H.R. 10063 — Green New Deal for Public Housing Act

This section declares the purposes of the Act to develop workforce capacity, financing, and U.S.-made materials for public housing rehabilitation and modernization; rehabilitate severely distressed units exposing residents to unsafe conditions; equip all public housing with all-electric appliances and infrastructure to improve energy efficiency and water quality; maximize tenant participation through education, training, and jobs; and convert the entire public housing stock to on-site or procured carbon-free renewable energy sufficient to meet annual consumption.

This section establishes definitions for the Act, including eligible entities such as public housing agencies, Indian tribes, tribally designated housing entities, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; environmental justice communities; public housing expanded to cover tribal dwelling units and certain low-income units rented to households at or below 80 percent of area median income; renewable energy encompassing solar, wind, geothermal, microturbine hydroelectricity, energy efficiency, building electrification, energy storage, microgrids, and modern distribution grid infrastructure; subsidized housing resident-owned businesses; and zero-carbon homes that produce or procure sufficient carbon-free renewable energy to meet annual consumption.

This section revises congressional findings on federal housing aid to require greater impact on architectural design improvements in both urban and rural environments. It expands the sense of Congress to emphasize good design that achieves maximal environmental performance, zero carbon emissions, human and environmental health, well-being, accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, equity, adequate maintenance staffing, and resident involvement while meeting the highest international and local architectural standards for low- and moderate-income housing.

This section revises the declaration of policy in the United States Housing Act of 1937 to guarantee the right to housing for every individual. It directs the Federal Government to assist states and localities in ensuring all housing is habitable, highly energy-efficient, and safe; to protect, maintain, preserve, and expand public housing as a sustainable safety net; and to create new public housing where the free market does not address serious needs.

This section establishes a grant program, administered by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, that awards funds to eligible entities for workforce development projects at public housing. The program requires partnerships with registered apprenticeships or labor organizations, provides stipends of at least $250 per week plus childcare and financial literacy courses, supports resident-owned businesses and worker cooperatives, reserves opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals, and limits compliance manager costs to 10 percent of each grant.

This section establishes hiring and contracting requirements for public and Indian housing agencies receiving development assistance, Operating Fund assistance, Capital Fund assistance, or grants under the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act. It requires agencies and their contractors to fill at least 40 percent of generated employment positions with low- and very low-income persons in the first year after initial funding, 50 percent in the second year, and 90 percent thereafter. It also requires agencies to award at least 20 percent of contract dollars to subsidized housing resident-owned businesses in the first year, 30 percent in the second year, and 50 percent thereafter. Agencies must report quarterly on economic impacts including wages, contracts, training expenditures, and resident engagement, and must maintain a roster of residents and resident-owned businesses updated at least every 30 days.

This section expands eligibility to administer the Family Self-Sufficiency program to Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities. It adds digital literacy and home and community-based services for older adults and individuals with disabilities to required supportive services. It requires resident council representatives on program coordinating committees. It adds application requirements to synchronize with section 3 employment and contracting rules. It creates new coordinator awards for Green New Deal grantees, section 3 compliance, and entities establishing new programs, while limiting certain awards to 35 participants and changing eligibility thresholds to 36 percent (from 75) and 35 percent (from 50).

This section requires each public housing project with at least 50 dwelling units to form a resident council to improve quality of life and establish self-help initiatives. Councils must consist of residents, represent scattered-site or converted properties, hold elections every two years beginning January 1, 2027, with voting open to heads of household and residents age 16 and older, and may receive stipends up to $1,000 per month per officer. It also directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to amend regulations to allocate $40 per unit per year to resident councils and $25 per unit per year to housing agencies for tenant participation activities.