Rep. Scott Peters led his Democratic colleagues Friday in demanding a House vote on the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act of 2014 to release up to $2.7 billion to fight wildfires across the country.
“Wildfires, like earthquakes, are the natural disasters of the West; they happen just as suddenly, and their damage to homes, families, and communities, can be just as devastating,” Peters said. “Currently, the federal government borrows money from wildfire prevention funds to pay to fight the catastrophic fires we currently face. That doesn’t make sense and needs to be fixed.
“I am calling on the Speaker (of the House) to bring this truly bipartisan bill, also supported by the President, to a vote immediately so that fire-prone regions like San Diego don’t suffer from Washington’s dysfunction.”
Peters held a press conference to highlight the need for funding to fight wildfires. The bill has bipartisan support in both the House and Senate and was included by the President in his budget request.
Peters represents the 52nd District which covers much of central San Diego County including Poway, Coronado, and large portions of the City of San Diego.
