principal and interest on any of its obligations, the Authority (notwithstanding any other provisions of this Act) shall continue to make annual contributions available for the project so long as any of such obligations remain outstanding, and may covenant in such contract (in lieu of the provision required by the first sentence of subsection 15 (3) of this Act) that in any event such annual contributions shall in each year be at least equal to an amount which, together with such income or other funds as are actually available fom the project for the purpose at the time such annual contribution is made, will suffice for the payment of all installments, falling due within the next succeeding twelve months, of principal and interest on the obligations for which the annual contributions provided for in the contract shall have been pledged as security: Provided, That such annual contributions shall not be in excess of the maximum sum determined pursuant to the provisions of this Act; and in no case shall such annual contributions be in excess of the maximum sum specified in the contract involved, nor for longer than the remainder of the maximum period fixed by the contract."; (c) In the fourth sentence of section 9 the words "going Federal rate at the time the loan is made," are deleted, in the first proviso of subsection 10 (b) the words "going Federal rate of interest at the time such contract is made" are deleted, and in lieu thereof in each case there are substituted the words "applicable going Federal rate"; and subsection 2 (10) is amended to read as follows:

"(10) The term 'going Federal rate' means the annual rate of interest (or, if there shall be two or more such rates of interest, the highest thereof) specified in the most recently issued bonds of the Federal Government having a maturity of ten years or more, determined, in the case of loans or annual contributions, respectively, at the date of Presidential approval of the contract pursuant to which such loans or contributions are made: Provided, That for the purposes of this Act, the going Federal rate shall be deemed to be not less than 22 percentum";

(d) Section 9 is amended by striking out the period at the end of said section and adding a colon and the following: "Provided, That in the case of projects initiated after March 1, 1949, with respect to which annual contributions are contracted for pursuant to this Act, loans shall not be made for a period exceeding forty years from the date of the bonds evidencing the loan: And provided further, That, in the case of such projects or any other projects with respect to which the contracts (including contracts which amend or supersede contracts previously made) provide for loans for a period not exceeding forty years from the date of the bonds evidencing the loan and for annual contributions for a period not exceeding forty years from the date the first annual contribution for the project is paid, such loans shall bear interest at a rate not less than the applicable going Federal rate.";

(e) Subsection 10 (c) is amended by striking out the period at the end of the last sentence and adding a colon and the following: "Provided, That, in the case of projects initiated after March 1, 1949, contracts for annual contributions shall not be made for a period exceeding forty years from the date the first annual constribution for the project is paid: And provided further, That, in the case of such projects or any other projects with respects to which the contracts for annual contributions (including contracts which amend or supersede contracts previously made) provide for annual contributions for a period not exceeding forty years from the date the first annual contribution for the project is paid, the fixed contribution may exceed the amount provided in the first proviso of subsection (b) of this section by 1 per centum of development or acquisition cost.";

(f) The first sentence of subsection 10 (c) is amended to read as follows: "Every contract for annual contributions shall provide that whenever in any year the receipts of a public housing agency in connection with a low-rent housing project exceed its expenditures (including debt service, administration, maintenance, establishment of reserves, and other costs and charges), an amount equal to such excess shall be applied, or set aside for application, to purposes which, in the determination of the Authority, will effect a reduction in the amount of subsequent annual contributions.";

(g) Section 14 is amended by inserting the following after the first sentence: "When the Authority finds that it would promote economy or be in the financial interest of the Federal Government, any contract heretofore or hereafter made for annual contributions, loans, or both, may, with Presidential approval, be amended or superseded by a contract of the Authority so that the going Federal rate on the basis of which such annual contributions or interest rate on the loans,

or both, respectively, are fixed shall mean the going Federal rate, as herein defined, on the date of Presidential approval of such amending or superseding contract: Provided, That contracts may not be amended or superseded in a manner which would impair the rights of the holders of any outstanding obligations of the public housing agency involved for which annual contributions have been pledged.";

(h) Section 20 is amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 20. The Authority may issue and have outstanding at any one time notes and other (bligations for purchase by the Secretary of the Treasury in an amount not to ex eed $1,500,000,000. Such notes or other obligations shall be in such forms and denominations, shall have such maturities, and shall be subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Authority with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. Such notes or other obligations shall bear interest at a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, taking into consideration the current average rate on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States as of the last day of the month preceding the issuance of the notes or other obligations by the Authority. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to purchase any notes or other obligations of the Authority issued hereunder and for such purpose is authorized to use as a public debt transaction the proceeds from the sale of any securities issued under the Second Liberty Bond Act, as amended, and the purposes for which securities may be issued under such Act, as amended, are extended to include any purchases of such obligations. The Secretary of the Treasury may at any time sell any of the notes or other obligations acquired by him under this section. All redemptions, purchases, and sales by the Secretary of the Treasury of such notes or other obligations shall be treated as public debt transactions of the United States.";

(i) Subsection 2 (5) is amended to read as follows:

"(5) The term 'development' means any or all undertakings necessary for planning, land acquisition, demoliction, construction, or equipment, in connection with a low-rent housing project. The term development cost' shall comprise the costs incurred by a public housing agency in such undertakings and their necessary financing (including the payment of carrying charges, but not beyond the point of physical completion), and in otherwise carrying out the development of such project. Construction activity in connection with a low-rent housing project may be confined to the reconstruction, remodeling, or repair of existing buildings."; and

(j) The following additional subsection is added to section 15:

"(9) Any contract for loans or annual contributions, or both, entered into by the Authority with a public housing agency, may cover one or more than one low-rent housing project owned by said public housing agency; in the event such contract covers two or more projects, such projects may, for any of the purposes of this Act and of such contract (including, but not limited to, the determination of the amount of the loan, annual contributions, or payments in lieu of taxes, specified in such contract), be treated collectively as one project."

ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS

SEC. 205. The United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, is hereby amended as follows:

(a) By inserting the following after the first sentence of subsection (e) of section 10: "With respect to projects assisted pursuant to this Act, the Authority (in addition to the amount authorized by the first sentence of his subsection) is authorized, with the approval of the President, to enter into contracts, on and after July 1, 1949, for annual contributions aggregating not more than $85,000,000 per annum, which limit shall be increased by further amounts of $80,000,000 on July 1 in each of the years 1950, 1951, and 1952, respectively, and by $75,000,000 on July 1, 1953: Provided, That (subject to the total additional authorization of not more than $400,000,000 per annum) such limit, and any such authorized increase therein, may be increased at any time or times by not to exceed in any fiscal year an additional amount of $80,000,000 upon a determination by the President, after receiving advice from the Council of Economic Advisers as to the general effect of such increase upon conditions in the building industry and upon the national economy, that such action is in the public interest: And provided further, That 10 per centum of each amount of authorization to enter into contracts for annual contributions becoming available hereunder

shall, for a period of three years after such amount of authorization becomes available, be available only for annual contributions contracts with respect to projects to be located in rural nonfarm areas. With respect to projects initiated after March 1, 1949, the Authority may authorize the commencement of construction of not to exceed one hundred and fifty thousand dwelling units after July 1, 1949, which limit shall be increased by further amounts of one hundred and fifty thousand dwelling units on July 1 in each of the years 1950 through and including 1955, respectively: Provided, That (subject to the authorization of not to exceed one million and fifty thousand dwelling units) such limit, and any such authorized increase therein, may be increased at any time or times by not to exceed in any fiscal year an additional one hundred thousand dwelling units, or may be decreased at any time or times by not to exceed in any fiscal year one hundred thousand dwelling units, upon a determination by the President, after receiving advice from the Council of Economic Advisers as to the general effect of such increase or decrease upon conditions in the building industry and upon the national economy, that such action is in the public interest: And provided further, That contracts for annual contributions with respect to lowrent housing projects initiated after March 1, 1949, shall not provide for the development of more than one million and fifty thousand dwelling units without further authorization from the Congress."; and

(b) By deleting the third sentence of subsection 10 (a) and adding the following new subsection to section 10:

"(h) Every contract made pursuant to this Act for annual contributions for any low-rent housing project initiated after March 1, 1949, shall provide that no annual contributions by the Authority shall be made available for such project unless such project is exempt from all real and personal property taxes levied or imposed by the State, city, county, or other political subdivions, but such contract may authorize the public housing agency to make payments in lieu of such taxes in an annual amount not in excess of 10 per centum of the annual shelter rents charged in such project: Provided, That, with respect to any such project to be located in any State where, by reason of constitutional limitations or otherwise, such project is not exempt from all real and personal property taxes levied or imposed by the State, city, county, or other political subdivision, such contract may provide, in lieu of the requirement for tax exemption, that no annual contributions by the Authority shall be made available for such project unless and until the State, city, county, or other political subdivision in which such project is situated shall contribute, in the form of cash, at least 20 per centum of the annual contributions paid by the Authority. In respect to low-rent housing projects initiated prior to March 1, 1949, the Authority may, after the effective date of the Housing Act of 1949, authorize payments in lieu of taxes for each of the project fiscal years in respect to which annual contributions were payable during the two-year period ending June 30, 1949, in amounts which, together with amounts already paid, will not exceed the greater of either (i) 5 per centum of the shelter rents charged in such projects for each of such project fiscal years, or (ii) the amounts specified in the cooperation agreements in effect July 1, 1947, between the public housing agencies and the political subdivisions in which the projects are located, or in the ordinances or resolutions of such political subdivisions in effect on such date. In respect to such low-rent housing projects initiated prior to March 1, 1949, the contracts for annual contributions may be amended as to project fiscal years in respect to which annual contributions are payable on or after July 1, 1949, so as to require exemption from real and personal property taxes in lieu of any other requirements as to local contributions and to permit payments in lieu of taxes on the terms prescribed in the first sentence of this subsection; in the event that the contracts for annual contributions are not so amended, payments in lieu of taxes in respect to such project fiscal years shall be limited to the amount specified in the cooperation agreements or ordinances or resolutions in effect July 1, 1947."

SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR LARGE FAMILIES OF LOW INCOME

SEC. 206. In order to enable low-rent housing to better serve the needs of large families of low income, the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, is hereby amended by deleting the second sentence of subsection 2 (1) and substituting therefor the following: "The dwellings in low-rent housing as defined in this Act shall be available solely for families whose net annual income at the time of admission, less an exemption of $100 for each minor member of the family other than the head of the family and his spouse, does not exceed five times the

annual rental (including the value or cost to them of water, electricity, gas, other heating and cooking fuels, and other utilities) of the dwellings to be furnished such families. For the sole purpose of determining eligibility for continued occupancy, a public housing agency may allow, from the net income of any family, an exemption for each minor member of the family (other than the head of the family and his spouse) of either (a) $100, or (b) all or any part of the annual income of such minor. For the purposes of this subsection, a minor shall' mean a person less than 21 years of age."

TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS

SEC. 207. The United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, is hereby amended as follows:

(a) By deleting from section 1 the words "rural or urban communities" and by substituting therefor the words "urban and rural nonfarm areas";

(b) (1) By adding at the end of subsection 2 (11) the following new sentence: "The Authority shall enter into contracts for financial assistance with a State or State agency where such State or State agency makes application for such assistance for an eligible project which, under the applicable laws of the State, is to be developed and administered by such State or State agency."; and (2) By adding the following new subsection to section 2:

"(15) The term 'initiated' when used in reference to the date on which a project was initiated refers to the date of the first contract for financial assistance in respect to such project entered into by the Authority and the public housing agency.";

(c) By adding to section 6 the following new subsection:

"(e) With respect to all projects under title II of Public Law 671, Seventysixth Congress, approved June 28, 1940, references therein to the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, shall include all amendments to said Act made by the Housing Act of 1949 or by any other law thereafter enacted.";

(d) By deleting the proviso in subsection 10 (a) and the proviso in subsection 11 (a), and in each case changing the colon preceding the word "Provided" to a period;

(e) By amending the second sentence of subsection 13 (a) to read as follows: "The Authority may bid for and purchase at any foreclosure by any party or at any other sale, or (pursuant to section 22 or otherwise) acquire or take possession of any project which it previously owned or in connection with which it has made a loan, annual contribution, or capital grant; and in such event the Authority may complete, administer, pay the principal of and interest on any obligations issued in connection with such project, dispose of, and otherwise deal with, such projects or parts thereof, subject, however, to the limitations elsewhere in this Act governing their administration and disposition.";

(f) By amending subsection 16 (2) by inserting after the words "contain a provision requiring that” the words "not less than";

(g) By amending subsection 21 (d) to read as follows:

"(d) Not more than 10 per centum of the total annual amount of $428,000,000 provided in this Act for annual contributions, nor more than 10 per centum of the amounts provided for in this Act for grants, shall be expended within any one State."; and

(h) By renumbering sections 22 to 30, inclusive, so that they become sections 23 to 31, inclusive.

TITLE III-HOUSING RESEARCH

SEC. 301. Title III of Public Law 901, Eightieth Congress, approved August 10, 1948. is hereby amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 301. The Housing and Home Finance Administrator shall

"(a) Undertake and conduct a program with respect to technical research and studies concerned with the development, demonstration, and promotion of the acceptance and application of new and improved techniques, materials, and methods which will permit progressive reductions in housing construction and maintenance costs, and stimulate the increased and sustained production of housing, and concerned with housing economics and other housing market data. Such program may be concerned with improved and standardized building codes and regulations and methods for the more uniform administration thereof, standardized dimensions and methods for the assembly of home-building materials and equipment, improved residential design and construction, new and improved types of housing components, building materials and equipment, and

methods of production, distribution, assembly, and construction, and sound techniques for the testing thereof and for the determination of adequate performance standards, and may relate to appraisal, credit, and other housing market data, housing needs, demand and supply, finance and investment, land costs, use and improvement, site planning and utilities, zoning and other laws, codes, and regulations as they apply to housing, other factors affecting the cost of housing, and related technical and economic research. Contracts may be made by the Administrator for technical research and studies authorized by this subsection for work to continue not more than four years from the date of any such contract. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 5 of the Act of June 20, 1874, as amended (31 U. S. C. 713), any unexpended balances of appropriations properly obligated by contracting with an organization as provided in this subsection may remain upon the books of the Treasury for not more than five fiscal years before being carried to the surplus fund and covered into the Treasury. All contracts made by the Administrator for technical research and studies authorized by this or any other Act shall contain requirements making the results of such research or studies available to the public through dedication, assignment to the Government, or such other means as the Administrator shall determine. The Administrator shall disseminate, and without regard to the provisions of 39 United States Code 321b, the results of such research and studies in such form as may be most useful to industry and to the general public.

"(b) Prepare and submit to the President and to the Congress estimates of national urban and rural nonfarm housing needs and reports with respect to the progress being made toward meeting such needs, and correlate and recommend proposals for such executive action or legislation as may be necessary or desirable for the furtherance of the national housing objective and policy established by this Act, with respect to urban and rural nonfarm housing, together with such other reports or information as may be required of the Administrator by the President or the Congress.

"(c) Encourage localities to make studies of their own housing needs and markets, along with surveys and plans for housing, urban land use and related community development, and provide, where requested and needed by the localities, technical advice and guidance in the making of such studies, surveys, and plans.

"SEC. 302. In carrying out research and studies under this title, the Administrator shall utilize, to the fullest extent feasible, the available facilities of other departments, independent establishments, and agencies of the Federal Government, and shall consult with, and make recommendations to, such departments, independent establishments, and agencies with respect to such action as may be necessary and desirable to overcome existing gaps and deficiencies in available housing data or in the facilities available for the collection of such data. The Administrator is further authorized, for the purposes of this title, to undertake research and studies cooperatively with industry and labor, and with agencies of State or local governments, and educational institutions and other nonprofit organizations. For the purpose of entering into contracts with any State or local public agency or instrumentality, or educational institution or other nonprofit agency or organization, in carrying out any research or studies authorized by this title, the Administrator may exercise any of the powers vested in him by section 502 (c) of the Housing Act of 1948.

"SEC. 303. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this title."

TITLE IV-FARM HOUSING

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

SEC. 401. (a) The Secretary of Agriculture (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary") is authorized, subject to the terms and conditions of this title, to extend financial assistance, through the Farmers Home Administration, to owners of farms in the United States and in the Territories of Alaska and Hawaii and in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, to enable them to construct, improve, alter, repair, or replace dwellings and other farm buildings on their farms to provide them, their tenants, lessees, sharecroppers, and laborers with decent, safe, and sanitary living conditions and adequate farm buildings as specified in this title.