WASHINGTON, D.C.— House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) made the following statement regarding President Trump’s decision to allow churches to apply retroactively for FEMA disaster aid:
“I am grateful that President Trump has reversed the unfair policy that prevented houses of worship from accessing FEMA disaster relief funds. Churches and other religious organizations should never be discriminated against when it comes to providing disaster relief, especially since they are often able to help disaster victims more quickly and cheaply than the federal government. I was pleased to see this policy change included in the recent disaster relief bill passed by the House, and am glad that FEMA has taken direct action to make this necessary change permanent. Just as natural disasters do not pick and choose which buildings they damage, the government should never discriminate against the type of help that victims receive.”