Volume 91 · 55
Public Law 95–24
To authorize additional funds for housing assistance for lower income Americans in fiscal year 1977, to extend the Federal riot reinsurance and crime insurance programs, and for other purposes.
Approved April 30, 1977
Statutory text
An Act
To authorize additional funds for housing assistance for lower income Americans in fiscal year 1977, to extend the Federal riot reinsurance and crime insurance programs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That this Act may be cited as the “Supplemental Housing Authorization Act of 1977”.
TITLE I— SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS AND EXTENSIONS OF HUD PROGRAMS
Sec. 101. amendments to the united states housing act of 1937
The first sentence of section 5(c) of the United States
Housing Act of 1937 is amended by striking out “and by $850,000,000 on October 1, 1976” and inserting in lieu thereof “and by $1,228,050,000 on October 1, 1976”.
Section 9(c) of such Act is amended by striking out “and not
to exceed $576,000,000 on or after October 1, 1976” and inserting in lieu thereof “and not to exceed $595,600,000 on or after October 1, 1976”.
Section 8(e)(1) of such Act is amended—
by striking out “two hundred and forty months” in the first sentence and inserting in lieu thereof “three hundred and sixty months, except that such term may not exceed two hundred and forty months in the case of a project financed with assistance of a loan made by, or insured, guaranteed or intended for purchase by, the Federal Government, other than pursuant to section
244 of the National Housing Act”; and
by striking out “In the case of” in the second sentence and inserting “Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in the case of”.
Sec. 102. general insurance fund
Section 519(f) of the National Housing Act is amended
by striking out “$500,000,000” and inserting in lieu thereof “$1,341,000,000”.
Sec. 103. urban homesteading demonstration
Section 810(g) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 is amended by striking out “not to exceed
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 1977” and inserting in lieu thereof “not to exceed $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1977”.
Sec. 104. extension of hud insurance authorities
Section 1201 of the National Housing Act is amended—
by striking out, in subsection (b) (1), “April 30, 1977” and inserting in lieu thereof “September 30, 1978”;
by striking out, in subsection (b) (1) (A), “April 30, 1978” and inserting in lieu thereof “September 30, 1981”; and
by striking out in subsection (b) (2), “April 30, 1978” and inserting in lieu thereof “September 30, 1978”.
Section 1222(d) of such Act is amended by inserting immediately before the period at the end thereof a comma and the following: “except that such term shall expire on September 30, beginning in either calendar year 1977 or 1978, as determined by the Secretary”.
Sec. 105. miscellaneous provisions relating to mortgage insurance programs
The first sentence of section 101(c) of title I of the Housing Act of 1949 is amended—
by striking out “and no mortgage shall be insured, and no commitment to insure a mortgage shall be issued, under section
220 of the National Housing Act, as amended,” and
by striking out the first proviso.
Section 220(d) (1) (A) (ii) of the National Housing Act is amended by striking out “in a community respecting which the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development has made the determination provided for by section 101(c) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended”.
Sec. 106. construction of moderate income housing
The first sentence of section 221(d)(4) of the National Housing Act is amended by striking out “other than a mortgagor referred to in subsection (d) (3) of this section,”.
TITLE II— NATIONAL COMMISSION ON NEIGHBORHOODS
Sec. 201. short title
This title may be cited as the “National Neighborhood Policy Act”.
Sec. 202. findings and purpose
The Congress finds and declares that existing city neighborhoods are a national resource to be conserved and revitalized wherever possible, and that public policy should promote that objective.
The Congress further finds that the tendency of public policy incentives to ignore the need to preserve the built environment can no longer be defended, either economically or socially, and must be replaced with explicit policy incentives encouraging conservation of existing neighborhoods. That objective will require a comprehensive review of existing laws, policies, and programs which affect neighbor-hoods, to assess their impact on neighborhoods, and to recommend modifications where necessary.
Sec. 203. establishment of commission
There is hereby established a commission to be known as the National Commission on Neighborhoods (hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”).
The Commission shall be composed of twenty members, to be appointed as follows:
two Members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate;
two Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
sixteen public members appointed by the President of the United States from among persons specially qualified by experience and training to perform the duties of the Commission, at least five of whom shall be elected officers of recognized neighbor-organizations engaged in development and revitalization programs, and at least five of whom shall be elected or appointed officials of local governments involved in preservation programs. The remaining members shall be drawn from outstanding individuals with demonstrated experience in neighborhood revitalization activities, from such fields as finance, business, philanthropic, civic, and educational organizations.
The individuals appointed by the President of the United States shall be selected so as to provide representation to a broad cross section of racial, ethnic, and geographic groups. The two members appointed pursuant to clause (1) may not be members of the same political party, nor may the two members appointed pursuant to clause (2) be members of the same political party. Not more than eight of the members appointed pursuant to clause (3) may be members of the same political party.
The Chairman shall be appointed by the President, by and with
Chairman.
the advice and consent of the Senate, from among the public members.
The executive director shall be appointed by the President, by and
Executive director.
with the advice and consent of the Senate, from among individuals recommended by the Commission.
Sec. 204. duties
The Commission shall undertake a comprehensive
Study and investigation.
study and investigation of the factors contributing to the decline of city neighborhoods and of the factors necessary to neighborhood survival and revitalization. Such study and investigation shall include, but not be limited to—
an analysis of the impact of existing Federal, State, and local policies, programs, and laws on neighborhood survival and revitalization;
an identification of the administrative, legal, and fiscal obstacles to the well-being of neighborhoods;
an analysis of the patterns and trends of public and private investment in urban areas and the impact of such patterns and trends on the decline or revitalization of neighborhoods;
an assessment of the existing mechanisms of neighborhood governance and of the influence exercised by neighborhoods on local government;
an analysis of the impact of poverty and racial conflict on neighborhoods:
an assessment of local and regional development plans and their impact on neighborhoods; and
an evaluation of existing citizen-initiated neighborhood revitalization efforts and a determination of how public policy can best support such efforts.
The Commission shall make recommendations for modifications
Recommendations for Federal.
State, and local governments.
in Federal, State, and local laws, policies, and programs necessary to facilitate neighborhood preservation and revitalization. Such recommendations shall include, but not be limited to—
new mechanisms to promote reinvestment in existing city neighborhoods:
more effective means of community participation in local governance;
policies to encourage the survival of economically and socially diverse neighborhoods;
policies to prevent such destructive practices as blockbusting, redlining, resegregation, speculation in reviving neighbor-hoods, and to promote homeownership in urban communities;
policies to encourage better maintenance and management of existing rental housing;
policies to make maintenance and rehabilitation of existing structures at least as attractive from a tax viewpoint as demolition and development of new structures;
modification in local zoning and tax policies to facilitate preservation and revitalization of existing neighborhoods; and
reorientation of existing housing and community development programs and other tax and subsidy policies that affect neighborhoods, to better support neighborhood preservation efforts.
Not later than one year after the date on which funds first become available to carry out this title, the Commission shall submit to the Congress and the President a comprehensive report on its study and investigation under this subsection which shall include its findings, conclusions, and recommendations and such proposals for legislation and administrative action as may be necessary to carry out its recommendations.
Sec. 205. compensation of members
Members of the Commission who are Members of Congress or full-time officers or employees of the United States shall serve without additional compensation, but shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the duties vested in the Commission.
Members of the Commission, other than those referred to in subsection (a), shall receive compensation at the rate of $100 per day for each day they are engaged in the actual performance of the duties vested in the Commission and shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of such duties.
Sec. 206. administrative provisions
The Commission shall have the power to appoint and fix the compensation of such personnel as it deems advisable, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title, relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, but at rates not in excess of a maximum rate for GS–18 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of such title.
The Commission may procure, in accordance with the pro-visions of section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, the temporary or intermittent services of experts or consultants. Persons so employed shall receive compensation at a rate to be fixed by the Commission but not in excess of $100 per day, including traveltime. While away from his or her home or regular place of business in the performance of services for the Commission, any such person may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703(b) of title 5, United States Code, for persons in the Government service employed intermittently.
Each department, agency, and instrumentality of the United States is authorized and directed to furnish to the Commission, upon request made by the Chairman or Vice Chairman, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, such statistical data, reports, and other information as the Commission deems necessary to carry out its functions under this title. The Chairman is further authorized to call upon the departments, agencies, and other offices of the several States to furnish, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, such statistical data, reports, and other information as the Commission deems necessary to carry out its functions under this title.
The Commission may award contracts and grants for the purposes
Contracts and grants.
of evaluating existing neighborhood revitalization programs and the impact of existing laws on neighborhoods. Awards under this subsection may be made to—
representatives of legally chartered neighborhood organizations;
public interest organizations which have a demonstrated capability in the area of concern; and
universites and other not-for-profit educational organizations.
The Commission or, on the authorization of the Commission, any subcommittee or member thereof, may, for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this title, hold hearings, take testimony, and administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before the Commission or any subcommittee or member thereof. Hearings by the Commission will be held in neighborhoods with testimony received from citizen leaders and public officials who are engaged in neighbor-hood revitalization programs.
Sec. 207. authorizations of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated not to exceed
$1,000,000 to carry out this title.
Sec. 208. expiration of the commission
The Commission shall cease to exist thirty days after the
submission of its report under section 204.
Approved April 30, 1977.