S.Amdt. 4331

SA 4331. Mr. MERKLEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the bill H.R. 6644, a bill to increase the supply of housing
in America, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the
table; as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. __. DIRECT HOUSING VOUCHER FUNDING PILOT PROGRAM.

(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered agency.--The term ``covered agency'' means a
public housing agency admitted to participate in the Moving
to Work demonstration.
(2) 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).
(3) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program'' means the
pilot program established under subsection (b).
(4) Public housing agency.--The term ``public housing
agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 3(b)(6) of
the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437a(b)(6)).
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development.
(b) Establishment of Pilot Program.--The Secretary shall
identify and enter into a contract with 10 covered agencies
to participate in a pilot program under which the covered
agencies shall send preexisting rent subsidies directly to
low-income individuals to pay their rent, without the
involvement of a landlord.
(c) Requirements.--Under the pilot program, the following
requirements shall apply:
(1) A household selected from existing housing voucher
waitlists would be offered

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the opportunity to receive either a traditional voucher or a
monthly payment for the equivalent value of the voucher.
(2) A household selecting the monthly payment under
paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred to as the ``subsidy'')
shall receive funds by direct deposit from a covered agency,
and the household would be responsible for transmitting the
full rent payment to their landlord.
(3) A covered agency participating in the pilot program
would calculate the subsidy using a method similar to the one
used for the housing choice voucher program, under which the
covered agency would subtract the tenant's contribution from
a rent standard, such as the fair market rent, and the
subsidy would be capped at the gross rent for the household's
chosen unit.
(4) A covered agency shall measure household income and
calculate the tenant total payment at enrollment and again
every 2 years thereafter. During that 2-year reexamination
period, the tenant total payment would not increase, but a
household could request an interim reexamination if their
income declines.
(5) There shall be no housing assistance payment contract
between the landlord and the covered agency. The tenant would
bear primary responsibility for inspecting the unit and
assessing housing quality using a checklist provided by the
covered agency. After the tenant moves into a unit, the
covered agency could coordinate with the tenant to arrange a
remote video inspection or conduct a full in-person
inspection.
(6) A household receving a subsidy under paragraph (1)
shall be required to provide the covered agency with a copy
of their lease. To remain eligible for the program, the
household shall notify the covered agency before moving. If
the gross rent for a household participating in the pilot
program changes, the covered agency shall recalculate their
subsidy under the pilot program.
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