Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§3532 Establishment of Department

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 44— - DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT › § 3532

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the nation’s capital and puts a Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in charge. The Secretary is chosen by the President and approved by the Senate and must run the Department. The Secretary must advise the President on housing and city programs, make and recommend policies for city growth, and lead coordination of federal housing and urban activities. The Secretary must give technical help and run a clearinghouse to help state and local governments, work with governors and state agencies (including holding informal public hearings when useful), encourage planning and private business involvement, and study housing and urban problems and share the results. Communities cannot be denied program benefits because of size or legal status unless another law says so. For enterprise zones under section 11501, the Secretary must coordinate programs, speed up application handling (for example by combining forms), and, when possible, combine required reports into a single summary at set intervals.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §3532

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)There is hereby established at the seat of government an executive department to be known as the Department of Housing and Urban Development (hereinafter referred to as the “Department”). There shall be at the head of the Department a Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (hereinafter referred to as the “Secretary”), who shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Department shall be administered under the supervision and direction of the Secretary.
(b)The Secretary shall, among his responsibilities, advise the President with respect to Federal programs and activities relating to housing and urban development; develop and recommend to the President policies for fostering the orderly growth and development of the Nation’s urban areas; exercise leadership at the direction of the President in coordinating Federal activities affecting housing and urban development; provide technical assistance and information, including a clearinghouse service to aid State, county, town, village, or other local governments in developing solutions to community and metropolitan development problems; consult and cooperate with State Governors and State agencies, including, when appropriate, holding informal public hearings, with respect to Federal and State programs for assisting communities in developing solutions to community and metropolitan development problems and for encouraging effective regional cooperation in the planning and conduct of community and metropolitan development programs and projects; encourage comprehensive planning by the State aud 11 So in original. Probably should be “and”. local governments with a view to coordinating Federal, State, and local urban and community development activities; encourage private enterprise to serve as large a part of the Nation’s total housing and urban development needs as it can and develop the fullest cooperation with private enterprise in achieving the objectives of the Department; and conduct continuing comprehensive studies, and make available findings, with respect to the problems of housing and urban development.
(c)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to deny or limit the benefits of any program, function, or activity assigned to the Department by this chapter or any other Act to any community on the basis of its population or corporate status, except as may be expressly provided by law.
(d)The Secretary shall—
(1)promote the coordination of all programs under the jurisdiction of the Secretary that are carried on within an enterprise zone designated pursuant to section 11501 of this title;
(2)expedite, to the greatest extent possible, the consideration of applications for programs referred to in paragraph (1) through the consolidation of forms or otherwise; and
(3)provide, whenever possible, for the consolidation of periodic reports required under programs referred to in paragraph (1) into one summary report submitted at such intervals as may be designated by the Secretary.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (c), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 89–174, Sept. 9, 1965, 79 Stat. 667, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 3531 of this title and Tables. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 624a of former Title 5, Executive Departments and Government Officers and Employees, prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 5, Government Organization and Employee by Pub. L. 89–554, § 1, Sept. 1, 1966, 80 Stat. 378.

Amendments

1988—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–242 added subsec. (d). 1967—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–83 struck out provision for compensation of Secretary.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Interim AppointmentsNomination and appointment of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development any time after Sept. 9, 1965, and interim designation and compensation of officer of Housing and Home Finance Agency for that office upon nonentry upon the office upon expiration of first period of sixty calendar days following Sept. 9, 1965, or on earlier date specified by Executive order, see section 11 of Pub. L. 89–174, set out as a note under section 3531 of this title. Office of Lead Based Paint Abatement and Poisoning Prevention Pub. L. 102–389, title II, Oct. 6, 1992, 106 Stat. 1593, provided in part that: “Notwithstanding any other provision of this or any other Act with respect to any fiscal year, the Office of Lead-Based Paint Abatement and Poisoning Prevention shall be contained within the Office of the Secretary, and said Office shall have ultimate responsibility within the Department of Housing and Urban Development, except for the Secretary, for all matters related to the abatement of lead in housing, and research related to lead abatement, consistent with the responsibilities outlined for the Office in Senate Report 102–107.” Pub. L. 102–139, title II, Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 753, provided in part: “That there shall be established, in the Office of the Secretary, an Office of Lead Based Paint Abatement and Poisoning Prevention to be headed by a career Senior Executive Service employee who shall be responsible for all lead-based paint abatement and poisoning prevention activities (including, but not limited to, research, abatement, training

Regulations

and policy development): Provided further, That such office shall be allocated a staffing level of twenty staff years.” Condominium and Cooperative Study and Report; Submission to Congress Pub. L. 93–383, title VII, § 821, Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 740, authorized the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to conduct a full and complete investigation and study, and report to Congress not later than one year after Aug. 22, 1974, with respect to condominiums and cooperatives, and the problems, difficulties, and abuses or potential abuses applicable to condominium and cooperative housing.

Executive Documents

Order of SuccessionFor order of succession during any period when both Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development are unable to perform functions and duties of office of Secretary, see Ex. Ord. No. 13243, Dec. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 66262, listed in a table under section 3345 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Ex. Ord. No. 11297. Coordination of Federal Urban Program Ex. Ord. No. 11297, Aug. 11, 1966, 31 F.R. 10765, provided: WHEREAS our Nation has become predominantly urban in character and is confronted by serious problems arising from inherited urban decay and rapid urban growth; and WHEREAS the living standards and general welfare of its people depend upon the solution of the problems of urban life; and WHEREAS the Congress has provided in the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act [see

Short Title

note under section 3531 of this title] that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (hereinafter referred to as the Secretary) shall “advise the President with respect to Federal programs and activities relating to housing and urban development; develop and recommend to the President policies for fostering the orderly growth and development of the Nation’s urban areas; and exercise leadership at the direction of the President in coordinating Federal activities affecting housing and urban development”; and WHEREAS such activities are closely interrelated with other important Federal activities affecting urban areas so that there is a need for maximum consultation and cooperation among Federal departments and agencies in their administration of programs having impact on urban areas; and WHEREAS such consultation and cooperation are also essential to enable the Secretary to carry out his responsibilities under that Act to “provide technical assistance and information, including a clearinghouse service to aid State, county, town, village, or other local governments in developing solutions to community and metropolitan development problems; consult and cooperate with State Governors and State agencies . . . with respect to Federal and State programs for assisting communities in developing solutions to community and metropolitan development problems and for encouraging effective regional cooperation in the planning and conduct of community and metropolitan development programs and projects”. NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and laws of the United States, it is ordered as follows: section 1. Functions of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. (a) To assist the Secretary in carrying out his responsibilities pursuant to the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act, he shall convene, or authorize his representatives to convene, meetings at appropriate times and places of the heads, or representatives designated by them, of such Federal departments and agencies with programs affecting urban areas as he deems necessary or desirable for the following purposes: (1) To provide a forum for consideration of mutual problems concerning Federal programs and activities affecting the development of urban areas and for the exchange of current information needed to achieve coordination of, and to avoid duplication in, such programs and activities. (2) To promote cooperations among Federal departments and agencies in achieving consistent policies, practices, and procedures for administration of their programs affecting urban areas. (3) To consult with and obtain the advice of the Federal departments and agencies with respect to: (A) consultation and cooperation with State Governors and State and local agencies concerning Federal and State programs for assisting communities; (B) provision of technical information, a clearinghouse service, and other assistance to State and local governments in solving community and metropolitan development problems; and (C) encouragement of comprehensive planning of, and effective regional cooperation in, local urban, community, and metropolitan development activities. (4) To identify urban development problems of particular States, metropolitan areas, or communities which require interagency or intergovernmental coordination. (b) The Secretary shall make arrangements with such Federal departments and agencies for working groups to consider special problems arising with respect to matters described in subsection (a) of this section. section 2. Agency responsibilities. The heads of Federal departments and agencies have programs which have an impact on urban areas, or representatives designated by them, shall participate in meetings convened pursuant to this Order and, to the extent permitted by law and funds available, shall furnish information, at the request of the Secretary, pertaining to programs within the responsibilities of such departments or agencies, and such additional information as will assist the Secretary in providing a clearinghouse service to aid State and local governments in developing solutions to community and metropolitan development problems. section 3.

Construction

. Nothing in this Order shall be construed as subjecting any function vested by law in, or assigned pursuant to law to, any Federal department or agency or head thereof to the authority of any other agency or officer or as abrogating or restricting any such function in any manner. section 4. Administrative arrangements. (a) Each executive department and agency participating under section 1 or section 2 shall furnish necessary assistance for effectuating the provisions of this Order as authorized by section 214 of the Act of May 3, 1945, 59 Stat. 134 (31 U.S.C. 691) [31 U.S.C. 1346(b)]. (b) The Department of Housing and Urban Development shall provide necessary administrative services pursuant to this Order. Lyndon B. Johnson. Executive Order No. 13602 Ex. Ord. No. 13602, Mar. 15, 2012, 77 F.R. 16131, which established a White House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities, was superseded and revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13748, § 5, Nov. 16, 2016, 81 F.R. 83621, set out as a note under section 601 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 3532

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73