Rep. Smith Issues Statement on Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act
Mr. SMITH of
Today, along with my colleagues
Houses of worship are foundational pillars of our communities. In the aftermath of disasters, they help feed, comfort, clothe, and shelter thousands of victims--yet when it comes to federal relief, they continue to be left out and left behind. While
Plain and simple, it is wrong--and it is time that
Further, congressional precedent favors enactment of this legislation, as there are several pertinent examples of public funding being allocated to houses of worship. In 1995, federal grants were explicitly authorized and provided to churches damaged by the
A controlling
As the OLC memo concluded, we believe that provision of disaster assistance to the religious school cannot be materially distinguished from aid programs that are constitutional under longstanding
This bipartisan legislation exhibits no government preference for or against religion, or any particular religion, as it merely permits houses of worship to receive the same type of generally available assistance. It not only passes the test of constitutionality, but the test of basic decency--permitting houses of worship to receive the same type of generally available assistance as many other similarly situated nonprofits in picking up the pieces after devastation.
As Professor
Similarly, Professor
This legislation is supported by a broad coalition of organizations who believe that the recovery of houses of worship is essential to the recovery of neighborhoods, towns, and States. Houses of worship are critical public institutions within our communities, and they must not be denied the equal treatment they deserve. I urge my colleagues to move swiftly and pass this much needed legislation.
This is dead; do not use.
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