NATIONAL URBAN POLICY

EXCERPT FROM HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1970

[Public Law 91-609; 84 Stat. 1791; 42 U.S.C. 4501]

TITLE VII-NATIONAL URBAN POLICY AND NEW
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

SHORT TITLE AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

SEC. 701. (a) This title may be cited as "National Urban Policy and New Community Development Act of 1970".

(b) It is the policy of the Congress and the purpose of this title to provide for the development of a national urban policy and to encourage the rational, orderly, efficient, and economic growth, development, and redevelopment of our States, metropolitan areas, cities, counties, towns, and communities in predominantly rural areas which demonstrate a special potential for accelerated growth; to encourage the prudent use and conservation of energy and our natural resources; and to encourage and support development which will assure our communities and their residents of adequate tax bases, community services, job opportunities, and good housing in well-balanced neighborhoods in socially, economically, and physically attractive living environments.

PART A-DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL URBAN POLICY

FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POLICY

SEC. 702. (a) The Congress finds that rapid changes in patterns of urban settlement, including change in population distribution and economic bases of urban areas, have created an imbalance between the Nation's needs and resources and seriously threaten our physical and social environment, and the financial viability of our cities, and that the economic and social development of the Nation, the proper conservation of our energy and other natural resources, and the achievement of satisfactory living standards depend upon the sound, orderly, and more balanced development of all areas of the Nation.

(b) The Congress further finds that Federal programs affect the location of population, economic growth, and the character of urban development; that such programs frequently conflict and result in undesirable and costly patterns of urban development and redevelopment which adversely affect the environment and wastefully use energy and other natural resources; and that existing and future programs must be interrelated and coordinated within a system of orderly development and established priorities consistent with a national urban policy.

(c) To promote the general welfare and properly apply the resources of the Federal Government in strengthening the economic and social health of all areas of the Nation and more adequately protect the physical environment and conserve energy and other natural resources, the Congress declares that the Federal Government, consistent with the responsibilities of State and local government and the private sector, must assume responsibility for the de

velopment of a national urban policy which shall incorporate social, economic, and other appropriate factors. Such policy shall serve as a guide in making specific decisions at the national level which affect the pattern of urban development and redevelopment and shall provide a framework for development of interstate, State, and local urban policy.

(d) The Congress further declares that the national urban policy should

(1) favor patterns of urbanization and economic development and stabilization which offer a range of alternative locations and encourage the wise and balanced use of physical and human resources in metropolitan and urban regions as well as in smaller urban places which have a potential for accelerated growth;

(2) foster the continued economic strength of all parts of the United States, including central cities, suburbs, smaller communities, local neighborhoods, and rural areas;

(3) encourage patterns of development and redevelopment which minimize disparities among States, regions, and cities;

(4) treat comprehensively the problems of poverty and employment (including the erosion of tax bases, and the need for better community services and job opportunities) which are associated with disorderly urbanization and rural decline;

(5) develop means to encourage good housing for all Americans without regard to race or creed;

(6) refine the role of the Federal Government in revitalizing existing communities and encouraging planned, large-scale urban and new community development;

(7) strengthen the capacity of general governmental institutions to contribute to balanced urban growth and stabilization; and

(8) facilitate increased coordination in the administration of Federal programs so as to encourage desirable patterns of urban development and redevelopment, encourage the prudent use of energy and other natural resources, and protect the physical environment.

NATIONAL URBAN POLICY REPORT

SEC. 703. (a) The President shall transmit to the Congress during February 1978, and during February of every even-numbered year thereafter, a Report on National Urban Policy which shall contribute to the formulation of such a policy and in addition shall include

(1) information, statistics, and significant trends relating to the pattern or urban development for the preceding two years; (2) a summary of significant problems facing the United States as a result of urban trends and developments affecting the well-being of urban areas;

(3) an examination of the housing and related community development problems experienced by cities undergoing a growth rate which equals or exceeds the national average;

(4) an evaluation of the progress and the effectiveness of Federal efforts designed to meet such problems and to carry out the national urban policy;

(5) an assessment of the policies and structure of existing and proposed interstate planning and developments affecting such policy;

(6) a review of State, local, and private policies, plans, and programs relevent to such policy;

(7) current and foreseeable needs in the areas served by policies, plans, and programs designed to carry out such policy, and the steps being taken to meet such needs; and

(8) recommendations for programs and policies for carrying out such policy, including such legislation and administrative actions as may be deemed necessary and desirable.

(b) The President may transmit from time to time to the Congress supplementary reports on urban growth which shall include such supplementary and revised recommendations as may be appropriate.

(c) To assist in the preparation of the National Urban Policy Report and any supplementary reports, the President may establish an advisory board, or seek the advice from time to time of temporary advisory boards, the members of whom shall be drawn from among private citizens familiar with the problems of urban areas, and from among Federal officials, Governors of States, mayors, county officials, members of State and local legislative bodies, and others qualified to assist in the preparation of such reports.

Approved December 31, 1970.

EXCERPT FROM HOUSING AND URBAN-RURAL RECOVERY ACT OF 1983

[Public Law 98-181; 97 Stat. 1153, 1238; 12 U.S.C. 1701g-56]

CANCELLATION OF DEBT OWED THE TREASURY AND LIQUIDATION OF NEW COMMUNITIES PROGRAM

SEC. 474. (a) In order to provide for the management and orderly liquidation of the assets, and discharge the liabilities, acquired or incurred in connection with the new communities program authorized pursuant to title IV of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 and title VII of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 (hereafter referred to in this section as "title IV" and "title VII", respectively), the liquidation of the new communities program shall be carried out pursuant to the provisions of law applicable to the revolving fund (liquidating programs) established pursuant to title II of the Independent Offices Appropriations Act, 1955, upon the transfer by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (hereafter in this section referred to as the "Secretary”) of the assets and liabilities of the fund authorized under section 717 of title VII to such revolving fund, as required in title I of the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Independent Agencies Appropriation Act, 1984. The Secretary shall report to the Congress not less than sixty days prior to taking any action with respect to the disposition of real property (other than a purchase money mortgage) which involves any further potential liability of or assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development with respect to any property so transferred.

(b) In carrying out the purposes of subsection (a), all moneys in the revolving fund (liquidating programs) shall be available for necessary administrative and other expenses of servicing and liquidating obligations guaranteed pursuant to section 403 and section 713 of title IV and title VII, respectively, including costs of services (including legal services) performed on a contract or fee basis, and to discharge any other liability acquired or incurred in connection with the new communities program. Notwithstanding any other provision of law relating to the acquisition, handling, improvement, or disposal of real and other property by the United States, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall also have power, for the protection of the interests of the revolving fund (liquidating programs), to pay out of any moneys in such fund all expenses or charges in connection with the acquisition, handling, improvement, or disposal or any property, real or personal, acquired by the Secretary either prior or subsequent to the date of the enactment of this Act as a result of recoveries under security, subrogation, or other rights in connection witht the new communities program.

(c) After making the transfer required in title I of the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Independent Agencies Appropriation Act, 1984, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may issue obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury in an amount sufficient to enable the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to satisfy any guarantee made pursuant to section 403 or 713 of title IV or title VII, respectively, and otherwise carry out the functions authorized by this section. The obligations

issued under this subsection shall have such maturities and bear such rate or rates of interest as shall be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to purchase any obligations so issued, and for that purpose the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to use as a public debt transaction the proceeds from the sale of any securities issued under chapter 31 of title 31, United States Code, and the purposes for which securities may be issued under such chapter are extended to include purchases of obligations issued under this subsection.

(d) Upon the transfer required in title I of the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Independent Agencies Appropriation Act, 1984, each obligation issued by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to section 407(a) or 717(b) of title IV or title VII, respectively, together with any promise to repay the principal and unpaid interest which has accrued on each obligation, and any other term or condition specified by each such obligation, is canceled.

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(e) Title IV, except for sections 408, 411, 413, 414, and 416, and part B of title VII, except for sections 724, 725, 726, and subsections (b) through (e) of section 727, are hereby repealed. Section 717 of title VII shall remain in effect until completion of the transfer required in title I of the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Independent Agencies Appropriation Act, 1984. Any actions taken, prior to repeal, under the authority of any of the sections which are repealed by this section shall continue to be valid. Nothing in this subsection shall impair the validity of any guarantees which have been made pursuant to title IV or title VII and any such guarantees shall continue to be governed by the provisions of the title IV or title VII, as applicable, as they existed immediately before the date of the enactment of this Act.

Approved November 30, 1983.

36-210 0-84-6