Lankford Pushes Back on Political Discrimination in FEMA Disaster Assistance

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Senator James Lankford (R-OK) introduced the Stopping Political Discrimination in Disaster Assistance Act to prohibit discrimination based on political affiliation in federal disaster relief. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rick Scott (R-FL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Roger Marshall, MD (R-KS), Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Gary Peters (D-MI) cosponsored this legislation.

"Discrimination based on political affiliation has no place in federal disaster relief," said Lankford. "The Stafford Act already requires that disaster assistance be provided impartially, without discrimination based on race, religion, or other factors. Adding political affiliation to this list ensures that relief is given fairly, regardless of a person's beliefs. No one had considered a need for a bill like this until President Biden's FEMA intentionally withheld assistance from disaster victims that were Trump supporters. This bill will stop political discrimination forever."

"Hurricane Helene was one of the worst natural disasters to ever hit North Carolina, and it's a national scandal if even one person was ignored or denied help because of their political beliefs," said Tillis. "All Americans deserve to be treated the same, and I'm proud to join Sen. Lankford in demanding accountability from our government, especially when it comes to helping Americans during their greatest time of need."

"The reports we've all seen recently, which led FEMA to fire an employee, are horrible, illegal and proves that President Trump was RIGHT. They knew this was happening and allowed it to continue. It's disgusting. When people needed help the most, the Biden-Harris administration weaponized the federal government against them. We need to help EVERYONE regardless of their politics, and taxpayer-funded federal agencies to do the same. I am proud to stand with Senator Lankford to support a bill to ensure this never happens again, and urge my colleagues for their support," said Scott.

"When government agencies actively discriminate against Americans based on their political beliefs, it breaks the basic principle that governments are formed by the people and for the people. It shouldn't surprise anyone that trust in government is low when FEMA passed over hard-working citizens simply because of a campaign sign in their front yard. This is despicable and any such weaponization or politicization should be prohibited and punished to the fullest extent of the law. That's why I'm a strong supporter of the Stopping Political Discrimination in Disaster Assistance Act. The men and women of Western North Carolina are some of the most resilient people around. They deserve their government to work for them and deliver the aid they need now," said Budd.

"No American impacted by a natural disaster should ever, ever be denied assistance based on their political beliefs," Ossoff said. "That's why I'm joining my colleagues introducing this bipartisan bill to prohibit in law political discrimination in the provision of Federal disaster assistance."

"This despicable politicization at FEMA is exactly why American citizens distrust the federal government," Marshall said. "When a natural disaster turns American lives upside down, FEMA employees need to leave their politics at the door and provide relief to all those in need."

It was recently revealed that a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employee advised disaster assistance teams in Florida, and likely other states, to skip homes with yard signs supporting President-Elect Trump. Lankford was one of the first to sound the alarm with FEMA. Federal disaster assistance should not be based on a constituent's political beliefs. The Stafford Act mandates that the federal government provide relief in an "equitable and impartial manner, without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status." Lankford's bill would add political affiliation to this list.

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