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Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§4621 Declaration of findings and policy

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 61— - UNIFORM RELOCATION ASSISTANCE AND REAL PROPERTY ACQUISITION POLICIES FOR FEDERAL AND FEDERALLY ASSISTED PROGRAMS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - UNIFORM RELOCATION ASSISTANCE › § 4621

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Requires fair, uniform help for people who must move because of projects done by a federal agency or projects that get federal money. It covers moves caused by things like repairs, demolition, code enforcement, or when the government buys property. It notes that business relocations often force closures and that cutting the harm to people and communities is important. It also says rules were sometimes costly and inconsistent, and so a lead agency and State certification are allowed to make things work better. A main goal is to stop people from bearing unfair losses and to make moving less hard. Federal agencies must work to cut waste, fraud, and extra costs to States. Rules should be uniform but still consider each person’s situation and give equal treatment to similar cases. Efforts to improve housing for low-income people should link to other government programs. All actions must follow fair housing rules and protect rights under title VIII of the Act of April 11, 1968 (Public Law 90–284), known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968 [42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.], and title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.].

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §4621

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

(a)The Congress finds and declares that—
(1)displacement as a direct result of programs or projects undertaken by a Federal agency or with Federal financial assistance is caused by a number of activities, including rehabilitation, demolition, code enforcement, and acquisition;
(2)relocation assistance policies must provide for fair, uniform, and equitable treatment of all affected persons;
(3)the displacement of businesses often results in their closure;
(4)minimizing the adverse impact of displacement is essential to maintaining the economic and social well-being of communities; and
(5)implementation of this chapter has resulted in burdensome, inefficient, and inconsistent compliance requirements and procedures which will be improved by establishing a lead agency and allowing for State certification and implementation.
(b)This subchapter establishes a uniform policy for the fair and equitable treatment of persons displaced as a direct result of programs or projects undertaken by a Federal agency or with Federal financial assistance. The primary purpose of this subchapter is to ensure that such persons shall not suffer disproportionate injuries as a result of programs and projects designed for the benefit of the public as a whole and to minimize the hardship of displacement on such persons.
(c)It is the intent of Congress that—
(1)Federal agencies shall carry out this subchapter in a manner which minimizes waste, fraud, and mismanagement and reduces unnecessary administrative costs borne by States and State agencies in providing relocation assistance;
(2)uniform procedures for the administration of relocation assistance shall, to the maximum extent feasible, assure that the unique circumstances of any displaced person are taken into account and that persons in essentially similar circumstances are accorded equal treatment under this chapter;
(3)the improvement of housing conditions of economically disadvantaged persons under this subchapter shall be undertaken, to the maximum extent feasible, in coordination with existing Federal, State, and local governmental programs for accomplishing such goals; and
(4)the policies and procedures of this chapter will be administered in a manner which is consistent with fair housing requirements and which assures all persons their rights under title VIII of the Act of April 11, 1968 (Public Law 90–284), commonly known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968 [42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.], and title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.].

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a)(5) and (c)(2), (4), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 91–646, Jan. 2, 1971, 84 Stat. 1894, known as the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 4601 of this title and Tables. This subchapter, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (c)(1), (3), was in the original “this title”, meaning title II of Pub. L. 91–646, Jan. 2, 1971, 84 Stat. 1895, which is classified principally to this subchapter. For complete classification of title II to the Code, see Tables. Title VIII of the Act of April 11, 1968 (Public Law 90–284), commonly known as the Civil Rights Act of 1968, referred to in subsec. (c)(4), is title VIII of Pub. L. 90–284, Apr. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 81, known as the Fair Housing Act, which is classified principally to subchapter I (§ 3601 et seq.) of chapter 45 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 3601 of this title and Tables. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, referred to in subsec. (c)(4), is Pub. L. 88–352, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 241. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is classified generally to subchapter V (§ 2000d et seq.) of chapter 21 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 2000a of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1987—Pub. L. 100–17 substituted “Declaration of findings and policy” for “Declaration of policy” in section catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The purpose of this subchapter is to establish a uniform policy for the fair and equitable treatment of persons displaced as a result of Federal and federally assisted programs in order that such persons shall not suffer disproportionate injuries as a result of programs designed for the benefit of the public as a whole.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1987 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–17 effective on

Effective Date

provided in

Regulations

promulgated under section 4633 of this title (as amended by section 412 of Pub. L. 100–17), but not later than 2 years after Apr. 2, 1987, see section 418 of Pub. L. 100–17, set out as a note under section 4601 of this title.

Savings Provision

Pub. L. 91–646, title II, § 220(b), Jan. 2, 1971, 84 Stat. 1903, provided that: “Any rights or liabilities now existing under prior Acts or portions thereof shall not be affected by the repeal of such prior Acts or portions thereof under subsection (a) of this section [repealing section 1415(7)(b)(iii), (8) second sentence, 1465, 2473(b)(14), 3074, and 3307(b), (c) of this title, section 2680 of Title 10, Armed Forces, sections 501 to 512 of Title 23, Highways, sections 1231 to 1234 of Title 43, Public Lands, and section 1606(b) of former Title 49, Transportation, and provisions set out as notes under section 501 and 511 of Title 23].”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 4621

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73