The purpose of this subchapter is to supplement the existing systems of mortgage insurance for rental housing under this chapter by a special system of insurance designed to encourage equity investment in rental housing at rents within the capacity of families of moderate income. To effectuate this purpose, the Secretary is authorized, upon application by the investor, to insure as hereinafter provided, and, prior to the execution of insurance contracts and upon such terms as the Secretary shall prescribe, to make commitments to insure, the minimum annual amortization charge and an annual return on the outstanding investment of such investor in any project which is eligible for insurance as hereinafter provided in an amount (herein called the “insured annual return”) equal to such rate of return, not exceeding 2¾ per centum per annum, on such outstanding investment as shall, after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, be fixed in the insurance contract or in the commitment to insure: *Provided*, That any insurance contract made pursuant to this subchapter shall expire as of the first day of the operating year for which the outstanding investment amounts to not more than 10 per centum of the established investment.

(June 27, 1934, ch. 847, title VII, §701, as added Aug. 10, 1948, ch. 832, title IV, §401, 62 Stat. 1276; amended Apr. 20, 1950, ch. 94, title I, §122, 64 Stat. 59; Pub. L. 86–372, title I, §118, Sept. 23, 1959, 73 Stat. 664; Pub. L. 90–19, §1(a)(3), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 17.)

**1967**—Pub. L. 90–19 substituted “Secretary” for “Commissioner” wherever appearing.

**1959**—Pub. L. 86–372 struck out provisions which limited the aggregate amount of contingent liabilities outstanding at any one time under insurance contracts and commitments to insure made pursuant to this subchapter to not more than $1,000,000,000.

**1950**—Act Apr. 20, 1950, substituted “Commissioner” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

Section 505 of act Aug. 10, 1948, provided that: “Except as may be otherwise expressly provided in this Act [sections 1701c, 1701e to 1701g–3, 1702, 1703, 1709, 1710, 1713, 1716, 1738, 1743 to 1746 and 1747 to 1747*l* of this title, section 846 of former Title 31, Money and Finance, section 694 of former Title 38, Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans’ Relief, and section 1404a of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare], all powers and authorities conferred by this Act shall be cumulative and additional to and not in derogation of any powers and authorities otherwise existing. Notwithstanding any other evidences of the intention of Congress, it is hereby declared to be the controlling intent of Congress that if any provisions of this Act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances, shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this Act or its application to other persons and circumstances, but shall be confined in its operation to the provisions of this Act, or the application thereof to the persons and circumstances, directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.”

Section 504 of act Aug. 10, 1948, provided that: “Insofar as the provisions of any other law are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act [sections 1701c, 1701e to 1701g–3, 1702, 1703, 1709, 1710, 1713, 1716, 1738, 1743 to 1746 and 1747 to 1747*l* of this title, section 846 of former Title 31, Money and Finance, section 694 of former Title 38, Pensions, Bonuses, and Veterans’ Relief, and section 1404a of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare], the provisions of this Act shall be controlling.”