Houses of worship could be eligible for federal grants

Local churches and synagogues may get a helping hand from the federal government, in the form of federal grants to repair damage they sustained in Hurricane Sandy. With a vote of 354-72, the House of Representatives approved legislation on Feb. 13 that would extend to houses of worship the same eligibility for federal disaster relief grants as any other nonprofit organization.

The Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act must pass in the Senate and be signed by the president to become law. It is an amendment to the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which generates and assigns funds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief programs.

Under the new law, “a church, synagogue, mosque, temple or other house of worship, and a private nonprofit facility operated by a religious organization,” would be eligible for federal disaster money “without regard to the religious character of the facility or the primary religious use of the facility.” The current law permits federal disaster aid to nonprofit entities such as museums, libraries and performing arts center, but not houses of worship.

The opportunity to receive grant money was welcomed by Rabbi Steven M. Graber, of Temple Hillel in North Woodmere, who said that the synagogue like other Five Towns shuls sustained substantial damage in Sandy, with water overrunning the entire first floor. The walls had to be redone and the carpeting replaced, and the building was treated for mold.

“If it extends aid to our building, I’m all for it,” Graber said of the legislation, adding that, up to now, houses of worship were eligible only for low-interest Small Business Administration loans. In addition, there were some instances in which federal aid was used to reimburse houses of worship for the social services they provided.

Rep. Christopher H. Smith, Republican of New Jersey, was the bill’s chief sponsor in the House, along with New York Reps. Grace Meng (D-Flushing), Peter King (R-Seaford) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola), who represents much of the Five Towns. “Our houses of worship and other religious institutions were hurt just as bad and responded just as vigorously as any nonprofits hit by Sandy,” McCarthy said, “and this legislation clears the red tape and bureaucracy so that our neighbors can get the help that they need.”

“The initiative to include churches and houses of worship eligible for disaster relief can only serve to benefit the larger community,” he said. “Far from being a government endorsement of religion, it is in fact a sound investment. Houses of worship know the needs of the local community, and often respond to them far more efficiently and cost-effectively than government agencies.”

FEMA officials would not comment on the pending legislation that is headed to the Senate, but agency attorneys objected to the bill, noting in a memorandum that it signifies “an enormous departure” from present law The new law would, they said, require FEMA to make a distinction between “worship space,” for which federal funds are not provided, and space owned and used by religious organizations for schools or a community center that can receive federal money.

County Legislator Howard Kopel (R-Lawrence) said he would encourage his constituents to contact Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to push for the bill’s passage. “Our faith-based community organizations played an invaluable role in the overall response to Hurricane Sandy, first in the immediate aftermath, and ever since,” said Kopel, who represents the 7th District. “Without the leadership, resources, and community knowledge these institutions provided in those first devastating days following Sandy, it’s possible that the degree of despair and disorder pervading storm-ravaged communities would have been too great to overcome.”