Sponsors (3)
The bill protects disaster survivors from politically motivated denials and clarifies equitable distribution rules for administrators, but creates new compliance and legal risks that could raise costs and sometimes slow aid delivery.
Disaster survivors (including low-income individuals) cannot be denied federal disaster aid based on their political affiliation, protecting access to lifesaving assistance regardless of politics.
State, local, and nonprofit aid administrators receive clearer legal guidance to distribute aid equitably regardless of political views, reducing arbitrary denials and promoting consistent implementation.
Disaster survivors and administrators may face slower aid delivery because the rule could prompt legal challenges to specific assistance decisions alleged to be politically motivated.
State, local, and nonprofit aid administrators incur a new legal compliance obligation that could increase administrative costs and expose them to greater litigation risk.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds "political affiliation" to the list of prohibited bases for discrimination in federal disaster assistance under the Stafford Act.
Introduced February 13, 2025 by Scott Perry · Last progress February 13, 2025
Adds "political affiliation" to the list of protected characteristics in the Stafford Act nondiscrimination provision, prohibiting discrimination in federal disaster assistance on the basis of political affiliation. The amendment means agencies and organizations that provide, administer, or receive disaster relief must not deny or withhold assistance, or treat people differently, because of their political affiliation. The change does not specify new funding or an effective date; enforcement would proceed under existing nondiscrimination authorities in the Stafford Act and related federal rules.