PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) and Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28) are leading an effort urging the United States Postal Service (USPS) to extend mail forwarding, free of charge, for families and businesses still recovering from the devastating January 2025 Palisades and Eaton wildfires.
“These fires destroyed thousands of homes and displaced tens of thousands of families, and the recovery is far from over,” said Sherman. “Extending free mail forwarding is a simple, low-cost step that will provide meaningful stability for families and small businesses still struggling to rebuild their lives.”
“Over a year after the Eaton Fire, 70% of survivors have yet to return home and almost half of survivors still reside in either temporary or unstable housing. As the twelve-month period allowing survivors to forward their mail free of charge has just expired, it is imperative that survivors are not forced to pay out of pocket simply to receive their mail at another location because their home was destroyed or damaged. That is why I am proud to join Rep. Sherman in calling on the United States Postal Service (USPS) to immediately grant an additional 18 months of free mail forwarding for those displaced by the Los Angeles Fires and ensure survivors aren’t forced to bear yet another expense,” said Rep. Chu.
In a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner, Congressman Sherman and Congresswoman Chu called on USPS to grant an 18-month extension of free mail forwarding for wildfire survivors whose initial 12-month benefit period is now expiring.
The Palisades and Eaton wildfires destroyed more than 16,000 structures and claimed 31 lives, leaving entire neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Malibu permanently scarred. Many displaced residents relied on USPS’s standard mail forwarding service to continue receiving essential correspondence during the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
However, more than a year later, many survivors remain in temporary housing while navigating insurance claims, and ongoing financial losses. The Members emphasized that allowing the free service to expire now would create unnecessary hardship during an already prolonged recovery.
“The cost of this extension would be modest compared to the tangible benefit it would provide to communities still working to recover,” Sherman added.
Congressman Sherman and his colleagues requested a prompt response from USPS to ensure wildfire survivors continue receiving critical support during the extended recovery process.
Click here to view a copy of the letter.
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