§ 1476. Buildings and repairs

(a) Construction in accordance with plans and specifications; supervision and inspection; technical services and research

In connection with financial assistance authorized in this subchapter, the Secretary shall require that all new buildings and repairs financed under this subchapter shall be substantially constructed and in accordance with such building plans and specifications as may be required by the Secretary. Buildings and repairs constructed with funds advanced pursuant to this subchapter shall be supervised and inspected as required by the Secretary. In addition to the financial assistance authorized in this subchapter, the Secretary is authorized to furnish, through such agencies as he may determine, to any person, including a person eligible for financial assistance under this subchapter, without charge or at such charges as the Secretary may determine, technical services such as building plans, specifications, construction supervision and inspection, and advice and information regarding farm dwellings and other buildings.

(b) Research and technical studies for reduction of costs and adaptation and development of fixtures and appurtenances

The Secretary is further authorized and directed to conduct research, technical studies, and demonstrations relating to the mission and programs of the Farmers Home Administration and the national housing goals defined in section 1441 of this title. In connection with such activities, the Secretary shall seek to promote the construction of adequate farm and other rural housing, with particular attention to the housing needs of the elderly, handicapped, migrant and seasonal farmworkers, Indians and other identifiable groups with special needs. The Secretary shall conduct such activities for the purposes of stimulating construction and improving the architectural design and utility of dwellings and buildings. In carrying out this subsection, the Secretary may permit demonstrations involving innovative housing units and systems which do not meet existing published standards, rules, regulations, or policies if the Secretary finds that in so doing, the health and safety of the population of the area in which the demonstration is carried out will not be adversely affected, except that the aggregate expenditures for such demonstrations may not exceed $10,000,000 in any fiscal year.

(c) Research, study, and analysis of farm housing The Secretary is further authorized to carry out a program of research, study, and analysis of farm housing in the United States to develop data and information on—

(1) the adequacy of existing farm housing;

(2) the nature and extent of current and prospective needs for farm housing, including needs for financing and for improved design, utility, and comfort, and the best methods of satisfying such needs;

(3) problems faced by farmers and other persons eligible under section 1471 of this title in purchasing, constructing, improving, altering, repairing, and replacing farm housing;

(4) the interrelation of farm housing problems and the problems of housing in urban and suburban areas; and

(5) any other matters bearing upon the provision of adequate farm housing.

(d) Research capacity within Farmers Home Administration; establishment; authority

In order to carry out this section, the Secretary shall establish a research capacity within the Farmers Home Administration which shall have authority to undertake, or to contract with any public or private body to undertake, research authorized by this section.

(e) Preparation and submission of estimates of housing needs

The Secretary of Agriculture shall prepare and submit to the President and to the Congress estimates of national rural housing needs and reports with respect to the progress being made toward meeting such needs and correlate and recommend proposals for such executive action or legislation necessary or desirable for the furtherance of the national housing objective and policy established by this Act with respect to rural housing, together with such other reports or information as may be required of the Secretary by the President or the Congress.

(f) Study of housing available for migrant and settled farmworkers

(1) The Secretary shall conduct a study of housing which is available for migrant and settled farmworkers. In conducting such study, the Secretary shall—

(A) determine the location, number, quality, and condition of housing units which are available to such farmworkers and the cost assessed such farmworkers for occupying such units;

(B) recommend legislative, administrative, and other action (including the need for new authority for such action) which may be taken for the purpose of improving both the availability and the condition of such housing units; and

(C) determine the possible roles which individual farmworkers, farmworker associations, individual farmers, farmer associations, and public and private nonprofit agencies can perform in improving the housing conditions of farmworkers.

(2) The Secretary shall transmit the results of the study described in paragraph (1) to each House of the Congress within one year after October 31, 1978.

(July 15, 1949, ch. 338, title V, § 506, 63 Stat. 435; Pub. L. 87–70, title VIII, §§ 804(b)(1), 805(a), June 30, 1961, 75 Stat. 188; Pub. L. 87–723, § 4(c)(2), Sept. 28, 1962, 76 Stat. 672; Pub. L. 88–560, title V, § 503(c), Sept. 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 798; Pub. L. 89–117, title X, § 1005(d), Aug. 10, 1965, 79 Stat. 501; Pub. L. 89–348, § 1(5), Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1310; Pub. L. 93–383, title V, §§ 506, 519(a), Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 694, 699; Pub. L. 95–128, title V, § 510, Oct. 12, 1977, 91 Stat. 1142; Pub. L. 95–557, title V, § 502, Oct. 31, 1978, 92 Stat. 2111; Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title V, § 505], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1242; Pub. L. 104–66, title I, § 1011(m), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 710.)

References In Text

References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsec. (e), is act July 15, 1949, ch. 338, 63 Stat. 413, as amended, known as the Housing Act of 1949, which is classified principally to this chapter (§ 1441 et seq.). For complete classification of that Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1441 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

Amendments

1995—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–66 struck out at end “The Secretary shall report to the Congress at the close of each fiscal year on the results of such demonstrations.”

1983—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–181 inserted provision relating to demonstrations involving innovative housing units and systems not meeting existing standards with expenditures not to exceed $10,000,000 in any fiscal year and a report to be made to Congress at the close of each fiscal year.

1978—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–557, § 502(a), revised the provisions of this subsection to bring particular attention to the housing needs of the elderly, handicapped, migrant and seasonal farmworkers, Indians and other identifiable groups.

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 95–557, § 502(b), added subsec. (f).

1977—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–128 substituted provision respecting establishment and authority of a research capacity within the Farmers Home Administration for provision to carry out subsec. (b) and (c) research and study programs through grants by the Secretary to land-grant colleges on such terms, conditions, and standards as he may prescribe or through such other agencies as he may elect.

1974—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 93–383, § 519(a), substituted “as required by the Secretary” for “as may be required by the Secretary, by competent employees of the Secretary”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 93–383, § 506(a), substituted provisions authorizing grants to such other private or public organizations as selected by the Secretary upon finding that required research and study could not be performed by personnel and facilities of Department of Agriculture or land-grant colleges, for provisions authorizing grants to such other agencies as selected by the Secretary.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 93–383, § 506(b), substituted “rural housing” for “farm housing” wherever appearing.

1965—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 89–117 substituted “this subchapter” for “sections 1471 to 1474 and sections 1484 to 1486 of this title” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 89–348, which directed the repeal in subsec. (b) of the requirement of the report of estimates of national farm housing needs and of progress made toward meeting such needs, probably was intended to repeal such reporting requirement in subsec. (e) in view of the redesignation of subsec. (b) as (e) by Pub. L. 87–70.

1964—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 88–560 inserted reference to section 1486 of this title wherever appearing.

1962—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 87–723 substituted “sections 1484 and 1485” for “section 1484” wherever appearing.

1961—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 87–70, §§ 804(b)(1), 805(a)(1), inserted a reference to section 1484 of this title in two places, and struck out provisions which authorized the conduct of research and technical studies including the development, demonstration, and promotion of construction of adequate farm dwellings and other buildings for the purposes of stimulating construction, improving architectural design and utility, utilizing new and native materials, economies in materials and construction methods, and new methods of production, distribution, assembly, and construction, which provisions are now contained in subsec. (b) of this section.

Subsecs. (b) to (e). Pub. L. 87–70, § 805(a)(2), (3), added subsecs. (b) to (d) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (e). Provisions of subsec. (b) were formerly contained in subsec. (a).

Miscellaneous

Study of Emergency Potable Water and Sewage Program

Pub. L. 95–557, title V, § 508, Oct. 31, 1978, 92 Stat. 2114, required Secretary of Agriculture to determine the approximate number of rural housing units without access to sanitary toilet facilities or potable water, prepare a projection of the cost providing such facilities and supplies, and report to Congress not later than six months after Oct. 31, 1978.

Report of Estimates of National Farm Housing Needs

Pub. L. 89–348, § 1(5), Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1310, repealed provisions of subsec. (e) of this section which related to reports of the estimates of national farm housing needs and of progress toward meeting such needs.