Spencer Pratt, a former Republican mayoral candidate in Los Angeles, expressed support for Democratic Senator Adam Schiff after Schiff played a key role in advancing bipartisan disaster relief legislation aimed at assisting wildfire victims, including Pratt. In a statement, Pratt acknowledged the efforts of both Schiff and Senator Rick Scott, stating, "Major props to [Sen. Adam Schiff] and [Sen. Rick Scott] for working across the aisle to get this done." He emphasized the importance of financial relief in disaster recovery.
The legislation, known as the Doug LaMalfa Federal Disaster Tax Relief Certainty Act, was passed by the Senate on August 7 and is awaiting approval from President Donald Trump. The bill proposes to eliminate the current requirement that individuals must incur damages exceeding 10% of their adjusted gross income to qualify for disaster relief tax breaks. This change would apply to those affected by disasters between December 28, 2019, and July 4, 2025, including the California wildfires that destroyed Pratt's home.
The bill also stipulates that wildfire relief payments will be considered untaxable income. According to estimates from the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, the 2025 California wildfires caused damages ranging from $28 billion to $53.8 billion and destroyed nearly 13,000 housing units.
Senator Scott remarked on the failures of California politicians in addressing the needs of residents affected by the fires, stating that after meeting with Pratt, they worked diligently to secure the necessary relief. Additionally, Republican James Johansson, a farmer running for the California State Assembly, thanked Scott and Schiff for their efforts, highlighting the legacy of the late Rep. Doug LaMalfa, for whom the bill is named. LaMalfa served 13 years in the House of Representatives and was known for his advocacy for agricultural interests before his passing in January due to a medical emergency. Schiff's office did not provide a comment when contacted.