John,
As we rebuild around Los Angeles, let’s center one value: victims of natural disasters shouldn’t be punished for doing what they need to recover.
That’s true whether that punishment is by the government or by price gougers looking to make a quick buck.
That’s why I’ve recently announced two bills to protect disaster survivors from just that:
- The Don’t Penalize Victims Act is a bipartisan effort that makes sure charitable donations don’t disqualify victims from FEMA aid, by fixing outdated FEMA rules that considered donations a duplication of benefits.
It also clarifies the confusing legalese behind these rules, because the last thing a family in disaster recovery should have to worry about is legal jargon.
- My Stop Disaster Price Gouging Act protects families from anyone looking to make a quick buck off their desperation, by prohibiting manufactured price hikes on essential goods, housing and construction materials after a federally-declared disaster.
Any violators will be fined, with the proceeds going right back to disaster victims. It would signal to price gougers that we have zero tolerance for their greed, and that victims shouldn’t have to worry about being taken advantage of in their time of need.
Families dealing with the aftermath of wildfires deserve protections. I’m committed to standing up for them.
More soon,
Laura
