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Richard Blumenthal: “The Palisades fire was a horrific calamity. Communities were…”

Featuring: Richard Blumenthal, Democratic | U.S. Senate from Connecticut

JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire

Published January 28, 2026 | Video Starts at 08:19

Thanks, Senator Scott. Now next return to a ranking member for his opening statement. Thanks, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the witnesses for Being here today, there's no question that The Palisades fire was a horrific calamity. Communities were wiped out, thousands of homes were burned to the ground, and 13 people lost their lives. It was also far from the only natural disaster our country has faced in very recent years. In Texas last summer, more than 135 people died in a historic flood. (08:19–08:33)

CLAIM

Asserts the scale and impact of the Palisades fire.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Richard Blumenthal

“In Texas last summer, more than 135 people died in a historic flood.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 08:43-08:49
“In April 2025, FEMA sought to cancel funding for building resilient infrastructure in Communities, the BRIC program.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 09:52-10:02
“Survivors of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina have received only 1 billion of the estimated 60 billion in damages.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 11:23-11:35
“FEMA's lost thousands of employees in the first half of 2025.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 11:49-11:55
“Communities across the south are still struggling to recover from Hurricane Elaine 2024.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 08:48-08:56
“A severe rainstorm in August 2024 unleashed deadly flash flooding, causing millions of dollars in damages and killing two people [in…”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 08:55-09:09
“Cuts in FEMA funding are crippling the resilience and robustness of the federal response [to natural disasters].”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 09:40-09:51
“FEMA slashed the reimbursements it provides to fire departments when they send vehicles to help fight fires outside their jurisdiction.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 10:06-10:16
“Responsibility for these cuts goes to Secretary Noem, who has weakened the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 10:21-10:31
“Secretary Noem's insistence on personally approving every contract worth $100,000 has delayed critical aid to survivors.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 10:46-10:57
“Connecticut is waiting on $5 million in hazardous mitigation funds and some $80 million in public assistance funds.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 11:03-11:13
“FEMA has been withholding millions of dollars in mitigation funding from Florida, Louisiana and Texas.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 11:38-11:49
“FEMA also helps homeowners, small businesses recover.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 1:09:52-1:09:58
“States like Florida, where they are still awaiting funding.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 1:09:58-1:10:03
“The president provided $29.8 million in September for recovery [from Wisconsin floods].”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 1:10:27-1:10:36
“FEMA, namely the current administrator, is delaying the funding that communities are due to recover.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 1:10:41-1:10:52
“The Secretary has to approve every contract worth $100,000 has delayed critical aid to those survivors.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 1:11:21-1:11:30
“We're dealing with an emergency in the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 1:12:09-1:12:16
“It is bigger than California. It is national in scope.”
JUST IN: Ron Johnson Leads Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing On The Palisades Fire | Uploaded January 28, 2026 | 1:12:32-1:12:43