1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Bahamas Temporary Protected Status Act of 2019 . 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) On September 1, 2019, Hurricane Dorian made landfall in the Bahamas as a category 5 hurricane with sustained winds over 180 miles per hour. (2) Between September 1, 2019, and Sep­tem­ber 3, 2019, the islands of the Bahamas and the Bahamian people were subjected to hurricane-force winds, heavy rains, and extensive flooding that destroyed critical infrastructure, decimated houses and property, and claimed the lives of at least 50 individuals. (3) The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies stated that more than 60,000 individuals in the Bahamas lack access to clean drinking water as a result of the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian. (4) The World Food Programme indicates that more than 60,000 individuals in the Bahamas will require food relief as a result of the destruction caused by Hurricane Dorian. (5) The Secretary of Homeland Security may, under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1254a ), designate a foreign state that has experienced an environmental disaster so as to provide temporary protected status in the United States to eligible nationals of such foreign state who cannot return safely to their homeland. 3. Designation for purposes of granting temporary protected status (a) Designation (1) In general For purposes of section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1254a ), the Bahamas shall be treated as if it had been designated under subsection (b)(1)(B) of that section, subject to the provisions of this section. (2) Period of designation The initial period of the designation referred to in paragraph (1) shall be for the 18-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) Aliens eligible As a result of the designation made under subsection (a), an alien who is a national of the Bahamas is considered to satisfy the requirements under paragraph (1) of section 244(c)