State Senators send letter to President about Freeway Complex Fire

The text of the letter follows: 

November 18, 2008

The Honorable George W. Bush

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We write in support of the State of California's request for a Major Disaster Declaration, U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans and funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Loan Program. 

There are currently three large fires burning across Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, which have been spread by winds as fast as 70 miles an hour.  Almost 40 firefighters and residents have been injured, tens of thousands of Californians have been evacuated from their neighborhoods and more than 800 homes have been destroyed.

While conditions have somewhat improved, the brave men and women fighting these fires in Southern California continue to face record high temperatures and unpredictable Santa Ana winds. 

A Major Disaster Declaration under the Stafford Act will provide the essential federal resources needed not only to save the lives, homes, and livelihoods of Californians, but also to help people recover and rebuild when these fires are finally extinguished.  These resources are urgently needed and will be immediately put to good use.

Thank you for your time and attention to this urgent issue.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein

U.S. Representative Gary Miller 

U.S. Representative Lois Capps                  

U.S. Representative Howard L. Berman      

U.S. Representative Hilda Solis                   

U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez           

U.S. Representative Brad Sherman             

U.S. Representative Henry A. Waxman       

U.S. Representative Joe Baca                     

U.S. Representative Sam Farr                     

U.S. Representative Ed Royce                    

U.S. Representative Jerry Lewis                  

U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren                

U.S. Representative Ken Calvert                 

U.S. Representative Mike Thompson          

U.S. Representative David Dreier                

U.S. Representative George Miller              

U.S. Representative Wally Herger               

U.S. Representative Linda Sanchez             

U.S. Representative Mary Bono Mack        

U.S. Representative Adam Schiff                

U.S. Representative Brian Bilbray               

U.S. Representative Barbara Lee                

U.S. Representative Elton Gallegly              

U.S. Representative Grace Napolitano        

U.S. Representative Brian "Buck" McKeon

U.S. Representative Diane Watson              

U.S. Representative Dana Rohrabacher       

U.S. Representative Ellen O. Tauscher        

U.S. Representative John Doolittle              

U.S. Representative Bob Filner                   

U.S. Representative John Campbell            

U.S. Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard   

U.S. Representative Doris Matsui                

U.S. Representative Jane Harman             

U.S. Representative Lynn Woolsey

U.S. Representative Jackie Speier

U.S. Representative Mike Honda

U.S. Representative Susan Davis

U.S. Representative Dennis Cardozo