An amendment to strike and insert certain language regarding the disallowance of requirement waivers as it relates to low and moderate incomes.

1. Strikes “the Secretary may waive the requirement that activities benefit persons of low and modera…”

   StrikesPage 74, lines 3–8Printed page

   In H.R. 4939 · Reported in House

   (including transfer of funds)

   For an additional amount for the "Community development fund", for necessary expenses related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, and restoration of infrastructure in the most impacted and distressed areas related to the consequences of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico in 2005 in States for which the President declared a major disaster under title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) in conjunction with Hurricane Katrina, Rita, or Wilma, $4,200,000,000, to remain available until expended, for activities authorized under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-383): Provided, That funds made available under this heading shall be distributed to address the most critical recovery requirements notwithstanding funding limitations under this heading in title I of division B of Public Law 109-148: Provided further, That funds provided under this heading shall be administered through an entity or entities designated by the Governor of each State: Provided further, That such funds may not be used for activities reimbursable by or for which funds are made available by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Army Corps of Engineers: Provided further, That funds allocated under this heading shall not adversely affect the amount of any formula assistance received by a State under this heading: Provided further, That each State may use up to five percent of its allocation for administrative costs: Provided further, That not less than $1,000,000,000 from funds made available under this heading shall be used for repair, rehabilitation, and reconstruction (including demolition, site clearance and remediation) of the affordable rental housing stock (including public and other HUD-assisted housing) in the impacted areas: Provided further, That in administering the funds under this heading, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 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 recipient of these funds or guarantees (except for requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and the environment), upon a request by the State that such waiver is required to facilitate the use of such funds or guarantees, and a finding by the Secretary that such waiver would not be inconsistent with the overall purpose of the statute, as modified: Provided further, That [struck: the Secretary may waive the requirement that activities benefit persons of low and moderate income, except that ]at least 50 percent of the funds made available under this heading must benefit primarily persons of low and moderate income unless the Secretary otherwise makes a finding of compelling need: Provided further, That the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register any waiver of any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers pursuant to title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 no later than 5 days before the effective date of such waiver: Provided further, That every waiver made by the Secretary must be reconsidered according to the three previous provisos on the two-year anniversary of the day the Secretary published the waiver in the Federal Register: Provided further, That prior to the obligation of funds each State shall submit a plan to the Secretary detailing the proposed use of all funds, including criteria for eligibility and how the use of these funds will address long-term recovery and restoration of infrastructure: Provided further, That prior to the obligation of funds to each State, the Secretary shall ensure that such plan gives priority to infrastructure development and rehabilitation and the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affordable rental housing stock including public and other HUD-assisted housing: Provided further, That each State will report quarterly to the Committees on Appropriations on all awards and uses of funds made available under this heading, including specifically identifying all awards of sole-source contracts and the rationale for making the award on a sole-source basis: Provided further, That the Secretary shall notify the Committees on Appropriations on any proposed allocation of any funds and any related waivers made pursuant to these provisions under this heading no later than 5 days before such waiver is made: Provided further, That the Secretary shall establish procedures to prevent recipients from receiving any duplication of benefits and report quarterly to the Committees on Appropriations with regard to all steps taken to prevent fraud and abuse of funds made available under this heading including duplication of benefits: Provided further, That of the amounts made available under this heading, the Secretary may transfer a total of up to $15,000,000 to the Office of Inspector General and "Management and Administration, Salaries and Expenses" for costs associated with administration and oversight: Provided further, That none of the funds provided under this heading may be used by a State or locality as a matching requirement, share, or contribution for any other Federal program: Provided further, That the amounts provided under this heading are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 402 of H. Con. Res. 95 (109th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006.

   INDEPENDENT AGENCY

   Original wording

   Page 74, lines 3 through 8, strike “the Secretary may waive the requirement that activities benefit persons of low and moderate income, except that”

Read automatically from the Congressional Record. Check the original before relying on it.

As printed