Lucille Roybal-Allard: “I thank Representative Mike Thompson for his diligent work on behalf of his fire-impacted communities and our State. It…”

“I thank Representative Mike Thompson for his diligent work on behalf of his fire-impacted communities and our State. It is critical that Congress ensures that every Federal resource is made available to the States, local governments, and all affected communities of the historic and unprecedented 2018 wildfires. Ensuring that Californians get the support and resources they need is not a partisan issue. It is particularly frustrating that FEMA has the sole discretion to adjust these cost shares and often does so after catastrophic disasters or when multiple disasters strike the same State in a short period of time, as we have experienced in California. The State of California has requested the administration to adjust these cost shares, unfortunately, to no avail. I appreciate Mr. Thompson's diligent work on this issue. I remain committed to working with him, our leadership, and the bipartisan cosponsors of the amendment to provide, in the Department of Homeland Security's full-year fiscal year 2019 funding bill, an increased cost share of 90 percent for these additional categories of Federal disaster funding for California communities devastated by the 2018 wildfires. The Acting CHAIR. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.”