[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 HOUSING PROGRAMS EXTENSION ACT OF 1994

  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs be discharged from further 
consideration of the bill (H.R. 5245) to provide for the extension of 
certain programs relating to housing and community development, and for 
other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, the minority 
has no intention of objecting, but I think it would be reasonable for 
the House to have an explanation of the bill.
  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. LEACH. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, the Housing Programs Extension Act of 1994 
is legislation that is needed to continue the authorization of a number 
of important housing programs.
  The authorizations for these programs were included in H.R. 3838, the 
major housing reauthorization bill passed by the House on July 22 of 
this year. Unfortunately, the other body failed to pass a housing 
reauthorization bill. Therefore, without this bill, these programs will 
have no authorization and will expire.
  The extensions include: the authority for HUD to temporarily extend 
project-based expiring section 8 contracts; preservation acquisition, 
and technical assistance and capacity building grants; housing 
counseling programs; the National Homeownership Trust; the Farmers Home 
Administration section 515 Rural Multifamily Rental Housing Program; 
and the continuation of community development block grant assistance to 
colonias. The bill also includes several program fund reuses that many 
Members of the House have sought and certain minor technical changes to 
several housing and community development programs necessary for their 
continued implementation.
  As I have said, all the provisions included in this bill have been 
passed once by the House, by an overwhelming bipartisan vote. Their 
inclusion in this bill has been agreed to by both sides of the aisle 
and are critical to continuing vital housing and community development 
programs for our most vulnerable citizens in our Nation's urban and 
rural communities.

                              {time}  1900

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation of objection, I 
would simply like to add to what the chairman said. There has been 
noting that has passed this House in the housing arena in the last 
generation that has not carried the stamp of the gentleman from Texas, 
Henry B. Gonzalez. This is another example. I urge its adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Sharp). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the bill, as follows:

                               H.R. 5245

       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 ``Housing Programs Extension 
     Act of 1994''.

     SEC. 2. HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Expiring Section 8 Contracts.--
       (1) Requirement.--Subject only to the availability of 
     budget authority to carry out this section, not later than 
     October 1, 1995, the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall make an offer to the owner of each housing 
     project assisted under an expiring contract to extend the 
     term of the expiring contract for 24 months beyond the date 
     of the expiration of the contract.
       (2) Terms of extension.--Except for terms or conditions 
     relating to the duration of the contract, the terms and 
     conditions under the extension provided pursuant to this 
     subsection of any expiring contract shall be identical to the 
     terms and conditions under the expiring contract.
       (3) Definition of expiring contract.--For purposes of this 
     subsection, the term ``expiring contract'' means a contract 
     for assistance pursuant to section 8(b)(2) of the United 
     States Housing Act of 1937 (as such section existed before 
     October 1, 1983) having a term that expires before October 1, 
     1996.
       (4) Displacement assistance.--The Secretary of Housing and 
     Urban Development may make available to tenants residing in 
     units covered by an expiring contract that is not extended 
     pursuant to this subsection either--
       (A) tenant-based assistance under section 8 of the United 
     States Housing Act of 1937; or
       (B) a unit with respect to which project-based assistance 
     is provided under section 8 of the United States Housing Act 
     of 1937.
       (5) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     this subsection.
       (b) Determination of Median Income.--Section 3(b)(2) of the 
     United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(2)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in the fourth sentence--
       (A) by striking ``County'' and inserting ``and Rockland 
     Counties''; and
       (B) by inserting ``each'' before ``such county''; and
       (2) in the last sentence--
       (A) by striking ``County'' the first place it appears and 
     inserting ``or Rockland Counties''; and
       (B) by striking ``County'' the second place it appears and 
     inserting ``and Rockland Counties''.
       (c) Eligible Uses of Emergency Modernization Funds.--
     Section 14(k)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
     U.S.C. 1437l(k)(1)) is amended--
       (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``$75,000,000'' and 
     inserting ``$50,000,000''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new sentences: ``Of 
     the amounts reserved each year under this paragraph, the 
     Secretary shall make available to the Inspector General of 
     the Department of Housing and Urban Development not more than 
     $5,000,000 for costs in connection with efforts to combat 
     violent crime in public housing. Using amounts made available 
     pursuant to the preceding sentence during fiscal year 1995, 
     the Secretary shall provide amounts in such fiscal year for 
     the continuation of the drug elimination activities under 
     Project Nos. IA05PO98003004 and IA05DEP0980193.''.
       (d) Low-Income Housing Preservation and Resident 
     Homeownership Act.--
       (1) Acquisition grants.--Section 234(b) of the Housing and 
     Community Development Act of 1987 (12 U.S.C. 4124(b)) is 
     amended by striking ``1993,'' and all that follows through 
     ``1994,'' and inserting ``1995''.
       (2) Technical assistance and capacity building.--Section 
     257 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987 (12 
     U.S.C. 4147) is amended by striking ``1993,'' and all that 
     follows through ``1994,'' and inserting ``1995''.
       (e) Use of Section 236 Rental Assistance Fund Amounts for 
     Flexible Subsidies.--Section 236(f)(3) of the National 
     Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z-1(f)(3)) is amended by striking 
     ``September 30, 1994'' and inserting ``September 30, 1995''.
       (f) Housing Counseling.--
       (1) Emergency homeownership counseling.--Section 106(c)(9) 
     of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 
     1701x(c)(9)) is amended by striking ``September 30, 1994'' 
     and inserting ``September 30, 1995''.
       (2) Prepurchase and foreclosure prevention counseling 
     demonstration.--Section 106(d)(13) of the Housing and Urban 
     Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701x(d)(13)) is amended 
     by striking ``fiscal year 1994'' and inserting ``fiscal year 
     1995''.
       (g) Major Reconstruction of Public Housing for Disabled 
     Families.--Section 5(j)(2)(G)(i) of the United States Housing 
     Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437e(j)(2)(G)(i)) is amended by 
     striking ``fiscal years 1993 and 1994'' and inserting 
     ``fiscal year 1995''.
       (h) National Homeownership Fund.--Section 172 of the bill, 
     H.R. 3838 (103d Congress), as passed by the House of 
     Representatives on July 22, 1994, is hereby enacted into law.
       (i) Treatment of Certain Projects.--
       (1) Conversion of section 23 project.--From amounts 
     available for the conversion of the Tamaqua Highrise project 
     in the Borough of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, from a leased 
     housing contract under section 23 of the United States 
     Housing Act of 1937 to tenant-based assistance under section 
     8 of such Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
     shall, to the extent such amounts are made available in 
     appropriation Acts, enter into an obligation for the 
     conversion of the project to a project-based rental 
     assistance contract under section 8 of such Act, 
     notwithstanding the requirement for rehabilitation or the 
     percentage limitations under section 8(d)(2) of such Act.
       (2) Compliance with rehabilitation requirement.--
     Rehabilitation activities undertaken by E.T.C. Enterprises in 
     connection with 16 scattered-site dwelling units that were 
     rehabilitated to provide housing for low-income families and 
     are located in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and rehabilitation 
     activities undertaken by Pennrose Properties in connection 
     with 40 dwelling units for senior citizens in the Providence 
     Square development located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, are 
     hereby deemed to have been conducted pursuant to the approval 
     of and an agreement with the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development under clauses (i) and (ii) of the third sentence 
     of section 8(d)(2)(A) of the United States Housing Act of 
     1937.
       (3) Eligibility of public housing for demolition.--Section 
     415 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development--
     Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1988 (Public Law 
     100-202; 101 Stat. 1329-213), is amended by striking ``George 
     Loving Place, at 3320 Rupert Street, Edgar Ward Place, at 
     3901 Holystone, Elmer Scott Place, at 2600 Morris, in Dallas, 
     Texas, or''.

     SEC. 3. RURAL HOUSING.

       (a) Underserved Areas Set-Aside.--Section 509(f)(4)(A) of 
     the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1479(f)(4)(A)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``fiscal years 1993 
     and 1994'' and inserting ``fiscal year 1995''; and
       (2) in the second sentence, by striking ``each''.
       (b) Rural Multifamily Rental Housing.--Section 515(b) of 
     the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485(b)) is amended--
       (1) by striking paragraphs (2) and (4);
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
     paragraphs:
       ``(2) such a loan may be made for a period of up to 50 
     years from the making of the loan;
       ``(3) the terms and conditions of such a loan shall provide 
     for periodic payments, during the term of the loan, based 
     upon a schedule for complete amortization of the loan over a 
     50-year period and for payment of any outstanding amounts due 
     under the loan not later than the expiration of the term of 
     the loan;''.
       (c) Rural Rental Housing Funds for Nonprofit Entities.--The 
     first sentence of section 515(w)(1) of the Housing Act of 
     1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485(w)(1)) is amended by striking ``fiscal 
     years 1993 and 1994'' and inserting ``fiscal year 1995''.
       (d) Loan Guarantees for Rural Multifamily Rental Housing 
     Loans.--Section 517 of the bill, H.R. 3838 (103d Congress), 
     as passed by the House of Representatives on July 22, 1994, 
     is hereby enacted into law.
       (e) Eligibility of Area for Rural Homeownership Loans.--
     Section 502 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1472) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(i) Notwithstanding section 520, the Secretary may make 
     loans under this section for properties in the Pine View West 
     Subdivision, located in Gibsonville, North Carolina, in the 
     same manner as provided under this section for properties in 
     rural areas.''.
       (f) Definition of Rural Area.--The last sentence of section 
     520 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490) is amended by 
     striking ``city of'' and inserting ``cities of South Tucson, 
     Arizona, and''.

     SEC. 4. MORTGAGE INSURANCE AND SECONDARY MORTGAGE MARKET 
                   PROGRAMS.

       (a) Multifamily Housing Finance.--Section 542(b)(5) of the 
     Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1707 
     note) is amended by striking ``and 1994'' and inserting ``, 
     1994, and 1995''.
       (b) Assessment Collection Dates for Office of Federal 
     Housing Enterprise Oversight.--Section 1316(b) of the Housing 
     and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4516(b)) is 
     amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following 
     new paragraph:
       ``(2) Timing of payment.--The annual assessment shall be 
     payable in installments on October 1 and April 1 of each 
     fiscal year.''.

     SEC. 5. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) Certain CDBG Assistance.--Section 916(f) of the 
     Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 
     5306 note) is amended by striking ``Act shall apply only with 
     respect to fiscal years 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994'' and 
     inserting ``section shall not apply to fiscal years after 
     fiscal year 1995''.
       (b) CDBG Public Services Limitations.--Section 105(a)(8) of 
     the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 
     5305(a)(8)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' after ``under this paragraph,'';
       (2) by striking ``fiscal year 1994'' and inserting ``fiscal 
     years 1994 and 1995''; and
       (3) by inserting before the semicolon at the end the 
     following: ``, and except that of any amount of assistance 
     under this title (including program income) to the Cities of 
     Vallejo and Benecia and to Napa County, in California, such 
     cities and county may use not more than 20 percent in fiscal 
     year 1995 for activities under this paragraph'';
       (c) Use of Grant Amounts.--
       (1) Pittsburgh, pennsylvania.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, may 
     retain any amounts provided under an urban development action 
     grant for Project No. B-86-AA-42-0275 and use such funds for 
     the Central Pittsburgh Plaza project, if such project is 
     commenced not later than 6 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (2) Wilkes-Barre, pennsylvania.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, the city of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, may 
     retain any amounts provided under an urban development action 
     grant for Project No. B-87-AA-42-1211 and use such funds for 
     the Northeastern Pennsylvania Economic Development project, 
     if such project is commenced not later than 6 months after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.
       (3) Richmond, virginia.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall cancel the indebtedness of the city of 
     Richmond, Virginia, relating to the categorical program 
     settlement grant provided to the city to settle four urban 
     renewal programs (Project No. B-78-UR-51-0019). The city of 
     Richmond, Virginia, is hereby relieved of all liability to 
     the Federal Government for such grant and any fees and 
     charges payable in connection with such grant.
       (4) Lockport township, illinois.--The Secretary of Housing 
     and Urban Development shall cancel the indebtedness of 
     Lockport Township, Illinois, relating to the public 
     facilities loan for Project No. ILL-11-PFL0112. Lockport 
     Township, Illinois, is hereby relieved of all liability to 
     the Federal Government for the outstanding principal balance 
     on such loan, the amount of accrued interest on such loan, 
     and any other fees and charges payable in connection with 
     such loan.
       (5) Budget compliance.--Paragraphs (3) and (4) of this 
     subsection shall be effective only to the extent, or in such 
     amounts, as are provided in appropriation Acts.
       (d) New Towns Demonstration Program.--
       (1) Insurance authority.--The first sentence of section 
     1104(d) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 
     (42 U.S.C. 5318 note) is amended to read as follows: ``To the 
     extent provided in appropriation Acts, the Secretary shall 
     use any authority provided pursuant to section 531(b) of the 
     National Housing Act to enter into commitments to insure 
     loans and mortgages under this section in fiscal year 1995 
     with an aggregate principal amount not exceeding such sums as 
     may be necessary to carry out the demonstration under this 
     title.''.
       (2) Second mortgage assistance.--Section 1105(e) of the 
     Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 5318 
     note) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1995 such sums 
     as may be necessary for providing assistance under this 
     section.''.
       (3) Community development assistance.--Section 1106(h) of 
     the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 
     5318 note) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(8) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1995 such sums 
     as may be necessary for assistance under this section.''.
       (e) Economic Development Grants.--Section 108(q) of the 
     Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--Using any amounts 
     appropriated for grants under this subsection for fiscal year 
     1995, the Secretary shall make a grant in the amount of 
     $3,650,000 in such fiscal year to the Earth Conservancy in 
     Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, which shall be used for 
     carrying out a demonstration of using innovative 
     environmental technologies to reclaim land used for community 
     and economic development purposes that has been damaged by 
     anthracite coal mining activities.''.

     SEC. 6. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

       (a) State Agencies as Sureties.--Section 9304 of title 31, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(c) State Agencies.--A State agency, including any 
     financing authority established by any State, which meets the 
     requirements of paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a) may 
     be treated as a surety corporation for purposes of this 
     chapter. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, user 
     fees collected by the Financial Management Services incident 
     to sections 9304 through 9309 of this title shall be credited 
     to the appropriation of that agency and may be retained 
     without fiscal year limitation to carry out the provisions of 
     such sections.''.
       (b) Clarification of Effective Date for Amendment Relating 
     to Commercial Mortgage Related Securities.--Section 347(d) of 
     the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement 
     Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-325; 108 Stat. 2241) is amended 
     to read as follows:
       ``(d) Effective Date.--
       ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
     amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect as of the 
     date of the enactment of the Housing Programs Extension Act 
     of 1994.
       ``(2) National and insured state banks.--The amendment made 
     by subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to national 
     banks or, in accordance with section 24 of the Federal 
     Deposit Insurance Act, insured State banks before the 
     effective date of final regulations prescribed by the 
     Comptroller of the Currency pursuant to subsection (c).''.


                   amendment offered by mr. gonzalez

  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment offered by Mr. Gonzalez:
       In section 2(i) of the bill, add at the end the following 
     new paragraph:
       (4) Section 23 conversion.--
       (A) Authorization.--Notwithstanding contracts entered into 
     pursuant to section 14(b) of the United States Housing Act of 
     1937, the Secretary is authorized to enter into obligations 
     for the conversion of the Pine Tower Apartments in Bay City, 
     Michigan, from a leased housing contract under section 23 of 
     such Act to a project-based rental assistance contract under 
     section 8 of such Act.
       (B) Repayment required.--The authorization made in 
     subparagraph (A) is conditioned on the repayment to the 
     Secretary of all amounts received by the public housing 
     agency under the comprehensive improvement assistance program 
     under section 14 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 for 
     the Pine Tower Apartment Project and the amounts, as 
     determined by the Secretary, received by the public housing 
     agency under the formula in section 14(k) of such Act by 
     reason of the project.
       In the matter to be inserted by the amendment made by 
     section 5(b)(3) of the bill, strike ``Vallejo and Benecia and 
     to Napa County, in California, such cities and county'' and 
     insert ``Fairfield, Vallejo, Napa, and Vacaville, in 
     California, such cities''.

  Mr. GONZALEZ (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment offered by 
the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Gonzalez].
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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