§2823. Determination of availability of suitable alternative housing for acquisition in lieu of construction of new family housing
(a) Before entering into a contract for the construction of family housing units authorized by law to be constructed at a location within the United States, the Secretary concerned shall consult in writing with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as to the availability of suitable alternative housing at such location. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall advise the Secretary concerned in writing as to the availability of such housing. If the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development does not advise the Secretary concerned as to the availability of such housing within 21 days of the date on which the request for such advice is made, the Secretary concerned may enter into a contract for the proposed construction.
(b) If the Secretary concerned and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development disagree with respect to the availability of suitable alternative housing at any location, the Secretary concerned shall notify the appropriate committees of Congress, in writing, of the disagreement, of the Secretary's decision to proceed with the construction, and of the justification for proceeding with the construction. A contract for construction of family housing units at such location may not then be entered into until the end of the 21-day period beginning on the date such committees receive the notification.
(c) If the Secretary concerned and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development agree that suitable alternative housing is available at a location at which military family housing units are authorized to be constructed, the Secretary may not proceed with such construction.
(d) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations to define what constitutes suitable alternative housing for the purposes of this section.
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Effective Date
For effective date and applicability of section, see section 12(a) of