STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1894-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.C.R. No. 219

S.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 219, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO EXPEDITE THE PLACEMENT OF MAUI WILDFIRE SURVIVORS INTO THE FEDERAL DIRECT LEASE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Federal Emergency Management Agency to expedite the placement of Maui wildfire survivors into the Direct Lease Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Lahaina Strong and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that as of March 2024, hundreds of survivors and families of the August 2023 Maui wildfires still lack long-term housing. Your Committee further finds that one option for long-term housing is the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Direct Lease Program, whereby FEMA leases existing, ready-to-occupy residential properties for use as temporary housing for families displaced by wildfires. Your Committee recognizes that it is a moral and financial priority for the State to move as many survivors as possible into long-term housing programs by expediting the Direct Lease Program process.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 219, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair