LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger sent joint letters to congressional leadership Tuesday in a bid to secure $15.7 billion in federal funding for the region’s long-term recovery from the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires.
The letters were submitted to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R- South Dakota, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D- New York, as well as the House and Senate Appropriations Committee, and members of the Los Angeles County congressional delegation.
“From Los Angeles to Sacramento to Washington, Supervisor Barger and I have worked together to fight for the resources wildfire survivors need and deserve — and we won’t stop until every family has returned home and every business has reopened its doors,” Bass said in a statement.
“The scale of this recovery requires continued assistance from every level of government to rebuild our communities and the critical infrastructure that supports them, and that’s what we’re calling for today,” she added.
Barger said her focus remains on ensuring communities have the federal resources necessary to rebuild stronger.
“Our families, businesses, and neighborhoods have shown extraordinary resilience, but they cannot complete this recovery alone. Continued federal partnership is essential to helping our communities rebuild and move forward,” Barger said in a statement.
In June, President Donald Trump requested an additional $87.6 billion in supplemental funding, mostly to further support the Pentagon in the war against Iran. Bass and Barger noted in their letters that the request did not reference disaster relief related to the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires.
“President Trump has conveyed the administration’s commitment to assist with our collective disaster recovery efforts,” according to the letters. “While provisions were not included in the administration’s funding request, we are reaching out to seek your support and guidance to ensure that legislation is written to advance a supplemental disaster appropriation aligned with both Los Angeles County’s and city’s combined request of $15.7 billion to cover the infrastructure and rebuilding needs associated with the Eaton and Palisades fires.”
They said the funding would be used to restore critical infrastructure, rebuild parks, schools and senior centers. It would also be used to provide residents with much-needed housing and financial support, and means to revitalize economic and business corridors.
“We respectfully request your leadership and assistance in ensuring disaster relief appropriations, to include the pending needs related to the Eaton and Palisades fire, are included in supplemental appropriations legislation at its first writing,” the letters concluded.
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