VIDEO: Hirono Highlights Potential Impacts of a Government Shutdown on Disaster Relief for Maui

~ Video of Senator Hirono’s remarks is available here ~

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) delivered remarks on the Senate floor, detailing the continued need for federal disaster funding for the people of Lahaina and Upcountry Maui and the effects that a Republican government shutdown would have on disaster relief. In her remarks, Senator Hirono emphasized the tremendous loss felt on Maui following the deadly wildfires, while also highlighting the federal assistance that has been secured for Hawaii since the disaster.  

“In the weeks since, well over 1,000 federal personnel have traveled to Maui to aid in the recovery efforts, and more than $125 million in individual relief has been distributed. Additionally, President Biden requested $4 billion in disaster relief funding following the fires, on top of $12 billion he had previously requested. As I said at the time, disaster relief has always had broad bipartisan support, and there’s no reason Maui should be any different,” said Senator Hirono during her remarks.

With a potential government shutdown approaching, Senator Hirono condemned Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives for their inability to pass the appropriations bills to keep the government funded.

“But now, Speaker McCarthy, in refusing to stand up to the most radical faction in his caucus, is endangering these resources for Maui and other communities impacted by disasters across the country,” Senator Hirono continued in her remarks. “As we speak, the Senate is working to advance a bipartisan continuing resolution to keep government open, which includes $6 billion in disaster relief. While clearly not everything we need, it is a critical down payment that will allow the federal government to continue its important work on Maui, and in other communities impacted by disaster across the country.”

Senator Hirono emphasized the urgency in passing a spending bill to avoid a shutdown that would impact the devastated communities on Maui and millions of people across the country.

“This is not a game. We all want to know what it’s going to take for House Republicans to grow up and realize that the chaos they are sowing is going to have real impacts on real people’s lives all across the country,” Senator Hirono said. “Meanwhile, the Hawaii delegation, as well as the bipartisan Senate, will continue doing everything we can to keep the government open, by passing the Continuing Resolution that we have on deck in the Senate, and secure the funding for our communities, funding that is so urgently needed.”

Senator Hirono’s full remarks are below and video is available for download here.

M. President, thank you for your patience. I want to begin today by reiterating my sadness about the passing of our friend Senator Dianne Feinstein. Senator Feinstein’s death strikes at the heart of so many of us committed to public service, as she was. A courageous trailblazer, she stood up to powerful interest groups on behalf of her constituents and the rest of us. She was a fierce legislator – fighting to ban assault weapons, defend survivors of domestic violence, protect our nation, and much more. But she was also a thoughtful friend. Just last week, she wrote me a letter expressing her happiness that the Banyan tree in Lahaina – badly burned by the wildfires – is starting to show signs of new life. She wrote, “I hope that the beloved tree continues to recover and serves as a source of hope and symbol of resilience for the entire community.” I too, share her hope.

It’s now been six weeks since the fires tore through the town of Lahaina on Maui, as well as in several upcountry Maui communities. As the whole world has now seen, those fires were devastating – claiming nearly 100 lives and destroying close to 3,000 structures, most of them residences. Our hearts break for all those impacted by this tragedy. Within hours of those fires, though, the federal government was on the ground providing assistance and relief.

In the weeks since, well over 1,000 federal personnel have traveled to Maui to aid in the recovery efforts, and more than $125 million in individual relief has been distributed. Additionally, President Biden requested $4 billion in disaster relief funding following the fires, on top of the $12 billion he had previously requested. As I said at the time, disaster relief has always had broad bipartisan support, and there’s no reason the Maui disaster should be treated any differently.

In fact, Speaker McCarthy agreed. When he visited Lahaina, less than four weeks ago, he said: “We want to get the resources to individuals that could rebuild their life. We’ve got to focus on the children for the schools, get them back into the education so they don’t miss out.” I couldn’t agree more. This funding is essential to our ongoing recovery efforts.

But now, Speaker McCarthy, in refusing to stand up to the most radical faction in his caucus, I call them the “chaos caucus,” is endangering these resources for Maui and other communities impacted by disasters across the country. And we just heard from our Majority Leader what is happening in New York City even as we speak. Again, as we speak, the Senate is working to advance a bipartisan continuing resolution to keep government open, which includes $6 billion in disaster relief. While clearly not everything we need, it is a critical down payment that will allow the federal government to continue its important work on Maui, and in other communities impacted by disasters across the country. It will allow FEMA, the SBA, and the other critical federal agencies to continue their disaster relief work as we work to pass a longer-term funding agreement. But if radical House Republicans shut down the government, that funding will be held up indefinitely.

My colleague Representative Jill Tokuda of Hawaii summed it up well just yesterday in her testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. She said the people of Maui “have gone through enough, the wheels of government must keep turning to provide support and resources, so they focus on recovery and rebuilding.” By forcing a government shutdown, Speaker McCarthy will be abandoning the people of Maui–the very same people he vowed to help just weeks ago when he visited Maui.

We are less than 48 hours from Republicans shutting down our government and they have yet to even put forward a funding bill that they can pass. It’s unconscionable. While these remarks are focused on the impacts of a shutdown on disaster aid, make no mistake, a Republican government shut down will have negative consequences for millions of Americans, not just in disaster relief, but on every aspect of their lives all across our country.

This is not a game. We all want to know what it’s going to take for House Republicans to grow up and realize that the chaos they are sowing is going to have real impacts on real people’s lives all across the country. Meanwhile, the Hawaii delegation, as well as the bipartisan Senate, will continue doing everything we can to keep the government open, by passing the Continuing Resolution that we have on deck in the Senate, and secure the funding for our communities, funding that is so urgently needed.

Senator Hirono is continuously working to secure and deliver robust federal assistance to those affected by the wildfire disaster on Maui. On September 25, Senator Hirono led the Hawaii Congressional delegation in a letter to Isabel Guzman, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), urging the agency to extend the physical damage loan application deadline for people impacted by the Hawaii wildfires. On September 22, Senator Hirono and the rest of the Hawaii Congressional delegation sent a letter to Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon, the Chief of Engineers and commanding general of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, urging the Army Corps to provide the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) with the resources and support it needs to build a school to temporarily replace Kamehameha III Elementary School as quickly as possible. On September 15, Senator Hirono, a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, led the Hawaii Congressional delegation in a letter to Isabel Guzman, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), urging the agency to pause loan payments and interest accruals for SBA disaster loans that pre-date the Maui wildfires.

###