California Senate Passes Resolution with Strong Bipartisan Support, Urges Federal Aid for Tustin Navy North Hangar Fire Disaster Recovery

Sacramento, Calif. – In another major step, Senate Joint Resolution 13 (SJR 13) has passed the full California Senate with a bipartisan unanimous vote.

SJR 13, championed by Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), calls for federal support to fund disaster cleanup following the devastating fire at the Navy North Hangar in Tustin, California.

“The bipartisan passage of SJR 13 shows that when it comes to the well-being of our communities, party lines don't matter. I urge our federal representatives to act with the same sense of purpose and urgency,” Senator Newman said.

On November 7 of last year, a fire ripped through one of the two historic World War II-era hangars at the former Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin, and the residual impact has reverberated throughout the region. The massive wooden structure burned for nearly a month, directly affecting more than 1,500 homes, 29 local schools, and 14,000 residents. The fallout from the blaze has left the city of Tustin grappling with unprecedented financial burdens, as emergency expenses have surpassed 100% of the annual budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

SJR 13, co-authored by Senator Newman, Senator Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana), and Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine), calls on Congress and President Biden to allocate $100 million in supplemental funding dedicated to clean up and mitigation efforts at the site and in the surrounding communities. The resolution also urges the president to declare a national emergency, recognizing the severity and ongoing impacts of the fallout from the Navy North Hangar Fire.

Thanks to state efforts and pressure like SJR 13, the Navy has begun reimbursements to Tustin; however, continued federal funding is necessary to alleviate the financial stress on the city. Senator Newman remains committed to advocating for the financial and environmental support that the Tustin community needs to recover from the impacts of the devastating fire.

The resolution now passes to the California Assembly, marking a crucial milestone in the legislative effort to secure essential federal funding for the ongoing recovery efforts.

View and download the full floor presentation at bit.ly/SJR13SenateFloor

To schedule an interview with Senator Newman, contact Brian Wheatley at 916.651.4029.

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State Senator Josh Newman represents the 29th Senate District, which is comprised of portions of Los Angeles County, Orange County, and San Bernardino County. The 29th District includes all or parts of the cities of Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Chino Hills, City of Industry, Cypress, Diamond Bar, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Placentia, Rowland Heights, Stanton, Walnut, West Covina and Yorba Linda. Senator Newman is a former United States Army officer, businessperson, and veterans’ advocate, and lives in Fullerton with his wife and daughter.