IIB 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2914 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
NOVEMBER 18, 2020 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs 
AN ACT 
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, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Housing Survivors of 
Major Disasters Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) FEMA.—The term ‘‘FEMA’’ means the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency. 
(2) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of FEMA. 
SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR AND USE OF DISASTER ASSIST-
ANCE. 
(a) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, individuals and households de-
scribed in subsection (c) may be eligible for assistance 
made available under section 408 of the Robert T. Staf-
ford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5174) in connection with a major disaster declared 
by the President under section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
5170), including Hurricane Maria of 2017. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Any assistance provided pursu-
ant to subsection (a) may include costs relating to obtain-
ing title for a property described in subsection (c)(1), in-
cluding the cost of land surveys and any other taxes or 
fees associated with obtaining the title for such property. 
(c) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS OR HOUSEHOLDS.—With 
respect to a major disaster declared by the President 
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under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re-
lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), an 
individual or household described in this subsection is an 
individual or household who— 
(1) is residing on a property located in the area 
for which the major disaster was declared but does 
not have documented ownership rights to such prop-
erty and is not renting such property; or 
(2) is or was residing in an area for which a 
major disaster has been declared by the President 
under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5170), during the designated incident period, includ-
ing residing in any housing accommodation or prop-
erty upon which a housing accommodation is lo-
cated, including any living quarters, boardinghouse, 
bunkhouse, manufactured home, mobile home, or 
travel trailer. 
(d) EVIDENCE.— 
(1) CONSIDERATION.—In making a determina-
tion to provide assistance pursuant to this Act, the 
Administrator shall consider a wide range of evi-
dence. 
(2) ALTERNATIVE
FORMS
OF
EVIDENCE.—In 
determining if an individual or household is eligible 
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for assistance pursuant to this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall accept either a declarative statement or 
the presentation of at least one item of alternative 
evidence, including the following: 
(A) A utility (including gas, electric, sewer, 
or water) bill with the name and address of the 
individual. 
(B) A merchant’s statement (including a 
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 applicable 
property. 
(F) A mortgage payment booklet or an-
other mortgage document. 
(G) Property title of mobile home certifi-
cate of title. 
(H) A real estate property tax receipt. 
(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) In a State that does not require a will 
and testament for the transfer of immovable 
property, a death certificate and birth certifi-
cate that establishes an automatic transfer of 
legal ownership. 
(L) Medical records that list the name and 
address of the individual. 
(M) A charitable donation receipt that list 
the name and address of the individual. 
(N) Any other documentation, certification, 
identification, or proof of occupancy or owner-
ship not included on this list that can reason-
ably link the individual requesting assistance to 
the applicable property. 
(e) APPLICABILITY.—This section shall apply to 
funds appropriated on or after the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
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, in coordination with the appropriate au-
thorities of the applicable jurisdiction, and dis-
tribute, where necessary, a declarative statement 
form that an applicant for assistance provided pur-
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suant to section 3 may use to self-certify such appli-
cant’s eligibility for assistance pursuant to this Act. 
(2) PROHIBITION OF NOTARIZATION.—The Ad-
ministrator may not require the declarative state-
ment form created under paragraph (1) to require 
notarization by the applicant. 
(b) EXEMPTIONS.—A declarative statement form cre-
ated under subsection (a)(1) is exempt from publication 
notice, public comment periods, and agency information 
collection review and approval by the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget required by the Paperwork 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 
FEMA regarding the requirements of this Act. 
(d) PUBLICATION.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall— 
(1) make the declarative statement form cre-
ated under subsection (a)(1) available in Spanish 
and English at all active Disaster Recovery Centers; 
and 
(2) publish in English, Spanish, and any other 
locally predominant languages on the website of 
FEMA and on social media the declarative state-
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ment form and instructions on how applicants can 
reopen or seek further appeal of relevant determina-
tions. 
(e) PAST DISASTERS.—For applicants of assistance 
provided pursuant to section 3 since January 1, 2017, the 
Administrator shall provide an applicant not fewer than 
180 days to submit the declarative statement form to re-
open or appeal a case after such applicant has received 
notice of the right to do so. 
SEC. 5. REPAIR AND REBUILDING. 
Section 408(c) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Re-
lief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)(A)(i) by striking ‘‘to a 
safe and sanitary living or functioning condition’’ 
and inserting ‘‘to ensure that such residences are 
habitable during longer term recovery (including 
through coordination with other sources for repair 
and rebuilding of such residences)’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4) by striking ‘‘in cases in 
which’’ and all that follows through the end and in-
serting ‘‘if the President determines such assistance 
is a cost effective alternative to other housing solu-
tions, including the costs associated with temporary 
housing provided under this section.’’. 
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SEC. 6. POST-DISASTER HOUSING ASSISTANCE ANALYSIS 
AND REPORT. 
(a) ANALYSIS.—The Administrator, in coordination 
with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 
shall conduct an analysis comparing the costs, benefits, 
and effectiveness of assistance provided under the Disaster 
Housing Assistance Program, including any case manage-
ment services provided, with other temporary housing op-
tions provided by the Administrator under the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 
(b) PROVISION OF DATA.—The Secretary shall en-
sure that public housing authorities engaged in carrying 
out the Disaster Housing Assistance Program relay data 
concerning the extent and effectiveness of case manage-
ment services in transitioning individuals and households 
toward self-sufficiency under the Program compared to 
other alternative disaster assistance programs available 
under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer-
gency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Sen-
ate a report that contains the analysis required under sub-
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section (a) and an analysis of the oversight mechanisms, 
program integrity checks, and financial management 
measures utilized in carrying out the Program compared 
to alternative disaster housing assistance programs under 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As-
sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). 
SEC. 7. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 
shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 
titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this 
Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 
by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, pro-
vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 
vote on passage. 
Passed the House of Representatives November 17, 
2020. 
Attest: 
CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 
Clerk. 
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