[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 24, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5297-S5298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3466. Mr. MURPHY (for himself and Mr. Blumenthal) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 6147, making 
appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and 
related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in division D, insert the 
     following:
       Sec. __. (a) In this section--
       (1) the term ``covered State'' means a State that 
     administers a crumbling foundations assistance fund;
       (2) the term ``crumbling foundations assistance fund'' 
     means a fund established by a State the purpose of which is 
     to receive public or private contributions to provide 
     financial assistance to owners of residential buildings in 
     the State to repair or replace the concrete foundations of 
     those residential buildings that have deteriorated due to the 
     presence of pyrrhotite;
       (3) the term ``residential building'' means a 1-family, 2-
     family, 3-family or 4-family

[[Page S5298]]

     dwelling, including a condominium unit or dwelling in a 
     planned unit development; and
       (4) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Housing 
     and Urban Development.
       (b) Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary shall establish and implement a 
     program to make grants to covered States to assist owners of 
     residential buildings with concrete foundations that have 
     deteriorated due to the presence of pyrrhotite.
       (c) A covered State desiring a grant under this section 
     shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in 
     such manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
     Secretary may require.
       (d) A covered State receiving a grant under this section 
     shall deposit any grant amounts into the crumbling 
     foundations assistance fund of the State for the purpose of 
     carrying out the activities described in subsection (e).
       (e) A covered State receiving a grant under this section 
     shall--
       (1) develop a single, unified application for owners of 
     residential buildings to apply for all financial assistance 
     from the crumbling foundations assistance fund of the covered 
     State;
       (2) provide financial assistance to approved owners of 
     residential buildings for the repair or replacement of 
     concrete foundations that have deteriorated due to the 
     presence of pyrrhotite, including financial reimbursement to 
     owners who have had such repair or replacement performed 
     before the date of enactment of this Act;
       (3) assist approved owners of residential buildings to 
     obtain additional financing necessary to fully fund the 
     repair or replacement of concrete foundations that have 
     deteriorated due to the presence of pyrrhotite;
       (4) approve contractors or other vendors for eligibility to 
     perform foundation repairs or replacements on behalf of 
     approved owners;
       (5) ensure that the financial assistance is used solely for 
     costs of repairing and replacing concrete foundations that 
     have deteriorated due to the presence of pyrrhotite; and
       (6) require the disclosure of the amount of all financial 
     compensation received by an owner of the residential 
     building, if any, arising out of a claim for coverage under 
     the property coverage provisions of the homeowners policy for 
     foundation deterioration due to the presence of pyrrhotite 
     and ensure that the amount is considered when determining the 
     amount of financial assistance offered to the owner.
       (f)(1) Each grant awarded to a covered State under this 
     section in a fiscal year shall be in an amount of not more 
     than $20,000,000.
       (2) A grant awarded under this section shall be for a 
     period of 5 years.
       (g) The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Banking, 
     Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
     Financial Services of the House of Representatives an annual 
     report on the grant program established under this section, 
     including a summary of the use of funds by covered States 
     receiving a grant under this section.
                                 ______