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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102

§1553 Removal by Secretary of Certain Housing of Temporary Character; Exceptions for Local Communities; Report to Congress

Title 42 › CHAPTER 9 — HOUSING OF PERSONS ENGAGED IN NATIONAL DEFENSE › SUBCHAPTER IV — GENERAL PROVISIONS AFFECTING SUBCHAPTERS II TO VII › § 1553

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development must quickly remove (by tearing down or otherwise getting rid of) all temporary housing that HUD controls and that was built under this subchapter and Public Law 781 (76th Congress) and Public Laws 9, 73, 353 (77th Congress). This must be done by July 1, 1954, unless more time is allowed under section 1584 of this title. Housing can be kept only if, after talking with local communities, the Secretary finds it is still urgently needed because of a severe local housing shortage. Those exceptions must be checked every year and reported to Congress. Except for later laws that specifically limit this rule, no federal law or regulation may stop actions to recover possession of these housing units to carry out this removal or section 1584.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §1553

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

Except as otherwise provided in subchapters II to VII of this chapter, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall, as promptly as may be practicable and in the public interest, remove (by demolition or otherwise) all housing under his jurisdiction which is of a temporary character, as determined by him, and constructed under the provisions of this subchapter, Public Law 781, Seventy-sixth Congress, and Public Laws 9, 73, 353, Seventy-seventh Congress. Such removal shall, in any event, be accomplished not later than July 1, 1954 or by such later date as may be required because of extensions of time in accordance with section 1584 of this title, with the exception only of such housing as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, after consultation with local communities, finds is still urgently needed because of a particularly acute housing shortage in the area: Provided, That all such exceptions shall be reexamined annually by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and that all such exceptions and reexaminations shall be reported to the Congress. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law except provisions of law hereafter enacted expressly in limitation hereof, no Federal statute, or regulation thereunder, shall prohibit or restrict any action or proceeding to recover possession of any housing accommodations for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section or section 1584 of this title.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Subchapters III and VI of this chapter, referred to in text, were comprised of sections 1531 to 1536 and 1571 to 1576, respectively, of this title and have been omitted from the Code. For further details, see note set out under section 1522 of this title. The provisions of Public Law 781, and Public Laws 9, 73, 353, referred to in text, are not classified to the Code. For further details, see note set out under section 1524 of this title.

Amendments

1950—Act Apr. 20, 1950, substituted “
December 31, 1952 or by such later date as may be required because of extensions of time in accordance with section 1584 of this title, with the exception only of such housing as the Administrator, after consultation with local communities, finds is still urgently needed because of a particularly acute housing shortage in the area” for “
January 1, 1951, with the exception only of such housing as the Administrator, after consultation with local communities finds is still needed in the interest of orderly demobilization of the war effort,” and inserted last sentence. 1949—Act Oct. 25, 1949, inserted “
January 1, 1951” for “
January 1, 1950”. 1948—Act
June 28, 1948, substituted “
January 1, 1950” for “two years after the President declares that the emergency declared by him on
September 8, 1939, has ceased to exist”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

For

Transfer of Functions

to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, see note set out under section 1522 of this title. Termination of War and EmergenciesJoint Res.
July 25, 1947, ch. 327, § 3, 61 Stat. 451, provided that in interpretation of this section, the date
July 25, 1947, shall be deemed to be date of termination of any state of war theretofore declared by Congress and of national emergencies proclaimed by President on Sept. 8, 1939, and
May 27, 1941.

Executive Documents

Ex. Ord. No. 10385. Extension of Time Ex. Ord. No. 10385, Aug. 18, 1952, affected section by extending time for the removal of temporary housing from Dec. 31, 1952, to July 1, 1954.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 1553

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102