Hurricane Katrina Emergency Housing Act of 2005

Bill: 109-hr-3894
Sponsor: Rep. Alexander, Rodney [R-LA-5]
Introduced: 2005-09-26 in the House
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Alabama
Armed Forces and National Security
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Disaster relief
Disasters
Displaced persons
Emergency Management
Emergency housing
Federal installations
Floods
Government Operations and Politics
Housing authorities
Housing subsidies
Hurricane aftermath legislation
Hurricanes
Law
Leases
Louisiana
Low-income housing
Military bases
Mississippi
Planning
Public housing
Rent
Rental housing
Social Welfare
Water Resources Development
Welfare eligibility
Welfare waivers

Summary:
action_date: 2005-09-26
text: 
Hurricane Katrina Emergency Housing Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to waive specified requirements under the section 8 (United States Housing Act of 1937) housing voucher and project-based assistance programs for an individual or family: (1) who resides or resided on August 29, 2005, in any area subject to a presidential disaster declaration in connection with Hurricane Katrina; and (2) whose residence became uninhabitable or inaccessible as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to directly administer section 8 vouchers if the appropriate public housing agency is unable to do so because of Hurricane Katrina.
 
States that: (1) a project-based housing assistance contract covering a project damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina shall not expire because of the damage or destruction of dwelling units in the project; and (2) the contract's expiration date shall be the later of the contract date or three months after the units are first made habitable. 
 
Directs the Secretary, the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the General Services Administration, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, other appropriate agency heads, the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) to compile an inventory of federal civilian and defense facilities and other properties that can be used: (1) for emergency housing; or (2) as construction sites for temporary housing. 
 
Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on state emergency planning.

action_date: 2005-10-06
text: 
Hurricane Katrina Emergency Housing Act of 2005 - (Sec. 2) Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to waive specified requirements under the section 8 (United States Housing Act of 1937) housing voucher and project-based assistance programs for an individual or family: (1) who resides or resided on August 25, 2005, in any area subject to a presidential disaster or emergency declaration in connection with Hurricane Katrina, or who resides or resided on September 24, 2005, in any area subject to a presidential disaster or emergency declaration in connection with Hurricane Rita; (2) whose residence became uninhabitable or inaccessible as a result of such disasters or emergencies; and (3) who was receiving such rental benefits as of such applicable date.
 
Specifies voucher requirements that may be waived as: (1) tenant rent contributions; (2) assistance eligibility; (3) income verification; (4) one-year lease requirement; (5) public housing agency (PHA) initial housing inspection; (6) portability restrictions; (7) certain lease addenda permitting termination of tenancy; and (8) access to federally funded programs by persons having limited English proficiency. 
 
Terminates waiver authority 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, unless the Secretary determines that such waivers are no longer needed, in which case the period specified is the six-month period beginning on such date of enactment. 
 
(Sec. 3) Authorizes the Secretary to directly administer section 8 vouchers if the appropriate PHA is unable to do so because of Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita.
 
(Sec. 4) Specifies project-based requirements that may be waived as: (1) tenant rent contributions; (2) income verification; (3) one-year lease requirement; (4) public housing agency (PHA) initial housing inspection; (5) certain lease addenda permitting termination of tenancy; and (6) access to federally funded programs by persons having limited English proficiency. 
 
Terminates waiver authority 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, unless the Secretary determines that such waivers are no longer needed, in which case the period specified is the six-month period beginning on such date of enactment. 
 
(Sec. 5) States that: (1) a project-based housing assistance contract covering a project damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita shall not expire because of the damage or destruction of dwelling units in the project; and (2) the contract's expiration date shall be the later of the contract date or three months after the units are first made habitable. 
 
(Sec. 6) Directs the Secretary, the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the General Services Administration, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, other appropriate agency heads, the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA), and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC) to compile an inventory of federal civilian and defense facilities and other properties that can be used: (1) for emergency housing; (2) as construction sites for temporary housing; or (3) to provide permanent housing. 
 
Directs the Secretary to provide Congress with an aggregate inventory report.
 
(Sec. 7) Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on state emergency housing planning.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-01-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.
action_date: 2005-10-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
action_date: 2005-10-06
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2005-10-06
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2005-10-06
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2005-10-06
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 418 - 0 (Roll no. 511). (text: CR H8663-8664)
action_date: 2005-10-06
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 418 - 0 (Roll no. 511).(text: CR H8663-8664)
action_date: 2005-10-06
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8694-8695)
action_date: 2005-10-06
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2005-10-06
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3894.
action_date: 2005-10-06
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8663-8668)
action_date: 2005-10-06
text: Mr. Baker moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2005-09-26
text: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
action_date: 2005-09-26
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-09-26
text: Introduced in House