Chairmen Rick Scott, Ron Johnson Announce Field Hearing in Pacific Palisades on the Deadly Palisades Fire and Victims’ Ongoing Recovery Challenges

Pacific Palisades, CA - On Thursday, November 13, Chairman Rick Scott of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging alongside Chairman Ron Johnson, of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) will convene a field hearing in Pacific Palisades, California entitled, "Forgotten After the Flames: Stories from the Palisades Fire." This hearing comes as the chairmen recently announced their congressional investigation into the January 2025 Palisades Fire, which devastated the Palisades community causing billions of dollars in property damage and taking the lives of 12 innocent people. The hearing will spotlight the experiences of survivors and local leaders, many of whom say their voices have been ignored in the aftermath. It will also examine the failures at all levels of government in both preparedness and response. With their investigation continuing in the Palisades, the chairmen aim to uncover what went wrong from the community's perspective, identify opportunities for reform, and ensure that no community is left behind in future disaster preparation or recovery efforts.

Chairman Scott and Chairman Johnson as part of their investigation have sent previous letters including to the president of the Los Angeles City Council, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Chief Executive Officer Janisse Quiñones, and the Los Angeles Fire Department's former Chief Crowley requesting information related to their responses and efforts during and after these wildfires. Chairman Scott has also sent letters to the USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, DOI Secretary Doug Burgum, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and recently, a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asking for the secretary to review reports suggesting that Communist China has been taking advantage of these devasting wildfires by purchasing the destroyed land.

Witnesses for the hearing include:

• Tom Doran, Caregiver Survivor, Squadron 283 Executive Committee Member; Palisades Fire Survivor

• David Schwarz, Chairman, Pacific Palisades Community Council Rebuilding Committee; Palisades Fire Survivor

• Jessica Rogers, President, Pacific Palisades Resident Association; Palisades Fire Survivor

• John Alle, President, John Alle Company; Palisades Fire Survivor

• Bruce and Rachel Schwartz, Palisades Fire Survivors

WHEN: Thursday, November 13, 2025

9:00AM PT

WHERE: 15247 La Cruz Drive

Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

WATCH: Live broadcast available online HERE.

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