§1437. Declaration of policy

It is the policy of the United States to promote the general welfare of the Nation by employing its funds and credit, as provided in this chapter, to assist the several States and their political subdivisions to remedy the unsafe and unsanitary housing conditions and the acute shortage of decent, safe, and sanitary dwellings for families of lower income and, consistent with the objectives of this chapter, to vest in local public housing agencies the maximum amount of responsibility in the administration of their housing programs. No person should be barred from serving on the board of directors or similar governing body of a local public housing agency because of his tenancy in a low-income housing project.

(Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896, title I, §2, as added Aug. 22, 1974, Pub. L. 93–383, title II, §201(a), 88 Stat. 653 ; amended Aug. 13, 1981, Pub. L. 97–35, title III, §322(c), 95 Stat. 402 ; renumbered title I, June 29, 1988, Pub. L. 100–358, §5, 102 Stat. 681 ; Nov. 28, 1990, Pub. L. 101–625, title V, §572(2), 104 Stat. 4236 .)

Prior Provisions

A prior section 2 of act Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896, 50 Stat. 888 , related to definitions and was classified to section 1402 of this title, prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 93–383.

Prior similar provisions were contained in section 1 of act Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896, 50 Stat. 888 , which was classified to section 1401 of this title prior to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 93–383.

Amendments

1990-Pub. L. 101–625 substituted "low-income housing" for "lower income housing".

1981-Pub. L. 97–35 substituted reference to lower income for reference to low income in two places.

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–35 effective Oct. 1, 1981, see section 371 of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3701 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.

Effective Date

Section 201(b) of Pub. L. 93–383 provided that: "The provisions of subsection (a) of this section [enacting sections 1437 to 1437j of this title] shall be effective on such date or dates as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall prescribe, but not later than eighteen months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 22, 1974]; except that (1) all of the provisions of section 3(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended by subsection (a) of this section [section 1437a(1) of this title], shall become effective on the same date, (2) all of the provisions of sections 5 and 9(c) of such Act as so amended [sections 1437c and 1437g(c) of this title] shall become effective on the same date, and (3) section 8 of such Act [section 1437f of this title] as so amended shall be effective not later than January 1, 1975."

Section 3(1) of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended, effective Sept. 26, 1975, see Effective Date note set out under section 1437a of this title.

Short Title

Section 1 of title I of act Sept. 1, 1937, ch. 896, as added by section 201(a) of Pub. L. 93–383; renumbered title I, June 29, 1988, Pub. L. 100–358, §5, 102 Stat. 681 , provided that: "This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the 'United States Housing Act of 1937'."

Limitation on Withholding or Conditioning of Assistance

Assistance provided for in Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 [42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.], National Housing Act [12 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.], United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.], Housing Act of 1949 [see Short Title note set out under section 1441 of this title], Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 [see Short Title note set out under section 3301 of this title], and Housing and Urban Development Acts of 1965, 1968, 1969, and 1970 not to be withheld or made subject to conditions by reason of tax-exempt status of obligations issued or to be issued for financing of assistance, except as otherwise provided by law, see section 817 of Pub. L. 93–383, set out as a note under section 5301 of this title.