WASHINGTON – U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday that Congress will likely provide billions of dollars in disaster aid to facilitate California recover from the devastating wildfires -led state and the city of Los Angeles.
“Nobody wants to leave an American in need hanging, so to speak, right?” said Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana. “But at the same time, we recognize that we have a federal debt of $36 trillion and we need to balance those needs. It’s about priorities.”
Federal natural disaster aid has historically been unconditional as vast swaths of the country represented by lawmakers of both political parties have been affected by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and wildfires.
Johnson said he watched footage of the fires in and around Los Angeles with “sorrow” and acknowledged that Louisiana received significant federal disaster aid without conditions, although he said things need to change.
“The affected Americans there urgently need and deserve help,” Johnson said. “But you also heard us talk about our concerns about the governance of the state of California. And to the extent that there is complicity in the extent of the disaster, then we think that is something that needs to be carefully examined.”
Republicans, including President-elect Donald Trump, have leveled numerous criticisms of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass over their management of water resources, fire department budgets and forest management.
Some of what Republican politicians have said isn’t necessarily correct, according to fact checks the Los Angeles Times, CalMatters, PBS News and several other organizations.
CalMatters, a nonprofit news organization, has explained why the wildfire season has become longer and more problematic. And the Los Angeles Times did written repeatedly about the Santa Ana winds and its impact on Southern California.
New precedent
If Johnson adds conditions or limits on federal disaster aid, it would set a fresh precedent that Democrats could employ in the future when providing disaster aid to Republican-led areas of the country.
For example, Democrats might argue that a Republican-led state has not spent enough money to curb climate change, contributing to more repeated and severe natural disasters.
Democrats could also employ Johnson to limit disaster aid to California to require Republican-controlled states to adopt different building standards for homes or businesses in flood-prone areas or those regularly hit by hurricanes, including Louisiana.
Johnson said during the press conference that Congress would ultimately follow the Trump administration’s lead on a disaster relief package, but laid the groundwork for a potential change in how lawmakers facilitate state and local governments recover from natural disasters in the coming decades .
“We will follow the government’s lead in this regard,” Johnson said. “But I say we must ensure that the precious treasure of the American people is protected. Of course there are natural disasters. But if they are made worse by human error and conscious policy decisions that were unwise at the time and were labeled as such, then I think that is something that needs to be carefully considered.”
Democratic support required
Unless the Republicans introduce a disaster relief bill within their reconciliation packagewhich seems unlikely, they will need Democratic support for legislation.
That would give Democratic leaders a chance to thwart Johnson’s efforts to attach conditions to disaster aid or secure other concessions.
While Republicans control both the House and Senate, these are particularly tiny majorities, and many Republican lawmakers vote against vast spending bills.
The Senate’s legislative filibuster also requires at least 60 of its members to vote to advance bills to final passage, which is more than the 53 Republican senators in that chamber.
Johnson noted during his news conference that the fresh Trump administration would need time to fully assess the damage caused by the wildfires before submitting a request to Congress for additional spending.
Once that happens, he said, the House will consider the proposal and begin drafting a bill.
Disaster relief in December
congress passed a $100 billion disaster relief bill in December to strengthen numerous federal agencies that facilitate Americans recover from natural disasters.
This is what followed The Biden administration is asking lawmakers for approval Roughly the same amount will be spent on emergency spending, including $40 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund, $24 billion for the Department of Agriculture, $8 billion for the Department of Transportation to repair roads and bridges, and $2 billion Dollars to the Small Business Administration for low-interest disaster loans.
This request related to the ongoing federal response to wildfires on Maui. Tornadoes through the Midwest; the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland; and severe storms in Alaska, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
It was also followed by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused devastating damage in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
Because of this package, Johnson said, FEMA, the Small Business Administration and others have enough aid to facilitate Southern California recover from the fires while also helping people in the rest of the country.
Last updated on January 14, 2025, 12:33 p.m
