Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Chapter 61 — Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies for Federal and Federally Assisted Programs

§ 4621. Declaration of findings and policy

Statutory text

Findings

The Congress finds and declares that—

displacement as a direct result of programs or projects undertaken by a Federal agency or with Federal financial assistance is caused by a number of activities, including rehabilitation, demolition, code enforcement, and acquisition;

relocation assistance policies must provide for fair, uniform, and equitable treatment of all affected persons;

the displacement of businesses often results in their closure;

minimizing the adverse impact of displacement is essential to maintaining the economic and social well-being of communities; and

implementation of this chapter has resulted in burdensome, inefficient, and inconsistent compliance requirements and procedures which will be improved by establishing a lead agency and allowing for State certification and implementation.

Policy

This subchapter establishes a uniform policy for the fair and equitable treatment of persons displaced as a direct result of programs or projects undertaken by a Federal agency or with Federal financial assistance. The primary purpose of this subchapter is to ensure that such persons shall not suffer disproportionate injuries as a result of programs and projects designed for the benefit of the public as a whole and to minimize the hardship of displacement on such persons.

Congressional intent

It is the intent of Congress that—

Federal agencies shall carry out this subchapter in a manner which minimizes waste, fraud, and mismanagement and reduces unnecessary administrative costs borne by States and State agencies in providing relocation assistance;

uniform procedures for the administration of relocation assistance shall, to the maximum extent feasible, assure that the unique circumstances of any displaced person are taken into account and that persons in essentially similar circumstances are accorded equal treatment under this chapter;

the improvement of housing conditions of economically disadvantaged persons under this subchapter shall be undertaken, to the maximum extent feasible, in coordination with existing Federal, State, and local governmental programs for accomplishing such goals; and

the policies and procedures of this chapter will be administered in a manner which is consistent with fair housing requirements and which assures all persons their rights under title VIII of the Act of April 11, 1968 (Public Law 90–284), commonly known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968 [42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.], and title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.].

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1971
Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970
Pub. L. 91–646 title II § 201 · 84 Stat. 1894
Enacted · 42 U.S.C. § 4621
Pub. L. 91–646, title II, § 201, Jan. 2, 1971, 84 Stat. 1895
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 91–646, title II, § 201, Jan. 2, 1971, 84 Stat. 1895
Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 201. declaration of policy The purpose of this title is to establish a uniform policy for the fair and equitable treatment of persons displaced as a result of Federal and federally assisted programs in order that, such persons slut 11 not suffer disproportionate injuries as a result of programs designed for the benefit of the public as a whole.
1987
Uniform Relocation Act Amendments of 1987
Pub. L. 100–17 title IV § 404 · 101 Stat. 132
1. Substituted · 42 U.S.C. § 4621
  Pub. L. 100–17 substituted “Declaration of findings and policy” for “Declaration of policy” in section catchline
2. Amended · 42 U.S.C. § 4621
  Pub. L. 100–17 amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The purpose of this subchapter is to establish a uniform policy for the fair and equitable treatment of persons displaced as a result of Federal and federally assisted programs in order that such persons shall not suffer disproportionate injuries as a result of programs designed for the benefit of the public as a whole.”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 100–17 substituted “Declaration of findings and policy” for “Declaration of policy” in section catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The purpose of this subchapter is to establish a uniform policy for the fair and equitable treatment of persons displaced as a result of Federal and federally assisted programs in order that such persons shall not suffer disproportionate injuries as a result of programs designed for the benefit of the public as a whole.”
Enacted provision · exact public law section
SEC. 404. DECLARATION OF FINDINGS AND POLICY. Section 201 of the Uniform Act (42 U.S.C 4621) is amended to read as follows: “Sec. 201. “declaration of findings and policy (a) The Congress finds and declares that— “(1) displacement as a direct result of programs or projects undertaken by a Federal agency or with Federal financial assistance is caused by a number of activities, including rehabilitation, demolition, code enforcement, and acquisition; “(2) relocation assistance policies must provide for fair, uniform, and equitable treatment of all affected persons; “(3) the displacement of businesses often results in their closure; “(4) minimizing the adverse impact of displacement is essential to maintaining the economic and social well-being of communities; and “(5) implementation of this Act has resulted in burdensome, inefficient, and inconsistent compliance requirements and procedures which will be improved by establishing a lead agency and allowing for State certification and implementation. “(b) This title establishes a uniform policy for the fair and equitable treatment of persons displaced as a direct result of programs or projects undertaken by a Federal agency or with Federal financial assistance. The primary purpose of this title is to ensure that such persons shall not suffer disproportionate injuries as a result of programs and projects designed for the benefit of the public as a whole and to minimize the hardship of displacement on such persons. “(c) It is the intent of Congress that— “(1) Federal agencies shall carry out this title in a manner which minimizes waste, fraud, and mismanagement and reduces unnecessary administrative costs borne by States and State agencies in providing relocation assistance; “(2) uniform procedures for the administration of relocation assistance shall, to the maximum extent feasible, assure that the unique circumstances of any displaced person are taken into account and that persons in essentially similar circumstances are accorded equal treatment under this Act; “(3) the improvement of housing conditions of economically disadvantaged persons under this title shall be undertaken, to the maximum extent feasible, in coordination with existing Federal, State, and local governmental programs for accomplishing such goals; and “(4) the policies and procedures of this Act will be administered in a manner which is consistent with fair housing requirements and which assures all persons their rights under title VIII of the Act of April 11, 1968 (Public Law 90–284), commonly known as the Civil 42 USC 3601. 42 USC 2000d. Rights Act of 1968, and title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”.
Effective date note
Amendment by Pub. L. 100–17 effective on effective date provided in regulations promulgated under section 4633 of this title (as amended by section 412 of Pub. L. 100–17), but not later than 2 years after Apr. 2, 1987, see section 418 of Pub. L. 100–17, set out as a note under section 4601 of this title.

3 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(5) and (c)(2), (4), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 91–646, Jan. 2, 1971, 84 Stat. 1894, known as the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 4601 of this title and Tables.

This subchapter, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (c)(1), (3), was in the original “this title”, meaning title II of Pub. L. 91–646, Jan. 2, 1971, 84 Stat. 1895, which is classified principally to this subchapter. For complete classification of title II to the Code, see Tables.

Title VIII of the Act of April 11, 1968 (Public Law 90–284), commonly known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968, referred to in subsec. (c)(4), is title VIII of Pub. L. 90–284, Apr. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 81, known as the Fair Housing Act, which is classified principally to subchapter I (§ 3601 et seq.) of chapter 45 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3601 of this title and Tables.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, referred to in subsec. (c)(4), is Pub. L. 88–352, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 241. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is classified generally to subchapter V (§ 2000d et seq.) of chapter 21 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2000a of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1987—Pub. L. 100–17 substituted “Declaration of findings and policy” for “Declaration of policy” in section catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The purpose of this subchapter is to establish a uniform policy for the fair and equitable treatment of persons displaced as a result of Federal and federally assisted programs in order that such persons shall not suffer disproportionate injuries as a result of programs designed for the benefit of the public as a whole.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–17 effective on effective date provided in regulations promulgated under section 4633 of this title (as amended by section 412 of Pub. L. 100–17), but not later than 2 years after Apr. 2, 1987, see section 418 of Pub. L. 100–17, set out as a note under section 4601 of this title.

Savings Provision

Pub. L. 91–646, title II, § 220(b), Jan. 2, 1971, 84 Stat. 1903, provided that: “Any rights or liabilities now existing under prior Acts or portions thereof shall not be affected by the repeal of such prior Acts or portions thereof under subsection (a) of this section [repealing sections 1415(7)(b)(iii), (8) second sentence, 1465, 2473(b)(14), 3074, and 3307(b), (c) of this title, section 2680 of Title 10, Armed Forces, sections 501 to 512 of Title 23, Highways, sections 1231 to 1234 of Title 43, Public Lands, and section 1606(b) of former Title 49, Transportation, and provisions set out as notes under sections 501 and 511 of Title 23].”

Credits

1971–1987 · 2 acts

1971Pub. L. 91–646, title II, § 201, Jan. 2, 1971, 84 Stat. 1895
1987Pub. L. 100–17, title IV, § 404, Apr. 2, 1987, 101 Stat. 248.

Show as published

(Pub. L. 91–646, title II, § 201, Jan. 2, 1971, 84 Stat. 1895; Pub. L. 100–17, title IV, § 404, Apr. 2, 1987, 101 Stat. 248.)