Washington, D.C. – Today, the Hawaii delegation sent a letter to House and Senate leaders urging congressional action to ensure Maui receives necessary supplemental disaster funding as the one year anniversary of the Maui fires approaches.
The letter details their requests, including an additional $20.9 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund to meet anticipated needs through Fiscal Year 2025, as well as support for President Biden’s request for $3.5 billion for the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program which would help communities nationwide, including Maui.
“While we mark the one year anniversary since the fires, our work to support our Maui ʻohana as they heal and rebuild is even more urgent. Congress must act now to get much needed funds to communities like Lahaina that have been hit hard by disaster. The ongoing crisis in Maui has affected the entire country, including Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi, and has had ripple effects and relocations throughout the state. These funding requests are critical to the survival and well-being of all of Hawaiʻi, and we will continue to fight for these funds,” said U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02).
“One year after the terrible tragedy of Maui, we have made solid progress toward full healing, recovery and rebuilding, assisted by some $1 billion in federal disaster relief,” said U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01). “But so much more remains, and our congressional delegation remains fully focused on assuring the further federal assistance that will be necessary.”
Action by Congress would allocate much-needed funds, allowing the activation or continuation of recovery programs on Maui by key departments and agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Economic Development Administration, National Park Service, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, Department of Labor, and Department of Energy.
The letter to Congressional leadership can be viewed here.
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