Rep. Min Condemns Calls to Add Political Conditions to California Wildfire Aid as “Un-American” and “Pathetic” in First Floor Speech

Washington, D.C. — In Representative Dave Min’s (CA-47) first floor speech, he spoke out against calls to condition federal aid for Southern California, saying, “tying conditions to aid is un-American. It is despicable. It’s pathetic. We have never done this before. And I urge my Republican colleagues to think about the precedent they will be setting if they set conditions, political conditions, to this aid. Because the next time a disaster strikes, it could be your district.” You can watch Representative Min’s floor speech here. 

Representative Min has repeatedly called for unity during this crisis. On The Hill with Chris Stirewalt, Representative Min said, “We should be uniting and coming together in times of crisis, just as we have done in the past.”

TRANSCRIPT:

“My name is Dave Min, and I was just elected to represent the 47th Congressional District in Orange County, California, just south of the fires.

And while we are not affected by these, we are subject to the same fire risks on a year-by-year basis. And what we are seeing right now is a biblical-level disaster in California. 

The scope of this devastation is unprecedented. And now, as has been mentioned before, is a time when we need to come together, understanding that with climate change, we are going to continue seeing biblical-level events going forward. Now when we’ve had past disasters, whether hurricanes in Southeastern United States, Florida, the Gulf Coast, tornadoes, flooding, and yes, wildfires, we have stepped up. The people of Southern California have stepped up to help those in need. 

That is the American way, that is the California way. And what is being proposed right now, in tying conditions to aid is un-American. It is despicable. It’s pathetic. We have never done this before. And I urge my Republican colleagues to think about the precedent they will be setting if they set conditions, political conditions, to this aid. Because the next time a disaster strikes, it could be your district. Your area. And you do not want to set this precedent right now. People are struggling. Thousands of firefighters are exhausted. We need your help. 

I yield back the remainder of my time.”

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