Federal agencies about disputes relating to

the rental of such properties, including disputes about

potential violations of Federal law;

(B) sharing information about such disputes with other

Federal agencies, including other Federal agencies that

manage similar disputes;

(D) resolving such disputes, to the extent practicable.

(2) Response to outreach.—

(A) In general.—The Secretary shall establish reasonable

procedures to—

(i) promptly respond, in writing where appropriate, to a

renter who provides information to the Secretary about a

dispute using the renter outreach resource established under

paragraph (1); and

(ii) document such responses.

(B) Contents.—Responses provided under subparagraph (A)

shall include, where appropriate, information about—

(i) steps that have been taken by the Secretary or another

Federal agency in response to the information about the

dispute provided by the renter, including determining the

appropriate large institutional investor involved as

described in paragraph (3);

(ii) any responses received by the Secretary or another

Federal agency from the large institutional investor related

to such dispute; and

(iii) any outcome of the dispute, to the extent

practicable.

(3) Investigation of potential violations of federal law.—

(A) In general.—The Secretary shall promptly process and

investigate any information relating to a dispute received

through the renter outreach resource established under

paragraph (1) about a potential violation of Federal law that

is received from a renter of a residential property owned by

a large institutional investor through the renter outreach

resource established under paragraph (1), including—

(i) requesting information from a large institutional

investor;

(ii) determining the appropriate large institutional

investor involved in the dispute; and

(iii) sharing information about such potential violation of

Federal law with any relevant Federal agencies, as the

Secretary may determine appropriate.

(B) Responses to requests for information.—Upon request

for information made pursuant to subparagraph (A), the

Secretary shall provide a large institutional investor the

opportunity to respond, including regarding whether such

large institutional investor currently owns the property

described in such request for information.

(4) Information for appropriate state authority.—When the

Secretary receives information about a potential violation of

State law or about a dispute received through the renter

outreach resource, from a renter of a residential property

owned by a large institutional investor through the renter

outreach resource established under paragraph (1), the

Secretary shall, at a minimum, provide the renter with

contact information for the appropriate, State-specific,

State authority authorized to process and investigate such

information.

(5) Notice about renter outreach resource.—Each large

institutional investor shall—

(A) provide to each renter of a residential property owned

by such investor at the time such renter first occupies such

home and annually thereafter—

(i) written notice about the renter outreach resource

established under paragraph (1); and

(ii) the name, phone number, and email address of the

person or entity responsible for receiving and addressing

renter disputes for the large institutional investor, and

update the name, phone number, and email address within 30

days if such information changes prior to the subsequent time

at which such notice is required to be provided; and

(B) prominently feature information about the renter

outreach resource established under paragraph (1) on a public

website of such investor that is accessible by such renter.

(6) Annual report to the congress.—

(A) In general.—The Secretary shall, not later than March

31 of each year, submit to the Congress a public report which

analyzes and aggregates the information received or obtained

pursuant to this subsection during the prior year that

includes—

(i) information about the types and the number of disputes

received about potential violations of Federal law;

(ii) information about the types and the number of disputes

received about potential violations of State law;

(iii) where practicable, information about the resolution

of such disputes; and

(iv) information provided to the Secretary of Housing and

Urban Development under paragraph (8).

(B) Anonymization of data.—Any data included in a report

that is submitted under this paragraph shall be aggregated or

anonymized so as to protect any individual dispute or

personally identifiable information received through the

renter outreach resource.

(7) Protection of personal information.—In complying with

the requirements of this subsection, the Secretary shall take

such measures as the Secretary determines are necessary to

provide for the protection of personally identifiable

information received through the renter outreach resource in

a manner that conforms with existing standards for protection

of the confidentiality of personally identifiable

information.

(8) Annual notification.—Not later than 180 days after the

date of the enactment of this Act, and not later than

December 31st of each year thereafter, each person or entity

that satisfies the definition of a large institutional

investor, as such term is defined in subsection (a), shall—

(A) notify the Secretary each year whether such owner is a

large institutional investor as defined in subsection (a);

and

(B) in such notification, identify how many single-family

homes such large institutional investor has direct or

indirect investment control of as of the date of the

submission of such notice, and the city and State where each

such single-family home is located, unless such large

institutional investor owns 10 or fewer single-family homes

in such city.

(d) Enforcement.—

(1) Civil penalties.—The Secretary of the Treasury, or the

Attorney General at the request of the Secretary of the

Treasury, may bring an action against a large institutional

investor that violates subsection (b) for a civil penalty in

an amount that is not more than $1,000,000 per violation, or

3 times the purchase price of the property involved,

whichever is greater.

(2) Transfer to hud for homeownership expansion

activities.—For fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year

thereafter, to the extent and in the amounts provided in

advance in appropriations Acts, civil penalties assessed

under this section shall be transferred to and available to

the Secretary of Housing and

Urban Development to provide additional funding for the HOME

Investment Partnerships program under subtitle A of title II

of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42

U.S.C. 12741 et seq.), to be allocated in accordance with the

formula under that program, for new construction,

acquisition, and rehabilitation of single-family homes and to

provide assistance grants to first-time homebuyers, which may

be for downpayments, closing costs, and interest rate

buydowns.

(e) Studies on Large Institutional Investors.—

(1) Gao report.—Not later than 2 years after the date on

which the prohibition under subsection (b)(1) takes effect,

and again not later than 10 years after that date, the

Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the

Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs of the Senate

and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of

Representatives a report on—

(A) the impact of the ownership by large institutional

investors of single-family homes on housing availability and

affordability for renters and homebuyers; and

(B) the effectiveness of this section in reducing demand by

large institutional investors for single-family homes and

expanding homeownership for renters and homebuyers.

(2) Hud report.—Not later than 2 years after the date on

which the prohibition under subsection (b)(1) takes effect,

and again not later than 10 years after that date, the

Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development, in

consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the

Administrator of the Rural Housing Service, the Executive

Director of the Loan Guaranty Service of the Department of

Veterans Affairs, the Chair of Securities and Exchange

Commission, and the Director of the Federal Housing Finance

Agency, shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing and

Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial

Services of the House of Representatives a report on—

(A) whether there should be adjustments to the definition

of the term “large institutional investor”;

(B) the financial impact of this section on large

institutional investors, renters, and homebuyers; and

improve the authorities provided under this section to

increase the supply and affordability of single-family homes

for purchase by individual homebuyers.

(3) Sense of congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—

(A) this section is intended to expand the number of

single-family homes available to individuals for purchase and

is aimed at preserving and expanding the supply of single-

family homes available to individuals; and

(B) any further study on the effectiveness of this section

and any legislative recommendations therefrom should consider

this sense of Congress.

(f) Effective Date.—The requirements and prohibitions

under subsections (b) and (d) of this section—

(1) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after

the date of enactment of this Act; and

(2) are repealed on the date that is 15 years after the

effective date under paragraph (1).

TITLE XI—CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY

SEC. 1101. CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY.

The Federal Reserve Act (12 U.S.C. 221 et seq.) is amended

by inserting after section 16 (12 U.S.C. 411 et seq.) the

following:

“SEC. 16A. CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY.

“(a) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) Central bank digital currency.—The term `central

bank digital currency' means a digital asset that—

“(A) is denominated in United States dollars;

“(B) is a United States currency;

“(C) is a direct liability of the Federal Reserve System;

and

“(D) is widely available to the general public.

“(2) Digital asset.—The term `digital asset' has the

meaning given the term in section 2 of the GENIUS Act (12

U.S.C. 5901).

“(b) Prohibition.—Except as provided in subsection (c),

the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or a

Federal reserve bank may not issue or create a central bank

digital currency or any digital asset that is substantially

similar to a central bank digital currency directly or

indirectly through a financial institution or other

intermediary.

“(c) Exception.—Subsection (b) shall not prohibit any

dollar-denominated currency that is open, permissionless, and

private, and fully preserves the privacy protections of

United States coins and physical currency.

“(d) Sunset.—This provisions of this section shall cease

to be effective on December 31, 2030.

“(e) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section shall

be construed to allow the Board of Governors of the Federal

Reserve System to issue a central bank digital currency or

any digital asset that is substantially similar to a central

bank digital currency directly or indirectly absent

authorization by an Act of Congress.”.

TITLE XII—MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 1201. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof

to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder

of the Act, and the application of such provisions to other

persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 1202. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.

No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to

carry out the requirements of this Act or any amendment made

by this Act.

SA 5824. Mr. THUNE proposed an amendment to amendment SA 5823 proposed by Mr. Thune to the bill H.R. 6644, a bill to increase the supply of housing in America, and for other purposes; as follows:

At the end add the following:

“This Act shall take effect 1 day after the date of

enactment.”

SA 5825. Mr. THUNE proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 6644, a bill to increase the supply of housing in America, and for other purposes; as follows:

At the end add the following:

“This Act shall take effect 4 days after the date of

enactment”

SA 5826. Mr. THUNE proposed an amendment to amendment SA 5825 proposed by Mr. Thune to the bill H.R. 6644, a bill to increase the supply of housing in America, and for other purposes; as follows:

Strike “4 days” and insert “3 days”

SA 5827. Mr. THUNE proposed an amendment to amendment SA 5826 proposed by Mr. Thune to the amendment SA 5825 proposed by Mr. Thune to the bill H.R. 6644, a bill to increase the supply of housing in America, and for other purposes; as follows:

Strike “3 days” and insert “2 days”

SA 5828. Mr. KING submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place in title VII, insert the

following:

SEC. 7__. PRE-TRANSITION HEALTH CARE REGISTRATION OF MEMBERS

OF THE ARMED FORCES TO STREAMLINE RECEIPT OF

HEALTH CARE FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS.

(a) Health Care Pre-Registration.—

(1) In general.—Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38,

United States Code, is amended by inserting after section

1705A the following new section:

“Sec. 1705B. Management of health care: registration in pre-

transition system and facilitation of enrollment

“(a) Pre-Transition System.—

“(1) In general.—Not later than 180 days before the

anticipated separation from the Armed Forces of a member of

the Armed Forces, the Secretary shall automatically register

such member in the pre-transition health care registration

system.

“(2) Registration.—Registration of a member of the Armed

Forces in the pre-transition health care registration system

under paragraph (1) shall consist of the entry of relevant

information of such member into such system so as to

facilitate and permit, at a future date, a final

determination with respect to the enrollment of such member

in the patient enrollment system if such member elects to

enroll in the patient enrollment system and is eligible to

enroll in the patient enrollment system.

“(b) Facilitation of Enrollment in Patient Enrollment

System.—

“(1) In general.—Not later than 30 days after separation

of a covered individual from the Armed Forces, or as soon as

feasibly possible following such separation, the Secretary

shall engage with such individual—

“(A) to assist and facilitate the completion of the

process for enrollment of such individual in the patient

enrollment system, to include the appropriate electronic or

paper forms; and

“(B) to schedule an initial primary care or other health

appointment for such individual under the laws administered

by the Secretary if the individual is interested in such an

appointment.

“(2) Communication efforts.—Communication to a covered

individual under paragraph (1) shall be conducted through a

combination of effective mechanisms to include by electronic

means through email and text message, paper mail, and by

phone.

“(3) Covered individual defined.—In this subsection, the

term `covered individual' means an individual who—

“(A) is eligible for or expected to be eligible for

enrollment in the patient enrollment system; and

“(B) is not yet enrolled in such system.

“(c) Outreach.—

“(1) Pre-transition.—

“(A) In general.—To the greatest extent feasible, the

Secretary shall conduct timely outreach to members of the

Armed Forces registered in the pre-transition health care

registration system, in advance of their separation from the

Armed Forces, to explain—

“(i) what such registration means in practical terms;

“(ii) what steps each such member will need to take after

separation from the Armed Forces to fully enroll, if

eligible, in the patient enrollment system;

“(iii) health care services that may be available to such

member upon enrollment in such system, including the general

rules of eligibility for such services;

“(iv) health care services that may be available to such

member regardless of enrollment in such system, including

counseling for military sexual trauma and services from Vet

Centers (as defined in section 1712A of this title),

including the general rules of eligibility for such services;

and

“(v) the steps required to access services described in

clauses (iii) and (iv).

“(B) Outreach efforts.—Outreach to a member of the Armed

Forces required under subparagraph (A) shall be conducted

through a combination of effective mechanisms, including by

electronic means through email and text message, paper mail,

and by phone.

“(2) After enrollment.—

“(A) In general.—Not less frequently than once during the

180-day period following the enrollment of an individual in

the patient enrollment system, the Secretary shall contact

any such individual who has not scheduled a primary care

appointment or other health appointment under the laws

administered by the Secretary and offer to schedule such

appointment should such individual be interested in doing so.

“(B) Conduct of outreach.—The Secretary may conduct

outreach under subparagraph (A) as part of the Solid Start

program under section 6320 of this title, other existing

processes of the Department, or any new process as the

Secretary determines appropriate.

“(d) Definitions.—In this section:

“(1) Patient enrollment system.—The term `patient

enrollment system' means the system of annual patient

enrollment of the Department established and operated under

section 1705(a) of this title.

“(2) Pre-transition health care registration system.—The

term `pre-transition health care registration system' means

an information technology or other system or systems of the

Department in which the Department enters or stores the

relevant information of a transitioning member of the Armed

Forces so as to facilitate and permit, at a future date, a

final enrollment determination with respect to the enrollment

of such member in the patient enrollment system.”.

(2) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the

beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the

item relating to section 1705A the following new item:

“1705B. Management of health care: registration in pre-transition

system and facilitation of enrollment.”.

(3) Effective date.—This subsection and the amendments

made by this subsection shall take effect on the date of the

enactment of this Act and apply to any member of the Armed

Forces who is anticipated to separate from the Armed Forces

on and after the date that is one year after the date of the

enactment of this Act.

(b) Establishment of System.—

(1) In general.—Not later than one year after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,

in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall

establish and implement an automated process to implement the

pre-transition health care registration system required under

section 1705B(a) of title 38, United States Code, as added by

subsection (a)(1).

(2) Briefings on initial implementation.—Not later than

each of 180 days, one year, and two years after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Department of Veterans

Affairs-Department of Defense Joint Executive Committee

established under section 320 of title 38, United States

Code, shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress

a briefing on the implementation of the process required

under paragraph (1).

(1) In general.—In implementing the requirements of this

section and the amendments made by this section, the

Secretary of Veterans Affairs may integrate and coordinate

such implementation with the Solid Start program of the

Department of Veterans Affairs under section 6320 of title

38, United States Code, other existing processes of the

Department, or any new process as the Secretary determines

appropriate to ensure collaboration and coordination with

relevant programs of the Department of Defense.

(2) Inclusion in transition assistance program.—On and

after the date that is one year after the date of the

enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall include

an explanation of the pre-transition health care registration

system required under section 1705B of title 38, United

States Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), as part of the

Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense.

(d) Requirement to Create and Maintain Simple and

Streamlined Process for Pre-Registration and Enrollment.—

(1) In general.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall

make enrollment in the patient enrollment system, including

pre-transition health care registration under section 1705B

of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection

(a)(1), a simple and streamlined process for all

transitioning members of the Armed Forces and veterans—

(A) to facilitate access to and utilization of services

from the Department of Veterans Affairs to which such

individuals are entitled;

(B) to ensure such individuals have a healthy and smooth

transition out of the Armed Forces into civilian life as

veterans;

individuals; and

(D) to reduce, to the greatest extent possible, veteran

suicide.

(2) Improvement of process.—The Secretary shall

continuously monitor, improve, and modernize the process

described in paragraph (1).

(e) Outreach and Engagement.—The Secretary of Veterans

Affairs shall—

(1) proactively conduct outreach to transitioning and

recently transitioned members of the Armed Forces to assist

such members in enrolling in the patient enrollment system;

(2) proactively and regularly engage with veterans already

enrolled in the patient enrollment system to offer assistance

in accessing health care services under such system;

(3) proactively and regularly engage with veterans who may

not be eligible for enrollment in the patient enrollment

system but may be eligible to access certain specific health

services of the Department;

(4) proactively engage with veterans from traditionally

under-represented groups, to include women veterans, minority

veterans, Native American veterans, Native Hawaiian veterans,

Alaska Native veterans, and LGBTQIA+ veterans; and

(5) engage with veterans who are eligible but not enrolled

in the patient enrollment system and offer information and

assistance regarding the steps to facilitate enrollment in

such system.

(f) Annual Report on Pre-Transition Registration.—Section

8111(f)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as

subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new

subparagraph (E):

“(E) With respect to the registration of members of the

Armed Forces in the pre-transition health care registration

system under section 1705B of this title during the preceding

fiscal year, the following:

“(i) The number of members of the Armed Forces who were

registered in such system.

“(ii) The number of such members who subsequently applied

for enrollment in the system of annual patient enrollment of

the Department established and operated under section 1705(a)

of this title.

“(iii) The aggregated disposition of each such application

for enrollment, whether denied or approved, and a reason for

any denial, if available.

“(iv) Aggregated demographic information for members of

the Armed Forces described in clauses (i) and (ii), including

age, gender, ethnicity, length of service, military rank, and

branch of service.

“(v) Any information on health care utilization rates

based on registration in the pre-transition health care

registration system under section 1705B of this title that

the Secretary considers relevant.

“(vi) Any additional observations or information the

Secretary considers relevant regarding the impact of pre-

transition health care registration on streamlining and

improving the transition from the Armed Forces to civilian

life.”.

(g) Reports.—

(1) Report on feasibility and advisability of permitting

members of the armed forces to receive pre-separation health

appointment with department of veterans affairs.—

(A) In general.—Not later than one year after the date of

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,

in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit

to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the

feasibility and advisability of permitting transitioning

members of the Armed Forces, including those on separation

leave, while still on active duty, to receive at least one

no-cost health care appointment at a facility of the

Department of Veterans Affairs—

(i) to familiarize the member with the health services of

the Department prior to the member leaving the Armed Forces;

and

(ii) to improve the transition process and health and

wellness of the member once they have transitioned to

civilian life.

(B) Elements.—The report required under subparagraph (A)

shall include the following:

(i) A description of the reasons the Secretary of Veterans

Affairs has determined the policy described in such

subparagraph is feasible and advisable or not.

(ii) An identification of changes to law that would be

required or recommended to make such policy feasible and

advisable.

(iii) If the Secretary determines such policy is feasible

and advisable, a proposed schedule and timeline to implement

such policy and an estimate of costs to implement and sustain

such policy.

(iv) Such other information as the Secretary considers

appropriate.

(2) Report on efforts to improve enrollment.—Not later

than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act,

the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the

Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the appropriate

committees of Congress a report containing the following:

(A) An assessment of the efforts of the Secretary of

Veterans Affairs as follows:

(i) To develop and implement a system or systems, and

processes to implement such a system or systems, to notify

veterans who receive a positive adjudication for a service-

connected disability and are not already enrolled in the

patient enrollment system regarding how to enroll in the

patient enrollment system, should they be inclined to enroll.

(ii) To pre-populate information in the pre-transition

health care registration system required under section 1705B

of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection

(a)(1), using data available within the Department of

Veterans Affairs, other Federal agencies, or State agencies

or other appropriate commercial or publicly available

information so as to assist transitioning members of the

Armed Forces with completing the process of enrollment in the

patient enrollment system, and to simplify and streamline

enrollment in such system, including—

(I) a description of any roadblocks to pre-populating such

information;

(II) a description of any challenges in receiving relevant

information from any Federal agency or State agency; and

(III) an identification of any legislative action that may

be required to improve the collection of data necessary to

carry out this clause.

(B) An assessment of any challenges experienced by the

Secretary of Veterans Affairs in receiving timely and

reliable electronic information, data feeds, and

notifications from the Department of Defense, other Federal

agencies, or non-Federal entities regarding the separation

from the Armed Forces of members of the Armed Forces,

including—

(i) specific requests for legislative action to improve

data transmission from the Department of Defense or other

Federal agencies to the Department of Veterans Affairs; and

(ii) a description of policy reforms to require the

military departments to report to the Secretary of Defense

known or anticipated separations in a more timely manner.

Executive Service position (as defined in section 3132(a) of

title 5, United States Code), or equivalent, and office

within the Department of Veterans Affairs that is

coordinating or will coordinate all programs of the

Department relating to improving the registration and

enrollment of transitioning or transitioned members of the

Armed Forces in health care services of the Department

(including pursuant to this section and the amendments made

by this section) and the usage by such members of those

services, to include the following programs and offices:

(i) The Solid Start program of the Department under section

6320 of title 38, United States Code.

(ii) The Federal Recovery Consultant Office of the

Department.

(iii) The Post-9/11 Military2VA Case Management Program of

the Department.

(iv) The Liaison Program of the Department.

(v) The Concierge for Care Program of the Department.

(vi) The office of the Department responsible for carrying

out the pre-transition health care registration system under

section 1705B of title 38, United States Code, as added by

subsection (a)(1).

(vii) Other similar or successor programs or offices of the

Department.

(D) A description of how the individual and office

identified under subparagraph (C) manages or will manage

various programs across the Department, to include—

(i) programs under the Veterans Health Administration,

Veterans Benefits Administration, and other entities of the

Department that have different reporting chains;

(ii) an identification of metrics that are used or will be

used to monitor program goals;

(iii) an identification of steps that can be taken to

improve management and outcomes of such programs, to include

collaboration and coordination with relevant programs of the

Department of Defense; and

(iv) an organizational chart to show how efforts described

under this subparagraph are managed across the Department of

Veterans Affairs.

(h) Rule of Construction.—Nothing in this section or the

amendments made by this section shall be construed to require

any member of the Armed Forces, former member of the Armed

Forces, or veteran to use any service of the Department of

Veterans Affairs or to enroll in the patient enrollment

system.

(i) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Appropriate committees of congress.—The term

“appropriate committees of Congress” means—

(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on

Veterans Affairs' of the Senate; and

(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on

Veterans Affairs' of the House of Representatives.

(2) Patient enrollment system.—The term “patient

enrollment system” means the system of annual patient

enrollment of the Department established and operated under

section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code.

SA 5829. Mr. KING (for himself and Mr. Cramer) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

At the appropriate place in subtitle E of title V, insert

the following:

SEC. __. PRESENTATION TO PROMOTE BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO

VETERANS IN PRESEPARATION COUNSELING UNDER THE

TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

(a) In General.—Section 1142(b) of title 10, United States

Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new

paragraph:

“(20) A presentation that promotes the benefits available

to veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary of

Veterans Affairs. Such presentation—

“(A) shall be standardized;

“(B) shall, before implementation, be reviewed and

approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in

collaboration with veterans service organizations that

provide claims assistance under the benefits delivery at

discharge program of the Department of Veterans Affairs;

“(C) shall be submitted by the Secretary of Veterans

Affairs to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate

and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of

Representatives for review at least 90 days before

implementation;

“(D) where available, shall be presented with the

participation of—

“(i) a representative of a veterans service organization

recognized under section 5902 of title 38; or

“(ii) an individual—

“(I) recognized under section 5903 of such title; and

“(II) authorized by the Secretary concerned to so

participate;

“(E) shall include information on how a veterans service

organization may assist the member in filing a claim

described in paragraph (19);

“(F) may not encourage the member to join a particular

veterans service organization; and

“(G) may not exceed one hour in duration.”.

(b) Annual Report.—Not less than frequently than once each

year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the

Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee

on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on

Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report

that—

(1) identifies each veterans service organization that

participated in a presentation under paragraph (20) of

section 1142(b) of title 10, United States Code, as added by

subsection (a);

(2) contains the number of members of the Armed Forces who

attended such presentations; and

(3) includes any recommendations of the Secretary regarding

changes to such presentation or to such paragraph.

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