Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018

Making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes. That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes, namely: I Department of transportation Office of the secretary Salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary, $108,899,000, of which not to exceed $2,758,000 shall be available for the immediate Office of the Secretary; not to exceed $1,040,000 shall be available for the immediate Office of the Deputy Secretary; not to exceed $20,772,000 shall be available for the Office of the General Counsel; not to exceed $10,033,000 shall be available for the Office of the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy; not to exceed $14,019,000 shall be available for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs; not to exceed $2,546,000 shall be available for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs; not to exceed $24,255,000 shall be available for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration; not to exceed $2,142,000 shall be available for the Office of Public Affairs; not to exceed $1,760,000 shall be available for the Office of the Executive Secretariat; not to exceed $11,089,000 shall be available for the Office of Intelligence, Security, and Emergency Response; and not to exceed $18,485,000 shall be available for the Office of the Chief Information Officer: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Public Law 107–71 Research and technology For necessary expenses related to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, $8,465,109, of which $2,618,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided Provided further National surface transportation and innovative finance bureau For necessary expenses of the National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau authorized by 49 U.S.C. 116 Provided 49 U.S.C. 116(h) Cyber security initiatives For necessary expenses for cyber security initiatives, including necessary upgrades to wide area network and information technology infrastructure, improvement of network perimeter controls and identity management, testing and assessment of information technology against business, security, and other requirements, implementation of Federal cyber security initiatives and information infrastructure enhancements, and implementation of enhanced security controls on network devices, $15,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2019. Office of civil rights For necessary expenses of the Office of Civil Rights, $9,500,000. Transportation planning, research, and development For necessary expenses for conducting transportation planning, research, systems development, development activities, and making grants, to remain available until expended, $8,500,001: Provided Provided further Provided further Working capital fund For necessary expenses for operating costs and capital outlays of the Working Capital Fund, not to exceed $202,245,000 shall be paid from appropriations made available to the Department of Transportation: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Minority business resource center program For necessary expenses of the Minority Business Resource Center, the provision of financial education outreach activities to eligible transportation-related small businesses, the monitoring of existing loans in the guaranteed loan program, and the modification of such loans of the Minority Business Resource Center, $500,301, as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 332 Provided Small and disadvantaged business utilization and outreach For necessary expenses for small and disadvantaged business utilization and outreach activities, $3,999,093, to remain available until September 30, 2019: Provided 49 U.S.C. 332 Payments to air carriers (airport and airway trust fund) In addition to funds made available from any other source to carry out the essential air service program under 49 U.S.C. 41731 Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Administrative provisions—office of the secretary of transportation (including transfer of funds) 101. None of the funds made available in this Act to the Department of Transportation may be obligated for the Office of the Secretary of Transportation to approve assessments or reimbursable agreements pertaining to funds appropriated to the modal administrations in this Act, except for activities underway on the date of enactment of this Act, unless such assessments or agreements have completed the normal reprogramming process for Congressional notification. 102. The Secretary shall post on the Web site of the Department of Transportation a schedule of all meetings of the Council on Credit and Finance, including the agenda for each meeting, and require the Council on Credit and Finance to record the decisions and actions of each meeting. 103. In addition to authority provided by section 327 of title 49, United States Code, the Department’s Working Capital Fund is hereby authorized to provide partial or full payments in advance and accept subsequent reimbursements from all Federal agencies from available funds for transit benefit distribution services that are necessary to carry out the Federal transit pass transportation fringe benefit program under Executive Order 13150 and section 3049 of Public Law 109–59 Provided Provided further Provided further 104. Hereafter, the Secretary may transfer to the National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau, for the purposes of the Bureau, funds allocated to the administrative costs of processing applications for the programs referred to in 49 U.S.C. 116(d)(1) Provided 105. Section 503(l)(4) of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 ( 45 U.S.C. 823(l)(4) (1) by striking the heading Safety and Operations Account National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau Account, Office of the Secretary (2) in subparagraph (A) by striking the Safety and Operations account of the Federal Railroad Administration the National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau account. Federal aviation administration Operations (airport and airway trust fund) For necessary expenses of the Federal Aviation Administration, not otherwise provided for, including operations and research activities related to commercial space transportation, administrative expenses for research and development, establishment of air navigation facilities, the operation (including leasing) and maintenance of aircraft, subsidizing the cost of aeronautical charts and maps sold to the public, lease or purchase of passenger motor vehicles for replacement only, in addition to amounts made available by Public Law 112–95 Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Public Law 108–176 Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Facilities and equipment (airport and airway trust fund) For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, for acquisition, establishment, technical support services, improvement by contract or purchase, and hire of national airspace systems and experimental facilities and equipment, as authorized under part A of subtitle VII of title 49, United States Code, including initial acquisition of necessary sites by lease or grant; engineering and service testing, including construction of test facilities and acquisition of necessary sites by lease or grant; construction and furnishing of quarters and related accommodations for officers and employees of the Federal Aviation Administration stationed at remote localities where such accommodations are not available; and the purchase, lease, or transfer of aircraft from funds available under this heading, including aircraft for aviation regulation and certification; to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, $2,855,000,000, of which $493,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2019, $2,247,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2020, and $115,000,000 shall remain available until expended: Provided Provided further Research, engineering, and development (airport and airway trust fund) For necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, for research, engineering, and development, as authorized under part A of subtitle VII of title 49, United States Code, including construction of experimental facilities and acquisition of necessary sites by lease or grant, $170,000,000, to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and to remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided Grants-in-aid for airports (liquidation of contract authorization) (limitation on obligations) (airport and airway trust fund) For liquidation of obligations incurred for grants-in-aid for airport planning and development, and noise compatibility planning and programs as authorized under subchapter I of chapter 471 and subchapter I of chapter 475 Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Administrative provisions—federal aviation administration 110. None of the funds in this Act may be used to compensate in excess of 600 technical staff-years under the federally funded research and development center contract between the Federal Aviation Administration and the Center for Advanced Aviation Systems Development during fiscal year 2017. 111. None of the funds in this Act shall be used to pursue or adopt guidelines or regulations requiring airport sponsors to provide to the Federal Aviation Administration without cost building construction, maintenance, utilities and expenses, or space in airport sponsor-owned buildings for services relating to air traffic control, air navigation, or weather reporting: Provided below-market 112. The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may reimburse amounts made available to satisfy 49 U.S.C. 41742(a)(1) 49 U.S.C. 45303 113. Amounts collected under section 40113(e) of title 49, United States Code, shall be credited to the appropriation current at the time of collection, to be merged with and available for the same purposes of such appropriation. 114. None of the funds in this Act shall be available for paying premium pay under subsection 5546(a) of title 5, United States Code, to any Federal Aviation Administration employee unless such employee actually performed work during the time corresponding to such premium pay. 115. None of the funds in this Act may be obligated or expended for an employee of the Federal Aviation Administration to purchase a store gift card or gift certificate through use of a Government-issued credit card. 116. None of the funds in this Act may be obligated or expended for retention bonuses for an employee of the Federal Aviation Administration without the prior written approval of the Assistant Secretary for Administration of the Department of Transportation. 117. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds made available under this Act or any prior Act may be used to implement or to continue to implement any limitation on the ability of any owner or operator of a private aircraft to obtain, upon a request to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, a blocking of that owner's or operator's aircraft registration number from any display of the Federal Aviation Administration's Aircraft Situational Display to Industry data that is made available to the public, except data made available to a Government agency, for the noncommercial flights of that owner or operator. 118. None of the funds in this Act shall be available for salaries and expenses of more than nine political and Presidential appointees in the Federal Aviation Administration. 119. None of the funds made available under this Act may be used to increase fees pursuant to section 44721 of title 49, United States Code, until the Federal Aviation Administration provides to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a report that justifies all fees related to aeronautical navigation products and explains how such fees are consistent with Executive Order 13642. 119A. None of the funds in this Act may be used to close a regional operations center of the Federal Aviation Administration or reduce its services unless the Administrator notifies the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations not less than 90 full business days in advance. 119B. None of the funds appropriated or limited by this Act may be used to change weight restrictions or prior permission rules at Teterboro airport in Teterboro, New Jersey. 119C. None of the funds provided under this Act may be used by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to withhold from consideration and approval any application for participation in the Contract Tower Program, or for reevaluation of Cost-share Program participants, pending as of January 1, 2016, as long as the Federal Aviation Administration has received an application from the airport, and as long as the Administrator determines such tower is eligible using the factors set forth in the Federal Aviation Administration report, Establishment and Discontinuance Criteria for Airport Traffic Control Towers (FAA–APO–90–7 as of August, 1990). 119D. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds made available in this Act may be obligated or expended to limit an Organization Designation Authorization holder from utilizing authorized delegated functions, unless the FAA documents, through surveillance, oversight or accident/incident finding, a systemic airworthiness noncompliance performance issue on the part of the ODA holder with regard to a specific function or where an ODA’s capability has not been previously established in terms of a new compliance method or design feature: Provided Federal highway administration Limitation on administrative expenses (highway trust fund) (including transfer of funds) Not to exceed $439,443,925, together with advances and reimbursements received by the Federal Highway Administration, shall be obligated for necessary expenses for administration and operation of the Federal Highway Administration. In addition, $3,248,000 shall be transferred to the Appalachian Regional Commission in accordance with section 104(a) of title 23, United States Code. Federal-aid highways (limitation on obligations) (highway trust fund) Funds available for the implementation or execution of Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs authorized under titles 23 and 49, United States Code, and the provisions of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act shall not exceed total obligations of $44,234,212,000 for fiscal year 2018: Provided Provided further Provided further (liquidation of contract authorization) (highway trust fund) For the payment of obligations incurred in carrying out Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs authorized under title 23, United States Code, $44,973,212,000 derived from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account), to remain available until expended. (rescission) (highway trust fund) Of the unobligated balances of funds apportioned among the States under chapter 1 Provided Public Law 112–141 Public Law 109–59 Public Law 112–141 Provided further Provided further Provided further Administrative provisions—federal highway administration 120. (a) For fiscal year 2018, the Secretary of Transportation shall— (1) not distribute from the obligation limitation for Federal-aid highways— (A) amounts authorized for administrative expenses and programs by section 104(a) of title 23, United States Code; and (B) amounts authorized for the Bureau of Transportation Statistics; (2) not distribute an amount from the obligation limitation for Federal-aid highways that is equal to the unobligated balance of amounts— (A) made available from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) for Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs for previous fiscal years the funds for which are allocated by the Secretary (or apportioned by the Secretary under sections 202 or 204 of title 23, United States Code); and (B) for which obligation limitation was provided in a previous fiscal year; (3) determine the proportion that— (A) the obligation limitation for Federal-aid highways, less the aggregate of amounts not distributed under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection; bears to (B) the total of the sums authorized to be appropriated for the Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs (other than sums authorized to be appropriated for provisions of law described in paragraphs (1) through (11) of subsection (b) and sums authorized to be appropriated for section 119 of title 23, United States Code, equal to the amount referred to in subsection (b)(12) for such fiscal year), less the aggregate of the amounts not distributed under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection; (4) distribute the obligation limitation for Federal-aid highways, less the aggregate amounts not distributed under paragraphs (1) and (2), for each of the programs (other than programs to which paragraph (1) applies) that are allocated by the Secretary under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act and title 23, United States Code, or apportioned by the Secretary under sections 202 or 204 of that title, by multiplying— (A) the proportion determined under paragraph (3); by (B) the amounts authorized to be appropriated for each such program for such fiscal year; and (5) distribute the obligation limitation for Federal-aid highways, less the aggregate amounts not distributed under paragraphs (1) and (2) and the amounts distributed under paragraph (4), for Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs that are apportioned by the Secretary under title 23, United States Code (other than the amounts apportioned for the National Highway Performance Program in section 119 of title 23, United States Code, that are exempt from the limitation under subsection (b)(12) and the amounts apportioned under sections 202 and 204 of that title) in the proportion that— (A) amounts authorized to be appropriated for the programs that are apportioned under title 23, United States Code, to each State for such fiscal year; bears to (B) the total of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for the programs that are apportioned under title 23, United States Code, to all States for such fiscal year. (b) Exceptions from Obligation Limitation The obligation limitation for Federal-aid highways shall not apply to obligations under or for— (1) section 125 of title 23, United States Code; (2) section 147 of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1978 ( 23 U.S.C. 144 (3) section 9 of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1981 (95 Stat. 1701); (4) subsections (b) and (j) of section 131 of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (96 Stat. 2119); (5) subsections (b) and (c) of section 149 of the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987 (101 Stat. 198); (6) sections 1103 through 1108 of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (105 Stat. 2027); (7) section 157 of title 23, United States Code (as in effect on June 8, 1998); (8) section 105 of title 23, United States Code (as in effect for fiscal years 1998 through 2004, but only in an amount equal to $639,000,000 for each of those fiscal years); (9) Federal-aid highway programs for which obligation authority was made available under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (112 Stat. 107) or subsequent Acts for multiple years or to remain available until expended, but only to the extent that the obligation authority has not lapsed or been used; (10) section 105 of title 23, United States Code (as in effect for fiscal years 2005 through 2012, but only in an amount equal to $639,000,000 for each of those fiscal years); (11) section 1603 of SAFETEA–LU ( 23 U.S.C. 118 (12) section 119 of title 23, United States Code (but, for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2018, only in an amount equal to $639,000,000). (c) Redistribution of Unused Obligation Authority Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary shall, after August 1 of such fiscal year— (1) revise a distribution of the obligation limitation made available under subsection (a) if an amount distributed cannot be obligated during that fiscal year; and (2) redistribute sufficient amounts to those States able to obligate amounts in addition to those previously distributed during that fiscal year, giving priority to those States having large unobligated balances of funds apportioned under sections 144 (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of Public Law 112–141 (d) Applicability of Obligation Limitations to Transportation Research Programs (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the obligation limitation for Federal-aid highways shall apply to contract authority for transportation research programs carried out under— (A) chapter 5 (B) title VI of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act. (2) Exception Obligation authority made available under paragraph (1) shall— (A) remain available for a period of 4 fiscal years; and (B) be in addition to the amount of any limitation imposed on obligations for Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction programs for future fiscal years. (e) Redistribution of Certain Authorized Funds (1) In general Not later than 30 days after the date of distribution of obligation limitation under subsection (a), the Secretary shall distribute to the States any funds (excluding funds authorized for the program under section 202 of title 23, United States Code) that— (A) are authorized to be appropriated for such fiscal year for Federal-aid highway programs; and (B) the Secretary determines will not be allocated to the States (or will not be apportioned to the States under section 204 of title 23, United States Code), and will not be available for obligation, for such fiscal year because of the imposition of any obligation limitation for such fiscal year. (2) Ratio Funds shall be distributed under paragraph (1) in the same proportion as the distribution of obligation authority under subsection (a)(5). (3) Availability Funds distributed to each State under paragraph (1) shall be available for any purpose described in section 133(b) of title 23, United States Code. 121. Notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302 chapter 63 Provided 122. Not less than 15 days prior to waiving, under his or her statutory authority, any Buy America requirement for Federal-aid highways projects, the Secretary of Transportation shall make an informal public notice and comment opportunity on the intent to issue such waiver and the reasons therefor: Provided 123. None of the funds in this Act to the Department of Transportation may be used to provide credit assistance unless not less than 3 days before any application approval to provide credit assistance under sections 603 and 604 of title 23, United States Code, the Secretary of Transportation provides notification in writing to the following committees: the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations; the Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives: Provided 124. None of the funds in this Act may be used to make a grant for a project under section 117 of title 23, United States Code, unless the Secretary, at least 60 days before making a grant under that section, provides written notification to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations of the proposed grant, including an evaluation and justification for the project and the amount of the proposed grant award. 125. For this fiscal year, the Federal Highway Administration shall reinstate Interim Approval IA-5, relating to the provisional use of an alternative lettering style on certain highway guide signs, as it existed before its termination, as announced in the Federal Register on January 25, 2016 [(81 Fed. Reg. 4083)]. 126. Section 127(t) of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (1) in the subsection heading by inserting North Dakota and Idaho (2) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) by inserting North Dakota or Idaho (3) in paragraph (3) by striking Idaho State law the law of the relevant State Federal motor carrier safety administration Motor carrier safety operations and programs (liquidation of contract authorization) (limitation on obligations) (highway trust fund) For payment of obligations incurred in the implementation, execution and administration of motor carrier safety operations and programs pursuant to section 31110 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, $283,000,000, to be derived from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account), together with advances and reimbursements received by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the sum of which shall remain available until expended: Provided Motor Carrier Safety Operations and Programs Motor carrier safety grants (liquidation of contract authorization) (limitation on obligations) (highway trust fund) For payment of obligations incurred in carrying out sections 31102, 31103, 31104, and 31313 of title 49, United States Code, as amended by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, $374,800,000, to be derived from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) and to remain available until expended: Provided Motor Carrier Safety Grants Provided further Public Law 105–178 Public Law 109–59 49 U.S.C. 31108 Provided further Provided further Administrative provisions—federal motor carrier safety administration 130. Funds appropriated or limited in this Act shall be subject to the terms and conditions stipulated in section 350 of Public Law 107–87 Public Law 110–28 131. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shall send notice of 49 CFR section 385.308 violations by certified mail, registered mail, or another manner of delivery, which records the receipt of the notice by the persons responsible for the violations. 132. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Transportation by this Act or any other Act may be obligated or expended to implement, administer, or enforce the requirements of section 31137 of title 49, United States Code, or any regulation issued by the Secretary pursuant to such section, with respect to the use of electronic logging devices by operators of commercial motor vehicles, as defined in section 31132(1) of such title, transporting livestock as defined in section 602 of the Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act of 1988 ( 7 U.S.C. 1471 133. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act or any other Act may be used to amend, revise or otherwise modify by rulemaking, guidance, or interpretation the regulations in effect on December 4, 2015 relating to safety fitness determinations for motor carriers until the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation makes the certifications set out in section 5223(a) of Public Law 114–94 134. FEDERAL AUTHORITY. (a) In General Section 14501(c) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) paragraphs (3) and (4) (2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (5) as paragraphs (3) through (6) respectively; (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: (2) Additional limitation (A) In general A State, political subdivision of a State, or political authority of 2 or more States may not enact or enforce a law, regulation, or other provision having the force and effect of law prohibiting employees whose hours of service are subject to regulation by the Secretary under section 31502 from working to the full extent permitted or at such times as permitted under such section, or imposing any additional obligations on motor carriers if such employees work to the full extent or at such times as permitted under such section, including any related activities regulated under part 395 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations. (B) Statutory construction Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to limit the provisions of paragraph (1). ; (4) in paragraph (3) (as redesignated) by striking Paragraph (1)— Paragraphs (1) and (2)— (5) in paragraph (4)(A) (as redesignated) by striking Paragraph (1) Paragraphs (1) and (2) (b) Effective Date The amendments made by this section shall have the force and effect as if enacted on the date of enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994 ( Public Law 103–305 National highway traffic safety administration Operations and research For expenses necessary to discharge the functions of the Secretary, with respect to traffic and highway safety authorized under chapter 301 and part C of subtitle VI of title 49, United States Code, $180,075,000, of which $20,000,000 shall remain available through September 30, 2019. Operations and research (liquidation of contract authorization) (limitation on obligations) (highway trust fund) For payment of obligations incurred in carrying out the provisions of 23 U.S.C. 403 chapter 303 Provided 23 U.S.C. 403 chapter 303 Provided further Highway traffic safety grants (liquidation of contract authorization) (limitation on obligations) (highway trust fund) For payment of obligations incurred in carrying out provisions of 23 U.S.C. 402 Provided 23 U.S.C. 402 Highway Safety Programs 23 U.S.C. 402 National Priority Safety Programs 23 U.S.C. 405 High Visibility Enforcement Program 23 U.S.C. 404 Administrative Expenses Provided further Provided further National Priority Safety Programs 23 U.S.C. 405 Impaired Driving Countermeasures Provided further Transfers 23 U.S.C. 405(a)(8) Provided further 23 U.S.C. 405(a)(8) Administrative provisions—national highway traffic safety administration 140. An additional $130,000 shall be made available to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, out of the amount limited for section 402 of title 23, United States Code, to pay for travel and related expenses for State management reviews and to pay for core competency development training and related expenses for highway safety staff. 141. The limitations on obligations for the programs of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration set in this Act shall not apply to obligations for which obligation authority was made available in previous public laws but only to the extent that the obligation authority has not lapsed or been used. 142. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to obligate or award funds for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National Roadside Survey. 143. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to mandate global positioning system (GPS) tracking in private passenger motor vehicles without providing full and appropriate consideration of privacy concerns under 5 U.S.C. chapter 5, subchapter II. Federal railroad administration Safety and operations For necessary expenses of the Federal Railroad Administration, not otherwise provided for, $218,298,000, of which $15,900,000 shall remain available until expended. Railroad research and development For necessary expenses for railroad research and development, $40,100,000, to remain available until expended. Railroad rehabilitation and improvement financing program The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to issue direct loans and loan guarantees pursuant to sections 501 through 504 of the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 ( Public Law 94–210 Provided Public Law 114–94 Federal-state partnership for state of good repair For necessary expenses related to Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair grants as authorized by section 24911 of title 49, United States Code, $500,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided Provided further Consolidated rail infrastructure and safety improvements For necessary expenses related to Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grants as authorized by section 24407 of title 49, United States Code, $25,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided Northeast corridor grants to the national railroad passenger corporation To enable the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation for activities associated with the Northeast Corridor as authorized by section 11101(a) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (division A of Public Law 114–94 Provided National Network Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation Public Law 114–94 Provided further Public Law 114–94 Provided further National Network Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation National network grants to the national railroad passenger corporation To enable the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation for activities associated with the National Network as authorized by section 11101(b) of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (division A of Public Law 114–94 Provided Administrative provisions—federal railroad administration 150. None of the funds provided to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation may be used to fund any overtime costs in excess of $35,000 for any individual employee: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further 151. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used for high-speed rail in the State of California or for the California High-Speed Rail Authority, nor may any be used by the Federal Railroad Administration to administer a grant agreement with the California High-Speed Rail Authority that contains a tapered matching requirement. 152. None of the funds made available by this Act shall be used by the Surface Transportation Board to take any actions with respect to the construction of a high speed rail project in California unless the permit is issued by the Board with respect to the project in its entirety. Federal transit administration Administrative expenses For necessary administrative expenses of the Federal Transit Administration's programs authorized by chapter 53 Provided Provided further Transit formula grants (liquidation of contract authorization) (limitation on obligations) (highway trust fund) For payment of obligations incurred in the Federal Public Transportation Assistance Program in this account, and for payment of obligations incurred in carrying out the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 5305 Public Law 112–141 Provided 49 U.S.C. 5305 Public Law 112–141 Technical assistance and training For necessary expenses to carry out 49 U.S.C. 5314 Capital investment grants For necessary expenses to carry out 49 U.S.C. 5309 Provided Grants to the washington metropolitan area transit authority For grants to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority as authorized under section 601 of division B of Public Law 110–432 Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Public Law 110–432 Administrative provisions—federal transit administration 160. The limitations on obligations for the programs of the Federal Transit Administration shall not apply to any authority under 49 U.S.C. 5338 161. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds appropriated or limited by this Act under the heading Fixed Guideway Capital Investment 162. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds appropriated before October 1, 2017, under any section of chapter 53 163. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), none of the funds in this or any other Act may be available to advance in any way a new light or heavy rail project towards a full funding grant agreement as defined by 49 U.S.C. 5309 (b) The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas, may attempt to construct or construct a new fixed guideway capital project, including light rail, in the locations referred to in subsection (a) if— (1) voters in the jurisdiction that includes such locations approve a ballot proposition that specifies routes on Richmond Avenue west of South Shepherd Drive or on Post Oak Boulevard north of Richmond Avenue in Houston, Texas; and (2) the proposed construction of such routes is part of a comprehensive, multi-modal, service-area wide transportation plan that includes multiple additional segments of fixed guideway capital projects, including light rail for the jurisdiction set forth in the ballot proposition. The ballot language shall include reasonable cost estimates, sources of revenue to be used and the total amount of bonded indebtedness to be incurred as well as a description of each route and the beginning and end point of each proposed transit project. 164. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds made available in this Act shall be used to enter into a full funding grant agreement for a project with a New Starts share greater than 50 percent. Saint lawrence seaway development corporation The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation is hereby authorized to make such expenditures, within the limits of funds and borrowing authority available to the Corporation, and in accord with law, and to make such contracts and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation Control Act, as amended, as may be necessary in carrying out the programs set forth in the Corporation's budget for the current fiscal year. Operations and maintenance (harbor maintenance trust fund) For necessary expenses to conduct the operations, maintenance, and capital asset renewal activities of those portions of the St. Lawrence Seaway owned, operated, and maintained by the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, $31,346,012, to be derived from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, pursuant to Public Law 99–662 Maritime administration Maritime security program For necessary expenses to maintain and preserve a U.S.-flag merchant fleet to serve the national security needs of the United States, $300,000,000, to remain available until expended. Operations and training For necessary expenses of operations and training activities authorized by law, $175,620,000, of which $22,000,000 shall remain available until expended for maintenance and repair of training ships at State Maritime Academies, and of which $6,000,000 shall remain available until expended for National Security Multi-Mission Vessel Program for State Maritime Academies and National Security, and of which $2,400,000 shall remain available through September 30, 2019, for the Student Incentive Program at State Maritime Academies, and of which $1,800,000 shall remain available until expended for training ship fuel assistance payments, and of which $18,000,000 shall remain available until expended for facilities maintenance and repair, equipment, and capital improvements at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and of which $3,000,000 shall remain available through September 30, 2019, for Maritime Environment and Technology Assistance program authorized under section 50307 of title 46, United States Code: Provided Public Law 110–417 Assistance to small shipyards To make grants to qualified shipyards as authorized under section 54101 of title 46, United States Code, as amended by Public Law 113–281 Provided Provided further Provided further Ship disposal For necessary expenses related to the disposal of obsolete vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet of the Maritime Administration, $9,000,000, to remain available until expended. Maritime guaranteed loan (title xi) program account (including transfer of funds) For administrative expenses to carry out the guaranteed loan program, $3,000,000, which shall be transferred to and merged for use by the Office of the Secretary’s National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau to administer the Title XI program in addition to those programs listed in 49 U.S.C. 116(d)(1) Administrative provisions—maritime administration 170. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, in addition to any existing authority, the Maritime Administration is authorized to furnish utilities and services and make necessary repairs in connection with any lease, contract, or occupancy involving Government property under control of the Maritime Administration: Provided Provided further 171. None of the funds available or appropriated in this Act shall be used by the United States Department of Transportation or the United States Maritime Administration to negotiate or otherwise execute, enter into, facilitate or perform fee-for-service contracts for vessel disposal, scrapping or recycling, unless there is no qualified domestic ship recycler that will pay any sum of money to purchase and scrap or recycle a vessel owned, operated or managed by the Maritime Administration or that is part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet: Provided Public Law 106–398 Provided further 54 U.S.C. 308704 172. Penalty Wages (a) Foreign and Intercoastal Voyages.—Section 10313(g) of title 46, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking all claims in a class action suit by seamen each claim by a seaman (B) by striking the seamen the seaman (2) in paragraph (3)— (A) by striking class action (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking , by a seaman who is a claimant in the suit, by the seaman (b) Coastwise Voyages.—Section 10504(c) of such title is amended— (1) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking all claims in a class action suit by seamen each claim by a seaman (B) by striking the seamen the seaman (2) in paragraph (3)— (A) by striking class action (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking , by a seaman who is a claimant in the suit by the seaman Pipeline and hazardous materials safety administration Operational expenses For necessary operational expenses of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, $20,500,000. Hazardous materials safety For expenses necessary to discharge the hazardous materials safety functions of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, $57,000,000, of which $7,570,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided 49 U.S.C. 5108(g) Provided further Pipeline safety (pipeline safety fund) (oil spill liability trust fund) For expenses necessary to conduct the functions of the pipeline safety program, for grants-in-aid to carry out a pipeline safety program, as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 60107 49 U.S.C. 60302 49 U.S.C. 60141 Emergency preparedness grants (emergency preparedness fund) Notwithstanding the fiscal year limitation specified in 49 U.S.C. 5116 49 U.S.C. 5116(h) Provided 49 U.S.C. 5116(h)(4) Provided further 49 U.S.C. 5116(h) Provided further 49 U.S.C. 5128(b) Provided further 49 U.S.C. 5116(a)(1)(C) Office of inspector general Salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Office of the Inspector General to carry out the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, $92,152,000: Provided 5 U.S.C. App. 3 18 U.S.C. 1001 Provided further General provisions—Department of transportation 180. (a) During the current fiscal year, applicable appropriations to the Department of Transportation shall be available for maintenance and operation of aircraft; hire of passenger motor vehicles and aircraft; purchase of liability insurance for motor vehicles operating in foreign countries on official department business; and uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by law ( 5 U.S.C. 5901–5902 (b) During the current fiscal year, applicable appropriations to the Department and its operating administrations shall be available for the purchase, maintenance, operation, and deployment of unmanned aircraft systems that advance the Department’s, or its operating administrations’, missions. (c) Any unmanned aircraft system purchased or procured by the Department prior to the enactment of this Act shall be deemed authorized. 181. Appropriations contained in this Act for the Department of Transportation shall be available for services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 182. (a) No recipient of funds made available in this Act shall disseminate personal information (as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2725(3) 18 U.S.C. 2725(1) 18 U.S.C. 2721 18 U.S.C. 2721 (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary shall not withhold funds provided in this Act for any grantee if a State is in noncompliance with this provision. 183. Funds received by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Railroad Administration from States, counties, municipalities, other public authorities, and private sources for expenses incurred for training may be credited respectively to the Federal Highway Administration's Federal-Aid Highways Safety and Operations 49 U.S.C. 20105 184. (a) None of the funds provided in this Act to the Department of Transportation may be used to make a loan, loan guarantee, line of credit, or discretionary grant totaling $500,000 or more unless the Secretary of Transportation notifies the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations not less than 3 full business days before any project competitively selected to receive any discretionary grant award, letter of intent, loan commitment, loan guarantee commitment, line of credit commitment, or full funding grant agreement is announced by the Department or its modal administrations: Provided quick release Provided further (b) In addition to the notification required in subsection (a), none of the funds made available in this Act to the Department of Transportation may be used to make a loan, loan guarantee, line of credit, or discretionary grant unless the Secretary of Transportation provides the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations a comprehensive list of all such loans, loan guarantees, lines of credit, or discretionary grants that will be announced not less the 3 full business days before such announcement: Provided quick release Provided further 185. Rebates, refunds, incentive payments, minor fees and other funds received by the Department of Transportation from travel management centers, charge card programs, the subleasing of building space, and miscellaneous sources are to be credited to appropriations of the Department of Transportation and allocated to elements of the Department of Transportation using fair and equitable criteria and such funds shall be available until expended. 186. Amounts made available in this or any other Act that the Secretary determines represent improper payments by the Department of Transportation to a third-party contractor under a financial assistance award, which are recovered pursuant to law, shall be available— (1) to reimburse the actual expenses incurred by the Department of Transportation in recovering improper payments; and (2) to pay contractors for services provided in recovering improper payments or contractor support in the implementation of the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002: Provided (A) shall be credited to and merged with the appropriation from which the improper payments were made, and shall be available for the purposes and period for which such appropriations are available: Provided further (B) if no such appropriation remains available, shall be deposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts: Provided further Provided further improper payments Public Law 107–300 187. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if any funds provided in or limited by this Act are subject to a reprogramming action that requires notice to be provided to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, transmission of said reprogramming notice shall be provided solely to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, and said reprogramming action shall be approved or denied solely by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations: Provided 188. Funds appropriated in this Act to the modal administrations may be obligated for the Office of the Secretary for the costs related to assessments or reimbursable agreements only when such amounts are for the costs of goods and services that are purchased to provide a direct benefit to the applicable modal administration or administrations. 189. The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to carry out a program that establishes uniform standards for developing and supporting agency transit pass and transit benefits authorized under section 7905 of title 5, United States Code, including distribution of transit benefits by various paper and electronic media. 190. The Department of Transportation may use funds provided by this Act, or any other Act, to assist a contract under title 49 U.S.C. or title 23 U.S.C. utilizing geographic, economic, or any other hiring preference not otherwise authorized by law, or to amend a rule, regulation, policy or other measure that forbids a recipient of a Federal Highway Administration or Federal Transit Administration grant from imposing such hiring preference on a contract or construction project with which the Department of Transportation is assisting, only if the grant recipient certifies the following: (1) that except with respect to apprentices or trainees, a pool of readily available but unemployed individuals possessing the knowledge, skill, and ability to perform the work that the contract requires resides in the jurisdiction; (2) that the grant recipient will include appropriate provisions in its bid document ensuring that the contractor does not displace any of its existing employees in order to satisfy such hiring preference; and (3) that any increase in the cost of labor, training, or delays resulting from the use of such hiring preference does not delay or displace any transportation project in the applicable Statewide Transportation Improvement Program or Transportation Improvement Program. This title may be cited as the Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2018 II Department of housing and urban development Management and administration Executive offices For necessary salaries and expenses for Executive Offices, which shall be comprised of the offices of the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Adjudicatory Services, Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations, Public Affairs, Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, and the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, $14,708,000: Provided Administrative support offices (including transfer of funds) For necessary salaries and expenses for Administrative Support Offices, $518,303,000, of which $10,762,000 shall be available for, including the establishment of, the Office of the Chief Operations Officer; $50,340,000 shall be available for the Office of the Chief Financial Officer; $92,006,000 shall be available for the Office of the General Counsel; $205,873,000 shall be available for the Office of Administration; $38,245,000 shall be available for the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer; $49,588,000 shall be available for the Office of Field Policy and Management; $19,065,000 shall be available for the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer; $3,570,000 shall be available for the Office of Departmental Equal Employment Opportunity; $4,975,000 shall be available for the Office of Strategic Planning and Management; and $43,879,000 shall be available for the Office of the Chief Information Officer: Provided 5 U.S.C. 5901–5902 Provided further Provided further Information Technology Fund Provided further Provided further Program office salaries and expenses Public and indian housing For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Public and Indian Housing, $216,633,000. Community planning and development For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Community Planning and Development, $107,554,000. Housing For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Housing, $392,000,000. Policy development and research For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Policy Development and Research, $24,065,000. Fair housing and equal opportunity For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, $69,808,000. Office of lead hazard control and healthy homes For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, $7,600,000. Working capital fund (including transfer of funds) For the working capital fund for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (referred to in this paragraph as the Fund 42 U.S.C. 3535(f) Provided Executive Offices Administrative Support Offices Program Office Salaries and Expenses Government National Mortgage Association Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Information Technology Fund Public and indian housing Tenant-based rental assistance (including transfer of funds) For activities and assistance for the provision of tenant-based rental assistance authorized under the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 the Act Provided (1) $18,709,725,000 shall be available for renewals of expiring section 8 tenant-based annual contributions contracts (including renewals of enhanced vouchers under any provision of law authorizing such assistance under section 8(t) of the Act) and including renewal of other special purpose incremental vouchers: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further (2) $60,000,000 shall be for section 8 rental assistance for relocation and replacement of housing units that are demolished or disposed of pursuant to section 18 of the Act, conversion of section 23 projects to assistance under section 8, the family unification program under section 8(x) of the Act, relocation of witnesses in connection with efforts to combat crime in public and assisted housing pursuant to a request from a law enforcement or prosecution agency, enhanced vouchers under any provision of law authorizing such assistance under section 8(t) of the Act, HOPE VI and Choice Neighborhood vouchers, mandatory and voluntary conversions, and tenant protection assistance including replacement and relocation assistance or for project-based assistance to prevent the displacement of unassisted elderly tenants currently residing in section 202 properties financed between 1959 and 1974 that are refinanced pursuant to Public Law 106–569 Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further 42 U.S.C. 1437f(t) Provided further Provided further Project-Based Rental Assistance Provided further (3) $1,550,000,000 shall be for administrative and other expenses of public housing agencies in administering the section 8 tenant-based rental assistance program, of which up to $10,000,000 shall be available to the Secretary to allocate to public housing agencies that need additional funds to administer their section 8 programs, including fees associated with section 8 tenant protection rental assistance, the administration of disaster related vouchers, Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers, and other special purpose incremental vouchers: Provided Public Law 105–276 Provided further Provided further Provided further (4) $150,000,000 for the renewal of tenant-based assistance contracts under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8013 Provided Provided further (5) the Secretary shall separately track all special purpose vouchers funded under this heading, including the renewal, from amounts provided under paragraph (1) under this heading, of HUD–VASH vouchers, funded under this heading in prior Acts to address veterans’ homelessness, of no less than $577,000,000; (6) $7,000,000 shall be for renewal grants, including rental assistance and associated administrative fees for Tribal HUD–VA Supportive Housing to serve Native American veterans that are homeless or at-risk of homelessness living on or near a reservation or Indian areas: Provided Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Public Law 113–235 Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further (7) $10,000,000 shall be available to support modernization of public housing agency (PHA) information technology systems with respect to administration of program data and funding provided under this heading, including related expenses; Provided, That the Secretary may transfer up to $10,000,000 of the amounts provided under this paragraph to the Public Housing Capital Fund Housing certificate fund (including rescissions) Unobligated balances, including recaptures and carryover, remaining from funds appropriated to the Department of Housing and Urban Development under this heading, the heading Annual Contributions for Assisted Housing Project-Based Rental Assistance Provided Provided further Public housing capital fund For the Public Housing Capital Fund Program to carry out capital and management activities for public housing agencies, as authorized under section 9 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437g Act Provided Provided further obligate Provided further Provided further Provided further 42 U.S.C. 5121 Provided further Provided further 42 U.S.C. 1437z–6 25 U.S.C. 4101 Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Public housing operating fund For 2018 payments to public housing agencies for the operation and management of public housing, as authorized by section 9(e) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437g(e) Choice neighborhoods initiative For competitive grants under the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (subject to section 24 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437v Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further 42 U.S.C. 1437x Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Revitalization of Severely Distressed Public Housing (HOPE VI) Family self-sufficiency For the Family Self-Sufficiency program to support family self-sufficiency coordinators under section 23 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, to promote the development of local strategies to coordinate the use of assistance under sections 8(o) and 9 of such Act with public and private resources, and enable eligible families to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency, $75,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019: Provided Provided further Provided further Native american housing block grants For the Native American Housing Block Grants program, as authorized under title I of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA) ( 25 U.S.C. 4111 Provided Provided further Provided further 25 U.S.C. 4212 Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Indian housing loan guarantee fund program account For the cost of guaranteed loans, as authorized by section 184 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 ( 12 U.S.C. 1715z–13a Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Community planning and development Housing opportunities for persons with aids For carrying out the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program, as authorized by the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12901 Provided Provided further Community development fund For assistance to units of State and local government, and to other entities, for economic and community development activities, and for other purposes, $2,960,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020, unless otherwise specified: Provided the Act 42 U.S.C. 5301 Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Community development loan guarantees program account Subject to section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, during fiscal year 2018, commitments to guarantee loans under section 108 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5308 Provided Home investment partnerships program For the HOME Investment Partnerships program, as authorized under title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, as amended, $850,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021: Provided Provided further Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 Home Investment Partnerships Program; Improving Performance and Accountability; Updating Property Standards Provided further Self-help and assisted homeownership opportunity program For the Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity Program, as authorized under section 11 of the Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996, as amended, $45,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided Provided further 42 U.S.C. 9816 Provided further Homeless assistance grants For the Emergency Solutions Grants program as authorized under subtitle B of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended; the Continuum of Care program as authorized under subtitle C of title IV of such Act; and the Rural Housing Stability Assistance program as authorized under subtitle D of title IV of such Act, $2,383,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further 42 U.S.C. 11302(a) Provided further Housing programs Project-based rental assistance For activities and assistance for the provision of project-based subsidy contracts under the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 the Act Provided 42 U.S.C. 11401 Provided further Annual Contributions for Assisted Housing Housing Certificate Fund Provided further Provided further Housing for the elderly For amendments to capital advance contracts, for housing for the elderly, as authorized by section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959, as amended, and for project rental assistance for the elderly under section 202(c)(2) of such Act, including amendments to contracts for such assistance and renewal of expiring contracts for such assistance for up to a 1-year term, and for senior preservation rental assistance contracts, including renewals, as authorized by section 811(e) of the American Housing and Economic Opportunity Act of 2000, as amended, and for supportive services associated with the housing, $573,000,000 to remain available until September 30, 2021: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Housing for persons with disabilities For amendments to capital advance contracts for supportive housing for persons with disabilities, as authorized by section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8013 Public Law 86–372 Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Housing counseling assistance For contracts, grants, and other assistance excluding loans, as authorized under section 106 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended, $50,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019, including up to $4,500,000 for administrative contract services: Provided Provided further Provided further Rental housing assistance For amendments to contracts under section 101 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701s 12 U.S.C. 1715z–1 Provided Payment to manufactured housing fees trust fund For necessary expenses as authorized by the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5401 Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Federal housing administration Mutual mortgage insurance program account New commitments to guarantee single family loans insured under the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund shall not exceed $400,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further General and special risk program account New commitments to guarantee loans insured under the General and Special Risk Insurance Funds, as authorized by sections 238 and 519 of the National Housing Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1715z–3 Provided Government national mortgage association Guarantees of mortgage-backed securities loan guarantee program account New commitments to issue guarantees to carry out the purposes of section 306 of the National Housing Act, as amended ( 12 U.S.C. 1721(g) Provided Provided further Provided further Policy development and research Research and technology For contracts, grants, and necessary expenses of programs of research and studies relating to housing and urban problems, not otherwise provided for, as authorized by title V of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701z–1 Provided Provided further Provided further Public Law 109–282 Provided further Fair housing and equal opportunity Fair housing activities For contracts, grants, and other assistance, not otherwise provided for, as authorized by title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, and section 561 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987, as amended, $65,300,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019: Provided 31 U.S.C. 3302 Provided further Provided further Office of lead hazard control and healthy homes Lead hazard reduction For the Lead Hazard Reduction Program, as authorized by section 1011 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, $130,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019, of which $25,000,000 shall be for the Healthy Homes Initiative, pursuant to sections 501 and 502 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970, that shall include research, studies, testing, and demonstration efforts, including education and outreach concerning lead-based paint poisoning and other housing-related diseases and hazards: Provided 42 U.S.C. 4321 Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Information technology fund For the development of, modifications to, and infrastructure for Department-wide and program-specific information technology systems, for the continuing operation and maintenance of both Department-wide and program-specific information systems, and for program-related maintenance activities, $150,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2019: Provided Provided further Office of inspector general For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Inspector General in carrying out the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, $128,082,000: Provided General provisions—department of housing and urban development (including transfer of funds) (including rescission) 201. Fifty percent of the amounts of budget authority, or in lieu thereof 50 percent of the cash amounts associated with such budget authority, that are recaptured from projects described in section 1012(a) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1988 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f 202. None of the amounts made available under this Act may be used during fiscal year 2018 to investigate or prosecute under the Fair Housing Act any otherwise lawful activity engaged in by one or more persons, including the filing or maintaining of a nonfrivolous legal action, that is engaged in solely for the purpose of achieving or preventing action by a Government official or entity, or a court of competent jurisdiction. 203. Except as explicitly provided in law, any grant, cooperative agreement or other assistance made pursuant to title II of this Act shall be made on a competitive basis and in accordance with section 102 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989 ( 42 U.S.C. 3545 204. Funds of the Department of Housing and Urban Development subject to the Government Corporation Control Act or section 402 of the Housing Act of 1950 shall be available, without regard to the limitations on administrative expenses, for legal services on a contract or fee basis, and for utilizing and making payment for services and facilities of the Federal National Mortgage Association, Government National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal Financing Bank, Federal Reserve banks or any member thereof, Federal Home Loan banks, and any insured bank within the meaning of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Act, as amended ( 12 U.S.C. 1811–1 205. Unless otherwise provided for in this Act or through a reprogramming of funds, no part of any appropriation for the Department of Housing and Urban Development shall be available for any program, project or activity in excess of amounts set forth in the budget estimates submitted to Congress. 206. Corporations and agencies of the Department of Housing and Urban Development which are subject to the Government Corporation Control Act are hereby authorized to make such expenditures, within the limits of funds and borrowing authority available to each such corporation or agency and in accordance with law, and to make such contracts and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by section 104 of such Act as may be necessary in carrying out the programs set forth in the budget for 2018 for such corporation or agency except as hereinafter provided: Provided 207. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall provide quarterly reports to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations regarding all uncommitted, unobligated, recaptured and excess funds in each program and activity within the jurisdiction of the Department and shall submit additional, updated budget information to these Committees upon request. 208. The President's formal budget request for fiscal year 2019, as well as the Department of Housing and Urban Development's congressional budget justifications to be submitted to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall use the identical account and sub-account structure provided under this Act. 209. No funds provided under this title may be used for an audit of the Government National Mortgage Association that makes applicable requirements under the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 ( 2 U.S.C. 661 210. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, subject to the conditions listed under this section, for fiscal years 2018 and 2019, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may authorize the transfer of some or all project-based assistance, debt held or insured by the Secretary and statutorily required low-income and very low-income use restrictions if any, associated with one or more multifamily housing project or projects to another multifamily housing project or projects. (b) Phased Transfers Transfers of project-based assistance under this section may be done in phases to accommodate the financing and other requirements related to rehabilitating or constructing the project or projects to which the assistance is transferred, to ensure that such project or projects meet the standards under subsection (c). (c) The transfer authorized in subsection (a) is subject to the following conditions: (1) Number and bedroom size of units (A) For occupied units in the transferring project: The number of low-income and very low-income units and the configuration (i.e., bedroom size) provided by the transferring project shall be no less than when transferred to the receiving project or projects and the net dollar amount of Federal assistance provided to the transferring project shall remain the same in the receiving project or projects. (B) For unoccupied units in the transferring project: The Secretary may authorize a reduction in the number of dwelling units in the receiving project or projects to allow for a reconfiguration of bedroom sizes to meet current market demands, as determined by the Secretary and provided there is no increase in the project-based assistance budget authority. (2) The transferring project shall, as determined by the Secretary, be either physically obsolete or economically nonviable. (3) The receiving project or projects shall meet or exceed applicable physical standards established by the Secretary. (4) The owner or mortgagor of the transferring project shall notify and consult with the tenants residing in the transferring project and provide a certification of approval by all appropriate local governmental officials. (5) The tenants of the transferring project who remain eligible for assistance to be provided by the receiving project or projects shall not be required to vacate their units in the transferring project or projects until new units in the receiving project are available for occupancy. (6) The Secretary determines that this transfer is in the best interest of the tenants. (7) If either the transferring project or the receiving project or projects meets the condition specified in subsection (d)(2)(A), any lien on the receiving project resulting from additional financing obtained by the owner shall be subordinate to any FHA-insured mortgage lien transferred to, or placed on, such project by the Secretary, except that the Secretary may waive this requirement upon determination that such a waiver is necessary to facilitate the financing of acquisition, construction, and/or rehabilitation of the receiving project or projects. (8) If the transferring project meets the requirements of subsection (d)(2), the owner or mortgagor of the receiving project or projects shall execute and record either a continuation of the existing use agreement or a new use agreement for the project where, in either case, any use restrictions in such agreement are of no lesser duration than the existing use restrictions. (9) The transfer does not increase the cost (as defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, as amended) of any FHA-insured mortgage, except to the extent that appropriations are provided in advance for the amount of any such increased cost. (d) For purposes of this section— (1) the terms low-income very low-income (2) the term multifamily housing project (A) housing that is subject to a mortgage insured under the National Housing Act; (B) housing that has project-based assistance attached to the structure including projects undergoing mark to market debt restructuring under the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Housing Act; (C) housing that is assisted under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959, as amended by section 801 of the Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act; (D) housing that is assisted under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959, as such section existed before the enactment of the Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act; (E) housing that is assisted under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act; or (F) housing or vacant land that is subject to a use agreement; (3) the term project-based assistance (A) assistance provided under section 8(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937; (B) assistance for housing constructed or substantially rehabilitated pursuant to assistance provided under section 8(b)(2) of such Act (as such section existed immediately before October 1, 1983); (C) rent supplement payments under section 101 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965; (D) interest reduction payments under section 236 and/or additional assistance payments under section 236(f)(2) of the National Housing Act; (E) assistance payments made under section 202(c)(2) of the Housing Act of 1959; and (F) assistance payments made under section 811(d)(2) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act; (4) the term receiving project or projects (5) the term transferring project (6) the term Secretary (e) Research Report The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation of the transfer authority under this section, including the effect of such transfers on the operational efficiency, contract rents, physical and financial conditions, and long-term preservation of the affected properties. 211. (a) No assistance shall be provided under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f (1) is enrolled as a student at an institution of higher education (as defined under section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 (2) is under 24 years of age; (3) is not a veteran; (4) is unmarried; (5) does not have a dependent child; (6) is not a person with disabilities, as such term is defined in section 3(b)(3)(E) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(3)(E) (7) is not a youth who left foster care at age 14 or older and is at risk of becoming homeless; and (8) is not otherwise individually eligible, or has parents who, individually or jointly, are not eligible, to receive assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f (b) For purposes of determining the eligibility of a person to receive assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f 20 U.S.C. 1001 20 U.S.C. 1002 212. The funds made available for Native Alaskans under the heading Native American Housing Block Grants 213. Notwithstanding the limitation in the first sentence of section 255(g) of the National Housing Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1715z–20(g) 214. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in fiscal year 2018, in managing and disposing of any multifamily property that is owned or has a mortgage held by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and during the process of foreclosure on any property with a contract for rental assistance payments under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 or other Federal programs, the Secretary shall maintain any rental assistance payments under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and other programs that are attached to any dwelling units in the property. To the extent the Secretary determines, in consultation with the tenants and the local government, that such a multifamily property owned or held by the Secretary is not feasible for continued rental assistance payments under such section 8 or other programs, based on consideration of (1) the costs of rehabilitating and operating the property and all available Federal, State, and local resources, including rent adjustments under section 524 of the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 ( MAHRAA 215. The commitment authority funded by fees as provided under the heading Community Development Loan Guarantees Program Account Provided 216. Public housing agencies that own and operate 400 or fewer public housing units may elect to be exempt from any asset management requirement imposed by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in connection with the operating fund rule: Provided 217. With respect to the use of amounts provided in this Act and in future Acts for the operation, capital improvement and management of public housing as authorized by sections 9(d) and 9(e) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437g(d) 42 U.S.C. 1437g(g)(1) Provided 218. No official or employee of the Department of Housing and Urban Development shall be designated as an allotment holder unless the Office of the Chief Financial Officer has determined that such allotment holder has implemented an adequate system of funds control and has received training in funds control procedures and directives. The Chief Financial Officer shall ensure that there is a trained allotment holder for each HUD sub-office under the accounts Executive Offices Administrative Support Offices, Program Office Salaries and Expenses Government National Mortgage Association—Guarantees of Mortgage-Backed Securities Loan Guarantee Program Account Office of Inspector General 219. The Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development shall, for fiscal year 2018, notify the public through the Federal Register and other means, as determined appropriate, of the issuance of a notice of the availability of assistance or notice of funding availability (NOFA) for any program or discretionary fund administered by the Secretary that is to be competitively awarded. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for fiscal year 2018, the Secretary may make the NOFA available only on the Internet at the appropriate Government web site or through other electronic media, as determined by the Secretary. 220. Payment of attorney fees in program-related litigation shall be paid from the individual program office and Office of General Counsel salaries and expenses appropriations. The annual budget submission for the program offices and the Office of General Counsel shall include any such projected litigation costs for attorney fees as a separate line item request. No funds provided in this title may be used to pay any such litigation costs for attorney fees until the Department submits for review a spending plan for such costs to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. 221. The Secretary is authorized to transfer up to 10 percent or $4,000,000, whichever is less, of funds appropriated for any office under the heading Administrative Support Offices Program Office Salaries and Expenses Provided Provided further 222. (a) Any entity receiving housing assistance payments shall maintain decent, safe, and sanitary conditions, as determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (in this section referred to as the Secretary (b) The Secretary shall take action under subsection (c) when a multifamily housing project with a section 8 contract or contract for similar project-based assistance— (1) receives a Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS) score of 60 or less; or (2) fails to certify in writing to the Secretary within 3 days that all Exigent Health and Safety deficiencies identified by the inspector at the project have been corrected. Such requirements shall apply to insured and noninsured projects with assistance attached to the units under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13) 42 U.S.C. 1437g (c) (1) Within 15 days of the issuance of the REAC inspection, the Secretary must provide the owner with a Notice of Default with a specified timetable, determined by the Secretary, for correcting all deficiencies. The Secretary must also provide a copy of the Notice of Default to the tenants, the local government, any mortgagees, and any contract administrator. If the owner's appeal results in a UPCS score of 60 or above, the Secretary may withdraw the Notice of Default. (2) At the end of the time period for correcting all deficiencies specified in the Notice of Default, if the owner fails to fully correct such deficiencies, the Secretary may— (A) require immediate replacement of project management with a management agent approved by the Secretary; (B) impose civil money penalties, which shall be used solely for the purpose of supporting safe and sanitary conditions at applicable properties, as designated by the Secretary, with priority given to the tenants of the property affected by the penalty; (C) abate the section 8 contract, including partial abatement, as determined by the Secretary, until all deficiencies have been corrected; (D) pursue transfer of the project to an owner, approved by the Secretary under established procedures, which will be obligated to promptly make all required repairs and to accept renewal of the assistance contract as long as such renewal is offered; (E) transfer the existing section 8 contract to another project or projects and owner or owners; (F) pursue exclusionary sanctions, including suspensions or debarments from Federal programs; (G) seek judicial appointment of a receiver to manage the property and cure all project deficiencies or seek a judicial order of specific performance requiring the owner to cure all project deficiencies; (H) work with the owner, lender, or other related party to stabilize the property in an attempt to preserve the property through compliance, transfer of ownership, or an infusion of capital provided by a third-party that requires time to effectuate; or (I) take any other regulatory or contractual remedies available as deemed necessary and appropriate by the Secretary. (d) The Secretary shall also take appropriate steps to ensure that project-based contracts remain in effect, subject to the exercise of contractual abatement remedies to assist relocation of tenants for major threats to health and safety after written notice to the affected tenants. To the extent the Secretary determines, in consultation with the tenants and the local government, that the property is not feasible for continued rental assistance payments under such section 8 or other programs, based on consideration of— (1) the costs of rehabilitating and operating the property and all available Federal, State, and local resources, including rent adjustments under section 524 of the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 ( MAHRAA (2) environmental conditions that cannot be remedied in a cost-effective fashion, the Secretary may contract for project-based rental assistance payments with an owner or owners of other existing housing properties, or provide other rental assistance. (e) The Secretary shall report quarterly on all properties covered by this section that are assessed through the Real Estate Assessment Center and have UPCS physical inspection scores of less than 60 or have received an unsatisfactory management and occupancy review within the past 36 months. The report shall include— (1) the enforcement actions being taken to address such conditions, including imposition of civil money penalties and termination of subsidies, and identify properties that have such conditions multiple times; (2) actions that the Department of Housing and Urban Development is taking to protect tenants of such identified properties; and (3) any administrative or legislative recommendations to further improve the living conditions at properties covered under a housing assistance payment contract. 223. None of the funds made available by this Act, or any other Act, for purposes authorized under section 8 (only with respect to the tenant-based rental assistance program) and section 9 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 224. None of the funds in this Act may be available for the doctoral dissertation research grant program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 225. Section 24 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437v (1) in subsection (m)(1), by striking fiscal year fiscal year 2018. (2) in subsection (o), by striking September September 30, 2018. 226. None of the funds in this Act provided to the Department of Housing and Urban Development may be used to make a grant award unless the Secretary notifies the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations not less than 3 full business days before any project, State, locality, housing authority, tribe, nonprofit organization, or other entity selected to receive a grant award is announced by the Department or its offices. 227. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to require or enforce the Physical Needs Assessment (PNA). 228. None of the funds made available in this Act shall be used by the Federal Housing Administration, the Government National Mortgage Administration, or the Department of Housing and Urban Development to insure, securitize, or establish a Federal guarantee of any mortgage or mortgage backed security that refinances or otherwise replaces a mortgage that has been subject to eminent domain condemnation or seizure, by a State, municipality, or any other political subdivision of a State. 229. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to terminate the status of a unit of general local government as a metropolitan city (as defined in section 102 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5302 42 U.S.C. 5306 230. Amounts made available under this Act which are either appropriated, allocated, advanced on a reimbursable basis, or transferred to the Office of Policy Development and Research in the Department of Housing and Urban Development and functions thereof, for research, evaluation, or statistical purposes, and which are unexpended at the time of completion of a contract, grant, or cooperative agreement, may be deobligated and shall immediately become available and may be reobligated in that fiscal year or the subsequent fiscal year for the research, evaluation, or statistical purposes for which the amounts are made available to that Office subject to reprogramming requirements in section 405 of this Act. 231. Employees of the Department of Housing and Urban Development who are subject to administrative discipline in fiscal year 2018, including suspension from work, shall not receive awards (including performance, special act, or spot) for the remainder of fiscal year 2018 after the effective date of the disciplinary action. 232. With respect to grant amounts awarded under the heading Homeless Assistance Grants 233. (a) From amounts made available under this title under the heading Homeless Assistance Grants 42 U.S.C. 11381 (b) No more than 50 percent of each transition grant may be used for costs of eligible activities of the program component originally funded. (c) Transition grants made under this section are eligible for renewal in subsequent fiscal years for the eligible activities of the new program component. (d) In order to be eligible to receive a transition grant, the funding recipient must have the consent of the Continuum of Care and meet standards determined by the Secretary. 234. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to direct a grantee to undertake specific changes to existing zoning laws as part of carrying out the final rule entitled Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Assessment Tool 235. Section 579 of the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f October 1, 2022 236. None of the funds made available under this Act for new guarantees of mortgages insured under the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund may be used to guarantee or insure any mortgage on a property that is subject to a loan or other obligation, including those billed as taxes or assessments, for the purpose of financing any improvements under a Property Assessed Clean Energy or substantially similar program, if any portion of such loan or obligation is or has the potential to be in a lien position superior to the mortgage to be insured or guaranteed under the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund. 237. The matter under the heading Rental Assistance Demonstration 42 U.S.C. 1437f (1) in the 14th proviso— (A) by inserting or nonprofit entity, then a capable entity, (B) by striking preserves its interest or a nonprofit entity preserves an interest (2) by striking the 18th proviso and inserting the following: Provided further, 42 U.S.C. 1437f Second Component (3) by inserting before the 19th proviso the following: Provided further, (4) in the 20th proviso, as so reordered by the amendments made by the preceding provisions of this section, by striking previous proviso Second Component, except for conversion of section 202 project rental assistance contracts, shall be available for project-based subsidy contracts entered into pursuant to the Second Component: (5) in the 21st proviso, as so reordered by the amendments made by the preceding provisions of this section, by striking previous two provisos Second Component, except for conversion of section 202 project rental assistance contracts, (6) in the 22nd proviso, as so reordered by the amendments made by the preceding provisions of this section, by striking three previous provisos Second Component, except for conversion of section 202 project rental assistance contracts, (7) by inserting before the last proviso the following: Provided further, Housing for the Elderly Project-Based Rental Assistance Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Project-Based Rental Assistance Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (8) in the last proviso, by striking previous four provisos Second Component, as applicable This title may be cited as the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2018 III Related agencies Access board Salaries and expenses For expenses necessary for the Access Board, as authorized by section 502 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, $8,190,000: Provided Federal maritime commission Salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Federal Maritime Commission as authorized by section 201(d) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended ( 46 U.S.C. 307 5 U.S.C. 3109 31 U.S.C. 1343(b) 5 U.S.C. 5901–5902 Provided National railroad passenger corporation Office of inspector general Salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Office of Inspector General for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to carry out the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, $23,274,000: Provided 5 U.S.C. App. 3 18 U.S.C. 1001 Provided further Provided further Provided further National transportation safety board Salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the National Transportation Safety Board, including hire of passenger motor vehicles and aircraft; services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 5 U.S.C. 5901–5902 Neighborhood reinvestment corporation Payment to the neighborhood reinvestment corporation For payment to the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation for use in neighborhood reinvestment activities, as authorized by the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8101–8107 Surface transportation board Salaries and expenses For necessary expenses of the Surface Transportation Board, including services authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 Provided Provided further United states interagency council on homelessness Operating expenses For closure of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, $570,000, notwithstanding section 209 of title II of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended. IV General provisions—this act (including rescissions) 401. None of the funds in this Act shall be used for the planning or execution of any program to pay the expenses of, or otherwise compensate, non-Federal parties intervening in regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings funded in this Act. 402. None of the funds appropriated in this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year, nor may any be transferred to other appropriations, unless expressly so provided herein. 403. The expenditure of any appropriation under this Act for any consulting service through a procurement contract pursuant to section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, shall be limited to those contracts where such expenditures are a matter of public record and available for public inspection, except where otherwise provided under existing law, or under existing Executive order issued pursuant to existing law. 404. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act may be obligated or expended for any employee training that— (1) does not meet identified needs for knowledge, skills, and abilities bearing directly upon the performance of official duties; (2) contains elements likely to induce high levels of emotional response or psychological stress in some participants; (3) does not require prior employee notification of the content and methods to be used in the training and written end of course evaluation; (4) contains any methods or content associated with religious or quasi-religious belief systems or new age (5) is offensive to, or designed to change, participants' personal values or lifestyle outside the workplace. (b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit, restrict, or otherwise preclude an agency from conducting training bearing directly upon the performance of official duties. 405. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, none of the funds provided in this Act, provided by previous appropriations Acts to the agencies or entities funded in this Act that remain available for obligation or expenditure in fiscal year 2018, or provided from any accounts in the Treasury derived by the collection of fees and available to the agencies funded by this Act, shall be available for obligation or expenditure through a reprogramming of funds that— (1) creates a new program; (2) eliminates a program, project, or activity; (3) increases funds or personnel for any program, project, or activity for which funds have been denied or restricted by the Congress; (4) proposes to use funds directed for a specific activity by either the House or Senate Committees on Appropriations for a different purpose; (5) augments existing programs, projects, or activities in excess of $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less; (6) reduces existing programs, projects, or activities by $5,000,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less; or (7) creates, reorganizes, or restructures a branch, division, office, bureau, board, commission, agency, administration, or department different from the budget justifications submitted to the Committees on Appropriations or the table accompanying the explanatory statement accompanying this Act, whichever is more detailed, unless prior approval is received from the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations: Provided Provided further (A) a table for each appropriation with a separate column to display the prior year enacted level, the President's budget request, adjustments made by Congress, adjustments due to enacted rescissions, if appropriate, and the fiscal year enacted level; (B) a delineation in the table for each appropriation and its respective prior year enacted level by object class and program, project, and activity as detailed in the budget appendix for the respective appropriation; and (C) an identification of items of special congressional interest. 406. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, not to exceed 50 percent of unobligated balances remaining available at the end of fiscal year 2018 from appropriations made available for salaries and expenses for fiscal year 2018 in this Act, shall remain available through September 30, 2019, for each such account for the purposes authorized: Provided Provided further 407. No funds in this Act may be used to support any Federal, State, or local projects that seek to use the power of eminent domain, unless eminent domain is employed only for a public use: Provided Provided further Public Law 107–118 408. None of the funds made available in this Act may be transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government, except pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer authority provided in, this Act or any other appropriations Act. 409. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall be available to pay the salary for any person filling a position, other than a temporary position, formerly held by an employee who has left to enter the Armed Forces of the United States and has satisfactorily completed his or her period of active military or naval service, and has within 90 days after his or her release from such service or from hospitalization continuing after discharge for a period of not more than 1 year, made application for restoration to his or her former position and has been certified by the Office of Personnel Management as still qualified to perform the duties of his or her former position and has not been restored thereto. 410. No funds appropriated pursuant to this Act may be expended by an entity unless the entity agrees that in expending the assistance the entity will comply with sections 2 through 4 of the Act of March 3, 1933 ( 41 U.S.C. 8301–8305 Buy American Act 411. No funds appropriated or otherwise made available under this Act shall be made available to any person or entity that has been convicted of violating the Buy American Act ( 41 U.S.C. 8301–8305 412. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used for first-class airline accommodations in contravention of sections 301–10.122 and 301–10.123 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations. 413. (a) None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to approve a new foreign air carrier permit under sections 41301 through 41305 of title 49, United States Code, or exemption application under section 40109 of that title of an air carrier already holding an air operators certificate issued by a country that is party to the U.S.-E.U.-Iceland-Norway Air Transport Agreement where such approval would contravene United States law or Article 17 bis of the U.S.-E.U.-Iceland-Norway Air Transport Agreement. (b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit, restrict or otherwise preclude the Secretary of Transportation from granting a foreign air carrier permit or an exemption to such an air carrier where such authorization is consistent with the U.S.-E.U.-Iceland-Norway Air Transport Agreement and United States law. 414. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to send or otherwise pay for the attendance of more than 50 employees of a single agency or department of the United States Government, who are stationed in the United States, at any single international conference unless the relevant Secretary reports to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations at least 5 days in advance that such attendance is important to the national interest: Provided international conference 415. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available under this Act may be used by the Surface Transportation Board to charge or collect any filing fee for rate or practice complaints filed with the Board in an amount in excess of the amount authorized for district court civil suit filing fees under section 1914 of title 28, United States Code. 416. (a) All unobligated balances, including recaptures and carryover, remaining from funds appropriated in division K of Public Law 115–31 Department of Transportation-Office of the Secretary-Salaries and Expenses Department of Transportation-Office of the Secretary-Office of Civil Rights Department of Transportation-Office of the Secretary-Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and Outreach Department of Transportation-Federal Transit Administration-Administrative Expenses Department of Transportation-Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration-Operational Expenses Surface Transportation Board-Salaries and Expenses Access Board-Salaries and Expenses Federal Maritime Commission-Salaries and Expenses National Railroad Passenger Corporation-Office of Inspector General-Salaries and Expenses National Transportation Safety Board-Salaries and Expenses United States Interagency Council on Homelessness-Operating Expenses (b) All unobligated balances, including recaptures and carryover, remaining from funds appropriated in division K of Public Law 115–31 Department of Housing and Urban Development-Management and Administration Department of Housing and Urban Development-Program Office Salaries and Expenses 417. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to maintain or establish a computer network unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography. (b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law enforcement agency or any other entity carrying out criminal investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities. spending reduction account 418. $0. This Act may be cited as the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 July 21, 2017 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Highlights: This bill provides FY2018 appropriations for the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and several related agencies. The bill includes both discretionary and mandatory funding. The HUD budget is primarily discretionary spending, and most of the DOT budget is mandatory spending, in the form of contract authority from the Highway Trust Fund. The bill decreases overall discretionary spending for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies below FY2017 levels and includes decreases for both DOT and HUD. Full Summary: Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2018 TITLE I--DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Provides FY2018 appropriations for the Department of Transportation (DOT). Provides appropriations for the Office of the Secretary, including: Salaries and Expenses; Research and Technology; the National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau; Cyber Security Initiatives; the Office of Civil Rights; Transportation Planning, Research, and Development; the Working Capital Fund; the Minority Business Resource Center Program; Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization and Outreach; and Payments to Air Carriers. (Sec. 101) Prohibits DOT from approving assessments or reimbursable agreements pertaining to funds appropriated to the modal administrations in this bill except for activities underway on the date of enactment, unless the reprogramming process has been completed. (Sec. 102) Requires DOT to: (1) post on its website the schedule and agenda for all meetings of the Council on Credit and Finance, and (2) require the council to record the decisions and actions of each meeting. (Sec. 103) Permits DOT to use the Working Capital Fund to provide payments in advance and accept subsequent reimbursements from all federal agencies for transit benefit distribution services that are necessary to carry out the federal transit pass transportation fringe benefit program. (Sec. 104) Permits DOT to transfer specified funds necessary to carry out the duties of the National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau. (Sec. 105) Amends the Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 to transfer the deposit of certain fees related to loans and loan guarantees from the Federal Railroad Administration's Safety and Operations account to the National Surface Transportation and Innovative Finance Bureau account. Provides appropriations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for: Operations; Facilities and Equipment; Research, Engineering, and Development; and Grants-In-Aid For Airports. Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for: new applicants for the second career training program, new unauthorized aviation user fees, or aeronautical charting and cartography activities through the Working Capital Fund. Permits funds received from specified public, private, and foreign sources for expenses incurred to be credited to the appropriation. (Sec. 110) Limits technical staff-years under the federally funded research and development center contract between the FAA and the Center for Advanced Aviation Systems Development. (Sec. 111) Prohibits the FAA from requiring airport sponsors to provide the FAA without cost building construction, maintenance, utilities and expenses, or space in sponsor-owned buildings for air traffic control, air navigation, or weather reporting. Specifies that the prohibition does not apply to negotiations between the FAA and airport sponsors to achieve agreement on &quot;below-market&quot; rates for these items or to grant assurances that require airport sponsors to provide land without cost to the FAA for air traffic control facilities. (Sec. 112) Permits the FAA to reimburse amounts made available from certain fees to carry out the Essential Air Service program, which was established to ensure that small communities have a minimum level of air service. (Sec. 113) Permits amounts collected by the FAA for providing technical assistance to foreign aviation authorities to be credited to the Operations account. (Sec. 114) Prohibits the FAA from paying Sunday premium pay except if an individual worked on a Sunday. (Sec. 115) Prohibits the FAA from using funds provided by this bill to purchase a store gift card or gift certificate using a government-issued credit card. (Sec. 116) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for retention bonuses for FAA employees without prior approval of the Assistant Secretary for Administration of DOT. (Sec. 117) Requires the FAA, upon the request of an owner or operator, to block the display of the owner's or operator's aircraft registration number in the Aircraft Situational Display to Industry program. (Sec. 118) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to pay the salaries and expenses of more than nine political and presidential FAA appointees. (Sec. 119) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to increase fees for navigation products until the FAA provides Congress with a justification for all fees for aeronautical navigation products. (Sec. 119A) Requires the FAA to notify Congress prior to closing a regional operations center or reducing the services it provides. (Sec. 119B) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to change weight restrictions or prior permission rules at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. (Sec. 119C) Prohibits the FAA from withholding consideration and approval of any application for participation in the Contract Tower Program, including applications from cost-share program participants, if the tower meets the criteria included in the FAA report entitled &quot;Establishment and Discontinuance Criteria for Airport Traffic Control Towers.&quot; (Sec. 119D) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to limit an Organization Designation Authorization holder from utilizing authorized delegated functions, unless the FAA documents a systemic airworthiness noncompliance performance issue with regard to a specific function or where an ODA's capability has not been previously established in terms of a new compliance method or design feature. Specifies that, when the FAA has limited the authority of the ODA, the FAA must work with the ODA holder to develop the capability to execute that function safely and effectively. Provides funding from the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for Administrative Expenses and Federal-Aid Highways. Rescinds specified balances of unused contract authority from the HTF. (Most of DOT's budget is mandatory budget authority rather than discretionary budget authority. The mandatory budget authority is primarily in the form of contract authority derived from the Highway Trust Fund (HTF). Contract authority is the authority to obligate funds in advance of an appropriation Act. Spending from the HTF is determined both by authorization bills and appropriations bills. Authorization bills provide contract authority for highway programs, and appropriations bills include obligation limitations that determine how much of the contract authority may be used in a given year.) (Sec. 120) Specifies allocations and requirements for distributing obligation authority from the HTF among federal-aid highway programs. (Sec. 121) Credits funds received by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics from the sale of data products to the Federal-Aid Highways account to reimburse the bureau for expenses. (Sec. 122) Requires DOT to: (1) provide an informal public notice and comment opportunity prior to waiving the Buy America requirement for federal-aid highway projects, and (2) report to Congress annually on waivers. (Sec. 123) Requires DOT to notify Congress prior to providing credit assistance under the Transportation Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, which provides credit to finance surface transportation projects of national and regional significance. (Sec. 124) Requires DOT to notify Congress 60 days in advance before making grants for nationally significant freight and highway projects (FASTLANE grants). (Sec. 125) Requires the FHWA to reinstate regulations which permit the Clearview font to be used as an approved alternate font on highway guide signs. (Sec. 126) Expands an exemption from federal truck weight restrictions to include North Dakota. Provides funding from the HTF to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for: (1) Motor Carrier Safety Operations and Programs, and (2) Motor Carrier Safety Grants. (Sec. 130) Directs the FMCSA to require certain Mexican motor carriers to meet specified safety requirements when applying to operate beyond U.S. municipalities and commercial zones on the U.S.-Mexico border. (Sec. 131) Requires the FMCSA to send notice of violations of certain safety procedures and regulations that could require expedited safety audits, compliance reviews, or corrective actions using certified mail, registered mail, or another manner of delivery, which records the receipt of the notice by the persons responsible for the violation. (Sec. 132) Prohibits DOT from using funds to enforce certain requirements for the use of electronic logging devices with respect to operators of commercial motor vehicles transporting livestock or insects. (Sec. 133) Prohibits funds from being used to amend, revise or otherwise modify regulations for safety fitness determinations for motor carriers until the DOT Inspector General makes specified certifications. (Sec. 134) Specifies that federal laws and regulations related to hours of service for commercial drivers preempt state and local laws and regulations. Makes the preemption retroactive to the date of enactment of the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act of 1994. Provides appropriations to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for Operations and Research. Provides funding from the HTF to NHTSA for Operations and Research and Highway Traffic Safety Grants. (Sec. 140) Provides additional funding to NHTSA for travel and related expenses associated with state management reviews and core competency development training for highway safety staff. (Sec. 141) Exempts from the current fiscal year's obligation limitation for NHTSA programs any obligation authority that was made available in previous public laws and has not lapsed or been used. (Sec. 142) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for NHTSA's National Roadside Survey. (Sec. 143) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to mandate global positioning system tracking without fully considering privacy concerns. Provides appropriations to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for: Safety and Operations, Railroad Research and Development, the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program, Federal-State Partnership for State Of Good Repair Grants, Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grants, Northeast Corridor Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), and National Network Grants to Amtrak. (Sec. 150) Limits overtime for Amtrak employees. Permits Amtrak to waive the limit for specific employees due to safety or operational efficiency reasons. Requires Amtrak to report to Congress on waivers granted and overtime payments incurred. (Sec. 151) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for high speed rail in California or for the FRA to administer a grant agreement with the California High Speed Rail Authority that contains a tapered matching requirement. (A tapered match allows a project's federal share to vary from year to year as long as the final contribution of federal funds does not exceed the project's maximum authorized share.) (Sec. 152) Prohibits the Surface Transportation Board from using funds provided by this bill to take any actions with respect to the construction of a high speed rail project in California unless the permit is issued by the board with respect to the entire project. Provides appropriations to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for: Administrative Expenses, Technical Assistance and Training, Capital Investment Grants, and Grants to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Provides funding from the HTF to the FTA for Transit Formula Grants. (Sec. 160) Exempts previously made transit obligations from limitations on obligations. (Sec. 161) Permits FTA Fixed Guideway Capital Investment funds for projects specified in this bill or the accompanying report that are not obligated by September 30, 2022, to be used for other projects eligible to use the funds for the same purpose. (Sec. 162) Permits funds appropriated before October 1, 2017, that remain available for expenditure to be transferred from older accounts to new accounts with similar current activities. (Sec. 163) Prohibits the use of funds for a new light or heavy rail project for the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas if the project is constructed at a specified location in Houston, Texas unless the voters approve a ballot proposition specifying the location and the project meets specified criteria. (Sec. 164) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to enter into a full funding grant agreement for a project with a New Starts share greater than 50%. Provides appropriations to the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation for Operations and Maintenance. Provides appropriations for the Maritime Administration (MARAD) for: the Maritime Security Program, Operations and Training, Assistance to Small Shipyards, Ship Disposal, and the Maritime Guaranteed Loan (Title XI) Program Account. (Sec. 170) Permits MARAD to furnish utilities and services and make repairs in connection with any lease, contract, or occupancy involving government property under the control of MARAD. Requires rental payments received pursuant to this provision to be credited to the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. (Sec. 171) Prohibits DOT or MARAD from using funds provided by this bill for fee-for-service contracts for vessel disposal, scrapping, or recycling, unless there is no qualified domestic ship recycler that will pay any sum to purchase and scrap or recycle a vessel owned, operated or managed by MARAD or that is part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet. (Sec. 172) Limits the penalty wages that must be paid when a vessel owner, operator, or an employer withholds pay for seamen on: (1) foreign and intercoastal voyages, and (2) coastwise voyages. Provides appropriations to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) for: Operational Expenses, Hazardous Materials Safety, Pipeline Safety, and Emergency Preparedness Grants. Provides appropriations to the Office of Inspector General. (Sec. 180) Permits DOT to use funds for maintenance and operation of aircraft, hire of passenger motor vehicles and aircraft, insurance for motor vehicles operating in foreign countries, and uniforms. Permits DOT to use funds for the purchase, maintenance, operation, and deployment of unmanned aircraft systems that advance DOT's, or its operating administrations' missions. Deems any unmanned aircraft system purchased or procured by DOT prior to the enactment of this bill to be authorized. (Sec. 181) Permits DOT to use funds provided by this bill for the employment of temporary or intermittent experts and consultants if the rates do not exceed the rate for an Executive Level IV. (Sec. 182) Prohibits recipients of funds provided by this bill from releasing certain personal information and photographs from a driver's license or motor vehicle record without the consent of the affected individual. Prohibits DOT from withholding funds for any grantee if a state is not in compliance with this provision. (Sec. 183) Permits funds received by the FHWA and the FRA from states or other private or public sources for training expenses to be credited to specified agency accounts, subject to an exception for state rail safety inspectors participating in certain training required under current law. (Sec. 184) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for certain loans, loan guarantees, lines of credit, or grants that exceed $500,000 unless DOT notifies Congress at least three business days in advance of announcing competitively selected projects. Requires DOT to provide concurrent notification to Congress regarding any ''quick release'' of funds from the FHWA's Emergency Relief Program. (The program provides funding for the repair or reconstruction of federal-aid highways and roads on federal lands which have suffered serious damage as a result of natural disasters or catastrophic failures from an external cause.) Requires DOT to provide a comprehensive list of all loans, loan guarantees, lines of credit, and discretionary grants that will be announced with a three-day advance notice to Congress. (Sec. 185) Permits rebates, refunds, incentive payments, minor fees, and other funds received by DOT from travel management centers, charge card programs, the subleasing of building space, and miscellaneous sources to be credited to DOT appropriations and allocated to elements of DOT using fair and equitable criteria. (Sec. 186) Permits DOT to use amounts recovered from improper payments to a third party contractor for expenses incurred in the recovery. (Sec. 187) Requires reprogramming action notifications to be transmitted to and approved or denied solely by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. (Sec. 188) Permits funds provided by this bill for modal administrations to be obligated to the Office of the Secretary for assessments or reimbursable agreements only if the funds provide a direct benefit to the applicable modal administration. (Sec. 189) Permits DOT to set uniform standards for developing and supporting agency transit passes and transit benefits. (Sec. 190) Prohibits the use of funds for any geographic, economic, or other hiring preference not otherwise authorized by law, unless certain requirements are met related to availability of local labor, displacement of existing employees, and delays in transportation plans. Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2018 TITLE II--DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Provides FY2018 appropriations for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Provides appropriations for Management and Administration, including for Executive Offices and Administrative Support Offices. Provides appropriations for Program Office Salaries and Expenses, including: Public and Indian Housing, Community Planning and Development, Housing, Policy Development and Research, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, and the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes. Permits HUD to transfer specified funds provided by this title for salaries and expenses to the Working Capital Fund to fund centralized activities. Provides appropriations for Public and Indian Housing, including: Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, the Housing Certificate Fund, the Public Housing Capital Fund, the Public Housing Operating Fund, the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, Native American Housing Block Grants, and the Indian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund Program Account. Provides appropriations for Community Planning and Development, including: Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, the Community Development Fund, the Community Development Loan Guarantees Program Account, the Home Investment Partnerships Program, the Self-Help and Assisted Home Ownership Opportunity Program, and Homeless Assistance Grants. Provides appropriations for Housing Programs, including: Project-Based Rental Assistance, Housing for the Elderly, Housing for Persons with Disabilities, Housing Counseling Assistance, Rental Housing Assistance, and Payment to the Manufactured Housing Fees Trust Fund. Provides appropriations and establishes limits on loan commitments for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which includes: (1) the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Program Account, and(2) the General and Special Risk Program Account. Provides appropriation and establishes limits on loan commitments for the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae). Provides appropriations to HUD for: Policy Development and Research, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, the Information Technology Fund, and the Office of Inspector General. (Sec. 201) Requires 50% of the funds that are recaptured from the refinancing of state or locally financed projects under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1988 to be rescinded or, in the case of cash, remitted to the Treasury. Requires the funds that are not rescinded or returned to Treasury to be used by state housing finance agencies or local governments for certain projects approved by HUD. Permits HUD to award up to 15% of the funds that are recaptured and not rescinded or remitted to the Treasury to provide project owners with incentives to refinance projects at lower interest rates. (Sec. 202) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to investigate or prosecute under the Fair Housing Act any lawful activities, including the filing or maintaining of a nonfrivolous legal action to achieve or prevent action by a government entity or a court. (Sec. 203) Requires any grant, cooperative agreement, or other assistance made pursuant to this title to be made on a competitive basis and in accordance with provisions of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989 regarding HUD accountability. (Sec. 204) Permits specified funds to be used, without regard to limitations on administrative expenses, for: (1) legal services; and (2) payment for services and facilities of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Ginnie Mae, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), the Federal Financing Bank, Federal Reserve banks, Federal Home Loan banks, and any bank insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Act. (Sec. 205) Prohibits HUD appropriations from being used for any program, project, or activity in excess of amounts included in the budget estimates submitted to Congress, unless otherwise provided by this bill or through reprogramming. (Sec. 206) Permits HUD corporations and agencies subject to the Government Corporation Control Act to utilize funds and make contracts and commitments, without regard to fiscal year limitations and subject to specified restrictions, to implement the FY2018 budget. (Sec. 207) Requires HUD to provide quarterly reports to Congress regarding uncommitted, unobligated, recaptured, and excess funds for each program and activity. (Sec. 208) Requires the President's budget request and HUD's congressional budget justifications to use the same account and sub-account structure included in this bill. (Sec. 209) Exempts Ginnie Mae from certain requirements of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990. (Sec. 210) Permits HUD to authorize the transfer of project-based assistance, debt, and low-income and very low-income use restrictions associated with a multifamily housing project from obsolete or economically nonviable housing to a viable project if no additional costs are incurred and other specified conditions are met. (Sec. 211) Sets forth eligibility requirements for section 8 housing assistance vouchers. (Sec. 212) Requires Native American Housing Block Grant funds to be distributed to the same Native Alaskans that received funds in FY2005. (Sec. 213) Permits HUD to insure home equity conversion mortgages (HECMs or reverse mortgages) for elderly homeowners through FY2018, notwithstanding limitations on insurance authority included in the National Housing Act. (Sec. 214) Sets forth requirements for HUD regarding the managing and disposing of any multifamily housing property that is held or owned by HUD. Specifies requirements for maintaining any rental assistance payments under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and other programs that are attached to any dwelling units in the property. (Sec. 215) Permits Community Development Loan Guarantee funds to be used to guarantee notes or other obligations issued by any state on behalf of its non-entitlement communities. (Sec. 216) Permits certain public housing agencies (PHAs) that own and operate 400 or fewer public housing units to elect to be exempt from asset management requirements imposed by HUD in connection with the operating fund rule. (Sec. 217) Prohibits HUD from using public housing funds to impose any requirement or guideline relating to asset management that restricts or limits the use of capital funds for central office costs, up to the limits established in the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998. (Sec. 218) Prohibits the designation of a HUD official or employee as an allotment holder unless the Chief Financial Officer has determined that the employee has: (1) implemented an adequate system of funds control, and (2) received training in funds control procedures and directives. (Sec. 219) Requires HUD to publish on the Internet all competitively awarded Notices of Funding Availability for FY2018. (Sec. 220) Sets forth limitations and reporting requirements for the payment of attorney fees in program-related litigation. (Sec. 221) Sets forth requirements for transferring and reprogramming funds within specified HUD Administrative Support Office and Program Office Salaries and Expenses accounts. (Sec. 222) Requires HUD to take specified actions against owners who are receiving rental subsidies and do not maintain safe properties. (Sec. 223) Limits compensation for PHA officials and employees. (Sec. 224) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for the HUD doctoral dissertation research grant program. (Sec. 225) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to extend the HOPE VI program through FY2018. (The program provides funds to renovate or demolish existing public housing and replace it with mixed-income housing.) (Sec. 226) Requires HUD to notify Congress at least three business days before announcing the recipients of grant awards. (Sec. 227) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to require or enforce the Physical Needs Assessment (PNA). (Sec. 228) Prohibits the FHA, Ginnie Mae, or HUD from using funds provided by this bill to finance mortgages for properties that have been subject to eminent domain. (Sec. 229) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this bill to terminate the status of a unit of general local government as a metropolitan city with respect to community development grants under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. (Sec. 230) Permits Office of Policy Development and Research funds for research, evaluation, and statistical purposes that are unexpended at the completion of a contract, grant or cooperative agreement to be used for additional research, subject to reprogramming requirements. (Sec. 231) Prohibits HUD employees who are subject to administrative discipline in FY2018, including suspension from work, from receiving awards (including performance, special act, or spot) for the remainder of FY2018 after the effective date of the disciplinary action. (Sec. 232) Permits costs paid by the program income of grant recipients to count toward the recipient's matching requirements for 2016, 2017 and 2018 Continuum of Care funds. (The program awards project sponsors or unified funding agencies competitive grants focused on addressing the long-term housing and services needs of homeless individuals and families.) (Sec. 233) Permits HUD to use funds provided by this bill for Homeless Assistance Grants to award one-year grants to transition from one Continuum of Care program component to another. (The program awards project sponsors or unified funding agencies competitive grants focused on addressing the long-term housing and services needs of homeless individuals and families.) Specifies that no more than 50% of each transition grant may be used for the costs of eligible activities of the program component originally funded. (Sec. 234) Prohibits HUD from using funds provided by this bill to direct a grantee to undertake specific changes to existing zoning laws as part of carrying out the final rule entitled &quot;Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing&quot; or the notice entitled &quot;Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Assessment Tool.&quot; (Sec. 235) Amends the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 to extend the Mark-to-Market Program until October 1, 2022. (The program is intended to preserve long-term low-income housing affordability by restructuring FHA-insured or HUD-held mortgages for eligible multifamily housing projects.) (Sec. 236) Prohibits funds provided by this bill for new guarantees of mortgages insured under the Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) Fund from being used to guarantee or insure any mortgage on properties with a loan under the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, if any portion of the loan or obligation is or has the potential to be in a superior lien position compared to the mortgage guaranteed or insured under the MMI Fund. (Sec. 237) Amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2012 to modify the requirements for the Rental Assistance Demonstration Program. TITLE III--RELATED AGENCIES Provides FY2018 appropriations to: the Access Board, the Federal Maritime Commission, the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, the Surface Transportation Board, and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. TITLE IV--GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS ACT (Sec. 401) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to compensate or pay the expenses of non-federal parties intervening in regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings funded in this bill. (Sec. 402) Prohibits transfers of funds to other appropriations or obligations beyond the current fiscal year, unless expressly permitted in this bill. (Sec. 403) Limits expenditures for consulting services to contracts where the expenditures are a matter of public record and available for public inspection, unless otherwise provided by law or an executive order. (Sec. 404) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this bill for employee training not specifically related to the performance of official duties. (Sec. 405) Specifies procedures, restrictions, and reporting requirements for the reprogramming of funds provided by this bill. (Sec. 406) Permits up to 50% of unobligated balances remaining at the end of FY2018 from appropriations for salaries and expenses to remain available through FY2019, subject to congressional approval and reprogramming guidelines. (Sec. 407) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for any project that seeks to use eminent domain unless eminent domain is employed only for a public use. (Sec. 408) Prohibits the transfer of funds provided by this bill to a department, agency, or instrumentality of the U.S. government unless the transfer is pursuant to an appropriations Act. (Sec. 409) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this bill to permanently replace an employee intent on returning to his or her previous occupation after completing military service. (Sec. 410) Requires expenditures of funds provided by this bill to comply with the Buy American Act. (Sec. 411) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being made available to any person or entity that has been convicted of violating the Buy American Act. (Sec. 412) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used to purchase first class or premium airline travel in violation of specified federal travel regulations. (Sec. 413) Prohibits the use of funds provided by this bill to approve a new foreign air carrier permit or exemption application if the approval would contravene U.S. law or specified provisions of the U.S.-E.U.-Iceland-Norway Air Transport Agreement. (Sec. 414) Restricts the number of employees that agencies funded in this bill may send to international conferences. (Sec. 415) Limits Surface Transportation Board fees for the filing of rate or practice complaints. (Sec. 416) Rescinds unobligated balances of funds provided to specified accounts by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017. (Sec. 417) Prohibits funds provided by this bill from being used for a computer network that does not block the viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography. Includes exceptions for law enforcement agencies or other entities carrying out criminal investigations, prosecution, or adjudication activities. (Sec. 418) Establishes a spending reduction account for the amount by which spending proposed in this bill exceeds the subcommittee's allocation under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Specifies that the amount is $0. (Under the Rules of the House of Representatives, any savings included in the spending reduction account are not available for further appropriation during consideration of the bill.)