(Washington, DC) – Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement regarding the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) seeking reimbursement from Pacific, Gas, and Electric’s (PG&E) $13.5 billion fund that was originally set aside for wildfire victims.
LaMalfa said: “State and Federal governments should not have the ability to take settlement funds from wildfire victims. It is the government’s job to set aside funds for disasters, and victims should be able to receive the restitution they need. While it may never be able to make them whole, wildfire victims deserve every penny of the $13.5 billion fund to help them rebuild their lives – many from the ground up.
I recently sent a bipartisan letter asking FEMA to stand down on seeking a reimbursement from PG&E’s settlement fund for the wildfire victims. While FEMA is in the wrong, this letter did not mention that the State of California is seeking reimbursement from the PG&E compensation fund at the price tag of $3.3 billion. When preparing to respond to the needs of the victims, the state received $2.5 billion of the $3.3 billion from the federal government. The State of California is purposefully slighting its citizens by trying to earmark money from the victims’ compensation fund for themselves.”
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.
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