109 HR 5512 IH: To direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development U.S. House of Representatives 2006-05-25 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 2d Session H. R. 5512 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 25, 2006 Mr. Ryan of Ohio (for himself and Mr. Kildee) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services A BILL To direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish an urban blight demolition program to provide grants for the demolition of condemned and tax-foreclosed residential housing.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Urban Development Act of 2006.

2.

Finding

Congress finds that there has been a decrease in the population of traditional manufacturing regions, often leaving a surplus of residential housing.

3.

Urban blight demolition program

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall establish and carry out an urban blight demolition program in accordance with the requirements of this section. (b)

Grants

(1)

In general

Under the program, the Secretary may award grants to eligible recipients for the purpose of demolishing condemned or tax-foreclosed residential housing in urban areas. (2)

Additional use of funds

In addition to the purpose specified in paragraph (1), amounts from grants awarded under this section may be used for one or more of the following purposes: (A)Remediation of the demolition sites prior to demolition. (B)Rehabilitation of the demolition sites to public use spaces. (c)

Grant eligibility

To be eligible for a grant under the program, an applicant— (1)shall be a city or other municipality— (A)with a population of more than 40,000, as determined by the most recent report issued by the Bureau of the Census; and (B)that has experienced a decrease of 10 percent in residential population over the course of the last 2 reports issued by the Bureau of the Census. (2)shall demonstrate that the demolition to be carried out with funds from the grant will aid the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the city or municipality; and (3)shall demonstrate that such demolition is needed, in part, to reduce crime, destroy a public hazard, or create a public-use space such as a trail or park. (d)

Application

A city or other municipality seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (e)

Matching funds

The Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out using a grant awarded under this section may not exceed 50 percent. (f)

Grant amounts

The Secretary may not award more than $500,000 in grants under this section to an eligible recipient in a fiscal year. (g)

Relationship to other grant programs

Grants awarded under this section are intended to complement, and not take the place of, funding provided under the Community Development Block Grant program authorized by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.). (h)

Community participation and input

To the extent practicable, recipients of grants awarded under this section shall consult with community leaders, resident and citizen associations, law enforcement officials, and fire departments in determining which residential housing will be demolished. (i)

Reporting requirement

The Secretary shall submit to Congress on an annual basis a report containing the following: (1)The number of demolitions that have been carried out under the program in the preceding year. (2)The number of demolished properties that have been rehabilitated to public-use spaces under the program in the preceding year. (3)A description of the impact such demolitions and rehabilitations have had on the health, safety, and welfare of the residents in the affected areas. (j)

Nondiscrimination, labor standards, and remedies for noncompliance

Grants awarded under this section shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in sections 109, 110, and 111 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5309, 5310, and 5311).

4.

Residential housing defined

The term residential housing includes single family and multi-family units that were primarily used as dwelling accommodations.

5.

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.