[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 9, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H1555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MAUI DISLOCATED WORKERS PROGRAM
(Ms. TOKUDA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the workers and
families of Maui, still recovering from the devastating wildfires of
2023. Displaced workers continue to drive Maui's recovery, rebuilding
homes, clearing debris, restoring infrastructure, and supporting their
communities.
The National Dislocated Worker Grant has been vital in funding such
disaster recovery work and providing job training, temporary
employment, and career services to wildfire survivors.
I am grateful to the Department of Labor for awarding Hawaii $2.5
million in dislocated worker grant funding. While this is a step in the
right direction, the livelihoods of displaced workers, the health of
our local economy, and the long-term trajectory of Maui's recovery
remain in the balance.
We must continue working to secure all remaining dislocated worker
funds available--$8 million--to ensure the program continues through
September 2025. We can and must give our local workers this certainty
during an uncertain time. Without these funds, we risk losing momentum
in the recovery and leaving workers without crucial support.
Maui's recovery is not just a priority. It is a promise to those who
have lost so much. I will keep fighting to ensure that promise is kept.
____________________