,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bcij ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bc1 #bjbe,mr4 ,rounds 7for himself and ,mr4 ,kim7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development to reclassify the application of certain requirements under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi for housing-related activities4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,unlocking ,housing ,supply ,through ,streamlined and ,modernized ,reviews ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,infill project ,the term infill project means a project that-- 7,a7 occurs within the geographic limits of a municipality2 7,b7 is adequately served by existing utilities and public services as required under applicable law2 7,c7 is located on a site of previously disturbed land of not more than #e acres and substantially surrounded by residential or commercial development2 7,d7 will repurpose a vacant or underutilized parcel of land1 or a dilapidated or abandoned structure2 and 7,e7 will serve a residential or commercial purpose4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 #c4 ,,nepa streamlining for hud housing-related activities 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall1 in accordance with section #eec of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 and section #ajc of the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dccc71 expand and reclassify housing-related activities under the necessary administrative regulations as follows3 7#a7 ,the following housing-related activities shall be subject to regulations equivalent or substantially similar to the regulations entitled exempt activities as set forth in section #eh4cd of title #bd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 as in effect on ,january #a1 #bjbe3 7,a7 ,tenant-based rental assistance1 as defined in section #h7o7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7o774 7,b7 ,supportive services1 including health care1 housing services1 permanent housing placement1 day care1 nutritional services1 short-term payment for rent1 mortgage1 or utility costs1 and assistance in gaining access to ,federal ,government and ,state and local government benefits and services4 7,c7 ,operating costs1 including maintenance1 security1 operation1 utilities1 furnishings1 equipment1 supplies1 staff training1 and recruitment and other incidental costs4 7,d7 ,economic development activities1 including equipment purchases1 inventory financing1 interest subsidies1 operating expenses1 and similar costs not associated with construction or expansion of existing operations4 7,e7 ,activities to assist homebuyers to purchase existing dwelling units or dwelling units under construction1 including closing costs and down payment assistance1 interest rate buydowns1 and similar activities that result in the transfer of title4 7,f7 ,affordable housing pre-development costs related to obtaining site options1 project financing1 administrative costs and fees for loan commitment1 zoning approvals1 and other related activities that do not have a physical impact4 7,g7 ,approval of supplemental assistance1 including insurance or guarantee1 to a project previously approved by the ,secretary4 7,h7 ,emergency homeowner or renter assistance for ,,hvac1 hot water heaters1 and other necessary uses of existing utilities required under applicable law4 7#b7 ,the following housing-related activities shall be subject to regulations equivalent or substantially similar to the regulations entitled1 7i7 categorical exclusions not subject to section #eh4e and 7ii7 categorical exclusions not subject to the ,federal laws and authorities cited in sections #ej4d in section #eh4ce7;b7 and section #ej4ai1 respectively of title #bd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 as in effect on ,january #a1 #bjbe1 if such activities do not materially alter environmental conditions and do not materially exceed the original scope of the project3 7,a7 ,acquisition1 repair1 improvement1 reconstruction1 or rehabilitation of public facilities and improvements 7other than buildings7 if the facilities and improvements are in place and will be retained in the same use without change in size or capacity of more than #bj percent1 including replacement of water or sewer lines1 reconstruction of curbs and sidewalks1 and repaving of streets4 7,b7 ,rehabilitation of #a-to-#d unit residential buildings1 and existing housing-related infrastructure1 such as repairs or rehabilitation of existing wells1 septics1 or utility lines that connect to that housing4 7,c7 ,new construction1 development1 demolition1 acquisition1 or disposition on up to #d scattered site existing dwelling units where there is a maximum of #d units on any #a site4 7,d7 ,acquisitions 7including leasing7 or disposition of1 or equity loans on an existing structure1 or acquisition 7including leasing7 of vacant land if the structure or land acquired1 financed1 or disposed of will be retained for the same use4 7#c7 ,the following housing-related activities shall be subject to regulations equivalent or substantially similar to the regulations entitled1 7i7 categorical exclusions subject to section #eh4e and 7ii7 categorical exclusions subject to the ,federal laws and authorities cited in sections #ej4d in section #eh4ce7;a7 and section #ej4bj1 respectively1 of title #bd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 as in effect on ,january #a1 #bjbe1 if such activities do not materially alter environmental conditions and do not materially exceed the original scope of the project3 7,a7 ,acquisitions of open space or residential property1 where such property will be retained for the same use or will be converted to open space to help residents relocate out of an area designated as a high-risk area by the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,conversion of existing office buildings into residential development1 subject to-- 7i7 a maximum number of units to be determined by the ,secretary2 and 7ii7 a limitation on the change in building size to not more than #bj percent4 7,c7 ,new construction1 development1 demolition1 acquisition1 or disposition on #e to #ae dwelling units where there is a maximum of fifteen units on any #a site4 ,the units can be #ae #a-unit buildings or #a #ae-unit building1 or any combination in between4 7,d7 ,new construction1 development1 demolition1 acquisition1 or disposition on #ae or more housing units developed on scattered sites when there are not more than #ae housing units on any #a site1 and the sites are more than a set number of feet apart as determined by the ,secretary4 7,e7 ,rehabilitation of buildings and improvements in the case of a building for residential use with #e to #ae units1 if the density is not increased beyond #ae units and the land use is not changed4 7,f7 ,infill projects consisting of new construction1 rehabilitation1 or development of residential housing units4 7,g7 ,buyouts1 defined as the voluntary acquisition of properties properties located in a 7i7 floodway1 7ii7 floodplain1 or 7iii7 other area1 clearly delineated by the grantee1 that has been impacted by a predictable environmental threat to the safety and wellbeing of program beneficiaries caused or exacerbated by a ,federally-declared disaster4 #d4 ,report ,the ,secretary shall submit to the chairs and ranking members of the ,committee on ,banking1 ,housing1 and ,urban ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,financial ,services of the ,house of ,representatives an annual report during the #e-year period beginning on the date that is #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act that provides a summary of findings of reductions in review times and administrative cost reduction1 with a particular focus on the affordable housing sector1 as a result of the actions set forth in this ,act1 and any recommendations of the ,secretary for future congressional action with respect to revising categorical exclusions or exemptions under title #bd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations4