House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Saturday traveled to Maui to tour the areas affected by the recent wildfires that killed at least 115 people, calling it “sheer devastation” and vowing to help the island rebuild.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to come here with my family many times before. Knowing that area and spending time in the restaurants by the tree and knowing the importance of that to everyone and how we can make sure that we find those still missing? McCarthy asked during a recent press conference, “How do we rebuild?” “That is the most important reason we are here.” We want to work with the community.” We want to work with the community.”
“We want to get the resources to individuals that could rebuild their life, we’ve got to focus on the children for the schools, get them back into the education so they don’t miss out,” he added.
McCarthy took the time to thank residents of Maui who helped their neighbors escape the fires and called them “heroes.”
I think there are many heroes and people that brought their own boats and people that helped to pull others out of danger’s way,” said he. We want to honor these individuals as well. You know, in every devastation in America, they’re tragic, but at the same time, it does show when you… look deep down the caringness of individuals.”
He explained that there are two main goals for recovery of the Island: working together in unity to rebuild and showing respect to the heritage of the area and the lives lost.
“It might not be as fast as everybody likes, but we want to make sure it’s protected,” McCarthy said.
“We will investigate to find out why did it happen, what went right, what went wrong, so other communities won’t ever have to see this,” he added.
The House Oversight and Accountability Committee announced last week that it would move forward with an investigation into the federal response on Maui — a plan originally floated by McCarthy. The Speaker of the House said, “I am very concerned about the response.” How could you lose so many Americans today? When asked on Saturday about when Hawaii residents could expect the investigation, McCarthy said he didn’t “want to put a timetable on it.” When asked on Saturday when Hawaii residents can expect the investigation, McCarthy said that he did not “want to give a timeline.” We will gather this information. “It would be a bipartisan way to look at it.” “It would be a bipartisan way to look at it.”
He was joined in Maui by a bipartisan delegation, including Hawaii Reps. Ed Case (D) and Jill Tokuda (D), as well as Reps. David Joyce (R-Ohio), Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.).
“I’m in Hawaii right now with a bipartisan group of lawmakers because tragedies unite us as Americans,” McCarthy
, the platform formerly known as Twitter, prior to the news conference. “This is not a place for political partisanship,” he said. “It is a place to say thank you to the first responders and to act quickly for the survivors as they rebuild after the deadly fire.
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