[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8302 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 771
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8302
[Report No. 118-800, Part I]
To establish a commission to review the programs of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development and make recommendations for legislative
reforms, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 8, 2024
Mr. Davidson (for himself, Mr. Meuser, Mr. Donalds, and Mr. Garbarino)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, 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
December 5, 2024
Reported from the Committee on Financial Services with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
December 5, 2024
Referral to the Committee on Rules extended for a period ending not
later than December 19, 2024
December 19, 2024
Committee on Rules discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 8,
2024]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a commission to review the programs of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development and make recommendations for legislative
reforms, 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 ``HUD Evaluation and Optimization
Commission Act of 2024''.
SEC. 2. HUD EVALUATION AND OPTIMIZATION COMMISSION.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known
as the HUD Evaluation and Optimization Commission (in this Act referred
to as the ``Commission'').
(b) Members.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 4
members, appointed not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, as follows:
(A) One member shall be appointed by the Speaker of
the House of Representatives.
(B) One member shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the House of Representatives.
(C) One member shall be appointed by the majority
leader of the Senate.
(D) One member shall be appointed by the minority
leader of the Senate.
(2) Prohibition on lobbyists.--An individual may not be
appointed as a member of the Commission if the individual was
registered as a lobbyist under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of
1995 (2 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) at any time during the 5-year
period ending on the date of the appointment.
(c) Terms.--Each member shall be appointed for the life of the
Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers,
but shall be filled not later than 14 days after the date on which the
vacancy occurs in the same manner as the original appointment.
(d) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--
(1) Election.--The members of the Commission shall elect a
Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson from among the members of
the Commission.
(2) Absence of chairperson.--The Vice Chairperson shall
serve as the Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson.
(e) Compensation.--
(1) In general.--Each member of the Commission shall be
compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the
annual rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule
under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, for each day
(including travel time) during which such member is engaged in
the performance of the duties of the Commission.
(2) Travel expenses.--Each member may be allowed travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in
accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
(f) Meetings.--
(1) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date
on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the
Commission shall hold the initial meeting of the Commission.
(2) Subsequent meetings.--The Commission shall meet--
(A) at least once each month; and
(B) at the call of the Chairperson or the majority
of the members of the Commission.
(g) Quorum.--A majority of the voting members shall constitute a
quorum, but a lesser number may hold meetings approved pursuant to
subsection (f)(2).
(h) Voting.--The Commission shall act only on an affirmative vote
of a majority of the members of the Commission.
(i) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--Chapter 10 of title 5, United
States Code (5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.; relating to Federal Advisory
Committees), shall not apply to the Commission.
SEC. 3. DUTIES.
(a) In General.--The Commission shall review and determine--
(1) the number, design, complexity, utilization,
authorization or lack thereof, and potential overlap of the
current programs administered by the Department of Housing and
Urban Development (in this Act referred to as the
``Department'');
(2) the level of effectiveness of the Department and its
programs, including identifying how best to optimize the
effectiveness of each area of review, to more effectively meet
the Department's mission while reducing waste and
mismanagement; and
(3) the extent to which housing costs are driving inflation
and how to reduce inflation in the cost of housing.
(b) Analysis and Recommendations.--The Commission shall analyze the
potential performance and cost-efficiency benefits that could be
achieved through a reorganization of the Department, including
consolidation and realignment of its programs, and shall make
recommendations regarding--
(1) changes to the Department's organizational structure to
better serve program participants, protect taxpayers, and
create operational efficiencies;
(2) improvements in the processes that the Department can
execute to better fulfill its statutory obligations and mission
to provide decent, safe, sanitary, and affordable housing;
(3) the reduction of fragmentation and overlap between
various Department programs and between programs of the
Department and programs of other Federal agencies, and enhanced
program utilization;
(4) technology-based solutions to allow programs to
operative more efficiently and effectively and to better serve
eligible program participants;
(5) quantitative and qualitative measures of the
effectiveness of programs that provide housing for extremely
low-, very low-, low-, and moderate-income individuals and
families;
(6) reforms the Department can undertake to prevent, to the
maximum extent possible, a disruptive loss of benefits by
program participants who experience income growth that may
otherwise disqualify them from such benefits (commonly referred
to as a ``benefits cliff'') or, conversely, that may disqualify
participants with lower incomes marginally in excess of program
requirements;
(7) ways to improve the social and economic outcomes for
program participants, including actions the Department can take
to mitigate health and safety risks to program participants and
to foster economic mobility and opportunity;
(8) improvements to enhance transparency, oversight, and
public accountability; and
(9) any such other action that would optimize the
effectiveness of the Department or its programs.
(c) Reports.--
(1) Initial report.--Not later than 9 months after the date
of its initial meeting, the Commission may submit to the
Congress an initial report containing its analysis and
preliminary recommendations under subsections (a) and (b).
(2) Final report.--Not later than 18 months after the date
of its initial meeting and upon an affirmative vote of a
majority of the members of the Commission, the Commission shall
submit to the Congress and make publicly available a final
report containing--
(A) a detailed statement of the findings,
conclusions, and recommendations of the Commission
under subsections (a) and (b);
(B) a statement of the assumptions, scenarios, and
alternatives considered in reaching such findings,
conclusions, and recommendations;
(C) proposed legislative language for
reauthorization, consolidation, expiration,
termination, or elimination of programs consistent with
the final report;
(D) any additional views or recommendations of
individual Commission members with attribution and in a
separate section of the report;
(E) a summary of the Commission's meetings,
hearings, and activities;
(F) a final accounting of the funds the Commission
received and expended; and
(G) any other information that the Commission
considers to be appropriate.
SEC. 4. STAFF AND OUTSIDE SERVICES.
(a) Appointment and Compensation of Staff.--The Chairperson of the
Commission may appoint and fix the compensation of a staff director and
such other employees as may be necessary to enable the Commission to
carry out its functions, without regard to the provisions of title 5,
United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service,
but at rates not to exceed the annual rate of basic pay for level V of
the Executive Schedule.
(b) Agency Assistance.--Upon the request of the Chairperson, the
head of any agency may detail an employee of the agency to the
Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without
interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
(c) Consultant, Temporary, and Intermittent Services.--The
Chairperson may procure the services of experts and consultants and
temporary and intermittent services in accordance with section 3109(b)
of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to
exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate paid of pay for a
position at level V of the Executive Schedule for each day during which
such consultant or expert is engaged in the performance of the duties
of the Commission.
SEC. 5. POWERS.
(a) Hearings.--The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out
this Act--
(1) hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and
places, take testimony, receive evidence, and administer oaths
as the Commission considers appropriate; and
(2) require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and
testimony of such witnesses and the production of any evidence
the Commission considers advisable to carry out its duties.
(b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may request
directly, or require by subpoena or otherwise, from any Federal agency
such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out its
duties. Upon a request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head
of a Federal agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.
(c) Issuance and Enforcement of Subpoenas.--
(1) Issuance.--Subpoenas issued under subsection (a) or (b)
shall bear the signature of the Chairperson of the Commission
and shall be served by any person or class of persons
designated by the Chairperson for that purpose.
(2) Enforcement.--In the case of contumacy or failure to
obey a subpoena issued under subsection (a) or (b), the United
States district court for the judicial district in which the
subpoenaed person resides, is served, or may be found may issue
an order requiring such person to appear at any designated
place to testify or to produce documentary or other evidence.
Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by
the court as a contempt of that court.
(d) Witness Allowances and Fees.--Section 1821 of title 28, United
States Code, shall apply to witnesses requested or subpoenaed to appear
at any hearing of the Commission. The per diem and mileage allowances
for witnesses shall be paid from funds available to pay the expenses of
the Commission.
(e) Information From Congressional Budget Office and Office of
Management and Budget.--The Commission may secure directly from the
Congressional Budget Office and Office of Management and Budget such
information, including estimates and analysis, as the Commission
considers advisable to carry out its duties. Upon request of the
Chairperson of the Commission, the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office or Office of Management and Budget shall furnish such
information, including estimates and analysis, to the Commission.
(f) Support From Library of Congress.--Upon the request of the
Commission, the Librarian of Congress shall provide to the Commission,
on a reimbursable basis, administrative support services, research
services, and research staff necessary for the Commission to carry out
its responsibilities under this Act.
SEC. 6. EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE FROM
FINAL REPORT.
(a) Introduction.--Upon submission of the final report required
under section 3(c)(2), the proposed legislative language for
reauthorization, expiration, termination, or elimination of programs
required by section 3(c)(2)(C) shall be introduced in the House of
Representatives (by request) within the next 5 legislative days by the
majority leader of the House or by a Member of the House designated by
the majority leader of the House and shall be introduced in the Senate
(by request) within the next 5 legislative days on which the Senate is
in session by the majority leader of the Senate or by a Member of the
Senate designated by the majority leader of the Senate. In this section
such a bill is referred to as a ``Commission bill''.
(b) Consideration in the House of Representatives.--
(1) Referral and reporting.--The Committee on Financial
Services and any other committee of the House of
Representatives to which the Commission bill is referred shall
report it to the House without amendment not later than 60 days
after its introduction. If a committee fails to report the
Commission bill within that period, it shall be in order to
move that the House discharge the committee from further
consideration of the bill. Such a motion shall not be in order
after the last committee authorized to consider the bill
reports it to the House or after the House has disposed of a
motion to discharge the bill. The previous question shall be
considered as ordered on the motion to its adoption without
intervening motion except 20 minutes of debate equally divided
and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. If such a
motion is adopted, the House shall proceed immediately to
consider the Commission bill in accordance with paragraphs (2)
and (3). A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is
disposed of shall not be in order.
(2) Proceeding to consideration.--After the last committee
authorized to consider a Commission bill reports it to the
House or has been discharged (other than by motion) from its
consideration, it shall be in order to move to proceed to
consider the Commission bill in the House. Such a motion shall
not be in order after the House has disposed of a motion to
proceed with respect to the Commission bill. The previous
question shall be considered as ordered on the motion to its
adoption without intervening motion. A motion to reconsider the
vote by which the motion is disposed of shall not be in order.
(3) Consideration.--The Commission bill shall be considered
as read. All points of order against the Commission bill and
against its consideration are waived. The previous question
shall be considered as ordered on the Commission bill to its
passage without intervening motion except 2 hours of debate
equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent
and one motion to limit debate on the Commission bill. A motion
to reconsider the vote on passage of the Commission bill shall
not be in order.
(4) Vote on passage.--The vote on passage of the Commission
bill shall occur not later than 12 months after the final
report required under section 3(c)(2) is submitted to the
Congress.
(c) Consideration in the Senate.--
(1) Committee consideration.--A Commission bill introduced
in the Senate under subsection (a) shall be jointly referred to
the committee or committees of jurisdiction, which committees
shall report the bill without any revision and with a favorable
recommendation, an unfavorable recommendation, or without
recommendation, not later than 60 days after its introduction.
If any committee fails to report the bill within that period,
that committee shall be automatically discharged from
consideration of the bill, and the bill shall be placed on the
appropriate calendar.
(2) Motion to proceed.--Notwithstanding Rule XXII of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, it is in order, not later than 2
days of session after the date on which a Commission bill is
reported or discharged from all committees to which it was
referred, for the majority leader of the Senate or the majority
leader's designee to move to proceed to the consideration of
the Commission bill. It shall also be in order for any Member
of the Senate to move to proceed to the consideration of the
Commission bill at any time after the conclusion of such 2-day
period. A motion to proceed is in order even though a previous
motion to the same effect has been disagreed to. All points of
order against the motion to proceed to the Commission bill are
waived. The motion to proceed is not debatable. The motion is
not subject to a motion to postpone. A motion to reconsider the
vote by which the motion is agreed to or disagreed to shall not
be in order. If a motion to proceed to the consideration of the
Commission bill is agreed to, the Commission bill shall remain
the unfinished business until disposed of.
(3) Consideration.--All points of order against the
Commission bill and against consideration of the Commission
bill are waived. Consideration of the Commission bill and of
all debatable motions and appeals in connection therewith shall
not exceed a total of 30 hours which shall be divided equally
between the Majority and Minority Leaders or their designees. A
motion further to limit debate on the Commission bill is in
order, shall require an affirmative vote of a majority of the
Members duly chosen and sworn, and is not debatable. Any
debatable motion or appeal is debatable for not to exceed 1
hour, to be divided equally between those favoring and those
opposing the motion or appeal. All time used for consideration
of the Commission bill, including time used for quorum calls
and voting, shall be counted against the total 30 hours of
consideration.
(4) No amendments.--An amendment to the Commission bill, or
a motion to postpone, or a motion to proceed to the
consideration of other business, or a motion to recommit the
Commission bill, is not in order.
(5) Vote on passage.--If the Senate has voted to proceed to
the Commission bill, the vote on passage of the Commission bill
shall occur immediately following the conclusion of the debate
on a Commission bill, and a single quorum call at the
conclusion of the debate if requested. The vote on passage of
the Commission bill shall occur not later than 12 months after
the final report required under section 3(c)(2) is submitted to
the Congress.
(6) Rulings of the chair on procedure.--Appeals from the
decisions of the Chair relating to the application of the rules
of the Senate, as the case may be, to the procedure relating to
a Commission bill shall be decided without debate.
(d) Amendment.--The Commission bill shall not be subject to
amendment in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.
(e) Consideration by Other House.--
(1) In general.--If, before passing the Commission bill,
one House receives from the other a Commission bill--
(A) the Commission bill of the other House shall
not be referred to a committee; and
(B) the procedure in the receiving House shall be
the same as if no Commission bill had been received
from the other House until the vote on passage, when
the Commission bill received from the other House shall
supplant the Commission bill of the receiving House.
(2) Revenue measure.--This subsection shall not apply to
the House of Representatives if the Commission bill received
from the Senate is a revenue measure.
(f) Rules to Coordinate Action With Other House.--
(1) Treatment of commission bill of other house.--If the
Senate fails to introduce or consider a Commission bill under
this section, the Commission bill of the House shall be
entitled to expedited floor procedures under this section.
(2) Treatment of companion measures in the senate.--If
following passage of the Commission bill in the Senate, the
Senate then receives the Commission bill from the House of
Representatives, the House-passed Commission bill shall not be
debatable. The vote on passage of the Commission bill in the
Senate shall be considered to be the vote on passage of the
Commission bill received from the House of Representatives.
(3) Vetoes.--If the President vetoes the Commission bill,
debate on a veto message in the Senate under this section shall
be 1 hour equally divided between the majority and minority
leaders or their designees.
(g) Loss of Privilege.--The provisions of this section shall cease
to apply to the Commission bill if--
(1) the Commission fails to produce the final report
required under section 3(c)(2) within 20 months from the date
of enactment of this Act; or
(2) the Commission bill does not pass either House.
SEC. 7. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after submitting the final
report pursuant to section 3(c)(2).
Union Calendar No. 771
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8302
[Report No. 118-800, Part I]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a commission to review the programs of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development and make recommendations for legislative
reforms, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 19, 2024
Committee on Rules discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed