Jill Tokuda: “Fire and disaster does not discriminate based on legal status or citizenship. For far too long, the help and support…”

“Fire and disaster does not discriminate based on legal status or citizenship. For far too long, the help and support following a disaster that is available to many has been withheld from a few. I rise today to highlight the plight of our Compact of Free Association ``family,'' ``ohana.'' They come from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. While they experienced the same fear and loss of last August's fires, they were unable to claim any Federal disaster relief. On March 8, Congress passed the Compact Fairness Act to restore eligibility for Federal benefits to citizens from the Freely Associated States residing in our country. COFA residents had been unfairly stripped of those benefits in the 1996 welfare reform law. In correcting this decades-old error, we can begin making good on our commitment to our COFA residents, and at the urging of our congressional delegation, FEMA will allow COFA residents on Maui to apply retroactively for disaster assistance. COFA residents are a part of our Maui family, and I am grateful to FEMA for taking this important step for them and ensuring they will get the help that they need and deserve. ____________________”