H.R. 5034

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5034 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5034

To reform the requirements regarding the safety and security of 
families living in public and federally assisted housing in high-crime 
areas.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 22, 2025

Ms. Wilson of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Financial Services

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To reform the requirements regarding the safety and security of 
families living in public and federally assisted housing in high-crime 
areas.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Liberty City Rising Act''.

SEC. 2. SAFETY STANDARDS FOR FEDERALLY ASSISTED HOUSING IN HIGH-CRIME 
AREAS.

(a) Public Housing.--Section 6(f)(2) of the United States Housing 
Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437d(f)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``The Secretary shall'' and inserting the 
following:
``(A) Safe and habitable.--The Secretary shall''; 
and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) High-crime areas.--
``(i) Definition.--In this subparagraph, 
the term `high-crime area' means a neighborhood 
or other small geographic area that the 
Secretary determines has a high incidence of 
violent crime, based on the most recent violent 
crime data available from a State, unit of 
local government, or other source determined 
appropriate by the Secretary, that lists the 
types of crimes and number of offenses 
committed in the area.
``(ii) Additional safety and security 
standards.--In addition to the standards under 
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall establish 
standards to ensure the safety and security of 
dwellings located in a high-crime area.
``(iii) Contents.--The standards 
established under clause (ii)--
``(I) shall require a public 
housing agency to consider security 
measures that meet the specific needs 
of a property or building; and
``(II) may include requirements 
related to security cameras, locks, 
lighting, or other security measures.
``(iv) Anonymous hotline.--A public housing 
agency that operates a public housing project 
in a high-crime area shall establish an 
anonymous hotline for tenants to report 
suspicious activity and crimes that occur in 
the community in which the public housing 
project is located.''.
(b) Project-Based Assisted Housing.--
(1) In general.--Section 8(o)(13) of the United States 
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(13)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
``(P) Safety and security standards for high-crime 
areas.--
``(i) Definition.--In this subparagraph, 
the term `high-crime area' means a neighborhood 
or other small geographic area that the 
Secretary determines has a high incidence of 
violent crime, based on the most recent violent 
crime data available from a State, unit of 
local government, or other source determined 
appropriate by the Secretary, that lists the 
types of crimes and number of offenses 
committed in the area.
``(ii) Contract requirement.--An assistance 
contract for project-based assistance entered 
into under this paragraph with respect to a 
structure shall require that the owner maintain 
the structure, if determined to be in a high-
crime area, in a condition that complies with 
standards that meet or exceed the safety and 
security standards established under clause 
(iii).
``(iii) Safety and security standards.--The 
Secretary shall establish standards to ensure 
the safety and security of structures located 
in a high-crime area.
``(iv) Contents.--The standards established 
under clause (iii)--
``(I) shall require the owner of a 
structure that receives project-based 
assistance under this paragraph to 
consider security measures that meet 
the specific needs of the structure; 
and
``(II) may include requirements 
related to security cameras, locks, 
lighting, or other security measures.
``(v) Inspections.--When determining 
whether a dwelling unit that is in a high-crime 
area meets the housing quality standards under 
paragraph (8)(A), a public housing agency shall 
also determine whether the dwelling unit meets 
the standards established under this 
subparagraph.
``(vi) Anonymous hotline.--A public housing 
agency that provides project-based assistance 
under this paragraph with respect to a 
structure in a high-crime area shall establish 
an anonymous hotline for tenants to report 
suspicious activity and crimes that occur in 
the community in which the structure is 
located.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 8(d)(2) of the United 
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(d)(2)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following:
``(E)(i) Subsection (o)(13)(P) (relating to safety and security 
standards for high-crime areas) shall apply to a contract for project-
based assistance under this paragraph and to a public housing agency 
that enters into such a contract.
``(ii) When determining whether a structure assisted under this 
paragraph that is in a high-crime area, as defined in subsection 
(o)(13)(P), meets any applicable housing quality standards, a public 
housing agency shall also determine whether the structure meets the 
safety and security standards established under that subsection.''.
(c) Deadlines.--
(1) Determination of high-crime areas.--Not later than 90 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development shall make an initial 
determination as to which areas of the United States are high-
crime areas for purposes of sections 6(f)(2)(B), 8(d)(2)(E), 
and 8(o)(13)(P) of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as 
added by this section.
(2) Safety and security standards.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development shall establish the safety and 
security standards for public housing projects and other 
assisted structures located in high-crime areas required under 
sections 6(f)(2)(B), 8(d)(2)(E), and 8(o)(13)(P) of the United 
States Housing Act of 1937, as added by this section.

SEC. 3. GRANT PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS IN HIGH-CRIME AREAS.

Section 9(d) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 
1437g(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Emergency safety and security funding priority for 
high-crime areas.--In awarding grants for safety and security 
measures using amounts from the Capital Fund, the Secretary 
shall give priority to an application from a public housing 
agency that proposes to use the grant for a public housing 
project located in a high-crime area (as defined in section 
6(f)(2)(B)).''.
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