Brian Schatz: “Congress has one task over the next 2 weeks, and it is relatively straightforward: to keep the government open and avoid…”

“Congress has one task over the next 2 weeks, and it is relatively straightforward: to keep the government open and avoid a pointless and costly shutdown that would hurt most Americans. And as we do that, there is one priority that we can't afford to neglect or punt, and that is providing disaster aid to communities across the country that are still waiting. All across our country, in more than 20 States and territories, millions of Americans are reeling from disasters: wildfires, hurricanes, droughts, floods. And having lost their homes, their communities, their livelihoods, they count on the Federal Government to help. For people on Maui, help is needed immediately. More than a year after the deadly fires that leveled an entire town, claimed 102 lives, and stole just about everything from those lucky enough to survive, nothing is normal yet. Survivors in temporary housing are being forced to move every few months. Many have moved five times in the last year, shattering any semblance of stability that they have been able to cobble together. Meanwhile, not a single home has been rebuilt so far. Not a single home has been rebuilt so far. That is a dire emergency for any community in any scenario, but it is especially worrying given that temporary housing assistance from FEMA is due to expire in 5 months. The long and difficult recovery is squeezing survivors in other ways as well.…”