IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1555 

Condemning the spreading of disinformation and malicious rumors that have 

led to threats against disaster response personnel. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 29, 2024 

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi (for himself, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Ms. 

VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, Ms. TITUS, Mr. SWALWELL, Mr. 

CORREA, Mr. THANEDAR, Mr. MAGAZINER, Mr. IVEY, Mr. GOLDMAN of 

New York, Mr. ROBERT GARCIA of California, Mrs. RAMIREZ, Mr. 

MENENDEZ, Mr. SUOZZI, Mr. KENNEDY, Mrs. MCIVER, Ms. CLARKE of 

New York, Ms. NORTON, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. 

SABLAN, Ms. BARRAGA ́N, Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. 

GOTTHEIMER, Mr. COSTA, Mr. CARSON, Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida, 

Mr. LANDSMAN, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. CASE, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. 

ESPAILLAT, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Ms. MCCOLLUM, and Ms. 

GARCIA of Texas) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

RESOLUTION 

Condemning the spreading of disinformation and malicious 

rumors that have led to threats against disaster response 

personnel. 

Whereas in 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed Executive 

Order 12127, which established the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (FEMA); 

Whereas FEMA serves the American public by helping people 

before, during, and after disasters; 


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•HRES 1555 IH 

Whereas under the Biden-Harris Administration, FEMA has 

worked to improve its disaster assistance programs; 

Whereas after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, there has been 

a reckless promotion of disinformation and malicious rumors directed at the disaster response operations of 

FEMA; 

Whereas such disinformation has been spread through social 

media platforms and amplified, including by some elected 

officials; 

Whereas such disinformation has disturbed disaster survivors 

and potentially caused many such survivors to forfeit 

their deserved Federal support, both now and in the future; 

Whereas disinformation and malicious rumors regarding disaster response undermines the confidence in Federal, 

State, local, Tribal, and territorial officials and first responders; 

Whereas the promotion of disinformation and malicious rumors compromises recovery for individuals and families 

who need help the most; 

Whereas safeguarding the integrity of disaster response efforts is paramount to ensuring that survivors receive the 

assistance they need without hesitation or fear; 

Whereas FEMA depends on the cooperation and trust of survivors and communities to effectively deliver assistance; 

Whereas undermining FEMA’s operations not only delays recovery efforts but also compromises the ability of FEMA 

to respond to future emergencies; 

Whereas collaboration between Federal, State, local, Tribal 

and territorial governments is essential in combating 


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•HRES 1555 IH 

disinformation and ensuring accurate, timely information 

reaches those in need; 

Whereas in some places, disinformation and malicious rumors 

have created an unsafe atmosphere for FEMA employees 

to work continuously to assist Hurricane Helene survivors due to credible threats to safety; 

Whereas, during the weekend of October 11, 2024, FEMA 

employees in parts of North Carolina paused their doorto-door disaster assistance operations following a credible 

threat and ongoing disinformation; 

Whereas disinformation has led to antisemitic threats directed at elected officials and Federal employees; 

Whereas disaster survivors should be supported by Congress, 

other elected officials, and candidates for elected office, 

who have a responsibility to ensure an effective response 

rather than create chaos and confusion; and 

Whereas it is unacceptable for leaders with national platforms to promote disaster response disinformation and 

malicious rumors that have led to distrust, mass confusion, anger, and credible threats to disaster response personnel: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) condemns the spreading of disinformation 

3 and malicious rumors that have led to credible 

4 threats against disaster response personnel; 

5 (2) condemns the actions of those individuals 

6 using disaster response disinformation and malicious 

7 rumors for political gain; 


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•HRES 1555 IH 

1 (3) commits to providing FEMA and other Fed2 eral agencies supporting disaster response operations 

3 with the necessary resources to combat 

4 disinformation and malicious rumors; and 

5 (4) commits to promoting facts and helpful in6 formation concerning disaster response and recovery 

7 operations that will strengthen coordination between 

8 Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial leader9 ship for the betterment of all communities in the 

10 United States. 

Æ 


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