I
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5230
To require a revision of criteria, policies, and practices regarding the provision
of housing to National Park Service employees.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 6, 1994
Mr. VENTO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Natural Resources
A BILL
To require a revision of criteria, policies, and practices re-
garding the provision of housing to National Park Serv-
ice employees.
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 ‘‘National Park Service
Employee Housing Program Act of 1994’’.
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENTS REGARDING PROVISION OF HOUS-
ING TO EMPLOYEES.
The Secretary of the Interior (in this Act referred
to as the ‘‘Secretary’’), acting through the Director of the
Secretary shall determine whether the unit is needed and
justified. The review shall include estimates of the cost
of bringing each such unit that is needed and justified into
usable condition that meets all applicable legal housing re-
quirements or, if the unit is determined to be obsolete but
is still warranted to carry out the missions of the Depart-
ment of the Interior and the National Park Service, the
cost of replacing the unit.
(b) SUBMISSION
OF
REPORT
AND
PROPOSED
PLAN.—The Secretary shall submit a report detailing the
results of the review required by subsection (a), and a pro-
posed plan to meet the housing needs of employees of the
National Park Service, to the Committee on Natural Re-
sources of the House of Representatives and the Commit-
tee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate not
later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
SEC. 5. ALTERNATIVES TO MEET HOUSING NEEDS.
(a) AUTHORIZATION FOR HOUSING AGREEMENTS.—
For those units of the National Park Service for which
the review required by section 4 has been completed, the
Secretary is authorized to enter into housing agreements
with housing entities under which such housing entities
may develop, construct, rehabilitate, or manage housing,
located on or off public lands, for rent or lease to National
Park Service employees who meet the housing eligibility
criteria developed by the Secretary pursuant to this Act.
In entering such housing agreements, the Secretary may
guarantee to such entities a reasonable rate of occupancy
of rental units. The authority granted by this subsection
is in addition to the authorities of the Secretary to acquire
or construct housing for employees of the National Park
Service using appropriated funds.
(b) LIMITATION
ON PLACEMENT
OF HOUSING.—
Housing made available on public lands pursuant to sub-
section (a) shall be located only in areas designated for
administrative use.
(c) PROHIBITION
OF AQUISITION WITHOUT CON-
SENT.—No private lands, or interests therein, located out-
side the boundaries of a Federally administered area may
be acquired pursuant to this Act without the consent of
the owner thereof.
(d) STUDY REGARDING HOUSING ALLOWANCES.—
The Secretary shall undertake a study to determine the
feasibility of providing eligible employees of the National
Park Service with housing allowances rather than govern-
ment housing. If the Secretary finds, pursuant to the
study, that the provision of such allowances would be ben-
eficial to the Federal Government, the Secretary is author-
ized to institute a program for the provision of the allow-
ances, subject to the availability of funds.
(e) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the
term ‘‘housing entity’’ means an individual who, or a pub-
lic or private corporation or organization that, the Sec-
retary finds is qualified to provide and capable of provid-
ing housing.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
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