{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-leads-delegation-introducing-bill-extend-disaster-unemployment", "Rep. Tokuda Leads Delegation in Introducing Bill to Extend Disaster Unemployment Assistance", "2024-03-11", "2024", "2024-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=8&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 Representative Jill Tokuda led the Hawaii congressional delegation in introducing the Hawaii Wildfire Disaster Unemployment Assistance Continuity Act to extend the availability of federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits for residents impacted by the Maui wildfires.\n\nFollowing the major disaster declaration issued by President Biden, workers, business owners, and self-employed individuals who had been impacted by the wildfires could receive DUA benefits beginning the week of August 13, 2023. Eligible individuals included those who were unemployed or had their work hours reduced or interrupted as a direct result of the August 8th wildfires and could not otherwise qualify for regular unemployment insurance. DUA benefits expired on February 10, 2024.\n\n\u201cDUA benefits have offered critical financial relief to workers whose opportunity to earn income or a paycheck had been severely impacted because of the devastating fires. Seven months later, I continue to hear from workers and families across Maui still trying to recover and rebuild their lives with no clear end in sight,\u201d said Representative Jill Tokuda. \u201cWe\u2019ve come a long way, but our people still require assistance and support. Extending these benefits is crucial to giving Hawaii workers and their families some breathing room as they get back on their feet.\u201d\n\n\u201cLife for the people of Maui is still nothing close to normal after the fires, and they need continued help from the federal government,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cExtending the duration of Disaster Unemployment Assistance will provide them with much-needed financial support and stability as they get back on their feet.\u201d\n\n\u201cDUA benefits have been critical to many members of the Maui community as they continue to recover after the wildfires,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cWith much uncertainty still surrounding where people can live, work, or care for their families, it\u2019s important we do everything we can to help ensure Maui\u2019s communities have the support they need. I\u2019m proud to join the rest of the Hawaii congressional delegation in introducing this bill to extend DUA benefits for those impacted by the devastating wildfires.\u201d\n\n\u201cAfter the wildfires ravaged Maui, the federal government delivered on extensive disaster assistance for all those who lost so much, and we undertook to keep that assistance coming,\u201d said Representative Ed Case. \u201cThis is just one part of that effort to continue federal contributions to the long road to recovery.\u201d\n\nIf enacted, the Hawaii Wildfire Disaster Unemployment Assistance Continuity Act would extend the duration of DUA benefits from 26 to 39 weeks, and benefits would be applied retroactively for qualifying individuals.\n\nAccording to the State of Hawaii Unemployment Insurance Department, as of March 3, 2024, over 1,000 Maui County residents received a total of $7.8 million in DUA benefits. Individuals\u2019 weekly benefit amounts varied between a minimum of $283 and a maximum of $763. DUA benefits are generally paid for up to 26 weeks and federally funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).\n\nRepresentative Ed Case is an original cosponsor of the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. Senators Schatz and Hirono introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.\n\nThe text of the legislation can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T20:32:04Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-leads-delegation-introducing-bill-extend-disaster-unemployment"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 3.5699941217899323, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}