Title: Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2019
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2019
This bill makes certain individuals and households eligible for housing assistance in connection with a major disaster, including Hurricane Maria of 2017. To be eligible, an individual or household must be (1) 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 (2) residing or have resided in an area for which the major disaster was declared but does not have documentary proof of residence.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shall consider alternative forms of proof to determine the eligibility of an individual or household for assistance.
FEMA shall (1) create and distribute a form declarative statement that applicants for assistance may use to self-certify their eligibility for assistance, and (2) make the statement available in specified languages at all active Disaster Recovery Centers and on its website and social media.
FEMA shall enter into agreements with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to implement a disaster housing assistance program to provide temporary rental assistance to individuals and households displaced by any major disaster during 2017 and 2018, and shall engage in consultations regarding the implementation of such program for future disasters.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1605 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1605

 To make available necessary disaster assistance for families affected 
              by major disasters, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 22, 2019

 Ms. Warren (for herself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Markey, Ms. Harris, Mr. 
Durbin, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Sanders, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Menendez, Mr. 
Kaine, Mr. Casey, Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Merkley) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland 
                   Security and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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 Representatives 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.

SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR AND USE OF DISASTER ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Eligibility.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
individuals and households described in subsection (c) shall be 
eligible for assistance made available under section 408 of the Robert 
T. Stafford 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.--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 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), including 
Hurricane Maria of 2017, such assistance may be used on behalf 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 disaster declared 
        by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford 
        Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170), 
        an individual 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 the 
                major disaster was declared, but does not have 
                documentation to that effect, including--
                            (i) an individual or household who is 
                        renting without a written or formal lease;
                            (ii) unsheltered individuals or households 
                        experiencing homelessness; and
                            (iii) an individual or household residing 
                        in any portion of any housing accommodation or 
                        property upon which a housing accommodation is 
                        located, including any living quarters, 
                        boardinghouse, bunkhouse, maintenance-of-way 
                        car, mobile home, manufactured home, or travel 
                        trailer.
            (2) Consideration.--In making a determination of 
        eligibility for purposes of this Act, the Administrator shall 
        consider a wide range of evidence.
    (d) Alternative Forms of Evidence.--In determining if an individual 
or household is eligible for assistance under this Act, the 
Administrator shall accept a declarative statement described in section 
4 or the presentation of alternative evidence, including the following:
            (1) A utility (gas, electric, or water) bill with the name 
        and address of the individual.
            (2) A merchant's statement (credit card, delivery notice, 
        or first class mail) with the name and address of the 
        individual.
            (3) A pay stub from an employer with the name and address 
        of the individual.
            (4) A current driver's license or State-issued 
        identification card of the individual.
            (5) The deed or title for the property.
            (6) A mortgage payment booklet or other mortgage documents.
            (7) Property title or mobile home certificate of title.
            (8) Real estate property tax receipts.
            (9) A school registration containing the address of self, 
        child, or children.
            (10) A will and testament with the name and address of the 
        individual.
            (11) Medical records that list the name and address of the 
        individual.
            (12) Charitable donation receipts that list the name and 
        address of the individual.
            (13) Any other documentation, certification, 
        identification, or proof of occupancy or ownership not included 
        on this list that can reasonably 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 declarative statement that an 
        applicant for assistance under this Act may use to self-certify 
        their eligibility for assistance under this Act.
            (2) Prohibition of notarization.--The Administrator may not 
        require a declarative statement submitted under this Act to be 
        notarized.
            (3) Evidence supporting declarative statements.--A 
        declarative statement submitted under this Act shall not 
        require evidence beyond the scope of section 3(d).
    (b) Exemptions.--A declarative statement submitted under this Act 
is exempted from publication notice, public comment periods, and agency 
information collection review and approval by the Office of Management 
and Budget required by chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code 
(commonly known as the ``Paperwork Reduction Act'').
    (c) Guidance.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall provide 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--
            (1) make the form declarative statement created under 
        paragraph (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 and social media of the 
        Agency the form declarative statement created under paragraph 
        (1) and instructions on how applicants can reopen or seek 
        further appeal of relevant determinations.
    (e) Past Disasters.--For applicants of assistance provided under 
this Act with respect to any 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) occurring in 2017 or 2018, 
the Administrator shall provide an applicant not less than 180 days to 
submit a declarative statement under this Act to reopen or appeal a 
case after the 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 Administrator 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 under section 408 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) 
to provide temporary rental assistance to individuals and households 
displaced from their residences by any major disaster declared by the 
President under section 401 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) during 2017 
and 2018 (including Hurricane Maria of 2017), including individuals 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 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170) on or after the 
date of enactment of this Act, not later than 60 days after a 
declaration of the major disaster, the Administrator and the Secretary 
of Housing and Urban Development shall engage 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. 5174) to provide temporary rental 
assistance to individuals and households displaced from their 
residences by the major disaster, including individuals and households 
eligible for such assistance under section 3(a) of this Act.
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