California’s Governor Gavin Newsom has reached out to Congress seeking nearly $40 billion to aid wildfire recovery efforts.
Last month, wildfires in Southern California devastated the region, claiming at least 29 lives and destroying over 16,000 buildings. Newsom’s letter was sent to key congressional leaders, highlighting the urgent need for funds.
The proposed aid would support both immediate and long-term recovery. It breaks down into several components: approximately $16.8 billion for public assistance, $9.9 billion for repairing homes and businesses, $9.6 billion in loans and grants for businesses, and $2 billion in tax credits for low-income housing.
Newsom stressed the extensive damage caused by the fires and noted that understanding the total economic impact on California could take years.
Earlier, Newsom had enacted a $2.5 billion relief package to help the recovery process, but he emphasized that federal reimbursements are expected as part of this larger request.
After leaving office, former President Joe Biden mentioned that the federal government would cover all recovery costs for the first 180 days. However, under the current administration, there have been suggestions that California may need to change its environmental policies in exchange for aid.
Recent visits by Newsom to Washington included meetings with government officials to advocate for the necessary support.
The letter concluded with a strong reminder that Los Angeles plays a crucial role in the global economy, urging federal support to help it recover from this disaster.
