[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 392 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 392

Recognizing and honoring the first responders and those who lost their 
 lives in the Maui wildfires in August 2023 that affected thousands of 
                                people.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

           September 30 (legislative day, September 22), 2023

    Ms. Hirono (for herself and Mr. Schatz) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing and honoring the first responders and those who lost their 
 lives in the Maui wildfires in August 2023 that affected thousands of 
                                people.

Whereas, on August 8, 2023, a series of wildfires, fueled by abnormally strong 
        winds from Hurricane Dora and a high-pressure system in the North 
        Pacific Ocean, broke out on the Island of Maui;
Whereas almost 7,000 acres of land in the Lahaina area in West Maui and the 
        Olinda, Kula, and Pulehu-Kihei areas of Upcountry Maui burned as a 
        result of the wildfires;
Whereas, as of August 2023, the wildfire that occurred in the historic town of 
        Lahaina in West Maui is the deadliest wildfire to have occurred in the 
        United States in more than a century and 1 of the worst natural 
        disasters in the history of Hawaii;
Whereas, as of September 15, 2023, 97 fatalities from the wildfires have been 
        confirmed, and as of September 22, 2023, 22 people remain officially 
        unaccounted for;
Whereas more than 7,000 people have been displaced by the wildfires;
Whereas approximately 2,200 structures have been damaged or destroyed by the 
        wildfires;
Whereas more than 1,900 homes burned down by the wildfires;
Whereas brave people raced into the wildfires to save their community while 
        their own homes burned to the ground;
Whereas nearly 1,000 businesses were destroyed by the wildfires;
Whereas 4 schools were impacted by the wildfires, 1 of which, King Kamehameha 
        III Elementary School, was damaged beyond repair, displacing hundreds of 
        staff members and thousands of students;
Whereas it is estimated that billions of dollars will be necessary to repair the 
        damaged areas in West Maui;
Whereas Lahaina was the one-time capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii and still has 
        great cultural and historical significance, particularly to the Native 
        Hawaiian community;
Whereas additional Federal, State, and local emergency personnel, including law 
        enforcement and medical personnel, coordinated with local authorities 
        and have performed beyond the call of duty in the preservation and 
        protection of human lives;
Whereas hundreds of volunteers gave their time to help ensure that evacuees were 
        sheltered, clothed, fed, and emotionally comforted through the traumatic 
        event; and
Whereas people across the United States and around the world responded with an 
        outpouring of support for the people of Maui: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) honors the people who lost their lives in the deadly 
        wildfires on Maui;
            (2) recognizes the efforts and sacrifices of the first 
        responders who risked their lives to respond to the wildfires;
            (3) honors the bravery and heroism of the people who have 
        provided assistance and continue to respond to the wildfires;
            (4) expresses full support for the communities of West and 
        Upcountry Maui, as those communities focus on recovering and 
        rebuilding areas and communities affected by wildfires;
            (5) urges the people and communities of Hawaii and the 
        United States to act diligently in preventing and preparing for 
        wildfires; and
            (6) encourages the people of the United States to keep in 
        their thoughts the individuals who have suffered as a result of 
        the wildfires.
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