I 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5474 

To make available necessary disaster assistance for families affected by major 

disasters, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 11, 2018 

Mr. ESPAILLAT (for himself, Mr. GUTIE ́RREZ, Mr. SERRANO, Miss GONZA ́LEZCOLO ́N of Puerto Rico, Mr. SOTO, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mrs. MURPHY of 

Florida, Mr. VARGAS, Ms. NORTON, Mr. LAWSON of Florida, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. HASTINGS, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Ms. 

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York, Mr. 

RASKIN, and Mr. HUFFMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To make available necessary disaster assistance for families 

affected by major disasters, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Housing Victims of 

5 Major Disasters Act of 2018’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR AND USE OF DISASTER HOUSING 

2 ASSISTANCE. 

3 (a) ELIGIBILITY.—Notwithstanding any other provi4 sion of law, a family described in subsections (c) and (d) 

5 shall be eligible for housing assistance made available 

6 under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re7 lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) in 

8 connection with a major disaster declared pursuant to 

9 such Act, including Hurricane Maria of 2017. 

10 (b) USE.—In the case of any housing assistance de11 scribed in subsection (a) that is made available in connec12 tion with a major disaster declared pursuant to such Act, 

13 including Hurricane Maria of 2017, such assistance may 

14 be used on behalf of families described in subsection (c) 

15 for costs relating to obtaining title for such families to 

16 properties described in subsection (c)(1), which shall in17 clude costs of land surveys and any other taxes or fees 

18 associated with transfer of the property. 

19 (c) ELIGIBILITY.—With respect to a major disaster, 

20 a family described in this subsection is a family who— 

21 (1) is occupying an otherwise unused or unin22 habited property located in the area for which the 

23 major disaster was declared but who does not have 

24 documented ownership rights to, and is not renting 

25 the property; or 


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1 (2) is renting a property located in the area for 

2 which the major disaster was declared but does not 

3 have a written lease for such rental. 

4 In making a determination of whether occupancy or a 

5 rental tenancy exists for purposes of paragraphs (1) or 

6 (2), the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage7 ment Agency (referred to in this Act as FEMA) shall con8 sider a wide range of evidence that demonstrates the exist9 ence of such occupancy or tenancy set forth in subsection 

10 (d). 

11 (d) ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF PROOF.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—In determining if an indi13 vidual or family is eligible for housing assistance 

14 under subsection (c), the Administrator shall con15 sider a sworn and notarized affidavit written by a li16 censed attorney that affirms such occupancy or ten17 ancy by the individual who owns, possesses, and 

18 maintains the house or land and the presentation of 

19 one of the following documents to affirm proof of 

20 ownership of the individual named in the affidavit: 

21 (A) A utility (gas, electric, or water) bill 

22 with the name and address of the individual. 

23 (B) A merchant’s statement (credit card, 

24 delivery notice, or first class mail) with the 

25 name and address of the individual. 


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1 (C) A pay stub from an employer with the 

2 name and address of the individual. 

3 (D) A current driver’s license or State4 issued identification card of the individual. 

5 (E) The deed or title for the home or land. 

6 (F) Mortgage payment booklet or other 

7 mortgage documents. 

8 (G) Property title of mobile home certifi9 cate of title. 

10 (H) Real estate property tax receipts. 

11 (I) School registration for self, child, or 

12 children. 

13 (J) Will and testament with the name and 

14 address. 

15 (K) Medical records that list the name and 

16 address of the individual. 

17 (L) Charitable donation receipts that list 

18 the name and address of the individual. 

19 (M) Government assistance documents. 

20 (N) Any other documentation, certification, 

21 identification, or proof of occupancy or owner22 ship not included on this list, that can reason23 ably link the person requesting assistance to the 

24 damaged property. 


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1 (O) If records are unavailable due to dam2 age from the disaster or any other circumstance 

3 that impedes an individual from providing proof 

4 of ownership, the Administrator shall request 

5 verification from the State or Federal agency 

6 with the written permission of the individual or 

7 legally authorized representative of such indi8 vidual. 

9 (2) ADDITIONAL REVIEW.—The Administrator 

10 shall review again, any previous FEMA application 

11 submitted for housing assistance that was denied in 

12 2017 or 2018. 

13 (3) NOTIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES.—Not later 

14 than 7 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 

15 the Administrator shall provide written notification 

16 and guidance to FEMA employees regarding the re17 quirements set forth in this Act. 

18 SEC. 3. FEMA DHAP AGREEMENTS. 

19 (a) 2017 DISASTERS.—Not later than 15 days after 

20 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator 

21 of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall enter 

22 into an interagency agreement or agreements with the 

23 Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as may be 

24 necessary to ensure the implementation of a Disaster 

25 Housing Assistance Program to provide temporary rental 


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1 assistance to families displaced from their residences by 

2 any major disaster declared during 2017 pursuant to the 

3 Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist4 ance Act, including Hurricane Maria of 2017, including 

5 families eligible for such assistance under section 2(a) of 

6 this Act. 

7 (b) FUTURE DISASTERS.—In the case of any major 

8 disaster declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Dis9 aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

10 5121 et seq.) after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

11 not later than 60 days after such declaration the Adminis12 trator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 

13 the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall 

14 engage in consultations regarding the implementation of 

15 a Disaster Housing Assistance Program to provide tem16 porary rental assistance to families displaced from their 

17 residences by the disaster, including families eligible for 

18 such assistance under section 2(a) of this Act. 

Æ 


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