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(Honolulu, HI) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1) today voted with his House colleagues on final passage of a disaster aid bill with millions slated to help communities in Hawai‘i hard hit by natural disasters last year.  “Today I voted to pass a bi-partisan, bicameral disaster supplemental package that will now go to the President’s desk for signature,” said Case. “This bill will provide critical disaster relief for floods and volcanic activity that impacted O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and the Big Island, including for agricultural programs, infrastructure restoration, coastal recovery and more.”  The bill also extends the National Flood Insurance program through September 30, 2019.

“The Neighbor Islands bore the brunt of the damage from natural disasters of the past year,” said Case. “O`ahu was also severely affected and the aftermath was felt throughout the state including disruption of our tourism and agriculture industries and beyond. These sorely needed funds will assist those affected to recover and carry on with their lives.”

Passage of the bill had been delayed for months over various partisan disagreements, but agreement was ultimately achieved among the House and Senate, and the President has indicated previously that he would sign the measure. “Disasters and communities severely impacted by them don’t care about politics, and this critical measure just shouldn’t have been delayed over that,” said Case.  “If we can get the job done here, we should be able to do the same with other critical decisions facing our country.”

The supplemental appropriations bill included funding for these specific programs that would benefit Hawai‘i:

• Agriculture Programs: $3 billion to help farmers struggling with crop and livestock losses due to various natural disasters including hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes, floods and wildfires during 2018 and 2019.
• Economic Development Administration and Assistance Programs: $600 million for flood mitigation, disaster relief, long-term recovery, and restoration of infrastructure in areas affected by major disasters in 2018 and 2019.
• Legal Services Corporation: $15 million for legal assistance in areas hard hit by natural disasters including hurricanes, typhoons, wildfires, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: $82 million to repair and restore facilities, roads, bridges and other infrastructure damaged by Hurricanes Florence, Lane and Michael and flooding associated with  Hawai‘i mudslides, and the 2018 earthquakes. Of this, $50 million is allocated for coastal resiliency grants.
• National Park Service: $50 million for the Historic Preservation Fund and $78 million for Construction to repair historic sites and other park assets damaged by hurricanes, typhoons and wildfires
• United States Geological Survey: $98.5 million for the United States Geological Survey to repair and replace equipment and facilities damaged by Hurricanes Florence and Michael, wildfires, earthquakes and volcanic activity.
• Education Recovery: $165 million to meet the educational needs of students in areas hard hit by natural disasters by restarting school operations, providing assistance to schools receiving displaced students, providing education services to homeless children and young people and providing mental health services to students and staff.  
• Community Development Block Grants: $2.4 billion to help communities rebuild housing, businesses, and infrastructure in the most impacted and distressed areas affected by major natural disasters.
• Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief: $1.7 billion to reimburse states and territories for damage to roads and bridges in the National Highway System.

Finally, Case highlighted the importance of natural disaster preparedness throughout Hawai’i especially as hurricane season begins. “Back home on Saturday I was able to visit with our National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration’s great team of weather and ocean scientists and other professionals”, said Case. “They, along with our state, county, UH and community volunteer partners do a great job of predicting what might be coming, and this year they predict a higher-than-usual risk of hurricanes in the central Pacific. We can do our job by listening carefully to them and heeding their advice on emergency preparedness especially stocking up our disaster kits.”

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