Southern California Wildfires

Floor Speech

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Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the continued suffering and amazing destruction caused by wildfires in southern California and the critical need for this body and for the President to aid those Americans affected by this natural disaster.

Over 16,000 homes and structures were destroyed in the L.A. fires, and at one point, 200,000 residents were under evacuation orders. Severe drought and powerful winds made firefighters' jobs even more difficult.

While we should be discussing how we, as Americans, help other Americans, as we have always done in other disasters, somehow we have gotten districted with political theater and trying to score political points.

Successful recovery from any disaster wherever it is takes cooperation across all levels of government. We have done it before, and we can do it again. We can't afford to waste time with political games or unnecessary conditions on aid.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides to do the right thing and deliver aid to their fellow Americans who have had their lives upended by tragedy.

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