[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8302 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8302

 To establish a commission to review the programs of the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development and make recommendations for legislative 
                    reforms, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 8, 2024

Mr. Davidson (for himself, Mr. Meuser, Mr. Donalds, and Mr. Garbarino) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
 Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish a commission to review the programs of the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development and make recommendations for legislative 
                    reforms, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``HUD Evaluation and Optimization 
Commission Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. HUD EVALUATION AND OPTIMIZATION COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known 
as the HUD Evaluation and Optimization Commission (in this Act referred 
to as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Members.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 4 
        members, appointed not later than 30 days after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, as follows:
                    (A) One member shall be appointed by the Speaker of 
                the House of Representatives.
                    (B) One member shall be appointed by the minority 
                leader of the House of Representatives.
                    (C) One member shall be appointed by the majority 
                leader of the Senate.
                    (D) One member shall be appointed by the minority 
                leader of the Senate.
            (2) Prohibition on lobbyists.--An individual may not be 
        appointed as a member of the Commission if the individual was 
        registered as a lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 
        1995 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) at any time during the 5-year 
        period ending on the date of the appointment.
    (c) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for the life of the 
Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, 
but shall be filled not later than 14 days after the date on which the 
vacancy occurs in the same manner as the original appointment.
    (d) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--
            (1) Election.--The members of the Commission shall elect a 
        Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson from among the members of 
        the Commission.
            (2) Absence of chairperson.--The Vice Chairperson shall 
        serve as the Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson.
    (e) Compensation.--
            (1) In general.--Each member of the Commission shall be 
        compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the 
        annual rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule 
        under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, for each day 
        (including travel time) during which such member is engaged in 
        the performance of the duties of the Commission.
            (2) Travel expenses.--Each member may be allowed travel 
        expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
        accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of 
        chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
    (f) Meetings.--
            (1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
        on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the 
        Commission shall hold the initial meeting of the Commission.
            (2) Subsequent meetings.--The Commission shall meet--
                    (A) at least once each month; and
                    (B) at the call of the Chairperson or the majority 
                of the members of the Commission.
    (g) Quorum.--A majority of the voting members shall constitute a 
quorum, but a lesser number may hold meetings.
    (h) Voting.--The Commission shall act only on an affirmative vote 
of a majority of the members of the Commission.
    (i) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Commission.

SEC. 3. DUTIES.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall review and determine--
            (1) the number, design, complexity, utilization, 
        authorization or lack thereof, and potential overlap of the 
        current programs administered by the Department of Housing and 
        Urban Development (in this Act referred to as the 
        ``Department''); and
            (2) the level of effectiveness of the Department and its 
        programs, including identifying how best to optimize the 
        effectiveness of each area of review, to more effectively meet 
        the Department's mission while reducing waste and 
        mismanagement.
    (b) Analysis and Recommendations.--The Commission shall analyze the 
potential performance and cost-efficiency benefits that could be 
achieved through a reorganization of the Department, including 
consolidation and realignment of its programs, and shall make 
recommendations regarding--
            (1) changes to the Department's organizational structure to 
        better serve program participants, protect taxpayers, and 
        create operational efficiencies;
            (2) improvements in the processes that the Department can 
        execute to better fulfill its statutory obligations and mission 
        to provide decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing;
            (3) the reduction of fragmentation and overlap between 
        various Department programs and between programs of the 
        Department and programs of other Federal agencies, and enhanced 
        program utilization;
            (4) technology-based solutions to allow programs to 
        operative more efficiently and effectively and to better serve 
        eligible program participants;
            (5) quantitative and qualitative measures of the 
        effectiveness of programs that provide housing for extremely 
        low-, very low-, low-, and moderate-income individuals and 
        families;
            (6) reforms the Department can undertake to prevent, to the 
        maximum extent possible, a disruptive loss of benefits by 
        program participants who experience income growth that may 
        otherwise disqualify them from such benefits (commonly referred 
        to as a ``benefits cliff'') or, conversely, that may disqualify 
        participants with lower incomes marginally in excess of program 
        requirements;
            (7) ways to improve the social and economic outcomes for 
        program participants, including actions the Department can take 
        to mitigate health and safety risks to program participants and 
        to foster economic mobility and opportunity;
            (8) improvements to enhance transparency, oversight, and 
        public accountability; and
            (9) any such other action that would optimize the 
        effectiveness of the Department or its programs.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Initial report.--Not later than 9 months after the date 
        of its initial meeting, the Commission may submit to the 
        Congress an initial report containing its analysis and 
        preliminary recommendations under subsections (a) and (b).
            (2) Final report.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
        of its initial meeting and upon an affirmative vote of a 
        majority of the members of the Commission, the Commission shall 
        submit to the Congress and make publicly available a final 
        report containing--
                    (A) a detailed statement of the findings, 
                conclusions, and recommendations of the Commission 
                under subsections (a) and (b);
                    (B) a statement of the assumptions, scenarios, and 
                alternatives considered in reaching such findings, 
                conclusions, and recommendations;
                    (C) proposed legislative language for 
                reauthorization, expiration, termination, or 
                elimination of programs consistent with the final 
                report;
                    (D) any additional views or recommendations of 
                individual Commission members with attribution and in a 
                separate section of the report;
                    (E) a summary of the Commission's meetings, 
                hearings, and activities;
                    (F) a final accounting of the funds the Commission 
                received and expended; and
                    (G) any other information that the Commission 
                considers to be appropriate.

SEC. 4. STAFF AND OUTSIDE SERVICES.

    (a) Appointment and Compensation of Staff.--The Chairperson of the 
Commission may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and 
such other employees as may be necessary to enable the Commission to 
carry out its functions, without regard to the provisions of title 5, 
United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, 
but at rates not to exceed the annual rate of basic pay for level V of 
the Executive Schedule.
    (b) Agency Assistance.--Upon the request of the Chairperson, the 
head of any agency may detail an employee of the agency to the 
Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without 
interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
    (c) Consultant, Temporary, and Intermittent Services.--The 
Chairperson may procure the services of experts and consultants and 
temporary and intermittent services in accordance with section 3109(b) 
of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to 
exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate paid of pay for a 
position at level V of the Executive Schedule for each day during which 
such consultant or expert is engaged in the performance of the duties 
of the Commission.

SEC. 5. POWERS.

    (a) Hearings.--The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out 
this Act--
            (1) hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and 
        places, take testimony, receive evidence, and administer oaths 
        as the Commission considers appropriate; and
            (2) require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and 
        testimony of such witnesses and the production of any evidence 
        the Commission considers advisable to carry out its duties.
    (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may request 
directly, or require by subpoena or otherwise, from any Federal agency 
such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out its 
duties. Upon a request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head 
of a Federal agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
    (c) Issuance and Enforcement of Subpoenas.--
            (1) Issuance.--Subpoenas issued under subsection (a) or (b) 
        shall bear the signature of the Chairperson of the Commission 
        and shall be served by any person or class of persons 
        designated by the Chairperson for that purpose.
            (2) Enforcement.--In the case of contumacy or failure to 
        obey a subpoena issued under subsection (a) or (b), the United 
        States district court for the judicial district in which the 
        subpoenaed person resides, is served, or may be found may issue 
        an order requiring such person to appear at any designated 
        place to testify or to produce documentary or other evidence. 
        Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by 
        the court as a contempt of that court.
    (d) Witness Allowances and Fees.--Section 1821 of title 28, United 
States Code, shall apply to witnesses requested or subpoenaed to appear 
at any hearing of the Commission. The per diem and mileage allowances 
for witnesses shall be paid from funds available to pay the expenses of 
the Commission.
    (e) Information From Congressional Budget Office and Office of 
Management and Budget.--The Commission may secure directly from the 
Congressional Budget Office and Office of Management and Budget such 
information, including estimates and analysis, as the Commission 
considers advisable to carry out its duties. Upon request of the 
Chairperson of the Commission, the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office or Office of Management and Budget shall furnish such 
information, including estimates and analysis, to the Commission.
    (f) Support From Library of Congress.--Upon the request of the 
Commission, the Librarian of Congress shall provide to the Commission, 
on a reimbursable basis, administrative support services, research 
services, and research staff necessary for the Commission to carry out 
its responsibilities under this Act.

SEC. 6. EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE FROM 
              FINAL REPORT.

    (a) Introduction.-- Upon submission of the final report required 
under section 3(c)(2), the proposed legislative language for 
reauthorization, expiration, termination, or elimination of programs 
required by section 3(c)(2)(C) shall be introduced in the House of 
Representatives (by request) within the next 5 legislative days by the 
majority leader of the House or by a Member of the House designated by 
the majority leader of the House and shall be introduced in the Senate 
(by request) within the next 5 legislative days on which the Senate is 
in session by the majority leader of the Senate or by a Member of the 
Senate designated by the majority leader of the Senate. In this section 
such a bill is referred to as a ``Commission bill''.
    (b) Consideration in the House of Representatives.--
            (1) Referral and reporting.--The Committee on Financial 
        Services and any other committee of the House of 
        Representatives to which the Commission bill is referred shall 
        report it to the House without amendment not later than 60 days 
        after its introduction. If a committee fails to report the 
        Commission bill within that period, it shall be in order to 
        move that the House discharge the committee from further 
        consideration of the bill. Such a motion shall not be in order 
        after the last committee authorized to consider the bill 
        reports it to the House or after the House has disposed of a 
        motion to discharge the bill. The previous question shall be 
        considered as ordered on the motion to its adoption without 
        intervening motion except 20 minutes of debate equally divided 
        and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. If such a 
        motion is adopted, the House shall proceed immediately to 
        consider the Commission bill in accordance with paragraphs (2) 
        and (3). A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is 
        disposed of shall not be in order.
            (2) Proceeding to consideration.--After the last committee 
        authorized to consider a Commission bill reports it to the 
        House or has been discharged (other than by motion) from its 
        consideration, it shall be in order to move to proceed to 
        consider the Commission bill in the House. Such a motion shall 
        not be in order after the House has disposed of a motion to 
        proceed with respect to the Commission bill. The previous 
        question shall be considered as ordered on the motion to its 
        adoption without intervening motion. A motion to reconsider the 
        vote by which the motion is disposed of shall not be in order.
            (3) Consideration.--The Commission bill shall be considered 
        as read. All points of order against the Commission bill and 
        against its consideration are waived. The previous question 
        shall be considered as ordered on the Commission bill to its 
        passage without intervening motion except 2 hours of debate 
        equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent 
        and one motion to limit debate on the Commission bill. A motion 
        to reconsider the vote on passage of the Commission bill shall 
        not be in order.
            (4) Vote on passage.--The vote on passage of the Commission 
        bill shall occur not later than 12 months after the final 
        report required under section 3(c)(2) is submitted to the 
        Congress.
    (c) Consideration in the Senate.--
            (1) Committee consideration.--A Commission bill introduced 
        in the Senate under subsection (a) shall be jointly referred to 
        the committee or committees of jurisdiction, which committees 
        shall report the bill without any revision and with a favorable 
        recommendation, an unfavorable recommendation, or without 
        recommendation, not later than 60 days after its introduction. 
        If any committee fails to report the bill within that period, 
        that committee shall be automatically discharged from 
        consideration of the bill, and the bill shall be placed on the 
        appropriate calendar.
            (2) Motion to proceed.--Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the 
        Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order, not later than 2 
        days of session after the date on which a Commission bill is 
        reported or discharged from all committees to which it was 
        referred, for the majority leader of the Senate or the majority 
        leader's designee to move to proceed to the consideration of 
        the Commission bill. It shall also be in order for any Member 
        of the Senate to move to proceed to the consideration of the 
        Commission bill at any time after the conclusion of such 2-day 
        period. A motion to proceed is in order even though a previous 
        motion to the same effect has been disagreed to. All points of 
        order against the motion to proceed to the Commission bill are 
        waived. The motion to proceed is not debatable. The motion is 
        not subject to a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the 
        vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not 
        be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the 
        Commission bill is agreed to, the Commission bill shall remain 
        the unfinished business until disposed of.
            (3) Consideration.--All points of order against the 
        Commission bill and against consideration of the Commission 
        bill are waived. Consideration of the Commission bill and of 
        all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith shall 
        not exceed a total of 30 hours which shall be divided equally 
        between the Majority and Minority Leaders or their designees. A 
        motion further to limit debate on the Commission bill is in 
        order, shall require an affirmative vote of a majority of the 
        Members duly chosen and sworn, and is not debatable. Any 
        debatable motion or appeal is debatable for not to exceed 1 
        hour, to be divided equally between those favoring and those 
        opposing the motion or appeal. All time used for consideration 
        of the Commission bill, including time used for quorum calls 
        and voting, shall be counted against the total 30 hours of 
        consideration.
            (4) No amendments.--An amendment to the Commission bill, or 
        a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the 
        consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the 
        Commission bill, is not in order.
            (5) Vote on passage.--If the Senate has voted to proceed to 
        the Commission bill, the vote on passage of the Commission bill 
        shall occur immediately following the conclusion of the debate 
        on a Commission bill, and a single quorum call at the 
        conclusion of the debate if requested. The vote on passage of 
        the Commission bill shall occur not later than 12 months after 
        the final report required under section 3(c)(2) is submitted to 
        the Congress.
            (6) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals from the 
        decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules 
        of the Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to 
        a Commission bill shall be decided without debate.
    (d) Amendment.--The Commission bill shall not be subject to 
amendment in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.
    (e) Consideration by Other House.--
            (1) In general.--If, before passing the Commission bill, 
        one House receives from the other a Commission bill--
                    (A) the Commission bill of the other House shall 
                not be referred to a committee; and
                    (B) the procedure in the receiving House shall be 
                the same as if no Commission bill had been received 
                from the other House until the vote on passage, when 
                the Commission bill received from the other House shall 
                supplant the Commission bill of the receiving House.
            (2) Revenue measure.--This subsection shall not apply to 
        the House of Representatives if the Commission bill received 
        from the Senate is a revenue measure.
    (f) Rules to Coordinate Action With Other House.--
            (1) Treatment of commission bill of other house.--If the 
        Senate fails to introduce or consider a Commission bill under 
        this section, the Commission bill of the House shall be 
        entitled to expedited floor procedures under this section.
            (2) Treatment of companion measures in the senate.--If 
        following passage of the Commission bill in the Senate, the 
        Senate then receives the Commission bill from the House of 
        Representatives, the House-passed Commission bill shall not be 
        debatable. The vote on passage of the Commission bill in the 
        Senate shall be considered to be the vote on passage of the 
        Commission bill received from the House of Representatives.
            (3) Vetoes.--If the President vetoes the Commission bill, 
        debate on a veto message in the Senate under this section shall 
        be 1 hour equally divided between the majority and minority 
        leaders or their designees.
    (g) Loss of Privilege.--The provisions of this section shall cease 
to apply to the Commission bill if--
            (1) the Commission fails to produce the final report 
        required under section 3(c)(2) within 20 months from the date 
        of enactment; or
            (2) the Commission bill does not pass either House.

SEC. 7. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate 30 days after submitting the final 
report pursuant to section 3(c)(2).
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