Following the recent wildfires in Altadena, California, leading House Democrats have called for federal assistance without any political conditions. They emphasized the urgency of allocating more funding to support rebuilding and recovery efforts before the March 14 deadline. The lawmakers also highlighted the need for bipartisan cooperation in addressing the disaster's aftermath.
While visiting the wildfire-torn community of Altadena Thursday, leading House Democrats called for federal assistance without political conditions — a day after the Trump Administration rescinded a memo issuing a freeze on federal funding. While there's no longer a pause on federal funding, Congress must approve government spending, including any additional federal aid that may be needed for Los Angeles County wildfire relief, by a March 14 deadline.
Last month, former President Joe Biden signed a bill averting a government shutdown which extended current federal spending through that date.Until lawmakers approve more funding, federal programs such as the Small Business Administration's (SBA) disaster relief loans and aid from the Department of Housing and Urban Development could be at risk of not being able to continue operations through the end of the year, Rep. Judy Chu, who represents Altadena and neighboring Pasadena, told reporters Thursday.She said this means the rebuilding of places like especially hard-hit Altadena, where 17 people died in the Eaton Fire this month, could be impacted as more federal money will be needed to rebuild the thousands of homes, schools and other buildings destroyed.'They may be able to shift around funds to do some things,' Chu said of the federal programs. 'But unless we have that supplemental (funding), they will not be able to do the full extent of what they need to do in order to rebuild.'House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined Chu and other Democratic lawmakers in Altadena Thursday, urging for a bipartisan consensus on funding for rebuilding and recovery in LA. He mentioned how Congress approved legislation in December ensuring urgently needed disaster aid was provided for areas of the U.S. devastated by Hurricane Helene and Milton last year, which left more than 200 people dead as severe flooding ravaged several states.That bill passed through the House and Senate with overwhelming support from both Democrats and Republicans before being signed off by Biden on Dec. 21. Some lawmakers have spoken out against President Trump's proposal for certain policymaking conditions being set on aid for relief in California as he criticized the state's water management policies earlier this month. 'We need to make sure that we have disaster aid without conditions,' Chu said. 'Wildfires know no political party. This is the United States of America, and we help our citizens when they fall victim to a natural disaster — without strings attached — just like we did only a few weeks ago in December for victims of Hurricane Milton and Helene.'California lawmakers approved a $2.5 billion legislative aid package last week, again noting the need for bipartisan support when they first announced efforts to get the bills passed. Last year's natural disasters nearly faced a shortfall in funding, with the SBA running out of money for disaster loans in mid-October.'This is an all-hands-on-deck effort. It's going to require local, state and federal engagement with a level of compassion, support and patriotism,' Jeffries said. 'That means we cannot condition any assistance to the people of Altadena, the people of Pasadena, the people of Los Angeles County or the people of California. That is not what Americans do during a time of crisis and need.''There is no Democratic way or Republican way to respond to a crisis and an extreme weather event, like the horrific wildfires,' the New York congressman said. Such unity across party lines was mentioned when the House passed the American Relief Act which ensured continued aid for last year's hurricane survivors, as Oklahoma Republican and Chairman Tom Cole noted last month.'Disasters know no bounds — they impact cities and states across this nation...' Cole said in a statement from the House of Representatives. 'In the face of recent disasters, Americans throughout the country stepped up to help their fellow Americans, and so must Congress.'House Democrats visiting Altadena were also joined by wildfire survivors at Thursday's news conference. Jackie Jacobs, an 88-year-old retired college administrator who has lived in Altadena for 30 years, spoke of how she lost her home and nearly didn't escape the flames due to evacuation alerts that were sent several hours late.Chu and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger have both called for investigations into the delayed alerts, which were in an area of western Altadena that was the site of all 17 deaths in the Eaton Fire.'My husband and I truly know what it is to be homeless, to be clothes-less,' Jacobs said, explaining she was told her power may be shut off the night of the fire but then never received another notification from authorities. 'We never got another message. We heard someone in the street say 'Get out.' And we did just that with only the clothes we had on. And everything now is in ashes.''Only the chimney is standin
CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES FEDERAL AID HOUSE DEMOCRATS BI-PARTISAN SUPPORT DISASTER RELIEF ALTENADA
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