House Democrats from California are calling on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and other House leaders to approve a relief package for the Golden State after several atmospheric rivers caused damage.
Reps. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter on Monday. It was addressed to McCarthy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and the chairwoman and ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee. It asked for a "bipartisan disaster recovery package."
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“For nearly three weeks, California was hit with storms that brought intense rain and catastrophic flooding. The historic storms caused tremendous damage to thousands of acres of farms and ranches,” the letter said.
“We, therefore, request a disaster recovery package be swiftly put together to allow the rebuilding and recovery process to begin. It is imperative Congress provide much-needed aid to California’s agricultural community to allow for a full and timely recovery,” it continued.
The lawmakers assert the nine atmospheric rivers which consecutively hit the Golden State between December and January caused $500 million in damage. The storms dumped 32 trillion gallons of water on the state.
The letter emphasized the impact on the agriculture industry. It said the Farm Service Agency had received over 900 filings from five different counties.
"It is imperative Congress provide much needed aid to California’s agricultural community to allow for a full and timely recovery," the letter said.
The request puts McCarthy in a unique spot. He's from the Golden State, where his constituents as a congressman were affected by the barrage of storms, but the letter is requesting McCarthy's assistance in his capacity as House speaker, not as a congressman representing California's 20th Congressional District.
Previously, McCarthy joined onto a letter with members of the California congressional delegation and both senators asking President Joe Biden for a major disaster declaration after storms devastated the state in March.
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“Recent storms have brought much-needed water to California, filling our reservoirs following years of catastrophic drought. However, these storms have also caused widespread destruction across the state and particularly our more rural communities. Having seen the devastation firsthand, I am grateful to our first responders for their tireless efforts to keep our communities and neighbors safe," McCarthy said in a statement in March regarding the major disaster declaration request.
Biden approved a major disaster declaration for the state on April 4 and made federal funding available for Kern, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties.