[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2914 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2914

 To make available necessary disaster assistance for families affected 
              by major disasters, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 22, 2019

  Mr. Espaillat (for himself and Miss Gonzalez-Colon of Puerto Rico) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                   Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To make available necessary disaster assistance for families affected 
              by major disasters, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Housing Survivors of Major Disasters 
Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the terms ``Agency'' and ``Administrator'' mean the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Administrator thereof, 
respectively.

SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR AND USE OF DISASTER ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Eligibility.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
individuals and households described in subsection (c) shall be 
eligible for assistance made available under section 408 of the Robert 
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5170) in connection with a major disaster declared by the President 
under such section 408, including Hurricane Maria of 2017.
    (b) Use.--In the case of any assistance described in subsection (a) 
that is made available in connection with a major disaster declared by 
the President under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), including 
Hurricane Maria of 2017, such assistance may be used on behalf of an 
individual or household described in subsection (c) for costs relating 
to obtaining title for that individual or household to a property 
described in such subsection, including the cost of land surveys and 
any other taxes or fees associated with transfer of the property.
    (c) Eligibility.--
            (1) In general.--With respect to a major disaster declared 
        by the President under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford 
        Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), 
        an individual or household described in this subsection is an 
        individual or household who--
                    (A) is occupying an otherwise unused or uninhabited 
                property located in the area for which the major 
                disaster was declared but does not have documented 
                ownership rights to and is not renting the property; or
                    (B) is or was residing in an area for which a major 
                disaster has been declared by the President under 
                section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
                and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), but who 
                does not have documentation to that effect, including 
                renter households without written or formal leases, 
                unsheltered individuals or persons experiencing 
                homelessness, households residing in any portion of any 
                housing accommodation or property upon which a housing 
                accommodation is located, including any living 
                quarters, boardinghouse, bunkhouse, maintenance-of-way 
                car, mobile home, manufactured home, or travel trailer.
            (2) Consideration.--In making a determination for purposes 
        of this Act, the Administrator shall consider a wide range of 
        evidence.
    (d) Alternative Forms of Evidence.--
            (1) In general.--In determining if an individual or 
        household is eligible for assistance under this Act, the 
        Administrator shall accept a declarative statement or the 
        presentation of one of alternative evidence, including the 
        following:
                    (A) A utility (gas, electric, or water) bill with 
                the name and address of the individual.
                    (B) A merchant's statement (credit card, delivery 
                notice, or first class mail) with the name and address 
                of the individual.
                    (C) A pay stub from an employer with the name and 
                address of the individual.
                    (D) A current driver's license or State-issued 
                identification card of the individual.
                    (E) The deed or title for the property.
                    (F) A mortgage payment booklet or other mortgage 
                documents.
                    (G) Property title of mobile home certificate of 
                title.
                    (H) Real estate property tax receipts.
                    (I) A school registration containing the address of 
                self, child, or children.
                    (J) A will and testament with the name and address 
                of the individual.
                    (K) Medical records that list the name and address 
                of the individual.
                    (L) Charitable donation receipts that list the name 
                and address of the individual.
                    (M) Any other documentation, certification, 
                identification, or proof of occupancy or ownership not 
                included on this list that can reasonably link the 
                individual requesting assistance to the damaged 
                property.

SEC. 4. DECLARATIVE STATEMENT.

    (a) Development of Declarative Statement.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall create and 
        distribute where necessary a form statement that applicants can 
        use to self-certify their eligibility for assistance under this 
        Act.
            (2) Prohibition of notarization.--The Administrator may not 
        require declarative statements developed and implemented under 
        this Act to be notarized.
            (3) Evidence supporting declarative statements.--All 
        declarative statements developed and implemented under this Act 
        shall not require evidence beyond the scope of section 3(d).
    (b) Exemptions.--All declarative statements developed and 
implemented pursuant to this Act are exempted from publication notice, 
public comment periods, and agency information collection review and 
approval by the Office of Management and Budget required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
    (c) Guidance.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall provide written notification and 
guidance to employees of the Agency regarding the requirements of this 
Act.
    (d) Publication.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall make declarative 
statements available in Spanish and English at all active Disaster 
Recovery Centers and publish in English, Spanish, and any other locally 
predominant languages on the Agency's website and social media the 
declarative statement and instructions on how applicants can reopen or 
seek further appeal of relevant determinations.
    (e) Past Disasters.--For applicants of assistance provided under 
this Act pursuant to any major disaster declared by the President under 
section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) occurring in 2018 or 2017, the 
Administrator shall provide an applicant not fewer than 180 days to 
submit the declarative statement to reopen or appeal a case after such 
applicant has received notice of the right to do so.

SEC. 5. FEMA DHAP AGREEMENTS.

    (a) 2017 and 2018 Disasters.--Not later than 60 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall enter into an 
interagency agreement or agreements with the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development as may be necessary to ensure the implementation of a 
Disaster Housing Assistance Program under section 408 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) 
to provide temporary rental assistance to individuals and households 
displaced from their residences by any major disaster declared by the 
President under such section 408 during 2017 and 2018 (including 
Hurricane Maria), including individuals and households eligible for 
such assistance under section 3(a) of this Act.
    (b) Future Disasters.--In the case of any major disaster declared 
by the President under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) on or after the 
date of enactment of this Act, not later than 60 days after a 
declaration of such major disaster, the Administrator and the Secretary 
of Housing and Urban Development shall engage in consultations 
regarding the implementation of a Disaster Housing Assistance Program 
under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) to provide temporary rental 
assistance to individuals and households displaced from their 
residences by such major disaster, including individuals and households 
eligible for such assistance under section 3(a) of this Act.
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