Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§1479 General Powers of Secretary
Title 42 › CHAPTER 8A — SLUM CLEARANCE, URBAN RENEWAL, AND FARM HOUSING › SUBCHAPTER III — FARM HOUSING › § 1479
Summary
The Secretary must set what counts as adequate farm housing and other farm buildings for different areas. The Secretary can approve a house if it meets one of four sets of building rules: the Secretary’s minimum standards, HUD’s minimum property standards for Title II mortgages, a national model building code, or the manufactured housing rules in section 1472(e). The Secretary must try to include energy-saving rules for new homes that match the energy rules in section 526 of the National Housing Act. The Secretary can require loan or grant recipients to agree that fixing or improving a house with program money cannot be used to make a tenant’s lease or occupancy worse without the Secretary’s OK. The Secretary must write regulations about how payments and repairs are handled. The Secretary can pay to fix or buy units built in the time window that began 18 months before October 12, 1977 and that were newly built up through after October 1, 1977 if they have structural defects, but the owner must ask within 36 months after getting help (or within 36 months after October 12, 1977 for some earlier cases). Those payments can come from the Rural Housing Insurance Fund, and the Secretary’s decisions about those payments cannot be reviewed by a court. If a loan default involves tribal allotted or trust land, the Secretary must first offer the account to an eligible tribal member, the tribe, or the tribe’s housing authority; if the Secretary later sells the property, it can only be sold to one of those entities. Each fiscal year the Secretary will pick 100 counties or communities with severe unmet housing needs as “targeted underserved areas.” To be eligible, a place must have, over the prior 5 years, much less per-person help than other places in the State and at least 20% of people at or below the poverty level and at least 10% living in substandard housing. The Secretary will give extra preference to places with 28% or more in poverty and 13% or more in substandard housing, and must include at least 5 places that have tribal allotted or trust land. The Secretary must publicize available loans and grants, review designations when new census data from 1990 arrived and report to Congress within 9 months, and publish the list of targeted areas each year. The Secretary must set aside 5.0% each fiscal year of certain lending authority for these targeted areas, with rules to reallocate unused money to colonias or eligible but undesignated places. Colonias are communities in Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Texas within 150 miles of the U.S.–Mexico border (excluding metro areas over 1,000,000), that lacked basic services and existed before November 28, 1990. The Secretary may give project-preparation grants to eligible groups (nonprofits, community housing groups, States, or local governments) to cover normal application costs; the Secretary must act on those applications within 60 days, and those grant funds remain available until spent.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §1479
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Standards of adequate farm housing and other buildings; criteria
The Secretary, for the purposes of this subchapter, shall have the power to determine and prescribe the standards of adequate farm housing and other buildings, by farms or localities, taking into consideration, among other factors, the type of housing which will provide decent, safe, and sanitary dwelling for the needs of the family using the housing, the type and character of the farming operations to be conducted, and the size and earning capacity of the land. The Secretary shall approve a residential building as meeting such standards if the building is constructed in accordance with (1) the minimum standards prescribed by the Secretary, (2) the minimum property standards prescribed by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for mortgages insured under title II of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.], (3) the standards contained in any of the voluntary national model building codes, or (4) in the case of manufactured housing, the standards referred to in section 1472(e) of this title. To the maximum extent feasible, the Secretary shall promote the use of energy saving techniques through standards established by such Secretary for newly constructed residential housing assisted under this subchapter. Such standards shall, insofar as is practicable, be consistent with the standards established pursuant to section 526 of the National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1735f–4] and shall incorporate the energy performance requirements developed pursuant to such section.
(b)Terms or conditions of leases or occupancy agreements subject to change with approval of Secretary
The Secretary may require any recipient of a loan or grant to agree that the availability of improvements constructed or repaired with the proceeds of the loan or grant under this subchapter shall not be a justification for directly or indirectly changing the terms or conditions of the lease or occupancy agreement with the occupants of such farms to the latter’s disadvantage without the approval of the Secretary.
(c)Rural Housing Insurance Fund for payment of expenditures respecting construction defects; judicial review prohibition
The Secretary is authorized, after October 1, 1977, with respect to any unit or dwelling newly constructed during the period beginning eighteen months prior to October 12, 1977, and purchased with financial assistance authorized by this subchapter which he finds to have structural defects to make expenditures for (1) correcting such defects, (2) paying the claims of the owner of the property arising from such defects, or (3) acquiring title to the property, if such assistance is requested by the owner of the property within thirty-six months after financial assistance under this subchapter is rendered to the owner of the property or, in the case of property with respect to which assistance was made available within eighteen months prior to October 12, 1977, within thirty-six months after October 12, 1977. Expenditures pursuant to this subsection may be paid from the Rural Housing Insurance Fund. Decisions by the Secretary regarding such expenditures or payments under this subsection, and the terms and conditions under which the same are approved or disapproved, shall not be subject to judicial review.
(d)Defaults involving security interest in tribal lands
In the event of default involving a security interest in tribal allotted or trust land, the Secretary shall only pursue liquidation after offering to transfer the account to an eligible tribal member, the tribe, or the Indian housing authority serving the tribe or tribes. If the Secretary subsequently proceeds to liquidate the account, the Secretary shall not sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of or alienate the property except to one of the entities described in the preceding sentence.
(e)Terms and conditions; regulations
The Secretary shall, by regulation, prescribe the terms and conditions under which expenditures and payments may be made under the provisions of this section.
(f)Housing in underserved areas
(1)Designation of underserved area
The Secretary shall designate as targeted underserved areas 100 counties and communities in each fiscal year that have severe, unmet housing needs as determined by the Secretary. A county or community shall be eligible for designation if, during the 5-year period preceding the year in which the designation is made, it has received an average annual amount of assistance under this subchapter that is substantially lower than the average annual amount of such assistance received during that 5-year period by other counties and communities in the State that are eligible for such assistance calculated on a per capita basis, and has—
(A)20 percent or more of its population at or below the poverty level; and
(B)10 percent or more of its population residing in substandard housing.
As used in this paragraph, the term “poverty level” has the meaning given the term in section 5302(a)(9) of this title.
(2)Preferences
In selecting projects to receive assistance with amounts set aside under paragraph (4), the Secretary shall give preference to any project located in a county or community that has, at the time of designation and as determined by the Secretary—
(A)28 percent or more of its population at or below poverty level; and
(B)13 percent or more of its population residing in substandard housing.
In designating underserved areas under paragraph (1), in each fiscal year the Secretary shall designate not less than 5 counties or communities that contain tribal allotted or Indian trust land.
(3)Outreach program and review
(A)Outreach
The Secretary shall publicize the availability to targeted underserved areas of grants and loans under this subchapter and promote, to the maximum extent feasible, efforts to apply for those grants and loans for housing in targeted underserved areas.
(B)Review
Upon the receipt of data from the 1990 decennial census, the Secretary shall conduct a review of any designations made under paragraph (1) and preferences given under paragraph (2) and the eligibility of communities and counties for such designation and preference, examining the effects of such data on such eligibility. The Secretary shall submit to the Congress, not later than 9 months after the availability of the data, a report regarding the review, which shall include any recommendations of the Secretary for modifications in the standards for designation and preference.
(4)Set-aside for targeted underserved areas and colonias
(A)In general
The Secretary shall set aside and reserve for assistance in targeted underserved areas an amount equal to 5.0 percent in each fiscal year of the aggregate amount of lending authority under section 1472, 1474, 1484, 1485, and 1490d of this title. During each fiscal year, the Secretary shall set aside from amounts available for assistance under paragraphs (2) and (5) of section 1490a(a) of this title, an amount that is appropriate to provide assistance with respect to the lending authority under section 1484 and 1485 of this title that is set aside for such fiscal year. The Secretary shall establish a procedure to reallocate any assistance set aside in any fiscal year for targeted underserved areas that has not been expended during a reasonable period in such year for use in (i) colonias that have applied for and are eligible for assistance under subparagraph (B) or paragraph (7) and did not receive assistance, and (ii) counties and communities eligible for designation as targeted underserved areas but which were not so designated. The procedure shall also provide that any assistance reallocated under the preceding sentence that has not been expended by a reasonable date established by the Secretary (which shall be after the expiration of the period referred to in the preceding sentence) shall be made available and allocated under the laws and regulations relating to such assistance, notwithstanding this subsection.
(B)Priority for colonias
(i)Notwithstanding the designation of counties and communities as targeted underserved areas under paragraph (1) and the provisions of section 1490 of this title, colonias shall be eligible for assistance with amounts reserved under subparagraph (A), as provided in this subparagraph.
(ii)In providing assistance from amounts reserved under this paragraph in each fiscal year, the Secretary shall give priority to any application for assistance to be used in, or in close proximity to, and serving the residents of, a colonia located in a State described under clause (iii). After the Secretary has provided assistance under the priority for colonias located in a State in an amount equal to 5 percent of the total amount of assistance allocated under this subchapter to such State in the fiscal year, the priority shall not apply to any applications for colonias in such State.
(iii)This paragraph shall apply to any State for any fiscal year following 2 fiscal years in which the State obligated the total amount of assistance allocated to it under this subchapter during each of such 2 fiscal years.
(5)List of underserved areas
The Secretary shall publish annually the current list of targeted underserved areas in the Federal Register.
(6)Project preparation assistance
(A)In general
The Secretary may make grants to eligible applicants under subparagraph (D) to promote the development of affordable housing in targeted underserved areas and colonias.
(B)Use
A grant under this paragraph shall not exceed an amount that the Secretary determines to equal the customary and reasonable costs incurred in preparing an application for a loan under section 1472, 1474, 1484, 1485, or 1490d of this title, or a grant under section 1490m of this title (including preapplication planning, site analysis, market analysis, and other necessary technical assistance). The Secretary shall adjust the loan or grant amount under such sections to take account of project preparation costs that have been paid from grant proceeds under this paragraph and that normally would be reimbursed with proceeds of the loan or grant.
(C)Approval
The Secretary shall approve a properly submitted application or issue a written statement indicating the reasons for disapproval not later than 60 days after the receipt of the application.
(D)Eligibility
For purposes of this paragraph, an eligible applicant may be a nonprofit organization or corporation, a community housing development organization, State, unit of general local government, or agency of a State or unit of general local government.
(E)Availability of funding
Any amounts appropriated to carry out this paragraph shall remain available until expended.
(7)Priority for colonias
(A)In general
In providing assistance under this subchapter in any fiscal year described under subparagraph (B), each State in which colonias are located shall give priority to any application for assistance to be used in a colonia. The priority under this subparagraph shall not apply in such State after 5 percent of the assistance available in such fiscal year has been allocated for colonias qualifying for the priority.
(B)Covered years
This paragraph shall apply to any fiscal year following 2 fiscal years in which the State did not obligate the total amount of assistance allocated it under this subchapter during each of such 2 fiscal years.
(8)“Colonia” defined
For purposes of this subsection, the term “colonia” means any identifiable community that—
(A)is in the State of Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Texas;
(B)is in the area of the United States within 150 miles of the border between the United States and Mexico, except that the term does not include any standard metropolitan statistical area that has a population exceeding 1,000,000;
(C)is determined to be a colonia on the basis of objective criteria, including lack of potable water supply, lack of adequate sewage systems, and lack of decent, safe, and sanitary housing; and
(D)was in existence as a colonia before November 28, 1990.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The National Housing Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is act June 27, 1934, ch. 847, 48 Stat. 1246. Title II of the National Housing Act is classified principally to subchapter II (§ 1707 et seq.) of chapter 13 of Title 12, Banks and Banking. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1701 of Title 12 and Tables.
Amendments
1998—Subsec. (f)(4)(A). Pub. L. 105–276, in first sentence, substituted “each fiscal year” for “fiscal year 1998” and, in second sentence, substituted “During each fiscal year” for “During such fiscal year” and substituted “from amounts available for assistance under paragraphs (2) and (5) of section 1490a(a) of this title, an amount” for “an amount of section 521 rental assistance”. 1997—Subsec. (f)(4)(A). Pub. L. 105–86 substituted “fiscal year 1998” for “fiscal year 1997”. 1996—Subsec. (f)(4)(A). Pub. L. 104–180 substituted “fiscal year 1997” for “fiscal year 1996”. Pub. L. 104–120 substituted “fiscal year 1996” for “fiscal years 1993 and 1994” and “During such fiscal year” for “During each such fiscal year”. 1992—Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 102–550, § 705(a)(1), substituted “in each fiscal year” for “in each of fiscal years 1991 and 1992” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 102–550, § 705(a)(2), inserted concluding provisions. Subsec. (f)(4)(A). Pub. L. 102–550, § 705(a)(3), substituted “an amount equal to 5.0 percent in fiscal years 1993 and 1994” for “an amount equal to 3.5 percent in fiscal year 1991 and 5.0 percent in fiscal year 1992”. Subsec. (f)(4)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 102–550, § 705(c), inserted “, or in close proximity to, and serving the residents of,” before “a colonia”. Subsec. (f)(8)(C) to (E). Pub. L. 102–550, § 705(b), redesignated subpar. (D) as (C), struck out former subpar. (C) which read as follows: “is designated by the State or county in which it is located as a colonia;”, added subpar. (D), and struck out subpar. (E) which read as follows: “was in existence and generally recognized as a colonia before
November 28, 1990.” 1990—Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 101–625, § 708, added subsec. (d) and redesignated former subsec. (d) as (e). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 101–625, § 709(b), added subsec. (f). 1983—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–181 inserted provisions relating to standards, designated cls. (1) to (4), the compliance with which will result in approval by the Secretary, and inserted provision relating to the promotion of the use of energy saving techniques. 1979—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 96–153 substituted “within thirty-six months after
October 12, 1977” for “within eighteen months after
October 12, 1977”. 1977—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 95–128 added subsecs. (c) and (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–120 to be construed to have become effective Oct. 1, 1995, see section 13(a) of Pub. L. 104–120, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 1996
Amendments
note under section 1437d of this title.
Regulations
Pub. L. 101–625, title VII, § 709(c), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4290, provided that: “Not later than the expiration of the 120-day period beginning on the date of enactment of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act [Nov. 28, 1990], the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue any
Regulations
necessary to carry out the amendment made by this section [amending this section].” Housing in Underserved Areas Pub. L. 101–625, title VII, § 709(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4288, provided that: “The purpose of this section [amending this section and enacting provisions set out above] is to improve the quality of affordable housing in communities that have extremely high concentrations of poverty and substandard housing and that have been underserved by rural housing programs, including extremely distressed areas in the Lower Mississippi Delta and other regions of the Nation, by directing Farmers Home Administration assistance toward designated underserved areas.” Exemptions of Existing Dwellings From Living Area Limitations; Authority of District Offices of Farmers’ Home Administration Pub. L. 100–202, § 101(k) [title VI, § 632], Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1329–322, 1329–356, provided that: “During fiscal year 1988 and each succeeding fiscal year, the Secretary of Agriculture shall permit each district office of the Farmers Home Administration to exempt any existing dwelling from any limitation established by the Secretary on the number of square feet of living area that may be contained in a dwelling to be eligible for a loan under section 502 of the Housing Act of 1949 [section 1472 of this title], if the dwelling is modest in design, size, and cost for the area in which it is located.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 1479
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110