1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The recent California wildfires have devastated communities and caused immense loss of life and property. While policy disagreements may exist, disaster relief should be provided swiftly and without partisan conditions to support the urgent needs of those impacted. Attempting to extract concessions from state leaders facing crisis undermines the fundamental role of federal aid in protecting American lives. I urge you to approve comprehensive wildfire assistance based solely on the catastrophic circumstances, setting aside political motives. Expediting resources now can help mitigate suffering, with policy reforms more appropriately addressed through proper legislative channels after immediate threats have been managed. Putting people before politics in times of disaster upholds our nation's highest values of compassion and unity. The mountain communities of San Bernardino County that you represent face especially high wildfire risks. Our towns depend heavily on federal disaster aid due to the persistent threat of destructive blazes. When fires strike our vulnerable region, rapid deployment of emergency funds is critical to saving lives and property. I call on you to prioritize securing unrestricted federal assistance to protect your constituents in harm's way from the potentially devastating impacts of wildfires.