[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 153 (Thursday, September 22, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S5029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 5640. Mr. WARNOCK submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 5499 submitted by Mr. Reed (for himself and Mr. Inhofe)
and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 7900, to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year 2023 for military activities of the
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle B of title XXVIII, add the
following:
SEC. 2825. RESPONSES TO THE HOUSING SHORTAGE FOR MEMBERS OF
THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) Report on Housing Shortage for Members of the Armed
Forces.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and
the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives a report on the housing shortage for members
of the Armed Forces.
(2) Elements.--The report required under subsection (a)
shall include the following elements:
(A) The determination of the Secretary regarding the
feasibility of acquiring real property near military
installations that face housing shortages to be used for the
development of privatized housing.
(B) The determination of the Secretary regarding the need
for an officer or civilian employee of the Department of
Defense to serve, at each military installation, as a housing
manager.
(b) Guidance to Landlords of Privatized Housing.--Not later
than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe guidance for
eligible entities and landlords regarding acceptable housing
standards for privatized housing.
(c) Pilot and Grant Programs.--
(1) Pilot program on using rental partnership programs of
the armed forces to assure tenants for developers of
privatized housing.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall
establish a pilot program to assess the feasibility of using
the rental partnership programs of the Armed Forces to assure
tenants for eligible entities to secure financing to
construct privatized housing.
(B) Locations.--The Secretary shall operate the pilot
program under subparagraph (A) in not more than 10 military
housing areas that each have a rental vacancy rate of less
than seven percent.
(C) Term.--The pilot program under subparagraph (A) shall
terminate on the date that is five years after the Secretary
establishes the pilot program.
(D) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the termination
of the pilot program under subparagraph (A), the Secretary
shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the pilot
program.
(2) Joint pilot program on financial incentives for
developers of privatized housing.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in
coordination with the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development, shall develop a pilot program to provide
financial incentives to eligible entities to build privatized
housing or to purchase or lease existing facilities to house
members of the Armed Forces and their dependents and to house
low-income individuals and families, as determined by the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(B) Eligible projects.--
(i) In general.--In order to be eligible for an incentive
under the pilot program under subparagraph (A), proposed
privatized housing shall ensure that a percentage of such
housing is reserved for members of the Armed Forces and
dependents of such members.
(ii) Percentage.--The percentage under clause (i) shall
vary proportionately to the value of the incentive provided
under subparagraph (A).
(C) Locations.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development shall operate the pilot
program under subparagraph (A) in areas that have the longest
wait times for on-base housing.
(D) Priority.--In selecting eligible entities under the
pilot program under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of
Defense and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
shall give priority to entry-level housing and projects with
greater density.
(E) Term.--The pilot program under subparagraph (A) shall
terminate on the date that is five years after the Secretary
of Defense establishes the pilot program.
(F) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the termination
of the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall submit to
Congress a report on the results of the pilot program.
(3) Joint grant program.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary of Defense and Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development may jointly operate a grant
program through the Office of Local Defense Community
Cooperation of the Department of Defense to build housing for
members of the Armed Forces and their dependents and for low-
income individuals and families.
(B) Treatment of household income limits.--Household income
limits for entities eligible to receive a grant under
subparagraph (A) shall not differ based on whether a
household includes a member of the Armed Forces.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Eligible entity; landlord.--The terms ``eligible
entity'' and ``landlord'' have the meanings given such terms
in section 2871 of title 10, United States Code.
(2) Privatized housing.--The term ``privatized housing''
means housing under subchapter IV of chapter 169 of such
title.
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