Except as provided in subsection (b), if the Secretary finds after reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing that a recipient of assistance under this chapter has failed to comply substantially with any provision of this chapter, the Secretary shall-
The failure of a recipient to comply with the requirements of section 4152(b)(1) of this title regarding the reporting of low-income dwelling units shall not, in itself, be considered to be substantial noncompliance for purposes of this subchapter.
If the Secretary takes an action under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall continue such action until the Secretary determines that the failure to comply has ceased.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, if the Secretary makes a determination that the failure of a recipient of assistance under this chapter to comply substantially with any material provision (as that term is defined by the Secretary) of this chapter is resulting, and would continue to result, in a continuing expenditure of Federal funds in a manner that is not authorized by law, the Secretary may take an action described in paragraph (1)(C) before conducting a hearing.
If the Secretary takes an action described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall-
Upon completion of a hearing under this paragraph, the Secretary shall make a determination regarding whether to continue taking the action that is the subject of the hearing, or take another action under this subsection.
If the Secretary makes a finding under subsection (a), but determines that the failure to comply substantially with the provisions of this chapter-
the Secretary may provide technical assistance for the recipient (directly or indirectly) that is designed to increase the capability and capacity of the recipient to administer assistance provided under this chapter in compliance with the requirements under this chapter, if the recipient enters into a performance agreement with the Secretary that specifies the compliance objectives that the recipient will be required to achieve by the termination date of the performance agreement.
The period of a performance agreement described in paragraph (1) shall be for 1 year.
Upon the termination of a performance agreement entered into under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall review the performance of the recipient that is a party to the agreement.
If, on the basis of a review under paragraph (3), the Secretary determines that the recipient-
In lieu of, or in addition to, any action authorized by subsection (a), if the Secretary has reason to believe that a recipient has failed to comply substantially with any provision of this chapter, the Secretary may refer the matter to the Attorney General of the United States with a recommendation that an appropriate civil action be instituted.
Upon such a referral, the Attorney General may bring a civil action in any United States district court having venue thereof for such relief as may be appropriate, including an action to recover the amount of the assistance furnished under this chapter that was not expended in accordance with it, or for mandatory or injunctive relief.
Any recipient who receives notice under subsection (a) of the termination, reduction, or limitation of payments under this chapter-
The Secretary shall file in the court a record of the proceeding on which the Secretary based the action, as provided in section 2112 of title 28. No objection to the action of the Secretary shall be considered by the court unless such objection has been urged before the Secretary.
The court shall have jurisdiction to affirm or modify the action of the Secretary or to set it aside in whole or in part. The findings of fact by the Secretary, if supported by substantial evidence on the record considered as a whole, shall be conclusive. The court may order additional evidence to be taken by the Secretary, and to be made part of the record.
The Secretary-
Upon the filing of the record with the court, the jurisdiction of the court shall be exclusive and its judgment shall be final, except that such judgment shall be subject to review by the Supreme Court of the United States upon writ of certiorari or certification as provided in section 1254 of title 28.
25 U.S.C. § 4161
EDITORIAL NOTES
REFERENCES IN TEXTThis chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 104-330, 110 Stat. 4016, known as the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 4101 of this title and Tables.
AMENDMENTS2008-Subsec. (a)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 110-411 added par. (2) and redesignated former pars. (2) and (3) as (3) and (4), respectively.2000-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106-568, §1003(h), and Pub. L. 106-569, §503(g), amended subsec. (a) identically, designating existing provisions as par. (1), inserting heading, redesignating former pars. (1) to (4) as subpars. (A) to (D), respectively, of par. (1), realigning margins, designating concluding provisions as par. (2), inserting heading, substituting "If the Secretary takes an action under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1)" for "If the Secretary takes an action under paragraph (1), (2), or (3)", and adding par. (3).Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106-568, §1003(i), and Pub. L. 106-569, §503(h), amended subsec. (b) identically, designating existing provisions as par. (1), inserting heading, redesignating former pars. (1) and (2) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, of par. (1), realigning margins of concluding provisions, inserting ", if the recipient enters into a performance agreement with the Secretary that specifies the compliance objectives that the recipient will be required to achieve by the termination date of the performance agreement" before period at end of concluding provisions, and adding pars. (2) to (4).
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATESection effective Oct. 1, 1997, except as otherwise expressly provided, see section 107 of Pub. L. 104-330set out as a note under section 4101 of this title.
- State
- The term "State" means the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and any other territory or possession of the United States and Indian tribes.
- recipient
- The term "recipient" means an Indian tribe or the entity for one or more Indian tribes that is authorized to receive grant amounts under this chapter on behalf of the tribe or tribes.
- tribally designated housing entity
- The terms "tribally designated housing entity" and "housing entity" have the following meaning:(A) Existing IHA'sWith respect to any Indian tribe that has not taken action under subparagraph (B), and for which an Indian housing authority-(i) was established for purposes of the United States Housing Act of 1937 [42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.] before October 26, 1996, that meets the requirements under the United States Housing Act of 1937,(ii) is acting on October 26, 1996, as the Indian housing authority for the tribe, and(iii) is not an Indian tribe for purposes of this chapter,the terms mean such Indian housing authority.(B) Other entitiesWith respect to any Indian tribe that, pursuant to this chapter, authorizes an entity other than the tribal government to receive grant amounts and provide assistance under this chapter for affordable housing for Indians, which entity is established-(i) by exercise of the power of self-government of one or more Indian tribes independent of State law, or(ii) by operation of State law providing specifically for housing authorities or housing entities for Indians, including regional housing authorities in the State of Alaska,the terms mean such entity.(C) EstablishmentA tribally designated housing entity may be authorized or established by one or more Indian tribes to act on behalf of each such tribe authorizing or establishing the housing entity.1 See References in Text note below.