Mazie Hirono: “thank you for your patience. I want to begin today by reiterating my sadness about the passing of our friend Senator…”

“thank you for your patience. I want to begin today by reiterating my sadness about the passing of our friend Senator Dianne Feinstein. Senator Feinstein's death strikes at the heart of so many of us committed to public service, as she was. A courageous trailblazer, she stood up to powerful interest groups on behalf of her constituents and the rest of us. She was a fierce legislator, fighting to ban assault weapons, defend survivors of domestic violence, protect our Nation, and much more. But she was also a thoughtful friend. Just last week, she wrote me a letter expressing her happiness that the banyan tree in Lahaina, badly burned by the wildfires, is starting to show signs of renewed life. She wrote: I hope that the beloved tree continues to recover and serve as a source of hope and a symbol of resilience for the entire community. I, too, share her hope. Maui Wildfires Mr. President, it has now been 6 weeks since the fires tore through the town of Lahaina on Maui as well as several upcountry Maui communities. As the whole world has seen now, those fires were devastating, claiming nearly 100 lives and destroying close to 3,000 structures, most of them residences. Our hearts break for all those impacted by this tragedy. Within hours of those fires, though, the Federal Government was on the ground, providing assistance and relief.…”