109 HR 3895 IH: Rural Housing Hurricane Relief Act of 2005 U.S. House of Representatives 2005-09-26 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 109th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3895 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 26, 2005 Mr. Baker (for himself, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Boustany, and Mr. Jindal) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services A BILL To amend title V of the Housing Act of 1949 to provide rural housing assistance to families affected by Hurricane Katrina.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Rural Housing Hurricane Relief Act of 2005.

2.

Disaster authority

Section 541 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490q) is amended to read as follows:

541.

Disaster assistance

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, in the event of a disaster declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, the Secretary may, during the period described in subsection (c), exercise any authority described in subsection (b) with respect to the counties designated as disaster areas and the counties contiguous to such counties and for any individuals who resided in such counties at the time of the disaster. (b)

Special authorities

The authorities described in this subsection are as follows: (1)

Conversion of rental assistance

The Secretary may convert rental assistance under section 521 allocated for a property that is not inhabitable because of the disaster into— (A)housing voucher assistance authorized under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)); or (B)rural housing vouchers authorized under this title. (2)

Reprogramming

The Secretary may reprogram funds appropriated to carry out any activities authorized under this title to conduct any other activity authorized under this title. (3)

Waiver of rural area requirements

The Secretary may waive the application of the provisions of section 520 with respect to assistance provided under this section, as the Secretary considers appropriate. (c)

Duration of authority

The period described in this subsection is, for a major disaster, the 6-month period that begins on the date that the disaster is declared by the President. (d)

Authorization of appropriations

In addition to funds otherwise available to carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

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3.

Rural housing voucher authority

Section 542 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490r) is amended— (1)by striking (a) In general.—; (2)in the first sentence, by striking very; and (3)by striking subsection (b).

4.

Guaranteed loans for single family housing

Section 502(h) of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472(h)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (4), by striking or construct and inserting , construct, repair, or rehabilitate; and (2)in paragraph (14)(A), by striking made under this section or guaranteed under this subsection and inserting used to acquire or construct a single-family residence that meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (4).