WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) co-led all 52 members of California's Congressional Delegation and both U.S. Senators representing the state in a bipartisan, bicameral letter to President Biden urging him to approve Governor Gavin Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration to support ongoing recovery efforts for communities impacted by recent atmospheric river storms and widespread flooding. 

“I urge President Biden to move as quickly as possible to approve the Governor’s request to deliver much-needed assistance to the Central Valley residents impacted by these storms,” said Congressman Valadao.

In the letter, the lawmakers stressed that local and state resources were already stretched thin due to December 2022 storms, and that federal assistance and coordination will be required to support long-term recovery efforts:

“State and local resources that were already strained due to response and recovery efforts have now been pushed to the limit responding to the current crisis,” the lawmakers wrote.

You can read the full letter here or below: 

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Biden:

We write in support of the State of California’s request for a major disaster declaration for the recent severe winter storms and atmospheric river systems and ask that you approve it expeditiously. The State has experienced a nearly uninterrupted series of storms since February 21, 2023, and the effects are ongoing.  The intensity and damages of the storms have overwhelmed state resources and require federal assistance, coordination, and action to supplement state and local efforts.

The recent weather events caused widespread flooding, erosion, power outages, and road closures across the state that have threatened the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Californians. The storms damaged and continue to threaten federal and state highways and roads, critical infrastructure, homes, and buildings.

Complicating the emergency response effort further, these recent storms brought heavy precipitation and high winds to counties still responding to the effects of the December 2022 storms (FEMA Disaster DR-4683-CA).  State and local resources that were already strained due to response and recovery efforts have now been pushed to the limit responding to the current crisis.

The severity of these storms requires additional coordination and a wider range of long-term federal recovery programs.  Therefore, we urge you to expeditiously approve California’s request for a major disaster declaration and provide all categories of public assistance, individual assistance, and direct federal assistance for all counties set forth in the Governor’s request, along with hazard mitigation statewide. 

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