[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 9 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PASSING AID TO ASSIST CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
(Mr. STANTON asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, my heart is heavy seeing the devastation
across southern California. My thoughts and prayers are with the
families who have lost loved ones and whose homes, businesses, and
schools have been destroyed.
Arizona is no stranger to devastating wildfires. Anyone in the West
will tell you that climate change is making wildfires more frequent and
more dangerous, not just in California but everywhere.
This body has a real immediate duty to address the threat of
worsening wildfires, and I have introduced legislation to get State and
local governments emergency FEMA resources to fight wildfires and
protect people and property.
Our first priority is to help those fleeing to safety and to aid the
firefighters and first responders, including the brave fire crews from
Arizona cities, the State, and our Tribal nations.
When Arizona communities have been impacted by wildfires, floods, or
other extreme weather events, the Federal Government has delivered aid
without conditions.
When our neighbors in the South, in Florida, North Carolina, and
Louisiana, were hit by storms, the Federal Government delivered without
conditions.
Now Congress must pass emergency disaster aid for our neighbors in
California without conditions.
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