Mortgage and Rental Disaster Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to provide temporary assistance 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 because of a foreclosure of mortgage or lien, cancellation of sales contract, or lease termination, entered into before such disaster.
Defines such a "financial hardship" to include: (1) the loss of employment or significant income because a job, a business, or a business interest was located in a disaster area; or (2) suffering financially because of travel restrictions or station or road closures affecting residents of such area.
Restricts eligibility for such assistance to individuals or households who have an adjusted gross income of not more than $75,000 ($100,000 for individuals or households who resided in an area with a high cost of living). Directs the President to adjust the limits annually to reflect inflation. Allows assistance to be provided for the duration of the period of financial hardship caused by the disaster, not to exceed 18 months. Requires recipients determined to be ineligible to return the full amount of assistance to the government.
Makes this Act applicable to any major disaster declared on or after October 21, 2007.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4919 Introduced in House (IH)]
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.
``(C) Eligibility.--
``(i) Income.--
``(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.
``(E) Procedures.--
``(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.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.
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