DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Community Planning and Development community development fund (including transfers of funds) For an additional amount for “Community Development Fund”, $16,000,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2017, for necessary expenses related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas resulting from a major disaster declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) due to Hurricane Sandy and other eligible events in calendar years 2011, 2012, and 2013, for activities authorized under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.): Provided, That funds shall be awarded directly to the State or unit of general local government as a grantee at the discretion of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Provided further, That the Secretary shall allocate to grantees not less than 33 percent of the funds provided under this heading within 60 days after the enactment of this division based on the best available data: Provided further, That prior to the obligation of funds, a grantee shall submit a plan to the Secretary for approval detailing the proposed use of all funds, including criteria for eligibility and how the use of these funds will address long-term recovery 127 STAT. 37 and restoration of infrastructure and housing and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas: Provided further, That the Secretary shall by notice specify the criteria for approval of such plans within 45 days of enactment of this division: Provided further, That if the Secretary determines that a plan does not meet such criteria, the Secretary shall disapprove the plan: Provided further, That funds provided under this heading may not be used for activities reimbursable by or for which funds are made available by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Army Corps of Engineers: Provided further, That funds allocated under this heading shall not be considered relevant to the non-disaster formula allocations made pursuant to section 106 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5306): Provided further, That a grantee may use up to 5 percent of its allocation for administrative costs: Provided further, That a grantee shall administer grant funds provided under this heading in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and may not delegate, by contract or otherwise, the responsibility for administering such grant funds: Provided further, That as a condition of making any grant, the Secretary shall certify in advance that such grantee has in place proficient financial controls and procurement processes and has established adequate procedures to prevent any duplication of benefits as defined by section 312 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5155), to ensure timely expenditure of funds, to maintain comprehensive websites regarding all disaster recovery activities assisted with these funds, and to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds: Provided further, That the Secretary shall provide grantees with technical assistance on contracting and procurement processes and shall require grantees, in contracting or procuring these funds, to incorporate performance requirements and penalties into any such contracts or agreements: Provided further, That the Secretary shall require grantees to maintain on a public website information accounting for how all grant funds are used, including details of all contracts and ongoing procurement processes: Provided further, That, in administering the funds under this heading, the Secretary may waive, or specify alternative requirements for, any provision of any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers in connection with the obligation by the Secretary or the use by the recipient of these funds (except for requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and the environment) pursuant to a determination by the Secretary that good cause exists for the waiver or alternative requirement and that such action is not inconsistent with the overall purposes of title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.): Provided further, That, notwithstanding the preceding proviso, recipients of funds provided under this heading that use such funds to supplement Federal assistance provided under section 402, 403, 404, 406, 407, or 502 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) may adopt, without review or public comment, any environmental review, approval, or permit performed by a Federal agency, and such adoption shall satisfy the responsibilities of the recipient with respect to such environmental review, approval or permit: Provided further, That, notwithstanding section 104(g)(2) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5304(g)(2)), the Secretary may, upon receipt of a request for release 127 STAT. 38 of funds and certification, immediately approve the release of funds for an activity or project assisted under this heading if the recipient has adopted an environmental review, approval or permit under the preceding proviso or the activity or project is categorically excluded from review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.): Provided further, That a waiver granted by the Secretary may not reduce the percentage of funds that must be used for activities that benefit persons of low and moderate income to less than 50 percent, unless the Secretary specifically finds that there is a compelling need to further reduce or eliminate the percentage requirement: Provided further, That the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register any waiver of any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers pursuant to title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 no later than 5 days before the effective date of such waiver: Provided further, That, of the funds made available under this heading, up to $10,000,000 may be transferred to “Program Office Salaries and Expenses, Community Planning and Development” for necessary costs, including information technology costs, of administering and overseeing funds made available under this heading: Provided further, That of the funds made available under this heading, $10,000,000 shall be transferred to “Office of the Inspector General” for necessary costs of overseeing and auditing funds made available under this heading: Provided further, That the amounts provided under this heading are designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.