I

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 4580

To establish the Geno Baroni Commission on Neighborhoods and provide

for a White House Conference on Neighborhoods, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 14, 1994

Ms. KAPTUR introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs

A BILL

To establish the Geno Baroni Commission on Neighborhoods

and provide for a White House Conference on Neighborhoods, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Geno Baroni Com5 memorative Neighborhood Policy Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

7 (a) CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.—The Congress finds

8 that—

9 (1) 1994 is the 10th anniversary of the death

10 of Monsignor Geno Baroni, former Assistant Sec-
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1 retary of the Department of Housing and Urban De2 velopment;

3 (2) Monsignor Baroni was instrumental in

4 drawing attention to the plight of neighborhoods in

5 the United States;

6 (3) Monsignor Baroni was a champion of civil

7 rights who joined the late Dr. Martin Luther King,

8 Jr., in civil rights marches, a passionate crusader

9 against poverty, and a visionary leader for cultural

10 pluralism and ethnic and racial harmony in the

11 United States;

12 (4) Monsignor Baroni was a minister of the

13 people, interested in the social needs of urban com14 munities, who, as a street priest, helped heal the

15 community in Washington D.C., after the urban

16 riots in the late 1960’s;

17 (5) Monsignor Baroni expressed great caution

18 regarding the approaches used by Federal programs,

19 demanding that they should work with people, not

20 for them or to them;

21 (6) Monsignor Baroni transcended traditional

22 religious and political boundaries and dared to envi23 sion and attempt to create a world unified in its ef24 forts to battle against poverty, crime, social injus25 tice, and ethnic and racial division;
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1 (7) Monsignor Baroni’s contribution to, and in2 fluence in, the United States are singular and im3 measurable, and include—

4 (A) inspiring a new generation to tackle

5 some of the Nation’s most profound and intrac6 table challenges of poverty, illiteracy, and fear

7 by revitalizing the economic and cultural viabil8 ity of their communities; and

9 (B) building coalitions among ethnically di10 verse groups and working to eliminate dishar11 mony between races;

12 (8) Monsignor Baroni became the first Assist13 ant Secretary at the Department of Housing and

14 Urban Development to champion the cause of neigh15 borhood empowerment and revitalization through

16 local self-help organizations;

17 (9) as a result of the pioneering efforts of Mon18 signor Baroni and the passage of landmark Federal

19 legislation, over 2,500 self-help organizations

20 throughout the United States have undertaken hous21 ing and neighborhood development;

22 (10) such organizations that have become an in23 creasingly prominent force in rebuilding and revital24 izing urban communities in the United States;
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1 (11) in the Supplemental Housing Authoriza2 tion Act of 1977, the Congress found that—

3 (A) existing city neighborhoods are a na4 tional resource to be conserved and revitalized

5 wherever possible, and that public policy should

6 promote that objective; and

7 (B) the tendency of public policy incentives

8 to ignore the need to preserve the built environ9 ment could no longer be defended, either eco10 nomically or socially, and must be replaced with

11 explicit policy incentives encouraging the con12 servation of existing neighborhoods;

13 (12) achieving the objectives of the Supple14 mental Housing Authorization Act of 1977 required

15 a comprehensive review of existing laws, policies, and

16 programs which affected neighborhoods, to assess

17 their impact on neighborhoods, and to recommend

18 modifications where necessary;

19 (13) such Act established the National Commis20 sion on Neighborhoods to undertake a comprehen21 sive study and investigation of the factors contribut22 ing to the decline of city neighborhoods and of the

23 factors necessary to sustain neighborhood economic

24 and cultural survival and revitalization; and
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1 (14) the Commission recommended modifica2 tions in Federal, State, and local laws and rec3 ommended the policies and programs necessary to

4 facilitate neighborhood preservation and revitaliza5 tion.

6 (b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this Act to com7 memorate the work of Monsignor Geno Baroni by—

8 (1) establishing the Geno Baroni Commission

9 on Neighborhoods to assess the progress of the Na10 tion in meeting the recommendations of the National

11 Commission on Neighborhoods and to assess and

12 analyze the current challenges, policies, and pro13 grams affecting groups involved in neighborhood re14 vitalization and conservation; and

15 (2) providing for a White House Conference on

16 Neighborhoods to facilitate the transfer of knowl17 edge of neighborhood self-help organizations and de18 velop recommendations for neighborhood preserva19 tion and revitalization.

20 SEC. 3. GENO BARONI COMMISSION ON NEIGHBORHOODS.

21 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established a

22 commission to be known as the Geno Baroni Commission

23 on Neighborhoods.

24 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com25 posed of 16 members, to be appointed as follows:
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1 (1) 2 members of the Senate appointed by the

2 President of the Senate, who may not be of the same

3 political party in an ex officio capacity.

4 (2) 2 members of the House of Representatives

5 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Rep6 resentatives, who may not be of the same political

7 party in an ex officio capacity.

8 (3) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Devel9 opment in an ex officio capacity.

10 (4) 11 public members appointed by the Presi11 dent of the United States from among persons spe12 cially qualified by experience and training to perform

13 the duties of the Commission, 5 of whom shall be

14 elected officers of recognized neighborhood organiza15 tions engaged in housing and revitalization pro16 grams, and 5 of whom shall be elected or appointed

17 officials of local governments or private sector bank18 ing or finance representatives, involved in housing

19 rehabilitation and preservation programs. The re20 maining member shall be an individual with out21 standing demonstrated experience in neighborhood

22 revitalization activities.

23 (c) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the Commis24 sion shall be appointed by the President from among the

25 public members appointed under subsection (b)(4).
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1 (d) DIRECTOR.—The Commission shall have a Direc2 tor, appointed by the Commission, who shall be com3 pensated at a rate fixed by the Commission, but which

4 shall not exceed the rate of basic pay payable for level

5 V of the Executive Schedule under title 5, United States

6 Code.

7 (e) DUTIES.—

8 (1) ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS.—The Commis9 sion shall undertake a comprehensive study to assess

10 progress made in the United States in carrying out

11 the recommendations made by the National Commis12 sion on Neighborhoods (established under title II of

13 the Supplemental Housing Authorization Act of

14 1977), including the recommendations of the Na15 tional Commission regarding—

16 (A) geographic discrimination (commonly

17 referred to as ‘‘redlining’’);

18 (B) targeting assistance to neighborhoods;

19 (C) displacement;

20 (D) human services;

21 (E) community self-help;

22 (F) community full employment;

23 (G) property tax reform;

24 (H) citizen participation; and

25 (I) neighborhood empowerment.
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1 (2) ASSESSMENT OF NEW PROBLEMS.—The

2 Commission shall identify and assess any factors

3 arising since the termination of the National Com4 mission on Neighborhoods that prevent or interfere

5 with efforts for neighborhood revitalization, includ6 ing escalation of the influence of crime, illegal drug

7 use, and racial violence in neighborhoods.

8 (3) ASSESSMENT OF NEW POLICIES.—The

9 Commission shall assess the impact, influence, roles,

10 and needs of Federal, State, local, and other poli11 cies, entities, programs, and efforts in revitalizing

12 neighborhoods, implemented or originated since the

13 termination of the National Commission on Neigh14 borhoods, including—

15 (A) neighborhood development organiza16 tions;

17 (B) financial institutions, including com18 munity development financial institutions;

19 (C) programs under the National and

20 Community Service Trust Act of 1993;

21 (D) community development groups and

22 community development corporations; and

23 (E) empowerment zones and enterprise

24 communities established under subchapter U of

25 chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of
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1 1986, and enterprise zones established under

2 State and local laws.

3 (4) ASSISTANCE.—The Commission shall assist

4 the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in

5 carrying out the responsibilities under section 4.

6 (5) UPDATE OF REPORT.—Not later than the

7 convening of the Conference under section 4, the

8 Commission shall update the report of the National

9 Commission on Neighborhoods entitled ‘‘People

10 Building Neighborhoods’’, dated March 19, 1979, in11 cluding the information contained in volumes I, II,

12 and III of such report, by documenting the progress

13 and accomplishments of the organizations identified

14 and analyzed in the report and other existing organi15 zations involved in neighborhood revitalization. In

16 updating the report the Commission shall identify

17 strategies and activities carried out by such organi18 zations that have been particularly successful in

19 achieving neighborhood revitalization. The Commis20 sion shall make the updated report under this sec21 tion available at the Conference.

22 (6) REPORT ON CONFERENCE.—The Commis23 sion shall prepare a report on the Conference in ac24 cordance with section 4(f).
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1 (f) REPORT.—During the White House Conference

2 on Neighborhoods held pursuant to section 4, the Commis3 sion shall submit to the Congress and the President a com4 prehensive report on its studies and activities under sub5 section (e), which shall include its findings, conclusions,

6 and recommendations and such proposals for legislation

7 and administrative action as may be necessary to carry

8 out such recommendations.

9 (g) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para11 graph (2), members of the Commission shall each be

12 entitled to receive $100 for each day (including trav13 el time) during which they are engaged in the actual

14 performance of duties vested in the Commission.

15 (2) PROHIBITION.—Members of the Commis16 sion who are Members of Congress or full-time offi17 cers or employees of the United States may not re18 ceive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by rea19 son of their service on the Commission, but may re20 ceive expenses under paragraph (3).

21 (3) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the

22 Commission shall receive travel expenses, including

23 per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with

24 sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States

25 Code.
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1 (h) ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.—

2 (1) PERSONNEL.—The Commission shall have

3 the power to appoint and fix the compensation of

4 such personnel as it deems advisable.

5 (2) INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERV6 ICE LAWS.—The Director and staff of the Commis7 sion may be appointed without regard to the provi8 sions of title 5, United States Code, governing ap9 pointments in the competitive service, and may be

10 paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51

11 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title, relat12 ing to classification and General Schedule pay rates.

13 The rate of pay for the staff may not exceed the an14 nual rate of basic pay payable for level IV of the Ex15 ecutive Schedule.

16 (3) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—The Com17 mission may procure, in accordance with the provi18 sions of section 3109 of title 5, United States Code,

19 the temporary or intermittent services of experts or

20 consultants. Persons so employed shall receive com21 pensation at a rate to be fixed by the Commission

22 but not in excess of $100 per day, including travel23 time.

24 (4) INFORMATION FROM AGENCIES AND

25 STATES.—The Commission may secure directly from
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1 any department or agency of the United States in2 formation necessary to enable the Commission to

3 carry out its duties under this section. Upon request

4 of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of

5 that department or agency shall furnish that infor6 mation to the Commission. The Chairperson may re7 quest any department, agency, or other office of any

8 State to furnish, on a reimbursable basis or other9 wise, any information necessary to enable the Com10 mission to carry out its duties under this section.

11 (5) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Commis12 sion may, for the purpose of carrying out its duties

13 under this section, hold hearings, sit and act at

14 times and places, take testimony, and receive evi15 dence as the Commission considers appropriate. The

16 Commission may administer oaths or affirmations to

17 witnesses appearing before it.

18 (i) EXPIRATION OF THE COMMISSION.—The Com19 mission shall cease to exist 30 days after the adjournment

20 of the Conference under section 4.

21 SEC. 4. WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON NEIGHBORHOODS.

22 (a) AUTHORITY TO CALL CONFERENCE.—Not later

23 than November 30, 1996, the President shall convene a

24 White House Conference on Neighborhoods to—
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1 (1) facilitate the transfer of knowledge and

2 sharing of experiences among the broad range of

3 neighborhood self-help organizations throughout the

4 United States;

5 (2) acknowledge the accomplishments of such

6 organizations;

7 (3) develop recommendations for additional re8 search and public policy recommendations and ac9 tions in the field of neighborhood preservation and

10 revitalization; and

11 (4) disseminate the report of, and information

12 obtained by, the Commission and exhibit materials

13 and works of the Commission.

14 To the extent practicable, the conference may be held in

15 conjunction with the Festival of American Folk Life, spon16 sored by the Smithsonian Institution.

17 (b) PLANNING AND DIRECTION.—The Conference

18 shall be planned and conducted under the direction of the

19 Secretary in cooperation with the Commission under sec20 tion 3, and the heads of such other Federal departments

21 and agencies as are appropriate. Such assistance may in22 clude the assignment of personnel.

23 (c) PURPOSE OF CONFERENCE.—The purpose of the

24 Conference shall be—
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1 (1) to increase the public awareness of the

2 value and needs of neighborhoods and neighborhood

3 self-help development organizations in the United

4 States;

5 (2) to identify the problems facing neighbor6 hoods in the United States and to examine the poli7 cies and issues affecting the stability and sustain8 ability of neighborhoods;

9 (3) to examine the impact and effectiveness of

10 efforts by the Federal Government and State and

11 local governments, and any private efforts, to initi12 ate new neighborhood communities and preserve ex13 isting neighborhood communities;

14 (4) to develop such specific and comprehensive

15 recommendations for executive, legislative, and pri16 vate action as may be appropriate for maintaining

17 and improving the well-being and infrastructure of

18 neighborhoods; and

19 (5) to develop recommendations for the coordi20 nation of Federal policy with State and local policy

21 and needs and to identify the appropriate authority

22 and entities to implement such recommendations.

23 (d) CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS AND DELE24 GATES.—
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1 (1) PARTICIPANTS.—To carry out the purposes

2 of this section, the Conference shall bring together—

3 (A) professional and lay people who are

4 working in the field of neighborhood revitaliza5 tion and preservation;

6 (B) representatives of the Federal Govern7 ment and State and local governments;

8 (C) representatives of banking, lending,

9 and other financial institutions; and

10 (D) representatives of the general public.

11 (2) SELECTION OF DELEGATES.—The delegates

12 shall be selected without regard to political affili13 ation or past partisan activity and shall be rep14 resentative of the diversity of thought in the field of

15 neighborhood revitalization and preservation. Dele16 gates shall include individuals who are professionals,

17 individuals who are not professionals, minority indi18 viduals, and individuals from low-income families.

19 (e) CONFERENCE ADMINISTRATION.—

20 (1) ADMINISTRATION.—In administering this

21 section, the Secretary shall—

22 (A) request the cooperation and assistance

23 of the heads of such other Federal departments

24 and agencies as may be appropriate in the car25 rying out of this section;
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1 (B) furnish all reasonable assistance, in2 cluding financial assistance, to State agencies,

3 area agencies, and other appropriate organiza4 tions to enable them to organize and conduct

5 conferences in conjunction with the Conference;

6 (C) make available for public comment a

7 proposed agenda for the conference that reflects

8 to the greatest extent possible the major issues

9 facing neighborhoods;

10 (D) prepare and make available back11 ground materials for the use of delegates to the

12 Conference that the Secretary considers nec13 essary; and

14 (E) engage such additional personnel as

15 may be necessary to carry out the provisions of

16 this section without regard to provisions of title

17 5, United States Code, governing appointments

18 in the competitive service, and without regard

19 to chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53

20 of such title relating to classification and Gen21 eral Schedule pay rates.

22 (2) DUTIES.—The Secretary shall, in carrying

23 out the responsibilities and functions of the Sec24 retary under this section, and as part of the White

25 House Conference on Neighborhoods, ensure that—
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1 (A) the conferences under paragraph

2 (1)(B) shall be conducted in a manner that en3 sures broad participation of Federal, State, and

4 local agencies and private organizations, profes5 sionals, and others involved in neighborhood re6 vitalization and preservation;

7 (B) the agenda prepared under paragraph

8 (1)(C) for the Conference is published in the

9 Federal Register; and

10 (C) the personnel engaged under para11 graph (1)(E) shall be fairly balanced in terms

12 of points of views represented and shall be ap13 pointed without regard to political affiliation or

14 previous partisan activities.

15 (f) REPORT.—The Commission under section 3 shall

16 prepare a report describing the activities of the Conference

17 and shall submit the report to the President and the chief

18 executive officers of the States not later than 90 days after

19 the date on which the Conference is adjourned.

20 SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

21 For purposes of this Act—

22 (1) the term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Geno

23 Baroni Commission on Neighborhoods established

24 under section 3;
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1 (2) the term ‘‘Conference’’ means the White

2 House Conference on Neighborhoods pursuant to

3 section 4;

4 (3) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary

5 of Housing and Urban Development; and

6 (4) the term ‘‘State’’ means the States of the

7 United States, the District of Columbia, the Com8 monwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the

9 Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Is10 lands, American Samoa, and any other territory or

11 possession of the United States.

12 SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro14 priated—

15 (1) $4,000,000 to carry out section 3, of which

16 $2,000,000 shall be available for activities under

17 section 3(e); and

18 (2) $2,000,000 to carry out section 4.

19 (b) AVAILABILITY.—Any amounts appropriated pur20 suant to this section shall remain available until the expi21 ration of the 1-year period beginning on the date of the

22 adjournment of the Conference.

23 (c) CONTRACTS.—The Secretary and the Commission

24 may enter into contracts to carry out their responsibilities
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1 under this Act, but only to the extent, or in such amounts

2 as are, provided in advance in appropriations Acts.

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