Padilla, Schiff Statement Condemning White House’s Continued Stonewalling on California Disaster Relief After New Supplement Request Omits Overdue Funding for Eaton and[...]

Padilla and Schiff have been fighting to secure billions in much-needed disaster assistance for 18 months

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) released the following statement calling out the continued refusal of the Trump Administration to request overdue disaster relief funding for California, more than 18 months past due for communities impacted by Eaton and Palisades fires, as the White House released its new supplemental funding request this week.

"Most of the Administration's $87 billion supplement spending request would defray costs incurred as a result of the President's decision to go to war with Iran, a war not authorized by Congress or supported by the American people. That military funding does nothing to address the rising costs of living of the public.

"Nor does the bill provide any relief to Southern Californians still needing assistance to recover and rebuild after the devastating fires that took place eighteen months ago. Donald Trump's desire to punish Los Angeles and the state of California for not voting for him, means once again that thousands of Angelinos are left watching this Administration fight for anything but them, their businesses, and their communities.

"These fires did not discriminate based on party or political preference. Neither should this Administration."

The White House requested $87.6 billion in spending from Congress, the vast majority of which would fund expenses related to Trump's war with Iran. It has been more than a year and a half since the Eaton and Palisades fires destroyed 16,000 structures in Los Angeles County, killed 31 individuals, and caused tens of billions of dollars in damage and lost economic revenue.

Senator Padilla has fought relentlessly to secure and protect access to desperately needed disaster relief aid for families in California. In January, on the one-year anniversary of the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires, Padilla and Schiff and the Chairs of the Republican and Democratic Congressional Delegations - Representatives Ken Calvert (R-Calif.-41) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18) - led the entire bipartisan California Congressional delegation in urging Trump to provide overdue federal disaster relief funding and resources to help Los Angeles County communities rebuild and recover. In the immediate aftermath of the Los Angeles fires, Padilla and Schiff led 47 bipartisan members of the California Congressional delegation in successfully urging President Biden to grant Governor Newsom's request for a major disaster declaration to expedite timely relief to Los Angeles County residents impacted by these disasters. Early last year, Padilla, Schiff, Calvert, and Lofgren also led the entire bipartisan California Congressional delegation in urging Senior Congressional leadership to provide additional disaster relief funding and resources to help Los Angeles County communities rebuild.

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