1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act of 2017 . 2. Community development block grant disaster recovery program (a) In general Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 123. CDBG-Disaster recovery assistance (a) Authority; use The Secretary may provide assistance under this section to States and units of general local government for necessary expenses for activities authorized under this title related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas resulting from a major disaster declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). (b) Direct assistance Assistance shall be awarded directly to States and units of general local government at the discretion of the Secretary. (c) Plan for use of assistance (1) Requirement Before obligating any funds made available under this section, a grantee shall submit a plan to the Secretary for approval detailing the proposed use of all funds, which shall include— (A) criteria for eligibility and how the use of such funds will address long-term recovery and restoration of infrastructure and housing and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas; (B) identification of officials and offices responsible for identifying and recovering duplicate benefits; and (C) an agreement to share data with Federal agencies and other providers of disaster relief. (2) Approval