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H.R. 5609: Homelessness Emergency Declaration Act

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H.R. 5609: Homelessness Emergency Declaration Act

116th Congress · introduced 2020-01-15 · Housing and Community Development · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2020-01-15 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-10] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Homelessness Emergency Declaration Act

Plain summary

Homelessness Emergency Declaration Act This bill allows states to request a presidential declaration of a homelessness emergency. The bill also requires certain budgetary adjustments to discretionary accounts related to homelessness emergency assistance. Upon a presidential declaration of a homelessness emergency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may provide homelessness emergency assistance, including housing vouchers, to states and local communities that are or will be affected by the homelessness emergency.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Homelessness Emergency Declaration Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-10] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Jim Costa (D-CA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-10] reported raising $4.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-hr5609 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116