text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Brownfields Housing and Community 
  Renewal Development Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
  
      (a) Congressional Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
              (1) Addressing the problem of contaminated abandoned 
          industrial or commercial properties by funding programs that 
          encourage the reuse of such properties must continue to be a 
          priority of this country.
              (2) Brownfields grant programs funded through the 
          Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are utilized for 
          environmental assessment, planning, job training, and cleanup.
              (3) EPA brownfields programs are not adequate to 
          rehabilitate, demolish, or redevelop structures.
              (4) The Department of Housing and Urban Development is an 
          appropriate agency to provide grants to redevelop contaminated, 
          abandoned or underutilized buildings, which pose not only a 
          possible health risk but also impact a community's quality of 
          life.
              (5) Local communities need additional redevelopment 
          programs that provide new flexibility to organizations to be 
          part of community development efforts.
              (6) The Congress should fund appropriate Federal programs 
          that allow communities to redevelop their neighborhoods and 
          improve the quality of life in the surrounding areas.
      (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to empower local 
  communities and their partners to clean and redevelop brownfields in 
  their communities by providing--
              (1) flexibility for the development of local plans to 
          address brownfields problems; and
              (2) access to economic development grant funds.
  
  SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY RENEWAL THROUGH BROWNFIELD 
                REDEVELOPMENT.
  
      Section 108 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 
  (42 U.S.C. 5308) is amended--
              (1) by redesignating subsection (r) as subsection (s); and
              (2) by inserting after subsection (q) the following new 
          subsection:
      ``(r) Grant Program to Promote Community Renewal Through Brownfield 
  Redevelopment.--
              ``(1) Establishment of program.--The Secretary shall 
          establish a program under this subsection to make grants to 
          assist in carrying out redevelopment activities for brownfield 
          sites and abandoned, idled, and underused industrial, 
          commercial or housing structures located in brownfield sites.
              ``(2) Grantees and grant conditions.--A grant may be made 
          under this subsection to a unit of general local government, 
          including an agency of such a unit, an entity affiliated with 
          such a unit, a nonprofit organization, or a community 
          development corporation, but only pursuant to a grant proposal 
          for redevelopment of a brownfield site or sites, which is 
          submitted to and approved by the Secretary and ensures that the 
          grant will be used for at least one of the following purposes:
                      ``(A) To benefit low and moderate income 
                  communities.
                      ``(B) To increase affordable housing opportunities.
                      ``(C) To address imminent threats or urgent 
                  community needs.
                      ``(D) To provide open spaces or parks.
              ``(3) Priority.--In awarding grants under this subsection, 
          the Secretary shall give priority to grant proposals that 
          ensure that the grant will be used for two or more of the 
          objectives specified in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of 
          paragraph (2).
              ``(4) Availability of assistance.--The Secretary shall not 
          require, for eligibility to a grant under this section, that 
          such grant amounts be used only in connection or conjunction 
          with projects and activities assisted with a loan guaranteed 
          under this section.
              ``(5) Grant amount.--Each grant award made under this 
          subsection shall be of sufficient size to carry out the goals 
          of this subsection, but shall not exceed $1,000,000.
              ``(6) Administrative costs.--A recipient of a grant under 
          this subsection may use not more than 10 percent of the amount 
          of the grant for reasonable administrative costs necessary in 
          carrying out the brownfields project for which the grant is 
          made.
              ``(7) Audits.--The Secretary shall establish and carry out 
          procedures for auditing or reviewing grants made under this 
          subsection.
              ``(8) Violations.--The Secretary shall establish and 
          implement appropriate measures to sanction grantees who are 
          found to have violated the requirements under this subsection 
          or any grant conditions.
              ``(9) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
          term `brownfield site' has the meaning given such term in 
          section 101 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
          Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601).
              ``(10) Authorization of appropriations.--
                      ``(A) In general.--There is authorized to be 
                  appropriated for grants under this subsection 
                  $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $50,000,000 for 
                  fiscal year 2009, and $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
                      ``(B) Availability.--Any amounts appropriated 
                  pursuant to this paragraph shall remain available until 
                  expended.
              ``(11) Report to congress.--The Secretary shall submit a 
          report to the Congress, not later than 30 months after the date 
          of the enactment of the Brownfields Housing and Community 
          Renewal Development Act, on the use and impact of the grant 
          program under this subsection.''.
target: Brownfields Housing and Community Renewal Development Act - Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish a grants program for redevelopment activities for brownfield sites and abandoned, idled, and underused industrial, commercial, or housing structures located in brownfield sites.
feat_title: To amend the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to provide financial assistance for the development and reuse of brownfields.