HUD's Statutory Authority to Collect Information

HUD’s Statutory Authorization to Collect Information

Title V of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1970—Research and Technology, Research and Demonstrations PD&R has broad authority to do a wide variety of research as spelled out in the HUD Act. The overall authority comes from Section 501 of the Act:

“The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is authorized and directed to undertake such programs of research, studies, testing, and demonstration relating to the mission and programs of the Department as he determines to be necessary and appropriate...”

Section 502 of the Act contains its “General Provisions,” which provides guidance on how to implement Section 501 in the following domains:

• Building Technology

“(a) The Secretary shall require, to the greatest extent feasible, the

employment of new and improved technologies, methods, and materials

in housing construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance under programs

administered by him with a view to reducing costs, and shall encourage

and promote the acceptance and application of such advanced technology,

methods, and materials by all segments of the housing industry,

communities, industries engaged in urban development activities, and the

general public...

(b) To encourage large-scale experimentation in the use of new

technologies, methods, and materials, with a view toward the ultimate

mass production of housing and related facilities...

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law the Secretary is authorized,

in connection with projects under this title, to acquire, use and dispose

of any land and other property required for the project as he deems

necessary...”

• Technical Assistance and Dissemination

“(d) In order to effectively carry out his activities under section 501, the

Secretary is authorized to provide such advice and technical assistance

as may be required and to pay for the cost of writing and publishing

reports on activities and undertakings financed under section 501, as

well as reports on similar activities and undertakings, not so financed,

which are of significant value in furthering the purposes of that section.

He may disseminate...any reports, data, or information acquired or held

under this title, including related data and information otherwise available

to the Secretary through the operation of the programs and activities

of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, in such form as

he determines to be most useful to departments, establishments, and

agencies of Federal, State, and local governments, to industry, and to the

general public.”

• Grants, Contracts, Cooperative Agreements, and Inter Agency Agreements

“(e) The Secretary is authorized to carry out the functions authorized

in section 501 either directly or, without regard to section 3709 of the

Revised Statutes, by contract or by grant. Advance and progress payments

may be made under such contracts or grants...

(f) In carrying out activities under section 501, the Secretary shall

utilize to the fullest extent feasible the available facilities of other

Federal departments and agencies, and shall consult with, and make

recommendations to, such departments and agencies. The Secretary

may enter into working agreements with such departments and agencies

and contract or make grants on their behalf or have such departments

and agencies contract or make grants on his behalf. The Secretary is

authorized to make or accept reimbursement for the cost of such activities.

The Secretary is further authorized to undertake activities under this title

under cooperative agreements with industry and labor, agencies of State

or local governments, educational institutions, and other organizations.

He may enter into contracts with and receive funds from such agencies,

institutions, and organizations, and may exercise any of the other powers

vested in him by section 502(c) of the Housing Act of 1948.”

• Data

“(g) The Secretary is authorized to request and receive such information or

data as he deems appropriate from private individuals and organizations,

and from public agencies. Any such information or data shall be used

only for the purposes for which it is supplied, and no publication shall

be made by the Secretary whereby the information or data furnished by

any particular person or establishment can be identified, except with the

consent of such person or establishment.”