Recently, Sens. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the Mortgage Relief for Disaster Survivors Act, which would grant homeowners in areas that have received disaster declarations from President Donald Trump, state governors, or tribal leaders 180 days of mortgage forbearance to support household recovery — along with an option of a 180-day extension without accumulation of interest or penalties.
The act would provide mortgage relief for disaster survivors across the country, helping alleviate financial hardships, according to the news release. Anyone residing in an area that has received a disaster declaration from any of the authorities described above from January 1, 2025, would be eligible to request forbearance.
The California Credit Union League and Nevada’s Credit Unions are not involved in this effort, yet wanted to inform credit union leaders about the bill. The full text of the bill is available here.
“Earlier this year, we watched as families in Los Angeles were devastated by wildfires, and to date, many homeowners are still struggling to rebuild from this disaster,” Schiff said. “I am proud to introduce this bill so that those who have been affected by natural disasters receive the assistance they need when they need it the most. As natural disasters become more frequent due to climate change, it is critical that we pave a path to stability for homeowners in times of crisis. This is an issue that impacts both red and blue states alike, and I’ll push hard to ensure Congress passes this legislation.”
The bill is endorsed by Consumer Action, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), National Low Income Housing Center, National Housing Law Project, Consumer Watchdog, Consumer Federation of America, and Neighborhood Housing Services LA.
Reps. Judy Chu (D-CA) and Brad Sherman (D-CA) have introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Schiff previously led legislation aimed at supporting those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires and natural disasters across the country. In April 2025, he was joined by Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) in introducing the bipartisan Facilitating Increased Resilience, Environmental Weatherization and Lowered Liability (FIREWALL) Act to promote community resilience to natural disasters through a new federal tax credit. Additionally, the Schiff introduced the Incorporating National Support for Unprecedented Risks and Emergency (INSURE) Act in June 2025 to stabilize the home insurance market through the creation of a federal catastrophic reinsurance program, keeping insurance premiums affordable for those in disaster-prone states.
