Signed Emergency Justification Letter

U.S. DEPARTMENT Of HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
WASHINGTON, DC 20410-8000

OFFICE OF HOUSING

March 8,2019

Ms. Rita Young
0MB Policy Analyst
Office of Management and Budget
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
New Executive Office Building
Washington, DC 20503
RE: 0MB Control Number 2502-026 1, “The Housing Counseling Program”
Dear Ms. Young:
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s tHUD) Office of Housing
Counseling (OHC) seeks an emergency review of the Paperwork Reduction Act requirements for
the Housing Counseling Program. OHC respectfully requests a 45-day PRA Emergency approval.
The emergency review is necessary in this case because of the requirement that HUD
obligate housing counseling grants within 180 days of Congress’s enactment of appropriations acts.
OHC has until August 14, 2019 (180 days calculated from February 15, 2019) to obligate funds.
The use of normal clearance procedures is reasonably likely to prevent or disrupt the collection of
information or is reasonably likely to cause this statutory deadline to be missed.
The Final FY2019 THUD appropriations were enacted on February 15, 2019, as Division
G of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L 116-6). Prior to that, DOT, HUD, and the
related agencies that are generally funded in the annual THUD appropriations act were funded
under a series of continuing resolutions (CRs), with the exception of December 22, 2018,
through January 25, 2019, during which time funding lapsed for THUD and six other annual
appropriations acts, resulting in a partial government shutdown.
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R45487.pdf

OHC has prepared the renewal PRA package for 0MB Collection 2502-0261, “The
Housing Counseling Program” and is currently in departmental clearance at HUD. The current
PRA timeline is projected for 12 months for a PRA renewal package.
In compliance with the requirements of 5 CFR 1320.13, this letter requests emergency
processing within 45 days from the date of publication of the Federal Register Notice. OHC
respectfully requests a 45-day Emergency PRA approval in order for this office to successfully

www.hud.gov

espanol.hud.gov

publish the Fy19 Comprehensive Housing Counseling Grant in the Federal Register on or before
May 15, 2019. This emergency processing is essential to complete requirements of Congress’s
appropriation of housing counseling grant funds.
Thank you for your consideration and assistance.
incerel

rah S. erecke
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Office of Housing Counseling