H.R. 7564 — Introduced in House

I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7564 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 21, 2022Ms. Strickland (for herself, Mr. Carson, and Mr. Brown of Maryland) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 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 A BILL To direct the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to take certain actions regarding the housing shortage for members of the Armed Forces. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Building More Housing for Servicemembers Act. 2. Responses to the housing shortage for members of the Armed Forces (a) Report on housing shortage for members of the Armed Forces Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the housing shortage for members of the Armed Forces. Such report shall include the following elements: (1) The determination of the Secretary regarding the feasibility of acquiring real property near military installations that face housing shortages, to be used for the development of privatized housing. (2) The determination of the Secretary regarding the need for an officer or civilian employee of the Department of Defense to serve, at each military installation, as a housing manager. (b) Guidance to landlords of privatized housing Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe guidance for eligible entities and landlords regarding acceptable housing standards for privatized housing. (c) Authorizations (1) Pilot program on using rental partnership programs of the Armed Forces to assure tenants for developers of privatized housing Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish a pilot program to assess the feasibility of using the rental partnership programs of the Armed Forces to assure tenants for eligible entities to secure financing to construct privatized housing. (A) Locations The Secretary shall operate the pilot program in no more than 10 military housing areas that each have a rental vacancy rate of less than 7 percent. (B) Term The pilot program shall terminate on the date that is five years after the Secretary establishes the pilot program. (C) Report Not later than 90 days after the termination of the pilot program, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the pilot program. (2) Joint pilot program on financial incentives for developers of privatized housing Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, shall develop a pilot program to provide financial incentives to eligible entities to build privatized housing, or to purchase or lease existing facilities, to house members of the Armed Forces and their dependents, and low-income individuals and families, as determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. (A) Eligible projects In order to be eligible for an incentive under the pilot program, proposed privatized housing shall ensure that a percentage of such housing is reserved for members of the Armed Forces and dependents of such members. Such percentage shall vary proportionately to the value of the incentive. (B) Locations The Secretaries shall operate the pilot program in areas that have the longest wait times for on-base housing. (C) Priority In selecting eligible entities, the Secretaries shall give priority to entry-level housing and projects with greater density. (D) Term The pilot program shall terminate on the date that is five years after the Secretary establishes the pilot program. (E) Report Not later than 90 days after the termination of the pilot program, the Secretaries shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the pilot program. (3) Joint grant program The Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may jointly operate a grant program through the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation to build housing for members of the Armed Forces and their dependents, and low-income individuals and families. Household income limits for entities eligible to receive such a grant shall not differ based on whether a household includes a member of the Armed Forces. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The terms eligible entity and landlord have the meanings given such terms in section 2871 of title 10, United States Code. (2) The term privatized housing means housing under subchapter IV of chapter 169 of such title.