Title: Disaster Housing Assistance Act
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
Disaster Housing Assistance Act
This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to enter into an agreement or agreements with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish a temporary program that provides long-term rental housing assistance to eligible families affected by a major disaster during 2017, including with respect to Hurricane Maria.
The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress by January 20, 2020, on the results of the program.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2880 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2880

   To establish a pilot program for long-term rental assistance for 
             families affected by major disasters in 2017.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 17, 2018

 Mr. Nelson (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Warren, Mr. Markey, Mrs. 
 Gillibrand, and Ms. Harris) introduced the following bill; which was 
   read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
                          Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish a pilot program for long-term rental assistance for 
             families affected by major disasters in 2017.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Disaster Housing Assistance Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) the term ``Administrator'' means Administrator of the 
        Federal Emergency Management Agency;
            (2) the term ``covered disaster'' means a major disaster 
        declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5170) during 2017, including with respect to Hurricane 
        Maria;
            (3) the term ``eligible families'' means families that the 
        Administrator determines are eligible for housing assistance 
        under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
        Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174);
            (4) the terms ``families'' has the meaning given the term 
        in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
        U.S.C. 1437a(b)); and
            (5) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Housing 
        and Urban Development.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF DISASTER HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR MAJOR 
              DISASTERS IN 2017.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding section 408(a)(1) of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5174(a)(1)), not later than 10 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Administrator shall enter into an agreement or agreements with 
the Secretary to establish a temporary program that provides long-term 
rental housing assistance under such section 408 to eligible families 
affected by a covered disaster.
    (b) Responsibilities.--The design and administration of the program 
established under subsection (a) shall be determined by the Secretary, 
in consultation with the Administrator, to ensure optimal program 
effectiveness.
    (c) GAO Report to Congress.--Not later than January 20, 2020, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a 
report that examines the results of the program established under 
subsection (a), including the cost-effectiveness of the program and the 
ability of families participating in the program to stabilize their 
living situation.
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