Mike Thompson: “I thank the chairwoman for yielding and for all that she is doing to end the Trump shutdown and open up our government…”

“I thank the chairwoman for yielding and for all that she is doing to end the Trump shutdown and open up our government, but I rise today to engage in a colloquy with the distinguished chairwoman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, in regard to a commitment made between the two of us. My district and the State of California were, once again, ravaged by devastating and historic fires. In my own district, the Mendocino complex fire burned a combined total of 460,000 acres, making it the largest physical fire in California history. As a result, a major disaster declaration was announced for Lake County, which, sadly, has been rocked with fires for the past several years. California also experienced the deadliest and most destructive fire in our State's history with the Camp fire, which, tragically, took the lives of more than 60 people. The town of Paradise, which was home to almost 27,000 people, was near completely destroyed, and more than 12,000 structures were burnt to the ground. In addition, our State experienced other devastating fires, and they continue. We need the continued support from the Federal Government because it is essential as residents seek to rebuild and California begins long-term recovery. In response to these devastating disasters, I offered a bipartisan amendment with Representatives LaMalfa, Lieu, Calvert, Garamendi, Huffman, and 19 other bipartisan cosponsors from our State.…”