In addition to any authority provided before , the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may, on and after , enter into contracts for periodic payments to the Federal Financing Bank to offset the costs to the Bank of purchasing obligations (as described in the first sentence of ) issued by local public housing agencies for purposes of financing public housing projects authorized by . Notwithstanding any other provision of law, such contracts may be entered into only to the extent approved in appropriation Acts, and the aggregate amount which may be obligated over the duration of such contracts may not exceed $400,000,000. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated any amounts necessary to provide for such payments. The authority to enter into contracts under this subsection shall be in lieu of any authority (except for authority provided specifically to the Secretary before ) of the Secretary to enter into contracts for such purposes under .section 2294(b) of this titlesection 1437c(c) of title 42section 2294(b) of this titleOctober 1, 19811981-10-01October 1, 19811981-10-01October 1, 19811981-10-01