Congresswoman Torres Statement on Hawaii Wildfires
Washington, D.C. – As wildfires burn across the islands of Maui and Hawaii, Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) issued the following statement:
“My heart is heavy as I watch the fires spreading across Maui and Hawaii. While I know how devastating it is to lose a home to a fire, I cannot imagine the horror of watching your own community burn to the ground. My thoughts are with the people of Hawaii, especially those who have lost homes or loved ones,” said Congresswoman Torres.
“As the fires continue burning, protecting the people must come first. FEMA must be prepared to evacuate those in danger, provide disaster relief, and offer support to survivors in their native language. In the meantime, I want to extend my most heartfelt thanks to the brave firefighters and other first responders risking their lives to keep Hawaiians safe,” concluded Congresswoman Torres.
Congresswoman Torres has used her seat on the House Appropriations Committee to bolster federal funding for wildfire preparedness and recovery. The Congresswoman also introduced her Wildfire Grid Preparedness Act and Mudslide Recovery Act earlier this year. She previously led more than 30 of her colleagues in recognizing Wildfire Preparedness Week.