,,ib ,union ,calendar ,no4 #edh #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #adi ,report ,no4 #aaf-ffd ,,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 ,december #ag1 #bjbj;,additional sponsors3 ,mr4 ,perlmutter1 ,mr4 ,david ,scott of ,georgia1 ,mr4 ,lawson of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,clay1 ,mr4 ,cleaver1 ,ms4 ,tlaib1 ,mr4 ,san ,nicolas1 ,mr4 ,heck1 ,mr4 ,blumenauer1 and ,mr4 ,delgado ,december #ag1 #bjbj,reported with an amendment1 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered to be printed,strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic,for text of introduced bill1 see copy of bill as introduced on ,january #c1 #bjai ,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 ,housing ,fairness ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,testing for discrimination 7a7 ,eligible activity under ,,fhip ,subsection 7a7 of section #efa of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aihg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfaf;a7a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a71 by inserting after discriminatory housing practices the following3 or1 in the case of grants or contracts for activities under paragraph 7#c7 with qualified private1 non-profit fair housing enforcement organizations that have demonstrated expertise in managing and implementing regional or national testing programs to address systemic fair housing issues2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking and at the end2 7#c7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking the period at the end and inserting 2 and2 and 7#d7 by adding at the end the following3 7#c7 programs of regional or national testing and investigations to 7i7 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 differential treatment because of the status of a renter1 home buyer1 or borrower as a member of the protected classes under the ,fair ,housing ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfja et seq471 and 7ii7 measure the prevalence1 nature1 and extent of discriminatory practices covered under the ,fair ,housing ,act4 ,the results of any testing and investigations pursuant to paragraph 7#c7 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 aggrieved parties as defined by title ,,viii of the ,civil ,rights ,act of #aifh or other substantially equivalent ,state or local fair housing law1 or other public or private entity that the ,secretary has entered into a contract or cooperative agreement with under this section 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 testing and investigations4 ,testing conducted pursuant to paragraph 7#c7 shall not constitute a violation of any provision of criminal law or the ,truth in ,lending ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #afja et seq474 4 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 apply the minimum tester training standards required under section #abe4ajg of title #bd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 to organizations conducting testing under section #efa7;a77#c7 of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aihg1 as added by the amendment made by subsection 7a77#d7 of this section4 ,any subsequent amendments1 changes1 and updates to such minimum standards shall apply to all activities under such section #efa4 #c4 ,fair ,housing ,initiatives ,program 7a7 ,amendments to program ,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 in subsection 7c71 by adding at the end the following3 7#c7 ,program-earned income ,no restrictions on the use of program-earned income received by qualified fair housing enforcement organizations shall apply after the grant period for such organization ends4 2 7#c7 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 following3 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 7,c7 in paragraph 7#c71 by striking or other public or private entities and inserting or other public or private nonprofit entities2 and 7,d7 by adding at the end the following3 7#d7 ,limitation ,notwithstanding any other provision of this section1 a ,state or local agency certified by the ,secretary under section #haj7;f7 of the ,fair ,housing ,act may receive assistance under this subsection only to carry out activities eligible for assistance under this subsection in areas in which no qualified fair housing enforcement organization is available to carry out such activities4 7#e7 ,eligibility ,notwithstanding any other provision of this section1 if an award of funding under subsection 7b7 for multiple fiscal years has been made to a qualified fair housing enforcement organization1 such organization is1 subject only to the availability of amounts provided in appropriation ,acts1 eligible to receive funding under this subsection for each fiscal year covered by such award under subsection 7b74 2 7#d7 in subsection 7e7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a7 by striking ,banking1 ,finance and ,urban ,affairs and inserting ,financial ,services2 and 7,b7 by adding at the end the following3 7#b7 ,priority ,in providing assistance under this section with respect to metropolitan statistical areas for which there are multiple applications for such assistance1 the ,secretary shall give priority to applications submitted by qualified fair housing enforcement organizations that have experience in conducting fair housing enforcement activities4 2 7#e7 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 this section-- 7,a7 #eh1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe1 of which-- 7i7 #ee1jjj1jjj shall be available for any activities under this section other than programs under subsection 7a77#c71 of which-- 7,i7 not less than #ch1jjj1jjj shall be for private enforcement initiatives authorized under subsection 7b72 7,,ii7 not less than #a1ejj1jjj shall be for the fair housing organizations initiative under subsection 7c72 7,,iii7 not less than #aj1jjj1jjj shall be for the education and outreach initiative under subsection 7d71 of which-- 7aa7 at least #h1jjj1jjj shall be for local education and outreach activities2 and 7bb7 at least #b1jjj1jjj shall be for national media activities2 and 7,,iv7 any remaining amounts shall be used for any program activities authorized under this section2 and 7ii7 #c1jjj1jjj shall be available only for programs under subsection 7a77#c72 and 7,b7 #gj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjca1 of which-- 7i7 for each such fiscal year1 #fe1jjj1jjj shall be available for any activities under this section other than programs under subsection 7a77#c71 of which-- 7,i7 not less than #dd1jjj1jjj shall be for private enforcement initiatives authorized under subsection 7b72 7,,ii7 not less than #a1ejj1jjj shall be for the fair housing organizations initiative under subsection 7c72 7,,iii7 not less than #ab1ejj1jjj shall be for the education and outreach initiative under subsection 7d71 of which-- 7aa7 at least #aj1jjj1jjj shall be for local education and outreach activities2 and 7bb7 at least #b1ejj1jjj shall be for national media activities2 and 7,,iv7 any remaining amounts shall be used for any program activities authorized under this section2 and 7ii7 for each such fiscal year #e1jjj1jjj shall be available only for programs under subsection 7a77#c74 7#b7 ,availability ,any amount appropriated under this section shall remain available until expended to carry out the provisions of this section4 7#c7 ,award of funding ,within #ij days after the date of the enactment of any ,act making amounts available to carry out this section1 the ,secretary shall issue a ,notice of ,funding ,availability with respect to such amounts and1 within #ahj days after such date of enactment1 the ,secretary shall award such amounts4 2 7#f7 in subsection 7h77#a71 in the matter following subparagraph 7,c71 by inserting and meets the criteria described in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,c7 before the period at the end2 and 7#g7 in subsection 7j7-- 7,a7 in the matter preceding paragraph 7#a71 by inserting regarding such preceding fiscal year1 after comprehensive report2 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking and the use of such funds during the preceding fiscal year and inserting 1 the use of such funds during the preceding fiscal year1 and outcomes such as the number of housing units made available and accessible to protected classes under the ,fair ,housing ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfja et seq474 7b7 ,study ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility1 efficiency1 and effectiveness of converting the ,fair ,housing ,initiatives ,program under section #efa of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aihg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfaf;a7 into a noncompetitive1 entitlement program to provide general operating funding to qualified fair housing organizations1 the appropriate levels of funding for such a program taking into consideration the number of such qualified funding recipients1 and what factors should be considered in providing for an equitable distribution to qualified recipients of funding4 ,the ,secretary shall submit a report to the ,congress setting forth the results of the study under this subsection not later than the expiration of the #ab-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this ,act1 which shall include any recommendations regarding such conversion of the program4 #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-- 7,a7 materials and information about the fair housing rights of individuals who seek to rent1 purchase1 sell1 or facilitate the sale of a home2 and 7,b7 materials and information about the fair housing responsibilities of industry professionals providing products and services covered under the ,fair ,housing ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfja et seq472 7#b7 expend for such education and outreach programs all amounts appropriated for such programs2 7#c7 fully reinstate the regulations promulgated on ,july #af1 #bjae 7#hj ,fed4 ,reg4 #dbbga71 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 public and 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 non-profit organizations in-- 7#a7 conducting studies that examine issues regarding housing discrimination and segregation and the ,fair ,housing ,act1 including-- 7,a7 the causes of housing discrimination and segregation1 including their effects on members of protected classes under the ,fair ,housing ,act1 and their effects on education1 poverty1 economic development1 health1 and other socioeconomic factors2 7,b7 the incidence1 causes1 and effects of housing discrimination and segregation based on personal characteristics not protected under the ,fair ,housing ,act1 including-- 7i7 veteran and military status2 and 7ii7 source of income2 7,c7 the ways in which the use of algorithms and artificial intelligence in the housing and mortgage lending markets impact the availability of housing for protected classes under the ,fair ,housing ,act1 including the use of digital and online platforms in the advertising and provision of housing and other services covered under the ,fair ,housing ,act2 or 7,d7 any additional topics of study related to the implementation and expansion of the ,fair ,housing ,act2 or 7#b7 implementing pilot projects that test solutions that will help prevent or alleviate housing discrimination and segregation4 ,a grant under this section may provide funding to an organization for only activities under paragraph 7#a7 or paragraph 7#b7 or for activities under both paragraph 7#a7 and 7#b74 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-- 7,a7 the issues the applicant will address and a justification for the need to address such issues2 7,b7 the applicant's experience in formulating or carrying out programs or activities described in this section2 and 7,c7 the geographical area and period of time to be studied2 7#b7 agree to provide matching non-,federal funds for #aj percent of the total amount of the grant1 which matching funds may include monetary donations and 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;a7h774 7c7 ,partnerships with academic institutions ,a public or private nonprofit organization applying for a grant under this section may partner with an academic or educational organization or institution for the purpose of carrying out activities assisted with such grant amounts4 7d7 ,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 7e7 ,authorization of ,appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of this section #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe4 #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 ,december #ag1 #bjbj,reported with an amendment1 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered to be printed