Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 119.djvu/2157

 PUBLIC LAW 109–97—NOV. 10, 2005

119 STAT. 2139

shall be transferred to and merged with the appropriation for ‘‘Rural Development, Salaries and Expenses’’, of which not less than $1,000,000 shall be made available for the Secretary to contract with third parties to acquire the necessary automation and technical services needed to restructure section 515 mortgages. RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

For rental assistance agreements entered into or renewed pursuant to the authority under section 521(a)(2) or agreements entered into in lieu of debt forgiveness or payments for eligible households as authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Housing Act of 1949, $653,102,000; and, in addition, such sums as may be necessary, as authorized by section 521(c) of the Act, to liquidate debt incurred prior to fiscal year 1992 to carry out the rental assistance program under section 521(a)(2) of the Act: Provided, That of this amount, up to $8,000,000 shall be available for debt forgiveness or payments for eligible households as authorized by section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Act, and not to exceed $50,000 per project for advances to nonprofit organizations or public agencies to cover direct costs (other than purchase price) incurred in purchasing projects pursuant to section 502(c)(5)(C) of the Act: Provided further, That agreements entered into or renewed during the current fiscal year shall be funded for a four-year period: Provided further, That any unexpended balances remaining at the end of such four-year agreements may be transferred and used for the purposes of any debt reduction; maintenance, repair, or rehabilitation of any existing projects; preservation; and rental assistance activities authorized under title V of the Act: Provided further, That rental assistance that is recovered from projects that are subject to prepayment shall be deobligated and reallocated for vouchers and debt forgiveness or payments consistent with the requirements of this Act for purposes authorized under section 542 and section 502(c)(5)(D) of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended. RURAL HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM

For the rural housing voucher program as authorized under section 542 of the Housing Act of 1949, (without regard to section 542(b)), $16,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That such vouchers shall be available to any low-income household (including those not receiving rental assistance) residing in a property financed with a section 515 loan which has been prepaid after September 30, 2005: Provided further, That the amount of the voucher shall be the difference between comparable market rent for the section 515 unit and the tenant paid rent for such unit: Provided further, That funds made available for such vouchers, shall be subject to the availability of annual appropriations: Provided further, That the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, administer such vouchers with current regulations and administrative guidance applicable for section 8 housing vouchers administered by the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (including the ability to pay administrative costs related to delivery of the voucher funds).

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