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As spring arrives in the San Gabriel Valley, one of my favorite times of the year, I want to take a moment to reflect on winter and the start of the year.
Here’s a timeline of just a few legislative actions I’ve taken to ensure our community gets the help it needs to heal—with the full support of the federal government.
I am endlessly grateful to our first responders, community organizations, and advocates who have stepped up in this time of crisis.
January 7, 2025 – The Eaton Fire ignites. I immediately return from Washington, D.C., to be on the ground and ensure our community gets the help it needs.
January 8, 2025 – Governor Gavin Newsom, with the backing of the California Congressional Delegation, formally requests President Biden to declare a State of Emergency—a critical step that unlocks federal resources. President Biden immediately approved the request, which covered 100% of our firefighting costs and enabled federal emergency responders, including FEMA and SBA, to be on the ground providing support almost immediately. I was incredibly grateful for this swift action.
January 10, 2025 – After joining FEMA Administrator in a briefing and touring the destruction firsthand, I release a comprehensive resource guide for the community to ensure survivors know where to access aid.
January 17, 2025 – I host a telephone town hall to address questions and concerns regarding response, recovery, and rebuilding from the Eaton Fire. Representatives from local, state, and federal agencies join.
January 25, 2025 – I meet with President Trump while he visits California, urging him not to forget the people of Altadena and Pasadena who are relying on his support for additional federal disaster aid with no strings attached. Wildfires have no political affiliation, and they know no political party.
January – February 2025 – I lead multiple Congressional delegations—including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and several Republican lawmakers—to witness the devastation and push for bipartisan support on relief efforts.
February 4, 2025 – Governor Newsom flies to Washington to meet with President Trump and advocate for California’s wildfire recovery. Beforehand, he meets with Rep. Sherman, Rep. Whitesides, and me to coordinate our efforts for LA fire survivors.
February 20, 2025 – I host a town hall at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Altadena with FEMA, the EPA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to answer questions about debris removal.
Today – I continue to fight every day to secure the disaster assistance I need by pressing President Trump and House Republicans to pass critical relief bills for our community, without strings attached. This fight is far from over, and I will not stop until every survivor gets the resources they deserve.
We will rebuild. We will heal. And I will never stop fighting for you.
As reports continue surfacing regarding Elon Musk’s so-called Department on Government Efficiency (DOGE) accessing confidential and sensitive private information at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), MSNBC.com published a joint opinion piece by me and Gwen Moore (WI-04) on their recent, unscheduled meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson in his office regarding DOGE’s activities.
Read more about our meeting HERE
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For President Donald Trump’s first Address to a Joint Session of Congress, I was joined by Eaton Fire Survivor and lifelong educator, Dianne Lewis.
Dianne is a retired teacher and long-time Altadena resident, who lost her home and nearly everything she owned in the Eaton Fire. She is also the CEO of Pasadena's Alkebu-Lan Cultural Center, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering underserved youth through cultural education.
I’ve previously honored her as Activist of the Year during my annual Congressional Leadership of the Year Awards celebration, and it was a privilege to welcome her to Washington. I had hoped she’d hear the President discuss how he will support our community in addressing one of the costliest natural disasters in our nation’s history, but his remarks were profoundly cruel and needlessly divisive.
Read more about Dianne Lewis by clicking HERE
Just this year alone, I have introduced or signed onto dozens of bills and letters to put everyday Americans first, lowers costs, and protects your rights as Americans. Recently, the House of Representatives passed my bipartisan Investing in Main Street Act to unlock more startup capital for America’s small business entrepreneurs.
Some key bills that I have led include:
HIRE CREDIT Act - aiming to help victims of federally-designated disasters like the Eaton Fire in California to get back into the workforce.
Acupuncture for Our Seniors Act – helping ensure that seniors have access to all available treatment options for conditions like chronic pain.
The Simplify Automatic Filing Extensions (SAFE) Act – simplifying and streamlining the tax filing extension process.
Performing Arts Tax Parity Act (PAPTA) - helping struggling actors and performers get the tax relief they deserve
A friendly reminder! Tax season is underway, but because of the LA Fires, all taxpayers in Los Angeles County have until October 15th, 2025, to file their state and federal taxes, I encourage all eligible Californians to use the IRS Direct File program. This is a simple and FREE option to file your taxes online.
Click HERE to learn more!
My mission is to serve my community and communicate to you what I’m working on in Washington, which is why this year I’ve hosted several Telephone and in-person Town Hall events, including one at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Altadena to answer questions about the debris removal process.
These gatherings have provided a platform to discuss important topics, including the Eaton Fire and other pressing community issues.
To watch these recorded town halls please click HERE
Our nation is built by immigrants, and I will always support and stand with them. If you are an immigrant, it’s vital to know your rights if you encounter ICE.
Please take a moment to review the "Know Your Immigration Rights" webpage and share it with anyone who might benefit from its valuable information.
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Earlier this month, I hosted a Medicaid Day of Action Town Hall to address Republicans' push to cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid, jeopardizing healthcare for millions. I’m listening, and I stand with House Democrats as we fight back to protect healthcare for those who need it most.
Click HERE to watch a recording of my Medicaid Day of Action Town Hall
Matteo Paz from Pasadena won 1st place and $250,000 in the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search for uncovering rare stars and galaxies from a decade of full-sky data!
An incredible achievement!
As we get into the busy travel season, I encourage you to renew your passport early. Many countries require that your passport be more than 6 months away from expiration in order to visit, so give yourself plenty of time to avoid last-minute travel stress.
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Thank you for reading my spring newsletter! As always, if my office can assist you in any way, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
P.S.! My team and I have made a BlueSky account, follow me for updates there.
@chu.house.gov
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