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Union Calendar No. 473 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 3037 

[Report No. 117–653, Part I] 

To make available necessary disaster assistance for families affected by major 

disasters, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 7, 2021 

Mr. ESPAILLAT (for himself and Miss GONZA ́LEZ-COLO ́N) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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 

DECEMBER 20, 2022 

Reported from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

DECEMBER 20, 2022 

Committee on the Budget discharged; committed to the Committee of the 

Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 


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A BILL 

To make available necessary disaster assistance for families 

affected by major disasters, and for other purposes. 


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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 Survivors of 

5 Major Disasters Act of 2021’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) FEMA.—The term ‘‘FEMA’’ means the 

9 Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

10 (2) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis11 trator’’ means the Administrator of FEMA. 

12 SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR AND USE OF DISASTER ASSIST13 ANCE. 

14 (a) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—Notwithstanding any 

15 other provision of law, individuals and households de16 scribed in subsection (c) may be eligible for assistance 

17 made available under section 408 of the Robert T. Staf18 ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 

19 U.S.C. 5174) in connection with a major disaster declared 

20 by the President under section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 

21 5170), including Hurricane Maria of 2017. 

22 (b) USE OF FUNDS.—Any assistance provided pursu23 ant to subsection (a) may include costs relating to obtain24 ing title for a property described in subsection (c)(1), inVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:24 Dec 20, 2022 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3037.RH H3037

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1 cluding the cost of land surveys and any other taxes or 

2 fees associated with obtaining the title for such property. 

3 (c) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS OR HOUSEHOLDS.—With 

4 respect to a major disaster declared by the President 

5 under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re6 lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), an 

7 individual or household described in this subsection is an 

8 individual or household who— 

9 (1) is residing on a property located in the area 

10 for which the major disaster was declared but does 

11 not have documented ownership rights to such prop12 erty and is not renting such property; or 

13 (2) is or was residing in an area for which a 

14 major disaster has been declared by the President 

15 under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 

16 Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

17 5170), during the designated incident period, includ18 ing residing in any housing accommodation or prop19 erty upon which a housing accommodation is lo20 cated, including any living quarters, boardinghouse, 

21 bunkhouse, manufactured home, mobile home, or 

22 travel trailer. 

23 (d) EVIDENCE.— 

24 (1) CONSIDERATION.—In making a determina25 tion to provide assistance pursuant to this Act, the 


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1 Administrator shall consider a wide range of evi2 dence. 

3 (2) ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF EVIDENCE.—In 

4 determining if an individual or household is eligible 

5 for assistance pursuant to this Act, the Adminis6 trator shall accept either a declarative statement or 

7 the presentation of at least one item of alternative 

8 evidence, including the following: 

9 (A) A utility (including gas, electric, sewer, 

10 or water) bill with the name and address of the 

11 individual. 

12 (B) A merchant’s statement (including a 

13 credit card, delivery notice, or first class mail) 

14 with the name and address of the individual. 

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

16 name and address of the individual. 

17 (D) A current driver’s license or State18 issued identification card of the individual. 

19 (E) The deed or title for the applicable 

20 property. 

21 (F) A mortgage payment booklet or an22 other mortgage document. 

23 (G) Property title of mobile home certifi24 cate of title. 

25 (H) A real estate property tax receipt. 


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1 (I) A school registration containing the ad2 dress of self, child, or children. 

3 (J) A will and testament with the name 

4 and address of the individual. 

5 (K) In a State that does not require a will 

6 and testament for the transfer of immovable 

7 property, a death certificate and birth certifi8 cate that establishes an automatic transfer of 

9 legal ownership. 

10 (L) Medical records that list the name and 

11 address of the individual. 

12 (M) A charitable donation receipt that lists 

13 the name and address of the individual. 

14 (N) Any other documentation, certification, 

15 identification, or proof of occupancy or owner16 ship not included on this list that can reason17 ably link the individual requesting assistance to 

18 the applicable property. 

19 (e) APPLICABILITY.—This section shall apply to 

20 funds appropriated on or after the date of enactment of 

21 this Act. 

22 SEC. 4. DECLARATIVE STATEMENT. 

23 (a) DEVELOPMENT OF DECLARATIVE STATEMENT.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after 

25 the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 


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1 shall create, in coordination with the appropriate au2 thorities of the applicable jurisdiction, and dis3 tribute, where necessary, a declarative statement 

4 form that an applicant for assistance provided pur5 suant to section 3 may use to self-certify such appli6 cant’s eligibility for assistance pursuant to this Act. 

7 (2) PROHIBITION OF NOTARIZATION.—The Ad8 ministrator may not require the declarative state9 ment form created under paragraph (1) to require 

10 notarization by the applicant. 

11 (b) EXEMPTIONS.—A declarative statement form cre12 ated under subsection (a)(1) is exempt from publication 

13 notice, public comment periods, and agency information 

14 collection review and approval by the Office of Manage15 ment and Budget required by the Paperwork Reduction 

16 Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). 

17 (c) GUIDANCE.—Not later than 30 days after the 

18 date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall pro19 vide written notification and guidance to employees of 

20 FEMA regarding the requirements of this Act. 

21 (d) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 30 days after the 

22 date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall— 

23 (1) make the declarative statement form cre24 ated under subsection (a)(1) available in Spanish 


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1 and English at all active Disaster Recovery Centers; 

2 and 

3 (2) publish in English, Spanish, and any other 

4 locally predominant languages on the website of 

5 FEMA and on social media the declarative state6 ment form and instructions on how applicants can 

7 reopen or seek further appeal of relevant determina8 tions. 

9 (e) PAST DISASTERS.—For applicants of assistance 

10 provided pursuant to section 3 since January 1, 2017, the 

11 Administrator shall provide an applicant not fewer than 

12 180 days to submit the declarative statement form to re13 open or appeal a case after such applicant has received 

14 notice of the right to do so. 

15 SEC. 5. REPAIR AND REBUILDING. 

16 Section 408(c) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re17 lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) is 

18 amended— 

19 (1) in paragraph (2)(A)(i) by striking ‘‘to a 

20 safe and sanitary living or functioning condition’’ 

21 and inserting ‘‘to ensure that such residences are 

22 habitable during longer term recovery (including 

23 through coordination with other sources for repair 

24 and rebuilding of such residences)’’; and 


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1 (2) in paragraph (4) by striking ‘‘in cases in 

2 which’’ and all that follows through the end and in3 serting ‘‘if the President determines such assistance 

4 is a cost effective alternative to other housing solu5 tions, including the costs associated with temporary 

6 housing provided under this section.’’. 

7 SEC. 6. POST-DISASTER HOUSING ASSISTANCE ANALYSIS 

8 AND REPORT. 

9 (a) ANALYSIS.—The Administrator, in coordination 

10 with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 

11 shall conduct an analysis comparing the costs, benefits, 

12 and effectiveness of assistance provided under the Disaster 

13 Housing Assistance Program, including any case manage14 ment services provided, with other temporary housing op15 tions provided by the Administrator under the Robert T. 

16 Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 

17 (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 

18 (b) PROVISION OF DATA.—The Administrator shall 

19 ensure that public housing authorities engaged in carrying 

20 out the Disaster Housing Assistance Program relay data 

21 concerning the extent and effectiveness of case manage22 ment services in transitioning individuals and households 

23 toward self-sufficiency under the Program compared to 

24 other alternative disaster assistance programs available 


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1 under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer2 gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 

3 (c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

4 of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 

5 to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

6 of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

7 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Sen8 ate a report that contains the analysis required under sub9 section (a) and an analysis of the oversight mechanisms, 

10 program integrity checks, and financial management 

11 measures utilized in carrying out the Program compared 

12 to alternative disaster housing assistance programs under 

13 the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As14 sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 

15 SEC. 7. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 

16 The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 

17 complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 

18 shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 

19 titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this 

20 Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 

21 by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, pro22 vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 

23 vote on passage. 


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kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 473 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 3037 

[Report No. 117–653, Part I] 

A BILL 

To make available necessary disaster assistance for 

other purposes. families affected by major disasters, and for 

DECEMBER 20, 2022 

Reported from the Committee on Transportation and 

Infrastructure 

DECEMBER 20, 2022 

Committee on the Budget discharged; committed to the 

Union and ordered to be printed Committee of the Whole House on the State of the 


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