,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #biif ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #e1 #bjah,ms4 ,warren 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 ,ms4 ,harris1 and ,mr4 ,casey7 introduced the following bill2 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 disasters1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,housing ,victims of ,major ,disasters ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act1 the terms ,agency and ,administrator mean the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency and the ,administrator thereof1 respectively4 #c4 ,eligibility for and use of disaster housing assistance 7a7 ,eligibility ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 individuals and households described in subsection 7c7 shall be eligible for housing assistance made available under section #djh of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagd7 in connection with a major disaster declared by the ,president under section #dja of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj71 including ,hurricane ,maria of #bjag4 7b7 ,use ,in the case of any housing assistance described in subsection 7a7 that is made available in connection with a major disaster declared by the ,president under section #dja of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj71 including ,hurricane ,maria of #bjag1 the assistance may be used on behalf of an individual or household described in subsection 7c7 for costs relating to obtaining title for that individual or household to a property described in subsection 7c77#a71 which shall include the cost of land surveys and any other taxes or fees associated with transfer of the property4 7c7 ,eligibility 7#a7 ,in general ,with respect to a major disaster declared by the ,president under section #dja of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj71 an individual or household described in this subsection is an individual or household who-- 7,a7 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 property2 or 7,b7 is renting a property located in the area for which the major disaster was declared but does not have a written lease for the rental4 7#b7 ,consideration ,in making a determination of whether occupancy or a rental tenancy exists for purposes of subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,b7 of paragraph 7#a71 the ,administrator shall consider a wide range of evidence that demonstrates the existence of the occupancy or tenancy set forth in subsection 7d74 7d7 ,alternative forms of proof 7#a7 ,in general ,in determining if an individual or household is eligible for housing assistance under subsection 7c71 the ,administrator shall consider a sworn and notarized affidavit written by a licensed attorney that affirms the occupancy or tenancy by the individual who owns1 possesses1 and maintains the property and the presentation of one of the following documents to affirm proof of ownership of the individual named in the affidavit3 7,a7 ,a utility 7gas1 electric1 or water7 bill with the name and address of the individual4 7,b7 ,a merchant's statement 7credit card1 delivery notice1 or first class mail7 with the name and address of the individual4 7,c7 ,a pay stub from an employer with the name and address of the individual4 7,d7 ,a current driver's license or ,state-issued identification card of the individual4 7,e7 ,the deed or title for the property4 7,f7 ,mortgage payment booklet or other mortgage documents4 7,g7 ,property title of mobile home certificate of title4 7,h7 ,real estate property tax receipts4 7,i7 ,school registration for self1 child1 or children4 7,j7 ,will and testament with the name and address of the individual4 7,k7 ,medical records that list the name and address of the individual4 7,l7 ,charitable donation receipts that list the name and address of the individual4 7,m7 ,government assistance documents4 7,n7 ,any other documentation1 certification1 identification1 or proof of occupancy or ownership not included on this list1 that can reasonably link the individual requesting assistance to the damaged property4 7,o7 ,if records are unavailable due to damage from the major disaster or any other circumstance that impedes an individual from providing proof of ownership1 the ,administrator shall request verification from the ,state or ,federal agency with the written permission of the individual or legally authorized representative of the individual4 7#b7 ,additional review ,the ,administrator shall conduct an additional review of any application for housing assistance under section #djh of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagd7 that was-- 7,a7 submitted before the date of enactment of this ,act2 and 7,b7 denied in #bjag or #bjah4 7#c7 ,notification of employees ,not later than #g days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall provide written notification and guidance to employees of the ,agency regarding the requirements set forth in this ,act4 #d4 ,,fema ,,dhap agreements 7a7 #bjag disasters ,not later than #ae days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 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 to provide temporary rental assistance to individuals and households displaced from their residences by any major disaster declared by the ,president under section #dja of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj7 during #bjag1 including ,hurricane ,maria1 including individuals and households eligible for such assistance under section #c7;a7 of this ,act4 7b7 ,future disasters ,in the case of any major disaster declared by the ,president under section #dja of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj7 on or after the date of enactment of this ,act1 not later than #fj days after that declaration1 the ,administrator and the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall engage in consultations regarding the implementation of a ,disaster ,housing ,assistance ,program to provide temporary rental assistance to individuals and households displaced from their residences by the major disaster1 including individuals and households eligible for such assistance under section #c7;a7 of this ,act4