March 28, 2024 - WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler (both D-Calif.), along with Representatives Ken Calvert (R-Calif.-41) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18), led 47 members of the California delegation in calling on the Biden Administration to grant Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration in response to the ongoing impacts of winter storms that made landfall in California from January 31 through February 9.

Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

The storms brought heavy snow to the Sierra Nevada mountains, statewide river and urban flooding, high-speed winds, and significant precipitation, damaging federal and state highways and roads, critical infrastructure, homes, and buildings.

“The intensity and damages of these storms have overwhelmed state resources and require federal assistance, coordination, and action to supplement state and local efforts,” wrote the lawmakers. “These storms have caused widespread flooding, erosion, power outages, and road closures across the state that have threatened the lives and livelihoods of thousands of Californians.”

In response to the storm, the lawmakers expressed support for the State of California’s request that President Biden approve public assistance for Butte, Glenn, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Sutter, and Ventura counties, along with statewide hazard mitigation assistance.

In addition to Senators Padilla and Butler and Representatives Calvert and Lofgren, the letter is also signed by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.-11), and 46 other members representing the state in the House of Representatives: Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.-33), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Ami Bera (D-Calif.-06), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.-26), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.-29), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28), J. Luis Correa (D-Calif.-46), Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-10), John Duarte (R-Calif.-13), Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.-16), John Garamendi (D-Calif.-08), Mike Garcia (R-Calif.-27), Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), Josh Harder (D-Calif.-09), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-51), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.-37), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.-17), Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.-03), Young Kim (R-Calif.-40), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.-12), Mike Levin (D-Calif.-49), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.-36), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.-07), Tom McClintock (R-Calif.-05), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.-15), Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.-31), Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.-23), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-19), Scott Peters (D-Calif.-50), Katie Porter (D-Calif.-47), Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.-25), Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.-38), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.-30), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.-32), Michelle Steel (R-Calif.-45), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-14), Mark Takano (D-Calif.-39), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.-04), Norma Torres (D-Calif.-35), David Valadao (R-Calif.-22), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-52), and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.-43).

Last year, Padilla, Calvert, and Lofgren, along with the late Senator Dianne Feinstein, successfully led a delegation push urging President Biden to declare a major disaster in California in response to Tropical Storm Hilary.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear President Biden:

We write in support of the State of California’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration in response to recent severe winter storms impacting nine counties throughout California, and we ask that you approve it expeditiously.

The State has experienced several storms since January 31, 2024, and the effects are ongoing. The intensity and damages of these storms have overwhelmed state resources and require federal assistance, coordination, and action to supplement state and local efforts. These storms have caused widespread flooding, erosion, power outages, and road closures across the state that have threatened the lives and livelihoods of thousands of Californians. The storms damaged federal and state highways and roads, critical infrastructure, homes, and buildings.

The severity of these storms requires additional coordination and a wider range of long-term federal recovery programs. Therefore, we urge you to expeditiously approve California’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration and to provide all categories of public assistance for all counties set forth in the Governor’s request, along with hazard mitigation statewide. Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,
Source: Senator Alex Padilla