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| Congressman Whitesides’ January Update |
As I wrap up my first month as your Congressman, I’m going to share some of the work that my team and I have gotten started in January. We’ve hit the ground running – introducing bills to address the wildfire crisis, advocating for aid for those who have been affected, joining multiple committees and caucuses, and staffing up our D.C. and L.A. County offices.
However, before I talk about all of that, I want to acknowledge the fear and panic caused by this week’s announcement that the federal government may pause critical grants that so many organizations and individuals rely on. In the days since the Office of Management and Budget memo was released, I spoke with firefighters, veterans, affordable housing nonprofits, educators, health care providers, and individuals across our district who need federal grants to continue to do their important work.
While a judge blocked the order from taking effect immediately, and the White House rescinded the memo as of Wednesday, we do not yet know what the impact will be. I am in close contact with local, state, and federal officials and will do everything I can to fight this. If you believe you may be affected by a potential grant freeze, you can fill out this survey to share your story.
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SWEARING IN AS A MEMBER OF THE 119TH CONGRESS
On January 3rd, 2025, I became an official member of the 119th Congress, representing California’s 27th District in Washington. It is the honor of my life to be your Congressman, and I will work every single day to give back to this community.
As part of my work in Washington, I was chosen to serve on the House Committee on Armed Services, as well as the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. I look forward to advocating for our military personnel and service workers; our families, students and our educators; our entrepreneurs and innovators; and everyone in our district in the years ahead.
ADDRESSING THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
When dangerous and devastating wildfires broke out across Los Angeles County, including in our very own district, I immediately focused our team on supporting local officials and first responders on the ground. Throughout the crisis, I have been inspired by the strength of our community, and as we work on rebuilding after this tragedy, I will do my best to bring the full weight of government assistance back home.
I am so thankful to all of the brave firefighters and first responders who jumped into action in response to this crisis. They prevented the fires from spreading even further, and managed to contain numerous fires in our district that ignited over the span of two weeks. We owe them a deep debt of gratitude for their service, and I am hopeful that we will be able to make some meaningful progress to address issues they face such as employee retention and pay.
Above all else, if you or someone you know was affected by the wildfires, I am here to help. I will continue to share important resources and fight for immediate and unconditional federal aid.
INTRODUCING WILDFIRE RECOVERY AND PREVENTION BILLS
As the cofounder of an organization focused on addressing the wildfire crisis while supporting front-line responders and public health officials, I know there is so much we need to do to address wildfires, and their root causes, head on. I even spoke with Politico about possible short and long-term solutions that Congress should pursue in the wake of this tragedy.
One bill I cosponsor is the Disaster Recovery Efficiency Act, designed to cut through bureaucratic red tape and streamline government efficiency. Over 30 federal entities currently contribute to the federal government’s response to natural disasters, making it difficult for people who’ve survived a tragedy to navigate this complex process, know which entity provides what kind of support, learn about and comply with differing requirements and deadlines, and more. This bill requires the federal government to work together, and make it easier for people to access the help they need.
Other bills, including the Fix Our Forests Act (which passed with bipartisan support) and the Wildfire Arson and Theft Prevention Act, will target forest management, community resiliency, and public safety during wildfires. These are just a few steps Congress must take in response to the fires in Los Angeles County.
STAY IN TOUCH WITH MY OFFICE
As I continue to build out my D.C. and in-district operations, I am so thankful to have a team of people on the ground to help you with federal programs and agencies. Soon, we’ll have a full team in both our Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita district offices, ready to help with any issues.
To keep in touch with my office, consider [https://whitesides.house.gov/contact/newsletter-subscribe]signing up for my newsletter and following me on X, Facebook and Instagram.
It’s an honor to serve California’s 27th District,
Rep. George Whitesides
U.S. House of Representatives
CA-27
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Posted on Feb 04, 2025 12:50pm by admin
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