Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and WorksRelease 119-110

§3502 Planned Public Works

Title 40 › SUBTITLE II — PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND WORKS › PART A — GENERAL › CHAPTER 35 — NON-FEDERAL PUBLIC WORKS › § 3502

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development can give advance money to public agencies and Indian tribes so they keep a ready list of public works that can start quickly and so planning and construction are more efficient. The money can pay for things done before building, like studies, engineering and architectural work, designs, drawings, specifications, and for construction tied to making a medical center plan. Getting an advance does not require Congress to pay to build the project later. A State’s total unpaid advances cannot exceed 12.5% of the amount authorized for the law’s revolving fund. An advance for a specific project is allowed only if the project can be built in a reasonable time, fits an approved state or local plan, and the agency or tribe signs a formal agreement with the federal government to finish the plans promptly and to repay some or all of the advance when due. The Secretary may make rules to carry out these actions.

Full Legal Text

Title 40, §3502

Public Buildings, Property, and Works, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Advances To Ensure Planning.—
Notwithstanding section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may make advances to public agencies and Indian tribes—
(1)to encourage public agencies and Indian tribes to maintain at all times a current and adequate reserve of planned public works the construction of which can rapidly be commenced, particularly when the national or local economic situation makes that action desirable; and
(2)to help attain maximum economy and efficiency in the planning and construction of public works.
(b)Uses of Advances.—
A public agency or Indian tribe shall use an advance under subsection (a) to aid in financing the cost of feasibility studies, engineering and architectural surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, or other action preliminary to and in preparation for the construction of public works, and for construction in connection with the development of a medical center, a general plan for the development of the center.
(c)No Future Commitment.—
An advance under subsection (a) does not commit the Congress to appropriate amounts to assist in financing the construction of any public works planned with the aid of that advance. Outstanding advances to public agencies and Indian tribes in a State shall not exceed 12.5 percent of the aggregate then authorized to be appropriated to the revolving fund established under section 3503 of this title.
(d)Requirements for Advances.—
An advance shall not be made under subsection (a) for an individual project (including a regional, metropolitan, or other areawide project) unless—
(1)the project is planned to be constructed within or over a reasonable period of time considering the nature of the project;
(2)the project conforms to an overall state, local, or regional plan approved by a competent state, local, or regional authority; and
(3)the public agency or Indian tribe formally contracts with the Federal Government to complete the plan preparation promptly and to repay part or all of the advance when due.
(e)Regulations.—
The Secretary may prescribe regulations to carry out this chapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 350240:462(a), (b), (d).Aug. 2, 1954, ch. 649, title VII, § 702(a), (b), (d), 68 Stat. 641; Aug. 11, 1955, ch. 783, title I, § 112, 69 Stat. 641; Pub. L. 87–70, title V, § 502(1), (2), June 30, 1961, 75 Stat. 175; Pub. L. 88–560, title VI, § 602(a)–(c), (e), (f), Sept. 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 799; Pub. L. 90–19, § 10(a) (related to 40:462), May 25, 1967, 81 Stat. 22; Pub. L. 90–448, title VI, § 607, Aug. 1, 1968, 82 Stat. 534; Pub. L. 100–242, title V, § 524(1), Feb. 5, 1988, 101 Stat. 1939. In subsection (a), the words “section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31” are substituted for “section 3648 of the Revised Statutes, as amended” in section 702(a) of the Housing Act of 1954 (ch. 649, 68 Stat. 641) because of section 4(b) of the Act of September 13, 1982 (Public Law 97–258, 96 Stat. 1067), the first section of which enacted Title 31, United States Code. The words “municipalities and other” are omitted as being included in “public agencies”. In subsection (c), the words “in any way” are omitted as unnecessary. In subsection (e), the word “rules” is omitted as being included in “

Regulations

”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

40 U.S.C. § 3502

Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110