Dear Neighbor,

One year ago today, our community was forever changed by the Eaton Fire, which became the second most destructive and fifth deadliest wildfire in our state’s history. It took the lives of 19 of our neighbors, and in the days and weeks that followed, another 440 lives were lost due to delays in medical care and toxic air quality. Nearly 20,000 residents were displaced, and almost 9,500 structures—including 6,000 homes—were reduced to ash. We lost so many beloved community institutions, schools, houses of worship, and places that generations of people have called home.

But out of that devastation, we witnessed extraordinary resilience in our communities every single day over the past year. I have seen federal, state, and local partners step up alongside community institutions to deliver lifesaving relief and critical resources. And I have seen neighbors stand hand-in-hand, day after day, supporting each other through some of our darkest moments.

Click here or above to see my remarks marking the 1 year anniversary

What I’m Fighting for in Congress

But our community needs help now. That’s why I am in Washington, D.C., this week fighting in Congress to deliver help to our district. As we mark the anniversary of the fire, I have:

Introduced H.R. 6842, the Disaster Survivors Tax Relief and Recovery Act, to codify all the tax provisions of Governor Newsom’s disaster supplemental request and especially ensure Eaton Fire survivors are not taxed on disaster settlement payments after the federal exemption expired at the end of 2025, so families can keep the full value of their settlements and use that money to rebuild their homes and lives.
Joined bipartisan, bicameral members of the California delegation in a letter led by Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Representative Ken Calvert (R-CA) urging President Trump to immediately send Congress a disaster supplemental request based on Governor Newsom’s $33.9 billion proposal, emphasizing that families cannot afford further delays.
Led a letter with Rep. George Whitesides (D-CA) to President Trump urging immediate action on a disaster supplemental.
Introduced a congressional resolution with Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) to honor the lives lost and underscore the critical need to help our communities rebuild mark the one-year anniversary of the fires
Hosted a press conference with members of the California delegation to underscore the dire need for President Trump to act with urgency and provide disaster aid to California as he promised to do so directly one year ago.

Rep. Chu leads California delegation in press conference marking the 1 year anniversary of the Eaton Fire, click HERE or above to watch

And a few months ago, President Trump signed into law my bipartisan bill the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act (H.R. 517), delivering critical tax relief to Americans recovering from natural disasters.

This fight is not just for California, it’s for every community across America that has endured disaster.

So, to survivors, I say to you: we are still here, we are still fighting, and we will not stop until you have everything you need to recover and heal. Please never hesitate to reach out to my office at (626) 304-0110 or chu.house.gov/contact if you ever need any help.

EPA Announces Soil Testing in Eaton Fire Burn Zone

This week, the U.S. EPA announced that officials will conduct soil sampling at approximately 100 randomly selected properties in the Eaton fire area under a FEMA Mission Assignment.

Field sampling will begin January 19, 2026, and will measure lead concentrations at two depths—at the bottom of excavations and approximately 6 inches below that—to develop a statistical model that may inform future wildfire response protocols. EPA is working closely with Los Angeles County, CalEPA, and other partners on this effort, and will share findings with the County to support future recovery and resiliency planning. Individual property owners will receive confidential lead results for their parcels, and EPA will refer them to County and state agencies for information about available resources.

I previously called on the federal government to undertake comprehensive soil testing to protect public health and safety, and I am urging EPA leaders to include standing homes that sustained smoke damage, as well as seeking assurance that they take action if the results of their testing find contamination.

Please never hesitate to reach out to my office at (626) 304-0110 or chu.house.gov/contact if you ever need any help.

Thank you for reading,

Rep. Judy Chu

Member of Congress

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