grants for historic preservation

grants for historic preservation Sec. 605. (a) The heading of title VII of the Housing Act of 1961 is amended to read as follows: “TITLE VII—OPEN-SPACE LAND, URBAN BEAUTIFICATION, AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION”. (b) Section 701 of such Act is amended by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d), and by inserting after subsection (b) a new subsection as follows: “(c) The Congress further finds that there is a need for timely action to preserve and restore areas, sites, and structures of historic or architectural value in order that these remaining evidences of our past history and heritage shall not be lost or destroyed through the expansion and development of the Nation’s urban areas.” (c) Section 701(d) of such Act (as redesignated by subsection (b) of this section) is amended— (1) by inserting after “urban development,” the following: “to assist in preserving areas and properties of historic or architectural value,”; and (2) by striking out “and (2)” and inserting in lieu thereof “(2) acquire, improve, and restore areas, sites, and structures of historic or architectural value, and (3)”. (d) Section 702(e) of such Act is amended to read as follows: “(e) The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of the Interior on the general policies to lie followed in reviewing applications for grants under this title. To assist the Secretary in such review, the Secretary of the Interior shall furnish him (1) appropriate information on the status of national and statewide recreation and historic preservation planning as it affects the areas to be assisted with such grants, and (2) the current listing of any districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, 80 Stat. 1280archeology, and culture which may be contained on a National Register maintained by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to other provisions of law. The Secretary shall provide current information to the Secretary of the Interior from time to time on significant program developments.” (e) Section 706 of such Act is amended by striking out the proviso. (f) Section 708 of such Act is amended by inserting “(a)” after “Sec. 708.”. by inserting “ (b)” before “The” in the second paragraph, and by adding at the end thereof a new subsection as follows: “(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the Secretary may use not to exceed $10,000,000 of the sum authorized for contracts under this title for the purpose of entering into contracts to make grants in amounts not to exceed 90 per centum of the cost of activities which he determines have special value in developing and demonstrating new and improved methods and materials for use in carrying out the purposes of this title.” (g) Title VII of such Act is amended by redesignating section 709 as section 710, and by adding after section 708 a new section as follows: “grants for historic preservation “Sec. 709. The Secretary is authorized to enter into contracts to make grants to States and local public bodies to assist in the acquisition of title to or other permanent interests in areas, sites, and structures of historic or architectural value in urban areas, and in their restoration and improvement for public use and benefit, in accord with the comprehensively planned development of the locality. The amount of any such grant shall not exceed 50 per centum of the total cost, as approved by the Secretary, of the assisted activities. The remainder of such cost shall be provided from non-Federal sources.” (h) Commencing three years after the date of the enactment of this Act, no grant shall be made (except pursuant to a contract or commitment entered into less than three years after such date) under section 709 of the Housing Act of 1961 or section 701(h) of the Housing Act of 1954, or under section 103 of the Housing Act of 1949 to the extent that it is to be used for historic or architectural preservation, except with respect to districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects which the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development finds meet criteria comparable to those used in establishing the National Register maintained by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to other provisions of law.