If you live in an earthquake zone, it helps if your member of Congress is the House minority leader.
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, along with fellow California Republican Rep. Paul Cook, are pushing Congress to authorize $100 million to rebuild a naval base that spans their districts, located in the state’s south-central section, which was rocked last week by twin earthquakes.
The GOP lawmakers are working to secure the money via an amendment they introduced this week to the National Defense Authorization Act, a bill currently being considered on the House floor. The measure would prioritize necessary repair and modernization work at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, a military installation that is still not “mission capable” after 6.4 and 7.1 earthquakes hit Kern and San Bernardino Counties on July 4 and July 5. It is likely to be considered on the House floor Thursday, according to a McCarthy spokeswoman.
McCarthy on Wednesday praised the first responders to the natural disaster and thanked President Trump for signing an emergency declaration to facilitate the recovery effort.
“The first responders did an amazing job that will lead to rebuilding for our military base in China Lake, for the families who are sitting out there today,” the Trump ally told reporters on Capitol Hill, using the same adjective to describe the fact there were no fatalities.
Trump this week touted the collaboration between himself, McCarthy, and Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom to obtain “emergency funding.”
Spoke to @GOPLeader Kevin McCarthy about the earthquakes in California and informed him that we will be working very closely on emergency funding. Also spoke to Governor @GavinNewsom – all working together!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2019
McCarthy’s amendment, proposing a change to the bill laying out the U.S. Department of Defense’s policy framework for fiscal year 2020, also would provide money for other installations in the R-2508 Special Use Airspace Complex damaged by the earthquakes, such as Edwards Air Force Base and Fort Irwin. It would simultaneously call for an Earthquake-Damaged Infrastructure Restoration Master Plan to be submitted to Congress no later than Oct. 1.
It remains to be seen whether the measure will succeed as the House debates its $733 billion version of the National Defense Authorization Act. The bill is already at odds with the $750 billion counterpart the Senate passed in June, setting up a political and legislative fight between the two chambers before it is sent to Trump’s desk for his assent.
