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´LEZ- 
COLO´N of Puerto Rico, Mr. SOTO, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mrs. MURPHY of 
Florida, Mr. VARGAS, Ms. NORTON, Mr. LAWSON of Florida, Ms. WIL-
SON 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 re-
ferred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in ad-
dition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subse-
quently 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. 
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 Victims of 
Major Disasters Act of 2018’’. 
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SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR AND USE OF DISASTER HOUSING 
ASSISTANCE. 
(a) ELIGIBILITY.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, a family described in subsections (c) and (d) 
shall be eligible for housing assistance made available 
under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re-
lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) in 
connection with a major disaster declared pursuant to 
such Act, including Hurricane Maria of 2017. 
(b) USE.—In the case of any housing assistance de-
scribed in subsection (a) that is made available in connec-
tion with a major disaster declared pursuant to such Act, 
including Hurricane Maria of 2017, such assistance may 
be used on behalf of families described in subsection (c) 
for costs relating to obtaining title for such families to 
properties described in subsection (c)(1), which shall in-
clude costs of land surveys and any other taxes or fees 
associated with transfer of the property. 
(c) ELIGIBILITY.—With respect to a major disaster, 
a family described in this subsection is a family who— 
(1) is occupying an otherwise unused or unin-
habited property located in the area for which the 
major disaster was declared but who does not have 
documented ownership rights to, and is not renting 
the property; or 
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(2) is renting a property located in the area for 
which the major disaster was declared but does not 
have a written lease for such rental. 
In making a determination of whether occupancy or a 
rental tenancy exists for purposes of paragraphs (1) or 
(2), the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage-
ment Agency (referred to in this Act as FEMA) shall con-
sider a wide range of evidence that demonstrates the exist-
ence of such occupancy or tenancy set forth in subsection 
(d). 
(d) ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF PROOF.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In determining if an indi-
vidual or family is eligible for housing assistance 
under subsection (c), the Administrator shall con-
sider a sworn and notarized affidavit written by a li-
censed attorney that affirms such occupancy or ten-
ancy by the individual who owns, possesses, and 
maintains the house or land and the presentation of 
one of the following documents to affirm proof of 
ownership of the individual named in the affidavit: 
(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. 
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(O) If records are unavailable due to dam-
age from the disaster or any other circumstance 
that impedes an individual from providing proof 
of ownership, the Administrator shall request 
verification from the State or Federal agency 
with the written permission of the individual or 
legally authorized representative of such indi-
vidual. 
(2) ADDITIONAL REVIEW.—The Administrator 
shall review again, any previous FEMA application 
submitted for housing assistance that was denied in 
2017 or 2018. 
(3) NOTIFICATION OF EMPLOYEES.—Not later 
than 7 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Administrator shall provide written notification 
and guidance to FEMA employees regarding the re-
quirements set forth in this Act. 
SEC. 3. FEMA DHAP AGREEMENTS. 
(a) 2017 DISASTERS.—Not later than 15 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall enter 
into an interagency agreement or agreements with the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as may be 
necessary to ensure the implementation of a Disaster 
Housing Assistance Program to provide temporary rental 
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assistance to families displaced from their residences by 
any major disaster declared during 2017 pursuant to the 
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assist-
ance Act, including Hurricane Maria of 2017, including 
families eligible for such assistance under section 2(a) of 
this Act. 
(b) FUTURE DISASTERS.—In the case of any major 
disaster declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Dis-
aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5121 et seq.) after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
not later than 60 days after such declaration the Adminis-
trator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall 
engage in consultations regarding the implementation of 
a Disaster Housing Assistance Program to provide tem-
porary rental assistance to families displaced from their 
residences by the disaster, including families eligible for 
such assistance under section 2(a) of this Act. 
Æ 
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