10 hours Ago By Politico
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom late Friday sent a request to congressional leaders outlining nearly $40 billion in federal funding to cover the long-term recovery and rebuilding effort for last month’s devastating Los Angeles fires.
Driven by hurricane-force winds, the firestorms destroyed more than 16,000 structures in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena in what’s estimated to be the most expensive disaster in U.S. history.
In the 14-page letter late Friday, addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Reps. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.
) of the Appropriations Committee, Newsom wrote that as the state continues to assess the damage while conducting active response and recovery efforts, officials expect to identify additional funding needs beyond the $39.68 billion he outlined Friday. “Make no mistake, Los Angeles will use this money wisely,” Newsom wrote.
“California will ensure that funds will serve individuals, communities, property owners, and businesses that suffered losses from these devastating fires.” Added Newsom: “California has long been the tentpole of the American economy, a state whose GDP is the fifth largest on the planet and which contributes more tax receipts to the federal government than any other state — by far. California's success is America's success.
” The letter comes amid weeks of intense debate in Washington centered around whether the anticipated disaster aid for California would come with conditions. President Donald Trump, congressional Republicans and presidential allies as recently as Friday contended the money for California should come with strings attached. Newsom traveled to Washington earlier this month to personally appeal to Trump not to do so.
In the letter, Newsom noted Trump and his administration “have demonstrated a strong commitment” to supporting Los Angeles' recovery by fast-tracking debris clearance and helping to pilot the “all-hands recovery.” He also went on to compliment members of Congress. “We are eternally grateful,” Newsom wrote.
“And we are confident that if we work together, Los Angeles will continue to serve as a beacon to the world and securely place the city on solid ground in the coming years as it hosts the FIFA World Cup and Olympics — and thrive for the century to come.” Newsom outlined $16.8 billion for public assistance emergency work, $9.
9 billion to repair houses and businesses, $5.3 billion for business loans, $4.32 billion for business grants, $2 billion for low-income housing tax credits and hundreds of millions more for transportation and water infrastructure and other programs.
California Sens. Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla, both from the Los Angeles area, came out in support of Newsom’s latest request. “To deny it – or place conditions on it – would be to abandon people in their time of most need.
People need help. We must act urgently,” Schiff said. Former President Joe Biden in his final days in office granted the state six months of recovery funding.
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