An original bill to authorize appropriations for assistance for the Housing Assistance Council, the Raza Development Fund, and for the Housing Partnership Network (HPN) and its members, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Housing Assistance Authorization Act 
of 2007''.

SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON USE OF AUTHORIZED AMOUNTS.

    None of the amounts authorized by this Act may be used to lobby or 
retain a lobbyist for the purpose of influencing a Federal, State, or 
local governmental entity or officer.

SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO HOUSING ASSISTANCE COUNCIL.

    (a) Use.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may 
provide financial assistance to the Housing Assistance Council for use 
by such Council to develop the ability and capacity of community-based 
housing development organizations to undertake community development 
and affordable housing projects and programs in rural areas. Assistance 
provided by the Secretary under this section may be used by the Housing 
Assistance Council for--
            (1) technical assistance, training, support, and advice to 
        develop the business and administrative capabilities of rural 
        community-based housing development organizations;
            (2) loans, grants, or other financial assistance to rural 
        community-based housing development organizations to carry out 
        community development and affordable housing activities for 
        low- and moderate-income families; and
            (3) such other activities as may be determined by the 
        Secretary and the Housing Assistance Council.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for financial assistance under this section for the 
Housing Assistance Council--
            (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            (2) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010.

SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE FOR RAZA DEVELOPMENT FUND.

    (a) Use.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make a 
grant to the Raza Development Fund for the purpose of providing 
technical and financial assistance to local non-profit organizations to 
undertake community development and affordable housing projects and 
programs serving low- and moderate-income households, particularly 
through organizations located in neighborhoods with substantial 
populations of income-disadvantaged households of Hispanic origin. 
Assistance provided by the Secretary under this section may be used by 
the Raza Development Fund to--
            (1) provide technical and financial assistance for site 
        acquisition and development, construction financing, and short- 
        and long-term financing for housing, community facilities, and 
        economic development;
            (2) leverage capital from private entities, including 
        private financial institutions, insurance companies, and 
        private philanthropic organizations;
            (3) provide technical assistance, training, support, and 
        advice to develop the management, financial, and administrative 
        capabilities of housing development organizations serving low-
        income households, including Hispanic households; and
            (4) conduct such other activities as may be determined by 
        the Secretary and the Raza Development Fund.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for grants under this section--
            (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            (2) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010.

SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE FOR THE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP NETWORK.

    (a) Use.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make a 
grant to the Housing Partnership Network (hereafter referred to as the 
``Network'') for the purpose of creating, sustaining, and improving 
access to affordable housing and community facilities that benefit very 
low-, low- and moderate-income households and communities. Assistance 
provided by the Secretary under this section may be used by the Network 
to--
            (1) make investments, loans, and grants to its member 
        nonprofits that demonstrate expertise in using such funds to 
        leverage additional private capital to build, operate, finance, 
        and sustain affordable housing and related community 
        development facilities;
            (2) make investments in entities sponsored by the Network 
        with the intent to leverage additional private capital for the 
        purpose of furthering the production capacity, sustainability, 
        or efficiency of its members;
            (3) pay for the necessary and reasonable expenses of the 
        Network to administer and oversee such investments, including 
        the cost of underwriting, managing the assets of the Network, 
        and reporting to the Secretary and other capital providers, 
        provided however, that such expenses do not exceed 6 percent of 
        any amounts made available pursuant to subsection (b); and
            (4) conduct such other activities as may be determined by 
        the Secretary and the Network.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for grants under this section--
            (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            (2) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010.

SEC. 6. AUDITS AND REPORTS.

    (a) Audit.--In any year in which an entity or organization 
described under either section 3, 4, or 5 receives funds under this 
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall--
            (1) audit the financial transactions and activities of such 
        entity or organization only with respect to such funds so 
        received; and
            (2) submit a report detailing such audit to the Committee 
        on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Financial Services of the House of 
        Representatives.
    (b) GAO Report.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
conduct a study and submit a report to the Committee on Banking, 
Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial 
Services of the House of Representative on the use of any funds 
appropriated to an entity or organization described under either 
section 3, 4, or 5 over the past 10 years.

SEC. 7. PERSONS NOT LAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES.

    None of the funds made available under this Act may be used to 
provide direct housing assistance to any person not lawfully present in 
the United States.

Summary: Housing Assistance Authorization Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Prohibits the use of funds authorized by this Act to lobby or retain a lobbyist to influence a federal, state, or local governmental entity or officer.

(Sec. 3) Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide financial assistance to the Housing Assistance Council to develop the ability and capacity of community-based housing development organizations to undertake community development and affordable housing projects and programs in rural areas.

Authorizes the Housing Assistance Council to use such assistance for: (1) technical assistance, training, support, and advice to develop the business and administrative capabilities of rural community-based housing development organizations; and (2) loans, grants, or other financial assistance to such organizations to carry out community development and affordable housing activities for low- and moderate-income families.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2010.

(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary also to make a grant to the Raza Development Fund to provide technical and financial assistance to local nonprofit organizations to undertake similar projects and programs serving low- and moderate-income households, particularly through organizations in neighborhoods with substantial populations of income-disadvantaged households of Hispanic origin.

Authorizes the Fund to use such assistance to: (1) provide technical and financial assistance for site acquisition and development, construction financing, and short- and long-term financing for housing, community facilities, and economic development; (2) leverage capital from private entities; and (3) provide technical assistance, training, support, and advice to develop the management, financial, and administrative capabilities of housing development organizations serving such low-income households.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2010.

(Sec. 5) Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to the Housing Partnership Network to create, sustain, and improve access to affordable housing and community facilities benefiting very low-, low- and moderate-income households and communities.

Authorizes the Network to use such assistance to: (1) make investments, loans, and grants to its member nonprofits that demonstrate expertise in using such funds to leverage additional private capital to build, operate, finance, and sustain affordable housing and related community development facilities; (2) make investments in entities sponsored by the Network with the intent to leverage additional private capital to further the production capacity, sustainability, or efficiency of its members; and (3) pay for the expenses of the Network to administer and oversee such investments.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2010.

Directs the Comptroller General to audit entities or organizations receiving such funds.

(Sec. 7) Prohibits the use of such funds to provide direct housing assistance to any person not lawfully present in the United States.