House speaker and others in Congress say recovery assistance may be contingent on policy changes that contributed to the devastation.
Members of the majority party in Congress are considering making wildfire aid for California conditional, as information continues to be reported regarding state and local policies.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said, “It appears to us that state and local leaders were derelict in their duties in many respects,” particularly with “water resource mismanagement, forest management mistakes and all sorts of problems.”
The speaker added, “To the extent that there is complicity involved in the scope of the disaster, then we think that’s something that needs to be carefully regarded.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated he had “no doubts there will be a discussion about how to respond and what role each level of government ought to play.”
President-elect Donald Trump had indicated during his first term that he would withhold disaster assistance due to policy issues that contribute to the wildfire threat in the state.
Senator Ron Johnson said, “I certainly wouldn’t vote for anything unless we see a dramatic change in how they’re gonna be handling these things in the future.”
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar rejected calls to attach conditions to wildfire aid for California. “We will not support conditions to disaster assistance,” Representative Aguilar said this week.
“We can have a lengthy debate and discussion and use the committee process to have discussions about the steps that California has taken to protect itself,” he continued. “But at the end of the day, ultimately this will mean disaster assistance, and that needs to be free from partisan conditions.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for the House speaker, Senate majority leader, and president-elect as they determine how to address the contributing factors to the wildfires devastating Los Angeles County.
- For the state and local leaders who have jurisdiction and responsibility for the area where the fires have ravaged so many structures.
- For comfort for the Los Angeles residents who have lost loved ones and homes to the wildfires.
Sources: The Hill, MSN
