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Public Law 91-152 Senate Bill No. 2864 of 1969

As signed on December 24, 1969 As codified in 83 United States Statutes 379

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Section 1702 of Title 15 of the United States Code was amended in 1969 following congressional approval of Senate Bill No. 2864 [hereinafter referred to as “S. 2864”], which enacted the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1969.  (See Exhibit A, #1)  This bill was introduced by Senator John Sparkman, serving as chair of the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency at this time.  (See Exhibit A, #3a and #10)

S. 2864 was reviewed by the Senate Committee on Banking and Currency and amended.  (See Exhibit A, #3a and #7)  The bill was then reviewed by the House Committee on Banking and Currency, which substituted its own bill, House of Representatives Bill No. 13827, in lieu thereof.  (See Exhibit A, #5)  We enclose a copy of the legislative history of this bill for your review.  (See generally, Exhibit B)  Understanding the legislative intent of any legislative measure necessarily includes knowledge about various other measures competing with or preceding the bill ultimately enacted, particularly where the focus is on specific language.  As you compare that enacted with the unsuccessful proposals in the failed bills, you may be able to discern useful insight as to the intended meaning.

The Senate rejected the House amendments and a Conference Committee was formed. The purpose of a Conference Committee is to bring together legislators, called “conferees,” from the Senate and the House of Representatives in an attempt to reach a compromise on a bill’s language which is acceptable to both.

The conferees reached an agreement regarding the content of S. 2864 and filed a report.  (See Exhibit A, #8, page 27; and #9, page 398)  The bill was then forwarded to President Richard M. Nixon, who signed S. 2864 into law on December 24, 1969, enacting Public Law 91-152.  (See Exhibit A, #1)

This Public Law was described as “AN ACT To amend and extend laws relating to housing and urban development, and for other purposes.”  (See Exhibit A, #1, page 379) 

The enclosed Congressional Quarterly provided extensive background discussion that you may find helpful.  (See Exhibit A, #9)  In its introduction, the Congressional Quarterly summarized the Public Law, stating:

   Congress in 1969 studied a number of proposals aimed al alleviating the growing problems of the cities but made few major changes in existing programs.  Congress focused its attention on extending and funding programs authorized under the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Act of 1968. . . .
(See Exhibit A, #9, page 387)