,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #adi ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #c1 #bjai,mr4 ,green of ,texas introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,financial ,services ,a ,,bill ,to authorize funds to prevent housing discrimination through the use of nationwide testing1 to increase funds for the ,fair ,housing ,initiatives ,program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,veterans1 ,women1 ,families with ,children1 ,race1 and ,persons with ,disabilities ,housing ,fairness ,act of #bjai or the ,housing ,fairness ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,testing for discrimination 7a7 ,in ,general ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall conduct a nationwide program of testing to-- 7#a7 detect and document differences in the treatment of persons seeking to rent or purchase housing or obtain or refinance a home mortgage loan1 and measure patterns of adverse treatment because of the race1 color1 religion1 sex1 familial status1 disability status1 or national origin of a renter1 home buyer1 or borrower2 and 7#b7 measure the prevalence of such discriminatory practices across the housing and mortgage lending markets as a whole4 7b7 ,administration ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall enter into agreements with qualified fair housing enforcement organizations1 as such organizations are defined under subsection 7h7 of section #efa of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aihg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfaf;a7h771 for the purpose of conducting the testing required under subsection 7a74 7c7 ,program requirements ,the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 submit to the ,congress an evaluation by the ,secretary of the effectiveness of the program under this section2 and 7#b7 issue regulations that require each application for the program under this section to contain-- 7,a7 a description of the assisted activities proposed to be undertaken by the applicant2 7,b7 a description of the experience of the applicant in formulating or carrying out programs to carry out the activities described in subsection 7a72 and 7,c7 a description of proposed procedures to be used by the applicant for evaluating the results of the activities proposed to be carried out under the program4 7d7 ,report ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall report to ,congress-- 7#a7 on a biennial basis1 the aggregate outcomes of testing required under subsection 7a7 along with any recommendations or proposals for legislative or administrative action to address any issues raised by such testing2 and 7#b7 on an annual basis1 a detailed summary of the messages received by the ,office of ,fair ,housing and ,equal ,opportunity of the ,department through its #bd-;hour toll-free telephone hotline1 through electronic mail1 and through its website4 ,the ,secretary may submit the reports required under paragraph 7#a7 of this subsection as part of the reports prepared in accordance with paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#f7 of section #hjh7;e7 of the ,fair ,housing ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfjh7;e77 and section #efa7;j7 of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aihg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfaf;a7j774 7e7 ,use of ,results ,the results of any testing required under subsection 7a7 may be used as the basis for the ,secretary1 or any ,federal agency authorized to bring such an enforcement action1 or any ,state or local government or agency1 public or private nonprofit organization or institution1 or other public or private entity that the ,secretary has entered into a contract or cooperative agreement with under section #efa of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aihg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfaf;a7 to commence1 undertake1 or pursue any investigation or enforcement action to remedy any discriminatory housing practice 7as such term is defined in section #hjb of the ,fair ,housing ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfjb77 uncovered as a result of such testing4 7f7 ,definitions ,as used in this section3 7#a7 ,disability status ,the term disability status has the same meaning given the term handicap in section #hjb of the ,civil ,rights ,act of #aifh 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfjb74 7#b7 ,familial status ,the term familial status has the same meaning given that term in section #hjb of the ,civil ,rights ,act of #aifh 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfjb74 7g7 ,relationship to other laws ,nothing in this section may be construed to amend1 alter1 or affect any provision of criminal law or the ,truth in ,lending ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #afja et seq474 7h7 ,regulations ,not later than the expiration of the #ahj-;day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall issue regulations that establish minimum standards for the training of testers of organizations conducting testing required under subsection 7a74 ,such regulations shall serve as the basis of an evaluation of such testers1 which shall be developed by the ,secretary1 and such regulations shall be issued after notice and an opportunity for public comment in accordance with the procedure under section #eec of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 applicable to substantive rules 7notwithstanding subsections 7a77#b71 7b77#c77;,b71 and 7d77#c7 of such section74 7i7 ,authorization of ,appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of this section #ae1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd4 #c4 ,increase in funding for the ,fair ,housing ,initiatives ,program 7a7 ,in general ,section #efa of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aihg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfaf;a7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by inserting qualified before private nonprofit fair housing enforcement organizations12 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by inserting qualified before private nonprofit fair housing enforcement organizations12 7#b7 by striking subsection 7g7 and inserting the following3 7g7 ,authorization of ,appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of this section #db1ejj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd1 of which-- 7,a7 not less than #ge percent of such amounts shall be for private enforcement initiatives authorized under subsection 7b72 7,b7 not more than #aj percent of such amounts shall be for education and outreach programs under subsection 7d72 and 7,c7 any remaining amounts shall be used for program activities authorized under this section4 7#b7 ,availability ,any amount appropriated under this section shall remain available until expended to carry out the provisions of this section4 2 7#c7 in subsection 7h71 in the matter following subparagraph 7,c71 by inserting and meets the criteria described in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,c7 after subparagraph 7,b72 and 7#d7 in subsection 7d7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7i7 in subparagraph 7,c71 by striking and at the end2 7ii7 in subparagraph 7,d71 by striking the period and inserting 2 and2 and 7iii7 by adding after subparagraph 7,d7 the following new subparagraph3 7,e7 websites and other media outlets4 2 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking or other public or private entities and inserting or other public or private nonprofit entities2 and 7,c7 in paragraph 7#c71 by striking or other public or private entities and inserting or other public or private nonprofit entities4 7b7 ,regulations ,not later than the expiration of the #ahj-;day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall issue regulations that establish minimum standards for the training of testers of organizations funded with any amounts made available to carry out this section for any of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd4 ,such regulations shall serve as the basis of an evaluation of such testers1 which shall be developed by the ,secretary1 and shall be issued after notice and an opportunity for public comment in accordance with the procedure under section #eec of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 applicable to substantive rules 7notwithstanding subsections 7a77#b71 7b77#c77;,b71 and 7d77#c7 of such section74 #d4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development should-- 7#a7 fully comply with the requirements of section #efa7;d7 of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aihg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfaf;a7d77 to establish1 design1 and maintain a national education and outreach program to provide a centralized1 coordinated effort for the development and dissemination of the fair housing rights of individuals who seek to rent1 purchase1 sell1 or facilitate the sale of a home2 7#b7 expend for such education and outreach programs all amounts appropriated for such programs2 7#c7 promulgate regulations regarding the fair housing obligations of each recipient of ,federal housing and community development funds to affirmatively further fair housing1 as that term is defined under title ,,viii of the ,civil ,rights ,act of #aifh 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfja et seq472 and 7#d7 fully comply with the requirements of section #haj7;a7 of the ,fair ,housing ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfaj7;a774 #e4 ,grants to private entities to study housing discrimination 7a7 ,grant ,program ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall carry out a competitive matching grant program to assist public and private nonprofit organizations in-- 7#a7 conducting comprehensive studies that examine-- 7,a7 the causes of housing discrimination and segregation2 7,b7 the effects of housing discrimination and segregation on education1 poverty1 and economic development2 or 7,c7 the incidences1 causes1 and effects of housing discrimination and segregation on veterans and military personnel2 and 7#b7 implementing pilot projects that test solutions that will help prevent or alleviate housing discrimination and segregation4 7b7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 a public or private nonprofit organization shall-- 7#a7 submit an application to the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development1 containing such information as the ,secretary shall require2 7#b7 agree to provide matching non-,federal funds for #ej percent of the total amount of the grant1 which matching funds may include items donated on an in-kind contribution basis2 and 7#c7 meet the requirements of a qualified fair housing enforcement organization1 as such term is defined in section #efa7;h7 of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aihg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfaf;a7h771 or subcontract with a qualified fair housing enforcement organization as a primary subcontractor4 7c7 ,report ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall submit a report to the ,congress on a biennial basis that provides a detailed summary of the results of the comprehensive studies and pilot projects carried out under subsection 7a71 together with any recommendations or proposals for legislative or administrative actions to address any issues raised by such studies4 ,the ,secretary may submit the reports required under this subsection as part of the reports prepared in accordance with paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#f7 of section #hjh7;e7 of the ,fair ,housing ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfjh7;e77 and section #efa7;j7 of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aihg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfaf;a7j774 7d7 ,authorization of ,appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of this section #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd4 #f4 ,limitation on use of funds ,none of the funds made available under this ,act1 or the amendments made by this ,act1 may be used for any political activities1 political advocacy1 or lobbying 7as such terms are defined by ,circular ,a-#abb of the ,office of ,management and ,budget1 entitled ,cost ,principles for ,non-,profit ,organizations71 or for expenses for travel to engage in political activities or preparation of or provision of advice on tax returns4