August 22, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 149 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Page H4255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             LACKING PREPAREDNESS FOR CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Madam Speaker, it is that time of year again in 
California. Hundreds of thousands of acres are on fire--in our forests, 
in our open lands, even burning into some of our cities and our 
neighborhoods.
  So, what is the deal? Once again, we are not prepared. Some of our 
Federal agencies were not prepared to have the equipment and the 
firefighters on hand, contracted, ready to go when we knew this was 
coming.
  As well, our people who procure electricity and govern that were not 
ready for the rolling blackouts that would come along from the high 
heat waves, as well as some of the shutdowns that would have to occur 
in burning areas.
  What is wrong with government agencies that do not plan to serve 
their people, to keep them safe from fire, and to help keep the 
electricity on?
  What is wrong that they can't add up how many power plants that we 
have available online, how much hydropower we have, how much water 
behind the dams, how much we have available during these times of heat 
waves to help keep the lights on?
  What is wrong with Federal agencies that cannot plan to have people, 
even during COVID, ready to go.
  Madam Speaker, we have to do better because we are disserving our 
people.

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