[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 18328-18353]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2016

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, pursuant to the previous order, I ask 
that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 2577.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will 
proceed to the consideration of H.R. 2577, which the clerk will report.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 2577) making appropriations for the 
     Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban 
     Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2016, and for other purposes.

  Thereupon, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, which had been 
reported from the Committee on Appropriations, with an amendment to 
strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof the 
following:

                               H.R. 2577

     That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in 
     the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the Departments 
     of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and 
     related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     2016, and for other purposes, namely:

                                TITLE I

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

                        Office of the Secretary

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary, 
     $110,738,000, of which not to exceed $2,734,000 shall be 
     available for the immediate Office of the Secretary; not to 
     exceed $1,025,000 shall be available for the immediate Office 
     of the Deputy Secretary; not to exceed $20,109,000 shall be 
     available for the Office of the General Counsel; not to 
     exceed $10,141,000 shall be available for the Office of the 
     Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy; not to exceed 
     $13,867,000 shall be available for the Office of the 
     Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs; not to exceed 
     $2,546,000 shall be available for the Office of the Assistant 
     Secretary for Governmental Affairs; not to exceed $27,411,000 
     shall be available for the Office of the Assistant Secretary 
     for Administration; not to exceed $2,029,000 shall be 
     available for the Office of Public Affairs; not to exceed 
     $1,769,000 shall be available for the Office of the Executive 
     Secretariat; not to exceed $1,434,000 shall be available for 
     the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization; 
     not to exceed $10,793,000 shall be available for the Office 
     of Intelligence, Security, and Emergency Response; and not to 
     exceed $16,880,000 shall be available for the Office of the 
     Chief Information Officer:  Provided, That the Secretary of 
     Transportation is authorized to transfer funds appropriated 
     for any office of the Office of the Secretary to any other 
     office of the Office of the Secretary:  Provided further, 
     That no appropriation for any office shall be increased or 
     decreased by more than 5 percent by all such transfers:  
     Provided further, That notice of any change in funding 
     greater than 5 percent shall be submitted for approval to the 
     House and Senate Committees on Appropriations:  Provided 
     further, That not to exceed $60,000 shall be for allocation 
     within the Department for official reception and 
     representation expenses as the Secretary may determine:  
     Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, excluding fees authorized in Public Law 107-71, there 
     may be credited to this appropriation up to $2,500,000 in 
     funds received in user fees:  Provided further, That none of 
     the funds provided in this Act shall be available for the 
     position of Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs:  Provided 
     further, That not later than 60 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
     transmit to Congress the final Comprehensive Truck Size and 
     Weight Limits Study, as required by section 32801 of Public 
     Law 112-141:  Provided further, That the amount herein 
     appropriated for the Office of the Under Secretary for 
     Transportation Policy shall be reduced by $100,000 for each 
     day after 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act 
     that such report has not been submitted to Congress:  
     Provided further, That the Secretary shall provide the House 
     and Senate Committees on Appropriations quarterly written 
     notification regarding the status of pending reports required 
     to be submitted to the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations:  Provided further, That the Secretary shall 
     provide in electronic form all signed reports required by 
     Congress.

                        research and technology

       For necessary expenses related to the Office of the 
     Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, $13,000,000, 
     of which $8,218,000 shall remain available until September 
     30, 2018:  Provided, That there may be credited to this 
     appropriation, to be available until expended, funds received 
     from States, counties, municipalities, other public 
     authorities, and private sources for expenses incurred for 
     training:  Provided further, That any reference in law, 
     regulation, judicial proceedings, or elsewhere to the 
     Research and Innovative Technology Administration shall 
     continue to be deemed to be a reference to the Office of the 
     Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology of the 
     Department of Transportation.

                  national infrastructure investments

       For capital investments in surface transportation 
     infrastructure, $500,000,000, to remain available through 
     September 30, 2019:  Provided, That the Secretary of 
     Transportation shall distribute funds provided under this 
     heading as discretionary grants to be awarded to a State, 
     local government, transit agency, or a collaboration among 
     such entities on a competitive basis for projects that will 
     have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area, 
     or a region:  Provided further, That projects eligible for 
     funding provided under this heading shall include, but not be 
     limited to, highway or bridge projects eligible under title 
     23, United States Code; public transportation projects 
     eligible under chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code; 
     passenger and freight rail transportation projects; and port 
     infrastructure investments (including inland port 
     infrastructure):  Provided further, That the Secretary may 
     use up to 20 percent of the funds made available under this 
     heading for the purpose of paying the subsidy and 
     administrative costs of projects eligible for Federal credit 
     assistance under chapter 6 of title 23, United States Code, 
     if the Secretary finds that such use of the funds would 
     advance the purposes of this paragraph:  Provided further, 
     That in distributing funds provided under this heading, the 
     Secretary shall take such measures so as to ensure an 
     equitable geographic distribution of funds, an appropriate 
     balance in addressing the needs of urban and rural areas, and 
     the investment in a variety of transportation modes:  
     Provided further, That a grant funded under this heading 
     shall be not less than $10,000,000 and not greater than 
     $100,000,000:  Provided further, That not more than 25 
     percent of the funds made available under this heading may be 
     awarded to projects in a single State:  Provided further, 
     That the Federal share of the costs for which an expenditure 
     is made under this heading shall be, at the option of the 
     recipient, up to 80 percent:  Provided further, That the 
     Secretary shall give priority to projects that require a 
     contribution of Federal funds in order to complete an overall 
     financing package:  Provided further, That not less than 30 
     percent of the funds provided under this heading shall be for 
     projects located in rural areas:  Provided further, That for 
     projects located in rural areas, the minimum grant size shall 
     be $1,000,000 and the Secretary may increase the Federal 
     share of costs above 80 percent:  Provided further, That of 
     the amount made available under this heading, the Secretary 
     may use an amount not to exceed $25,000,000 for the planning, 
     preparation or design of projects eligible for funding under 
     this heading:  Provided further, That grants awarded under 
     the previous proviso shall not be subject to a minimum grant 
     size:  Provided further, That projects conducted using funds 
     provided under this heading must comply with the requirements 
     of subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States 
     Code:  Provided further, That the Secretary shall conduct a 
     new competition to select the grants and credit assistance 
     awarded under this heading:  Provided further, That the 
     Secretary may retain up to $20,000,000 of the funds provided 
     under this heading, and may transfer portions of those funds 
     to the Administrators of the Federal Highway Administration, 
     the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad 
     Administration, and the Maritime Administration, to fund the 
     award and oversight of grants and credit assistance made 
     under the National Infrastructure Investments program.

                      financial management capital

       For necessary expenses for upgrading and enhancing the 
     Department of Transportation's financial systems and re-
     engineering business processes, $5,000,000, to remain 
     available through September 30, 2017.

                       cyber security initiatives

       For necessary expenses for cyber security initiatives, 
     including necessary upgrades to wide area network and 
     information technology infrastructure, improvement of network 
     perimeter controls and identity management, testing and 
     assessment of information technology against business, 
     security, and other requirements, implementation of Federal 
     cyber security initiatives and information infrastructure 
     enhancements, implementation of enhanced security controls on 
     network devices, and enhancement of cyber security workforce 
     training tools, $8,000,000, to remain available through 
     September 30, 2017.

                         office of civil rights

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Civil Rights, 
     $9,678,000.

           transportation planning, research, and development

       For necessary expenses for conducting transportation 
     planning, research, systems development, development 
     activities, and making grants, to remain available until 
     expended, $6,000,000.

        interagency infrastructure permitting improvement center

       For necessary expenses to establish an Interagency 
     Infrastructure Permitting Improvement Center (IIPIC) that 
     will implement reforms to improve interagency coordination 
     and the expediting of projects related to the permitting and 
     environmental review of major transportation

[[Page 18329]]

     infrastructure projects including one-time expenses to 
     develop and deploy information technology tools to track 
     project schedules and metrics and improve the transparency 
     and accountability of the permitting process, $4,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended:  Provided, That there may be 
     transferred to this appropriation, to remain available until 
     expended, amounts from other Federal agencies for expenses 
     incurred under this heading for activities not related to 
     transportation infrastructure:  Provided further, That the 
     tools and analysis developed by the IIPIC shall be available 
     to other Federal agencies for the permitting and review of 
     major infrastructure projects not related to transportation 
     only to the extent that other Federal agencies provide 
     funding to the Department as provided for under the previous 
     proviso.

                          working capital fund

       For necessary expenses for operating costs and capital 
     outlays of the Working Capital Fund, not to exceed 
     $190,039,000 shall be paid from appropriations made available 
     to the Department of Transportation:  Provided, That such 
     services shall be provided on a competitive basis to entities 
     within the Department of Transportation:  Provided further, 
     That the above limitation on operating expenses shall not 
     apply to non-DOT entities:  Provided further, That no funds 
     appropriated in this Act to an agency of the Department shall 
     be transferred to the Working Capital Fund without majority 
     approval of the Working Capital Fund Steering Committee and 
     approval of the Secretary:  Provided further, That no 
     assessments may be levied against any program, budget 
     activity, subactivity or project funded by this Act unless 
     notice of such assessments and the basis therefor are 
     presented to the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations and are approved by such Committees.

               minority business resource center program

       For the cost of guaranteed loans, $336,000, as authorized 
     by 49 U.S.C. 332:  Provided, That such costs, including the 
     cost of modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 
     502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:  Provided 
     further, That these funds are available to subsidize total 
     loan principal, any part of which is to be guaranteed, not to 
     exceed $18,367,000.
       In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the 
     guaranteed loan program, $597,000.

                       minority business outreach

       For necessary expenses of Minority Business Resource Center 
     outreach activities, $3,084,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2017:  Provided, That notwithstanding 49 U.S.C. 
     332, these funds may be used for business opportunities 
     related to any mode of transportation.

                        payments to air carriers

                    (airport and airway trust fund)

       In addition to funds made available from any other source 
     to carry out the essential air service program under 49 
     U.S.C. 41731 through 41742, $175,000,000, to be derived from 
     the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to remain available until 
     expended:  Provided, That in determining between or among 
     carriers competing to provide service to a community, the 
     Secretary may consider the relative subsidy requirements of 
     the carriers:  Provided further, That basic essential air 
     service minimum requirements shall not include the 15-
     passenger capacity requirement under subsection 41732(b)(3) 
     of title 49, United States Code:  Provided further, That none 
     of the funds in this Act or any other Act shall be used to 
     enter into a new contract with a community located less than 
     40 miles from the nearest small hub airport before the 
     Secretary has negotiated with the community over a local cost 
     share:  Provided further, That amounts authorized to be 
     distributed for the essential air service program under 
     subsection 41742(b) of title 49, United States Code, shall be 
     made available immediately from amounts otherwise provided to 
     the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration:  
     Provided further, That the Administrator may reimburse such 
     amounts from fees credited to the account established under 
     section 45303 of title 49, United States Code.

  administrative provisions--office of the secretary of transportation

       Sec. 101.  None of the funds made available in this Act to 
     the Department of Transportation may be obligated for the 
     Office of the Secretary of Transportation to approve 
     assessments or reimbursable agreements pertaining to funds 
     appropriated to the modal administrations in this Act, except 
     for activities underway on the date of enactment of this Act, 
     unless such assessments or agreements have completed the 
     normal reprogramming process for Congressional notification.
       Sec. 102.  The Secretary or his or her designee may engage 
     in activities with States and State legislators to consider 
     proposals related to the reduction of motorcycle fatalities.
       Sec. 103.  Notwithstanding section 3324 of title 31, United 
     States Code, in addition to authority provided by section 327 
     of title 49, United States Code, the Department's Working 
     Capital Fund is hereby authorized to provide payments in 
     advance to vendors that are necessary to carry out the 
     Federal transit pass transportation fringe benefit program 
     under Executive Order 13150 and section 3049 of Public Law 
     109-59:  Provided, That the Department shall include adequate 
     safeguards in the contract with the vendors to ensure timely 
     and high-quality performance under the contract.
       Sec. 104.  The Secretary shall post on the Web site of the 
     Department of Transportation a schedule of all meetings of 
     the Credit Council, including the agenda for each meeting, 
     and require the Credit Council to record the decisions and 
     actions of each meeting.
       Sec. 105.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none 
     of the funds appropriated or made available under this Act 
     shall be used to finalize or implement sections 256.1 through 
     256.5 and 399.80 of the Department of Transportation's 
     proposed rulemaking, as published in the Federal Register on 
     Friday, May 23, 2014 (79 FR 29969), relating to Transparency 
     of Airline Ancillary Fees and Other Consumer Protection 
     Issues.

                    Federal Aviation Administration

                               operations

                    (airport and airway trust fund)

       For necessary expenses of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration, not otherwise provided for, including 
     operations and research activities related to commercial 
     space transportation, administrative expenses for research 
     and development, establishment of air navigation facilities, 
     the operation (including leasing) and maintenance of 
     aircraft, subsidizing the cost of aeronautical charts and 
     maps sold to the public, lease or purchase of passenger motor 
     vehicles for replacement only, in addition to amounts made 
     available by Public Law 112-95, $9,897,818,000 of which 
     $8,180,000,000 shall be derived from the Airport and Airway 
     Trust Fund, of which not to exceed $7,505,293,000 shall be 
     available for air traffic organization activities; not to 
     exceed $1,258,411,000 shall be available for aviation safety 
     activities; not to exceed $17,425,000 shall be available for 
     commercial space transportation activities; not to exceed 
     $748,969,000 shall be available for finance and management 
     activities; not to exceed $60,089,000 shall be available for 
     NextGen and operations planning activities; not to exceed 
     $100,880,000 shall be available for security and hazardous 
     materials safety; and not to exceed $206,751,000 shall be 
     available for staff offices:  Provided, That not to exceed 2 
     percent of any budget activity, except for aviation safety 
     budget activity, may be transferred to any budget activity 
     under this heading:  Provided further, That no transfer may 
     increase or decrease any appropriation by more than 2 
     percent:  Provided further, That any transfer in excess of 2 
     percent shall be treated as a reprogramming of funds under 
     section 405 of this Act and shall not be available for 
     obligation or expenditure except in compliance with the 
     procedures set forth in that section:  Provided further, That 
     not later than March 31 of each fiscal year hereafter, the 
     Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall 
     transmit to Congress an annual update to the report submitted 
     to Congress in December 2004 pursuant to section 221 of 
     Public Law 108-176:  Provided further, That the amount herein 
     appropriated shall be reduced by $100,000 for each day after 
     March 31 that such report has not been submitted to the 
     Congress:  Provided further, That not later than March 31 of 
     each fiscal year hereafter, the Administrator shall transmit 
     to Congress a companion report that describes a comprehensive 
     strategy for staffing, hiring, and training flight standards 
     and aircraft certification staff in a format similar to the 
     one utilized for the controller staffing plan, including 
     stated attrition estimates and numerical hiring goals by 
     fiscal year:  Provided further, That the amount herein 
     appropriated shall be reduced by $100,000 per day for each 
     day after March 31 that such report has not been submitted to 
     Congress:  Provided further, That funds may be used to enter 
     into a grant agreement with a nonprofit standard-setting 
     organization to assist in the development of aviation safety 
     standards:  Provided further, That none of the funds in this 
     Act shall be available for new applicants for the second 
     career training program:  Provided further, That none of the 
     funds in this Act shall be available for the Federal Aviation 
     Administration to finalize or implement any regulation that 
     would promulgate new aviation user fees not specifically 
     authorized by law after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act:  Provided further, That there may be credited to this 
     appropriation, as offsetting collections, funds received from 
     States, counties, municipalities, foreign authorities, other 
     public authorities, and private sources for expenses incurred 
     in the provision of agency services, including receipts for 
     the maintenance and operation of air navigation facilities, 
     and for issuance, renewal or modification of certificates, 
     including airman, aircraft, and repair station certificates, 
     or for tests related thereto, or for processing major repair 
     or alteration forms:  Provided further, That of the funds 
     appropriated under this heading, not less than $154,400,000 
     shall be for the contract tower program, including the 
     contract tower cost share program:  Provided further, That 
     none of the funds in this Act for aeronautical charting and 
     cartography are available for activities conducted by, or 
     coordinated through, the Working Capital Fund.

                        facilities and equipment

                    (airport and airway trust fund)

       For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, for 
     acquisition, establishment, technical support services, 
     improvement by contract or purchase, and hire of national 
     airspace systems and experimental facilities and equipment, 
     as authorized under part A of subtitle VII of title 49, 
     United States Code, including initial acquisition of 
     necessary sites by lease or grant; engineering and service 
     testing, including construction of test facilities and 
     acquisition of necessary sites by lease or grant; 
     construction and

[[Page 18330]]

     furnishing of quarters and related accommodations for 
     officers and employees of the Federal Aviation Administration 
     stationed at remote localities where such accommodations are 
     not available; and the purchase, lease, or transfer of 
     aircraft from funds available under this heading, including 
     aircraft for aviation regulation and certification; to be 
     derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, 
     $2,600,000,000, of which $467,000,000 shall remain available 
     until September 30, 2016, and $2,133,000,000 shall remain 
     available until September 30, 2018:  Provided, That there may 
     be credited to this appropriation funds received from States, 
     counties, municipalities, other public authorities, and 
     private sources, for expenses incurred in the establishment, 
     improvement, and modernization of national airspace systems:  
     Provided further, That no later than March 31, the Secretary 
     of Transportation shall transmit to the Congress an 
     investment plan for the Federal Aviation Administration which 
     includes funding for each budget line item for fiscal years 
     2017 through 2021, with total funding for each year of the 
     plan constrained to the funding targets for those years as 
     estimated and approved by the Office of Management and 
     Budget:  Provided further, That the amount herein 
     appropriated shall be reduced by $100,000 per day for each 
     day after March 31 that such report has not been submitted to 
     Congress.

                 research, engineering, and development

                    (airport and airway trust fund)

       For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, for 
     research, engineering, and development, as authorized under 
     part A of subtitle VII of title 49, United States Code, 
     including construction of experimental facilities and 
     acquisition of necessary sites by lease or grant, 
     $163,325,000, to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust 
     Fund and to remain available until September 30, 2018:  
     Provided, That there may be credited to this appropriation as 
     offsetting collections, funds received from States, counties, 
     municipalities, other public authorities, and private 
     sources, which shall be available for expenses incurred for 
     research, engineering, and development.

                       grants-in-aid for airports

                (liquidation of contract authorization)

                      (limitation on obligations)

                    (airport and airway trust fund)

                     (including transfer of funds)

                         (including rescission)

       For liquidation of obligations incurred for grants-in-aid 
     for airport planning and development, and noise compatibility 
     planning and programs as authorized under subchapter I of 
     chapter 471 and subchapter I of chapter 475 of title 49, 
     United States Code, and under other law authorizing such 
     obligations; for procurement, installation, and commissioning 
     of runway incursion prevention devices and systems at 
     airports of such title; for grants authorized under section 
     41743 of title 49, United States Code; and for inspection 
     activities and administration of airport safety programs, 
     including those related to airport operating certificates 
     under section 44706 of title 49, United States Code, 
     $3,600,000,000, to be derived from the Airport and Airway 
     Trust Fund and to remain available until expended:  Provided, 
     That none of the funds under this heading shall be available 
     for the planning or execution of programs the obligations for 
     which are in excess of $3,350,000,000 in fiscal year 2016, 
     notwithstanding section 47117(g) of title 49, United States 
     Code:  Provided further, That none of the funds under this 
     heading shall be available for the replacement of baggage 
     conveyor systems, reconfiguration of terminal baggage areas, 
     or other airport improvements that are necessary to install 
     bulk explosive detection systems:  Provided further, That 
     notwithstanding section 47109(a) of title 49, United States 
     Code, the Government's share of allowable project costs under 
     paragraph (2) for subgrants or paragraph (3) of that section 
     shall be 95 percent for a project at other than a large or 
     medium hub airport that is a successive phase of a multi-
     phased construction project for which the project sponsor 
     received a grant in fiscal year 2011 for the construction 
     project:  Provided further, That notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, of funds limited under this heading, not 
     more than $107,100,000 shall be obligated for administration, 
     not less than $15,000,000 shall be available for the Airport 
     Cooperative Research Program, not less than $31,000,000 shall 
     be available for Airport Technology Research, and 
     $10,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be 
     available and transferred to ``Office of the Secretary, 
     Salaries and Expenses'' to carry out the Small Community Air 
     Service Development Program:  Provided further, That in 
     addition to airports eligible under section 41743 of title 
     49, such program may include the participation of an airport 
     that serves a community or consortium that is not larger than 
     a small hub airport, according to FAA hub classifications 
     effective at the time the Office of the Secretary issues a 
     request for proposals.

                              (rescission)

       Of the amounts authorized for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2016, under section 48112 of title 49, United 
     States Code, all unobligated balances are permanently 
     rescinded.

       administrative provisions--federal aviation administration

       Sec. 110.  None of the funds in this Act may be used to 
     compensate in excess of 600 technical staff-years under the 
     federally funded research and development center contract 
     between the Federal Aviation Administration and the Center 
     for Advanced Aviation Systems Development during fiscal year 
     2016.
       Sec. 111.  None of the funds in this Act shall be used to 
     pursue or adopt guidelines or regulations requiring airport 
     sponsors to provide to the Federal Aviation Administration 
     without cost building construction, maintenance, utilities 
     and expenses, or space in airport sponsor-owned buildings for 
     services relating to air traffic control, air navigation, or 
     weather reporting:  Provided, That the prohibition of funds 
     in this section does not apply to negotiations between the 
     agency and airport sponsors to achieve agreement on ``below-
     market'' rates for these items or to grant assurances that 
     require airport sponsors to provide land without cost to the 
     FAA for air traffic control facilities.
       Sec. 112.  The Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration may reimburse amounts made available to 
     satisfy 49 U.S.C. 41742(a)(1) from fees credited under 49 
     U.S.C. 45303 and any amount remaining in such account at the 
     close of that fiscal year may be made available to satisfy 
     section 41742(a)(1) for the subsequent fiscal year.
       Sec. 113.  Amounts collected under section 40113(e) of 
     title 49, United States Code, shall be credited to the 
     appropriation current at the time of collection, to be merged 
     with and available for the same purposes of such 
     appropriation.
       Sec. 114.  None of the funds in this Act shall be available 
     for paying premium pay under subsection 5546(a) of title 5, 
     United States Code, to any Federal Aviation Administration 
     employee unless such employee actually performed work during 
     the time corresponding to such premium pay.
       Sec. 115.  None of the funds in this Act may be obligated 
     or expended for an employee of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration to purchase a store gift card or gift 
     certificate through use of a Government-issued credit card.
       Sec. 116.  The Secretary shall apportion to the sponsor of 
     an airport that received scheduled or unscheduled air service 
     from a large certified air carrier (as defined in part 241 of 
     title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, or such other 
     regulations as may be issued by the Secretary under the 
     authority of section 41709) an amount equal to the minimum 
     apportionment specified in 49 U.S.C. 47114(c), if the 
     Secretary determines that airport had more than 10,000 
     passenger boardings in the preceding calendar year, based on 
     data submitted to the Secretary under part 241 of title 14, 
     Code of Federal Regulations.
       Sec. 117.  None of the funds in this Act may be obligated 
     or expended for retention bonuses for an employee of the 
     Federal Aviation Administration without the prior written 
     approval of the Assistant Secretary for Administration of the 
     Department of Transportation.
       Sec. 118.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none 
     of the funds made available under this Act or any prior Act 
     may be used to implement or to continue to implement any 
     limitation on the ability of any owner or operator of a 
     private aircraft to obtain, upon a request to the 
     Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, a 
     blocking of that owner's or operator's aircraft registration 
     number from any display of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration's Aircraft Situational Display to Industry 
     data that is made available to the public, except data made 
     available to a Government agency, for the noncommercial 
     flights of that owner or operator.
       Sec. 119.  None of the funds in this Act shall be available 
     for salaries and expenses of more than 9 political and 
     Presidential appointees in the Federal Aviation 
     Administration.
       Sec. 119A.  None of the funds made available under this Act 
     may be used to increase fees pursuant to section 44721 of 
     title 49, United States Code, until the FAA provides to the 
     House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a report that 
     justifies all fees related to aeronautical navigation 
     products and explains how such fees are consistent with 
     Executive Order 13642.
       Sec. 119B.  None of the funds appropriated or limited by 
     this Act may be used to change weight restrictions or prior 
     permission rules at Teterboro airport in Teterboro, New 
     Jersey.
       Sec. 119C.  None of the funds in this Act may be used to 
     close a regional operations center of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration or reduce its services unless the 
     Administrator notifies the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations not less than 90 full business days in 
     advance.

                     Federal Highway Administration

                 limitation on administrative expenses

                          (highway trust fund)

                     (including transfer of funds)

       Not to exceed $429,348,000, together with advances and 
     reimbursements received by the Federal Highway 
     Administration, shall be obligated for necessary expenses for 
     administration and operation of the Federal Highway 
     Administration or transferred to the Appalachian Regional 
     Commission in accordance with section 104 of title 23, United 
     States Code.

                          federal-aid highways

                      (limitation on obligations)

                          (highway trust fund)

       Funds available for the implementation or execution of 
     Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs 
     authorized under titles 23 and 49, United States Code, and 
     the provisions of Public Law 112-141 shall not exceed total 
     obligations of $40,256,000,000 for fiscal year 2016:  
     Provided, That the Secretary may collect and spend fees, as 
     authorized by title 23, United States Code, to cover the 
     costs of services of expert firms, including counsel, in the 
     field of municipal and project finance to assist in the

[[Page 18331]]

     underwriting and servicing of Federal credit instruments and 
     all or a portion of the costs to the Federal Government of 
     servicing such credit instruments:  Provided further, That 
     such fees are available until expended to pay for such costs: 
      Provided further, That such amounts are in addition to 
     administrative expenses that are also available for such 
     purpose, and are not subject to any obligation limitation or 
     the limitation on administrative expenses under section 608 
     of title 23, United States Code.

                (liquidation of contract authorization)

                          (highway trust fund)

       For the payment of obligations incurred in carrying out 
     Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction programs 
     authorized under title 23, United States Code, 
     $40,995,000,000 derived from the Highway Trust Fund (other 
     than the Mass Transit Account), to remain available until 
     expended.

       administrative provisions--federal highway administration

       Sec. 120. (a) For fiscal year 2016, the Secretary of 
     Transportation shall--
       (1) not distribute from the obligation limitation for 
     Federal-aid highways--
       (A) amounts authorized for administrative expenses and 
     programs by section 104(a) of title 23, United States Code; 
     and
       (B) amounts authorized for the Bureau of Transportation 
     Statistics;
       (2) not distribute an amount from the obligation limitation 
     for Federal-aid highways that is equal to the unobligated 
     balance of amounts--
       (A) made available from the Highway Trust Fund (other than 
     the Mass Transit Account) for Federal-aid highways and 
     highway safety construction programs for previous fiscal 
     years the funds for which are allocated by the Secretary (or 
     apportioned by the Secretary under section 202 or 204 of 
     title 23, United States Code); and
       (B) for which obligation limitation was provided in a 
     previous fiscal year;
       (3) determine the proportion that--
       (A) the obligation limitation for Federal-aid highways, 
     less the aggregate of amounts not distributed under 
     paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection; bears to
       (B) the total of the sums authorized to be appropriated for 
     the Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction 
     programs (other than sums authorized to be appropriated for 
     provisions of law described in paragraphs (1) through (11) of 
     subsection (b) and sums authorized to be appropriated for 
     section 119 of title 23, United States Code, equal to the 
     amount referred to in subsection (b)(12) for such fiscal 
     year), less the aggregate of the amounts not distributed 
     under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection;
       (4) distribute the obligation limitation for Federal-aid 
     highways, less the aggregate amounts not distributed under 
     paragraphs (1) and (2), for each of the programs (other than 
     programs to which paragraph (1) applies) that are allocated 
     by the Secretary under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 
     21st Century Act and title 23, United States Code, or 
     apportioned by the Secretary under sections 202 or 204 of 
     that title, by multiplying--
       (A) the proportion determined under paragraph (3); by
       (B) the amounts authorized to be appropriated for each such 
     program for such fiscal year; and
       (5) distribute the obligation limitation for Federal-aid 
     highways, less the aggregate amounts not distributed under 
     paragraphs (1) and (2) and the amounts distributed under 
     paragraph (4), for Federal-aid highways and highway safety 
     construction programs that are apportioned by the Secretary 
     under title 23, United States Code (other than the amounts 
     apportioned for the National Highway Performance Program in 
     section 119 of title 23, United States Code, that are exempt 
     from the limitation under subsection (b)(12) and the amounts 
     apportioned under sections 202 and 204 of that title) in the 
     proportion that--
       (A) amounts authorized to be appropriated for the programs 
     that are apportioned under title 23, United States Code, to 
     each State for such fiscal year; bears to
       (B) the total of the amounts authorized to be appropriated 
     for the programs that are apportioned under title 23, United 
     States Code, to all States for such fiscal year.
       (b) Exceptions From Obligation Limitation.--The obligation 
     limitation for Federal-aid highways shall not apply to 
     obligations under or for--
       (1) section 125 of title 23, United States Code;
       (2) section 147 of the Surface Transportation Assistance 
     Act of 1978 (23 U.S.C. 144 note; 92 Stat. 2714);
       (3) section 9 of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1981 (95 
     Stat. 1701);
       (4) subsections (b) and (j) of section 131 of the Surface 
     Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (96 Stat. 2119);
       (5) subsections (b) and (c) of section 149 of the Surface 
     Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987 
     (101 Stat. 198);
       (6) sections 1103 through 1108 of the Intermodal Surface 
     Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (105 Stat. 2027);
       (7) section 157 of title 23, United States Code (as in 
     effect on June 8, 1998);
       (8) section 105 of title 23, United States Code (as in 
     effect for fiscal years 1998 through 2004, but only in an 
     amount equal to $639,000,000 for each of those fiscal years);
       (9) Federal-aid highways programs for which obligation 
     authority was made available under the Transportation Equity 
     Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 107) or subsequent Acts 
     for multiple years or to remain available until expended, but 
     only to the extent that the obligation authority has not 
     lapsed or been used;
       (10) section 105 of title 23, United States Code (as in 
     effect for fiscal years 2005 through 2012, but only in an 
     amount equal to $639,000,000 for each of those fiscal years);
       (11) section 1603 of SAFETEA-LU (23 U.S.C. 118 note; 119 
     Stat. 1248), to the extent that funds obligated in accordance 
     with that section were not subject to a limitation on 
     obligations at the time at which the funds were initially 
     made available for obligation; and
       (12) section 119 of title 23, United States Code (but, for 
     each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016, only in an amount 
     equal to $639,000,000).
       (c) Redistribution of Unused Obligation Authority.--
     Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary shall, after 
     August 1 of such fiscal year--
       (1) revise a distribution of the obligation limitation made 
     available under subsection (a) if an amount distributed 
     cannot be obligated during that fiscal year; and
       (2) redistribute sufficient amounts to those States able to 
     obligate amounts in addition to those previously distributed 
     during that fiscal year, giving priority to those States 
     having large unobligated balances of funds apportioned under 
     sections 144 (as in effect on the day before the date of 
     enactment of Public Law 112-141) and 104 of title 23, United 
     States Code.
       (d) Applicability of Obligation Limitations to 
     Transportation Research Programs.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
     obligation limitation for Federal-aid highways shall apply to 
     contract authority for transportation research programs 
     carried out under--
       (A) chapter 5 of title 23, United States Code; and
       (B) division E of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st 
     Century Act.
       (2) Exception.--Obligation authority made available under 
     paragraph (1) shall--
       (A) remain available for a period of 4 fiscal years; and
       (B) be in addition to the amount of any limitation imposed 
     on obligations for Federal-aid highways and highway safety 
     construction programs for future fiscal years.
       (e) Redistribution of Certain Authorized Funds.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
     distribution of obligation limitation under subsection (a), 
     the Secretary shall distribute to the States any funds 
     (excluding funds authorized for the program under section 202 
     of title 23, United States Code) that--
       (A) are authorized to be appropriated for such fiscal year 
     for Federal-aid highways programs; and
       (B) the Secretary determines will not be allocated to the 
     States (or will not be apportioned to the States under 
     section 204 of title 23, United States Code), and will not be 
     available for obligation, for such fiscal year because of the 
     imposition of any obligation limitation for such fiscal year.
       (2) Ratio.--Funds shall be distributed under paragraph (1) 
     in the same proportion as the distribution of obligation 
     authority under subsection (a)(5).
       (3) Availability.--Funds distributed to each State under 
     paragraph (1) shall be available for any purpose described in 
     section 133(b) of title 23, United States Code.
       Sec. 121.  Notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, funds received 
     by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics from the sale of 
     data products, for necessary expenses incurred pursuant to 
     chapter 63 of title 49, United States Code, may be credited 
     to the Federal-aid highways account for the purpose of 
     reimbursing the Bureau for such expenses:  Provided, That 
     such funds shall be subject to the obligation limitation for 
     Federal-aid highways and highway safety construction 
     programs.
       Sec. 122.  Not less than 15 days prior to waiving, under 
     his or her statutory authority, any Buy America requirement 
     for Federal-aid highways projects, the Secretary of 
     Transportation shall make an informal public notice and 
     comment opportunity on the intent to issue such waiver and 
     the reasons therefor:  Provided, That the Secretary shall 
     provide an annual report to the House and Senate Committees 
     on Appropriations on any waivers granted under the Buy 
     America requirements.
       Sec. 123.  None of the funds in this Act to the Department 
     of Transportation may be used to provide credit assistance 
     unless not less than 3 days before any application approval 
     to provide credit assistance under sections 603 and 604 of 
     title 23, United States Code, the Secretary of Transportation 
     provides notification in writing to the following committees: 
     the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations; the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Committee 
     on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and the 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House 
     of Representatives:  Provided, That such notification shall 
     include, but not be limited to, the name of the project 
     sponsor; a description of the project; whether credit 
     assistance will be provided as a direct loan, loan guarantee, 
     or line of credit; and the amount of credit assistance.
       Sec. 124.  From the unobligated balances of funds 
     apportioned among the States prior to October 1, 2012, under 
     sections 104(b) of title 23, United States Code (as in effect 
     on the day before the date of enactment of Public Law 112-
     141), the amount of $22,348,000 shall be made available in 
     fiscal year 2016 for the administrative expenses of the 
     Federal Highway Administration:  Provided, That this 
     provision shall not

[[Page 18332]]

     apply to funds distributed in accordance with section 
     104(b)(5) of title 23, United States Code (as in effect on 
     the day before the date of enactment of Public Law 112-141); 
     section 133(d)(1) of such title (as in effect on the day 
     before the date of enactment of Public Law 109-59); and the 
     first sentence of section 133(d)(3)(A) of such title (as in 
     effect on the day before the date of enactment of Public Law 
     112-141):  Provided further, That such amount shall be 
     derived on a proportional basis from the unobligated balances 
     of apportioned funds to which this provision applies:  
     Provided further, That the amount made available by this 
     provision in fiscal year 2016 for the administrative expenses 
     of the Federal Highway Administration shall be in addition to 
     the amount made available in fiscal year 2016 for such 
     purposes under section 104(a) of title 23, United States 
     Code.
       Sec. 125.  Section 127 of title 23, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(m) Operation of Certain Specialized Hauling Vehicles on 
     Certain Texas Highways.--
       ``(1) In general.--If any segment of United States Route 
     59, United States Route 77, United States Route 281, United 
     States Route 84, or routes otherwise made eligible for 
     designation as Interstate Route 69, is designated as 
     Interstate Route 69, a vehicle that could operate legally on 
     that segment before the date of such designation may continue 
     to operate on that segment, without regard to any requirement 
     under subsection (a).
       ``(2) Description of highway segments.--The highway 
     segments referred to in paragraph (1) are any segment of 
     United States Route 59, United States Route 77, United States 
     Route 281, United States Route 84, and routes otherwise made 
     eligible for designation as Interstate Route 69 in Texas.
       ``(n) Operation of Certain Specialized Vehicles on Certain 
     Highways in the State of Arkansas.--If any segment of United 
     States Route 63 between the exits for Arkansas Highway 14 and 
     Arkansas Highway 75 is designated as part of the Interstate 
     System--
       ``(1) a vehicle that could legally operate on the segment 
     before the date of such designation at the posted speed limit 
     may continue to operate on that segment; and
       ``(2) a vehicle that can only travel slower than the posted 
     speed limit on the segment and could otherwise legally 
     operate on the segment before the date of such designation 
     may continue to operate on that segment during daylight 
     hours.''.
       Sec. 126. (a) A State or territory, as defined in section 
     165 of title 23, United States Code, may use for any project 
     eligible under section 133(b) of title 23 or section 165 of 
     title 23 and located within the boundary of the State or 
     territory any earmarked amount, and any associated obligation 
     limitation, provided that the Department of Transportation 
     for the State or territory for which the earmarked amount was 
     originally designated or directed notifies the Secretary of 
     Transportation of its intent to use its authority under this 
     section and submits a quarterly report to the Secretary 
     identifying the projects to which the funding would be 
     applied. Notwithstanding the original period of availability 
     of funds to be obligated under this section, such funds and 
     associated obligation limitation shall remain available for 
     obligation for a period of 3 fiscal years after the fiscal 
     year in which the Secretary of Transportation is notified. 
     The Federal share of the cost of a project carried out with 
     funds made available under this section shall be the same as 
     associated with the earmark.
       (b) In this section, the term ``earmarked amount'' means--
       (1) congressionally directed spending, as defined in rule 
     XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate, identified in a 
     prior law, report, or joint explanatory statement, which was 
     authorized to be appropriated or appropriated more than 10 
     fiscal years prior to the fiscal year in which this Act 
     becomes effective, and administered by the Federal Highway 
     Administration; or
       (2) a congressional earmark, as defined in rule XXI of the 
     Rules of the House of Representatives identified in a prior 
     law, report, or joint explanatory statement, which was 
     authorized to be appropriated or appropriated more than 10 
     fiscal years prior to the fiscal year in which this Act 
     becomes effective, and administered by the Federal Highway 
     Administration.
       (c) The authority under subsection (a) may be exercised 
     only for those projects or activities that have obligated 
     less than 10 percent of the amount made available for 
     obligation as of the effective date of this Act, and shall be 
     applied to projects within the same general geographic area 
     within 50 miles for which the funding was designated, except 
     that a State or territory may apply such authority to 
     unexpended balances of funds from projects or activities the 
     State or territory certifies have been closed and for which 
     payments have been made under a final voucher.
       (d) The Secretary shall submit consolidated reports of the 
     information provided by the States and territories each 
     quarter to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
       Sec. 127. (a) In General.--Section 31112(c)(5) of title 49, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Nebraska may'' and inserting ``Nebraska 
     and Kansas may''; and
       (2) by striking ``the State of Nebraska'' and inserting 
     ``the relevant state''.
       (b) Conforming and Technical Amendments.--Section 31112(c) 
     of such title is amended--
       (1) by striking the subsection designation and heading and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(c) Special Rules for Wyoming, Ohio, Alaska, Iowa, 
     Nebraska, and Kansas.--'';
       (2) by striking ``; and'' at the end of paragraph (3) and 
     inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and 
     inserting ``; and''.

              Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

              motor carrier safety operations and programs

                (liquidation of contract authorization)

                      (limitation on obligations)

                          (highway trust fund)

       For payment of obligations incurred in the implementation, 
     execution and administration of motor carrier safety 
     operations and programs pursuant to section 31104(i) of title 
     49, United States Code, and sections 4127 and 4134 of Public 
     Law 109-59, as amended by Public Law 112-141, $259,000,000, 
     to be derived from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the 
     Mass Transit Account), together with advances and 
     reimbursements received by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
     Administration, the sum of which shall remain available until 
     expended:  Provided, That funds available for implementation, 
     execution or administration of motor carrier safety 
     operations and programs authorized under title 49, United 
     States Code, shall not exceed total obligations of 
     $259,000,000 for ``Motor Carrier Safety Operations and 
     Programs'' for fiscal year 2016, of which $9,000,000, to 
     remain available for obligation until September 30, 2018, is 
     for the research and technology program, and of which 
     $34,545,000, to remain available for obligation until 
     September 30, 2018, is for information management:  Provided 
     further, That $1,000,000 shall be made available for 
     commercial motor vehicle operator grants to carry out section 
     4134 of Public Law 109-59, as amended by Public Law 112-141.

                      motor carrier safety grants

                (liquidation of contract authorization)

                      (limitation on obligations)

                          (highway trust fund)

       For payment of obligations incurred in carrying out 
     sections 31102, 31104(a), 31106, 31107, 31109, 31309, 31313 
     of title 49, United States Code, and sections 4126 and 4128 
     of Public Law 109-59, as amended by Public Law 112-141, 
     $313,000,000, to be derived from the Highway Trust Fund 
     (other than the Mass Transit Account) and to remain available 
     until expended:  Provided, That funds available for the 
     implementation or execution of motor carrier safety programs 
     shall not exceed total obligations of $313,000,000 in fiscal 
     year 2016 for ``Motor Carrier Safety Grants''; of which 
     $218,000,000 shall be available for the motor carrier safety 
     assistance program, $30,000,000 shall be available for 
     commercial driver's license program improvement grants, 
     $32,000,000 shall be available for border enforcement grants, 
     $5,000,000 shall be available for performance and 
     registration information system management grants, 
     $25,000,000 shall be available for the commercial vehicle 
     information systems and networks deployment program, and 
     $3,000,000 shall be available for safety data improvement 
     grants:  Provided further, That, of the funds made available 
     herein for the motor carrier safety assistance program, 
     $32,000,000 shall be available for audits of new entrant 
     motor carriers.

 administrative provisions--federal motor carrier safety administration

       Sec. 130. (a) Funds appropriated or limited in this Act 
     shall be subject to the terms and conditions stipulated in 
     section 350 of Public Law 107-87 and section 6901 of Public 
     Law 110-28.
       (b) Section 350(d) of the Department of Transportation and 
     Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 2002 (Public Law 107-87) 
     is hereby repealed.
       Sec. 131.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 
     shall send notice of 49 CFR section 385.308 violations by 
     certified mail, registered mail, or another manner of 
     delivery which records the receipt of the notice by the 
     persons responsible for the violations.
       Sec. 132.  None of the funds limited or otherwise made 
     available under this Act, or any other Act, hereafter, shall 
     be used by the Secretary to enforce any regulation 
     prohibiting a State from issuing a commercial learner's 
     permit to individuals under the age of eighteen if the State 
     had a law authorizing the issuance of commercial learner's 
     permits to individuals under eighteen years of age as of May 
     9, 2011.
       Sec. 133.  None of the funds limited or otherwise made 
     available under the heading ``Motor Carrier Safety Operations 
     and Programs'' may be used to deny an application to renew a 
     Hazardous Materials Safety Program permit for a motor carrier 
     based on that carrier's Hazardous Materials Out-of-Service 
     rate, unless the carrier has the opportunity to submit a 
     written description of corrective actions taken, and other 
     documentation the carrier wishes the Secretary to consider, 
     including submitting a corrective action plan, and the 
     Secretary determines the actions or plan is insufficient to 
     address the safety concerns that resulted in that Hazardous 
     Materials Out-of-Service rate.
       Sec. 134.  Funds appropriated or otherwise made available 
     by this Act or any other Act shall be used hereafter to 
     enforce sections 395.3(c) and 395.3(d) of title 49, Code of 
     Federal Regulations, only if the final report issued by the 
     Secretary required by section 133 of division K of Public Law 
     113-235 finds that the July 1, 2013 restart provisions 
     resulted in statistically significant net safety benefits and 
     the Inspector General certifies that the final report meets 
     the statutory requirements of Public Law 113-235.

[[Page 18333]]

       Sec. 135.  Funds made available by this Act or any other 
     Act may be used to develop, issue, or implement any 
     regulation that increases levels of minimum financial 
     responsibility for transporting passengers or property as in 
     effect on January 1, 2014, under regulations issued pursuant 
     to sections 31138 and 31139 of title 49, United States Code, 
     only 60 days after the Secretary provides a report to the 
     House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, the House 
     Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the 
     Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on 
     the impact of raising the minimum financial responsibility 
     for transporting passengers or property. The report shall 
     include an assessment of catastrophic crashes in which 
     damages exceeded the insurance limits, the impact of higher 
     insurance premiums on carriers, and the capacity of the 
     insurance industry to underwrite increases in current minimum 
     financial responsibility limits.
       Sec. 136.  Section 13506(a) of title 49, United States 
     Code, is amended:
       (1) in subsection (14) by striking ``or'';
       (2) in subsection (15) by striking ``.'' and inserting ``; 
     or''; and
       (3) by inserting at the end, ``(16) the transportation of 
     passengers by motor vehicles operated by youth or family 
     camps that provide overnight accommodations and recreational 
     or educational activities at fixed locations.''.
       Sec. 137. (a) Section 31111(b)(1)(A) of title 49, United 
     States Code, is amended by striking ``or of less than 28 feet 
     on a semitrailer or trailer operating in a truck tractor 
     semitrailer-trailer combination,'' and inserting ``or, 
     notwithstanding section 31112, of less than 33 feet on a 
     semitrailer or trailer operating in a truck tractor 
     semitrailer-trailer combination,''.
       (b) Section 31111(f) of title 49, United States Code, the 
     term ``chief executive officer of a State'' shall include 
     ``chief executive officer of a State Department of 
     Transportation''.
       (c) The Secretary of Transportation is directed to conduct 
     a study comparing crash data between 28 foot and 33 foot 
     semitrailers or trailers operating in a truck tractor-
     semitrailer-trailer configuration. The Secretary shall submit 
     its study to the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations no later than three years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act.

             National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

                        operations and research

       For expenses necessary to discharge the functions of the 
     Secretary, with respect to traffic and highway safety 
     authorized under chapter 301 and part C of subtitle VI of 
     title 49, United States Code, $130,500,000, of which 
     $20,000,000 shall remain available through September 30, 
     2017.

                        operations and research

                (liquidation of contract authorization)

                      (limitation on obligations)

                          (highway trust fund)

       For payment of obligations incurred in carrying out the 
     provisions of 23 U.S.C. 403, and chapter 303 of title 49, 
     United States Code, $118,500,000, to be derived from the 
     Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) and 
     to remain available until expended:  Provided, That none of 
     the funds under this heading shall be available for the 
     planning or execution of programs the total obligations for 
     which, in fiscal year 2016, are in excess of $118,500,000, of 
     which $113,500,000 shall be for programs authorized under 23 
     U.S.C. 403 and $5,000,000 shall be for the National Driver 
     Register authorized under chapter 303 of title 49, United 
     States Code:  Provided further, That within the $118,500,000 
     obligation limitation for operations and research, 
     $20,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2017, 
     and shall be in addition to the amount of any limitation 
     imposed on obligations for future years.

            highway traffic safety grants and other purposes

                (liquidation of contract authorization)

                      (limitation on obligations)

                          (highway trust fund)

       For payment of obligations incurred in carrying out 
     provisions of 23 U.S.C. 402, 403, and 405, section 2009 of 
     Public Law 109-59, as amended by Public Law 112-141, section 
     31101(a)(6) of Public Law 112-141, chapter 301 of title 49, 
     United States Code, and part C of subtitle VI of title 49, 
     United States Code, to remain available until expended, 
     $575,500,000, to be derived from the Highway Trust Fund 
     (other than the Mass Transit Account):  Provided, That none 
     of the funds in this Act shall be available for the planning 
     or execution of programs the total obligations for which, in 
     fiscal year 2016, are in excess of $575,500,000 for programs 
     authorized under 23 U.S.C. 402, 403, and 405, section 2009 of 
     Public Law 109-59, as amended by Public Law 112-141, section 
     31101(a)(6) of Public Law 112-141, chapter 301 of title 49, 
     United States Code, and part C of subtitle VI of title 49, 
     United States Code, of which $235,000,000 shall be for 
     ``Highway Safety Programs'' under 23 U.S.C. 402; $272,000,000 
     shall be for ``National Priority Safety Programs'' under 23 
     U.S.C. 405; $29,000,000 shall be for ``High Visibility 
     Enforcement Program'' under section 2009 of Public Law 109-
     59, as amended by Public Law 112-141; $25,500,000 shall be 
     for ``Administrative Expenses'' under section 31101(a)(6) of 
     Public Law 112-141:  Provided further, That none of these 
     funds shall be used for construction, rehabilitation, or 
     remodeling costs, or for office furnishings and fixtures for 
     State, local or private buildings or structures:  Provided 
     further, That not to exceed $500,000 of the funds made 
     available for ``National Priority Safety Programs'' under 23 
     U.S.C. 405 for ``Impaired Driving Countermeasures'' (as 
     described in subsection (d) of that section) shall be 
     available for technical assistance to the States:  Provided 
     further, That with respect to the ``Transfers'' provision 
     under 23 U.S.C. 405(a)(1)(G), any amounts transferred to 
     increase the amounts made available under section 402 shall 
     include the obligation authority for such amounts:  Provided 
     further, That the Administrator shall notify the House and 
     Senate Committees on Appropriations of any exercise of the 
     authority granted under the previous proviso or under 23 
     U.S.C. 405(a)(1)(G) within 5 days:  Provided further, That 
     $10,000,000 of the total obligation limitation made available 
     shall be applied toward unobligated balances of contract 
     authority under the program for which funds were authorized 
     in section 2005 of Public Law 109-59, as amended, and shall 
     be used for programs authorized under 23 U.S.C. 403:  
     Provided further, That $4,000,000 of the total obligation 
     limitation made available shall be applied toward unobligated 
     balances of contract authority under the program for which 
     funds were authorized in section 2005 of Public Law 109-59, 
     as amended, and shall be used to cover the expenses necessary 
     to discharge the functions of the Secretary, with respect to 
     traffic and highway safety under chapter 301 of title 49, 
     United States Code, and part C of subtitle VI of title 49, 
     United States Code:  Provided further, That the additional 
     $14,000,000 made available for obligation from unobligated 
     balances of contract authority under section 2005 of Public 
     Law 109-59, as amended, shall be available in the same manner 
     as though such funds were apportioned under chapter 1 of 
     title 23, United States Code, except that the Federal share 
     payable on account of any program, project, or activity 
     carried out with such funds made available under this heading 
     shall be 100 percent and such funds shall remain available 
     for obligation until expended.

      administrative provisions--national highway traffic safety 
                             administration

       Sec. 140.  An additional $130,000 shall be made available 
     to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, out of 
     the amount limited for section 402 of title 23, United States 
     Code, to pay for travel and related expenses for State 
     management reviews and to pay for core competency development 
     training and related expenses for highway safety staff.
       Sec. 141.  The limitations on obligations for the programs 
     of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration set in 
     this Act shall not apply to obligations for which obligation 
     authority was made available in previous public laws but only 
     to the extent that the obligation authority has not lapsed or 
     been used.
       Sec. 142.  None of the funds in this Act shall be used to 
     implement section 404 of title 23, United States Code.

                    Federal Railroad Administration

                         safety and operations

       For necessary expenses of the Federal Railroad 
     Administration, not otherwise provided for, $199,000,000, of 
     which $15,900,000 shall remain available until expended.

                   railroad research and development

       For necessary expenses for railroad research and 
     development, $39,100,000, to remain available until expended.

       railroad rehabilitation and improvement financing program

       The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to issue 
     direct loans and loan guarantees pursuant to sections 501 
     through 504 of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory 
     Reform Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-210), as amended, such 
     authority to exist as long as any such direct loan or loan 
     guarantee is outstanding:  Provided, That pursuant to section 
     502 of such Act, as amended, no new direct loans or loan 
     guarantee commitments shall be made using Federal funds for 
     the credit risk premium during fiscal year 2016.

                         railroad safety grants

       For necessary expenses related to railroad safety grants, 
     $50,000,000, of which not to exceed $25,000,000 shall be 
     available to carry out 49 U.S.C. 20167; not to exceed 
     $15,000,000 shall be made available to carry out 49 U.S.C. 
     20158; and not to exceed $10,000,000 shall be made available 
     for projects as defined in section 22501 of title 49, United 
     States Code, to remain available until expended.

    operating grants to the national railroad passenger corporation

       To enable the Secretary of Transportation to make quarterly 
     grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, in 
     amounts based on the Secretary's assessment of the 
     Corporation's seasonal cash flow requirements, for the 
     operation of intercity passenger rail, as authorized by 
     section 101 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement 
     Act of 2008 (division B of Public Law 110-432), $288,500,000, 
     to remain available until expended:  Provided, That the 
     amounts available under this paragraph shall be available for 
     the Secretary to approve funding to cover operating losses 
     for the Corporation only after receiving and reviewing a 
     grant request for each specific train route:  Provided 
     further, That each such grant request shall be accompanied by 
     a detailed financial analysis, revenue projection, and 
     capital expenditure projection justifying the Federal support 
     to the Secretary's satisfaction:  Provided further, That not 
     later than 60 days after enactment of this Act, the 
     Corporation shall transmit, in electronic format, to

[[Page 18334]]

     the Secretary and the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations the annual budget, business plan, the 5-Year 
     Financial Plan for fiscal year 2016 required under section 
     204 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 
     2008 and the comprehensive fleet plan for all Amtrak rolling 
     stock:  Provided further, That the budget, business plan and 
     the 5-Year Financial Plan shall include annual information on 
     the maintenance, refurbishment, replacement, and expansion 
     for all Amtrak rolling stock consistent with the 
     comprehensive fleet plan:  Provided further, That the 
     Corporation shall provide monthly performance reports in an 
     electronic format which shall describe the work completed to 
     date, any changes to the business plan, and the reasons for 
     such changes as well as progress against the milestones and 
     target dates of the 2012 performance improvement plan:  
     Provided further, That the Corporation's budget, business 
     plan, 5-Year Financial Plan, semiannual reports, monthly 
     reports, comprehensive fleet plan and all supplemental 
     reports or plans comply with requirements in Public Law 112-
     55:  Provided further, That none of the funds provided in 
     this Act may be used to support any route on which Amtrak 
     offers a discounted fare of more than 50 percent off the 
     normal peak fare:  Provided further, That the preceding 
     proviso does not apply to routes where the operating loss as 
     a result of the discount is covered by a State and the State 
     participates in the setting of fares.

  capital and debt service grants to the national railroad passenger 
                              corporation

       To enable the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to 
     the National Railroad Passenger Corporation for capital 
     investments as authorized by sections 101(c), 102, and 219(b) 
     of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 
     (division B of Public Law 110-432), $1,101,500,000, to remain 
     available until expended, of which not to exceed $160,200,000 
     shall be for debt service obligations as authorized by 
     section 102 of such Act:  Provided, That of the amounts made 
     available under this heading, not less than $50,000,000 shall 
     be made available to bring Amtrak-served facilities and 
     stations into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities 
     Act:  Provided further, That after an initial distribution of 
     up to $200,000,000, which shall be used by the Corporation as 
     a working capital account, all remaining funds shall be 
     provided to the Corporation only on a reimbursable basis:  
     Provided further, That of the amounts made available under 
     this heading, up to $50,000,000 may be used by the Secretary 
     to subsidize operating losses of the Corporation should the 
     funds provided under the heading ``Operating Grants to the 
     National Railroad Passenger Corporation'' be insufficient to 
     meet operational costs for fiscal year 2016:  Provided 
     further, That the Secretary may retain up to one-half of 1 
     percent of the funds provided under this heading to fund the 
     costs of project management and oversight of activities 
     authorized by subsections 101(a) and 101(c) of division B of 
     Public Law 110-432, of which up to $500,000 may be available 
     for technical assistance for States, the District of 
     Columbia, and other public entities responsible for the 
     implementation of section 209 of division B of Public Law 
     110-432:  Provided further, That the Secretary shall approve 
     funding for capital expenditures, including advance purchase 
     orders of materials, for the Corporation only after receiving 
     and reviewing a grant request for each specific capital 
     project justifying the Federal support to the Secretary's 
     satisfaction:  Provided further, That except as otherwise 
     provided herein, none of the funds under this heading may be 
     used to subsidize operating losses of the Corporation:  
     Provided further, That none of the funds under this heading 
     may be used for capital projects not approved by the 
     Secretary of Transportation or on the Corporation's fiscal 
     year 2015 business plan:  Provided further, That in addition 
     to the project management oversight funds authorized under 
     section 101(d) of division B of Public Law 110-432, the 
     Secretary may retain up to an additional $5,000,000 of the 
     funds provided under this heading to fund expenses associated 
     with implementing section 212 of division B of Public Law 
     110-432, including the amendments made by section 212 to 
     section 24905 of title 49, United States Code.

       administrative provisions--federal railroad administration

       Sec. 150.  The Secretary of Transportation may receive and 
     expend cash, or receive and utilize spare parts and similar 
     items, from non-United States Government sources to repair 
     damages to or replace United States Government owned 
     automated track inspection cars and equipment as a result of 
     third-party liability for such damages, and any amounts 
     collected under this section shall be credited directly to 
     the Safety and Operations account of the Federal Railroad 
     Administration, and shall remain available until expended for 
     the repair, operation and maintenance of automated track 
     inspection cars and equipment in connection with the 
     automated track inspection program.
       Sec. 151.  None of the funds provided to the National 
     Railroad Passenger Corporation may be used to fund any 
     overtime costs in excess of $35,000 for any individual 
     employee:  Provided, That the President of Amtrak may waive 
     the cap set in the previous proviso for specific employees 
     when the President of Amtrak determines such a cap poses a 
     risk to the safety and operational efficiency of the system:  
     Provided further, That the President of Amtrak shall report 
     to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations each 
     quarter of the calendar year on waivers granted to employees 
     and amounts paid above the cap for each month within such 
     quarter and delineate the reasons each waiver was granted:  
     Provided further, That the President of Amtrak shall report 
     to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations by March 
     1, 2016, a summary of all overtime payments incurred by the 
     Corporation for 2015 and the three prior calendar years:  
     Provided further, That such summary shall include the total 
     number of employees that received waivers and the total 
     overtime payments the Corporation paid to those employees 
     receiving waivers for each month for 2015 and for the three 
     prior calendar years.
       Sec. 152.  Of the unobligated balances of funds available 
     to the Federal Railroad Administration, the following funds 
     are hereby rescinded: $4,201,385 of the unobligated balances 
     of funds made available from the following accounts in the 
     specified amounts--``Rail Line Relocation and Improvement 
     Program'', $2,241,385; and ``Railroad Research and 
     Development'', $1,960,000:  Provided, That such amounts are 
     made available to enable the Secretary of Transportation to 
     assist Class II and Class III railroads with eligible 
     projects pursuant to sections 501 through 504 of the Railroad 
     Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (Public Law 
     94-210), as amended:  Provided further, That such funds shall 
     be available for applicant expenses in preparing to apply and 
     applying for direct loans and loan guarantees as well as the 
     credit risk premiums notwithstanding any other restriction 
     against the use of Federal funds for such credit risk 
     premiums:  Provided further, That these funds shall remain 
     available until expended.
       Sec. 153.  Of the unobligated balances of funds available 
     to the Federal Railroad Administration, the following funds 
     are hereby rescinded: $5,000,000 of the unobligated balances 
     of funds made available to fund expenses associated with 
     implementing section 212 of division B of Public Law 110-432 
     in the Capital and Debt Service Grants to the National 
     Railroad Passenger Corporation account of the Consolidated 
     and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 and 
     $11,922,000 of the unobligated balances of funds made 
     available from the following accounts in the specified 
     amounts--``Grants to the National Railroad Passenger 
     Corporation'', $267,019; ``Next Generation High-Speed Rail'', 
     $4,944,504; and ``Safety and Operations'', $6,710,477:  
     Provided, That such amounts are made available to enable the 
     Secretary of Transportation to make grants to the National 
     Railroad Passenger Corporation as authorized by section 
     101(c) of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act 
     of 2008 (division B of Public Law 110-432) for state-of-good-
     repair backlog and infrastructure improvements on Northeast 
     Corridor shared-use infrastructure identified in the 
     Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Operations Advisory 
     Commission's approved 5-year capital plan:  Provided further, 
     That these funds shall remain available until expended and 
     shall be available for grants in an amount not to exceed 50 
     percent of the total project cost, with the required matching 
     funds to be provided consistent with the Commission's cost 
     allocation policy.

                     Federal Transit Administration

                        administrative expenses

       For necessary administrative expenses of the Federal 
     Transit Administration's programs authorized by chapter 53 of 
     title 49, United States Code, $107,000,000, of which not less 
     than $5,000,000 shall be available to carry out the 
     provisions of 49 U.S.C. 5329 and not less than $1,000,000 
     shall be available to carry out the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 
     5326:  Provided, That none of the funds provided or limited 
     in this Act may be used to create a permanent office of 
     transit security under this heading:  Provided further, That 
     upon submission to the Congress of the fiscal year 2017 
     President's budget, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
     transmit to Congress the annual report on New Starts, 
     including proposed allocations for fiscal year 2017.

                         transit formula grants

                (liquidation of contract authorization)

                      (limitation on obligations)

                          (highway trust fund)

       For payment of obligations incurred in the Federal Public 
     Transportation Assistance Program in this account, and for 
     payment of obligations incurred in carrying out the 
     provisions of 49 U.S.C. 5305, 5307, 5310, 5311, 5318, 
     5322(d), 5329(e)(6), 5335, 5337, 5339, and 5340, as amended 
     by Public Law 112-141, and section 20005(b) of Public Law 
     112-141, $9,500,000,000, to be derived from the Mass Transit 
     Account of the Highway Trust Fund and to remain available 
     until expended:  Provided, That funds available for the 
     implementation or execution of programs authorized under 49 
     U.S.C. 5305, 5307, 5310, 5311, 5318, 5322(d), 5329(e)(6), 
     5335, 5337, 5339, and 5340, as amended by Public Law 112-141, 
     and section 20005(b) of Public Law 112-141, shall not exceed 
     total obligations of $8,595,000,000 in fiscal year 2016.

                            transit research

       For necessary expenses to carry out 49 U.S.C. 5312 and 
     5313, $32,500,000, to remain available until expended:  
     Provided, That $30,000,000 shall be for activities authorized 
     under 49 U.S.C. 5312 and $2,500,000 shall be for activities 
     authorized under 49 U.S.C. 5313.

                   technical assistance and training

       For necessary expenses to carry out 49 U.S.C. 5314 and 
     5322(a), (b) and (e), $3,153,000, to remain available until 
     expended:  Provided, That $2,653,000 shall be for activities 
     authorized under 49 U.S.C. 5314 and $500,000 shall be for 
     activities authorized under 49 U.S.C. 5322(a), (b) and (e).

[[Page 18335]]



                       capital investment grants

       For necessary expenses to carry out 49 U.S.C. 5309, 
     $1,585,000,000, to remain available until expended:  
     Provided, That when distributing funds among Recommended New 
     Starts Projects, the Administrator shall first fully fund 
     those projects covered by a full funding grant agreement, 
     then fully fund those projects whose section 5309 share is 
     less than 40 percent, and then distribute the remaining funds 
     so as to protect as much as possible the projects' budgets 
     and schedules.

      grants to the washington metropolitan area transit authority

       For grants to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit 
     Authority as authorized under section 601 of division B of 
     Public Law 110-432, $150,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended:  Provided, That the Secretary of Transportation 
     shall approve grants for capital and preventive maintenance 
     expenditures for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit 
     Authority only after receiving and reviewing a request for 
     each specific project:  Provided further, That prior to 
     approving such grants, the Secretary shall certify that the 
     Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is making 
     progress to improve its safety management system in response 
     to the Federal Transit Administration's 2015 safety 
     management inspection:  Provided further, That prior to 
     approving such grants, the Secretary shall certify that the 
     Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is making 
     progress toward full implementation of the corrective actions 
     identified in the 2014 Financial Management Oversight Review 
     Report:  Provided further, That the Secretary shall determine 
     that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has 
     placed the highest priority on those investments that will 
     improve the safety of the system before approving such 
     grants:  Provided further, That the Secretary, in order to 
     ensure safety throughout the rail system, may waive the 
     requirements of section 601(e)(1) of title VI of Public Law 
     110-432 (112 Stat. 4968).

       administrative provisions--federal transit administration

                         (including rescission)

       Sec. 160.  The limitations on obligations for the programs 
     of the Federal Transit Administration shall not apply to any 
     authority under 49 U.S.C. 5338, previously made available for 
     obligation, or to any other authority previously made 
     available for obligation.
       Sec. 161.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     funds appropriated or limited by this Act under the heading 
     ``Fixed Guideway Capital Investment'' of the Federal Transit 
     Administration for projects specified in this Act or 
     identified in reports accompanying this Act not obligated by 
     September 30, 2020, and other recoveries, shall be directed 
     to projects eligible to use the funds for the purposes for 
     which they were originally provided.
       Sec. 162.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any 
     funds appropriated before October 1, 2015, under any section 
     of chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, that remain 
     available for expenditure, may be transferred to and 
     administered under the most recent appropriation heading for 
     any such section.
       Sec. 163.  The Secretary may not enforce regulations 
     related to charter bus service under part 604 of title 49, 
     Code of Federal Regulations, for any transit agency that 
     during fiscal year 2008 was both initially granted a 60-day 
     period to come into compliance with part 604, and then was 
     subsequently granted an exception from said part.
       Sec. 164.  Notwithstanding the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 
     5334 and 2 CFR 200.313, conditions imposed as a result of any 
     and all Federal public transportation assistance related to 
     and for the use, encumbrance, transfer or disposition of 
     property originally built as a prototype having icebreaking 
     capabilities will be fully and completely satisfied by the 
     property's use--
       (1) in the areas of Arctic research;
       (2) to map the Arctic;
       (3) to collect and analyze data in the Arctic;
       (4) to support activities that further Arctic exploration, 
     research, or development; or
       (5) for educational purposes or humanitarian relief 
     efforts.
       Sec. 165.  Projects selected for the pilot program for 
     expedited project delivery under section 20008(b) of MAP-21 
     shall be exempt from the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5309(d), 
     (e), (g), and (h). Notwithstanding this exemption, in 
     determining whether a recipient has the financial capacity to 
     carry out the eligible project, the Secretary of 
     Transportation shall apply the requirements and 
     considerations of 49 U.S.C. 5309(f).
       Sec. 166.  Of the unobligated amounts made available for 
     fiscal year 2011 or prior fiscal years to carry out the 
     discretionary bus and bus facilities program under 49 U.S.C. 
     5309, $10,000,000 is hereby rescinded.

             Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation

       The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation is hereby 
     authorized to make such expenditures, within the limits of 
     funds and borrowing authority available to the Corporation, 
     and in accordance with law, and to make such contracts and 
     commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as 
     provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation Control 
     Act, as amended, as may be necessary in carrying out the 
     programs set forth in the Corporation's budget for fiscal 
     year 2016.

                       operations and maintenance

                    (harbor maintenance trust fund)

       For necessary expenses to conduct the operations, 
     maintenance, and capital asset renewal activities of those 
     portions of the St. Lawrence Seaway owned, operated, and 
     maintained by the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development 
     Corporation, $28,400,000, to be derived from the Harbor 
     Maintenance Trust Fund, pursuant to Public Law 99-662.

                        Maritime Administration

                       maritime security program

       For necessary expenses to maintain and preserve a U.S.-flag 
     merchant fleet to serve the national security needs of the 
     United States, $186,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended.

                        operations and training

       For necessary expenses of operations and training 
     activities authorized by law, $170,000,000, of which 
     $22,000,000 shall remain available until expended for 
     maintenance and repair of training ships at State Maritime 
     Academies, and of which $5,000,000 shall remain available 
     until expended for National Security Multi-Mission Vessel 
     design for State Maritime Academies and National Security, 
     and of which $2,400,000 shall remain available through 
     September 30, 2017, for the Student Incentive Program at 
     State Maritime Academies, and of which $1,000,000 shall 
     remain available until expended for training ship fuel 
     assistance payments, and of which $18,000,000 shall remain 
     available until expended for facilities maintenance and 
     repair, equipment, and capital improvements at the United 
     States Merchant Marine Academy, and of which $2,000,000 shall 
     remain available through September 30, 2017, for Maritime 
     Environment and Technology Assistance grants, contracts, and 
     cooperative agreements, and of which $5,000,000 shall remain 
     available until expended for the Short Sea Transportation 
     Program (America's Marine Highways) to make grants for the 
     purposes provided in title 46 section 55601(b)(1) and 
     55601(b)(3):  Provided, That 50 percent of the funding made 
     available for the United States Merchant Marine Academy under 
     this heading shall be available only after the Secretary of 
     Transportation, in consultation with the Superintendent and 
     the Maritime Administrator, completes a plan detailing by 
     program or activity how such funding will be expended at the 
     Academy, and this plan is submitted to the House and Senate 
     Committees on Appropriations:  Provided further, That not 
     later than January 12, 2016, the Administrator of the 
     Maritime Administration shall transmit to the House and 
     Senate Committees on Appropriations the annual report on 
     sexual assault and sexual harassment at the United States 
     Merchant Marine Academy as required pursuant to section 3507 
     of Public Law 110-417.

                     assistance to small shipyards

       To make grants to qualified shipyards as authorized under 
     section 54101 of title 46, United States Code, as amended by 
     Public Law 113-281, $5,000,000 to remain available until 
     expended:  Provided, That the Secretary shall issue the 
     Notice of Funding Availability no later than 15 days after 
     enactment of this Act:  Provided further, That from 
     applications submitted under the previous proviso, the 
     Secretary of Transportation shall make grants no later than 
     120 days after enactment of this Act in such amounts as the 
     Secretary determines:  Provided further, That not to exceed 2 
     percent of the funds appropriated under this heading shall be 
     available for necessary costs of grant administration.

                             ship disposal

       For necessary expenses related to the disposal of obsolete 
     vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet of the Maritime 
     Administration, $4,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended.

          maritime guaranteed loan (title xi) program account

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For the cost of guaranteed loans, as authorized, 
     $8,135,000, of which $5,000,000 shall remain available until 
     expended:  Provided, That such costs, including the cost of 
     modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of 
     the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended:  Provided 
     further, That not to exceed $3,135,000 shall be available for 
     administrative expenses to carry out the guaranteed loan 
     program, which shall be transferred to and merged with the 
     appropriations for ``Operations and Training'', Maritime 
     Administration.

           administrative provisions--maritime administration

       Sec. 170.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 
     the Maritime Administration is authorized to furnish 
     utilities and services and make necessary repairs in 
     connection with any lease, contract, or occupancy involving 
     Government property under control of the Maritime 
     Administration:  Provided, That payments received therefor 
     shall be credited to the appropriation charged with the cost 
     thereof and shall remain available until expended:  Provided 
     further, That rental payments under any such lease, contract, 
     or occupancy for items other than such utilities, services, 
     or repairs shall be covered into the Treasury as 
     miscellaneous receipts.

         Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

                          operational expenses

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For necessary operational expenses of the Pipeline and 
     Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, $22,500,000:  
     Provided, That $1,500,000 shall be transferred to ``Pipeline 
     Safety'' in order to fund ``Pipeline Safety Information 
     Grants to Communities'' as authorized

[[Page 18336]]

     under section 60130 of title 49, United States Code:  
     Provided further, That no later than 90 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation 
     shall initiate a rulemaking to expand the applicability of 
     comprehensive oil spill response plans, and shall issue a 
     final rule no later than one year after the date of enactment 
     of this Act.

                       hazardous materials safety

       For expenses necessary to discharge the hazardous materials 
     safety functions of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
     Safety Administration, $49,000,000, of which $2,300,000 shall 
     remain available until September 30, 2018:  Provided, That up 
     to $800,000 in fees collected under 49 U.S.C. 5108(g) shall 
     be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury as 
     offsetting receipts:  Provided further, That there may be 
     credited to this appropriation, to be available until 
     expended, funds received from States, counties, 
     municipalities, other public authorities, and private sources 
     for expenses incurred for training, for reports publication 
     and dissemination, and for travel expenses incurred in 
     performance of hazardous materials exemptions and approvals 
     functions.

                            pipeline safety

                         (pipeline safety fund)

                    (oil spill liability trust fund)

       For expenses necessary to conduct the functions of the 
     pipeline safety program, for grants-in-aid to carry out a 
     pipeline safety program, as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 60107, 
     and to discharge the pipeline program responsibilities of the 
     Oil Pollution Act of 1990, $146,623,000, of which $19,500,000 
     shall be derived from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and 
     shall remain available until September 30, 2018; and of which 
     $127,123,000 shall be derived from the Pipeline Safety Fund, 
     of which $66,309,000 shall remain available until September 
     30, 2018:  Provided, That not less than $1,058,000 of the 
     funds provided under this heading shall be for the One-Call 
     state grant program.

                     emergency preparedness grants

                     (emergency preparedness fund)

       For necessary expenses to carryout 49 U.S.C. 5128(b), 
     $188,000, to be derived from the Emergency Preparedness Fund, 
     to remain available until September 30, 2017:  Provided, That 
     notwithstanding the fiscal year limitation specified in 49 
     U.S.C. 5116, not more than $28,318,000 shall be made 
     available for obligation in fiscal year 2016 from amounts 
     made available by 49 U.S.C. 5116(i), and 5128(b) and (c):  
     Provided further, That notwithstanding 49 U.S.C. 5116(i)(4), 
     not more than 4 percent of the amounts made available from 
     this account shall be available to pay administrative costs:  
     Provided further, That none of the funds made available by 49 
     U.S.C. 5116(i), 5128(b), or 5128(c) shall be made available 
     for obligation by individuals other than the Secretary of 
     Transportation, or his or her designee:  Provided further, 
     That notwithstanding 49 U.S.C. 5128(b) and (c) and the 
     current year obligation limitation, prior year recoveries 
     recognized in the current year shall be available to develop 
     a hazardous materials response training curriculum for 
     emergency responders, including response activities for the 
     transportation of crude oil, ethanol and other flammable 
     liquids by rail, consistent with National Fire Protection 
     Association standards, and to make such training available 
     through an electronic format:  Provided further, That the 
     prior year recoveries made available under this heading shall 
     also be available to carry out 49 U.S.C. 5116(b) and (j).

  administrative provisions--pipeline and hazardous materials safety 
                             administration

       Sec. 180.  The Secretary of Transportation is directed to 
     evaluate and report to the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations within 60 days of enactment of this Act an 
     alternative risk-based compliance regime for the siting of 
     small-scale liquefaction facilities that generate and package 
     liquefied natural gas for use as a fuel or delivery to 
     consumers by non-pipeline modes of transportation. In 
     evaluating such alternative risk-based compliance regime, the 
     Secretary should consider the value of adopting quantitative 
     risk assessment methods, the benefit of incorporating modern 
     industry standards and best practices, including the 
     provisions in the 2013 edition of the National Fire 
     Protection Association Standard 59A, and the need to 
     encourage the use of the best available technology.

                      Office of Inspector General

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Office of the Inspector 
     General to carry out the provisions of the Inspector General 
     Act of 1978, as amended, $87,472,000:  Provided, That the 
     Inspector General shall have all necessary authority, in 
     carrying out the duties specified in the Inspector General 
     Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 3), to investigate allegations 
     of fraud, including false statements to the government (18 
     U.S.C. 1001), by any person or entity that is subject to 
     regulation by the Department of Transportation:  Provided 
     further, That the funds made available under this heading may 
     be used to investigate, pursuant to section 41712 of title 
     49, United States Code: (1) unfair or deceptive practices and 
     unfair methods of competition by domestic and foreign air 
     carriers and ticket agents; and (2) the compliance of 
     domestic and foreign air carriers with respect to item (1) of 
     this proviso.

                      Surface Transportation Board

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Surface Transportation Board, 
     including services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, $32,375,000:  
     Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     not to exceed $1,250,000 from fees established by the 
     Chairman of the Surface Transportation Board shall be 
     credited to this appropriation as offsetting collections and 
     used for necessary and authorized expenses under this 
     heading:  Provided further, That the sum herein appropriated 
     from the general fund shall be reduced on a dollar-for-dollar 
     basis as such offsetting collections are received during 
     fiscal year 2016, to result in a final appropriation from the 
     general fund estimated at no more than $31,125,000.

            General Provisions--Department of Transportation

       Sec. 190.  During the current fiscal year, applicable 
     appropriations to the Department of Transportation shall be 
     available for maintenance and operation of aircraft; hire of 
     passenger motor vehicles and aircraft; purchase of liability 
     insurance for motor vehicles operating in foreign countries 
     on official department business; and uniforms or allowances 
     therefor, as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901-5902).
       Sec. 191.  Appropriations contained in this Act for the 
     Department of Transportation shall be available for services 
     as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, but at rates for individuals 
     not to exceed the per diem rate equivalent to the rate for an 
     Executive Level IV.
       Sec. 192.  None of the funds in this Act shall be available 
     for salaries and expenses of more than 110 political and 
     Presidential appointees in the Department of Transportation:  
     Provided, That none of the personnel covered by this 
     provision may be assigned on temporary detail outside the 
     Department of Transportation.
       Sec. 193. (a) No recipient of funds made available in this 
     Act shall disseminate personal information (as defined in 18 
     U.S.C. 2725(3)) obtained by a State department of motor 
     vehicles in connection with a motor vehicle record as defined 
     in 18 U.S.C. 2725(1), except as provided in 18 U.S.C. 2721 
     for a use permitted under 18 U.S.C. 2721.
       (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary of 
     Transportation shall not withhold funds provided in this Act 
     for any grantee if a State is in noncompliance with this 
     provision.
       Sec. 194.  Funds received by the Federal Highway 
     Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and Federal 
     Railroad Administration from States, counties, 
     municipalities, other public authorities, and private sources 
     for expenses incurred for training may be credited 
     respectively to the Federal Highway Administration's 
     ``Federal-Aid Highways'' account, the Federal Transit 
     Administration's ``Technical Assistance and Training'' 
     account, and to the Federal Railroad Administration's 
     ``Safety and Operations'' account, except for State rail 
     safety inspectors participating in training pursuant to 49 
     U.S.C. 20105.
       Sec. 195.  None of the funds in this Act to the Department 
     of Transportation may be used to make a loan, loan guarantee, 
     line of credit, or grant unless the Secretary of 
     Transportation notifies the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations not less than 3 full business days before any 
     project competitively selected to receive a discretionary 
     grant award, any discretionary grant award, letter of intent, 
     loan commitment, loan guarantee commitment, line of credit 
     commitment, or full funding grant agreement is announced by 
     the department or its modal administrations from:
       (1) any discretionary grant or federal credit program of 
     the Federal Highway Administration including the emergency 
     relief program;
       (2) the airport improvement program of the Federal Aviation 
     Administration;
       (3) any program of the Federal Railroad Administration;
       (4) any program of the Federal Transit Administration other 
     than the formula grants and fixed guideway modernization 
     programs;
       (5) any program of the Maritime Administration; or
       (6) any funding provided under the headings ``National 
     Infrastructure Investments'' in this Act:
       Provided, That the Secretary of Transportation gives 
     concurrent notification to the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations for any ``quick release'' of funds from the 
     emergency relief program:  Provided further, That no 
     notification shall involve funds that are not available for 
     obligation.
       Sec. 196.  Rebates, refunds, incentive payments, minor fees 
     and other funds received by the Department of Transportation 
     from travel management centers, charge card programs, the 
     subleasing of building space, and miscellaneous sources are 
     to be credited to appropriations of the Department of 
     Transportation and allocated to elements of the Department of 
     Transportation using fair and equitable criteria and such 
     funds shall be available until expended.
       Sec. 197.  Amounts made available in this or any other Act 
     that the Secretary of Transportation determines represent 
     improper payments by the Department of Transportation to a 
     third-party contractor under a financial assistance award, 
     which are recovered pursuant to law, shall be available--
       (1) to reimburse the actual expenses incurred by the 
     Department of Transportation in recovering improper payments; 
     and
       (2) to pay contractors for services provided in recovering 
     improper payments or contractor support in the implementation 
     of the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002:  Provided, 
     That amounts in excess of that required for paragraphs (1) 
     and (2)--
       (A) shall be credited to and merged with the appropriation 
     from which the improper payments were made, and shall be 
     available for the

[[Page 18337]]

     purposes and period for which such appropriations are 
     available:  Provided further, That where specific project or 
     accounting information associated with the improper payment 
     or payments is not readily available, the Secretary may 
     credit an appropriate account, which shall be available for 
     the purposes and period associated with the account so 
     credited; or
       (B) if no such appropriation remains available, shall be 
     deposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts:  
     Provided further, That prior to the transfer of any such 
     recovery to an appropriations account, the Secretary shall 
     notify the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations of 
     the amount and reasons for such transfer:  Provided further, 
     That for purposes of this section, the term ``improper 
     payments'' has the same meaning as that provided in section 
     2(d)(2) of Public Law 107-300.
       Sec. 198.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if 
     any funds provided in or limited by this Act are subject to a 
     reprogramming action that requires notice to be provided to 
     the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, 
     transmission of said reprogramming notice shall be provided 
     solely to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, 
     and said reprogramming action shall be approved or denied 
     solely by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations:  
     Provided, That the Secretary of Transportation may provide 
     notice to other congressional committees of the action of the 
     House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on such 
     reprogramming but not sooner than 30 days following the date 
     on which the reprogramming action has been approved or denied 
     by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
       Sec. 199.  None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made 
     available under this Act may be used by the Surface 
     Transportation Board of the Department of Transportation to 
     charge or collect any filing fee for rate or practice 
     complaints filed with the Board in an amount in excess of the 
     amount authorized for district court civil suit filing fees 
     under section 1914 of title 28, United States Code.
       Sec. 199A.  Funds appropriated in this Act to the modal 
     administrations may be obligated for the Office of the 
     Secretary for the costs related to assessments or 
     reimbursable agreements only when such amounts are for the 
     costs of goods and services that are purchased to provide a 
     direct benefit to the applicable modal administration or 
     administrations.
       Sec. 199B.  The Secretary of Transportation is authorized 
     to carry out a program that establishes uniform standards for 
     developing and supporting agency transit pass and transit 
     benefits authorized under section 7905 of title 5, United 
     States Code, including distribution of transit benefits by 
     various paper and electronic media.
       Sec. 199C.  The Department of Transportation may use funds 
     provided by this Act, or any other Act, to implement a pilot 
     program under title 49 U.S.C. or title 23 U.S.C. for 
     geographic, economic, or any other hiring preference not 
     otherwise authorized by law, or to amend a rule, regulation, 
     policy or other measure that forbids a recipient of a Federal 
     Highway Administration or Federal Transit Administration 
     grant from imposing such hiring preference on a construction 
     project with which the Department of Transportation is 
     assisting, only if the grant recipient certifies the 
     following:
       (1) that except with respect to apprentices or trainees, a 
     pool of readily available but unemployed individuals 
     possessing the knowledge, skill, and ability to perform the 
     work that the project requires resides in the jurisdiction;
       (2) that the grant recipient will include appropriate 
     provisions in its bid document ensuring that the contractor 
     does not displace any of its existing employees in order to 
     satisfy such hiring preference; and
       (3) that any increase in the cost of labor, training, or 
     delays resulting from the use of such hiring preference does 
     not delay or displace any transportation project in the 
     applicable Statewide Transportation Improvement Program or 
     Transportation Improvement Program.
       This title may be cited as the ``Department of 
     Transportation Appropriations Act, 2016''.

                                TITLE II

              DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

                     Management and Administration

                           executive offices

       For necessary salaries and expenses for Executive Offices, 
     which shall be comprised of the offices of the Secretary, 
     Deputy Secretary, Adjudicatory Services, Congressional and 
     Intergovernmental Relations, Public Affairs, Small and 
     Disadvantaged Business Utilization, and the Center for Faith-
     Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, $14,500,000:  Provided, 
     That not to exceed $25,000 of the amount made available under 
     this heading shall be available to the Secretary for official 
     reception and representation expenses as the Secretary may 
     determine.

                     administrative support offices

       For necessary salaries and expenses for Administrative 
     Support Offices, $568,244,000, of which not to exceed 
     $44,657,000 shall be available for the Office of the Chief 
     Financial Officer; not to exceed $96,000,000 shall be 
     available for the Office of the General Counsel; not to 
     exceed $208,604,000 shall be available for the Office of 
     Administration; not to exceed $61,475,000 shall be available 
     for the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer; not to 
     exceed $50,000,000 shall be available for the Office of Field 
     Policy and Management; not to exceed $17,036,000 shall be 
     available for the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer; 
     not to exceed $3,270,000 shall be available for the Office of 
     Departmental Equal Employment Opportunity; not to exceed 
     $4,400,000 shall be available for the Office of Strategic 
     Planning and Management; and not to exceed $82,802,000 shall 
     be available for the Office of the Chief Information Officer: 
      Provided, That funds provided under this heading may be used 
     for necessary administrative and non-administrative expenses 
     of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, not 
     otherwise provided for, including purchase of uniforms, or 
     allowances therefor, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5901-5902; 
     hire of passenger motor vehicles; and services as authorized 
     by 5 U.S.C. 3109:  Provided further, That notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, funds appropriated under this heading 
     may be used for advertising and promotional activities that 
     support the housing mission area:  Provided further, That the 
     Secretary shall provide the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations quarterly written notification regarding the 
     status of pending congressional reports:  Provided further, 
     That the Secretary shall provide in electronic form all 
     signed reports required by Congress.

                  Program Office Salaries and Expenses

                       public and indian housing

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Public 
     and Indian Housing, $207,000,000.

                   community planning and development

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of 
     Community Planning and Development, $107,000,000.

                                housing

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of 
     Housing, $382,000,000.

                    policy development and research

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Policy 
     Development and Research, $23,100,000.

                   fair housing and equal opportunity

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Fair 
     Housing and Equal Opportunity, $69,500,000.

            office of lead hazard control and healthy homes

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the
     Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, $6,800,000.

                       Public and Indian Housing

                     tenant-based rental assistance

       For activities and assistance for the provision of tenant-
     based rental assistance authorized under the United States 
     Housing Act of 1937, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.) 
     (``the Act'' herein), not otherwise provided for, 
     $15,934,643,000, to remain available until expended, shall be 
     available on October 1, 2015 (in addition to the 
     $4,000,000,000 previously appropriated under this heading 
     that shall be available on October 1, 2015), and 
     $4,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be 
     available on October 1, 2016:  Provided, That the amounts 
     made available under this heading are provided as follows:
       (1) $17,982,000,000 shall be available for renewals of 
     expiring section 8 tenant-based annual contributions 
     contracts (including renewals of enhanced vouchers under any 
     provision of law authorizing such assistance under section 
     8(t) of the Act) and including renewal of other special 
     purpose incremental vouchers:  Provided, That notwithstanding 
     any other provision of law, from amounts provided under this 
     paragraph and any carryover, the Secretary for the calendar 
     year 2016 funding cycle shall provide renewal funding for 
     each public housing agency based on validated voucher 
     management system (VMS) leasing and cost data for the prior 
     calendar year and by applying an inflation factor as 
     established by the Secretary, by notice published in the 
     Federal Register, and by making any necessary adjustments for 
     the costs associated with the first-time renewal of vouchers 
     under this paragraph including tenant protection, HOPE VI, 
     and Choice Neighborhoods vouchers:  Provided further, That in 
     determining calendar year 2016 funding allocations under this 
     heading for public housing agencies, including agencies 
     participating in the Moving To Work (MTW) demonstration, the 
     Secretary may take into account the anticipated impact of 
     changes in targeting and utility allowances, on public 
     housing agencies' contract renewal needs:  Provided further, 
     That none of the funds provided under this paragraph may be 
     used to fund a total number of unit months under lease which 
     exceeds a public housing agency's authorized level of units 
     under contract, except for public housing agencies 
     participating in the MTW demonstration, which are instead 
     governed by the terms and conditions of their MTW agreements: 
      Provided further, That the Secretary shall, to the extent 
     necessary to stay within the amount specified under this 
     paragraph (except as otherwise modified under this 
     paragraph), prorate each public housing agency's allocation 
     otherwise established pursuant to this paragraph:  Provided 
     further, That except as provided in the following provisos, 
     the entire amount specified under this paragraph (except as 
     otherwise modified under this paragraph) shall be obligated 
     to the public housing agencies based on the allocation and 
     pro rata method described above, and the Secretary shall 
     notify public housing agencies of their annual budget by the 
     latter of 60 days after enactment of this Act or March 1, 
     2016:  Provided further, That the Secretary may extend the 
     notification period with the prior written approval of the 
     House and Senate Committees on Appropriations:  Provided 
     further, That public housing agencies participating in the 
     MTW demonstration shall be

[[Page 18338]]

     funded pursuant to their MTW agreements and shall be subject 
     to the same pro rata adjustments under the previous provisos: 
      Provided further, That the Secretary may offset public 
     housing agencies' calendar year 2016 allocations based on the 
     excess amounts of public housing agencies' net restricted 
     assets accounts, including HUD held programmatic reserves (in 
     accordance with VMS data in calendar year 2015 that is 
     verifiable and complete), as determined by the Secretary:  
     Provided further, That public housing agencies participating 
     in the MTW demonstration shall also be subject to the offset, 
     as determined by the Secretary, excluding amounts subject to 
     the single fund budget authority provisions of their MTW 
     agreements, from the agencies' calendar year 2016 MTW funding 
     allocation:  Provided further, That the Secretary shall use 
     any offset referred to in the previous two provisos 
     throughout the calendar year to prevent the termination of 
     rental assistance for families as the result of insufficient 
     funding, as determined by the Secretary, and to avoid or 
     reduce the proration of renewal funding allocations:  
     Provided further, That up to $75,000,000 shall be available 
     only: (1) for adjustments in the allocations for public 
     housing agencies, after application for an adjustment by a 
     public housing agency that experienced a significant 
     increase, as determined by the Secretary, in renewal costs of 
     vouchers resulting from unforeseen circumstances or from 
     portability under section 8(r) of the Act; (2) for vouchers 
     that were not in use during the previous 12-month period in 
     order to be available to meet a commitment pursuant to 
     section 8(o)(13) of the Act; (3) for adjustments for costs 
     associated with HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-
     VASH) vouchers; and (4) for public housing agencies that 
     despite taking reasonable cost savings measures, as 
     determined by the Secretary, would otherwise be required to 
     terminate rental assistance for families as a result of 
     insufficient funding:  Provided further, That the Secretary 
     shall allocate amounts under the previous proviso based on 
     need, as determined by the Secretary;
       (2) $130,000,000 shall be for section 8 rental assistance 
     for relocation and replacement of housing units that are 
     demolished or disposed of pursuant to section 18 of the Act, 
     conversion of section 23 projects to assistance under section 
     8, the family unification program under section 8(x) of the 
     Act, relocation of witnesses in connection with efforts to 
     combat crime in public and assisted housing pursuant to a 
     request from a law enforcement or prosecution agency, 
     enhanced vouchers under any provision of law authorizing such 
     assistance under section 8(t) of the Act, HOPE VI and Choice 
     Neighborhood Initiative vouchers, mandatory and voluntary 
     conversions, and tenant protection assistance including 
     replacement and relocation assistance or for project-based 
     assistance to prevent the displacement of unassisted elderly 
     tenants currently residing in section 202 properties financed 
     between 1959 and 1974 that are refinanced pursuant to Public 
     Law 106-569, as amended, or under the authority as provided 
     under this Act:  Provided, That when a public housing 
     development is submitted for demolition or disposition under 
     section 18 of the Act, the Secretary may provide section 8 
     rental assistance when the units pose an imminent health and 
     safety risk to residents:  Provided further, That the 
     Secretary may only provide replacement vouchers for units 
     that were occupied within the previous 24 months that cease 
     to be available as assisted housing, subject only to the 
     availability of funds:  Provided further, That any tenant 
     protection voucher made available from amounts under this 
     paragraph shall not be reissued by any public housing agency, 
     except the replacement vouchers as defined by the Secretary 
     by notice, when the initial family that received any such 
     voucher no longer receives such voucher, and the authority 
     for any public housing agency to issue any such voucher shall 
     cease to exist:  Provided further, That the Secretary, for 
     the purposes under this paragraph, may use unobligated 
     balances, including recaptures and carryovers, remaining from 
     amounts appropriated in prior fiscal years under this heading 
     for voucher assistance for nonelderly disabled families and 
     for disaster assistance made available under Public Law 110-
     329;
       (3) $1,620,000,000 shall be for administrative and other 
     expenses of public housing agencies in administering the 
     section 8 tenant-based rental assistance program, of which up 
     to $10,000,000 shall be available to the Secretary to 
     allocate to public housing agencies that need additional 
     funds to administer their section 8 programs, including fees 
     associated with section 8 tenant protection rental 
     assistance, the administration of disaster related vouchers, 
     Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers, and other 
     special purpose incremental vouchers:  Provided, That no less 
     than $1,610,000,000 of the amount provided in this paragraph 
     shall be allocated to public housing agencies for the 
     calendar year 2016 funding cycle based on section 8(q) of the 
     Act (and related Appropriation Act provisions) as in effect 
     immediately before the enactment of the Quality Housing and 
     Work Responsibility Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-276):  
     Provided further, That if the amounts made available under 
     this paragraph are insufficient to pay the amounts determined 
     under the previous proviso, the Secretary may decrease the 
     amounts allocated to agencies by a uniform percentage 
     applicable to all agencies receiving funding under this 
     paragraph or may, to the extent necessary to provide full 
     payment of amounts determined under the previous proviso, 
     utilize unobligated balances, including recaptures and 
     carryovers, remaining from funds appropriated to the 
     Department of Housing and Urban Development under this 
     heading from prior fiscal years, excluding special purpose 
     vouchers, notwithstanding the purposes for which such amounts 
     were appropriated:  Provided further, That all public housing 
     agencies participating in the MTW demonstration shall be 
     funded pursuant to their MTW agreements, and shall be subject 
     to the same uniform percentage decrease as under the previous 
     proviso:  Provided further, That amounts provided under this 
     paragraph shall be only for activities related to the 
     provision of tenant-based rental assistance authorized under 
     section 8, including related development activities;
       (4) $107,643,000 for the renewal of tenant-based assistance 
     contracts under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
     Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013), including necessary 
     administrative expenses:  Provided, That administrative and 
     other expenses of public housing agencies in administering 
     the special purpose vouchers in this paragraph shall be 
     funded under the same terms and be subject to the same pro 
     rata reduction as the percent decrease for administrative and 
     other expenses to public housing agencies under paragraph (3) 
     of this heading;
       (5) $75,000,000 for incremental rental voucher assistance 
     for use through a supported housing program administered in 
     conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs as 
     authorized under section 8(o)(19) of the United States 
     Housing Act of 1937:  Provided, That the Secretary of Housing 
     and Urban Development shall make such funding available, 
     notwithstanding section 204 (competition provision) of this 
     title, to public housing agencies that partner with eligible 
     VA Medical Centers or other entities as designated by the 
     Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, based on 
     geographical need for such assistance as identified by the 
     Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, public 
     housing agency administrative performance, and other factors 
     as specified by the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development in consultation with the Secretary of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs:  Provided further, That the 
     Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may waive, or 
     specify alternative requirements for (in consultation with 
     the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs), any 
     provision of any statute or regulation that the Secretary of 
     Housing and Urban Development administers in connection with 
     the use of funds made available under this paragraph (except 
     for requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, 
     labor standards, and the environment), upon a finding by the 
     Secretary that any such waivers or alternative requirements 
     are necessary for the effective delivery and administration 
     of such voucher assistance:  Provided further, That 
     assistance made available under this paragraph shall continue 
     to remain available for homeless veterans upon turn-over;
       (6) $20,000,000 shall be made available for new incremental 
     voucher assistance through the Family Unification Program as 
     authorized by section 8(x) of the Act:  Provided, That the 
     assistance made available under this paragraph shall continue 
     to remain available for family unification upon turnover; and
       (7) The Secretary shall separately track all special 
     purpose vouchers funded under this heading.

                        housing certificate fund

                        (including rescissions)

       Unobligated balances, including recaptures and carryover, 
     remaining from funds appropriated to the Department of 
     Housing and Urban Development under this heading, the heading 
     ``Annual Contributions for Assisted Housing'' and the heading 
     ``Project-Based Rental Assistance'', for fiscal year 2016 and 
     prior years may be used for renewal of or amendments to 
     section 8 project-based contracts and for performance-based 
     contract administrators, notwithstanding the purposes for 
     which such funds were appropriated:  Provided, That any 
     obligated balances of contract authority from fiscal year 
     1974 and prior that have been terminated shall be rescinded:  
     Provided further, That amounts heretofore recaptured, or 
     recaptured during the current fiscal year, from section 8 
     project-based contracts from source years fiscal year 1975 
     through fiscal year 1987 are hereby rescinded, and an amount 
     of additional new budget authority, equivalent to the amount 
     rescinded is hereby appropriated, to remain available until 
     expended, for the purposes set forth under this heading, in 
     addition to amounts otherwise available.

                      public housing capital fund

       For the Public Housing Capital Fund Program to carry out 
     capital and management activities for public housing 
     agencies, as authorized under section 9 of the United States 
     Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g) (the ``Act'') 
     $1,742,870,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019: 
      Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law or 
     regulation, during fiscal year 2016, the Secretary of Housing 
     and Urban Development may not delegate to any Department 
     official other than the Deputy Secretary and the Assistant 
     Secretary for Public and Indian Housing any authority under 
     paragraph (2) of section 9(j) regarding the extension of the 
     time periods under such section:  Provided further, That for 
     purposes of such section 9(j), the term ``obligate'' means, 
     with respect to amounts, that the amounts are subject to a 
     binding agreement that will result in outlays, immediately or 
     in the future:  Provided further,

[[Page 18339]]

     That up to $3,000,000 shall be to support ongoing Public 
     Housing Financial and Physical Assessment activities:  
     Provided further, That up to $1,000,000 shall be to support 
     the costs of administrative and judicial receiverships:  
     Provided further, That of the total amount provided under 
     this heading, not to exceed $23,000,000 shall be available 
     for the Secretary to make grants, notwithstanding section 204 
     of this Act, to public housing agencies for emergency capital 
     needs including safety and security measures necessary to 
     address crime and drug-related activity as well as needs 
     resulting from unforeseen or unpreventable emergencies and 
     natural disasters excluding Presidentially declared 
     emergencies and natural disasters under the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et 
     seq.) occurring in fiscal year 2016:  Provided further, That 
     of the amount made available under the previous proviso, not 
     less than $6,000,000 shall be for safety and security 
     measures:  Provided further, That of the total amount 
     provided under this heading $35,000,000 shall be for 
     supportive services, service coordinator and congregate 
     services as authorized by section 34 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1437z-6) and the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-
     Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.):  Provided 
     further, That of the total amount made available under this 
     heading, $15,000,000 shall be for a Jobs-Plus initiative 
     modeled after the Jobs-Plus demonstration:  Provided further, 
     That the funding provided under the previous proviso shall 
     provide competitive grants to partnerships between public 
     housing authorities, local workforce investment boards 
     established under section 117 of the Workforce Investment Act 
     of 1998, and other agencies and organizations that provide 
     support to help public housing residents obtain employment 
     and increase earnings:  Provided further, That applicants 
     must demonstrate the ability to provide services to 
     residents, partner with workforce investment boards, and 
     leverage service dollars:  Provided further, That the 
     Secretary may allow public housing agencies to request 
     exemptions from rent and income limitation requirements under 
     sections 3 and 6 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 as 
     necessary to implement the Jobs-Plus program, on such terms 
     and conditions as the Secretary may approve upon a finding by 
     the Secretary that any such waivers or alternative 
     requirements are necessary for the effective implementation 
     of the Jobs-Plus initiative as a voluntary program for 
     residents:  Provided further, That the Secretary shall 
     publish by notice in the Federal Register any waivers or 
     alternative requirements pursuant to the preceding proviso no 
     later than 10 days before the effective date of such notice:  
     Provided further, That for funds provided under this heading, 
     the limitation in section 9(g)(1)(A) of the Act shall be 25 
     percent:  Provided further, That the Secretary may waive the 
     limitation in the previous proviso to allow public housing 
     agencies to fund activities authorized under section 
     9(e)(1)(C) of the Act:  Provided further, That the Secretary 
     shall notify public housing agencies requesting waivers under 
     the previous proviso if the request is approved or denied 
     within 14 days of submitting the request:  Provided further, 
     That from the funds made available under this heading, the 
     Secretary shall provide bonus awards in fiscal year 2016 to 
     public housing agencies that are designated high performers:  
     Provided further, That the Department shall notify public 
     housing agencies of their formula allocation within 60 days 
     of enactment of this Act.

                     public housing operating fund

       For 2016 payments to public housing agencies for the 
     operation and management of public housing, as authorized by 
     section 9(e) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
     U.S.C. 1437g(e)), $4,500,000,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2017.

                    choice neighborhoods initiative

       For competitive grants under the Choice Neighborhoods 
     Initiative (subject to section 24 of the United States 
     Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437v), unless otherwise 
     specified under this heading), for transformation, 
     rehabilitation, and replacement housing needs of both public 
     and HUD-assisted housing and to transform neighborhoods of 
     poverty into functioning, sustainable mixed income 
     neighborhoods with appropriate services, schools, public 
     assets, transportation and access to jobs, $65,000,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2018:  Provided, That 
     grant funds may be used for resident and community services, 
     community development, and affordable housing needs in the 
     community, and for conversion of vacant or foreclosed 
     properties to affordable housing:  Provided further, That the 
     use of funds made available under this heading shall not be 
     deemed to be public housing notwithstanding section 3(b)(1) 
     of such Act:  Provided further, That grantees shall commit to 
     an additional period of affordability determined by the 
     Secretary of not fewer than 20 years:  Provided further, That 
     grantees shall undertake comprehensive local planning with 
     input from residents and the community, and that grantees 
     shall provide a match in State, local, other Federal or 
     private funds:  Provided further, That grantees may include 
     local governments, tribal entities, public housing 
     authorities, and nonprofits:  Provided further, That for-
     profit developers may apply jointly with a public entity:  
     Provided further, That for purposes of environmental review, 
     a grantee shall be treated as a public housing agency under 
     section 26 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
     U.S.C. 1437x), and grants under this heading shall be subject 
     to the regulations issued by the Secretary to implement such 
     section:  Provided further, That of the amount provided, not 
     less than $40,000,000 shall be awarded to public housing 
     agencies:  Provided further, That such grantees shall create 
     partnerships with other local organizations including 
     assisted housing owners, service agencies, and resident 
     organizations:  Provided further, That the Secretary shall 
     consult with the Secretaries of Education, Labor, 
     Transportation, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and 
     Commerce, the Attorney General, and the Administrator of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency to coordinate and leverage 
     other appropriate Federal resources:  Provided further, That 
     no more than $5,000,000 of funds made available under this 
     heading may be provided to assist communities in developing 
     comprehensive strategies for implementing this program or 
     implementing other revitalization efforts in conjunction with 
     community notice and input:  Provided further, That the 
     Secretary shall develop and publish guidelines for the use of 
     such competitive funds, including but not limited to eligible 
     activities, program requirements, and performance metrics.

                        family self-sufficiency

       For the Family Self-Sufficiency program to support family 
     self-sufficiency coordinators under section 23 of the United 
     States Housing Act of 1937, to promote the development of 
     local strategies to coordinate the use of assistance under 
     sections 8(o) and 9 of such Act with public and private 
     resources, and enable eligible families to achieve economic 
     independence and self-sufficiency, $75,000,000, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2017:  Provided, That the 
     Secretary may, by Federal Register notice, waive or specify 
     alternative requirements under sections b(3), b(4), b(5), or 
     c(1) of section 23 of such Act in order to facilitate the 
     operation of a unified self-sufficiency program for 
     individuals receiving assistance under different provisions 
     of the Act, as determined by the Secretary:  Provided 
     further, That owners of a privately owned multifamily 
     property with a section 8 contract may voluntarily make a 
     Family Self-Sufficiency program available to the assisted 
     tenants of such property in accordance with procedures 
     established by the Secretary:  Provided further, That such 
     procedures established pursuant to the previous proviso shall 
     permit participating tenants to accrue escrow funds in 
     accordance with section 23(d)(2) and shall allow owners to 
     use funding from residual receipt accounts to hire 
     coordinators for their own Family Self-Sufficiency program.

                          indian block grants

       For the Indian Housing Block Grants program, as authorized 
     under title I of the Native American Housing Assistance and 
     Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA) (25 U.S.C. 4111 et 
     seq.), $650,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 
     2020:  Provided, That, notwithstanding the Native American 
     Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, to 
     determine the amount of the allocation under title I of such 
     Act for each Indian tribe, the Secretary shall apply the 
     formula under section 302 of such Act with the need component 
     based on single-race census data and with the need component 
     based on multi-race census data, and the amount of the 
     allocation for each Indian tribe shall be the greater of the 
     two resulting allocation amounts:  Provided further, That 
     notwithstanding the previous proviso, no Indian tribe shall 
     receive an allocation amount greater than 10 percent:  
     Provided further, That of the amount provided under this 
     heading, $2,000,000 shall be made available for the cost of 
     guaranteed notes and other obligations, as authorized by 
     title VI of NAHASDA:  Provided further, That such costs, 
     including the costs of modifying such notes and other 
     obligations, shall be as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended:  Provided 
     further, That these funds are available to subsidize the 
     total principal amount of any notes and other obligations, 
     any part of which is to be guaranteed, not to exceed 
     $17,452,007:  Provided further, That the Department will 
     notify grantees of their formula allocation within 60 days of 
     the date of enactment of this Act.
       In addition to amounts made available under the first 
     paragraph under this heading, $60,000,000, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2018, shall be for grants to 
     Indian tribes for carrying out the Community Development 
     Block Grant program under title I of the Housing and 
     Community Development Act of 1974 notwithstanding section 
     106(a)(1) of such Act, of which, up to $4,000,000 may be used 
     for emergencies that constitute imminent threats to health 
     and safety notwithstanding any other provision of law 
     (including section 204 of this title):  Provided, That not to 
     exceed 20 percent of any grant made with funds appropriated 
     under this paragraph shall be expended for planning and 
     management development and administration.

           indian housing loan guarantee fund program account

       For the cost of guaranteed loans, as authorized by section 
     184 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 
     U.S.C. 1715z-13a), $7,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended:  Provided, That such costs, including the costs of 
     modifying such loans, shall be as defined in section 502 of 
     the Congressional Budget Act of 1974:  Provided further, That 
     these funds are available to subsidize total loan principal, 
     any part of which is to be guaranteed, up to $1,111,111,000, 
     to remain available until expended:  Provided further, That 
     up to $750,000 of this amount may be for administrative 
     contract expenses including management processes and

[[Page 18340]]

     systems to carry out the loan guarantee program.

                   Community Planning and Development

              housing opportunities for persons with aids

       For carrying out the Housing Opportunities for Persons with 
     AIDS program, as authorized by the AIDS Housing Opportunity 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq.), $330,000,000, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2017, except that amounts 
     allocated pursuant to section 854(c)(3) of such Act shall 
     remain available until September 30, 2018:  Provided, That 
     the Secretary shall renew all expiring contracts for 
     permanent supportive housing that initially were funded under 
     section 854(c)(3) of such Act from funds made available under 
     this heading in fiscal year 2010 and prior fiscal years that 
     meet all program requirements before awarding funds for new 
     contracts under such section:  Provided further, That 
     notwithstanding 42 U.S.C. 12903, the Secretary shall allocate 
     90 percent of the funds by formula, of which 75 percent shall 
     be among cities that are the most populous unit of general 
     local government in a metropolitan statistical area with a 
     population greater than 500,000 and have more than 2,000 
     persons living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 
     and States with more than 2,000 persons living with HIV 
     outside of metropolitan statistical areas, as reported to and 
     confirmed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
     and Prevention (CDC) as of December 31 of the most recent 
     calendar year for which such data is available, and of which 
     25 percent shall be among States and metropolitan statistical 
     areas based on fair market rents and area poverty indexes, as 
     determined by the Secretary:  Provided further, That a 
     grantee's share shall not reflect a loss greater than 10 
     percent or a gain greater than 20 percent of the share of 
     total available formula funds that the grantee received in 
     the preceding fiscal year:  Provided further, That any 
     grantee that received a formula allocation in fiscal year 
     2015 shall continue to be eligible for formula allocation in 
     this fiscal year:  Provided further, That the Department 
     shall notify grantees of their formula allocation within 60 
     days of enactment of this Act.

                       community development fund

       For carrying out the Community Development Block Grant 
     program under title I of the Housing and Community 
     Development Act of 1974, as amended (the ``Act'' herein) (42 
     U.S.C. 5301 et seq.), $2,900,000,000, to remain available 
     until September 30, 2018:  Provided, That unless explicitly 
     provided for under this heading, not to exceed 20 percent of 
     any grant made with funds appropriated under this heading 
     shall be expended for planning and management development and 
     administration:  Provided further, That a metropolitan city, 
     urban county, unit of general local government, or insular 
     area that directly or indirectly receives funds under this 
     heading may not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer all or any 
     portion of such funds to another such entity in exchange for 
     any other funds, credits or non-Federal considerations, but 
     must use such funds for activities eligible under title I of 
     the Act:  Provided further, That notwithstanding section 
     105(e)(1) of the Act, no funds provided under this heading 
     may be provided to a for-profit entity for an economic 
     development project under section 105(a)(17) unless such 
     project has been evaluated and selected in accordance with 
     guidelines required under subparagraph (e)(2):  Provided 
     further, That the Department shall notify grantees of their 
     formula allocation within 60 days of enactment of this Act.

         community development loan guarantees program account

       Subject to section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
     1974, during fiscal year 2016, commitments to guarantee loans 
     under section 108 of the Housing and Community Development 
     Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5308), any part of which is 
     guaranteed, shall not exceed a total principal amount of 
     $300,000,000, notwithstanding any aggregate limitation on 
     outstanding obligations guaranteed in subsection (k) of such 
     section 108:  Provided, That the Secretary shall collect fees 
     from borrowers, notwithstanding section 108(m), to result in 
     a credit subsidy cost of zero for guaranteeing such loans, 
     and any such fees shall be collected in accordance with 
     section 502(7) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

                  home investment partnerships program

       For the HOME Investment Partnerships program, as authorized 
     under title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable 
     Housing Act, as amended, $66,000,000, to remain available 
     until September 30, 2019:  Provided, That notwithstanding the 
     amount made available under this heading, the threshold 
     reduction requirements in sections 216(10) and 217(b)(4) of 
     such Act shall not apply to allocations of such amount:  
     Provided further, That the requirements under provisos 2 
     through 6 under this heading for fiscal year 2012 and such 
     requirements applicable pursuant to the ``Full-Year 
     Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013'', shall not apply to any 
     project to which funds were committed on or after August 23, 
     2013, but such projects shall instead be governed by the 
     Final Rule titled ``Home Investment Partnerships Program; 
     Improving Performance and Accountability; Updating Property 
     Standards'' which became effective on such date:  Provided 
     further, That with respect to funds made available under this 
     heading pursuant to such Act and funds provided in prior and 
     subsequent appropriations acts that were or are used by 
     community land trusts for the development of affordable 
     homeownership housing pursuant to section 215(b) of such Act, 
     such community land trusts, notwithstanding section 
     215(b)(3)(A) of such Act, may hold and exercise purchase 
     options, rights of first refusal or other preemptive rights 
     to purchase the housing to preserve affordability, including 
     but not limited to the right to purchase the housing in lieu 
     of foreclosure:  Provided further, That the Department shall 
     notify grantees of their formula allocation within 60 days of 
     enactment of this Act.

        self-help and assisted homeownership opportunity program

       For the Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity 
     Program, as authorized under section 11 of the Housing 
     Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996, as amended, 
     $50,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2018:  
     Provided, That of the total amount provided under this 
     heading, $10,000,000 shall be made available to the Self-Help 
     and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity Program as authorized 
     under section 11 of the Housing Opportunity Program Extension 
     Act of 1996, as amended:  Provided further, That $35,000,000 
     shall be made available for the second, third, and fourth 
     capacity building activities authorized under section 4(a) of 
     the HUD Demonstration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 9816 note), of 
     which not less than $5,000,000 shall be made available for 
     rural capacity building activities:  Provided further, That 
     $5,000,000 shall be made available for capacity building by 
     national rural housing organizations with experience 
     assessing national rural conditions and providing financing, 
     training, technical assistance, information, and research to 
     local nonprofits, local governments and Indian Tribes serving 
     high need rural communities:  Provided further, That an 
     additional $5,700,000, to remain available until expended, 
     shall be for a program to rehabilitate and modify homes of 
     disabled and low-income veterans as authorized under section 
     1079 of Public Law 113-291.

                       homeless assistance grants

       For the Emergency Solutions Grants program as authorized 
     under subtitle B of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
     Assistance Act, as amended; the continuum of care program as 
     authorized under subtitle C of title IV of such Act; and the 
     Rural Housing Stability Assistance program as authorized 
     under subtitle D of title IV of such Act, $2,235,000,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2018:  Provided, That 
     any rental assistance amounts that are recaptured under such 
     Continuum of Care program shall remain available until 
     expended:  Provided further, That not less than $250,000,000 
     of the funds appropriated under this heading shall be 
     available for such Emergency Solutions Grants program:  
     Provided further, That not less than $1,918,000,000 of the 
     funds appropriated under this heading shall be available for 
     such Continuum of Care and Rural Housing Stability Assistance 
     programs:  Provided further, That up to $7,000,000 of the 
     funds appropriated under this heading shall be available for 
     the national homeless data analysis project:  Provided 
     further, That up to $2,000,000 of the funds appropriated 
     under this heading shall be available to the Secretary, in 
     coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
     for a national study on the prevalence, needs, and 
     characteristics of homelessness among youth as authorized 
     under section 345 of the Runaway Homeless Youth Act (42 
     U.S.C. 5714-25), notwithstanding section 204 of this title:  
     Provided further, That up to $33,000,000 of the funds 
     appropriated under this heading shall be to implement 
     projects to demonstrate how a comprehensive approach to 
     serving homeless youth, age 24 and under, in up to 10 
     communities, including at least four rural communities, can 
     dramatically reduce youth homelessness:  Provided further, 
     That such projects shall be eligible for renewal under the 
     Continuum of Care program subject to the same terms and 
     conditions as other renewal applicants:  Provided further, 
     That up to $5,000,000 of the funds appropriated under this 
     heading shall be available to provide technical assistance on 
     youth homelessness, and collection, analysis, and reporting 
     of data and performance measures under the comprehensive 
     approaches to serve homeless youth, in addition to and in 
     coordination with other technical assistance funds provided 
     under this title:  Provided further, That all funds awarded 
     for supportive services under the Continuum of Care program 
     and the Rural Housing Stability Assistance program shall be 
     matched by not less than 25 percent in cash or in kind by 
     each grantee:  Provided further, That for all match 
     requirements applicable to funds made available under this 
     heading for this fiscal year and prior years, a grantee may 
     use (or could have used) as a source of match funds other 
     funds administered by the Secretary and other Federal 
     agencies unless a specific statutory prohibition on any such 
     use of any such funds exists:  Provided further, That the 
     Secretary may renew on an annual basis expiring contracts or 
     amendments to contracts funded under the Continuum of Care 
     program if the program is determined to be needed under the 
     applicable Continuum of Care and meets appropriate program 
     requirements, performance measures, and financial standards, 
     as determined by the Secretary:  Provided further, That all 
     awards of assistance under this heading shall be required to 
     coordinate and integrate homeless programs with other 
     mainstream health, social services, and employment programs 
     for which homeless populations may be eligible:  Provided 
     further, That with respect to funds provided under this 
     heading for the Continuum of Care program for fiscal years 
     2016 and 2017, permanent housing rental assistance may be 
     administered by private nonprofit organizations:  Provided 
     further, That youth aged 24

[[Page 18341]]

     and under seeking assistance under this heading shall not be 
     required to provide third party documentation to establish 
     their eligibility under 42 U.S.C. 11302(a) or (b) to receive 
     services:  Provided further, That unaccompanied youth aged 24 
     and under or families headed by youth aged 24 and under who 
     are living in unsafe situations may be served by youth-
     serving providers funded under this heading:  Provided 
     further, That in awarding grants with funds appropriated 
     under this heading, the Secretary shall ensure that 
     incentives created through the application process fairly 
     balance priorities for different populations, including 
     youth, families, veterans, and people experiencing chronic 
     homelessness:  Provided further, That any unobligated amounts 
     remaining from funds appropriated under this heading in 
     fiscal year 2012 and prior years for project-based rental 
     assistance for rehabilitation projects with 10-year grant 
     terms may be used for purposes under this heading, 
     notwithstanding the purposes for which such funds were 
     appropriated:  Provided further, That all balances for 
     Shelter Plus Care renewals previously funded from the Shelter 
     Plus Care Renewal account and transferred to this account 
     shall be available, if recaptured, for Continuum of Care 
     renewals in fiscal year 2016:  Provided further, That the 
     Department shall notify grantees of their formula allocation 
     from amounts allocated (which may represent initial or final 
     amounts allocated) for the Emergency Solutions Grant program 
     within 60 days of enactment of this Act.

                            Housing Programs

                    project-based rental assistance

       For activities and assistance for the provision of project-
     based subsidy contracts under the United States Housing Act 
     of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.) (``the Act''), not otherwise 
     provided for, $10,426,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended, shall be available on October 1, 2015 (in addition 
     to the $400,000,000 previously appropriated under this 
     heading that became available October 1, 2015), and 
     $400,000,000, to remain available until expended, shall be 
     available on October 1, 2016:  Provided, That the amounts 
     made available under this heading shall be available for 
     expiring or terminating section 8 project-based subsidy 
     contracts (including section 8 moderate rehabilitation 
     contracts), for amendments to section 8 project-based subsidy 
     contracts (including section 8 moderate rehabilitation 
     contracts), for contracts entered into pursuant to section 
     441 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
     11401), for renewal of section 8 contracts for units in 
     projects that are subject to approved plans of action under 
     the Emergency Low Income Housing Preservation Act of 1987 or 
     the Low-Income Housing Preservation and Resident 
     Homeownership Act of 1990, and for administrative and other 
     expenses associated with project-based activities and 
     assistance funded under this paragraph:  Provided further, 
     That of the total amounts provided under this heading, not to 
     exceed $215,000,000 shall be available for performance-based 
     contract administrators for section 8 project-based 
     assistance, for carrying out 42 U.S.C. 1437(f):  Provided 
     further, That the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
     may also use such amounts in the previous proviso for 
     performance-based contract administrators for the 
     administration of: interest reduction payments pursuant to 
     section 236(a) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z-
     1(a)); rent supplement payments pursuant to section 101 of 
     the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965 (12 U.S.C. 
     1701s); section 236(f)(2) rental assistance payments (12 
     U.S.C. 1715z-1(f)(2)); project rental assistance contracts 
     for the elderly under section 202(c)(2) of the Housing Act of 
     1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q); project rental assistance contracts 
     for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under 
     section 811(d)(2) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
     Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013(d)(2)); project 
     assistance contracts pursuant to section 202(h) of the 
     Housing Act of 1959 (Public Law 86-372; 73 Stat. 667); and 
     loans under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (Public 
     Law 86-372; 73 Stat. 667):  Provided further, That amounts 
     recaptured under this heading, the heading ``Annual 
     Contributions for Assisted Housing'', or the heading 
     ``Housing Certificate Fund'', may be used for renewals of or 
     amendments to section 8 project-based contracts or for 
     performance-based contract administrators, notwithstanding 
     the purposes for which such amounts were appropriated:  
     Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other provision 
     of law, upon the request of the Secretary of Housing and 
     Urban Development, project funds that are held in residual 
     receipts accounts for any project subject to a section 8 
     project-based Housing Assistance Payments contract that 
     authorizes HUD or a Housing Finance Agency to require that 
     surplus project funds be deposited in an interest-bearing 
     residual receipts account and that are in excess of an amount 
     to be determined by the Secretary, shall be remitted to the 
     Department and deposited in this account, to be available 
     until expended:  Provided further, That amounts deposited 
     pursuant to the previous proviso shall be available in 
     addition to the amount otherwise provided by this heading for 
     uses authorized under this heading.

                        housing for the elderly

       For amendments to capital advance contracts for housing for 
     the elderly, as authorized by section 202 of the Housing Act 
     of 1959, as amended, and for project rental assistance for 
     the elderly under section 202(c)(2) of such Act, including 
     amendments to contracts for such assistance and renewal of 
     expiring contracts for such assistance for up to a 1-year 
     term, and for senior preservation rental assistance 
     contracts, including renewals, as authorized by section 
     811(e) of the American Housing and Economic Opportunity Act 
     of 2000, as amended, and for supportive services associated 
     with the housing, $420,000,000 to remain available until 
     September 30, 2019:  Provided, That of the amount provided 
     under this heading, up to $77,000,000 shall be for service 
     coordinators and the continuation of existing congregate 
     service grants for residents of assisted housing projects:  
     Provided further, That amounts under this heading shall be 
     available for Real Estate Assessment Center inspections and 
     inspection-related activities associated with section 202 
     projects:  Provided further, That the Secretary may waive the 
     provisions of section 202 governing the terms and conditions 
     of project rental assistance, except that the initial 
     contract term for such assistance shall not exceed 5 years in 
     duration:  Provided further, That upon request of the 
     Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, project funds 
     that are held in residual receipts accounts for any project 
     subject to a section 202 project rental assistance contract, 
     and that upon termination of such contract are in excess of 
     an amount to be determined by the Secretary, shall be 
     remitted to the Department and deposited in this account, to 
     be available until September 30, 2019:  Provided further, 
     That amounts deposited in this account pursuant to the 
     previous proviso shall be available, in addition to the 
     amounts otherwise provided by this heading, for the purposes 
     funded under this heading, and if such purposes have been 
     fully funded, may be used by the Secretary to support 
     demonstration programs to test housing with services models 
     for the elderly:  Provided further, That unobligated 
     balances, including recaptures and carryover, remaining from 
     funds transferred to or appropriated under this heading may 
     be used for the current purposes authorized under this 
     heading notwithstanding the purposes for which such funds 
     originally were appropriated.

                 housing for persons with disabilities

       For amendments to capital advance contracts for supportive 
     housing for persons with disabilities, as authorized by 
     section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable 
     Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013), for project rental assistance 
     for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under 
     section 811(d)(2) of such Act and for project assistance 
     contracts pursuant to section 202(h) of the Housing Act of 
     1959 (Public Law 86-372; 73 Stat. 667), including amendments 
     to contracts for such assistance and renewal of expiring 
     contracts for such assistance for up to a 1-year term, for 
     project rental assistance to State housing finance agencies 
     and other appropriate entities as authorized under section 
     811(b)(3) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Housing Act, and 
     for supportive services associated with the housing for 
     persons with disabilities as authorized by section 811(b)(1) 
     of such Act, $137,000,000, to remain available until 
     September 30, 2019:  Provided, That amounts made available 
     under this heading shall be available for Real Estate 
     Assessment Center inspections and inspection-related 
     activities associated with section 811 projects:  Provided 
     further, That, in this fiscal year, upon the request of the 
     Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, project funds 
     that are held in residual receipts accounts for any project 
     subject to a section 811 project rental assistance contract 
     and that upon termination of such contract are in excess of 
     an amount to be determined by the Secretary shall be remitted 
     to the Department and deposited in this account, to be 
     available until September 30, 2019:  Provided further, That 
     amounts deposited in this account pursuant to the previous 
     proviso shall be available in addition to the amounts 
     otherwise provided by this heading for the purposes 
     authorized under this heading:  Provided further, That 
     unobligated balances, including recaptures and carryover, 
     remaining from funds transferred to or appropriated under 
     this heading may be used for the current purposes authorized 
     under this heading notwithstanding the purposes for which 
     such funds originally were appropriated.

                     housing counseling assistance

       For contracts, grants, and other assistance excluding 
     loans, as authorized under section 106 of the Housing and 
     Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended, $47,000,000, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2017, including up to 
     $4,500,000 for administrative contract services:  Provided, 
     That grants made available from amounts provided under this 
     heading shall be awarded within 180 days of enactment of this 
     Act:  Provided further, That funds shall be used for 
     providing counseling and advice to tenants and homeowners, 
     both current and prospective, with respect to property 
     maintenance, financial management/literacy, and such other 
     matters as may be appropriate to assist them in improving 
     their housing conditions, meeting their financial needs, and 
     fulfilling the responsibilities of tenancy or homeownership; 
     for program administration; and for housing counselor 
     training:  Provided further, That for purposes of providing 
     such grants from amounts provided under this heading, the 
     Secretary may enter into multiyear agreements as appropriate, 
     subject to the availability of annual appropriations.

                       rental housing assistance

       For amendments to contracts under section 101 of the 
     Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965 (12 U.S.C. 1701s) 
     and section 236(f)(2) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 
     1715z-1) in State-aided, noninsured rental housing projects, 
     $30,000,000, to remain available until expended:

[[Page 18342]]

      Provided, That such amount, together with unobligated 
     balances from recaptured amounts appropriated prior to fiscal 
     year 2006 from terminated contracts under such sections of 
     law, and any unobligated balances, including recaptures and 
     carryover, remaining from funds appropriated under this 
     heading after fiscal year 2005, shall also be available for 
     extensions of up to one year for expiring contracts under 
     such sections of law.

                 manufactured housing standards program

            payment to manufactured housing fees trust fund

       For necessary expenses as authorized by the National 
     Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 
     1974 (42 U.S.C. 5401 et seq.), up to $10,000,000, to remain 
     available until expended, of which $10,000,000 is to be 
     derived from the Manufactured Housing Fees Trust Fund:  
     Provided, That not to exceed the total amount appropriated 
     under this heading shall be available from the general fund 
     of the Treasury to the extent necessary to incur obligations 
     and make expenditures pending the receipt of collections to 
     the Fund pursuant to section 620 of such Act:  Provided 
     further, That the amount made available under this heading 
     from the general fund shall be reduced as such collections 
     are received during fiscal year 2016 so as to result in a 
     final fiscal year 2016 appropriation from the general fund 
     estimated at zero, and fees pursuant to such section 620 
     shall be modified as necessary to ensure such a final fiscal 
     year 2016 appropriation:  Provided further, That for the 
     dispute resolution and installation programs, the Secretary 
     of Housing and Urban Development may assess and collect fees 
     from any program participant:  Provided further, That such 
     collections shall be deposited into the Fund, and the 
     Secretary, as provided herein, may use such collections, as 
     well as fees collected under section 620, for necessary 
     expenses of such Act:  Provided further, That, 
     notwithstanding the requirements of section 620 of such Act, 
     the Secretary may carry out responsibilities of the Secretary 
     under such Act through the use of approved service providers 
     that are paid directly by the recipients of their services.

                     Federal Housing Administration

               mutual mortgage insurance program account

       New commitments to guarantee single family loans insured 
     under the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund shall not exceed 
     $400,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 
     2017:  Provided, That during fiscal year 2016, obligations to 
     make direct loans to carry out the purposes of section 204(g) 
     of the National Housing Act, as amended, shall not exceed 
     $5,000,000:  Provided further, That the foregoing amount in 
     the previous proviso shall be for loans to nonprofit and 
     governmental entities in connection with sales of single 
     family real properties owned by the Secretary and formerly 
     insured under the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund:  Provided 
     further, That for administrative contract expenses of the 
     Federal Housing Administration, $130,000,000, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2017:  Provided further, That 
     to the extent guaranteed loan commitments exceed 
     $200,000,000,000 on or before April 1, 2016, an additional 
     $1,400 for administrative contract expenses shall be 
     available for each $1,000,000 in additional guaranteed loan 
     commitments (including a pro rata amount for any amount below 
     $1,000,000), but in no case shall funds made available by 
     this proviso exceed $30,000,000.

                general and special risk program account

       New commitments to guarantee loans insured under the 
     General and Special Risk Insurance Funds, as authorized by 
     sections 238 and 519 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 
     1715z-3 and 1735c), shall not exceed $30,000,000,000 in total 
     loan principal, any part of which is to be guaranteed, to 
     remain available until September 30, 2017:  Provided, That 
     during fiscal year 2016, gross obligations for the principal 
     amount of direct loans, as authorized by sections 204(g), 
     207(l), 238, and 519(a) of the National Housing Act, shall 
     not exceed $5,000,000, which shall be for loans to nonprofit 
     and governmental entities in connection with the sale of 
     single family real properties owned by the Secretary and 
     formerly insured under such Act.

                Government National Mortgage Association

guarantees of mortgage-backed securities loan guarantee program account

       New commitments to issue guarantees to carry out the 
     purposes of section 306 of the National Housing Act, as 
     amended (12 U.S.C. 1721(g)), shall not exceed 
     $500,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 
     2017:  Provided, That $23,000,000 shall be available for 
     necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Government 
     National Mortgage Association:  Provided further, That to the 
     extent that guaranteed loan commitments exceed 
     $155,000,000,000 on or before April 1, 2016, an additional 
     $100 for necessary salaries and expenses shall be available 
     until expended for each $1,000,000 in additional guaranteed 
     loan commitments (including a pro rata amount for any amount 
     below $1,000,000), but in no case shall funds made available 
     by this proviso exceed $3,000,000:  Provided further, That 
     receipts from Commitment and Multiclass fees collected 
     pursuant to title III of the National Housing Act, as 
     amended, shall be credited as offsetting collections to this 
     account.

                    Policy Development and Research

                        research and technology

                     (including transfer of funds)

       For contracts, grants, and necessary expenses of programs 
     of research and studies relating to housing and urban 
     problems, not otherwise provided for, as authorized by title 
     V of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 (12 U.S.C. 
     1701z-1 et seq.), including carrying out the functions of the 
     Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under section 
     1(a)(1)(i) of Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1968, $50,000,000, 
     to remain available until September 30, 2017.
       Of the amounts made available in this title under each of 
     the headings specified in the report accompanying this Act, 
     the Secretary may transfer to this account up to 0.1 percent 
     from each such account, and such transferred amounts shall be 
     available until September 30, 2017, for (1) technical 
     assistance and capacity building; and (2) research, 
     evaluation, and program metrics:  Provided, That the 
     Secretary may not transfer more than $40,000,000 to this 
     account.
       With respect to amounts made available under this heading, 
     notwithstanding section 204 of this title, the Secretary may 
     enter into cooperative agreements funded with philanthropic 
     entities, other Federal agencies, or State or local 
     governments and their agencies for research projects:  
     Provided, That any such partners to any such cooperative 
     agreements must contribute at least 50 percent of the cost of 
     the project:  Provided further, That for any such cooperative 
     agreements, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
     shall comply with section 2(b) of the Federal Funding 
     Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-
     282, 31 U.S.C. note) in lieu of compliance with section 
     102(a)(4)(C) with respect to documentation of award 
     decisions.

                   Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

                        fair housing activities

       For contracts, grants, and other assistance, not otherwise 
     provided for, as authorized by title VIII of the Civil Rights 
     Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 
     1988, and section 561 of the Housing and Community 
     Development Act of 1987, as amended, $65,300,000, to remain 
     available until September 30, 2017, of which $38,600,000 
     shall be to carry out activities pursuant to such section 
     561:  Provided, That notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, the 
     Secretary may assess and collect fees to cover the costs of 
     the Fair Housing Training Academy, and may use such funds to 
     provide such training:  Provided further, That no funds made 
     available under this heading shall be used to lobby the 
     executive or legislative branches of the Federal Government 
     in connection with a specific contract, grant, or loan:  
     Provided further, That of the funds made available under this 
     heading, $300,000 shall be available to the Secretary of 
     Housing and Urban Development for the creation and promotion 
     of translated materials and other programs that support the 
     assistance of persons with limited English proficiency in 
     utilizing the services provided by the Department of Housing 
     and Urban Development.

            Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes

                         lead hazard reduction

       For the Lead Hazard Reduction Program, as authorized by 
     section 1011 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard 
     Reduction Act of 1992, $110,000,000, to remain available 
     until September 30, 2017, of which $25,000,000 shall be for 
     the Healthy Homes Initiative, pursuant to sections 501 and 
     502 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 that 
     shall include research, studies, testing, and demonstration 
     efforts, including education and outreach concerning lead-
     based paint poisoning and other housing-related diseases and 
     hazards:  Provided, That for purposes of environmental 
     review, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 
     1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and other provisions of the law 
     that further the purposes of such Act, a grant under the 
     Healthy Homes Initiative, or the Lead Technical Studies 
     program under this heading or under prior appropriations Acts 
     for such purposes under this heading, shall be considered to 
     be funds for a special project for purposes of section 305(c) 
     of the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 
     1994:  Provided further, That of the total amount made 
     available under this heading, $45,000,000 shall be made 
     available on a competitive basis for areas with the highest 
     lead paint abatement needs:  Provided further, That each 
     recipient of funds provided under the previous proviso shall 
     contribute an amount not less than 25 percent of the total:  
     Provided further, That each applicant shall certify adequate 
     capacity that is acceptable to the Secretary to carry out the 
     proposed use of funds pursuant to a notice of funding 
     availability:  Provided further, That amounts made available 
     under this heading in this or prior appropriations Acts, and 
     that still remain available, may be used for any purpose 
     under this heading notwithstanding the purpose for which such 
     amounts were appropriated if a program competition is 
     undersubscribed and there are other program competitions 
     under this heading that are oversubscribed.

                      Information Technology Fund

       For the development of, modifications to, and 
     infrastructure for Department-wide and program-specific 
     information technology systems, for the continuing operation 
     and maintenance of both Department-wide and program-specific 
     information systems, and for program-related maintenance 
     activities, $250,000,000, shall remain available until 
     September 30, 2017:  Provided, That any amounts transferred 
     to this Fund under this Act shall remain available until 
     expended:  Provided further, That any

[[Page 18343]]

     amounts transferred to this Fund from amounts appropriated by 
     previously enacted appropriations Acts may be used for the 
     purposes specified under this Fund, in addition to any other 
     information technology purposes for which such amounts were 
     appropriated.

                      Office of Inspector General

       For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of 
     Inspector General in carrying out the Inspector General Act 
     of 1978, as amended, $126,000,000:  Provided, That the 
     Inspector General shall have independent authority over all 
     personnel issues within this office.

    General Provisions--Department of Housing and Urban Development

                     (including transfer of funds)

                        (including rescissions)

       Sec. 201.  Fifty percent of the amounts of budget 
     authority, or in lieu thereof 50 percent of the cash amounts 
     associated with such budget authority, that are recaptured 
     from projects described in section 1012(a) of the Stewart B. 
     McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1988 (42 
     U.S.C. 1437 note) shall be rescinded or in the case of cash, 
     shall be remitted to the Treasury, and such amounts of budget 
     authority or cash recaptured and not rescinded or remitted to 
     the Treasury shall be used by State housing finance agencies 
     or local governments or local housing agencies with projects 
     approved by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
     for which settlement occurred after January 1, 1992, in 
     accordance with such section. Notwithstanding the previous 
     sentence, the Secretary may award up to 15 percent of the 
     budget authority or cash recaptured and not rescinded or 
     remitted to the Treasury to provide project owners with 
     incentives to refinance their project at a lower interest 
     rate.
       Sec. 202.  None of the funds made available under this 
     title may be used during fiscal year 2016 to investigate or 
     prosecute under the Fair Housing Act any otherwise lawful 
     activity engaged in by one or more persons, including the 
     filing or maintaining of a nonfrivolous legal action, that is 
     engaged in solely for the purpose of achieving or preventing 
     action by a Government official or entity, or a court of 
     competent jurisdiction.
       Sec. 203. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     the amount allocated for fiscal year 2016 under section 
     854(c) of the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act (42 U.S.C. 
     12903(c)), to the city of New York, New York, on behalf of 
     the New York-Wayne-White Plains, New York-New Jersey 
     Metropolitan Division (hereafter ``metropolitan division'') 
     of the New York-Newark-Edison, NY-NJ-PA Metropolitan 
     Statistical Area, shall be adjusted by the Secretary of 
     Housing and Urban Development by:
       (1) allocating to the city of Jersey City, New Jersey, the 
     proportion of the metropolitan area's or division's amount 
     that is based on the number of persons living with HIV, 
     poverty and fair market rents, in the portion of the 
     metropolitan area or division that is located in Hudson 
     County, New Jersey; and
       (2) allocating to the city of Paterson, New Jersey, the 
     proportion of the metropolitan area's or division's amount 
     that is based on the number of persons living with HIV, 
     poverty and fair market rents, in the portion of the 
     metropolitan area or division that is located in Bergen 
     County and Passaic County, New Jersey. The recipient cities 
     shall use amounts allocated under this subsection to carry 
     out eligible activities under section 855 of the AIDS Housing 
     Opportunity Act (42 U.S.C. 12904) in their respective 
     portions of the metropolitan division that is located in New 
     Jersey.
       (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the amount 
     allocated for fiscal year 2016 under section 854(c) of the 
     AIDS Housing Opportunity Act (42 U.S.C. 12903(c)), to the 
     city of Wilmington, Delaware, on behalf of the Wilmington, 
     Delaware-Maryland-New Jersey Metropolitan Division (hereafter 
     ``metropolitan division''), shall be adjusted by the 
     Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by allocating to 
     the State of New Jersey the proportion of the metropolitan 
     division's amount that is based on the number of persons 
     living with HIV, poverty and fair market rents, in the 
     portion of the metropolitan division that is located in New 
     Jersey. The State of New Jersey shall use amounts allocated 
     to the State under this subsection to carry out eligible 
     activities under section 855 of the AIDS Housing Opportunity 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 12904) in the portion of the metropolitan 
     division that is located in New Jersey.
       (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall allocate to 
     Wake County, North Carolina, the amounts that otherwise would 
     be allocated for fiscal year 2016 under section 854(c) of the 
     AIDS Housing Opportunity Act (42 U.S.C. 12903(c)) to the city 
     of Raleigh, North Carolina, on behalf of the Raleigh-Cary 
     North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. Any amounts 
     allocated to Wake County shall be used to carry out eligible 
     activities under section 855 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 12904) 
     within such metropolitan statistical area.
       (d) Notwithstanding section 854(c) of the AIDS Housing 
     Opportunity Act (42 U.S.C. 12903(c)), the Secretary of 
     Housing and Urban Development may adjust the allocation of 
     the amounts that otherwise would be allocated for fiscal year 
     2016 under section 854(c) of such Act, upon the written 
     request of an applicant, in conjunction with the State(s), 
     for a formula allocation on behalf of a metropolitan 
     statistical area, to designate the State or States in which 
     the metropolitan statistical area is located as the eligible 
     grantee(s) of the allocation. In the case that a metropolitan 
     statistical area involves more than one State, such amounts 
     allocated to each State shall be based on the proportion of 
     the metropolitan statistical area's amount that is based on 
     the number of persons living with HIV, poverty and fair 
     market rents, in the portion of the metropolitan statistical 
     area that is located in that State. Any amounts allocated to 
     a State under this section shall be used to carry out 
     eligible activities within the portion of the metropolitan 
     statistical area located in that State.
       Sec. 204.  Except as explicitly provided in law, any grant, 
     cooperative agreement or other assistance made pursuant to 
     title II of this Act shall be made on a competitive basis and 
     in accordance with section 102 of the Department of Housing 
     and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 3545).
       Sec. 205.  Funds of the Department of Housing and Urban 
     Development subject to the Government Corporation Control Act 
     or section 402 of the Housing Act of 1950 shall be available, 
     without regard to the limitations on administrative expenses, 
     for legal services on a contract or fee basis, and for 
     utilizing and making payment for services and facilities of 
     the Federal National Mortgage Association, Government 
     National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage 
     Corporation, Federal Financing Bank, Federal Reserve banks or 
     any member thereof, Federal Home Loan banks, and any insured 
     bank within the meaning of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
     Corporation Act, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1811-1).
       Sec. 206.  Unless otherwise provided for in this title or 
     through a reprogramming of funds, no part of any 
     appropriation for the Department of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall be available for any program, project or 
     activity in excess of amounts set forth in the budget 
     estimates submitted to Congress.
       Sec. 207.  Corporations and agencies of the Department of 
     Housing and Urban Development which are subject to the 
     Government Corporation Control Act are hereby authorized to 
     make such expenditures, within the limits of funds and 
     borrowing authority available to each such corporation or 
     agency and in accordance with law, and to make such contracts 
     and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as 
     provided by section 104 of such Act as may be necessary in 
     carrying out the programs set forth in the budget for fiscal 
     year 2016 for such corporation or agency except as 
     hereinafter provided:  Provided, That collections of these 
     corporations and agencies may be used for new loan or 
     mortgage purchase commitments only to the extent expressly 
     provided for in this Act (unless such loans are in support of 
     other forms of assistance provided for in this or prior 
     appropriations Acts), except that this proviso shall not 
     apply to the mortgage insurance or guaranty operations of 
     these corporations, or where loans or mortgage purchases are 
     necessary to protect the financial interest of the United 
     States Government.
       Sec. 208.  The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
     shall provide quarterly reports to the House and Senate 
     Committees on Appropriations regarding all uncommitted, 
     unobligated, recaptured and excess funds in each program and 
     activity within the jurisdiction of the Department and shall 
     submit additional, updated budget information to these 
     Committees upon request.
       Sec. 209.  A public housing agency or such other entity 
     that administers Federal housing assistance for the Housing 
     Authority of the county of Los Angeles, California, and the 
     States of Alaska, Iowa, and Mississippi shall not be required 
     to include a resident of public housing or a recipient of 
     assistance provided under section 8 of the United States 
     Housing Act of 1937 on the board of directors or a similar 
     governing board of such agency or entity as required under 
     section (2)(b) of such Act. Each public housing agency or 
     other entity that administers Federal housing assistance 
     under section 8 for the Housing Authority of the county of 
     Los Angeles, California and the States of Alaska, Iowa and 
     Mississippi that chooses not to include a resident of public 
     housing or a recipient of section 8 assistance on the board 
     of directors or a similar governing board shall establish an 
     advisory board of not less than six residents of public 
     housing or recipients of section 8 assistance to provide 
     advice and comment to the public housing agency or other 
     administering entity on issues related to public housing and 
     section 8. Such advisory board shall meet not less than 
     quarterly.
       Sec. 210.  No funds provided under this title may be used 
     for an audit of the Government National Mortgage Association 
     that makes applicable requirements under the Federal Credit 
     Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et seq.).
       Sec. 211. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     subject to the conditions listed under this section, for 
     fiscal years 2016 and 2017, the Secretary of Housing and 
     Urban Development may authorize the transfer of some or all 
     project-based assistance, debt held or insured by the 
     Secretary and statutorily required low-income and very low-
     income use restrictions if any, associated with one or more 
     multifamily housing project or projects to another 
     multifamily housing project or projects.
       (b) Phased Transfers.--Transfers of project-based 
     assistance under this section may be done in phases to 
     accommodate the financing and other requirements related to 
     rehabilitating or constructing the project or projects to 
     which the assistance is transferred, to ensure that such 
     project or projects meet the standards under subsection (c).

[[Page 18344]]

       (c) The transfer authorized in subsection (a) is subject to 
     the following conditions:
       (1) Number and bedroom size of units.--
       (A) For occupied units in the transferring project: The 
     number of low-income and very low-income units and the 
     configuration (i.e., bedroom size) provided by the 
     transferring project shall be no less than when transferred 
     to the receiving project or projects and the net dollar 
     amount of Federal assistance provided to the transferring 
     project shall remain the same in the receiving project or 
     projects.
       (B) For unoccupied units in the transferring project: The 
     Secretary may authorize a reduction in the number of dwelling 
     units in the receiving project or projects to allow for a 
     reconfiguration of bedroom sizes to meet current market 
     demands, as determined by the Secretary and provided there is 
     no increase in the project-based assistance budget authority.
       (2) The transferring project shall, as determined by the 
     Secretary, be either physically obsolete or economically 
     nonviable.
       (3) The receiving project or projects shall meet or exceed 
     applicable physical standards established by the Secretary.
       (4) The owner or mortgagor of the transferring project 
     shall notify and consult with the tenants residing in the 
     transferring project and provide a certification of approval 
     by all appropriate local governmental officials.
       (5) The tenants of the transferring project who remain 
     eligible for assistance to be provided by the receiving 
     project or projects shall not be required to vacate their 
     units in the transferring project or projects until new units 
     in the receiving project are available for occupancy.
       (6) The Secretary determines that this transfer is in the 
     best interest of the tenants.
       (7) If either the transferring project or the receiving 
     project or projects meets the condition specified in 
     subsection (d)(2)(A), any lien on the receiving project 
     resulting from additional financing obtained by the owner 
     shall be subordinate to any FHA-insured mortgage lien 
     transferred to, or placed on, such project by the Secretary, 
     except that the Secretary may waive this requirement upon 
     determination that such a waiver is necessary to facilitate 
     the financing of acquisition, construction, and/or 
     rehabilitation of the receiving project or projects.
       (8) If the transferring project meets the requirements of 
     subsection (d)(2), the owner or mortgagor of the receiving 
     project or projects shall execute and record either a 
     continuation of the existing use agreement or a new use 
     agreement for the project where, in either case, any use 
     restrictions in such agreement are of no lesser duration than 
     the existing use restrictions.
       (9) The transfer does not increase the cost (as defined in 
     section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as 
     amended) of any FHA-insured mortgage, except to the extent 
     that appropriations are provided in advance for the amount of 
     any such increased cost.
       (d) For purposes of this section--
       (1) the terms ``low-income'' and ``very low-income'' shall 
     have the meanings provided by the statute and/or regulations 
     governing the program under which the project is insured or 
     assisted;
       (2) the term ``multifamily housing project'' means housing 
     that meets one of the following conditions--
       (A) housing that is subject to a mortgage insured under the 
     National Housing Act;
       (B) housing that has project-based assistance attached to 
     the structure including projects undergoing mark to market 
     debt restructuring under the Multifamily Assisted Housing 
     Reform and Affordability Housing Act;
       (C) housing that is assisted under section 202 of the 
     Housing Act of 1959, as amended by section 801 of the 
     Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act;
       (D) housing that is assisted under section 202 of the 
     Housing Act of 1959, as such section existed before the 
     enactment of the Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable 
     Housing Act;
       (E) housing that is assisted under section 811 of the 
     Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act; or
       (F) housing or vacant land that is subject to a use 
     agreement;
       (3) the term ``project-based assistance'' means--
       (A) assistance provided under section 8(b) of the United 
     States Housing Act of 1937;
       (B) assistance for housing constructed or substantially 
     rehabilitated pursuant to assistance provided under section 
     8(b)(2) of such Act (as such section existed immediately 
     before October 1, 1983);
       (C) rent supplement payments under section 101 of the 
     Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965;
       (D) interest reduction payments under section 236 and/or 
     additional assistance payments under section 236(f)(2) of the 
     National Housing Act;
       (E) assistance payments made under section 202(c)(2) of the 
     Housing Act of 1959; and
       (F) assistance payments made under section 811(d)(2) of the 
     Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act;
       (4) the term ``receiving project or projects'' means the 
     multifamily housing project or projects to which some or all 
     of the project-based assistance, debt, and statutorily 
     required low-income and very low-income use restrictions are 
     to be transferred;
       (5) the term ``transferring project'' means the multifamily 
     housing project which is transferring some or all of the 
     project-based assistance, debt, and the statutorily required 
     low-income and very low-income use restrictions to the 
     receiving project or projects; and
       (6) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Housing 
     and Urban Development.
       (e) Public Notice and Research Report.--
       (1) The Secretary shall publish by notice in the Federal 
     Register the terms and conditions, including criteria for HUD 
     approval, of transfers pursuant to this section no later than 
     30 days before the effective date of such notice.
       (2) The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the 
     transfer authority under this section, including the effect 
     of such transfers on the operational efficiency, contract 
     rents, physical and financial conditions, and long-term 
     preservation of the affected properties.
       Sec. 212. (a) No assistance shall be provided under section 
     8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) 
     to any individual who--
       (1) is enrolled as a student at an institution of higher 
     education (as defined under section 102 of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002));
       (2) is under 24 years of age;
       (3) is not a veteran;
       (4) is unmarried;
       (5) does not have a dependent child;
       (6) is not a person with disabilities, as such term is 
     defined in section 3(b)(3)(E) of the United States Housing 
     Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(3)(E)) and was not receiving 
     assistance under such section 8 as of November 30, 2005; and
       (7) is not otherwise individually eligible, or has parents 
     who, individually or jointly, are not eligible, to receive 
     assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act 
     of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f).
       (b) For purposes of determining the eligibility of a person 
     to receive assistance under section 8 of the United States 
     Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f), any financial 
     assistance (in excess of amounts received for tuition and any 
     other required fees and charges) that an individual receives 
     under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et 
     seq.), from private sources, or an institution of higher 
     education (as defined under the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1002)), shall be considered income to that 
     individual, except for a person over the age of 23 with 
     dependent children.
       Sec. 213.  The funds made available under NAHASDA for 
     Native Alaskans under the heading ``Indian Block Grants'' in 
     title II of this Act shall be allocated to the same Native 
     Alaskan housing block grant recipients that received funds in 
     fiscal year 2005.
       Sec. 214.  Notwithstanding the limitation in the first 
     sentence of section 255(g) of the National Housing Act (12 
     U.S.C. 1715z-20(g)), the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development may, until September 30, 2016, insure and enter 
     into commitments to insure mortgages under such section 255.
       Sec. 215.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in 
     fiscal year 2016, in managing and disposing of any 
     multifamily property that is owned or has a mortgage held by 
     the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and during 
     the process of foreclosure on any property with a contract 
     for rental assistance payments under section 8 of the United 
     States Housing Act of 1937 or other Federal programs, the 
     Secretary shall maintain any rental assistance payments under 
     section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and other 
     programs that are attached to any dwelling units in the 
     property. To the extent the Secretary determines, in 
     consultation with the tenants and the local government, that 
     such a multifamily property owned or held by the Secretary is 
     not feasible for continued rental assistance payments under 
     such section 8 or other programs, based on consideration of 
     (1) the costs of rehabilitating and operating the property 
     and all available Federal, State, and local resources, 
     including rent adjustments under section 524 of the 
     Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 
     1997 (``MAHRAA'') and (2) environmental conditions that 
     cannot be remedied in a cost-effective fashion, the Secretary 
     may, in consultation with the tenants of that property, 
     contract for project-based rental assistance payments with an 
     owner or owners of other existing housing properties, or 
     provide other rental assistance. The Secretary shall also 
     take appropriate steps to ensure that project-based contracts 
     remain in effect prior to foreclosure, subject to the 
     exercise of contractual abatement remedies to assist 
     relocation of tenants for imminent major threats to health 
     and safety after written notice to and informed consent of 
     the affected tenants and use of other available remedies, 
     such as partial abatements or receivership. After disposition 
     of any multifamily property described under this section, the 
     contract and allowable rent levels on such properties shall 
     be subject to the requirements under section 524 of MAHRAA.
       Sec. 216.  The commitment authority funded by fees as 
     provided under the heading ``Community Development Loan 
     Guarantees Program Account'' may be used to guarantee, or 
     make commitments to guarantee, notes, or other obligations 
     issued by any State on behalf of non-entitlement communities 
     in the State in accordance with the requirements of section 
     108 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974:  
     Provided, That any State receiving such a guarantee or 
     commitment shall distribute all funds subject to such 
     guarantee to the units of general local government in non-
     entitlement areas that received the commitment.
       Sec. 217.  Public housing agencies that own and operate 400 
     or fewer public housing units may elect to be exempt from any 
     asset management requirement imposed by the Secretary of

[[Page 18345]]

     Housing and Urban Development in connection with the 
     operating fund rule:  Provided, That an agency seeking a 
     discontinuance of a reduction of subsidy under the operating 
     fund formula shall not be exempt from asset management 
     requirements.
       Sec. 218.  With respect to the use of amounts provided in 
     this Act and in future Acts for the operation, capital 
     improvement and management of public housing as authorized by 
     sections 9(d) and 9(e) of the United States Housing Act of 
     1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g(d) and (e)), the Secretary shall not 
     impose any requirement or guideline relating to asset 
     management that restricts or limits in any way the use of 
     capital funds for central office costs pursuant to section 
     9(g)(1) or 9(g)(2) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 
     (42 U.S.C. 1437g(g)(1), (2)):  Provided, That a public 
     housing agency may not use capital funds authorized under 
     section 9(d) for activities that are eligible under section 
     9(e) for assistance with amounts from the operating fund in 
     excess of the amounts permitted under section 9(g)(1) or 
     9(g)(2).
       Sec. 219.  No official or employee of the Department of 
     Housing and Urban Development shall be designated as an 
     allotment holder unless the Office of the Chief Financial 
     Officer has determined that such allotment holder has 
     implemented an adequate system of funds control and has 
     received training in funds control procedures and directives. 
     The Chief Financial Officer shall ensure that there is a 
     trained allotment holder for each HUD sub-office under the 
     accounts ``Executive Offices'' and ``Administrative Support 
     Offices,'' as well as each account receiving appropriations 
     for ``Program Office Salaries and Expenses'', ``Government 
     National Mortgage Association--Guarantees of Mortgage-Backed 
     Securities Loan Guarantee Program Account'', and ``Office of 
     Inspector General'' within the Department of Housing and 
     Urban Development.
       Sec. 220.  The Secretary of the Department of Housing and 
     Urban Development shall, for fiscal year 2016 and subsequent 
     fiscal years, notify the public through the Federal Register 
     and other means, as determined appropriate, of the issuance 
     of a notice of the availability of assistance or notice of 
     funding availability (NOFA) for any program or discretionary 
     fund administered by the Secretary that is to be 
     competitively awarded. Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, for fiscal year 2016 and subsequent fiscal years, the 
     Secretary may make the NOFA available only on the Internet at 
     the appropriate Government Web site or through other 
     electronic media, as determined by the Secretary.
       Sec. 221.  Payment of attorney fees in program-related 
     litigation shall be paid from the individual program office 
     and Office of General Counsel salaries and expenses 
     appropriations. The annual budget submission for the program 
     offices and the Office of General Counsel shall include any 
     such projected litigation costs for attorney fees as a 
     separate line item request. No funds provided in this title 
     may be used to pay any such litigation costs for attorney 
     fees until the Department submits for review and approval a 
     spending plan for such costs to the House and Senate 
     Committees on Appropriations.
       Sec. 222.  The Secretary of the Department of Housing and 
     Urban Development is authorized to transfer up to 5 percent 
     or $5,000,000, whichever is less, of the funds appropriated 
     for any office funded under the heading ``Administrative 
     Support Offices'' to any other office funded under such 
     heading:  Provided, That no appropriation for any office 
     funded under the heading ``Administrative Support Offices'' 
     shall be increased or decreased by more than 5 percent or 
     $5,000,000, whichever is less, without prior written approval 
     of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations:  
     Provided further, That the Secretary is authorized to 
     transfer up to 5 percent or $5,000,000, whichever is less, of 
     the funds appropriated for any account funded under the 
     general heading ``Program Office Salaries and Expenses'' to 
     any other account funded under such heading:  Provided 
     further, That no appropriation for any account funded under 
     the general heading ``Program Office Salaries and Expenses'' 
     shall be increased or decreased by more than 5 percent or 
     $5,000,000, whichever is less, without prior written approval 
     of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations:  
     Provided further, That the Secretary may transfer funds made 
     available for salaries and expenses between any office funded 
     under the heading ``Administrative Support Offices'' and any 
     account funded under the general heading ``Program Office 
     Salaries and Expenses'', but only with the prior written 
     approval of the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations.
       Sec. 223.  The Disaster Housing Assistance Programs, 
     administered by the Department of Housing and Urban 
     Development, shall be considered a ``program of the 
     Department of Housing and Urban Development'' under section 
     904 of the McKinney Act for the purpose of income 
     verifications and matching.
       Sec. 224. (a) The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall take the required actions under subsection 
     (b) when a multifamily housing project with a section 8 
     contract or contract for similar project-based assistance:
       (1) receives a Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) score 
     of 30 or less; or
       (2) receives a REAC score between 31 and 59 and:
       (A) fails to certify in writing to HUD within 60 days that 
     all deficiencies have been corrected; or
       (B) receives consecutive scores of less than 60 on REAC 
     inspections.
     Such requirements shall apply to insured and noninsured 
     projects with assistance attached to the units under section 
     8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f), 
     but do not apply to such units assisted under section 
     8(o)(13) (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)) or to public housing units 
     assisted with capital or operating funds under section 9 of 
     the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g).
       (b) The Secretary shall take the following required actions 
     as authorized under subsection (a)--
       (1) The Secretary shall notify the owner and provide an 
     opportunity for response within 30 days. If the violations 
     remain, the Secretary shall develop a Compliance, Disposition 
     and Enforcement Plan within 60 days, with a specified 
     timetable for correcting all deficiencies. The Secretary 
     shall provide notice of the Plan to the owner, tenants, the 
     local government, any mortgagees, and any contract 
     administrator.
       (2) At the end of the term of the Compliance, Disposition 
     and Enforcement Plan, if the owner fails to fully comply with 
     such plan, the Secretary may require immediate replacement of 
     project management with a management agent approved by the 
     Secretary, and shall take one or more of the following 
     actions, and provide additional notice of those actions to 
     the owner and the parties specified above:
       (A) impose civil money penalties;
       (B) abate the section 8 contract, including partial 
     abatement, as determined by the Secretary, until all 
     deficiencies have been corrected;
       (C) pursue transfer of the project to an owner, approved by 
     the Secretary under established procedures, which will be 
     obligated to promptly make all required repairs and to accept 
     renewal of the assistance contract as long as such renewal is 
     offered; or
       (D) seek judicial appointment of a receiver to manage the 
     property and cure all project deficiencies or seek a judicial 
     order of specific performance requiring the owner to cure all 
     project deficiencies.
       (c) The Secretary shall also take appropriate steps to 
     ensure that project-based contracts remain in effect, subject 
     to the exercise of contractual abatement remedies to assist 
     relocation of tenants for imminent major threats to health 
     and safety after written notice to and informed consent of 
     the affected tenants and use of other remedies set forth 
     above. To the extent the Secretary determines, in 
     consultation with the tenants and the local government, that 
     the property is not feasible for continued rental assistance 
     payments under such section 8 or other programs, based on 
     consideration of (1) the costs of rehabilitating and 
     operating the property and all available Federal, State, and 
     local resources, including rent adjustments under section 524 
     of the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability 
     Act of 1997 (``MAHRAA'') and (2) environmental conditions 
     that cannot be remedied in a cost-effective fashion, the 
     Secretary may, in consultation with the tenants of that 
     property, contract for project-based rental assistance 
     payments with an owner or owners of other existing housing 
     properties, or provide other rental assistance. The Secretary 
     shall report semi-annually on all properties covered by this 
     section that are assessed through the Real Estate Assessment 
     Center and have physical inspection scores of less than 30 or 
     have consecutive physical inspection scores of less than 60. 
     The report shall include:
       (1) The enforcement actions being taken to address such 
     conditions, including imposition of civil money penalties and 
     termination of subsidies, and identify properties that have 
     such conditions multiple times; and
       (2) Actions that the Department of Housing and Urban 
     Development is taking to protect tenants of such identified 
     properties.
       Sec. 225.  None of the funds made available by this Act, or 
     any other Act, for purposes authorized under section 8 (only 
     with respect to the tenant-based rental assistance program) 
     and section 9 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
     U.S.C. 1437 et seq.), may be used by any public housing 
     agency for any amount of salary, including bonuses, for the 
     chief executive officer of which, or any other official or 
     employee of which, that exceeds the annual rate of basic pay 
     payable for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule 
     at any time during any public housing agency fiscal year 
     2016.
       Sec. 226.  None of the funds in this Act may be available 
     for the doctoral dissertation research grant program at the 
     Department of Housing and Urban Development.
       Sec. 227.  Section 24 of the United States Housing Act of 
     1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437v) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (m)(1), by striking ``fiscal year'' and 
     all that follows through the period at the end and inserting 
     ``fiscal year 2016.''; and
       (2) in subsection (o), by striking ``September'' and all 
     that follows through the period at the end and inserting 
     ``September 30, 2016.''.
       Sec. 228.  None of the funds in this Act provided to the 
     Department of Housing and Urban Development may be used to 
     make a grant award unless the Secretary notifies the House 
     and Senate Committees on Appropriations not less than 3 full 
     business days before any project, State, locality, housing 
     authority, tribe, nonprofit organization, or other entity 
     selected to receive a grant award is announced by the 
     Department or its offices.
       Sec. 229.  Of the amounts made available for salaries and 
     expenses under all accounts under this title (except for the 
     Office of Inspector General account), a total of up to 
     $5,000,000 may be transferred to and merged with amounts made 
     available in the ``Information Technology Fund'' account 
     under this title.

[[Page 18346]]

       Sec. 230.  None of the funds made available by this Act nor 
     any receipts or amounts collected under any Federal Housing 
     Administration program may be used to implement the 
     Homeowners Armed with Knowledge (HAWK) program.
       Sec. 231.  None of the funds made available in this Act 
     shall be used by the Federal Housing Administration, the 
     Government National Mortgage Administration, or the 
     Department of Housing and Urban Development to insure, 
     securitize, or establish a Federal guarantee of any mortgage 
     or mortgage backed security that refinances or otherwise 
     replaces a mortgage that has been subject to eminent domain 
     condemnation or seizure, by a State, municipality, or any 
     other political subdivision of a State.
       Sec. 232.  None of the funds made available by this Act may 
     be used to terminate the status of a unit of general local 
     government as a metropolitan city (as defined in section 102 
     of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 
     U.S.C. 5302)) with respect to grants under section 106 of 
     such Act (42 U.S.C. 5306).
       Sec. 233.  Subsection (b) of section 225 of the Cranston-
     Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12755) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
     ``Such 30-day waiting period is not required if the grounds 
     for the termination or refusal to renew involve a direct 
     threat to the safety of the tenants or employees of the 
     housing, or an imminent and serious threat to the property 
     (and the termination or refusal to renew is in accordance 
     with the requirements of State or local law).''.
       Sec. 234.  None of the funds under this title may be used 
     for awards, including performance, special act, or spot, for 
     any employee of the Department of Housing and Urban 
     Development who is subject to administrative discipline in 
     fiscal year 2016, including suspension from work.
       Sec. 235.  The language under the heading ``Rental 
     Assistance Demonstration'' in the Department of Housing and 
     Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2012 (Public Law 112-
     55) is amended:
       (1) in proviso four, by striking ``185,000'' and inserting 
     ``200,000'';
       (2) in proviso eighteen, by inserting ``for fiscal year 
     2012 and hereafter,'' after ``Provided further, That''; and
       (3) In proviso nineteen, by striking ``, which may extend 
     beyond fiscal year 2016 as necessary to allow processing of 
     all timely applications,''.
       Sec. 236.  Section 9 of the United States Housing Act of 
     1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g) is amended by--
       (1) inserting at the end of subsection (j)--
       ``(7) Treatment of replacement reserve.--The requirements 
     of this subsection shall not apply to funds held in 
     replacement reserves established in subsection (9)(n).''; and
       (2) inserting at the end of subsection (m)--
       ``(n) Establishment of Replacement Reserves.--
       ``(1) In general.--Public Housing authorities shall be 
     permitted to establish a Replacement Reserve to fund any of 
     the capital activities listed in subparagraph (d)(1).
       ``(2) Source and amount of funds for replacement reserve.--
     At any time, a public housing authority may deposit funds 
     from that agency's Capital Fund into a replacement reserve 
     subject to the following:
       ``(A) At the discretion of the Secretary, public housing 
     agencies may transfer and hold in a Replacement Reserve, 
     funds originating from additional sources.
       ``(B) No minimum transfer of funds to a replacement reserve 
     shall be required.
       ``(C) At any time, a public housing authority may not hold 
     in a replacement reserve more than the amount the public 
     housing authority has determined necessary to satisfy the 
     anticipated capital needs of properties in its portfolio 
     assisted under 42 U.S.C. 1437g as outlined in its Capital 
     Fund 5 Year Action Plan, or a comparable plan, as determined 
     by the Secretary.
       ``(D) The Secretary may establish by regulation a maximum 
     replacement reserve level or levels that are below amounts 
     determined under subparagraph (C), which may be based upon 
     the size of the portfolio assisted under 42 U.S.C. 1437g or 
     other factors.
       ``(3) In first establishing a replacement reserve, the 
     Secretary may allow public housing agencies to transfer more 
     than 20 percent of its operating funds into its replacement 
     reserve.
       ``(4) Expenditure.--Funds in a replacement reserve may be 
     used for purposes authorized by subparagraph (d)(1) and 
     contained in its Capital Fund 5 Year Action Plan.
       ``(5) Management and report.--The Secretary shall establish 
     appropriate accounting and reporting requirements to ensure 
     that public housing agencies are spending funds on eligible 
     projects and that funds in the replacement reserve are 
     connected to capital needs.''.
       Sec. 237.  Section 9(g)(1) of the United States Housing Act 
     of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g(g)) is amended by--
       (1) inserting ``(A)'' immediately after the paragraph 
     designation;
       (2) by striking the period and inserting the following at 
     the end: ``; and''; and
       (3) inserting the following new paragraph:
       ``(B) Flexibility for operating fund amounts.--Of any 
     amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2016 or any fiscal year 
     thereafter that are allocated for fiscal year 2016 or any 
     fiscal year thereafter from the Operating Fund for any public 
     housing agency, the agency may use not more than 20 percent 
     for activities that are eligible under subsection (d) for 
     assistance with amounts from the Capital Fund, but only if 
     the public housing plan for the agency provides for such 
     use.''.
       Sec. 238.  Section 526 (12 U.S.C. 1735f-4) of the National 
     Housing Act is amended by inserting at the end of subsection 
     (b)--
       ``(c) The Secretary may establish an exception to any 
     minimum property standard established under this section in 
     order to address alternative water systems, including 
     cisterns, which meet requirements of State and local building 
     codes that ensure health and safety standards.''.
       Sec. 239.  The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
     shall increase, pursuant to this section, the number of 
     Moving-to-Work agencies authorized under section 204, title 
     II, of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and 
     Urban Development and Independent Agencies Appropriations 
     Act, 1996 (Public Law 104-134; 110 Stat. 1321) by adding to 
     the program 300 public housing agencies that are designated 
     as high performing agencies under the Public Housing 
     Assessment System (PHAS). No public housing agency shall be 
     granted this designation through this section that 
     administers in excess of 22,000 aggregate housing vouchers 
     and public housing units. Of the agencies selected under this 
     section, no less than 150 shall administer 600 or fewer 
     aggregate housing voucher and public housing units, no less 
     than 125 shall administer 601-5,000 aggregate housing voucher 
     and public housing units, and no more than 20 shall 
     administer 5,001-22,000 aggregate housing voucher and public 
     housing units. Of the 300 agencies selected under this 
     section, five shall be agencies with portfolio awards under 
     the Rental Assistance Demonstration that meet the other 
     requirements of this section. Selection of agencies under 
     this section shall be based on ensuring the geographic 
     diversity of Moving-to-Work agencies. The Secretary may, at 
     the request of a Moving-to-Work agency and one or more 
     adjacent public housing agencies in the same area, designate 
     that Moving-to-Work agency as a regional agency. A regional 
     Moving-to-Work agency may administer the assistance under 
     sections 8 and 9 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
     U.S.C. 1437f and g) for the participating agencies within its 
     region pursuant to the terms of its Moving-to-Work agreement 
     with the Secretary. The Secretary may agree to extend the 
     term of the agreement and to make any necessary changes to 
     accommodate regionalization. A Moving-to-Work agency may be 
     selected as a regional agency if the Secretary determines 
     that unified administration of assistance under sections 8 
     and 9 by that agency across multiple jurisdictions will lead 
     to efficiencies and to greater housing choice for low-income 
     persons in the region. For purposes of this expansion, in 
     addition to the provisions of the Act retained in section 
     204, section 8(r)(1) of the Act shall continue to apply 
     unless the Secretary determines that waiver of this section 
     is necessary to implement comprehensive rent reform and 
     occupancy policies subject to evaluation by the Secretary, 
     and the waiver contains, at a minimum, exceptions for 
     requests to port due to employment, education, health and 
     safety. No public housing agency granted this designation 
     through this section shall receive more funding under 
     sections 8 or 9 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 than 
     it otherwise would have received absent this designation. The 
     Secretary shall extend the current Moving-to-Work agreements 
     of previously designated participating agencies until the end 
     of each such agency's fiscal year 2028 under the same terms 
     and conditions of such current agreements, except for any 
     changes to such terms or conditions otherwise mutually agreed 
     upon by the Secretary and any such agency and such extension 
     agreements shall prohibit any statutory offset of any reserve 
     balances equal to four months of operating expenses. Any such 
     reserve balances that exceed such amount shall remain 
     available to any such agency for all permissible purposes 
     under such agreement unless subject to a statutory offset. In 
     addition to other reporting requirements, all Moving-to-Work 
     agencies shall report financial data to the Department of 
     Housing and Urban Development as specified by the Secretary, 
     so that the effect of Moving-to-Work policy changes can be 
     measured.
       Sec. 240.  Section 3(a) of the United States Housing Act of 
     1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(a)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(6) Reviews of family income.--
       ``(A) Frequency.--Reviews of family income for purposes of 
     this section shall be made--
       ``(i) in the case of all families, upon the initial 
     provision of housing assistance for the family; and
       ``(ii) no less than annually thereafter, except as provided 
     in subparagraph (B)(i);
       ``(B) Fixed-income families.--
       ``(i) Self certification and 3-year review.--In the case of 
     any family described in clause (ii), after the initial review 
     of the family's income pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i), the 
     public housing agency or owner shall not be required to 
     conduct a review of the family's income pursuant to 
     subparagraph (A)(ii) for any year for which such family 
     certifies, in accordance with such requirements as the 
     Secretary shall establish, that the income of the family 
     meets the requirements of clause (ii) of this subparagraph 
     and that the sources of such income have not changed since 
     the previous year, except that the public housing agency or 
     owner shall conduct a review of each such family's income not 
     less than once every 3 years.
       ``(ii) Eligible families.--A family described in this 
     clause is a family who has an income, as of the most recent 
     review pursuant to subparagraph (A) or clause (i) of this 
     subparagraph, of which 90 percent or more consists of fixed 
     income, as such term is defined in clause (iii).

[[Page 18347]]

       ``(iii) Fixed income.--For purposes of this subparagraph, 
     the term `fixed income' includes income from--

       ``(I) the supplemental security income program under title 
     XVI of the Social Security Act, including supplementary 
     payments pursuant to an agreement for Federal administration 
     under section 1616(a) of the Social Security Act and payments 
     pursuant to an agreement entered into under section 212(b) of 
     Public Law 93-66;
       ``(II) Social Security payments;
       ``(III) Federal, State, local and private pension plans; 
     and
       ``(IV) other periodic payments received from annuities, 
     insurance policies, retirement funds, disability or death 
     benefits, and other similar types of periodic receipts that 
     are of substantially the same amounts from year to year.

       ``(C) Inflationary adjustment for fixed income families.--
       ``(i) In general.--In any year in which a public housing 
     agency or owner does not conduct a review of income for any 
     family described in clause (ii) of subparagraph (B) pursuant 
     to the authority under clause (i) of such paragraph to waive 
     such a review, such family's prior year's income 
     determination shall, subject to clauses (ii) and (iii), be 
     adjusted by applying an inflationary factor as the Secretary 
     shall, by regulation or notice, establish.
       ``(ii) Exemption from adjustment.--A public housing agency 
     or owner may exempt from an adjustment pursuant to clause (i) 
     any income source for which income does not increase from 
     year to year.''.
       Sec. 241.  Section 8(x)(2) of the United States Housing Act 
     of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.), is amended by striking ``18 
     months'' and inserting ``36 months''.
       Sec. 242. (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Housing and 
     Urban Development shall establish a demonstration program 
     during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this 
     Act, and ending on September 30, 2020, entering into budget-
     neutral, performance-based agreements that result in a 
     reduction in energy or water costs with such entities as the 
     Secretary determines to be appropriate under which the 
     entities shall carry out projects for energy or water 
     conservation improvements at not more than 150,000 
     residential units in multifamily buildings participating in--
       (1) the Project-Based Rental Assistance program under 
     section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
     1437f), other than assistance provided under section 8(o) of 
     that Act;
       (2) the supportive Housing for the Elderly program under 
     section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 1701q); or
       (3) the supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities 
     program under section 811(d)(2) of the Cranston-Gonzalez 
     National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013(d)(2)).
       (b) Requirements.--
       (1) Payments contingent on savings.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall provide to an entity a 
     payment under an agreement under this section only during 
     applicable years for which an energy or water cost savings is 
     achieved with respect to the applicable multifamily portfolio 
     of properties, as determined by the Secretary, in accordance 
     with subparagraph (B).
       (B) Payment methodology.--
       (i) In general.--Each agreement under this section shall 
     include a pay-for-success provision--

       (I) that will serve as a payment threshold for the term of 
     the agreement; and
       (II) pursuant to which the Department of Housing and Urban 
     Development shall share a percentage of the savings at a 
     level determined by the Secretary that is sufficient to cover 
     the administrative costs of carrying out this section.

       (ii) Limitations.--A payment made by the Secretary under an 
     agreement under this section shall--

       (I) be contingent on documented utility savings; and
       (II) not exceed the utility savings achieved by the date of 
     the payment, and not previously paid, as a result of the 
     improvements made under the agreement.

       (C) Third party verification.--Savings payments made by the 
     Secretary under this section shall be based on a measurement 
     and verification protocol that includes at least--
       (i) establishment of a weather-normalized and occupancy-
     normalized utility consumption baseline established 
     preretrofit;
       (ii) annual third party confirmation of actual utility 
     consumption and cost for owner-paid utilities;
       (iii) annual third party validation of the tenant utility 
     allowances in effect during the applicable year and vacancy 
     rates for each unit type; and
       (iv) annual third party determination of savings to the 
     Secretary.
       (2) Term.--The term of an agreement under this section 
     shall be not longer than 12 years.
       (3) Entity eligibility.--The Secretary shall--
       (A) establish a competitive process for entering into 
     agreements under this section; and
       (B) enter into such agreements only with entities that 
     demonstrate significant experience relating to--
       (i) financing and operating properties receiving assistance 
     under a program described in subsection (a);
       (ii) oversight of energy and water conservation programs, 
     including oversight of contractors; and
       (iii) raising capital for energy and water conservation 
     improvements from charitable organizations or private 
     investors.
       (4) Geographical diversity.--Each agreement entered into 
     under this section shall provide for the inclusion of 
     properties with the greatest feasible regional and State 
     variance.
       (c) Plan and Reports.--
       (1) Plan.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a detailed plan 
     for the implementation of this section.
       (2) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
     shall--
       (A) conduct an evaluation of the program under this 
     section; and
       (B) submit to the House and Senate Committees on 
     Appropriations a report describing each evaluation conducted 
     under subparagraph (A).
       (d) Funding.--For each fiscal year during which an 
     agreement under this section is in effect, the Secretary may 
     use to carry out this section any funds appropriated for the 
     renewal of contracts under a program described in subsection 
     (a).
       Sec. 243. (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Housing and 
     Urban Development may establish, through notice in the 
     Federal Register, a demonstration program to incent public 
     housing agencies, as defined in section 3(b)(6) of the United 
     States Housing Act of 1937 (in this section referred to as 
     ``the Act''), to implement measures to reduce their energy 
     and water consumption.
       (b) Eligibility.--Public housing agencies that operate 
     public housing programs that meet the demonstration 
     requirements, as determined by the Secretary, shall be 
     eligible for participation in the demonstration.
       (c) Incentive.--The Secretary may provide an incentive to 
     an eligible public housing agency that uses capital funds, 
     operating funds, grants, utility rebates, and other resources 
     to reduce its energy and/or water consumption in accordance 
     with a plan approved by the Secretary.
       (1) Base utility consumption level.--The initial base 
     utility consumption level under the approved plan shall be 
     set at the public housing agency's rolling base consumption 
     level immediately prior to the installation of energy 
     conservation measures.
       (2) First year utility cost savings.--For the first year 
     that an approved plan is in effect, the Secretary shall 
     allocate the utility consumption level in the public housing 
     operating fund using the base utility consumption level.
       (3) Subsequent year savings.--For each subsequent year that 
     the plan is in effect, the Secretary shall decrease the 
     utility consumption level by one percent of the initial base 
     utility consumption level per year until the utility 
     consumption level equals the public housing agency's actual 
     consumption level that followed the installation of energy 
     conservation measures, at which time the plan will terminate.
       (4) Use of utility cost savings.--The public housing agency 
     may use the funds resulting from the energy conservation 
     measures, in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3), for 
     either operating expenses, as defined by section 9(e)(1) of 
     the Act, or capital improvements, as defined by section 
     9(d)(1) of the Act.
       (5) Duration of plan.--The length in years of the utility 
     conservation plan shall not exceed the number of percentage 
     points in utility consumption reduction a public housing 
     agency achieves through the energy conservation measures 
     implemented under this demonstration, but in no case shall it 
     exceed 20 years.
       (6) Other requirements.--The Secretary may establish such 
     other requirements as necessary to further the purposes of 
     this demonstration.
       (7) Evaluation.--Each public housing agency participating 
     in the demonstration shall submit to the Secretary such 
     performance and evaluation reports concerning the reduction 
     in energy consumption and compliance with the requirements of 
     this section as the Secretary may require.
       (d) Termination.--Public housing agencies may enter into 
     this demonstration for 5 years after the date on which the 
     demonstration program is commenced.
       Sec. 244. (a) Authority.--Subject to the conditions in 
     subsection (d), the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
     Development may authorize, in response to requests received 
     in fiscal years 2016 through 2020, the transfer of some or 
     all project-based assistance, tenant-based assistance, 
     capital advances, debt, and statutorily required use 
     restrictions from housing assisted under section 811 of the 
     Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 
     8013) to other new or existing housing, which may include 
     projects, units, and other types of housing, as permitted by 
     the Secretary.
       (b) Capital Advances.--Interest shall not be due and 
     repayment of a capital advance shall not be triggered by a 
     transfer pursuant to this section.
       (c) Phased and Proportional Transfers.--
       (1) Transfers under this section may be done in phases to 
     accommodate the financing and other requirements related to 
     rehabilitating or constructing the housing to which the 
     assistance is transferred, to ensure that such housing meets 
     the conditions under subsection (d).
       (2) The capital advance repayment requirements, use 
     restrictions, rental assistance, and debt shall transfer 
     proportionally from the transferring housing to the receiving 
     housing.
       (d) Conditions.--The transfers authorized by this section 
     shall be subject to the following conditions:
       (1) the owner of the transferring housing shall demonstrate 
     that the transfer is in compliance

[[Page 18348]]

     with applicable Federal, State, and local requirements 
     regarding Housing for Persons with Disabilities and shall 
     provide the Secretary with evidence of obtaining any 
     approvals related to housing disabled persons that are 
     necessary under Federal, State, and local government 
     requirements;
       (2) the owner of the transferring housing shall demonstrate 
     to the Secretary that any transfer is in the best interest of 
     the disabled residents by offering opportunities for 
     increased integration or less concentration of individuals 
     with disabilities;
       (3) the owner of the transferring housing shall continue to 
     provide the same number of units as approved for rental 
     assistance by the Secretary in the receiving housing;
       (4) the owner of the transferring housing shall consult 
     with the disabled residents in the transferring housing about 
     any proposed transfer under this section and shall notify the 
     residents of the transferring housing who are eligible for 
     assistance to be provided in the receiving housing that they 
     shall not be required to vacate the transferring housing 
     until the receiving housing is available for occupancy;
       (5) the receiving housing shall meet or exceed applicable 
     physical standards established or adopted by the Secretary; 
     and
       (6) if the receiving housing has a mortgage insured under 
     title II of the National Housing Act, any lien on the 
     receiving housing resulting from additional financing shall 
     be subordinate to any federally insured mortgage lien 
     transferred to, or placed on, such housing, except that the 
     Secretary may waive this requirement upon determination that 
     such a waiver is necessary to facilitate the financing of 
     acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of the receiving 
     housing.
       (e) Public Notice.--The Secretary shall publish a notice in 
     the Federal Register of the terms and conditions, including 
     criteria for the Department's approval of transfers pursuant 
     to this section no later than 30 days before the effective 
     date of such notice.
       Sec. 245. (a) Of the unobligated balances, including 
     recaptures and carryover, remaining from funds appropriated 
     to the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the 
     heading ``General and Special Risk Program Account'', and for 
     the cost of guaranteed notes and other obligations under the 
     heading ``Native American Housing Block Grants'', $12,000,000 
     is hereby rescinded.
       (b) All unobligated balances, including recaptures and 
     carryover, remaining from funds appropriated to the 
     Department of Housing and Urban Development under the 
     headings ``Rural Housing and Economic Development'', and 
     ``Homeownership and Opportunity for People Everywhere 
     Grants'' are hereby rescinded.
       Sec. 246.  Funds made available in this title under the 
     heading ``Homeless Assistance Grants'' may be used to 
     participate in Performance Partnership Pilots authorized 
     under section 526 of division H of Public Law 113-76, section 
     524 of division G of Public Law 113-235, and such authorities 
     enacted for Performance Partnership Pilots in an 
     appropriations Act for fiscal year 2016. Such participation 
     shall be targeted to improving the housing situation of 
     disconnected youth.
       Sec. 247.  Unobligated balances, including recaptures and 
     carryover, remaining from funds appropriated to the 
     Department of Housing and Urban Development for 
     administrative costs associated with funds appropriated to 
     the Department for specific disaster relief and related 
     purposes and designated by Congress as an emergency 
     requirement pursuant to a Concurrent Resolution on the Budget 
     or the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, 
     including information technology costs and costs for 
     administering and overseeing such specific disaster related 
     funds, shall be transferred to the Program Office Salaries 
     and Expenses, Community Planning and Development account for 
     the Department, shall remain available until expended, and 
     may be used for such administrative costs for administering 
     any funds appropriated to the Department for any disaster 
     relief and related purposes in any prior or future act, 
     notwithstanding the purposes for which such funds were 
     appropriated:  Provided, That amounts transferred pursuant to 
     this section that were previously designated by the Congress 
     as an emergency requirement pursuant to a Concurrent 
     Resolution on the Budget or the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act are designated by the Congress as an 
     emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of 
     the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 
     and shall be transferred only if the President subsequently 
     so designates the entire transfer and transmits such 
     designation to the Congress.
       Sec. 248.  None of the funds made available under this 
     title shall be used to enforce compliance with the Green 
     Physical Needs Assessment for public housing agencies with 
     250 housing units or less.
       This title may be cited as the ``Department of Housing and 
     Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2016''.

                               TITLE III

                            RELATED AGENCIES

                              Access Board

                         salaries and expenses

       For expenses necessary for the Access Board, as authorized 
     by section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 
     $8,023,000:  Provided, That, notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, there may be credited to this appropriation 
     funds received for publications and training expenses.

                      Federal Maritime Commission

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Federal Maritime Commission 
     as authorized by section 201(d) of the Merchant Marine Act, 
     1936, as amended (46 U.S.C. 307), including services as 
     authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109; hire of passenger motor vehicles 
     as authorized by 31 U.S.C. 1343(b); and uniforms or 
     allowances therefor, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5901-5902, 
     $25,660,000:  Provided, That not to exceed $2,000 shall be 
     available for official reception and representation expenses.

                National Railroad Passenger Corporation

                      Office of Inspector General

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General 
     for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to carry out 
     the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as 
     amended, $23,999,000:  Provided, That the Inspector General 
     shall have all necessary authority, in carrying out the 
     duties specified in the Inspector General Act, as amended (5 
     U.S.C. App. 3), to investigate allegations of fraud, 
     including false statements to the government (18 U.S.C. 
     1001), by any person or entity that is subject to regulation 
     by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation:  Provided 
     further, That the Inspector General may enter into contracts 
     and other arrangements for audits, studies, analyses, and 
     other services with public agencies and with private persons, 
     subject to the applicable laws and regulations that govern 
     the obtaining of such services within the National Railroad 
     Passenger Corporation:  Provided further, That the Inspector 
     General may select, appoint, and employ such officers and 
     employees as may be necessary for carrying out the functions, 
     powers, and duties of the Office of Inspector General, 
     subject to the applicable laws and regulations that govern 
     such selections, appointments, and employment within the 
     Corporation:  Provided further, That concurrent with the 
     President's budget request for fiscal year 2017, the 
     Inspector General shall submit to the House and Senate 
     Committees on Appropriations a budget request for fiscal year 
     2017 in similar format and substance to those submitted by 
     executive agencies of the Federal Government.

                  National Transportation Safety Board

                         salaries and expenses

       For necessary expenses of the National Transportation 
     Safety Board, including hire of passenger motor vehicles and 
     aircraft; services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, but at 
     rates for individuals not to exceed the per diem rate 
     equivalent to the rate for a GS-15; uniforms, or allowances 
     therefor, as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901-5902), 
     $105,170,000, of which not to exceed $2,000 may be used for 
     official reception and representation expenses. The amounts 
     made available to the National Transportation Safety Board in 
     this Act include amounts necessary to make lease payments on 
     an obligation incurred in fiscal year 2001 for a capital 
     lease.

                 Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation

          payment to the neighborhood reinvestment corporation

       For payment to the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation 
     for use in neighborhood reinvestment activities, as 
     authorized by the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 8101-8107), $140,000,000, of which $5,000,000 
     shall be for a multi-family rental housing program.

           United States Interagency Council on Homelessness

                           operating expenses

       For necessary expenses (including payment of salaries, 
     authorized travel, hire of passenger motor vehicles, the 
     rental of conference rooms, and the employment of experts and 
     consultants under section 3109 of title 5, United States 
     Code) of the United States Interagency Council on 
     Homelessness in carrying out the functions pursuant to title 
     II of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended, 
     $3,530,000. Title II of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11314) is amended in section 204(a) 
     by striking ``level V'' and inserting ``level IV''.

                                TITLE IV

                      GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS ACT

       Sec. 401.  None of the funds in this Act shall be used for 
     the planning or execution of any program to pay the expenses 
     of, or otherwise compensate, non-Federal parties intervening 
     in regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings funded in this Act.
       Sec. 402.  None of the funds appropriated in this Act shall 
     remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal 
     year, nor may any be transferred to other appropriations, 
     unless expressly so provided herein.
       Sec. 403.  The expenditure of any appropriation under this 
     Act for any consulting service through a procurement contract 
     pursuant to section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, 
     shall be limited to those contracts where such expenditures 
     are a matter of public record and available for public 
     inspection, except where otherwise provided under existing 
     law, or under existing Executive order issued pursuant to 
     existing law.
       Sec. 404. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act 
     may be obligated or expended for any employee training that--
       (1) does not meet identified needs for knowledge, skills, 
     and abilities bearing directly upon the performance of 
     official duties;
       (2) contains elements likely to induce high levels of 
     emotional response or psychological stress in some 
     participants;

[[Page 18349]]

       (3) does not require prior employee notification of the 
     content and methods to be used in the training and written 
     end of course evaluation;
       (4) contains any methods or content associated with 
     religious or quasi-religious belief systems or ``new age'' 
     belief systems as defined in Equal Employment Opportunity 
     Commission Notice N-915.022, dated September 2, 1988; or
       (5) is offensive to, or designed to change, participants' 
     personal values or lifestyle outside the workplace.
       (b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit, restrict, or 
     otherwise preclude an agency from conducting training bearing 
     directly upon the performance of official duties.
       Sec. 405.  Except as otherwise provided in this Act, none 
     of the funds provided in this Act, provided by previous 
     appropriations Acts to the agencies or entities funded in 
     this Act that remain available for obligation or expenditure 
     in fiscal year 2016, or provided from any accounts in the 
     Treasury derived by the collection of fees and available to 
     the agencies funded by this Act, shall be available for 
     obligation or expenditure through a reprogramming of funds 
     that:
       (1) creates a new program;
       (2) eliminates a program, project, or activity;
       (3) increases funds or personnel for any program, project, 
     or activity for which funds have been denied or restricted by 
     the Congress;
       (4) proposes to use funds directed for a specific activity 
     by either the House or Senate Committees on Appropriations 
     for a different purpose;
       (5) augments existing programs, projects, or activities in 
     excess of $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less;
       (6) reduces existing programs, projects, or activities by 
     $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less; or
       (7) creates, reorganizes, or restructures a branch, 
     division, office, bureau, board, commission, agency, 
     administration, or department different from the budget 
     justifications submitted to the Committees on Appropriations 
     or the table accompanying the explanatory statement 
     accompanying this Act, whichever is more detailed, unless 
     prior approval is received from the House and Senate 
     Committees on Appropriations:  Provided, That not later than 
     60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each agency 
     funded by this Act shall submit a report to the House and 
     Senate Committees on Appropriations to establish the baseline 
     for application of reprogramming and transfer authorities for 
     the current fiscal year:  Provided further, That the report 
     shall include:
       (A) a table for each appropriation with a separate column 
     to display the prior year enacted level, the President's 
     budget request, adjustments made by Congress, adjustments due 
     to enacted rescissions, if appropriate, and the fiscal year 
     enacted level;
       (B) a delineation in the table for each appropriation and 
     its respective prior year enacted level by object class and 
     program, project, and activity as detailed in the budget 
     appendix for the respective appropriation; and
       (C) an identification of items of special congressional 
     interest:  Provided further, That the amount appropriated or 
     limited for salaries and expenses for an agency shall be 
     reduced by $100,000 per day for each day after the required 
     date that the report has not been submitted to the House and 
     Senate Committees on Appropriations.
       Sec. 406.  Except as otherwise specifically provided by 
     law, not to exceed 50 percent of unobligated balances 
     remaining available at the end of fiscal year 2016 from 
     appropriations made available for salaries and expenses for 
     fiscal year 2016 in this Act, shall remain available through 
     September 30, 2017, for each such account for the purposes 
     authorized:  Provided, That a request shall be submitted to 
     the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations for 
     approval prior to the expenditure of such funds:  Provided 
     further, That these requests shall be made in compliance with 
     reprogramming guidelines under section 405 of this Act.
       Sec. 407.  No funds in this Act may be used to support any 
     Federal, State, or local projects that seek to use the power 
     of eminent domain, unless eminent domain is employed only for 
     a public use:  Provided, That for purposes of this section, 
     public use shall not be construed to include economic 
     development that primarily benefits private entities:  
     Provided further, That any use of funds for mass transit, 
     railroad, airport, seaport or highway projects, as well as 
     utility projects which benefit or serve the general public 
     (including energy-related, communication-related, water-
     related and wastewater-related infrastructure), other 
     structures designated for use by the general public or which 
     have other common-carrier or public-utility functions that 
     serve the general public and are subject to regulation and 
     oversight by the government, and projects for the removal of 
     an immediate threat to public health and safety or 
     brownsfields as defined in the Small Business Liability 
     Relief and Brownsfield Revitalization Act (Public Law 107-
     118) shall be considered a public use for purposes of eminent 
     domain.
       Sec. 408.  All Federal agencies and departments that are 
     funded under this Act shall issue a report to the House and 
     Senate Committees on Appropriations on all sole-source 
     contracts by no later than July 30, 2016. Such report shall 
     include the contractor, the amount of the contract and the 
     rationale for using a sole-source contract.
       Sec. 409.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality 
     of the United States Government, except pursuant to a 
     transfer made by, or transfer authority provided in, this Act 
     or any other appropriations Act.
       Sec. 410.  None of the funds made available in this Act 
     shall be available to pay the salary for any person filling a 
     position, other than a temporary position, formerly held by 
     an employee who has left to enter the Armed Forces of the 
     United States and has satisfactorily completed his or her 
     period of active military or naval service, and has within 90 
     days after his or her release from such service or from 
     hospitalization continuing after discharge for a period of 
     not more than 1 year, made application for restoration to his 
     or her former position and has been certified by the Office 
     of Personnel Management as still qualified to perform the 
     duties of his or her former position and has not been 
     restored thereto.
       Sec. 411.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be expended by an entity unless the entity agrees that in 
     expending the assistance the entity will comply with sections 
     2 through 4 of the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a-10c, 
     popularly known as the ``Buy American Act'').
       Sec. 412.  None of the funds made available in this Act 
     shall be made available to any person or entity that has been 
     convicted of violating the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 10a-
     10c).
       Sec. 413.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used for first-class airline accommodations in 
     contravention of sections 301-10.122 and 301-10.123 of title 
     41, Code of Federal Regulations.
       Sec. 414. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act 
     may be used to approve a new foreign air carrier permit under 
     sections 41301 through 41305 of title 49, United States Code, 
     or exemption application under section 40109 of that title of 
     an air carrier already holding an air operators certificate 
     issued by a country that is party to the U.S.-E.U.-Iceland-
     Norway Air Transport Agreement where such approval would 
     contravene United States law or Article 17 bis of the U.S.-
     E.U.-Iceland-Norway Air Transport Agreement.
       (b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit, restrict or 
     otherwise preclude the Secretary of Transportation from 
     granting a foreign air carrier permit or an exemption to such 
     an air carrier where such authorization is consistent with 
     the U.S.-E.U.-Iceland-Norway Air Transport Agreement and 
     United States law.
       Sec. 415.  None of the funds made available in this Act may 
     be used to send or otherwise pay for the attendance of more 
     than 50 employees of a single agency or department of the 
     United States Government, who are stationed in the United 
     States, at any single international conference unless the 
     relevant Secretary reports to the House and Senate Committees 
     on Appropriations at least 5 days in advance that such 
     attendance is important to the national interest:  Provided, 
     That for purposes of this section the term ``international 
     conference'' shall mean a conference occurring outside of the 
     United States attended by representatives of the United 
     States Government and of foreign governments, international 
     organizations, or nongovernmental organizations.
       This Act may be cited as the ``Transportation, Housing and 
     Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 
     2016''.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine.


                 Committee-Reported Amendment Withdrawn

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
committee-reported amendment be withdrawn.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I 
understand that we are moving to consideration of the Transportation 
and HUD appropriations bill. Is that correct, Mr. President?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.
  Mr. WICKER. Reserving the right to object, just for point of 
clarification, I am under the assumption that the bill will move under 
regular order requiring a 50-vote threshold for all amendments.
  I ask, through the Chair, if the Senator from Maine can tell me if I 
am operating under the correct assumption.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I want to assure the Senator from 
Mississippi that for germane amendments, regular order will be in 
effect.
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I thank the Senator for her assurance, and 
I withdraw my objection.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is withdrawn.


                           Amendment No. 2812

                (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I send a substitute amendment to the 
desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Maine [Ms. Collins] proposes an amendment 
     numbered 2812.

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading 
of the amendment be dispensed with.

[[Page 18350]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of 
Amendments.'')


                Amendment No. 2813 to Amendment No. 2812

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I send a first-degree amendment to the 
desk and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Maine [Ms. Collins] proposes an amendment 
     numbered 2813 to amendment No. 2812.

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading 
of the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

                (Purpose: To make a technical amendment)

       On page 55, line 22, strike ``2015'' and insert ``2016''.

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I am pleased to begin the floor 
consideration of the fiscal year 2016 appropriations bill for 
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies. 
This bill funds programs that are essential to the American people. Our 
bill provides $18.5 billion for the Department of Transportation and 
$38.5 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to 
meet the housing needs of low-income, disabled, and older Americans, to 
shelter the homeless and to boost our economy and to create jobs 
through much-needed investments in our roads, bridges, seaports, 
railroads, transit systems, and airports.
  Let me begin my remarks by thanking the chairman of the full 
committee, Senator Cochran, and the vice chairman, Senator Mikulski, 
for their leadership in advancing these appropriations bills. As 
Chairman Cochran has previously noted, this is the first time in 6 
years that the Appropriations Committee has approved all 12 of the 
funding bills, and I will point out that we did so months ago. I also 
wish to thank and acknowledge the hard work of the ranking member of 
the subcommittee, Senator Jack Reed. I am very pleased that he is 
cosponsoring this legislation and that we are offering these substitute 
amendments that have just been filed together. The two of us have 
worked very closely in drafting this bill, and we have listened to the 
recommendations from Members on both sides of the aisle. Through 
considerable negotiation and compromise, we have crafted a bipartisan 
bill that targets limited resources to those programs that meet our 
most essential transportation and housing needs.
  As a result of hard work and compromise by many of our colleagues and 
the administration, the recent bipartisan budget bill allows the 
legislation before us today to be made even more effective. As I 
mentioned, I have offered on behalf of Senator Reed and myself a 
substitute that reflects the new allocation made possible by the budget 
agreement. This additional funding has allowed for further investments 
in key programs, such as increasing the HOME Program by $830 million 
for a total of $900 million, increasing the Community Development Block 
Grant Program by $100 million for a total of $3 billion. I must note 
that those are the current funding levels.
  The bill also provides $255 million in additional funds for the FAA's 
facilities and equipment account for a total of $2.8 billion, which is 
the budget-requested level to ensure that critical aviation programs 
are not delayed. These programs offer a wide range of support, from 
space-based surveillance, data communications, to everyday basic needs, 
ensuring that power systems are fully supplied to support the aviation 
and air traffic systems that operate 24 hours, 7 days a week.
  We have also allocated an additional $100 million for the TIGER 
Program for a total of $600 million for this important and much-in-
demand program that supports infrastructure, economic development, and 
job creation throughout the Nation. In fact, every State in the Nation 
has benefited from the TIGER Program.
  We are bringing the Maritime Security Program up by $24 million for a 
total of $210 million to match the recently passed authorized level.
  Finally, we are providing an additional $311 million for FTA's 
Capital Investment Grants Program, for a total of approximately $1.9 
billion, which supports transit systems across the country.
  This bill is critical to meeting the vast needs of our Nation's 
crumbling infrastructure. We have all heard of the low grades that the 
American Association of Civil Engineers has given to our bridges and 
highways. Many of us--particularly those of us who represent large 
rural States--know about the deplorable conditions of far too many of 
our roads and highways and the need for the State departments of 
transportation to post bridges that are no longer able to accommodate 
weight loads and modern traffic.
  The TIGER Program will help us meet the needs of our crumbling 
infrastructure. This highly competitive program creates jobs and 
supports economic growth in every one of our States. The need for the 
program is demonstrated by the statistics. Listen to this, my 
colleagues: The Department of Transportation has received 627 eligible 
applications requesting more than $10 billion for fiscal year 2015 from 
all over the country, but only 39 of those 627 eligible applications 
were able to be funded. Only $500 million of the more than $10.1 
billion in requested funds could be granted. This is a successful 
program with an overwhelming demand, and I am happy that the new 
allocation allows us to give it a modest increase. It doesn't begin to 
match the application level for this program, which, again, is a 
reflection of our infrastructure needs in this country.
  Turning to air travel, the aviation investments will continue to 
modernize our Nation's air traffic system and help to keep rural 
communities connected to the transportation network. These investments 
are creating safer skies and a more efficient airspace to move the 
flying public.
  I have been very troubled by the devastating rail accidents that have 
occurred in recent years. In 2013, the runaway train near the Maine 
border in the Province of Quebec, Canada, devastated the community of 
Lac-Megantic, and the inferno killed 47 people. First responders from 
Maine responded to the calls for help from their Canadian counterparts 
and helped to put out that terrible fire. More recently, we saw an 
Amtrak train in Pennsylvania derail, killing eight passengers. We have 
seen case after case of railcars turning over and spilling hazardous 
substances. This is a real problem, and it is one this bill addresses. 
To improve rail safety, our legislation provides $50 million in new 
funding
for infrastructure improvements, rail grade crossings, and positive 
train control safety technology.
  In addition to rail, we have included several important provisions to 
enhance truck safety on our Nation's highways. For example, our bill 
requires the Department of Transportation to finalize a rule mandating 
electronic logging devices within 60 days of enactment. This rule is 
critical to ensuring that bad actors will not be able to falsify their 
records. It will bring greater accountability to the industry. It helps 
those good truck drivers, the vast majority of our truck drivers. It 
separates them from the bad apples who are falsifying their logs.
  The bill also requires the Department of Transportation to publish a 
proposed rule on speed governors, which limit the speed at which trucks 
can operate. The Department has delayed this important rulemaking 22 
times since 2011. It is far past time to get this important safety rule 
completed and to implement it. It isn't just the ranking member and I 
who think so, this is also supported by the trucking industry itself.
  We need to make progress in both the areas of electronic logs and 
speed governors, and our bill will ensure that that occurs.

[[Page 18351]]

  We also provide funding for the Office of Defects Investigation at 
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to analyze 
consumers' complaints and trends related to vehicle safety defects. The 
Presiding Officer may recall that this agency came under scrutiny this 
past year for failing to discover and act on defective airbags, as well 
as faulty ignition safety switches. We must ensure that remedies are 
implemented promptly and make certain the public is better informed of 
critical defects.
  Our bill also provides for critical housing programs. It preserves 
existing rental assistance for vulnerable families and individuals, and 
it improves the Federal response to the problem of youth homelessness. 
Both of these were priorities for me. I wanted to make sure that those 
vulnerable, low-income families, our disabled citizens, and low-income 
seniors did not lose the subsidized housing to which they are entitled 
and in which they are already living. So that is a very important 
provision. I would note, when we look at the budget of the Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, that more than 83 percent of the 
budget is devoted to these programs that are so vital to ensuring safe 
and affordable housing for some of the most vulnerable Americans.
  Improving the Federal response to homelessness is also an important 
priority for me. That is why we placed a special emphasis in this bill 
on the growing problem of youth homelessness, and we have funded 
additional vouchers for what is known as the VASH Program that is aimed 
at our homeless veterans. Sufficient funding is provided to keep pace 
with the rising cost of housing vulnerable families. I will note that 
doing so this year has been especially challenging, given the 
administration's decision to lower mortgage insurance premiums, because 
that reduced FHA receipts by nearly $1.1 billion, but despite this 
challenge, this bill, by setting priorities, ensures that the more than 
4.7 million individuals and families currently housed will not have to 
worry about losing their assistance. Again, let me emphasize, without 
this assistance, many of these families, many of our disabled 
Americans, and many of our low-income seniors could become homeless. We 
are preventing that.
  The increase in youth homelessness is especially troubling and 
warrants more attention. Reflecting this concern, $40 million is 
provided to expand efforts to reduce youth homelessness. In addition, 
the bill includes funding for more than 2,500 family unification 
vouchers to assist our young people who are exiting the foster care 
system, and it extends the amount of time these youth can use their 
vouchers.
  I am sure if the Presiding Officer talked to foster youth in his 
State, the situation would be the same as mine. He would find that when 
they reach a certain age, they are no longer eligible for care by 
foster families and they have nowhere to go. Oftentimes, they end up in 
shelters. That is not an acceptable situation. So by expanding these 
family unification vouchers, we are hoping to ensure that these youth 
are not homeless or forced to live in shelters.
  These efforts build on our success in reducing veterans' 
homelessness. We have had real success in this area. VASH is a program 
that actually works. We have reduced the number of homeless veterans by 
one-third, but the job is not done. We have a goal in this country of 
ending homelessness among our veterans who have served our country. We 
provide an additional 10,000 vouchers for our homeless veterans so we 
can complete our work and reach that goal.
  Our bill is also an important source for local development. We worked 
hard to provide $3 billion for the Community Development Block Grant 
Programs. This is an extremely popular program with the States and 
communities because it allows them to tailor Federal funds to support 
local economic and job creation projects. In fact, in my State, it is 
one of the most popular economic development programs--and I think that 
is true across America--because it isn't a top-down Federal Government 
dictating how the funds are used; instead, there is great flexibility 
in providing funds to States and communities, and they decide what is 
needed. They match the funds. There is often private sector money 
involved as well which may be used to revitalize the downtown to build 
affordable housing or whatever that particular community decides will 
spur economic development and create jobs. This is a job creation 
program, and it is one that is flexible and recognizes that those at 
the local and State level know best what their economic development and 
job creation priorities are.
  The bill before us does not solve all of the problems facing housing 
and transportation in this country. We simply do not have the money to 
do that, even with the higher allocation, in this era where we are 
facing a $17 trillion debt. This is a fiscally responsible bill. It 
reflects priorities. We cannot fund every good program out there. We 
have to make choices. We certainly don't want to fund programs that are 
not effective. We have put our money on our priority programs that will 
make a real difference.
  I appreciate the opportunity to present our appropriations bill to 
this Chamber. Again, I want to thank my ranking member, Senator Jack 
Reed, with whom we have worked very closely on the substitute 
amendment.
  As we begin debate on the Transportation-HUD appropriations bill, I 
urge my colleagues to consider the careful balance struck by the 
compromise that our subcommittee and our full committee worked so hard 
to achieve.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise with my colleague Senator Collins in 
support of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development 
appropriations bill before us.
  I begin first by commending the chairman for her extraordinary work, 
her thoughtful, careful consideration of all of these issues, and her 
willingness to include priorities of members on both sides. As always, 
she did this in a fair, considerate, and transparent manner, along with 
the staff who also did a remarkable job. So I thank her for her 
leadership and for her consideration.
  As a result of the budget agreement, we have a higher allocation--an 
allocation that will allow us to make more responsible investments in 
key transportation and housing initiatives that will help grow our 
economy, create jobs, strengthen neighborhoods, and better meet our 
affordable housing goals throughout the country. We need to improve 
housing stability for our most vulnerable citizens, and this allocation 
will allow us to preserve HUD's housing and homeless assistance 
programs, which are vital to our Nation's security and the progress and 
opportunity for all of our people.
  Over half of HUD's rental assistance goes to support someone who is 
elderly or disabled or both, so these programs are particularly 
important for seniors and for Americans with disabilities who need the 
kind of security that only adequate housing can give. Without these 
programs, frankly, many of these individuals would be homeless or 
paying more than half of their income in rent alone and, as a result, 
unable to support the other basics of life, including food and clothing 
and just basically getting around.
  Overall, this bill makes important contributions toward improving the 
safety of our roads--another area of our responsibility is 
transportation--in helping people better connect to jobs and 
opportunities. It is often overlooked that housing is critical in every 
aspect, particularly in being able to get and maintain a job, and that 
certainly is something we want to encourage. Also, these investments 
can serve as a catalyst for economic development, enhancing the 
community, preserving community assets, allowing Federal resources to 
leverage--many times over, in some cases--private resources and local 
resources.
  Among the critical transportation investments that this bill provides 
is $16 billion to the Federal Aviation Administration, fully funding 
the agency's budget request for air traffic control, safety oversight, 
and its facilities and

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equipment. Again, so much of our commercial activity depends upon a 
solid aviation infrastructure. We are fully funding their request, 
ensuring that they have adequate infrastructure, particularly when it 
comes to air traffic control in an age in which there are technological 
revolutions, causing them to reinvest constantly in better equipment 
and better preparation. For the past 3 years, in fact, maintenance on 
the agency's basic infrastructure has been deferred so the air traffic 
control challenges could be met and could be fully funded, but that is 
not a sustainable long-term strategy. The bill in front of us today, 
under the leadership of the chairman, puts the FAA back on track, and 
we want to keep it on track.
  As the chairman has pointed out, in the transportation area, $600 
million is allocated for the TIGER Program, which fully funds local 
solutions to transportation problems. One of the commendable aspects--
and there are many in this program--is these are localities coming to 
the Department of Transportation with specific requests that they know 
will help their economy, that will help move people and goods and 
services and improve the competitiveness of not only the locality but 
the Nation.
  In addition to that, $41 billion in highway grants and another $8.6 
billion in transit formula grants are allocated that States and local 
government rely on every year.
  In addition to these provisions, the bill makes strong investments in 
Amtrak and rail safety, providing $50 million for rail safety grants 
and targeted new investments along the Northeast corridor, which is one 
of the major thoroughfares of commerce and travel in our country.
  It also allows the Federal Railroad Administration to hire 84 new 
inspectors and safety staff to address the safe transportation of 
passengers and energy products. We have seen repeated incidents of 
tragic accidents caused by outdated equipment and caused by many 
factors. We hope that with this legislation, we will not only reduce 
them but eliminate them.
  We have also seen accidents in the center of the United States, in 
the far West, where products were being transported by rail and there 
were problems there too. Again, these energy products are necessary for 
the whole economy, and we need to be on the job inspecting, to ensure 
that they are moving safely through all of our communities.
  These investments are necessary. They are necessary for safety, they 
are necessary for efficiency, and they are necessary to build the kind 
of transportation system that supports jobs and economic growth. I 
think most people--and most people back home, certainly--understand the 
connection between good infrastructure, good jobs, and a prosperous 
economy. They get it, and this legislation gets it also.
  At the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the bill makes 
important investments in our communities. Again, as the chairman has 
pointed out, the Community Development Block Grant Program--CDBG--is an 
extraordinarily effective tool for local governments to spur innovation 
and economic investment. Again, as the chairman indicated, it comes 
from the bottom up, not the top down. It allows mayors and city 
councils and local planning agencies that are able to utilize this 
money in combination with other resources to fund projects that make 
their communities more effective and more efficient. It is based upon 
their perspective, not our perspective, and it is a very efficient and 
very helpful program. It gives communities the tools to address their 
ailing infrastructure problems, and it brings critical services to many 
who need them the most.
  The legislation also includes additional resources for affordable 
housing production through the HOME Program--an investment we know is 
necessary as our Nation faces a lack of affordable housing nationwide.
  The bill also protects some of our most vulnerable citizens by 
providing critical resources to prevent and end homelessness, among 
veterans and youth in particular. This bill provides an additional 
10,000 vouchers to move us closer to eliminating homelessness among our 
Nation's veterans. Just a few days ago we celebrated Veterans Day, but 
we can't celebrate it 1 day a year, we have to celebrate it every day. 
One way we can do that is to put the resources where they need to be so 
every veteran, we hope, can achieve affordable, decent, and safe 
housing. In that way, we celebrate their service every day, and this 
bill tries to do that. We have already seen success in this regard--
about a 33-percent reduction in veterans' homelessness since 2009--but 
it is not good enough. There is still work to be done. That is a 
commitment that Senator Collins and I share, and her leadership has 
helped us move forward to achieve that objective.
  Youth experiences in homelessness is another phenomenon, and the 
chairman spoke very eloquently about the fact that we are able to 
target resources to help some of these programs for young people to 
find homes. In particular, the chairman made the point about young 
people who are aging out of foster care. We have a fairly substantial 
system to help young people until they reach their adulthood, and after 
that it seems to go away. And so with resources we are helping children 
through foster homes and suddenly they have to go and they are on their 
own. This legislation is going to help them make a transition, at least 
to have the housing they need so they can use their skills productively 
for the benefit of everyone.
  It also helps us improve coordination across the government so that 
these young people don't fall through the cracks. Some of it is 
resources and some of it is just working together cooperatively in a 
governmentwide approach and the legislation helps encourage that.
  As I said and as I am repeating what the chairman said so well, 
homelessness is a barrier to education, employment, and opportunity. If 
you have to move three or four times a year and you are a young child, 
your education is going to be very challenging from school to school to 
school. If you are a person who doesn't have an address or moves 
frequently, how do you get that callback for the job interview if they 
can't find you and you can't find them? All of this instability can be 
significantly reduced and opportunity better achieved if we have 
dependable housing, and that is at the essence of our proposal today. 
So it applies to youth, families, and it applies to a whole span of 
Americans. Again, let me thank the Senator for her leadership in 
crafting this bill. On the whole it achieves a balanced compromise that 
responds to the priorities of the Members of this Chamber within the 
allocation we received.
  We don't have unlimited resources so we had to figure out innovative 
ways to deliver better results with what we have, and I think we have 
gone a long way in doing that. We also have to continue to look to the 
future: making smart investments today that will help us build a much 
better tomorrow with a better transportation system, better housing 
options and, again, this legislation does that.
  As with any legislative proposal, there are aspects of the 
legislation that could be improved. I hope we can improve them going 
forward. There are provisions, for example, with respect to addressing 
the safety of double 33 trailers which already passed the Senate on a 
bipartisan basis. Those are issues that we can and must work on to go 
forward, but overall this proposal does a great deal to respond to the 
needs of the American public.
  Again, let me thank the chairman. It has been very challenging, but 
it is very enjoyable to work with her. We also have quickly an omnibus 
we must prepare. So we are literally going from the floor to meet with 
our colleagues, so hopefully we can pull this all together so we will 
have the opportunity to present to the full Senate a bill that is 
thoughtful and achieves the needs of our people.
  With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.


            Unanimous Consent Agreement--Executive Calendar

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 5 p.m.,

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on Monday, November 30, the Senate proceed to executive session to 
consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 268; that there be 30 
minutes of debate equally divided in the usual form; that following the 
use or yielding back of time, the Senate vote on the nomination without 
intervening action or debate; that following disposition of the 
nomination, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon 
the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions 
be in order to the nomination; that any statements related to the 
nomination be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately 
notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative 
session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Maine.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I just want to make a brief announcement 
before yielding to Senator Blunt and Senator Klobuchar, and that is 
that we are open for business as far as amendments are concerned.
  I would invite my colleagues to start sharing their proposals with 
Senator Reed, with me, and with our staffs so we can see if there are 
some that can be cleared, and perhaps, later in the day, we can move by 
unanimous consent a package of those that are acceptable and 
noncontroversial to both sides. The sooner we can get going on the 
review of those amendments, the better. I would encourage my colleagues 
to proceed.
  I thank the Chair, and I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Missouri is recognized.

                          ____________________