[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE MORTGAGE AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE REAUTHORIZATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 13, 2003

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of legislation that I am 
reintroducing with my colleague, Jose Serrano of New York. Following 
the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, individuals who required 
temporary housing assistance relied upon the Mortgage and Rental 
Assistance program (MRA), included in the Stafford Act, for aid. Under 
the MRA program, which can be used for both natural and non-natural 
disasters, they may have been eligible for grants to repair homes to a 
habitable condition, or to obtain mortgage or rental payment assistance 
to prevent foreclosures or evictions.
  The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 amended the Stafford Act to end 
the program in May 2002. Without this program, thousands of people 
affected by future major disasters, including hurricanes, earthquakes, 
and terrorist acts, may be unable to obtain any assistance to address 
their housing needs.
  This legislation reauthorizes this program so that it will be 
available in the future. Although there were clear problems with FEMA's 
implementation of the MRA program in New York after 9/11, progress has 
been made to ensure that FEMA assists all the individuals who have 
experienced these types of housing problems because of the terrorist 
attack. With the program finally running the way it should, we must 
take the necessary steps now to guarantee that anyone affected by 
future disasters will have the aid that they need.

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