Emergency Relief and Construction Act
The Emergency Relief and Construction Act (ch. 520, 47 Stat. 709, enacted July 21, 1932), was the United States's first major-relief legislation, enabled under Herbert Hoover and later adopted and expanded by Franklin D. Roosevelt as part of his New Deal.[1]
Other short titles |
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Long title | An Act to relieve destitution, to broaden the lending powers of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, and to create employment by providing for and expediting a public-works program. |
Nicknames | Emergency Relief and Construction Act of 1932 |
Enacted by | the 72nd United States Congress |
Effective | July 21, 1932 |
Citations | |
Public law | 72-302 |
Statutes at Large | 47 Stat. 709 |
Codification | |
Titles amended | |
Legislative history | |
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The Emergency Relief and Construction Act was an amendment[2] to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation Act which was signed on January 22, 1932. It created the Reconstruction Finance Corporation which released funds for public works projects across the country. The Brooklyn Navy Yard received an allotment of $880,000, marked for specific projects such as $215,000 for repairs and the maintenance of roofs, waterfront quays and docks, and Yard's railroad system. The biggest chunk, $855,000, was designated for a major overhaul of the power plant, to put in a new turbo generator, piping, boilers, and other engines. The Act was designed to be a temporary means of providing employment and all the positions created in the navy yard to service the projects were therefore classified as temporary. In another preview of New Deal spending, the government even authorized the Act funds to start building a number of destroyers in the navy yards.
According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, "This was the government’s first major involvement in the housing field. The RFC was authorized to make loans to private corporations providing housing for low-income families. Also in 1932, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board was established to make advances on the security of home mortgages and establish a Home Loan Bank System."[3]
References
- Peters, Gerhard; Woolley, John T. "Herbert Hoover: "Statement About Signing the Emergency Relief and Construction Act of 1932.," July 17, 1932". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.
- "Banking Acts of 1932 - A detailed essay on an important event in the history of the Federal Reserve". www.federalreservehistory.org. Archived from the original on 2013-12-11.
- "HUD Historical Background". Archived from the original on August 23, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
External links
- Peters, Gerhard; Woolley, John T. "Herbert Hoover: "Address to the Conference of Governors.," April 27, 1932". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.
- Peters, Gerhard; Woolley, John T. "Herbert Hoover: "Special Message to the Congress on Budgetary Legislation.," May 5, 1932". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.
- Peters, Gerhard; Woolley, John T. "Herbert Hoover: "Statement on Emergency Relief and Construction Legislation.," July 6, 1932". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.
- Peters, Gerhard; Woolley, John T. "Herbert Hoover: "Address to the Welfare and Relief Mobilization Conference.," September 15, 1932". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.