Assistance for emergencies and major disasters, including extreme heat and cold

Section 2604 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 8623) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by striking section 2605(b)(9)(B) and inserting section 2605(b)(10)(B); and (2) in subsection (e)— (A) by striking (e) and inserting the following: (e) (1) In this subsection: (2); (B) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following: (A) The term covered household means an eligible household in an area where the President, or the Secretary, as the case may be, has declared or determined the occurrence of a natural disaster, emergency, or major disaster. (B) The term major disaster means— (i) a major disaster or emergency declared under section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170, 5191); (ii) a public health emergency determined under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d); or (iii) a period of extreme heat or extreme cold, as determined by the Secretary.; (C) in paragraph (2), as so designated, by striking natural disaster or other emergency involved and inserting natural disaster, emergency, or major disaster involved; and (D) by adding at the end the following: (3) Upon a declaration or a determination of a natural disaster, emergency, or major disaster, for an area, the Secretary and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall, to the extent practicable, provide heating or cooling assistance through such an allotment to a State for covered households in that area. (4) To receive assistance under this subsection, the State that has jurisdiction over the covered households shall provide assurances to the Secretary that the State— (A) will not preclude a household that receives heating assistance or cooling assistance under this title during a calendar year, on the basis of obtaining that assistance, from receiving cooling assistance or heating assistance, respectively, under this title during that year; (B) will not require a household to indicate that a household member has a medical need for assistance under this title, to be eligible for that assistance; and (C) will allow use of such assistance for purposes for which heating or cooling assistance is available under the program funded under section 2602(b), including for providing energy-efficient air conditioners, and other equipment needed for home cooling, to eligible households..