119-hr3252

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3252 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 3252

 To amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
 Assistance Act to provide for an alternative block grant program for 
 funding temporary housing in response to a major disaster, and for 
 other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 May 7, 2025

 Mr. Moskowitz (for himself and Mr. Burchett) 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 provide for an alternative block grant program for 
 funding temporary housing in response to a major disaster, 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 ``Disaster Housing Flexibility Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. ALTERNATIVE BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.

 Title IV of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

``

SEC. 431. ALTERNATIVE BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING 
 ASSISTANCE.

 ``

    (a) Establishment.--The President, acting through the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall 
establish an alternative block grant program for providing funds for 
temporary housing assistance for individuals and households in the 
event of a major disaster declared by the President under this title.
 ``

    (b) Assessment of Cost of Temporary Housing Assistance.--
 ``

    (1) Assessment required.--In the event of a major 
 disaster described in subsection

    (a) , the Administrator shall 
 assess the cost of providing temporary housing assistance in 
 each impacted State in which individuals and households would 
 otherwise eligible for temporary housing assistance, including 
 reasonable administrative expenses incurred by the State 
 necessary to manage and distribute a block grant under this 
 section.
 ``

    (2) Consultation.--In making an assessment under 
 paragraph

    (1) , the Administrator shall consult with each 
 applicable State to ensure that the amount of the assessment 
 reflects a reasonable estimate of the amount necessary to 
 provide for temporary housing assistance in an amount that 
 would otherwise be provided under--
 ``
        (A) section 408
            (c) ; or
 ``
        (B) other housing assistance programs identified 
 as needed by the State.
 ``
            (c) Program Requirements.--In carrying out the program under this 
section, the President shall--
 ``

    (1) establish a process for a State to elect to apply for 
 a block under this section grant in lieu of the eligibility of 
 individuals and households to apply for assistance under 
 

section 408
            (c) ; and
 ``

    (2) ensure that a State may request a single adjustment 
 to the amount provided in such block grant if the initial 
 amount is insufficient to provide individuals and households 
 assistance equivalent to the assistance otherwise provided 
 under such section.
 ``
            (d) Application.--To be eligible for a block grant under this 
section, a State shall submit to the President an application in such 
manner and containing such information as the President may require.
 ``

    (e) Applicability.--In any case in which a State receives a block 
grant under this section, an individual or household located in the 
area covered by a disaster declaration made by the President under 

section 401 and covered by such grant shall not be eligible for 
temporary housing assistance under 

section 408
            (c) .
 ``

    (f) Remaining Funds.--Any funds provided under this section that 
remain after the completion of recovery activities for which such funds 
are provided may be used for preparedness or mitigation activities in 
the State that are eligible for assistance under this Act.
 ``

    (g) Reports.--
 ``

    (1) State reports.--A State that receives a block grant 
 under this section shall submit to the Administrator--
 ``
        (A) not later than 120 days after the date on 
 which such grant was received, an initial disbursement 
 plan outlining anticipated uses of funds;
 ``
        (B) not later than 1 year after the submission of 
 the report under subparagraph
        (A) , and annually 
 thereafter until all funds provided under the grant are 
 expended, a report containing--
 ``
            (i) a description of each individual or 
 household for which funds were spent;
 ``
            (ii) in any case in which the State has 
 remaining funds described under subsection

    (f) , 
 the proposed use of such funds; and
 ``
            (iii) an assessment of the impact and 
 effectiveness of any expenditures of such 
 funds; and
 ``
            (C) not later than 180 days after all funds 
 provided under the grant have been expended, a final 
 report containing--
 ``
            (i) a description of all assistance 
 provided with such funds; and
 ``
            (ii) an analysis of the overall 
 effectiveness of the assistance provided under 
 such grant.
 ``

    (2) Report to congress.--Not later than 12 months after 
 the date of enactment of this section, and annually thereafter, 
 the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the 
 implementation of the program established under this section 
 that includes--
 ``
        (A) a list of States that have elected to 
 participate in such program;
 ``
        (B) a description of how the Administrator has 
 implemented the program, including administrative 
 procedures and timelines;
 ``
            (C) an assessment of any challenges and barriers 
 to State participation and program implementation;
 ``
            (D) an evaluation of the accuracy and timeliness 
 of cost estimates used to determine grant amounts;
 ``
        (E) the average length of time required to make 
 cost estimates and disburse grant funds following a 
 declaration of a major disaster;
 ``
        (F) a review of the administrative impact on the 
 Administration and participating States, including 
 staffing and oversight capacity; and
 ``
        (G) recommendations for statutory, regulatory, or 
 administrative changes needed to--
 ``
            (i) improve delivery under such program;
 ``
            (ii) support administration of the 
 program; or
 ``
            (iii) enhance effectiveness of the 
 program.
 ``

    (h) Temporary Housing Assistance Defined.--The term `temporary 
housing assistance' means any assistance provided to individuals and 
households under 

section 408
            (c) .''.
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