PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Became Public Law No: 105-50.
Congressional Research Service
Version 35 · Passed Senate amended · Jul 9, 1997
Amends the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to add providers of assistance to families or individuals with annual incomes below the poverty line to the list of organizations eligible to receive surplus personal property allocated by the Administrator of the General Services Administration. Authorizes the Administrator, under such regulations as the Administrator may prescribe, to assign to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for disposal such surplus real property, including buildings, fixtures, and equipment situated thereon, as is recommended by the Secretary as being needed for providing housing or housing assistance for low-income individuals or families. Authorizes the Secretary, through such officers or employees of HUD as the Secretary may designate, to sell or lease such property for that purpose to any State, any political subdivision or instrumentality of a State, or any nonprofit organization that exists for the primary purpose of providing housing or housing assistance for low-income individuals or families, subject to the disapproval of the Administrator within 30 days after notice to the Administrator by the Secretary of a proposed transfer of property for the purpose of providing such housing or housing assistance. Requires the Administrator to disapprove a proposed transfer of property unless the Administrator determines that the property will be used for low-income housing opportunities through the construction, rehabilitation, or refurbishment of self-help housing, under terms requiring: (1) any individual or family receiving housing or housing assistance constructed, rehabilitated, or refurbished through the use of the property to contribute a significant amount of labor toward the construction, rehabilitation, or refurbishment; and (2) dwellings constructed, rehabilitated, or refurbished through the use of the property to be quality dwellings that comply with local building and safety codes and standards and to be available at prices below prevailing market prices. Directs the Administrator to ensure that nonprofit organizations that are sold or leased property develop and use guidelines to consider any disability of an individual for the purposes of fulfilling any self-help requirement. Directs the Secretary, in fixing the sale or lease value of property to be disposed of, to take into consideration and discount the value of any benefit that has accrued or may accrue to the United States from the use of such property by any such State, political subdivision, instrumentality, or nonprofit organization. Sets the amount of the discount at 75 percent of the market value of the property, except that the Secretary may discount by a greater percentage if the Secretary, in consultation with the Administrator, determines that a higher percentage is justified.
People & committees
Rep. Hamilton, Lee H. [D-IN-9] · D–IN
Legislative record
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Became Public Law No: 105-50.
Became Public Law No: 105-50.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection. (consideration: CR H7578-7579)
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection.(consideration: CR H7578-7579)
Mr. Horn asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendments.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.
Amendment SP 788 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
Amendment SP 788 proposed by Senator Brownback for Senator Thompson.
Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S7128-7129)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 103.
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Thompson without amendment. Without written report.
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Thompson without amendment. Without written report.
Committee on Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 418 - 0 (Roll no. 93).
House roll call 93 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 418 - 0 (Roll no. 93).
House roll call 93 · Individual votesConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1953)
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule I, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Mr. Horn moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1941-1943, H1953)
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology.
Referred to the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Mar 23, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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