Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the communities affected by the Fairview Fire and thank the first responders who heroically battled the flames. The Fairview fire started on September 5, and within a matter of hours residents of Hemet were forced to evacuate their homes. Since then, the fire has burned over 28,300 acres, caused two deaths, and destroyed at least 36 homes or commercial structures--proving to be one of the largest and most destructive fires our local communities have ever seen. To the families who have lost a loved one, our neighbors who have had to leave behind their homes, and the students who had to miss school, know that my heart is with you, and I stand ready to support you in any way that I can. In the last 15 days we have faced much devastation. We have experienced uncertainty, grief, and fear. We have seen the havoc wildfires can wreak on our families, environment, and livelihoods. We have also been moved by the resiliency of our communities. Through it all, I have been touched by the kindness and strength exhibited by every neighbor, firefighter, law enforcement officer, and volunteer who has pitched in to help keep us safe. To our first responders from: Hemet Fire Department; CAL FIRE Riverside; CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 6; Riverside County Sheriff's Department; Cahuilla Fire; U.S. Forest Service; Bureau of Land Management; Idyllwild Fire Department; and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, thank you for your immense heroism.…”