Maui Minute: Disaster Unemployment Assistance for Maui

Floor Speech

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Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, the fires last August devastated our Maui ``family,'' ``ohana'' in many ways. Adding to the unbearable weight of losing loved ones and homes, the tremendous economic loss from businesses destroyed and the steep drop in tourism compounded the suffering for thousands of families.

In the months after the fires, there were over 10,000 new claims for unemployment. Not everyone impacted qualified for regular unemployment insurance. Thankfully, under President Biden's major disaster declaration, disaster unemployment assistance, or DUA, filled the gap, providing $7.8 million to thousands of Maui residents.

DUA benefits for Maui expired on February 10, but our people are still hurting. As of January, the unemployment rate for the island of Maui stood at 6.2 percent, an increase compared to 5.8 percent in December and well above our State average of 3.1 percent.

Last week, I led the Hawaii congressional delegation in introducing legislation to extend disaster unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 39 weeks for Maui residents impacted by the fires. My bill applies those benefits retroactively to qualified individuals.

Our people are focused on recovery, but we need the House to pass this bill now, continue this critical relief, and help our people get back on their feet again.

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