Congress Lets Western States Burn, Fails to Find Funding to Combat Wildfires

Congress Lets Western States Burn, Fails to Find Funding to Combat Wildfires

Recess begins without lawmakers acting on legislation to fund firefighting efforts in Oregon, Washington and California.

President Obama had requested $615 million in emergency funding to help the U.S. Forest Service and Interior Department pay for firefighting efforts, and the Democratic-controlled Senate proposed a $2.7 billion spending bill to deal with both the wildfires and the influx of unaccompanied minors along the Southwest border. But Senate Republicans used a procedural objection to block its consideration.The House did not introduce a bill to combat wildfires.