Overview

Title

To provide economic empowerment opportunities in the United States through the modernization of public housing, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

The Green New Deal for Public Housing Act is a plan to make public housing in the U.S. nicer and eco-friendly by fixing it up and using energy from the sun or wind, all while giving people training for jobs and making sure everyone works together fairly.

Summary AI

S. 4012, also known as the "Green New Deal for Public Housing Act," aims to boost economic opportunities in the U.S. by modernizing public housing. It proposes grants for workforce development and energy-efficient upgrades to public housing, ensuring enhanced living conditions like improved energy efficiency and water quality. The bill also focuses on encouraging resident involvement in housing management and ensuring compliance with labor standards and environmental regulations. Importantly, it seeks to convert public housing into highly energy-efficient homes that are powered by renewable energy within a decade.

Published

2024-03-21
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Introduced in Senate
Date: 2024-03-21
Package ID: BILLS-118s4012is

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
11
Words:
10,809
Pages:
61
Sentences:
110

Language

Nouns: 3,132
Verbs: 853
Adjectives: 694
Adverbs: 78
Numbers: 412
Entities: 326

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.37
Average Sentence Length:
98.26
Token Entropy:
5.66
Readability (ARI):
51.64

AnalysisAI

General Summary of the Bill

The proposed legislation, titled "Green New Deal for Public Housing Act," is designed to modernize public housing in the United States. The bill aims to create economic empowerment opportunities by upgrading, improving, and maintaining public housing facilities. It emphasizes the use of renewable energy and aims to achieve energy efficiency and environmental enhancement. It also proposes key changes such as providing workforce development grants, encouraging local production, and fostering tenant participation through education and job opportunities. The bill includes various provisions to improve architectural design, labor conditions, and overall living standards for public housing residents.

Summary of Significant Issues

There are several significant issues emerging from the proposed legislation. One of the key concerns is the feasibility and financial impact of such an ambitious scope without clear funding details provided. The requirement to retain a substantial amount of profits from renewable energy projects at eligible entities is another contentious aspect, raising questions about equity and resource distribution. Additionally, specific hiring mandates might be too prescriptive, potentially leading to inefficiencies or recruitment issues if the needed qualified personnel are unavailable. The language throughout the bill is complex and might pose challenges for stakeholders in understanding and complying with the regulations, potentially complicating the execution of the programs.

Impact on the Public Broadly

The bill's impact on the public could be widespread. Broadly speaking, it aims to improve living conditions in public housing, resulting in healthier and safer environments for low-income communities. By upgrading housing infrastructure to be more energy-efficient, it sets the stage for long-term reductions in energy costs and carbon emissions. This could contribute positively to environmental goals and potentially spark job creation in related sectors.

However, due to the ambitious scope without clear financial strategies, there could be potential challenges in implementation. If not carefully managed, there might be unintended consequences, such as increased taxes or reallocation of funds from other areas.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

The bill could have specific positive impacts on public housing residents. By improving their living conditions and providing job training opportunities, residents could see an overall enhancement in quality of life and economic prospects. Provisions to foster educational and professional development align with long-term economic empowerment prospects and community building in public housing projects.

Conversely, other stakeholders, like public housing agencies, might face challenges, particularly with stringent compliance requirements and increased administrative burdens as they integrate new measures and meet reporting standards. Similarly, the focus on exclusively using U.S.-made all-electric appliances and compliance with international architectural standards could disadvantage some businesses, leading to market inequities.

Community energy projects designed to generate and sell renewable energy back to the local grid emphasize resource sustainability and economic benefit. However, the distribution of profits and the potential exclusion of other stakeholders in decision-making might lead to dissatisfaction or perceived inequities, impacting community harmony and public perception.

Overall, while the bill proposes comprehensive enhancements to public housing, careful consideration and strategic planning are essential to address existing challenges and ensure a fair and equitable impact for all involved parties.

Financial Assessment

The "Green New Deal for Public Housing Act" outlines an ambitious plan to revamp public housing in the United States with significant financial implications. The bill introduces a series of grants and financial allocations aimed at supporting the modernization efforts.

Financial Allocations

One critical aspect involving finances is Section 6, which lays out various grant programs for public housing modernization, including workforce development, energy efficiency, and infrastructure upgrades. The section emphasizes preferences for grant applications from entities linked with apprenticeships and similar partnerships, which aims to foster local job growth and skill development. It also mandates spending on compliance managers, indicating that up to 10% of grant funds may be allocated toward this function.

The complexity in Section 6 could, however, present challenges. The financial directives are multifaceted and potent in scope, potentially leading to misunderstandings or compliance issues as noted in the identified issues. Specifically, the dense language might cause difficulties for stakeholders when applying for and utilizing the grants, impacting their efficiency and effectiveness.

Appropriations

Section 6 also addresses funding at a macro level, stating that there are appropriations of "such sums as necessary" to address the public housing capital backlog. Moreover, the bill specifies allocations for each fiscal year from 2024 to 2034, alongside a notable $1,000,000,000 allocated for administrative costs and technical assistance related to the execution of this section. However, the lack of specific funding amounts or sources elsewhere in the bill, particularly in Section 5, raises concerns about the feasibility of achieving such ambitious projects without clearly defined financial backing, aligning with one of the issues identified.

Grants and Revenue Utilization

Another financial aspect involves the handling of profits generated from public housing projects. Section 6 states that eligible entities may retain up to 90% of profits from selling produced energy. The remaining profits are required to be transferred to the Department of the Treasury. This allocation method could raise questions about resource distribution equity, with stakeholders potentially viewing it as favouring certain entities over widespread community benefits.

Moreover, this section prioritizes projects costing not less than $25,000,000, suggesting a focus on large-scale initiatives, which may necessitate careful financial oversight to avoid misallocation or overspending.

Employment and Contracting

Section 7 involves stringent percentage requirements for hiring and contracting, mandating that public housing agencies employ a specified percentage of low-income persons and award a set percentage of contracts to resident-owned businesses. The financial implication here lies in how well these requirements can be met in practice, addressing whether public housing areas can support such stipulations without inefficiencies or unmet quotas. This mirrors concerns about the prescriptive nature of these requirements potentially causing inefficiencies noted in the issues.

Stipends

Finally, Section 9 introduces the potential for stipends of up to $1,000 per month for resident council officers, which is a direct financial support meant to incentivize the participation and involvement of residents in housing management. These stipends can serve as critical encouragement, yet bring up questions regarding their sufficiency and management, especially if tied to other income-based benefits of the recipients.

Overall, the bill features substantial financial commitments aimed at transforming public housing but faces challenges in terms of funding clarity, resource distribution equity, and compliance with set hiring and contracting mandates. Each of these areas will require careful planning and oversight to ensure the intended benefits are realized efficiently and equitably.

Issues

  • The extensive scope and ambitious goals of the 'Green New Deal for Public Housing Act' raise concerns regarding the feasibility and financial impact of the policies proposed, particularly due to the lack of specific funding amounts or sources in Section 5.

  • The requirement that 90% of profits from selling energy generated by public housing projects be retained by eligible entities in Section 6 could be contentious, raising concerns about equity and distribution of resources.

  • The hiring and contracting percentage requirements in Section 7 could be seen as overly prescriptive, potentially leading to inefficiencies or challenges if there are not enough qualified resident-owned businesses or low-income individuals to meet these demands.

  • The broad language in Section 2 concerning the use of 'all-electric appliances made in the United States' may risk favoring certain manufacturers, potentially undermining competitive bidding practices.

  • The dense and complex language throughout Section 6 could lead to misunderstandings or non-compliance by stakeholders, complicating the execution of grant programs.

  • The repeal of the Faircloth amendment in Section 10 is mentioned without context, making it difficult for stakeholders to assess the potential implications on public housing development.

  • The definitions provided in Section 3, such as 'environmental justice community' and 'zero-carbon home,' may lack clarity for some stakeholders, potentially leading to varied interpretations and implementation.

  • Section 4's emphasis on meeting the 'highest international architectural standards' without clear budgeting guidelines might lead to increased costs, perceived as wasteful spending.

  • The administrative burdens imposed by monitoring, measuring, and updating economic impacts and workforce rosters every 30 days as described in Section 7 could be costly and challenging for public housing agencies to implement effectively.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of the bill states that this law will be known as the “Green New Deal for Public Housing Act.”

2. Purposes Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The purpose of this Act is to improve public housing by upgrading its facilities, making it more energy-efficient and safer for residents, and fostering tenant participation through jobs and training. It emphasizes using U.S.-made materials and aims to support the environment with energy-efficient homes powered by renewable energy.

3. Definitions Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section defines key terms used in the act, such as "eligible entity," which includes specific public housing agencies and tribal organizations, "environmental justice community" as communities facing greater environmental risks, and "zero-carbon home" as energy-efficient homes using renewable energy. It also explains what constitutes "renewable energy" and other types of housing, businesses, and entities relevant to housing and urban development.

4. Congressional findings and sense of Congress for improved architectural design in government housing programs Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

Congress emphasizes the importance of better architectural design in government housing programs for low- and moderate-income families, focusing on improving living conditions, environmental performance, and accessibility within budget limits. It stresses the need for housing that meets high international design standards and encourages resident involvement in its development.

4. Improved architectural design in government housing programs Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

Congress has determined that federal housing aid should focus on improving architectural design to enhance living conditions and environmental performance in low- and moderate-income housing. The emphasis is on designing homes that meet high standards for accessibility, sustainability, and community integration, while involving residents in the planning process.

5. Declaration of policy Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The amended section of the United States Housing Act of 1937 declares that the U.S. policy aims to modernize government involvement in housing by ensuring everyone has access to safe, energy-efficient, and healthy housing conditions. It emphasizes the Federal Government's role in collaborating with public housing agencies to support housing development and address unmet housing needs through the creation of public housing.

6. Green new deal public housing grants Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section introduces grant programs aiming to improve public housing by supporting workforce development and implementing green energy upgrades, such as energy-efficient retrofits and community energy projects. It explains grant application requirements, preferences, and conditions, ensuring benefits for residents, economic empowerment, environmental justice, and adherence to fair labor practices.

Money References

  • (B) PREFERENCE.—In awarding grants under this paragraph, the Secretary shall give preference to applications submitted by— (i) eligible entities described in subparagraph (B) or (C) of section 3(1); (ii) eligible entities that have formed partnerships with an existing registered apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, internship, vocal rehabilitation agency, labor-management partnership, or other partnerships with labor organizations; (iii) eligible entities that demonstrate a capacity to facilitate a workforce development program that leads to— (I) the development of career and related skills, including general educational development support and financial and economic empowerment education; (II) direct entry to registered apprenticeship programs; (III) certification or associate degree acquisition; (IV) technical assistance and resources for subsidized housing resident-owned businesses for purposes of compliance with the requirements under section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701u), including— (aa) legal or compliance services on behalf of subsidized housing resident-owned businesses for purposes of helping them access and apply for government procurement and contracting opportunities; (bb) education on starting and sustaining a business; (cc) accessing insurance and bonds; and (dd) demonstrating capacity and sustainable operations; (V) training and development of skills necessary for career development in the fields, trades, and services reasonably determined during the first public comment period held in accordance with subsection (b)(3) to be of interest to public housing residents; (VI) educational and organizational tools for public housing residents in order to advance the models of worker cooperatives and collective bargaining; (VII) education, engagement, and empowerment resources to help both residents of public housing and local low- and very low-income individuals avail themselves of opportunities made available under the workforce development program, including education, engagement, and empowerment resources provided in partnership with— (aa) a local entity that operates a Family Self-Sufficiency program under section 23 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437u); and (bb) community-based organizations that demonstrate a commitment to and history of organizing with public housing residents; (VIII) innovative design partnerships with local schools and architectural firms; (IX) training and employment opportunities reserved specifically for local low- and very low-income people that were formerly incarcerated; (X) stipends valued at not less than $250 per week to individuals participating in the workforce development program; and (XI) childcare and financial literacy courses for individuals participating in the workforce development program; and (iv) eligible entities in the construction or maintenance sector seeking to carry out a project to develop pre-apprenticeships that prepare individuals for acceptance into registered programs in that sector, as well as technical and vocational colleges. (C) COMPLIANCE MANAGERS.—Not more than 10 percent of the amount of a grant received by an eligible entity under this paragraph may be used by an eligible entity to hire or otherwise retain reporting and compliance managers with sufficient expertise to ensure that the eligible entity can comply with the requirements of section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701u). (D) ADDITIONAL ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—In addition to the eligible entities described in section 3(1), the following shall be eligible for grants under this paragraph: (i) An organization that has demonstrated effectiveness in providing adult education and literacy activities, which may include— (I) a local educational agency; (II) a community-based organization or faith-based organization; (III) a volunteer literacy organization; (IV) an institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001); (V) a public or private nonprofit agency; (VI) a library; (VII) a public housing authority; (VIII) a nonprofit institution that is not described in any of subclauses (I) through (VII) and has the ability to provide adult education and literacy activities to eligible individuals; (IX) a consortium or coalition of the agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries, or authorities described in any of subclauses (I) through (VII); and (X) a partnership between an employer and an entity described in any of subclauses (I) through (VIII).
  • — (A) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish a grant program that provides amounts to eligible entities for the eligible activities described in subparagraph (B). (B) ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.—The eligible activities described in this subparagraph are— (i) conducting physical needs assessments and subsequent deep energy retrofits in public housing, including— (I) retrofits for— (aa) energy-efficient windows; (bb) super insulation of roofs and exterior walls, including the addition of new cladding to buildings and the rerouting of plumbing and electricity; (cc) electrification of water heating and building heating systems using electric heat pumps; and (dd) electric heat pumps to provide air conditioning, where feasible; (II) strategies to increase airtightness of building envelope, including air sealant paints; and (III) acquisition and installation of heat-recovery ventilation systems; (ii) repairs and upgrades to public housing to ensure compliance with the physical condition standards under section 5.703 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation; (iii) upgrading, replacing, and improving public housing to energy efficiency, building electrification, including— (I) conducting physical needs assessments of public housing dwelling units; (II) in-unit energy efficiency product upgrades, including upgrading to— (aa) modern, energy-efficient insulation; (bb) all-electric state-of-the-art efficient appliances; (cc) energy-efficient bathroom plumbing, including low-flow toilets; (dd) energy-efficient laundry machines; (ee) energy-efficient air filters; (ff) energy monitoring devices including smart meters and smart thermostats; (gg) energy-efficient lightbulbs; (hh) highly insulated windows; (ii) reflective roofing; (jj) smart Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems and building-to-grid integration; and (kk) passive cooling measures; (III) upgrading infrastructure related to building electrification, including upgrading— (aa) electric heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, including cold-climate heat pumps; (bb) electrical panels; (cc) electric appliances to replace appliances reliant on fossil fuels, such as gas stoves and hot water heaters; and (dd) related infrastructure, including flooring, walls, and roofs, that is necessary to complete before electrification upgrades can occur; and (IV) water quality upgrades, including replacing water pipes in public housing if a quality test of drinking water concentrations in public housing exceeds— (aa) 1 part per billion of lead; (bb) 4.0 parts per trillion of perfluorooctanoic acid; (cc) 4.0 parts per trillion of perfluorooctane sulfonate; (dd) a combined Hazard Index of 1.0, as described in the proposed rule of the Environmental Protection Agency entitled, “Per- and polyfluroalkyl substances (PFAS): Perflurooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perflurorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) National Primary Drinking Water Regulation Rulemaking” (88 Fed. Reg. 18638; March 29, 2023); (ee) 4.0 parts per trillion of arsenic; (ff) 0.3 parts per million of copper; (gg) drinking water standards of the Environmental Protection Agency for organic and inorganic contaminants, radionuclides, and microbiological contaminants; and (hh) any other Environmental Protection Agency standard adopted under the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.); (iv) building, expanding, and maintaining community energy generation in public housing, including the construction of and ongoing costs associated with— (I) renewable energy rooftops; (II) renewable energy generation; (III) photovoltaic glass windows; (IV) the bulk purchase of clean energy grid supply from energy utilities; and (V) community-scale energy storage systems; (v) establishing or expanding recycling and zero-waste programs in public housing, including the recycling of appliances and machines that were replaced through activities described in clause (iii); (vi) community resilience and sustainability projects in public housing, including— (I) the purchase and installation of energy storage, including batteries, flywheels, compressed air, and pumped hydroelectric or thermal energy storage, in order to ensure energy backup of not less than 48 hours in the event of an emergency or disaster; (II) the construction of childcare centers and ongoing costs associated with childcare centers; (III) the construction of senior centers and ongoing costs associated with senior centers; (IV) the construction of community gardens and ongoing costs associated with community gardens; (V) the maintenance of entire public housing developments; (VI) the installation of publicly owned high speed internet in order to provide universal internet access for all residents with an upload speed of not less than 100Mbps and a download speed of not less than 100Mbps, and the ongoing costs associated with providing that internet infrastructure and access; (VII) the establishment or improvement, and painting, of community centers and other shared community spaces, the personnel of which shall earn the higher of— (aa) the local prevailing wage; or (bb) a wage of $17 per hour; (VIII) the establishment or improvement of dedicated infrastructure for transportation by bicycle, including lanes, parking spots, and the bulk purchase of enough bicycles to offer 1 bicycle to every low- and very low-income public housing resident; (IX) the deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure for public housing residents and visitors; and (X) the establishment and leasing of commercial activity that offers public housing residents on-site access to goods and services, including good-quality healthcare clinics, dental clinics, bookstores, learning and tutoring centers, and affordable organic groceries; and (vii) construction and ongoing costs associated with climate adaptation and emergency disaster response for public housing, including— (I) integrated solutions that combine better walls, heating, cooling, ventilation, solar, and storage into a single easy-to-install and affordable retrofit for public housing; (II) additional solar and storage on site, or through a local community microgrid, in order to allow residents to access essential energy during power outages; (III) insulating and eliminating air leakage in order to ensure that individual dwelling units can retain a safe temperature during a power outage until power is restored or emergency assistance arrives; and (IV) installing rigid foam wall insulation in hurricane and earthquake-prone areas in order to create shear walls to resist structural damage from walls tilting or falling during high winds and earthquakes. (b) Grant application.— (1) REQUIRED CONTENTS.—As a condition of receiving a grant under subsection (a), each eligible entity shall include in the grant application submitted to the Secretary— (A) a signed acknowledgment indicating a commitment to transition all public housing owned or managed by the eligible entity into zero-carbon homes not later than 10 years after the date on which the eligible entity receives the grant; (B) a signed acknowledgment indicating a commitment to hiring, training, and retaining needed public housing agency employees associated with the activities of the grant; (C) a full accounting, including pre-approved financing plans and post-completion expense reports, of the amount of funds required to complete the activities under the grant, under enforcement by the Secretary, which shall— (i) be complete and reasonably calculated to accomplish the purposes of this Act; (ii) include costs related to complying with local wage and labor laws; (iii) include the amount of funds expended by the eligible entity to comply with the resident and community engagement requirements under paragraph (3); and (iv) be updated and submitted to Congress on a quarterly basis; and (v) include a 10-year decarbonization plan meeting decarbonization requirements determined by the Secretary; (D) a community impact assessment and analysis of— (i) the likely direct and indirect impact the grant funds, if awarded, will have on the economic empowerment and social mobility of environmental justice communities; and (ii) whether the proposed actions to be taken under the grant would be affirmatively furthering fair housing, as defined in section 5.152 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation; (E) the written concurrence of any local labor organization representing employees of the eligible entity who are engaged in the same or substantially similar work that is proposed to be carried out does not displace or supplant the work performed by those represented employees; (F) a certification that none of the funds under the grant shall be used for prohibited purposes, including— (i) any activity that is subject to the reporting requirements set forth in section 203(a) of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (29 U.S.C. 433(a)); (ii) to abrogate a collective bargaining agreement; or (iii) to replace an employee who is on strike or who is being locked out; and (G) a plan to expand accessibility for persons with disabilities to full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and that all projects shall at least meet the new construction standards of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq.). (2) RESIDENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BEFORE SUBMITTING APPLICATION.—Before submitting an application for a grant under this subsection, an eligible entity shall— (A) solicit and consider community and public feedback, to the maximum extent possible, by providing for opportunities to comment via an in-person accessible location with interpretation available, as well as via a cloud-based content collaboration provider that is certified by the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, and that comply with the most recent final version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, through— (i) an initial public comment period, for which the eligible entity shall— (I) publish— (aa) a description of each of the grant programs established under subsection (a); and (bb) a form to be used to submit comments that complies with public notice standards and the public comment requirements in the consolidated plan of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and (II) give interested persons 90 days to— (aa) submit draft text directly into the application; (bb) submit written data and accounting estimates; and (cc) submit general comments; (ii) a second public comment period beginning not later than 30 days after the end of the initial public comment period under clause (i), for which the eligible entity shall— (I) publish a draft version of the completed common application form described in subsection (a) that contains, at a minimum— (aa) a short analysis and evaluation of the relevant significant proposals set forth during the initial public comment period; and (bb) a clear and concise statement of the basis, purpose, and goals of the application; and (II) give interested persons 30 days to submit feedback on and recommended improvements to the draft final grant application; (B) host not less than 2 public hearings, which shall be recorded and held at a convenient and accessible location with interpretation available for public housing residents, for each public comment period described in subparagraph (A), to provide public housing residents with an opportunity to comment, with not less than 1 occurring in the afternoon and not less than 1 occurring in the evening; (C) solicit input and acquire signed approval of the completed common application form from the resident council or resident councils, if existing and active, of the public housing that will receive assistance under the grant; and (D) solicit input and acquire signed approval of the complete common application from any local labor organization representing employees of the eligible entity that will receive assistance under the grant, to ensure compliance with existing collective bargaining agreement and to ensure that grants funds will not be used to displace or supplant existing staff, positions, or vacancies.
  • (3) EXPEDITED REVIEW.—The Secretary shall ensure a timely review of applications submitted by eligible entities that own or manage public housing in a congressional district— (A) with an aggregate total of not less than 5,000 public housing residents; (B) in which— (i) not less than 40 percent of the residents are not less than 62 years old; (ii) not less than 25 percent of the residents are disabled; or (iii) not less than 5 percent of all heads of household are not more than 24 years old; or (C) with an average household income of less than $40,000.
  • (C) With respect to a project that costs not less than $25,000,000, consent to a project labor agreement.
  • (k) Funding.—Out of funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to carry out this section— (1) such sums as necessary to address the existing public housing capital backlog at the Department of Housing and Urban Development; (2) such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2034; and (3) $1,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, for administrative costs relating to carrying out this section, including providing technical assistance to grant applicants.

7. The section 3 program for economic opportunities Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The amendments to Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 require that jobs created with certain housing development funds prioritize hiring low- and very low-income people and award a portion of contracts to subsidized housing resident-owned businesses. The Secretary must monitor the economic impacts, maintain a roster of local workforce talent, and make information available to relevant parties to support these goals.

Money References

  • Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701u) is amended— (1) in subsection (c)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking “, operating assistance provided pursuant to section 9 of that Act, and modernization grants provided pursuant to section 14 of that Act” and inserting “(42 U.S.C. 1437c), assistance from the Operating Fund under section 9(e) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1437g(e)), assistance from the Capital Fund under section 9(d) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1437g(d)), and assistance provided under a grant awarded under section 6 of the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act”; and (B) by adding at the end the following: “(C) HIRING REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall require that, of the employment positions generated by development assistance provided pursuant to section 6 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437c), assistance from the Operating Fund under section 9(e) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1437g(e)), assistance from the Capital Fund under section 9(d) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1437g(d)), and assistance provided under a grant awarded under section 6 of the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act, public and Indian housing agencies, and their contractors and subcontractors, shall fill, to the greatest extent possible— “(i) not less than 40 percent of those positions generated during the 1-year period beginning 1 year after the initial receipt of grant funds awarded, with low- and very low-income persons; “(ii) not less than 50 percent of those positions generated during the 1-year period beginning 2 years after the initial receipt of grant funds awarded, with low- and very low-income persons; and “(iii) not less than 90 percent of those positions generated after the expiration of the period described in clause (ii) with low- and very low-income persons.”; (2) in subsection (d)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking “, operating assistance provided pursuant to section 9 of that Act, and modernization grants provided pursuant to section 14 of that Act” and inserting “(42 U.S.C. 1437c), assistance from the Operating Fund under section 9(e) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1437g(e)), assistance from the Capital Fund under section 9(d) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1437g(d)), and assistance provided under a grant awarded under section 6 of the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act”; and (B) by adding at the end the following: “(C) CONTRACTING REQUIREMENT.—The Secretary shall require that, of the aggregate dollar amount of contracts awarded for work to be performed in connection with assistance from the Operating Fund under section 9(e) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g(e)), assistance from the Capital Fund under section 9(d) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 1437g(d)), and assistance provided under a grant awarded under section 6 of the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act, public and Indian housing agencies, and their contractors and subcontractors, shall, to the greatest extent possible, certify that— “(i) not less than 20 percent of the aggregate dollar amount of such contracts awarded during the 1-year period beginning 1 year after the initial receipt of grant funds awarded shall be awarded to subsidized housing resident-owned businesses; “(ii) not less than 30 percent of the aggregate dollar amount of such contracts awarded during the 1-year period beginning 2 years after the initial receipt of grant funds awarded shall be awarded to subsidized housing resident-owned businesses; and “(iii) not less than 50 percent of the aggregate dollar amount of such contracts awarded after the expiration of the period described in clause (ii) shall be awarded to subsidized housing resident-owned businesses.”; (3) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following: “(3) SUBSIDIZED HOUSING RESIDENT-OWNED BUSINESS.—The term ‘subsidized housing resident-owned business’ has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act.”; (4) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (i); and (5) by inserting after subsection (f) the following: “(g) Measuring economic impact.—Before the start of the second fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act, and quarterly thereafter, the Secretary shall require each public housing agency to monitor, measure, and report to the Secretary on the economic impacts of this section on the community in which housing developments of the public housing agency are located, including— “(1) the aggregate dollar amount of contracts awarded in compliance with this section; “(2) the aggregate dollar amount of wages and salaries paid for positions employed by low- and very low-income persons in accordance with this section; “(3) the aggregate dollar amount expended for training opportunities provided to low- and very low-income persons in accordance with this section; and “(4) the aggregate dollar amount expended for training and assisting subsidized housing resident-owned businesses for compliance with this section. “(h) Workforce roster.

8. Family self-sufficiency program Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The amendments to Section 23 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 aim to enhance the Family Self-Sufficiency program by including Indian tribes, promoting digital literacy, supporting older adults and individuals with disabilities, and providing additional awards for program coordinators in relation to employment and contracting opportunities, particularly under the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act. Additionally, new provisions ensure synchronization with employment requirements of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, improving the program's overall effectiveness.

9. Resident councils Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The bill mandates that public housing projects with at least 50 units must establish resident councils to help improve residents’ quality of life and ensure collaboration with housing authorities. These councils are composed of housing residents, require elections every two years, and may receive funds and stipends for council activities and officers, with stipends not exceeding $1,000 per month per officer.

Money References

  • “(4) STIPENDS.—Public housing agencies may provide stipends to resident council officers who serve as volunteers in their public housing developments, which shall— “(A) not exceed $1,000 per month per officer; “(B) not be required for officers for whom receiving the stipend would affect other income-calculated benefits; and “(C) be decided locally by the resident council and the public housing agency.

10. Repeal of Faircloth amendment Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section repeals part of a 1937 law known as the Faircloth amendment by removing a specific part of its legal text.