Protecting Rural Housing Act of 2020
This bill addresses housing affordability, including by establishing a pilot grant program for government or nonprofit entities that primarily serve rural areas to support the development or rehabilitation of housing that is affordable for low-income families.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8661 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8661
To address the housing needs in rural communities in the United States,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 23, 2020
Ms. Finkenauer (for herself and Mr. Riggleman) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To address the housing needs in rural communities in the United States,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Rural Housing Act of
2020''.
SEC. 2. HUD REPORT ON ACTIONS TO ADDRESS LANDLORDS.
(a) In General.--Not later than the expiration of the 12-month
period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall submit a report to the
Congress identifying any legislative and regulatory actions and changes
needed to hold accountable and punish owners of housing that is
assisted under the housing choice voucher program under section 8 of
the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)) who violate
the requirements of such program or operate in bad faith with respect
to such requirements. Such report shall include recommendations
regarding the circumstances under which such assistance should be
recovered from such owners.
(b) Consultation.--In conducting any analysis for, and preparing,
the report required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult
with the Secretary of Agriculture, State and local governments,
advocates for tenants' right, and public housing agencies.
SEC. 3. RURAL HOUSING RELIEF PILOT PROGRAM.
Title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 14) is amended by
inserting after section 538 (42 U.S.C. 1490p-2) the following new
section:
``SEC. 539. RURAL HOUSING RELIEF PILOT PROGRAM.
``(a) Affordable Housing Grants.--The Secretary may make grants
under this section to eligible entities described in subsection (b)
that primarily serve rural areas for purposes described in subsection
(c).
``(b) Eligible Entities.--The Secretary may make grants under this
subsection only to--
``(1) State or local governmental agencies or entities;
``(2) Indian tribes; and
``(3) nonprofit entities.
``(c) Eligible Activities.--Amounts from a grant under this Act may
be used only to support or acquire housing that is affordable to low-
income families or to finance, assist, or otherwise benefit the
development or rehabilitation of such housing, including for--
``(1) costs of construction, development, rehabilitation,
or acquisition of such housing, including predevelopment costs;
``(2) costs of demolition of substandard housing, with or
without development of replacement affordable housing;
``(3) relocation of residents of substandard housing or
residents of housing during rehabilitation of housing that is
affordable to low-income families;
``(4) purchase of housing by or for low-income families in
rural areas;
``(5) construction, development, installation, or
rehabilitation of related infrastructure for housing that is
affordable to low-income families;
``(6) establishment of revolving loan funds to finance and
assist carrying out other eligible activities under this
subsection; and
``(7) such other purposes as the Secretary may provide.
``(d) Cost-Sharing.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall require each eligible entity receiving a grant
under this section to contribute to the cost of activities to
be carried out with such grant amounts an amount that is equal
to or exceeding 10 percent of the total cost of such
activities. In the case of eligible entities that are State
agencies or entities, such contributed amount shall be derived
from non-Federal sources.
``(2) Exception.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case
of any activities carried out with grant amounts in any area
with respect to which a major disaster was declared by the
President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) during the
5-year period ending upon approval of the application for a
grant under this section to carry out such activities, but not
including the major disaster declared by reason of the novel
coronavirus (COVID-19).
``(e) Reports.--Not later than September 30, 2025, the Secretary
shall submit a report to the Congress describing the activities carried
out with grants under this section and evaluating the effectiveness of
the program under this section in developing and rehabilitating housing
that is affordable to low-income families.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary for grants under this section
$100,000,000 for fiscal year 2021, which amount shall remain available
until September 30, 2024.''.
SEC. 4. STUDY OF RHS HOME OWNERSHIP OUTREACH EFFORTS.
The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a study to determine the
efficacy and effectiveness of outreach and education activities of the
Rural Housing Service of the Department of Agriculture regarding the
programs of such Service that assist families to achieve home
ownership, including the single family housing direct and guaranteed
home loan programs under section 502 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42
U.S.C. 1472). Not later than the expiration of the 12-month period
beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act the Secretary shall
submit a report to the Congress setting forth the findings of such
study.
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
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