42 USC 4502 - Congressional findings and declaration of policy

Collapse to view only § 4502. Congressional findings and declaration of policy

§ 4502. Congressional findings and declaration of policy
§ 4503. National Urban Policy Report

§ 4502. Congressional findings and declaration of policy

(a) The Congress finds that rapid changes in patterns of urban settlement, including change in population distribution and economic bases of urban areas, have created an imbalance between the Nation’s needs and resources and seriously threaten our physical and social environment, and the financial viability of our cities, and that the economic and social development of the Nation, the proper conservation of our energy and other natural resources, and the achievement of satisfactory living standards depend upon the sound, orderly, and more balanced development of all areas of the Nation.

(b) The Congress further finds that Federal programs affect the location of population, economic growth, and the character of urban development; that such programs frequently conflict and result in undesirable and costly patterns of urban development and redevelopment which adversely affect the environment and wastefully use energy and other natural resources; and that existing and future programs must be interrelated and coordinated within a system of orderly development and established priorities consistent with a national urban policy.

(c) To promote the general welfare and properly apply the resources of the Federal Government in strengthening the economic and social health of all areas of the Nation and more adequately protect the physical environment and conserve energy and other natural resources, the Congress declares that the Federal Government, consistent with the responsibilities of State and local government and the private sector, must assume responsibility for the development of a national urban policy which shall incorporate social, economic, and other appropriate factors. Such policy shall serve as a guide in making specific decisions at the national level which affect the pattern of urban development and redevelopment and shall provide a framework for development of interstate, State, and local urban policy.

(d) The Congress further declares that the national urban policy should—

(1) favor patterns of urbanization and economic development and stabilization which offer a range of alternative locations and encourage the wise and balanced use of physical and human resources in metropolitan and urban regions as well as in smaller urban places which have a potential for accelerated growth;

(2) foster the continued economic strength of all parts of the United States, including central cities, suburbs, smaller communities, local neighborhoods, and rural areas;

(3) encourage patterns of development and redevelopment which minimize disparities among States, regions, and cities;

(4) treat comprehensively the problems of poverty and employment (including the erosion of tax bases, and the need for better community services and job opportunities) which are associated with disorderly urbanization and rural decline;

(5) develop means to encourage good housing for all Americans without regard to race or creed;

(6) refine the role of the Federal Government in revitalizing existing communities and encouraging planned, large-scale urban and new community development;

(7) strengthen the capacity of general governmental institutions to contribute to balanced urban growth and stabilization; and

(8) increase coordination among Federal programs that seek to promote job opportunities and skills, decent and affordable housing, public safety, access to health care, educational opportunities, and fiscal soundness for urban communities and their residents.

(Pub. L. 91–609, title VII, § 702, Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1791; Pub. L. 95–128, title VI, § 601(b), Oct. 12, 1977, 91 Stat. 1143; Pub. L. 98–479, title II, § 204(i), Oct. 17, 1984, 98 Stat. 2233; Pub. L. 102–550, title IX, § 921(1), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3883.)

§ 4503. National Urban Policy Report

(a) Transmittal to Congress; contents

The President shall transmit to the Congress, not later than June 1, 1993, and not later than the first day of June of every odd-numbered year thereafter, a Report on National Urban Policy which shall contribute to the formulation of such a policy, and in addition shall include—

(1) information, statistics, and significant trends relating to the pattern of urban development for the preceding two years;

(2) a summary of significant problems facing the United States as a result of urban trends and developments affecting the well-being of urban areas;

(3) an examination of the housing and related community development problems experienced by cities undergoing a growth rate which equals or exceeds the national average;

(4) an evaluation of the progress and effectiveness of Federal efforts designed to meet such problems and to carry out the national urban policy;

(5) an assessment of the policies and structure of existing and proposed interstate planning and developments affecting such policy;

(6) a review of State, local, and private policies, plans, and programs relevant to such policy;

(7) current and foreseeable needs in the areas served by policies, plans, and programs designed to carry out such policy, and the steps being taken to meet such needs; and

(8)

(A) to promote coordination among Federal programs to assist urban areas;

(B) to enhance the fiscal capacity of fiscally distressed urban areas;

(C) to promote job opportunities in economically distressed urban areas and to enhance the job skills of residents of such areas;

(D) to generate decent and affordable housing;

(E) to reduce racial tensions and to combat racial and ethnic violence in urban areas;

(F) to combat urban drug abuse and drug-related crime and violence;

(G) to promote the delivery of health care to low-income communities in urban areas;

(H) to expand educational opportunities in urban areas; and

(I) to achieve the goals of the national urban policy.

(b) Supplementary reports

(d) Referral

(Pub. L. 91–609, title VII, § 703, Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1792; Pub. L. 95–128, title VI, § 601(c), Oct. 12, 1977, 91 Stat. 1143; Pub. L. 102–550, title IX, § 921(2), (3), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3883, 3884.)