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# Legislative Bulletin...........................................................July 12, 2007

**Contents:**

> **H.R. 1851 --** Amendments to the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act

H.R. 1851, the Section 8 Voucher Reform Act (sponsored by Rep. Maxine
Waters, D-CA), is scheduled to be considered on the House floor on
Thursday, July 12, 2007, subject to a structured rule ([**H.Res.
534**](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/query/z?c110:H.RES.534:)), making
in order the following six amendments debatable for 10 minutes each. The
rule allows one motion to recommit with or without instructions.

The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill,
except those regarding PAYGO and earmarks, and allows the Chair to
postpone consideration of the legislation at any time during its
consideration.

[Note]{.underline}: The summaries below are based on RSC staff's review
of *actual amendment text*. For a summary of the underlying bill, see a
separate RSC document released yesterday.

**RSC Staff Contact**: Paul Teller; <paul.teller@mail.house.gov>;
202-226-9718

**1. *Waters (D-CA):* Manager's Amendment.** Authorizes "such sums" to
[increase HUD responsibilities for people with limited English
proficiency as follows]{.underline}: convene a task force to improve
access to federal housing programs to people with limited English
proficiency, **[produce translations of documents "in all necessary
languages" for all HUD forms]{.underline}**, develop a plan to improve
access to HUD resources for people of limited English proficiency,
develop and maintain a housing information resources center as a
clearinghouse for such items above, create and maintain a 1-800 phone
line for assisting people with limited English proficiency, maintain a
document clearinghouse for non-HUD documents relevant to housing issues,
and study the best practices of other language-assistance programs.

Provides for expedited inspections of units that are identified as
substandard by the residents. Limits the liability for PHAs that
complete repairs of units. Increases the flexibility of the allowable
rent structure for project-based housing and the voucher program. Allows
vouchers to be used to relocate or replace housing units demolished
because of eminent domain. Increases from 8.3% to 12.5% the amount of
excess 2007 funds a PHA could keep on reserve and not have recaptured by
the Treasury. Makes a variety of technical changes.

**2. *Velázquez (D-NY)* #23:** Requires that PHAs selected for
participation in the Housing Innovation Program must comply with voucher
and public housing domestic violence provisions from the Violence
Against Women Act.

**3. Miller, Gary (R-CA)/Chabot (R-OH) #13:** Imposes a seven-year time
limit (whether consecutive or not) on participation in a Section 8
housing program, excluding the elderly, the disabled, and people with
hardships. Exemptions could not total more than 20% of total families
receiving assistance in any year.

**4. *Markey (D-MA)/*Pryce (R-OH) #16: EARMARK AMENDMENT.** Makes
certain low-income tenants of the Heritage Apartments in Malden,
Massachusetts eligible for enhanced housing vouchers after prepayment of
a HUD mortgage and subsequent ownership transfer of the property,
without the application of certain HUD restrictions. Allows for the
transfer of Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) contracts in
Columbus, Ohio in the University District and in Cincinnati, Ohio in the
Over-the-Rhine Community.

**5. Chabot (R-OH) #11:** Strikes Section 18 of the underlying
bill---the authorization of appropriations for the creation of 20,000
new vouchers each year for FY2008 through FY2012.

**6. Hensarling (R-TX)/Chabot (R-OH) #10:**  Requires that all adults in
a household receiving Section 8 tenant assistance for more than seven
consecutive years must perform 20 hours per month of approved "work
activities." Exemptions are provided for senior citizens, the disabled,
those already exempt from TANF work requirements, and those single
parents who cannot access child care.

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