In U.S. Senator Brian Schatz’ estimation, Congress’ has just one, unambiguous task to accomplish before it adjourns for the holiday break: approve the Biden administration’s $100 billion disaster funding request.

What You Need To Know

  • U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz worked with the White House to release the updated disaster funding request and has repeatedly pressed for its approval in committee hearings and on the Senate floor.
  • On Friday, Schatz once again emphasized the importance of supporting communities recovering from a series of catastrophic disasters over the last two years
  • The senator invoked the 2023 Maui wildfires as an example of the ongoing need for federal support

 

“The one thing we cannot leave undone in December —­ the one thing we cannot leave undone in December — is disaster aid, not just for the people of Maui, but for people all across the country,” Schatz, D-Hawaii, said during Senate Committee on Appropriations meeting on Friday. “If the federal government is for anything, it has to be for this.”

Schatz worked with the White House to release the updated disaster funding request and has repeatedly pressed for its approval in committee hearings and on the Senate floor.

On Friday, Schatz once again emphasized the importance of supporting communities recovering from a series of catastrophic disasters over the last two years.

“Whether it’s Lahaina, Maui or Burlington (Vt.) or Davenport (Iowa) or Asheville (N.C.), every community that has had the misfortune of being struck by a disaster deserves help,” Schatz said. “No one is ever fully prepared for a tornado or a flood or a fire, but everyone has to go through the long, difficult and painful process of rebuilding — rebuilding their life, rebuilding their home, rebuilding their store, rebuilding their community — which is why every time a disaster has devastated our fellow Americans, Congress has recognized the need for help and stepped up to fulfill our responsibility to provide that help.”

The senator invoked the 2023 Maui wildfires as an example of the ongoing need for federal support.

“It’s been more than 15 months since Lahaina burned down to the ground in a matter of hours by ferocious fires,” Schatz said. “More than 4,000 homes were destroyed, and yet, as of today, just one home has been rebuilt. Four thousand homes gone. 12,000 people without a house. 2,200 structures incinerated. One home rebuilt.

“Even before the fires, Lahaina was a working-class town where people were mostly renters,” he continued. ‘And while a disaster of this scale is catastrophic for any community, the financial burden inflicted on these survivors is especially acute. Everyone is doing the best that they can to recover. They are working so hard. They have pulled together so much. They have summoned courage and compassion and persistence. They have plowed through every barrier put in front of them. They have saved each other’s lives. They are trying to rebuild this beautiful, historic, pluralistic, joyful, multicultural town. But they need our help and this is a core responsibility of the United States federal government.”

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.