SEC-916 -- CDBG ASSISTANCE FOR UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER REGION. 

 
 (a) Set-Aside for Colonias.-The States of Arizona, California, New
Mexico, and Texas shall each make available, for activities designed to
meet the needs of the residents of colonias in the State relating to
water, sewage, and housing, the following percentage of the amount
allocated for the State under section 106(d) of the Housing and
Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5306(d)):
 
 (1) First fiscal year.-For the first fiscal year to which this section
applies, 10 percent.
 
 (2) Succeeding fiscal years.-For each of the succeeding fiscal years
to which this section applies, a percentage (not to exceed 10 percent)
that is determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to
be appropriate after consultation with representatives of the interests
of the residents of colonias.
 
 (b) Eligible Activities.-Assistance distributed pursuant to this
section may be used only to carry out the following activities:
 
 (1) Planning.-Payment of the cost of planning community development
(including water and sewage facilities) and housing activities,
including the cost of-
 
 (A) the provision of information and technical assistance to residents
of the area in which the activities are to be concentrated and to
appropriate nonprofit organizations and public agencies acting on behalf
of the residents; and
 
 (B) preliminary surveys and analyses of market needs, preliminary site
engineering and architectural services, site options, applications,
mortgage commitments, legal services, and obtaining construction loans.
 
 (2) Assessments for public improvements.-The payment of assessments
(including any charge made as a condition of obtaining access) levied
against properties owned and occupied by persons of low and moderate
income to recover the capital cost for a public improvement.
 
 (c) Distribution of Assistance.-Assistance shall be made available
pursuant to this section in accordance with a distribution plan that
gives priority to colonias having the greatest need for such assistance.
 
 (d) Applicable Law.-Except to the extent inconsistent with this
section, assistance provided pursuant to this section shall be subject
to the provisions of title I of the Housing and Community Development
Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.).
 
 (e) Definitions.-For purposes of this section:
 
 (1) Colonia.-The term "colonia" means any identifiable community
that-
 
 (A) is in the State of Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Texas;
 
 (B) is in the United States-Mexico border region;
 
 (C) is designated by the State or county in which it is located as a
colonia;
 
 (D) is determined to be a colonia on the basis of objective criteria,
including lack of potable water supply, lack of adequate sewage systems,
and lack of decent, safe, and sanitary housing; and
 
 (E) was in existence and generally recognized as a colonia before the
date of the enactment of this Act.
 
 (2) Nonprofit organization.-The term "nonprofit organization" means
an organization described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.
 
 (3) Persons of low and moderate income.-The term "persons of low and
moderate income" has the meaning given the term in section 102(a) of
the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5302(a)).
 
 (4) United states-mexico border region.-The term "United States-Mexico
border region" means the area of the United States within 150 miles of
the border between the United States and Mexico, except that the term
does not include any standard metropolitan statistical area that has a
population exceeding 1,000,000.
 
 (f) Applicability.-This Act shall apply only with respect to fiscal
years 1991, 1992, and 1993.