After the Fire USA brings wildfire survivors and community leaders from multiple fires and all types of communities, including frontier, rural, suburban, and urban, to Washington, D.C.
We move together, demanding what is right, fair, and just for megafire survivors.
Megafire is a relatively new national crisis, and federal policy has not kept pace with the realities facing communities rebuilding on the ground every day. Our work ensures that survivor voices are heard and that federal laws, rules, and funding reflect what recovery actually requires.
Over the past eight years, we have been to Washington dozens of times. Most recently, we were instrumental in securing more than $6 billion in disaster tax relief for wildfire survivors. And we are not done.
We are now focused on reforming and codifying CDBG-DR and ensuring jurisdictions are fully and promptly reimbursed for recovery costs. When federal dollars slow, recovery slows. Families stay displaced longer. That is unacceptable.
We also provide trusted subject matter expertise to Members of Congress across parties and across chambers. It is our honor to do so.
Let’s get people home. Let’s get them home together.
Federal Advocacy
We are the most effective megafire policy + advocacy group in the nation. We do not back down. We understand politics. We do not play politics with the lives of survivors. When we fight, we win.
Disaster Tax Relief Advocacy
After the Fire USA was instrumental in securing more than $6 billion in federal disaster tax relief for wildfire survivors, ensuring that compensation for losses, damages, and recovery expenses is not treated as taxable income and does not jeopardize access to essential benefits like Medicaid or VA assistance.
We first raised this issue with Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) in October 2021 and have since led repeated, survivor-centered advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill. Our work helped advance the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act (H.R. 5863), which ultimately passed the U.S. Senate by Unanimous Consent in December 2024, with bipartisan leadership from following overwhelming House passage earlier that year.
This work is not finished.
After the Fire USA is now actively working on the 2025 Disaster Tax Relief Bill, a bicameral, bipartisan extension to ensure continued protections for wildfire survivors. In January 2025, we returned to Washington, D.C. to advance this effort directly with Congressional offices.
The 2025 legislation affects survivors of:
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the Maui fires of 2023
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the Eaton Fire of 2025
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the Oregon fires of 2020
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the Marshall Fire of 2021
We maintain strong, trusted relationships on both sides of the aisle and will continue to leverage them solely in service of disaster survivors.
To be clear: After the Fire USA is not for hire. We are not for sale. We work for fire survivors, period.
Thank you to all the delegates who made virtual and in-person trips for this bill:
- Allison James, Town of Superior, Boulder County, Colorado–Marshall Fire (2021)
- Belia Ramos, County of Napa, Board of Supervisor, Chairwoman–North Bay Fires (2017, 2020)
- Bradley Sherwood, Wildfire Leader, Tubbs Fire Survivor, Founder Larkfield Resiliency)–Tubbs Fire (2017)
- Brent Woodworth, Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation–Woolsey Fire (2019)
- Casey Taylor, Founder and Superintendent, Achieve Charter Schools of Paradise– Camp Fire (2018)
- Jeff Okrepkie, Founder, Coffey Strong, Tubbs Fire Leader & Survivor, Santa Rosa City Council–TubbsFire (2017)
- Jenn Kaaoush, Founder & Co-Director, Superior Rising, Marshall Fire Leader & Survivor, Town of SuperiorTrustee–Marshall Fire (2021)
- Jennifer Gray Thompson, CEO, After the Fire USA–North Bay Fires (2015, 2017, 2019, 2020)
- Kat Merrick, Founder & Executive Director, The Local Love Project–Thomas Fire(2017/18) + WoolseyFire (2019)
- Kevin Goss, Plumas County Supervisor–Dixie Fire (2021)
- Neal Shah, Founder, Superior Rising, Town of Superior Mayor Pro-Tem–Marshall Fire (2021)
- Reno Franklin, After the Fire USA Board (FRMR), Tribal Chairman, Kashia Band of Pomo Indians – North Bay Fires (2015, 2017, 2019, 2020)
- Rosa Brandt, Program Manager, After the Fire USA
- Steve Crowder, Camp Fire Survivor, City of Paradise Council Member–Camp Fire (2018)
- Will Abrams, Tubbs Fire Leader & Survivor–Tubbs Fire (2017)
Thank you to the offices we met with over the past few years:
- Rep. Adam Smith Office (MO-8)Rep.
- Brittany Pettersen Office (D-CO)
- Rep. Ken Calvert Office (CA-41)
- Rep. Darrell Issa Office (CA-48)
- Rep. David Joyce (OH-14)
- Rep. David Valadao Office (R-CA)
- Rep. Doug LaMalfa Office (R-CA)
- Rep. Doug Lamborn Office (CO-05)
- Rep. Jared Huffman Office (D-CA)
- Rep. Jay Obernolte Office (CA-23)
- Rep. Joe Neguse Office (D-CO)
- Rep. Julia Brownley Office (D-CA)
- Rep. Jill Tokuda Office (D-HI)
- Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA)
- Rep. Ken Clark Office (D-MA)
- Rep. Kevin Kiley Office (CA-03)
- Rep. Mike Thompson Office (D-CA)
- Rep. Scalise (R) Louisiana
- Rep. Young Kim Office (CA-40)
- Senator Alex Padilla Office (D-CA)
- Senator Bennet (D-CO)
- Senator Blackburn Office (R-TN)
- Senator Britt Office (R-AL)
- Senator Butler Office (D-CA)
- Senator Cassidy Office (R-LA)
- Senator Cornyn Office (R-TX)
- Senator Cruz Office (R-TX)
- Senator Daines Office (R-MT)
- Senator Dianne Feinstein Office (D-CA)
- Senator Hickenlooper Office (D-CO)
- Senator Hirono (D-HI)
- Senator Hyde-Smith Office (R-MS)
- Senator Kelly Office (D-AZ)
- Senator Kennedy (R-LA)
- Senator Hirono (D-HI)
- Senator Schatz (D-HI)
- Senator Schumer (D-NY)
- Senator Vance (R-OH)
- Senator Wyden Office (D-OR)
- Senate Finance staff (D)
- Senate Finance staff (R)
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
- House Committee on Ways & Means
- Speaker Kevin McCarthy
- Ways & Means Chairman
In the News
Video Presentation: Rep. Mike Thompson and Rep. Doug LaMalfa
At the 2025 Wildfire Leadership Summit, Jennifer Gray Thompson of After the Fire USA shared the powerful story behind passing the bipartisan Disaster Relief Tax Bill (HR 5863) — a landmark victory for fire survivors across the nation. Featuring messages from Congressman Mike Thompson (Napa) and Congressman Doug LaMalfa (Butte County), this session highlights how…
US Senate passes long-awaited tax relief for fire victims
Story by The Press Democrat. “This is a huge moment of justice for disaster survivors, said Jennifer Gray Thompson, CEO of After The Fire USA, a key advocate for the legislation. “The direct impact on people’s lives is so profound” she said. “It was a massive group effort. We all did our part.” …
Disaster relief advocate calls for ‘urgency’ in Congress over tax relief legislation
Story by NBC News, Meet the Press. With just a few weeks remaining in the current session of Congress, After the Fire USA CEO Jennifer Gray Thompson joins Meet the Press NOW to discuss why it’s so critical for the Senate to pass federal disaster tax relief legislation before the end of the year.
Hurricane Milton victims could get more generous tax breaks. Senators just need to vote for them.
Story by msn. “I absolutely think Helene should put pressure [on lawmakers to pass the bill],” said Jennifer Gray Thompson, founder and CEO of After the Fire USA, an organization that has helped communities navigate recovery efforts after catastrophic fires. “It can deliver more relief to more people who have already lost everything.” Months…
