Clean Up Our Neighborhoods Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.3949 | Sponsor: Rep. Ryan, Tim (D-OH)
Policy area: Housing and Community Development

Summary:
Clean Up Our Neighborhoods Act of 2021
This bill authorizes the Department of Housing and Community Development to award grants to states for specified activities designed to eliminate blight and promote neighborhood revitalization.

To authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make 
grants to States for use to eliminate blight and assist in neighborhood 
                revitalization, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Clean Up Our Neighborhoods Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. BLIGHT ELIMINATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION GRANTS.

    (a) Authority.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may 
make grants under this section, on a competitive basis, to States for 
use for eligible activities under subsection (c)(1) designed to 
eliminate blight and promote neighborhood revitalization.
    (b) Use in New Market Tax Credit Areas.--Amounts from a grant under 
this section may be used only to carry out eligible activities under 
subsection (c)(1) within low-income communities, as such term if 
defined in subsection (g).
    (c) Eligible Activities.--
            (1) In general.--Amounts from a grant under this section 
        may be used only for the following activities:
                    (A) Demolition, clearance, and removal of blighted 
                structures.
                    (B) Boarding of vacant properties and blighted 
                structures.
                    (C) Deconstruction of structures.
                    (D) Removal of waste and site clearance and vacant 
                land management.
                    (E) Stabilization activities in connection with 
                providing vacant, open green space for the purpose of 
                public access and redevelopment, including greening 
                projects, and associated maintenance activities, 
                including mowing.
                    (F) Renovation of existing structures, except that 
                not more than 30 percent of any grant under this 
                section may be used for such activities.
            (2) Use of amounts by local governments.--A grantee State 
        may use amounts from a grant under this Act to carry out 
        eligible activities under paragraph (1) or may provide such 
        amounts to land banks or units of general local government 
        within the State whose jurisdictions include low-income 
        communities for use to carry out such eligible activities 
        within such low-income communities.
            (3) Priority for land banks.--In areas where land banks 
        exist, a grantee State shall give priority, in the use of 
        amounts from a grant under this Act, to eligible activities 
        that will be carried out by land banks, in accordance with such 
        requirements as the Secretary shall establish.
            (4) Prohibition.--Amounts from a grant under this section 
        may not be used to acquire any occupied residential dwelling 
        unit.
    (d) Matching Requirement.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall require each State 
        that receives a grant under this section to contribute, toward 
        carrying out the plan for the State under subsection (e)(2), an 
        amount of matching funds from non-Federal sources that is equal 
        to or greater than 15 percent of the amount of the grant.
            (2) Use of sale proceeds.--Any proceeds from sales of 
        properties renovated pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(F) may be 
        counted toward compliance with the requirement under paragraph 
        (1).
    (e) Application and Plan.--
            (1) Application.--A grant under this section may only be 
        provided to a State that submits to the Secretary an 
        application for such a grant that contains a plan for use of 
        grant funds in accordance with paragraph (2) and such other 
        information, certifications, and assurances as the Secretary 
        considers necessary to provide for selection of States in 
        accordance with the process and criteria under subsection (f).
            (2) Plan.--A plan under this paragraph shall be a detailed 
        5-year plan for the use of grant amounts under this section and 
        matching amounts contributed pursuant to subsection (d) that 
        includes--
                    (A) identification of the low-income communities in 
                which eligible activities under subsection (c)(1) will 
                be carried out using grant and matching amounts;
                    (B) a description of the eligible activities under 
                subsection (c)(1) to be carried out using grant and 
                matching amounts;
                    (C) a timetable for carrying out such eligible 
                activities, which shall provide for the expenditure of 
                grant and matching amounts within 5 years after 
                receipt; and
                    (D) identification of the sources of matching 
                amounts to be provided in accordance with subsection 
                (d) and assurances of the availability of such matching 
                amounts.
    (f) Selection; Criteria.--The Secretary shall select applications 
to receive grants under this section pursuant to a competition and 
based on criteria as established by the Secretary for such selection.
    (g) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the following 
definitions shall apply:
            (1) Land bank.--The term ``land bank'' means--
                    (A) a land bank, as such term is defined under 
                State law; and
                    (B) with respect to any State for which the laws of 
                such State do not explicitly define such term, any 
                publicly or community-owned entity established for the 
                purpose of reducing or preventing blight by acquiring, 
                managing, maintaining, and re-purposing vacant, 
                abandoned, and foreclosed properties, including 
                abandoned houses and buildings and empty lots.
            (2) Low-income community.--The term ``low-income 
        community'' has the meaning given such term in section 45D of 
        the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 45D) and includes 
        any census tract or other area that is treated as a low-income 
        community for purposes of such section.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Housing and Urban Development.
            (4) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern 
        Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, 
        and any other territory or possession of the United States.
            (5) Structure.--The term ``structure'' includes residential 
        structures and commercial structures.
    (h) Regulations.--The Secretary shall issue any regulations 
necessary to carry out this section.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as may be necessary for grants under this 
section for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027.
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