St. Paul, MN – Last week, Senate Republicans introduced legislation that would prohibit state disaster assistance funds from being used for civil unrest. The legislation was sparked by last summer’s Twin Cities riots and Governor Tim Walz’s announcement that he planned to nearly drain the state’s disaster relief fund to rebuild the cities. Senator Gary Dahms (R ‒ Redwood Falls) is a co-author on the bill and today released the following statement:

“The people of Greater Minnesota do not want to bailout the City of Minneapolis,” said Senator Dahms.  “The disaster relief fund is to be used for natural disasters and not man-made destruction.”  

The disaster contingency account is an emergency fund intended to help communities clean up after unforeseen disasters like tornadoes, flooding, or severe thunderstorms. A comprehensive report on the riots found the worst of the damage could have been avoided had city and state leaders acted faster and more decisively.

“The residents of District 16 should not be financially responsible for rebuilding Minneapolis,” continued Senator Dahms. “I strongly support protecting the disaster contingency account for natural disasters.”

Senator Dahms is in his fourth term representing Senate District 16 which includes communities in Brown, Lac qui Parle, Lyon, Redwood, Renville, and Yellow Medicine counties. He also serves as chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee and Vice Chair of the Agriculture and Rural Development Finance and Policy Committee.