HR50-119

What This Bill Does

The KAMALA Act adds immigration-status restrictions to the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. First, it provides that Community Development Block Grant funds under section 106 for fiscal year 2024 or later may not be used to assist persons who are neither U.S. nationals nor lawful permanent residents. Second, HUD may not make a grant to any state, unit of general local government, or Indian Tribe to carry out title I housing or community development activities if that jurisdiction or Tribe carries out any housing or community development related program that assists persons who are neither U.S. nationals nor lawful permanent residents. The bill therefore reaches both the direct use of CDBG dollars and broader recipient eligibility based on other local housing or community development assistance policies.

Who Benefits and How

U.S. nationals seeking CDBG assistance benefit if restricted funds are reserved away from people without the covered lawful status. Lawful permanent residents seeking CDBG assistance benefit because they remain eligible under the bill's status test. Immigration restriction advocacy organizations benefit from a federal funding penalty tied to local housing assistance for undocumented residents. HUD oversight staff benefit from a clear statutory rule for reviewing CDBG recipient eligibility and uses of funds.

Who Bears the Burden and How

State housing agencies must ensure CDBG funds do not assist people outside the permitted status categories. Local government grantees risk losing title I grants if they operate housing or community development programs assisting covered non-lawfully-present persons. Indian Tribes receiving covered grants must evaluate whether any housing or community development program triggers the grant bar. Undocumented residents bear reduced access to CDBG-funded or jurisdiction-linked housing and community development assistance.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits CDBG grant funds from assisting people who are not U.S. nationals or lawful permanent residents.
• Applies the funding-use restriction to fiscal year 2024 and later grants.
• Bars HUD grants to states, local governments, or Indian Tribes that run housing or community development programs assisting the same excluded population.
• Requires HUD and grantees to evaluate immigration-status rules when administering title I funds.