U.S. Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to publish final regulations for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act.
Last year, the New Mexico Congressional Democrats successfully passed the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act to establish the Hermit’s Peak Claim Office within FEMA and provide $3.95 billion for New Mexico families and businesses impacted by wildfire. The legislation also required USDA to cover 100 percent cost share for its programs. The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act was led by Luján and Leger Fernández, and co-sponsored by Heinrich and Rep. Stansbury.
The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office cited provisions related to landscape tree losses risk reduction compensation as reason for the delay. Members of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation relayed that this is a holdover from the Cerro Grande fire and has no basis in the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act.
“We are writing to express our deep concern over the prolonged delay in finalizing the regulations for the Hermit’s Peak Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act. As you know, we introduced and Congress passed this legislation to quickly and fully compensate victims of the largest wildfire in New Mexico history,” the lawmakers said. “However, the failure to finalize the regulations is causing confusion and uncertainty among fire victims, leading to delays in providing justice to our communities.”
“While FEMA established an aggressive timeline for setting up the Claim’s Office, it has missed a number of self-imposed deadlines that has deepened mistrust with the community. We, therefore, request that your offices provide us with an update on the status of these regulations and when New Mexicans can expect them to be finalized,” the lawmakers continued. “Every day that passes without compensation to the victims delays their ability to begin rebuilding after losing so much. We ask that you put yourself into the shoes of those who’ve waited more than a year after the fire started.”
Full text of the letter is available here.