,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #biad ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #bb1 #bjai,mr4 ,espaillat 7for himself and ,miss ,gonzlez-,coln of ,puerto ,rico7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,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 ,survivors of ,major ,disasters ,act of #bjai4 #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 assistance 7a7 ,eligibility ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 individuals and households described in subsection 7c7 shall be eligible for assistance made available under section #djh of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj7 in connection with a major disaster declared by the ,president under such section #djh1 including ,hurricane ,maria of #bjag4 7b7 ,use ,in the case of any assistance described in subsection 7a7 that is made available in connection with a major disaster declared by the ,president under section #djh of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj71 including ,hurricane ,maria of #bjag1 such 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 such subsection1 including 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 #djh 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 or was residing in an area for which a major disaster has been declared by the ,president under section #djh of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj71 but who does not have documentation to that effect1 including renter households without written or formal leases1 unsheltered individuals or persons experiencing homelessness1 households residing in any portion of any housing accommodation or property upon which a housing accommodation is located1 including any living quarters1 boardinghouse1 bunkhouse1 maintenance-of-way car1 mobile home1 manufactured home1 or travel trailer4 7#b7 ,consideration ,in making a determination for purposes of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall consider a wide range of evidence4 7d7 ,alternative forms of evidence 7#a7 ,in general ,in determining if an individual or household is eligible for assistance under this ,act1 the ,administrator shall accept a declarative statement or the presentation of one of alternative evidence1 including the following3 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 ,a 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 ,a school registration containing the address of self1 child1 or children4 7,j7 ,a 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 ,any other documentation1 certification1 identification1 or proof of occupancy or ownership not included on this list that can reasonably link the individual requesting assistance to the damaged property4 #d4 ,declarative statement 7a7 ,development of declarative statement 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall create and distribute where necessary a form statement that applicants can use to self-certify their eligibility for assistance under this ,act4 7#b7 ,prohibition of notarization ,the ,administrator may not require declarative statements developed and implemented under this ,act to be notarized4 7#c7 ,evidence supporting declarative statements ,all declarative statements developed and implemented under this ,act shall not require evidence beyond the scope of section #c7;d74 7b7 ,exemptions ,all declarative statements developed and implemented pursuant to this ,act are exempted from publication notice1 public comment periods1 and agency information collection review and approval by the ,office of ,management and ,budget required by the ,paperwork ,reduction ,act 7#dd ,u4,s4,c4 #ceja et seq474 7c7 ,guidance ,not later than #cj 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 of this ,act4 7d7 ,publication ,not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator shall make declarative statements available in ,spanish and ,english at all active ,disaster ,recovery ,centers and publish in ,english1 ,spanish1 and any other locally predominant languages on the ,agency's website and social media the declarative statement and instructions on how applicants can reopen or seek further appeal of relevant determinations4 7e7 ,past disasters ,for applicants of assistance provided under this ,act pursuant to any major disaster declared by the ,president under section #djh of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj7 occurring in #bjah or #bjag1 the ,administrator shall provide an applicant not fewer than #ahj days to submit the declarative statement to reopen or appeal a case after such applicant has received notice of the right to do so4 #e4 ,,fema ,,dhap agreements 7a7 #bjag and #bjah disasters ,not later than #fj 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 under section #djh of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj7 to provide temporary rental assistance to individuals and households displaced from their residences by any major disaster declared by the ,president under such section #djh during #bjag and #bjah 7including ,hurricane ,maria71 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 #djh 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 a declaration of such major disaster1 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 #djh of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eagj7 to provide temporary rental assistance to individuals and households displaced from their residences by such major disaster1 including individuals and households eligible for such assistance under section #c7;a7 of this ,act4