SEC-542 -- DRUG-RELATED RENT ADJUSTMENTS. 

 
 Section 8(c)(2)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C.
1437f(c)(2)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following: "Where
the Secretary determines that a project assisted under this section is
located in a community where drug-related criminal activity is generally
prevalent and the project's operating, maintenance, and capital repair
expenses have been substantially increased primarily as a result of the
prevalence of such drug-related activity, the Secretary may (at the
discretion of the Secretary and subject to the availability of
appropriations for contract amendments for this purpose), on a project
by project basis, provide adjustments to the maximum monthly rents, to
a level no greater than 120 percent of the project rents, to cover the
costs of maintenance, security, capital repairs, and reserves required
for the owner to carry out a strategy acceptable to the Secretary for
addressing the problem of drug-related criminal activity. Any rent
comparability standard required under this paragraph may be waived by
the Secretary to so implement the preceding sentence.".