Senator Rick Scott, chair of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, led a field hearing in Pacific Palisades, California, alongside Senator Ron Johnson, chair of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The hearing was titled “Forgotten After the Flames: Stories from the Palisades Fire.” It focused on examining how older adults were affected by the January 2025 Palisades fire.
The senators announced that their committees have launched a congressional investigation into the fire and its impact on seniors. Survivors, local leaders, and advocates shared their experiences during the hearing, describing challenges faced by elderly residents in preparing for, evacuating from, and recovering after the deadly wildfire. They also discussed ongoing efforts to access resources nearly a year later.
Senators Scott and Johnson questioned government preparedness and response failures during the disaster. They highlighted an urgent need for accountability and reforms to ensure that seniors and other vulnerable groups are not overlooked in future disaster recovery efforts.
As part of their investigation, both senators sent letters to several local and federal officials requesting information about wildfire response efforts. Recipients included Los Angeles’s mayor, city council president, as well as heads of departments such as Water and Power, Fire Department, and Parks and Recreation. Additionally, Senator Scott sent letters to secretaries of federal departments including Agriculture, Homeland Security, Interior, Justice, Transportation, and Treasury seeking assistance in gathering information related to the fire.
“Read below for Chairman Scott’s remarks as prepared for delivery above in English.”
