Rural housing reinvestment

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Broad-based nonprofit organization The term broad-based nonprofit organization means a nonprofit organization that has a membership that reflects a variety of interests in the area in which housing assisted under this section will be located. (2) Covered program The term covered program means— (A) the Very Low-Income Housing Repair Loans and Grants Program under section 504 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1474); (B) the Farm Labor Housing loan program under section 514 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1484); (C) the Rural Rental Housing Loan program under section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485); (D) the Farm Labor Housing grant program under section 516 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1486); and (E) the Rural Rental Assistance program under section 521 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490a). (3) Domestic farm laborer The term domestic farm laborer means an individual who receives a substantial portion of the individual's income from the primary production of processed or unprocessed agricultural or aquacultural commodities or other farm labor employment. (4) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means— (A) a broad-based nonprofit organization; (B) a nonprofit organization with experience in developing affordable housing, rural housing, or housing for domestic farm laborers; (C) a nonprofit organization of domestic farm laborers; (D) a federally recognized Indian Tribe; (E) a community organization; (F) an agency of a State or of a political subdivision of a State; or (G) a limited partnership with a nonprofit general partner. (5) Green building certification The term green building certification means— (A) a certification from the Residential New Construction Program of the Energy Star program established by section 324A of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6294a); (B) a certification from the Zero Energy Ready Home program of the Department of Energy; and (C) a certification or accreditation that is substantially similar to a certification described in subparagraph (A) or (B) that requires the housing project to be at least 10 percent more efficient than homes built to the building code standards of the applicable State. (6) Low-income The term low-income has the meaning given the term in section 1303 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4502). (7) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture. (b) Assistance (1) Loans and grants (A) In general The Secretary shall award additional loans and grants, including zero-percent interest loans, under the covered programs to eligible entities that construct or preserve off-farm affordable housing, including multifamily housing, for domestic farm laborers or multifamily housing for low-income individuals living in rural areas to increase and preserve the supply of available and affordable rental housing for— (i) low-income individuals living in rural areas; and (ii) domestic farm laborers. (B) Timeline (i) Notice of funding availability Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish a notice of funding availability to solicit applications for loans and grants to be awarded under subparagraph (A). (ii) Awards Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall award loans and grants, including zero-percent interest loans, to eligible entities under subparagraph (A). (C) Local contribution for grants (i) In general An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall contribute not less than 10 percent of the total project cost from sources other than the grant. (ii) Timing of availability An eligible entity may not receive a grant under this section unless the funds required under clause (i) are available to the eligible entity as of the date on which the grant is awarded. (iii) Sources An eligible entity may use amounts from a loan financed by the Rural Housing Service or the Federal Housing Administration to satisfy the requirement under clause (i). (2) Rental assistance for off-farm affordable housing and multifamily housing (A) In general In addition to loans and grants under paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Rural Development, shall provide rental assistance to— (i) owners of off-farm affordable housing for domestic farm laborers that is assisted by a loan or grant under paragraph (1); and (ii) owners of affordable multifamily housing for low-income individuals living in rural areas that is assisted by a loan or grant under paragraph (1). (B) Amount of rent In providing rental assistance under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall make assistance payments to the owners of housing described in that subparagraph in order to make available to low-income occupants of such housing rentals at rates commensurate to income and not exceeding the highest of— (i) 30 percent of adjusted income (as defined in section 3(b)(5) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(5)), except that the amount shall be calculated on a monthly basis); (ii) 10 percent of monthly income; or (iii) if the person or family is receiving payments for welfare assistance from a public agency, the portion (if any) of the payments that is specifically designated by the agency to meet the housing costs of the person or family. (C) Cap on rent increases The rent or contribution to rent paid by any recipient of assistance under this paragraph shall not increase as a result of this section or any other provision of Federal law or regulation by more than 10 percent during any 12-month period, unless the increase above 10 percent is attributable to increases in income that are unrelated to this subsection or the other provision of Federal law or regulation. (D) Amount of assistance The amount of an assistance payment made on behalf of a tenant under this paragraph shall be equal to the difference between— (i) the monthly contribution of the tenant, which shall be the applicable amount under subparagraph (B); and (ii) the fair market rental for the jurisdiction in which the property is located, as established by the Secretary under section 8(c) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(c)). (E) Regulations The Secretary may promulgate any regulation that is necessary and proper to carry out this paragraph. (3) Priority In awarding assistance for farm labor housing and multifamily housing under paragraphs (1) and (2), the Secretary shall give priority to an applicant seeking assistance for a housing project that— (A) as determined by the Secretary, is energy efficient and generates energy, such as through geo-exchange systems, ground-source heat pumps, wind turbines, and solar energy systems; or (B) has a green building certification. (c) Funding (1) Farm Labor Housing loans and grants programs There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $78,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2036 to award loans and grants under subsection (b)(1)(A) through the Farm Labor Housing loan program and Farm Labor Housing grant program under sections 514 and 516, respectively, of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1484, 1486). (2) Rural Rental Housing Loan program There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2036 to award loans under subsection (b)(1)(A) through the Rural Rental Housing Loan program under section 515 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1485). (3) Rural Rental Assistance program There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $2,500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2036 to award loans under subsection (b)(1)(A) through the Rural Rental Assistance program under section 521 of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1490a). (4) Rental assistance under (b)(2) of this section There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2036 for rental assistance payments under subsection (b)(2).