DUTY AND AUTHORITY OF DIRECTOR.

SEC. 573. DUTY AND AUTHORITY OF DIRECTOR. (a) Duty.—The Secretary shall, acting through the Director, administer the program of mortgage and rental assistance restructuring for eligible multifamily housing projects under subtitle A. During the period before the Director is appointed, the Secretary may carry out such program. (b) Authority.—The Director is authorized to make such determinations, take such actions, issue such regulations, and perform such functions assigned to the Director under law as the Director determines necessary to carry out such functions, subject to the review and approval of the Secretary. The Director shall semiannually submit a report to the Secretary regarding the activities, determinations, and actions of the Director. (c) Delegation of Authority.—The Director may delegate to officers and employees of the Office (but not to contractors, subcontractors, or consultants) any of the functions, powers, and duties of the Director, as the Director considers appropriate. (d) Independence in Providing Information to Congress.— (1) In general.—Notwithstanding subsection (a) or (b), the Director shall not be required to obtain the prior approval, comment, or review of any officer or agency of the United States before submitting to the Congress, or any committee or subcommittee thereof, any reports, recommendations, testimony, or comments if such submissions include a statement indicating that the views expressed therein are those of the Director and do not necessarily represent the views of the Secretary or the President. (2) Requirement.—If the Director determines at any time that the Secretary is taking or has taken any action that interferes with the ability of the Director to carry out the duties of the Director under this Act or that affects the administration of the program under subtitle A of this Act in a manner that is inconsistent with the purposes of this Act, including any proposed action by the Director, in the discretion of the Director, that is overruled by the Secretary, the Director shall immediately report directly to the Committee on Banking and Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 111 STAT. 1422Senate regarding such action. Notwithstanding subsection (a) or (b), any determination or report under this paragraph by the Director shall not be subject to prior review or approval of the Secretary.