To authorize appropriations for assistance for the National Urban League, the Raza Development Fund, the Housing Partnership Network, and the National Community Renaissance Program, and for other purposes.

Summary: Housing Assistance Authorization Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to make a grant to the National Urban League to provide technical and financial assistance to local non-profit organizations to undertake community development and affordable housing projects and programs serving low- and moderate-income households, particularly through organizations located in neighborhoods with substantial populations of African American income-disadvantaged households.

Authorizes the Secretary also to make a grant to the Raza Development Fund to provide technical and financial assistance to local nonprofit organizations to undertake similar projects and programs serving low- and moderate-income households, particularly through organizations in neighborhoods with substantial populations of income-disadvantaged households of Hispanic origin.

Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to the Housing Partnership Network to create, sustain, and improve access to affordable housing and community facilities benefiting very low-, low-, and moderate-income households and communities.

Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to the National Community Renaissance Program to undertake affordable housing projects benefitting very low-, low-, and moderate-income households.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Housing Assistance Authorization Act 
of 2007''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON USE OF AUTHORIZED AMOUNTS.

    None of the amounts authorized by this Act may be used to lobby, or 
retain a lobbyist, for the purpose of influencing a Federal, State, or 
local governmental entity or officer.

SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE FOR THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE.

    (a) Use.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make a 
grant to the National Urban League for the purpose of providing 
technical and financial assistance to local non-profit organizations to 
undertake community development and affordable housing projects and 
programs serving low- and moderate-income households, particularly 
through organizations located in neighborhoods with substantial 
populations of African American income-disadvantaged households. 
Assistance provided by the Secretary under this section may be used by 
National Urban League to--
            (1) provide technical and financial assistance for site 
        acquisition and development, construction financing, and short- 
        and long-term financing for housing, community facilities, and 
        economic development;
            (2) leverage capital from private entities, including 
        private financial institutions, insurance companies, and 
        private philanthropic organizations;
            (3) provide technical assistance, training, support, and 
        advice to develop the management, financial, and administrative 
        capabilities of housing development organizations serving low-
        income households, including African American households; and
            (4) conduct such other activities as may be determined by 
        the Secretary and the National Urban League.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for grants under this section--
            (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            (2) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010.

SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE FOR RAZA DEVELOPMENT FUND.

    (a) Use.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make a 
grant to the Raza Development Fund for the purpose of providing 
technical and financial assistance to local non-profit organizations to 
undertake community development and affordable housing projects and 
programs serving low- and moderate-income households, particularly 
through organizations located in neighborhoods with substantial 
populations of income-disadvantaged households of Hispanic origin. 
Assistance provided by the Secretary under this section may be used by 
the Raza Development Fund to--
            (1) provide technical and financial assistance for site 
        acquisition and development, construction financing, and short- 
        and long-term financing for housing, community facilities, and 
        economic development;
            (2) leverage capital from private entities, including 
        private financial institutions, insurance companies, and 
        private philanthropic organizations;
            (3) provide technical assistance, training, support, and 
        advice to develop the management, financial, and administrative 
        capabilities of housing development organizations serving low-
        income households, including Hispanic households; and
            (4) conduct such other activities as may be determined by 
        the Secretary and the Raza Development Fund.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for grants under this section--
            (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            (2) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010.

SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE FOR THE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP NETWORK.

    (a) Use.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make a 
grant to the Housing Partnership Network (in this section referred to 
as the ``Network'') for the purpose of creating, sustaining, and 
improving access to affordable housing and community facilities that 
benefit very low-, low-, and moderate-income households and 
communities. Assistance provided by the Secretary under this section 
may be used by the Network to--
            (1) make investments, loans, and grants to its member 
        nonprofits that demonstrate expertise in using such funds to 
        leverage additional private capital to build, operate, finance, 
        and sustain affordable housing and related community 
        development facilities;
            (2) make investments in entities sponsored by the Network 
        with the intent to leverage additional private capital for the 
        purpose of furthering the production capacity, sustainability, 
        or efficiency of its members;
            (3) pay for the necessary and reasonable expenses of the 
        Network to administer and oversee such investments, including 
        the cost of underwriting, managing the assets of the Network, 
        and reporting to the Secretary and other capital providers, 
        provided however, that such expenses do not exceed 6 percent of 
        any amounts made available pursuant to subsection (b); and
            (4) conduct such other activities as may be determined by 
        the Secretary and the Network.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for grants under this section--
            (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            (2) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010.

SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE FOR NATIONAL COMMUNITY RENAISSANCE.

    (a) Use.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make a 
grant to the National Community Renaissance Program (hereafter in this 
section referred to as ``National Core'') to undertake affordable 
housing projects that benefit very low-, low- and moderate-income 
households. Assistance provided by the Secretary under this section may 
be used by National CORE--
            (1) for site acquisition, rehabilitation, and preservation 
        of affordable multifamily housing units, including development, 
        construction financing, and short- and long-term financing for 
        housing, community facilities, and economic development;
            (2) to leverage capital from private entities, including 
        private financial institutions, insurance companies, and 
        private philanthropic organizations in amounts not less than $3 
        for every $1 authorized in this section; and
            (3) conduct such other activities as may be determined by 
        the Secretary and National CORE.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for grants under this section--
            (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            (2) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010.

SEC. 7. AUDITS AND REPORTS.

    (a) Audit.--In any year in which an entity or organization 
described under either section 3, 4, or 5 receives funds under this 
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
            (1) audit the financial transactions and activities of such 
        entity or organization only with respect to such funds so 
        received; and
            (2) submit a report detailing such audit to the Committee 
        on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
    (b) GAO Report.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study and submit a report to the Committee on Financial 
Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, 
Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate on the use of any funds 
appropriated to an entity or organization described under either 
section 3, 4, or 5 over the past 10 years.

SEC. 8. PERSONS NOT LAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES.

    None of the funds made available under this Act may be used to 
provide direct housing assistance to any person not lawfully present in 
the United States.