RELEASE: Congresswoman Friedman Announces Bipartisan Legislation to Ensure Charitable Donations Don’t Make Victims Ineligible for Disaster Aid. New Legislation to Stop Price Gouging.
Above: Friedman with Altadena Town Councilmember & disaster victim Dot Wang announcing new disaster relief bills.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA — Today, March 20, 2025, U.S. Representative Laura Friedman (CA-30) announced two new disaster relief bills to ensure survivors of natural disasters can rebuild their lives without unfair penalties or exploitation, especially survivors of the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year. Friedman’s bipartisan legislation, the Don’t Penalize Victims Act, is co-led by Representative Ezell (MS-4) and ensures that donations like those from GoFundMe don’t make victims ineligible for FEMA benefits. Additionally, Rep. Friedman’s Stop Disaster Price Gouging Act ensures that victims are protected against landlords and other bad actors that seek to make a profit out of tragedy. Today’s announcement took place at Runyon Canyon, site of the Sunset Fire that raged earlier this year during the week of firestorms across Southern California.
Watch and download the full Facebook livestream recording here.
“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,” said U.S. Representative Friedman. “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.”
"Disaster victims shouldn’t have to choose between accepting help from their neighbors and receiving the federal assistance they desperately need. FEMA’s current policies unfairly penalize those who receive aid from faith-based organizations, community fundraisers, or platforms like GoFundMe. The Don’t Penalize Victims Act ensures that private charitable support doesn’t count against federal disaster relief. When disaster strikes, every dollar of assistance matters—we can’t let bureaucracy stand in the way of recovery. I’m proud to partner with Rep. Friedman to address these issues and ensure FEMA works better for the people we serve,” said U.S. Representative Ezell.
FRIEDMAN’S NEW LEGISLATION INCLUDES:
- The bipartisan Don’t Penalize Victims Act.
- Clarifies 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.
- The legislation is co-led by U.S. Representative Mike Ezell (MS-4).
- The Stop Disaster Price Gouging Act.
- Prohibits 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.
Below: Friedman answers questions from the media about the disaster bill package.
