
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-116 Section 601(a)]
[CITE: 42USC1437]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                      CHAPTER 8--LOW-INCOME HOUSING
 
            SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL PROGRAM OF ASSISTED HOUSING
 
Sec. 1437. Declaration of policy and public housing agency 
        organization
        

(a) Declaration of policy

    It is the policy of the United States--
        (1) to promote the general welfare of the Nation by employing 
    the funds and credit of the Nation, as provided in this chapter--
            (A) to assist States and political subdivisions of States to 
        remedy the unsafe housing conditions and the acute shortage of 
        decent and safe dwellings for low-income families;
            (B) to assist States and political subdivisions of States to 
        address the shortage of housing affordable to low-income 
        families; and
            (C) consistent with the objectives of this subchapter, to 
        vest in public housing agencies that perform well, the maximum 
        amount of responsibility and flexibility in program 
        administration, with appropriate accountability to public 
        housing residents, localities, and the general public;

        (2) that the Federal Government cannot through its direct action 
    alone provide for the housing of every American citizen, or even a 
    majority of its citizens, but it is the responsibility of the 
    Government to promote and protect the independent and collective 
    actions of private citizens to develop housing and strengthen their 
    own neighborhoods;
        (3) that the Federal Government should act where there is a 
    serious need that private citizens or groups cannot or are not 
    addressing responsibly; and
        (4) that our Nation should promote the goal of providing decent 
    and affordable housing for all citizens through the efforts and 
    encouragement of Federal, State, and local governments, and by the 
    independent and collective actions of private citizens, 
    organizations, and the private sector.

(b) Public housing agency organization

                       (1) Required membership

        Except as provided in paragraph (2), the membership of the board 
    of directors or similar governing body of each public housing agency 
    shall contain not less than 1 member--
            (A) who is directly assisted by the public housing agency; 
        and
            (B) who may, if provided for in the public housing agency 
        plan, be elected by the residents directly assisted by the 
        public housing agency.

                            (2) Exception

        Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any public housing agency--
            (A) that is located in a State that requires the members of 
        the board of directors or similar governing body of a public 
        housing agency to be salaried and to serve on a full-time basis; 
        or
            (B) with less than 300 public housing units, if--
                (i) the agency has provided reasonable notice to the 
            resident advisory board of the opportunity of not less than 
            1 resident described in paragraph (1) to serve on the board 
            of directors or similar governing body of the public housing 
            agency pursuant to such paragraph; and
                (ii) within a reasonable time after receipt by the 
            resident advisory board established by the agency pursuant 
            to section 1437c-1(e) of this title of notice under clause 
            (i), the public housing agency has not been notified of the 
            intention of any resident to participate on the board of 
            directors.

                        (3) Nondiscrimination

        No person shall be prohibited from serving on the board of 
    directors or similar governing body of a public housing agency 
    because of the residence of that person in a public housing project 
    or status as assisted under section 1437f of this title.

(Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896, title I, Sec. 2, as added Pub. L. 93-383, title 
II, Sec. 201(a), Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 653; amended Pub. L. 97-35, 
title III, Sec. 322(c), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 402; renumbered title I, 
Pub. L. 100-358, Sec. 5, June 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 681; Pub. L. 101-625, 
title V, Sec. 572(2), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4236; Pub. L. 105-276, 
title V, Sec. 505, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2522.)


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 2 of act Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896, 50 Stat. 888, 
related to definitions and was classified to section 1402 of this title, 
prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 93-383.
    Prior similar provisions were contained in section 1 of act Sept. 1, 
1937, ch. 896, 50 Stat. 888, which was classified to section 1401 of 
this title prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 93-
383.


                               Amendments

    1998--Pub. L. 105-276 amended section catchline and text generally. 
Prior to amendment, text read as follows: ``It is the policy of the 
United States to promote the general welfare of the Nation by employing 
its funds and credit, as provided in this chapter, to assist the several 
States and their political subdivisions to remedy the unsafe and 
unsanitary housing conditions and the acute shortage of decent, safe, 
and sanitary dwellings for families of lower income and, consistent with 
the objectives of this chapter, to vest in local public housing agencies 
the maximum amount of responsibility in the administration of their 
housing programs. No person should be barred from serving on the board 
of directors or similar governing body of a local public housing agency 
because of his tenancy in a low-income housing project.''
    1990--Pub. L. 101-625 substituted ``low-income housing'' for ``lower 
income housing''.
    1981--Pub. L. 97-35 substituted reference to lower income for 
reference to low income in two places.


                    Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

    Pub. L. 105-276, title V, Sec. 503, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2521, 
provided that:
    ``(a) In General.--The amendments under this title [see Tables for 
classification] are made on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 
21, 1998], but this title shall take effect, and the amendments made by 
this title shall apply beginning upon, October 1, 1999, except--
        ``(1) as otherwise specifically provided in this title; or
        ``(2) as otherwise specifically provided in any amendment made 
    by this title.
The Secretary may, by notice, implement any provision of this title or 
any amendment made by this title before such date, except to the extent 
that such provision or amendment specifically provides otherwise.
    ``(b) Savings Provision.--Notwithstanding any amendment under this 
title that is made (in accordance with subsection (a)) on the date of 
the enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1998] but applies beginning on 
October 1, 1999, the provisions of law amended by such amendment, as 
such provisions were in effect immediately before the making of such 
amendment, shall continue to apply during the period beginning on the 
date of the enactment of this Act and ending upon October 1, 1999, 
unless otherwise specifically provided by this title.
    ``(c) Technical Recommendations.--Not later than 9 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1998], the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 
Senate and the Committee on Banking and Financial Services of the House 
of Representatives, recommended technical and conforming legislative 
changes necessary to carry out this title and the amendments made by 
this title.
    ``(d) List of Obsolete Documents.--Not later than October 1, 1999, 
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall cause to be 
published in the Federal Register a list of all rules, regulations, and 
orders (including all handbooks, notices, and related requirements) 
pertaining to public housing or section 8 [42 U.S.C. 1437f] tenant-based 
programs issued or promulgated under the United States Housing Act of 
1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.] before the date of the enactment of this 
Act [Oct. 21, 1998] that are or will be obsolete because of the 
enactment of this Act or are otherwise obsolete.
    ``(e) Protection of Certain Regulations.--No provision of this title 
may be construed to repeal the regulations of the Secretary regarding 
tenant participation and tenant opportunities in public housing (24 
C.F.R. 964).
    ``(g)[(f)] Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the 
date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1998].''


                    Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 97-35 effective Oct. 1, 1981, see section 371 
of Pub. L. 97-35, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3701 
of Title 12, Banks and Banking.


                             Effective Date

    Section 201(b) of Pub. L. 93-383 provided that: ``The provisions of 
subsection (a) of this section [enacting sections 1437 to 1437j of this 
title] shall be effective on such date or dates as the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development shall prescribe, but not later than 
eighteen months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 22, 
1974]; except that (1) all of the provisions of section 3(1) of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended by subsection (a) of this 
section [section 1437a(1) of this title], shall become effective on the 
same date, (2) all of the provisions of sections 5 and 9(c) of such Act 
as so amended [sections 1437c and 1437g(c) of this title] shall become 
effective on the same date, and (3) section 8 of such Act [section 1437f 
of this title] as so amended shall be effective not later than January 
1, 1975.''
    Section 3(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, 
effective Sept. 26, 1975, see Effective Date note set out under section 
1437a of this title.


                      Short Title of 1998 Amendment

    Pub. L. 105-276, title V, Sec. 501(a), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 
2518, provided that: ``This title [see Tables for classification] may be 
cited as the `Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998'.''


                      Short Title of 1988 Amendment

    Section 1 of Pub. L. 100-358 provided that: ``This Act [enacting 
sections 1437aa to 1437ee of this title, amending sections 1437a and 
1437c of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under 
section 1437a of this title] may be cited as the `Indian Housing Act of 
1988'.''


                               Short Title

    Section 1 of title I of act Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896, as added by 
section 201(a) of Pub. L. 93-383; renumbered title I, June 29, 1988, 
Pub. L. 100-358, Sec. 5, 102 Stat. 681, provided that: ``This Act 
[enacting this chapter] may be cited as the `United States Housing Act 
of 1937'.''


            Applicability of 1996 Amendments; Indian Housing

    Pub. L. 104-204, title II, Sec. 201(d), Sept. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 
2893, provided that: ``In accordance with section 201(b)(2) of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937 [former 42 U.S.C. 1437aa(b)(2)], the 
amendments made by subsections (a), (b), and (c) [amending provisions 
set out as notes under sections 1437a, 1437c, and 1437l of this title] 
shall apply to public housing developed or operated pursuant to a 
contract between the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and an 
Indian housing authority.''
    Pub. L. 104-134, title I, Sec. 101(e) [title II, Sec. 201(a)(3)], 
Apr. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 1321-257, 1321-278; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 
104-140, Sec. 1(a), May 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 1327, provided that: ``In 
accordance with section 201(b)(2) of the United States Housing Act of 
1937 [former 42 U.S.C. 1437aa(b)(2)], the amendment made by this 
subsection [amending section 1437l of this title] shall apply to public 
housing developed or operated pursuant to a contract between the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and an Indian housing 
authority.''
    Pub. L. 104-134, title I, Sec. 101(e) [title II, Sec. 201(b)(3)], 
Apr. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 1321-257, 1321-278; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 
104-140, Sec. 1(a), May 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 1327, provided that: ``In 
accordance with section 201(b)(2) of the United States Housing Act of 
1937 [former 42 U.S.C. 1437aa(b)(2)], the amendments made by this 
subsection [amending section 1437p of this title and provisions set out 
as a note under section 1437c of this title] and by sections 1002(a), 
(b), and (c) of Public Law 104-19 [amending sections 1437c, 1437p, and 
1437aaa-3 of this title] shall apply to public housing developed or 
operated pursuant to a contract between the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development and an Indian housing authority.''
    Pub. L. 104-99, title IV, Sec. 402(e), Jan. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 43, 
which provided that amendments made by section 402(a) to (d) and (f) of 
Pub. L. 104-99 were also to apply to public housing developed or 
operated pursuant to contract between Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development and an Indian housing authority, was repealed by Pub. L. 
105-276, title V, Sec. 595(e)(16), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2659.


            Applicability of 1990 Amendments; Indian Housing

    Section 103(b) of Pub. L. 102-550 provided that:
    ``(1) In general.--In accordance with section 201(b)(2) of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937 ([former] 42 U.S.C. 1437aa(b)(2)), the 
provisions of sections 572, 573, and 574 of the Cranston-Gonzalez 
National Affordable Housing Act [Pub. L. 101-625, amending this section 
and sections 1437a, 1437b to 1437d, 1437f, 1437g, 1437i, 1437j, 1437l, 
1437n, 1437p, 1437r, 1437s, and 1437aa to 1437dd of this title, 
repealing section 1437o of this title, and enacting provisions set out 
as notes under section 1437a of this title] shall apply to public 
housing developed or operated pursuant to a contract between the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and an Indian Housing 
Authority.
    ``(2) Effective date.--Paragraph (1) shall take effect as if such 
provision were enacted upon the date of the enactment of the Cranston-
Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act [Nov. 28, 1990].''
    Section 419 of title IV of Pub. L. 101-625 provided that: ``In 
accordance with section 201(b)(2) of the United States Housing Act of 
1937 [former 42 U.S.C. 1437aa(b)(2)], the amendments made by this 
subtitle [subtitle A (Secs. 411-419) of title IV of Pub. L. 101-625, 
enacting subchapter II-A of this chapter and amending sections 1437c, 
1437f, 1437l, 1437p, 1437r, and 1437s of this title] shall also apply to 
public housing developed or operated pursuant to a contract between the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and an Indian housing 
authority, except that nothing in this title [see Short Title note set 
out under section 1437aaa of this title] affects the program under 
section 202 of such Act [former 42 U.S.C. 1437bb].''
    Section 527 of Pub. L. 101-625 provided that: ``In accordance with 
section 201(b)(2) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ([former] 42 
U.S.C. 1437aa(b)(2)), the provisions of this subtitle [subtitle A 
(Secs. 501-527) of title V of Pub. L. 101-625, see Tables for 
classification] that modify the public housing program under title I of 
the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.] shall 
also apply to public housing developed or operated pursuant to a 
contract between the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and an 
Indian housing authority, except that sections 502 and 510 [amending 
sections 1437d and 1437l of this title and enacting provisions set out 
as notes under section 1437d of this title] shall not apply.''


            Applicability of 1989 Amendments; Indian Housing

    Pub. L. 101-235, title I, Sec. 101(d), Dec. 15, 1989, 103 Stat. 
1990, provided that: ``In accordance with section 201(b)(2) of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937 [former 42 U.S.C. 1437aa(b)(2)], the 
amendments made by subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section 
[amending section 1439 of this title] shall also apply to public housing 
developed or operated pursuant to a contract between the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development and an Indian housing authority.''
    Pub. L. 101-235, title I, Sec. 104(c), Dec. 15, 1989, 103 Stat. 
1998, provided that: ``In accordance with section 201(b)(2) of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937 [former 42 U.S.C. 1437aa(b)(2)], the 
amendment made by subsection (a) [amending section 1439 of this title] 
and the provisions of subsection (b) of this section [set out as an 
Effective Date of 1989 Amendment note under section 1439 of this title] 
shall also apply to public housing developed or operated pursuant to a 
contract between the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and an 
Indian housing authority.''


                    Funding of Certain Public Housing

    Pub. L. 105-276, title II, Sec. 226, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2490, 
provided that: ``Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no funds in 
this Act or any other Act may hereafter be used by the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development to determine allocations or provide 
assistance for operating subsidies or modernization for certain State 
and city funded and locally developed public housing units, as defined 
for purposes of a statutory paragraph, notwithstanding the deeming by 
statute of such units to be public housing units developed under the 
United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.], unless such 
unit was so assisted before October 1, 1998.''


            Congressional Statement of Findings and Purposes

    Pub. L. 105-276, title V, Sec. 502, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2520, 
provided that:
    ``(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
        ``(1) there exists throughout the Nation a need for decent, 
    safe, and affordable housing;
        ``(2) the inventory of public housing units owned, assisted, or 
    operated by public housing agencies, an asset in which the Federal 
    Government has invested over $90,000,000,000, has traditionally 
    provided rental housing that is affordable to low-income persons;
        ``(3) despite serving this critical function, the public housing 
    system is plagued by a series of problems, including the 
    concentration of very poor people in very poor neighborhoods and 
    disincentives for economic self-sufficiency;
        ``(4) the Federal method of overseeing every aspect of public 
    housing by detailed and complex statutes and regulations has 
    aggravated the problem and has placed excessive administrative 
    burdens on public housing agencies; and
        ``(5) the interests of low-income persons, and the public 
    interest, will best be served by a reformed public housing program 
    that--
            ``(A) consolidates many public housing programs into 
        programs for the operation and capital needs of public housing;
            ``(B) streamlines program requirements;
            ``(C) vests in public housing agencies that perform well the 
        maximum feasible authority, discretion, and control with 
        appropriate accountability to public housing residents, 
        localities, and the general public; and
            ``(D) rewards employment and economic self-sufficiency of 
        public housing residents.
    ``(b) Purposes.--The purpose of this title [see Tables for 
classification] is to promote homes that are affordable to low-income 
families in safe and healthy environments, and thereby contribute to the 
supply of affordable housing, by--
        ``(1) deregulating and decontrolling public housing agencies, 
    thereby enabling them to perform as property and asset managers;
        ``(2) providing for more flexible use of Federal assistance to 
    public housing agencies, allowing the authorities to leverage and 
    combine assistance amounts with amounts obtained from other sources;
        ``(3) facilitating mixed income communities and decreasing 
    concentrations of poverty in public housing;
        ``(4) increasing accountability and rewarding effective 
    management of public housing agencies;
        ``(5) creating incentives and economic opportunities for 
    residents of dwelling units assisted by public housing agencies to 
    work, become self-sufficient, and transition out of public housing 
    and federally assisted dwelling units;
        ``(6) consolidating the voucher and certificate programs for 
    rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act 
    of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f] into a single market-driven program that 
    will assist in making tenant-based rental assistance under such 
    section more successful at helping low-income families obtain 
    affordable housing and will increase housing choice for low-income 
    families; and
        ``(7) remedying the problems of troubled public housing agencies 
    and replacing or revitalizing severely distressed public housing 
    projects.''


                        Mental Health Action Plan

    Pub. L. 105-276, title V, Sec. 517, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2550, 
provided that: ``The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the 
Secretary of Labor, and appropriate State and local officials and 
representatives, shall--
        ``(1) develop an action plan and list of recommendations for the 
    improvement of means of providing severe mental illness treatment to 
    families and individuals receiving housing assistance under the 
    United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.], 
    including public housing residents, residents of multifamily housing 
    assisted with project-based assistance under section 8 of such Act 
    [42 U.S.C. 1437f], and recipients of tenant-based assistance under 
    such section; and
        ``(2) develop and disseminate a list of current practices among 
    public housing agencies and owners of assisted housing that serve to 
    benefit persons in need of mental health care.''


                              Annual Report

    Pub. L. 105-276, title V, Sec. 581, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2643, 
provided that:
    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1998], and annually thereafter, the 
Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress on--
        ``(1) the impact of the amendments made by this Act [Pub. L. 
    105-276, see Tables for classification] on--
            ``(A) the demographics of public housing residents and 
        families receiving tenant-based assistance under the United 
        States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.]; and
            ``(B) the economic viability of public housing agencies; and
        ``(2) the effectiveness of the rent policies established by this 
    Act and the amendments made by this Act on the employment status and 
    earned income of public housing residents.
    ``(b) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the date of 
the enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1998].''


                        Use of American Products

    Pub. L. 105-276, title V, Sec. 584, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2645, 
provided that:
    ``(a) Purchase of American-Made Equipment and Products.--It is the 
sense of the Congress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all 
equipment and products purchased with funds made available in this Act 
[Pub. L. 105-276, see Tables for classification] should be American 
made.
    ``(b) Notice Requirement.--In providing financial assistance to, or 
entering into any contract with, any entity using funds made available 
in this Act, the head of each Federal agency, to the greatest extent 
practicable, shall provide to such entity a notice describing the 
statement made in subsection (a) by the Congress.
    ``(c) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the date of 
the enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1998].''


              GAO Study on Housing Assistance Program Costs

    Pub. L. 105-276, title V, Sec. 585, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2645, 
provided that:
    ``(a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study that provides an objective and independent accounting 
and analysis of the full cost to the Federal Government, public housing 
agencies, State and local governments, and other entities, per assisted 
household, of the Federal assisted housing programs, taking into account 
the qualitative differences among Federal assisted housing programs in 
accordance with applicable standards of the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development.
    ``(b) Contents.--The study under this section shall--
        ``(1) analyze the full cost to the Federal Government, public 
    housing agencies, State and local governments, and other parties, 
    per assisted household, of the Federal assisted housing programs, in 
    accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and shall 
    conduct the analysis on a nationwide and regional basis and in a 
    manner such that accurate per unit cost comparisons may be made 
    between Federal assisted housing programs, including grants, direct 
    subsidies, tax concessions, Federal mortgage insurance liability, 
    periodic renovation and rehabilitation, and modernization costs, 
    demolition costs, and other ancillary costs such as security; and
        ``(2) measure and evaluate qualitative differences among Federal 
    assisted housing programs in accordance with applicable standards of 
    the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    ``(c) Prohibition of Recommendations.--In conducting the study under 
this section and reporting under subsection (e), the Comptroller General 
may not make any recommendations regarding Federal housing policy.
    ``(d) Federal Assisted Housing Programs.--For purposes of this 
section, the term `Federal assisted housing programs' means--
        ``(1) the public housing program under the United States Housing 
    Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.], except that the study under 
    this section shall differentiate between and compare the development 
    and construction of new public housing and the assistance of 
    existing public housing structures;
        ``(2) the certificate program for rental assistance under 
    section 8(b)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 
    1437f(b)(1)];
        ``(3) the voucher program for rental assistance under section 
    8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)];
        ``(4) the programs for project-based assistance under section 8 
    of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f];
        ``(5) the rental assistance payments program under section 
    521(a)(2)(A) of the Housing Act of 1949 [42 U.S.C. 1490a(a)(2)(A)];
        ``(6) the program for housing for the elderly under section 202 
    of the Housing Act of 1959 [12 U.S.C. 1701q];
        ``(7) the program for housing for persons with disabilities 
    under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable 
    Housing Act [42 U.S.C. 8013];
        ``(8) the program for financing housing by a loan or mortgage 
    insured under section 221(d)(3) of the National Housing Act [12 
    U.S.C. 1715l(d)(3)] that bears interest at a rate determined under 
    the proviso of section 221(d)(5) of such Act [12 U.S.C. 
    1715l(d)(5)];
        ``(9) the program under section 236 of the National Housing Act 
    [12 U.S.C. 1715z-1];
        ``(10) the program for construction or substantial 
    rehabilitation under section 8(b)(2) of the United States Housing 
    Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437f(b)(2)], as in effect before October 1, 
    1983; and
        ``(11) any other program for housing assistance administered by 
    the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or the Secretary of 
    Agriculture, under which occupancy in the housing assisted or 
    housing assistance provided is based on income, as the Comptroller 
    General may determine.
    ``(e) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1998], the Comptroller General shall 
submit to the Congress a final report which shall contain the results of 
the study under this section, including the analysis and estimates 
required under subsection (b).
    ``(f) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the date of 
the enactment of this Act [Oct. 21, 1998].''


         Limitation on Withholding or Conditioning of Assistance

    Assistance provided for in Housing and Community Development Act of 
1974 [42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.], National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1701 et 
seq.], United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.], 
Housing Act of 1949 [see Short Title note set out under section 1441 of 
this title], Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 
1966 [see Short Title note set out under section 3301 of this title], 
and Housing and Urban Development Acts of 1965, 1968, 1969, and 1970 not 
to be withheld or made subject to conditions by reason of tax-exempt 
status of obligations issued or to be issued for financing of 
assistance, except as otherwise provided by law, see section 817 of Pub. 
L. 93-383, set out as a note under section 5301 of this title.
