All 69 Stat. 651.

claims assigned to the Commissioner under this title, shall be charged to the Armed Services Housing Mortgage Insurance Fund.

purposes

"SEC. 805. Whenever the Secretary of the Army, Navy, or Air Force Land leases determines that it is necessary to lease any land held by the United on or near States on or near a military installation to effectuate the military inof this title, he may lease such land upon such terms and conditions stallations. as will, in his opinion, best serve the national interest. The authority conferred by this section shall be in addition to and not in derogation

of any other power or authority of the Secretary of the Army, Navy,

or Air Force.

"SEC. 806. The second sentence of section 214 of the National Hous- Alaska. ing Act, as amended, relating to housing in the Territory of Alaska, 12 USC 1715d. shall not apply to mortgages insured under this title on property in

said Territory.

lations.

"SEC. 807. The Commissioner is authorized and directed to make Rules and regusuch rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this title. In the performance of, and with respect to, the functions, powers, and duties vested in him by this title, the Commissioner, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, shall appoint a Special Assistant for Armed Services Housing for Mortgage Insurance, and provide the Special Assistant with adequate staff, whose whole responsibility will be to expedite operations under this title and to eliminate administrative obstacles to the full utilization of this title under the direction and supervision of the Commissioner.

"SEC. 808. The cost certification required under section 227 of this 12 USC 1715r. Act shall not be required with respect to mortgages insured under the provisions of this title as amended by the Housing Amendments of 1955."

SEC. 402. Section 305 of the National Housing Act, as amended, is Ante, p. 636. amended by adding the following at the end thereof:

"(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Association is authorized to make commitments to purchase and to purchase, service, or sell, any mortgage (or participation therein) which is insured under title VIII of this Act, as amended by the Housing Amendments of 1955: Provided, That the total amount of purchases and commitments authorized by this subsection shall not exceed $200,000,000 outstanding at any one time."

Construction on

. S. lands for

military personnel.

SEC. 403. (a) The Secretary of Defense or his designee is hereby authorized to enter into contracts with any eligible builder to provide for the construction of urgently needed housing on lands owned or leased by the United States and situated on or near a military reservation or installation for the purpose of providing suitable living accommodations for military personnel of the armed services assigned to duty at the military installation at or in the area where the housing is situated. Any such contract shall provide that each housing unit in the project shall be placed under the control of the Secretary of Defense, or his designee, as soon as the unit is available for occupancy as determined by the Commissioner. Any such contract shall also provide that, except for stock held by the Commissioner, the capital stock of the builder (where the builder is a corporation) be transferred to the Secretary of Defense, or his designee, when the housing has been completed as determined by the Commissioner. Any such contract shall contain such terms and conditions as the Secretary may determine to be necessary to protect the interests of the United States. Before the Secretary shall enter into any contract with any builder as authorized by this section for the construction of housing, he shall invite the submission of competitive bids after advertising in the manner prescribed in section 3 of the Armed Services Procurement Act of 1947. 62 Stat. 22. (b) For the purposes of this title, the term "eligible builder” means

41 USC 152.

All 69 Stat. 652,

Acquisition of capital stock.

Acquisition of unim

eto.

a person, partnership, firm, or corporation determined by the Secretary after consultation with the Commissioner (1) to be qualified by experience and financial responsibility to construct housing of the type described in subsection (a) of this section, and (2) to have submitted the lowest acceptable bid.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Defense or his designee is authorized to acquire the capital stock of mortgagors holding property covered by a mortgage insured under title VIII of the National Housing Act, as amended by the Housing Amendments of 1955, and to exercise the rights as holder of such capital stock during the life of such mortgage and, upon the termination of the mortgage, to dissolve the corporation; to guarantee the payment of notes or other legal instruments required by the Commissioner of such mortgagors; to make payments thereon; and to guarantee and indemnify the Armed Services Housing Mortgage Insurance Fund against loss in cases where so required. All housing facilities placed under the control of the Secretary of Defense pursuant to the provisions of this title shall be deemed to be housing facilities under the jurisdiction of the military department to which they are assigned.

SEC. 404. Whenever the Secretary of Defense or his designee shall deem it necessary for the purposes of this title, he may acquire by proved land, purchase, donation, or other means of transfer, or may cause proceedings to be instituted in any court having jurisdiction of such proceedings to acquire by condemnation, any unimproved land, or (with the approval of the Federal Housing Commissioner) any housing financed with mortgages insured under the provisions of title VIII of the National Housing Act as in effect prior to the enactment of the Housing Amendments of 1955. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, the price paid for any such unimproved land or housing purchased by the Secretary under this or any other law shall be the fair market value of such land or housing as determined by the Secretary on the basis of an independent appraisal, and, in connection with any agreements to purchase such housing, the Secretary of Defense or his designee may assume, or purchase subject to, any such mortgage. Any such condemnation proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Act of August 1, 1888 40 USC 257. (25 Stat. 357), as amended, or any other applicable Federal statute. Before condemnation proceedings are instituted pursuant to this section, an effort shall be made to acquire the property involved by negotiation unless, because of reasonable doubt as to the identity of the owner or owners, because of the large number of persons with whom it would be necessary to negotiate, or for other reasons, the effort to acquire by negotiation would involve, in the judgment of the Secretary, such delay in acquiring the property as to be contrary to the interest of national defense. In any condemnation proceeding instituted pursuant to this section, the court shall not order the party in possession to surrender possession in advance of final judgment unless a declaration of taking has been filed, and a deposit of the amount estimated to be just compensation has been made, under 40 USC 258a. the first section of the Act of February 26, 1931 (46 Stat. 1421), pro

viding for such declarations. Unless title is in dispute, the courts, upon application, shall promptly pay to the owner at least 75 per centum of the amount so deposited, but such payment shall be made without prejudice to any party to the proceeding. Property acquired under this section may be occupied, used, and improved for the purposes of this section prior to the approval of title by the Attorney 40 USC 255. General as required by section 355 of the Revised Statutes, as amended. SEC. 405. The Secretary of Defense or his designee is authorized to maintain and operate any housing acquired under this title and

All 69 Stat. 653.

assign quarters therein to military and civilian personnel and their dependents. Appropriations for quarters allowances or appropriate Use of quarters allotments, and rental charges to civilian personnel, may be utilized allowances, eto. by the military department concerned for the payment of principal, interest, and other obligations, except those of maintenance and operation, of the mortgagor corporation with respect to such housing projects. Such payments shall not exceed an average of $90 a month per housing unit and total payments for all housing so acquired shall not

exceed $9,000,000 per month: Provided, That, in case of the United Coast Guard. States Coast Guard, total payments for all housing so acquired shall

not exceed $90,000 per month.

architects and

1430.

SEC. 406. Whenever the Secretary of Defense or his designee deter- Services of mines that it is desirable in order to effectuate the purposes of this title, the Secretary is authorized, without regard to the civil service and engineers. classification laws, to procure, by negotiation or otherwise, the services of architects and engineers, or organizations thereof, under such arrangements as he deems desirable, but at an expense not in excess of that permissible under the schedule of fees allowed from time to time by the Public Housing Administration in connection with projects assisted under the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended. 50 Stat. 888. Such services may include the development of plans, drawings, and 42 USC 1401specifications for family housing under this title and other services in connection therewith: Provided, That such plans, drawings, and specifications may include the use on any project to be constructed under this title of alternate materials or alternate types of construction, including prefabrication, that provide substantially equal value and conform to standards established by the Federal Housing Commissioner: Provided further, That the Secretary may designate certain sites or parts thereof for family housing to be furnished from prefabricated houses or housing components. Such arrangements may include provision for advance or progress payments, for payment by third parties, for payment by the Government of any such compensation as is not paid for by third parties, and shall include provision for reimbursement by third parties to the Government of any compensation or other expenses paid by the Government pursuant to this section, and may include other provisions for compensation. Any public works appropriations now or hereafter available to the Departments of the Army, Navy, or Air Force or the Coast Guard may be obligated by the respective departments or the Coast Guard for these purposes. Reimbursements to the Government on account of payments made pursuant to this section shall be made to appropriations against which such payments were charged. The Secretary is further authorized to advance or pay to the Federal Housing Administration its "Appraisal and Eligibility Statement" fees in connection with such family housing. The Secretary is further authorized to enter into arrangements by contract or otherwise for eventual acquisition by the Government, without cost to the Government of all right, title, and interest in sites on which housing is constructed pursuant to this title and improvements thereon.

SEC. 407. (a) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such Appropriations. sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of sections 403 through 406 of this Act.

(b) Any funds heretofore or hereafter authorized to be expended by any of the military departments or the Coast Guard for the payment of allowances for quarters for military personnel may be used for the purposes specified in subsection (a) above.

SEC. 408. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 401 of this Act, Prior committhe provisions of title VIII of the National Housing Act in effect ments. prior to the enactment of the Housing Amendments of 1955 shall

All 69 Stat. 654.

continue in full force and effect with respect to all mortgages insured pursuant to a certification by the Secretary of Defense or his designee made on or before June 30, 1955, and a commitment to insure issued on or before June 30, 1956 or pursuant to a certification by the Atomic Energy Commission or its designee made on or before June 30, 1956, except that the maximum dollar amount for each such mortgage shall be $12,500,000.

SEC. 409. (a) Wherever the terms "Secretary of Defense" or "Secretary" or "Secretary of the Army, Navy, or Air Force" appear in this title or in title VIII of the National Housing Act, as amended by the Housing Amendments of 1955, they shall be deemed to mean the Secretary of the Treasury in the case of the application of the provisions of this title or of title VIII of the National Housing Act, as amended by the Housing Amendments of 1955, for the benefit of the United States Coast Guard.

(b) Wherever the term "armed services" appears in this title it shall be deemed to include the United States Coast Guard.

TITLE V-FARM HOUSING

68 Stat. 320. SEC. 501. Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, as amended, is hereby further amended as follows:

(1) In the first sentence of section 511 immediately following the 42 USC 1481. phrase "July 1, 1953" strike out the word "and" and insert at the end of the sentence immediately before the period a comma and the following: "and an additional $100,000,000 on and after July 1, 1955". (2) In section 512, (A) strike out "and 1954" and insert "1954, and 1955", and (B) strike out "and $2,000,000" and insert "$2,000,000 and $2,000,000".

42 USC 1482.

42 USC 1483.

(3) In section 513, strike out "and $10,000,000 on July 1 of each of the years 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1954" and insert "$10,000,000, and $10,000,000 on July 1 of each of the years 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, and 1955".

Approved August 11, 1955.

All 69 Stat. 668.

Housing.

To amend the Act of October 14, 1940, to authorize the sale of personal property held in connection with housing under such Act.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 608 Sale of per- of the Act entitled "An Act to expedite the provision of housing in sonal prop- connection with national defense, and for other purposes", approved October 14, 1940, as amended, is amended by inserting "(a) imme64 Stat. 71. diately after "SEC. 608." and by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection:

erty.

42 USC 1588.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any personal property held under this Act, and not sold with a project or building, may be sold at fair value, as determined by the Administrator, to any agency organized for slum clearance or to provide subsidized housing for persons of low income. Any sale of personal property under this subsection shall be made on a cash basis, payable at the time of settlement."

Approved August 11, 1955.

To permit FHA Title I repair assistance to new homes damaged by major disasters.

tance.
68 Stat. 590.
12 USC 1703.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 2 (a) of the Housing. National Housing Act, as amended, is hereby amended by striking Repair assisthe period at the end thereof and inserting a colon and the following: "Provided, That this clause (iii) shall not be mandatory with respect to the period of occupancy or completion of new residential 70 Stat. 11. structures where such structures have been damaged in a disaster 70 Stat. 12. which the President, pursuant to section 2 (a) of the Act entitled An Act to authorize Federal assistance to States and local governments in major disasters, and for other purposes' (Public Law 875, Eighty-first Congress, approved September 30, 1950), as amended, 64 Stat. 1109. has determined to be a major disaster." Approved February 10, 1956.

42 USC 1855a.

All 70 Stat. 15.

To amend section 601 (g) of the Act entitled "An Act to expedite the provision of housing in connection with national defense, and for other purposes", approved October 14, 1940, as amended, to permit transfer of war housing projects to the city of Moses Lake, Washington, and to other communities similarly situated.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That subsection 601 Moses Lake, (g) of the Act entitled "An Act to expedite the provision of housing Wash. in connection with national defense, and for other purposes", approved

October 14, 1940, as amended, is hereby amended by striking the period 64 Stat. 63. at the end thereof and adding the following: "if at the time of the 42 USC 1581. relinquishment or transfer there is in existence in such a municipality a local public agency organized specifically and solely for the purpose of slum clearance and community redevelopment.".

Approved February 15, 1956.