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Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023

Floor Speech

Date: May 21, 2024
Location: Washington, DC

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Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5863, the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023.

It will keep survivors' hard-earned money in their pockets and help them get their lives back to normal as soon as possible, whatever that normal might look like.

Seeing the overwhelming challenges faced by the survivors of the Maui wildfires, our ``family,'' ``ohana,'' I introduced H.R. 5873, the Natural Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023, last October to lessen the tax burden faced by disaster survivors and ensure they have the financial resources to support their ``family,'' ``ohana.''

Since then, far too many people continue to struggle with recovery costs that no one could ever budget for. Across our country, through all disasters current, those to come, and so far in the past, they have reached deep into their savings. They have gone into debt to feed their ``children,'' ``keiki,'' to cover their mortgages, to pay for education and healthcare costs, and to rebuild their homes, businesses, and livelihoods.

I thank my friends and colleagues, Congressmen Greg Steube and Doug LaMalfa, for incorporating elements of my legislation into this bill as we continue to fight for its critical passage.

Like me, they know all too well that there will never be enough to replace all that people lost. As the good Congressman from California mentioned, no one will be made whole, but that being said, anything we can do to lighten the tax burden and the financial struggles they face will go a long way to rebuilding lives and rebuilding communities.

I am proud to join Congressmen Steube, LaMalfa, and Thompson on the floor today to pass this bill out of the House. I implore the Senate to embrace their ``responsibility,'' ``kuleana,'' and pass this bill.

Disaster does not discriminate. It doesn't care if you are Democratic, Independent, or Republican. When it hits, people need help. We must pass this critical bipartisan piece of legislation now.

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