I 
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 GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N of Puerto Rico) in-
troduced 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 Representa-
tives 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. 
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SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR AND USE OF DISASTER ASSIST-
ANCE. 
(a) ELIGIBILITY.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, individuals and households described in sub-
section (c) shall be eligible for assistance made available 
under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re-
lief 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 Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), including Hurri-
cane Maria of 2017, such assistance may be used on be-
half 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 dis-
aster declared by the President under section 408 of 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), an indi-
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vidual 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 Presi-
dent under section 408 of the Robert T. Staf-
ford 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 por-
tion of any housing accommodation or property 
upon which a housing accommodation is lo-
cated, including any living quarters, boarding-
house, bunkhouse, maintenance-of-way car, mo-
bile home, manufactured home, or travel trailer. 
(2) CONSIDERATION.—In making a determina-
tion for purposes of this Act, the Administrator shall 
consider a wide range of evidence. 
(d) ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF EVIDENCE.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—In determining if an indi-
vidual 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 certifi-
cate of title. 
(H) Real estate property tax receipts. 
(I) A school registration containing the ad-
dress of self, child, or children. 
(J) A will and testament with the name 
and address of the individual. 
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(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, certifica-
tion, identification, or proof of occupancy or 
ownership not included on this list that can rea-
sonably 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 Ad-
ministrator may not require declarative statements 
developed and implemented under this Act to be no-
tarized. 
(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). 
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(b) EXEMPTIONS.—All declarative statements devel-
oped 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 Paper-
work 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 pro-
vide 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 pub-
lish in English, Spanish, and any other locally predomi-
nant languages on the Agency’s website and social media 
the declarative statement and instructions on how appli-
cants can reopen or seek further appeal of relevant deter-
minations. 
(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 Adminis-
trator shall provide an applicant not fewer than 180 days 
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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 Adminis-
trator shall enter into an interagency agreement or agree-
ments with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment 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 Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) to provide tem-
porary rental assistance to individuals and households dis-
placed from their residences by any major disaster de-
clared by the President under such section 408 during 
2017 and 2018 (including Hurricane Maria), including in-
dividuals 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 As-
sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) on or after the date of en-
actment of this Act, not later than 60 days after a declara-
tion of such major disaster, the Administrator and the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall en-
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gage 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 in-
dividuals and households eligible for such assistance under 
section 3(a) of this Act. 
Æ 
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