HR 4919
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4919
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act to authorize temporary mortgage and rental payments, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 19, 2007
Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California (for herself and Mrs. TAUSCHER) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure
A BILL
To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act to authorize temporary mortgage and rental payments, 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 `Mortgage and Rental Disaster Relief Act
of 2007'.
SEC. 2. DISASTER RELIEF.
Section 408(c) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5174(c)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
`(5) TEMPORARY MORTGAGE AND RENTAL PAYMENTS-
`(A) DEFINITIONS- In this paragraph--
`(i) the term `adjusted gross income' means the adjusted gross income
(as that term is defined in section 62 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986) of the relevant individual or household for the last taxable
year that such individual or household filed a tax return; and
`(ii) the term `financial hardship caused by a major disaster' means
that an individual or member of a household--
`(I) is employed by a business, or owns a business, located in
the area for which the President declared the relevant major disaster;
`(II) became unemployed, or lost significant income, because the
employer or business of that individual or member of a household
has or, on the day before the date of the relevant major disaster,
had a significant business relationship with a business located
in the area for which the President declared the relevant major
disaster; or
`(III) resides in the area for which the President declared the
relevant major disaster and has suffered financially due to travel
restrictions or station or road closures in effect after the date
of that major disaster.
`(B) AUTHORIZATION- In accordance with this paragraph, the President
may provide assistance on a temporary basis in the form of mortgage
or rental payments to or on behalf of individuals and households who,
as a result of financial hardship caused by a major disaster, have
received written notice of dispossession or eviction from a residence
by reason of a foreclosure of any mortgage or lien, cancellation of
any contract of sale, or termination of any lease, entered into before
such major disaster.
`(I) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in subclause (II), an individual
or household may receive assistance under this paragraph if the
adjusted gross income of that individual or household was not
more than $75,000.
`(II) AREAS WITH A HIGH COST OF LIVING- An individual or household
that, on the day before the date of the relevant major disaster,
resided in an area with a high cost of living, as determined by
the President, may receive assistance under this paragraph if
the adjusted gross income of that individual or household was
not more than $100,000.
`(ii) ADJUSTMENT- The President shall adjust the limits established
under clause (i) annually to reflect inflation.
`(D) PERIOD OF ASSISTANCE- Assistance under this paragraph shall be
provided for the duration of the period of financial hardship caused
by a major disaster, not to exceed 18 months.
`(i) IN GENERAL- An individual or household seeking assistance under
this paragraph shall submit an application in such manner and accompanied
by such information as the President shall establish, which shall
include a requirement that such an individual or household sign
a statement indicating that individual or household meets the eligibility
requirements under subparagraph (C).
`(ii) LACK OF RECORDS- If an individual or household does not have
access to records necessary to demonstrate eligibility under subparagraph
(C), that individual or household shall submit such records not
later than 6 months after the date that individual or household
applies for assistance under this paragraph.
`(iii) INELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS- If an individual or household receives
assistance under this paragraph and was not eligible to receive
such assistance, that individual or household shall return the full
amount of that assistance to the Government.'.
SEC. 3. APPLICABILITY.
The amendment made by this Act shall apply to any major disaster (as that
term is defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)) declared on or after October
21, 2007.
END
