|
Friend, First, Donald Trump said he was going to “phase out” the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by the end of the year.(1) Now, the administration has sent states $608 million in FEMA funds -- to build migrant detention centers?!(2) California knows better than most how destructive natural disasters, like wildfires and floods, can be, and it’s critical that FEMA remains fully funded and prepared to help people with essential aid, not for Trump's mass deportation spree. Will you sign our coalition petition demanding that FEMA’s mission remain fully funded?
FEMA was established 30 years ago because Congress recognized that preparing for disaster responses saves lives. When the L.A. wildfires took hold in California in January, FEMA stepped in with nearly $700 million of assistance, including directly fighting the fires, providing temporary housing, and funding home and business loans to replace what was lost.(3) And FEMA doesn’t just prepare for disasters. The agency has allocated billions of dollars in programs for disaster prevention and mitigation, like elevating buildings in flood zones and developing early warning systems for storms. Before Trump took office, California had been targeted for up to a billion dollars in grants from FEMA for disaster prevention.(4) And then Trump took the money away. California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta has sued the Trump administration for planning to shut down FEMA and withholding its funds.(5) We need to add our voices and tell Congress to protect FEMA from Trump! Sign now to tell Congress to stop the dismantling of FEMA! Thank you for being in the fight! –Irene, along with Annie, Angela, Isidra, Cecilia, Jen, and Lindsay (the Courage team)
Footnotes:  |
||||
