Wildfires in Oregon

Floor Speech

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Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to a crisis in the American West and across the country. Extreme wildfires now ravage my home State of Oregon every summer, and the threat is growing. I am here today to speak out against cuts to programs that support wildland firefighters and their frontline crews.

For years now, American families in the Pacific Northwest have lived on the edge, wondering if this will be the year they are forced to flee their homes at night with only their children, their pets, and whatever few mementos they can frantically grab in the moments after the evacuation alert.

I have spoken with Oregonians who lost everything in the blink of an eye; homes, family heirlooms, beloved pets, and, tragically, family members.

I have spoken with people who demonstrate extraordinary bravery and step into the line of duty as wildland firefighters, sacrificing their safety to protect their neighbors and their communities.

The 2020 Labor Day fires were the most destructive in our State's history. Mr. Speaker, 1.4 million acres burned. More than 4,000 homes were destroyed, and at least nine people died. Smoke filled the air for days throughout the region.

Last year, Oregon saw 1.9 million acres burn, setting a new record.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to set aside political differences on this issue because the danger is spreading. Wildfire season now stretches for much of the year. That threat has reached States that never expected to see megafires. From the scorched hills of Hawaii to smoke-filled skies in New York, this is no longer just a Western States problem. It is a national emergency.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please listen to the American West when we say that this is a crisis that will kill thousands more until we act. Let's work together on real solutions, like investing in wildfire preparedness and providing better pay and benefits for wildland firefighters.

The administration's current plan of slashing volunteer wildfire crews is a disingenuous attempt to cut costs. It is shortsighted and will cause more loss of property and lives.

I stand ready to work with anyone who is willing to take this threat seriously. Funding Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program

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Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the weaponization of our Federal Government and the Trump administration's actions to distort agency missions and cancel valuable grant programs.

In March and again in April, I wrote to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS, at the Department of Homeland Security regarding a decision they made to abruptly cut funding for the Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program.

The Immigration and Nationality Act established USCIS to administer immigration benefits and citizenship programs. USCIS oversees lawful immigration into the United States and provides services, including determining eligibility for citizenship, verifying employment eligibility, administering humanitarian programs, and promoting instruction and training on citizenship rights and responsibilities.

As I wrote in my letter to the USCIS, the Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program furthers this mission by providing grant funding to organizations that support eligible, lawful permanent residents with the U.S. citizenship application process, civics instruction, and other services to help prepare for naturalization.

If my colleagues haven't been to a naturalization ceremony, I encourage everyone to do this. These are the types of people we want to be U.S. citizens.

In response to my letter, USCIS Acting Deputy Director Kika Scott tried to justify the decision to cancel this program by stating that it no longer effectuates the agency's priorities. That is unacceptable and a frustrating explanation.

First, we frequently hear from our colleagues across the aisle who say that people need to come here legally. As I said, this is a program that helps eligible, legal permanent residents with the U.S. citizenship process.

Second, Congress already appropriated this funding, so it is illegal and unconstitutional for the administration to block the grant funding just because a President doesn't like immigrants and is doing everything in his power to vilify them.

The United States was built by people who came to this country to seek a better life for themselves and their families. This thoughtless decision is an abuse of power and just one more example of how the Trump administration is scapegoating immigrants.

Today, during Immigrant Heritage Month, I am, once again, calling on USCIS to reinstate the remainder of the canceled grant awards that helped refugees and other aspiring Americans who came to the United States through legal pathways to assimilate and contribute positively to our vibrant communities and the economy.

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