59–008 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 110–204 

HOUSING ASSISTANCE COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 

2007 

JUNE 21, 2007.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, from the Committee on Financial 

Services, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 1980] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Financial Services, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 1980) to authorize appropriations for the Housing Assistance Council, having considered the same, report favorably 

thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................................ 2 

Background and Need for Legislation .................................................................... 2 

Hearings ................................................................................................................... 2 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 3 

Committee Votes ...................................................................................................... 3 

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 4 

Performance Goals and Objectives ......................................................................... 4 

New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures ............. 4 

Committee Cost Estimate ....................................................................................... 4 

Congressional Budget Office Estimate ................................................................... 4 

Federal Mandates Statement ................................................................................. 5 

Advisory Committee Statement .............................................................................. 5 

Constitutional Authority Statement ...................................................................... 5 

Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................................ 6 

Earmark Identification ............................................................................................ 6 

Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation ...................................................... 6 


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PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

H.R. 1980, the Housing Assistance Council Authorization Act of 

2007, authorizes funding for the Housing Assistance Council 

(HAC). 

H.R. 1980 authorizes $10 million for HAC in FY 2008 and $15 

million for Fiscal Years 2009–2014. The bill is a straight authorization with no program changes. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

HAC, a nonprofit corporation, is the only national housing assistance group that specializes in rural areas and small towns. Started 

in 1971, HAC assists in the development of both single- and multifamily homes and promotes homeownership for working low-income 

rural families. HAC maintains a special focus on high-need groups 

and regions: Indian country, the Mississippi Delta, farm workers, 

the Southwest border colonias, and Appalachia. 

The authorized funds will allow HAC to provide grants, loans, 

technical assistance, training, and other support to develop the capacities of rural community-based housing development organizations. The bill allows HAC to offer vital help to affordable housing 

projects developed by these rural community organizations. HAC 

will be able to continue its successful program of assistance to a 

national network of rural nonprofit, public and for profit builders. 

Since 1999 HAC has provided over $105 million in aid to hundreds 

of organizations serving rural America. Over its 35-year history 

HAC has helped build almost 60,000 affordable homes in 49 states 

and two territories. 

HEARINGS

On May 8, 2007, the Subcommittee on Housing and Community 

Opportunity held a hearing entitled ‘‘Rural Housing Programs: Review Fiscal Year 2008 Budget and Pending Rural Housing Legislation,’’ which included testimony from witnesses on H.R. 1980: 

Panel one 

• The Honorable Pamela Patenaude, Assistant Secretary for 

Community Planning and Development, U.S. Department of 

Housing and Urban Development 

• Mr. Russell T. Davis, Administrator for Rural Development Housing and Community Facilities Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture 

Panel two 

• Mr. Gideon Anders, National Housing Law Project 

• Dr. Tom Carew, Director of Design and Community, Frontier Housing, Inc. 

• Mr. Moises Loza, Executive Director, Housing Assistance 

Council 

• Mr. Robert Rice, Jr., Council for Affordable and Rural 

Housing 

• The Honorable Peter Carey, Executive Director of Self 

Help Enterprises 


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COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

The Committee on Financial Services met in open session on 

May 23, 2007, and ordered H.R. 1980, the Housing Assistance 

Council Authorization Act of 2007, favorably reported to the House 

by a voice vote. 

COMMITTEE VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes on the motion 

to report legislation and amendments thereto. A motion by Mr. 

Frank to report the bill to the House with a favorable recommendation was agreed to by a voice vote. During consideration of the bill, 

the following amendment was considered and disposed of by record 

vote. 

An amendment by Mr. Price, No. 1, requiring offsets, was not 

agreed to by a record vote of 24 yeas and 32 nays (Record vote FC–

47). The names of Members voting for and against follow: 

RECORD VOTE NO. FC–47 

Representative Aye Nay Present Representative Aye Nay Present 

Mr. Frank .............................. ............ X .............. Mr. Bachus ........................... X ........... ..............

Mr. Kanjorski ......................... ............ ........... .............. Mr. Baker ............................. ........... ........... ..............

Ms. Waters ............................ ............ X .............. Ms. Pryce (OH) ..................... ........... ........... ..............

Mrs. Maloney ......................... ............ X .............. Mr. Castle ............................ X ........... ..............

Mr. Gutierrez ......................... ............ X .............. Mr. King (NY) ....................... X ........... ..............

Ms. Vela ́zquez ....................... ............ X .............. Mr. Royce ............................. X ........... ..............

Mr. Watt ................................ ............ X .............. Mr. Lucas ............................. X ........... ..............

Mr. Ackerman ........................ ............ X .............. Mr. Paul ............................... X ........... ..............

Ms. Carson ............................ ............ X .............. Mr. Gillmor ........................... X ........... ..............

Mr. Sherman ......................... ............ X .............. Mr. LaTourette ...................... X ........... ..............

Mr. Meeks ............................. ............ X .............. Mr. Manzullo ........................ X ........... ..............

Mr. Moore (KS) ...................... ............ X .............. Mr. Jones .............................. ........... ........... ..............

Mr. Capuano ......................... ............ ........... .............. Mrs. Biggert ......................... ........... X ..............

Mr. Hinojosa .......................... ............ ........... .............. Mr. Shays ............................. ........... ........... ..............

Mr. Clay ................................ ............ ........... .............. Mr. Miller (CA) ..................... X ........... ..............

Mrs. McCarthy ....................... ............ X .............. Mrs. Capito .......................... X ........... ..............

Mr. Baca ............................... ............ X .............. Mr. Feeney ............................ X ........... ..............

Mr. Lynch .............................. ............ X .............. Mr. Hensarling ..................... X ........... ..............

Mr. Miller (NC) ...................... ............ X .............. Mr. Garrett (NJ) .................... X ........... ..............

Mr. Scott ............................... ............ X .............. Ms. Brown-Waite .................. X ........... ..............

Mr. Green .............................. ............ X .............. Mr. Barrett (SC) ................... X ........... ..............

Mr. Cleaver ........................... ............ X .............. Mr. Gerlach .......................... ........... ........... ..............

Ms. Bean ............................... ............ ........... .............. Mr. Pearce ............................ X ........... ..............

Ms. Moore (WI) ...................... ............ X .............. Mr. Neugebauer .................... X ........... ..............

Mr. Davis (TN) ...................... ............ X .............. Mr. Price (GA) ...................... ........... ........... ..............

Mr. Sires ............................... ............ X .............. Mr. Davis (KY) ...................... ........... ........... ..............

Mr. Hodes .............................. ............ X .............. Mr. McHenry ......................... X ........... ..............

Mr. Ellison ............................. ............ X .............. Mr. Campbell ....................... ........... ........... ..............

Mr. Klein ............................... ............ X .............. Mr. Putnam .......................... X ........... ..............

Mr. Mahoney (FL) .................. ............ X .............. Mrs. Bachmann .................... X ........... ..............

Mr. Wilson ............................. ............ X .............. Mr. Roskam .......................... X ........... ..............

Mr. Perlmutter ....................... ............ X .............. Mr. Marchant ....................... X ........... ..............

Mr. Murphy ............................ ............ X .............. Mr. McCotter ........................ X ........... ..............

Mr. Donnelly .......................... ............ X ..............

Mr. Wexler ............................. ............ ........... ..............

Mr. Marshall ......................... ............ X ..............

Mr. Boren .............................. ............ X ..............


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COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee has held hearings and made 

findings that are reflected in this report. 

PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee establishes the following performance related goals and objectives for this legislation: 

H.R. 1980, the Housing Assistance Council Authorization Act of 

2007, authorizes funding for the Housing Assistance Council with 

the goal of providing affordable housing and economic development 

in rural America. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX

EXPENDITURES

In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the estimate of new budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or revenues contained in the cost estimate prepared by 

the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE

The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared by 

the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate provided by 

the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974: 

JUNE 1, 2007. 

Hon. BARNEY FRANK, Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1980, the Housing Assistance Council Authorization Act of 2007. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Chad Chirico. 

Sincerely, 

PETER R. ORSZAG. 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 1980—Housing Assistance Council Authorization Act of 2007 

Summary: H.R. 1980 would authorize the appropriation of $10 

million in 2008 and $15 million for each of fiscal years 2009 

through 2014 to provide funding to the Housing Assistance Council 

(HAC). The HAC is a nonprofit corporation that assists public, nonprofit, and private organizations in the development of affordable 


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housing in rural communities. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would 

cost $70 million over the 2008–2012 period, with additional 

amounts spent in later years. Enacting H.R. 1980 would not affect 

direct spending or revenues. 

H.R. 1980 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA); 

any costs to state, local, or tribal governments would be incurred 

voluntarily. 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 1980 is shown in the following table. For this 

estimate, CBO assumes that the amounts authorized by the bill 

will be appropriated by the beginning of each fiscal year and that 

outlays will follow the historical rate of spending for similar programs. The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 600 

(income security). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars—

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Authorization Level .................................................................................................. 10 15 15 15 15 

Estimated Outlays ................................................................................................... 10 15 15 15 15 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1980 contains 

no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in 

UMRA. Funds authorized in the bill would benefit state, local, and 

tribal governments that participate in affordable housing projects 

and programs in rural areas. Any costs to those governments to 

comply with grant conditions would be incurred voluntarily. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Chad Chirico; Impact on 

State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Lisa Ramirez-Branum; Impact on the Private Sector: Page Shevlin. 

Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 

pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this legislation. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee finds that the Constitutional 

Authority of Congress to enact this legislation is provided by Article 1, section 8, clause 1 (relating to the general welfare of the 

United States) and clause 3 (relating to the power to regulate interstate commerce). 


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APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. 

EARMARK IDENTIFICATION

In compliance with clause 9 of rule XXI, the Committee is in receipt of the following correspondence: 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 

Washington, DC, May 18, 2007. 

Hon. BARNEY FRANK, 

Chairman, Committee on Financial Services, 

Washington, DC. 

Hon. SPENCER BACHUS, 

Ranking Member, Committee on Financial Services, 

Washington, DC. 

CHAIRMAN FRANK AND RANKING MEMBER BACHUS: I am writing 

to request that the Committee on Financial Services authorize $10 

million in funding for the Housing Assistance Council in Fiscal 

Year 2008 and $15 million in Fiscal Years 2009–2014. The funding 

will be provided under HUD’s Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity Programs. 

The Housing Assistance Council is located at 1025 Vermont Ave., 

N.W., Suite 606, Washington, D.C. 20005. Created in 1971, the 

Housing Assistance Council offers seed-money loans, grants, training, technical aid, and information to local community groups that 

are building decent, safe and affordable housing in underserved 

rural areas. Much of HAC’s work is focused on homeownership for 

rural families, particularly using the sweat equity, self-help approach. 

I certify that neither I nor my spouse has any financial interest 

in the Council or its projects. Again, I request that the Committee 

authorize $10 million in funding for HAC in FY’08 and $15 million 

in Fiscal Years 2009–2014. 

Sincerely, 

RUBE ́ N HINOJOSA, Member of Congress. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1. Short title 

This section establishes the short title of the bill, the ‘‘Housing 

Assistance Council Authorization Act of 2007.’’

Section 2. Assistance to Housing Assistance Council 

This section authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide assistance to the Housing 

Assistance Council, and authorizes appropriations for the program 

in the amount of $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and $15,000,000 

for each of fiscal years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. 

Æ 


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