The U.S. House of Representatives passed this week a measure that would help get disaster recovery funds to farmers more quickly.
The Energy Conservation Program Improvement Act is not explicitly a response to the Kona low storms that struck Hawai‘i in March — the bill was introduced in February. However, Hawai‘i Rep. Jill Tokuda spoke on the House floor Tuesday in support of the bill, saying it will help Hawai‘i farmers get back on their feet after the storms.
The measure allows farmers who are eligible for federal emergency response funds to have up to 75% of those funds awarded up-front, rather than afterward through a reimbursement process.
Tokuda told the House Tuesday that small farms — particularly those devastated by a disaster — don’t have the cash on hand to pay for extensive repairs or rehabilitation and wait for reimbursement.
“This [bill] will get our farmers and foresters rebuilding immediately after a disaster, rather than paying unaffordable costs up-front,” Tokuda told the House.
The House voted 395-10 to pass the bill, with Tokuda and her fellow Hawai‘i Rep. Ed Case voting in support. It next goes before the Senate.
Tokuda told the House that the March storms inflicted more than $40 million in damage to more than 1,600 farms across the state.
People can donate more immediate relief to help farmers and rural communities recover from storm damage through the Hawai‘i Farmers Union Foundation’s Hawai‘i Flood Response Fund. Aloha State Daily has found an anonymous donor who will match all donations up to $100,000.
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