Dear neighbor, 

This week I am in Washington fighting to support those impacted by the devastating fires in the greater Los Angeles area.

These are the most destructive wildfires California has ever faced. Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their communities and have seen their homes, businesses, and neighborhoods destroyed. During this week’s Democratic Caucus press conference, I spoke about the devastation I have seen in our community and why I am fighting to ensure we have the resources needed to rebuild. Watch:

President Biden announced a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration, and implemented Federal aid alongside State, tribal, and local recovery efforts. Unfortunately, House Speaker Mike Johnson and his colleagues are talking about attaching wildfire disaster aid to a federal debt limit increase, risking the disaster assistance that Californians need to rebuild. It is outrageous to suggest conditioning disaster relief for Californians impacted by the fires. Members of Congress should not leverage the pain and suffering of Americans to try to force through a partisan policy agenda. As your Member of Congress, my top priority is your safety and health.

This week, I spoke with POLITICO about how inappropriate it is to leverage the pain and suffering of disaster victims.

RECOVERY RESOURCES: For those of you beginning the recovery process, there are a number of resources available to you. My office has created a comprehensive guide to help you navigate seeking assistance. Please find that here or on our website at https://lieu.house.gov/fireresources.

Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) have been set up to help affected individuals apply for aid. State, county, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Small Business Administration (SBA), and other recovery specialists will be available to answer questions and provide assistance. Please click here to see a list of DRCs that stand ready to assist.

When visiting a DRC, please bring some items listed below to speed up your process:

• Address of the damaged primary residence
• Insurance coverage information
• Current phone number and mailing address
• Bank account information

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA): Renters, homeowners, and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance and may be qualified for up to $43,600 in FEMA housing aid, which is the maximum set by current law for disaster victims. I understand that rebuilding homes after a fire will likely cost more than federal aid, and many victims lack sufficient insurance coverage to cover these expenses. Please be assured that I am committed to advocating for legislation that will provide enhanced support for fire victims in California.

If you have insurance, it is important to file a claim with your insurance company. Government disaster assistance only covers basic needs and may not fully reimburse you for your total loss. Furthermore, FEMA may not provide compensation for items already covered by your insurance. Below is a list of potential federal disaster-related assistance that you may be qualified for:

• Advanced Financial Assistance
• Housing and Rental Assistance
• Funds for Repair/ Replacement of Damaged Homes
• Disaster Legal Services
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance
• Other Needs Assistance

How to apply for FEMA assistance:

• Visit www.disasterassistance.gov
• On the FEMA App for mobile devices
• Call 800-621-FEMA (3362)

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA): The SBA is now offering low-interest disaster loan assistance for renters, homeowners, businesses, and nonprofit organizations located in Los Angeles County. Candidates for this funding should consider simultaneously applying for FEMA grants and SBA disaster loan assistance to help with the recovery.

The SBA has opened several Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOC) in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. DLOC specialists will assist small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations, and residents who sustained economic losses and physical damage in applying for disaster loans. Please click here to see a list of DLOCs that stand ready to assist as well as additional information.

• Homeowners: may borrow up to $100,000 to replace personal property and up to $500,000 to repair or replace real estate damage.
• Renters: may borrow up to $100,000 to repair or replace personal property.
• Eligible small businesses and PNPs:
  • Business Physical Disaster Loans: may borrow up to $2M to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed business property, equipment, and assets.
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loans: may borrow up to $2M for working capital to help pay obligations until normal operations resume. This is only for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and most PNPs.
  • The maximum combined loan amount across both business loan programs is $2M.

How to apply for SBA assistance:

• Please click here and apply using the Electronic Loan Application.

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS): The IRS announced the following guidance on extensions of certain tax filing deadlines for impacted taxpayers, businesses, and households residing in Los Angeles County. The IRS will also automatically provide filing and penalty relief. Additionally, should FEMA expand the designated relief area for the disaster, communities would also be provided for these extensions.

• Individuals and businesses with 2024 returns ordinarily are due on April 15, 2025, but will now have until October 15, 2025.
• Quarterly estimated payments ordinarily are due on January 15, June 16, and September 15, but can now be submitted through October 15, 2025.
• Please click here for a full list of extensions and their respective deadlines.

The IRS also provided guidance to taxpayers on how to address disaster-related losses in their tax return, as well as how qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income.

• Taxpayers can claim a disaster-related loss either in the year it occurred (2025 tax year filed in 2026) or the return for the prior year (2024 tax year filed in 2025).
• Qualified disaster relief payments are generally excluded from gross income, including amounts received from a government agency for reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses, as well as for the repair or rehabilitation of their home, or for the repair or replacement of its contents.
• Certain taxpayers are eligible to take a special disaster distribution from their IRA that would be exempt from the 10% early distribution tax, and certain taxpayers may be eligible to make a hardship withdrawal. The specific rules are dictated by the individual policies of a taxpayer’s IRA. 

Additional information:

• Please click here for more information on tax treatment of disaster-related losses.
• Please click here for more information on tax treatment of qualified disaster relief payments.
• If you have additional questions, please contact the IRS Disaster Hotline at (866) 562-5227.

REPLACING YOUR IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS:
If you need to replace your passport due to the fires, the replacement fees may be waived until July 7, 2026. Below is a list of what you need to submit:

• Form DS-5504 (Replacement Passport Form)
• New Passport Photo
• DS-64 (Lost and Stolen Passport Form). Include:
  • The name of the disaster that caused your loss.
    • For example: “2025 California Wildfires and Straight-line Winds”.
  • The address of the residence where the loss occurred.
  • Approximate date when the loss occurred.
  • A statement that the replacement passport fees will not be reimbursed by other sources, such as a homeowner’s insurance policy.

As always, my staff and I are ready to support you with federal agencies should you need it. Please call my Los Angeles office at (323) 651-1040 to see if we can help.

I look forward to updating you again soon.  

Warmly,  

Ted