[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5034 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5034
To reform the requirements regarding the safety and security of
families living in public and federally assisted housing in high-crime
areas.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 22, 2025
Ms. Wilson of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reform the requirements regarding the safety and security of
families living in public and federally assisted housing in high-crime
areas.
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 ``Liberty City Rising Act''.
SEC. 2. SAFETY STANDARDS FOR FEDERALLY ASSISTED HOUSING IN HIGH-CRIME
AREAS.
(a) Public Housing.--Section 6(f)(2) of the United States Housing
Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437d(f)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``The Secretary shall'' and inserting the
following:
``(A) Safe and habitable.--The Secretary shall'';
and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) High-crime areas.--
``(i) Definition.--In this subparagraph,
the term `high-crime area' means a neighborhood
or other small geographic area that the
Secretary determines has a high incidence of
violent crime, based on the most recent violent
crime data available from a State, unit of
local government, or other source determined
appropriate by the Secretary, that lists the
types of crimes and number of offenses
committed in the area.
``(ii) Additional safety and security
standards.--In addition to the standards under
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall establish
standards to ensure the safety and security of
dwellings located in a high-crime area.
``(iii) Contents.--The standards
established under clause (ii)--
``(I) shall require a public
housing agency to consider security
measures that meet the specific needs
of a property or building; and
``(II) may include requirements
related to security cameras, locks,
lighting, or other security measures.
``(iv) Anonymous hotline.--A public housing
agency that operates a public housing project
in a high-crime area shall establish an
anonymous hotline for tenants to report
suspicious activity and crimes that occur in
the community in which the public housing
project is located.''.
(b) Project-Based Assisted Housing.--
(1) In general.--Section 8(o)(13) of the United States
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(P) Safety and security standards for high-crime
areas.--
``(i) Definition.--In this subparagraph,
the term `high-crime area' means a neighborhood
or other small geographic area that the
Secretary determines has a high incidence of
violent crime, based on the most recent violent
crime data available from a State, unit of
local government, or other source determined
appropriate by the Secretary, that lists the
types of crimes and number of offenses
committed in the area.
``(ii) Contract requirement.--An assistance
contract for project-based assistance entered
into under this paragraph with respect to a
structure shall require that the owner maintain
the structure, if determined to be in a high-
crime area, in a condition that complies with
standards that meet or exceed the safety and
security standards established under clause
(iii).
``(iii) Safety and security standards.--The
Secretary shall establish standards to ensure
the safety and security of structures located
in a high-crime area.
``(iv) Contents.--The standards established
under clause (iii)--
``(I) shall require the owner of a
structure that receives project-based
assistance under this paragraph to
consider security measures that meet
the specific needs of the structure;
and
``(II) may include requirements
related to security cameras, locks,
lighting, or other security measures.
``(v) Inspections.--When determining
whether a dwelling unit that is in a high-crime
area meets the housing quality standards under
paragraph (8)(A), a public housing agency shall
also determine whether the dwelling unit meets
the standards established under this
subparagraph.
``(vi) Anonymous hotline.--A public housing
agency that provides project-based assistance
under this paragraph with respect to a
structure in a high-crime area shall establish
an anonymous hotline for tenants to report
suspicious activity and crimes that occur in
the community in which the structure is
located.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 8(d)(2) of the United
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(d)(2)) is amended
by adding at the end the following:
``(E)(i) Subsection (o)(13)(P) (relating to safety and security
standards for high-crime areas) shall apply to a contract for project-
based assistance under this paragraph and to a public housing agency
that enters into such a contract.
``(ii) When determining whether a structure assisted under this
paragraph that is in a high-crime area, as defined in subsection
(o)(13)(P), meets any applicable housing quality standards, a public
housing agency shall also determine whether the structure meets the
safety and security standards established under that subsection.''.
(c) Deadlines.--
(1) Determination of high-crime areas.--Not later than 90
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development shall make an initial
determination as to which areas of the United States are high-
crime areas for purposes of sections 6(f)(2)(B), 8(d)(2)(E),
and 8(o)(13)(P) of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as
added by this section.
(2) Safety and security standards.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development shall establish the safety and
security standards for public housing projects and other
assisted structures located in high-crime areas required under
sections 6(f)(2)(B), 8(d)(2)(E), and 8(o)(13)(P) of the United
States Housing Act of 1937, as added by this section.
SEC. 3. GRANT PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS IN HIGH-CRIME AREAS.
Section 9(d) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437g(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Emergency safety and security funding priority for
high-crime areas.--In awarding grants for safety and security
measures using amounts from the Capital Fund, the Secretary
shall give priority to an application from a public housing
agency that proposes to use the grant for a public housing
project located in a high-crime area (as defined in section
6(f)(2)(B)).''.
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