Title: Housing America's Workforce Act of 2017
Policy area: Taxation

Summary:
Housing America's Workforce Act of 2017
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a business-related tax credit for up to 50% (100% for small business employers) of the qualified housing expenses paid for the benefit of their employees. The bill defines "qualified housing expenses" to include homeownership assistance and rental assistance. The bill limits the annual amount of such credit per employee to the lesser of $10,000 or 6% of an employee's home purchase price, or up to $5,000 for rental assistance, adjusted for inflation after 2017. The bill excludes from employee gross income the value of employer-paid housing assistance.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) may award grants in FY2017-FY2019, on a competitive basis, to nonprofit housing organizations or local governments for certain costs, including operating costs and technical assistance costs, of employer-assisted housing programs. HUD must establish a national clearinghouse, including a website, to provide information about employer-assisted housing programs to federal, state, and local governments; and other interested entities.
The Government Accountability Office must conduct a study of employer-assisted housing programs and provide HUD with an interim report by January 1, 2020, and final report by December 31, 2021.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 764 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 764

 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for 
 employer-provided employee housing assistance, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 31, 2017

Ms. Velazquez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for 
 employer-provided employee housing assistance, 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 ``Housing America's Workforce Act of 
2017''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Resurgent housing markets are pricing out low- and 
        moderate-income families and are producing few lower-cost 
        units.
            (2) In many markets, housing costs have far outgrown the 
        rate of inflation and the gap between wages and housing costs 
        is widening, pushing affordable housing beyond the reach of an 
        increasing number of working families.
            (3) Despite some of the lowest mortgage rates in our 
        Nation's history, millions of working families still find it 
        extremely difficult to rent or purchase a home. Many workers 
        who fill jobs that provide the backbone of our communities--
        teachers, firefighters, and police officers--often cannot 
        afford to live in the communities in which they serve.
            (4) The United States Department of Housing and Urban 
        Development (HUD) considers housing affordable when a family 
        spends no more than 30 percent of its monthly income on rent 
        and utilities. Entry-level wage earners with annual incomes of 
        up to $30,000 spending no more than 30 percent of their income 
        on rent can only afford to pay up to $750 for rent. In the high 
        job growth areas, such rents are not readily available.
            (5) Affordable housing is the key to creating and 
        sustaining healthy, economically vibrant communities.
            (6) The lack of affordable housing across the United States 
        has been shown to cause or contribute to labor shortages.
            (7) Under employer-assisted housing (EAH) programs 
        employers provide much needed housing assistance to their 
        employees.
            (8) EAH programs are innovative local solutions that have 
        increased affordable housing opportunities for thousands of 
        working families across America while benefiting the economy.
            (9) According to findings of the Rutgers University 
        American Affordable Housing Institute, employer-assisted 
        housing increases productivity by reducing commuting time as 
        well as saves money on recruitment and retention.
            (10) The future growth of EAH programs will remain 
        dependent upon increasing individual employer knowledge and 
        implementation of these programs.
            (11) EAH programs will not solve the Nation's housing 
        problems but such programs do seek to address the challenge 
        from a new perspective and allow the private sector to play a 
        direct role in promoting housing affordability. Additionally, 
        EAH programs can help to promote redevelopment and reinvestment 
        in distressed communities.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:
            (1) To expand affordable housing opportunities to low- and 
        moderate-income working individuals and families.
            (2) To encourage employers, counties, and municipalities to 
        invest in employer-assisted housing programs.

SEC. 3. TAX CREDIT FOR EMPLOYER-PROVIDED EMPLOYEE HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to business related 
credits) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 45S. EMPLOYER-PROVIDED EMPLOYEE HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

    ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--
            ``(1) In general.--For purposes of section 38, the 
        employer-provided employee housing assistance credit determined 
        under this section for any taxable year is an amount equal to 
        50 percent of the qualified housing expenses paid by the 
        employer during the taxable year if such expenses are furnished 
        pursuant to a program described in subsection (b).
            ``(2) Special rule for small business employers.--
                    ``(A) In the case of an employer that is a small 
                business employer, paragraph (1) shall be applied by 
                substituting `100 percent' for `50 percent'.
                    ``(B) Small business employer.--For purposes of 
                subparagraph (A), the term `small business employer' 
                means an employer that is a small business concern 
                (within the meaning of section 3 of the Small Business 
                Act) which--
                            ``(i) is engaged in a trade or business, 
                        and
                            ``(ii) employs one or more individuals in 
                        such trade or business.
            ``(3) Per employee limitation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The aggregate amount of 
                qualified housing expenses taken into account with 
                respect to any eligible employee for any taxable year 
                shall not exceed, when added to any qualified housing 
                expenses taken into account for any preceding taxable 
                year with respect to such employee--
                            ``(i) in the case of homeownership 
                        assistance, the lesser of $10,000 or 6 percent 
                        of the purchase price of such employee's 
                        principal residence, and
                            ``(ii) in the case of rental assistance, 
                        $5,000.
                    ``(B) Inflation adjustment.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In the case of any 
                        taxable year beginning after 2017, each dollar 
                        amount referred to in subparagraph (A) shall be 
                        increased by an amount equal to--
                                    ``(I) such dollar amount, 
                                multiplied by
                                    ``(II) the cost-of-living 
                                adjustment determined under section 26 
                                U.S.C. 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in 
                                which the taxable year begins, by 
                                substituting `2016' for `1992'.
                            ``(ii) Rounding.--If any amount as adjusted 
                        under clause (i) is not a multiple of $50, such 
                        amount shall be rounded to the nearest multiple 
                        of $50.
    ``(b) Housing Assistance Program.--For purposes of this section, a 
housing assistance program is a separate written plan of an employer 
for the exclusive benefit of such employer's employees to provide the 
qualified housing expenses of such employees and which meets 
requirements similar to the requirements of paragraphs (2) through (6) 
of section 127(b).
    ``(c) Definitions and Special Rules.--For purposes of this 
section--
            ``(1) Eligible employee.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `eligible employee' 
                means any individual--
                            ``(i) employed by an employer,
                            ``(ii) whose household income does not 
                        exceed 120 percent of the area median gross 
                        income (adjusted for household size) for the 
                        metropolitan statistical area (as defined in 
                        section 143(k)(2)(B)) in which the housing is 
                        located, and
                            ``(iii) in the case of homeownership 
                        assistance, who is a qualified homebuyer.
                If the housing with respect to such employee is located 
                in a high housing cost area (as defined in section 
                143(f)(5)(C)), the income limitation under subparagraph 
                (B) shall be adjusted (but not reduced) by the 
                application of the rule under section 143(f)(5) by 
                substituting `120 percent' for `115 percent' in 
                subparagraph (B)(I) thereof.
                    ``(B) Certain employees not eligible.--The term 
                `eligible employee' shall not include--
                            ``(i) any individual described in 
                        subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of section 
                        51(i)(1), and
                            ``(ii) any 5-percent owner (as defined in 
                        section 416(i)(1)(B)).
            ``(2) Qualified housing expenses.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified housing 
                expenses' means rental assistance or homeownership 
                assistance towards the lease or purchase of housing.
                    ``(B) Rental assistance.--The term `rental 
                assistance' means assistance with security deposits and 
                rental payments.
                    ``(C) Homeownership assistance.--The term 
                `homeownership assistance' means assistance for the 
                purchase of a principal residence, including--
                            ``(i) payment of qualified acquisition 
                        costs (as defined in section 72(t)(8)(C)),
                            ``(ii) providing (or reducing the costs of) 
                        financing, including the funding of a permanent 
                        interest rate buydown,
                            ``(iii) contributions to second mortgage 
                        pools or low interest loan programs accessible 
                        to eligible employees,
                            ``(iv) mortgage guarantee programs for the 
                        repayment of any loans in default that are 
                        secured by an eligible employee and guaranteed 
                        by the employer,
                            ``(v) contributions to Individual 
                        Development Accounts (within the meaning of 
                        section 404(h) of the Social Security Act) 
                        which are designated exclusively for the 
                        purchase of a home, and
                            ``(vi) contributions to homebuyer education 
                        and homeownership counseling of eligible 
                        employees.
            ``(3) Principal residence.--The term `principal residence' 
        has the same meaning as when used in section 121, except such 
        term shall not include a residence with a purchase price 
        exceeding the greater of--
                    ``(A) 90 percent of the average area purchase price 
                applicable to the residence, or
                    ``(B) 3.5 times the family income limit applicable 
                to the eligible employee under paragraph (1)(A)(ii).
            ``(4) Qualified homebuyer.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The term `qualified homebuyer' 
                means any individual if such individual (and if 
                married, such individual's spouse) had no present 
                ownership in a principal residence during the 3-year 
                period ending on the date of the purchase of the 
                principal residence to which this section applies.
                    ``(B) One time only.--If an individual is treated 
                as a qualified homebuyer with respect to any principal 
                residence, such individual may not be treated as a 
                qualified homebuyer with respect to any other principal 
                residence.
            ``(5) Applicable rules.--Rules similar to the rules under 
        section 127(c)(5)(A) shall apply for the purposes of this 
        section.
    ``(d) Treatment of Employers Not Able To Use Entire Credit.--
            ``(1) Allowance of credit.--Except as otherwise provided in 
        this subsection, any credit allowable under subsection (a) to 
        any employer described in paragraph (2)(C) may be transferred 
        as provided in this subsection and the determination as to 
        whether the credit is allowable shall be made without regard to 
        the tax-exempt status of the employer.
            ``(2) Transfer of credit.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An employer described in 
                subparagraph (C) may transfer any credit to which 
                paragraph (1) applies through an assignment to any 
                other person. Such transfer may be revoked only with 
                the consent of the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe 
                such regulations as necessary to ensure that any credit 
                described in subparagraph (A) is assigned once and not 
                reassigned by such other person.
                    ``(C) Employer described.--An employer is described 
                in this subparagraph if the employer is--
                            ``(i) a State or political subdivision 
                        thereof, the District of Columbia, a possession 
                        of the United States, or an agency or 
                        instrumentality of any of the foregoing,
                            ``(ii) an Indian tribal government (within 
                        the meaning of section 7871) or any agency or 
                        instrumentality thereof, or
                            ``(iii) any entity exempt from taxation 
                        under section 501(a).
                    ``(D) Transfer proceeds treated as arising from 
                essential government function.--Any proceeds derived by 
                a person described in clause (i) or (ii) of 
                subparagraph (C) from the transfer under subparagraph 
                (A) of any credit to which paragraph (1) applies shall 
                be treated as arising from the exercise of an essential 
                government function.
                    ``(E) Credit not income.--Any transfer under 
                subparagraph (A) of any credit to which paragraph (1) 
                applies shall not be treated as income for purposes of 
                section 501(c)(12).''.
    (b) Credit Allowed as Part of General Business Credit.--Section 
38(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (defining current year 
business credit) is amended by striking ``plus'' at the end of 
paragraph (35), by striking the period at the end of paragraph (36) and 
inserting ``, plus'', and by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
            ``(37) the employer-provided employee housing assistance 
        credit determined under section 45S(a).''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Subsection (c) of section 196 of the Internal Revenue 
        Code of 1986 is amended by striking ``and'' at the end of 
        paragraph (13), by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
        (14) and inserting ``, and'', and by adding at the end the 
        following new paragraph:
            ``(15) the employer-provided employee housing assistance 
        credit determined under section 45S(a).''.
            (2) The table of sections for subpart D of part IV of 
        subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by adding at 
        the end the following new item:

``Sec. 45S. Employer-provided employee housing assistance.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2016.

SEC. 4. EXCLUSION FROM INCOME OF EMPLOYER-PROVIDED EMPLOYEE HOUSING 
              ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Part III of subchapter B of chapter 1 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to items specifically excluded 
from gross income) is amended by inserting after section 139F the 
following new section:

``SEC. 139G. EMPLOYEE HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

    ``(a) Exclusion From Gross Income.--
            ``(1) In general.--Gross income of an eligible employee 
        does not include amounts paid or incurred by the employer of 
        such employee for qualified housing expenses provided to the 
        employee if the assistance is furnished pursuant to a program 
        described in subsection (b).
            ``(2) Limitation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The aggregate amount of 
                qualified housing expenses which may be excluded under 
                paragraph (1) with respect to any eligible employee for 
                any taxable year shall not exceed, when added to any 
                qualified housing expenses excluded in any preceding 
                taxable year with respect to such employee--
                            ``(i) in the case of homeownership 
                        assistance, the lesser of $10,000 or 6 percent 
                        of the purchase price of such employee's 
                        principal residence, and
                            ``(ii) in the case of rental assistance, 
                        $5,000.
                    ``(B) Inflation adjustment.--
                            ``(i) In general.--In the case of any 
                        taxable year beginning after 2017, each dollar 
                        amount referred to in subparagraph (A) shall be 
                        increased by an amount equal to--
                                    ``(I) such dollar amount, 
                                multiplied by
                                    ``(II) the cost-of-living 
                                adjustment determined under section 26 
                                U.S.C. 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in 
                                which the taxable year begins, by 
                                substituting `2016' for `1992'.
                            ``(ii) Rounding.--If any amount as adjusted 
                        under clause (i) is not a multiple of $50, such 
                        amount shall be rounded to the nearest multiple 
                        of $50.
    ``(b) Housing Assistance Program.--For purposes of this section, a 
housing assistance program is a separate written plan of an employer 
for the exclusive benefit of such employer's employees to provide the 
qualified housing expenses of such employees and which meets 
requirements similar to the requirements of paragraphs (2) through (6) 
of section 127(b).
    ``(c) Definitions; Special Rules.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) In general.--Any term used in section 45S which is 
        also used in this section shall have the same meaning as given 
        such term by section 45S.
            ``(2) Applicable rules.--Rules similar to the rules under 
        section 127(c)(5)(A) shall apply for purposes of this section.
            ``(3) Basis adjustment.--For purposes of this subtitle, if 
        an exclusion is allowed under subsection (a) with respect to a 
        residence, the basis of such residence shall be reduced by the 
        amount of the exclusion.''.
    (b) Reporting Requirements.--Subsection (d)(1) of section 6039D of 
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to returns and records with 
respect to certain fringe benefit plans) is amended by striking ``or 
137'' and inserting ``137, or 139G''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) The table of sections for part III of subchapter B of 
        chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by 
        inserting after the item relating to section 139F the following 
        new item:

``Sec. 139G. Employee housing assistance programs.''.
            (2) Subsection (a) of section 1016 of such Code (relating 
        to adjustments to basis) is amended by striking ``and'' at the 
        end of paragraph (36), by striking the period at the end of 
        paragraph (37) and inserting ``, and'', and by adding at the 
        end the following new paragraph:
            ``(38) in the case of a residence with respect to which 
        amounts were excluded from income under section 139G, to the 
        extent provided in section 139G(c)(3).''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning December 31, 2016.

SEC. 5. GRANTS TO COVER EMPLOYER-ASSISTED HOUSING PROGRAM COSTS.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may award a grant to an 
        eligible entity to pay--
                    (A) the operating costs of administering an 
                employer-assisted housing program;
                    (B) for technical assistance provided by the 
                eligible entity to an employer in connection with such 
                a program; and
                    (C) for costs associated with promoting, 
                publicizing, or otherwise attempting to distribute 
                information relating to such a program.
            (2) Duration.--Grants in an annual aggregate total of not 
        more than $5,000,000 may be awarded under this subsection 
        during each of fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019.
            (3) Award basis.--The Secretary shall award grants under 
        this section on a competitive basis.
    (b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
this section, an entity shall demonstrate that it is--
            (1) a nonprofit housing organization with a relevant 
        mission and demonstrated track record in housing counseling or 
        employer-assisted housing contracted by an employer to assist 
        the employer in establishing or maintaining an employer-
        assisted housing program; or
            (2) a city, county, town, township, parish, village, 
        hamlet, or other general purpose political subdivision of a 
        State that seeks to establish or maintain, or otherwise 
        participate in an employer-assisted housing program for its own 
        employees.
    (c) Application.--Each eligible entity seeking a grant under this 
section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
require.
    (d) Limitation on Use of Funds.--A grant awarded to an eligible 
entity under this section shall be used only for the purposes described 
under subsection (a).
    (e) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Each eligible entity receiving a grant 
        under this section shall annually prepare and submit to the 
        Secretary a report that describes the--
                    (A) amount of grant funds expended during the year;
                    (B) total amount--
                            (i) of funds expended during the year to 
                        administer an employer-assisted housing 
                        program; and
                            (ii) of down payment assistance provided by 
                        such a program;
                    (C) total number of employees utilizing such a 
                program;
                    (D) number of employees utilizing such a program--
                            (i) who are first-time homebuyers;
                            (ii) who are previous homeowners; and
                            (iii) who live in high-cost housing areas;
                    (E) average--
                            (i) income of employees utilizing such a 
                        program;
                            (ii) age of employees utilizing such a 
                        program; and
                            (iii) cost of a home purchased under such a 
                        program;
                    (F) ethnicity of employees utilizing such a 
                program; and
                    (G) number of housing units affected by such a 
                program.
            (2) Clearinghouse and dissemination.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
                establish a national clearinghouse, including a 
                website, designed--
                            (i) to provide information about employer-
                        assisted housing programs to--
                                    (I) Federal, State, and local 
                                government entities; and
                                    (II) interested groups, businesses, 
                                persons, and organizations; and
                            (ii) to collect and disseminate the 
                        information gathered from the reports required 
                        under paragraph (1).
                    (B) Webposting.--The Secretary shall ensure that--
                            (i) each report submitted under paragraph 
                        (1) is posted to the website of the national 
                        clearinghouse established under subparagraph 
                        (A); and
                            (ii) the website of the Department of 
                        Housing and Urban Development provides a 
                        hyperlink to such reports on the website of the 
                        national clearinghouse.
    (f) Definitions.--As used in this section:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Housing and Urban Development.
            (2) Nonprofit housing organization.--The term ``nonprofit 
        housing organization'' means any organization that--
                    (A) the Internal Revenue Service has ruled is 
                exempt from income taxation under paragraph (3), (4), 
                or (5) of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code 
                of 1986; and
                    (B) has as its stated purpose to produce, maintain, 
                operate, or promote affordable housing.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019 
to carry out this section.

SEC. 6. EVALUATION OF EMPLOYER-ASSISTED HOUSING PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--A study of employer-assisted programs shall be 
carried out in accordance with subsection (b) for the purposes of 
evaluating the effects of the tax benefits provided under sections 3 
and 4 and the grant program established under section 5 on--
            (1) such programs; and
            (2) the private sector resources leveraged to further fund 
        such programs.
    (b) National Evaluation.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States (in this section referred to as the ``Comptroller 
        General'') shall conduct the study required under subsection 
        (a).
            (2) Requirements.--The study required under subsection (a) 
        shall include an analysis and summary of--
                    (A) the total number of--
                            (i) employers participating in employer-
                        assisted housing programs;
                            (ii) States that have enacted employer-
                        assisted housing program legislation; and
                            (iii) States considering enacting such 
                        legislation;
                    (B) the extent to which Federal funds are being 
                used to support employer-assisted housing programs;
                    (C) the size and nature of existing Federal, State, 
                and private employer-assisted housing programs;
                    (D) the types of assistance offered to employees 
                under employer-assisted housing programs;
                    (E) the distribution of employers offering 
                employer-assisted housing programs, including a review 
                of the--
                            (i) geographic distribution of such 
                        employers;
                            (ii) industry distribution of such 
                        employers; and
                            (iii) size distribution of such employers;
                    (F) the extent to which employer-assisted housing 
                programs are located in ``high-cost'' housing markets;
                    (G) the extent to which employers are able to, and 
                have made, use of the tax benefits provided under this 
                Act;
                    (H) the information contained in the reports 
                submitted under section 5(e); and
                    (I) any other information that the Comptroller 
                General determines would be relevant and helpful to the 
                Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (in this 
                section referred to as the ``Secretary'') in evaluating 
                the effects of the tax benefits provided under sections 
                3 and 4 and the grant program established under section 
                5.
    (c) Consultation.--In conducting the study required under 
subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall consult with--
            (1) appropriate Federal, State, and local government 
        entities; and
            (2) interested groups, businesses, persons, universities, 
        and organizations.
    (d) Report.--
            (1) Interim report.--Not later than January 1, 2020, the 
        Comptroller General shall submit to the Secretary an interim 
        report on the findings of the study required under subsection 
        (a).
            (2) Final report.--Not later than December 31, 2021, the 
        Comptroller General shall submit to the Secretary a final 
        report that describes--
                    (A) the findings of the study required under 
                subsection (a); and
                    (B) any conclusions and recommendations of such 
                study.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out this section.
                                 <all>