Burbank Leader: Friedman Announces Two Disaster Relief Bills
U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman announced Thursday two new disaster relief bills aimed at safeguarding crowdfunding resources for survivors of natural disasters, including those of recent Los Angeles wildfires.
Friedman’s bipartisan legislation, the Don’t Penalize Victims Act, is co-led by U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell of Mississippi and would ensure donations like those from GoFundMe don’t make victims ineligible for benefits from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Additionally, Friedman’s Stop Disaster Price Gouging Act seeks to protect victims against price hiking in the housing market, a trend that saw an uptick in L.A. in January when landlords and other bad actors sought to make a profit out of tragedy, according to her office.
Friedman announced the bill at a news conference at Runyon Canyon, the site of the Sunset Fire which raged earlier this year during the week of firestorms across Southern California.
“At a time that they’re picking through the wreckage of their homes and livelihoods, disaster victims shouldn’t also have to be aware of complex rules just to get the federal support they deserve, and they definitely should not be penalized for accepting charitable donations,” Friedman said. “They shouldn’t be punished for surviving a disaster, whether that’s by the government or by price gougers looking to make a quick buck.
"The bills I’m introducing today give families the peace of mind they deserve during critical times like rebuilding after a disaster.”
If passed, Freidman's Don’t Penalize Victims Act would clarify that financial assistance received from sources outside of insurance, like GoFundMe campaigns or from faith-based organizations, are not considered a duplication of benefits.
"While Los Angelenos showed enormous generosity by donating physically and financially to their neighbors through charitable website like GoFundMe, outdated FEMA rules unfairly penalized survivors on the path to full recovery," according to Friedman's office.
The Stop Disaster Price Gouging Act would prohibit excessive price hikes on essential goods, housing, and construction materials after a federally declared disaster.
The bill would also establish a $25,000 penalty for violations, the proceeds of which would go directly to supporting disaster victims. Additionally, the bill would empower victims and state attorneys general to take legal action against exploitative businesses.