[PUBLIC-No. 837-74TH CONGRESS] [8. 3247] AN ACT To waive any exclusive jurisdiction over premises of Public Works Administration slum-clearance and low-cost housing projects, to authorize payments to States and political subdivisions in lieu of taxes on such premises, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the acquisition by the United States of any real property heretofore or hereafter acquired in connection with any low-cost housing, or slumclearance project heretofore, or hereafter constructed with funds allotted to the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works pursuant to title II of the National Industry Recovery Act, the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935, or any other law, shall not be held to deprive any State or political subdivision thereof of its civil and criminal jurisdiction in and over such property, or to impair the civil rights under the local law of the tenants or inhabitants on such property; and insofar as any such jurisdiction has been taken away from any such State or subdivision, or any such rights have been impaired, jurisdiction over any such property is hereby ceded back to such State or subdivision. SEO. 2. Upon the request of any State or political subdivision in which any such project has been or will be constructed, the Federal Emergency Administrator of Public Works is authorized to enter into an agreement, and to consent to the renewal or alteration thereof, with such State or subdivisions for the payment by the United States of sums in lieu of taxes. Such sums shall be fixed in such agreement and shall be based upon the cost of the public or municipal services to be supplied for the benefit of such project or the persons residing on or occupying such premises, but taking into consideration the benefits to be derived by such State or subdivision from such project. SEC. 3. Such payments in lieu of taxes, and any other expenditures for operation and maintenance (including insurance) of any lowcost housing or slum-clearance project described in section 1, shall be made out of the receipts derived from the operation of such projects. To provide for such payments and expenditures the Federal Emergency Administrator of Public Works is authorized from time to time to retain out of such receipts such sums as he may estimate to be necessary for such purposes. SEC. 4. (a) In the administration of any low-cost housing or slumclearance project described in section 1, the Federal Emergency Administrator of Public Works shall fix the rentals at an amount at least sufficient to pay (1) all necessary and proper administrative expenses of the project; (2) such sums as will suffice to repay, within a period not exceeding sixty years, at least 55 per centum of the initial cost of the project, together with interest at such rate as he deems advisable. (b) Dwelling accommodations in such low-cost housing or slumclearance projects shall be available only to families who lack sufficient income, without the benefit of financial assistance, to enable them to live in decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings and under other than overcrowded housing conditions: Provided, That no family shall be accepted as a tenant in any such project whose aggregate income exceeds five times the rental of the quarters to be furnished such family. The term "rental" as used in this subsection includes the average cost (as determined by the Federal Emergency Administrator of Public Works) of heat, light, water, and cooking, where such services are not supplied by the lessor and included in the rent. SEC. 5. In connection with any low-cost housing or slum-clearance project described in section 1, the Federal Emergency Administrator of Public Works, with the approval of the President, is authorized to dedicate streets, alleys, and parks for public use, and to grant easements. Approved, June 29, 1936. [PUBLIC RESOLUTION-No. 6-75TH CONGRESS] [S. J. Res. 38] JOINT RESOLUTION To extend for a period of two years the guarantee by the United States of debentures issued by the Federal Housing Administrator. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 204 (b) of the National Housing Act, as amended, is amended by striking out "July 1, 1937" and inserting in lieu thereof "July 1, 1939". Approved, February 19, 1937. [PUBLIC-No. 44-75TH CONGRESS] [CHAPTER 121-1ST SESSION] AN ACT To amend the National Housing Act. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That subsection (a) of section 6 of the National Housing Act, as amended, is amended to read as follows: "(a) The Administrator is authorized and empowered, upon such terms and conditions as he may prescribe, to insure banks, trust companies, personal finance companies, mortgage companies, building and loan associations, installment lending companies, and other such financial institutions, heretofore or hereafter approved by the Administrator as eligible for credit insurance, against losses which they may sustain as a result of loans and advances of credit, and purchases of obligations representing loans and advances of credit, made by them subsequent to the date this section takes effect and prior to July 1, 1939, or such earlier date as the President may fix by proclamation upon his determination that the emergency no longer exists, for the purpose of financing, by the owners of real property or by lessees thereof under a lease for a period of not less than one year, the restoration, rehabilitation, rebuilding, and replacement of improvements on such real property and equipment and machinery thereon which were damaged or destroyed by earthquake, conflagration, tornado, cyclone, hurricane, flood, or other catastrophe in the years 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, or 1939, either on the same site or on a new site in the same locality where the damaged or destroyed property was located. The Administrator is authorized to grant insurance under this section, as amended, to any such financial institution up to 20 per centum of the total amount of loans, advances of credit, and purchases made by such financial institution for such purposes, and any insurance reserve accumulated by any such inancial institution under section 2 of this title shall be applicable to the payment of any losses sustained by it as a result of loans, advances of credit, or purchases insured under this section." SEC. 2. The third sentence of subsection (a) of section 2 of the National Housing Act, as amended, is amended to read as follows: "The total liability incurred by the Administrator for all insurance heretofore and hereafter granted under this section and section 6, as amended, shall not exceed in the aggregate $100,000,000." Approved, April 22, 1937. [CORRECTED PRINT] [PUBLIC-No. 412-75TH CONGRESS] [CHAPTER 896-1ST SESSION] [S. 1685] AN ACT To provide financial assistance to the States and political subdivisions thereof for the elimination of unsafe and insanitary housing conditions, for the eradication of slums, for the provision of decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings for families of low income, and for the reduction of unemployment and the stimulation of business activity, to create a United States Housing Authority, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, DECLARATION OF POLICY SECTION 1. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States to promote the general welfare of the Nation by employing its funds and credit, as provided in this Act, to assist the several States and their political subdivisions to alleviate present and recurring unemployment and to remedy the unsafe and insanitary housing conditions and the acute shortage of decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings for families of low income, in rural or urban communities, that are injurious to the health, safety, and morals of the citizens of the Nation. DEFINITIONS SEC. 2. When used in this Act (1) The term "low-rent housing" means decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings within the financial reach of families of low income, and developed and administered to promote serviceability, efficiency, economy, and stability, and embraces all necessary appurtenances thereto. The dwellings in low-rent housing as defined in this Act shall be available solely for families whose net income at the time of admission does not exceed five times the rental (including the value or cost to them of heat, light, water, and cooking fuel) of the dwellings to be furnished such families, except that in the case of families with three or more minor dependents, such ratio shall not exceed six to one. (2) The term "families of low income" means families who are in the lowest income group and who cannot afford to pay enough to cause private enterprise in their locality or metropolitan area to build an adequate supply of decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings for their use. (3) The term "slum" means any area where dwellings predominate which, by reason of dilapidation, overcrowding, faulty arrangement or design, lack of ventilation, light or sanitation facilities, or any combination of these factors, are detrimental to safety, health, or morals. (4) The term "slum clearance" means the demolition and removal of buildings from any slum area. (5) The term "development" means any or all undertakings necessary for planning, financing (including payment of carrying charges), land acquisition, demolition, construction, or equipment, in connection with a low-rent-housing or slum-clearance project, but not beyond the point of physical completion. Construction activity in connection with a low-rent-housing project may be confined to the reconstruction, remodeling, or repair of existing buildings. (6) The term "administration" means any or all undertakings necessary for management, operation, maintenance, or financing, in connection with a low-rent-housing or slum-clearance project, subsequent to physical completion. (7) The term "Federal project" means any project owned or administered by the Authority. (8) The term "acquisition cost" means the amount prudently required to be expended by a public housing agency in acquiring a low-rent-housing or slum-clearance project. (9) The term "non-dwelling facilities" shall include site development, improvements and facilities located outside building walls (including streets, sidewalks, and sanitary, utility, and other facilities). (10) The term "going Federal rate of interest" means, at any time, the annual rate of interest specified in the then most recently issued bonds of the Federal Government having a maturity of ten years or more. (11) The term "public housing agency" means any State, county, municipality, or other governmental entity or public body (excluding the Authority), which is authorized to engage in the development or administration of low-rent housing or slum clearance. (12) The term "State" includes the States of the Union, the District of Columbia, and the Territories, dependencies, and possessions of the United States. (13) The term "Authority" means the United States Housing Authority created by section 3 of this Act. UNITED STATES HOUSING AUTHORITY SEO. 8. (a) There is hereby created in the Department of the Interior and under the general supervision of the Secretary thereof a body corporate of perpetual duration to be known as the United States Housing Authority, which shall be an agency and instrumentality of the United States. (b) The powers of the Authority shall be vested in and exercised by an Administrator, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Administrator shall serve for a term of five years and shall be removable by the President upon notice and hearing for neglect of duty or malfeasance but for no other cause. (c) The Administrator shall receive a salary of $10,000 a year, shall be eligible for reappointment, and shall not engage in any other business, vocation, or employment. Neither the Administrator nor any officer or employee of the Authority shall participate in any matter affecting his personal interests or the interest of any corporation, partnership, or association in which he is directly or indirectly interested. |