Appropriations bill FY2000, HUD

Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000 - Makes appropriations for FY 2000 for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development and for sundry independent agencies.

Title I: Department of Veterans Affairs - Makes appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs for: (1) veterans' compensation, pensions, and readjustment benefits; (2) veterans' insurance and indemnities; (3) veterans' housing, education, and vocational rehabilitation loan accounts; (4) veterans' medical care; (5) medical and prosthetic research; (6) medical administration; (7) the General post fund, national homes; (8) departmental administration; (9) the National Cemetery Administration; (10) the Office of Inspector General; (11) construction; (12) the parking revolving fund; and (13) grants to States for construction of extended care facilities and cemeteries.

Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, funds made available under this title.

(Sec. 108) Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report to specified congressional committees on the impact of the allocation of funds under the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation funding formula on the rural subregions of the health care system administered by the Veterans Health Administration.

(Sec. 110) Prohibits the obligation of funds appropriated for medical care for the Department of Veterans Affairs for the realignment of the health care delivery system in VISN 12 until the Secretary of Veterans Affairs makes a specified certification regarding impacts on the accessibility of veterans health care services to affected veterans.

Title II: Department of Housing and Urban Development - Makes appropriations for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for: (1) public and Indian housing; (2) the Public Housing Capital and Operating Funds; (3) drug elimination grants for low-income housing; (4) revitalization of severely distressed public housing; (5) Native American housing block grants; (6) Indian housing loan guarantees; (7) housing opportunities for persons with AIDS; (8) the Office of Rural Housing and Economic Development; (9) the America's Private Investment Companies Program; (10) urban empowerment zones; (11) rural empowerment zone and enterprise communities programs; (12) community development block grants; (13) brownfields redevelopment; (14) the HOME investment partnerships program; (15) homeless assistance grants; (16) housing for special populations; (17) the Federal Housing Administration; (18) the Government National Mortgage Association; (19) housing policy development and research; (20) fair housing activities; (21) the Lead Hazard Reduction Program; (22) management and administration; (23) the Office of Inspector General; and (24) carrying out the Federal Housing Enterprise Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992.

Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, funds made available under this title.

(Sec. 203) Amends the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999 to extend certain provisions regarding grants to otherwise ineligible States for housing for persons with AIDS.

(Sec. 205) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to authorize the Secretary of HUD to establish income ceilings, with respect to eligibility for public housing or project-based Section 8 assistance, that are higher or lower than 30 percent of the area median income based on findings that such variations are necessary because of unusually high or low family incomes.

(Sec. 206) Establishes the Millenial Housing Commission to study and report to specified congressional committees on: (1) the importance of housing, particularly affordable housing, to U.S. infrastructure; (2) possible methods for increasing the role of the private sector in providing affordable housing; and (3) whether existing HUD programs work in conjunction with one another to provide better housing opportunities for families, neighborhoods, and communities and how such programs can be improved with respect to such purpose.

Terminates the Commission on June 30, 2002.

(Sec. 208) Rescinds a specified amount of funds appropriated to HUD in the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 and prior appropriations Acts.

(Sec. 209) Makes appropriations for: (1) a grant to the National Cities in Schools Community Development program under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992; and (2) the Jobs-Plus Initiative of the Moving to Work Demonstration program.

(Sec. 213) Amends provisions of the National Housing Act regarding payments of claims on defaulted mortgages with respect to multifamily housing units and health facilities to allow full (in addition to partial) payment of claims under one or more mortgage insurance contracts in connection with certain mortgage restructurings.

(Sec. 214) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to direct owners responsible for determining a participant's eligibility or level of benefits to require families receiving certain HUD family income matching information to disclose such information. Includes families who receive such information and dwell in units receiving certain project-based assistance within the list of families subject to the disclosure requirement.

(Sec. 215) Exempts public housing agencies in Alaska and Mississippi from certain membership requirements for their boards of directors under the United States Housing Act of 1937.

(Sec. 216) Requires the Secretary of HUD to transfer the administration of the Small Cities component of the Community Development Block Grants program for all funds allocated for the State of New York under a specified provision of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to the State of New York, to be administered by the Governor.

(Sec. 220) Extends the availability of certain grants made available under an economic development initiative pursuant to the Housing and Community and Development Act of 1974 through FY 2000.

(Sec. 223) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to authorize the Secretary of HUD to reuse any budget authority recaptured on account of expiration of a housing assistance payments contract. Removes: (1) a condition that applies such authority only to contracts other than those for tenant-based assistance; and (2) a provision that makes such authority effective only for actions initiated by the the Secretary on or before September 30, 1995.

(Sec. 225) Directs the Secretary of HUD, for purposes of allocating amounts under the AIDS Housing Opportunity Act, to allocate to the State of New Jersey the portion of funds based on the number of AIDS cases reported in the New Jersey portion of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-New Jersey primary metropolitan area.

Title III: Independent Agencies - Makes appropriations for: (1) the American Battle Monuments Commission; (2) the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board; (3) the Department of the Treasury for community development financial institutions; (4) the Consumer Product Safety Commission; (5) the Corporation for National and Community Service; (6) the Office of Inspector General; (7) the Court of Veterans Appeals; and (8) the Department of Defense for Army cemeterial expenses.

Appropriates funds for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for: (1) science and technology activities; (2) environmental programs and management; (3) the Office of Inspector General; (4) buildings and facilities; (5) Superfund; (6) the leaking underground storage tank program; (7) oil spill response programs; and (8) assistance to States and Indian tribes for environmental programs and infrastructure.

Appropriates funds for: (1) the Executive Office of the President for the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Council on Environmental Quality, and the Office of Environmental Quality; and (2) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General.

Makes appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for: (1) disaster relief; (2) disaster assistance direct loans; (3) salaries and expenses; (4) the Office of Inspector General; (5) emergency management planning and assistance; (6) a specified emergency food and shelter program; (7) the Flood Map Modernization Fund; (8) the National Flood Insurance Fund; and (9) the National Flood Mitigation Fund.

Amends the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to extend through FY 2000: (1) a certain ceiling on obligations issued under the national flood insurance program; and (2) the authorization of appropriations for certain studies.

Makes appropriations for: (1) the General Services Administration for the Consumer Information Center; (2) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for human space flight, science, aeronautics, and technology research and development, mission support, and the Office of Inspector General; (3) the National Credit Union Administration's Central Liquidity Facility; (4) the National Science Foundation for research, major construction projects, science and engineering education and human resources programs, salaries and expenses, and the Office of Inspector General; (5) the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation; and (6) the Selective Service System.

Sets forth authorized uses of, and limitations on, funds appropriated under this title.

Title IV: General Provisions - Sets forth provisions regarding availability, and prohibitions on the use, of funds appropriated by this Act. Expresses the sense of Congress that equipment and products purchased with funds made available in this Act should be American-made.

(Sec. 422) Expresses the sense of Congress that the presence of an honor guard at a veteran's funeral is a benefit that a veteran has earned and the executive branch should provide honor details for the funerals of veterans when requested.

(Sec. 424) Bars the use of funds made available in this Act to carry out a specified executive order regarding federalism.

(Sec. 430) Extends the availability of appropriations to carry out the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act through FY 2000.

(Sec. 431) Prohibits the EPA Administrator from promulgating the Phase II stormwater regulations until reporting to specified congressional committees: (1) an in-depth impact analysis on the effect the final regulations will have on urban, suburban, and rural local governments; (2) an explanation of the Administrator's rationale for lowering the construction site threshold from five acres to one acre; (3) documentation demonstrating that stormwater runoff is generally a problem in communities with populations of 50,000 to 100,000; and (4) information that supports the Administrator's position that the Phase II program should be administered as part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

Directs EPA to report to such committees an explanation of the impact that the Phase I program has had in improving U.S. water quality.

(Sec. 433) Amends the Commercial Space Launch Act to extend, though December 31, 2000, its commercial space launch industry damage indemnification provisions.

(Sec. 434) Provides that the purpose of this section is to establish a demonstration regarding the commercial feasibility and economic viability of private sector business operations involving the International Space Station and its related infrastructure. Directs NASA to establish and publish a price policy to eliminate price uncertainty for those planning to utilize the Station and its related facilities for U.S. commercial use.

Requires any receipts collected by NASA from the commercial use of the Station to be used first to offset any costs incurred by NASA in support of the U.S. commercial use of the Station. Authorizes the use of receipts collected in excess of such costs for promoting the commercial use of the Station.

Requires NASA to report annually to Congress on all collected receipts, the use of such receipts, and the status of the demonstration.

Applies the demonstration program to U.S. commercial use agreements entered into prior to the earlier of date of completion of the Station or the end of FY 2004.

(Sec. 435) Amends the the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 to permit the NASA Administrator to provide liability insurance for, or indemnification to, developers of experimental aerospace vehicles developed or used in execution of agreements between NASA and developers. Sets forth conditions on such authority.

Repeals similar provisions regarding such authority set forth in the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999.

Title V: Preservation of Affordable Housing - Preserving Affordable Housing for Senior Citizens and Families into the 21st Century Act - Subtitle A: Authorization of Appropriations for Supportive Housing for the Elderly and Persons With Disabilities - Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to authorize FY 2000 appropriations for supportive housing for the elderly.

(Sec. 512) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to authorize FY 2000 appropriations for supportive housing for persons with disabilities.

(Sec. 513) Authorizes FY 2000 appropriations for: (1) grants for service coordinators for elderly and disabled residents of certain federally assisted multifamily housing; and (2) contracts for congregate services for certain federally assisted housing.

Authorizes FY 2000 appropriations for renewal of grants made in prior fiscal years for service coordinators and congregate services for the elderly and disabled in public housing.

Subtitle B: Expanding Housing Opportunities for the Elderly and Persons With Disabilities - Requires the Secretary of HUD to analyze, and report to Congress on, the net impact on the Federal budget deficit or surplus of forgiving indebtedness of sponsors of projects assisted under section 202 (supportive services for the elderly) of the Housing Act of 1959 (as in effect prior to enactment of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act) together with a reduction in the amount of Section 8 or other rental assistance provided to such a project.

(Sec. 522) Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to authorize the Secretary to make grants for capital repairs of elderly housing projects or their conversion to assisted living facilities. Sets forth project eligibility and selection criteria, including inclusion of up to three unused or underused commercial properties. Authorizes FY 2000appropriations.

(Sec. 523) Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to authorize a recipient of section 8 housing assistance to use such assistance in an assisted living facility. Limits use to rental costs.

Amends the Housing Act of 1959 to make multifamily projects that have converted elderly housing units to assisted living facilities eligible for section 8 project based assistance in the same manner as if they had not made such conversions. Sets forth rent calculation provisions.

(Sec. 524) Amends the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act to provide that not more than 25 percent of fiscal year project rental assistance or capital advances for supportive housing for persons with disabilities may go to projects with more than 24 units.

Directs the Secretary to conduct a study and report to Congress with respect to: (1) prior assistance provided to such projects; and (2) per-unit costs and benefits of specified project sizes assisted under the supportive housing for persons with disabilities program and the section 202 program under the Housing Act of 1959.

(Sec. 525) Establishes the Commission on Affordable Housing and Health Care Facility Needs in the 21st Century. Directs the Commission to conduct a study and report to specified congressional committees on senior citizens' future affordable housing, assisted living, and health facility needs, and public and private sector capacities to meet such needs. Terminates the Commission as of June 30, 2002.

Subtitle C: Renewal of Expiring Rental Assistance Contracts and Protection of Residents - Amends the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997, with respect to expiring project-based section 8 contracts, to base renewal rates upon comparable market rates. Provides for exception renewal rates based on: (1) the lower of adjusted existing rents or budget-based rents for certain projects exempt from mortgage restructuring; and (2) the lesser of adjusted existing rents, fair market rents, or comparable market rents for certain projects under the moderate rehabilitation program.

Provides enhanced section 8 vouchers for residents of covered projects with expiring contracts. Authorizes FY 2000 through 2004 appropriations.

Provides for continuation of expiring section 8 contract benefits to owners under specified conditions.

Prohibits State or local limits on allowable project renewal distributions to owners, with exceptions.

(Sec. 532) Amends the National Housing Act with respect to the rental and cooperative housing program to authorize: (1) interest reduction payments for project mortgage refinancing; and (2) project owners to retain excess income. Revises basic and market rent provisions.

(Sec. 533) Amends the National Housing Act to permit multifamily project rehabilitation loans to be made from recaptured interest rate reduction payments.

(Sec. 534) Amends the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 to permit technical assistance for preservation of low-income housing for which project-based rental assistance is provided at below market rent levels and may not be renewed.

(Sec. 535) Amends the Housing Act of 1937 to make section 8 renewals available for up to one year or any number of years, subject to appropriations.

(Sec. 536) Amends the Housing and Community Development Amendments of 1978 to make residents of any project receiving flexible subsidy program assistance eligible for enhanced voucher assistance.

(Sec. 537) Amends the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997 to extend grant and loan authority for management and disposition of multifamily properties and mortgages through FY 2000. Includes property construction among eligible activities.

(Sec. 538) Amends Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 to provide for enhanced voucher assistance for certain families in projects where mortgages have been prepaid, mortgage insurance contracts have been terminated Section 8 rental assistance contracts have expired or been terminated, or the transaction under which the project is preserved as affordable housing results in tenants being eligible for such assistance.

Authorizes appropriations.

Amends the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 to provide for Section 8 enhanced voucher assistance for certain tenants in housing where Section 8 assistance is not renewed.

Amends the Low-Income Housing Preservation and Resident Homeownership Act of 1990 to provide for Section 8 enhanced voucher assistance for certain tenants in housing where mortgages have been prepaid or insurance contracts have been terminated.