1-303. The Chairperson may establish working groups or subcommittees of the Council. The Chairman may invite representatives of nonmember agencies to participate from time to time in the functions of the Council.

1-304. The Chairperson shall report to the President on the performance of the Council's functions.

THE WHITE HOUSE, August 16, 1978.

JIMMY CARTER

SEC. 114. The amendments made by this title shall become effective October 1, 1977.

Approved October 12, 1977.

EXCERPTS FROM HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1974

[Public Law 93-383, 88 Stat. 633]

IN ACT To establish a program of community development block grants, to amend and extend laws relating to housing and urban development, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Tnited States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may e cited as the "Housing and Community Development Act of 1974”.

TITLE I-COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

FINDINGS AND PURPOSE

SEC. 101. (a) The Congress finds and declares that the Nation's ities, towns, and smaller urban communities face critical social, ecoomic, and environmental problems arising in significant measure

rom

(1) the growth of population in metropolitan and other urban areas, and the concentration of persons of lower income in central cities; and

(2) inadequate public and private investment and reinvestment in housing and other physical facilities, and related public and social services, resulting in the growth and persistence of urban slums and blight and the marked deterioration of the quality of the urban environment.

(b) The Congress further finds and declares that the future welfare of the Nation and the well-being of its citizens depend on the establishnent and maintenance of viable urban communities as social, economic, and political entities, and require

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(1) systematic and sustained action by Federal, State, and local governments to eliminate blight, to conserve and renew older urban areas, to improve the living environment of low- and moderate-income families, and to develop new centers of population growth and economic activity;

(2) substantial expansion of and greater continuity in the scope and level of Federal assistance, together with increased private investment in support of community development activities; and

(3) continuing effort at all levels of government to streamline programs and improve the functioning of agencies responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating community development efforts.

(c) The primary objective of this title is the development of viable urban communities, by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income. Consistent with this primary objective, the Federal assistance provided in this title is for the support of community development activities which are directed toward the following specific objectives

(1) the elimination of slums and blight and the prevention of blighting influences and the deterioration of property and neighborhood and community facilities of importance to the welfare of the community, principally persons of low and moderate income:

(2) the elimination of conditions which are detrimental to health, safety, and public welfare, through code enforcement, demolition, interim rehabilitation assistance, and related activities;

(3) the conservation and expansion of the Nation's housing stock in order to provide a decent home and a suitable living environment for all persons, but principally those of low and moderate income;

(4) the expansion and improvement of the quantity and quality of community services, principally for persons of low and moderate income, which are essential for sound community development and for the development of viable urban communities;

(5) a more rational utilization of land and other natural resources and the better arrangement of residential, commercial, industrial, recreational, and other needed activity centers;

(6) the reduction of the isolation of income groups within communities and geographical areas and the promotion of an increase in the diversity and vitality of neighborhoods through the spatial deconcentration of housing opportunities for persons of lower income and the revitalization of deteriorating or deteriorated neighborhoods to attract persons of higher income;

(7) the restoration and preservation of properties of special value for historic, architectural, or esthetic reasons; and

(8) the alleviation of physical and economic distress through the stimulation of private investment and community revitalization in areas with population outmigration or a stagnating or declining tax base.1

1 Sec. 101 (a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1977, Public Law 95-128, approved October 12, 1977, 91 Stat. 711, inserted new subsection (c) (8).

It is the intent of Congress that the Federal assistance made available under this title not be utilized to reduce substantially the amount of local financial support for community development activities below the level of such support prior to the availability of such assistance.

(d) It is also the purpose of this title to further the development of a national urban growth policy by consolidating a number of complex and overlapping programs of financial assistance to communities of varying sizes and needs into a consistent system of Federal aid which

(1) provides assistance on an annual basis, with maximum certainty and minimum delay, upon which communities can rely in their planning;

(2) encourages community development activities which are consistent with comprehensive local and area wide development planning;

(3) further achievement of the national housing goal of a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American family; and

(4) fosters the undertaking of housing and community development activities in a coordinated and mutually supportive manner by Federal agencies and programs, as well as by communities.1

DEFINITIONS

SEC. 102. (a) As used in this title

(1) The term "unit of general local government" means any city, county, town, township, parish, village, or other general purpose political subdivision of a State; Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, or a general purpose political subdivision thereof; a combination of such political subdivisions recognized by the Secretary; the District of Columbia; and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Such term also includes a State or a local public body or agency (as defined in section 711 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970), community association, or other entity, which is approved by the Secretary for the purpose of providing public facilities or services to a new community as part of a program meeting the eligibility standards of section 712 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970 or title IV of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968. (2) The term "State" means any State of the United States, or any instrumentality thereof approved by the Governor; and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

(3) The term "metropolitan area" means a standard metropolitan statistical area as established by the Office of Management and Budget.

(4) The term "metropolitan city" means (A) a city within a metropolitan area which is the central city of such area, as defined and used by the Office of Management and Budget, or (B) any other city, within a metropolitan area, which has a population of fifty thousand or more; except that any city which has been classified as a metropolitan city under clause (B) of this paragraph shall continue to be so classified until the decennial census

1 Amended by section 101 (b) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1977, Public Law 95-128, approved October 12, 1977, 91 Stat. 1111, to read as set forth in the text. 3 Amended by section 102 (a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1977 Public Law 95-128, approved October 12, 1977, 91 Stat. 1111, to read as set forth in the text.

indicates that the population of such city is less than fifty thousand.1

(5) The term "city" means (A) any unit of general local government which is classified as a municipality by the United States Bureau of the Census or (B) any other unit of general local government which is a town or township and which, in the determination of the Secretary, (i) possesses powers and performs functions comparable to those associated with municipalities, (ii) is closely settled, and (iii) contains within its boundaries no incorporated places as defined by the United States Bureau of the Census which have not entered into cooperation agreements with such town or township to undertake or to assist in the undertaking of essential community development and housing assistance activities.1

(6) The term "urban county" means any county within a metropolitan area which (A) is authorized under State law to undertake essential community development and housing assistance activities in its unincorporated areas, if any, which are not units of general local government, and either 2 (B) has a combined population of two hundred thousand or more (excluding the population of metropolitan cities therein) in such unincorporated areas and in its included units of general local government (i) in which it has authority to undertake essential community development and housing assistance activities and which do not elect to have their population excluded or (ii) with which it has entered into cooperation agreements to undertake or to assist in the undertaking of essential community development and housing assistance activities, or (C) has a population in excess of one hundred thousand, a population density of at least five thousand persons per square mile, and contains within its boundaries no incorporated places as defined by the United States Bureau of Census.

(7) The term "population" means total resident population based on data compiled by the United States Bureau of the Census and referable to the same point or period in time.

(8) The term "extent of poverty" means the number of persons whose incomes are below the poverty level. Poverty levels shall be determined by the Secretary pursuant to criteria provided by the Office of Management and Budget, taking into account and making adjustments, if feasible and appropriate and in the sole discretion of the Secretary, for regional or area variations in income and cost of living, and shall be based on data referable to the same point or period in time.

(9) The term "extent of housing overcrowding" means the number of housing units with 1.01 or more persons per room based on data compiled by the United States Bureau of the Census and referable to the same point or period in time.

(10) The term "age of housing" means the number of existing housing units constructed in 1939 or earlier based on data com

1 Amended by section 102(a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1977. Public Law 95-128, approved October 12, 1977, 91 Stat. 1111, to read as set forth in

the text.

Sec. 102 (a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1977, Public Law 95128. approved October 12, 1977, amended paragraph (6) as set forth in the text.

3 The Housing and Community Development Act 1977, Public Law 95-128, approved October 12, 1977, redesignated paragraphs (10), (11), (12), and (13) as paragraphs (17), (18), (19) and (20); and inserted after paragraph (9) new paragraphs (10), (11), (12). (13), (14), (15), and (16).