Urban Homestead Act of 1999

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 25, 1999

Urban Homestead Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to: (1) semiannually publish in the Federal Register a list of unoccupied multifamily housing projects, substandard housing projects, and other residential property owned by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for at least six months; and (2) transfer ownership to a requesting community development corporation. Directs the Secretary to satisfy any related indebtedness. Exempts such property transfers from disposition requirements under the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ] · R–AZ

Committees

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 25, 1999
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking.
Feb 25, 1999
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2028)
Feb 25, 1999
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Feb 25, 1999 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 20, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.485 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.485, 106th Congress: Urban Homestead Act of 1999

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/485

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-02-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s485/BILLS-106s485is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-20T14:19:00Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.485 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.485 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss S.485, 106th Congress: Urban Homestead Act of 1999

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/485

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-02-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s485/BILLS-106s485is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-20T14:19:00Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.485 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.485 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss S.485, 106th Congress: Urban Homestead Act of 1999

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/485

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-02-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s485/BILLS-106s485is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-20T14:19:00Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.485 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.485 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.485, 106th Congress: Urban Homestead Act of 1999

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/485

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-02-25.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s485/BILLS-106s485is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-20T14:19:00Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.485 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.