I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5187 
To facilitate the development of affordable housing, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 20, 2019 
Ms. WATERS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Financial Services 
A BILL 
To facilitate the development of affordable housing, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Housing is Infrastruc-
ture Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) Affordable housing is a critical part of the 
national infrastructure of the United States but 
there is a severe shortage of affordable housing in 
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the United States and the existing stock is badly in 
need of repair. 
(2) According to a 2010 study sponsored by the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
there was a $26 billion backlog of capital needs for 
public housing; that figure is likely higher today, 
with some groups estimating the backlog of capital 
needs for public housing to be as high as $70 billion. 
(3) There are 14,000 units supported by Rural 
Rental Housing Loans under section 515 of the 
Housing Act of 1949 and Farm Labor Housing 
Loans under section 514 of the Housing Act of 
1949 that have an estimated unmet reserve need of 
$5,600,000,000 according to the latest estimate 
from the Department of Agriculture. 
(4) Federal investment in housing helps to cre-
ate jobs and stimulate the economy. 
(5) When the American Recovery and Reinvest-
ment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–5) was enacted, 
which included funding for public housing, research-
ers found that for each $1.00 in direct spending on 
public housing, there was an additional $2.12 of in-
direct and induced economic activity nationwide for 
a total economic impact of $3.12 for each $1.00 in 
direct spending on public housing. 
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(6) According to the National Association of 
Home Builders, building 100 affordable rental 
homes generates $11.7 million in local income, 
$2,200,000 in taxes and revenue for local govern-
ments, and 161 local jobs. 
(7) Researchers estimate that the growth in the 
gross domestic product from 1964–2009 would have 
been 13.5 percent higher if families had better ac-
cess to affordable housing, which in turn could have 
led to an additional $1.7 trillion increase in income, 
equivalent to $8,775 in additional wages for each 
worker. 
SEC. 3. PUBLIC HOUSING CAPITAL FUND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated for the Capital Fund under section 9(d) of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g(d)) 
$70,000,000,000 and any amounts appropriated pursuant 
to this subsection shall remain available until the expira-
tion of the 5-year period beginning upon the date of such 
appropriation. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall— 
(1) distribute not less than 35 percent and not 
more than 75 percent of any amounts appropriated 
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pursuant to subsection (a) under the same formula 
used for amounts made available for the Capital 
Fund for fiscal year 2019, except that the Secretary 
may determine not to allocate funding to public 
housing agencies that are designated as troubled at 
the time of such determination or to public housing 
agencies that elect not to accept such funding, or 
both; and 
(2) make available all remaining amounts by 
competition for priority investments, including in-
vestments that address lead hazards, other urgent 
health and safety concerns, and such other priorities 
as the Secretary may identify. 
(c) TIMING.—The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development shall obligate amounts— 
(1) made available under subsection (b)(1) 
within 30 days of enactment of the Act appro-
priating such funds; and 
(2) made available under subsection (b)(2) 
within 12 months of enactment of the Act appro-
priating such funds. 
(d) LIMITATION.—Amounts provided pursuant to 
this section may not be used for operating costs or rental 
assistance. 
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(e) USE OF FUNDS.—Not more than 0.5 percent of 
any amount appropriated pursuant to this section shall be 
used by the Secretary for costs associated with staff, train-
ing, technical assistance, technology, monitoring, travel, 
enforcement, research, and evaluation. 
(f) MONITORING.—With respect to any public hous-
ing agency that is designated as troubled at the time that 
amounts appropriated pursuant to this section are obli-
gated for such public housing agency, the Secretary shall 
provide additional monitoring and oversight of such public 
housing authorities to ensure that any amounts provided 
are used in accordance with this section and any applica-
ble laws. 
(g) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—The Secretary 
shall ensure that amounts provided pursuant to this sec-
tion shall serve to supplement and not supplant other 
amounts generated by a recipient of such amounts or 
amounts provided by other Federal, State, or local 
sources. 
(h) WATER AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.—In distrib-
uting any amounts pursuant to subsection (b), the Sec-
retary shall give priority to public housing agencies located 
in States and localities that have a plan to increase water 
and energy efficiency when developing or rehabilitating 
public housing using any amounts distributed. 
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SEC. 4. RURAL MULTIFAMILY PRESERVATION AND REVI-
TALIZATION DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated for carrying out the Multifamily Preservation and 
Revitalization Demonstration program of the Rural Hous-
ing Service (as authorized under sections 514, 515, and 
516 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1484; 1485; 
1486)) $1,000,000,000 and any amounts appropriated 
pursuant to this section shall remain available until ex-
pended. 
(b) WATER
AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.—Not less 
than 10 percent of all amounts made available pursuant 
to this section shall be used only for activities relating to 
water and energy efficiency and, at the Secretary’s discre-
tion, other strategies to reduce emissions. 
SEC. 5. FLOOD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated for carrying out the Flood Mitigation Assistance 
Grant Program under section 1366 of the National Flood 
Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4104c) $1,000,000,000 
and any amounts appropriated pursuant to this section 
shall remain available until expended. 
(b) MULTIFAMILY RESIDENCES AND ATTACHED AND 
SEMI-ATTACHED HOMES.—With regard to any structure 
that is a multifamily residence or an attached or semi- 
attached residence, the Administrator shall consult with 
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the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and es-
tablish alternative forms of mitigation. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—For the purposes of this section, 
the term ‘‘multifamily residence’’ has the same meaning 
as in the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973 and the 
National Flood Insurance Act of 1968. 
SEC. 6. HOUSING TRUST FUND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated for the Housing Trust Fund under section 1338 
of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1992 (12 
U.S.C. 4568) $5,000,000,000 and any amounts appro-
priated pursuant to this subsection shall remain available 
until expended. The Secretary shall ensure that priority 
for occupancy in dwelling units assisted with amounts 
made available pursuant to this section that become avail-
able for occupancy shall be given to persons and house-
holds who are homeless (as such term is defined in section 
103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 11302)) or at risk of homelessness (as such term 
is defined in section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 11360)). 
(b) WATER
AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.—Not less 
than 10 percent of all amounts made available pursuant 
to this section shall be used only for activities relating to 
water and energy efficiency and, at the Secretary’s discre-
tion, other strategies to reduce emissions. 
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SEC. 7. SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING REPAIR LOANS AND 
GRANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated for carrying out single family housing repair loans 
and grants under section 504 of the Housing Act of 1949 
(42 U.S.C. 1474) $100,000,000 and any amounts appro-
priated pursuant to this section shall remain available 
until expended. 
(b) WATER
AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.—Not less 
than 10 percent of all amounts made available pursuant 
to this section shall be used only for activities relating to 
water and energy efficiency and, at the Secretary’s discre-
tion, other strategies to reduce emissions. 
SEC. 8. NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING BLOCK GRANT PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated for carrying out the Native American housing 
block grant program under title I of the Native American 
Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 
(25 U.S.C. 4111 et seq.) $1,000,000,000 and any 
amounts appropriated pursuant to this section shall re-
main available until expended. 
(b) WATER
AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.—Not less 
than 10 percent of all amounts made available pursuant 
to this section shall be used only for activities relating to 
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water and energy efficiency and, at the Secretary’s discre-
tion, other strategies to reduce emissions. 
SEC. 9. HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated for carrying out the HOME Investment Partner-
ship Program under title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez Na-
tional Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq.) 
$5,000,000,000 and any amounts appropriated pursuant 
to this section shall remain available until expended. 
(b) WATER
AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.—Not less 
than 10 percent of all amounts made available pursuant 
to this section shall be used only for activities relating to 
water and energy efficiency and, at the Secretary’s discre-
tion, other strategies to reduce emissions. 
SEC. 10. PROGRAM FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PER-
SONS WITH DISABILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated $2,500,000,000 for project rental assistance under 
the program for supportive housing for persons with dis-
abilities under section 811(b)(3) of the Cranston-Gonzalez 
National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013(b)(3)) 
for State housing finance agencies and any amounts ap-
propriated pursuant to this section shall remain available 
until expended. 
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(b) WATER
AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.—Not less 
than 10 percent of all amounts made available pursuant 
to this section shall be used only for activities relating to 
water and energy efficiency and, at the Secretary’s discre-
tion, other strategies to reduce emissions. 
SEC. 11. PROGRAM FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THE 
ELDERLY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated $2,500,000,000 for— 
(1) capital advances pursuant to section 
202(c)(1) of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 
1701q(c)(1)), including amendments to capital ad-
vance contracts for housing for the elderly as au-
thorized by section 202 of such Act; 
(2) project rental assistance for the elderly 
under section 202(c)(2) of such Act, including 
amendments to contracts for such assistance and re-
newal of expiring contracts for such assistance for 
up to a 1-year term; 
(3) senior preservation rental assistance con-
tracts, including renewals, as authorized by section 
811(e) of the American Housing and Economic Op-
portunity Act of 2000 (12 U.S.C. 1701g note); and 
(4) supportive services associated with housing 
assisted under paragraph (1), (2), or (3). 
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(b) AVAILABILITY OF AMOUNTS.—Any amounts ap-
propriated pursuant to this section shall remain available 
until September 30, 2023. 
(c) WATER
AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.—Not less 
than 10 percent of all amounts made available pursuant 
to this section shall be used only for activities relating to 
water and energy efficiency and, at the Secretary’s discre-
tion, other strategies to reduce emissions. 
SEC. 12. CAPITAL MAGNET FUND. 
(a) There is authorized to be appropriated for the 
Capital Magnet Fund under section 1339 of the Federal 
Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act 
of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4569) $2,500,000,000 and any 
amounts appropriated pursuant to this subsection shall re-
main available until expended. 
(b) WATER
AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.—Not less 
than 10 percent of all amounts made available pursuant 
to this subsection shall be used only for activities relating 
to water and energy efficiency and, at the Secretary’s dis-
cretion, other strategies to reduce emissions. 
SEC. 13. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUND-
ING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND INFRA-
STRUCTURE. 
(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the provisions of 
this section, there is authorized to be appropriated 
for assistance under the community development 
block grant program under title I of the Housing 
and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 
U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) $10,000,000,000 and any 
amounts appropriated pursuant to this section shall 
remain available until expended. 
(2) ADMINISTRATIVE AND PLANNING COSTS.— 
Not more than 15 percent of any amounts appro-
priated pursuant to paragraph (1) may be used for 
administrative and planning costs. 
(b) ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES.—Amounts made available 
for assistance under this section may be used only for— 
(1) the development and preservation of quali-
fied affordable housing, including the construction of 
such housing; 
(2) the responsible elimination or waiving of 
zoning requirements and other requirements that 
limit affordable housing development, including high 
density and multifamily development restrictions, 
off-street parking requirements, and height limita-
tions; or 
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(3) any project or entity eligible for a discre-
tionary grant provided by the Department of Trans-
portation. 
(c) LIMITATION.—With respect to amounts used pur-
suant to subsection (b)(2), the Secretary shall ensure that 
recipients of amounts provided pursuant to this section 
are not incentivized or otherwise rewarded for eliminating 
or undermining the intent of the zoning regulations or 
other regulations or policies that— 
(1) establish fair wages for labors; 
(2) ensure the health and safety of buildings for 
residents and the general public; 
(3) protect fair housing; 
(4) provide environmental protections; 
(5) prevent tenant displacement; or 
(6) protect any other interest that the Secretary 
determines is in the public interest to preserve. 
(d) COMPETITION.—Amounts made available for as-
sistance under this section shall be awarded to States, 
units of general local government, and Indian tribes on 
a competitive basis, based on the extent to which the appli-
cant— 
(1) demonstrates that the applicant is respon-
sibly streamlining the process for development of 
qualified affordable housing; 
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(2) is eliminating or reducing impact fees for 
housing within boundaries of the State, unit of local 
government, or Indian tribe, as applicable, and other 
assessments by State or local governments upon the 
owners of new housing development projects that 
offset governmental capital expenditures for infra-
structure required to serve or made necessary by the 
new housing developments, except for fees that are 
invested exclusively for housing; and 
(3) provides assurances that the applicant will 
supplement assistance provided under this section 
with amounts from non-Federal sources for costs of 
the qualified affordable housing or infrastructure eli-
gible under subsection (b) to be funded with assist-
ance under this section, and the extent of such sup-
plemental assistance to be provided. 
(e) WATER
AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY.—Not less 
than 10 percent of all amounts made available for assist-
ance pursuant to this section shall be used only for eligible 
activities relating to water and energy efficiency and, at 
the Secretary’s discretion, other strategies to reduce emis-
sions. 
(f) QUALIFIED AFFORDABLE HOUSING.—For pur-
poses of this section, the term ‘‘qualified affordable hous-
ing’’ means a housing development that— 
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(1) is either— 
(A) funded in any part by assistance pro-
vided by the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development or the Rural Housing Service of 
the Department of Agriculture; or 
(B) includes a qualified low income build-
ing as such term is defined in section 42 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or 
(2) consists of 5 or more dwelling units of 
which 20 percent or more are made available— 
(A) for rental only by a low-income family 
(as defined in section 3(b) of the United States 
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b))); 
(B) at a monthly rent amount that does 
not exceed 30 percent of the monthly adjusted 
income (as defined in such section 3(b)) of the 
tenant low-income family; and 
(C) maintains affordability for residents 
who are low-income families for a period of not 
less than 30 years. 
SEC. 14. INCLUSION OF MINORITY AND WOMEN’S BUSINESS 
ENTERPRISES. 
(a) DUTY.—It shall be the duty of each relevant 
agency head— 
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