S. 4388

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4388 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4388

To make available necessary disaster assistance for families affected 
by major disasters, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 27, 2026

Ms. Warren (for herself, Mr. Markey, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. 
Gillibrand, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Kaine, Mr. 
Bennet, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Padilla) introduced the 
following bill; 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 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 2026''.

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, or otherwise permanently or 
temporarily occupying, 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 
individuals experiencing homelessness and those 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 the case of an individual or 
household that does not have documented ownership rights in the 
predisaster primary residence of the individual or household, 
in making a determination to provide assistance pursuant to 
paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 408(c) of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5174(c)) for owner-occupants, the Administrator shall 
consider evidence demonstrative of the individual or household 
having constructive ownership of the predisaster primary 
residence.
(2) Forms of evidence.--In determining whether an 
individual or household has constructive ownership for the 
purpose of paragraph (1), the Administrator shall consider a 
wide range of 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) shall be 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 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)(1)--
(A) by striking ``rendered uninhabitable'' and 
inserting ``damaged by a major disaster''; and
(B) by striking ``uninhabitable, as a result of 
damage caused by a major disaster'' and inserting 
``damaged by a major disaster''; and
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) 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
(B) in paragraph (4) by striking ``in cases in 
which'' and all that follows, 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. FEMA HUD AGREEMENTS.

In the case of any 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) on or after the date of enactment of 
this Act, not later than 60 days after the date of the declaration of 
the major disaster, the Administrator and the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development shall engage in consultations regarding the 
implementation of a disaster housing assistance program or similar 
joint program under section 408 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174) to provide 
temporary rental assistance to individuals and households displaced 
from their residences by the major disaster, including individuals and 
households eligible for such assistance under section 3(a) of this Act.
<all>