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The Rural Development Voucher Program was created as a demonstration program by Congress to offer protection to eligible multifamily housing tenants in properties financed through Rural Development's section 515 Rural Rental Housing Program who may be subject to economic hardship through prepayment or foreclosure of the Rural Development mortgage. The Housing Act of 1949, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (Pub. L. 108-447) (the Act) states: "To such extent or in such amounts as are approved in appropriation Acts, the Secretary shall carry out a rural housing voucher program to assist very low-income families and persons to reside in rental housing in rural areas." The Rural Housing Service (RHS) published a proposed rule August 14, 2013 (78 FR 49374), that would add new permanent regulations to implement this program. This rule will provide procedural guidance for the Rural Development Voucher Program.