Smith bill helps secure fairness for Non-profits
In a letter to House Speaker
"In addition, the Administration notes its support for legislation that would make houses of worship eligible for disaster relief funding (provided they meet the other relevant criteria for private non-profit facilities) and offers technical assistance regarding the timeframe for applicability."
Smith thanked the Administration for recognizing the needs of churches and faith-based organizations.
"I would like to thank the President for including this critical provision into his supplemental request. Faith-based organizations are hit just as hard as other private non-profits when natural disasters strike," Smith said.
"They don't need or want special treatment--but to be totally excluded from recovery programs is unjust and unfair, and discriminatory based on religion. It's ironic that churches, synagogues, and mosques are among the first to open their doors and serve victims of natural disasters--but also the first to be turned away from disaster assistance."
"This provision will go a long way to helping communities rebuild and recover," Smith said.
In October, Smith led a letter by members of
In the last 8 years, many churches, synagogues, non-profits, and other religious centers have been denied federal disaster relief because of their religious status, despite both severe--sometimes crippling--damage they may have sustained from natural disasters and essential services they provided to local disaster victims.
"
Yet
Smith introduced a version of that legislation in 2013--H.R. 592, the Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act of 2013--in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, as churches and synagogues in
A consortium of faith-based entities, including the
There is precedent for this inclusive policy. After the
Read this original document at: https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400765
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