Padilla Pushes Amendment to Bolster FEMA and Disaster Relief Efforts in Budget Resolution
WATCH: Padilla proposes amendment on the floor to protect FEMA and essential disaster aid
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued a statement after two Senate Republicans broke with President Trump to support his amendment reiterating the importance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its role in providing nonpartisan disaster relief to disaster survivors in all states, territories, and Tribal nations. Padilla forced this amendment vote in response to Trump Administration proposals to eliminate FEMA and condition wildfire aid on their political demands. Following a 48-51 vote, the amendment was not adopted.
“I welcome the bipartisan vote for my amendment to support FEMA and its mission to provide relief to Americans after devasting disasters. Whether it’s wildfires in the California, tornados in the Midwest, ice storms in Texas, or hurricanes in the Southeast, natural disasters do not distinguish between red states and blue states — and neither should our assistance for fellow Americans in their time of need. While it’s disappointing that more of my Republican colleagues did not vote to support disaster victims in their states, I will continue to fight for all disaster victims, especially in the wake of the devastating Los Angeles fires.”
A copy of Padilla’s amendment is available here. It was co-led by Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
Video of Padilla proposing the amendment on the Senate floor is available here.
Senator Padilla has fought relentlessly to secure and protect access to desperately needed disaster relief aid for families in Southern California. In the immediate aftermath of the Los Angeles fires, Padilla and Senator Schiff led 47 bipartisan members of the California Congressional delegation in successfully urging President Biden to grant Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration to expedite timely relief to Los Angeles County residents impacted by these disasters. Padilla, Schiff, and Representatives Ken Calvert (R-Calif.-41) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.-18) also led the entire bipartisan California Congressional delegation in urging Senior Congressional leadership to provide additional disaster relief funding and resources to help Los Angeles County communities rebuild. Padilla recently blasted the Republican continuing resolution for not including the disaster relief funding California needs. Padilla previously delivered remarks on the Senate floor urging his Republican colleagues and President Trump to provide essential disaster recovery aid to California without conditioning it on the passage of partisan legislation.
Earlier this week, Padilla and Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced the FEMA Independence Act, bipartisan legislation to restore FEMA as an independent, cabinet-level agency and improve efficiency in federal emergency response efforts.
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