,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fceh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #bc1 #bjbj,mr4 ,lynch introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,financial ,services ,a ,,bill ,to authorize supplemental appropriations for fiscal year #bjbj for community development block grants1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,supplemental funding for community development block grants 7a7 ,funding and allocations 7#a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #ab1jjj1jjj1jjj for assistance in accordance with this section under the community development block grant program under title ,i of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecja et seq474 7#b7 ,initial allocation #f1jjj1jjj1jjj of the amount made available pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 shall be distributed pursuant to section #ajf of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjf7 to grantees and such allocations shall be made within #cj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7#c7 ,subsequent allocation 7,a7 ,in general ,the #f1jjj1jjj1jjj made available pursuant to paragraph 7#a7 that remains after allocation pursuant to paragraph 7#b7 shall be allocated1 not later than #de days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 directly to ,states to prevent1 prepare for1 and respond to coronavirus within the ,state1 including activities within entitlement and nonentitlement communities1 based on public health needs1 risk of transmission of coronavirus1 number of coronavirus cases compared to the national average1 and economic and housing market disruptions1 and other factors1 as determined by the ,secretary1 using best available data4 7,b7 ,technical assistance ,of the amount referred to in subparagraph 7,a71 #aj1jjj1jjj shall be made available for capacity building and technical assistance to support the use of such amounts to expedite or facilitate infectious disease response4 7#d7 ,direct distribution ,of the amount made available pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 #c1jjj1jjj1jjj shall be distributed directly to ,states and units of general local government1 at the discretion of the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development 7in this section referred to as the ,secretary71 according to a formula based on factors to be determined by the ,secretary1 prioritizing risk of transmission of coronavirus1 number of coronavirus cases compared to the national average1 and economic and housing market disruptions resulting from coronavirus4 7#e7 ,rolling allocations ,allocations under this subsection may be made on a rolling basis as additional needs develop and data becomes available4 7#f7 ,best available data ,the ,secretary shall make all allocations under this subsection based on the best available data at the time of allocation4 7b7 ,eligible activities ,amounts made available pursuant to subsection 7a7 may be used only for-- 7#a7 eligible activities described in #aje7;a7 of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecje7;a77 relating to preventing1 preparing for1 or responding to the public health emergency relating to ,coronavirus ,disease #bjai 7,,covid-#ai72 and 7#b7 reimbursement of costs for such eligible activities relating to preventing1 preparing for1 or responding to ,coronavirus ,disease #bjai 7,,covid-#ai7 that were accrued before the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7c7 ,inapplicability of public services cap ,the limitation under paragraph 7#h7 of section #aje7;a7 of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecje7;a77#h77 on the amount that may be used for activities under such paragraph shall not apply with respect to-- 7#a7 amounts made available pursuant to subsection 7a72 and 7#b7 amounts made available in preceding appropriation ,acts for fiscal years #bjai and #bjbj for carrying out title ,i of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd1 to the extent such amounts are used for activities described in subsection 7b7 of this section4 7d7 ,waivers 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may waive1 or specify alternative requirements for1 any provision of any statute or regulation that the ,secretary administers in connection with the use of amounts made available pursuant to subsection 7a77#a7 and for fiscal years #bjai and #bjbj 7except for requirements related to fair housing1 nondiscrimination1 labor standards1 and the environment71 if the ,secretary finds that good cause exists for the waiver or alternative requirement and such waiver or alternative requirement would not be inconsistent with the overall purpose of title ,i of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd1 including for the purposes of addressing the impact of coronavirus4 7#b7 ,notice ,the ,secretary shall notify the public through the ,federal ,register or other appropriate means #e days before the effective date of any such waiver or alternative requirement in order for such waiver or alternative requirement to take effect4 ,such public notice may be provided on the internet at the appropriate government website or through other electronic media1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7e7 ,statements of activities2 comprehensive housing affordability strategies 7#a7 ,inapplicability of requirements ,section #aaf7;b7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecaf7;b72 relating to submission of final statements of activities not later than ,august #af of a given fiscal year7 and any implementing regulations shall not apply to final statements submitted in accordance with paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 of section #ajd of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd7;a77 and comprehensive housing affordability strategies submitted in accordance with section #aje of the ,cranston-,gonzalez ,national ,affordable ,housing ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abgje7 for fiscal years #bjai and #bjbj4 7#b7 ,new requirements ,final statements and comprehensive housing affordability strategies shall instead be submitted not later than ,august #af1 #bjba4 7#c7 ,amendments ,notwithstanding subsections 7a77#b71 7a77#c71 and 7c7 of section #ajd of the ,housing and ,community ,development ,act of #aigd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd7 and section #aje of the ,cranston-,gonzalez ,national ,affordable ,housing ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abgje71 a grantee may not be required to amend its statement of activities in order to engage in activities to prevent1 prepare1 and respond to coronavirus or the economic and housing disruption caused by it1 but shall make public a report within #ahj days of the end of the crisis which fully accounts for such activities4 7f7 ,public hearings 7#a7 ,inapplicability of in-person hearing requirements ,a grantee may not be required to hold in-person public hearings in connection with its citizen participation plan1 but shall provide citizens with notice and a reasonable opportunity to comment of not less than #ae days4 7#b7 ,virtual public hearings ,during the period that national or local health authorities recommend social distancing and limiting public gatherings for public health reasons1 a grantee may fulfill applicable public hearing requirements for all grants from funds made available pursuant to subsection 7a77#a7 and under the heading ,department of ,housing and ,urban ,development--,community ,planning and ,development--,community ,development ,fund in appropriation ,acts for fiscal years #bjai and #bjbj by carrying out virtual public hearings4 ,any such virtual hearings shall provide reasonable notification and access for citizens in accordance with the grantee's certifications1 timely responses from local officials to all citizen questions and issues1 and public access to all questions and responses4 7g7 ,duplication of benefits ,the ,secretary shall ensure there are adequate procedures in place to prevent any duplication of benefits as defined by section #cab of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaee7 and act in accordance with section #abaj of the ,disaster ,recovery ,reform ,act of #bjah 7division ,d of ,public ,law #aae-bed2 #acb ,stat4 #cddb7 and section #cab of the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaee74