[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1668 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1668

To assist in providing affordable housing to those affected by the 2005 
                              hurricanes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 20, 2007

Mr. Dodd (for himself and Ms. Landrieu) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
                           and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To assist in providing affordable housing to those affected by the 2005 
                              hurricanes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Gulf Coast Housing 
Recovery Act of 2007''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Limitation on use of authorized amounts.
              TITLE I--COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS

Sec. 101. Flexibility of Federal Funds for Road Home Program.
Sec. 102. Household assistance programs funded with CDBG disaster 
                            assistance.
Sec. 103. Community development pilot programs.
Sec. 104. Road Home Program shortfall.
Sec. 105. Elimination of prohibition of use for match requirement.
Sec. 106. Reimbursement of amounts used for rental housing assistance.
                        TITLE II--PUBLIC HOUSING

Sec. 201. Survey of public housing residents.
Sec. 202. Housing for previous residents of public housing.
Sec. 203. Replacement of public housing dwelling units.
Sec. 204. Resident support services.
Sec. 205. Public housing in Katrina and Rita disaster areas.
Sec. 206. Reports on proposed conversions of public housing units.
Sec. 207. Authorization of appropriations for repair and rehabilitation 
                            for Katrina and Rita disaster areas.
Sec. 208. Existing public housing redevelopment.
Sec. 209. Reports on compliance.
Sec. 210. Independent administration of Housing Authority of New 
                            Orleans.
Sec. 211. Definition.
TITLE III--DISASTER VOUCHER PROGRAM AND PROJECT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE

Sec. 301. Disaster voucher program.
Sec. 302. Tenant replacement vouchers for all lost units.
Sec. 303. Voucher assistance for households receiving FEMA assistance.
Sec. 304. Voucher assistance for supportive housing.
Sec. 305. Project-basing of vouchers.
Sec. 306. Preservation of project-based housing assistance payments 
                            contracts for dwelling units damaged or 
                            destroyed.
Sec. 307. GAO study of wrongful or erroneous termination of Federal 
                            rental housing assistance.
              TITLE IV--DAMAGES ARISING FROM FEMA ACTIONS

Sec. 401. Reimbursement of landlords.
                          TITLE V--FHA HOUSING

Sec. 501. Treatment of nonconveyable properties.
Sec. 502. FHA single-family insurance.
Sec. 503. FHA-New Orleans Homeownership Opportunities Initiative.
                   TITLE VI--FAIR HOUSING ENFORCEMENT

Sec. 601. Fair housing initiatives program.
TITLE VII--IMPROVED DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL HURRICANE HOUSING FUNDS FOR 
                            HURRICANE RELIEF

Sec. 701. GAO study of improved distribution of Federal housing funds 
                            for hurricane relief.
     TITLE VIII--COMMENDING AMERICANS FOR THEIR REBUILDING EFFORTS

Sec. 801. Commending Americans.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON USE OF AUTHORIZED AMOUNTS.

    None of the amounts authorized by this Act may be used to lobby or 
retain a lobbyist for the purpose of influencing a Federal, State, or 
local governmental entity or officer.

              TITLE I--COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS

SEC. 101. FLEXIBILITY OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR ROAD HOME PROGRAM.

    (a) Prohibition of Restriction on Use of Amounts.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (4) and 
        notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator 
        of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall allow the uses 
        specified in paragraph (2), by the State of Louisiana under the 
        Road Home Program of such State, of any amounts specified in 
        paragraph (5), provided such funds are used in full compliance 
        with the requirements of the Department of Housing and Urban 
        Development's Supplemental Community Development Block Grant 
        Program, as such requirements are established under title I of 
        the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 
        5301 et seq.).
            (2) Eligible uses.--As specified in paragraph (1), the 
        Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall 
        allow the State of Louisiana to use any amounts specified in 
        paragraph (5) for the purposes of--
                    (A) acquiring property, including both land and 
                buildings, for the purposes of removing any structure 
                located on such property and permanently returning the 
                property to a use compatible with open space, as 
                required pursuant to section 404 of the Robert T. 
                Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 5170c);
                    (B) covering all or a portion of the cost of 
                elevating a damaged residential structure located on 
                any property acquired under subparagraph (A) in order 
                to make the property compliant with State building 
                codes, local ordinances or building requirements, and 
                the National Flood Insurance Program, including 
                elevating the lowest habitable level to at least 1 foot 
                above the base flood elevation or the elevation 
                described using the current best available data from 
                the Federal Emergency Management Agency, whichever 
                elevation is higher;
                    (C) covering all or a portion of the cost of--
                            (i) the demolition of any home deemed to be 
                        more than 50 percent damaged as a result of an 
                        inspection; and
                            (ii) the reconstruction of another home on 
                        the same property on which a home was 
                        demolished under clause (i), including site 
                        preparation, utility connection, and 
                        transactional costs, such that the newly 
                        constructed home is elevated so the lowest 
                        habitable level will be at least 1 foot above 
                        the base flood elevation or the elevation 
                        described using the current best available data 
                        from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
                        whichever elevation is higher;
                    (D) funding individual mitigation measures that can 
                be incorporated into a home to reduce risk to both life 
                and property, provided that no individual measure to be 
                funded costs in excess of $7,500; and
                    (E) covering the reasonable cost to manage and 
                administer such funds consistent with existing funding 
                formulas identified under the Robert T. Stafford 
                Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
                5121 et seq.) and its implementing regulations.
            (3) Consistency requirement.--Uses specified in paragraph 
        (2) shall be deemed eligible when implemented in a way 
        consistent with the requirements of the Department of Housing 
        and Urban Development's Supplemental Community Development 
        Block Grant Program, as such requirements are established under 
        title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 
        (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), irrespective of any other 
        requirements mandated under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program 
        under section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c).
            (4) Savings provision.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (3), all other provisions of section 404 of the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5170c) shall apply to amounts specified in paragraph (3) 
        that are used by the State of Louisiana under the Road Home 
        Program of such State.
            (5) Covered amounts.--The amounts specified in this 
        paragraph is $1,170,000,000 designated for Hurricanes Katrina 
        and Rita under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program of the 
        Federal Emergency Management Agency to the State of Louisiana 
        as of June 1, 2007.
            (6) Expedited transfer of funds.--
                    (A) In general.--The Administrator of the Federal 
                Emergency Management Agency shall, not later than 90 
                days after the date of enactment of this Act, transfer 
                the amounts specified in paragraph (5) to the State of 
                Louisiana.
                    (B) Procedures.--The Administrator of the Federal 
                Emergency Management Agency shall identify and 
                implement mechanisms to be applied to all funds made 
                available to the State of Louisiana as a result of 
                Hurricanes Katrina and Rita under the Hazard Mitigation 
                Grant Program under section 404 of the Robert T. 
                Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
                (42 U.S.C. 5170c) that will simplify the requirements 
                of such program and ensure the expedited distribution 
                of such funds under the program, including--
                            (i) creating a programmatic cost-benefit 
                        analysis to provide a means of conducting cost-
                        benefit analysis by project type and geographic 
                        factors rather than on a structure-by-structure 
                        basis; and
                            (ii) developing a streamlined environmental 
                        review process to significantly speed the 
                        approval of project applications.
            (7) Future amounts.--Notwithstanding the provisions of this 
        section, for the period beginning June 1, 2007 and ending 
        December 31, 2007, any amounts in addition to the 
        $1,170,000,000 described under paragraph (5) that are made 
        available to the State of Louisiana as a result of Hurricanes 
        Katrina and Rita under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program 
        under section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170c) shall be provided by 
        such State to local government entities, based upon the 
        severity of hurricane damage incurred in such areas, to be used 
        solely for the purposes set forth under such section 404.
    (b) Reporting Requirement.--The Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall provide quarterly reports to the 
Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Homeland 
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committees on 
Financial Services and Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
of Representatives on--
            (1) specific mechanisms that are being utilized to expedite 
        funding distribution under this section; and
            (2) how such mechanisms are performing.

SEC. 102. HOUSEHOLD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FUNDED WITH CDBG DISASTER 
              ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Reporting Requirement.--Each State that received amounts made 
available under the heading ``Department of Housing and Urban 
Development--Community Planning and Development--Community Development 
Fund'' in chapter 9 of title I of division B of Public Law 109-148 (119 
Stat. 2779) or under such heading in chapter 9 of title II of Public 
Law 109-234 (120 Stat. 472) shall submit reports, and make such reports 
available to the public on the Internet, under this subsection 
regarding each grant program of the State for assistance for individual 
households funded in whole or in part with such amounts to the 
committees identified in paragraph (4). Each such report under this 
subsection shall describe and analyze the status and effectiveness of 
each such grant program and shall include the information described in 
paragraph (2) regarding each such program, for the applicable reporting 
period and for the entire period of such program.
    (b) Contents.--The following information shall be included in any 
report submitted under subsection (a):
            (1) The number of applications submitted for assistance 
        under the program.
            (2) The number of households for which assistance has been 
        provided under the program.
            (3) The average amount of assistance requested and provided 
        for each household under the program and the total amount of 
        assistance provided under the program.
            (4) The number of personnel involved in executing all 
        aspects of the program.
            (5) Actions to affirmatively further fair housing.
            (6) Comprehensive data, by program, on who is served during 
        the period, by number, percentage, and zip code, including data 
        on race, ethnicity, income, disability, family size, and family 
        status.
            (7) Actions taken to improve the program and 
        recommendations for further such improvements.
    (c) Reporting Periods.--With respect to any program described in 
subsection (a), the first report under this section shall be submitted 
not later than the expiration of the 30-day period that begins upon the 
date of the enactment of this Act. Reports shall be submitted, during 
the term of each such program, not later than the expiration of each 
successive calendar quarter thereafter.
    (d) Receiving Committees.--The committees specified in this 
paragraph are--
            (1) the Committees on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 
        and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 
        and
            (2) the Committees on Financial Services and Transportation 
        and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.
    (e) Ongoing Reports on Use of Amounts.--
            (1) Quarterly reports.--During the period that amounts are 
        being expended under the State grant programs referred to in 
        subsection (a), the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
        shall submit reports on a quarterly basis to the Committees on 
        Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and Homeland Security and 
        Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committees on Financial 
        Services and Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of 
        Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United 
        States. Such reports shall be made available to the public on 
        the Internet. Such reports shall--
                    (A) describe and account for the use of all such 
                amounts expended during the applicable quarterly 
                period;
                    (B) certify that internal controls are in place to 
                prevent waste, fraud, and abuse; and
                    (C) identify any waste, fraud, or abuse involved in 
                the use of such amounts.
            (2) Monitoring.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
        Development shall monitor funds expended by each State required 
        to submit reports under subsection (a) and, pursuant to such 
        monitoring--
                    (A) upon determining that at least 2 percent of 
                such amount has been expended, shall include in the 
                first quarterly report thereafter a written 
                determination of such expenditure; and
                    (B) upon determining, at any time after the 
                determination under subparagraph (A), that the portion 
                of such total amount expended at such time that was 
                subject to waste, fraud, or abuse exceeds 10 percent, 
                shall include in the first quarterly report thereafter 
                a certification to that effect.
            (3) Actions in response to waste, fraud, and abuse.--If at 
        any time the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development submits 
        a report under paragraph (1) that includes a certification 
        under paragraph (2)(B), the Comptroller General shall submit a 
        report to the Committees referred to in paragraph (1) within 90 
        days recommending actions to be taken--
                    (A) to recover any improper expenditures; and
                    (B) to prevent further waste, fraud, and abuse in 
                expenditure of such amounts.

SEC. 103. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PILOT PROGRAMS.

    (a) Availability of Amounts.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development shall require the State of Louisiana to make available, 
from any amounts made available for such State under the heading 
``Department of Housing and Urban Development--Community Planning and 
Development--Community Development Fund'' in chapter 9 of title I of 
division B of Public Law 109-148 (119 Stat. 2779) or under such heading 
in chapter 9 of title II of Public Law 109-234 (120 Stat. 472) and that 
remain unexpended, the following amounts:
            (1) For orleans parish.--$30,000,000 to the New Orleans 
        Redevelopment Authority (in this section referred to as the 
        ``Redevelopment Authority''), subject to subsection (c), only 
        for use to carry out the pilot program under this section, 
        provided that, of such amounts, $5,000,000 be used to provide 
        low-interest loans for second mortgages (commonly referred to 
        as ``soft'' loans) for homes sold to low-income individuals.
            (2) Other parishes.--$25,000,000 to the Louisiana Housing 
        Finance Agency to provide grants to parishes, not including 
        Orleans Parish, that were declared a disaster area by the 
        President as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita of 2005 to 
        establish redevelopment programs in those parishes that have 
        requirements that are the same or substantially similar to the 
        requirements under this section.
    (b) Purpose.--The pilot program under this section shall fund, 
through the combination of amounts provided under this section with 
public and private capital from other sources, the purchase or costs 
associated with the acquisition or disposition of individual parcels of 
land in New Orleans, Louisiana, by the Redevelopment Authority to be 
aggregated, assembled, and sold for the purpose of development by the 
Redevelopment Authority or private entities only in accordance with, 
and subject to, any recovery and redevelopment plans developed and 
adopted by the City of New Orleans. The costs associated with 
acquisition or disposition of a parcel of land may include costs for 
activities described in subsection (c)(3) with respect to such parcel 
and costs described in subsection (c)(6).
    (c) Certifications.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
shall ensure that amounts are made available pursuant to subsection (a) 
to the Redevelopment Authority only upon the submission to the 
Secretary of certifications to ensure that the Redevelopment 
Authority--
            (1) has the authority to purchase land for resale for the 
        purpose of development in accordance with the pilot program 
        under this section;
            (2) has bonding authority (either on its own or through a 
        State bonding agency) or has credit enhancements sufficient to 
        support public/private financing to acquire land for the 
        purposes of the pilot program under this section;
            (3) has the authority and capacity to ensure clean title to 
        land sold under the pilot program and to reduce the risk 
        attributable to and indemnify against environmental, flood, and 
        other liabilities;
            (4) will, where practicable, provide a first right to 
        purchase any land acquired by the Redevelopment Authority to 
        the seller who sold the land to the Redevelopment Authority, 
        consistent with any recovery and redevelopment plans developed 
        and adopted by the City of New Orleans;
            (5) has in place sufficient internal controls to prevent 
        waste, fraud, and abuse and to ensure that funds made available 
        under this subsection may not be used to fund salaries or other 
        administrative costs of the employees of the Redevelopment 
        Authority; and
            (6) will, in carrying out the pilot program under this 
        section, consult with the City of New Orleans regarding 
        coordination of activities under the program with the recovery 
        and redevelopment plans referred to in subsection (b), 
        reimbursement of such City for costs incurred in support of the 
        program, and use of program income and other amounts generated 
        through the program.
    (d) Development Requirements.--In carrying out the pilot program 
under this section, the Redevelopment Authority shall--
            (1) sell land acquired under the pilot program only as 
        provided in subsection (b);
            (2) use any proceeds from the sale of such land to 
        replenish funds available for use under the pilot program for 
        the purpose of acquiring new parcels of land or to repay any 
        private financing for such purchases;
            (3) require that in instances where land is developed under 
        this section, and used for housing, not less than 25 percent of 
        such housing be affordable and made available to low-, very 
        low-, and extremely low-income households;
            (4) sell land only--
                    (A) to purchasers who agree to develop such sites 
                for sale to the public;
                    (B) to purchasers pursuant to subsection (c)(4); or
                    (C) to developers who are developing sites, 
                including public housing development sites, as part of 
                a neighborhood revitalization plan;
            (5) ensure that any--
                    (A) development under the program is consistent 
                with neighborhood revitalization plans and in 
                accordance with any recovery and redevelopment plans 
                developed and adopted by the City of New Orleans; and
                    (B) uses of such development are not inconsistent 
                with redevelopment of adjacent parcels, where possible; 
                and
            (6) where properties are located in neighborhoods where 
        public housing redevelopment is occurring, give priority 
        consideration to making such properties available to meet the 
        housing replacement requirements under this Act.
    (e) Inapplicability of Stafford Act Limitations.--Any requirements 
or limitations under or pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act relating to use of properties 
acquired with amounts made available under such Act for certain 
purposes, restricting development of such properties, or limiting 
subsequent alienation of such properties shall not apply to amounts 
provided under this section or properties acquired under the pilot 
program with such amounts.
    (f) GAO Study and Report.--
            (1) In general.--Upon the expiration of the 2-year period 
        beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
        Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study 
        of the pilot program carried out under this section to 
        determine the effectiveness and limitations of, and potential 
        improvements for, such program.
            (2) Timing of report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        expiration of the 2-year period described in paragraph (1), the 
        Comptroller General shall submit a report to the Committees on 
        Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and Homeland Security and 
        Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committees on 
        Financial Services and Transportation and Infrastructure of the 
        House of Representatives and regarding the results of the 
        study.
            (3) Required content.--The report required under paragraph 
        (2) shall include a forensic audit that examines the 
        effectiveness of internal controls to prevent waste, fraud, and 
        abuse within the pilot program.

SEC. 104. ROAD HOME PROGRAM SHORTFALL.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the State of Louisiana 
to carry out the Road Home Program, provided that as of June 1, 2007, 
the State of Louisiana has provided at least $1,000,000,000 for such 
program.
    (b) Exception From Prohibition on Duplication of Benefits.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to the extent that amounts 
made available under the heading ``Department of Housing and Urban 
Development-Community Planning and Development--Community Development 
Fund'' in chapter 9 of title I of division B of Public Law 109-148 (119 
Stat. 2779), under such heading in chapter 9 of title II of Public Law 
109-234 (120 Stat. 472), and under section 101 of this title, are used 
by the State of Louisiana under the Road Home Program, the procedures 
preventing duplication of benefits established pursuant to the 
penultimate proviso under such heading in Public Law 109-148 (119 Stat. 
2781) and the 15th proviso under such heading in Public Law 109-234 
(120 Stat. 473) shall not apply with respect to any benefits received 
from disaster payments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or 
disaster assistance provided from the Small Business Administration, 
except to the extent that the inapplicability of such procedures would 
result in a household receiving more than is necessary to repair or 
rebuild their structure and property, and pay for temporary relocation 
and necessities.

SEC. 105. ELIMINATION OF PROHIBITION OF USE FOR MATCH REQUIREMENT.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any 
amounts made available before the date of the enactment of this Act for 
activities under the Community Development Block Grant Program under 
title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 
5301 et seq.) for expenses related to disaster relief, long-term 
recovery, and restoration of infrastructure in the areas impacted or 
distressed by the consequences of Hurricane Katrina, Rita, or Wilma in 
States for which the President declared a major disaster, or made 
available before such date of enactment for such activities for such 
expenses in the areas impacted or distressed by the consequences of 
Hurricane Dennis, may be used by a State or locality as a matching 
requirement, share, or contribution for any other Federal program.
    (b) Efficient Environmental Review.--If an environmental review for 
a project funded by any amounts referred to in subsection (a) has been 
completed by a Federal agency, such environmental review shall be 
considered sufficient for receipt and use of all Federal funds, 
provided that such environmental review is substantially similar to an 
environmental review under the procedures authorized under section 
104(g) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 
5304(g)).

SEC. 106. REIMBURSEMENT OF AMOUNTS USED FOR RENTAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

    There are authorized to be appropriated, from any amounts made 
available before the date of the enactment of this Act under any 
provision of law to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for 
disaster relief under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act relating to the consequences of Hurricane 
Katrina, Rita, or Wilma that remain unobligated, and from any amounts 
made available before such date of enactment under any provision of law 
to such Agency for such disaster relief relating to the consequences of 
Hurricane Dennis that remain unobligated, such sums as may be necessary 
to be made available to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency for transfer to the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development, for such Secretary to provide assistance under title I of 
the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et 
seq.) to reimburse metropolitan cities and urban counties for amounts 
used, including amounts from the Community Development Block Grant 
Program, the HOME Investment Partnership Program, and other programs, 
to provide rental housing assistance for families residing in such city 
or county pursuant to evacuation from their previous residences because 
of such hurricanes, provided that such city or county has not 
previously been reimbursed for such expenditures.

                        TITLE II--PUBLIC HOUSING

SEC. 201. SURVEY OF PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS.

    (a) Survey.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall 
contract with an independent research entity to conduct a survey, using 
appropriate scientific research methods to determine, of the households 
who as of August 28, 2005, resided in public housing (as such term is 
defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
U.S.C. 1437a(b)) operated or administered by the Housing Authority of 
New Orleans, in Louisiana--
            (1) which and how many such households intend to return to 
        residences in dwelling units described in section 202(d) of 
        this Act, when presented with the options of--
                    (A) returning to residence in a repaired public 
                housing or comparable dwelling unit in New Orleans 
                immediately;
                    (B) returning to residence in a temporary repaired 
                residence in New Orleans immediately, and then moving 
                from such repaired residence to a newly redeveloped 
                public housing unit at a later date; or
                    (C) continuing to receive rental housing assistance 
                from the Federal Government in a location other than 
                New Orleans or in New Orleans; and
            (2) when households who choose the options described under 
        subparagraphs (A) or (B) of paragraph (1) intend to return.
    (b) Participation of Residents.--The Secretary shall solicit 
recommendations from resident councils and residents of public housing 
operated or administered by such Housing Authority in designing and 
conducting the survey under subsection (a).
    (c) Proposed Survey Document.--The Secretary shall submit the full 
research design of the proposed document to be used in conducting the 
survey to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
Representatives not less than 10 business days before the commencement 
of such survey.
    (d) Report.--The Secretary shall submit a report to the committees 
referred to in subsection (c) detailing the results of the survey 
conducted under subsection (a) not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 202. HOUSING FOR PREVIOUS RESIDENTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING.

    (a) Provision of Dwelling Units.--Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Housing Authority of New Orleans 
shall make available for temporary or permanent occupancy, subject to 
subsection (b), a number of dwelling units (including those currently 
occupied) described in subsection (d) that is not less than the greater 
of--
            (1) 3,000; or
            (2) the number of households who have indicated, in the 
        survey conducted pursuant to section 201, that they intend to 
        return to residence within 120 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, in public housing operated or 
        administered by such public housing agency.
    (b) Housing for Former Public Housing Residents.--
            (1) In general.--Subject only to subsection (c), the 
        Housing Authority of New Orleans shall make available, upon the 
        request of any household who, as of August 28, 2005, was a 
        tenant of public housing operated or administered by such 
        public housing agency, permanent or temporary occupancy (as may 
        be necessary for redevelopment plans) for such household in a 
        dwelling unit provided pursuant to subsection (a), so long as--
                    (A) the tenant--
                            (i) notifies the Housing Authority of New 
                        Orleans, not later than 75 days after the date 
                        of the enactment of this Act, of that tenant's 
                        intent to return; and
                            (ii) identifies a date that the tenant 
                        intends to occupy such a dwelling unit, which 
                        shall be not later than 120 days after the date 
                        of the enactment of this Act; and
                    (B) the tenant was rightfully occupying a public 
                housing unit of the Housing Authority of New Orleans on 
                August 28, 2005.
            (2) Preferences.--In making dwelling units available to 
        households pursuant to paragraph (1), such Housing Authority 
        shall provide to each returning tenant the choice to live in--
                    (A) a dwelling unit in the same public housing 
                project occupied by the tenant as of August 28, 2005, 
                or in the surrounding neighborhood in which such public 
                housing project was located, if available; or
                    (B) in any other available dwelling unit in various 
                other areas of the City of New Orleans, provided that 
                the Housing Authority give each resident a choice of 
                available units in various neighborhoods throughout the 
                City of New Orleans.
    (c) Prohibition of Exclusion.--The Housing Authority of New Orleans 
shall not, including through the application of any waiting list or 
eligibility, screening, occupancy, or other policy or practice, prevent 
any household referred to in subsection (b)(1) from occupying a 
replacement dwelling unit provided pursuant to subsection (a), except 
that such Housing Authority or other manager shall prevent a household 
from occupying such a dwelling unit, and shall provide for occupancy in 
such dwelling units, as follows:
            (1) Notwithstanding any priority under paragraph (4), a 
        household shall be prevented from such occupancy to the extent 
        that any other provision of Federal law prohibits occupancy or 
        tenancy of such household, or any individual who is a member of 
        such household, in the type of housing of the replacement 
        dwelling unit provided for such household.
            (2) Notwithstanding any priority under paragraph (4), a 
        household shall be prevented from such occupancy if it includes 
        any individual who has been convicted of a drug dealing 
        offense, sex offense, or crime of domestic violence.
    (d) Replacement Dwelling Units.--A dwelling unit described in this 
subsection is--
            (1) a dwelling unit in public housing operated or 
        administered by the Housing Authority of New Orleans; or
            (2) a dwelling unit in other comparable housing located in 
        the jurisdiction of the Housing Authority of New Orleans for 
        which the sum of the amount required to be contributed by the 
        tenant for rent and any separate utility costs for such unit 
        borne by the tenant is comparable to the sum of the amount 
        required to be contributed by the tenant for rental of a 
        comparable public housing dwelling unit and any separate 
        utility costs for such unit borne by the tenant.
    (e) Relocation Assistance.--The Housing Authority of New Orleans 
shall provide, to each household provided occupancy in a dwelling unit 
pursuant to subsection (b), assistance under the Uniform Relocation 
Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions Policy Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 
4601 et seq.) for relocation to such dwelling unit.

SEC. 203. REPLACEMENT OF PUBLIC HOUSING DWELLING UNITS.

    (a) Conditions on Demolition.--After the date of the enactment of 
this Act, the Housing Authority of New Orleans may only demolish or 
dispose of dwelling units of public housing operated or administered by 
such agency (including any uninhabitable unit) pursuant to a plan for 
replacement of such units, as approved by the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development pursuant to subsection (b).
    (b) Plan Requirements.--The Secretary may only approve a plan for 
demolition or disposition of dwelling units of public housing referred 
to in subsection (a), if--
            (1) there is a clear process for the opportunity to comment 
        by the residents and resident councils of public housing 
        operated or administered by such Housing Authority or the City 
        of New Orleans, and the community in which such demolition or 
        disposition is to occur, including the opportunity for comment 
        on specific proposals at each stage of redevelopment, 
        demolition, or disposition;
            (2) not later than 60 days before the date of the approval 
        of such plan, such Housing Authority has convened and conducted 
        at least 1 public hearing regarding the demolition or 
        disposition proposed in the plan;
            (3) such plan provides that for each such dwelling unit 
        demolished or disposed of, such public housing agency will 
        provide additional affordable housing as set forth under 
        subsection (c);
            (4) such plan provides for the implementation of a right 
        for households to occupancy housing in accordance with section 
        202;
            (5) such plan provides priority in making units available 
        under paragraph (3) to residents identified in section 201;
            (6) such plan provides for offering public housing units 
        built on site, first to former residents of that public housing 
        development who indicate they would like to return, subject to 
        exclusions permitted under Federal law for criminal activity;
            (7) such plan provides that the proposed demolition or 
        disposition and relocation will be carried out in a manner that 
        affirmatively furthers fair housing, as described in subsection 
        (e) of section 808 of the Civil Rights Act of 1968;
            (8) such plan provides for comprehensive resident services; 
        and
            (9) such plan provides for procedures for people who were 
        on the waiting list on August 28, 2005, to receive 
        consideration to receive housing for any units that are not 
        needed for returning residents.
    (c) Replacement Units.--
            (1) Previously occupied units.--For each public housing 
        unit demolished or disposed of under this section, which was 
        occupied by tenants on August 28, 2005, the Housing Authority 
        of New Orleans and the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
        Development shall provide at least 1 of the following 
        replacement housing opportunities:
                    (A) The acquisition or development of additional 
                public housing dwelling units, including units in the 
                neighborhood where the demolished or disposed of units 
                were located.
                    (B) The acquisition, development, or contracting 
                (including through project-based assistance) of 
                additional dwelling units that are subject to 
                requirements regarding eligibility for occupancy, 
                tenant contribution toward rent, and long-term 
                affordability restrictions which are comparable to 
                public housing units, including units in the 
                neighborhood where the demolished or disposed of units 
                were located.
                    (C) The development or contracting of project-based 
                voucher assistance under section 8(o)(13) of the United 
                States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)), 
                for not less than 15 years.
            (2) Nonoccupied units.--For each public housing unit 
        demolished or disposed of under this section, which was not 
        occupied by tenants on August 28, 2005, the Secretary of 
        Housing and Urban Development shall provide, and the Housing 
        Authority of New Orleans shall provide a replacement housing 
        unit as described in paragraph (1) or shall issue a voucher 
        under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
        U.S.C. 1437f(o)), provided that the Housing Authority 
        establishes, within 60 days after the date of enactment of this 
        Act, a system to project base such vouchers, as permitted under 
        section 8(o)(13) of such Act.
    (d) Inapplicable Provisions.--Subparagraphs (B) and (D) of section 
8(o)(13) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
1437f(o)(13)) shall not apply with respect to vouchers used to comply 
with the requirements of subsection (b)(3) of this section, except that 
not more than 50 percent of the units in any such affordable housing 
project may be assisted under a housing assistance contract for 
project-based assistance under such section 8(o)(13), unless all units 
are specifically made available to seniors or people with disabilities.
    (e) Monitoring.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
shall provide for the appropriate field offices of the Department to 
monitor and supervise enforcement of this section and plans approved 
under this section and to consult, regarding such monitoring and 
enforcement, with resident councils of, and residents of public housing 
operated or administered by, the Housing Authority of New Orleans and 
with the City of New Orleans.

SEC. 204. RESIDENT SUPPORT SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--In any instance where the Housing Authority of New 
Orleans is providing housing vouchers or affordable housing that is not 
public housing, as described in section 203, the Housing Authority 
shall, directly or through the use of contractors--
            (1) provide mobility counseling to residents of such 
        housing;
            (2) conduct outreach to landlords of such housing in all 
        areas of the City of New Orleans and the region; and
            (3) work with developers to project-base voucher assistance 
        under section 8(o)(13) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 
        (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)) in low-poverty neighborhoods, and 
        neighborhoods undergoing revitalization.
    (b) Reports.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and every 6 months thereafter, the Housing Authority of 
New Orleans shall submit a report to the Secretary and Congress on its 
activities under this section, including--
            (1) the number and location of nonpublic housing units 
        provided;
            (2) the census tract in which those units are located;
            (3) the poverty rate in those census tracts;
            (4) the rent burdens of households assisted under this 
        section;
            (5) any demographic data, reported by census tract, on who 
        is served in the program; and
            (6) the efforts of the Authority to affirmatively further 
        fair housing.

SEC. 205. PUBLIC HOUSING IN KATRINA AND RITA DISASTER AREAS.

    (a) Conditions on Demolition.--For the 2-year period after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, a public housing agency may only dispose 
or demolish public housing dwelling units located in any area for which 
a major disaster or emergency was declared by the President pursuant to 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act as 
a result of Hurricane Katrina or Rita of 2005, other than those covered 
under section 203, pursuant to a plan for replacement of such units in 
accordance with, and approved by the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development pursuant to subsections (b) and (c).
    (b) Plan Requirements.--The Secretary may only approve a plan for 
demolition or disposition of dwelling units of public housing referred 
to in subsection (a), if--
            (1) there is a clear process for the opportunity to comment 
        by the residents and resident councils of public housing 
        operated or administered by the Housing Authority, and the 
        community in which such demolition or disposition is to occur, 
        including the opportunity for comment on specific proposals for 
        redevelopment, demolition, or disposition;
            (2) not later than 60 days before the date of the approval 
        of such plan, such Housing Authority has convened and conducted 
        at least 1 public hearing regarding the demolition or 
        disposition proposed in the plan;
            (3) such plan provides that for each such dwelling unit 
        demolished or disposed of, such public housing agency will 
        provide additional affordable replacement housing as set forth 
        under subsection (c);
            (4) such plan provides that the proposed demolition or 
        disposition and relocation will be carried out in a manner that 
        affirmatively furthers fair housing, as described in subsection 
        (e) of section 808 of the Civil Rights Act of 1968;
            (5) such plan provides for comprehensive resident services;
            (6) such plan provides for offering public housing units 
        built on site, first to former residents of that public housing 
        development who indicate they would like to return, subject to 
        exclusions permitted under Federal law for criminal activity; 
        and
            (7) such plan provides for procedures for people who were 
        on the waiting list on August 28, 2005, to receive 
        consideration to receive housing for any units that are not 
        needed for returning residents.
    (c) Replacement Units.--
            (1) Previously occupied units.--For each public housing 
        unit demolished or disposed of under this section, which was 
        occupied by tenants on August 28, 2005, the Housing Authority 
        shall provide at least 1 of the following replacement housing 
        opportunities:
                    (A) The acquisition or development of additional 
                public housing dwelling units.
                    (B) The acquisition, development, or contracting 
                (including through project-based assistance) of 
                additional dwelling units that are subject to 
                requirements regarding eligibility for occupancy, 
                tenant contribution toward rent, and long-term 
                affordability restrictions which are comparable to 
                public housing units.
                    (C) Project-based voucher assistance under section 
                8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
                U.S.C. 1437f(o)), for not less than 10 years.
            (2) Nonoccupied units.--For each public housing unit 
        demolished or disposed of under this section, which was not 
        occupied by tenants on August 28, 2005, the Secretary of 
        Housing and Urban Development shall provide, and the Housing 
        Authority shall provide a replacement housing unit as described 
        in paragraph (1) or shall issue a voucher under section 8(o) of 
        the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)).
    (d) Relocation Assistance.--A public housing agency shall provide, 
to each household relocated pursuant to a plan under this section for 
demolition or disposition, assistance under the Uniform Relocation 
Assistance and Real Property Acquisitions Policy Act of 1970 for 
relocation to their new residence.
    (e) Return of Public Housing Tenants.--A public housing agency 
administering or operating public housing dwelling units described in 
subsection (a) shall--
            (1) use its best efforts to locate tenants displaced from 
        such public housing as a result of Hurricane Katrina or Rita; 
        and
            (2) provide such residents occupancy in public housing 
        dwelling units of such agency that become available for 
        occupancy, or other comparable affordable units, and to ensure 
        such residents a means to return to such housing if they so 
        choose.
    (f) Inapplicability of Certain Project-Based Voucher Limitations.--
Subparagraphs (B) and (D) of section 8(o)(13) of the United States 
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)) shall not apply with 
respect to any project-based vouchers used to comply with the 
requirements of a plan under subsection (c), except that not more than 
50 percent of the units in any such affordable housing project may be 
assisted under a housing assistance contract for project-based 
assistance under such section 8(o)(13), unless all units are 
specifically made available to seniors or people with disabilities.
    (g) Displacement From Habitable Units.--A public housing agency may 
not displace a tenant from any public housing dwelling unit described 
in this section that is administered or operated by such agency and is 
habitable (including during any period of rehabilitation), unless the 
agency provides a suitable and comparable replacement dwelling unit for 
such tenant.

SEC. 206. REPORTS ON PROPOSED CONVERSIONS OF PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS.

    Not later than the expiration of the 15-day period beginning on the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of 
the House of Representatives a detailed report identifying all public 
housing projects located in areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina or Rita 
of 2005, for which plans exist to transfer ownership to other entities 
or agencies. Such report shall include the following information for 
each such project:
            (1) The name and location.
            (2) The number of dwelling units.
            (3) The proposed new owner.
            (4) The existing income eligibility and rent provisions.
            (5) Duration of existing affordability restrictions.
            (6) The proposed date of transfer.
            (7) An analysis of the impact on residents and low-income 
        families on the waiting list of such transfer.

SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR REPAIR AND REHABILITATION 
              FOR KATRINA AND RITA DISASTER AREAS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out activities eligible for funding under the 
Capital Fund under section 9 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 
(42 U.S.C. 1437g) for the repair, rehabilitation, redevelopment, and 
replacement of public housing in a designated disaster area, and for 
relocation expenses and community and supportive services for the 
residents of public housing operated or administered by housing 
agencies in such designated disaster areas.

SEC. 208. EXISTING PUBLIC HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT.

    Notwithstanding the provisions of any request for qualification or 
proposal issued before the date of the enactment of this Act with 
respect to any public housing operated or administered by a housing 
agency in a designated disaster area, the housing agency shall provide 
replacement housing as required under section 203 or 205, as 
applicable.

SEC. 209. REPORTS ON COMPLIANCE.

    Not later than the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the 
date of the enactment of this Act and not later than the expiration of 
each calendar quarter thereafter, the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development shall submit a detailed report regarding compliance with 
the requirements of this title, including the resident participation 
requirement under section 203(b)(1), to the Committee on Banking, 
Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Financial 
Services of the House of Representatives, the resident councils of, and 
residents of public housing operated or administered by, a housing 
agency in a disaster area, and the City of New Orleans.

SEC. 210. INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATION OF HOUSING AUTHORITY OF NEW 
              ORLEANS.

    (a) Receivership.--Not later than 30 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
shall petition for judicial receivership of the Housing Authority of 
New Orleans pursuant to section 6(j)(3)(A)(ii) of the United States 
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437d(j)(3)(A)(ii)).
    (b) Effect of Receivership.--Any judicial receiver of the Housing 
Authority of New Orleans appointed pursuant to subsection (a) shall be 
required to comply with all the provisions of this Act.
    (c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that the 
judicial receiver of the Housing Authority of New Orleans appointed 
pursuant to subsection (a) shall consider new and innovative models for 
administration of the Housing Authority of New Orleans, including 
public-private partnerships.

SEC. 211. DEFINITION.

    For purposes of this title, the term ``designated disaster area'' 
means any area that was the subject of a disaster declaration by the 
President under title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) in response to 
Hurricanes Katrina or Rita of 2005.

TITLE III--DISASTER VOUCHER PROGRAM AND PROJECT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE

SEC. 301. DISASTER VOUCHER PROGRAM.

    (a) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated such 
sums as may be necessary to provide assistance under the Disaster 
Voucher Program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development 
established pursuant to Public Law 109-148 (119 Stat. 2779) through 
June 30, 2008, and, to the extent that amounts for such purpose are 
made available, such program, and the authority of the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development to waive requirements under section 8 of 
the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) in 
administering assistance under such program, shall be so extended.
    (b) Transfer of Disaster Voucher Program to Tenant-Based 
Assistance.--
            (1) Transfer to section 8 voucher program.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated, for tenant-based assistance 
        under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
        U.S.C. 1437f(o)), such sums as may be necessary to provide 
        vouchers for households transitioning from the Disaster Voucher 
        Program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development 
        established pursuant to Public Law 109-148 (119 Stat. 2779) for 
        the period that such household is eligible for such voucher 
        assistance, as of the termination date of the Disaster Voucher 
        Program, for each household that--
                    (A) is assisted under such program;
                    (B) did not receive assistance under section 8(o) 
                of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
                1437f(o)) at the time of Hurricane Katrina or Rita of 
                2005;
                    (C) is not eligible for tenant replacement voucher 
                assistance under section 302 of this Act; or
                    (D) is eligible for tenant replacement voucher 
                assistance under section 302, but has not received such 
                assistance.
            (2) Eligibility for assistance.--Subject to the 
        availability of appropriations, as of January 1, 2008, any 
        household meeting the requirements in paragraph (1) shall 
        receive tenant-based assistance under section 8(o) of the 
        United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)).
            (3) Administration of assistance.--Voucher assistance 
        provided under this subsection shall be administered by the 
        public housing agency having jurisdiction of the area in which 
        such assisted family resides as of such termination date.
            (4) Temporary vouchers.--If at any time a household for 
        whom a voucher for rental housing assistance is provided 
        pursuant to this section becomes ineligible for such rental 
        assistance--
                    (A) the public housing agency administering such 
                voucher pursuant to this section may not provide rental 
                assistance under such voucher for any other household;
                    (B) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
                shall recapture from such agency any remaining amounts 
                for assistance attributable to such voucher and may not 
                reobligate such amounts to any public housing agency; 
                and
                    (C) such voucher shall not be taken into 
                consideration for purposes of determining future 
                allocation of amounts for tenant-based rental 
                assistance for any public housing agency.
    (c) Former Voucher Program Participants.--Households who were 
receiving assistance under section 8(o) of the United States Housing 
Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) as of August 28, 2005, shall continue 
to be assisted under such section (8)(o), subject to all the 
requirements under that section.
    (d) Identification and Notification of DVP-Eligible Households Not 
Assisted.--Prior to October 31, 2007, the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development shall work with the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency and State and local housing agencies to identify households who, 
as of the date of the enactment of this Act, are eligible for 
assistance under this section but are not receiving assistance under 
this section. Upon identification of each such household, the Secretary 
shall--
            (1) notify such household of the housing options available 
        under this Act; and
            (2) to the extent that the family is eligible for such 
        options at such time of identification, offer the household 
        assistance under this section.

SEC. 302. TENANT REPLACEMENT VOUCHERS FOR ALL LOST UNITS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to provide tenant replacement vouchers under 
section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) 
for the number of households that are equal to--
            (1) the number of assisted dwelling units (whether occupied 
        or unoccupied) located in covered assisted multifamily housing 
        projects (as such term is defined in section 308(e) of this 
        Act) that are not approved for reuse or resiting by the 
        Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; plus
            (2) the number of public housing dwelling units that, as of 
        August 28, 2005, were located in areas affected by Hurricane 
        Katrina and were considered for purposes of allocating 
        operating and capital assistance under section 9 of the United 
        States Housing Act of 1937 (whether occupied or unoccupied), 
        that will not be put back into use for occupancy; plus
            (3) the number of public housing dwelling units that, as of 
        September 24, 2005, were located in areas affected by Hurricane 
        Rita and were considered for purposes of allocating operating 
        or capital assistance under section 9 of the United States 
        Housing Act of 1937 (whether occupied or unoccupied), that will 
        not be put back into use for occupancy; minus
            (4) the number of previously awarded enhanced vouchers for 
        assisted dwelling units and tenant protection vouchers for 
        public housing units covered under this section.
    (b) Allocation.--Any amounts made available pursuant to this 
section shall, upon the request of a public housing agency for such 
voucher assistance, be allocated to the public housing agency based on 
the number of dwelling units described in paragraph (1) or (2) of 
subsection (a) that are located in the jurisdiction of the public 
housing agency.
    (c) Issuance.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall 
issue replacement vouchers for all units approved for reuse, resiting, 
or replacement that are not available for occupancy on January 1, 2010.

SEC. 303. VOUCHER ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVING FEMA ASSISTANCE.

    (a) FEMA Transfer of Assistance.--As of December 21, 2007, the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency shall transfer to the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development all of its authority and power relating 
to the administration of rental assistance, and funding for such rental 
assistance, under the Disaster Relief Fund established under the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5121 et seq.).
    (b) HUD Administration of Rental Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--Beginning on January 1, 2008, the 
        Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall provide 
        temporary housing assistance to households who received 
        assistance under section 408(c)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford 
        Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
        5174(c)(1)) as follows:
                    (A) Required tenant assistance.--Households 
                receiving assistance shall be required to pay up to 30 
                percent of their income towards rent and utility costs.
                    (B) Minimum rental amount.--The Secretary of 
                Housing and Urban Development may implement a minimum 
                rent of up to $100 per month, only if the Secretary 
                provides for hardship exemptions for households 
                including seniors and people with disabilities.
                    (C) Limitation on excessive rents.--The Secretary 
                of Housing and Urban Development shall work with 
                landlords to minimize the payment of rents in excess of 
                120 percent of the fair market rent for comparable 
                housing in the area.
            (2) Definition of fair market rent.--In this subsection, 
        the term ``fair market rent'' means the rent (including 
        utilities, except telephone service), as determined by the 
        Department of Housing and Urban Development, for units of 
        varying sizes (by number of bedrooms), that must be paid in the 
        market area to rent privately-owned, existing, decent, safe, 
        and sanitary rental housing of modest (nonluxury) nature with 
        suitable amenities
    (c) Rental Assistance for Households Residing in FEMA Trailers.--
            (1) Provision of assistance.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated, for rental assistance, such sums as may be 
        necessary to provide such assistance for each individual and 
        household who, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, 
        receives direct assistance for temporary housing under section 
        408(c)(2) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(c)(2)) as a result of 
        Hurricane Katrina, Rita, or Wilma and is eligible for tenant-
        based rental assistance under section 8(o) of the United States 
        Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)).
            (2) Offer.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, 
        the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall offer 
        tenant-based rental assistance under section 8(o) of the United 
        States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) to each 
        individual or household who, as of the date of enactment of 
        this Act, is residing in a trailer provided by the Federal 
        Emergency Management Agency as part of the direct assistance 
        that individual or household received under section 408(c)(2) 
        of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
        Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(c)(2)) as a result of Hurricane 
        Katrina, Rita, or Wilma.
            (3) Conditions on assistance.--The provision of temporary 
        housing assistance under this subsection shall be subject to 
        the following requirements:
                    (A) Required tenant assistance.--Households 
                receiving assistance shall be required to pay up to 30 
                percent of their income towards rent and utility costs.
                    (B) Minimum rental amount.--The Secretary of 
                Housing and Urban Development may implement a minimum 
                rent of up to $100 per month, only if the Secretary 
                provides for hardship exemptions for household 
                including seniors and people with disabilities.
                    (C) Limitation on excessive rents.--The Secretary 
                of Housing and Urban Development shall work with 
                landlords to minimize the payment of rents in excess of 
                120 percent of the fair market rent for comparable 
                housing in the area.
    (d) Temporary Assistance.--
            (1) Eligibility.--Individuals or households receiving 
        rental assistance under this section shall be eligible for such 
        assistance only if they are eligible for tenant-based rental 
        assistance under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act 
        of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o).
            (2) Effect of becoming ineligible.--If at any time an 
        individual or household for whom a voucher for rental housing 
        assistance is provided pursuant to this section becomes 
        ineligible for further such rental assistance--
                    (A) the public housing agency administering such 
                voucher pursuant to this section may not provide rental 
                assistance under such voucher for any other household;
                    (B) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
                shall recapture from such agency any remaining amounts 
                for assistance attributable to such voucher and may not 
                reobligate such amounts to any public housing agency; 
                and
                    (C) such voucher shall not be taken into 
                consideration for purposes of determining any future 
                allocation of amounts for such tenant-based rental 
                assistance for any public housing agency.

SEC. 304. VOUCHER ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to provide 4,500 vouchers for project-based rental assistance 
under section 8(o)(13) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)), and 1,000 units under the Shelter Plus Care 
Program as authorized under subtitle F of title IV of the McKinney-
Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11403 et seq.) for use in 
areas impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita for supportive housing 
dwelling units for elderly families, persons with disabilities, or 
homeless persons. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall 
make available to the State of Louisiana or its designee or designees, 
upon request, 3,000 of such vouchers. Subparagraphs (B) and (D) of 
section 8(o)(13) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
1437f(o)(13)) shall not apply with respect to vouchers made available 
under this section.

SEC. 305. PROJECT-BASING OF VOUCHERS.

    The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may waive the 
limitations on project-basing under section 8(o)(13)(B) of the United 
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)(B)) for public 
housing agencies located in any area in which the President declared a 
major disaster as a result of Hurricane Katrina, Rita, or Wilma, if--
            (1) the public housing agency is working to project-base 
        vouchers in--
                    (A) a mixed-income community; or
                    (B) a low-poverty neighborhood, or a neighborhood 
                undergoing revitalization; or
            (2) not more that 50 percent of any project is assisted 
        under such 8(o)(13)(B), unless all units in such project are 
        specifically designated for seniors or the disabled.

SEC. 306. PRESERVATION OF PROJECT-BASED HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS 
              CONTRACTS FOR DWELLING UNITS DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

    (a) Tolling of Contract Term.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, a project-based housing assistance payments contract for a 
covered assisted multifamily housing project shall not expire or be 
terminated because of the damage or destruction of dwelling units in 
the project by Hurricane Katrina or Rita. The expiration date of the 
contract shall be deemed to be the later of the date specified in the 
contract or a date that is not less than 3 months after the dwelling 
units in the project or in a replacement project are first made 
habitable.
    (b) Owner Proposals for Reuse or Resiting.--The Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development shall promptly review and shall approve 
all feasible proposals made by owners of covered assisted multifamily 
housing projects submitted to the Secretary, not later than October 1, 
2008, that provide for the rehabilitation of the project and the 
resumption of use of the assistance under the contract for the project, 
or, alternatively, for the transfer, pursuant to subsection (c), of the 
contract or, in the case of a project with an interest reduction 
payments contract, of the remaining budget authority under the contact, 
to another multifamily housing project.
    (c) Transfer of Contract.--In the case of any covered assisted 
multifamily housing project, the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development shall--
            (1) in the case of a project with a project-based rental 
        assistance payments contract described in subparagraph (A), 
        (B), or (C) of subsection (e)(2), transfer the contract to 
        another appropriate and habitable existing project or a project 
        to be constructed (having the same or a different owner); and
            (2) in the case of a project with an interest reduction 
        payments contract pursuant to section 236 of the National 
        Housing Act, use the remaining budget authority under the 
        contract for interest reduction payments to reduce financing 
        costs with respect to dwelling units in other habitable 
        projects not currently so assisted, and such dwelling units 
        shall be subject to the low-income affordability restrictions 
        applicable to projects for which such payments are made under 
        section 236 of the National Housing Act.
    (d) Allowable Transfers.--A project-based rental assistance 
payments contract may be transferred, in whole or in part, under 
subsection (c) to--
            (1) a project with the same or different number of units or 
        bedroom configuration than the damaged or destroyed project if 
        approximately the same number of individuals are expected to 
        occupy the subsidized units in the replacement project as 
        occupied the damaged or destroyed project; or
            (2) multiple projects, including some on the same site, if 
        approximately the same number of individuals are expected to 
        occupy the subsidized units in the replacement projects as 
        occupied the damaged or destroyed project.
    (e) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
            (1) Covered assisted multifamily housing project.--The term 
        ``assisted multifamily housing project'' means a multifamily 
        housing project that--
                    (A) as of the date of the enactment of this Act, is 
                subject to a project-based rental assistance payments 
                contract (including pursuant to subsection (a) of this 
                section); and
                    (B) was damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina 
                or Hurricane Rita of 2005.
            (2) Project-based rental assistance payments contract.--The 
        term ``project-based rental assistance payments contract'' 
        includes--
                    (A) a contract entered into pursuant to section 8 
                of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
                1437f);
                    (B) a contract for project rental assistance 
                pursuant to section 202(c)(2) of the Housing Act of 
                1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q(c)(2));
                    (C) a contract for project rental assistance 
                pursuant to section 811(d)(2) of the Cranston-Gonzalez 
                National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013(d)(2)); 
                and
                    (D) an interest reduction payments contract 
                pursuant to section 236 of the National Housing Act (12 
                U.S.C. 1715z-1).

SEC. 307. GAO STUDY OF WRONGFUL OR ERRONEOUS TERMINATION OF FEDERAL 
              RENTAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

    The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study 
of households that received Federal assistance for rental housing in 
connection with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to determine if the 
assistance for any such households was wrongfully or erroneously 
terminated. The Comptroller General shall submit a report to the 
Congress not later than January 1, 2008, on the results of the study, 
which shall include an estimate of how many households were subject to 
such wrongful or erroneous termination and how many of those households 
have incomes eligible for the household to receive tenant-based rental 
assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
U.S.C. 1437f).

              TITLE IV--DAMAGES ARISING FROM FEMA ACTIONS

SEC. 401. REIMBURSEMENT OF LANDLORDS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated, from amounts made 
available before the date of the enactment of this Act under any 
provision of law to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for 
disaster relief under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Emergency 
Assistance Act, such sums as may be necessary for the Administrator of 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide reimbursement to 
each landlord who entered into leases to provide emergency sheltering 
in response to Hurricane Katrina, Rita, or Wilma of 2005, pursuant to 
the program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency pursuant to 
section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b) in the amount of actual, documented 
damages incurred by such landlord as a result of abrogation by such 
Agency of commitments entered into under such program, but not 
including reimbursement for any such landlord to the extent that such 
landlord has previously received reimbursement for such damages under 
any other Federal or non-Federal program.

                          TITLE V--FHA HOUSING

SEC. 501. TREATMENT OF NONCONVEYABLE PROPERTIES.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the 
case of any property consisting of a 1- to 4-family residence that is 
subject to a mortgage insured under title II of the National Housing 
Act (12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.) and was damaged or destroyed as a result 
of Hurricane Katrina or Rita of 2005, if there was no failure on the 
part of the mortgagee or servicer to provide hazard insurance for the 
property or to provide flood insurance coverage for the property to the 
extent such coverage is required under Federal law, the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development--
            (1) may not deny conveyance of title to the property to the 
        Secretary and payment of the benefits of such insurance on the 
        basis of the condition of the property or any failure to repair 
        the property;
            (2) may not reduce the amount of such insurance benefits to 
        take into consideration any costs of repairing the property; 
        and
            (3) with respect to a property that is destroyed, 
        condemned, demolished, or otherwise not available for 
        conveyance of title, may pay the full benefits of such 
        insurance to the mortgagee notwithstanding that such title is 
        not conveyed.
    (b) Budget Act Compliance.--Insurance claims may be paid in 
accordance with subsection (a) only to the extent or in such amounts as 
are or have been provided in advance in appropriations Acts for the 
costs (as such term is defined in section 502 of the Federal Credit 
Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661(a)) of such claims.

SEC. 502. FHA SINGLE-FAMILY INSURANCE.

    In determining the eligibility of any individual whose residence 
was damaged or destroyed as a result of Hurricane Katrina and who was 
current on their mortgage prior to August 28, 2005, for mortgage 
insurance under section 203 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 
1709), the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall look at the 
creditworthiness of such individual, as such creditworthiness was 
established prior to August 28, 2005.

SEC. 503. FHA-NEW ORLEANS HOMEOWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES INITIATIVE.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established within the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development an FHA-New Orleans Homeownership 
Opportunities Initiative (in this section referred to as the 
``Initiative''), which shall provide for the conveyance or transfer of 
eligible homes to the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority for use in 
the pilot program established in section 103 of this Act.
    (b) Eligible Homes.--For purposes of this section, an eligible home 
is a 1, 2, 3, or 4-family residence or multi-family project--
            (1) that is either vacant, abandoned, or has been 
        foreclosed upon, subject to subsection (e)(2)(B), by the 
        Secretary of Housing and Urban Development;
            (2) to which the Secretary holds title; and
            (3) which is not occupied by a person legally entitled to 
        reside in such residence or project.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Initial list of properties.--Not later than 30 days 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
        Housing and Urban Development shall submit a report to the 
        Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, 
        the Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
        Representatives, and the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority 
        listing all eligible homes in the New Orleans area, including a 
        list of homes in default where foreclosure by the Secretary is 
        imminent.
            (2) Updated lists.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        initial report is submitted under paragraph (1), and every 90 
        days thereafter, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
        shall submit a follow-up report to the Committees and entities 
        described in paragraph (1) listing all--
                    (A) new eligible homes; and
                    (B) 1, 2, 3, or 4-family residences or multi-family 
                projects in the New Orleans area--
                            (i) that have been foreclosed upon by the 
                        Secretary, or are in default and where 
                        foreclosure is imminent; and
                            (ii) where the Secretary has taken all 
                        necessary actions to avoid such foreclosure.
    (d) Donated Property.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development, at any time, may accept, manage, and convey to the New 
Orleans Redevelopment Authority and residential property donated to the 
Secretary by a nongovernmental entity for purposes of this section.
    (e) Conveyance of Properties.--
            (1) Request by nora.--Not later than 30 days after any 
        report is submitted under subsection (c), the New Orleans 
        Redevelopment Authority shall, in writing, request that the 
        Secretary of Housing and Urban Development convey any and all 
        eligible homes listed in such report.
            (2) HUD action.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the 
                receipt of any request under paragraph (1), the 
                Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall convey 
                to the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, at no cost, 
                title to any eligible home requested by the Authority.
                    (B) Limitation.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
                Development may only convey title to an eligible home 
                that is eligible solely because the Secretary 
                foreclosed upon such home, if the Secretary had taken 
                all necessary actions to avoid such foreclosure.
    (f) Use of Eligible Properties.--Any eligible home conveyed or 
transferred to the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority under this 
section shall be used in the following manner:
            (1) Minimum use requirement.--Such home shall be sold, 
        conveyed, or included in redevelopment within 18 months of such 
        conveyance or transfer, and shall be redeveloped to meet 
        applicable local building codes so as to ensure that such 
        home--
                    (A) will be adequately rehabilitated to support 
                sustainable homeownership; and
                    (B) may be in such physical condition that it can 
                be offered for sale for habitation or occupancy within 
                36 months of such conveyance or transfer.
            (2) Low-income occupancy requirement.--Notwithstanding any 
        other redevelopment plans, the New Orleans Redevelopment 
        Authority shall ensure that a number of homes equal to the 
        number of homes transferred or conveyed by the Secretary under 
        this section are redeveloped and sold by the Authority to low-
        income households, at a price that is affordable to such 
        households, subject to the following requirements:
                    (A) Redevelopment of such eligible homes will be 
                done in concert with other redevelopment activities, as 
                described in section 103.
                    (B) Preference for purchase of such eligible homes 
                will be given to households--
                            (i) who have received pre-purchase 
                        homeownership counseling; and
                            (ii) which are comprised of individuals who 
                        on August 28, 2005, were residents of the City 
                        of New Orleans and--
                                    (I) had, with respect to any 
                                dwelling in the City of New Orleans, a 
                                valid and nonexpired lease for such 
                                dwelling;
                                    (II) owned a home in the City of 
                                New Orleans, but who did not receive 
                                funds under the Road Home program; or
                                    (III) received housing vouchers 
                                under section 8 of the United States 
                                Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f), 
                                or lived in public housing.
            (3) Primary residence requirement.--
                    (A) In general.--The individual or household buying 
                such eligible home shall agree to use the home as their 
                primary residence for 5 years.
                    (B) Limitation on flipping.--The New Orleans 
                Redevelopment Authority shall ensure, by any means, 
                including by the use of restrictive covenants, that if 
                the individual or household who purchased the home from 
                the Authority sells the home within 5 years of such 
                purchase, that such sale shall only be valid if the 
                subsequent buyer is a low-income individual or 
                household.
            (4) Sale price requirement.--The New Orleans Redevelopment 
        Authority or its redevelopment partners shall sell eligible 
        homes at a discounted price that is affordable to families at 
        or below 80 percent of area median income.
            (5) Excess profit to be returned to hud.--Any profit on the 
        sale of home received by the New Orleans Redevelopment 
        Authority or a developer for the sale of an eligible home above 
        the redevelopment costs of such home shall be paid to the 
        Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
    (g) Counseling.--The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority shall work 
with local nonprofit housing counseling agencies to provide pre-
purchase counseling to any interested individuals or households who 
seek to purchase an eligible home from the Authority under this 
section, as required to receive preference under subsection (f)(2)(B).
    (h) Inspection Process.--The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority 
shall establish a process to inspect all eligible homes prior to sale 
under this section to ensure that such homes--
            (1) meet local building codes;
            (2) need no further rehabilitation; and
            (3) are safe for habitation and occupation.
    (i) Recapture Procedures.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development, in consultation with the New Orleans Redevelopment 
Authority, shall establish procedures to recapture amounts in instances 
where--
            (1) eligible homes are not sold to low-income families;
            (2) eligible home prices exceed redevelopment costs; and
            (3) eligible homes sold are not used as the purchaser's 
        primary residences for 5 years.
    (j) Compliance Reports.--
            (1) In general.--The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority 
        shall submit such information as the Secretary of Housing and 
        Urban Development requires to ensure that eligible homes are 
        being used as required under subsection (f). If at any time, 
        the Secretary determines the Authority is in noncompliance with 
        the requirements under subsection (f), the Secretary shall, not 
        later than 15 days after making such determination, notify, in 
        writing, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 
        of the Senate, and the Committee on Financial Services of the 
        House of Representatives.
            (2) Status report.--Not later than 3 years after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, and again not later than 5 years 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the New Orleans 
        Redevelopment Authority shall submit a report to the Committee 
        on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate, and the 
        Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representative 
        on the implementation, status, and execution of the Initiative 
        established under this section.
    (k) Termination.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
shall not convey or transfer, and the New Orleans Redevelopment 
Authority shall not accept, any property under this section after 5 
years from the date of enactment of this Act.

                   TITLE VI--FAIR HOUSING ENFORCEMENT

SEC. 601. FAIR HOUSING INITIATIVES PROGRAM.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out section 561 of the Housing and Community 
Development Act of 1987 (42 U.S.C. 3616a), in each of fiscal years 2008 
and 2009, such sums as may be necessary, but not less than $5,000,000, 
for areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, of which, in each 
such fiscal year--
            (1) 60 percent shall be available only for private 
        enforcement initiatives for qualified private enforcement fair 
        housing organizations authorized under subsection (b) of such 
        section, and, of the amount made available in accordance with 
        this paragraph, the Secretary shall set aside an amount for 
        multi-year grants to qualified fair housing enforcement 
        organizations;
            (2) 20 percent shall be available only for activities 
        authorized under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c) of 
        such section; and
            (3) 20 percent shall be available only for education and 
        outreach programs authorized under subsection (d) of such 
        section.
    (b) Low Funding.--If the total amount appropriated to carry out the 
Fair Housing Initiatives Program for either fiscal year 2008 or 2009 is 
less than $50,000,000, not less than 5 percent of such total amount 
appropriated for such fiscal year shall be available for the areas 
described in subsection (a) for the activities described in paragraphs 
(1), (2), and (3) of such subsection.
    (c) Availability.--Any amounts appropriated under this section 
shall remain available until expended.

TITLE VII--IMPROVED DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL HURRICANE HOUSING FUNDS FOR 
                            HURRICANE RELIEF

SEC. 701. GAO STUDY OF IMPROVED DISTRIBUTION OF FEDERAL HOUSING FUNDS 
              FOR HURRICANE RELIEF.

    (a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study to examine methods of improving the distribution of 
Federal housing funds to assist States covered by this Act with 
recovery from hurricanes, which shall include identifying and 
analyzing--
            (1) the Federal and State agencies used in the past to 
        disburse such funds and the strengths and weakness of existing 
        programs;
            (2) the means by and extent to which critical information 
        relating to hurricane recovery, such as property valuations, is 
        shared among various State and Federal agencies;
            (3) program requirements that create impediments to the 
        distribution of such funds that can be eliminated or 
        streamlined;
            (4) housing laws and regulations that have caused programs 
        to be developed in a manner that complies with statutory 
        requirements but fails to meet the housing objectives or needs 
        of the States or the Federal Government;
            (5) laws relating to privacy and impediments raised by 
        housing laws to the sharing, between the Federal Government and 
        State governments, and private industry, of critical 
        information relating to hurricane recovery;
            (6) methods of streamlining applications for and 
        underwriting of Federal housing grant or loan programs; and
            (7) how to establish more equitable Federal housing laws 
        regarding duplication of benefits.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the 
Congress a report describing the results of the study and any 
recommendations regarding the issues analyzed under the study.

     TITLE VIII--COMMENDING AMERICANS FOR THEIR REBUILDING EFFORTS

SEC. 801. COMMENDING AMERICANS.

    (a) Congressional Findings.--The Congress finds that--
            (1) over 500,000 individuals in the United States have 
        volunteered their time in helping rebuild the Gulf Coast region 
        in the aftermath of Hurricane's Katrina and Rita;
            (2) over $3,500,000,000 in cash and in-kind donations have 
        been made for hurricane victims;
            (3) 110,000,000 pounds of food have been distributed by 
        Catholic Charities' Food Bank through hurricane relief efforts;
            (4) almost 7,000,000 hot meals have been served by 
        Salvation Army volunteers in hurricane relief efforts;
            (5) over 10,000,000 college students have devoted their 
        spring and fall breaks to hurricane relief efforts;
            (6) almost 20,000 families displaced as a result of the 
        hurricanes have been supported by Traveler's Aid volunteers; 
        and
            (7) faith based and community organizations donated 
        thousands of man-hours, as well as assistance, to evacuees and 
        assistance in clean-up and recovery in the Gulf States.
    (b) Commendation.--The Congress hereby commends the actions and 
efforts by the remarkable individuals and organizations who contributed 
to the hurricane relief effort and recognizes that the rebuilding of 
the Gulf Coast region rests on the selfless dedication of private 
individuals and community spirit.
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