The devil may have gone down to Georgia in the country song, but according to the Howard Beach Assembly of God Church in Howard Beach, the crew of carpenters that came up from Georgia to help rebuild the church were surely all angels.
In stark contrast to the larger $50.7 billion Sandy aid package, which was mired in months of delays in both the house and the senate, the house voted quickly on Wednesday to approve a bill which would in effect allow disaster-damaged houses of worship to apply for federal aid.
Many churches, synagogues, temples and mosques in the city were badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy but were not eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance despite the fact that other non-profits such as zoos, museums, schools and performing arts centers were eligible for federal aid.
The bill, the Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act of 2013, was co-authored by Rep. Chris Smith of NJ and Rep. Grace Meng of Flushing, and co-sponsored by seven other members of Congress including NY Reps. Peter King, Eliot Engel, Michael Grimm and Carolyn McCarthy.
The legislation passed with an overwhelming 354-72 majority in the house and will now move to the Senate.
Meng had tried unsuccessfully earlier this year to get the federal government to change course on houses of worship and disaster aid when she attempted to attach a measure onto the $51 billion Hurricane Sandy Aid bill.
But, despite Meng’s initial failed attempt to secure federal aid for houses of worship, she remained undaunted and according to her spokesman had continued to pursue new legislation.
“The passage of this legislation is a great victory for the many houses of worship that were damaged or destroyed by Sandy,” said Meng, in a written statement. “We’re now one step closer to ending the unfair and discriminatory treatment that churches, synagogues, mosques and temples have been forced to endure since the storm hammered our region.”
Meng’s office also pointed out that there are precedents for federal aid to disaster-torn houses of worship. After the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, Congress overruled FEMA’s refusal to provide assistance to the damaged churches. In 2002, after an earthquake in Seattle, the Justice Department intervened to order FEMA to assist religious organizations damaged by the quake.
Further, Meng was not alone in her belief that houses of worship had served as shelters and vital community centers during Sandy and as such were entitled to federal aid along with other nonprofit organizations.
“Today’s debate and vote is about those who are being unfairly left out and left behind. It’s about those who helped feed, comfort, clothe and shelter tens of thousands of victims now being told they are ineligible for a FEMA grant,” said Smith from the house floor on Wednesday, noting that his own district in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in NJ were also hit hard by Sandy.
“It is unconscionable that foundational pillars of our communities damaged by Sandy—synagogues, churches, mosques, temples and other houses of worship—have been categorically denied access to these otherwise generally-available relief funds,” he said. “Current FEMA policy is patently unfair, unjustified and discriminatory and may even suggest hostility to religion.”
In NYC, the legislation had substantial backing from city lawmakers and was supported by several city councilmembers including Peter F. Vallone, Jr., Christine Quinn, Julissa Ferreras and Leroy G. Comrie, Jr.
Further, last week the City Council held a hearing specifically to call upon the Congress to introduce and pass legislation that would amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to allow aid to be given to houses of worship affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Upon hearing the news that the federal aid bill for houses of worship had passed the House on Wednesday, Rev. William Baum of St. Barnabas Lutheran Church in Howard Beach was ecstatic.
Rev. William Baum of St. Barnabas in Howard Beach was thrilled to learn of the bills passage. Rev. Baum testified at city council hearings making a case for houses of worship and their essential roles in the community.
“We are delighted to see the House of Representatives support the call to allow houses of worship the same status as other non-profits in seeking federal disaster assistance,” said Baum, whose church was severely damaged during Sandy. “We have great hope the U.S. Senate will also move quickly on this important legislation to help rebuild our communities.”
Baum had also testified at last week’s city council hearing where he told members of the finance committee that his church serves much more than religious needs.
“The Community Hall is located in a church, but in every real sense, it belongs to the community. While it is a house of worship, it is also a house of community,” Baum said.
“Its loss has torn a gaping hole in the social fabric of our neighborhood. Assistance from FEMA in restoring this space would profoundly benefit the community. And while, I speak today about my own congregation, the substance of my remarks applies broadly to churches and synagogues in our community and others in areas affected by Sandy.”
And, while Pastor William Roser of the Howard Beach Assembly of God said that his congregation ultimately didn’t need disaster assistance thanks to a robust community effort to restore and rebuild his church, he was supportive of legislation to help houses of worship that may need help.
“Wonderfully and miraculously, our needs at the church have been met,” Roser said. “Nevertheless, I applaud and I support any efforts on the city, state and federal level to make funds available to houses of worship. I’m aware of some facilities that are still struggling and we wish them the best and we even help out where we can.”
Other organizations and individuals who supported the legislation include Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz, the National Association of Evangelicals, the United Jewish Appeal and the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops.
