Bill > HR1696

This bill seeks to modify how extremely low-income housing is defined for Puerto Rico under the United States Housing Act of 1937. Specifically, the bill changes the poverty guidelines for public housing agencies and projects in Puerto Rico by requiring them to use the same poverty guidelines applied to the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia, which could potentially increase housing assistance eligibility for low-income families on the island. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Comptroller General submit a comprehensive report to Congress within 180 days of enactment, detailing efforts by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Puerto Rico Public Housing Administration (PRPHA) to connect low-income families with housing assistance. The report must assess how HUD and PRPHA identify and address housing needs, evaluate the use of federal disaster recovery funds for rebuilding low-income housing after natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes, and provide recommendations for improving federal and local housing programs serving extremely low-income families in Puerto Rico.

Business and Industry

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1696/all-info