[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 15, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H154-H155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER DANIEL PETERSON'S LIFE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Nevada (Ms. Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of 
retired Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Peterson, a champion for southern 
Nevada's veteran community.
  Chief Peterson was a highly decorated Army veteran and unrelenting 
advocate for those around him. After flying helicopters in the Army for 
more than 20 years, he came home to serve as the commander of the 
Henderson chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, to be a 
member of the Henderson Vietnam Veterans of America, and attend as many 
unaccompanied veteran burial ceremonies as he could find. He also went 
to every Veterans Treatment Court graduation and never hesitated to 
offer his support to fellow veterans in need.
  To be clear, it is impossible to sum up Chief Peterson's decades of 
service in just one speech on the House floor. That is part of the 
reason why I had the privilege of working with the Library of Congress 
for his story to be part of the Veterans History Project.
  While he has too many medals to name here, I can say this: Chief 
Peterson was a mentor, a father, a spouse, a leader, a friend, a 
protector, and a servant to both southern Nevada and our entire 
country.
  I extend my condolences and prayers to Dan's wife, Eileen, and his 
four children and stepchildren. We all owe Dan a debt of gratitude. We 
will all miss him.

                              {time}  1030


                Unconditional Aid for Eaton Fire Victims

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, this week, I returned from my district in 
southern California, which has been completely devastated by the Eaton 
fire.
  In Altadena and northern Pasadena, the fire took our neighbors' lives 
and destroyed the structures that provided stability to countless 
families' hopes, dreams, and memories. The fire has destroyed over 
7,000 structures; left 20,000 people homeless; forced numerous health 
centers to close; and burned schools, businesses, and community 
institutions to the ground.
  This is just one of six serious fires across Los Angeles, including 
the more than 23,000-acre Palisades fire. Places that served as safe 
havens for generations of Angelenos and where community was built 
across the San Gabriel Valley are now unrecognizable.
  The Altadena Community Church, Altadena mosque, Pasadena Jewish 
Temple, Armenian school, mom-and-pop business centers, Eliot Arts 
Magnet School, and Altadena Country Club were all burned to the ground.
  When Black Americans fled racial segregation in the Jim Crow South 
and came to Los Angeles, many made Altadena their home because there 
was no redlining there preventing them from owning homes. It has 
remained a hub of Black culture and civic life in Los Angeles. After 
being forced into incarceration in camps during World War II, many 
Japanese Americans came to Pasadena and built their lives back up.
  Last week, thousands had to flee their homes at a moment's notice, 
frantically searching for pets and crying out to loved ones, many with 
nothing more than the clothes on their backs. Thousands of people have 
lost their homes and a lifetime's worth of belongings and memories.
  Tragically, first responders have found 16 people who lost their 
lives, and they expect that number to rise.
  Anthony Mitchell, Sr., a dedicated father, died alongside his son 
while waiting for help. Just a week before the fires began, Anthony 
told his son that what he treasured most in life was not money or 
possessions but his family.
  Victor Shaw died outside of his longtime family home with a garden 
hose in his hand. He did everything he could to save it.
  Erliene Louise Kelly bought her home in Altadena with her late 
husband, Howard, in the late 1960s. Together, they raised two kids, 
watched their grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow, and 
celebrated holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries.
  The Los Angeles wildfires are on track to become one of the most 
costly and devastating natural disasters in our country's history. Yet, 
scores of Republicans, led by President-elect Trump and Speaker 
Johnson, are threatening to place conditions on the State of California 
for disaster assistance to flow to these victims.
  This is truly unprecedented. Never in our history has the Federal 
Government placed conditions on emergency disaster aid to our own 
citizens. I invite any Republican in Congress who is entertaining these 
demands to visit my district, see the devastation for yourself, and 
look the victims in the eye when you tell them they don't deserve help 
from their country because you disagree with certain policies passed by 
their State.
  This is the United States of America. We help our citizens when they 
fall victim to a natural disaster, regardless of their political party 
or opinions. We do it without strings attached, like we did just in 
December, 4 weeks ago, for victims of Hurricanes Milton and Helene.
  I look forward to working with the majority to secure critical 
disaster relief funding that is necessary for this vibrant, beautiful, 
unique region to recover and rebuild.

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