[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2952 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2952

    To provide technical assistance, capacity building grants, and 
  organizational support to private, nonprofit community development 
     organizations, including religiously-affiliated organizations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 27, 2000

Mr. Torricelli introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
    referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To provide technical assistance, capacity building grants, and 
  organizational support to private, nonprofit community development 
     organizations, including religiously-affiliated organizations.

    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 ``Faith-Based and Community-Based 
Organizations in Housing and Community Development Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the Center for Community and 
Interfaith Partnerships of the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development (referred to in this section as the ``Director'') may award 
grants to private, nonprofit community-based organizations (including 
social service organizations and community development corporations) in 
accordance with this section.
    (b) Religious Organizations.--In awarding grants under this 
section, the Director shall consider religious organizations on the 
same basis as other nongovernmental entities.
    (c) Use of Funds.--Amounts provided under a grant awarded under 
this section may only be used for activities that--
            (1) develop the capacity and ability of organizations 
        described in subsection (a) to undertake community development 
        and affordable housing projects and programs;
            (2) promote the goal of fair housing;
            (3) assist the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
        in the disposition of foreclosed properties; or
            (4) increase the effectiveness of the programs carried out 
        by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in distressed 
        high poverty areas.
    (d) Prohibition on Sectarian Use of Funds.--No amount provided 
under a grant awarded under this section may be used for sectarian 
worship, instruction, or proselytization.
    (e) Funding.--Section 107(a)(1) of the Housing and Community 
Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5307(a)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
        ``$60,000,000'' and inserting ``$80,000,000'';
            (2) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (3) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(J) $20,000,000 shall be available to carry out 
                section 2 of the Faith-Based and Community-Based 
                Organizations in Housing and Community Development Act 
                of 2000.''.
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