[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4580 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4580

 To establish the Geno Baroni Commission on Neighborhoods and provide 
 for a White House Conference on Neighborhoods, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 14, 1994

  Ms. Kaptur introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
            Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish the Geno Baroni Commission on Neighborhoods and provide 
 for a White House Conference on Neighborhoods, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Geno Baroni Commemorative 
Neighborhood Policy Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Congressional Findings.--The Congress finds that--
            (1) 1994 is the 10th anniversary of the death of Monsignor 
        Geno Baroni, former Assistant Secretary of the Department of 
        Housing and Urban Development;
            (2) Monsignor Baroni was instrumental in drawing attention 
        to the plight of neighborhoods in the United States;
            (3) Monsignor Baroni was a champion of civil rights who 
        joined the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in civil rights 
        marches, a passionate crusader against poverty, and a visionary 
        leader for cultural pluralism and ethnic and racial harmony in 
        the United States;
            (4) Monsignor Baroni was a minister of the people, 
        interested in the social needs of urban communities, who, as a 
        street priest, helped heal the community in Washington D.C., 
        after the urban riots in the late 1960's;
            (5) Monsignor Baroni expressed great caution regarding the 
        approaches used by Federal programs, demanding that they should 
        work with people, not for them or to them;
            (6) Monsignor Baroni transcended traditional religious and 
        political boundaries and dared to envision and attempt to 
        create a world unified in its efforts to battle against 
        poverty, crime, social injustice, and ethnic and racial 
        division;
            (7) Monsignor Baroni's contribution to, and influence in, 
        the United States are singular and immeasurable, and include--
                    (A) inspiring a new generation to tackle some of 
                the Nation's most profound and intractable challenges 
                of poverty, illiteracy, and fear by revitalizing the 
                economic and cultural viability of their communities; 
                and
                    (B) building coalitions among ethnically diverse 
                groups and working to eliminate disharmony between 
                races;
            (8) Monsignor Baroni became the first Assistant Secretary 
        at the Department of Housing and Urban Development to champion 
        the cause of neighborhood empowerment and revitalization 
        through local self-help organizations;
            (9) as a result of the pioneering efforts of Monsignor 
        Baroni and the passage of landmark Federal legislation, over 
        2,500 self-help organizations throughout the United States have 
        undertaken housing and neighborhood development;
            (10) such organizations that have become an increasingly 
        prominent force in rebuilding and revitalizing urban 
        communities in the United States;
            (11) in the Supplemental Housing Authorization Act of 1977, 
        the Congress found that--
                    (A) existing city neighborhoods are a national 
                resource to be conserved and revitalized wherever 
                possible, and that public policy should promote that 
                objective; and
                    (B) the tendency of public policy incentives to 
                ignore the need to preserve the built environment could 
                no longer be defended, either economically or socially, 
                and must be replaced with explicit policy incentives 
                encouraging the conservation of existing neighborhoods;
            (12) achieving the objectives of the Supplemental Housing 
        Authorization Act of 1977 required a comprehensive review of 
        existing laws, policies, and programs which affected 
        neighborhoods, to assess their impact on neighborhoods, and to 
        recommend modifications where necessary;
            (13) such Act established the National Commission on 
        Neighborhoods to undertake a comprehensive study and 
        investigation of the factors contributing to the decline of 
        city neighborhoods and of the factors necessary to sustain 
        neighborhood economic and cultural survival and revitalization; 
        and
            (14) the Commission recommended modifications in Federal, 
        State, and local laws and recommended the policies and programs 
        necessary to facilitate neighborhood preservation and 
        revitalization.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to commemorate the work 
of Monsignor Geno Baroni by--
            (1) establishing the Geno Baroni Commission on 
        Neighborhoods to assess the progress of the Nation in meeting 
        the recommendations of the National Commission on Neighborhoods 
        and to assess and analyze the current challenges, policies, and 
        programs affecting groups involved in neighborhood 
        revitalization and conservation; and
            (2) providing for a White House Conference on Neighborhoods 
        to facilitate the transfer of knowledge of neighborhood self-
        help organizations and develop recommendations for neighborhood 
        preservation and revitalization.

SEC. 3. GENO BARONI COMMISSION ON NEIGHBORHOODS.

    (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a commission to be 
known as the Geno Baroni Commission on Neighborhoods.
    (b) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of 16 members, to 
be appointed as follows:
            (1) 2 members of the Senate appointed by the President of 
        the Senate, who may not be of the same political party in an ex 
        officio capacity.
            (2) 2 members of the House of Representatives appointed by 
        the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who may not be of 
        the same political party in an ex officio capacity.
            (3) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in an ex 
        officio capacity.
            (4) 11 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, 5 of whom shall be elected officers of recognized 
        neighborhood organizations engaged in housing and 
        revitalization programs, and 5 of whom shall be elected or 
        appointed officials of local governments or private sector 
        banking or finance representatives, involved in housing 
        rehabilitation and preservation programs. The remaining member 
        shall be an individual with outstanding demonstrated experience 
        in neighborhood revitalization activities.
    (c) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall be 
appointed by the President from among the public members appointed 
under subsection (b)(4).
    (d) Director.--The Commission shall have a Director, appointed by 
the Commission, who shall be compensated at a rate fixed by the 
Commission, but which shall not exceed the rate of basic pay payable 
for level V of the Executive Schedule under title 5, United States 
Code.
    (e) Duties.--
            (1) Assessment of progress.--The Commission shall undertake 
        a comprehensive study to assess progress made in the United 
        States in carrying out the recommendations made by the National 
        Commission on Neighborhoods (established under title II of the 
        Supplemental Housing Authorization Act of 1977), including the 
        recommendations of the National Commission regarding--
                    (A) geographic discrimination (commonly referred to 
                as ``redlining'');
                    (B) targeting assistance to neighborhoods;
                    (C) displacement;
                    (D) human services;
                    (E) community self-help;
                    (F) community full employment;
                    (G) property tax reform;
                    (H) citizen participation; and
                    (I) neighborhood empowerment.
            (2) Assessment of new problems.--The Commission shall 
        identify and assess any factors arising since the termination 
        of the National Commission on Neighborhoods that prevent or 
        interfere with efforts for neighborhood revitalization, 
        including escalation of the influence of crime, illegal drug 
        use, and racial violence in neighborhoods.
            (3) Assessment of new policies.--The Commission shall 
        assess the impact, influence, roles, and needs of Federal, 
        State, local, and other policies, entities, programs, and 
        efforts in revitalizing neighborhoods, implemented or 
        originated since the termination of the National Commission on 
        Neighborhoods, including--
                    (A) neighborhood development organizations;
                    (B) financial institutions, including community 
                development financial institutions;
                    (C) programs under the National and Community 
                Service Trust Act of 1993;
                    (D) community development groups and community 
                development corporations; and
                    (E) empowerment zones and enterprise communities 
                established under subchapter U of chapter 1 of the 
                Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and enterprise zones 
                established under State and local laws.
            (4) Assistance.--The Commission shall assist the Secretary 
        of Housing and Urban Development in carrying out the 
        responsibilities under section 4.
            (5) Update of report.--Not later than the convening of the 
        Conference under section 4, the Commission shall update the 
        report of the National Commission on Neighborhoods entitled 
        ``People Building Neighborhoods'', dated March 19, 1979, 
        including the information contained in volumes I, II, and III 
        of such report, by documenting the progress and accomplishments 
        of the organizations identified and analyzed in the report and 
        other existing organizations involved in neighborhood 
        revitalization. In updating the report the Commission shall 
        identify strategies and activities carried out by such 
        organizations that have been particularly successful in 
        achieving neighborhood revitalization. The Commission shall 
        make the updated report under this section available at the 
        Conference.
            (6) Report on conference.--The Commission shall prepare a 
        report on the Conference in accordance with section 4(f).
    (f) Report.--During the White House Conference on Neighborhoods 
held pursuant to section 4, the Commission shall submit to the Congress 
and the President a comprehensive report on its studies and activities 
under subsection (e), which shall include its findings, conclusions, 
and recommendations and such proposals for legislation and 
administrative action as may be necessary to carry out such 
recommendations.
    (g) Compensation of Members.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        members of the Commission shall each be entitled to receive 
        $100 for each day (including travel time) during which they are 
        engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in the 
        Commission.
            (2) Prohibition.--Members of the Commission who are Members 
        of Congress or full-time officers or employees of the United 
        States may not receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits 
        by reason of their service on the Commission, but may receive 
        expenses under paragraph (3).
            (3) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Commission shall 
        receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 
        5, United States Code.
    (h) Administrative Provisions.--
            (1) Personnel.--The Commission shall have the power to 
        appoint and fix the compensation of such personnel as it deems 
        advisable.
            (2) Inapplicability of certain civil service laws.--The 
        Director and staff of the Commission may be appointed without 
        regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, 
        governing appointments in the competitive service, and may be 
        paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and 
        subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title, relating to 
        classification and General Schedule pay rates. The rate of pay 
        for the staff may not exceed the annual rate of basic pay 
        payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule.
            (3) Experts and consultants.--The Commission may procure, 
        in accordance with the provisions 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.
            (4) Information from agencies and states.--The Commission 
        may secure directly from any department or agency of the United 
        States information necessary to enable the Commission to carry 
        out its duties under this section. Upon request of the 
        Chairperson of the Commission, the head of that department or 
        agency shall furnish that information to the Commission. The 
        Chairperson may request any department, agency, or other office 
        of any State to furnish, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, 
        any information necessary to enable the Commission to carry out 
        its duties under this section.
            (5) Hearings and sessions.--The Commission may, for the 
        purpose of carrying out its duties under this section, hold 
        hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and 
        receive evidence as the Commission considers appropriate. The 
        Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses 
        appearing before it.
    (i) Expiration of the Commission.--The Commission shall cease to 
exist 30 days after the adjournment of the Conference under section 4.

SEC. 4. WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON NEIGHBORHOODS.

    (a) Authority to Call Conference.--Not later than November 30, 
1996, the President shall convene a White House Conference on 
Neighborhoods to--
            (1) facilitate the transfer of knowledge and sharing of 
        experiences among the broad range of neighborhood self-help 
        organizations throughout the United States;
            (2) acknowledge the accomplishments of such organizations;
            (3) develop recommendations for additional research and 
        public policy recommendations and actions in the field of 
        neighborhood preservation and revitalization; and
            (4) disseminate the report of, and information obtained by, 
        the Commission and exhibit materials and works of the 
        Commission.
To the extent practicable, the conference may be held in conjunction 
with the Festival of American Folk Life, sponsored by the Smithsonian 
Institution.
    (b) Planning and Direction.--The Conference shall be planned and 
conducted under the direction of the Secretary in cooperation with the 
Commission under section 3, and the heads of such other Federal 
departments and agencies as are appropriate. Such assistance may 
include the assignment of personnel.
    (c) Purpose of Conference.--The purpose of the Conference shall 
be--
            (1) to increase the public awareness of the value and needs 
        of neighborhoods and neighborhood self-help development 
        organizations in the United States;
            (2) to identify the problems facing neighborhoods in the 
        United States and to examine the policies and issues affecting 
        the stability and sustainability of neighborhoods;
            (3) to examine the impact and effectiveness of efforts by 
        the Federal Government and State and local governments, and any 
        private efforts, to initiate new neighborhood communities and 
        preserve existing neighborhood communities;
            (4) to develop such specific and comprehensive 
        recommendations for executive, legislative, and private action 
        as may be appropriate for maintaining and improving the well-
        being and infrastructure of neighborhoods; and
            (5) to develop recommendations for the coordination of 
        Federal policy with State and local policy and needs and to 
        identify the appropriate authority and entities to implement 
        such recommendations.
    (d) Conference Participants and Delegates.--
            (1) Participants.--To carry out the purposes of this 
        section, the Conference shall bring together--
                    (A) professional and lay people who are working in 
                the field of neighborhood revitalization and 
                preservation;
                    (B) representatives of the Federal Government and 
                State and local governments;
                    (C) representatives of banking, lending, and other 
                financial institutions; and
                    (D) representatives of the general public.
            (2) Selection of delegates.--The delegates shall be 
        selected without regard to political affiliation or past 
        partisan activity and shall be representative of the diversity 
        of thought in the field of neighborhood revitalization and 
        preservation. Delegates shall include individuals who are 
        professionals, individuals who are not professionals, minority 
        individuals, and individuals from low-income families.
    (e) Conference Administration.--
            (1) Administration.--In administering this section, the 
        Secretary shall--
                    (A) request the cooperation and assistance of the 
                heads of such other Federal departments and agencies as 
                may be appropriate in the carrying out of this section;
                    (B) furnish all reasonable assistance, including 
                financial assistance, to State agencies, area agencies, 
                and other appropriate organizations to enable them to 
                organize and conduct conferences in conjunction with 
                the Conference;
                    (C) make available for public comment a proposed 
                agenda for the conference that reflects to the greatest 
                extent possible the major issues facing neighborhoods;
                    (D) prepare and make available background materials 
                for the use of delegates to the Conference that the 
                Secretary considers necessary; and
                    (E) engage such additional personnel as may be 
                necessary to carry out the provisions of this section 
                without regard to provisions of title 5, United States 
                Code, governing appointments in the competitive 
                service, and without regard to chapter 51 and 
                subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to 
                classification and General Schedule pay rates.
            (2) Duties.--The Secretary shall, in carrying out the 
        responsibilities and functions of the Secretary under this 
        section, and as part of the White House Conference on 
        Neighborhoods, ensure that--
                    (A) the conferences under paragraph (1)(B) shall be 
                conducted in a manner that ensures broad participation 
                of Federal, State, and local agencies and private 
                organizations, professionals, and others involved in 
                neighborhood revitalization and preservation;
                    (B) the agenda prepared under paragraph (1)(C) for 
                the Conference is published in the Federal Register; 
                and
                    (C) the personnel engaged under paragraph (1)(E) 
                shall be fairly balanced in terms of points of views 
                represented and shall be appointed without regard to 
                political affiliation or previous partisan activities.
    (f) Report.--The Commission under section 3 shall prepare a report 
describing the activities of the Conference and shall submit the report 
to the President and the chief executive officers of the States not 
later than 90 days after the date on which the Conference is adjourned.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``Commission'' means the Geno Baroni 
        Commission on Neighborhoods established under section 3;
            (2) the term ``Conference'' means the White House 
        Conference on Neighborhoods pursuant to section 4;
            (3) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Housing 
        and Urban Development; and
            (4) the term ``State'' means the States of the United 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, 
        the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and any other territory or 
        possession of the United States.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated--
            (1) $4,000,000 to carry out section 3, of which $2,000,000 
        shall be available for activities under section 3(e); and
            (2) $2,000,000 to carry out section 4.
    (b) Availability.--Any amounts appropriated pursuant to this 
section shall remain available until the expiration of the 1-year 
period beginning on the date of the adjournment of the Conference.
    (c) Contracts.--The Secretary and the Commission may enter into 
contracts to carry out their responsibilities under this Act, but only 
to the extent, or in such amounts as are, provided in advance in 
appropriations Acts.

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