[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3037 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 473
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3037
[Report No. 117-653, Part I]
To make available necessary disaster assistance for families affected
by major disasters, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 7, 2021
Mr. Espaillat (for himself and Miss Gonzalez-Colon) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
December 20, 2022
Reported from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
December 20, 2022
Committee on the Budget discharged; committed to the Committee of the
Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
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 2021''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) FEMA.--The term ``FEMA'' means the Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
(2) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of FEMA.
SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR AND USE OF DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
(a) Financial Assistance.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, individuals and households described in subsection (c) may 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 of Funds.--Any assistance provided pursuant to subsection
(a) may include costs relating to obtaining title for a property
described in subsection (c)(1), including 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 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--
(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 property 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, including residing in any housing accommodation or
property upon which a housing accommodation is located,
including any living quarters, boardinghouse, bunkhouse,
manufactured home, mobile home, or travel trailer.
(d) Evidence.--
(1) Consideration.--In making a determination to provide
assistance pursuant to this Act, the Administrator shall
consider a wide range of evidence.
(2) Alternative forms of evidence.--In determining if an
individual or household is eligible for assistance pursuant to
this Act, the Administrator 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 another mortgage
document.
(G) Property title of mobile home certificate of
title.
(H) A real estate property tax receipt.
(I) A school registration containing the address of
self, child, or children.
(J) A will and testament with the name and address
of the individual.
(K) In a State that does not require a will and
testament for the transfer of immovable property, a
death certificate and birth certificate 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 lists the
name and address of the individual.
(N) 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 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 authorities of the applicable
jurisdiction, and distribute, where necessary, a declarative
statement form that an applicant for assistance provided
pursuant to section 3 may use to self-certify such applicant's
eligibility for assistance pursuant to this Act.
(2) Prohibition of notarization.--The Administrator may not
require the declarative statement form created under paragraph
(1) to require notarization by the applicant.
(b) Exemptions.--A declarative statement form created under
subsection (a)(1) is exempt from publication notice, public comment
periods, and agency information collection review and approval by the
Office of Management 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 provide 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 created 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 statement form and instructions on how
applicants can reopen or seek further appeal of relevant
determinations.
(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 reopen 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 Relief 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 inserting ``if the
President determines such assistance is a cost effective
alternative to other housing solutions, including the costs
associated with temporary housing provided under this
section.''.
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
management services provided, with other temporary housing options
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 Administrator shall ensure that public
housing authorities engaged in carrying out the Disaster Housing
Assistance Program relay data concerning the extent and effectiveness
of case management 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 Emergency 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
Senate a report that contains the analysis required under subsection
(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 Assistance
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, provided that
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
Union Calendar No. 473
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3037
[Report No. 117-653, Part I]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To make available necessary disaster assistance for families affected
by major disasters, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 20, 2022
Reported from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
December 20, 2022
Committee on the Budget discharged; committed to the Committee of the
Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed