II 
Calendar No. 138 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2577 
[Report No. 114–75] 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JUNE 10, 2015 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations 
JUNE 25, 2015 
Reported by Ms. COLLINS, with an amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
AN ACT 
Making appropriations for the Departments of Transpor-
tation, and Housing and Urban Development, and re-
lated agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
2016, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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 end-
ing September 30, 2016, and for other purposes, namely: 
TITLE I 
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For necessary expenses of the Office of the Secretary, 
$105,000,000
(reduced
by
$3,000,000)
(reduced
by 
$500,000)
(reduced
by
$4,000,000)
(reduced
by 
$4,000,000), of which not to exceed $2,734,000 shall be 
available for the immediate Office of the Secretary; not 
to exceed $1,025,000 shall be available for the immediate 
Office of the Deputy Secretary; not to exceed $20,066,000 
(reduced by $2,000,000) shall be available for the Office 
of the General Counsel; not to exceed $9,310,000 (reduced 
by $1,000,000) (reduced by $500,000) shall be available 
for the Office of the Under Secretary of Transportation 
for
Policy;
not
to
exceed
$12,808,000
(reduced
by 
$4,000,000) (reduced by $1,000,000) shall be available for 
the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Budget and Pro-
grams; not to exceed $2,500,000 (reduced by $250,000) 
shall be available for the Office of the Assistant Secretary
for Governmental Affairs; not to exceed $26,029,000 (re-
duced by $500,000) (reduced by $2,000,000) shall be 
available for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Ad-
ministration; not to exceed $2,029,000 shall be available 
for the Office of Public Affairs; not to exceed $1,769,000 
(reduced by $250,000) shall be available for the Office of 
the Executive Secretariat; not to exceed $10,793,000 shall 
be available for the Office of Intelligence, Security, and 
Emergency Response; and not to exceed $15,937,000 shall 
be available for the Office of the Chief Information Offi-
cer: Provided, That the Secretary of Transportation is au-
thorized to transfer funds appropriated for any office of 
the Office of the Secretary to any other office of the Office 
of the Secretary: Provided further, That no appropriation 
for any office shall be increased or decreased by more than 
5 percent by all such transfers: Provided further, That no-
tice of any change in funding greater than 5 percent shall 
be submitted for approval to the House and Senate Com-
mittees on Appropriations: Provided further, That not to 
exceed $60,000 shall be for allocation within the Depart-
ment for official reception and representation expenses as 
the Secretary may determine: Provided further, That not-
withstanding any other provision of law, excluding fees au-
thorized in Public Law 107–71, there may be credited to 
this appropriation up to $2,500,000 in funds received in
user fees: Provided further, That none of the funds pro-
vided in this Act shall be available for the position of As-
sistant Secretary for Public Affairs. 
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY 
For necessary expenses related to the Office of the 
Assistant
Secretary
for
Research
and
Technology, 
$11,386,000, of which $8,218,000 shall remain available 
until September 30, 2018: Provided, That there may be 
credited to this appropriation, to be available until ex-
pended, funds received from States, counties, municipali-
ties, other public authorities, and private sources for ex-
penses incurred for training: Provided further, That any 
reference in law, regulation, judicial proceedings, or else-
where to the Research and Innovative Technology Admin-
istration shall continue to be deemed to be a reference to 
the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and 
Technology of the Department of Transportation. 
NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
For capital investments in surface transportation in-
frastructure, $100,000,000, to remain available through 
September 30, 2018: Provided, That the Secretary of 
Transportation shall distribute funds provided under this 
heading as discretionary grants to be awarded to a State, 
local government, transit agency, or a collaboration among
such entities on a competitive basis for projects that will 
have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan 
area, or a region: Provided further, That projects eligible 
for funding provided under this heading shall include, but 
not be limited to, highway or bridge projects eligible under 
title
23,
United
States
Code;
public
transportation 
projects eligible under chapter 53 of title 49, United 
States Code; passenger and freight rail transportation 
projects; and port infrastructure investments (including 
inland port infrastructure and land ports of entry): Pro-
vided further, That the Secretary may use up to 20 per-
cent of the funds made available under this heading for 
the purpose of paying the subsidy and administrative costs 
of projects eligible for Federal credit assistance under 
chapter 6 of title 23, United States Code, if the Secretary 
finds that such use of the funds would advance the pur-
poses of this paragraph: Provided further, That in distrib-
uting funds provided under this heading, the Secretary 
shall take such measures so as to ensure an equitable geo-
graphic distribution of funds, an appropriate balance in 
addressing the needs of urban and rural areas, and the 
investment in a variety of transportation modes: Provided 
further, That a grant funded under this heading shall be 
not
less
than
$2,000,000
and
not
greater
than 
$15,000,000: Provided further, That not more than 20
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING, RESEARCH, AND 
DEVELOPMENT 
For necessary expenses for conducting transportation 
planning, research, systems development, development ac-
tivities, and making grants, to remain available until ex-
pended, $5,976,000. 
WORKING CAPITAL FUND 
For necessary expenses for operating costs and cap-
ital outlays of the Working Capital Fund, not to exceed 
$181,500,000 shall be paid from appropriations made 
available to the Department of Transportation: Provided, 
That such services shall be provided on a competitive basis 
to entities within the Department of Transportation: Pro-
vided further, That the above limitation on operating ex-
penses shall not apply to non-DOT entities: Provided fur-
ther, That no funds appropriated in this Act to an agency 
of the Department shall be transferred to the Working 
Capital Fund without majority approval of the Working 
Capital Fund Steering Committee and approval of the 
Secretary: Provided further, That no assessments may be 
levied against any program, budget activity, subactivity or 
project funded by this Act unless notice of such assess-
ments and the basis therefor are presented to the House 
and Senate Committees on Appropriations and are ap-
proved by such Committees.
MINORITY BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER PROGRAM 
For the cost of guaranteed loans, $336,000, as au-
thorized by 49 U.S.C. 332: Provided, That such costs, in-
cluding the cost of modifying such loans, shall be as de-
fined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974: Provided further, That these funds are available to 
subsidize total loan principal, any part of which is to be 
guaranteed, not to exceed $18,367,000. 
In addition, for administrative expenses to carry out 
the guaranteed loan program, $597,000. 
SMALL AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS UTILIZATION AND 
OUTREACH 
For necessary expenses for small and disadvantaged 
business utilization and outreach activities, $4,518,000, to 
remain available until September 30, 2017: Provided, 
That notwithstanding 49 U.S.C. 332, these funds may be 
used for business opportunities related to any mode of 
transportation. 
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 de-
rived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to remain 
available until expended: Provided, That in determining
between or among carriers competing to provide service 
to a community, the Secretary may consider the relative 
subsidy requirements of the carriers: Provided further, 
That basic essential air service minimum requirements 
shall not include the 15-passenger capacity requirement 
under subsection 41732(b)(3) of title 49, United States 
Code: Provided further, That none of the funds in this Act 
or any other Act shall be used to enter into a new contract 
with a community located less than 40 miles from the 
nearest small hub airport before the Secretary has nego-
tiated with the community over a local cost share: Pro-
vided further, That amounts authorized to be distributed 
for the essential air service program under subsection 
41742(b) of title 49, United States Code, shall be made 
available immediately from amounts otherwise provided to 
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration: 
Provided further, That the Administrator may reimburse 
such amounts from fees credited to the account estab-
lished under section 45303 of title 49, United States Code. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 
SEC. 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 ap-
prove assessments or reimbursable agreements pertaining 
to funds appropriated to the modal administrations in this
Act, except for activities underway on the date of enact-
ment of this Act, unless such assessments or agreements 
have completed the normal reprogramming process for 
Congressional notification. 
SEC. 102. Notwithstanding section 3324 of title 31, 
United States Code, in addition to authority provided by 
section 327 of title 49, United States Code, the Depart-
ment’s Working Capital Fund is hereby authorized to pro-
vide payments in advance to vendors that are necessary 
to carry out the Federal transit pass transportation fringe 
benefit program under Executive Order No. 13150 and 
section 3049 of Public Law 109–59: Provided, That the 
Department shall include adequate safeguards in the con-
tract with the vendors to ensure timely and high-quality 
performance under the contract. 
SEC. 103. 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. 
SEC. 104. In addition to authority provided by section 
327 of title 49, United States Code, the Department’s 
Working Capital Fund is hereby authorized to provide 
partial or full payments in advance and accept subsequent 
reimbursements from all Federal agencies for transit ben-
efit distribution services that are necessary to carry out 
the Federal transit pass transportation fringe benefit pro-
gram under Executive Order No. 13150 and section 3049 
of Public Law 109–59: Provided, That the Department 
shall maintain a reasonable operating reserve in the Work-
ing Capital Fund, to be expended in advance to provide 
uninterrupted transit benefits to Government employees, 
provided that such reserve will not exceed one month of 
benefits payable: Provided further, that such reserve may 
be used only for the purpose of providing for the continu-
ation of transit benefits, provided that the Working Cap-
ital Fund will be fully reimbursed by each customer agen-
cy for the actual cost of the transit benefit. 
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION 
OPERATIONS 
(AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND) 
For necessary expenses of the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration, not otherwise provided for, including oper-
ations 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 vehi-
cles for replacement only, in addition to amounts made
available by Public Law 112–95, $9,847,700,000 (reduced 
by $3,000,000) of which $8,831,250,000 shall be derived 
from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, of which not 
to exceed $7,505,293,000 shall be available for air traffic 
organization activities; not to exceed $1,258,411,000 shall 
be available for aviation safety activities; not to exceed 
$16,605,000 (increased by $250,000) shall be available for 
commercial space transportation activities; not to exceed 
$725,000,000
(reduced
by
$3,000,000)
(reduced
by 
$250,000) shall be available for finance and management 
activities; not to exceed $60,089,000 shall be available for 
NextGen and operations planning activities; and not to ex-
ceed $282,302,000 shall be available for staff offices: Pro-
vided, That not to exceed 2 percent of any budget activity, 
except for aviation safety budget activity, may be trans-
ferred to any budget activity under this heading: Provided 
further, That no transfer may increase or decrease any ap-
propriation by more than 2 percent: Provided further, 
That any transfer in excess of 2 percent shall be treated 
as a reprogramming of funds under section 405 of this 
Act and shall not be available for obligation or expenditure 
except in compliance with the procedures set forth in that 
section: Provided further, That not later than March 31 
of each fiscal year hereafter, the Administrator of the Fed-
eral Aviation Administration shall transmit to Congress
an annual update to the report submitted to Congress in 
December 2004 pursuant to section 221 of Public Law 
108–176: Provided further, That the amount herein appro-
priated shall be reduced by $100,000 for each day after 
March 31 that such report has not been submitted to the 
Congress: Provided further, That not later than March 31 
of each fiscal year hereafter, the Administrator shall 
transmit to Congress a companion report that describes 
a comprehensive strategy for staffing, hiring, and training 
flight standards and aircraft certification staff in a format 
similar to the one utilized for the controller staffing plan, 
including stated attrition estimates and numerical hiring 
goals by fiscal year: Provided further, That the amount 
herein appropriated shall be reduced by $100,000 per day 
for each day after March 31 that such report has not been 
submitted to Congress: Provided further, That funds may 
be used to enter into a grant agreement with a nonprofit 
standard-setting organization to assist in the development 
of aviation safety standards: Provided further, That none 
of the funds in this Act shall be available for new appli-
cants for the second career training program: Provided 
further, That none of the funds in this Act shall be avail-
able for the Federal Aviation Administration to finalize 
or implement any regulation that would promulgate new 
aviation user fees not specifically authorized by law after
the date of the enactment of this Act: Provided further, 
That there may be credited to this appropriation as offset-
ting collections funds received from States, counties, mu-
nicipalities, foreign authorities, other public authorities, 
and private sources for expenses incurred in the provision 
of agency services, including receipts for the maintenance 
and operation of air navigation facilities, and for issuance, 
renewal or modification of certificates, including airman, 
aircraft, and repair station certificates, or for tests related 
thereto, or for processing major repair or alteration forms: 
Provided further, That of the funds appropriated under 
this heading, not less than $154,400,000 shall be for the 
contract tower program, including the contract tower cost 
share program: Provided further, That none of the funds 
in this Act for aeronautical charting and cartography are 
available for activities conducted by, or coordinated 
through, the Working Capital Fund. 
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 equip-
ment, 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 acqui-
sition of necessary sites by lease or grant; construction 
and furnishing of quarters and related accommodations 
for officers and employees of the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration stationed at remote localities where such accom-
modations are not available; and the purchase, lease, or 
transfer of aircraft from funds available under this head-
ing, including aircraft for aviation regulation and certifi-
cation; to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust 
Fund, $2,500,000,000 (increased by $3,000,000), of 
which $460,000,000 shall remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2016, and $2,040,000,000 (increased by 
$3,000,000) shall remain available until September 30, 
2018: Provided, That there may be credited to this appro-
priation funds received from States, counties, municipali-
ties, other public authorities, and private sources, for ex-
penses incurred in the establishment, improvement, and 
modernization of national airspace systems: Provided fur-
ther, That upon initial submission to the Congress of the 
fiscal year 2017 President’s budget, the Secretary of 
Transportation shall transmit to the Congress a com-
prehensive capital investment plan for the Federal Avia-
tion Administration which includes funding for each budg-
et line item for fiscal years 2017 through 2021, with total
funding for each year of the plan constrained to the fund-
ing targets for those years as estimated and approved by 
the Office of Management and Budget: Provided further, 
That the amount herein appropriated shall be reduced by 
$100,000 per day for each day after the initial submission 
of the fiscal year 2017 President’s budget that such report 
has not been submitted to Congress. 
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, 
2018: Provided, That there may be credited to this appro-
priation as offsetting collections, funds received from 
States, counties, municipalities, other public authorities, 
and private sources, which shall be available for expenses 
incurred for research, engineering, and development.
GRANTS-IN-AID FOR AIRPORTS 
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION) 
(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS) 
(AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND) 
For liquidation of obligations incurred for grants-in- 
aid for airport planning and development, and noise com-
patibility planning and programs as authorized under sub-
chapter I of chapter 471 and subchapter I of chapter 475 
of title 49, United States Code, and under other law au-
thorizing such obligations; for procurement, installation, 
and commissioning of runway incursion prevention devices 
and systems at airports of such title; for grants authorized 
under section 41743 of title 49, United States Code; and 
for inspection activities and administration of airport safe-
ty programs, including those related to airport operating 
certificates under section 44706 of title 49, United States 
Code, $3,600,000,000, to be derived from the Airport and 
Airway Trust Fund and to remain available until ex-
pended: Provided, That none of the funds under this head-
ing shall be available for the planning or execution of pro-
grams
the
obligations
for
which
are
in
excess
of 
$3,350,000,000 in fiscal year 2016, notwithstanding sec-
tion 47117(g) of title 49, United States Code: Provided 
further, That none of the funds under this heading shall 
be available for the replacement of baggage conveyor sys-
tems, reconfiguration of terminal baggage areas, or other 
airport improvements that are necessary to install bulk ex-
plosive detection systems: Provided further, That notwith-
standing any other provision of law, of funds limited under 
this heading, not more than $107,100,000 shall be obli-
gated for administration, not less than $15,000,000 shall 
be available for the Airport Cooperative Research Pro-
gram, and not less than $31,000,000 shall be available 
for Airport Technology Research. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 
SEC. 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 con-
tract between the Federal Aviation Administration and the 
Center for Advanced Aviation Systems Development dur-
ing fiscal year 2016. 
SEC. 111. None of the funds in this Act shall be used 
to pursue or adopt guidelines or regulations requiring air-
port sponsors to provide to the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration 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, That the pro-
hibition of funds in this section does not apply to negotia-
tions between the agency and airport sponsors to achieve
agreement on below-market rates for these items or to 
grant assurances that require airport sponsors to provide 
land without cost to the FAA for air traffic control facili-
ties. 
SEC. 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 ac-
count at the close of that fiscal year may be made available 
to satisfy section 41742(a)(1) for the subsequent fiscal 
year. 
SEC. 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. 
SEC. 114. None of the funds in this Act shall be avail-
able for paying premium pay under subsection 5546(a) of 
title 5, United States Code, to any Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration employee unless such employee actually per-
formed work during the time corresponding to such pre-
mium pay. 
SEC. 115. None of the funds in this Act may be obli-
gated or expended for an employee of the Federal Aviation
Administration to purchase a store gift card or gift certifi-
cate through use of a Government-issued credit card. 
SEC. 116. None of the funds in this Act may be obli-
gated or expended for retention bonuses for an employee 
of the Federal Aviation Administration without the prior 
written approval of the Assistant Secretary for Adminis-
tration of the Department of Transportation. 
SEC. 117. Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, none of the funds made available under this Act or 
any prior Act may be used to implement or to continue 
to implement any limitation on the ability of any owner 
or operator of a private aircraft to obtain, upon a request 
to the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administra-
tion, a blocking of that owner’s or operator’s aircraft reg-
istration 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. 
SEC. 118. None of the funds in this Act shall be avail-
able for salaries and expenses of more than nine political 
and Presidential appointees in the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration. 
SEC. 119. None of the funds made available under 
this Act may be used to increase fees pursuant to section
44721 of title 49, United States Code, until the FAA pro-
vides to the House and Senate Committees on Appropria-
tions a report that justifies all fees related to aeronautical 
navigation products and explains how such fees are con-
sistent with Executive Order No. 13642. 
SEC. 119A. None of the funds in this Act may be 
used to close a regional operations center of the Federal 
Aviation Administration or reduce its services unless the 
Administrator notifies the House and Senate Committees 
on Appropriations not less than 90 full business days in 
advance. 
SEC. 119B. None of the funds appropriated or lim-
ited by this Act may be used to change weight restrictions 
or
prior
permission
rules
at
Teterboro
airport
in 
Teterboro, New Jersey. 
FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION 
LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND) 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
Contingent upon enactment of authorization legisla-
tion, not to exceed $426,100,000, together with advances 
and reimbursements received by the Federal Highway Ad-
ministration, shall be obligated for necessary expenses for 
administration and operation of the Federal Highway Ad-
ministration. In addition, not to exceed $3,248,000 shall
be transferred to the Appalachian Regional Commission 
in accordance with section 104 of title 23, United States 
Code. 
FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAYS 
(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS) 
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND) 
Contingent upon enactment of authorization legisla-
tion, funds available for the implementation or execution 
of Federal-aid highway and highway safety construction 
programs authorized under titles 23 and 49, United States 
Code, and the provisions of such authorization legislation 
shall not exceed total obligations of $40,256,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2016: Provided, That the Secretary may collect 
and spend fees, as authorized by title 23, United States 
Code, to cover the costs of services of expert firms, includ-
ing counsel, in the field of municipal and project finance 
to assist in the underwriting and servicing of Federal cred-
it instruments and all or a portion of the costs to the Fed-
eral Government of servicing such credit instruments: Pro-
vided further, That such fees are available until expended 
to pay for such costs: Provided further, That such amounts 
are in addition to administrative expenses that are also 
available for such purpose, and are not subject to any obli-
gation limitation or the limitation on administrative ex-
penses under section 608 of title 23, United States Code.
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION) 
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND) 
Contingent upon enactment of authorization legisla-
tion, for the payment of obligations incurred in carrying 
out Federal-aid highway 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 avail-
able until expended. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—FEDERAL HIGHWAY 
ADMINISTRATION 
SEC. 120. Contingent upon enactment of authoriza-
tion legislation: 
(a) For fiscal year 2016, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall— 
(1) not distribute from the obligation limitation 
for Federal-aid highways— 
(A) amounts authorized for administrative 
expenses and programs by section 104(a) of 
title 23, United States Code; and 
(B) amounts authorized for the Bureau of 
Transportation Statistics; 
(2) not distribute an amount from the obliga-
tion 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 Ac-
count) for Federal-aid highway and highway 
safety construction programs for previous fiscal 
years the funds for which are allocated by the 
Secretary (or apportioned by the Secretary 
under sections 202 or 204 of title 23, United 
States Code); and 
(B) for which obligation limitation was 
provided in a previous fiscal year; 
(3) determine the proportion that— 
(A) the obligation limitation for Federal- 
aid highways, less the aggregate of amounts not 
distributed under paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
this subsection; bears to 
(B) the total of the sums authorized to be 
appropriated for the Federal-aid highway and 
highway safety construction programs (other 
than sums authorized to be appropriated for 
provisions of law described in paragraphs (1) 
through (11) of subsection (b) and sums au-
thorized to be appropriated for section 119 of 
title 23, United States Code, equal to the 
amount referred to in subsection (b)(12) for 
such fiscal year), less the aggregate of the
amounts not distributed under paragraphs (1) 
and (2) of this subsection; 
(4) distribute the obligation limitation for Fed-
eral-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 Sec-
retary under such authorization legislation and title 
23, United States Code, or apportioned by the Sec-
retary under sections 202 or 204 of that title, by 
multiplying— 
(A) the proportion determined under para-
graph (3); by 
(B) the amounts authorized to be appro-
priated for each such program for such fiscal 
year; and 
(5) distribute the obligation limitation for Fed-
eral-aid highways, less the aggregate amounts not 
distributed under paragraphs (1) and (2) and the 
amounts distributed under paragraph (4), for Fed-
eral-aid highway and highway safety construction 
programs that are apportioned by the Secretary 
under such authorization legislation or title 23, 
United States Code (other than the amounts appor-
tioned for the National Highway Performance Pro-
gram in section 119 of title 23, United States Code, 
that are exempt from the limitation under subsection 
(b)(12) and the amounts apportioned under sections 
202 and 204 of that title) in the proportion that— 
(A) amounts authorized to be appropriated 
for the programs that are apportioned under 
title 23, United States Code, or such authoriza-
tion legislation to each State for such fiscal 
year; bears to 
(B) the total of the amounts authorized to 
be appropriated for the programs that are ap-
portioned under title 23, United States Code, or 
such authorization legislation 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 note; 92 
Stat. 2714); 
(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 As-
sistance Act of 1987 (101 Stat. 198); 
(6) sections 1103 through 1108 of the Inter-
modal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 
1991 (105 Stat. 2027); 
(7) section 157 of title 23, United States Code 
(as in effect on June 8, 1998); 
(8) section 105 of title 23, United States Code 
(as in effect for fiscal years 1998 through 2004, but 
only in an amount equal to $639,000,000 for each 
of those fiscal years); 
(9) Federal-aid highway programs for which ob-
ligation 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 
(but, for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016, 
only in an amount equal to $639,000,000). 
(c) REDISTRIBUTION OF UNUSED OBLIGATION AU-
THORITY.—Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall, after August 1 of such fiscal year— 
(1) revise a distribution of the obligation limita-
tion 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 bal-
ances of funds apportioned under sections 144 (as in 
effect on the day before the date of enactment of
Public Law 112–141) and 104 of title 23, United 
States Code. 
(d) APPLICABILITY OF OBLIGATION LIMITATIONS TO 
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PROGRAMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the obligation limitation for Federal-aid 
highways shall apply to contract authority for trans-
portation research programs carried out under— 
(A) chapter 5 of title 23, United States 
Code; and 
(B) the transportation research programs 
sections of such authorization legislation. 
(2)
EXCEPTION.—Obligation
authority
made 
available under paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) remain available for a period of 4 fis-
cal years; and 
(B) be in addition to the amount of any 
limitation imposed on obligations for Federal- 
aid highway and highway safety construction 
programs for future fiscal years. 
(e)
REDISTRIBUTION
OF
CERTAIN
AUTHORIZED 
FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of distribution of obligation limitation 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall distribute
to the States any funds (excluding funds authorized 
for the program under section 202 of title 23, 
United States Code) that— 
(A) are authorized to be appropriated for 
such fiscal year for Federal-aid highway pro-
grams; and 
(B) the Secretary determines will not be 
allocated to the States (or will not be appor-
tioned to the States under section 204 of title 
23, United States Code), and will not be avail-
able 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 dis-
tribution 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. 
SEC. 121. Notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, funds re-
ceived by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics from the 
sale of data products, for necessary expenses incurred pur-
suant to chapter 63 of title 49, United States Code, may
be credited to the Federal-aid highways account for the 
purpose of reimbursing the Bureau for such expenses: 
Provided, That such funds shall be subject to the obliga-
tion limitation for Federal-aid highway and highway safety 
construction programs. 
SEC. 122. Not less than 15 days prior to waiving, 
under his or her statutory authority, any Buy America re-
quirement for Federal-aid highways projects, the Sec-
retary of Transportation shall make an informal public no-
tice and comment opportunity on the intent to issue such 
waiver and the reasons therefor: Provided, That the Sec-
retary shall provide an annual report to the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations on any waivers 
granted under the Buy America requirements. 
SEC. 123. None of the funds in this Act to the De-
partment of Transportation may be used to provide credit 
assistance unless not less than 3 days before any applica-
tion approval to provide credit assistance under sections 
603 and 604 of title 23, United States Code, the Secretary 
of Transportation provides notification in writing to the 
following committees: the House and Senate Committees 
on Appropriations; the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works and the Committee on Banking, Housing 
and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Rep-
resentatives: Provided, That such notification shall in-
clude, but not be limited to, the name of the project spon-
sor; a description of the project; whether credit assistance 
will be provided as a direct loan, loan guarantee, or line 
of credit; and the amount of credit assistance. 
SEC. 124. Section 127 of title 23, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(m) LONGER COMBINATION VEHICLES IN IDAHO.— 
No limit or other prohibition under this section, except 
as provided in this subsection, applies to a longer combina-
tion vehicle operating on a segment of the Interstate Sys-
tem in the State of Idaho if such vehicle— 
‘‘(1) has a gross vehicle weight of 129,000 
pounds or less; 
‘‘(2) complies with the single axle, tandem axle, 
and bridge formula limits set forth in subsection (a); 
and 
‘‘(3) is authorized to operate on such segment 
under Idaho State Law.’’. 
SEC. 125. Section 31111(b)(1)(A) of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘or of less than 28 
feet on a semitrailer or trailer operating in a truck tractor- 
semitrailer-trailer combination,’’ and inserting ‘‘or, not-
withstanding section 31112, of less than 33 feet on a
semitrailer
or
trailer
operating
in
a
truck
tractor- 
semitrailer-trailer combination,’’. 
SEC. 126. EXEMPTION.— 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 31112(c)(5) of title 49, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘Nebraska may’’ and inserting 
‘‘Nebraska and Kansas may’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘the State of Nebraska’’ and in-
serting ‘‘the relevant state’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AND TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
Section 31112(c) of such title is amended— 
(1) by striking the subsection designation and 
heading and inserting the following: 
‘‘(c) SPECIAL RULES FOR WYOMING, OHIO, ALASKA, 
IOWA, NEBRASKA, AND KANSAS.—’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(3) and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (4) and inserting ‘‘; and’’. 
SEC. 127. Section 130(e)(1) of title 23, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘$220,000,000’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘$350,000,000’’.
FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION 
MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMS 
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION) 
(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS) 
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND) 
Contingent upon enactment of authorization legisla-
tion, for payment of obligations incurred in the implemen-
tation, execution and administration of motor carrier safe-
ty operations and programs pursuant to section 31104(i) 
of title 49, United States Code, and sections 4127 and 
4134 of Public Law 109–59, as amended by Public Law 
112–141, and as extended by Public Law 113–159, 
$259,000,000, to be derived from the Highway Trust 
Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account), together 
with advances and reimbursements received by the Fed-
eral Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the sum of 
which shall remain available until expended: Provided, 
That funds available for implementation, execution or ad-
ministration of motor carrier safety operations and pro-
grams authorized under title 49, United States Code, and 
sections 4127 and 4134 of Public Law 109–59, as amend-
ed by Public Law 112–141, and as extended by Public 
Law 113–159, shall not exceed total obligations of 
$259,000,000 for ‘‘Motor Carrier Safety Operations and 
Programs’’ for fiscal year 2016, of which $9,000,000, to
remain available for obligation until September 30, 2018, 
is for the research and technology program, and of which 
$34,545,000, to remain available for obligation until Sep-
tember 30, 2018, is for information management: Pro-
vided further, That $1,000,000 shall be made available for 
commercial motor vehicle operator grants to carry out sec-
tion 4134 of Public Law 109–59, as amended by Public 
Law 112–141, and as extended by Public Law 113–159. 
MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY GRANTS 
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION) 
(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS) 
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND) 
Contingent upon enactment of authorization legisla-
tion, 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, as amended by Public 
Law 112–141, as extended by Public Law 113–159, 
$313,000,000, to be derived from the Highway Trust 
Fund (other than the Mass Transit Account) and to re-
main available until expended: Provided, That funds avail-
able for the implementation or execution of motor carrier 
safety programs shall not exceed total obligations of 
$313,000,000 in fiscal year 2016 for ‘‘Motor Carrier Safe-
ty Grants’’; of which $218,000,000 shall be available for
the motor carrier safety assistance program, $30,000,000 
shall be available for commercial driver’s license program 
improvement grants, $32,000,000 shall be available for 
border enforcement grants, $5,000,000 shall be available 
for performance and registration information system man-
agement grants, $25,000,000 shall be available for the 
commercial vehicle information systems and networks de-
ployment program, and $3,000,000 shall be available for 
safety data improvement grants: Provided further, That, 
of the funds made available herein for the motor carrier 
safety assistance program, $32,000,000 shall be available 
for audits of new entrant motor carriers. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—FEDERAL MOTOR 
CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION 
SEC. 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 and section 6901 of 
Public Law 110–28. 
SEC. 131. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin-
istration shall send notice of 49 CFR section 385.308 vio-
lations by certified mail, registered mail, or another man-
ner of delivery, which records the receipt of the notice by 
the persons responsible for the violations. 
SEC. 132. None of the funds appropriated or other-
wise made available by this Act or any other Act may be
used
to
implement,
administer,
or
enforce
sections 
395.3(c) and 395.3(d) of title 49, Code of Federal Regula-
tions, and such section shall have no force or effect on 
submission of the final report issued by the Secretary, as 
required by section 133 of division K of Public Law 113– 
235, unless the Secretary and the Inspector General of 
the Department of Transportation each review and deter-
mine that the final report— 
(1) meets the statutory requirements set forth 
in such section; and 
(2) establishes that commercial motor vehicle 
drivers who operated under the restart provisions in 
effect between July 1, 2013, and the day before the 
date of enactment of such Public Law demonstrated 
statistically significant improvement in all outcomes 
related to safety, operator fatigue, driver health and 
longevity, and work schedules, in comparison to 
commercial
motor
vehicle
drivers
who
operated 
under the restart provisions in effect on June 30, 
2013. 
SEC. 133. None of the funds limited or otherwise 
made available under the heading ‘‘Motor Carrier Safety 
Operations and Programs’’ may be used to deny an appli-
cation to renew a Hazardous Materials Safety Program 
permit for a motor carrier based on that carrier’s Haz-
ardous Materials Out-of-Service rate, unless the carrier 
has the opportunity to submit a written description of cor-
rective actions taken, and other documentation the carrier 
wishes the Secretary to consider, including submitting a 
corrective action plan, and the Secretary determines the 
actions or plan is insufficient to address the safety con-
cerns that resulted in that Hazardous Materials Out-of- 
Service rate. 
SEC. 134. None of the funds made available by this 
Act may be used to develop, issue, or implement any regu-
lation that increases levels of minimum financial responsi-
bility for transporting passengers or property as in effect 
on January 1, 2014, under regulations issued pursuant 
to sections 31138 and 31139 of title 49, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 135. None of the funds made available by this 
Act or previous appropriations Acts under the heading 
‘‘Motor Carrier Safety Operations and Programs’’ shall be 
used to pay for costs associated with design, development, 
testing, or implementation of a wireless roadside inspec-
tion program until 180 days after the Secretary of Trans-
portation certifies to the House and Senate Committees 
on Appropriations that such program does not conflict 
with existing non-Federal electronic screening systems, 
create capabilities already available, or require additional
statutory authority to incorporate generated inspection 
data into safety determinations or databases, and has re-
strictions to specifically address privacy concerns of af-
fected motor carriers and operators: Provided, That noth-
ing in this section shall be construed as affecting the De-
partment’s ongoing research efforts in this area. 
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, $150,000,000 (increased 
by
$4,000,000)
(reduced
by
$1,200,000),
of
which 
$20,000,000 shall remain available through September 
30, 2017. 
OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH 
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION) 
(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS) 
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND) 
Contingent upon enactment of authorization legisla-
tion, for payment of obligations incurred in carrying out 
the provisions of 23 U.S.C. 403, and chapter 303 of title 
49, United States Code, $125,000,000, to be derived from 
the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit 
Account) and to remain available until expended: Pro-
vided, That none of the funds in this Act shall be available 
for the planning or execution of programs the total obliga-
tions for which, in fiscal year 2016, are in excess of 
$125,000,000, of which $120,000,000 shall be for pro-
grams authorized under 23 U.S.C. 403 and $5,000,000 
shall be for the National Driver Register authorized under 
chapter 303 of title 49, United States Code: Provided fur-
ther, That within the $120,000,000 obligation limitation 
for operations and research, $20,000,000 shall remain 
available until September 30, 2017, and shall be in addi-
tion to the amount of any limitation imposed on obliga-
tions for future years: Provided further, That $6,500,000 
of the total obligation limitation for operations and re-
search in fiscal year 2016 shall be applied toward unobli-
gated balances of contract authority provided in prior Acts 
for carrying out the provisions of 23 U.S.C. 403, and 
chapter 303 of title 49, United States Code. 
HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANTS 
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION) 
(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS) 
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND) 
Contingent on the enactment of authorization legisla-
tion, for payment of obligations incurred in carrying out 
provisions of 23 U.S.C. 402 and 405, section 2009 of Pub-
lic Law 109–59, as amended by Public Law 112–141, and
section 31101(a)(6) of Public Law 112–141, to remain 
available until expended, $561,500,000, to be derived from 
the Highway Trust Fund (other than the Mass Transit 
Account): Provided, That none of the funds in this Act 
shall be available for the planning or execution of pro-
grams the total obligations for which, in fiscal year 2016, 
are in excess of $561,500,000 for programs authorized 
under 23 U.S.C. 402 and 405, section 2009 of Public Law 
109–59, as amended by Public Law 112–141, and section 
31101(a)(6)
of
Public
Law
112–141,
of
which 
$235,000,000 shall be for ‘‘Highway Safety Programs’’ 
under 23 U.S.C. 402; $272,000,000 shall be for ‘‘National 
Priority
Safety
Programs’’
under
U.S.C.
405; 
$29,000,000 shall be for the ‘‘High Visibility Enforcement 
Program’’ under section 2009 of Public Law 109–59, as 
amended by Public Law 112–141; $25,500,000 shall be 
for ‘‘Administrative Expenses’’ under section 31101(a)(6) 
of Public Law 112–141: Provided further, That none of 
these funds shall be used for construction, rehabilitation, 
or remodeling costs, or for office furnishings and fixtures 
for State, local or private buildings or structures: Provided 
further, That not to exceed $500,000 of the funds made 
available for ‘‘National Priority Safety Programs’’ under 
23 U.S.C. 405 for ‘‘Impaired Driving Countermeasures’’ 
(as described in subsection (d) of that section) shall be
available for technical assistance to the States: Provided 
further, That with respect to the ‘‘Transfers’’ provision 
under 23 U.S.C. 405(a)(1)(G), any amounts transferred 
to increase the amounts made available under section 402 
shall include the obligation authority for such amounts: 
Provided further, That the Administrator shall notify the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations of any 
exercise of the authority granted under the previous pro-
viso or under 23 U.S.C. 405(a)(1)(G) within 60 days. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—NATIONAL HIGHWAY 
TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION 
SEC. 140. An additional $130,000 shall be made 
available to the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration, out of the amount limited for section 402 of title 
23, United States Code, to pay for travel and related ex-
penses for State management reviews and to pay for core 
competency development training and related expenses for 
highway safety staff. 
SEC. 141. The limitations on obligations for the pro-
grams of the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration 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 au-
thority has not lapsed or been used.
SEC. 142. None of the funds in this Act shall be used 
to implement section 404 of title 23, United States Code. 
SEC. 143. None of the funds made available by this 
Act may be used to obligate or award funds for the Na-
tional Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National 
Roadside Survey. 
SEC. 144. None of the funds made available by this 
Act may be used to mandate global positioning system 
(GPS) tracking in private passenger motor vehicles with-
out providing full and appropriate consideration of privacy 
concerns under 5 U.S.C. chapter 5, subchapter II. 
FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION 
SAFETY AND OPERATIONS 
For necessary expenses of the Federal Railroad Ad-
ministration, not otherwise provided for, $186,870,000 
(increased by $3,500,000), of which $15,400,000 shall re-
main available until expended. 
RAILROAD RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
For necessary expenses for railroad research and de-
velopment, $39,100,000, to remain available until ex-
pended. 
RAILROAD REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT 
FINANCING PROGRAM 
The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to 
issue direct loans and loan guarantees pursuant to sec-
tions 501 through 504 of the Railroad Revitalization and 
Regulatory Reform Act of 1976 (Public Law 94–210), as 
amended, such authority to exist as long as any such di-
rect loan or loan guarantee is outstanding. Provided, That 
pursuant to section 502 of such Act, as amended, no new 
direct loans or loan guarantee commitments shall be made 
using Federal funds for the credit risk premium during 
fiscal year 2016. 
OPERATING GRANTS TO THE NATIONAL RAILROAD 
PASSENGER CORPORATION 
To enable the Secretary of Transportation to make 
quarterly grants to the National Railroad Passenger Cor-
poration, in amounts based on the Secretary’s assessment 
of the Corporation’s seasonal cash flow requirements, for 
the operation of intercity passenger rail, as authorized by 
section 101 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Im-
provement Act of 2008 (division B of Public Law 110– 
432), $288,500,000 (reduced by $1,000,000) (increased 
by $1,000,000), to remain available until expended: Pro-
vided, That the amounts available under this paragraph 
shall be available for the Secretary to approve funding to 
cover operating losses for the Corporation only after re-
ceiving and reviewing a grant request for each specific 
train route: Provided further, That each such grant re-
quest shall be accompanied by a detailed financial anal-
ysis, revenue projection, and capital expenditure projection 
justifying the Federal support to the Secretary’s satisfac-
tion: Provided further, That not later than 60 days after 
enactment of this Act, the Corporation shall transmit, in 
electronic format, to the Secretary and the House and 
Senate Committees on Appropriations the annual budget, 
business plan, the 5-Year Financial Plan for fiscal year 
2016 required under section 204 of the Passenger Rail 
Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 and the com-
prehensive fleet plan for all Amtrak rolling stock: Provided 
further, That the budget, business plan and the 5-Year 
Financial Plan shall include annual information on the 
maintenance, refurbishment, replacement, and expansion 
for all Amtrak rolling stock consistent with the com-
prehensive fleet plan: Provided further, That the Corpora-
tion shall provide monthly performance reports in an elec-
tronic format which shall describe the work completed to 
date, any changes to the business plan, and the reasons 
for such changes as well as progress against the milestones 
and target dates of the 2012 performance improvement 
plan: Provided further, That the Corporation’s budget, 
business plan, 5-Year Financial Plan, semiannual reports, 
monthly reports, comprehensive fleet plan and all supple-
mental reports or plans comply with requirements in Pub-
lic Law 112–55: Provided further, That none of the funds
provided in this Act may be used to support any route 
on which Amtrak offers a discounted fare of more than 
50 percent off the normal peak fare: Provided further, 
That the preceding proviso does not apply to routes where 
the operating loss as a result of the discount is covered 
by a State and the State participates in the setting of 
fares. 
CAPITAL AND DEBT SERVICE GRANTS TO THE NATIONAL 
RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION 
To enable the Secretary of Transportation to make 
grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation for 
capital investments as authorized by sections 101(c), 102, 
and 219(b) of the Passenger Rail Investment and Im-
provement Act of 2008 (division B of Public Law 110– 
432), $850,000,000 (increased by $9,000,000), to remain 
available
until
expended,
of
which
not
to
exceed 
$160,200,000 shall be for debt service obligations as au-
thorized by section 102 of such Act: Provided, That of the 
amounts made available under this heading, not less than 
$50,000,000 shall be made available to bring Amtrak- 
served facilities and stations into compliance with the 
Americans with Disabilities Act: Provided further, That 
after an initial distribution of up to $200,000,000, which 
shall be used by the Corporation as a working capital ac-
count, all remaining funds shall be provided to the Cor-
poration only on a reimbursable basis: Provided further, 
That of the amounts made available under this heading, 
up to $20,000,000 may be used by the Secretary to sub-
sidize operating losses of the Corporation should the funds 
provided under the heading ‘‘Operating Grants to the Na-
tional Railroad Passenger Corporation’’ be insufficient to 
meet operational costs for fiscal year 2016: Provided fur-
ther, That the Secretary may retain up to one-half of 1 
percent of the funds provided under this heading to fund 
the costs of project management and oversight of activities 
authorized by subsections 101(a) and 101(c) of division 
B of Public Law 110–432: Provided further, That the Sec-
retary shall approve funding for capital expenditures, in-
cluding advance purchase orders of materials, for the Cor-
poration only after receiving and reviewing a grant request 
for each specific capital project justifying the Federal sup-
port to the Secretary’s satisfaction: Provided further, That 
except as otherwise provided herein, none of the funds 
under this heading may be used to subsidize operating 
losses of the Corporation: Provided further, That none of 
the funds under this heading may be used for capital 
projects not approved by the Secretary of Transportation 
or on the Corporation’s fiscal year 2016 business plan: 
Provided further, That in addition to the project manage-
ment oversight funds authorized under section 101(d) of
division B of Public Law 110–432, the Secretary may re-
tain up to an additional $3,000,000 of the funds provided 
under this heading to fund expenses associated with imple-
menting section 212 of division B of Public Law 110–432, 
including the amendments made by section 212 to section 
24905 of title 49, United States Code: Provided further, 
That Amtrak shall conduct a business case analysis on 
capital investments that exceed $10,000,000 in life-cycle 
costs: Provided further, That each contract for a capital 
acquisition that exceeds $10,000,000 in life cycle costs 
shall state that funding is subject to the availability of 
appropriated funds provided by an appropriations Act. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—FEDERAL RAILROAD 
ADMINISTRATION 
SEC. 150. The Secretary of Transportation may re-
ceive 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 dam-
ages, 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 inspec-
tion program. 
SEC. 151. 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 em-
ployee: Provided, That the President of Amtrak may waive 
the cap set in the previous proviso for specific employees 
when the President of Amtrak determines such a cap 
poses a risk to the safety and operational efficiency of the 
system: Provided further, That Amtrak shall report to the 
House and Senate Committees on Appropriations each 
quarter of the calendar year on waivers granted to employ-
ees and amounts paid above the cap for each month within 
such quarter and delineate the reasons each waiver was 
granted: Provided further, That the President of Amtrak 
shall report to the House and Senate Committees on Ap-
propriations by March 1, 2016, a summary of all overtime 
payments incurred by the Corporation for 2015 and the 
three prior calendar years: Provided further, That such 
summary shall include the total number of employees that 
received waivers and the total overtime payments the Cor-
poration paid to those employees receiving waivers for 
each month for 2015 and for the three prior calendar 
years.
FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION 
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 
For necessary administrative expenses of the Federal 
Transit Administration’s programs authorized by chapter 
53 of title 49, United States Code, $102,933,000 (reduced 
by $3,000,000) (reduced by $2,000,000), of which not 
more than $4,000,000 shall be available to carry out the 
provisions of 49 U.S.C. 5329 and not less than $750,000 
shall be available to carry out the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 
5326: Provided, That none of the funds provided or lim-
ited in this Act may be used to create a permanent office 
of transit security under this heading: Provided further, 
That upon submission to the Congress of the fiscal year 
2017 President’s budget, the Secretary of Transportation 
shall transmit to Congress the annual report on New 
Starts, including proposed allocations for fiscal year 2017. 
TRANSIT FORMULA GRANTS 
(LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION) 
(LIMITATION ON OBLIGATIONS) 
(HIGHWAY TRUST FUND) 
Contingent upon enactment of authorization legisla-
tion, for payment of obligations incurred in the Federal 
Public Transportation Assistance Program in this ac-
count, and for payment of obligations incurred in carrying 
out the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 5305, 5307, 5310, 5311,
5318, 5322(d), 5329(e)(6), 5335, 5337, 5339, and 5340, 
as
amended
by
Public
Law
112–141,
and
section 
20005(b) of Public Law 112–141, $9,500,000,000, to be 
derived from the Mass Transit Account of the Highway 
Trust Fund and to remain available until expended: Pro-
vided, That funds available for the implementation or exe-
cution of programs authorized under 49 U.S.C. 5305, 
5307, 5310, 5311, 5318, 5322(d), 5329(e)(6), 5335, 
5337, 5339, and 5340, as amended by Public Law 112– 
141, and section 20005(b) of Public Law 112–141, shall 
not exceed total obligations of $8,595,000,000 in fiscal 
year 2016. 
TRANSIT RESEARCH 
For necessary expenses to carry out 49 U.S.C. 5312, 
$26,000,000. 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING 
For necessary expenses to carry out 49 U.S.C. 5314 
$3,000,000 (increased by $2,000,000). 
CAPITAL INVESTMENT GRANTS 
For necessary expenses to carry out 49 U.S.C. 5309, 
$1,921,395,000, 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 divi-
sion B of Public Law 110–432, $100,000,000, to remain 
available until expended: Provided, That the Secretary 
shall approve grants for capital and preventive mainte-
nance expenditures for the Washington Metropolitan Area 
Transit Authority only after receiving and reviewing a re-
quest for each specific project: Provided further, That 
prior to approving such grants, the Secretary shall certify 
that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority 
is making significant progress in eliminating the material 
weaknesses, significant deficiencies, and minor control de-
ficiencies identified in the most recent Financial Manage-
ment Oversight Review: Provided further, That the Sec-
retary shall determine that the Washington Metropolitan 
Area Transit Authority has placed the highest priority on 
those investments that will improve the safety of the sys-
tem before approving such grants: Provided further, That 
the Secretary, in order to ensure safety throughout the 
rail system, may waive the requirements of section 
601(e)(1) of title VI of Public Law 110–432 (112 Stat. 
4968). 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—FEDERAL TRANSIT 
ADMINISTRATION 
SEC. 160. The limitations on obligations for the pro-
grams of the Federal Transit Administration shall not 
apply to any authority under 49 U.S.C. 5338, previously
made available for obligation, or to any other authority 
previously made available for obligation. 
SEC. 161. Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, funds appropriated or limited by this Act under the 
heading Fixed Guideway Capital Investment of the Fed-
eral Transit Administration for projects specified in this 
Act or identified in reports accompanying this Act not ob-
ligated by September 30, 2020, and other recoveries, shall 
be directed to projects eligible to use the funds for the 
purposes for which they were originally provided. 
SEC. 162. Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, any funds appropriated before October 1, 2015, 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. 
SEC. 163. Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, none of the funds made available in this Act shall 
be used to enter into a full funding grant agreement for 
a project with a New Starts share greater than 50 percent. 
SEC. 164. (a) LOSS OF ELIGIBILITY.—Except as pro-
vided in subsection (b), none of the funds in this or any 
other Act may be available to advance in any way a new 
light or heavy rail project towards a full funding grant 
agreement as defined by 49 U.S.C. 5309 for the Metro-
politan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas if the 
proposed capital project is constructed on or planned to 
be constructed on Richmond Avenue west of South Shep-
herd Drive or on Post Oak Boulevard north of Richmond 
Avenue in Houston, Texas. 
(b) EXCEPTION FOR A NEW ELECTION.—The Metro-
politan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas, may 
attempt to construct or construct a new fixed guideway 
capital project, including light rail, in the locations re-
ferred to in subsection (a) if— 
(1) voters in the jurisdiction that includes such 
locations approve a ballot proposition that specifies 
routes on Richmond Avenue west of South Shepherd 
Drive or on Post Oak Boulevard north of Richmond 
Avenue in Houston, Texas; and 
(2) the proposed construction of such routes is 
part of a comprehensive, multi-modal, service-area 
wide transportation plan that includes multiple addi-
tional segments of fixed guideway capital projects, 
including light rail for the jurisdiction set forth in 
the ballot proposition. The ballot language shall in-
clude reasonable cost estimates, sources of revenue 
to be used and the total amount of bonded indebted-
ness to be incurred as well as a description of each
route and the beginning and end point of each pro-
posed transit project. 
SAINT LAWRENCE SEAWAY DEVELOPMENT 
CORPORATION 
The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corpora-
tion is hereby authorized to make such expenditures, with-
in 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 Govern-
ment 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 Saint Lawrence Seaway owned, operated, 
and maintained by the Saint Lawrence Seaway Develop-
ment Corporation, $32,042,000 (reduced by $3,000,000), 
to be derived from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, 
pursuant to Public Law 99–662.
Maritime Administration, $4,000,000, to remain available 
until expended. 
MARITIME GUARANTEED LOAN (TITLE XI) PROGRAM 
ACCOUNT 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
For necessary administrative expenses of the mari-
time guaranteed loan program, $3,135,000 shall be paid 
to the appropriations for ‘‘Maritime Administration—Op-
erations and Training’’. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—MARITIME 
ADMINISTRATION 
SEC. 170. Notwithstanding any other provision of 
this Act, in addition to any existing authority, the Mari-
time 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, That payments received therefor shall be cred-
ited to the appropriation charged with the cost thereof and 
shall remain available until expended: Provided further, 
That rental payments under any such lease, contract, or 
occupancy for items other than such utilities, services, or 
repairs shall be covered into the Treasury as miscellaneous 
receipts.
SEC. 171. None of the funds available or appro-
priated in this Act shall be used by the United States De-
partment of Transportation or the United States Maritime 
Administration to negotiate or otherwise execute, enter 
into, facilitate or perform fee-for-service contracts for ves-
sel disposal, scrapping or recycling, unless there is no 
qualified domestic ship recycler that will pay any sum of 
money to purchase and scrap or recycle a vessel owned, 
operated or managed by the Maritime Administration or 
that is part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet: Pro-
vided, That such sales offers must be consistent with the 
solicitation and provide that the work will be performed 
in a timely manner at a facility qualified within the mean-
ing of section 3502 of Public Law 106–398: Provided fur-
ther, That nothing contained herein shall affect the Mari-
time Administration’s authority to award contracts at 
least cost to the Federal Government and consistent with 
the requirements of 54 U.S.C. 308704, section 3502, or 
otherwise authorized under the Federal Acquisition Regu-
lation.
PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY 
ADMINISTRATION 
OPERATIONAL EXPENSES 
For necessary operational expenses of the Pipeline 
and
Hazardous
Materials
Safety
Administration, 
$20,725,000 (increased by $500,000). 
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY 
For expenses necessary to discharge the hazardous 
materials safety functions of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration, $60,500,000, of which 
$7,570,000 shall remain available until September 30, 
2018: Provided, That up to $800,000 in fees collected 
under 49 U.S.C. 5108(g) shall be deposited in the general 
fund of the Treasury as offsetting receipts: Provided fur-
ther, That there may be credited to this appropriation, to 
be available until expended, funds received from States, 
counties, municipalities, other public authorities, and pri-
vate sources for expenses incurred for training, for reports 
publication and dissemination, and for travel expenses in-
curred in performance of hazardous materials exemptions 
and approvals functions.
PIPELINE SAFETY 
(PIPELINE SAFETY FUND) 
(OIL SPILL LIABILITY TRUST FUND) 
For expenses necessary to conduct the functions of 
the pipeline safety program, for grants-in-aid to carry out 
a pipeline safety program, as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 
60107, and to discharge the pipeline program responsibil-
ities of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, $145,870,000, of 
which $19,500,000 shall be derived from the Oil Spill Li-
ability Trust Fund and shall remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2018; and of which $124,500,000 shall be de-
rived
from
the
Pipeline
Safety
Fund,
of
which 
$66,309,000 shall remain available until September 30, 
2018: Provided, That not less than $1,000,000 of the 
funds provided under this heading shall be for the One- 
Call state grant program: Provided further, That not less 
than $1,000,000 of the funds provided under this heading 
shall be for the finalization and implementation of rules 
required under section 60102(n) of title 49, United States 
Code, and section 8(b)(3) of the Pipeline Safety, Regu-
latory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (49 U.S.C. 
60108 note; 125 Stat. 1911).
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GRANTS 
(EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FUND) 
For necessary expenses to carry out 49 U.S.C. 
5128(b), $188,000, to be derived from the Emergency 
Preparedness Fund, to remain available until September 
30, 2017: Provided, That notwithstanding the fiscal year 
limitation specified in 49 U.S.C. 5116, not more than 
$28,318,000 shall be made available for obligation in fis-
cal year 2016 from amounts made available by 49 U.S.C. 
5116(i), and 5128 (b) and (c): Provided further, That not-
withstanding 49 U.S.C. 5116(i)(4), not more than 4 per-
cent of the amounts made available from this account shall 
be available to pay administrative costs: Provided further, 
That none of the funds made available by 49 U.S.C. 
5116(i), 5128(b), or 5128(c) shall be made available for 
obligation by individuals other than the Secretary of 
Transportation, or his or her designee. 
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 Gen-
eral Act of 1978, as amended, $86,223,000: Provided, 
That the Inspector General shall have all necessary au-
thority, in carrying out the duties specified in the Inspec-
tor General Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App. 3), to inves-
tigate allegations of fraud, including false statements to 
the government (18 U.S.C. 1001), by any person or entity 
that is subject to regulation by the Department: Provided 
further, That the funds made available under this heading 
may be used to investigate, pursuant to section 41712 of 
title 49, United States Code: (1) unfair or deceptive prac-
tices and unfair methods of competition by domestic and 
foreign air carriers and ticket agents; and (2) the compli-
ance of domestic and foreign air carriers with respect to 
item (1) of this proviso: Provided further, That hereafter 
funds transferred to the Office of the Inspector General 
through forfeiture proceedings or from the Department of 
Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund or the Department of the 
Treasury Forfeiture Fund, as a participating agency, as 
an equitable share from the forfeiture of property in inves-
tigations in which the Office of Inspector General partici-
pates, or through the granting of a Petition for Remission 
or Mitigation, shall be deposited to the credit of this ac-
count for law enforcement activities authorized under the 
Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, to remain 
available until expended. 
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For necessary expenses of the Surface Transpor-
tation Board, including services authorized by 5 U.S.C.
3109, $31,375,000: Provided, That notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, not to exceed $1,250,000 from fees 
established by the Chairman of the Surface Transpor-
tation Board shall be credited to this appropriation as off-
setting collections and used for necessary and authorized 
expenses under this heading: Provided further, That the 
sum herein appropriated from the general fund shall be 
reduced on a dollar-for-dollar basis as such offsetting col-
lections are received during fiscal year 2016, to result in 
a final appropriation from the general fund estimated at 
no more than $30,125,000. 
GENERAL PROVISIONS—DEPARTMENT OF 
TRANSPORTATION 
SEC. 180. 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). 
SEC. 181. Appropriations contained in this Act for 
the Department of Transportation shall be available for 
services as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 3109, but at rates for
individuals not to exceed the per diem rate equivalent to 
the rate for an Executive Level IV. 
SEC. 182. None of the funds in this Act shall be avail-
able for salaries and expenses of more than 110 political 
and Presidential appointees in the Department of Trans-
portation: Provided, That none of the personnel covered 
by this provision may be assigned on temporary detail out-
side the Department of Transportation. 
SEC. 183. (a) No recipient of funds made available 
in this Act shall disseminate personal information (as de-
fined in 18 U.S.C. 2725(3)) obtained by a State depart-
ment of motor vehicles in connection with a motor vehicle 
record as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2725(1), except as provided 
in 18 U.S.C. 2721 for a use permitted under 18 U.S.C. 
2721. 
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall not withhold funds provided in this Act for any 
grantee if a State is in noncompliance with this provision. 
SEC. 184. Funds received by the Federal Highway 
Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and Fed-
eral Railroad Administration from States, counties, mu-
nicipalities, other public authorities, and private sources 
for expenses incurred for training may be credited respec-
tively to the Federal Highway Administration’s ‘‘Federal- 
Aid Highways’’ account, the Federal Transit Administra-
tion’s ‘‘Technical Assistance and Training’’ account, and 
to the Federal Railroad Administration’s ‘‘Safety and Op-
erations’’ account, except for State rail safety inspectors 
participating in training pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 20105. 
SEC. 185. None of the funds in this Act to the De-
partment of Transportation may be used to make a loan, 
loan guarantee, line of credit, or grant unless the Sec-
retary of Transportation notifies the House and Senate 
Committees on Appropriations not less than 3 full busi-
ness days before any project competitively selected to re-
ceive a discretionary grant award, any discretionary grant 
award, letter of intent, loan commitment, loan guarantee 
commitment, line of credit commitment, or full funding 
grant agreement totaling $750,000 or more is announced 
by the department or its modal administrations from— 
(1) any discretionary grant or federal credit 
program of the Federal Highway Administration in-
cluding the emergency relief program; 
(2) the airport improvement program of the 
Federal Aviation Administration; 
(3) any program of the Federal Railroad Ad-
ministration; 
(4) any program of the Federal Transit Admin-
istration other than the formula grants and fixed 
guideway modernization programs;
(5) any program of the Maritime Administra-
tion; or 
(6) any funding provided under the headings 
‘‘National Infrastructure Investments’’ in this Act: 
Provided, That the Secretary gives concurrent notifi-
cation to the House and Senate Committees on Appropria-
tions for any ‘‘quick release’’ of funds from the emergency 
relief program: Provided further, That no notification shall 
involve funds that are not available for obligation. 
SEC. 186. 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 appropria-
tions of the Department of Transportation and allocated 
to elements of the Department of Transportation using 
fair and equitable criteria and such funds shall be avail-
able until expended. 
SEC. 187. Amounts made available in this or any 
other Act that the Secretary determines represent im-
proper payments by the Department of Transportation to 
a third-party contractor under a financial assistance 
award, which are recovered pursuant to law, shall be avail-
able—
(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 In-
formation Act of 2002: Provided, That amounts in 
excess of that required for paragraphs (1) and (2)— 
(A) shall be credited to and merged with 
the appropriation from which the improper pay-
ments were made, and shall be available for the 
purposes and period for which such appropria-
tions
are
available:
Provided
further,
That 
where specific project or accounting information 
associated with the improper payment or pay-
ments is not readily available, the Secretary 
may credit an appropriate account, which shall 
be available for the purposes and period associ-
ated with the account so credited; or 
(B) if no such appropriation remains avail-
able, shall be deposited in the Treasury as mis-
cellaneous receipts: Provided further, That prior 
to the transfer of any such recovery to an ap-
propriations account, the Secretary shall notify 
the House and Senate Committees on Appro-
priations of the amount and reasons for such 
transfer: Provided further, That for purposes of 
this section, the term ‘‘improper payments’’ has 
the same meaning as that provided in section 
2(d)(2) of Public Law 107–300. 
SEC. 188. 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 Ap-
propriations, transmission of said reprogramming notice 
shall be provided solely to the Committees on Appropria-
tions, and said reprogramming action shall be approved 
or denied solely by the Committees on Appropriations: 
Provided, That the Secretary may provide notice to other 
congressional committees of the action of the Committees 
on Appropriations on such reprogramming but not sooner 
than 30 days following the date on which the reprogram-
ming action has been approved or denied by the House 
and Senate Committees on Appropriations. 
SEC. 189. None of the funds appropriated or other-
wise 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. 
SEC. 190. 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 reim-
bursable 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. 
SEC. 191. The Secretary of Transportation is author-
ized to carry out a program that establishes uniform 
standards for developing and supporting agency transit 
pass and transit benefits authorized under section 7905 
of title 5, United States Code, including distribution of 
transit benefits by various paper and electronic media. 
SEC. 192. None of the funds made available by this 
Act shall be used by the Surface Transportation Board 
to take any actions with respect to the construction of a 
high speed rail project in California unless the permit is 
issued by the Board with respect to the project in its en-
tirety. 
SEC. 193. None of the funds made available in this 
Act may be used to facilitate new scheduled air transpor-
tation originating from the United States if such flights 
would land on, or pass through, property confiscated by
the Cuban Government, including property in which a mi-
nority interest was confiscated, as the terms confiscated, 
Cuban Government, and property are defined in para-
graphs (4), (5), and (12)(A), respectively, of section 4 of 
the
Cuban
Liberty
and
Democratic
Solidarity 
(LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 (22 U.S.C. 6023 (4), (5), and 
(12)(A)): Provided, That for this section, new scheduled 
air transportation shall include any flights not already reg-
ularly scheduled prior to March 31, 2015. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Department of Trans-
portation Appropriations Act, 2016’’. 
TITLE II 
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN 
DEVELOPMENT 
MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION 
EXECUTIVE OFFICES 
For necessary salaries and expenses for Executive Of-
fices, which shall be comprised of the offices of the Sec-
retary, Deputy Secretary, Adjudicatory Services, Congres-
sional and Intergovernmental Relations, Public Affairs, 
Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, and the 
Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, 
$14,500,000: Provided, That not to exceed $25,000 of the 
amount made available under this heading shall be avail-
able to the Secretary for official reception and representa-
tion expenses as the Secretary may determine. 
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT OFFICES 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
For necessary salaries and expenses for Administra-
tive
Support
Offices,
$547,000,000,
of
which 
$45,600,000, to remain available until expended, in addi-
tion to amounts made available under this heading for the 
Office of the Chief Financial Officer and the Office of the 
Chief Human Capital Officer, shall be for funding shared 
service agreements between the Department of Housing 
and Urban Development and the Department of the 
Treasury; $39,000,000 shall be available for the Office of 
the Chief Financial Officer; $93,000,000 shall be available 
for the Office of the General Counsel; $199,000,000 shall 
be available for the Office of Administration; $40,000,000 
shall be available for the Office of the Chief Human Cap-
ital Officer; $49,000,000 shall be available for the Office 
of Field Policy and Management; $16,000,000 shall be 
available for the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer; 
$3,000,000 shall be available for the Office of Depart-
mental Equal Employment Opportunity; $4,000,000 shall 
be available for the Office of Strategic Planning and Man-
agement; $44,000,000 shall be available for the Office of 
the Chief Information Officer; and of which the remaining
amount shall be available through September 30, 2017, 
for transfer to the appropriations for offices specified 
under this heading or the heading ‘‘Program Office Sala-
ries and Expenses’’ in this title: Provided, That funds pro-
vided under this heading may be used for necessary ad-
ministrative and non-administrative expenses of the De-
partment of Housing and Urban Development, not other-
wise provided for, including purchase of uniforms, or al-
lowances therefor, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5901–5902; 
hire of passenger motor vehicles; and services as author-
ized by 5 U.S.C. 3109: Provided further, That notwith-
standing any other provision of law, funds appropriated 
under this heading may be used for advertising and pro-
motional activities that directly support program activities 
funded in this title: Provided further, That the Secretary 
shall provide the Committees on Appropriations quarterly 
written notification regarding the status of pending con-
gressional reports: Provided further, That the Secretary 
shall provide in electronic form all signed reports required 
by Congress. 
PROGRAM OFFICE SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
PUBLIC AND INDIAN HOUSING 
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of 
Public and Indian Housing, $203,000,000.
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of 
Community Planning and Development, $102,000,000. 
HOUSING 
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of 
Housing, $372,000,000. 
POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH 
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of 
Policy Development and Research, $22,700,000. 
FAIR HOUSING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY 
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of 
Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, $73,000,000. 
OFFICE OF LEAD HAZARD CONTROL AND HEALTHY 
HOMES 
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of 
Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, $6,700,000. 
PUBLIC AND INDIAN HOUSING PROGRAMS 
TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE 
For activities and assistance for the provision of ten-
ant-based rental assistance authorized under the United 
States Housing Act of 1937, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1437 
et seq.) (‘‘the Act’’ herein), not otherwise provided for, 
$15,918,643,000 to remain available until September 30, 
2018, shall be available on October 1, 2015 (in addition 
to the $4,000,000,000 previously appropriated under this
heading that became available on October 1, 2015), and 
$4,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2019, shall be available on October 1, 2016: Provided, 
That the amounts made available under this heading are 
provided as follows: 
(1) $18,151,000,000 shall be available for re-
newals of expiring section 8 tenant-based annual 
contributions contracts (including renewals of en-
hanced vouchers under any provision of law author-
izing such assistance under section 8(t) of the Act) 
and including renewal of other special purpose or in-
cremental vouchers: Provided, That notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, from amounts provided 
under this paragraph and any carryover, the Sec-
retary for the calendar year 2016 funding cycle shall 
provide renewal funding for each public housing 
agency based on validated voucher management sys-
tem (VMS) leasing and cost data for the prior cal-
endar year and by applying an inflation factor as es-
tablished by the Secretary, by notice published in 
the Federal Register, and by making any necessary 
adjustments for the costs associated with the first- 
time renewal of vouchers under this paragraph in-
cluding tenant protection, HOPE VI, and Choice 
Neighborhoods vouchers: Provided further, That in
determining calendar year 2016 funding allocations 
under this heading for public housing agencies, in-
cluding agencies participating in the Moving To 
Work (MTW) demonstration, the Secretary may 
take into account the anticipated impact of changes 
in targeting and utility allowances, on public housing 
agencies’ contract renewal needs: Provided further, 
That none of the funds provided under this para-
graph may be used to fund a total number of unit 
months under lease which exceeds a public housing 
agency’s authorized level of units under contract, ex-
cept for public housing agencies participating in the 
MTW demonstration, which are instead governed by 
the terms and conditions of their MTW agreements: 
Provided further, That the Secretary shall, to the ex-
tent necessary to stay within the amount specified 
under this paragraph (except as otherwise modified 
under this paragraph), prorate each public housing 
agency’s allocation otherwise established pursuant to 
this paragraph: Provided further, That except as 
provided in the following provisos, the entire amount 
specified under this paragraph (except as otherwise 
modified under this paragraph) shall be obligated to 
the public housing agencies based on the allocation 
and pro rata method described above, and the Sec-
retary shall notify public housing agencies of their 
annual budget by the latter of 60 days after enact-
ment of this Act or March 1, 2016: Provided further, 
That the Secretary may extend the notification pe-
riod with the prior written approval of the House 
and Senate Committees on Appropriations: Provided 
further, That public housing agencies participating 
in the MTW demonstration shall be funded pursuant 
to their MTW agreements and shall be subject to 
the same pro rata adjustments under the previous 
provisos: Provided further, That the Secretary may 
offset public housing agencies’ calendar year 2016 
allocations based on the excess amounts of public 
housing agencies’ net restricted assets accounts, in-
cluding HUD held programmatic reserves (in ac-
cordance with VMS data in calendar year 2015 that 
is verifiable and complete), as determined by the 
Secretary: Provided further, That public housing 
agencies participating in the MTW demonstration 
shall also be subject to the offset, as determined by 
the Secretary, excluding amounts subject to the sin-
gle fund budget authority provisions of their MTW 
agreements, from the agencies’ calendar year 2016 
MTW funding allocation: Provided further, That the 
Secretary shall use any offset referred to in the pre-
vious two provisos throughout the calendar year to 
prevent the termination of rental assistance for fam-
ilies as the result of insufficient funding, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, and to avoid or reduce the 
proration of renewal funding allocations: Provided 
further, That up to $75,000,000 shall be available 
only: (A) for adjustments in the allocations for pub-
lic housing agencies, after application for an adjust-
ment by a public housing agency that experienced a 
significant increase, as determined by the Secretary, 
in renewal costs of vouchers resulting from unfore-
seen circumstances or from portability under section 
8(r) of the Act; (B) for vouchers that were not in 
use during the 12-month period in order to be avail-
able to meet a commitment pursuant to section 
8(o)(13) of the Act; (C) for adjustments for costs 
associated with HUD–Veterans Affairs Supportive 
Housing (HUD–VASH) vouchers; (D) for adjust-
ments for public housing agencies with voucher leas-
ing rates at the end of the calendar year that exceed 
the average leasing for the 12-month period used to 
establish the allocation, and for additional leasing of 
vouchers that were issued but not leased prior to the 
end of such calendar year; (E) for public housing 
agencies that despite taking reasonable cost savings
measures, as determined by the Secretary, would 
otherwise be required to terminate rental assistance 
for families as a result of insufficient funding; and 
(F) for adjustments in the allocations for public 
housing agencies that experienced a significant in-
crease, as determined by the Secretary, in renewal 
costs as a result of participation in the Small Area 
Fair Market Rent demonstration: Provided further, 
That the Secretary shall allocate amounts under the 
previous proviso based on need, as determined by 
the Secretary; 
(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 pursu-
ant to a request from a law enforcement or prosecu-
tion 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 assist-
ance to prevent the displacement of unassisted elder-
ly tenants currently residing in section 202 prop-
erties financed between 1959 and 1974 that are refi-
nanced pursuant to Public Law 106–569, as amend-
ed, or under the authority as provided under this 
Act: Provided, That when a public housing develop-
ment is submitted for demolition or disposition 
under section 18 of the Act, the Secretary may pro-
vide section 8 rental assistance when the units pose 
an imminent health and safety risk to residents: 
Provided further, That the Secretary may only pro-
vide replacement vouchers for units that were occu-
pied within the previous 24 months that cease to be 
available as assisted housing, subject only to the 
availability of funds: Provided further, That of the 
amounts
made
available
under
this
paragraph, 
$5,000,000 may be available to provide tenant pro-
tection assistance, not otherwise provided under this 
paragraph, to residents residing in low vacancy 
areas and who may have to pay rents greater than 
30 percent of household income, as the result of: (A) 
the maturity of a HUD-insured, HUD-held or sec-
tion 202 loan that requires the permission of the 
Secretary prior to loan prepayment; (B) the expira-
tion of a rental assistance contract for which the 
tenants are not eligible for enhanced voucher or ten-
ant protection assistance under existing law; or (C) 
the expiration of affordability restrictions accom-
panying a mortgage or preservation program admin-
istered by the Secretary: Provided further, That such 
tenant protection assistance made available under 
the previous proviso may be provided under the au-
thority of section 8(t) or section 8(o)(13) of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
1437f(t)): Provided further, That the Secretary shall 
issue guidance to implement the previous provisos, 
including, but not limited to, requirements for defin-
ing eligible at-risk households within 120 days of the 
enactment of this Act: Provided further, That any 
tenant
protection
voucher
made
available
from 
amounts under this paragraph shall not be reissued 
by any public housing agency, except the replace-
ment vouchers as defined by the Secretary by notice, 
when the initial family that received any such vouch-
er no longer receives such voucher, and the authority 
for any public housing agency to issue any such 
voucher shall cease to exist: Provided further, That 
the Secretary, for the purpose under this paragraph, 
may use unobligated balances, including recaptures
and carryovers, remaining from amounts appro-
priated in prior fiscal years under this heading for 
voucher assistance for nonelderly disabled families 
and for disaster assistance made available under 
Public Law 110–329; 
(3) $1,530,000,000 shall be for administrative 
and other expenses of public housing agencies in ad-
ministering the section 8 tenant-based rental assist-
ance program, of which up to $10,000,000 shall be 
available to the Secretary to allocate to public hous-
ing agencies that need additional funds to admin-
ister their section 8 programs, including fees associ-
ated with section 8 tenant protection rental assist-
ance, the administration of disaster related vouchers, 
Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers, and 
other special purpose incremental vouchers: Pro-
vided, That no less than $1,520,000,000 of the 
amount provided in this paragraph shall be allocated 
to public housing agencies for the calendar year 
2016 funding cycle based on section 8(q) of the Act 
(and related Appropriation Act provisions) as in ef-
fect immediately before the enactment of the Quality 
Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 (Pub-
lic Law 105–276): Provided further, That if the 
amounts made available under this paragraph are
insufficient to pay the amounts determined under 
the previous proviso, the Secretary may decrease the 
amounts allocated to agencies by a uniform percent-
age applicable to all agencies receiving funding 
under this paragraph or may, to the extent nec-
essary to provide full payment of amounts deter-
mined under the previous proviso, utilize unobligated 
balances, including recaptures and carryovers, re-
maining from funds appropriated to the Department 
of Housing and Urban Development under this 
heading from prior fiscal years, excluding special 
purpose vouchers, notwithstanding the purposes for 
which such amounts were appropriated: Provided 
further, That all public housing agencies partici-
pating in the MTW demonstration shall be funded 
pursuant to their MTW agreements, and shall be 
subject to the same uniform percentage decrease as 
under the previous proviso: Provided further, That 
amounts provided under this paragraph shall be only 
for activities related to the provision of tenant-based 
rental assistance authorized under section 8, includ-
ing related development activities; 
(4) $107,643,210 for the renewal of tenant- 
based assistance contracts under section 811 of the 
Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act
(42 U.S.C. 8013), including necessary administra-
tive expenses: Provided, That administrative and 
other expenses of public housing agencies in admin-
istering the special purpose vouchers in this para-
graph shall be funded under the same terms and be 
subject to the same pro rata reduction as the per-
cent decrease for administrative and other expenses 
to public housing agencies under paragraph (3) of 
this heading; 
(5) the Secretary shall separately track all spe-
cial purpose vouchers funded under this heading. 
HOUSING CERTIFICATE FUND 
(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS) 
Unobligated balances, including recaptures and car-
ryover, remaining from funds appropriated to the Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban Development under this 
heading, the heading ‘‘Annual Contributions for Assisted 
Housing’’ and the heading ‘‘Project-Based Rental Assist-
ance’’, for fiscal year 2016 and prior years may be used 
for renewal of or amendments to section 8 project-based 
contracts and for performance-based contract administra-
tors, notwithstanding the purposes for which such funds 
were appropriated: Provided, That any obligated balances 
of contract authority from fiscal year 1974 and prior that 
have been terminated shall be rescinded: Provided further,
That amounts heretofore recaptured, or recaptured during 
the current fiscal year, from section 8 project-based con-
tracts from source years fiscal year 1975 through fiscal 
year 1987 are hereby rescinded, and an amount of addi-
tional new budget authority, equivalent to the amount re-
scinded is hereby appropriated, to remain available until 
expended, for the purposes set forth under this heading, 
in addition to amounts otherwise available. 
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’’), $1,681,000,000, to remain available until 
September 30, 2019: Provided, That notwithstanding any 
other provision of law or regulation, during fiscal year 
2016 the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
may not delegate to any Department official other than 
the Deputy Secretary and the Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing any authority under paragraph 
(2) of section 9(j) regarding the extension of the time peri-
ods under such section: Provided further, That for pur-
poses of such section 9(j), the term ‘‘obligate’’ means, with 
respect to amounts, that the amounts are subject to a 
binding agreement that will result in outlays, immediately
or in the future: Provided further, That up to $3,000,000 
shall be to support ongoing Public Housing Financial and 
Physical Assessment activities: Provided further, That of 
the total amount provided under this heading, not to ex-
ceed $20,000,000 shall be available for the Secretary to 
make grants, notwithstanding section 204 of this Act, to 
public housing agencies for emergency capital needs in-
cluding safety and security measures necessary to address 
crime and drug-related activity as well as needs resulting 
from unforeseen or unpreventable emergencies and nat-
ural disasters excluding Presidentially declared emer-
gencies and natural disasters under the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et 
seq.) occurring in fiscal year 2016: Provided further, That 
of
the
total
amount
provided
under
this
heading 
$30,000,000 shall be for supportive services, service coor-
dinator and congregate services as authorized by section 
34 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1437z–6) and the Native Amer-
ican Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 
1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.): Provided further, That of 
the total amount made available under this heading, up 
to $15,000,000 may be used for a Jobs-Plus initiative 
modeled after the Jobs-Plus demonstration: Provided fur-
ther, That the funding provided under the previous proviso 
shall provide competitive grants to partnerships between
public housing authorities, local workforce investment 
boards established under section 117 of the Workforce In-
vestment Act of 1998, and other agencies and organiza-
tions that provide support to help public housing residents 
obtain employment and increase earnings: Provided fur-
ther, That applicants must demonstrate the ability to pro-
vide services to residents, partner with workforce invest-
ment boards, and leverage service dollars: Provided fur-
ther, That the Secretary may set aside a portion of the 
funds provided for the Resident Opportunity and Self-Suf-
ficiency program to support the services element of the 
Jobs-Plus Pilot initiative: Provided further, That the Sec-
retary may allow PHAs to request exemptions from rent 
and income limitation requirements under sections 3 and 
6 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 as necessary 
to implement the Jobs-Plus program, on such terms and 
conditions as the Secretary may approve upon a finding 
by the Secretary that any such waivers or alternative re-
quirements are necessary for the effective implementation 
of the Jobs-Plus initiative as a voluntary program for resi-
dents: Provided further, That the Secretary shall publish 
by notice in the Federal Register any waivers or alter-
native requirements pursuant to the preceding proviso no 
later than 10 days before the effective date of such notice: 
Provided further, That for funds provided under this head-
ing, the limitation in section 9(g)(1) of the Act shall be 
25 percent: Provided further, That the Secretary may 
waive the limitation in the previous proviso to allow public 
housing agencies to fund activities authorized under sec-
tion 9(e)(1)(C) of the Act: Provided further, That from 
the funds made available under this heading, the Secretary 
shall provide bonus awards in fiscal year 2016 to public 
housing agencies that are designated high performers: 
Provided further, That the Department shall notify public 
housing agencies of their formula allocation within 60 
days of enactment of this Act. 
PUBLIC HOUSING OPERATING FUND 
For 2016 payments to public housing agencies for the 
operation and management of public housing, as author-
ized by section 9(e) of the United States Housing Act of 
1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g(e)), $4,440,000,000. 
CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE 
For competitive grants under the Choice Neighbor-
hoods Initiative (subject to section 24 of the United States 
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437v), unless otherwise 
specified under this heading), for transformation, rehabili-
tation, and replacement housing needs of both public and 
HUD-assisted housing and to transform neighborhoods of 
poverty into functioning, sustainable mixed income neigh-
borhoods with appropriate services, schools, public assets,
transportation and access to jobs, $20,000,000, to remain 
available until September 30, 2018: Provided, That grant 
funds may be used for resident and community services, 
community development, and affordable housing needs in 
the community, and for conversion of vacant or foreclosed 
properties to affordable housing: Provided further, That 
the use of funds made available under this heading shall 
not be deemed to be public housing notwithstanding sec-
tion 3(b)(1) of such Act: Provided further, That grantees 
shall commit to an additional period of affordability deter-
mined by the Secretary of not fewer than 20 years: Pro-
vided further, That grantees shall undertake comprehen-
sive local planning with input from residents and the com-
munity, and that grantees shall provide a match in State, 
local, other Federal or private funds: Provided further, 
That grantees may include local governments, tribal enti-
ties, public housing authorities, and nonprofits: Provided 
further, That for-profit developers may apply jointly with 
a public entity: Provided further, That for purposes of en-
vironmental review, a grantee shall be treated as a public 
housing agency under section 26 of the United States 
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437x), and grants under 
this heading shall be subject to the regulations issued by 
the Secretary to implement such section: Provided further, 
That such grantees shall create partnerships with other
local organizations including assisted housing owners, 
service agencies, and resident organizations: Provided fur-
ther, That the Secretary shall consult with the Secretaries 
of Education, Labor, Transportation, Health and Human 
Services, Agriculture, and Commerce, the Attorney Gen-
eral, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency to coordinate and leverage other appropriate 
Federal resources: Provided further, That unobligated bal-
ances, including recaptures, remaining from funds appro-
priated under the heading ‘‘Revitalization of Severely Dis-
tressed Public Housing (HOPE VI)’’ in fiscal year 2011 
and prior fiscal years may be used for purposes under this 
heading, notwithstanding the purposes for which such 
amounts were appropriated. 
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 devel-
opment of local strategies to coordinate the use of assist-
ance under sections 8 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, 2017: Provided, 
That the Secretary may, by Federal Register notice, waive 
or specify alternative requirements under section b(3),
b(4), b(5), or c(1) of section 23 of such Act in order to 
facilitate the operation of a unified self-sufficiency pro-
gram for individuals receiving assistance under different 
provisions of the Act, as determined by the Secretary: Pro-
vided further, That owners of multifamily properties with 
project-based subsidy contracts under section 8 may com-
pete for funding under this heading and/or voluntarily 
make a Family Self-Sufficiency program available to the 
assisted tenants of such property in accordance with pro-
cedures established by the Secretary: Provided further, 
That such procedures established pursuant to the previous 
proviso shall permit participating tenants to accrue escrow 
funds in accordance with section 23(d)(2) and shall allow 
owners to use funding from residual receipt accounts to 
hire coordinators for their own Family Self-Sufficiency 
program. 
NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING BLOCK GRANTS 
For the Native American Housing Block Grants pro-
gram, 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.), $650,000,000, to 
remain available until September 30, 2020: Provided, 
That, notwithstanding the Native American Housing As-
sistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, to determine 
the amount of the allocation under title I of such Act for
each Indian tribe, the Secretary shall apply the formula 
under section 302 of such Act with the need component 
based on single-race census data and with the need compo-
nent based on multi-race census data, and the amount of 
the allocation for each Indian tribe shall be the greater 
of the two resulting allocation amounts: Provided further, 
That of the amounts made available under this heading, 
$3,500,000 shall be contracted for assistance for national 
or regional organizations representing Native American 
housing interests for providing training and technical as-
sistance to Indian housing authorities and tribally des-
ignated housing entities as authorized under NAHASDA: 
Provided further, That of the funds made available under 
the previous proviso, not less than $2,000,000 shall be 
made available for a national organization as authorized 
under section 703 of NAHASDA (25 U.S.C. 4212): Pro-
vided further, That of the amounts made available under 
this heading, $2,000,000 shall be to support the inspection 
of Indian housing units, contract expertise, training, and 
technical assistance in the training, oversight, and man-
agement of such Indian housing and tenant-based assist-
ance, including up to $300,000 for related travel: Provided 
further, That of the amount provided under this heading, 
$2,000,000 shall be made available for the cost of guaran-
teed notes and other obligations, as authorized by title VI
of NAHASDA: Provided further, That such costs, includ-
ing the costs of modifying such notes and other obliga-
tions, shall be as defined in section 502 of the Congres-
sional Budget Act of 1974, as amended: Provided further, 
That these funds are available to subsidize the total prin-
cipal amount of any notes and other obligations, any part 
of which is to be guaranteed, not to exceed $17,452,007: 
Provided further, That the Department will notify grantees 
of their formula allocation within 60 days of the date of 
enactment of this Act: Provided further, notwithstanding 
section 302(d) of NAHASDA, if on January 1, 2016, a 
recipient’s total amount of undisbursed block grants in the 
Department’s line of credit control system is greater than 
three times the formula allocation it would otherwise re-
ceive under this heading, the Secretary shall adjust that 
recipient’s formula allocation down by the difference be-
tween its total amount of undisbursed block grants in the 
Department’s line of credit control system on January 1, 
2016, and three times the formula allocation it would oth-
erwise receive: Provided further, That grant amounts not 
allocated to a recipient pursuant to the previous proviso 
shall be allocated under the need component of the for-
mula proportionately among all other Indian tribes not 
subject to an adjustment: Provided further, That the 2 
previous provisos shall not apply to any Indian tribe that
would otherwise receive a formula allocation of less than 
$5,000,000: Provided further, That to take effect, the 
three previous provisos do not require the issuance of any 
regulation. 
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), $8,000,000, to re-
main available until expended: Provided, That such costs, 
including the costs of modifying such loans, shall be as 
defined in section 502 of the Congressional Budget Act 
of 1974: Provided further, That these funds are available 
to subsidize total loan principal, any part of which is to 
be guaranteed, up to $1,269,841,270, to remain available 
until expended: Provided further, That up to $750,000 of 
this amount may be for administrative contract expenses 
including management processes and systems to carry out 
the loan guarantee program. 
COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH AIDS 
For carrying out the Housing Opportunities for Per-
sons with AIDS program, as authorized by the AIDS 
Housing Opportunity Act (42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq.), 
$332,000,000 (increased by $3,000,000), to remain avail-
able until September 30, 2017, except that amounts allo-
cated pursuant to section 854(c)(3) of such Act shall re-
main available until September 30, 2018: Provided, That 
the Secretary shall renew all expiring contracts for perma-
nent supportive housing that initially were funded under 
section 854(c)(3) of such Act from funds made available 
under this heading in fiscal year 2010 and prior fiscal 
years that meet all program requirements before awarding 
funds for new contracts under such section: Provided fur-
ther, That the Department shall notify grantees of their 
formula allocation within 60 days of enactment of this Act. 
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND 
For assistance to units of State and local govern-
ment, and to other entities, for economic and community 
development
activities,
and
for
other
purposes, 
$3,060,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2018, unless otherwise specified: Provided, That of the 
total amount provided, $3,000,000,000 is for carrying out 
the community development block grant program under 
title I of the Housing and Community Development Act 
of 1974, as amended (‘‘the Act’’ herein) (42 U.S.C. 5301 
et seq.): Provided further, That unless explicitly provided 
for under this heading, not to exceed 20 percent of any 
grant made with funds appropriated under this heading 
shall be expended for planning and management develop-
ment and administration: Provided further, That a metro-
politan city, urban county, unit of general local govern-
ment, or Indian tribe, or insular area that directly or indi-
rectly receives funds under this heading may not sell, 
trade, or otherwise transfer all or any portion of such 
funds to another such entity in exchange for any other 
funds, credits or non-Federal considerations, but must use 
such funds for activities eligible under title I of the Act: 
Provided further, That notwithstanding section 105(e)(1) 
of the Act, no funds provided under this heading may be 
provided to a for-profit entity for an economic develop-
ment project under section 105(a)(17) unless such project 
has been evaluated and selected in accordance with guide-
lines required under subparagraph (e)(2): Provided fur-
ther, That none of the funds made available under this 
heading may be used for grants for the Economic Develop-
ment Initiative (‘‘EDI’’) or Neighborhood Initiatives ac-
tivities, Rural Innovation Fund, or for grants pursuant to 
section 107 of the Housing and Community Development 
Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5307): Provided further, That the 
Department shall notify grantees of their formula alloca-
tion within 60 days of enactment of this Act: Provided 
further, That of the total amount provided under this 
heading $60,000,000 shall be for grants to Indian tribes 
notwithstanding section 106(a)(1) of such Act, of which,
notwithstanding any other provision of law (including sec-
tion 204 of this Act), up to $3,960,000 may be used for 
emergencies that constitute imminent threats to health 
and safety. 
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT LOAN GUARANTEES 
PROGRAM ACCOUNT 
(INCLUDING RESCISSION) 
Subject to section 502 of the Congressional Budget 
Act of 1974, during fiscal year 2016, commitments to 
guarantee loans under section 108 of the Housing and 
Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5308), 
any part of which is guaranteed, shall not exceed a total 
principal amount of $300,000,000, notwithstanding any 
aggregate limitation on outstanding obligations guaran-
teed in subsection (k) of such section 108: Provided, That 
the Secretary shall collect fees from borrowers, notwith-
standing subsection (m) of such section 108, to result in 
a credit subsidy cost of zero for guaranteeing such loans, 
and any such fees shall be collected in accordance with 
section 502(7) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: 
Provided further, That all unobligated balances, including 
recaptures and carryover, remaining from funds appro-
priated to the Department of Housing and Urban Devel-
opment under this heading are hereby permanently re-
scinded.
HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
For the HOME investment partnerships program, as 
authorized under title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez Na-
tional
Affordable
Housing
Act,
as
amended, 
$767,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2019: Provided, That notwithstanding the amount made 
available under this heading, the threshold reduction re-
quirements in sections 216(10) and 217(b)(4) of such Act 
shall not apply to allocations of such amount: Provided 
further, That the requirements under provisos 2 through 
6 under this heading for fiscal year 2012 and such re-
quirements applicable pursuant to the ‘‘Full-Year Con-
tinuing Appropriations Act, 2013’’, shall not apply to any 
project to which funds were committed on or after August 
23, 2013, but such projects shall instead be governed by 
the Final Rule titled ‘‘Home Investment Partnerships 
Program; Improving Performance and Accountability; Up-
dating Property Standards’’ which became effective on 
such date: Provided further, That notwithstanding para-
graph (1)(B)(i) or (2)(B)(i) of section 1337(a) of the 
Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 
U.S.C. 4567(a)), amounts allocated under such para-
graphs shall be credited to, made available, and merged 
with this account: Provided further, That no amounts
100 
made available by any provision of law may be transferred, 
reprogrammed, or credited to the Housing Trust Fund. 
SELF-HELP AND ASSISTED HOMEOWNERSHIP 
OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM 
For the Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Op-
portunity Program, as authorized under section 11 of the 
Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996, as 
amended, $50,000,000, to remain available until Sep-
tember 30, 2018: Provided, That of the total amount pro-
vided under this heading, $10,000,000 shall be made 
available to the Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership 
Opportunity Program as authorized under section 11 of 
the Housing Opportunity Program Extension Act of 1996, 
as amended: Provided further, That of the total amount 
provided under this heading, $35,000,000 shall be made 
available for the second, third, and fourth capacity build-
ing activities authorized under section 4(a) of the HUD 
Demonstration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 9816 note), of 
which not less than $5,000,000 shall be made available 
for rural capacity building activities: Provided further, 
That of the total amount provided under this heading, 
$5,000,000 shall be made available for capacity building 
by national rural housing organizations with experience 
assessing national rural conditions and providing financ-
ing, training, technical assistance, information, and re-
101 
search to local nonprofits, local governments and Indian 
Tribes serving high need rural communities. 
HOMELESS ASSISTANCE GRANTS 
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS) 
For the emergency solutions grants program as au-
thorized under subtitle B of title IV of the McKinney- 
Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended; the con-
tinuum of care program as authorized under subtitle C 
of title IV of such Act; and the rural housing stability as-
sistance program as authorized under subtitle D of title 
IV of such Act, $2,185,000,000, to remain available until 
September 30, 2018: Provided, That any rental assistance 
amounts that are recaptured under such continuum of 
care program shall remain available until expended: Pro-
vided further, That not less than $250,000,000 of the 
funds appropriated under this heading shall be available 
for such emergency solutions grants program: Provided 
further, That not less than $1,905,000,000 of the funds 
appropriated under this heading shall be available for such 
continuum of care and rural housing stability assistance 
programs: Provided further, That up to $5,000,000 of the 
funds appropriated under this heading shall be available 
for the national homeless data analysis project: Provided 
further, That all funds awarded for supportive services 
under the continuum of care program and the rural hous-
102 
ing stability assistance program shall be matched by not 
less than 25 percent in cash or in kind by each grantee: 
Provided further, That for all match requirements applica-
ble to funds made available under this heading for this 
fiscal year and prior years, a grantee may use (or could 
have used) as a source of match funds other funds admin-
istered by the Secretary and other Federal agencies unless 
there is (or was) a specific statutory prohibition on any 
such use of any such funds: Provided further, That the 
Secretary shall establish minimum project performance 
thresholds for each grantee under the continuum of care 
program based on program performance data: Provided 
further, That none of the funds provided under this head-
ing shall be available to renew any expiring contract or 
amendment to a contract funded under the continuum of 
care program unless the Secretary determines that the ex-
piring contract or amendment to a contract is needed 
under the applicable continuum of care and meets appro-
priate program requirements, financial standards, and 
performance measures, including the minimum perform-
ance thresholds established in the previous proviso: Pro-
vided further, That the Secretary shall prioritize funding 
under the continuum of care program to grant applica-
tions that demonstrate a capacity to reallocate funding 
from lower performing projects to higher performing
103 
projects: Provided further, That all awards of assistance 
under this heading shall be required to coordinate and in-
tegrate homeless programs with other mainstream health, 
social services, and employment programs for which home-
less populations may be eligible: Provided further, That 
with respect to funds provided under this heading for the 
continuum of care program for fiscal years 2013, 2014, 
2015, and 2016 provision of permanent housing rental as-
sistance may be administered by private nonprofit organi-
zations: Provided further, That any unobligated amounts 
remaining from funds appropriated under this heading in 
fiscal year 2012 and prior years for project-based rental 
assistance for rehabilitation projects with 10-year grant 
terms may be used for purposes under this heading, not-
withstanding the purposes for which such funds were ap-
propriated: Provided further, That all balances for Shelter 
Plus Care renewals previously funded from the Shelter 
Plus Care Renewal account and transferred to this ac-
count shall be available, if recaptured, for continuum of 
care renewals in fiscal year 2016: Provided further, That 
the Department shall notify grantees of their formula allo-
cation from amounts allocated (which may represent ini-
tial or final amounts allocated) for the emergency solu-
tions grant program within 60 days of enactment of this 
Act.
104 
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’’), not otherwise provided for, $10,254,000,000, to re-
main available until expended, shall be available on Octo-
ber 1, 2015 (in addition to the $400,000,000 previously 
appropriated under this heading that became available Oc-
tober 1, 2015), and $400,000,000, to remain available 
until expended, shall be available on October 1, 2016: Pro-
vided, That the amounts made available under this head-
ing shall be available for expiring or terminating section 
8 project-based subsidy contracts (including section 8 
moderate rehabilitation contracts), for amendments to sec-
tion 8 project-based subsidy contracts (including section 
8 moderate rehabilitation contracts), for contracts entered 
into pursuant to section 441 of the McKinney-Vento 
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11401), for renewal 
of section 8 contracts for units in projects that are subject 
to approved plans of action under the Emergency Low In-
come Housing Preservation Act of 1987 or the Low-In-
come Housing Preservation and Resident Homeownership 
Act of 1990, and for administrative and other expenses 
associated with project-based activities and assistance
105 
funded under this paragraph: Provided further, That of 
the total amounts provided under this heading, not to ex-
ceed $150,000,000 shall be available for performance- 
based contract administrators for section 8 project-based 
assistance, for carrying out 42 U.S.C. 1437(f): Provided 
further, That the Secretary of Housing and Urban Devel-
opment may also use such amounts in the previous proviso 
for performance-based contract administrators for the ad-
ministration of: (1) interest reduction payments pursuant 
to section 236(a) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 
1715z–1(a)); (2) rent supplement payments pursuant to 
section 101 of the Housing and Urban Development Act 
of 1965 (12 U.S.C. 1701s); (3) section 236(f)(2) rental 
assistance
payments
(12
U.S.C.
1715z–1(f)(2));
(4) 
project rental assistance contracts for the elderly under 
section 202(c)(2) of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 U.S.C. 
1701q); (5) project rental assistance contracts for sup-
portive housing for persons with disabilities under section 
811(d)(2) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable 
Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013(d)(2)); (6) project assist-
ance contracts pursuant to section 202(h) of the Housing 
Act of 1959 (Public Law 86–372; 73 Stat. 667); and (7) 
loans under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (Pub-
lic Law 86–372; 73 Stat. 667): Provided further, That 
amounts recaptured under this heading, the heading ‘‘An-
106 
nual Contributions for Assisted Housing’’, or the heading 
‘‘Housing Certificate Fund’’, may be used for renewals of 
or amendments to section 8 project-based contracts or for 
performance-based
contract
administrators,
notwith-
standing the purposes for which such amounts were appro-
priated: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, upon the request of the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development, project funds that are 
held in residual receipts accounts for any project subject 
to a section 8 project-based Housing Assistance Payments 
contract that authorizes HUD or a Housing Finance 
Agency to require that surplus project funds be deposited 
in an interest-bearing residual receipts account and that 
are in excess of an amount to be determined by the Sec-
retary, shall be remitted to the Department and deposited 
in this account, to be available until expended: Provided 
further, That amounts deposited pursuant to the previous 
proviso shall be available in addition to the amount other-
wise provided by this heading for uses authorized under 
this heading. 
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)
107 
of such Act, including amendments to contracts for such 
assistance and renewal of expiring contracts for such as-
sistance for up to a 1-year term, and for senior preserva-
tion rental assistance contracts, including renewals, as au-
thorized by section 811(e) of the American Housing and 
Economic Opportunity Act of 2000, as amended, and for 
supportive
services
associated
with
the
housing, 
$414,000,000 (increased by $2,500,000) to remain avail-
able until September 30, 2019: Provided, That of the 
amount provided under this heading, up to $77,000,000 
shall be for service coordinators and the continuation of 
existing congregate service grants for residents of assisted 
housing projects: Provided further, That amounts under 
this heading shall be available for Real Estate Assessment 
Center inspections and inspection-related activities associ-
ated with section 202 projects: Provided further, That the 
Secretary may waive the provisions of section 202 gov-
erning the terms and conditions of project rental assist-
ance, except that the initial contract term for such assist-
ance shall not exceed 5 years in duration: Provided further, 
That upon request of the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development, project funds that are held in residual re-
ceipts accounts for any project subject to a section 202 
project rental assistance contract, and that upon termi-
nation of such contract are in excess of an amount to be
108 
determined by the Secretary, shall be remitted to the De-
partment and deposited in this account, to be available 
until September 30, 2019, for purposes under this head-
ing, and shall be in addition to the amounts otherwise pro-
vided under this heading for such purposes: Provided fur-
ther, That in addition, of the prior year unobligated bal-
ances of funds, including recaptures and carryover, made 
available under this heading, $47,000,000 shall be used 
for an additional amount for the purposes provided under 
this heading, notwithstanding any purpose for which origi-
nally appropriated. 
HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 
For amendments to capital advance contracts for 
supportive housing for persons with disabilities, as author-
ized by section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Af-
fordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 8013), for project rental 
assistance for supportive housing for persons with disabil-
ities under section 811(d)(2) of such Act and for project 
assistance contracts pursuant to section 202(h) of the 
Housing Act of 1959 (Public Law 86–372; 73 Stat. 667), 
including amendments to contracts for such assistance 
and renewal of expiring contracts for such assistance for 
up to a 1-year term, for project rental assistance to State 
housing finance agencies and other appropriate entities as 
authorized under section 811(b)(3) of the Cranston-Gon-
109 
zalez National Housing Act, and for supportive services 
associated with the housing for persons with disabilities 
as
authorized
by
section
811(b)(1)
of
such
Act, 
$152,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2019: Provided, That amounts made available under this 
heading shall be available for Real Estate Assessment 
Center inspections and inspection-related activities associ-
ated with section 811 projects: Provided further, That, in 
this fiscal year, upon the request of the Secretary of Hous-
ing and Urban Development, project funds that are held 
in residual receipts accounts for any project subject to a 
section 811 project rental assistance contract and that 
upon termination of such contract are in excess of an 
amount to be determined by the Secretary shall be remit-
ted to the Department and deposited in this account, to 
be available until September 30, 2019: Provided further, 
That amounts deposited in this account pursuant to the 
previous proviso shall be available in addition to the 
amounts otherwise provided by this heading for the pur-
poses authorized under this heading: Provided further, 
That unobligated balances, including recaptures and car-
ryover, remaining from funds transferred to or appro-
priated under this heading may be used for the current 
purposes authorized under this heading notwithstanding
110 
the purposes for which such funds originally were appro-
priated. 
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, 
$47,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 
2017, including up to $4,500,000 for administrative con-
tract services: Provided, That grants made available from 
amounts provided under this heading shall be awarded 
within 180 days of enactment of this Act: Provided further, 
That funds shall be used for providing counseling and ad-
vice to tenants and homeowners, both current and pro-
spective, with respect to property maintenance, financial 
management/literacy, and such other matters as may be 
appropriate to assist them in improving their housing con-
ditions, meeting their financial needs, and fulfilling the re-
sponsibilities of tenancy or homeownership; for program 
administration; and for housing counselor training: Pro-
vided further, That for purposes of providing such grants 
from amounts provided under this heading, the Secretary 
may enter into multiyear agreements as is appropriate, 
subject to the availability of annual appropriations.
111 
RENTAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE 
For amendments to contracts under section 101 of 
the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965 (12 
U.S.C. 1701s) and section 236(f)(2) of the National 
Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1715z–1) in State-aided, non-
insured rental housing projects, $30,000,000, to remain 
available until expended: Provided, That such amount, to-
gether
with
unobligated
balances
from
recaptured 
amounts appropriated prior to fiscal year 2006 from ter-
minated contracts under such sections of law, and any un-
obligated balances, including recaptures and carryover, re-
maining from funds appropriated under this heading after 
fiscal year 2005, shall also be available for extensions of 
up to one year for expiring contracts under such sections 
of law. 
PAYMENT TO MANUFACTURED HOUSING FEES TRUST 
FUND 
For necessary expenses as authorized by the National 
Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Stand-
ards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5401 et seq.), up to 
$11,000,000, to remain available until expended, of which 
$11,000,000 is to be derived from the Manufactured 
Housing Fees Trust Fund: Provided, That not to exceed 
the total amount appropriated under this heading shall be 
available from the general fund of the Treasury to the ex-
112 
tent necessary to incur obligations and make expenditures 
pending the receipt of collections to the Fund pursuant 
to section 620 of such Act: Provided further, That the 
amount made available under this heading from the gen-
eral fund shall be reduced as such collections are received 
during fiscal year 2016 so as to result in a final fiscal 
year 2016 appropriation from the general fund estimated 
at zero, and fees pursuant to such section 620 shall be 
modified as necessary to ensure such a final fiscal year 
2016 appropriation: Provided further, That for the dispute 
resolution and installation programs, the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development may assess and collect 
fees from any program participant: Provided further, That 
such collections shall be deposited into the Fund, and the 
Secretary, as provided herein, may use such collections, 
as well as fees collected under section 620, for necessary 
expenses of such Act: Provided further, That, notwith-
standing the requirements of section 620 of such Act, the 
Secretary may carry out responsibilities of the Secretary 
under such Act through the use of approved service pro-
viders that are paid directly by the recipients of their serv-
ices.
113 
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, 2017: Provided, That during fiscal year 
2016, obligations to make direct loans to carry out the 
purposes of section 204(g) of the National Housing Act, 
as amended, shall not exceed $5,000,000: Provided fur-
ther, That the foregoing amount in the previous proviso 
shall be for loans to nonprofit and governmental entities 
in connection with sales of single family real properties 
owned by the Secretary and formerly insured under the 
Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund: Provided Further, That 
for administrative contract expenses of the Federal Hous-
ing Administration, $130,000,000, to remain available 
until September 30, 2017. 
GENERAL AND SPECIAL RISK PROGRAM ACCOUNT 
New commitments to guarantee loans insured under 
the General and Special Risk Insurance Funds, as author-
ized 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, 2017: Provided, That during fiscal year 2016, gross
114 
obligations for the principal amount of direct loans, as au-
thorized by sections 204(g), 207(l), 238, and 519(a) of 
the National Housing Act, shall not exceed $5,000,000, 
which shall be for loans to nonprofit and governmental en-
tities in connection with the sale of single family real prop-
erties owned by the Secretary and formerly insured under 
such Act. 
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, 2017: Provided, That $23,000,000 shall be available 
for necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of Gov-
ernment National Mortgage Association: Provided further, 
That receipts from Commitment and Multiclass fees col-
lected pursuant to title III of the National Housing Act, 
as amended, shall be credited as offsetting collections to 
this account. 
POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH 
RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY 
For contracts, grants, and necessary expenses of pro-
grams of research and studies relating to housing and
115 
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.), including carrying 
out the functions of the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development under section 1(a)(1)(i) of Reorganization 
Plan
No.
of
1968,
$52,500,000
(reduced
by 
$2,500,000), to remain available until September 30, 
2017: Provided, That with respect to amounts made avail-
able under this heading, notwithstanding section 204 of 
this title, the Secretary may enter into cooperative agree-
ments funded with philanthropic entities, other Federal 
agencies, or State or local governments and their agencies 
for research projects: Provided further, That with respect 
to the previous proviso, such partners to the cooperative 
agreements must contribute at least a 50 percent match 
toward the cost of the project: Provided further, That for 
non-competitive agreements entered into in accordance 
with the previous two provisos, the Secretary of Housing 
and Urban Development shall comply with section 2(b) of 
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency 
Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–282, 31 U.S.C. note) in lieu 
of compliance with section 102(a)(4)(C) with respect to 
documentation of award decisions: Provided further, That 
prior to obligation of technical assistance funding, the Sec-
retary shall submit a plan, for approval, to the House and
116 
Senate Committees on Appropriations on how it will allo-
cate funding for this activity. 
FAIR HOUSING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY 
FAIR HOUSING ACTIVITIES 
For contracts, grants, and other assistance, not oth-
erwise provided for, as authorized by title VIII of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing 
Amendments Act of 1988, and section 561 of the Housing 
and Community Development Act of 1987, as amended, 
$65,300,000 (reduced by $28,375,000) (increased by 
$28,375,000), to remain available until September 30, 
2017: Provided, That notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 3302, 
the Secretary may assess and collect fees to cover the costs 
of the Fair Housing Training Academy, and may use such 
funds to provide such training: Provided further, That no 
funds made available under this heading shall be used to 
lobby the executive or legislative branches of the Federal 
Government in connection with a specific contract, grant, 
or loan: Provided further, That of the funds made available 
under this heading, $300,000 (increased by $150,000) 
shall be available to the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development for the creation and promotion of translated 
materials and other programs that support the assistance 
of persons with limited English proficiency in utilizing the
117 
services provided by the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development. 
OFFICE OF LEAD HAZARD CONTROL AND HEALTHY 
HOMES 
LEAD HAZARD REDUCTION 
For the Lead Hazard Reduction Program, as author-
ized by section 1011 of the Residential Lead-Based Paint 
Hazard Reduction Act of 1992, $75,000,000, to remain 
available until September 30, 2017: Provided, That up to 
$15,000,000 of that amount shall be for the Healthy 
Homes Initiative, pursuant to sections 501 and 502 of the 
Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 that shall 
include research, studies, testing, and demonstration ef-
forts, including education and outreach concerning lead- 
based paint poisoning and other housing-related diseases 
and hazards: Provided further, That for purposes of envi-
ronmental review, pursuant to the National Environ-
mental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and 
other provisions of the law that further the purposes of 
such Act, a grant under the Healthy Homes Initiative, or 
the Lead Technical Studies program under this heading 
or under prior appropriations Acts for such purposes 
under this heading, shall be considered to be funds for 
a special project for purposes of section 305(c) of the Mul-
tifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of
118 
1994: Provided further, That amounts made available 
under this heading in this or prior appropriations Acts, 
and that still remain available, may be used for any pur-
pose under this heading notwithstanding the purpose for 
which such amounts were appropriated if a program com-
petition is undersubscribed and there are other program 
competitions under this heading that are oversubscribed. 
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FUND 
For the development of, modifications to, and infra-
structure for Department-wide and program-specific infor-
mation technology systems, for the continuing operation 
and maintenance of both Department-wide and program- 
specific information systems, and for program-related 
maintenance
activities,
$100,000,000
(reduced
by 
$3,000,000): Provided, That any amounts transferred to 
this Fund under this Act shall remain available until ex-
pended: Provided further, That any amounts transferred 
to this Fund from amounts appropriated by previously en-
acted appropriations Acts may be used for the purposes 
specified under this Fund, in addition to any other infor-
mation technology purposes for which such amounts were 
appropriated. 
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL 
For necessary salaries and expenses of the Office of 
Inspector General in carrying out the Inspector General
119 
Act of 1978, as amended, $126,000,000: Provided, That 
the Inspector General shall have independent authority 
over all personnel issues within this office. 
GENERAL PROVISIONS—DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND 
URBAN DEVELOPMENT 
(INCLUDING RESCISSIONS) 
SEC. 201. Eighty five percent of the amounts of 
budget authority, or in lieu thereof 85 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 Amend-
ments Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1437 note) shall be re-
scinded or in the case of cash, shall be remitted to the 
Treasury. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Sec-
retary may award up to 15 percent of the budget authority 
or cash recaptured and not rescinded or remitted to the 
Treasury to provide project owners with incentives to refi-
nance their project at a lower interest rate. Any amounts 
of budget authority or cash recaptured and not rescinded, 
returned to the Treasury, or otherwise awarded by Sep-
tember 30, 2016, shall be rescinded or in the case of cash, 
shall be remitted to the Treasury. 
SEC. 202. None of the amounts made available under 
this Act may be used during fiscal year 2016 to investigate 
or prosecute under the Fair Housing Act any otherwise
120 
lawful activity engaged in by one or more persons, includ-
ing 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. 
SEC. 203. Sections 203 and 209 of division C of Pub-
lic Law 112–55 (125 Stat. 693–694) shall apply during 
fiscal year 2016 as if such sections were included in this 
title, except that during such fiscal year such sections shall 
be applied by substituting ‘‘fiscal year 2016’’ for ‘‘fiscal 
year 2011’’ and for ‘‘fiscal year 2012’’ each place such 
terms appear, and shall be amended to reflect revised de-
lineations of statistical areas established by the Office of 
Management
and
Budget
pursuant
to
U.S.C. 
3504(e)(3), 31 U.S.C. 1104(d), and Executive Order No. 
10253. 
SEC. 204. Except as explicitly provided in law, any 
grant, cooperative agreement or other assistance made 
pursuant to title II of this Act shall be made on a competi-
tive basis and in accordance with section 102 of the De-
partment of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act 
of 1989 (42 U.S.C. 3545). 
SEC. 205. Funds of the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development subject to the Government Corpora-
tion Control Act or section 402 of the Housing Act of
121 
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 the 
services and facilities of the Federal National Mortgage 
Association, Government National Mortgage Association, 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal Fi-
nancing Bank, Federal Reserve banks or any member 
thereof, Federal Home Loan banks, and any insured bank 
within the meaning of the Federal Deposit Insurance Cor-
poration Act, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1811–11). 
SEC. 206. Unless otherwise provided for in this Act 
or through a reprogramming of funds, no part of any ap-
propriation 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. 
SEC. 207. Corporations and agencies of the Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban Development which are sub-
ject to the Government Corporation Control Act are here-
by 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
122 
forth in the budget for 2016 for such corporation or agen-
cy except as hereinafter provided: Provided, That collec-
tions of these corporations and agencies may be used for 
new loan or mortgage purchase commitments only to the 
extent expressly provided for in this Act (unless such loans 
are in support of other forms of assistance provided for 
in this or prior appropriations Acts), except that this pro-
viso shall not apply to the mortgage insurance or guaranty 
operations of these corporations, or where loans or mort-
gage purchases are necessary to protect the financial in-
terest of the United States Government. 
SEC. 208. The Secretary of Housing and Urban De-
velopment 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. 
SEC. 209. The President’s formal budget request for 
fiscal year 2017, as well as the Department of Housing 
and Urban Development’s congressional budget justifica-
tions 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.
123 
SEC. 210. A public housing agency or such other enti-
ty that administers Federal housing assistance for the 
Housing Authority of the county of Los Angeles, Cali-
fornia, and the States of Alaska, Iowa, and Mississippi 
shall not be required to include a resident of public hous-
ing 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 admin-
isters Federal housing assistance under section 8 for the 
Housing Authority of the county of Los Angeles, Cali-
fornia, 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 direc-
tors or a similar governing board shall establish an advi-
sory 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 admin-
istering entity on issues related to public housing and sec-
tion 8. Such advisory board shall meet not less than quar-
terly. 
SEC. 211. No funds provided under this title may be 
used for an audit of the Government National Mortgage
124 
Association that makes applicable requirements under the 
Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661 et seq.). 
SEC. 212. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, subject to the conditions listed under this section, 
for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, 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) Transfers of project-based assistance under this 
section may be done in phases to accommodate the financ-
ing 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 sub-
ject 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., bed-
room size) provided by the transferring project 
shall be no less than when transferred to the re-
125 
ceiving 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 transfer-
ring project the Secretary may authorize a re-
duction in the number of dwelling units in the 
receiving project or projects to allow for a re-
configuration of bedroom sizes to meet current 
market demands, as determined by the Sec-
retary and provided there is no increase in the 
project-based assistance budget authority. 
(2) The transferring project shall, as deter-
mined 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 re-
siding in the transferring project and provide a cer-
tification of approval by all appropriate local govern-
mental officials. 
(5) The tenants of the transferring project who 
remain eligible for assistance to be provided by the
128 
(D) housing that is assisted under section 
202 of the Housing Act of 1959, as such sec-
tion existed before the enactment of the Cran-
ston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act; 
(E) housing that is assisted under section 
811 of the Cranston-Gonzales National Afford-
able Housing Act; or 
(F) housing or vacant land that is subject 
to a use agreement; 
(3)
the
term
‘‘project-based
assistance’’ 
means— 
(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 assist-
ance provided under section 8(b)(2) of such Act 
(as such section existed immediately before Oc-
tober 1, 1983); 
(C) rent supplement payments under sec-
tion 101 of the Housing and Urban Develop-
ment Act of 1965; 
(D) interest reduction payments under sec-
tion 236 and/or additional assistance payments 
under section 236(f)(2) of the National Hous-
ing Act;
129 
(E) assistance payments made under sec-
tion 202(c)(2) of the Housing Act of 1959; and 
(F) assistance payments made under sec-
tion 811(d)(2) of the Cranston-Gonzalez Na-
tional Affordable Housing Act; 
(4) the term ‘‘receiving project or projects’’ 
means the multifamily housing project or projects to 
which some or all of the project-based assistance, 
debt, and statutorily required low-income and very 
low-income use restrictions are to be transferred; 
(5) the term ‘‘transferring project’’ means the 
multifamily housing project which is transferring 
some or all of the project-based assistance, debt, and 
the statutorily required low-income and very low-in-
come use restrictions to the receiving project or 
projects; and 
(6) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Housing and Urban Development. 
(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 effec-
tive date of such notice.
130 
(2) The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation 
of the transfer authority under this section, includ-
ing the effect of such transfers on the operational ef-
ficiency, contract rents, physical and financial condi-
tions, and long-term preservation of the affected 
properties. 
SEC. 213. (a) No assistance shall be provided under 
section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
U.S.C. 1437f) to any individual who— 
(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)) and was not receiving assistance 
under such section 8 as of November 30, 2005; and 
(7) is not otherwise individually eligible, or has 
parents who, individually or jointly, are not eligible,
131 
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), any finan-
cial assistance (in excess of amounts received for tuition 
and any other required fees and charges) that an indi-
vidual receives under the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), from private sources, or an insti-
tution of higher education (as defined under the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)), shall be consid-
ered income to that individual, except for a person over 
the age of 23 with dependent children. 
SEC. 214. The funds made available for Native Alas-
kans under the heading ‘‘Native American Housing Block 
Grants’’ in title II of this Act shall be allocated to the 
same Native Alaskan housing block grant recipients that 
received funds in fiscal year 2005. 
SEC. 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, 2016, in-
sure and enter into commitments to insure mortgages 
under such section 255.
132 
SEC. 216. Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, in fiscal year 2016, 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 Fed-
eral programs, the Secretary shall maintain any rental as-
sistance payments under section 8 of the United States 
Housing Act of 1937 and other programs that are at-
tached 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 prop-
erty owned or held by the Secretary is not feasible for con-
tinued 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 avail-
able Federal, State, and local resources, including rent ad-
justments under section 524 of the Multifamily Assisted 
Housing
Reform
and
Affordability
Act
of
1997 
(‘‘MAHRAA’’); and (2) environmental conditions that 
cannot be remedied in a cost-effective fashion, the Sec-
retary may, in consultation with the tenants of that prop-
erty, contract for project-based rental assistance payments 
with an owner or owners of other existing housing prop-
133 
erties, or provide other rental assistance. The Secretary 
shall also take appropriate steps to ensure that project- 
based contracts remain in effect prior to foreclosure, sub-
ject 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 con-
sent of the affected tenants and use of other available rem-
edies, such as partial abatements or receivership. After 
disposition of any multifamily property described under 
this section, the contract and allowable rent levels on such 
properties shall be subject to the requirements under sec-
tion 524 of MAHRAA. 
SEC. 217. The commitment authority funded by fees 
as provided under the heading ‘‘Community Development 
Loan Guarantees Program Account’’ may be used to guar-
antee, or make commitments to guarantee, notes or other 
obligations issued by any State on behalf of non-entitle-
ment communities in the State in accordance with the re-
quirements of section 108 of the Housing and Community 
Development Act of 1974: Provided, That any State re-
ceiving such a guarantee or commitment shall distribute 
all funds subject to such guarantee to the units of general 
local government in non-entitlement areas that received 
the commitment.
134 
SEC. 218. Public housing agencies that own and oper-
ate 400 or fewer public housing units may elect to be ex-
empt from any asset management requirement imposed by 
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in con-
nection with the operating fund rule: Provided, That an 
agency seeking a discontinuance of a reduction of subsidy 
under the operating fund formula shall not be exempt 
from asset management requirements. 
SEC. 219. With respect to the use of amounts pro-
vided in this Act and in future Acts for the operation, cap-
ital 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) and (e)), the 
Secretary shall not impose any requirement or guideline 
relating to asset management that restricts or limits in 
any way the use of capital funds for central office costs 
pursuant to section 9(g)(1) or 9(g)(2) of the United States 
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g(g) (1) and (2)): 
Provided, That a public housing agency may not use cap-
ital funds authorized under section 9(d) for activities that 
are eligible under section 9(e) for assistance with amounts 
from the operating fund in excess of the amounts per-
mitted under section 9(g)(1) or 9(g)(2). 
SEC. 220. No official or employee of the Department 
of Housing and Urban Development shall be designated
135 
as an allotment holder unless the Office of the Chief Fi-
nancial Officer has determined that such allotment holder 
has implemented an adequate system of funds control and 
has received training in funds control procedures and di-
rectives. The Chief Financial Officer shall ensure that 
there is a trained allotment holder for each HUD sub- 
office under the accounts ‘‘Executive Offices’’ and ‘‘Ad-
ministrative Support Offices’’, as well as each account re-
ceiving appropriations for ‘‘Program Office Salaries and 
Expenses’’, ‘‘Government National Mortgage Associa-
tion—Guarantees of Mortgage-Backed Securities Loan 
Guarantee Program Account’’, and ‘‘Office of Inspector 
General’’ within the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development. 
SEC. 221. The Secretary of the Department of Hous-
ing and Urban Development shall, for fiscal year 2016, 
notify the public through the Federal Register and other 
means, as determined appropriate, of the issuance of a no-
tice 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 competi-
tively awarded. Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, for fiscal year 2016, the Secretary may make the 
NOFA available only on the Internet at the appropriate
136 
Government web site or through other electronic media, 
as determined by the Secretary. 
SEC. 222. Payment of attorney fees in program-re-
lated 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 sep-
arate line item request. 
SEC. 223. The Disaster Housing Assistance Pro-
grams, administered by the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, shall be considered a ‘‘program of 
the Department of Housing and Urban Development’’ 
under section 904 of the McKinney Act for the purpose 
of income verifications and matching. 
SEC. 224. (a) The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development shall take the required actions under sub-
section (b) when a multifamily housing project with a sec-
tion 8 contract or contract for similar project-based assist-
ance— 
(1) receives a Real Estate Assessment Center 
(REAC) score of 30 or less; or 
(2) receives a REAC score between 31 and 59; 
and—
137 
(A) fails to certify in writing to HUD with-
in 60 days that all deficiencies have been cor-
rected; 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 sec-
tion 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
U.S.C. 1437f), but do not apply to such units assisted 
under section 8(o)(13) (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)) or to 
public housing units assisted with capital or operating 
funds under section 9 of the United States Housing Act 
of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437g). 
(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 cor-
recting all deficiencies. The Secretary shall provide 
notice of the Plan to the owner, tenants, the local 
government, any mortgagees, and any contract ad-
ministrator.
138 
(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 manage-
ment with a management agent approved by the 
Secretary, and shall take one or more of the fol-
lowing 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 Sec-
retary, until all deficiencies have been corrected; 
(C) pursue transfer of the project to an 
owner, approved by the Secretary under estab-
lished procedures, which will be obligated to 
promptly make all required repairs and to ac-
cept 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 de-
ficiencies or seek a judicial order of specific per-
formance requiring the owner to cure all project 
deficiencies.
139 
(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 as-
sistance 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’’); and 
(2) environmental conditions that cannot be remedied in 
a cost-effective fashion, the Secretary may, in consultation 
with the tenants of that property, contract for project- 
based rental assistance payments with an owner or owners 
of other existing housing properties, or provide other rent-
al assistance. The Secretary shall report semi-annually on 
all properties covered by this section that are assessed 
through the Real Estate Assessment Center and have 
physical inspection scores of less than 30 or have consecu-