On the recordMay 8, 2019
I would like to discuss the importance of wildfire awareness. No State knows more about how important the subject is than California. There is no longer a fire season in California. It suffers from fires, sadly, year-round resulting from many factors, including climate change. Just last year California saw the deadliest wildfire in its history. The town of Paradise was decimated with more than 14,000 homes destroyed, and 85 people lost their lives. God bless them and their families. There have been other fires in Santa Barbara, Mendocino, and the Yosemite Rim fire right in my own district's backyard. We need to do more. For the first time in its 110-year history, the Forest Service says they will now dedicate more than half their budget to wildfire suppression efforts, which we have directed as a result of the farm bill last year. {time} 1015 To begin with, this requires better managing and caring for our forests. This week, we will vote on an emergency supplemental to help communities affected by wildfires. I ask my colleagues to vote with me and pass this important legislation. Let's do the right thing and help our fellow Americans rebuild their lives and their communities. At the same time, let's be more responsible stewards of our forests. We know how to do it. Let's get started with our States, local governments, and the private sector. Future generations deserve better management of forests throughout our country. I think we can do it if we work together.…
