---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 3608a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "3608a"
heading: "Collection of certain data"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/3608a"
units:
  - "Chapter 45 — Fair Housing"
  - "Subchapter I — Generally"
---

# §3608a. Collection of certain data

- (a) **In general—** To assess the extent of compliance with Federal fair housing requirements (including the requirements established under title VI of Public Law 88–352 [[42 U.S.C. 2000d](/usc/42/2000d.md) et seq.] and title VIII of Public Law 90–284 [[42 U.S.C. 3601](/usc/42/3601.md) et seq.]), the [Secretary](/usc/42/3602.md?p=a) of Agriculture shall collect, not less than annually, data on the racial and ethnic characteristics of [persons](/usc/42/3602.md?p=d) eligible for, assisted, or otherwise benefiting under each community development, [housing assistance](/usc/42/13641.md?p=3), and mortgage and loan insurance and guarantee program administered by such [Secretary](/usc/42/3602.md?p=a). Such data shall be collected on a building by building basis if the [Secretary](/usc/42/3602.md?p=a) determines such collection to be appropriate.
- (b) **Reports to Congress—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/3602.md?p=a) of Agriculture shall include in the annual report of such [Secretary](/usc/42/3602.md?p=a) to the Congress a summary and evaluation of the data collected by such [Secretary](/usc/42/3602.md?p=a) under [subsection (a)](#a) during the preceding year.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–242, title V, § 562, Feb. 5, 1988, 101 Stat. 1944; Pub. L. 104–66, title I, § 1071(e), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 720.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Public Law 88–352, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 88–352, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 241, known as the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is classified generally to subchapter V (§ 2000d et seq.) of chapter 21 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2000a of this title and Tables.

Title VIII of Public Law 90–284, referred to in subsec. (a), is title VIII of Pub. L. 90–284, Apr. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 81, known as the Fair Housing Act, which is classified principally to subchapter I (§ 3601 et seq.) of this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3601 of this title and Tables.

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1987, and not as part of title VIII of Pub. L. 90–284, popularly known as the Fair Housing Act, which comprises this subchapter.

### Amendments

1995—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–66, § 1071(e)(1), struck out “the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and” before “the Secretary of Agriculture”, “each” before “collect, not less than annually”, and “involved” before “determines such collection”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–66, § 1071(e)(2), substituted “The” for “The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the” before “Secretary of Agriculture” and struck out “each” before “include in the”.