[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 129 (Thursday, October 6, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H8668-H8670]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RURAL HOUSING HURRICANE RELIEF ACT OF 2005

  Mr. BAKER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3895) to amend title V of the Housing Act of 1949 to provide 
rural housing assistance to families affected by Hurricane Katrina, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3895

       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 ``Rural Housing Hurricane 
     Relief Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. DISASTER AUTHORITY.

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

     ``SEC. 541. DISASTER ASSISTANCE.

       ``(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     this title, the Secretary may exercise any authority 
     described in subsection (b) with respect to the counties 
     designated as disaster areas pursuant to the declaration by 
     the President of a major disaster or emergency under the 
     Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) in connection with Hurricane 
     Katrina or Hurricane Rita, and the counties contiguous to 
     such counties, and for any individuals who resided in such 
     counties at the time of the disaster.
       ``(b) Special Authorities.--The authorities described in 
     this subsection are as follows:
       ``(1) Conversion of rental assistance.--The Secretary may 
     convert rental assistance under section 521 allocated for a 
     property that is not inhabitable because of the disaster into
       ``(A) housing voucher assistance authorized under section 
     8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
     1437f(o)); or
       ``(B) rural housing vouchers authorized under this title.

     Any conversion and use of rental assistance pursuant to this 
     paragraph shall apply only for the period described in 
     subsection (c) or a portion thereof, as determined by the 
     Secretary.
       ``(2) Waiver of rural area requirements.--The Secretary 
     may, for the period described in subsection (c) or any 
     portion thereof, waive the application of the provisions of 
     section 520 with respect to assistance provided under this 
     section, as the Secretary considers appropriate.
       ``(c) Duration of Authority.--The period described in this 
     subsection is the 6-month period that begins upon the date of 
     the enactment of this Act.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to 
     funds otherwise available to carry out this section, there 
     are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
     necessary to carry out, during the period described in 
     subsection (c), this section or any other activity authorized 
     under this title.''.

     SEC. 3. RURAL HOUSING VOUCHER AUTHORITY.

       During the 6-month period beginning on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture may 
     exercise the

[[Page H8669]]

     authority under section 542 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 
     U.S.C. 1490r), except that in carrying out this section--
       (1) notwithstanding the first sentence of subsection (a) of 
     such section 542, the Secretary may assist low-income 
     families and persons, but only if--
       (A) such family or person--
       (i) resides or resided, on August 25, 2005, in any area 
     that is subject to a declaration by the President of a major 
     disaster or emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
     Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) 
     in connection with Hurricane Katrina; or
       (ii) resides or resided, on September 24, 2005, in any area 
     that is subject to a declaration by the President of a major 
     disaster or emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
     Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) 
     in connection with Hurricane Rita; and
       (B) the residence of such family or person became 
     uninhabitable or inaccessible as result of a major disaster 
     or emergency referred to in subparagraph (A) of this 
     paragraph; and
       (2) subsection (b) of such section 542 shall not apply.

     SEC. 4. GUARANTEED LOANS FOR SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING.

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

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Baker) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Baker).
  Mr. BAKER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 3895 is important legislation to again provide 
flexibility to the Rural Housing Authority relative to converting 
available funds to vouchers to provide additional options for those 
displaced by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. It also provides 
additional loan flexibility with regard to repairs and remodeling 
pursuant to storm damage for existing loans now provided by the agency.
  I wish to acknowledge the work of the chairman of the subcommittee, 
the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Oxley), chairman of the Committee on Financial Services, who have been 
extraordinary in their desire and willingness to help those of us in 
the gulf coast area with remedies to the identified problems.
  This legislation, the second of three to be considered by the House 
today, is an important step. Not in and of itself a significant remedy, 
but it does provide significant new flexibility to a historically 
proven and valuable program. For these reasons, I believe it is highly 
important for the House to adopt this matter as well as the legislation 
to follow. In cooperation, all three bills will provide significant and 
meaningful assistance to those who find themselves without a place to 
call home.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I intend to vote for this bill, as I believe all of us 
plan to. It is a very reasonable approach. It makes some changes in the 
rural housing program which are limited both geographically and 
chronologically, which is the way to do this short-term approach.
  There were some other issues raised, and the majority has agreed with 
us there are other changes that could be made in this program; and I 
believe we will be taking them up later to do a more permanent 
situation.
  There is one permanent change here involving the program known as the 
502 program which gives some flexibility in financing and I think all 
who are interested in this favor.
  I will take a minute or two to note, this is about rural housing. 
This is housing built with Federal help, generally public-private 
cooperation, federally subsidized, assisted housing in rural areas; and 
I stress that because too often when we talk about Federal housing 
programs, people think only about the big cities. Here we are not 
talking just about New Orleans, but the adjacent parishes. As the 
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Taylor) pointed out, we are talking 
about small communities along the Mississippi coast.
  There is a need for housing assistance in various places, and we 
should stress again this is very important housing that helps people of 
low- and moderate income in rural areas, sparsely settled areas, to 
have decent places to live. So it is a reminder that housing programs 
are not simply big-city programs, but appropriately done are programs 
that meet needs in various places.
  What this does is to give the flexibility during the next 6 months so 
the rural housing programs and the housing built there in the affected 
areas, people can respond to that with some flexibility. Money will not 
be lost; money will be reprogrammed. It is a product of a great deal of 
thoughtful collaboration on both sides of the aisle, and I intend to 
vote for this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BAKER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Oxley), chairman of the Committee on Financial 
Services, who has been extraordinarily cooperative and is exhibiting 
great leadership in helping the people of the gulf coast deal with 
these catastrophes.
  Mr. OXLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation and 
commend the sponsor of the legislation, the gentleman from Louisiana 
(Mr. Baker), for his tireless work and dedication for providing housing 
relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.
  Residents of the rural gulf region have been especially affected by 
the devastating impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. While media 
attention in the aftermath of these catastrophes has been focused on 
the urban disaster, particularly New Orleans, rural communities in the 
region, and individuals and families who are assisted by rural housing 
service programs, face a challenging road.
  Rural areas are often plagued by poverty, high numbers of substandard 
homes, affordable housing shortages, costly development, and inadequate 
access to mortgage loans. RHS, through its programs, provides direct 
loans, guaranteed loans and grants to help families obtain and maintain 
affordable housing in those rural areas. Because so many rural families 
in the gulf region have left their communities, either because their 
housing is now in ruins or because they have settled in another 
community, it is extremely important that RHS has the flexibility to 
provide assistance to these families who have been displaced from rural 
gulf communities.
  The legislation we are considering today will enable RHS to continue 
to meet the needs of rural families who have been displaced by the 
hurricanes. This legislation will temporarily give RHS the necessary 
funding options it needs to keep families in the program in the wake of 
this disaster. In short, this important revision will give RHS the 
ability to convert to vouchers funds tied to a rural housing project 
that is no longer habitable due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina and 
Hurricane Rita. RHS will have the authority to reprogram funds in 
either HUD section 8 vouchers or RHS vouchers authorized under title V 
of the Housing Act of 1949.
  This legislation is designed to provide temporary housing relief for 
families affected by the hurricanes and upon enactment will be 
effective for 6 months.
  Next, H.R. 3895 will expand the flexibility of RHS by temporarily 
eliminating the current limitations regarding the number of vouchers 
that can be issued and where they can be used. Again, this is a 
temporary suspension, to be in effect for 6 months upon enactment, 
which reflects the need for timeliness and efficiency in securing 
housing for rural families under RHS programs.
  Finally, this legislation amends the single family housing guaranteed 
loan program by expanding refinancing to include loans for housing 
repair and rehabilitation. Currently, repair and rehabilitation costs 
cannot be financed from refinanced guaranteed loans. This legislation 
will also allow refinancing of loans from borrowers who are not 
currently in the USDA single family housing program.

[[Page H8670]]

                              {time}  1600

  While these authority changes to the single-family housing program 
are not limited to disaster situations, they will be very helpful in 
assisting families affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
  H.R. 3895 will help ensure that housing assistance continues to be 
available to those of the neediest individuals and families in the 
rural gulf region, who have already suffered greatly in the aftermath 
of the hurricanes.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and, Madam Speaker, 
point out that the committee, once again, has worked effectively 
through these issues, these three suspension calendar votes, in 
anticipation, as the gentleman from Louisiana pointed out, and my 
friend from Massachusetts mentioned, with a goal of looking at a long-
term solution to this problem that is one that will not go away and 
will be over a period of years, as the gentleman from Louisiana pointed 
out.
  I want to say to the members of the committee and to the House that 
this committee stands ready to do what is necessary to bring relief to 
those regions in a fiscally responsible manner. I have every reason to 
think we will do exactly that.
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), a member of the committee.
  Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, let me thank our ranking member for yielding. 
Also I want to thank the ranking member on the Housing Subcommittee for 
her leadership and for really trying to make sure that these bills 
before us today have bipartisan support and have become better bills as 
they move through this process.
  People displaced by this horrible disaster deserve clean, safe and 
decent housing. They should be provided with the opportunity to return 
home as quickly and as safely as possible. Yet, I do not believe these 
bills accomplish this goal.
  HUD has not received, first of all, nearly enough authority or 
funding to do what is necessary to provide for the Katrina survivors. 
First, nowhere do we acknowledge the inadequate response to date of the 
administration or the Department of Housing and Urban Development to 
the housing crisis in the gulf.
  Secondly, there is no additional funding in any of these bills for 
the CDBG or emergency housing vouchers for families affected by 
Hurricane Katrina. There is not enough money at HUD, and we should not 
redirect funding that is already inadequate in one account, to move it 
to another account. Indeed, we need more resources to accomplish what 
we need to accomplish. The bottom line is, there needs to be new money 
for housing, and we need it now.
  Finally, there is not enough thought given to prohibiting the use of 
substandard housing for Katrina survivors or for the creation of 
affordable housing construction programs for new, safe and affordable 
housing. Although these bills waive the pre-inspection process for 
about 6 months for Katrina survivors in terms of their housing needs, I 
really worry that people will find themselves living in substandard and 
dilapidated housing if we do not monitor this very closely.
  What I find also very striking about these bills is that there are no 
measures to ensure that Katrina survivors can return to the gulf region 
without fear of housing discrimination from landlords or lenders. There 
are some serious housing policy issues at stake in these bills. There 
should be more opportunity for debate and thoughtful legislation.
  Madam Speaker, the reality is, these bills do very little for the 
people who are relying on us to help. Having traveled to Houston and 
having talked to Katrina survivors; I went to the shelters, like many, 
and I have heard firsthand the needs and seen firsthand their pain. I 
know very well that housing, providing affordable decent safe housing, 
is very central to their recovery.
  When I think about how much Katrina survivors have lost, compared to 
what this administration is willing to sacrifice in their misguided 
budget priorities, it falls way short, I am sorry to say, of what we 
should be doing. We need to provide housing bills that create new 
funding for emergency, flexible, section 8 vouchers. We need to 
increase the funding and authority of HUD to truly help Katrina 
survivors and also to take steps to eradicate poverty. Effective 
housing strategies with full funding would help to begin to address 
these underlying systemic issues which surface during this tragedy.
  I would like to thank our housing leaders again, Congressman Barney 
Frank and Congresswoman Maxine Waters, for attempting to make these 
bills better. I welcome the opportunity to continue to work with my 
colleagues to authorize and to fund significant Katrina housing 
legislation in the near future.
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. BAKER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Baker) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3895, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas 
and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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