As destructive wildfires continue to ravage parts of California, Rep. Maxine Waters is calling for urgent support to bolster emergency services and recovery efforts. During a Friday interview with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo, the congresswoman urged Americans to focus on helping communities in crisis, rather than engaging in partisan politics.

Waters, whose district includes areas of Los Angeles, emphasized the financial demands of disaster response and the need to secure adequate funding.

“The first thing we’ve got to understand is, services cost money,” Waters said. “And we should be willing to get the richest people in this country—the richest 1% that is protected—to pay their fair share so we can provide those services.”

She stressed that her priority is ensuring immediate aid reaches those affected—not weighing in on political positioning or future elections.

“I’m not into the blame game,” she said. “I’m not here to talk about whether leaders are positioning themselves for higher office. What matters right now is action—getting help to people who desperately need it.”

Waters added that responsibility transcends party lines.

“With that money and those resources, the people who’ve been selected or elected to do the job should do the job. I don’t care who it is—Democrat, Republican—it doesn’t matter. What matters is doing the right thing.”

In a particularly heartfelt moment, Waters appealed to the public’s shared humanity.

“We all should have heavy hearts right now, but we should also have faith,” she said. “We should be committed to doing everything we can to help those who need us. Politics can wait. We have lives to protect and rebuild.”

California’s wildfire season continues to stretch local resources thin, prompting widespread calls for additional aid. Waters’ comments echo the concerns of many residents who believe stronger investment in emergency infrastructure is critical to coping with ongoing and future crises.

With communities facing displacement, property loss, and severe environmental damage, leaders across the state have urged swift, unified action. Waters’ message was clear: now is the time for compassion, cooperation, and decisive leadership—not political division.