November 17, 2018 - Washington - Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris (both D-Calif.) on Friday called on Senate leaders to ensure wildfire victims are made eligible for any disaster funding or tax relief provided for hurricane victims in any upcoming disaster funding legislation.

(Left) Senator Dianne Feinstein

“Unfortunately, California’s wildfires continue to burn, preventing the immediate completion of specific and reliable damage assessments,” the senators wrote. “We understand, however, that significant balances remain in federal disaster accounts, which are expected to be sufficient for immediate recovery needs. Therefore, we urge you to simply make sure that any additional disaster funding or tax relief made available for those recovering from hurricanes also be extended to wildfire victims.”

Full text of the letter follows:

November 16, 2018

The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Senate Majority Leader
317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Senate Minority Leader
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Richard Shelby
Chairman
Senate Appropriations Committee
Room S-128, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Patrick Leahy
Vice Chairman
Senate Appropriations Committee
Room S-146, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senators McConnell, Schumer, Shelby, and Leahy:

We ask that you ensure wildfire victims are made eligible for any disaster funding or tax relief provided in upcoming appropriations legislation.

Over the last two years, California has experienced the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in our state’s history. Three major fires erupted over the last week and have claimed the lives of at least 59 people and destroyed more than 9,000 homes. The devastation that these fires have left behind is truly shocking. At the height of these fires, over a quarter-million people were evacuated. Thousands of families remain under evacuation orders, many in shelters or other unstable living arrangements, while firefighters work to fully contain the fires and rescue those in harm’s way.

Unfortunately, California’s wildfires continue to burn, preventing the immediate completion of specific and reliable damage assessments. We understand, however, that significant balances remain in federal disaster accounts, which are expected to be sufficient for immediate recovery needs. Therefore, we urge you to simply make sure that any additional disaster funding or tax relief made available for those recovering from hurricanes also be extended to wildfire victims.

This is the second year in a row that the United States has suffered from major hurricanes and wildfires that require extraordinary additional resources from Congress. These destructive weather events appear to be a tragic new normal, and as California recovers from the most destructive wildfires in the state’s history, we look forward to working with you to ensure that Californians receive the federal support they need and deserve.

Thank you for your attention to our request.

Sincerely,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

Kamala D. Harris
United States Senator
Source: Senator Dianne Feinstein