,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fhbj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #ab1 #bjbj,mr4 ,heck 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,waters1 ,mr4 ,kilmer1 ,ms4 ,schrier1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,mr4 ,de,fazio1 ,mr4 ,peters1 ,mr4 ,nadler1 ,ms4 ,schakowsky1 ,mr4 ,raskin1 ,mr4 ,bera1 ,mr4 ,blumenauer1 ,ms4 ,clarke of ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,tonko1 ,mr4 ,perlmutter1 ,mr4 ,pocan1 ,mrs4 ,carolyn ,b4 ,maloney of ,new ,york1 ,ms4 ,velzquez1 ,mrs4 ,beatty1 ,mr4 ,crdenas1 ,ms4 ,del,bene1 ,mr4 ,mc,govern1 ,mr4 ,beyer1 ,mr4 ,horsford1 ,ms4 ,jayapal1 ,mr4 ,gonzalez of ,texas1 ,mrs4 ,murphy of ,florida1 ,mrs4 ,dingell1 ,mr4 ,evans1 ,mr4 ,grijalva1 ,mr4 ,green of ,texas1 ,mr4 ,neguse1 ,ms4 ,haaland1 ,mr4 ,espaillat1 ,mrs4 ,demings1 ,mr4 ,cleaver1 ,mr4 ,huffman1 ,ms4 ,mc,collum1 ,miss ,rice of ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,panetta1 ,mr4 ,castro of ,texas1 ,mr4 ,rose of ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,danny ,k4 ,davis of ,illinois1 ,mr4 ,richmond1 ,mrs4 ,hayes1 ,ms4 ,pressley1 ,mrs4 ,davis of ,california1 ,mr4 ,vargas1 ,mr4 ,kennedy1 ,mr4 ,lewis1 ,mr4 ,rouda1 ,mr4 ,thompson of ,mississippi1 ,mrs4 ,napolitano1 ,mr4 ,schiff1 ,mr4 ,clay1 ,mr4 ,carbajal1 ,mr4 ,smith of ,washington1 ,mr4 ,cohen1 ,mr4 ,engel1 ,mr4 ,san ,nicolas1 ,ms4 ,lee of ,california1 ,mr4 ,garca of ,illinois1 ,mr4 ,michael ,f4 ,doyle of ,pennsylvania1 ,ms4 ,tlaib1 ,ms4 ,bonamici1 ,mrs4 ,axne1 ,ms4 ,bass1 ,mr4 ,brendan ,f4 ,boyle of ,pennsylvania1 ,mr4 ,gomez1 ,mr4 ,lowenthal1 ,mr4 ,gottheimer1 ,mr4 ,langevin1 ,mr4 ,thompson of ,california1 ,mr4 ,himes1 ,mr4 ,foster1 ,mr4 ,lynch1 ,ms4 ,meng1 ,ms4 ,scanlon1 ,ms4 ,wasserman ,schultz1 ,mr4 ,meeks1 ,mr4 ,ryan1 ,ms4 ,adams1 ,mr4 ,suozzi1 ,ms4 ,wexton1 ,mrs4 ,watson ,coleman1 ,mr4 ,jeffries1 ,mr4 ,sires1 ,ms4 ,garcia of ,texas1 ,ms4 ,dean1 ,ms4 ,de,lauro1 ,ms4 ,titus1 ,ms4 ,shalala1 ,mr4 ,takano1 ,ms4 ,lofgren1 ,ms4 ,mucarsel-,powell1 ,mr4 ,larsen of ,washington1 ,ms4 ,clark of ,massachusetts1 ,mr4 ,pascrell1 ,ms4 ,de,gette1 ,ms4 ,wilson of ,florida1 ,mrs4 ,bustos1 ,mr4 ,soto1 ,ms4 ,eshoo1 ,mr4 ,hastings1 ,ms4 ,ocasio-,cortez1 ,mr4 ,lawson of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,swalwell of ,california1 ,mr4 ,casten of ,illinois1 ,mr4 ,ted ,lieu of ,california1 ,mr4 ,larson of ,connecticut1 ,mr4 ,higgins of ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,connolly1 ,ms4 ,johnson of ,texas1 ,mrs4 ,kirkpatrick1 ,ms4 ,roybal-,allard1 ,mr4 ,trone1 ,mr4 ,cooper1 ,mr4 ,david ,scott of ,georgia1 ,mr4 ,mc,eachin1 ,mr4 ,courtney1 ,ms4 ,judy ,chu of ,california1 ,mr4 ,payne1 ,mr4 ,levin of ,california1 ,mr4 ,cicilline1 ,mrs4 ,trahan1 ,mr4 ,kildee1 ,ms4 ,blunt ,rochester1 ,mr4 ,cisneros1 ,mr4 ,bishop of ,georgia1 ,mr4 ,khanna1 ,mr4 ,garamendi1 ,ms4 ,matsui1 ,mr4 ,sherman1 ,ms4 ,speier1 ,ms4 ,craig1 ,mr4 ,quigley1 and ,mr4 ,crow7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,financial ,services ,a ,,bill ,to provide emergency rental assistance under the ,emergency ,solutions ,grants program of the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development in response to the public health emergency resulting from the coronavirus1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,emergency ,rental ,assistance and ,rental ,market ,stabilization ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,emergency rental assistance 7a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development 7referred to in this section as the ,secretary7 #ajj1jjj1jjj1jjj for an additional amount for grants under the ,emergency ,solutions ,grants program under subtitle ,b of title ,,iv of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacga et seq471 to remain available until expended 7subject to subsections 7d7 and 7n7 of this section71 to be used for providing rental assistance in accordance with section #dae7;a77#d7 of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacgd7;a77#d77 and this section4 7b7 ,definition of at risk of homelessness ,notwithstanding section #dja7a7 of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacfj7a771 for purposes of assistance made available with amounts made available pursuant to subsection 7a71 the term at risk of homelessness means1 with respect to an individual or family1 that the individual or family-- 7#a7 has an income below #hj percent of the median income for the area as determined by the ,secretary2 and 7#b7 has an inability to attain or maintain housing stability or has insufficient resources to pay for rent or utilities due to financial hardships4 7c7 ,income targeting and calculation ,for purposes of assistance made available with amounts made available pursuant to subsection 7a7-- 7#a7 each grantee of such amounts shall use-- 7,a7 not less than #dj percent of the amounts received only for providing assistance for individuals or families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness who have incomes not exceeding #cj percent of the median income for the area as determined by the ,secretary2 7,b7 not less than #gj percent of the amounts received only for providing assistance for individuals or families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness who have incomes not exceeding #ej percent of the median income for the area as determined by the ,secretary2 and 7,c7 the remainder of the amounts received only for providing assistance to individuals or families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness who have incomes not exceeding #hj percent of the median income for the relevant geographic area as determined by the ,secretary1 except that if a grantee demonstrates to the satisfaction of the ,secretary that the population in the geographic area served by the grantee having such incomes is sufficiently being served with respect to activities eligible for funding with such amounts1 such grantee may establish a higher percentage limit for purposes of subsection 7b77#a71 which shall not in any case exceed #abj percent of the area median income2 and 7#b7 in determining the income of a household-- 7,a7 the calculation of income performed at the time of application for such assistance shall consider only income that the household is currently receiving at such time and any income recently terminated shall not be included2 7,b7 the calculation of income performed with respect to households receiving ongoing assistance 7such as medium-term rental assistance7 #c months after initial receipt of assistance shall consider only the income that the household is receiving at the time of such review2 and 7,c7 the calculation of income performed with respect to households receiving assistance for arrearages shall consider only the income that the household was receiving at the time such arrearages were incurred4 7d7 #c-,year availability 7#a7 ,in general ,each grantee of amounts made available pursuant to subsection 7a7 shall-- 7,a7 expend not less than #fj percent of such grant amounts within #b years of the date that such funds became available to the grantee for obligation2 and 7,b7 expend #ajj percent of such grant amounts within #c years of such date4 7#b7 ,reallocation after #b years ,the ,secretary may recapture any amounts not obligated in compliance with paragraph 7#a77;,a7 and reallocate such amounts to grantees in compliance with the formula referred to in subsection 7h77#a77;,a74 7#c7 ,rescission and reallocation of funds ,any amounts made available pursuant to subsection 7a7 that are not expended by a grantee to provide assistance in accordance with this section by the deadline under paragraph 7#a77;,b7 shall be reallocated by the ,secretary as follows3 7,a7 ,sixty-five percent shall be transferred and credited to the ,housing ,trust ,fund established under section #acch of the ,federal ,housing ,enterprises ,financial ,safety and ,soundness ,act of #aiib 7#ab ,u4,s4,c4 #defh74 7,b7 ,thirty-five percent shall be transferred or credited to the ,capital ,magnet ,fund established under section #acci of the ,federal ,housing ,enterprises ,financial ,safety and ,soundness ,act of #aiib 7#ab ,u4,s4,c4 #defi74 7e7 ,rent restrictions 7#a7 ,inapplicability ,section #egf4ajf7;d7 of title #bd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 shall not apply with respect to homelessness prevention assistance made available with amounts made available under subsection 7a74 7#b7 ,amount of rental assistance ,in providing homelessness prevention assistance with amounts made available under subsection 7a71 the maximum amount of rental assistance that may be provided shall be the greater of-- 7,a7 #abj percent of the higher of-- 7i7 the ,fair ,market ,rent established by the ,secretary for the metropolitan area or county2 or 7ii7 the applicable ,small ,area ,fair ,market ,rent established by the ,secretary2 or 7,b7 such higher amount as the ,secretary shall determine is needed to cover market rents in the area4 7f7 ,subleases ,notwithstanding the second sentence of subsection 7g7 of section #egf4ajf of title #bd of the ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 a program participant may sublet1 with rental assistance made available with amounts made available pursuant to subsection 7a7 of this section1 a dwelling unit from a renter of the dwelling unit if there is a legally binding1 written lease agreement for such sublease4 7g7 ,housing relocation or stabilization activities ,a grantee of amounts made available pursuant to subsection 7a7 may expend up to #be percent of its allocation for activities under section #dae7;a77#e7 of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacgd7;a77#e771 except that notwithstanding such section1 activities under such section may be provided only for individuals or families having incomes not exceeding #ej percent of the area median income4 7h7 ,allocation of assistance 7#a7 ,in general ,in allocating amounts made available pursuant to subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 7i7 for any purpose authorized in this section1 allocate #b percent of such amount for ,indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities 7as such terms are defined in section #d of the ,native ,american ,housing ,assistance and ,self-,determination ,act of #aiif 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #dajc77 under the formula established pursuant to section #cjb of such ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #daeb71 except that #j4c percent of the amount allocated under this clause shall be allocated for the ,department of ,hawaiian ,home ,lands2 and 7ii7 not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 obligate and disburse the amounts allocated pursuant to clause 7i7 in accordance with such allocations and provide such grantees with any necessary guidance for use of the funds2 7,b7 7i7 not later than #g days after the date of enactment of this ,act and after setting aside amounts under subparagraph 7,a71 allocate #ej percent of any such remaining amounts under the formula specified in subsections 7a71 7b71 and 7e7 of section #dad of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacgc7 for1 and notify1 each ,state1 metropolitan city1 and urban county that is to receive a direct grant of such amounts2 and 7ii7 not later than #cj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 obligate and disburse the amounts allocated pursuant to clause 7i7 in accordance with such allocations and provide such grantees with any necessary guidance for use of the funds2 and 7,c7 7i7 not later than #de days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 allocate any remaining amounts for eligible grantees according to a formula to be developed by the ,secretary that takes into consideration the formula referred to in subparagraph 7,a7 and the need for emergency rental assistance under this section1 including the severe housing cost burden among extremely low- and very low-income renters and disruptions in housing and economic conditions1 including unemployment2 and 7ii7 not later than #cj days after the date of the allocation of such amounts pursuant to clause 7i71 obligate and disburse such amounts in accordance with such allocations4 7#b7 ,allocations to ,states 7,a7 ,in general ,notwithstanding section #egf4bjb7;a7 of title #bd1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 a ,state recipient of an allocation under this section may elect to administer up to #ajj percent of its allocation to carry out activities eligible under this section4 7,b7 ,requirement ,any ,state recipient making an election described in subparagraph 7,a7 shall serve households throughout the entire ,state1 including households in rural communities and small towns4 7#c7 ,election not to administer ,if a grantee elects not to receive funds under this section1 such funds shall be allocated to the ,state recipient in which the grantee is located4 7#d7 ,partnerships and subgrantees ,a recipient of a grant under this section may distribute funds through one or more partnerships1 subgrantees1 or contracts with an entity1 including a public housing agency 7as such term is defined in section #c7;b7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;a7b7771 capable of carrying out a program under this section4 7i7 ,inapplicability of matching requirement ,subsection 7a7 of section #daf of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacge7;a77 shall not apply to any amounts made available pursuant to subsection 7a7 of this section4 7j7 ,reimbursement of eligible activities ,amounts made available pursuant to subsection 7a7 may be used by a grantee to reimburse expenditures incurred for eligible activities under this section after ,march #bg1 #bjbj4 7k7 ,prohibition on prerequisites ,none of the funds made available pursuant to this section may be used to require any individual receiving assistance under the program under this section to receive treatment or perform any other prerequisite activities as a condition for receiving shelter1 housing1 or other services4 7l7 ,waivers and alternative requirements 7#a7 ,in general 7,a7 ,authority ,in administering the amounts made available pursuant to subsection 7a71 the ,secretary may waive1 or specify alternative requirements for1 any provision of any statute or regulation that the ,secretary administers in connection with the obligation by the ,secretary or the use by the recipient of such amounts 7except for requirements related to fair housing1 nondiscrimination1 labor standards1 prohibition on prerequisites1 data reporting1 and the environment unless otherwise provided under this paragraph71 if the ,secretary finds that good cause exists for the waiver or alternative requirement and such waiver or alternative requirement is necessary to expedite the use of funds made available pursuant to this section1 to respond to public health orders or conditions related to the ,,covid-#ai emergency1 or to ensure that eligible individuals can attain or maintain housing stability4 7,b7 ,required waiver ,the ,secretary shall waive any regulatory requirements that restrict eligibility based upon prior receipt of assistance under the program during the #c-year period preceding the date of enactment of this ,act4 7,c7 ,public notice ,the ,secretary shall notify the public through the ,federal ,register or other appropriate means of any waiver or alternative requirement under this paragraph1 and that such public notice may be provided1 at a minimum1 on the internet at the appropriate ,government website or through other electronic media1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,public hearings 7,a7 ,inapplicability of in-person hearing requirements during the ,,covid-#ai emergency 7i7 ,in general ,a grantee under this section shall not be required to hold in-person public hearings in connection with its citizen participation plan1 but shall provide citizens with notice1 including publication of its plan for carrying out this section on the internet1 and a reasonable opportunity to comment of not less than #e days4 7ii7 ,resumption of in-person hearing requirements ,after the period beginning on the date of enactment of this ,act and ending on the date of the termination by the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency of the emergency declared on ,march #ac1 #bjbj1 by the ,president under the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #daba et seq47 relating to the ,coronavirus ,disease #bjai 7,,covid-#ai7 pandemic1 and after the period described in subparagraph 7,b71 the ,secretary shall direct grantees under this section to resume pre-crisis public hearing requirements4 7,b7 ,virtual public hearings 7i7 ,in general ,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 this section by carrying out virtual public hearings4 7ii7 ,requirements ,any virtual hearings held under clause 7i7 by a grantee under this section 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 7m7 ,development and ,submission of ,plans 7#a7 ,resubmission of plans ,a recipient of funds made available pursuant to this section may revise and resubmit its plan for executing a program or programs under this section to the ,secretary at any time during the first #ahj days of initiating the program4 7#b7 ,consultation ,in developing a plan to carry out this section1 each recipient of funds made available pursuant to this section shall consult with the applicable continuum or continuums of care for the geographic area served by the recipient and organizations representing underserved communities and populations and organizations with expertise in affordable housing4 7n7 ,administration 7#a7 ,by ,secretary ,of any amounts made available pursuant to subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 not more than the lesser of #j4e percent1 or #ae1jjj1jjj1 may be used by the ,secretary for staffing1 training1 technical assistance1 technology1 monitoring1 research1 and evaluation activities necessary to carry out the program carried out under this section1 and such amounts shall remain available until ,september #cj1 #bjbd2 and 7,b7 not more than #b1jjj1jjj shall be available to the ,office of the ,inspector ,general for audits and investigations of the program authorized under this section4 7#b7 ,by ,recipients ,subsection 7a7 of section #egf4ajh of title #bd of the ,code of ,federal ,regulations shall be applied1 with respect to amounts made available pursuant to this section1 by substituting #aj for #g4e4