Summary
# H.R. 1314: The LODGE Act
## Plain English Summary
---
## WHAT THIS BILL DOES
This bill lets the Secretary of the Interior partner with other organizations to build, repair and manage housing near and on federal lands. The housing can be used by government employees working at national parks and by members of the public. The bill changes rules about how these housing partnerships work and who can live in them.
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## WHO IT AFFECTS
- Government employees assigned to work at national park sites
- Employees of companies that have contracts with national parks
- Employees of other federal agencies authorized to live in government housing
- Members of the public who are not government employees
- State and local governments, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations that partner with the federal government
- The Secretary of the Interior
---
## KEY PROVISIONS
- The Secretary can enter into housing partnership agreements with federal agencies, state and local governments, tribal governments, nonprofits and private organizations to develop housing on federal lands, private lands near national parks, or both. (Sec. 2(a))
- Members of the public occupying housing must follow the same laws and policies as government employees, and neither employees nor members of the public can sublet their housing or rent it short-term. (Sec. 2(c))
- Field employees get priority for housing when possible. (Sec. 2(c)(4))
- Rent for government employees cannot exceed rates set in a specific guidance document called "Circular No. A-45 Revised" from November 25, 2019 or newer versions. (Sec. 2(e)(2))
- When a housing partnership agreement ends on federal lands, the Secretary can renew the agreement for up to 10 years, require the partner to demolish and restore the land, take ownership of the buildings, or enter into a new agreement. (Sec. 2(f))
---
## WHAT CHANGES
The bill expands who can live in housing partnerships beyond just government employees to include members of the public. It allows longer-term agreements on federal lands to help partners secure financing. It adds affordability as a requirement when considering housing projects. The bill also adds nonprofit and government entities as options for housing partnerships without requiring competitive bidding in some cases. Additionally, money collected from rent on these projects stays with the national park system for housing maintenance and repairs rather than going to the general treasury.
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## IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS
**Field employee**: A national park employee and their family members, OR someone working for a park contractor or nonprofit whose work supports the park's mission and their family members, OR someone authorized to live in federal housing near a park (including employees of other federal agencies) and their family members, OR a federal government employee eligible for government housing who does not work for the park system.
**Housing accommodation project**: A project to build, construct, repair, maintain, operate or manage housing and related buildings and infrastructure under a partnership agreement.
**Member of the public**: A person and their family members who is not a federal government employee.
**Primary resource values**: Resources specifically mentioned in the law that created a particular park or other protected area.
**Fundamental resources**: Resources essential to achieving the park's purposes and maintaining its importance, as identified in planning documents.
**Quarters**: Housing occupied by field employees, provided either directly by the federal government or developed and leased by the federal government under a partnership agreement.
---
## EFFECTIVE DATE
Not specified in bill text
IB
Union Calendar No. 604
118TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 1314
[Report No. 118–712]
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into partnerships to
develop housing, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 1, 2023
Mr. MOORE of Utah (for himself, Mr. PANETTA, Mr. NEWHOUSE, and Ms.
PORTER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources
OCTOBER 22, 2024
Additional sponsor: Mrs. PELTOLA
OCTOBER 22, 2024
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union
and ordered to be printed
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•HR 1314 RH
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into
partnerships to develop housing, and for other purposes.
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•HR 1314 RH
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Lodging Options De-
4
veloped for Government Employees Act’’ or the ‘‘LODGE
5
Act’’.
6
SEC. 2. HOUSING PARTNERSHIPS; OCCUPANCY.
7
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 1013
8
of title 54, United States Code, is amended—
9
(1) by amending section 101331 to read as fol-
10
lows:
11
‘‘§ 101331. Definitions
12
‘‘In this subchapter:
13
‘‘(1) FIELD EMPLOYEE.—The term ‘field em-
14
ployee’ means—
15
‘‘(A) an employee of the Service who is ex-
16
clusively assigned by the Service to perform du-
17
ties at a System unit, and the members of the
18
employee’s family;
19
‘‘(B) an individual performing duties at
20
the System unit who is employed by a Service
21
concession, partnership, educational, or con-
22
servation organization, whose work supports the
23
mission of the System unit, and the members of
24
the individual’s family;
25
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•HR 1314 RH
‘‘(C) an individual who is authorized to oc-
1
cupy Federal Government quarters under sec-
2
tion 5911 of title 5 in the vicinity of the System
3
unit, including individuals who are employees of
4
other Federal agencies, and the members of the
5
individual’s family; or
6
‘‘(D) an employee of the Federal Govern-
7
ment who is—
8
‘‘(i) eligible to live in government
9
housing; and
10
‘‘(ii) not an employee of the Service.
11
‘‘(2) FUNDAMENTAL
RESOURCES.—The term
12
‘fundamental resources’ means resources essential to
13
achieving the purposes of the System unit and main-
14
taining its significance, as identified by the agency
15
in planning documents, including Foundation Docu-
16
ments.
17
‘‘(3) HOUSING
ACCOMMODATION
PROJECT.—
18
The term ‘housing accommodation project’ means a
19
project for the development, construction, rehabilita-
20
tion, repair, maintenance, operation or management
21
of housing accommodations, including related facili-
22
ties and infrastructure, pursuant to an agreement
23
entered into under section 101334.
24
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•HR 1314 RH
‘‘(4) HOUSING
PARTNERSHIP
AGREEMENT.—
1
The term ‘housing partnership agreement’ means an
2
agreement for a housing accommodation project en-
3
tered into under section 101334.
4
‘‘(5) HOUSING
UNITS.—The term ‘housing
5
units’ means housing units occupied by members of
6
the public in housing accommodations developed or
7
leased on non-Federal lands under this subchapter.
8
‘‘(6) MEMBER
OF
THE
PUBLIC.—The term
9
‘member of the public’ means an individual, and the
10
members of the individual’s family, who is not a
11
Federal Government employee.
12
‘‘(7) PRIMARY RESOURCE VALUES.—The term
13
‘primary resource values’ means resources that are
14
specifically mentioned in the enabling legislation for
15
that field unit or other resource value recognized
16
under Federal statute.
17
‘‘(8) PUBLIC LANDS.—The term ‘public lands’
18
means lands under the administrative jurisdiction of
19
the Federal Government.
20
‘‘(9) QUARTERS.—The term ‘quarters’ means
21
quarters occupied by field employees and are, for
22
such purpose—
23
‘‘(A) provided by the Federal Government;
24
or
25
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•HR 1314 RH
‘‘(B) developed or leased by the Federal
1
Government in accordance with a housing part-
2
nership agreement, lease, or contract under this
3
subchapter.’’;
4
(2) in section 101332—
5
(A) in subsection (a)(2), by—
6
(i) striking ‘‘rates’’ and inserting ‘‘af-
7
fordable rates’’; and
8
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, unless otherwise
9
authorized,’’ after ‘‘based’’;
10
(B) in subsection (c)—
11
(i) by inserting ‘‘under the adminis-
12
trative jurisdiction of the Service’’ after
13
‘‘any land’’; and
14
(ii) by inserting ‘‘or fundamental re-
15
sources’’ after ‘‘primary resource value’’;
16
and
17
(C) in subsection (d), by inserting ‘‘, un-
18
less otherwise authorized,’’ after ‘‘that are
19
based’’;
20
(3) in section 101333, by inserting ‘‘or afford-
21
ability’’ after ‘‘lack of availability’’;
22
(4) by amending section 101334 to read as fol-
23
lows:
24
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•HR 1314 RH
‘‘§ 101334. Authorization for housing accommodation
1
projects
2
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may, pursuant to
3
the authorities contained in this subchapter and subject
4
to the appropriation of necessary funds in advance, enter
5
into housing partnership agreements with other Federal
6
agencies, State or local governments, Tribal Governments,
7
housing entities, or other public or private organizations,
8
for the purposes of facilitating housing accommodation
9
projects for rent to field employees and members of the
10
public—
11
‘‘(1) on public lands, including System units;
12
‘‘(2) off public lands in the vicinity of System
13
units; or
14
‘‘(3) a combination of public lands described in
15
paragraphs (1) and (2).
16
‘‘(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—
17
‘‘(1) NATIONAL PARK LANDS.—For any hous-
18
ing partnership agreements for housing accommoda-
19
tion projects on lands under the administrative juris-
20
diction of the Service, the Secretary shall—
21
‘‘(A) ensure the housing accommodation
22
project and the use thereof are in conformity
23
with the approved plans, including housing
24
management plans, for the System unit and Di-
25
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•HR 1314 RH
rector’s Orders and reference manuals related
1
to Service housing;
2
‘‘(B) ensure that the location of the hous-
3
ing accommodation project will avoid degrada-
4
tion to the primary resource values and funda-
5
mental resources within the System unit, and
6
will not adversely affect the mission of the Serv-
7
ice;
8
‘‘(C) ensure the entities responsible for the
9
housing accommodation project comply with ap-
10
plicable law and policies, including the provi-
11
sions of this subchapter;
12
‘‘(D) identify the funding to be used in
13
performing the housing accommodation project;
14
‘‘(E) provide standards that must be met,
15
as applicable, to ensure that the housing accom-
16
modation project, including related facilities
17
and infrastructure, are kept in good condition
18
and repair; and
19
‘‘(F) that the agreements include any
20
other terms and conditions the Secretary may
21
consider advisable to protect the interests of the
22
United States.
23
‘‘(2) OTHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE LANDS.—For
24
any housing partnership agreements for housing ac-
25
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•HR 1314 RH
commodation projects on other public or private
1
lands located in the vicinity of the relevant System
2
unit and not under the administrative jurisdiction of
3
the Service, the Secretary shall ensure the agree-
4
ments—
5
‘‘(A) have received the approval of each ap-
6
propriate State or local government, Tribal gov-
7
ernment, or other public or private entity in-
8
volved;
9
‘‘(B) identify both the Federal and non-
10
Federal funding to be used in completing the
11
housing and related facilities; and
12
‘‘(C) any other terms and conditions the
13
Secretary may consider advisable to protect the
14
interests of the United States.
15
‘‘(c) HOUSING OCCUPANCY.—
16
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may allow
17
field employees and members of the public to occupy
18
and lease housing accommodation project quarters.
19
‘‘(2) COMPLIANCE.—Members of the public oc-
20
cupying quarters shall be subject to the same laws
21
and policies with which field employees are required
22
to comply, as applicable.
23
‘‘(3) PROHIBITION.—Field employees and mem-
24
bers of the public shall be prohibited from subleasing
25
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•HR 1314 RH
housing units or quarters developed or leased in ac-
1
cordance with a housing partnership agreement
2
under this section, including all forms of short-term
3
rentals.
4
‘‘(4) PREFERENCE.—To the maximum extent
5
practicable, priority for occupancy in project quar-
6
ters shall be given to field employees.
7
‘‘(d) CONTRACTING PROCEDURES.—Each housing
8
partnership agreement awarded pursuant to this section
9
shall be awarded through the use of publicly advertised,
10
competitively bid, or competitively negotiated procedures,
11
unless the Secretary—
12
‘‘(1) determines that it is in the public interest
13
to use procedures other than competitive procedures
14
with respect to the particular housing partnership
15
agreement concerned; and
16
‘‘(2) notifies, in writing, the Committee on En-
17
ergy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the
18
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
19
Representatives of such determinations and the ra-
20
tionale for such determination.
21
‘‘(e) RENT.—
22
‘‘(1) COLLECTION.—The Secretary may collect,
23
or may authorize entities who have entered into
24
partnership housing agreements under this section
25
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•HR 1314 RH
to collect, rents directly from field employees and
1
members of the public occupying housing units or
2
quarters.
3
‘‘(2) RATES.—For field employees, rent col-
4
lected under this subsection may not exceed the
5
rates determined pursuant to guidance in the docu-
6
ment entitled ‘Circular No. A–45 Revised’ and dated
7
November 25, 2019 (or subsequent guidance).
8
‘‘(f) EXPIRATION OF AGREEMENTS.—
9
‘‘(1) WITHIN
SYSTEM
UNITS.—The Secretary
10
may allow long-term leases or term-limited owner-
11
ship of housing units or quarters on public lands, as
12
appropriate, to facilitate the ability of an entity with
13
whom a housing partnership agreement has been en-
14
tered into under subsection (b) to secure financing.
15
‘‘(2)
EXPIRATION
OF
TERM
ON
PUBLIC
16
LANDS.—
17
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Upon expiration of a
18
term of ownership under paragraph (1), the
19
Secretary may—
20
‘‘(i) renew the housing partnership
21
agreement for terms not to exceed 10
22
years;
23
‘‘(ii) require the entity with whom a
24
housing partnership agreement has been
25
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•HR 1314 RH
entered into under subsection (a) to demol-
1
ish the housing accommodations and re-
2
lated facilities and infrastructure, and re-
3
store the land to conditions generally exist-
4
ing before construction on the lands upon
5
which the housing accommodation project
6
is located without any cost to the Federal
7
Government;
8
‘‘(iii) take ownership of the housing
9
accommodations and related facilities and
10
infrastructure, including fixtures and per-
11
sonal property necessary for the operation
12
of the property; or
13
‘‘(iv) enter into a new housing part-
14
nership agreement.
15
‘‘(B) COVERING COSTS.—If taking owner-
16
ship of buildings under subparagraph (A)(ii),
17
the Secretary may require the owner whose
18
term of ownership is expiring to cover costs as-
19
sociated with preparing the building site for
20
new or continued use.
21
‘‘(3) ON NON-FEDERAL LANDS.—Upon expira-
22
tion of a housing partnership agreement for housing
23
accommodations on non-Federal lands, the Secretary
24
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•HR 1314 RH
may extend the housing partnership agreement for
1
terms not to exceed 10 years.’’;
2
(5) in section 101335—
3
(A) in subsection (a)—
4
(i) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking
5
‘‘50’’ and inserting ‘‘60’’;
6
(ii) in paragraph (2)—
7
(I) by striking ‘‘procedures.’’ and
8
inserting ‘‘procedures, unless—’’; and
9
(II) by adding at the end the fol-
10
lowing:
11
‘‘(A) the lease is awarded to a nonprofit or
12
government entity; or
13
‘‘(B) the Secretary determines that it is in
14
the public interest to use procedures other than
15
competitive procedures in the particular lease
16
concerned and notifies, in writing, the Com-
17
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
18
Senate and the Committee on Natural Re-
19
sources of the House of Representatives of such
20
determination and the rationale for such deter-
21
mination.’’; and
22
(iii) in paragraph (3)(D), by inserting
23
‘‘, affordability,’’ after ‘‘improve the qual-
24
ity’’; and
25
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•HR 1314 RH
(B) in subsection (b)—
1
(i) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3);
2
and
3
(ii) by inserting after paragraph (1)
4
the following:
5
‘‘(2) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—Any arrange-
6
ment made pursuant to this subsection shall contain
7
such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers
8
necessary or appropriate to protect the interests of
9
the United States and ensure that necessary
[Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]