A bipartisan group of senators is pressing congressional leaders to add long-term disaster recovery funding to any upcoming supplemental appropriations package. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff of California, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and John Curtis of Utah sent a letter Monday to Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins and Vice Chair Patty Murray, highlighting ongoing needs in their states after major natural disasters.
The senators noted that the administration’s recent emergency funding request left out resources for communities still recovering from catastrophic events. They specifically called for inclusion of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery, or CDBG-DR, funding to help rebuild infrastructure, restore services and support longer-term recovery.
In the letter, the group pointed to the devastating 2025 Los Angeles County wildfires. “Over the last few years, natural disasters have devastated communities across the United States. In 2025, fueled by wind gusts reaching up to 100 miles per hour, the Los Angeles County wildfires burned over 40,000 acres, destroyed over 16,000 structures, forced tens of thousands of residents to evacuate, and claimed more than two dozen lives. During the response, California mobilized more than 15,000 personnel, including firefighters, National Guard members, highway patrol officers, and transportation teams, to contain the fires and protect communities. For comparison, these wildfires burned an area nearly three times the size of Manhattan. The scale and severity of these wildfires underscore the urgent need for additional federal assistance, coordination, and funding.”
The letter also detailed the lasting impact of Hurricane Helene on North Carolina. That storm brought more than 30 inches of rain in some areas, produced hurricane-force winds, and triggered severe flooding and landslides far inland. It caused at least 108 deaths and roughly $60 billion in damage. Nearly two years later, North Carolina still faces more than $10 billion in unmet recovery needs.
Utah’s 2026 wildfire season received attention as well. Fires there have burned approximately 373,295 acres across hundreds of incidents, destroying homes and infrastructure while raising risks of post-fire flooding, erosion and water contamination. With the peak dry season continuing, the senators stressed the need for sustained support for suppression, prevention and rebuilding.
“These disasters have caused widespread damage across California, North Carolina, and Utah, affecting federal and state highways, critical public infrastructure, homes, and buildings,” the senators wrote. “The scale and complexity of these events will require sustained federal support to help communities rebuild damaged infrastructure, restore essential services, and meet long-term recovery needs. Therefore, we strongly urge you to include long-term disaster recovery funding, like the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR), in any supplemental appropriations package to ensure communities have the resources needed to rebuild and recover.”
The bipartisan appeal reflects growing concern that short-term emergency aid alone is not enough for communities facing multi-year recovery timelines. CDBG-DR grants have long been a primary tool for helping local governments address housing, infrastructure and economic needs after major disasters, but funding often depends on congressional action after each event.
Senator Padilla has previously led efforts related to the California fires, including pushing for a major disaster declaration and organizing bipartisan visits to affected areas. The current letter builds on those efforts by linking the California experience with ongoing needs in North Carolina and Utah.
As Congress considers supplemental spending, the senators argue that failing to address long-term recovery risks leaving families, businesses and local governments without the resources required to fully rebuild. The coming weeks will show whether Appropriations leaders incorporate the requested funding into any broader package. For communities still dealing with the aftermath of these disasters, the outcome will help determine how quickly recovery can move forward.
