[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 20, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H4483-H4484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES

  (Mrs. DAVIS of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call attention to 
the wildfires that have ravaged southern California over the past week. 
Thanks to our brave first responders, these blazes are nearly 
contained, but not before destroying dozens of homes and forcing 
thousands to evacuate.
  The sight of brush fires burning across the county has become all too

[[Page H4484]]

familiar in the San Diego region in recent years, but this won't be an 
ordinary year. So far, we have seen twice as many fires as usual, and 
the worst months are yet to come.
  Many who have been forced to leave their homes speak of how, in those 
moments when they fear they might lose everything, they realize what is 
most important to them.
  Now, it is time for Congress to remember what is important, the vital 
programs that Americans rely on in times of crisis.
  With natural disasters worsening across the country, it is more 
important than ever to ensure that agencies like the Forest Service, 
the National Weather Service, and FEMA have the resources they need to 
keep Americans informed and safe.
  This appropriations season, I urge my colleagues to come together, as 
I have watched San Diego County residents do, and prioritize these 
lifesaving services for all Americans.

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