Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015

Making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, 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, 2015, 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, $108,000,000, of which not to exceed $2,696,000 shall be available for the immediate Office of the Secretary; not to exceed $1,011,000 shall be available for the immediate Office of the Deputy Secretary; not to exceed $19,980,000 shall be available for the Office of the General Counsel; not to exceed $10,300,000 shall be available for the Office of the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy; not to exceed $12,676,000 shall be available for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs; not to exceed $2,500,000 shall be available for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs; not to exceed $27,131,000 shall be available for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration; not to exceed $2,000,000 shall be available for the Office of Public Affairs; not to exceed $1,714,000 shall be available for the Office of the Executive Secretariat; not to exceed $1,414,000 shall be available for the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization; not to exceed $10,778,000 shall be available for the Office of Intelligence, Security, and Emergency Response; and not to exceed $15,800,000 shall be available for the Office of the Chief Information Officer: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Research and technology For necessary expenses related to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, $13,500,000, of which $8,218,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2017: Provided Provided further National Infrastructure Investments For capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure, $550,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2018: Provided Provided further Provided further chapter 6 Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further chapter 31 Provided further Provided further Financial management capital For necessary expenses for upgrading and enhancing the Department of Transportation's financial systems and re-engineering business processes, $5,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2016. 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, implementation of enhanced security controls on network devices, and enhancement of cyber security workforce training tools, $5,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2016. Office of civil rights For necessary expenses of the Office of Civil Rights, $9,600,000. 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, $6,000,000. Working capital fund For necessary expenses for operating costs and capital outlays of the Working Capital Fund, not to exceed $182,000,000 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 the cost of guaranteed loans, $333,000, as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 332: Provided Provided further In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out the guaranteed loan program, $592,000. Minority business outreach For necessary expenses of Minority Business Resource Center outreach activities, $3,099,000, to remain available until September 30, 2016: Provided 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 through 41742, $155,000,000, to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to remain available until expended: Provided Provided further, section 41732(b)(3) Provided further Administrative provisions—office of the secretary of transportation 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 or his designee may engage in activities with States and State legislators to consider proposals related to the reduction of motorcycle fatalities. 103. Notwithstanding section 3324 Public Law 109–59 Provided 104. The Secretary shall post on the Web site of the Department of Transportation a schedule of all meetings of the Credit Council, including the agenda for each meeting, and require the Credit Council to record the decisions and actions of each meeting. 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 108–176 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, $2,473,700,000, of which $458,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2015, and $2,015,700,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2017: Provided Provided further 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, $156,750,000, to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and to remain available until September 30, 2017: Provided Grants-in-aid for airports (liquidation of contract authorization) (limitation on obligations) (airport and airway trust fund) (including transfer of funds) (including rescission) 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 section 41743 section 44706 Provided section 47117(g) Provided further section 48112 Provided further Provided further Provided further section 47109(a) Provided further Office of the Secretary, Salaries and Expenses (Rescission) Any amounts made available for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, under section 48112 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 2014. 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) from fees credited under 49 U.S.C. 45303 and any amount remaining in such account at the close of that fiscal year may be made available to satisfy section 41742(a)(1) for the subsequent fiscal year. 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 sub section 5546(a) 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. The Secretary shall apportion to the sponsor of an airport that received scheduled or unscheduled air service from a large certified air carrier (as defined in part 241 of title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, or such other regulations as may be issued by the Secretary under the authority of section 41709) an amount equal to the minimum apportionment specified in 49 U.S.C. 47114(c) 117. 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. 118. Subparagraph (D) of section 47124(b)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking benefit. benefit, with the maximum allowable local cost share capped at 20 percent. 119. 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. 119A. None of the funds in this Act shall be available for salaries and expenses of more than 9 political and Presidential appointees in the Federal Aviation Administration. 119B. None of the funds made available under this Act may be used to increase fees pursuant to section 44721 119C. 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. 119D. 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. 119E. Section 916 of Public Law 112–95 Advanced Materials in Transport Aircraft Joint Advanced Materials and Structures 119F. Sub section 47109(c)(2) , except that at a non-hub airport located in a State as set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection that is within 15 miles of another State as set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Government’s share shall be an average of the Government share applicable to any project in each of the States Federal highway administration Limitation on administrative expenses (Highway Trust Fund) (including transfer of funds) Not to exceed $426,100,000, 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, not to exceed $3,248,000 shall be transferred to the Appalachian Regional Commission in accordance with section 104 Federal-aid highways (limitation on obligations) (highway trust fund) Funds available for the implementation or execution of programs of Federal-aid Highways and highway safety construction programs authorized under titles 23 and 49, United States Code, and the provisions of Public Law 112–141 Provided Provided further Provided further section 608 (Liquidation of contract authorization) (Highway Trust Fund) For the payment of obligations incurred in carrying out Federal-aid Highways and highway safety construction programs authorized under title 23, United States Code, $40,995,000,000 derived from the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account), to remain available until expended. Administrative provisions—federal highway administration 120. (a) For fiscal year 2015, 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) (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 Highways 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 Highways and highway safety construction programs (other than sums authorized to be appropriated for provisions of law described in paragraphs (1) through (12) of subsection (b) and sums authorized to be appropriated for section 119 (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 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century 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 Highways 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)(13) 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 Highways 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 note; 119 Stat. 1248), to the extent that funds obligated in accordance with that section were not subject to a limitation on obligations at the time at which the funds were initially made available for obligation; and (12) section 119 of title 23, United States Code (as in effect for fiscal years 2013 and 2014, but only in an amount equal to $639,000,000 for each of those fiscal years); and (13) section 119 of title 12, United States Code (but, for fiscal year 2015, 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) division E of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century 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 Highways 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 (A) are authorized to be appropriated for such fiscal year for Federal-aid Highways 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 Provided 122. Not less than 15 days prior to waiving, under his 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 603 604 Provided 124. From the unobligated balances of funds apportioned among the States prior to October 1, 2012, under sections 104(b) of title 23, United States Code (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of Public Law 112–141 Provided Public Law 112–141 Public Law 109–59 Public Law 112–141 Provided further Provided further section 104(a) 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 31104(i) Public Law 109–59 Public Law 112–141 Provided Motor Carrier Safety Operations and Programs Provided further Public Law 112–141 Public Law 112–141 Provided further Public Law 112–141 Motor Carrier Safety Operations and Programs Provided further Provided further Provided further National Motor Carrier safety (liquidation of contract authorization) (limitation on obligations) (highway trust fund) Of the unobligated contract authority provided in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (Public Law 105–178) or other appropriation or authorization acts for the national motor carrier safety program, $8,300,000 shall be made available to augment funding to execute the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Capital Improvement Plan for border facilities and field offices, including physical information technology infrastructure: Provided Motor carrier safety grants (liquidation of contract authorization) (limitation on obligations) (highway trust fund) For payment of obligations incurred in carrying out sections 31102, 31104(a), 31106, 31107, 31109, 31309, 31313 of title 49, United States Code, and sections 4126 and 4128 of Public Law 109–59 Public Law 112–141 Provided Motor Carrier Safety Grants Provided further ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION—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. None of the funds limited or otherwise made available under the heading Motor Carrier Safety Operations and Programs 132. None of the funds limited or otherwise made available under this Act shall be used by the Secretary to enforce any regulation prohibiting a State from issuing a commercial learner’s permit to individuals under the age of eighteen if the State had a law authorizing the issuance of commercial learners permits to individuals under eighteen years of age as of May 9, 2011. 133. (a) Temporary Suspension of Enforcement None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act or any other Act shall be used to enforce sections 395.3(c) 395.3(d) (b) Public Notification As soon as possible after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall publish a Notice in the Federal Register and on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website announcing that the provisions in the rule referred to in subsection (a) shall have no force or effect from the date of enactment of this Act through September 30, 2015, and the restart rule in effect on June 30, 2013, shall immediately be in effect. (c) Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Driver Restart Study Within 90 days of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall initiate a naturalistic study of the operational, safety, health and fatigue impacts of the restart provisions in sections 395.3(c) 395.3(d) (1) compare the work schedules and assess operator fatigue between the following two groups of commercial motor vehicle drivers, each large enough to produce statistically significant results: (A) commercial motor vehicle drivers who operate under such provisions, in effect between July 1, 2013, and the day before the date of enactment of this Act, and (B) commercial motor vehicle drivers who operate under the provisions as in effect on June 30, 2013. (2) compare, at a minimum, the 5-month work schedules and assess safety critical events (crashes, near crashes and crash-relevant conflicts) and operator fatigue between the following two groups of commercial motor vehicle drivers, from a statistically significant sample of drivers comprised of fleets of all sizes, including long-haul, regional and short-haul operations in various sectors of the industry, including flat-bed, refrigerated, tank, and dry-van, to the extent practicable; (3) assess drivers’ safety critical events, fatigue and levels of alertness and driver health outcomes by using both electronic and captured record of duty status, including the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT), e-logging data, actigraph watches and cameras or other on-board monitoring systems that record or measure safety critical events and driver alertness; (4) utilize data from electronic logging devices, consistent to the extent practicable, with the anticipated requirements for such devices in section 31137(b) section 31137(e) (5) include the development of an initial study plan and final report, each of which shall be subject to an independent peer review panel of individuals with relevant medical and scientific expertise. (d) Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General Review Prior to the study required under this subsection commencing, the Secretary shall submit a plan outlining the scope and methodology for the study to the Department of Transportation Inspector General within 60 days of enactment of this Act. (1) Within 30 days of receiving the plan, the Office of Inspector General shall review and comment on the plan, including whether it includes— (A) a sufficient number of drivers participating to produce statistically significant results and consistent with subsection (c)(2); (B) an assessment of whether the technologies being used to assess the operational, safety and fatigue components of the study are reliable and will produce consistent and valid results; (C) appropriate performance measures to properly evaluate the study outcomes; and (D) assess the selection of the independent review panel under subsection (c)(5). (2) The Office of Inspector General shall report its findings, conclusions and recommendations to the Secretary and to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 30 days of receipt of the plan. (e) Reporting Requirements The Secretary shall submit a final report on the findings and conclusions of the study and the Department’s recommendations on whether the provisions in effect on July 1, 2013, provide a greater net benefit for the operational, safety, health and fatigue impacts of the restart provisions to the Inspector General within 210 days of receiving the Office of the Inspector General report required in subsection (d)(2). (1) Within 60 days of receipt of the Secretary’s findings and recommendations in subsection (e), the Inspector General shall report to the Secretary and the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on the study’s compliance with the requirements outlined under subsection (c). (2) Upon submission of the Office of the Inspector General report in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit its report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations and make the report publically available on its website. (f) Certification The Secretary of Transportation shall certify in writing in a manner addressing the Inspector General's findings and recommendations in subsection (d)(1) and (e)(1) of this section that the Secretary has met the requirements as described in section (c) and (d). (g) Paperwork reduction act exception The study and the Office of the Inspector General reviews shall not be subject to section 3506 or 3507 of title 44, United States Code. 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, $134,500,000, of which $20,000,000 shall remain available through September 30, 2016. 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 chapter 303 Provided further Provided further 23 U.S.C. 403 chapter 303 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 and 405, section 2009 of Public Law 109–59, as amended by Public Law 112–141 Provided Public Law 109–59 Public Law 112–141 Highway Safety Programs 23 U.S.C. 402 National Priority Safety Programs 23 U.S.C. 405 High Visibility Enforcement Program Public Law 109–59 Public Law 112–141 Administrative Expenses Provided further Provided further National Priority Safety Programs Impaired Driving Countermeasures Provided further Transfers Provided further 23 U.S.C. 405(a)(1)(G) 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 in this Act shall be used to implement section 404 Federal railroad administration Safety and operations For necessary expenses of the Federal Railroad Administration, not otherwise provided for, $191,250,000, of which $15,400,000 shall remain available until expended. Railroad research and development For necessary expenses for railroad research and development, $40,730,000, 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 Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation To enable the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation as authorized by the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (division B of Public Law 110–432 such law Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further section 24905 Provided further Administrative provisions—federal railroad administration 150. Hereafter, notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds provided in this Act for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation shall immediately cease to be available to said Corporation in the event that the Corporation contracts to have services provided at or from any location outside the United States. For purposes of this section, the word services 151. The Secretary of Transportation may receive and expend cash, or receive and utilize spare parts and similar items, from non-United States Government sources to repair damages to or replace United States Government owned automated track inspection cars and equipment as a result of third-party liability for such damages, and any amounts collected under this section shall be credited directly to the Safety and Operations account of the Federal Railroad Administration, and shall remain available until expended for the repair, operation and maintenance of automated track inspection cars and equipment in connection with the automated track inspection program. 152. The amounts available to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation for the operation of intercity passenger rail shall be available for distribution by the Secretary only after receiving and reviewing a grant request for each specific train route accompanied by a detailed financial analysis, revenue projection, and capital asset plan justifying the Federal support to the Secretary's satisfaction. 153. 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 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 Public Law 112–141 Provided 49 U.S.C. 5305 Public Law 112–141 Public Law 112–141 Transit research For necessary expenses to carry out 49 U.S.C. 5312 and 5313, $33,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided Technical Assistance and Training For necessary expenses to carry out 49 U.S.C. 5314 and 5322(a), (b) and (e), $5,500,000, to remain available until expended: Provided 49 U.S.C. 5322(a) Capital investment grants For necessary expenses to carry out 49 U.S.C. 5309, $2,161,000,000, to remain available until expended. 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 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 Federal Transit Administration's discretionary program appropriations headings for projects specified in this Act or identified in reports accompanying this Act not obligated by September 30, 2019, and other recoveries, shall be directed to projects eligible to use the funds for the purposes for which they were originally provided. 162. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds appropriated before October 1, 2014, under any section of chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, that remain available for expenditure, may be transferred to and administered under the most recent appropriation heading for any such section. 163. Hereafter, the Secretary may not enforce regulations related to charter bus service under part 604 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, for any transit agency that during fiscal year 2008 was both initially granted a 60-day period to come into compliance with part 604, and then was subsequently granted an exception from said part. 164. For purposes of applying the project justification and local financial commitment criteria of 49 U.S.C. 5309(d) 165. In developing guidance implementing 49 U.S.C. 5309(i) Program of Interrelated Projects, the Secretary shall consider projects eligible under section 5309(h) Small Starts Projects, including streetcars. 166. New bus rapid transit projects recommended in the President's budget submission to the Congress of the United States for funds appropriated under the heading Capital investment grants Provided 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, $31,500,000, 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, $186,000,000, to remain available until expended. Operations and training For necessary expenses of operations and training activities authorized by law, $149,900,000, of which $11,300,000 shall remain available until expended for maintenance and repair of training ships at State Maritime Academies, and of which $2,400,000 shall remain available through September 30, 2016, for the Student Incentive Program at State Maritime Academies, and of which $1,200,000 shall remain available until expended for training ship fuel assistance payments, and of which $15,954,000 shall remain available until expended for facilities maintenance and repair, equipment, and capital improvements at the United State Merchant Marine Academy, and of which $3,000,000 shall remain available through September 16, 2016, for Maritime Environment and Technology Assistance grants and cooperative agreement: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Public Law 110–417 Provided further Ship disposal For necessary expenses related to the disposal of obsolete vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet of the Maritime Administration, $4,800,000, to remain available until expended. Maritime guaranteed loan (title xi) program account (including transfer of funds) For the cost of guaranteed loans, as authorized, $7,100,000, of which $4,000,000 shall remain available until expended: Provided Provided further Operations and Training, Maritime Administration Administrative provisions—maritime administration 170. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, 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 Pipeline and hazardous materials safety administration Operational expenses (pipeline safety fund) (including transfer of funds) For necessary operational expenses of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, $22,225,000: Provided Pipeline Safety Pipeline Safety Information Grants to Communities Hazardous materials safety For expenses necessary to discharge the hazardous materials safety functions of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, $52,000,000, of which $7,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2017: Provided Provided further Pipeline safety (pipeline safety fund) (oil spill liability trust fund) (pipeline safety design review 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 Emergency preparedness grants (emergency preparedness fund) For necessary expenses to carryout 49 U.S.C. 5128(b), $188,000 to be derived from the Emergency Preparedness Fund, to remain available until September 30, 2016: Provided 49 U.S.C. 5116 Provided further 49 U.S.C. 5116(i) Provided further 49 U.S.C. 5128(b) Administrative Provisions—Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 180. Subsection (i)(4) of section 5116 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking 2 percent 4 percent 181. Notwithstanding section 60117(n)(1)(B) of title 49, United States Code, the Secretary may require the person proposing any project with design and construction costs over $2,500,000,000 for the construction, expansion, or operation of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility or liquefied natural gas pipeline facility to pay the costs incurred by the Secretary relating to a facility design safety review. 182. The Secretary is directed to initiate a rulemaking or alternative risk-based compliance regime for the siting of small-scale liquefaction facilities that generate and package liquefied natural gas for use as a transportation fuel for domestic delivery via non-pipeline means. The rulemaking or alternative risk-based compliance regime should incorporate the 2013 National Fire Protection Association Standard 59A and industry best practices while ensuring appropriate public safety protections. 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, $86,223,000: Provided 5 U.S.C. App. 3 18 U.S.C. 1001 Provided further section 41712 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 General provisions—Department of transportation 190. 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 191. Appropriations contained in this Act for the Department of Transportation shall be available for services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109 192. None of the funds in this Act shall be available for salaries and expenses of more than 110 political and Presidential appointees in the Department of Transportation: Provided 193. (a) No recipient of funds made available in this Act shall disseminate personal information (as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2725(3)) obtained by a State department of motor vehicles in connection with a motor vehicle record as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2725(1) (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. 194. Funds received by the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit 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 Technical Assistance and Training Safety and Operations 195. None of the funds in this Act to the Department of Transportation may be used to make a grant 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 a discretionary grant award, any discretionary grant award, letter of intent, or full funding grant agreement is announced by the department or its modal administrations from: (1) any discretionary grant program of the Federal Highway Administration including the emergency relief program; (2) the airport improvement program of the Federal Aviation Administration; (3) any program of the Federal Railroad Administration; (4) any program of the Federal Transit Administration other than the formula grants and fixed guideway modernization programs; (5) any program of the Maritime Administration; or (6) any funding provided under the headings National Infrastructure Investments Provided quick release Provided further 196. 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. 197. 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 198. 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 Committees on Appropriations, and said reprogramming action shall be approved or denied solely by the Committees on Appropriations: Provided 199. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available under this Act may be used by the Surface Transportation Board of the Department of Transportation 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. 199A. 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. 199B. 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 This title may be cited as the Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2015 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, $14,700,000: Provided Administrative support offices For necessary salaries and expenses for Administrative Support Offices, $519,867,000, of which not to exceed $48,000,000 shall be available for the Office of the Chief Financial Officer; not to exceed $94,640,000 shall be available for the Office of the General Counsel; not to exceed $198,800,000 shall be available for the Office of Administration; not to exceed $58,000,000 shall be available for the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer; not to exceed $51,135,000 shall be available for the Office of Field Policy and Management; not to exceed $16,330,000 shall be available for the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer; not to exceed $3,202,000 shall be available for the Office of Departmental Equal Employment Opportunity; not to exceed $4,560,000 shall be available for the Office of Strategic Planning and Management; and not to exceed $45,200,000 shall be available for the Office of the Chief Information Officer: Provided 5 U.S.C. 5901–5902 Provided further, 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, $205,525,000. Community planning and development For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Community Planning and Development, $103,300,000. Housing For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Housing, $386,677,000, of which at least $9,000,000 shall be for the Office of Risk and Regulatory Affairs. Policy development and research For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Policy Development and Research, $22,300,000. Fair housing and equal opportunity For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, $69,700,000. Office of lead hazard control and healthy homes For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, $7,075,000. Public and indian housing Rental Assistance Demonstration For continuing activities under the heading Rental Assistance Demonstration Public Law 112–55 Provided Tenant-based rental assistance 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 et seq. the Act Provided (1) $17,719,000,000 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 Provided further (2) $130,000,000 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 Provided further Public Law 110–329 (3) $1,555,000,000 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) $83,160,000 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 (5) $75,000,000 for incremental rental voucher assistance for use through a supported housing program administered in conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs as authorized under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further (6) The Secretary shall separately track all special purpose vouchers funded under this heading. Housing certificate fund 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) (the Act Provided Provided further obligate Provided further Provided further Provided further 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. Provided further Provided further 42 U.S.C. 1437z–6 25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq. 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 2015 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 Provided further 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, 2016: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further the Act Provided further 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 et seq. Provided Provided further 25 U.S.C. 4212 Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Native hawaiian housing block grant For the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant program, as authorized under title VIII of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4111 et seq.), $10,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2019: Provided 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 Native hawaiian housing loan guarantee fund program account For the cost of guaranteed loans, as authorized by section 184A of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 ( 12 U.S.C. 1715z–13b Provided 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 et seq. 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, $3,090,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2017, unless otherwise specified: Provided Act 42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq. Provided further 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 2015, 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, $950,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2018: 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, $50,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2017: 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, $2,145,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2017: Provided Provided further, Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further 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 et seq. the Act Provided 42 U.S.C. 11401 12 U.S.C. 1701q Provided further 42 U.S.C. 1437(f) Provided further 12 U.S.C. 1715z–1(a) 12 U.S.C. 1701q Public Law 86–372 Public Law 86–372 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, 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, $420,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2018: Provided 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 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, $49,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2016, including up to $4,500,000 for administrative contract services: Provided 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 et seq. 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, 2016: Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further Provided further General and special risk program account (including rescission) 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 and 1735c), shall not exceed $30,000,000,000 in total loan principal, any part of which is to be guaranteed, to remain available until September 30, 2016: Provided Provided further 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)), shall not exceed $500,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2016: 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 et seq. Provided Provided further Provided further Public Law 109–282 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, $66,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2016, of which $40,600,000 shall be to carry out activities pursuant to such section 561: Provided 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, $110,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2016: Provided Provided further 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. 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, $250,000,000, which shall remain available until September 30, 2016: Provided Provided further 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, $129,000,000: Provided Transformation Initiative (including transfer of funds) Of the amounts made available in this Act under each of the following headings under this title, the Secretary may transfer to, and merge with, this account up to 0.5 percent from each such account, and such transferred amounts shall be available until September 30, 2017, for (1) research, evaluation, and program metrics; (2) program demonstrations; and (3) technical assistance and capacity building: Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Community Development Fund Fair Housing Activities Family Self-Sufficiency HOME Investment Partnerships Program Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity Program Housing Counseling Assistance Housing for Persons with Disabilities Housing for the Elderly Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Lead Hazard Reduction Mutual Mortgage Insurance Program Account Native American Housing Block Grants Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant Project-Based Rental Assistance Public Housing Capital Fund Public Housing Operating Fund Rental Assistance Demonstration Rental Housing Assistance Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Provided Provided further Provided further Provided further General provisions—Department of housing and urban development (including transfer of funds) (including rescissions) 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. 1437 202. None of the amounts made available under this Act may be used during fiscal year 2015 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. Sections 203 and 209 of division C of Public Law 112–55 fiscal year 2015 fiscal year 2011 fiscal year 2012 204. Except as otherwise 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 205. 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. 1811–1 206. 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. 207. 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 2015 for such corporation or agency except as hereinafter provided: Provided 208. 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. 209. The President’s formal budget request for fiscal year 2016, 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. 210. A public housing agency or such other entity that administers Federal housing assistance for the Housing Authority of the county of Los Angeles, California, and the States of Alaska, Iowa, and Mississippi shall not be required to include a resident of public housing or a recipient of assistance provided under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 on the board of directors or a similar governing board of such agency or entity as required under section (2)(b) of such Act. Each public housing agency or other entity that administers Federal housing assistance under section 8 for the Housing Authority of the county of Los Angeles, California and the States of Alaska, Iowa and Mississippi that chooses not to include a resident of public housing or a recipient of section 8 assistance on the board of directors or a similar governing board shall establish an advisory board of not less than six residents of public housing or recipients of section 8 assistance to provide advice and comment to the public housing agency or other administering entity on issues related to public housing and section 8. Such advisory board shall meet not less than quarterly. 211. 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 et seq.). 212. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, subject to the conditions listed under this section, for fiscal years 2015 and 2016, 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) Public Notice and Research Report (1) The Secretary shall publish by notice in the Federal Register the terms and conditions, including criteria for HUD approval, of transfers pursuant to this section no later than 30 days before the effective date of such notice. (2) 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. 213. (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 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. 1002 214. The funds made available for Native Alaskans under the heading Native American Housing Block Grants 215. Notwithstanding the limitation in the first sentence of section 255(g) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z–20(g)), the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may, until September 30, 2015, insure and enter into commitments to insure mortgages under such section 255. 216. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in fiscal year 2015, 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 217. Section 108 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5308 (1) in subsection (a) by inserting States on behalf of non-entitlement communities, issued by eligible public entities, (2) by striking subsection (k) and inserting the following: (k) The Secretary shall monitor the use by eligible public entities and States of commitment amounts authorized in appropriation Acts for any fiscal year. If the Secretary finds that 50 percent of the annual commitment amount has been committed, the Secretary may impose a limitation on the amount of guarantees any one entity may receive in any fiscal year of $35,000,000 for units of general local government receiving grants under section 106(b) or States receiving grants under section 106(d) and $7,000,000 for units of general local government receiving grants under section 106(d); or request the enactment of legislation increasing the annual commitment authority for guarantees under this section. ; and (3) by striking subsection (m) and inserting the following new subsection: (m) Distribution of funds to local governments in non-entitlement areas Any State receiving a guarantee or commitment on behalf of non-entitlement areas shall distribute all funds that are subject to such guarantee to the units of general local government in non-entitlement areas that received the commitment. . 218. 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 219. 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 220. 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 221. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall report annually to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on the status of all section 8 project-based housing, including the number of all project-based units by region as well as an analysis of all federally subsidized housing being refinanced under the Mark-to-Market program. The Secretary shall identify all existing units maintained by region as section 8 project-based units, all project-based units that have opted out or have otherwise been eliminated, and the reasons these units opted out or otherwise were lost as section 8 project-based units. 222. The Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development shall, for fiscal year 2015 and subsequent fiscal years, 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 2015 and subsequent fiscal years, 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. 223. Payment of attorney fees in program-related litigation must be paid from the individual program office and Office of General Counsel personnel funding. The annual budget submissions for program offices and Office of General Counsel personnel funding must include program-related litigation costs for attorney fees as a separate line item request. 224. The Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development is authorized to transfer up to 5 percent or $5,000,000, whichever is less, of the funds appropriated for any office funded under the heading Administrative Support Offices Provided Administrative Support Offices Provided further Program Office Salaries and Expenses Provided further Program Office Salaries and Expenses Provided further Administrative Support Offices Program Office Salaries and Expenses 225. The Disaster Housing Assistance Programs, administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, shall be considered a program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development 226. (a) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall take the required actions under subsection (b) when a multifamily housing project with a section 8 contract or contract for similar project-based assistance: (1) receives a Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) score of 30 or less; or (2) receives a REAC score between 31 and 59 and: (A) fails to certify in writing to HUD within 60 days that all deficiencies have been corrected; or (B) receives consecutive scores of less than 60 on REAC inspections. 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 (b) The Secretary shall take the following required actions as authorized under subsection (a)— (1) The Secretary shall notify the owner and provide an opportunity for response within 30 days. If the violations remain, the Secretary shall develop a Compliance, Disposition and Enforcement Plan within 60 days, with a specified timetable for correcting all deficiencies. The Secretary shall provide notice of the Plan to the owner, tenants, the local government, any mortgagees, and any contract administrator. (2) At the end of the term of the Compliance, Disposition and Enforcement Plan, if the owner fails to fully comply with such plan, the Secretary may require immediate replacement of project management with a management agent approved by the Secretary, and shall take one or more of the following actions, and provide additional notice of those actions to the owner and the parties specified above: (A) impose civil money penalties; (B) abate the section 8 contract, including partial abatement, as determined by the Secretary, until all deficiencies have been corrected; (C) 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; or (D) 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. (c) 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 imminent major threats to health and safety after written notice to and informed consent of the affected tenants and use of other remedies set forth above. 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 (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; and (2) Actions that the Department of Housing and Urban Development is taking to protect tenants of such identified properties. 227. 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 et seq. 228. 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 2015. (2) in subsection (o), by striking September September 30, 2015. 229. Of the amounts made available for salaries and expenses under all accounts under this title (except for the Office of Inspector General account), a total of up to $10,000,000 may be transferred to and merged with amounts made available in the Information Technology Fund 230. 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. 231. The language under the heading Rental Assistance Demonstration in the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2012 ( Public Law 112–55 (1) by striking (except for funds allocated under such section for single room occupancy dwellings as authorized by title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act) (2) in the second proviso, by striking 2015 2018 (3) in the third proviso, after associated with such conversion in excess of amounts made available under this heading (4) in the fourth proviso, by striking 60,000 185,000 (5) in the penultimate proviso, by— (A) striking December 31, 2014 2016 (B) striking and agreement of the administering public housing agency (C) inserting a long-term project-based subsidy contract under section 8 of the Act, which shall have a term of no less than 20 years, with rent adjustments only by an operating cost factor established by the Secretary, which shall be eligible for renewal under section 524 of the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f vouchers to assistance under (6) by inserting the following provisos before the final proviso: Provided further Rental Housing Assistance Provided further Provided further Rental Housing Assistance Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Project-Based Rental Assistance Project-Based Rental Assistance (7) in the final proviso, by— (A) striking with respect to the previous proviso with respect to the previous four provisos (B) striking impact of the previous proviso impact of the fiscal year 2012 and 2013 conversion of tenant protection vouchers to assistance under section 8(o)(13) of the Act 232. 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. 233. Section 579 of the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act (MAHRA) of 1997 (42 U.S.C. 1437f note) is amended by striking October 1, 2015 October 1, 2018 234. Section 9 of the United States Housing Act or 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437g (a) Inserting at the end of subjection (j)— (7) Treatment of Replacement Reserve The requirements of this subsection shall not apply to funds held in replacement reserves established in subsection (9)(n). ; and (b) Inserting at the end of subsection (m)— (n) Establishment of replacement reserves (1) In general Public Housing authorities shall be permitted to establish a Replacement Reserve to fund any of the capital activities listed in subparagraph (d)(1). (2) Source and amount of funds for replacement reserve At any time, a public housing authority may deposit funds from that agency’s Capital Fund into a Replacement Reserve subject to the following: (A) At the discretion of the Secretary, PHAs may be allowed to transfer and hold in a Replacement Reserve, funds originating from additional sources. (B) No minimum transfer of funds to a Replacement Reserve shall be required. (C) At any time, a public housing authority may not hold in a Replacement Reserve more than the amount the public housing authority has determined necessary to satisfy the anticipated capital needs of properties in its portfolio assisted under 42 U.S.C. 1437g as outlined in its Capital Fund 5 Year Action Plan, or a comparable plan, as determined by the Secretary. (D) The Secretary may establish by regulation a maximum replacement reserve level or levels that are below amounts determined under subparagraph (C), which may be based upon the size of the portfolio assisted under 42 U.S.C. 1437g or other factors. (3) In first establishing a replacement reserve, the Secretary may allow public housing agencies to transfer more than 20 percent of its operating funds into its replacement reserve. (4) Expenditure Funds in a Replacement Reserve may be used for purposes authorized by subparagraph (d)(1) and contained in its Capital Fund 5 Year Action Plan. (5) Management and report The Secretary shall establish appropriate accounting and reporting requirements to ensure that public housing agencies are spending funding on eligible projects and that funding in the reserve is connected to capital needs. . 235. Section 9(g)(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437g(g) (1) inserting (A) (2) by striking the period and inserting the following at the end: ; and (3) insert the following new paragraph: (B) Flexibility for operating fund amounts Of any amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2015 or any fiscal year thereafter that are allocated for fiscal year 2015 or any fiscal year thereafter from the Operating Fund for any public housing agency, the agency may use not more than 20 percent for activities that are eligible under subsection (d) for assistance with amounts from the Capital Fund, but only if the public housing plan for the agency provides for such use. . 236. (a) Subsection (b) of section 225 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12755 Such 30-day waiting period is not required if the grounds for the termination or refusal to renew involve a direct threat to the safety of the tenants or employees of the housing, or an imminent and serious threat to the property (and the termination or refusal to renew is in accordance with the requirements of State or local law). (b) Section 104(6) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12704 In the case of an organization funded by the State under title II of this Act, the organization may serve all counties within the State. 237. (a) Establishment The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (referred to in this section as the Secretary (1) the project-based rental assistance program under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f (2) the supportive housing for the elderly program under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701q (3) the supportive housing for persons with disabilities program under section 811(d)(2) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013(d)(2)). (b) Requirements (1) Payments contingent on savings (A) In general The Secretary shall provide to an entity a payment under an agreement under this section only during applicable years for which an energy or water cost savings is achieved with respect to the applicable multifamily portfolio of properties, as determined by the Secretary, in accordance with subparagraph (B). (B) Payment methodology (i) In general Each agreement under this section shall include a pay-for-success provision— (I) that will serve as a payment threshold for the term of the agreement; and (II) pursuant to which the Department of Housing and Urban Development shall share a percentage of the savings at a level determined by the Secretary that is sufficient to cover the administrative costs of carrying out this section. (ii) Limitations A payment made by the Secretary under an agreement under this section shall— (I) be contingent on documented utility savings; and (II) not exceed the utility savings achieved by the date of the payment, and not previously paid, as a result of the improvements made under the agreement. (C) Third party verification Savings payments made by the Secretary under this section shall be based on a measurement and verification protocol that includes at least— (i) establishment of a weather-normalized and occupancy-normalized utility consumption baseline established preretrofit; (ii) annual third party confirmation of actual utility consumption and cost for owner-paid utilities; (iii) annual third party validation of the tenant utility allowances in effect during the applicable year and vacancy rates for each unit type; and (iv) annual third party determination of savings to the Secretary. (2) Term The term of an agreement under this section shall be not longer than 12 years. (3) Entity eligibility The Secretary shall— (A) establish a competitive process for entering into agreements under this section; and (B) enter into such agreements only with entities that demonstrate significant experience relating to— (i) financing and operating properties receiving assistance under a program described in subsection (a); (ii) oversight of energy and water conservation programs, including oversight of contractors; and (iii) raising capital for energy and water conservation improvements from charitable organizations or private investors. (4) Geographical diversity Each agreement entered into under this section shall provide for the inclusion of properties with the greatest feasible regional and State variance. (c) Plan and Reports (1) Plan Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate a detailed plan for the implementation of this section. (2) Reports Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall— (A) conduct an evaluation of the program under this section; and (B) submit to Congress a report describing each evaluation conducted under subparagraph (A). (d) Funding For each fiscal year during which an agreement under this section is in effect, the Secretary may use to carry out this section any funds appropriated to the Secretary for the renewal of contracts under a program described in subsection (a). 238. Section 11 of the Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996 ( 42 U.S.C. 12805 (1) in subsection (b)(1) after new dwellings or the rehabilitation of existing dwellings (2) in subsection (b)(2) after new or rehabilitated (3) in subsection (d)(1) after dwellings or rehabilitating existing dwellings to make them decent, safe and sanitary (4) in subsection (d)(2) by inserting at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) Planning, administration, and management Planning, administration, and management of grant programs and activities, provided that such expenses do not exceed 20 percent of any grant made under this section. ; (5) in subsection (i)(5) by— (A) striking 24 36 (B) striking except that such grant amounts (6) in subsection (j) by— (A) inserting after the heading (1) Redistribution of funds. (B) striking 24 36 (C) striking (or, in the case within 36 months) (D) inserting at the end the following new paragraph: (2) Deadline for completion and conveyance The Secretary shall establish a deadline (which may be extended for good cause as determined by the Secretary) by which time all units that have been assisted with grant funds under this section must be completed and conveyed. . (7) by striking subsection (q). 239. Section 184(h)(1)(B) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1715z–13a(h)(1)(B)) is amended by inserting after the first sentence the following: Exhausting all reasonable possibilities of collection by the holder of the guarantee shall include a good faith consideration of loan modification as well as meeting standards for servicing loans in default, as determined by the Secretary. 240. Section 202 of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1708) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (i) Administration Notwithstanding any provision of law, and in addition to any other fees charged in connection with the provision of insurance under this title, in each fiscal year the Secretary may charge and collect a fee not to exceed 4 basis points of the original principal balance of mortgages originated by the mortgagee that were insured under this title during the previous fiscal year. Such fee collected from each mortgagee shall be used as offsetting collections for part of the administrative contract expenses funding and any necessary salaries and expenses funding provided under the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Program Account under this title. The Secretary may establish the amount of such fee through regulations, notice, Mortgagee Letter, or other administrative issuance. . 241. Paragraph (1) of section 8(c) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 (1) by inserting (A) (2) by striking the fourth, seventh, eighth, and ninth sentences; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (B) Publication of fair market rentals Not less than annually: (i) The Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal Register that proposed fair market rentals for an area have been published on the site of the Department on the Internet and in any other manner specified by the Secretary. Such notice shall describe proposed material changes in the methodology for estimating fair market rentals and shall provide reasonable time for public comment. (ii) The Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal Register that final fair market rentals have been published on the site of the Department on the internet and in any other manner specified by the Secretary. Such notice shall include the final decisions regarding proposed substantial methodological changes for estimating fair market rentals and responses to public comments. . 242. Of the unobligated balances, including recaptures and carryover, remaining from funds appropriated to the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the heading “Brownfields Redevelopment”, $2,913,000 is hereby permanently rescinded: Provided Rural Housing and Economic Development Provided further Drug Elimination Grants for Low Income Housing Provided further 243. Such sums as may be necessary to implement the Homeowners Armed With Knowledge pilot shall be absorbed within the levels appropriated in this act. 244. Section 106 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701x (j) Financial assistance For purposes of this section, the Secretary may enter into multiyear agreements as is appropriate, subject to the availability of annual appropriations. . 245. Section 526 ( 12 U.S.C. 1735f–4 (c) The Secretary may establish an exception to any minimum property standard established under this section in order to address alternative water systems, including cisterns, which meet requirements of State and local building codes that ensure health and safety standards. 246. Notwithstanding section 106(c)(4) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, the Secretary additionally shall provide assistance pursuant to such section to any State for use by any nonentitlement area of any such State in which there was a major disaster declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in 2014: Provided This title may be cited as the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2015 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, $7,548,000: 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 31 U.S.C. 1343(b) 5 U.S.C. 5901–5902 Provided Provided further 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, $23,499,000: 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), $136,600,000, of which $5,000,000 shall be for a multi-family rental housing program: Provided (1) The Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation ( NRC (2) Mortgage foreclosure mitigation assistance shall only be made available to homeowners of owner-occupied homes with mortgages in default or in danger of default. These mortgages shall likely be subject to a foreclosure action and homeowners will be provided such assistance that shall consist of activities that are likely to prevent foreclosures and result in the long-term affordability of the mortgage retained pursuant to such activity or another positive outcome for the homeowner. No funds made available under this paragraph may be provided directly to lenders or homeowners to discharge outstanding mortgage balances or for any other direct debt reduction payments. (3) The use of mortgage foreclosure mitigation assistance by approved counseling intermediaries and State Housing Finance Agencies shall involve a reasonable analysis of the borrower's financial situation, an evaluation of the current value of the property that is subject to the mortgage, counseling regarding the assumption of the mortgage by another non-Federal party, counseling regarding the possible purchase of the mortgage by a non-Federal third party, counseling and advice of all likely restructuring and refinancing strategies or the approval of a work-out strategy by all interested parties. (4) NRC may provide up to 15 percent of the total funds under this paragraph to its own charter members with expertise in foreclosure prevention counseling, subject to a certification by the NRC that the procedures for selection do not consist of any procedures or activities that could be construed as a conflict of interest or have the appearance of impropriety. (5) HUD-approved counseling entities and State Housing Finance Agencies receiving funds under this paragraph shall have demonstrated experience in successfully working with financial institutions as well as borrowers facing default, delinquency, and foreclosure, as well as documented counseling capacity, outreach capacity, past successful performance and positive outcomes with documented counseling plans (including post mortgage foreclosure mitigation counseling), loan workout agreements, and loan modification agreements. NRC may use other criteria to demonstrate capacity in underserved areas. (6) Of the total amount made available under this paragraph, up to $2,500,000 may be made available to build the mortgage foreclosure and default mitigation counseling capacity of counseling intermediaries through NRC training courses with HUD-approved counseling intermediaries and their partners, except that private financial institutions that participate in NRC training shall pay market rates for such training. (7) Of the total amount made available under this paragraph, up to 5 percent may be used for associated administrative expenses for the NRC to carry out activities provided under this section. (8) Mortgage foreclosure mitigation assistance grants may include a budget for outreach and advertising, and training, as determined by the NRC. (9) The NRC shall continue to report bi-annually to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations as well as the Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services Committee on its efforts to mitigate mortgage default. United states interagency council on homelessness Operating expenses For necessary expenses (including payment of salaries, authorized travel, hire of passenger motor vehicles, the rental of conference rooms, and the employment of experts and consultants under section 3109 of title 5, United States Code) of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness in carrying out the functions pursuant to title II of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended, $3,530,000. Title II of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11319 level V level IV IV General provisions—this act 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 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 2015, 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: Provided further 406. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, not to exceed 50 percent of unobligated balances remaining available at the end of fiscal year 2015 from appropriations made available for salaries and expenses for fiscal year 2015 in this Act, shall remain available through September 30, 2016, 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. All Federal agencies and departments that are funded under this Act shall issue a report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on all sole-source contracts in effect during the preceding fiscal year by no later than March 30, 2015. Such report shall include the contractor, the amount of the contract and the rationale for using a sole-source contract. 409. 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. 410. 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. 411. 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 Buy American Act ( 41 U.S.C. 10a–10c 412. 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. 10a–10c). 413. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used for first-class airline accommodations in contravention of sections 301–10.122 301–10.123 414. None of the funds made available under this Act or any prior Act may be provided to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or allied organizations. 415. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract, memorandum of understanding, or cooperative agreement with, make a grant to, or provide a loan or loan guarantee to any corporation that was convicted of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within the preceding 24 months, where the awarding agency is aware of the conviction, unless the agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and has made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government. 416. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract, memorandum of understanding, or cooperative agreement with, make a grant to, or provide a loan or loan guarantee to, any corporation with any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, where the awarding agency is aware of the unpaid tax liability, unless the agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and has made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government. 417. It is the sense of the Congress that the Congress should not pass any legislation that authorizes spending cuts that would increase poverty in the United States. 418. All agencies and departments funded by the Act shall send to Congress at the end of the fiscal year a report containing a complete inventory of the total number of vehicles owned, leased, permanently retired, and purchased during fiscal year 2015, as well as the total cost of the vehicle fleet, including maintenance, fuel, storage, purchasing, and leasing. 419. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to pay for the painting of a portrait of an officer or employee of the Federal Government, including the head of an Executive branch agency, as defined in section 133 420. (a) The head of any Executive branch department, agency, board, commission, or office funded by this Act shall submit annual reports to the Inspector General or senior ethics official for any entity without an Inspector General, regarding the costs and contracting procedures related to each conference held by any such department, agency, board, commission, or office during fiscal year 2015 for which the cost to the United States Government was more than $100,000. (b) Each report submitted shall include, for each conference described in subsection (a) held during the applicable period— (1) a description of its purpose; (2) the number of participants attending; (3) a detailed statement of the costs to the United States Government, including— (A) the cost of any food or beverages; (B) the cost of any audio-visual services; (C) the cost of employee or contractor travel to and from the conference; and (D) a discussion of the methodology used to determine which costs relate to the conference; and (4) a description of the contracting procedures used including— (A) whether contracts were awarded on a competitive basis; and (B) a discussion of any cost comparison conducted by the departmental component or office in evaluating potential contractors for the conference. (c) Within 15 days of the date of a conference held by any Executive branch department, agency, board, commission, or office funded by this Act during fiscal year 2015 for which the cost to the United States Government was more than $20,000, the head of any such department, agency, board, commission, or office shall notify the Inspector General or senior ethics official for any entity without an Inspector General, of the date, location, and number of employees attending such conference. (d) A grant or contract funded by amounts appropriated by this Act to an Executive branch agency may not be used for the purpose of defraying the costs of a conference described in subsection (c) that is not directly and programmatically related to the purpose for which the grant or contract was awarded, such as a conference held in connection with planning, training, assessment, review, or other routine purposes related to a project funded by the grant or contract. (e) None of the funds made available in this Act may be used for travel and conference activities that are not in compliance with Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M–12–12 dated May 11, 2012. 421. 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 Committees on Appropriations at least 5 days in advance that such attendance is important to the national interest: Provided international conference 422. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act and except as provided in subsection (b), any report required to be submitted by a Federal agency to the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate or the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives under this Act shall be posted on the public Web site of that agency 30 days following its receipt by the committee. (b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a report if— (1) the public posting of the report compromises national security; or (2) the report contains proprietary information. 423. Each department funded by this Act shall submit a report by March 1st providing a detailed summary of advertising by the department in the prior fiscal year, including the total amount spent. The report shall also include: (1) a description of the purpose and intent of the advertising (such as promoting awareness of a program, promoting services or participation, or public relations to improve the attitudes about a program or agency); (2) a breakdown of the costs of advertising by medium, including on-line (with a specific total for social media), brochures, billboards, sponsorships (including the list of all sponsorships), television, mail, and newspaper; and (3) the cost of development, production, and staffing, including the amount spent on the salaries of department employees and payments to contractors and consultants. 424. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to make bonus awards to contractors for work on projects that are behind schedule or over budget. 425. None of the funds in this Act may be used for premium travel by an agency that did not provide a report on premium travel to GSA in the prior fiscal year. 426. Each department funded by this Act shall submit a report by March 2, 2015, detailing its efforts to address the duplication identified in the annual reports on duplication issued by the Government Accountability Office, along with legal barriers preventing the department’s ability to further reduce duplication. 427. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used to purchase a light bulb for an office building unless the light bulb has, to the extent practicable, an Energy Star or Federal Energy Management Program designation. 428. Any Federal agency or department that is funded under this Act shall respond to any recommendation made to such agency or department by the Government Accountability Office in a timely manner. This Act may be cited as the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 June 5, 2014 Read twice and placed on the calendar

Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015 - Title I: Department of Transportation - Department of Transportation Appropriations Act, 2015 - Makes appropriations for FY2015 to the Department of Transportation (DOT), including: (1) the Office of the Secretary, (2) the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), (3) the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), (4) the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), (5) the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), (6) the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), (7) the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), (8) the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, (9) the Maritime Administration, (10) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), (11) the Office of Inspector General, and (12) the Surface Transportation Board (STB). Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, funds and transfers of funds appropriated under this title. (Sec. 102) Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary in this title) or designee to lobby states and state legislators to consider proposals for the reduction of motorcycle fatalities. (Sec. 103) Authorizes the DOT's Working Capital fund to provide advanced payments to vendors to carry out the federal transit pass transportation fringe benefit program for federal employees. (Sec. 104) Directs the Secretary to: (1) post on the DOT website a schedule of all Credit Council meetings, including the agenda for each meeting; and (2) require the Council to record the decisions and actions of the meetings. (Sec. 110) Prohibits the use of funds to compensate more than 600 technical staff-years under the federally funded research and development center contract between the FAA and the Center for Advanced Aviation Systems Development during FY2014. (Sec. 111) Prohibits the use of funds to pursue or adopt guidelines or regulations requiring airport sponsors to provide to the FAA 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. Exempts from this prohibition any negotiations between the agency and airport sponsors to: (1) achieve agreement on "below-market" rates for these items, or (2) grant assurances that require airport sponsors to provide land without cost to the FAA for air traffic control facilities. (Sec. 112) Authorizes the FAA Administrator to reimburse amounts made available from certain fees to carry out the Essential Air Service (EAS) program. (Sec. 113) Requires that amounts collected for safety-related training and operational services to foreign aviation authorities be credited to the appropriation current at the time of collection, to be merged with and available for the same purposes of such appropriation. (Sec. 114) Prohibits the availability of funds for paying premium pay (pay for Sunday and holiday work) to an FAA employee unless the employee actually performed worked during the time corresponding to such pay. (Sec. 115) Prohibits the obligation of funds for an FAA employee to purchase a store gift card or gift certificate through use of a government-issued credit card. (Sec. 116) Requires the Secretary to make the minimum apportionment for primary and cargo airports to sponsors of airports that: (1) received scheduled or unscheduled air service from large certified air carriers, and (2) had more than 10,000 passenger boardings in the preceding calendar year. (Sec. 117) Prohibits the obligation of funds for retention bonuses for an FAA employee without the prior written approval of the DOT Assistant Secretary for Administration. (Sec. 118) Caps at 20% the maximum allowable local share of costs of an airport sponsor or state or local government with jurisdiction over an airport in cases where the operating costs of an air traffic tower under the Contract Air Traffic Control Tower Program exceed the benefits. (Sec. 119) Prohibits the use of funds to implement, or to continue to implement, any limitation on the ability of a private aircraft owner or operator, upon a request to the FAA Administrator, to block, with respect to its noncommercial flights, the display of the owner's or operator's registration number in the Aircraft Situational Display to Industry data provided by the FAA to the public, unless the data has been made available to a government agency. (Sec. 119A) Prohibits the availability of funds for salaries and expenses of more than nine FAA political and Presidential appointees. (Sec. 119B) Prohibits the use of funds to increase fees the FAA Administrator may assess a state, federal agency, public or private organization, or individual to conduct special services or develop special products relating to navigation, transportation, or public safety, until the FAA provides Congress a report that justifies all aeronautical navigation product fees and explains how they are consistent with Executive Order 13642. (Sec. 119C) Bars the use of funds to change weight restrictions or prior permission rules at Teterboro airport in Teterboro, New Jersey. (Sec. 119D) Bars the use of funds to close an FAA regional operations center or reduce its services unless the FAA Administrator notifies Congress at least 90 full business days in advance. (Sec. 119E) Revises the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, with respect to reauthorization through FY2015 of the FAA Center for Excellence for Applied Research and Training in the Use of Advanced Materials in Transport Aircraft, to specify the Center as the FAA Center for Excellence for Applied Research and Training in the Use of Joint Advanced Materials and Structures. (Sec. 119F) Revises the federal share of the costs for a non-hub airport improvement program (AIP) project located in a state containing unappropriated and unreserved public lands and nontaxable Indian lands of more than 5% of the total area of all lands in the state. Requires the federal share for a non-hub airport located in such a state within 15 miles of another such state to be an average of the federal share applicable to any AIP project in each of the states. (Under current law, the allowable federal share of costs for AIP projects shall not exceed the lesser of 93.75% or the highest percentage federal share applicable to any such project in a state.) (Sec. 120) Prescribes requirements, including a formula, for certain FY2015 distributions from the obligation limitation for federal-aid highways. (Sec. 121) Allows crediting to the federal-aid highways account of funds received by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics from the sale of data products to reimburse the Bureau for necessary expenses. (Sec. 122) Requires the Secretary to make an informal public notice and comment opportunity on the intent of the waiver before waiving any Buy American requirement for federal-aid highway projects. (Sec. 123) Prohibits the use of funds by DOT to provide direct loans, loan guarantees, or lines of credit for eligible infrastructure projects unless the Secretary notifies Congress at least three days before any loan or credit application approval. (Sec. 124) Specifies the amount of certain unobligated federal-aid highway funds that shall be available, with specified exceptions, for FY2015 for FHWA administrative expenses. (Sec. 130) Subjects funds appropriated or limited in this Act to certain safety examination and other requirements of the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002 and the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 relating to Mexico-domiciled motor carriers involved in cross-border trucking between the United States and Mexico. (Sec. 131) Bars the use of motor carrier safety operations and programs funds to deny an application to renew a Hazardous Materials Safety Program permit for a motor carrier based solely on that carrier's Hazardous Materials Out-of-Service rate, unless the Secretary determines the carrier's corrective actions or corrective action plan is insufficient to address the safety concerns that resulted in that rate. (Sec. 132) Bars the use of funds made available by this Act to enforce any regulation prohibiting a state from issuing a commercial learner's permit to individuals under age 18 if that state had a law authorizing the issuance of permits to those individuals as of May 9, 2011. (Sec. 133) Bars the use of funds made available by this Act or any other Act to enforce during a specified period the 2011 restart rule ("Hours of Service of Drivers"), which applies to operators of commercial motor vehicles of property subject to maximum DOT driving requirements. Suspends the 2011 restart rule between the date of enactment of this Act and the later of: (1) September 30, 2015, or (2) the date of submission of the Secretary's final report required by this Act. Makes the restart rule as it was on June 30, 2013, in effect again during this period. Requires the Secretary to publish a Notice in the Federal Register and on the FMCSA website announcing this suspension of enforcement and the temporary resumption period of the old restart rule. Directs the Secretary to initiate a naturalistic study of the operational, safety, health, and fatigue impacts of the suspended new and the temporarily resumed old restart rule on commercial motor vehicle drivers. Requires the Secretary to submit to the DOT Inspector General (IG) for review and comment beforehand a plan outlining the study's scope and methodology. Requires the Secretary, after receiving the IG's comments, to submit to the IG a final report on the study's findings, conclusions, and recommendations on whether the new restart rule in effect on July 1, 2013, provides a greater net benefit than the old rule for its operational, safety, health, and fatigue impacts. (Sec. 140) Makes certain additional funds available to NHTSA to pay for: (1) travel and related expenses for state management reviews, and (2) core competency development training and related expenses for highway safety staff. (Sec. 141) Declares that certain limitations on obligations for NHTSA programs shall not apply to any obligational authority made available in previous public laws, except to the extent that the obligational authority has not lapsed or been used. (Sec. 142) Prohibits the use of funds to implement establishment in the DOT of a National Highway Safety Advisory Committee. (Sec. 150) Declares that funds provided in this Act for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) shall immediately cease to be available to Amtrak in the event that it contracts to have provided at or from any location outside the United States any service that was, as of July 1, 2006, performed by a full-time or part-time Amtrak employee whose base of employment is located within the United States. (Sec. 151) Authorizes the Secretary to receive cash or spare parts from non-federal sources to repair damages to or replace federally-owned automated track inspection cars and equipment as a result of third party liability for such damages. (Sec. 152) Makes amounts available for Amtrak for the operation of intercity passenger rail actually available for distribution only after the Secretary reviews a grant request for each specific train route accompanied by a detailed plan justifying the federal support to the Secretary's satisfaction. (Sec. 153) Bars the use of funds for Amtrak to pay overtime costs in excess of $35,000 for any Amtrak employee. Authorizes the president of Amtrak to waive such cap in cases where it poses a risk to the safety and operational efficiency of the Amtrak system. (Sec. 160) Declares that the limitations on obligations for FTA programs shall not apply to any grant authority previously made available for obligation, or to any other authority previously made available for obligation. (Sec. 161) Declares that funds appropriated by this Act for specified FTA discretionary program projects which are not obligated by September 30, 2019, and other recoveries, shall be directed to projects eligible to use the funds for the purposes for which they were originally provided. (Sec. 162) Authorizes certain transfers of any public transportation funds appropriated before October 1, 2014, that remain available for expenditure. (Sec. 163) Prohibits the Secretary from enforcing federal charter bus service regulations against any transit agency that during FY2008 was both initially granted a 60-day period to comply with such regulations, and then was subsequently granted an exception from them. (Sec. 164) Authorizes the Secretary, when applying project justification and local commitment criteria to a New Starts project, to consider the costs and ridership of any connected project where private parties are making significant financial contributions to the construction of the connected project. Authorizes the Secretary also to consider the significant financial contributions of such parties to the connected project when calculating the non-federal share of net capital project costs for the New Starts project. (Sec. 165) Requires the Secretary to consider Small Starts Projects, including streetcars, in developing guidance implementing a Program of Interrelated Projects under a fixed guideway capital investment grant. (Sec. 166) Requires new bus rapid transit projects recommended in the President's budget submission to Congress for capital investment grant funds appropriated under this Act to be funded from a specified amount of unobligated discretionary funds for the bus and bus facilities program in FY1984-FY2012. Subjects all such projects to Capital Investment Grants Program requirements for New Starts, Small Starts, or Core Capacity projects. (Sec. 170) Authorizes the Maritime Administration to furnish utilities and services and make necessary repairs in connection with any lease, contract, or occupancy of property under its control. (Sec. 171) Bars the use of funds by DOT or the Maritime Administration to negotiate or 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 to purchase and scrap or recycle a vessel owned or operated by the Maritime Administration or that is part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet. (Sec. 180) Increases from 2% to 4% the amount that may be used from the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Fund to pay for certain administrative costs. (Sec. 181) Authorizes the Secretary to require the person proposing a project with design and construction costs over $2.5 billion for the construction, expansion, or operation of a gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility or liquefied natural gas pipeline facility to pay the facility design safety review costs incurred by the Secretary. (Sec. 182) Directs the Secretary to initiate a rulemaking or alternative risk-based compliance regime for the siting of small-scale liquefaction facilities that generate and package liquefied natural gas for use as a transportation fuel for domestic delivery via non-pipeline means. Urges the rulemaking or alternative risk-based compliance regime to incorporate the 2013 National Fire Protection Association Standard 59A and industry best practices. (Sec. 192) Prohibits the availability of the funds in this Act for salaries and expenses of more than 110 political and presidential appointees in DOT. Prohibits assignment of any of such appointees on temporary detail outside DOT. (Sec. 193) Bars recipients of funds made available in this Act from disseminating personal information obtained by a state department of motor vehicles in connection with a motor vehicle record, except as permitted under specified federal criminal law. Prohibits the Secretary, however, from withholding funds for any grantee if a state fails to comply with this prohibition. (Sec. 195) Requires the Secretary to notify the congressional appropriations committees at least three full business days before announcing any project competitively selected to receive a discretionary grant award, letter of intent, or full funding grant agreement from certain grant programs, including the federal highway emergency relief program, the FAA AIP, any FRA program, any FTA program other than the formula grants and fixed guideway modernization programs, any Maritime Administration program, or any funding for national infrastructure investments. (Sec. 197) Makes available for reimbursement of recovery costs any recovered funds that the Secretary has determined represent improper DOT payments to a third party contractor under a financial assistance award. (Sec. 199) Prohibits the use of funds by the STB to charge or collect any filing fee for rate or practice complaints filed with it in an amount in excess of that authorized for district court civil suit filing fees under the federal judicial code. (Sec. 199A) Authorizes the obligation of funds appropriated to the modal administrations for the Office of the Secretary for costs related to assessments or reimbursable agreements only when such amounts are for the costs of goods or services purchased to provide a direct benefit to such administrations. (Sec. 199B) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a program to establish uniform standards for developing and supporting agency transit pass and transit benefits, including distribution of such benefits by various paper and electronic media. Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development - Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2015 - Makes appropriations for FY2015 to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for: (1) administration, operations, and management; (2) the Office of Public and Indian Housing; (3) the Office of Community Planning and Development; (4) the Office of Housing and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA); (5) the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae); (6) Office of Policy Development and Research; (7) Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity; (8) the Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control; and (9) the Office of Inspector General. Rescinds permanently $10 million from funds previously provided for the General and Special Risk Insurance Funds Program account. (Sec. 201) Requires rescission of 50% of the amounts of budget authority (or, in the alternative, remittance to the Treasury of 50% of the associated cash amounts) that are recaptured from certain state-, local government-, or local housing agency-financed projects under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1988. Requires such recaptured budget authority or funds, as well as any budget authority or cash recaptured and not rescinded or remitted to the Treasury, to be used by state housing finance agencies or local governments or local housing agencies with HUD-approved projects for which settlement occurred after January 1, 1992. Authorizes the Secretary of HUD (Secretary in this title), all the same, to award up to 15% of the budget authority or cash recaptured and not rescinded or remitted to the Treasury to provide project owners with incentives to refinance their projects at a lower interest rate. (Sec. 202) Prohibits the use of funds during FY2015 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 non-frivolous legal action, that is engaged in solely to achieve or prevent action by a government official or entity, or a court of competent jurisdiction. (Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary to make a grant under certain authority of the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act for any state that received an allocation in a prior fiscal year, but is not otherwise eligible for an FY2015 allocation because the areas in the state outside of qualifying metropolitan statistical areas in FY2015 do not have the number of cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) otherwise required. Prescribes a formula for the allocation of such grants to Jersey City and Paterson, New Jersey. Requires the Secretary to: (1) adjust the funds allocated for FY2015 under the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act to Wilmington, Delaware, on behalf of the Wilmington, Delaware-Maryland-New Jersey Metropolitan Division; and (2) allocate a portion to the state of New Jersey according to a specified formula. Directs the Secretary to allocate to Wake County, North Carolina, certain funds that otherwise would be allocated for FY2015 under such Act to Raleigh, North Carolina, on behalf of the Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) adjust FY2015 allocations under such Act upon the written request of a grant applicant for a formula allocation on behalf of a metropolitan statistical area, and (2) designate the state or states in which the metropolitan statistical area is located as the eligible grantee(s) of the allocation. (Sec. 204) Requires any grant, cooperative agreement, or other assistance made pursuant to this title to be made on a competitive basis and in accordance with the Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989. (Sec. 205) Makes certain funds available, without regard to limitations on administrative expenses, for: (1) legal services on a contract or fee basis; and (2) payment for services and facilities of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), Ginnie Mae, 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. 207) Authorizes any HUD corporations and agencies subject to the Government Corporation Control Act to make expenditures, contracts, and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as necessary to carry out their FY2015 budgets. (Sec. 208) Directs the Secretary to report quarterly to congressional appropriations committees regarding all uncommitted, unobligated, recaptured, and excess funds in each program and activity within HUD jurisdiction, along with additional, updated budget information upon request. (Sec. 209) Requires the President's formal budget request for FY2016 and HUD's congressional budget justifications to use the identical account and subaccount structure provided under this Act. (Sec. 210) Declares that a public housing agency (PHA) (or other entity) that administers federal housing assistance for the Housing Authority of the county of Los Angeles, California, or the states of Alaska, Iowa, or Mississippi shall not be required to include a resident of public housing or a recipient of section 8 rental assistance (under the United States Housing Act of 1937) on the agency or entity governing board. Requires each such PHA (or other entity) that chooses not to include such individuals on its governing board to establish an advisory board, which shall meet at least quarterly, consisting of at least six residents of public housing or section 8 rental assistance recipients. (Sec. 211) Prohibits the use of funds provided under this title for an audit of Ginnie Mae that applies certain requirements of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990. (Sec. 212) Authorizes the Secretary for FY2015-FY2016, subject to specified conditions, to authorize the transfer of some or all project-based assistance, debt, and statutorily required low-income and very low-income use restrictions, associated with one or more multifamily housing project, to another multifamily housing project or projects. (Sec. 213) Prohibits any section 8 rental assistance to any individual who: (1) is enrolled as a student at an institution of higher education; (2) is under age 24; (3) is not a veteran; (4) is unmarried; (5) does not have a dependent child; (6) is not a person with disabilities, and was not receiving section 8 assistance as of November 30, 2005; and (7) is not otherwise individually eligible, or has parents who, individually or jointly, are not eligible, to receive such assistance. Declares that, for section 8 rental assistance eligibility purposes, any financial assistance (in excess of amounts received for tuition) that an individual receives under the Higher Education Act of 1965, from private sources, or an institution of higher education shall be considered income to that individual, except for a person over age 23 with dependent children. (Sec. 214) Requires that the funds made available for Native American Housing Block Grants in this title be allocated to the same recipients that received funds in FY2005. (Sec. 215) Authorizes the Secretary through FY2015 to insure, and enter into commitments to insure, home equity conversion mortgages (HECMs, or reverse mortgages) for elderly homeowners. (Sec. 216) Requires the Secretary during FY2015, in managing and disposing of any multifamily property that is owned or has a mortgage held by HUD, and during the process of foreclosure on any property with a contract for section 8 rental assistance payments or other federal programs, to maintain any rental assistance payments attached to any dwelling units in the property. Authorizes the Secretary, however, to the extent that such a multifamily property is not feasible for continued payments, based on specified cost, operation, or environmental considerations, to: (1) contract, in consultation with the property's tenants, for project-based rental assistance payments with an owner or owners of other existing housing properties; or (2) provide other rental assistance. (Sec. 217) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to authorize the Secretary to use Community Development Loan Guarantee funds to guarantee, or make commitments to guarantee, notes or other obligations issued by any state on behalf of its non-entitlement communities. Repeals limitations on the total amount of outstanding obligations guaranteed on a cumulative basis by the Secretary for any fiscal year. Requires the Secretary to monitor the use by eligible public entities, as well as states, of commitment amounts authorized in appropriation Acts for any fiscal year. Repeals the prohibition against imposing a fee or charge on or with respect to HUD guarantees and commitment to guarantee loans. Requires any state receiving a guarantee or commitment on behalf of non-entitlement areas to distribute all funds subject to such guarantee to the general local governments in non-entitlement areas that received the commitment. (Sec. 218) Authorizes PHAs that own and operate 400 or fewer public housing units to elect to be exempt from any asset management requirements imposed by the Secretary in connection with the operating fund rule. Prohibits exemption from such requirements, however, for an agency seeking a discontinuance of a reduction of subsidy under the operating fund formula. (Sec. 219) Prohibits the Secretary, with respect to the use of funds for the operation, capital improvement, and management of public housing authorized by the United States Housing Act of 1937, from imposing any asset management requirement or guideline that restricts or limits in any way the use of capital funds for central office costs. Prohibits a PHA, however, from using capital funds authorized for eligible operation and management activities with operating funds in excess of specified permitted amounts, unless otherwise specified under this title. (Sec. 220) Prohibits designation of a HUD official or employee as an allotment holder unless he or she has: (1) implemented an adequate system of funds control, and (2) received training in funds control procedures and directives. (Sec. 221) Requires the Secretary to report annually to congressional appropriations committees on the status of all section 8 project-based housing, including the number of all project-based units by region, as well as an analysis of all federally subsidized housing being refinanced under the Mark-to-Market program. (Sec. 222) Requires the Secretary for FY2015 and thereafter to notify the public through the Federal Register and other appropriate means of the issuance of a notice of the availability of assistance or notice of funding availability (NOFA) for any program or discretionary fund that is to be awarded competitively. Authorizes the Secretary for such period to make the NOFA available only on the Internet at the appropriate government website or through other electronic media. (Sec. 223) Requires payment of attorney fees in program-related litigation from the individual program office and Office of General Counsel personnel funding. (Sec. 225) Considers the HUD-administered Disaster Housing Assistance Programs as a HUD program under the McKinney Act for income verification and matching purposes. (Sec. 226) Requires the Secretary to take specified actions when a multifamily housing project with a section 8 contract or contract for similar project-based assistance: (1) receives a Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) score of 30 or less; or (2) receives a REAC score between 31 and 59 and fails to certify in writing to HUD, within 60 days, that all deficiencies have been corrected, or receives consecutive scores of less than 60 on REAC inspections. Applies such requirements to insured and noninsured projects with section 8 rental assistance attached to the units; but not to units receiving PHA project-based assistance under the voucher program, or to public housing units assisted with capital or operating funds. (Sec. 227) Prohibits during any PHA FY2015 the use of funds, made available for specified purposes of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (including the Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance program), by any PHA for any amount of salary, including bonuses, for its chief executive officer, or any other official or employee that exceeds the annual rate of basic pay for a position at level IV of the Executive Schedule. (Sec. 228) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to extend through FY2015 the authorization of appropriations for: (1) demolition, site revitalization, replacement housing, and tenant-based assistance grants for severely distressed public housing projects; and (2) grants for assisting affordable housing developed through main street projects in smaller communities. (Sec. 229) Allows up to $10 million out of funds appropriated for salaries and expenses under all accounts under this title (except for the Office of Inspector General account) to be transferred and merged with amounts appropriated for the Information Technology Fund account. (Sec. 230) Bars the use of funds made available by this Act for the HUD doctoral dissertation research grant program. (Sec. 231) Modifies funding requirements for Rental Assistance Demonstration provided in the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2012. Extends through FY2016 a specified program for conversion of tenant-based rental assistance vouchers to PHA project-based vouchers. (Sec. 232) Bars the use of funds in this Act provided to HUD to make a grant award unless the Secretary notifies congressional appropriations committees at least three 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 HUD or its offices. (Sec. 233) Amends the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 to extend through October 1, 2018, the FHA-Insured Multifamily Housing Mortgage and Housing Assistance Program and the Office of Multifamily Housing Assistance Restructuring. (Sec. 234) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to modified requirements governing the public housing Capital and Operating Funds. Authorizes a PHA to establish a Replacement Reserve to carry out certain listed capital activities. Allows a PHA to deposit funds from its Capital Fund at any time into a Replacement Reserve, subject to specified conditions. Authorizes the Secretary to allow a PHA, in first establishing a Replacement Reserve, to transfer more than 20% of its operating funds into it. Allows funds in a Replacement Reserve to be used to carry out capital and management activities and for any purpose in its Capital Fund 5-Year Action Plan. Exempts funds held in PHA Replacement Reserves from penalties for slow expenditure by a PHA of capital funds. (Sec. 235) Limits a PHA's use, for capital and management activities eligible for assistance from the Capital Fund, to 20% of any appropriations for FY2015 or any ensuing fiscal year that are allocated to the PHA from the Operating Fund, but only if the public housing plan for the agency provides for the use. (236) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to revise requirements with respect to termination of tenancy by an owner of affordable housing assisted under such Act for rental. States that the mandatory 30-day notice is not required if the grounds for the termination or refusal to renew a lease involve a direct threat to the safety of the tenants or employees of the housing, or an imminent and serious threat to the property (and the termination or refusal to renew is in accordance with requirements of state or local law). Allows a community housing development organization funded by the state to serve all counties within the state. (Sec. 237) Directs the Secretary to establish a demonstration program under which, during the period between enactment of this Act and the end of FY2017, the Secretary may enter into competitively selected, budget-neutral, performance-based, 12-year agreements that result in a reduction in energy or water costs with appropriate entities to carry out projects for energy or water conservation improvements at up to 20,000 residential units in multifamily buildings participating in: section 8 project-based rental assistance programs under the United States Housing Act of 1937, other than section 8 (voucher program) assistance; supportive housing for the elderly programs under the Housing Act of 1959; or supportive housing for persons with disabilities programs under the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. Prescribes requirements for payment under an agreement, which shall be contingent on documented utility savings. Authorizes the Secretary to use for the demonstration program any funds appropriated for the renewal of contracts under the specified housing programs. (Sec. 238) Amends the Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996 to allow national and regional organizations and consortia experienced in providing or facilitating self-help housing homeownership opportunities to use certain grants for rehabilitation of existing dwelling units. Includes planning, administration, and management of grant programs as eligible expenses. Limits them to 20% of a grant. Requires the Secretary to establish a deadline (which may be extended for good cause) by which time all units that have been assisted with grant funds must be completed and conveyed. (Sec. 239) Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to modify requirements with respect to loan guarantees for Indian housing. Requires the holder of a guarantee, before any payment under a loan guarantee is made, among other things to give good faith consideration to making a loan modification as well as meet standards for servicing loans in default. (Sec. 240) Amends the National Housing Act to authorize the Secretary, in each fiscal year, to charge and collect a fee of up to four basis points of the original principal balance of mortgages originated by the mortgagee that were insured during the previous fiscal year. Requires the use of collected fees as offsetting collections for part of the administrative contract expenses funding and any necessary salaries and expenses funding provided under the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Program Account. (Sec. 241) Revises procedures under the section 8 rental assistance program for publishing fair market rentals for an area with respect to the amount and scope of monthly assistance payments. Requires the Secretary to publish such rentals at least annually on the HUD website and in any other manner specified by the Secretary. Repeals the requirement that the Secretary establish separate fair market rentals for Westchester County, New York, and for Monroe County, Pennsylvania. (Sec. 242) Rescinds permanently all unobligated balances, including recaptures and carryover, remaining from funds appropriated to HUD for: (1) brownfields redevelopment, (2) rural housing and economic development, (3) drug elimination grants for low income housing, and (4) the Youthbuild program under the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. (Sec. 243) Requires any sums necessary to implement the Homeowners Armed with Knowledge (HAWK) pilot to be absorbed within the levels appropriated in this Act. (Sec. 244) Amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 to authorize the Secretary, for purposes of providing assistance for housing for low- and moderate-income families, to enter into appropriate multiyear agreements, subject to the availability of annual appropriations. (Sec. 245) Amends the National Housing Act with respect to minimum property standards established by the Secretary to promote energy saving techniques in newly constructed residential housing, other than manufactured homes, subject to mortgages insured under the Act. Authorizes the Secretary to establish an exception to any such minimum property standard in order to address alternative water systems, including cisterns, which meet requirements of state and local building codes that ensure health and safety standards. (Sec. 246) Requires the Secretary, in addition to making certain funds available to metropolitan cities and urban counties located or partially located in a major disaster declared area, to provide assistance to any state for use by any non-entitlement area in which there was a major disaster declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act in 2014. Title III: Related Agencies - Makes appropriations for FY2015 to: (1) the Access Board, (2) the Federal Maritime Commission, (3) the Office of Inspector General for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), (4) the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), (5) the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, and (6) the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Title IV: General Provisions (This Act) - Specifies certain uses and limits on or prohibitions against the use of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 401) Prohibits the use of funds for the planning or execution of any program to pay the expenses of, or otherwise compensate, nonfederal parties intervening in regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings funded in this Act. (Sec. 404) Prohibits the obligation or expenditure of funds made available in this Act for any employee training that meets specified negative criteria. Declares that nothing in this prohibition shall prohibit, restrict, or otherwise preclude an agency from conducting training bearing directly upon the performance of official duties. (Sec. 407) Prohibits the use of funds 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. (Sec. 408) Requires all federal agencies and departments funded by this Act to report by March 30, 2015, to the congressional appropriations committees on all sole source contracts. (Sec. 409) Prohibits the transfer of funds made available in this Act to any federal 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. (Sec. 410) Prohibits payment of the salary from any appropriation under this Act for any person filling a position (other than temporary) formerly held by an employee who has: (1) left to enter the U.S. Armed Forces; (2) satisfactorily completed his or her period of active military or naval service; (3) within 90 days after release from such service, or from hospitalization continuing after discharge for up to one year, applied for restoration to his former position; and (4) been certified by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) as still qualified to perform the duties of his or her former position, but not been restored to it. (Sec. 411) Prohibits the expenditure of funds appropriated under this Act by an entity unless the entity agrees to comply with the Buy American Act. (Sec. 412) Prohibits the availability of funds to any person or entity that has been convicted of violating the Buy American Act. (Sec. 413) Prohibits the use of funds under this Act for first-class airline accommodations in contravention of specified federal regulations. (Sec. 414) Prohibits the provision of any funds made available under this or prior Acts to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) or its affiliates, subsidiaries, or allied organizations. (Sec. 415) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to enter into a contract, memorandum of understanding, or cooperative agreement with, make a grant to, or provide a loan or loan guarantee to any corporation that was convicted of a felony criminal violation under any federal law within the preceding 24 months, where the awarding agency is aware of the conviction, unless the agency has: (1) considered suspension or debarment of the corporation, and (2) made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect government interests. (Sec. 416) Makes the same prohibition as in Sec. 414 with respect to any corporation with any unpaid federal tax liability that is not being paid in a timely manner, where the awarding agency is aware of the unpaid tax liability, unless the agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and determined that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the government. (Sec. 417) Expresses the sense of Congress that Congress should not pass any legislation that authorizes spending cuts that would increase poverty in the United States. (Sec. 418) Requires all agencies and departments funded by this Act to report to Congress at the end of the fiscal year a complete inventory of the total number of vehicles owned, permanently retired, and purchased during FY2015 as well as the total cost of the vehicle fleet, including maintenance, fuel, storage, purchasing, and leasing. (Sec. 419) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to pay for the painting of a portrait of a federal officer or employee, including the head of an Executive branch agency. (Sec. 420) Requires the head of any executive branch department, agency, board, commission, or office (entity) funded by this Act to report annually to its Inspector General (or senior ethics official if there is no Inspector General) regarding the costs and contracting procedures related to each conference held by the entity during FY2015 for which the cost to the U.S. government exceeded $100,000. Requires each entity head, within 15 days of any conference costing the U.S. government during FY2015 more than $20,000, to notify its Inspector General or senior ethics official of the date, location, and number of employees attending the conference. Declares that a grant or contract funded by amounts appropriated by this Act to an executive branch agency may not be used to defray the costs of any such conference that is not directly and programmatically related to the purpose for which the grant or contract was awarded. Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act for travel and conference activities that are not in compliance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum M-12-12 dated May 11, 2012. (Sec. 421) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to send or otherwise pay for the attendance of more than 50 employees of a single federal agency or department, who are stationed in the United States, at any single international conference occurring outside the United States unless the relevant Secretary reports to specified congressional committees at least 5 days in advance that such attendance is important to the national interest. Specifies that such an international conference involves representatives of the U.S. government and of foreign governments, international organizations, or nongovernmental organizations. (Sec. 422) Requires that any report a federal department or agency must submit to either congressional appropriations committee be posted on the department or agency public website 30 days after receipt by the committee. Exempts a report from this requirement if the posting would compromise national security or the report contains proprietary information. (Sec. 423) Requires federal departments funded by this Act to report by March 1 a detailed summary of its advertising in the prior fiscal year, including the total amount spent. (Sec. 424) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to make bonus awards to contractors for work on projects that are behind schedule or over budget. (Sec. 425) Prohibits the use of funds under this Act for premium travel by a federal agency that did not provide a report on premium travel to the General Services Administration (GSA) in the prior fiscal year. (Sec. 426) Requires each federal department funded by this Act to report by March 2, 2015, on its efforts to address the duplication identified in the annual reports on duplication issued by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), along with legal barriers preventing the department's ability to further reduce duplication. (Sec. 427) Prohibits the use of funds made available by this Act to purchase a light bulb for an office building unless the light bulb has, to the extent practicable, an Energy Star or Federal Energy Management Program designation. (Sec. 428) Requires any federal agency or department funded by this Act to respond in a timely manner to any recommendation made to it by the GAO.