Rep. Calvert Supports Emergency Funding for California Wildfires and Hurricane Disasters

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) joined a majority (251 to 169) of the House of Representatives to approve a disaster aid package to provide additional emergency assistance for recent hurricanes, wildfires in California, and related agriculture losses. The bill, H.R. 4667, totals $81 billion, and targets funds to programs to continue relief and recovery efforts in all of the affected communities, including in California, Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

"Congress has delivered the help these affected regions desperately need," said Rep. Calvert. "California has experienced some of the most devastating wildfires we have ever seen. I toured northern California with my colleague Rep. Mike Thompson and saw the scale of the damage first-hand. I'm proud of the way our California delegation came together in a unified, bipartisan manner to secure the funding our state needs to recover. Our work is not done. We must continue to stand together with the communities in northern and southern California that have been scorched by wildfires and ensure they have the resources they need in the weeks and months ahead."

In addition to emergency funding, the bill approved by the House contained the legislative text of California Wildfire Disaster Tax Relief Act (H.R. 4397). Rep. Calvert is an original cosponsor of H.R. 4397, which would provide the same tax relief to victims of California wildfires as was provided to victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and Irma. Specifically, the bill allows a deduction for personal casualty losses and eliminates the current law requirements that personal casualty losses must exceed 10 percent of Adjusted Gross Income to qualify for deduction.

Highlights of the Disaster Aid Package:

(Provided by the House Appropriations Committee)

• $81 billion in FY18 emergency funding for ongoing disaster recovery needs from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and wildfires.
  • Fulfills next phase of most immediate needs to help Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, California, and other states recover from recent disasters.
• $28.6 billion for FEMA/Dept. of Homeland Security

  • Provides funding for the Disaster Relief Fund to cover disaster costs for hurricane and wildfire relief and recovery.

  • Provides up to 90% federal cost share for disasters declared in 2017 for wildfires.

• $541 million for watershed and flood prevention efforts.

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