employees that also thank you. You know, I, one of the thing that I always amazed at is the quality and the interviews that we get with some of our firefighters. It's a specialist fee for service and California. It was a great job they did given us an overview of the extreme our weather conditions that we had, including the prolonged drought that we experienced, as well as the impacts to the more southern resiliency of our basis for my also want to convey the five impacts of working together. There was a demonstration of address or fix this problem alone. It takes a community of leaders, a community of people grieve and work through this. I have fought and we were sharing this message earlier. I'm very hopeful, even though we've experienced some devastating losses. It's easy to talk about the impacts and the implications. Of what these fires are doing to our communities as well as is doing to real people. And when you see the destruction that these fires can call to our community, you will understand at that point how your heart tends to bleed and it bleeds constantly. And so our firefighters have been under some extreme pressures and conditions. And I'll tell you, for the first time in a long time, that our firefighters as well as all of us, our leaders are very hopeful. And we're hopeful because of what President Biden, Vice President Harris says that we're hopeful because we have a secretary of USDA that is very understanding very knowledgeable, very passionate about making a positive difference on the landscape. We're fortunate to have a governor of California who was unlike any other governor, in my experience in any of the other states. When you talk about putting your money where your mouth is. Governor Newsom has done an outstanding job of committed resources to forest management trying to address climate change. And the drought conditions that we're going through. I used to work here and I know personally, that he is committed. So when you have that level of commitment that we have from a governor of a state, and when you have a secretary, who's as passionate and committed and then you have our most senior leadership, President by Vice President Campbell Harris, is a recipe for success. So our intention is to address 20 million acres of national forest lands over the next 10 years. Our plan is to also treat up to 30 million acres of all federal, tribal and state lands. And so we're doing this because we need to make a difference in the landscape. So I'm very hopeful that we also have a Congress that has been understanding. We have Senator cumbia, who has been with us who has stepped into his role of great leadership. And we also have our common leader, Congressman Aguilar, so it is my pleasure. To introduce Congressman Aguilar
Congressman. Thank you so much, ready? Thank you so much. Thank you for coming. And let me express my thanks to the men and women here at the de Rosa fire station in the US Forest Service for risking their lives on a daily basis to keep us safe. Now, the last time a Vice President visited us here in San Bernardino County was when then Vice President Joe Biden visited Colton high school and help stem on the political side for a young mayor of Redlands, who was running for Congress. You remember that out? Thank you, Madam Vice President, for your leadership for your advocacy in fighting climate change. For your commitment to the people of San Bernardino County. We know this isn't your first trip here and we know it won't be your last. It's an honour to welcome you back. In the short year, the Biden Harris administration is created more jobs than any previous administration over 6 million and we're the only economy that is stronger today than when the pandemic started. And that's only the beginning. It was my privilege to preside over the house when we passed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan that will support more good paying jobs here in the Inland Empire and across the state state. That an a key piece of that funding $84 million for California alone over the next five years will help deliver of that 10 year national strategy for wildfire management that Randy talked about. We're not immune to fires here in the Inland Empire. We know our history, the panorama fire of 1980 the old fire of 2003 devastated this still Rosa community. So without a coordinated approach, bring in resources from the federal government with the state partnerships and the local relationships. These fires will continue to rehab it or wreak havoc on our environment and pose significant health and safety dangers for our residents in the future. That renewed partnership begins today. And I'm proud to have supported the funding that enables the Forest Service to continue this important work. There's much more to address the consequences of climate change and the work that we have ahead of us. The Vice President knows that Governor Newsom knows that Secretary Vilsack and the great folks at USDA know that and so does my friend, a fierce advocate for climate change, a fierce advocate toward securing our children's future. And oh, by the way, he's also the pride of Tacoma. My friend, Senator Alex Vidya.
Thank you, Congressman. Make sure to tell my neighbours make sure you put your trash bins away after the sanitation truck comes through. Good afternoon, everybody. And thank you for joining us today I want to thank the Tulsa fire station and the San Bernardino National Forest for hosting us today. I also want to thank Vice President Harris, my friend, my predecessor, Secretary Vilsack been bending his ear all day long. The governor Newsom and Frank Governor Newsom representative Aguilar, and all my colleagues and public service who have joined us here this afternoon to highlight how the multiple investments that we're making to both recover from and address the growing threat of fires in the future. Now, it is no hyperbole to say that the climate crisis is already a daily reality here in California. I try to talk to my colleagues constantly that addressing climate isn't something that if we don't do it in 10 years, 20 years, 30 years, what will it mean? California is experiencing it already. And it's not just California deed across the western United States, historic wildfires are becoming far too frequent. And far too severe. Of these natural disasters caused tremendous harm to families. To businesses, to entire communities and entire cities, devastating impacts that I saw firsthand yet again, last year during my statewide infrastructure tour, I was trying to state to help inform my advocacy and Congress for infrastructure investments. Part of that tour took me to Santa Rosa to talk to local leaders including fire personnel on what the fires there met years ago and what the recovery process has been like. It took me to Quincy, when the Dixie fire was still ravaging communities there to see what a coordinated response could and should look like. And it's helped me lobby with my colleagues and the Biden, Harris administration to shape elements of the bipartisan infrastructure bill and we hope additional investments in the bill back better plan now the infrastructure bill that we're celebrating, is $25 billion towards land management, and $3.4 billion, specifically into wildfire risk reduction projects like the prescribed fires, hazardous fuel management, and wildfire defence grant to at risk communities like this one, as well as better integrating data and technology to help put out fires faster. You heard some of those highlights in the briefing, just down the road a little while ago and we also know that how important recovery and restoration efforts are after devastating wildfires for years until communities completely revamped so I'm proud to see the additional $600 million in funding from the USDA specifically for restoration and recovery efforts here in California. So again, I want to thank the Forest Service for their work to keep communities safe, and their new long term strategy, as well as vice president Harris, Secretary Vilsack for their partnership and making sure that this important work in California specifically gets the attention that it deserves. In Washington, DC I look forward to continuing to work together to fight to protect our communities in the face of the climate crisis. And now it's my honour to turn it over to my friends. And the governor of the great state of California. Gobble Gavin's.
What a difference a year makes a difference. Two or three years. We're in a different place. We were battling it out with the White House that was cutting budgets, reducing investments and forest vegetation management. That was quite intent on having a public debate, a national debate. And I don't mean this as a pejorative. I mean, there's quite sincerely around Reiki, fingerpointing not holding up the burden of responsibility, and here we are talking about unprecedented investments. We're talking not about a sparring partnership, but we're talking about a working partnership with an administration that not only gets it but consistently is demonstrating they can get it done. It's not just rhetorical. We had not one but two summits last year with the President and the Vice President, followed up with conversations with Secretary Vilsack and others. We asked for five specific actions within literally weeks. All five were delivered and now and I was worthy of price. And now we're at a point where we have the capacity to talk not just situationally but sustainably about a long term future where we're working more collaboratively together to address some of the issues that are at hand and I think the issue that really is at hand today is the issue of fear. And as we deal with all these simultaneous crisis, the issue of fear and the briefing, you heard about the loss of 7 million acres just in the last two years in the State of California, but it's the fear of loss that's beyond just those acres. It's the fear, losing traditions, lifestyles, people I mean, think about what happened last year, Grizzly flats wiped off the map, a town that disappeared last year because of wildfires. Greenville, California wiped off the map a few years prior paradise wiped off the bat. So this is a profound, yes, existential moment. But in the spirit of cheap more, it's also a remarkable moment of resolve and resiliency. It is a point of optimism. We're not just reflecting on the enormity of the challenge and the headwinds of climate change. With the hearts are getting a lot hotter. Drives are getting drier, the wet with these atmospheric rivers getting a lot wetter, the extremes that we're experiencing, but we're also meeting that moment head on. By looking at ways we can improve our strategies mutual aid working, not just with local and state agencies put the federal government in a completely new mindset and resolve so I'm very proud to be here as a California and I couldn't be more proud of the vice president and her incredible leadership. It's not just a month troubled by the visit here today, but every day where she has not only our back here in the state of California, but all throughout the West Coast of the United States that is experiencing extreme drought. And I couldn't be more proud of our president and the entire administration and the remarkable leadership of Senator Padilla and Congressman Iguala and others that our delivery and members of the assembly and I want to close on that remembers the legislature here because I want folks to know as well. We're not just with our hands out to the federal government. $37.6 billion $37.6 billion. We are committed to investing to address the issues of climate change in the state of California, that many nations in the world that are making those kinds of investments unprecedented. Investments in making sure we future proof this state. And again, that effort means nothing without the credible support, not just financial, coming from the federal government in the Biden Harris administration, but also a resourceful mindset. That now is front and centre in terms those partnerships particularly with the most essential partner of all, helping us manage 56 to 58% of our wildland property. And that's the US Forest Service and their new approach in the new collaborative spirit that really marks a significant part of what we're communicating here today. Madam Vice President, thank you for your incredible stewardship. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for having our backs, not only here in California, but all across the west coast and all across this nation. We're proud of you and product by administration. And I'm really grateful that someone a lot of the leaders are here. And I'm grateful again, each and every one of you for participating in this historic moment. And recognising the work that lies ahead. Thank you.
No, big deal. Here's a here's a newsflash, Randy, just want you to know. I'm incredibly impressed with the knowledge of the Vice President on these issues as witnessed in the book Africa today. So if you're looking for an additional volunteers, and she's got a few hours, she is prepared. Okay, she's prepared. Senator, Congressman, thank you. We wouldn't be having to say without your vote and your support for additional resources are very much appreciated. And Governor, you're a great partner. You're just a tremendous partner. And you were absolutely correct. The Vice President's leadership on this particular set of issues is unmatched. The President has a very personal interest in this as well. But it really makes a different point both the president vice president are focused on this. intense droughts, rising temperatures, extreme weather conditions, hazardous fuel buildup equates to longer and more intense fires. We've talked about acres today we talked about 32 civilians who lost their life in this state because of fires over the last couple of years. Let's talk about the three brave firefighters who lost their lives, trying to protect our lives and our property. So I got the 14,117 homes. Part of the American Dream that we all cherish, and and cherish destroyed by fire. 3.5 million acres of US forest lands impacted by fires over the last couple of years. That's why this day today is so important, and why it's important for us to focus on partnerships. And there are many partnerships. You've heard about them today between the state and the federal government and between local communities in the state and the federal government. But there's also a partnership between federal agencies and within USDA, the mission of the NRCS. And the Forest Service comes together in what we refer to as our chiefs initiative, our Joint Chiefs initiative. It's an effort on the part of both of those mission areas to work together to join forces and resources to commit to helping prepare communities and areas to withstand fire. And today that that mission takes a an additional step forward. We're announcing $48 million under the Joint Chiefs initiative that will fund 41 projects primarily around the West, where we have the greatest need 17 new projects are being announced into in California. The six Rivers National Forest is getting resources to create a more resilient system and the Klamath National Forest also benefiting from this programme. So 48 additional dollars on top of the resources that the other speakers have talked about. So partnerships are incredibly important. But the most important aspect of all of this beyond the money beyond the partnerships are the people of the forces and of cow farms that have a local volunteer fire departments. You can't say enough about these folks. And I have the pleasure of introducing one to you today. Sarah Hudson is a unique individual. Not only does she work in the Forest Service as for the last six years, but she felt that it was her responsibility in addition to serving the public in that role, to also be a member of the National Guard. She's had an extended career at the National Guard. She's still in the national Governor governor's know, the President's how incredibly important the national guardians and these are amazing people that take themselves away from their families and their communities and put themselves in harm's way both here and abroad without ever hesitated in that same thought process that same. That same mission is certainly true for ourselves. So I is a really an honour. It's It's my honour to introduce to you Sarah Hudson, who who understands and appreciates the national service and is living it every single day, sir.
Go go ahead with this then, um, thank you, Secretary for that generous introduction. I really appreciate it. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. My name is Sarah Hudson. I'm a senior firefighter on Kietzke Cal attack here on the San Bernardino National Forest, Senior Airman with the 1/63 attack wing California Air National Guard. Now whether you know whether I'm flying in a helicopter for the US Forest Service or the 1/63, performing maintenance on ground support equipment for remotely piloted aircraft, I'm constantly responding to wildland fires and I have the privilege of serving others through that capacity. Fire aviation and military service are integral to who I am and I would not be here today without the camaraderie of my brothers and sisters in arms and in fire. It's gonna get real for a second though, because as our fire seasons continue to grow in both length and intensity, so too does the demand don't have and firefighters like myself. And while this times can be rather daunting, the growing awareness and continuous support for the health and well being of wildland firefighters has shown me that no matter what we're not alone, remember alone in this battle, right? It's given me the hope for the future and for our ability as the Forest Service to continue to serve and protect our communities. And it's for this reason that I am truly truly humbled to introduce our next speaker, someone who has always had the welfare of California and of all Americans at the forefront. Please welcome the Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris.
Thank you, Sara. Today means many things as has been said, but the President and me one of the most important aspects of of this visit today is the important responsibility that we all have to thank the men and women who serve so selflessly with such incredible courage and commitment to their community. People like Sarah like chief, they are prepared to give their lives for perfect strangers. They do work every day that requires the highest level of professionalism skill dedication, and commitment. And so, on behalf of the President and myself and our country, I want to thank all the men and women who serve in such difficult times, but always with such grace Thank you, Sarah. Thank you. Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack, I want to thank you. We've known each other for quite some time. He has it in his heart, as well as with the experience he brings to the task of being Secretary with many obligations and responsibilities but on this one, he has put together a 10 year plan that is extraordinary, that is in depth, and that meets this moment in the way that we need and in the way that is about looking at the future, being able to see what is in front of us clear eyed, and then be prepared to meet the challenge and get in front of it. So thank you, Secretary for all that you do and being with me today. Governor Newsom, I want to thank you, you know, the President and I, I think actually even perhaps before we were sworn in, but certainly around that time, which is a year ago, had been convening governors from the Western States in particular, to address the this epidemic, if you will, with wildfires, and Governor Newsom has been a leader among leaders in being a forceful base around the importance of the federal state and local relationship and partnership, and has been a clear voice about what is important in terms of preparing for the next wave. In addition to what we must do to provide relief in terms of the disasters that have already occurred, Governor Newsom Thank you. Senator pedia and Congressman Aguilar Chairman, I want to thank you both. I was joking with them earlier, the President and I and all of us could not do what we're doing in terms of the announcements today, were they not in the United States Congress, producing all of the leadership that is important for those checks to get to get drawn so that they can be signed? They advocate in an extraordinary way and I happen to know because of my four years in the Senate, that it is not always easy. You know, the western states have a particular need around wildfires. There's been so much about the history and tradition of federal response to national or to natural disasters that has been grounded on natural disasters that are not wildfires. It takes for example, hurricanes, tornadoes, and the this epidemic of wildfires is relatively new in that there have always been wildfires in one form or another, but the frequency and the intensity, and the ubiquity of wildfires just in the last couple of years, as the governor talked about, is extraordinary and requires our federal government to see what is happening and act in real time. And that is the work that is finally happening in a way that the government and the federal government is not slow to react but has been quick to react to deal with the needs that are present and our in our series in terms of the impact on real life, property and the well being of whole communities. I am a daughter of California proud daughter of California so I break the hats to this issue.
A bit of personal experience growing up where we had droughts growing up in these conditions understanding the seriousness of being able to respond quickly. Our family in the last few years. We've had evacuation orders because of the wildfires. So I understand from personal experience, how many people in the state of 40 million people and when you talk about western states, you're talking about 10s of millions of people are under threat of these kinds of disasters. I personally was on the ground and visited after the Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa in 2017. I was on the ground at Paradise in 2018 during the campfire on the Creek fire in Fresno and 2020 where the governor and I Governor Newsom, anon visited. The extraordinary courage of these firefighters is the kind of courage that includes them fighting fires. While they are aware that their own home may be burning. I've met firefighters who are fighting fires while their own home was burning. We are talking about firefighters in terms of the the Forestry Service, the US forestry service, who have been working in response to these extreme fires around the clock. These are folks who aren't saying My time is up, my shift is over. They work multiple shifts, often without enough sleep and certainly without enough rest, in terms of dealing with the dangers that they face every day. And what that requires for the human spirit to be able to take it on and run into danger to prevent that danger from spreading to other human beings. So the work that President and I are doing is about meeting this moment. Understanding that the climate crisis has almost everything to do with what we are seeing in terms of the crisis of wildfires. It is about recognising that we cannot as a government or as a society, or people who care only respond in reaction to a moment of harm or danger. We must also be able to use technology and common sense and the expertise of those on the ground. To understand we have the tools to predict these wildfires ahead of time and once we are able to then do that, does it not compel us to say what are we doing to prevent the knowable or the predictable? So so much of what we are doing today is about an announcement that is about a federal state and local collaboration around preparedness and what we can do to engage in resilience, meaning what we can do to strengthen communities. So if they are hit, that they can bounce back, and before that, what can we do to help communities so that not only are we dealing with forests, but we are talking with homeowners and reaching out to communities to figure out how we can support them to create a community that is less likely to be so significantly damaged if a fire should hit so this is the best way to fight, we believe is to focus not only on reaction, but on prevention. What can we do in terms of resilience? So today we are announcing As the Secretary mentioned $48 million for an approach to the country that is really about making forest healthier and safer. And it is focused on what we need to do to be resilient to wildfires and to deal with what we can do to support communities in terms of their resilience. The other important announcement we are making today is that we are committing $1.3 billion to disaster relief funding, including $600 million for California.
And again, some of the work that we've been doing and these congressional leaders have been doing we've been doing in the administration, is to realise that so many of the traditions around our federal agencies in response to disasters and natural disasters has not been focused necessarily on the nature and pathology of fires. And so we are working with this funding to make sure that we are putting the resources where they are needed to address the unique challenges that fires present. And this is an addition to the investments that we have made in the bipartisan infrastructure law. I can't talk enough about what we were able to accomplish with that law bipartisan, that is going to directly benefit this issue. Specifically, there will be $5 billion and more actually for wildfire preparedness and resilience. And it will include and this requires its own conversation, a pay raise for our federal firefighters. And I invite everyone to become familiar with the history of this issue, and for how long they have been underpaid given the nature and value of their work. And so we are very, very excited to acknowledge their work not only in words, but with the pay that recognises the value of the skill and the dignity of the work that they perform. We are also as part of the bipartisan bipartisan infrastructure law announcing $1 billion in wildfire defence grants. That is based on some legislation that I sponsored when I was in the Senate and work that is being done by our Congress and third, funding for satellite wildfire tracking programmes. As you know, I had the Space Council for the United States. And I invite everyone when you are able to come to dc gov to join the Senator and the congressman and Secretary Mian come out to Goddard, which is where we you can see satellites the United States is sending to literally do everything, of course that we can do with satellite technology from GPS to all the things that you benefit from, but the satellites that we've got up there that allow us to predict the track of fires, but also to see those areas of a state that are prone to fire so that we can put the resources there ahead of time again, about prevention and what we can do to invest in resilience. So this is some exciting work. And I'll close my comments by saying this. This is a subject that requires us to understand that when we as a country get in front of an issue, it is not because of any one leader or any one approach is because there's collaboration is because there's a recognition that the work that happens on the ground usually requires great skill. Skill and hard work that should be rewarded. There is the work that is about collaboration between governments we are our best when local, state and federal work together hand in hand and encumbered by politics or partisanship. There's the work that we do as community to continue to inform the community about what is available to them, so they can exercise their power to keep their families and themselves safe. The work we are announcing today and celebrating today is a function of all of those approaches and I'm very proud of the folks who are in particular on the ground doing this work every day. As I said before, I will say again you inspire us all Thank you
