500 signatures reached
To: Congress
Fully fund FEMA and FEMA’s Fire Management Assistance Grant!
Right now, the tragic wildfires raging across Southern California have already killed dozens of people and displaced tens of thousands from their homes. Families are devastated as they watch their cherished memories—photographs, heirlooms, and personal belongings—reduced to ash alongside schools, parks, small businesses, and other pillars of their communities.
Tragedies like this require swift and bipartisan action to address the crisis and support families on the ground as they fight to survive and rebuild.
Tragedies like this require swift and bipartisan action to address the crisis and support families on the ground as they fight to survive and rebuild.
Add your name to the petition to demand Congress fully fund FEMA and FEMA’s Fire Management Assistance Grant
Why is this important?
Congress funds FEMA every year during its annual appropriations bill, but its budget can be supplemented throughout the year if funding is not enough.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)—and programs like the Fire Management Assistance Grant—are critical in responding to weather disasters like this. And as our climate crisis becomes even more dire, it's only going to be more urgent that FEMA and the programs it manages are fully funded.
In December, Congress passed a funding bill to avoid a government shutdown through March 15, 2025. Thankfully, that funding bill provided FEMA with $29 billion for relief aid, but as recovery efforts persist and the frequency of climate disasters continues to rise, significantly more funding will be urgently needed to address the growing demand for disaster relief.
Fire Management Assistance helps states recover by providing 75% federal cost share, with the state paying the remaining 25%. The fires in Palisades, Eaton, and Hurst have already received declarations for Fire Management Assistance. Last year, there were more than 60 Fire Management Assistance Declarations that are still active. If we are going to continue to support states in responding to fire crises, we need to make sure FEMA has the funding it needs for the rest of the year.
When natural disasters like this strike, we need every single leader in Congress to act swiftly and with integrity to make sure people get the assistance they need and communities can rebuild from the devastating damage.
Tell Congress to fully fund FEMA and FEMA’s Fire Management Assistance Grant!