Puerto Rico Low-Income Housing Support Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1696
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-24T14:10:37Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Puerto Rico Low-Income Housing Support Act (H.R. 1696) aims to standardize the definition of "extremely low-income families" for housing assistance purposes in Puerto Rico, aligning it with guidelines used in the mainland United States. It also seeks to improve access to low-income housing by requiring a federal report on efforts to connect Puerto Rican families to available housing resources.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to Income Definition: Modifies the United States Housing Act of 1937 to apply the same poverty guidelines for determining "extremely low-income families" in Puerto Rico as those used in the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia. This replaces any prior special considerations for Puerto Rico.
- Report Requirement: Directs the Comptroller General (an independent auditor for Congress) to submit a report to Congress within 180 days of enactment. The report must cover:
- Efforts by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Puerto Rico Public Housing Administration (PRPHA) to identify and address housing needs for extremely low-income families in Puerto Rico.
- How HUD uses federal disaster recovery funds to rebuild and expand low-income housing after events like hurricanes and earthquakes.
- Recommendations for improving federal and local housing programs serving these families, focusing on connections to housing assistance and affordable units under the 1937 Act.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current law, the definition of extremely low-income families (generally those with incomes at or below 30% of the area median income or the federal poverty line) includes special provisions for Puerto Rico and other territories, potentially using adjusted poverty guidelines. This bill eliminates Puerto Rico's unique treatment, mandating the use of mainland U.S. guidelines instead. This could broaden eligibility by applying potentially higher income thresholds relative to Puerto Rico's local economy.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: May increase the number of eligible Puerto Rican families for federal housing assistance programs, such as public housing and vouchers, potentially improving access to affordable units and reducing housing insecurity, especially post-disaster.
- On Government Agencies: Places additional reporting and coordination burdens on HUD and PRPHA, while requiring the use of standardized guidelines that could lead to higher funding allocations for Puerto Rico's housing programs. The report may prompt future policy adjustments to enhance disaster recovery and program effectiveness.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as this is a domestic policy focused on a U.S. territory; however, it could indirectly support U.S. commitments to equitable treatment of territories.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Low-Income Families in Puerto Rico: Primary beneficiaries, as the changes could expand access to housing aid.
- Puerto Rico Public Housing Administration (PRPHA) and Government of Puerto Rico: Directly involved in implementation and collaboration with federal efforts.
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Responsible for applying the new guidelines and using disaster funds; must contribute to the required report.
- U.S. Congress and Comptroller General: Receives the report and may act on its recommendations to oversee housing policy.
- Housing Developers and Nonprofits: Could see increased opportunities for projects serving more eligible families.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Promotes uniformity in federal housing law application across U.S. jurisdictions, potentially addressing disparities in how territories like Puerto Rico are treated compared to states. No direct challenges to constitutionality, but it reinforces equal protection principles under the Fifth Amendment for U.S. citizens in territories.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's plenary power over territories (Article IV, Section 3), allowing adjustments to federal benefits without granting state-like status to Puerto Rico.
- Political: Highlights ongoing debates about equitable federal support for Puerto Rico, especially after disasters like Hurricane Maria (2017). The bill, introduced by Representatives Hernandez and Torres, may signal bipartisan interest in territory-specific reforms, potentially influencing broader discussions on Puerto Rico's status and funding.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rescom. Hernández, Pablo [D-PR-At Large]
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Puerto Rico Low-Income Housing Support Act — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (3 pages)