This week, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced that H.R. 5953, the bipartisan Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act has been approved by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and is ready to be considered for a vote by the full House of Representatives.

This bill would prevent the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, from attempting to recoup funds from disaster recovery on the backs of disaster survivors.

The legislation would stop the federal government from raiding a wildfire victim settlement fund that allows victims of the California wildfires and other disasters seek reimbursement from natural disasters.

“Disaster survivors want to know that their Federal government is there to help them from the day disaster strikes through the full recovery process,” said Thompson. “Their needs must come first. That’s why I am proud to see this bipartisan solution passed by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. It will prevent clawbacks that can hurt disaster survivors, giving them peace of mind as they work to rebuild. I will continue to work to get this bill passed and signed into law to help our community.”

Congressman John Garamendi (CA-03), a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, supported the bill’s passage. He is a cosponsor of the bipartisan legislation.

Last month, Garamendi and Thompson joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues in the California Congressional delegation to send a letter imploring U.S. Attorney General Barr and California Attorney General Becerra to immediately drop their claims to the Pacific Gas & Electric settlement fund for California wildfire victims.

“Federal and State governments have a responsibility to work for the people, not the other way around,” said Garamendi. “Unlike my constituents, the state of California and the federal government routinely receive funding for disaster response and account for the projected costs of disasters in their respective budgets. It’s unconscionable to allow the government to reimburse these costs by raiding a settlement fund that’s intended for wildfires victims – many of whom lost everything. That’s why I joined my colleagues in supporting the ‘Preventing Disaster Revictimization Act’ to ensure that victims of California’s recent deadly wildfires receive the support and care they need to recover from an unimaginable hardship.”

Thompson and Garamendi both represent portions of Lake County.