
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC4621]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
CHAPTER 61--UNIFORM RELOCATION ASSISTANCE AND REAL PROPERTY ACQUISITION 
          POLICIES FOR FEDERAL AND FEDERALLY ASSISTED PROGRAMS
 
              SUBCHAPTER II--UNIFORM RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
 
Sec. 4621. Declaration of findings and policy


(a) Findings

    The Congress finds and declares that--
        (1) displacement as a direct result of programs or projects 
    undertaken by a Federal agency or with Federal financial assistance 
    is caused by a number of activities, including rehabilitation, 
    demolition, code enforcement, and acquisition;
        (2) relocation assistance policies must provide for fair, 
    uniform, and equitable treatment of all affected persons;
        (3) the displacement of businesses often results in their 
    closure;
        (4) minimizing the adverse impact of displacement is essential 
    to maintaining the economic and social well-being of communities; 
    and
        (5) implementation of this chapter has resulted in burdensome, 
    inefficient, and inconsistent compliance requirements and procedures 
    which will be improved by establishing a lead agency and allowing 
    for State certification and implementation.

(b) Policy

    This subchapter establishes a uniform policy for the fair and 
equitable treatment of persons displaced as a direct result of programs 
or projects undertaken by a Federal agency or with Federal financial 
assistance. The primary purpose of this subchapter is to ensure that 
such persons shall not suffer disproportionate injuries as a result of 
programs and projects designed for the benefit of the public as a whole 
and to minimize the hardship of displacement on such persons.

(c) Congressional intent

    It is the intent of Congress that--
        (1) Federal agencies shall carry out this subchapter in a manner 
    which minimizes waste, fraud, and mismanagement and reduces 
    unnecessary administrative costs borne by States and State agencies 
    in providing relocation assistance;
        (2) uniform procedures for the administration of relocation 
    assistance shall, to the maximum extent feasible, assure that the 
    unique circumstances of any displaced person are taken into account 
    and that persons in essentially similar circumstances are accorded 
    equal treatment under this chapter;
        (3) the improvement of housing conditions of economically 
    disadvantaged persons under this subchapter shall be undertaken, to 
    the maximum extent feasible, in coordination with existing Federal, 
    State, and local governmental programs for accomplishing such goals; 
    and
        (4) the policies and procedures of this chapter will be 
    administered in a manner which is consistent with fair housing 
    requirements and which assures all persons their rights under title 
    VIII of the Act of April 11, 1968 (Public Law 90-284), commonly 
    known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968 [42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.], and 
    title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.].

(Pub. L. 91-646, title II, Sec. 201, Jan. 2, 1971, 84 Stat. 1895; Pub. 
L. 100-17, title IV, Sec. 404, Apr. 2, 1987, 101 Stat. 248.)

                       References in Text

    This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(5) and (c)(2), (4), was in 
the original ``this Act'', meaning Pub. L. 91-646, Jan. 2, 1971, 84 
Stat. 1894, known as the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property 
Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, which enacted this chapter, amended 
sections 1415, 2473, and 3307 of this title and section 1606 of former 
Title 49, Transportation, repealed sections 1465 and 3071 to 3074 of 
this title, section 2680 of Title 10, Armed Forces, sections 141 and 501 
to 512 of Title 23, Highways, section 596 of Title 33, Navigation and 
Navigable Waters, sections 1231 to 1234 of Title 43, Public Lands, and 
enacted provisions set out as notes under sections 4601, 4621, and 4651 
of this title and under section 501 of Title 23. For complete 
classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out 
under section 4601 of this title and Tables.
    This subchapter, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (c)(1), (3), was in 
the original ``this title'', meaning title II of Pub. L. 91-646, Jan. 2, 
1971, 84 Stat. 1895, which enacted this subchapter, amended sections 
1415, 2473, and 3307 of this title and section 1606 of former Title 49, 
repealed sections 1465 and 3074 of this title, section 2680 of Title 10, 
sections 501 to 512 of Title 23, sections 1231 to 1234 of Title 43, and 
enacted provisions set out as notes under sections 4601 and 4621 of this 
title and under sections 501 to 512 of Title 23. For complete 
classification of title II to the Code, see Tables.
    Title VIII of the Act of April 11, 1968 (Public Law 90-284), 
commonly known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968, referred to in subsec. 
(c)(4), is title VIII of Pub. L. 90-284, Apr. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 81, as 
amended, known as the Fair Housing Act, which is classified principally 
to subchapter I (Sec. 3601 et seq.) of chapter 45 of this title. For 
complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note 
set out under section 3601 of this title and Tables.
    The Civil Rights Act of 1964, referred to in subsec. (c)(4), is Pub. 
L. 88-352, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 241, as amended. Title VI of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964 is classified generally to subchapter V (Sec. 2000d 
et seq.) of chapter 21 of this title. For complete classification of 
this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2000a 
of this title and Tables.


                               Amendments

    1987--Pub. L. 100-17 substituted ``Declaration of findings and 
policy'' for ``Declaration of policy'' in section catchline and amended 
text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: ``The purpose 
of this subchapter is to establish a uniform policy for the fair and 
equitable treatment of persons displaced as a result of Federal and 
federally assisted programs in order that such persons shall not suffer 
disproportionate injuries as a result of programs designed for the 
benefit of the public as a whole.''


                    Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 100-17 effective on effective date provided in 
regulations promulgated under section 4633 of this title (as amended by 
section 412 of Pub. L. 100-17), but not later than 2 years after Apr. 2, 
1987, see section 418 of Pub. L. 100-17, set out as a note under section 
4601 of this title.


                            Savings Provision

    Section 220(b) of Pub. L. 91-646 provided that: ``Any rights or 
liabilities now existing under prior Acts or portions thereof shall not 
be affected by the repeal of such prior Acts or portions thereof under 
subsection (a) of this section [repealing sections 1415(7)(b)(iii), (8) 
second sentence, 1465, 2473(b)(14), 3074, and 3307(b), (c) of this 
title, section 2680 of Title 10, Armed Forces, sections 501 to 512 of 
Title 23, Highways, sections 1231 to 1234 of Title 43, Public Lands, and 
section 1606(b) of former Title 49, Transportation, and provisions set 
out as notes under sections 501 and 511 of Title 23].''
