Sponsors (4)
The bill makes it easier for more disaster survivors—especially low-income people and informal occupants—to qualify for FEMA aid and reduces paperwork barriers, but it increases risks of fraud and administrative burden, could slow or restrict some housing aid (including for people with disabilities), and concentrates budget-scoring influence in ways that can complicate fiscal accuracy and accountability.
Low-income homeowners, renters, and informal occupants (e.g., family members or informal owners) gain broader access to FEMA disaster assistance because the bill expands eligibility (broader 'damaged by' language and recognition of occupancy without formal title).
Applicants who lack formal deeds or notarized paperwork (especially low-income people) face lower administrative barriers because FEMA can accept common documents (tax receipts, insurance, repair receipts, federal benefit notices) and will accept a signed statement under penalty of perjury in place of notarization.
State governments and program participants get more time and flexibility to implement pilot housing programs because the bill removes strict two-year deadlines for pilot grant administration.
Disaster survivors who need immediate housing aid risk delays or denial because requiring a presidential finding that certain assistance is 'cost-effective' can slow decisions or block aid.
Taxpayers and the FEMA program face higher fraud and improper-payment risk because allowing unsworn declarative statements under penalty of perjury (and broader flexible evidence rules) lowers documentation thresholds that can be exploited.
People with disabilities may lose needed accessibility modifications because narrower habitability/eligibility language could let FEMA interpret needs more narrowly for accessibility-related assistance.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Requires FEMA to accept diverse proof (including sworn statements) of ownership for disaster housing aid and tightens when certain Stafford Act housing assistance is available.
Introduced January 15, 2025 by Adriano J. Espaillat · Last progress January 15, 2025
Requires FEMA to accept broader evidence that a person or household 'constructively owned' a pre-disaster primary residence when proving eligibility for certain disaster housing assistance. Expands the types of documents FEMA must consider (and allows a sworn, non-notarized statement when documents are lacking), and changes several Stafford Act housing-assistance rules to use a broader "damaged by a major disaster" standard, require cost-effectiveness for some assistance, and remove specific two-year timing deadlines for a pilot-grant administration. The changes apply to applications and funds on or after enactment.