{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"HI\" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403", "Case Releases End Of 116th Congress Report To Hawai\u2019i", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=28", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today released his 116th Congress End-Of-Term Report back to Hawai\u2019i on his activities and efforts throughout the two-year 116th Congress (January 3, 2019 - January 3, 2021).\n\n\u201cIn January 2019, as I returned to Capitol Hill for my third full term representing Hawai\u2019i in the U.S. House of Representatives, the country was mired in what soon became the longest federal government shutdown in our history,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cAs I end the 116th and am sworn into the 117th Congress this Sunday, we continue to confront the far-worse crisis of COVID-19. \u201cThese are truly difficult times, when we desperately need our institutions of government to function as our founders intended.\n\n\u201cAnd a critical part of functioning government is staying in very close touch with those we represent, reporting back and seeking guidance wherever and however we can.\u201d\n\nIn his report, Case summarizes his activities in the 116th in his three areas of focus: leading on national issues; helping Hawai\u2019i; and helping constituents.\n\n\u201cI hope my report will provide those I serve with some sense of where I\u2019ve been in the 116th and where I\u2019m going in the 117th as we all chart the best path forward for our county and Hawai\u2019i over the next two years and beyond\u201d, said Case.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395", "Case Statement on the President Approving the $900 Billion Further COVID-19 Emergency Relief and $1.4 Trillion Regular Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriations Measure", "2020-12-27", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=28", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) issued the following statement following the President\u2019s signing of H.R. 133, passed by Congress December 21st and including $2.3 trillion in both further COVID-19 emergency assistance and the regular annual funding of the federal government for Fiscal Year 2021:\n\n\u201cThe President\u2019s approval of Congress\u2019 bipartisan compromise $900 billion COVID-19 emergency assistance measure, along with our $1.4 trillion regular annual federal funding bill, is welcome news for all Americans. Not only does it deliver further critical COVID-related assistance across-the-board, but it averts a federal government shutdown amidst the worst of the crisis.\n\n\u201cBut I\u2019m not going to fawn with gratitude for his doing what he could and should have done almost a week ago, as soon as Congress sent him a measure he and his own administration negotiated and he said he\u2019d sign if Congress got it to him. He knew then, as he knows today, that his own party had firmly rejected a higher direct stimulus payment and that the only way to get critical aid out now was to sign the bill right away.\n\n\u201cWe will keep seeking a higher direct stimulus payment starting with a vote in the U.S. House tomorrow, though the real obstacle has always been and remains the U.S. Senate majority. But what a disruptive and cruel week the President unnecessarily imposed on the country and on families, communities, businesses and governments throughout.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=392", "Case Statement on Passage of Second Massive Federal COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Package", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=28", "scraper", "The $900 billion measure follows on the CARES Act in delivering further critical assistance to the frontlines of health care including vaccine distribution, to small businesses, to unemployed workers and directly to American families\n\n(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) issued the following statement on passage in the U.S. House today of a second huge federal COVID-19 emergency assistance package, the second largest federal rescue measure ever passed by Congress after the CARES Act this past March, and the fifth federal assistance package overall.\n\n\u201cAs our COVID-19 public health, economic and social crisis continues on, for far too many Americans this further assistance is not just about stability and stimulus but survival,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cThough the delay in enacting this further emergency assistance was inexcusable, the additional $900 billion in federal funding to address critical COVID-19 needs throughout our country could not come at a more critical time for our country and Hawai\u2018i,\u201d said Case, a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for federal funding.\n\n\u201cI especially support the additional assistance to our healthcare frontlines including vaccine distribution, to hard-hit areas of our economy such as travel and tourism, to our small businesses, and to our unemployed workers.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut like the CARES Act, our work in making sure this critical assistance gets to where it needs to get throughout our country and Hawai\u2018i as quickly and fully as possible is just starting.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere were also many needs that were unfortunately not addressed in this measure, such as further direct state and local government funding. Finally, it is crystal clear that even this major additional emergency assistance will not be enough to see us all through COVID-19.\n\n\u201cSo, I\u2019m already working with my colleagues on addressing those additional needs and delivering further assistance in the early part of the upcoming 117th Congress which begins January 3rd.\u201d\n\nHighlights of the $900 billion relief measure of special interest to Hawai\u2018i include:\n\n$120 billion in expanded unemployment benefits: Continued federal assistance to supplement state unemployment benefits, to include $300 per week through March 14, 2021 and the continuation of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).\n\n$166 billion in further direct cash payments to lower and middle-income Americans: Further direct cash payments to lower-and middle-income Americans of $600 for individuals with incomes of up to $75,000 a year, $1,200 for couples with incomes of up to $150,000 a year, and $600 for each child dependent.\n\n$325 billion in additional small business relief: Critical additional funding and policy changes to help small businesses, including minority-owned businesses, and nonprofits recover from the pandemic, including:\n\nMore than $284 billion for first and second forgivable loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), expanded PPP eligibility for nonprofits and local newspapers, TV and radio broadcasters, and key modifications to PPP to serve the smallest businesses and struggling non-profits and better assist independent restaurants.\n\n$15 billion in dedicated funding for live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions.\n\n$20 billion for targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Grants which are critical to many smaller businesses, and $3.5 billion for continued Small Business Administration debt relief payments.\n\n$25 billion in emergency assistance to renters: To be distributed by state and local governments for families struggling to stay in their homes. These funds will go to pay for past due and future rent payments, as well as to pay utility and energy bills and prevent shutoffs. Also, an extension of the federal eviction moratorium to January 31, 2021, and further authorization to the President to extend the moratorium through administrative action.\n\n$73 billion for health and human services: Includes funding for vaccine procurement and distribution, including $20 billion to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority for procurement of vaccines and therapeutics, $9 billion to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and states for vaccine distribution, and more than $3 billion for the strategic national stockpile.\n\nAdditionally, more than $22 billion, all sent directly to states, for testing, tracing and COVID-19 mitigation programs, $4.5 billion in mental health funding, $9 billion in support for health care providers, and more than $1 billion additionally to the National Institutes of Health to continue COVID-19 research.\n\n$26 billion for nutrition assistance for hungry families: $13 billion in increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and child nutrition benefits to help relieve the historic hunger crisis that has left up to 17 million children food insecure, as well as ensure that college students have access to SNAP. This funding will also go to food banks and senior nutrition programs.\n\nAnother $13 billion for payments, purchases and loans to farmers and ranchers who have suffered losses due to the pandemic.\n\n$82 billion for schools: Similar to the CARES Act, these emergency education relief funds include:\n\nRelief for outlying areas and the Bureau of Indian Education: $818.8 million\n\nGovernors Emergency Education Relief Fund: $4.1 billion\n\nIncludes a set aside for services to private K-12 schools to be administered by public agencies.\n\nElementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (Public K-12 schools): $54.3 billion\n\nHigher Education Emergency Relief Fund: $22.7 billion\n\n$20 billion distributed to all public and private non-profit institutions of higher education.\n\n$908 million to for-profit colleges to provide financial aid grants to students.\n\nIncludes set-asides of an additional $1.7 billion for Historically Black colleges and universities, tribal colleges, and Minority-Serving Institutions and $113.5 million for institutions with the greatest unmet needs or those not served by the primary formula, such as independent graduate schools.\n\n$45 billion for transportation: Further reliefto transit agencies, airlines and airline contractors, airports, state transportation departments, the motor coach industry, and Amtrak, including $15 billion for airline payroll support, $1 billion for airline contractor payrolls, $14 billion for transit, $10 billion for state highways, $2 billion for airports and airport concessionaires, $2 billion for the private motor coach, school bus, and ferry industries, and $1 billion for Amtrak.\n\nCommunity Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions: Further PPP set-asides for very small businesses and lending through community-based lenders like Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), including $9 billion in emergency U.S. Treasury capital investments in CDFIs and MDIs to support lending in low-income and underserved communities, including persistent poverty counties, that may be disproportionately impacted by the economic effects of the COVID\u201319 pandemic, and $3 billion in emergency support for CDFIs through the CDFI Fund to respond to the economic impact of the pandemic on underserved low-income and minority communities.\n\n-30-\n\n\u00b7 Note: a summary of the measure is attached.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394", "U.S. House Approves $1.4 Trillion Federal Funding Bills for Current Fiscal Year 2021", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=28", "scraper", "Bills Will Avert Threatened Government Shutdown and Include Major Funding for Hawai\u2018i Projects Sought by Appropriations Committee Member Case\n\n(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, today voted with a majority of his colleagues to pass a $1.4 trillion measure to fund the federal government for the current 2021 fiscal year (FY). If approved by the Senate as expected, the bill will go immediately to President Donald Trump for his consideration and expected signature into law.\n\n\u201cIt was way too late and unnecessarily disruptive, but Congress is finally coming together to avert what would have been another disastrous government shutdown with an agreement to pass this bill providing critical funding for our current fiscal year,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cThis measure supports indispensable programs for all Americans across the board including defense, health care, education, social services and natural resources. It also includes key provisions of special importance to our Hawai\u2018i that I requested and worked for through my House Appropriations Committee and otherwise.\u201d\n\nHighlights of the FY 2021 measure of special interest to Hawai\u2018i and for which Case advocated throughout the yearlong appropriations process include:\n\nHomeland Security\n\n$355 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants, rejecting the Administration\u2019s proposal to cut this program by $76 million. This program helps fund the Hawai\u2018i Emergency Management Agency.\n\nDirection that the United States Customs and Border Protection consult with and provide recommendations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and other state and local partners on preventing the introduction of invasive species to Hawai\u2018i and non-contiguous U.S. territories.\n\n$101 million, level funding from FY 2020, for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, which includes the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawai\u2018i at M\u0101noa.\n\nDirection that the Department of Homeland Security provide a report to the Committee on Appropriations on the challenges of recruiting and retaining federal employees in rural and non-contiguous states, to include Hawai\u2018i.\n\nFinancial Services and General Government and Related Agencies\n\nExtension of Hawai\u2018i\u2019s longstanding fourth temporary federal district judgeship.\n\n$778.9 million for the Small Business Administration.\n\n$4 million for the Federal and State Technology Partnership (FAST) Program to foster innovative, technology-driven small business development.\n\nDefense\n\n$133 million to continue development of Home Defense Radar \u2013 Hawai\u2018i, rejecting the Administration\u2019s decision to zero-out funding for the project.\n\n$5 million to assure the full research needed to ensure the safety of military underground fuel storage tanks while the Navy, Environmental Protection Agency and State of Hawai\u2018i work to determine a permanent solution for the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.\n\n$77.3 million for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency\u2019s Regional Centers, $3.9 million above the President\u2019s budget. This account support Hawaii\u2019s Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Waik\u012bk\u012b.\n\n$23.3 billion to procure 10 Navy ships, including two SSN-774 Virginia Class attack submarines which are the next generation of our country\u2019s sub fleet and in the Indo-Pacific will be serviced at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Hawai\u2018i\u2019s largest industrial employer.\n\n$50 million for military Impact Aid programs under which the federal government compensates state and local school districts with high military populations for the cost of educating dependents, with an additional $20 million specifically set aside for children with severe disabilities.\n\nCommerce, Justice and Science\n\n$1.25 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Atmospheric Baseline Observatories, which includes the Mauna Loa Observatory, to modernize infrastructure.\n\n$56.5 million, a $1 million increase, for the NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries Program, which includes the Papah\u0101naumoku\u0101kea Marine National Monument and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.\n\n$33 million, a $4.5 million increase, for the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program.\n\n$9 million for the Marine Debris Program to clean up our oceans and develop solutions to land-generated debris.\n\nTransportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies\n\n$2 million for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant program.\n\nDirection ensuring that the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation\u2019s Federal Transit Administration funding does not lapse at the end of 2020.\n\n$3 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, a $238 million increase.\n\n$40 million for HUD/VA Supportive Housing for Homeless Veterans Program, a critical program for homeless veterans in Hawai\u2018i.\n\nReport to Congress on the implementation of the National Parks Air Tour Management Act, which requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Park Service to establish air tour management plans for the most impacted National Parks, including Hawai\u2018i Volcanoes and Haleakal\u0101 National Parks.\n\nReport to Congress on how the FAA has implemented National Transportation Safety Board recommendations on commercial tour flights, and, if the FAA decided not to implement these recommendations, why.\n\nEnergy and Water Development and Related Agencies\n\n$1.7 billion for the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, an increase of $50 million above the FY 2020 level and an increase of $665 million above the request. Sustained support for this program is needed because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has reported that authorized channel depths nationwide are available less than half of the time, and even then, only over half of the channel\u2019s width are supported.\n\nHawai\u2018i-specific U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Operations and Maintenance Projects: Barber Point Deep Draft Harbor ($350 million), Hilo Harbor ($200 million), inspections of completed works ($591 million) and project surveys ($684 million).\n\n$1.8 million for the National Shoreline Management Study. This study contributes to ongoing efforts to improve coastal management in collaboration with other agencies and states to address erosion, sand movement and the environmental and economic implications of shoreline change.\n\n$62.5 million for the State Energy Program Grants, which the Administration proposed eliminating. These grants will allow Hawai\u2018i to ramp up energy efficiency, renewable energy projects and grid-modernization projects.\n\nLabor, Health, Human Services and Education\n\n$20.5 million for the Native Hawaiian Health Care program.\n\n$37.4 million for the Native Hawaiian Education program.\n\n$19.0 million for the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions program.\n\n$5.1 million for the Strengthening Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions program.\n\n$2.3 million for the Native American/Native Hawaiian Library Services program.\n\nInterior, Environment and Related Agencies\n\n$223.9 million for National Park Service (NPS) construction, which includes $5.7 million for the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and $16 million for Kalaupapa National Historical Park.\n\n$3.5 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service State of the Birds Activities, a $250,000 increase. These funds support efforts to recover our most endangered Hawaiian forest bird species.\n\n$1.3 million for the NPS American Indian and Native Hawaiian Art and Culture Grants program.\n\n$34 million in Department of Interior Compact Impact funds, which assists Hawai\u2018i and the Pacific territories to partially offset the costs of Compact migration.\n\n$3.2 million for the NPS Japanese American Confinement Sites program, which funds the preservation and interpretation of U.S. confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II, such as the Honouliuli Internment Camp and Sand Island Detention Camp on O\u2018ahu.\n\n$30.3 million for the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program. This includes funding for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, which monitors the active volcanoes in Hawai\u2018i, assesses their hazards, issues warnings and advances scientific understanding to reduce impacts of volcanic eruptions.\n\n$15.2 million, a $1 million increase, for the NPS National Trails System. This includes the Ala Kahakai National Historical Trail on Hawai\u2018i Island.\n\n$3.5 million for brown tree snake research and control.\n\nState, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs\n\n$19.7 million for the East-West Center, an increase of $3 million over the FY 2020 enacted level.\n\nDirection that the new U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) prioritize investments in the Pacific Islands, including to support women\u2019s economic empowerment, and requiring a report on a strategy to increase DFC investments in the region.\n\nDirection that the Export-Import Bank (EXIM) study and enhance its outreach to areas of the United States that have received disproportionately less engagement and financing support from EXIM. Hawai\u2018i is among a handful of states that receive disproportionately less export financing from EXIM relative to gross domestic product.\n\n$1.5 billion to support the implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-409).\n\nMilitary Construction and Veterans Affairs\n\nFunding for five major military construction projects in Hawai\u2018i: two new child development centers, an aircraft maintenance hangar at Wheeler Army Airfield ($89 million) and two wharf improvement projects at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam ($115 million).\n\nDirection to the military to address the parking shortfall at Tripler Army Medical Center, to include the possible location, cost and timeline for building a new parking garage that sufficiently fulfills the parking demands for both the Army and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).\n\n$1.2 million for the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program, which assists Native Hawaiians.\n\nDirecting continued preferential contracting for Native Hawaiian Organizations and other indigenous peoples with respect to working with the Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration and National Cemetery Administration. Also, direction that the VA has not done a sufficient job of making eligible communities aware of the opportunity, and thus is instructed to provide to the Committees on Appropriations a plan for providing information to relevant communities about their eligibility for this opportunity.\n\nPrevents efforts to transfer funds away from the Filipino Equity Compensation Fund, which provides a one-time, lump-sum payments to eligible World War II Philippine Veterans.\n\nDirection to the VA to provide the Committees on Appropriations with a feasibility study on the establishment of a VA Center for Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islander Health to focus on research, service and education to improve the lives of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders and U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islander veterans.\n\nNotes that American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) has completed the draft report on its study of three potential sites for the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific interpretive center and is awaiting stakeholder feedback, including from the National Cemetery Administration.\n\nThe agreement urges ABMC to provide its final report to Congress by the end of the calendar year so a final decision can be made.\n\nAgriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies\n\nDirection to the USDA to update its 1979 calculation of school nutrition assistance program reimbursement rates in Hawai\u2018i to actually reflect today\u2019s cost of producing a school lunch and breakfast.\n\n$5 million for the Micro-Grants for Food Security program, which provides grants to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food through small-scale gardening, herding and livestock in food insecure communities in Hawaii.\n\n-30-\n\nNOTE: Summary of the measure is attached", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=390", "Case Announces Winners of 2020 Congressional App Contest", "2020-12-15", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=28", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) - Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today announced the winners of his 2nd annual Congressional App Challenge for Hawaii\u2019s First Congressional District.\n\n\u201cThe Challenge is a great opportunity for our local students to focus their skills and creativity on developing, testing and analyzing new applications for real-world use,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cAnd results of this year\u2019s Challenge prove again that they have the skill set, imagination and resolve to compete against the best of our young people nationwide in science, technology, engineering and math, along with the potential to lead the next generations of computer science and technology.\u201d\n\nThe winners include:\n\n1st Place Tony Dang\n\nGrade: 12th grader, Iolani School\n\nApp: Glaucomark\n\nVideo: Glaucomark: Congressional App Challenge 2020 YouTube\n\nSummary: This web application is based on deep learning that offers a handy and cost-worthy glaucoma exam that is available to everyone with access to the Internet. Users only need to upload a picture of a retina taken by any smartphone with a 20D lens that costs only 10 dollars.\n\n2nd Place Harvey Lloyd Picar, Reyan Lee, Destiny Shishido and Kristine Orpilla\n\nGrade: 12th graders, Waipahu High School\n\nApp: ClubHub\n\nVideo: 2020 Congressional App Challenge: ClubHub -YouTube\n\nSummary: This is a website was designed specifically for Waipahu High School students to find out everything about the clubs they signed up for as members, as well as other extra-curricular activities offered by the school.\n\n3rd Place Xhavier Teocson, Kalani Ashton Agustin, Jett Marco Palacpac and Aaron Moises Paned\n\nGrade: 12th graders, Waipahu High School\n\nApp: Studentjobapp\n\nVideo: Congressional App Challenge 2020-\"studentjobapp\" Demo - YouTube\n\nSummary: This App provides a simple way for students and minors to find part-time job listings and reaches out to companies that are looking for applicants interested in part-time work.\n\nHonorable Mention: Kieri Isara\n\nGrade: 8th grader, Ewa Makai Middle School\n\nApp: What\u2019s Next\n\nVideo: What\u2019s Next App on Vimeo\n\nSummary: This App was designed to help students in Middle School from 6th through 8th grade to organize their schoolwork as they undertake distance learning.\n\n\u201cWhile I congratulate all 33 student participants in this year\u2019s App Challenge who submitted a total of 13 Apps, I also want to extend my gratitude to the volunteer judges this year: Sarah Tran-Leony, an electrical engineer with Oceanit; Ray Tsuchiyama, business and real estate consultant, and Kelsi Nichols, the Operations Manager for Nalu Scientific,\u201d said Case.\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge is an official national initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, in which Members of Congress host contests in their districts for middle and high school students, and the winner is invited to showcase the winning application at the United States Capitol and on the U.S. House website. The Challenge encourages students to learn code and inspires them to pursue careers in computer science.\n\nEvery spring winning teams are highlighted on Capitol Hill where they demo their apps to their Representatives at a celebration called #HouseOfCode.\n\nIt\u2019s the most prestigious demo day in student STEM \u2014 the new national science fair. At #HouseOfCode students get to see their apps displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building, meet their Representatives, and connect with other coders from around the country.\n\nThe next #HouseOfCode will be held in Spring 2021, and due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, may be remote in nature.\n\nNOTE: An application is a type of software that allows a person to perform specific tasks. Applications for desktop or laptop computers are sometimes called desktop applications, while those for mobile devices are called mobile apps.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=389", "Case Introduces Measure to Require Federal Benefit Coverage of Compact Migrants", "2020-12-09", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=28", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today introduced a measure in the U.S. House of Representatives to require the federal government to extend the same federal benefits to citizens of three Pacific Island nations legally entitled to live and work in the U.S. as are available to other legal permanent residents.\n\n\u201cFor over three decades our country and Hawai\u2019i have welcomed citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau to live and work in our country legally under Compacts of Free Association (COFA) between our nations,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cYet, although COFA are critical national agreements for our country in the increasingly critical Indo-Pacific, our federal government has dumped the financial burden of providing needed services to FAS citizens on the few states and territories with the most migrants, in part by disqualifying legal FAS citizens from receiving the same basic federal benefits from key federal programs like Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Children\u2019s Health Insurance (CHIP) that other legal permanent residents are entitled to.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn fact, Hawai\u2019i, Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands, which have the highest relative COFA populations in the country, were required to spend some $3.2 billion for services to COFA migrants from 2004 to 2018 but were only reimbursed some $500 million, for a whopping bill of $2.7 billion\u201d, said Case, citing a comprehensive June 2020 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).\n\n\u201cFor Hawai\u2019i alone, our bill is now around $200 million annually and no doubt growing rapidly with the severe COVID-related needs of our COFA communities.\n\n\u201cIt is fundamentally unfair for our federal government to ignore its obligations under agreements that are purely national in interest and scope and transfer this crushing financial burden to the states and territories. My measure would address much of this unfairness by requiring our federal government to extend to FAS citizens the same basic federal benefits provided to other legal permanent residents and thus pay for basic services that the state states and territories are now forced to provide and fund.\u201d\n\nThe GAO report counted some 100,000 and growing FAS citizens throughout the country. They reside disproportionately in Hawai\u2018i, Guam, Washington, Arkansas, Oregon, California, Texas, the Northern Marianas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Missouri, Georgia, Colorado and Iowa, but are located in every state. The GAO estimated Compact migrant growth at 68% over the last decade, with about 50% now located in Hawai\u2019i (the largest population at about 26% of the total), Guam and the Northern Marianas and about 50% on the U.S. Mainland.\n\n\u201cThe COFA provide for U.S. economic assistance to the FAS, exclusive U.S. military use and defense rights in and to the FAS, and the ability of FAS citizens to live and work anywhere in the U.S. indefinitely. Initially, the relatively few FAS citizens living and working in our country legally under the COFA received the basic standard federal benefits granted to permanent residents and other legal non-citizens. However, due to a technical error in the 1996 welfare reform bill, FAS citizens were rendered ineligible for Medicaid and other public benefits. FAS citizens, like other permanent legal residents, should be eligible for all public benefit programs,\u201d said Case in a letter to his colleagues.\n\n\u201cThere is also no reason that federal law should distinguish between FAS citizens and other legal resident non-citizens in eligibility for these key social safety net federal programs. The Compact Impact Fairness Act would correct the mistake in the 1996 law and treat FAS citizens basically the same as any other legal resident non-citizen for these purposes.\u201d\n\nCase\u2019s co-introducers of the Compact Impact Fairness Act include: Steve Womack (R-Arkansas), Ranking Member of the U.S. House Committee on the Budget and Case\u2019s colleague on the House Appropriations Committee; Adam Smith (D-Washington), Chair of the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services; and Case\u2019s Pacific Islands colleagues, Gregorio Sablan (D-Northern Mariana Islands), Aumua Amata Radewagon (R-American Samoa), and Michael San Nicolas (D-Guam).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=388", "U.S. House Passes Case's Measure Advancing First National Forest for Hawai\u2018i", "2020-12-05", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=29", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives this Thursday passed his bill to advance creation of Hawaii\u2019s first National Forest.\n\nA member of the House\u2019s Natural Resources Committee and of its Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands with jurisdiction over the National Forest System, Case managed (led majority party efforts) in the full House in debating and passing his (H.R. 7045) and several other key Natural Resources bills. Case\u2019s bill now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration.\n\n\u201cMy measure will move us toward finally correcting a longstanding omission by adding the best of Hawaii\u2019s unique and endangered forests to our country\u2019s invaluable National Forest System,\u201d said Case. \u201cIt will direct our federal government to pursue a formal process led by the U.S. Forest Service of engaging with state and community stakeholders toward identification of the most suitable Hawaii forests for inclusion as National Forests.\u201d\n\nThe National Forest System currently comprises 154 national forests, 20 national grasslands and several other federal land designations containing 193 million acres. Its core mission is to conserve precious resources for a variety of uses to include watershed management, research, cultural site preservation, wildlife habitat management and research and outdoor recreation.\n\nCase said: \u201cDespite having some of the most unique and endangered forest lands in the country, Hawai\u2018i is one of only a handful of states nationwide without a National Forest. Establishing a National Forest in Hawai\u2018i would support tropical forest conservation and research throughout the Hawaiian Islands, and provide appropriate recreational, cultural and commercial opportunities in Hawai\u2018i,\u201d all with financial and other assistance from the federal government.\n\nEarlier this year, Case arranged for Hawai\u2018i Department of Land and Natural Resources\u2019 First Deputy Robert Masuda to testify before his Subcommittee in favor of the measure. \u201cThe citizens of Hawaii share a passion for the lands and resources that have sustained our islands for generations,\u201d Masuda told the Subcommittee.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s ingrained into our culture and outlook. Like other island peoples around the world, we understand that we live with finite resources on a limited land base. Living on isolated islands, we are particularly sensitive to the threats posed by pollution, climate change, and invasive species. We know that the conservation of our terrestrial and marine resources is necessary for the quality of life we now enjoy, and for future generations.\n\nMasuda continued: \u201cThe State and the U.S. Forest Service already have a successful record of ongoing collaboration in tropical forestry research. We believe Hawaii\u2019s existing Forest Reserves, watershed and endangered species protection programs would align well with a National Forest in Hawai\u2018i.\u201d\n\nNOTE: The measure can be found here https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7045.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=384", "Case Announces Nominations to Nation\u2019s Service Academies for Incoming \u201821 Class", "2020-11-16", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=29", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) - Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today announced his 2021 nominations to four of our nation\u2019s service academies: the U.S. Military Academy (West Point/Army); U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis/Navy); U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs/Air Force) and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point).\n\n\u201cI take my responsibility to nominate deserving applicants from my district to our legendary service academies very seriously, and personally interviewed all 44 potential nominees before making my decisions on nominations,\u201d said Case. \u201cI was truly impressed with the applicants, and it was very encouraging and rewarding to have spent time with our next generation of military leaders.\u201d\n\nCase named the following nominees to the four service academies:\n\nUnited States Air Force Academy\n\n(1) Kaylee Jones, Randolph-Macon Academy via Mililani High School\n\n(2) Kali\u2018inoa Maeva, Punahou School\n\n(3) Jasmine Oki, Hawai\u2018i Baptist Academy\n\n(4) Neo Takazawa, Punahou School\n\n(5) Rosabel Mahimer, Hanalani Schools\n\n(6) Jacob Flores, University Laboratory School\n\n(7) Luke Philips, Punahou School\n\n(8) Roshan Engineer, Mililani High School\n\n(9) Peter Herrington, Home School, \u2018Ewa Beach\n\n(10) Sonny Koa Rosales, Kapolei High School\n\nUnited States Military Academy\n\n(1) Annika Swanson, Punahou School\n\n(2) Jack Schwab, Moanalua High School\n\n(3) Joshua Burnett, Damien Memorial School\n\n(4) Mary-Magdalene Kim, Moanalua High School\n\n(5) Ocean Mao, McKinley High School\n\n(6) Lillian Piedad, Mid-Pacific Institute\n\n(7) Iwalani Campbell, McKinley High School\n\n(8) William Nagel, Punahou School\n\n(9) Ethan Gerhardt, Punahou School\n\n(10) Luke Garcia, Island Pacific Academy\n\nUnited States Naval Academy\n\n(1) Scott Lyons, Naval Academy Preparatory School via St. Louis School\n\n(2) Cara Cunningham, Columbia University via Punahou School\n\n(3) Sky Lactaoen, Naval Academy Preparatory School via Campbell High School\n\n(4) Alexsandra Huntimer, \u2018Iolani School\n\n(5) Jonah Lee, Radford High School\n\n(6) Curtis Meares, University of Hawai\u2018i at M\u0101noa via Kalani High School\n\n(7) Jaden Gummerus, Zama Middle High School, Japan via \u2018Ewa Beach\n\n(8) Raj Singh, Kalani High School\n\n(9) Noah Jeremiah, Home School, \u2018Ewa Beach\n\n(10) Ryu Kajiwiri, Punahou School\n\nUnited States Merchant Marine Academy\n\n(1) Philip Sing, Punahou School\n\n(2) Grant Austin Juan, Marion Military Institute via McKinley High School (3) Orion Fonoti, Mililani High School\n\n(4) Rosabel Mahimer, Hanalani Schools\n\nMembers of Congress are authorized by law to nominate candidates to the four United States Service Academies \u2013 the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado; the Military Academy at West Point, New York; and the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. The Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.\n\nAcceptance of an academy appointment requires at least a nine-year service obligation, including four years at an academy and at least five years of active duty service. For information on eligibility requirements and how to seek an appointment for the 2022 entering class, please go to Congressman Ed Case\u2019s web site https://case.house.gov/services/service-academy-nominations.htm.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=380", "Case Issues Statement on the Election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris", "2020-11-07", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=29", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 U.S Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) issued the following statement on the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris:\n\n\u201cWe took the time democracy deserved, and democracy chose Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cNow the real work begins, of charting a better path forward for all Americans, of healing a bitterly divided country, of listening to and including the almost half of our fellow Americans who chose differently.\n\n\u201cThis work will be profoundly difficult. But today we all can reflect with pride and humility on the resilience of our democracy and recommit ourselves each in our own way to our own role and responsibility.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=378", "Case Releases Recording of Co-hosted National Aeronautics and Space Administration Virtual Event Last Friday with Kapolei High School Students", "2020-10-27", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=29", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Commerce Justice and Science with funding jurisdiction over NASA, today released a recording of his Talk Story-NASA Artemis Next Generation STEM virtual event last Friday which he co-hosted along with NASA leaders for a NASA Artemis Next Generation for Kapolei High School students.\n\nWho: Congressman Case\n\nNASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine\n\nNASA Astronaut Dr. Jonny Kim\n\nWhen: Last Friday, October 23, 2020\n\n9AM to 10 AM HST\n\nNOTE: If media are interested in reaching out to students and faculty who participated in the session, please contact Nestor Garcia.\n\nNOTE: If media are interested in reaching out to NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and astronaut Dr. Jonny Kim, please contact Katy Summerlin.\n\n\u201cUnder NASA and increasingly public-private partnerships, the exploration of space has charged the imagination of generations of Americans and launched the careers of countless students including Hawaii\u2019s own,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cAnd we have again seen in just the last few months, with the award of the Nobel Prize to two women with Hawai\u2019i ties - Professor Andrea Ghez in Physics and Professor Jennifer Doudna in Chemistry - as well as our scientists atop Mauna Kea contributing to the first-ever images of a black hole, that we can lead the world in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).\n\n\u201cBut we must always carry that forward in sparking our next generations into STEM learning and the opportunities it yields for both students and us all. It is a privilege to contribute by bringing the head of NASA and one of NASA\u2019s storied astronauts right into Kapolei High\u2019s classroom.\u201d\n\n\u201cHawaii has made great contributions to scientific achievement over the years, and we hope to continue to provide opportunities for students to get involved in NASA missions,\u201d said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.\n\nBridenstine, NASA\u2019s 13th Administrator, previously served as the United States Representative for the 1stCongressional District of Oklahoma and as a Navy carrier pilot.\n\n\u201cNASA\u2019s Artemis program, which will land the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024, in preparation to go to Mars, is inspiring the next generation of explorers \u2013 the Artemis Generation -- to pursue careers in STEM fields.\n\n\u201cGetting students interested in these fields early in their education will be a great asset to America\u2019s future. Rep. Case has been a strong advocate for STEM education in Hawaii, and we thank him for his leadership in ensuring Hawaii has a role in America\u2019s Moon to Mars exploration plans.\u201d\n\nCase and Bridenstine were joined by Dr. Jonny Kim, who was selected for the 2017 Astronaut Candidate Class. Dr. Kim has completed the initial astronaut candidate training and is now eligible for a mission assignment.\n\nHe is a U.S. Navy SEAL who completed more than 100 combat operations and is a recipient of the Silver Star and Bronze Star with Combat \u201cV\u201d. Dr. Kim enlisted in the Navy in 2002 after graduating from Santa Monica High School in California.\n\nThe Artemis program aims to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024, and establish a sustainable presence on the lunar surface.\n\nArtemis Generation STEM events encourage STEM education and give students an opportunity to engage with NASA and have their space exploration questions answered by NASA astronauts.\n\nAttachments:\n\nRecording of last Friday\u2019s session can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V--j2faER6A&feature=youtu.be.\n\nSoundbites of interest in recording\n\non how high school students helped to fix equipment outside the Space Station that broke and had to be fixed!\n\nQuestion from Brian Bermudez, Engineering and Design student, 11th grader at Kapolei High asked at 40:58: \u201cWhat typically happens up in space that\u2019s significant enough for an astronaut to take a spacewalk\u201d?\n\nAnswer from Dr. Kim at 42:58: \u201cThis was illustrated pretty recently actually . . . (Describes what broke \u2013 the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, which measures dark matter and antimatter); end at 42:53: . . with specialized tools that were invented actually by high school students just for this mission.\u201d\n\non how important it is to come up with a lunar toilet!\n\nQuestion from student Madeline McCurdy, JROTC student, 12th grader at Kapolei High School asked at 44:36: \u201cMy question is, considering the success of the last joint venture between Space X and NASA, where do you see the future of public-private partnerships taking space exploration?\u201d\n\nAnswer from Dr. Kim at 46:22: \u201cI was involved in a crowd sourcing competition through NASA to develop the next toilet for the human landing system . . . (Describes world-wide competition for this project) 46:57: \u201c . . . amazed at the ingenuity of the submissions that I and others had to judge!\u201d\n\nPicture of Dr. Jonny Kim is here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/44764444431/in/album-72157712477458646/\n\nPicture of NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is here: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/nhq201907240001.jpg\n\nArtemis resources page is here: media resources page is here\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=374", "Case Leads Introduction of Visit America Act in U.S. House", "2020-10-01", "2020", "2020-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=29", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case (D-HI) today joined his House Travel and Tourism Caucus co-chairs Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) and Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) along with Congressman Don Young (R-AK) in introducing the Visit America Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nThe Visit America Act, developed with and supported by the nation\u2019s travel and tourism industry, would mandate a coordinated national effort to stabilize and recover one of the country\u2019s primary industries which has been particularly devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nBefore COVID-19, U.S. travel and tourism generated some $2.6 trillion in economic output and supported some 16 million jobs, or one in ten of all U.S. jobs. With its component industries, especially accommodations, air travel and food services, it was a major U.S. export and trade surplus contributor to the country, and that is before accounting for domestic travel and tourism.\n\nCOVID-19 changed all that precipitously, devastating many state and local economies. The U.S. Travel Association estimates that the pandemic has caused over $386 billion in cumulative losses for the industry since March, with some $50 billion in lost federal, state, and local revenues. Over 80% of the industry are small businesses, many if not most of which expect a recovery of well over six months if they survive to start with. Over a quarter of all leisure and hospitality sector workers remain unemployed, double the next most hard-hit industry.\n\nThe Visit America Act is the House companion to a U.S. Senate measure previously introduced by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Angus King (I-ME). It thus represents a fully bipartisan, bicameral effort to address the crisis facing U.S. travel and tourism.\n\nThe Visit America Act would:\n\nExpress the sense of Congress that the federal government must work with the industry and other stakeholders toward a visitation goal of 116 million annual travelers to the United States by 2028, an increase of some 25% over pre-COVID numbers;\n\nEstablish within the Department of Commerce an Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism appointed by the President with responsibilities to set and pursue international visitation goals, ensure public and private sector coordination on travel and tourism, set visa processing goals with the Departments of State and Homeland Security, promote travel exports abroad, and more;\n\nRequire the Department of Commerce to create a 10-year Travel and Tourism Strategy; and\n\nAuthorize the creation of a U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.\n\n\u201cTravel and tourism are huge contributors to the U.S. economy, especially to major visitor destinations like Hawai\u2018i, but the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated this vital industry and all of its components including accommodations, transportation, food services and attractions\u201d, said Case, formerly a travel and tourism executive with industry leader Outrigger Enterprises headquartered in Waikiki. \u201cOur bill would ensure a coordinated, high-level federal response to this challenge that delivers critical assistance to affected businesses and their employees as well as state and local economies dependent on tourism and also fully engages the federal government in pursuing long-term success and growth.\u201d\n\nCase continued: \u201cI\u2019m grateful to Senators Sullivan, Schatz, and King for taking the lead in introducing this bill in the Senate, and I\u2019m proud to be joined by my colleagues Congressman Young, Congresswoman Titus, and Congressman Bilirakis in introducing the House companion version.\u201d\n\n\"Alaska's tourism sector is a critical component of our economy, but like most other industries, COVID-19 has deeply affected the ability for our businesses to stay afloat,\" said Congressman Young. \"Countless families across our state earn a living from tourism.\u201d\n\nYoung continued: \u201cI am proud to help introduce the Visit America Act to support these very families and the businesses they operate. It is vital that our tourism sector rebound. Alaska is unlike any other destination in the country, and it is my sincere hope that tourists from across the world will soon return to experience our great state.\"\n\n\u201cNevada\u2019s unemployment rate is the highest in the country because of our dependence on travel and tourism,\u201d said Congresswoman Titus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus.\n\nTitus continued: \u201cWe will need the full weight of the federal government to bring jobs back to our state and rebuild even stronger. This bill will ensure that the Department of Commerce allocates time and resources to boost the travel and tourism industry and help communities like Southern Nevada thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe tourism and travel industry has been one of Florida\u2019s chief economic drivers, employing nearly one million Floridians and generating nearly $71.8 billion in revenue for the state,\u201d said Bilirakis, who currently serves as the Co-Chairman of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus. \u201cAs our economy looks to fully rebound, the travel and tourism sectors provide a great opportunity for American growth and prosperity. We must do everything we can to facilitate a safe return to pre-pandemic levels of employment within this critical industry.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe global pandemic has shown us how important international travel is to the U.S. economy, and we need to collectively revive this industry in a mindful way for the benefit of Hawai\u2018i and other U.S. destinations,\u201d said John De Fries, president and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawai\u2018i Tourism Authority. \u201cHTA supports the leadership of U.S. Congressman Ed Case in his efforts to responsibly revitalize the visitor industry, which supports our communities, locally and globally.\u201d\n\n\u201cPrior to the pandemic, traveler spending generated $2.6 trillion in economic output, which supported 15.8 million American jobs,\u201d said Tori Emerson Barnes, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy at the U.S. Travel Association.\n\nBarnes continued: \u201cThis year, due to the coronavirus, the travel economy is expected to lose $1.2 trillion. The Visit America Act would ensure this vital sector of the economy has a national plan for recovery and leadership on par with the rest of the world\u2019s top 30 travel destinations.\n\n\u201cAny economic recovery will require a rebound in travel and tourism, and this legislation ensures federal leadership to fuel a nationwide recovery. We thank Representatives Ed Case, Dina Titus, Gus Bilirakis and Don Young for their leadership on this legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cMore than six months into this pandemic the hotel industry remains in crisis. Thousands of hotels are in jeopardy of closing forever because they cannot afford to pay their mortgages, closing permanently, and causing added stress to the U.S. economy. With hotels in every community across America, the ripple effect will be felt for years. The job loss is staggering already. We need legislation such as the Visit America Act introduced in the House today to help our industry and economy recover,\u201d said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association.\n\n\u201cPrior to the pandemic, hotels proudly supported 1 in 25 American jobs\u2014more than 8.3 million in total. Right now, the hotel industry has lost nearly 2 million jobs, with the potential to lose over 3.7 million without additional aid. It is more important ever to have dedicated leadership at the federal level to help steer our industry towards recovery and set important goals for the years ahead.\u201d\n\nText of the Visit America Act can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:34:36Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=371", "Case Statement on the Passing of U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg", "2020-09-18", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=29", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) released the following statement upon the passing of United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:\n\n\u201cWe have lost a giant. A good and decent citizen who believed passionately in her country and Constitution and, when called to great responsibility, discharged it honorably and fully.\n\n\u201cRest in peace, RBG.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:28:51Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-senators-urge-trump-to-work-with-congress-to-provide-emergency-rental-assistance-protections", "Schatz, Senators Urge Trump To Work With Congress To Provide Emergency Rental Assistance, Protections", "2020-09-17", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz, Senators Urge Trump To Work With Congress To Provide Emergency Rental Assistance, Protections \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Vulnerable Infants, Children, Young Adults, Caregivers, Parents Facing Unprecedented Economic Strain amid Public Health Crisis \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, September 17, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and 30 of his senate colleagues today called on President Trump to work with Congress on a bipartisan basis to enact legislation that provides the emergency assistance and protections renters need to stay in their homes. Millions of children and youth are at risk of being evicted from their homes due to the Trump administration's refusal to support critical rental assistance and relief measures to protect their health and well-being during this pandemic.   \r\nToday, millions of households are facing impossible choices between paying the rent or mortgage, or purchasing food or medicine. Given recent spikes in COVID-19 caseloads and an economic crisis that continues to deepen, we urge you to work with Congress on a bipartisan basis to enact legislation that provides the emergency assistance renters need to stay in their homes, the senators wrote.\r\nAlong with Schatz, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.).\r\n\r\nA full copy of the letter can be found here and below: Dear President Trump: Millions of children and youth remain at-risk of being evicted from their homes without critical rental assistance to help them or their caregivers pay their bills. Americans deserve better. Senate Republicans ignored calls from across the countryfrom parents, advocates, young people, and housing providers for rental assistance, and instead introduced a proposal that is out of touch with the experiences of American households, leaving millions of people behind. Your Administration recently issued an order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) instituting a federal rental eviction moratorium through December 31, 2020 for nonpayment of rent. While we appreciate the order's recognition that evictions pose a grave threat to individuals' and public health, and that as many as 3040 million people, are at risk of eviction, this action does not include any new funding to help people pay their rent so they can remain in their homes once the moratorium expires. In addition, the order does not prohibit landlords from charging late penalties and fees to renters who are struggling to pay rent. Today, millions of households are facing impossible choices between paying the rent or mortgage, or purchasing food or medicine. Given recent spikes in COVID-19 caseloads and an economic crisis that continues to deepen, we urge you to work with Congress on a bipartisan basis to enact legislation that provides the emergency assistance renters need to stay in their homes. Even before the pandemic, a quarter of all renters were spending half their incomes on housing, and more than 20 million children lived in households that struggled to afford housing. This pandemic is not only revealing the inequities in our society, but exacerbating them. Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that nearly 1-in-5 renters were behind on rent in July. This hardship fell more heavily on Black and brown renters and families with children, among whom more than 1-in-4 had fallen behind on rent. Black or Hispanic households with children are more than twice as likely to be behind on their rent or mortgage or struggle to get enough to eat. Research also shows that these circumstances too often lead to housing instability. We've seen how housing instability works hand-in-hand with overrepresentation of Black and Hispanic families in the child welfare system, as families experiencing housing instability are more likely to be investigated by child welfare and have their children removed and placed in foster care compared to families with low incomes who have stable housing. And for those children that live with their grandparents, we see them empty their savings only to lose their homes and move to temporary hotels or motels, forcing them to convert these time-limited living spaces into classrooms and bedrooms to create safe places for their grandchildren during this pandemic. We know before the pandemic young people with foster care experiences struggled with housing instability and recent surveys reveal that more than 40 percent of young people report immediate or pending loss of housing as a result of the public health crisis. Without rental assistance for these young people and families, they will be forced to accrue insurmountable debt, fees, and fines, potentially post-dating evictions until the first of the year. Evictions have mental health implications for children as well as mothers who experience higher rates of depression months after being forced out of their home, which negatively impacts children's development. Child health disparities, as a result of evictions, are compounded by the economic hardships faced by parents who are left with court orders and judgements that make it harder to secure new housing and maintain stable employment. While parents and students across the country face uncertainty this school year, children who are evicted or move because they can no longer afford rent may be forced to switch schools, resulting in greater disruptions in their academic achievement. Evictions during a pandemic have even more severe negative implications for children. Families who are evicted are forced to move in with others in overcrowded residences, or move to hotel rooms, shelters, cars or other situations, making remote learning for children and social distancing nearly impossible. More than 20 million renters have experienced a job loss due to the pandemic, putting millions of households at risk of eviction in the coming months. As unemployment remains high and millions of families with children struggle to make ends meet, it is critical that your Administration and Senate Republicans return to the negotiating table and work to provide at least $100 billion in emergency rental assistance to help millions  including families with children  keep a roof over their heads. Four months ago, the House passed the HEROES Act, which includes rental assistance, a uniform national eviction moratorium through March 27, 2021, and funds supporting homelessness service organizations and affordable housing providers who continue to make safe, affordable housing available for the families, youth, and individuals they serve. It is past time to negotiate comprehensive legislation that will provide renters with the assistance they desperately need.   \r\nHousing instability and threat of evictions exemplify how the pandemic is falling hardest on the most vulnerable Americans, especially our children. Disruptions to every aspect of children's lives will have lasting, detrimental effects on their health, safety, and future success. We urge you to act now and in good faith to minimize the impact of this unprecedented public health pandemic on our children's future.\r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/khon-2-foxcw-house-bill-aims-discourage-ballot-harvesting", "KHON 2 Fox/CW | House bill aims to discourage ballot harvesting", "2020-09-17", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A bipartisan bill that aims to improve the security of mail-in ballot voting was re-introduced to the house floor on Thursday, Sept. 17. Bill H.R. 8285, better known as the Election Fraud Prevention Act, would prohibit election funding to states which permit ballot harvesting.\n  \n\tThe Election Fraud Prevention Act was proposed by representatives Tulsi Gabbard (Hawai'i) and Rodney Davis (Illinois) as most states, like Hawai'i, gear up for an all mail-in general election.\n  \n\tThe representatives expressed their concerns with states who are legally allowed to practice ballot harvesting, which involves allowing third parties to collect and deliver ballots in some states. Gabbard's proposal advocates for voting ballots to only be handled by election officials and mail carriers.\n  \n\tFamily members, household members and caregivers would also be able to deliver ballots on behalf of the voter, according to the bill.\n \n\t\n\t\tWhile some states have prohibited vote harvesting, many states lack any regulations that would stop third-parties from fraudulently collecting and mishandling ballots as has occurred in recent elections. Our bipartisan bill incentivizes states to take action and prevent any political parties or any third-party special interest groups from interfering with our sacred right to vote,-Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. Representative for Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District\n \n  \n\tThe Election Fraud Prevention Act would also amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit election funding to states which permit ballot harvesting.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-votes-confront-anti-asian-bigotry", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Votes to Confront Anti-Asian Bigotry", "2020-09-17", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DCToday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) voted to pass H.Res.908, a bipartisan resolution which draws attention to the increased anti-Asian bigotry that has been observed during the coronavirus crisis and calls on the Federal government to work with state and local law enforcement to confront and prosecute hate crimes related to this. She cosponsored the resolution earlier this year to draw attention to at-risk communities as Congress began its work to address the broader fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nUnfortunately, too many Asians across the country have become the targets of bigotry, slurs, and even physical attacks due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Especially during this time of crisis, now is the time for our community to come together and care for one another, not tear itself apart,said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.\n\nBackground:Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been a leader in Congress fighting for equality for all and advocating for the protection of at-risk and minority communities in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis.\n\nIn March, she cosponsored H.Res.908. She recently joined her colleagues in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) to urge the Administration to make translated materials available on all official federal websites that have information related to COVID-19 and any of the benefits programs created to address this pandemic to ensure that everyone has access to these resources.\n\n\nAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserves. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard...\n\nFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-votes-workplace-protections-pregnant-workers", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Votes for Workplace Protections for Pregnant Workers", "2020-09-17", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DCToday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) voted to pass H.R.2694, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a bipartisan bill which will greatly expand workplace protections for pregnant workers, preventing them from having to choose between a safe pregnancy and financial security. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is a cosponsor of the bill.\n\nThe bill was passed by a vote of 329-73, and now heads to the Senate for consideration.\n\nWe are a stronger society when we care for one another and our families. Too often, pregnant women are faced with the impossible decision of ensuring a safe pregnancy or providing for her family. This bill helps make sure basic protections are in place while she is at work that best serve the wellbeing of mom and her baby, said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.\n\nBackground:The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 was a critical step forward in ensuring employment protections for pregnant women in the workplace. Though the Pregnancy Discrimination Act prevents mothers from employment discrimination, H.R.2694 goes a step further to ensure that employers provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees. Such accommodations may include allowing pregnant employees in the service industry to sit while working, or have the opportunity to take more bathroom and water breaks.\n\nWomen are working later into their pregnancies. More than 80 percent of pregnant workers continue to work into their last trimester. While reasonable accommodations may not be requested in all cases, there are many reports of employers firing or pushing unpaid leave onto pregnant workers who need reasonable accommodation. The effect is disastrous, cutting off both a paycheck and health insurance just when both are needed the most.\n\nAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserves. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard...\n\nFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/reps-tulsi-gabbard-and-rodney-davis-introduce-bill-ban-vote-harvesting-protect", "Reps. Tulsi Gabbard and Rodney Davis Introduce Bill to Ban Vote Harvesting & Protect Mail-In Ballots from Third-Party Predators", "2020-09-17", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DCToday, Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) and Rodney Davis (IL-13) introduced H.R.8285, the Election Fraud Prevention Act, a bipartisan bill that aims to improve the security of the mail-in ballot process.\n\nThe strength of our democracy lies in the integrity of our elections. Whether in the midst of a pandemic where mail-in voting is likely to drastically increase, or in a normal election, no one should get in between a voter and the ballot box. While some states have prohibited vote harvesting, many states lack any regulations that would stop third-parties from fraudulently collecting and mishandling ballots as has occurred in recent elections. Our bipartisan bill incentivizes states to take action and prevent any political parties or any third-party special interest groups from interfering with our sacred right to vote,said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.\n\nBanning ballot harvesting shouldn't be a partisan issue, said Rep. Rodney Davis. Allowing any individual, including political operatives, to pick up multiple voters' ballots and deliver them to a polling location undermines the integrity of our elections. We've seen ballot harvesting widely used in states like California and a recent court case in North Carolina outlined the clear opportunities for fraud and coercion with the ballot harvesting process. This bipartisan bill will encourage states to ban this process that is ripe for fraud and is a major threat to the integrity of our elections.\n\nBackground:H.R.8285, the Election Fraud Prevention Act would amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to prohibit payments to States which permit ballot harvesting.\n\nCurrently, depending on the State or locality, voters have the option of mailing their ballot, leaving their ballot in a drop box, having their ballots collected and submitted by a third party, or returning them at the polls or a local election office.\n\nThe Election Fraud Prevention Act ensures that voters seeking to turn in their mail-in ballots may only be assisted by an election official or mail carrier acting in their official capacities as well as family members, household members, or caregivers.\n\n\nShe reintroduced this bill in March 2019 and has supported several other bills to protect and promote voter enfranchisement including the voting rights provisions in H.R.1 the For the People Act of 2019, H.R.51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, and H.R.645, the Automatic Voter Registration Act.\n\nAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserves. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard...\n\nFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-hirono-booker-introduce-i-am-vanessa-guillen-act", "Senators Hirono, Booker Introduce I Am Vanessa Guillen Act", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "September 16, 2020\n\t\t\t Senators Hirono, Booker Introduce I Am Vanessa Guillen Act \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Bill removes barriers to reporting sexual harassment, sexual assault in the military\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, D.C.  Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the I Am Vanessa Guillen Act, legislation that addresses sexual harassment and sexual assault in the military by removing decisions about prosecuting those cases from the chain of command, establishing independent investigators outside of the chain of command, and creating a standalone punitive article for sexual harassment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).\r\nVanessa Guillen's story makes painfully clear the need for a better response to sexual harassment and sexual assault in the military. The I Am Vanessa Guillen Act knocks down barriers to reporting sexual harassment and sexual assault and directly addresses the culture that protects the perpetrators of these crimes. It's time to make a system that respects and protects survivors,Senator Hirono said.\r\nIt's far past time we address the epidemic of sexual assault and harassment in our military and change a system where these cases aren't reported because of fears of retribution from superiors,said Senator Booker.The I Am Vanessa Guillen Act will make major changes to how our military handles these cases, including moving prosecution decisions out of the complainant's chain of command, while also increasing oversight of the military's handling of missing soldier cases. I'm proud to stand with my colleagues in support of this bill.\r\nThe I Am Vanessa Guillen Act would:\r\n Shift prosecutorial decisions on sexual harassment and sexual assault cases outside the chain of command to an Office of the Chief Prosecutor established within each military service\r\n Create a standalone punitive article for sexual harassment under the UCMJ\r\n Establish and train sexual harassment investigators outside of the chain of command of the complainant and the accused\r\n Further integrate the existing Department of Defense Catch a Serial Offender database with the sexual harassment confidential reporting process\r\n Create a process for service members to make claims of negligence against the Department of Defense and seek compensatory damages in cases of sexual assault or sexual harassment\r\n Require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate and provide a report on the military's procedures to find missing service members, and compare them with best practices and procedures used by civilian law enforcement\r\n Require evaluations from both the Department of Defense and GAO of the military's Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) programs\r\nThe legislation is named after SPC Vanessa Guillen, a soldier stationed at Fort Hood who went missing in April after facing sexual harassment and whose remains were found two months later. She had not reported her claims to her chain of command out of fear of retaliation. The bill was also introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), and more than 100 other members of Congress.\r\nSenator Hirono has fiercely advocated for reforms to the military justice system. Since 2013, she hascosponsoredthe Military Justice Improvement Act,legislationthat professionalizes how the military prosecutes crimes like sexual assault. In 2017, the Senatorquestionedthe commandant of the Marine Corps about addressing sexual assault and the mistreatment of women in the military. The following year, the Senatorsecuredthe passage of a measure aiming to close a loophole in the UCMJ which allows convicted abusers to purchase firearms. Additionally, Senator Hirono asks all nominees that come before the committees she serves onincluding the Senate Armed Services Committeewhether they have a history of sexual assault or sexual harassment.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/honolulu-civil-beat-doh-epidemiologist-jennifer-smith-legally-protected", "Honolulu Civil Beat | Is DOH Epidemiologist Jennifer Smith Legally Protected As A Whistleblower?", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Putting a worker on paid leave soon after she blew the whistle can be enough to establish a case under Hawaii's law. But legal elements can be hard to prove. \n\nThe Department of Health's decision to put on leave a staff case investigator who exposed flaws in the state's COVID-19 contact tracing program that led to a program overhaul and the departure of the state health director is raising questions about retaliation.\n  \n\tRetaliating against a whistleblower sends a dangerously chilling message to others in our government who are doing the right thing, that they better toe the line or they will be punished, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said in response to Jennifer Smith's forced paid leave from the department.\n  \n\tHawaii has a law designed to protect people like Smith. The question is whether it will apply in her case. Smith has hired a lawyer but not yet filed a lawsuit, and it's not clear whether she will. Still, her situation raises questions about how the state's whistleblower law works and what protections workers have.\n  \n\tAs Lt. Gov. Josh Green sees it, people like Smith should be encouraged to speak out.\n  \n\tNo one in Hawaii should ever have to fear retaliation if they express their concerns about how people are acting, Green said in a text message. This is America for god sake.\n  \n\tUnfortunately, the law protecting people who speak out isn't that simple.\n  \n\tAnna Elento-Sneed is an attorney and president of ES&A Inc., a Honolulu law firm that's the sole Hawaii member of the Employment Law Alliance, a leading network of labor and employment lawyers.\n  \n\tSneed said it's important to note that whistleblower protections are found in numerous laws dealing with employment issues, not just Hawaii's whistleblower protection statute. In addition, Sneed said, whistleblower cases are fact intensive. And many facts of Smith's case have yet to emerge.\n  \n\tIt's very hard at this stage to say whether she has a claim or not, Sneed said.\n  \n\tStill, a close look at the state's whistleblower statute does provide some insight into how lawyers and judges view such cases as well as the sorts of facts that will be relevant to Smith's case.\n  \n\tKnown as the Hawaii Whistleblower Protection Act, the 1987 law essentially protects a worker from retaliation by an employer if the worker reported or was about to report illegal activity by the employer.\n  \n\tA worker wrongly retaliated against  and being put on paid leave could qualify as retaliation, lawyers say  is entitled to a variety of types of relief including in some cases punitive damages. In one case, Smith's lawyer, Carl Varady, won a jury award of approximately $3.8 million from The Queen's Medical Center after the jury found an employee was harassed and discriminated against for blowing the whistle on suspected wrongdoing.\n  \n\tSo the state faces a potentially big penalty if Smith can establish she has whistleblower protections that the DOH violated.\n  \n\tAnd in some ways, the law favors employees like Smith.\n  \n\tFor example, the statute is broad when it comes to protecting an employee who blows the whistle. Employers can't discriminate against an employee regarding the employee's compensation, terms, conditions, location, or privileges of employment.\n  \n\tBut it's narrower when it comes to what it considers whistleblowing. The employee's report has to be made to a public body and it has to pertain to a violation or suspected violation of a state or federal law, rule, ordinance, regulation or contract.\n  \n\tHawaii courts have boiled this down to three elements. For an employee to prevail in a whistleblower case, an employee must have engaged in protected conduct, the employer must take some adverse action against the employee and there must be a causal connection between the alleged retaliation and the whistleblowing.'\n  \n\tUnder this standard, a person could expose bad behavior and thus be a whistleblower in common parlance but not meet the legal definition of one.\n  \n\tHonolulu attorney Joseph Rosenbaum, who often represents employees in employment cases, said the issue on its face seems simple.\n  \n\tProtected conduct simply means that the employee reported violations or suspected violations of the law or government contract, he said.\n  \n\tStill, Rosenbaum echoed Sneed in saying that nailing down whether an employee did that takes a lot of work.\n  \n\tThat's a very fact-specific question, he said. And that's why these cases are difficult.\n  \n\tBut simply reporting a violation isn't enough, he said.\n  \n\tThere's also an issue of to whom the employee is reporting. Blabbing to a friend or the media isn't enough; the whistleblower generally must tell a government entity, he said.\n  \n\tIn an interview, Smith's attorney, Varady, said his client meets these standards. Congress has appropriated some $50 million in CARES Act money to the Department of Health for things like contact tracing, so there was a question about whether the department was properly spending that money, he said.\n  \n\tIn addition, he said, the department's case investigators were so understaffed that they were working untold overtime hours without pay, another legal issue.\n  \n\tThe Attorney General's Office declined an interview request for this article.\n  \n\tAssuming Smith's speaking out met the legal definition of whistleblowing, there's the additional question of whether putting her on paid leave is an adverse action according to the law.\n  \n\tAgain, Hawaii courts have taken a broad view of this. In determining what's an adverse action, in a 2008 opinion, Judge David Alan Ezra, a longtime U.S. District Court judge for Hawaii, applied a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals test for adverse employment actions in federal cases to a claim under the Hawaii whistleblower law.\n  \n\tEzra said an action is an adverse employment action if it is reasonably likely to deter employees from engaging in protected activity.\n  \n\tThe 9th Circuit was equally broad, saying adverse action included lateral transfers, unfavorable job references, and changes in work schedules.\n  \n\tUnder this broad definition, being forced to leave work, even with pay, is an adverse action, Rosenbaum said.\n  \n\tEven though they're on leave with pay, it's not like they're on vacation, he said.\n  \n\tFinally, there's the final, perhaps most fact-intensive, question of whether the employer took the action because the employee blew the whistle.\n  \n\tThe Hawaii Supreme Court outlined the method for unpacking this in a case in which a worker sued the Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance. The case set up a sort of burden-shifting ping pong game. First, the worker tries to present a reasonably strong case  or a prima facie case in legal jargon  that the whistleblowing played a role in the employer's action.\n  \n\tOne way to do this, the court said, is to show the employer cracked down soon after the employee blew the whistle. Or, as the court put it, proximity in time is one type of circumstantial evidence that is sufficient on its own to meet the plaintiff's burden.\n  \n\tIn Smith's case, she was put on leave within weeks of blowing the whistle. That's probably enough to establish the prima facie case, Rosenbaum said. It's unusual for employers to do what the health department did, he said.\n  \n\tMost savvy employers will do just the opposite, he said.\n  \n\tBut even if a plaintiff establishes the prima facie case, it's hardly game over. The employer gets to come back and show it would have taken the adverse action regardless of whether the employee blew the whistle.\n  \n\tHere's where an allegation that Smith threatened a co-worker comes in.\n  \n\tDetails of that allegation are scant. The Department of Health has declined to discuss Smith's case at all. And Smith only alluded to the accusation in a statement.\n  \n\tIn an interview, Varady called it bogus, concocted by a co-worker loyal to Dr. Sarah Park, the state epidemiologist who also has been put on paid leave.\n  \n\tThreatening a colleague would seem likely to get an employee placed on leave; the question, Rosenbaum said, is whether it happened.\n  \n\tAn employer's always going to come up with some reason for taking adverse action against an employee, he said.\n  \n\tIt's usually the jury's role to see if that reason meets the laugh test, he said.\n  \n\tIf Smith threatened an employee as she's accused of doing, the police likely would have been called immediately and there should be a report, he said. If the health department waited weeks after the purported incident to do anything, including removing Smith, that would suggest the incident didn't happen or the threat was not serious.\n  \n\tSteven Levinson, a retired Hawaii Supreme Court justice, agreed. He said that if there's no police report that's suggestive that this did not happen.\n  \n\tMichelle Yu, a spokeswoman for the Honolulu Police Department, said the department did not have enough information to say if there had been a report of an incident involving Smith at the Department of Health in the past two months.\n  \n\tSorry, but that's a common name and we don't have a date, location, reporting person or the case classification, Yu said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/marijuana-moment-congressional-lawmakers-ask-supreme-court-hear-marijuana-lawsuit", "Marijuana Moment | Congressional Lawmakers Ask Supreme Court To Hear Marijuana Lawsuit Against DEA", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Seven members of Congress and a slew of marijuana reform groups have submitted legal documents urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a lawsuit against the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) refusal to change the federal classification of cannabis.\n  \n\tIn an amicus brief filed on Tuesday, the lawmakers sided with the plaintiffs and said the prohibition of marijuana is unconstitutional and should be resolved by the Court. The Schedule I status of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act creates an unconstitutional framework that unfairly burdens their constituents, the brief states.\n  \n\tThe original lawsuit against DEA was filed in 2017 by a coalition of medical cannabis patients and activists, including Alexis Bortell and former NFL player Marvin Washington. It was rejected in a series of rulings by lower courts, but attorneys for the plaintiffs said those decisions made it clear their only source of acceptable relief would come from the Supreme Court.\n  \n\tThat's because both a U.S. District Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit previously determined that advocates would have to first seek administrative relief through existing channels such as a petition asking DEA directly to reclassify cannabis. But the plaintiffs said they wouldn't go that route because they believe the request would be denied by DEA and because the agency would, at best, reclassify marijuana as a Schedule II drug, which they say could create additional harms in terms of patient access to the plant.\n  \n\tIt's not clear whether the Supreme Court will take the case, but the batch of amicus briefs could give added weight to the case, particularly when members of Congress are calling for action. The nine justices are scheduled to discuss whether to grant a hearing during a private October 9 conference.\n  \n\tThe submission of an amicus brief by seven members of Congress is significant, not only because it adds legitimacy to our petition, but more importantly, because it provides critical support for one of the central points of our appealthat the only realistic means of resolving the issue of legalization is through the courts, Michael Hiller, lead counsel for the plaintiffs, told Marijuana Moment.\n  \n\tThe lawmakers wrote that because many states have legalized medicinal (and recreational) uses of cannabis, the continued rigid federal criminalization of any cannabis use creates a system that infringes on Constitutional rightsthe right to interstate travel, to participate in civic life, to contract and engage in interstate commerce, to make life-saving and life-sustaining medical decisions without government intervention, and to make decisions guided by a clear, nationally-consistent regulatory scheme.\n  \n\tThis Court must take action to remedy the unconstitutional system that has unfairly burdened Petitioners and similarly-situated patients who lawfully use medical marijuana under the supervision of a physician and pursuant to state law. While a legislative solution is theoretically possible, various unsuccessful Congressional attempts to deschedule marijuana have made clear that legislative action is made practically impossible by complicated political realities. Because the current federal scheme violates federal law and infringes on Constitutional rights, the Court should grant certiorari to resolve this matter.\n  \n\tReps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) each signed the amicus brief.\n  \n\tThat makes the language of the filing as it concerns complicated political realities preventing legislative change somewhat curious, as Blumenauer and Lee are cochairs of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus and have expressed confidence that a bill to federally legalize marijuana that's due for a House vote next week will pass. Blumenauer went so far as to say on Tuesday that he feels it even stands a chance of clearing the GOP-controlled Senate.\n  \n\tIf the legislation does advance through at least one chamber of Congress prior to the justices' discussion of the case next month, that could undermine the legal argument that the courts are the only place where advocates stand a reasonable chance of forcing a change to marijuana's federal scheduling.\n  \n\tAdditional briefs in support of the lawsuit have been filed by NORML, International Cannabis Bar Association, National Cannabis Industry Association, Arcview Group, Last Prisoner Project, Americans for Safe Access, Minority Cannabis Business Association and others.\n  \n\tThe submission of nine amicus briefs from 19 organizations, two leading experts in cannabis science, and seven members of Congress reinforces our arguments, Hiller said. Today, 70 percent of American jurisdictions maintain some form of legalization. We believe that the issue is fully ripe for determination by the Supreme Court and remain hopeful that the Justices will see fit to grant cert.\n  \n\tThe Justice Department, in a short filing on Monday, declined an opportunity to respond to the petition.\n  \n\tIn my experience, the federal government generally waives its opposition to cert petitions, and it would have been quite unusual for the federal government not to have done so here, Hiller said. Consequently, we were not the least bit surprised that the federal government waived its opposition.\n  \n\tDEA has on numerous past occasions denied petitions to change marijuana's status under the CSA, most recently in 2016.\n  \n\tThe current case isn't the only cannabis-related lawsuit DEA has faced in recent years. Scientists sued the agency last year, alleging that it had deliberately delayed approving additional marijuana manufacturers for research purposes despite pledging to expand the number of those facilities in 2016.\n  \n\tA court mandated that DEA take steps to make good on its promise, and that case was dropped after DEA provided a status update.\n  \n\tIn March, DEA finally unveiled a revised rule change proposal that it said was necessary due to the high volume of applicants and to address potential complications related to international treaties to which the U.S. is a party.\n  \n\tThe scientists behind the original case filed another suit against DEA, claiming that the agency used a secret document to justify its delay of approving manufacturer applications.\n  \n\tThat was born out when the Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel document was released in April as part of a settlement in the case, revealing, among other things, that the agency feels that its current licensing structure for cannabis cultivation has been in violation of international treaties for decades.\n  \n\tSeparately, a federal court recently ruled that California regulators must comply with a DEA subpoena demanding information about marijuana businesses that they are investigating.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-brings-attention-targeted-kidnapping-torture-and-slaughter", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Brings Attention to Targeted  Kidnapping, Torture and Slaughter of Christians in Nigeria", "2020-09-16", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DCRep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) joined representatives of the International Committee on Nigeria (ICON) along with former Rep. Frank Wolf (VA) and former NFL New England Patriots Tight End Benjamin Watson to raise awareness around the decades long atrocities being committed against Nigeria's Christian community by Boko Haram and other Islamist extremist terrorist organizations. She delivered the following remarks:\n\nJust five days ago, we observed the solemn 19th anniversary of Al-Qaeda's attack on our country on September 11th.\n\n19 years after that attack, Islamist extremists like Al-Qaeda and ISIS are continuing to carry out terrorist attacks around the world. They are continuing to slaughter and enslave Christians and other religious minorities around the world.\n\nToo often, these attacks go unnoticed. These attacks are continuing in Nigeria by Boko Haram -- an Islamist extremist terrorist group formerly affiliated with Al-Qaeda that now pledges allegiance to ISIS.\n\nIt is estimated that around 60,000 Christians have been targeted and killed in Nigeria over the last two decades. Things like truckloads of Boko Haram terrorists arriving at a Christian village and going in and slaughtering every person there -- man, woman, child.\n\nAccording to the Global Terrorism Index, the killing in this region is greater than that committed by ISIS in Iraq and Syria, combined.\n\nI am here today to join my friends in bringing attention to this crisis, to raise our voices in opposition to the systematic slaughter, kidnapping, and torture of Christians by Boko Haram and other Islamist terrorist organizations in Nigeria and in the region.\n\nBackground:Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been an outspoken leader in Congress focused on defeating Al-Qaeda in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks it committed against the United States. After the attack on 9/11, she became the first state official to voluntarily leave her public office to serve in a war zone.\n\nShe previously introduced a resolution recognizing the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities by ISIS as genocide and calling for the United States to prioritize providing refugee status to such persecuted families and individuals.\n\nShe has previously introduced a resolution calling on the Government of Bangladesh to protect the rights of all of its religious minorities, including Christians, Hindus, Atheists, and others and spoke on the House floor to condemn violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh.\n\nAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserves. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard...\n\nFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/additional-703-million-in-federal-unemployment-dollars-heading-to-hawaii", "Additional $70.3 Million In Federal Unemployment Dollars Heading To Hawaii", "2020-09-15", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Additional $70.3 Million In Federal Unemployment Dollars Heading To Hawaii \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t New Federal Money From CARES Act Follows Previously Announced $253 Million, Will Provide Additional $300 A Week In Unemployment Assistance For Those Impacted By COVID-19 \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, September 15, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced it has approved an additional $70,293,866 grant to Hawaii to provide those unemployed due to COVID-19 with an additional $300 per week on top of their regular unemployment benefit. The new funding follows nearly $200 million in federalfunding announced last month and $53.4 million announced last week.\r\n\r\nWhile this new funding will provide some immediate help, it's not enough for Hawaii families who are struggling to make ends meet,said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.We'll continue working to secure more federal funding to help Hawaii get through this tough time.\r\n\r\nThe Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Program is funded by FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, which received $45 billion from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-murkowski-sullivan-introduce-bill-to-extend-key-2020-census-deadlines-due-to-covid-19-pandemic", "Schatz, Murkowski, Sullivan Introduce Bill To Extend Key 2020 Census Deadlines Due To COVID-19 Pandemic", "2020-09-15", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz, Murkowski, Sullivan Introduce Bill To Extend Key 2020 Census Deadlines Due To COVID-19 Pandemic \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Bipartisan Bill Would Help Ensure Accurate Count By Extending Deadlines To Report Data, Complete Field Operations \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, September 15, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) introduced a bipartisan bill that would extend two key statutory deadlines for the 2020 Census by four months and require the Census Bureau to continue field operations through October 31, 2020.\r\nDelays in census operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic could result in a severe undercount of the population, specifically in Native, minority, and rural communities across the country. These extensions would allow the Census Bureau to continue collecting and processing data, which will lead to a more accurate count.\r\nThe pandemic has caused real concerns around getting everyone counted in the 2020 Census,\" said Senator Schatz.\"Our bill extends key deadlines so that the Census Bureau has enough time to reach more communities and ensure an accurate count.\"\r\nObtaining an accurate Census count is always difficult. But now, with the added delays and difficulties caused by COVID-19, it's become increasingly clear that more time is needed to ensure a fair and accurate census count. For an effort that happens once every ten years, with impacts that last for the next ten years, this is far too important to not get right. The Census determines how much federal funding our local communities will receive for services like schools, roads, and other public serviceseach vital to Alaska's livelihood, said Senator Murkowski. This legislation is critically important, taking into account all the various challenges and hurdles that have occurred during this year's Census, and providing the extensions necessary to have a complete 2020 Census.\r\nAn accurate population count in Alaska is notoriously difficult given our many diverse and remote communities, and the coronavirus pandemic has only served to exacerbate this challenge, said Senator Sullivan. In Alaska, we are already witnessing the lowest self-response rates in the country. The impact of this Census will be felt for the next ten years, and we simply cannot afford an undercount. Pushing back the deadline is the appropriate response to make sure this Census is accurate and successful.\r\nThe 2020 Census Deadline Extensions Act follows a previous request made by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham to extend the deadlines for apportionment and redistricting, citing the pandemic delaying census operations.\r\nThe bill would extend the deadline for the delivery of apportionment data to the U.S. House of Representatives to April 30, 2021 from December 31, 2020. It would also extend the statutory delivery of redistricting data to the states to July 31, 2021 from March 31, 2021.\r\nAdditionally, it would require the Census Bureau to return to the original end date of 2020 Census field operationsOctober 31, 2020to give the agency enough time to ensure a full count in hard-to-count communities.\r\nIn August, Senators Schatz and Murkowski led a bipartisan group of 48 senators urging congressional leaders to include these deadline extensions in the next coronavirus relief package.\r\nMore than 200 groups have endorsed the legislation, including the AARP, National Association of Counties, U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, National Organization of Black County Officials, National Council of Nonprofits, National Congress of American Indians, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, NALEO Educational Fund, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and MALDEF. A full list of endorsements can be found here.\r\nThe full text of the bill is available here.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-gains-support-burn-pits-legislation-joins-new-bill-help-troops", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Gains Support For Burn Pits Legislation, Joins New Bill to Help Troops Exposed to Toxins", "2020-09-15", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DCToday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) announced growing support for H.R.7072, the SFC Heath Robinson Burn Pit Transparency Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill which she introduced this summer with Rep. Brian Mast (FL-18). Senator Sherrod Brown (OH), a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee leading on burn pits issues, introduced the bipartisan companion bill in the Senate with Senator Rob Portman (OH).\n\nRep. Gabbard has also requested to be an original co-sponsor of the Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act, which is being introduced today.\n\nThe cost of war is carried by our servicemembers long after they return from the battlefield and put down the uniform. We know that millions have been exposed to these toxic substances which have ruined the lives of thousands of our servicemembers and veterans, often cutting lives short. SFC Health Robinson was one such individual. I hope his story spurs the Defense Department and the Department of Veterans Affairs to do more, said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. As a veteran of two Middle East deployments, also exposed to toxic burn pits, I will continue to push for legislation that will mandate care for those suffering due to toxic substance exposure in the line of duty.\n\nSince its introduction in June, the SFC Heath Robinson Burn Pit Transparency Act has gained over a dozen bipartisan cosponsors with more signing on this week. Burn Pits 360, an advocacy organization fighting to raise awareness about this issue and secure care for servicemembers and veterans exposed to burn pits supported the bill when it was introduced.\n\nSince then, the Fleet Reserve Association, the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., and the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network have all provided their support for the bill.\n\nAs an organization we worked for many years to pass the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act (H.R. 299) that became a law last year. The law allows Navy Veterans who served off the coast of Vietnam during the Vietnam conflict to file disability claims for exposure to the agent orange herbicide. FRA wants to ensure that burn pits exposures are thoroughly documented and researched to prevent it from becoming this generation's Agent Orange issue, said John Davis, Legislative Director of the Fleet Reserve Association.\n\nAmerica's sons and daughters have been coming home from answering this nation's call to arms and serving honorably in very tough places. Because of the DOD's expedience, and VA's avoidance, thousands of troops have been exposed to toxic waste and carcinogens resulting in rare cancers and death without recognition of service connection. The human toll has been great. It's time for that practice to stop and for our heroes to get the recognition, treatment and care they desperately need, said Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Frank Yoakum, Executive Director of EANGUS.\n\nThis is a bill whose passage is long overdue and helps to fulfill our nation's responsibility to care for him who shall have borne the battle, said Harvey Weiner, National Commander of the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A.\n\n\"The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, the only national organization dedicated to advancing bladder cancer research improving patient outcomes, applauds Rep. Gabbard for the introduction of the SFC Heath Robinson Burn Pit Transparency Act and supports all efforts to pass this important bill this year. Burn pit exposure likely leads to increased rates of bladder cancer, putting our veterans at risk. By collecting critical information related to burn pit exposure, this bill will help ensure that our nation's veterans are able to receive the high quality medical care they earned through their service.\" said Andrea Maddox-Smith, CEO of the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network.\n\nBackground:H.R.7072, the SFC Heath Robinson Burn Pit Transparency Act would:\n\n \n\t\tRequire the Secretary of Veteran Affairs (VA) to document a veteran who may have been exposed to burn pits and quarterly notify Congress of these cases, including several data points related to the veterans' cases and exposure, including the medical facility at which it was reported; enrollment status; demographics; identification of any non-VA benefits received; branch of service and rank; period of service; location of burn pits the veteran may have been exposed to; medical diagnosis of the vet and the treatment provided, and whether the vet was registered in the Burn Pit Registry.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRequire the VA to submit a biannual report to Congress identifying how many veterans complain of burn pit exposure, how many make disability claims and what the outcome of those claims are, a comprehensive list of conditions burn pit exposed veterans have, and the location of burn pits; and\n\t\n\t\n\t\tRequire healthcare providers to inform a veteran who mentions burn pits about the existing Burn Pit Registry so they have knowledge of the Registry and can register themselves.\n\t\n \nSFC Heath Robinson died Wednesday, May 8, 2020 at age 39. He suffered from a rare form of cancer caused by his exposure to burn pits during a 13 month stint in Iraq serving as a medic with the Ohio Army National Guard. Doctors diagnosed him with a rare autoimmune disorder called mucous membrane pemphigoid. It is believed his exposure to toxic smoke from burn pits, which included chemical weapons, computer hardware, human remains, medical waste, asbestos, pesticides, paint cans, fuels, and other items resulted in his chronic condition. Upon retirement, he was denied family caregiver benefits.\n\nBased on deployment numbers since 1990, it is likely that over a million servicemembers and veterans should be included in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry. Between April 25, 2014 and April 28, 2020, 203,525 veterans and service members completed and submitted the registry questionnaire. Exposure can produce serious and potentially life-threatening health effects, including neurological disorders, rare forms of cancer, lung diseases, and more  triggering some to call the crisis the Agent Orange' of the post-9/11 generation.\n\n\nHowever, currently the registry is voluntary for veterans and many are unaware of it and the important role it plays. The Burn Pits Transparency Act will close that gap by ensuring all veterans that discuss burn pit exposure with their VA healthcare provider are aware of the registry and their opportunity to be included.\n\nIf passed, the SFC Heath Robinson Burn Pit Transparency Act will improve data tracking and accountability as well as provide additional information necessary to logically identify and determine causation between burn pit exposure and reported chronic diseases. In doing so, Congress will be able provide the needed resources to care for our servicemembers and veterans exposed to burn pits and oversee the departments and agencies responsible for delivering that support and care. The bill is another step forward in an effort to prevent a situation akin to Agent Orange, where veterans complained of exposure as the cause of their medical problems, but the correlation was not acknowledged until years later.\n\nThe Burn Pits Accountability Act (passed as part of the 2020 NDAA) requires the Secretary of Defense to record whether servicemembers have been based or stationed at a location where an open burn pit was used or exposed to toxic airborne chemicals, including any information recorded as part of the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, in the Periodic Health Assessment (PHAs), Separation History and Physical Examination (SHPEs), and Post-Deployment Health Assessment (PDHAs). It enrolls any servicemember who meets these criteria in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, unless he or she opts-out. And, it would require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to share information relating to exposure of burn pits and toxic airborne chemicals recorded in PHAs, SHPEs, and PDHAs.\n\nAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserve. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard\n\nFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-calls-on-avalon-health-care-to-review-and-improve-infection-control-practices-as-covid-19-outbreaks-persist-at-all-three-of-its-nursing-homes-in-hawaii", "Schatz Calls On Avalon Health Care To Review And Improve Infection Control Practices As COVID-19 Outbreaks Persist At All Three Of Its Nursing Homes In Hawaii", "2020-09-12", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz Calls On Avalon Health Care To Review And Improve Infection Control Practices As COVID-19 Outbreaks Persist At All Three Of Its Nursing Homes In Hawaii \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSaturday, September 12, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) called on Avalon Health Care to review and improve its infection control policies and practices as all three of its facilities in Hawaii have experienced COVID-19 outbreaks. The Utah-based company operates three facilities in Hawaii: Avalon Care Center and Hale Nani Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Honolulu, and the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo.\r\nIn a letter to Avalon's CEO, Schatz wrote, Given that outbreaks have occurred at all three of Avalon's facilities in Hawaii, I am alarmed that Avalon's facilities are not able to adequately protect its residents and staff. Therefore, I urge you to immediately review the practices, and in particular the staffing and infection control practices, at your facilities in Hawaii and in other states to identify and resolve any deficiencies that could result in the spread of COVID-19. Residents of nursing homes are some of the most vulnerable to COVID-19, and each Avalon facility needs to be sufficiently prepared to keep its residents and staff safe during the pandemic.\r\nThe latest COVID-19 outbreak at its Hilo facility has resulted in the death of at least nine residents and infected 59 residents and 19 staff members. As cases rose last week, Schatz called on the Department of Veterans Affairs to step in and provide support. They have since mobilized a medical team to assist and help save lives.\r\nThe full text of Schatz's letter to Avalon Health Care is below and available here.\r\n   Dear Mr. Kirton:\r\nI am writing because of serious concerns about Avalon Health Care's policies and actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within its facilities. Avalon Health Care operates three facilities in Hawaii: Avalon Care Center - Honolulu, Hale Nani Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, and the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. Unfortunately, all three of these facilities have experienced COVID-19 outbreaks, with the most recent at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home.\r\nThe outbreak at the state veterans home is tragic. As of today, more than 59 residents and 19 members of staff have tested positive for COVID-19 and at least 9 residents have lost their lives, with several additional deaths likely a result of COVID-19. It is increasingly clear to me that the state home is understaffed and ill-equipped to stop this outbreak on its own. In order to stop this outbreak as soon as possible before more veterans and staff become sick and die, Avalon must make sure that every possible resource is available to this facility.\r\nIn addition, given that outbreaks have occurred at all three of Avalon's facilities in Hawaii, I am alarmed that Avalon's facilities are not able to adequately protect its residents and staff. Therefore, I urge you to immediately review the practices, and in particular the staffing and infection control practices, at your facilities in Hawaii and in other states to identify and resolve any deficiencies that could result in the spread of COVID-19. Residents of nursing homes are some of the most vulnerable to COVID-19, and each Avalon facility needs to be sufficiently prepared to keep its residents and staff safe during the pandemic.\r\nThank you for your attention to this urgent matter.\r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-to-receive-10-million-in-additional-community-development-block-grants-to-respond-to-covid-19-crisis", "Hawaii to Receive $10 Million in Additional Community Development Block Grants to Respond to COVID-19 Crisis", "2020-09-11", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "September 11, 2020\n\t\t\t Hawaii to Receive $10 Million in Additional Community Development Block Grants to Respond to COVID-19 Crisis \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  SenatorMazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced that Hawaii will receive an additional allocation of more than $10 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG-CV) to provide critical assistance for the community as it continues to combat the coronavirus pandemic. These CDBG-CV funds are the third round of CDBG funding from the federal CARES Act.\r\nHawaii County will receive $1,077,958, Kauai County will receive $677,028, Maui County will receive $1,874,312, and the City and County of Honolulu will receive $6,445,350. These funds are specifically intended to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus in vulnerable populations across Hawaii.\r\nAs the coronavirus pandemic continues to dramatically impact day-to-day life in Hawaii, these funds will help address essential needs across our state. The flexibility of CDBG-CV funds allow each county to maximize their efforts to support communities who have been hit hard by the pandemic, including Pacific Islanders and other communities of color. It will take collective action to address the economic consequences of the pandemic, and I remain focused on getting federal assistance to those who need it most,Senator Hirono said.\r\nSenator Hironoannouncedin May more than $5 million of CDBG funding in the second disbursement of funds. These funds supported a variety of projects including mobile youth outreach services at the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island, emergency food distribution equipment at The Food Basket, laundry and utility improvements at Na Kahua Hale O Ulu Wini, Project Vision Hawaii's mobile health and hygiene services, Malama Pono Health Services' rent, mortgage and utilities assistance, rental assistance from Maui Economic Opportunity and Family Life Center, and homeless prevention, mobile testing, and eviction prevention efforts on Oahu.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/following-urgent-request-from-schatz-va-health-team-mobilized-heading-to-hilo-as-early-as-today", "Following Urgent Request From Schatz, VA Health Team Mobilized, Heading To Hilo As Early As Today", "2020-09-11", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following Urgent Request From Schatz, VA Health Team Mobilized, Heading To Hilo As Early As Today \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t VA Support Comes After Schatz Made Urgent Request For Federal Intervention Into Hilo Veterans Home Outbreak \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, September 11, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) today announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has mobilized a team of infection control experts, nurses, and other health care professionals to provide immediate support and help contain aCOVID-19outbreak at the YukioOkutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo. The move comes just days after Schatz made an urgent request to the VA following rising COVID-19 cases and deaths at the Hilo facility.\r\nMore help is on the way, said Senator Schatz. This medical team will be a big help in containing the outbreak happening on the Big Island. My staff and I will continue working with the VA and state and local officials to make sure we are utilizing all the federal help that's available.\r\nDetails of the VA mission follows:\r\n \r\nVA Subject Matter Experts will conduct an onsite assessment in the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo for infection control issues.\r\nThe purpose is to formulate recommendations for interventions, processes, and procedures to address an outbreak of COVID-19.\r\nThe VA team is expected to consist of: an infectious disease physician, a facilities engineer who understands environmental air flow and AC systems,an infectious diseasenursespecialist with expertise in running COVID-19units,asafety officer, an industrial hygienist, and anursemanager.\r\n \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/videos/view/senator-hirono-on-the-senate-floor-mitch-mcconnell-and-senate-republicans-arent-meeting-the-moment", "Senator Hirono on the Senate Floor: Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans Aren't Meeting the Moment", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Hirono on the Senate Floor: Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans Aren't Meeting the Moment\n               \n              \n              Connect with Senator Mazie Hirono Online:\nVisit Senator Mazie Hirono's WEBSITE: https://sen.gov/Z7ZK\nLike Senator Mazie Hirono on FACEBOOK: https://sen.gov/W7WW\nFollow Senator Mazie Hirono on TWITTER: https://sen.gov/X5X0", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-senators-demand-answers-from-census-bureau-on-how-they-will-ensure-fair-count-accurate-apportionment-of-congressional-representation-in-2020-census", "Schatz, Senators Demand Answers From Census Bureau On How They Will Ensure Fair Count, Accurate Apportionment Of Congressional Representation In 2020 Census", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz, Senators Demand Answers From Census Bureau On How They Will Ensure Fair Count, Accurate Apportionment Of Congressional Representation In 2020 Census \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, September 10, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) led a group of 19 senators in calling on the Census Bureau to provide more details on how they plan to use data from the 2020 Census to apportion congressional representation. This comes after multiple attempts by President Trump to interfere with the count for political purposes, as well as the limitations on conducting the census in full during the coronavirus pandemic.\r\n\r\nWith the president's unconstitutional memorandum excluding undocumented people from apportionment, coupled with your agency's decision to end the 2020 Census count one month early, we also raise serious concerns about a fair and accurate distribution of congressional representation,the senators wrote.\r\n\r\nIn their letter to Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham, the senators are asking for answers on the data and methodologies that the bureau will use to decide how many members of the House of Representatives each state will receive in the 118th Congress. They highlight concerns about how only certain states are sharing citizenship information and the data acquired could be inconsistent, unreliable, or incompletewhich may lead to an inaccurate distribution of congressional representation.\r\n\r\nThe resulting reapportionment report submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives by the president will be an inaccurate, arbitrary, and unconstitutional distribution of congressional seats across the country,the senators wrote.\r\n\r\nIn addition to Senator Schatz, the letter was signed by Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), MartinHeinrich(D-N.M.), Mazie K.Hirono(D-Hawaii), TimKaine(D-Va.), BernieSanders(I-Vt.), and JackyRosen(D-Nev.).\r\n\r\nThe full text of the letter can be found below and is available here.\r\n\r\nDear Director Dillingham:\r\n\r\nWe write to raise concerns about the data and methodologies that the Census Bureau will use to develop apportionment counts for each of the states. With the president's unconstitutional memorandum excluding undocumented people from apportionment, coupled with your agency's decision to end the 2020 Census count one month early, we also raise serious concerns about a fair and accurate distribution of congressional representationa fundamental and crucial aspect of our constitutional democracy.\r\n\r\nFrom the time of our founding, the Constitution established a democracy premised on the idea that all personsno matter where they are from, regardless of whether they can votedeserve representation in our government. To ensure representation for all, the Constitution, through both Article I, Section 2 and the Fourteenth Amendment, explicitly requires the federal government to accurately conduct an actual Enumeration of the people. The Fourteenth Amendment places a clear duty on the federal government to count the whole number of persons in each State. In other words, the federal government must count all people living in the United States, whether they are citizens or non-citizens, whether they were born in the United States or in a distant part of the world, whether they are living here in accordance with our laws or not.\r\n\r\nFurthermore, the framers of the Fourteenth Amendment considered immigrants, undocumented or otherwise, as people entitled to equal representation, insisting that the whole immigrant population should be numbered with the people and counted as part of them. The Supreme Court has affirmed this constitutional understanding, emphasizing that the Framers chose to use population . . . as the basis for representation, and that representatives serve all residents, not just those eligible or registered to vote.\r\n\r\nFollowing the Supreme Court's ruling to block this administration's attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, the president issued an executive order directing Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to collect citizenship information from other governmental sources. Per this directive, the Census Bureau has amassed a collection of administrative records from various sourcessome from existing agreements with federal, state, and local agencies, and others from newly established partnerships.\r\n\r\nHowever, the collection of citizenship information is not uniform across the country. This raises the prospect that the Census Bureau will have incomplete information as to the citizenship status of all persons residing in the country. For example, some federal agencies have agreed to share citizenship information with the Census Bureau. However, a person's immigration status can change over time. The administrative data on a person is only as good as the moment when the agency interacts with that person. For example, a person who entered the country without documentation may have received Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals protection, or may have started a path to citizenship by serving in the military, or may have been granted asylum protection. Depending on when a person interacts with an agency, their status may be very different from what it is currently.\r\n\r\nAt the same time, not every state is sharing citizenship data. States such as Iowa, Nebraska, South Carolina and South Dakota agreed to share driver's license and state identification card information. But states like Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Illinois denied the Census Bureau's request to share information. Furthermore, state administrative data on citizenship can be unreliable and inaccurate. As a result, your agency will have arbitrarily collected information based on state officials who decide to share or not information about their citizens, some of which will contain citizenship information, and some will not.\r\n\r\nThis arbitrary collection of citizenship information implicates the president's unconstitutional attempt to exclude undocumented people from fair representation in the Congress.Apportionment is a geographic division of congressional seats. If only certain states are sharing citizenship informationand the data shared is itself unreliable or inaccurateand federal data sets do not capture all persons in the country, then the data available to the Census Bureau for apportionment tabulation will be incomplete and run afoul of the Constitution. The resulting reapportionment report submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives by the president will be an inaccurate, arbitrary, and unconstitutional distribution of congressional seats across the country, based on states that either had or did not have citizenship information for selected portions of their population. An arbitrary collection of data will produce a bad output based on that datagarbage in, garbage out.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the Census Act prohibits the Census Bureau from using sampling methods to determine apportionment. In 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Census Bureau's proposed uses of statistical sampling to calculate the population for purposes of congressional apportionment following the 2000 decennial census. A similar effort by the agency to use statistical sampling to determine the numbers of undocumented people in each state should be rejected by the courts.\r\n\r\nThese problems are further exacerbated by the agency's decision to end self-response and non-response follow up operations a month earlyfrom October 31 to September 30. The shortened schedule risks the accuracy of the Census Bureau's data products, including the apportionment tabulation, and raises risks that errors will neither be found nor fixed. A federal judge recently issued a temporary restraining order to stop the Census Bureau from winding down or altering 2020 Census field operations until a September 17 hearing. Furthermore, the administration's refusal to include statutory deadline extensions in their negotiations with congressional leaders on coronavirus relief legislation, raise questions about their commitment to addressing these concerns.\r\n\r\nTo address some of these concerns, we ask that you provide answers to the following questions:\r\n \r\nIn implementing Executive Order 13880, can the Census Bureau collect administrative record data uniformly and universally across the country? If so, how?\r\nWhat are the models and methodologies that the Census Bureau is currently developing and studying to tabulate apportionment? Does the agency have enough time to study, test, and implement these apportionment models and methodologies prior to the December 31, 2020 deadline? How will these models and methodologies comply with the Census Act's prohibition on the use of statistical sampling for apportionment purposes?\r\nAn agency document on 2020 Census operations and data processing notes that A compressed review period creates risk for serious errors not being discovered in the data  thereby significantly decreasing data quality. The document also notes that serious errors discovered in the data may not be fixed  due to lack of time to research and understand the root cause or to re-run and re-review one or multiple state files. How will the Census Bureau ensure that its apportionment tabulation does not contain significant errors?\r\nAs the Census Bureau implements the president's July 21, 2020, memorandum, how will you ensure that the apportionment tabulation is developed in a way that is not arbitrary when the agency uses administrative data collected through agreements with other federal, state, and local agencies that is not uniformly shared and may contain errors and inaccuracies?\r\nTo what degree of confidence can the Census Bureau assure the public that its apportionment tabulation is not arbitrary, does not contain significant errs, and is a fair and representative distribution of congressional seats? What is the basis for the agency's confidence, considering many of the quality assurance processes that will be side-stepped or completed hastily under the condensed timeframe?\r\n \r\nThese questions raise serious concerns about one of the most fundamental constitutional activities: the apportionment of congressional representation. With the end of the 2020 Census and the apportionment deadline fast approaching, we request your written response by September 24, 2020. Thank you for your attention to our request.\r\n\r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-cftc-climate-risk-report", "Schatz Statement On CFTC Climate Risk Report", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz Statement On CFTC Climate Risk Report \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, September 10, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chair of the Special Committee on the Climate Crisis, released the following statement on a new report titled Managing Climate Risk in the U.S. Financial System from the Climate-Related Market Risk Subcommittee of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) Market Risk Advisory Committee (MRAC).\r\nThe findings in this report should be a wake-up call: climate financial risks are real. They will destabilize our financial system and the whole U.S. economy if left unchecked. We need the Federal Reserve, the SEC, and our other regulatory agencies to immediately move forward with the recommendations in this reportincluding climate risk stress testing and mandatory public company disclosure of climate risks and emissions. I thank subcommittee chairman Bob Litterman for his hard work and Commissioner Rostin Behnam and his staff for championing this effort.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/honolulu-star-advertiser-whistleblower-says-hawaii-department-health-s-toxic", "Honolulu Star Advertiser | Whistleblower says Hawaii Department of Healths toxic culture of fear impeded work of investigators", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hawaii Department of Health whistleblower Jennifer Smith, the epidemiologist who was suspended with pay on Friday after speaking out about the understaffing of COVID-19 contact tracers, says the DOH fostered a toxic culture of fear that impeded the work of investigators trying to stop the spread of disease in the community.\n  \n\tA management culture of bullying, shame and blame fosters a culture of fear, not the solid science that is essential to ensure Hawaii's public health, she wrote in a letter issued by Honolulu Attorney Carl Varady, who is now representing Smith. Employees should not have to choose between protecting their careers, through unquestioning loyalty to ineffective leadership, versus asking for the tools to do the kind and quality of science necessary to stop the pandemic. Our job is saving lives, not saving face.\n  \n\tA DOH spokeswoman said the Health Department would not comment on personnel issues.\n  \n\tSmith said she was forced to leave the department due to a faction protecting Dr. (Sarah) Park, the state epidemiologist blamed for failing to build a robust COVID-19 testing and contract tracing program. Park was placed on paid leave on Sept. 4, four days after her boss, Health Director Bruce Anderson, announced his retirement on Sept. 15. Days before, Emily Roberson, who was recently hired to take over the contact tracing program, asked to be placed on leave, but is now back on the job.\n  \n\tPark could not be reached for comment.\n  \n\tCharacter attacks on me after I spoke up publicly, and We with Sarah' buttons, are not going to stop the pandemic or save a single life in Hawaii, Smith said. Saving lives will only occur through good science, conducted by dedicated people who have the resources necessary to do their work without managers who put micromanagement and personal loyalty ahead of Hawaii's public health.\n  \n\tShe said she took a personal and career risk by exposing the chronic staffing shortages at the DOH since the start of the pandemic, even as the department claimed it had a sufficient public health workforce to identify new coronavirus cases, trace contacts and ensure those infected were isolated.\n  \n\tSmith, who has been employed by the DOH since 2016, alleged there were only 10 so-called contact tracers on Oahu and fewer than 20 across the entire state on Aug. 14 at a news conference with U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who called for the resignations or firings of Anderson and Park on multiple occasions. At the time, health officials had claimed to have nearly 100 tracking down people who may have been exposed to COVID-19.\n  \n\tShe said the investigators worked six to seven days a week, 10 to 12 hours per day  often with no overtime pay trying to defend Hawaii from the pandemic while the numbers of infected people continued to mushroom. Employees did not see the $50 million in federal CARES Act funds the DOH was awarded being used to build a public health workforce and they constantly were unable to protect the people at the level that is necessary to respond effectively to detect and prevent the spread of the virus.\n  \n\tOur workload reached 300% of intended capacity, working with outmoded computers, overwhelmed phones staffed by people without complete training, and a data system that was never validated. Even working from home on weekends, we could not keep up, she wrote, adding that she met with Park on July 31 to inform her that investigators were overwhelmed and unable to keep pace with the growing numbers of infections, only to receive a demand that employees do more.\n  \n\tPeople of our community have been confused, frustrated and anxious. I spoke out because the people of Hawaii deserve not only to be as safe and healthy as possible during the pandemic  they deserve to know the facts, Smith said.\n  \n\tThe opportunity to crush out the pandemic has been compromised directly by a lack of effective leadership at the department coupled with the obvious need for more resources, staff and training that has not been addressed, she added. We have missed opportunities to stop the virus in its tracks.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/kitv-4-abc-kitv4-exclusive-covid-positive-resident-yukio-okutsu-state-veterans-home", "KITV 4 ABC | KITV4 exclusive: COVID-positive resident at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home speaks out", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Former Air Force airman describes depressing atmosphere, what he says is the need for more staff, and the feeling of watching \"war brothers\" getting sick and dying all around him. \n  \n\tA state veteran's home on Hawaii Island has become a hotspot for COVID-19 cases, and on Thursday, we're hearing an exclusive story from one of its residents.\n  \n\tThe Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo reported no new deaths Thursday, but in the past 12 days, ten residents lost their lives to the virus, and 64 residents and 24 employees have tested positive; 71 of those cases are still active.\n  \n\tFormer Air Force Sgt. Noa Ka'akimaka once served his country in the Vietnam War. He saw men all around him going down, and he's seeing it again today with the coronavirus. \"This is a deadly virus,\" he states.\n  \n\tKa'akimaka lives at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. He's quarantined in a room alone because, he says, he was diagnosed with COVID-19 at the end of August. He says he's lucky to be asymptomatic. He says he hears about the sick and the dying from the nurses.\n  \n\t\"I'm finding out some of these patients are not making it. And they tell me. I say, 'Oh my goodness, I knew him, I used to talk to him before. Now he is down, he's not making it.\"\n  \n\t\"Do you feel things are under control? Are there enough nurses, protective equipment?,\" I ask.\n  \n\t\"No, no. It's not. The nurses are coming from Honolulu too because some of our staff was infected,\" he tells me.\n  \n\tOver the weekend, US Sen. Brian Schatz twice called for an urgent federal intervention into what he terms a public health crisis. We need to contain this outbreak immediately, and we need federal help, said Sen. Schatz. I'm calling on the VA to immediately step in and deploy infection control experts and other health care professionals to the Big Island to get this under control. This is a public health emergency, and we need all the help we can get to stop this outbreak and save lives.\n  \n\tIn a pair of letters to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie and Governor David Ige, Schatz raised concerns about the handling of the outbreak and called for immediate federal help to identify where the facility is falling short and how it can improve infection control protocols, use of personal protective equipment, and other measures that will protect its residents and the workers who care for them. Schatz wrote, It is increasingly clear to me that the state home is understaffed and ill equipped to stop this outbreak on its own. Moreover, I am concerned that the state and county have been too slow to respond to the crisis with the urgency that it demands, including with a request for more federal assistance.\n  \n\tThursday, US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) said, \"Losing ten of my fellow veterans at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home to COVID-19 leaves a profound hole in our hearts. It is unconscionable that these veterans who selflessly sacrificed so much now find themselves struggling to survive under the threat of this virus -- yet another consequence of the lack of testing and contact tracing should have been in place months ago, that continues to plague our state.\n  \n\tWe are in close contact with those responsible for managing the facility to help provide support to contain this outbreak and prevent more undue suffering and loss of life. Not only is urgent action needed to protect our veterans, urgent action is needed to protect every person in our state.\n  \n\tKa'akimaka agrees, \"The government really should step in and do more.\"\n  \n\tThe state health department says an inspection by its Office of Health Care Assurance began Wednesday and will continue Thursday. It is a two-day, unannounced inspection on compliance with state regulations for long-term care facilities. An inspection report will be available in about a week.\n  \n\tThe care home's managing company Avalon Health Care Management, Inc. released this statement in response to the criticisms: \"The dedicated caregivers at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home are working tirelessly to safeguard our residents as they fight on the frontlines against this historic pandemic. This includes following all CDC guidelines, all staff wearing N95 respirators and other PPE, a dedicated COVID-unit that is isolated from other residents, suspension of group activities and dining, and consistently reminding residents to practice social distancing and wear masks when not in their rooms. We are also working collaboratively with state and local health officials. Our residents are part of our family, and like any family we will do everything possible to protect their wellbeing,\" says Allison K. Griffiths, Vice President of the legal department.\n  \n\tGriffiths also tells KITV4, \"Only three to four families have removed loved ones from the facility due to COVID. Testing took place at the facility yesterday and most of the results are still pending. At this point, we are only receiving positive results back as they come in. We should receive the entire list back, including negatives, soon. This is the sixth round of all staff and resident testing at the facility in conjunction with the outbreak. The first round of all staff and resident testing took place the day after we received notice of the first staff positive  August 23. The state had a physician from HI-EMA at the facility yesterday doing an inspection. Of course, we cooperated with the inspection and are welcome the support and collaboration. We have not received a report yet. I understand another team from the VA is likely coming tomorrow [Friday].\"\n  \n\tEvery time another resident dies, Ka'akimaka says the staff plays Taps over the intercom and walks the flag draped casket down the hall. \"When that happens I sit on my wheelchair and give a salute to the guys. My war brothers,\" he shares, while he says a silent prayer, \"Braddah, take care. We love you. You served the country well. I did too.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-s-statement-10th-death-yukio-okutsu-state-veterans-home", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbards Statement on the 10th Death at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home", "2020-09-10", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Honolulu, HIToday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) released the following statement on the 10th death of a resident at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home:\n\nOur nation's heroes and their families made profound sacrifices for the country we love, and it is our honor to care for them in their time of need. Losing ten of my fellow veterans at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home to COVID-19 leaves a profound hole in our hearts.\n\nIt is unconscionable that these veterans who selflessly sacrificed so much now find themselves struggling to survive under the threat of this virus  yet another consequence of the lack of testing and contact tracing should have been in place months ago, that continues to plague our state.\n\nWe are in close contact with those responsible for managing the facility to help provide support to contain this outbreak and prevent more undue suffering and loss of life. Not only is urgent action needed to protect our veterans, urgent action is needed to protect every person in our state.\n\nBackground: Opened in 2008, the Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home in Hilo is the only dedicated veterans care home in Hawaii. The facility is named for the late Technical Sergeant Yukio Okutsu, who was awarded the Purple Heart and the Medal of Honor for his bravery and service in the Army's legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II.\n\nSince August, the home has been battling a growing COVID-19 cluster. A majority of residents at the 95-bed facility have tested positive, as have a mounting number of staff members.\n\nAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserve. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard\n\nFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-secures-27-million-in-new-federal-funding-for-native-hawaiian-education", "Schatz Secures $27 Million In New Federal Funding For Native Hawaiian Education", "2020-09-09", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz Secures $27 Million In New Federal Funding For Native Hawaiian Education \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t In August, Schatz Urged U.S. Department of Education Not To Delay Release Of Grant Funding, Citing Challenges Caused By COVID-19 Pandemic \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, September 9, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) announced that Hawaii will receive $26,992,923 in new federal funding to supportgrants under the Native Hawaiian EducationProgram (NHEP).This federal funding,secured by Senator Schatz through his work on the Senate Appropriations Committee,was awarded to 23Native Hawaiian educational programsacross the state.\r\n\r\nThis new federal funding will ensure that Native Hawaiian educational programs have the resources they need in timefor the upcoming school year,said Senator Schatz.As we work through the appropriations process, I will keep fighting for more resources for the Native Hawaiian community.\r\n\r\nThe release of these fundscomesas schools are preparing to start the 2020-2021 school year.In August, Senator Schatz sent a letter to the U.S.Department of Education urging them not to delay therelease of thisgrantfunding until late September, as previously announced. During the COVID-19pandemic,Native Hawaiian educationprograms have been invaluablefor families, and furtherdisruption to these programs would leavemanyhard pressed to find an alternative option for their children.\r\n\r\nAs a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Schatz hasworked to preserve and expandgrantfunding for NHEP.WhilePresident Donald Trump hassought tozero outfunding forthese grants, Senator Schatz has fought to protectmorethan $100 million over the lastthreefiscal years.In addition, he hasgarnered bipartisan support to increase annualfundingfor NHEPeach year by $3 million.\r\n\r\nThese multi-year competitive grants will be used forearly childhood education, family engagement,Hawaiian language education, creation of STEM pathways,curriculum and professional development, and more.\r\n\r\nThe programs receiving funding include:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNo.\r\n\r\n\r\nRecipient\r\n\r\n\r\nCounties Served\r\n\r\n\r\nProject/Program\r\n\r\n\r\nAward\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n1\r\n\r\n\r\nKeiki O Ka Aina Preschool, Inc\r\n\r\n\r\nMaui, Hawaii, Honolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nFamily Learning Centers\r\nOahu,\r\n\r\n\r\n$1,999,809.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n2\r\n\r\n\r\nKanu o ka Aina Learning Ohana\r\n\r\n\r\nHawaii\r\n\r\n\r\nKaukoe a Poohala Teacher Education\r\n\r\n\r\n$741,274.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n3\r\n\r\n\r\nUniversity of Hawaii\r\nin partnership with N? Pua No?eau Center for Gifted & Talented Native Hawaiian Children\r\n\r\n\r\nHonolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nOi Ka Na?auao\r\nSTEM Pathways for\r\nSuccess\r\n\r\n\r\n$644,198.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n4\r\n\r\n\r\nUniversity of Hawaii\r\n\r\n\r\nMaui, Kauai, Hawaii, Honolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nManawa K?pono\r\nUndergraduate and graduate school access and success\r\n\r\n\r\n$602,500.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n5\r\n\r\n\r\nPurple Maia Foundation\r\n\r\n\r\nHonolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nHiapo Program\r\nTech Career Training\r\n\r\n\r\n$829,807.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n6\r\n\r\n\r\nUniversity of Hawaii\r\nIn collaboration with the UH Community College System\r\n\r\n\r\nMaui, Kauai, Hawaii, Honolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nK?lia Support Project\r\nSTEM Preparation, Coaching, Mentoring\r\n\r\n\r\n$699,997.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n7\r\n\r\n\r\nAha Punana Leo, Inc.\r\n\r\n\r\nMaui, Kauai, Hawaii, Honolulu\r\n\r\n\r\n?liko A Lau Ka ?Ike\r\nKindergarten Readiness\r\n\r\n\r\n$830,899.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n8\r\n\r\n\r\nFriends of the Future\r\n\r\n\r\nHawaii\r\n\r\n\r\nOpportunities for Hawaiian Improvement and Achievement\r\nHawaii Island\r\n\r\n\r\n$889,383.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n9\r\n\r\n\r\nConsortium for Hawaii Ecological Engineering Education\r\n\r\n\r\nHawaii, Honolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nMahope o Ke Kula Ke A?o Mau Ana program\r\nAddress Academic Gaps\r\n\r\n\r\n$414,383.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n10\r\n\r\n\r\nUniversity of Hawaii\r\n\r\n\r\nMaui, Kauai, Hawaii, Honolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nVarious Native Hawaiian Programs\r\n\r\n\r\n$847,619.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n11\r\n\r\n\r\nInstitute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE)\r\n\r\n\r\nKauai, Hawaii, Honolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nKeiki Steps: Generational Impacts\r\n\r\n\r\n$2,033,707.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n12\r\n\r\n\r\nUniversity of Hawaii in partnership with the Hawaii Department of Education\r\n\r\n\r\nN/A\r\n\r\n\r\nKa Pilina No?eau II\r\nSTEM Workforce Development\r\n\r\n\r\n$795,697.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n13\r\n\r\n\r\nHui Malama O Ke Kai Foundation\r\n\r\n\r\nHawaii, Honolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nWaim?nalo Community\r\nYouth Development\r\n\r\n\r\n$671,237.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n14\r\n\r\n\r\nPartners in Development Foundation\r\n\r\n\r\nHonolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nKa Paalana Homeless Family Education Program\r\n\r\n\r\n$3,576,059.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n15\r\n\r\n\r\nKeiki O Ka Aina Preschool, Inc\r\n\r\n\r\nHonolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nWaiawa Kai Project: An Agriculture and STEM Integration for Healthy Hawaiian Families\r\n\r\n\r\n$776,027.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n16\r\n\r\n\r\nKe Kula O Nawahiokalaniopuu Iki\r\n\r\n\r\nHawaii\r\n\r\n\r\nKolo Ke A?a\r\nNative Hawaiian Language Education and Teacher Development\r\n\r\n\r\n$800,193.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n17\r\n\r\n\r\nUniversity of Hawaii\r\n\r\n\r\nMaui, Hawaii, Honolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nProject H?k?lani\r\nSTEM Workforce Development\r\n\r\n\r\n$794,044.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n18\r\n\r\n\r\nMana Maoli\r\n\r\n\r\nKauai, Honolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nMana Leo Project\r\nCulture-based and Hawaiian Language Education\r\n\r\n\r\n$909,127.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n19\r\n\r\n\r\nKulaniakea\r\n\r\n\r\nHonolulu\r\n\r\n\r\n?Iwikuamo?o: Culture-based and Hawaiian Language Education\r\n\r\n\r\n$563,647.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n20\r\n\r\n\r\nKa Haka ?Ula o Ke?elik?lani College of Hawaiian Language at UH Hilo\r\n\r\n\r\nMaui, Kauai, Hawaii, Honolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nLaupa?I Ka ?Ike Kuamo?O\r\nHawaiian Language Multimedia Development\r\n\r\n\r\n$950,000.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n21\r\n\r\n\r\nKeiki O Ka Aina Preschool, Inc\r\n\r\n\r\nMaui, Kauai, Hawaii, Honolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nRevitalized Instruction in STEM Education (RISE)\r\n\r\n\r\n$773,485.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n22\r\n\r\n\r\nPartners in Development Foundation\r\n\r\n\r\nMaui, Kauai, Hawaii, Honolulu\r\n\r\n\r\nT?t? and Me: H?nai a Ulu\r\nEarly Childhood Education\r\n\r\n\r\n$4,924,316.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n23\r\n\r\n\r\nUniversity of Hawaii in partnership with the Hawaii Department of Education\r\n\r\n\r\nHawaii\r\n\r\n\r\nAha Lamak? Oiaio (ALO)\r\nCulturally Responsible Leadership Development, Mentoring, and Transition Support\r\n\r\n\r\n$925,515.00\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/kitv-4-abc-department-health-whistleblower-says-she-was-placed-leave", "KITV 4 ABC | Department of Health whistleblower says she was placed on leave", "2020-09-09", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Whistleblower at the Department of Health and case investigator Jennifer Smith says that she was placed on leave. \n  NOTE: Video of segment included at kitv.com, includes statement from Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.\n  \n\tShe was the first to sound the alarm on the the state's understaffed COVID-19 contact tracing program.\n  \n\tA health department spokesperson confirmed Smith is on leave, but did not provide any further details.\n  \n\tHawaii U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, a big critic of the department was by Smith's side when she came forward, she calls the move retaliation.\n  \n\t\"It sends a very chilling message to any employee within the state government that if you speak out when you see something that's wrong, that's negatively affecting the people of Hawaii then you too may be punished,\" Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard said.\n  \n\tDirector Bruce Anderson announced his retirement, State Epidemiologist Sarah Park was placed on leave and after less than a month on the job Doctor Emily Roberson who had been put in charge of the contact tracing program also asked for time off.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/additional-534-million-in-federal-unemployment-dollars-heading-to-hawaii", "Additional $53.4 Million In Federal Unemployment Dollars Heading To Hawaii", "2020-09-08", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Additional $53.4 Million In Federal Unemployment Dollars Heading To Hawaii \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t New Federal Money From CARES Act Follows $200 Million Announced Last Month, Will Provide Additional $300 A Week In Unemployment Assistance For Those Impacted By COVID-19 \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, September 8, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nHONOLULU  The Federal Emergency Management Agency today announced it has approved an additional $53,368,466 grant to Hawaii to provide those unemployed due to COVID-19 with an additional $300 per week on top of their regular unemployment benefit. The new funding follows nearly $200 million in funding announced last month.\r\nWhile this new funding will provide some immediate help, it's not enough for Hawaii families who are struggling to make ends meet, said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. We'll continue working to secure more federal funding to help Hawaii get through this tough time.\r\nThe Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Program is funded by FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, which received $45 billion from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/honolulu-civil-beat-hawaii-dept-health-whistleblower-forced-out-shakeup-continues", "Honolulu Civil Beat | Hawaii Dept Of Health Whistleblower Forced Out As Shakeup Continues", "2020-09-08", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "After revealing flaws in the state's contact tracing program, Jennifer Smith, a state DOH case investigator, was put on leave on Friday. \n\nA state Department of Health case investigator who exposed flaws in Hawaii's COVID-19 contact tracing program has been placed on paid leave.\n  \n\tJennifer Smith, a virologist who has been praised as a whistleblower for bringing the department's problems to light, confirmed that her supervisor told her late Friday that she was being forced to go on leave. Smith declined to say why she was ordered on leave or what rationale the department gave her.\n  \n\tIn a statement, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said the action sends the message that Gov. David Ige and his administration will punish people who speak out.\n  \n\tIn an email, DOH spokeswoman Janice Okubo confirmed Smith is on leave, and added, No other information will be provided.\n  \n\tSmith's forced exit capped a week of continuing drama for the embattled department.\n  \n\tFirst, on Aug. 31, Ige announced the retirement of Bruce Anderson, the Department of Health director. Two days later, Emily Roberson, an epidemiologist newly assigned to take over an overwhelmed contact tracing effort, requested a leave of absence until leadership could clarify chain of command issues that had made it hard to do her job. The next day, the department announced the state epidemiologist, Dr. Sarah Park, was put on paid leave.\n  \n\tSmith was put on leave late Friday, the same day as Park.\n  \n\tAnderson and Park had both been under mounting criticism for their apparent failure to execute the state's coronavirus response strategy effectively.\n  \n\tWith tourism dried up and much of Hawaii's economy shut down, the daily virus case count was low for much of May. The idea was to slowly reopen the economy and use extensive contact tracing and testing to keep the virus in check when things reopened.\n  \n\tA number of organizations, including the Hawaii National Guard, offered to help build a small army of contact tracers, a strategy called for under national criteria.\n  \n\tBut Anderson rejected the help, saying the department could surge from within and provide the tracing staff needed to keep a lid on the virus.\n  \n\tThat didn't happen. By August, Hawaii's daily case count was regularly topping 300, and Ige announced Hawaii would stay closed to tourists until at least October.\n  \n\tAgainst this backdrop, state and federal officials along with the media were vainly clamoring for data, including contact tracing information, about the health department's response. But it took Smith coming forward to shed light on just how ill-prepared the state's tracing effort had been.\n  \n\tGabbard, who has criticized the Ige administration's slow response, said the latest action does little to restore trust.\n  \n\tAfter bravely coming forward to expose the lies coming from Drs. Anderson and Park that cost people their health and in some cases their lives, she has been forced to take leave, Gabbard said of Smith. This latest action from Governor Ige and his administration further erodes the public trust.\n  \n\tRetaliating against a whistleblower sends a dangerously chilling message to others in our government who are doing the right thing, that they better toe the line or they will be punished, she added.\n  \n\tDr. Scott Miscovich, who has been leading efforts to bolster Hawaii's testing response, previously called Smith a catalyst for change and said Smith had shared with policymakers not just her observations but also documentation to show how understaffed the agency was.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/khon-2-foxcw-doh-whistleblower-placed-leave-firearm-allegations", "KHON 2 Fox/CW | DOH whistleblower placed on leave for firearm allegations", "2020-09-08", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "NOTE: Video of segment included at khon2.com, includes statement from Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.\n\nAnother shakeup at the Department of Health, as KHON2 has learned Tuesday that the DOH whistleblower who brought to light the state's contact tracing program was understaffed, is now on leave.\n  \n\tDr. Jennifer Smith went public back in August about the state's understaffed contact tracing program at the DOH. The Department confirmed her absence Tuesday night but refused to give other details.\n  \n\tSmith's spokesperson, Dr. Scott Miscovich of Premier Medical Group Hawaii, tells KHON2 she was placed on a 30-day paid leave from the DOH on Friday for accusations of threatening other DOH employees with a firearm.\n  \n\tI was contacted by Jennifer in tears when she had received a letter that stated she was being put on administrative leave, and she was escorted out of the Department of Health by a sheriff, Dr. Miscovich said.\n  \n\tHe adds that Dr. Smith was presented with a letter upon notification of her forced leave. Although she denies the accusation, Dr. Miscovich says that she is under whistleblower status as the state is forced to investigate the allegations.\n  \n\tJosh Green basically took her case to the Attorney General and presented to the Attorney General for whistleblower immunity, Dr. Miscovich said.\n  \n\tHawaii U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard helped facilitate Smith's whistleblowing efforts back in August. She told KHON2 in a statement Tuesday evening:\n  \n\tIt appears Dr. Jennifer Smith has been punished for telling the people of Hawaii the truth about what was really going on at the Department of Health. After bravely coming forward to expose the lies coming from Drs Anderson and Park that cost people their health and in some cases their lives, she has been forced to take leave. This latest action from Governor Ige and his administration further erodes the public trust. Retaliating against a whistleblower sends a dangerously chilling message to others in our government who are doing the right thing, that they better toe the line or they will be punished. We all deserve better.\n  \n\tThe Hawaii Government Employees Association says it is representing Dr. Smith for any and all due process. Her leave comes after a recent shakeup at the DOH. In the past week Director Dr. Bruce Anderson announced his retirement. Dr. Emily Roberson took a brief leave of absence, and State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park is on paid leave.\n  \n\tMiscovich says Dr. Smith's absence is a blow to the maligned contact tracing efforts at the DOH.\n  \n\tShe's one of the top contact tracers, and god knows we need contact tracers now in the state of Hawaii, said Miscovich.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/kitv-4-abc-whistleblower-department-health-says-she-was-placed-leave", "KITV 4 ABC | Whistleblower at Department of Health says she was placed on leave", "2020-09-08", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Whistleblower at the Department of Health and case investigator Jennifer Smith says that she was placed on leave. She was the first to sound the alarm on the the state's understaffed COVID-19 contact tracing program. A health department spokesperson confi [sic] \n\nNOTE: Video of segment available on kitv.com, including interview with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.\n\nWhistleblower at the Department of Health and case investigator Jennifer Smith says that she was placed on leave.\n  \n\tShe was the first to sound the alarm on the the state's understaffed COVID-19 contact tracing program.\n  \n\tA health department spokesperson confirmed Smith is on leave, but did not provide any further details.\n  \n\tHawaii U.S. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, a big critic of the department was by Smith's side when she came forward, she calls the move retaliation.\n  \n\t\"It sends a very chilling message to any employee within the state government that if you speak out when you see something that's wrong, that's negatively affecting the people of Hawaii then you too may be punished,\" Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard said.\n  \n\tDirector Bruce Anderson announced his retirement, State Epidemiologist Sarah Park was placed on leave and after less than a month on the job Doctor Emily Roberson who had been put in charge of the contact tracing program also asked for time off.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-calls-for-immediate-federal-intervention-into-hilo-veterans-home-outbreak-as-covid-19-cases-deaths-continue-to-rise", "Schatz Calls For Immediate Federal Intervention Into Hilo Veterans Home Outbreak As COVID-19 Cases, Deaths Continue To Rise", "2020-09-06", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz Calls For Immediate Federal Intervention Into Hilo Veterans Home Outbreak As COVID-19 Cases, Deaths Continue To Rise \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t With 5 Deaths, 46 Residents And 18 Staff Members Testing Positive, Schatz Raises Urgent Concerns About Infection Control Practices, Staff Capacity To Contain Outbreak \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSunday, September 6, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nHONOLULU  As COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise at the Yukio Okutsu Veterans State Home in Hilo, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) called for direct federal assistance with the outbreak.\r\n\r\nWe need to contain this outbreak immediately, andwe need federal help,said Senator Schatz. I'm calling on the VA to immediately step in and deploy infection control experts and other health care professionals to the Big Island to get this under control. This is a public health emergency, and we need all the help we can get to stop this outbreak andsave lives.\r\n\r\nIn a pair of letters to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie and Governor David Ige, Schatz raised concerns about the handling of the outbreak and called for immediate federal help to identify where the facility is falling short and how it can improve infection control protocols, use of personal protective equipment, and other measures that will protect its residents and the workers who care for them. Schatz wrote,It is increasingly clear to me that the state home is understaffed and ill equipped to stop this outbreak on its own. Moreover, I am concerned that the state and county have been too slow to respond to the crisis with the urgency that it demands, including with a request for more federal assistance.\r\n\r\nThe full text of the letter to VA Secretary Wilkie is available here. The full text of the letter to Governor Ige is available here.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-statement-on-covid-19-outbreak-at-veterans-home-in-hilo", "Schatz Statement On COVID-19 Outbreak At Veterans Home In Hilo", "2020-09-05", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz Statement On COVID-19 Outbreak At Veterans Home In Hilo \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSaturday, September 5, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nHONOLULU  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) today released the following statement on the COVID-19 outbreak at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo. In May, Schatz called on Governor David Ige to step up efforts to prevent such outbreaks at nursing homes.\r\nThe outbreak we are seeing at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home is heartbreaking. My staff and I are working with state and local officials to make sure they utilize all the federal help that's available.TheDepartment of Veterans Affairs iscapableof doing evenmore, but we cannot be shy about asking themfor help. We also need to focus on infection control best practices to contain this outbreak.The state should ask VA toshareinfection control specialists, provide additionaltesting, and continue to share PPEto get this under control.Residents of senior homes are some of the most vulnerable to COVID-19. That's why it isalsoabsolutely critical that thefacility follows infection controlguidelinesandthat the statedramatically expandstestingat these facilitiesto continue to protect these vulnerable residents and theircareworkers.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/hawaii-to-receive-4-million-in-new-federal-funding-to-help-state-respond-to-meth-crisis-opioid-misuse", "Hawaii To Receive $4 Million In New Federal Funding To Help State Respond To Meth Crisis, Opioid Misuse", "2020-09-04", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hawaii To Receive $4 Million In New Federal Funding To Help State Respond To Meth Crisis, Opioid Misuse \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Funding Comes After Schatz Called For More Federal Resources To Combat Meth Epidemic in December 2019; Hawaii Meth-Related Death Rate Nearly Three Times Higher Than National Rate \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, September 4, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nHONOLULU  Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) announced that the state of Hawaii will receive $4,001,647 in new federal funding to help respond to the growing crisis of methamphetamine misuse, as well as opioid misuse. This is the first year that this grant has allowed the flexibility to address stimulants, including meth; previously, this grant could only be used to respond to the opioid epidemic.\r\n\r\nThis new funding and increased flexibility comes after Senator Schatz called for more federal resources to respond to the meth crisis in December 2019.\r\n\r\nMeth misuse and addiction has been a serious problem in Hawaii for decades, but recently the meth-related death rate has skyrocketed, said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. This grant will help us put critical resources towards saving lives and combating this crisis.\r\n\r\nHawaii has experienced some of the worst effects of meth misuse, making it an important public health priority. In 2016, Hawaii had 6.8 meth-related deaths per 100,000 residents  three times the national rate of 2.4 deaths per 100,000 people. Meth-related deaths on the islands have outpaced opioid-related deaths for each of the past five years.\r\n\r\nThis grant comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and will help fund prevention, treatment, and recovery support services.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/khon-2-foxcw-tulsi-gabbard-says-she-cautiously-optimistic-after-recent-changes", "KHON 2 Fox/CW | Tulsi Gabbard says she is cautiously optimistic after recent changes to Department of Health leadership", "2020-09-04", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Tulsi Gabbard issued a statement saying she is cautiously optimistic after it was revealed that Dr. Sarah Park would be taking a leave of absence from her role as Hawaii Department of Health's (DOH) Chief Epidemiologist.\n  \n\tIn the statement, Gabbard expressed her hopes for improved leadership within the DOH and more efficient contact tracing efforts.\n \n\t\n\t\tThe public trust has been broken. New leaders in the Department of Health have the opportunity to begin to rebuild that trust by hiring and building a robust testing and tracing operation, and providing transparency to the people about the progress that's being made. Every day we are losing our loved ones to this virus. We must do all we can to act urgently to defeat it. Allowing the status quo to continue will only result in more unnecessary sickness and death.\n \n  -TULSI GABBARD, U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FOR HAWAII'S 2ND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.\n  \n\tDr. Park's departure was announced just a day after Dr. Emily Roberson, who had been hired to fix the state's contact tracing program. According to Representative Scott Saiki, Roberson cited frustrations with DOH leadership which included claims that Dr. Park blocked her efforts to hire more contact tracers.\n  \n\tFor Representative Gabbard's full statement, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/maui-now-hawai-i-congressional-delegation-calls-postmaster-general-preserve-usps", "Maui Now | Hawaii Congressional Delegation Calls Postmaster General to Preserve USPS Lifeline", "2020-09-04", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hawai'i's congressional delegation called on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to reverse and suspend further changes to the US Postal Service's operations, which they say have caused widespread service delays.\n  \n\tIn a letter sent to the postmaster on Thursday, Hawai'i's congressional delegation emphasized the state's dependence on the postal service for prompt deliveries of food, medicine and other goods.\n  \n\tSenators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz, and Representatives Tulsi Gabbard and Ed Case wrote to the Postmaster General, requesting and immediate reversal of changes that they say have led to service delays for Hawaii mail, and suspend further changes to US Postal Service operations until there is no longer a nationally declared public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.\n  \n\tThe delegation also expressed alarm at the Postmaster General's confirmation that he is considering price increases for service in Hawaii, Alaska and the US territories.\n  \n\tWe are especially alarmed that proposed additional changes may increase mail delivery costs for Hawaii in particular, the lawmakers wrote.\n  \n\tThe lawmakers continued, These service delays have the potential of affecting the 120,000 veterans in Hawaii, especially the 50,000 who receive their medication through the mail from the Veteran's Health Administration. Hawaii's small business owners, who have already been impacted by COVID-19 are now having to work around delayed supplies or deal with late deliveries to customers. We have also heard from several constituents who were not able to cast their ballot and vote in Hawaii's primary election on Aug. 8, 2020, as some ballots took weeks to reach the voter or did not arrive at all.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-dr-park-s-departure-provides-cautious-optimism-department", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Dr. Parks Departure Provides Cautious Optimism for Department of Health Action", "2020-09-04", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Honolulu, HIToday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) issued the following statement after it was announced that Dr. Sarah Park, the Hawaii Department of Health's Chief Epidemiologist is taking a leave of absence:\n\nI'm cautiously optimistic that this change will provide new leaders within the Department of Health an opportunity to step up and fix the truly fatal flaws the people of Hawaii have suffered from under Drs. Anderson's and Park's tenures.\n\nThe public trust has been broken. New leaders in the Department of Health have the opportunity to begin to rebuild that trust by hiring and building a robust testing and tracing operation, and providing transparency to the people about the progress that's being made. Every day we are losing our loved ones to this virus. We must do all we can to act urgently to defeat it. Allowing the status quo to continue will only result in more unnecessary sickness and death.\n\nBackground: Dr. Park's departure was announced just a day after Dr. Emily Roberson, who had been tapped to fix the state's virtually non-existent contact tracing program, requested a leave of her own, citing frustration with DOH leadership issues which included Dr. Park blocking her efforts to hire more contact tracers.\n\nOn August 14, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard hosted a press conference in Honolulu where she was joined by a Department of Health (DOH) whistleblower who came forward to expose the failure of Hawaii's DOH to hire, train and deploy a contact tracing operation in response to the coronavirus crisis. During the press conference, Rep. Gabbard and public health experts outlined the resources that Congress provided for testing and contact tracing efforts, the vital role they play in preventing the spread of the virus, and how the state went from having virtually no new infections to becoming one of the most infectious states in the nation  a trait directly impacted by the quality of contact tracing efforts. Rep. Gabbard reiterated her call for Dr. Bruce Anderson and Dr. Sarah Park to be fired for their negligence and inability to do their jobs.\n\nThe whistleblower noted that, contrary to public statements made by DOH leaders over the past several months, the contact tracing program had just over a dozen staff  not anywhere close to the numbers being cited by DOH leaders, and not nearly enough to prevent the spread of the virus. They became quickly overwhelmed as infections skyrocketed, and remain so today.\n\nThrough her work in Congress with Hawaii's Congressional delegation, the state has received over $50 million in federal funding for testing and tracing efforts. She is continuing to fight for more COVID-19 testing and tracing resources in the next round of federal emergency assistance currently being negotiated in Congress.\n\n\nIn early April, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard called for the resignation of Hawaii Department of Health officials Bruce Anderson and Dr. Sarah Park because of their repeated failures that put the health, lives and well-being of the people of Hawaii at risk. She added that should they refuse to step down, Governor Ige should fire them.\n\n\nIn July, with COVID-19 cases once again on the rise and reaching record numbers in several states, including Hawaii, she called on Governor Ige to continue the 14-day quarantine in effect for trans-Pacific travelers. The surge of COVID-19 infections saw a return to hospitals strained to the brink to treat new cases as well as a shortage in testing reagents, personal protective equipment, and medical supplies. The quarantine measure was set to be eased on August 1, but in the days following Rep. Gabbard's statement and concerns raised by Hawaii's Mayors, the Governor decided to keep the protective measures in place through the end of August.\n\nRep. Tulsi Gabbard has been working since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis to bring federal funding to Hawaii, and keeping Hawaii residents informed on Congressional action and COVID-related updates throughout the pandemic through a resource hub on her website, regular e-newsletter updates, and virtual town hall events including public officials and community leaders. She has also called for more decisive action from the State of Hawaii to increase contact tracing and testing capacity utilizing the federal resources secured by the congressional delegation.\n\nAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserves. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard...\n\nFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-congressional-delegation-to-postmaster-general-stop-service-delays-preserve-hawaiis-usps-lifeline-during-pandemic", "Hawaii Congressional Delegation to Postmaster General: Stop Service Delays, Preserve Hawaii\u2019s USPS Lifeline During Pandemic", "2020-09-03", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "September 03, 2020\n\t\t\t Hawaii Congressional Delegation to Postmaster General: Stop Service Delays, Preserve Hawaii's USPS Lifeline During Pandemic \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz, and Representatives Tulsi Gabbard and Ed Case wrote to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy requesting he immediately reverse changes that have led to service delays for Hawaii mail, and suspend further changes to U.S. Postal Service (USPS) operations until there is no longer a nationally declared public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.\r\nFollowing Postmaster General DeJoy's recent appearances before two congressional committees, Hawaii's Congressional Delegation called attention to the widespread delays that communities across the country face, citing concerns raised by Hawaii residents about timely deliveries of essential mail, and alarm at the Postmaster General's confirmation that he is considering price increases for service in Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. territories. The letter emphasized that as an island state, Hawaii is dependent on the Postal Service for prompt, reliable deliveries of food, medicines, and other goods, and residents lack the option to drive to another state for these services.\r\nWe are especially alarmed that proposed additional changes may increase mail delivery costs for Hawaii in particular,the lawmakers wrote.We request that you eliminate the service delays, reverse previous changes that have contributed to these delays, and suspend implementation of further changes to USPS operations until we no longer have a nationally declared public health emergency due to COVID-19.\r\nThe lawmakers continued,These service delays have the potential of affecting the 120,000 veterans in Hawaii, especially the 50,000 who receive their medication through the mail from the Veteran's Health Administration. Hawaii's small business owners, who have already been impacted by COVID-19 are now having to work around delayed supplies or deal with late deliveries to customers. We have also heard from several constituents who were not able to cast their ballot and vote in Hawaii's primary election on August 8, 2020, as some ballots took weeks to reach the voter or did not arrive at all.\r\nThe letter can be foundhereand below:\r\nDear Mr. DeJoy,\r\nWe are extremely concerned about operational changes that have been implemented by the United States Postal Service (USPS) and the harmful consequences including mail delays that have affected our residents and businesses. While you recently stated that some changes will be temporarily halted, we remain troubled by your refusal to reverse prior changes and the ongoing impacts to delivery services. We are especially alarmed that proposed additional changes may increase mail delivery costs for Hawaii in particular. We request that you eliminate the service delays, reverse previous changes that have contributed to these delays, and suspend implementation of further changes to USPS operations until we no longer have a nationally declared public health emergency due to COVID-19.\r\nLike other states and communities around the country, residents throughout Hawaii have voiced complaints about recent mail service delays and how their lives are being adversely impacted. A common problem has been prescription refills failing to arrive on time, forcing people to scramble for emergency supplies of prescription medication. At least one health care provider in Hawaii processes mail order prescriptions in the continental U.S. and starting in July, patients were experiencing delays of up to two weeks. These service delays have the potential of affecting the 120,000 veterans in Hawaii, especially the 50,000 who receive their medication through the mail from the Veteran's Health Administration. Hawaii's small business owners, who have already been impacted by COVID-19 are now having to work around delayed supplies or deal with late deliveries to customers. We have also heard from several constituents who were not able to cast their ballot and vote in Hawaii's primary election on August 8, 2020, as some ballots took weeks to reach the voter or did not arrive at all.\r\nThe examples we share are just some of the delivery service issues Hawaii residents have experienced as result of the changes that have occurred in recent weeks. Until recently, the USPS had maintained a consistent and steady flow of necessary and vital items to the islands. As an island state, we cannot drive to another island to get supplies and the air travel time to the nearest state in the continental U.S. is approximately five hours. The lives and livelihoods of individuals living in Hawaii depend on prompt, reliable deliveries of medication, food, and other goods by mail.\r\nWe understand that you have agreed to temporarily suspend some of the operational changes recently implemented. However, we remain concerned that delays will continue, not only affecting present deliveries, but also the delivery of ballots for the general election, which is just two months away. Hawaii is now a universal vote-by-mail state, where a ballot is mailed to every registered voter before the election. It is critical that you not just commit to delivering election mail fully and on time, but that you develop a plan and take actions to show your commitment to treating election mail as first-class mail, postmarking ballots with prepaid postage, and having extra resources ready to deploy to ensure voters are able to exercise their right to vote.\r\nWe are also concerned with possible impacts on services to non-contiguous states and territories, like Hawaii, once these operational changes resume after the election. In your testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, you confirmed that further changes at USPS are being considered, including price increases for Hawaii, Alaska and the U.S. territories. After the general election is concluded, this country will still be in the middle of a pandemic that has so far killed more than 184,000 people in the United States, and according to your testimony, the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. has had broad reaching impacts on all aspects of [USPS] operations. Over the last six months, this crisis has resulted in postal employee shortages, particularly in areas experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, and reduced flights, which you noted has limited the supply of commercial air trips available to carry USPS mail. These problems could continue for the duration of the pandemic and challenge USPS operations for the foreseeable future.\r\nDuring the House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on August 24, 2020, you stated your belief that the transportation changes you instituted should have sped up the delivery of mail. You were wrong. Communities across the country are facing widespread delays in mail delivery services and unnecessary hardship for many people at a time when this nation can least afford it. Moreover, it has taken far longer than expected to reverse the resulting delays. Given the challenges our nation and the USPS are already experiencing from the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot afford any more short-sighted, unintended, and completely avoidable disruptions to American lives and livelihoods. As representatives of a state particularly dependent on timely and reliable mail deliveries, we urge you to suspend any further operational changes for the duration of the nationally declared public health emergency due to COVID-19.\r\nIn addition, we ask that you provide our offices with answers to the following questions by September 14.\r\n \r\nWhat actions have you taken and plan to take to ensure that election mail will be delivered fully and on time including details of how USPS will ensure that election mail will be treated as first-class mail, ballots with prepaid postage will be timely stamped with a postmark, and extra resources will be ready to deploy to ensure voters are able to exercise their right to vote? Please provide a copy of any plans or memos addressing these issues.\r\n  \r\nWhat proposals are being considered that would specifically impact prices or delivery of U.S. postal mail to the State of Hawaii? Will you commit to providing information outlining the details of and reasons for such changes to us before they are submitted to the Board of Governors of the USPS and the Postal Regulatory Commission for approval?\r\n  \r\nWhat was the rationale for creating the Expedited to Street/Afternoon Sortation initiative that started on July 25, 2020? Have any Post Offices in the State of Hawaii been required to participate? If so, which Post Offices were selected? Will any Post Offices in Hawaii be asked to participate in the future? Will the USPS suspend the initiative until after the COVID-19 pandemic? If not, how much longer does the USPS intend to run the pilot program?\r\n  \r\nTo what extent has the shortage of commercial flights impacted mail delivery nationally and in Hawaii? What steps are being taken to compensate for the reduction in carriage capacity?\r\n  \r\nHow many mail sorting machines have been removed or taken offline in the State of Hawaii since July 1, 2020? To date, how many have been removed or taken offline in Hawaii in all of 2020? How many additional mail sorting machines are planned for removal or are expected to be taken offline in Hawaii in the remainder of this year? How many have been removed in Hawaii in each of the last five years?\r\n  \r\nHow many collection boxes have been removed from service in the State of Hawaii since July 1, 2020? To date, how many collection boxes have been removed from service in Hawaii in all of 2020? How many additional collection boxes are planned for removal or are expected to be taken offline in Hawaii in the remainder of this year? How many have been removed in Hawaii in each of the last five years?\r\n \r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/hawaii-news-now-heels-health-director-s-retirement-state-epidemiologist-takes-leave", "Hawaii News Now | On the heels of Health directors retirement, state epidemiologist takes leave", "2020-09-03", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "NOTE: The article contains embeded video of an interview with Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.\n\nDr. Sarah Park, the state's embattled epidemiologist, has taken a leave of absence, the state Health Department confirmed Thursday night.\n  \n\tIn a statement, the department said:\n  \n\tAt this time, Dr. Sarah Park is taking a leave of absence from her work at the Department of Health. During her leave, Deputy Director Danette Wong Tomiyasu is in full charge of all disease investigation and immunization activities under the Disease Outbreak Control Division.\n  \n\tThe news comes just days after the governor announced state Health Director Bruce Anderson planned to retire later this month.\n  \n\tAnderson and Park have been on the front lines of the state's beleaguered response to the COVID-19 pandemic.\n  \n\tAmid a surge in infections that the state was ill equipped to handle, they have also faced calls to resign.\n  \n\tPark, in particular, has been roundly criticized for the state's failure to stand up a robust contact tracing program capable of handling a rise in cases.\n  \n\tFrom the very beginning, she has failed to take the necessary steps to address this global pandemic. It appears she never took it seriously. For whatever reason, she was unwilling to hire the contact tracers we knew we would need, said U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.\n  \n\tCongresswoman Gabbard says Park had created a catastrophe in terms of contact tracing.\n  \n\tAnd the consequence of that is every single day lately people here in Hawaii are losing their loved ones, Gabbard said.\n  \n\tAfter weeks of grilling Park at hearings, state lawmakers made an unannounced visit to the Health Department to find investigators overwhelmed, overworked and unable to follow up on most cases.\n  \n\tLast month, the state brought in Emily Roberson in to help fix the state's overwhelmed contact tracing program, taking oversight of the effort away from Park. But on Wednesday, Roberson asked to go on leave  a request that was approved  citing confusion over who was in charge.\n  \n\tThose familiar with the situation said Park was still trying to manage contact tracing.\n  \n\tIn recent weeks, even Park's supporters have suggested it might be better for her to step aside given her polarizing effect in some circles.\n  \n\tPark has also butted heads with other medical experts and politicians, including Lt. Gov. Josh Green and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, over who should  and should not  get tested for COVID-19.\n  \n\tDr. Park had a tough job. I'm not sure if anybody would really want to be in her situation because she had to deal with a crisis, said House Speaker Scott Saiki.\n  \n\tSaiki had also called for Park's immediate removal. He is now calling on Governor David Ige to appoint a leader the public can trust.\n  \n\tIt's really important for the governor to take charge of the situation now. He needs to reset and put people in charge who will help correct all of the deficiencies, Saiki said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/kitv-4-abc-gabbard-doh-has-consistently-failed-step-plate", "KITV 4 ABC | Gabbard: DOH has consistently 'failed to step up to the plate'", "2020-09-03", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard recently hosted a tele-town hall meeting to update Hawaii residents about COVID-19. \n  \n\tRep. Tulsi Gabbard recently hosted a tele-town hall meeting to update Hawaii residents about COVID-19, with epidemiologist Dr. DeWolfe Miller, and Dr. Scott Miscovich who has been at the forefront of testing efforts across the state.\n  \n\tPrior to the meeting, the Department of Health's (DOH) new investigations branch chief and head of the state's contact tracing program, Dr. Emily Roberson, requested a leave of absence until issues can be sorted out. Though Dr. Sarah Park had been removed as head of the contact tracing program, recent reports indicate she is blocking and micromanaging Dr. Roberson.\n  \n\tEarlier this week we saw Director Anderson step down and it's long past time for Dr. Sarah Park to go as well. People will continue to get sick and die if the Governor fails to take action at this critical time. We've heard horror stories of people not being informed about exposure or being discouraged from getting tested even if they have been exposed, said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. People across the state have made huge sacrifices to their day-to-day lives following preventative measures. They expect Governor Ige to lead, to make sure his Department of Health is doing its job with a robust testing and tracing program that is transparent and accountable to the public.\n  \n\tIn the meeting, Gabbard noted that the DOH has consistently \"failed to step up to the plate and implement common-sense methods that we know work to stop this disease: testing and contact tracing.\"\n  \n\tThe state has received over $50 million in federal funding for testing and tracing efforts, in part for her work in Congress with Hawaii's Congressional delegation. Gabbard says it is \"absolutely unacceptable that this funding has not been used to develop a robust testing and contact tracing effort in our state, and the outbreak that we are currently experiencing is a direct result of DOH's failure in leadership.\"\n  \n\tDr. Scott Miscovich and Dr. DeWolfe Miller agree that Hawaii's leaders should be held accountable for the state's response to the virus.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-congressional-delegation-postmaster-general-stop-service-delays-preserve", "Hawaii Congressional Delegation to Postmaster General: Stop Service Delays, Preserve Hawaiis USPS Lifeline During Pandemic", "2020-09-03", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DCSenators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz, and Representatives Tulsi Gabbard and Ed Case wrote to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy requesting he immediately reverse changes that have led to service delays for Hawaii mail, and suspend further changes to U.S. Postal Service (USPS) operations until there is no longer a nationally declared public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nFollowing Postmaster General DeJoy's recent appearances before two congressional committees, Hawaii's Congressional Delegation called attention to the widespread delays that communities across the country face, citing concerns raised by Hawaii residents about timely deliveries of essential mail, and alarm at the Postmaster General's confirmation that he is considering price increases for service in Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. territories. The letter emphasized that as an island state, Hawaii is dependent on the Postal Service for prompt, reliable deliveries of food, medicines, and other goods, and residents lack the option to drive to another state for these services.\n\nWe are especially alarmed that proposed additional changes may increase mail delivery costs for Hawaii in particular, the lawmakers wrote. We request that you eliminate the service delays, reverse previous changes that have contributed to these delays, and suspend implementation of further changes to USPS operations until we no longer have a nationally declared public health emergency due to COVID-19.\n\nThe lawmakers continued, These service delays have the potential of affecting the 120,000 veterans in Hawaii, especially the 50,000 who receive their medication through the mail from the Veteran's Health Administration. Hawaii's small business owners, who have already been impacted by COVID-19 are now having to work around delayed supplies or deal with late deliveries to customers. We have also heard from several constituents who were not able to cast their ballot and vote in Hawaii's primary election on August 8, 2020, as some ballots took weeks to reach the voter or did not arrive at all.\n\n\nDear Mr. DeJoy,\n\nWe are extremely concerned about operational changes that have been implemented by the United States Postal Service (USPS) and the harmful consequences including mail delays that have affected our residents and businesses. While you recently stated that some changes will be temporarily halted, we remain troubled by your refusal to reverse prior changes and the ongoing impacts to delivery services. We are especially alarmed that proposed additional changes may increase mail delivery costs for Hawaii in particular. We request that you eliminate the service delays, reverse previous changes that have contributed to these delays, and suspend implementation of further changes to USPS operations until we no longer have a nationally declared public health emergency due to COVID-19.\n\nLike other states and communities around the country, residents throughout Hawaii have voiced complaints about recent mail service delays and how their lives are being adversely impacted. A common problem has been prescription refills failing to arrive on time, forcing people to scramble for emergency supplies of prescription medication. At least one health care provider in Hawaii processes mail order prescriptions in the continental U.S. and starting in July, patients were experiencing delays of up to two weeks. These service delays have the potential of affecting the 120,000 veterans in Hawaii, especially the 50,000 who receive their medication through the mail from the Veteran's Health Administration. Hawaii's small business owners, who have already been impacted by COVID-19 are now having to work around delayed supplies or deal with late deliveries to customers. We have also heard from several constituents who were not able to cast their ballot and vote in Hawaii's primary election on August 8, 2020, as some ballots took weeks to reach the voter or did not arrive at all.\n\nThe examples we share are just some of the delivery service issues Hawaii residents have experienced as result of the changes that have occurred in recent weeks. Until recently, the USPS had maintained a consistent and steady flow of necessary and vital items to the islands. As an island state, we cannot drive to another island to get supplies and the air travel time to the nearest state in the continental U.S. is approximately five hours. The lives and livelihoods of individuals living in Hawaii depend on prompt, reliable deliveries of medication, food, and other goods by mail.\n\nWe understand that you have agreed to temporarily suspend some of the operational changes recently implemented. However, we remain concerned that delays will continue, not only affecting present deliveries, but also the delivery of ballots for the general election, which is just two months away. Hawaii is now a universal vote-by-mail state, where a ballot is mailed to every registered voter before the election. It is critical that you not just commit to delivering election mail fully and on time, but that you develop a plan and take actions to show your commitment to treating election mail as first-class mail, postmarking ballots with prepaid postage, and having extra resources ready to deploy to ensure voters are able to exercise their right to vote.\n\nWe are also concerned with possible impacts on services to non-contiguous states and territories, like Hawaii, once these operational changes resume after the election. In your testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, you confirmed that further changes at USPS are being considered, including price increases for Hawaii, Alaska and the U.S. territories. After the general election is concluded, this country will still be in the middle of a pandemic that has so far killed more than 184,000 people in the United States, and according to your testimony, the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. has had broad reaching impacts on all aspects of [USPS] operations. Over the last six months, this crisis has resulted in postal employee shortages, particularly in areas experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, and reduced flights, which you noted has limited the supply of commercial air trips available to carry USPS mail. These problems could continue for the duration of the pandemic and challenge USPS operations for the foreseeable future.\n\nDuring the House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on August 24, 2020, you stated your belief that the transportation changes you instituted should have sped up the delivery of mail. You were wrong. Communities across the country are facing widespread delays in mail delivery services and unnecessary hardship for many people at a time when this nation can least afford it. Moreover, it has taken far longer than expected to reverse the resulting delays. Given the challenges our nation and the USPS are already experiencing from the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot afford any more short-sighted, unintended, and completely avoidable disruptions to American lives and livelihoods. As representatives of a state particularly dependent on timely and reliable mail deliveries, we urge you to suspend any further operational changes for the duration of the nationally declared public health emergency due to COVID-19.\n\nIn addition, we ask that you provide our offices with answers to the following questions by September 14.\n\n \n\t\tWhat actions have you taken and plan to take to ensure that election mail will be delivered fully and on time including details of how USPS will ensure that election mail will be treated as first-class mail, ballots with prepaid postage will be timely stamped with a postmark, and extra resources will be ready to deploy to ensure voters are able to exercise their right to vote? Please provide a copy of any plans or memos addressing these issues.\n\t\n \n \n\t\tWhat proposals are being considered that would specifically impact prices or delivery of U.S. postal mail to the State of Hawaii? Will you commit to providing information outlining the details of and reasons for such changes to us before they are submitted to the Board of Governors of the USPS and the Postal Regulatory Commission for approval?\n\t\n \n \n\t\tWhat was the rationale for creating the Expedited to Street/Afternoon Sortation initiative that started on July 25, 2020? Have any Post Offices in the State of Hawaii been required to participate? If so, which Post Offices were selected? Will any Post Offices in Hawaii be asked to participate in the future? Will the USPS suspend the initiative until after the COVID-19 pandemic? If not, how much longer does the USPS intend to run the pilot program?\n\t\n \n \n\t\tTo what extent has the shortage of commercial flights impacted mail delivery nationally and in Hawaii? What steps are being taken to compensate for the reduction in carriage capacity?\n\t\n \n \n\t\tHow many mail sorting machines have been removed or taken offline in the State of Hawaii since July 1, 2020? To date, how many have been removed or taken offline in Hawaii in all of 2020? How many additional mail sorting machines are planned for removal or are expected to be taken offline in Hawaii in the remainder of this year? How many have been removed in Hawaii in each of the last five years?\n\t\n \n \n\t\tHow many collection boxes have been removed from service in the State of Hawaii since July 1, 2020? To date, how many collection boxes have been removed from service in Hawaii in all of 2020? How many additional collection boxes are planned for removal or are expected to be taken offline in Hawaii in the remainder of this year? How many have been removed in Hawaii in each of the last five years?\n\t\n \nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-court-ruling-against-illegal-nsa-surveillance-civil-liberties", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Court Ruling Against Illegal NSA Surveillance a Civil Liberties Victory", "2020-09-03", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DCToday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) issued the following statement in response to a ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals which determined that the warrantless telephone surveillance program that secretly collected phone records of millions of Americans violated the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.\n\nToday's court ruling reaffirms every American's right to privacy found in the 4th Amendment to the Constitution,said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. This flagrant government overreach through this NSA program and others show that we cannot stand idly by as our freedoms are undermined, even by entities within our own government. We must stand vigilant and fight for those freedoms. We must hold those responsible accountable for their abuse of power, and protect brave whistleblowers who expose them. We should never be presented with the false choice of freedom or security. We deserve better from our leaders  that they uphold our freedoms and work to secure our nation.\n\nThe surveillance program in question began under President George W. Bush and continued under President Obama. In its ruling, the 9th Circuit noted that the program's renewal by the FISA Court, beginning in 2006 and subsequently after that, were legally flawed.\n\nAs part of the unanimous, ruling by a panel of 3 judges  including appointees by President George W. Bush and President Obama  the Appeals Court debunked the Department of Justice argument that the government had a right to the data collected, arguing that it was voluntarily provided to the telecommunications providers by customers.\n\nToday's ruling also agreed with another unanimous, 2015 ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals which ruled that the NSA program was not consistent with Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act, the statute used to authorize the program. Rep. Gabbard had previously raised this issue, decrying the program on the House Floor in 2013.\n\nThe NSA program in question was exposed by Edward Snowden who leaked details about it to the press and who subsequently fled to Russia to escape prosecution. In 2015, the program was officially terminated when Congress passed the USA FREEDOM Act. However, that bill created a new mechanism where phone providers retained their data instead of turning it over to the government.\n\nBackground:Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has long advocated for reforms that address our government's responsibility to protect civil liberties and ensure a strong national defense. She has actively sought reforms to Section 702, the Patriot Act, introduced legislation to strengthen and expand the functions of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), and is a founding member of the bipartisan Fourth Amendment Caucus focused on protecting the privacy and security of Americans in the digital age.\n\n\n\n\n\nShe has also drawn attention to whistleblowers who have uncovered illegal surveillance activity and warned that efforts to prosecute those who report about it would threaten yet another Constitutional right, the freedom of the press.\n\nHer work has earned her an A+ rating from civil liberties advocacy groups Restore the Fourth and Fight for the Future.\n\nAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserves. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard...\n\nFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/khon-2-new-hawaii-doh-contact-tracing-chief-takes-leave", "KHON 2 | New Hawaii DOH contact tracing chief takes leave", "2020-09-02", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Department of Health (DOH) introduced Dr. Emily Roberson in August as the new Disease Investigation Branch Chief to take over contact tracing, but now she is on leave.\n  \n\tWe're told that frustration led to Dr. Roberson stepping aside until the chain of command can be figured out.\n  \n\tThis comes just after the announcement made on Aug. 31 that DOH Director Dr. Bruce Anderson will be retiring in the middle of September. Governor David Ige also announced that Dr. Libby Char will take over as interim director.\n  \n\tCongresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has spoken out multiple times against the DOH's handling of the pandemic.\n  \n\tIt sounds like Dr. Roberson is being blocked from doing her job. Congresswoman Gabbard explained. Unfortunately, she has not been empowered to do her job. Look, this is why for months now I have been calling for Dr. Park to be removed from her position because I have heard numerous times from credible sources for months that she has been actively blocking people from trying to do their job to protect the health of the people of Hawaii.\n  \n\tGabbard is not alone in her criticism of the DOH, as House Rep. Scott Saiki also shared his disapproval with Always Investigating.\n  \n\tEmily Roberson will be taking leave from her contact tracing position out of frustration working within the administration, Rep. Saiki explained. There is a problem with Sarah Park, the governor should remove Sarah Park immediately. She should not be allowed to obstruct the work of others who are trying to fix the contact tracing problem we have.\n  \n\tOn behalf of Dr. Park, the DOH declined to respond to criticisms about Park in particular.\n  \n\tThe DOH told KHON2 that Deputy Director Danette Wong Tomiyasu will oversee contact tracing while Dr. Roberson is on leave.\n  \n\tThere are currently 212 DOH contact tracers statewide.\n  \n\tI just hope that Dr. Char is able to rein everyone in and provide direction there, Rep Saiki said. And the governor needs to support her efforts.\n  \n\tThe City and County of Honolulu recently announced that it intends to tee up a contact tracing effort staffed by hundreds more. The mayor's spokesperson released a statement saying:\n  \n\tWe remain committed to standing up contact tracers in coordination with the State and Incident Commander General Kenneth Hara.\n  \n\tNeither the county nor Hawaii Emergency Management Agency responded with details about how many have been hired, to whom they will report or where they will work from.\n  \n\tIt's a bandaid solution creating all of these separate effort adds to confusion and disorganization, Rep. Saiki said. There should be one agency that is in charge of contact tracing in our state. It should be the health department and that's why the governor needs to fix this immediately.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-hosts-telephone-town-hall-talks-shake-doh-need-better-testing", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Hosts Telephone Town Hall & Talks Shake Up at DOH, Need for Better Testing, Tracing, and Transparency", "2020-09-02", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Honolulu, HIThis afternoon, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) hosted a tele-town hall meeting to update Hawaii residents about COVID-19. She was joined by Dr. DeWolfe Miller, an epidemiologist, and Dr. Scott Miscovich who has been at the forefront of testing efforts across the state since the start of the pandemic.\n\nThis was the twenty-first coronavirus-related virtual town hall Rep. Gabbard has hosted since the pandemic began to impact Hawaii.\n\n\nJust as the event was scheduled to begin, news broke that Dr. Emily Roberson, the Department of Health's new investigations branch chief and head of the state's contact tracing program, had requested a leave of absence until chain of command issues can be sorted out. Reports indicate that Dr. Sarah Park, who had been removed as head of the contact tracing program, is blocking and micromanaging Dr. Roberson as she seeks to carry out her duties.\n\nEarlier this week we saw Director Anderson step down and it's long past time for Dr. Sarah Park to go as well. People will continue to get sick and die if the Governor fails to take action at this critical time. We've heard horror stories of people not being informed about exposure or being discouraged from getting tested even if they have been exposed, said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. People across the state have made huge sacrifices to their day-to-day lives following preventative measures. They expect Governor Ige to lead, to make sure his Department of Health is doing its job with a robust testing and tracing program that is transparent and accountable to the public.\n\nRep. Gabbard began the call with an update on the latest news, including Emily Roberson's leave of absence request and Director Anderson's announcement that he will be retiring. She noted that the state Department of Health throughout this crisis has consistently failed to step up to the plate and implement common-sense methods that we know work to stop this disease: testing and contact tracing. She noted her work in Congress with Hawaii's Congressional delegation that led to the state receiving over $50 million in federal funding for testing and tracing efforts. She emphasized that it is absolutely unacceptable that this funding has not been used to develop a robust testing and contact tracing effort in our state, and the outbreak that we are currently experiencing is a direct result of DOH's failure in leadership.\n\nDr. Scott Miscovich and Dr. DeWolfe Miller both echoed the Congresswoman's call to hold Hawaii's leaders accountable for the state's virus response thus far.\n\nRep. Gabbard and her guests took questions live from callers, and discussed testing, the current outbreak on Hawaii Island, the status of another federal COVID stimulus package, and what is necessary for the state to reopen.\n\nShe continued to emphasize the importance of testing and contact tracing to be able to identify where the virus hotspots are and how the disease is spreading. This is absolutely critical to stop the spread of this disease.\n\nBackground:Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and her team have been working since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and public health crisis to bring more resources home to Hawaii, while also keeping Hawaii residents informed through a resource hub on her website, https://gabbard.house.gov/COVID-19.\n\nIn addition to outlining federal, state, and local COVID-19 resources, the website provides a synopsis of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's work to address COVID-19 and related issues including protecting and providing for Americans during this public health crisis, securing emergency assistance, highlighting her votes and statements regarding legislation and Congressional action, as well as demands for protective measures to prevent the spread of the virus.\n\n\nAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserves. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard...\n\nFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/honolulu-civil-beat-cost-failure-contain-virus-massive-layoffs", "Honolulu Civil Beat | The Cost Of Failure To Contain The Virus? Massive Layoffs", "2020-09-01", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "With no end in sight to the shutdown of tourism, dozens of companies have filed letters with labor officials outlining job cuts and extended furloughs. \n  \n\tIn June, Flora LaMontagne watched The Kahala Hotel and Resort's reawakening.\n  \n\tAfter being dormant for weeks  Hawaii had reopened its local economy after weeks of closure to stop the spread of COVID-19  the hotel's airy lobby was bustling with residents seizing discount rates for staycations at the quiet property in Oahu's poshest neighborhood.\n  \n\tThe rebirth, although modest, was cause for the cautious optimism starting to pervade the tourism industry at the time: Hawaii had quashed the coronavirus and the next step was to execute a plan to reopen the state to tourists as one of the world's safest destinations.\n  \n\tIt was so nice to see: this hotel and the lobby came back to life again, said LaMontagne, who is director of guest relations for the 378-room property. It seemed like old times.\n  \n\tFast forward to late July, and the Kahala was among dozens of Hawaii companies sharing bad news with state labor officials. The virus was out of control, and Gov. David Ige had made it clear the state wouldn't open to tourists any time soon. The promised rebirth wasn't happening.\n  \n\tAt the time we closed the Resort we did not believe our colleagues would be furloughed for more than six months, Nichole Morales, the Kahala's director of human resources, wrote to state officials on July 29. Although we have reopened on a limited basis our occupancy remains low and social distancing requirements limits our F&B operations.\n  \n\tThe letter catalogued continuing furloughs and work reductions for 496 employees, including 23 bell staff and valet parkers, known as front service attendants, 67 housekeepers and 76 wait staff.\n  \n\tThe Kahala isn't the only company that's shared such grim news. Local institutions like the Waikiki Trolley, Honolulu Cookie Co. and Sea Life Park have echoed the Kahala in recent letters to the state, which are required by federal law when companies execute big layoffs or extended furloughs.\n  \n\tKnown as the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or WARN Act, the law is meant to protect workers from the impacts of unexpected job losses. It generally requires employers to notify workers when there's going to be a layoff lasting longer than six months or a reduction of working hours by 50%.\n  \n\tFor local tourism-related companies that shut or scaled down operations in March, August marked the six-month trigger for notifying the state.\n  \n\tIge previously had planned to modify a 14-day quarantine for tourists by Sept. 1. But on Aug. 18, he put that plan on hold until Oct. 1, at the earliest. This means that for many companies, furloughs or temporary layoffs will extend indefinitely.\n  \n\tThe few dozen WARN Act notices filed in July and August alone document thousands of temporary furloughs, layoffs and job cuts. They include big properties, like the Hilton Hawaiian Village, which extended furloughs for about 1,880 employees, and smaller cuts, like the termination of 14 jobs at Miyako Restaurant in Waikiki, which said it's closing.\n  \n\tIt's hardly news that COVID-19 has battered Hawaii's economy. Continuing unemployment claims peaked in the middle of May at about 150,000, but were still more than 100,000 in August. Also in August, small business revenues were still down 50%, a sign of just how important visitors are to local firms.\n  \n\tBut while such statistics provide an overview, the WARN Act letters fill in details, showing what companies have been hardest hit and the types and numbers of jobs put on hold or cut entirely.\n  \n\tAnd they're probably harbingers of worse times ahead, said Sumner La Croix, an economics professor at the University of Hawaii. Most of the letters were sent even before Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced a 14-day stay-at-home order for Oahu. La Croix said he doesn't see the economy bouncing back until the virus is under control.\n  \n\tThe letters are the canary in the coal mine, he said. There's more to come.\n  \n\tBut there's considerable bad news already. And it's not just obvious hospitality jobs, for occupations like hotel housekeepers and restaurant servers.\n  \n\tTake Sea Life Park, for example. The marine mammal park in Waimanalo is making moves to downsize its operations, scaling to five days a week from seven and reducing hours, said Valerie King, the park's general manager.\n  \n\tThe park announced 55 permanent job cuts, including ones for specialized positions like wildlife keepers and apprentice aquarists, King said in her letter.\n  \n\tKing said in an interview that the park is financially stable thanks to its parent, Madrid-based Grupo Parques Reunidos. But she said it is hard to justify a big staff until tourism bounces back.\n  \n\tShould things turn around, we'd be happy to hire some of them back, she said.\n  \n\tLikewise, while retailers fall in an industry category different from the food service and accommodations industries at the heart of tourism, some retailers cater mainly to visitors.\n  \n\tConsider DFS Group, the retailer that sells items from luxury brands like Cartier and Burberry to international visitors who don't have to pay sales taxes. The company announced 171 furloughs extended through Oct. 31 and another 193 layoffs at its locations at the Honolulu and Kahului airports and its T Galleria By DFS store in Waikiki.\n  \n\tThe layoffs, including 85 sales associates in Waikiki, became effective Sept. 1, Cassundra Ware, the company's human resources director, wrote. Ware declined to comment for this article.\n  \n\tHonolulu Cookie Co., which sells its fancy, chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies at DFS and elsewhere, also announced 71 layoffs by the end of this week. Heather Aki-Marcos, the company's human resources director, didn't respond to an emailed request for comment.\n  \n\tAnother firm announcing triple-digit job eliminations: E Noa Corp., which owns the Waikiki Trolley. It's laying off 231 of 271 employees, including 106 trolley drivers and 10 Japanese narrators. Haley Reddell, the company's human resources manager, declined to comment.\n  \n\tIn his letter to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Richard Elliott, general manager of the Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach, expressed concerns similar to many others. What in March seemed like a temporary reduction in business had shown no sign of changing, not only because of a decline in travel, but also because of various government shutdowns as well as the cancellation of business conferences and special events, he wrote.\n  \n\tWith such a significant reduction in our business in a rapidly evolving situation, we have to make painful choices that would have seemed unthinkable just a short time ago, he wrote.\n  \n\tWhile the boutique hotel said it was laying off just two employees, another 61 who previously were getting medical coverage would be placed on furlough without benefits.\n  \n\tThe problem is the uncertainty, Elliott said in an interview.\n  \n\tWe don't know when things are going to return to normal, he said. It's just out of our hands.\n  \n\tIn many cases, companies have managed to avoid complete job eliminations. Employees might be out of work, but technically furloughed, potentially with benefits. The Hilton Hawaiian Village, for instance, has 1,880 employees on extended furloughs.\n  \n\tAnd even the more modestly sized Halekulani has 784 employees temporarily laid off, chief operating officer Peter Shaindlin wrote. Those included more than two dozen engineers and maintenance workers, 109 restaurant servers and 126 housekeepers, plus florists, massage therapists and phone system operators.\n  \n\tUH's La Croix, who reviewed the WARN Act notice letters, noted that many of the people suffering layoffs and furloughs were in managerial and professional positions that are traditionally less vulnerable to the ups and downs of tourism. At the Halekulani, which is temporarily closed, these include the IT manager, public relations manager, two sales managers and the director of purchasing.\n  \n\tMany of these are white-collar jobs, La Croix said.\n  Congresswoman: The Failure of Gov. Ige'\n  \n\tThe big question is when these jobs might bounce back. During an interview this week, U.S. Rep Tulsi Gabbard pointed out that the state had a plan to reopen tourism in June, when the daily COVID-19 case count was close to nil.\n  \n\tBut Ige's health department director, Bruce Anderson, and state epidemiologist, Sarah Park, didn't put in place the extensive contact tracing system that was designed to keep the virus in controlled clusters, Gabbard said. That failure, she said, has allowed the virus to spread and has led to another shutdown of Oahu and widening economic problems.\n  \n\tThis is definitely tied to the failure of Gov. Ige and his team to do what they said they would do and what everyone knew had to be done back in May, she said.\n  \n\tIt doesn't appear Gov. Ige realizes this, or he's ignoring the reality, Gabbard said.\n  \n\tSherry Menor McNamara, president and chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce-Hawaii, agreed.\n  \n\tIt's just mind-blowing to see the lack of leadership and ineffectiveness, she said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-telephone-town-hall-discuss-shake-doh-need-better-testing", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Telephone Town Hall to Discuss Shake Up at DOH, Need for Better Testing, Tracing, and Transparency", "2020-09-01", "2020", "2020-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Honolulu, HITomorrow at 4:00 p.m. HST, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) will be hosting her next telephone town hall meeting to update Hawaii residents about COVID-19. She will be joined by Dr. DeWolfe Miller, an expert infectious disease epidemiologist, and Dr. Scott Miscovich, a physician and the president and founder of Premier Medical Group Hawaii, who is running COVID testing sites across the state.\n\nRep. Gabbard will provide an update on the latest developments in Congress to respond to the pandemic. Together, they will discuss the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in an Hawaii and how it is impacting hospitals, testing and tracing capacity. They will also answer questions from listeners about the ongoing public health crisis.\n\nThis will be the twenty-first coronavirus-related virtual town hall Rep. Gabbard has hosted since the first COVID-19 cases were recorded in Hawaii.\n\nTelephone Town Hall | COVID-19 Update # 21\nWednesday, September 2 at 4:00 p.m. Hawaii Time\n\nBackground:Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and her team have been working since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and public health crisis to bring more resources home to Hawaii, while also keeping Hawaii residents informed through a resource hub on her website, https://gabbard.house.gov/COVID-19.\n\nIn addition to outlining federal, state, and local COVID-19 resources, the website provides a synopsis of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's work to address COVID-19 and related issues including protecting and providing for Americans during this public health crisis, securing emergency assistance, highlighting her votes and statements regarding legislation and Congressional action, as well as demands for protective measures to prevent the spread of the virus.\n\n\nAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserves. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard...\n\nFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/honolulu-civil-beat-anderson-espinda-out-ige-cabinet-shake", "Honolulu Civil Beat | Anderson, Espinda Out In Ige Cabinet Shake-Up", "2020-08-31", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Hawaii health and public safety directors are the latest in a series of departures. \n\nState Health Director Bruce Anderson and Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda, the embattled directors of the state health department and prison system, are leaving Gov. David Ige's Cabinet, officials announced Monday.\n\nAnderson has been faulted for failing to rapidly ramp up the state's contact tracing capacity, release meaningful data and take other steps when the COVID-19 infection rate in Hawaii was the lowest in the nation this spring. Critics said those shortcomings left the state unprepared for the forewarned surge in infections that began after crowds gathered on the July 4 holiday weekend and continued into August.\n\nU.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has repeatedly called for Anderson to be replaced, and on Monday U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz criticized the Ige administration response in general as well as specific failures by the health department.\n\nSchatz cited the health department's initial skepticism of mandatory mask wearing and refusals to conduct widespread coronavirus testing early on in the pandemic.\n\nIn a news release Monday morning, Ige said Anderson informed the governor he planned to retire, and Ige said he accepted his decision.\n\nBruce has served the people of Hawaii for many years and has led the department through some rough times, including through the extremely challenging months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ige said in the announcement. I wish him well as he relaxes and enjoys time with family and friends.\n\nIge said he appointed Dr. Libby Char interim director of the Department of Health effective Sept. 16 following Anderson's retirement, which is effective Sept. 15.\n\nChar is an emergency medicine physician who provided administrative oversight for the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services system for years, Ige said. She currently focuses on developing systems of care, training, protocols and emergency response utilizing best practices in the pre-hospital environment, according to the governor's statement.\n\nIn a letter circulated to corrections staff Monday, Ige also announced that Espinda will retire effective Oct. 1 after two of the state's most influential public worker unions blamed him for a failed response to the COVID-19 crisis at the Oahu Community Correctional Center.\n\nThe Hawaii Government Employees Association and the United Public Workers union both asked that Espinda be replaced.\n\nSenate Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Chairman Clarence Nishihara, an Espinda critic who opposed the director's confirmation last year, also submitted a letter to Ige Monday asking for the director's resignation.\n\nStaff at the jail have complained of a lack of personal protective equipment for corrections officers in the midst of what is the largest COVID-19 infection cluster in the state, and reported that the state failed to properly isolate incoming prisoners for 14 days to prevent the spread of the virus in the overcrowded jail.\n\nPublic Safety officials reported there were 289 infections among the inmates and 58 staff infections at OCCC as of Saturday.\n\nThe administration has had a series of departures in recent months, including former state Tax Director Rona Suzuki, who left when it appeared she might not be confirmed by the Senate in July; former Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Director Scott Murakami, who resigned earlier this month; and Pankaj Bhanot, director of the state Department of Human Services, who announced he is stepping down at the end of this month, citing family reasons.\n\nMonday is also the last day for Chris Tatum as head of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/politico-paradise-lost-how-hawaii-went-covid-19-star-cautionary-tale", "Politico | Paradise lost: How Hawaii went from Covid-19 star to cautionary tale", "2020-08-30", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The state's infection surge shows the risk of complacency, say local officials who fault the governor for neglecting basic public health measures. \n\nHawaii's control of the coronavirus has swiftly unraveled this summer, transforming what was the nation's best-performing state into one of the worst.\n\nJust two months ago, the island state had the fewest cases per capita in the country at less than two dozen per day. Democratic Gov. David Ige was praised for acting early to close Hawaii's borders and impose strict quarantines, a painful economic sacrifice for a state heavily dependent on tourism.\n\nBut a ten-fold surge in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations over the last month has triggered new shutdown orders and a scramble to bolster the public health measures state officials neglected before reopening. When the state was locked down and caseloads were smaller, a key to Hawaii's success was quick testing and contact tracing to find people exposed to the virus. But failure to build up that capacity for reopening, along with growing public complacency around social distancing measures, allowed the outbreak to spiral out of control, say numerous state officials  including many from Ige's party.\n\nNow the state, once hailed as a Covid-19 success story, has become a cautionary tale for other parts of the country that are preparing to open schools and loosen economic restrictions as infection rates come down. For public health experts and Hawaii officials, the state's worsening outbreak is a stark reminder that this virus will easily exploit gaps in defenses.\n\nHawaii was in an optimal situation, set up for success because it's an island, said Cyrus Shahpar, a former emergency response leader at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who now leads the outbreak tracker Covid Exit Strategy. But you need to have ongoing eyes on the virus and be ready to react early when you see a handful of cases and have enough of a workforce to deal with it.\n\nOnly a handful of states have conducted fewer tests per capita than Hawaii  a performance so dismal that Surgeon General Jerome Adams was dispatched to the state this week to announce federal support for 70,000 tests over the next two weeks. The state only has about 100 contact tracers, well short of the 400-plus tracers public health experts say are needed, and the governor earlier this month replaced the head of the contact tracing program after a whistleblower claimed Hawaii's health department misled residents about the state's preparedness.\n\nHawaii still has the country's fewest deaths per capita, but health experts fear that deaths could soon surge as they did in other states with major outbreaks this summer. One-fifth of Hawaii's 55 total coronavirus deaths were reported in just the past week.\n\nState officials are again clamping down on economic activity as over 200 new infections are reported daily, implementing restrictions reminiscent of the pandemic's early days. Ige and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell last week issued new rules prohibiting any gathering of more than five people in Oahu, where the bulk of the state's population lives. They went further this week, imposing a new stay-at-home order on the island.\n\nLocal officials, public health experts and business leaders say these measures could have been avoided had the state not wasted valuable time to prepare during the first shutdown  and that it will be much harder now to contain the outbreak. They believe the Ige administration got complacent and mapped out a reopening plan that defied best practices for managing the virus  for instance, by opening indoor dining and salons before people could return to safer outdoor spaces like beaches and hiking trails.\n\nBack when our cases were very low, in the single digits, our leaders were talking about how we can't be complacent and had to prepare to do all we can to prevent a second wave from occurring and prepare for it if it comes, said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), who's questioned Ige on the state's use of federal relief funds. That would have been the moment to execute on all this. If [Ige] had done his job back when our numbers were low, we wouldn't be in this position.\n\nThe new shutdown orders will mean more economic pain in a state with one of the highest unemployment rates at 13 percent. The state's reopening date for tourism has been pushed back yet again, and the hard-hit business community is bracing for the possibility of even wider shutdowns.\n\nAnd as elsewhere in the United States, a deep racial disparity has emerged in Hawaii's outbreak. Pacific Islanders account for 30 percent of infections while they make up just 4 percent of the state's population.\n\nIge's office declined to directly address questions from POLITICO and instead pointed to public statements defending the administration's coronavirus response and blaming the public for flouting social distancing guidelines. Ige's administration said the seeds of the current outbreak were planted over the July Fourth weekend, when residents flocked to crowded beaches and many ignored pleas to wear masks.\n\nNo amount of contact tracing would have prevented the spike we've seen, said state health department Director Bruce Anderson in a press conference last week. Contact tracing is a tool and it is important to help bring the numbers down again, but the big surge of cases we are seeing is because of community spread.\n\nHowever, some local officials said a more robust contact tracing operation could have helped the state handle the fallout from July Fourth. Quickly identifying those exposed to the virus could have broken chains of transmission sooner, possibly preventing hundreds of infections.\n\nYou knew July Fourth was coming, said Democratic state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim. Why didn't you prepare for that?\n\nSome also said they were baffled by the state health department's refusal to accept outside help with contact tracing, even as health officials talked up its importance. The department as recently as June turned down hundreds of volunteers to help with contact tracing, an effort that was being led by Lt. Gov. Josh Green, the head of the state's largest heath insurer, and the state's top crisis official.\n\nIn hindsight  if we started this earlier it would have been more beneficial but we didn't expect the spike to be exponentially growing like it did, said Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, director of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and a member of the National Guard.\n\nBut even some who've questioned Ige's decisions say the Trump administration's hands-off approach and constantly shifting guidance deserves some of the blame. They said it was especially challenging for the island state to acquire medical supplies and testing equipment earlier in the pandemic, when the federal government told states to find them on their own.\n\nOne of the tragedies in my view is that there is still no national response, said Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) in an interview. Every governor has been left to their own devices and forced to compete with each other for PPE, testing kits and all of that. And you see the chaos that has ensued.\n\nTesting capacity has improved in the state  since May, the number of daily tests has quadrupled to roughly 2,800. But it hasn't kept pace with the virus spread, and the testing positivity rate has increased from just under 1 percent to over 6 percent in the last six weeks.\n\nIge in public statements has insisted the current outbreak shouldn't obscure the state's early success managing the virus, and he has insisted the contact tracing program has been better than average.\n\nHowever, the program has been a major source of tension between Ige and state lawmakers, who were so concerned about its performance that they made an unannounced visit to the Hawaii Health Department earlier this month  prompting an admonishment from Ige. The state auditor's office on Wednesday also accused the health department of stonewalling its efforts to examine the program.\n\nIge said the state is adding more contact tracers but hasn't laid out specific targets for hiring. Caldwell, the Honolulu mayor, said his city will work with the state health department to hire between 250 and 500 contact tracers.\n\nHopefully we will see the number decline to a level where we can manage our contact tracing, Caldwell, a Democrat, said at a press conference on Wednesday. We're going to use this time to reset.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/nearly-200-million-in-new-federal-unemployment-dollars-heading-to-hawaii", "Nearly $200 Million In New Federal Unemployment Dollars Heading To Hawaii", "2020-08-29", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Nearly $200 Million In New Federal Unemployment Dollars Heading To Hawaii \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t New Federal Money From CARES Act Will Provide Additional $300 A Week In Unemployment Assistance For Those Impacted By COVID-19 \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSaturday, August 29, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nHONOLULU  The Federal Emergency Management Agency today announced it has approved a $193,933,095 grant to Hawaii to provide those unemployed due to COVID-19 with an additional $300 per week on top of their regular unemployment benefit.\r\nWhile this new funding will provide some immediate help, it's not enough for Hawaii families who are struggling to make ends meet, said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. We'll continue working to secure more federal funding to help Hawaii get through this tough time.\r\nThe Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Program is funded by FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, which received $45 billion from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hawaii-congressional-delegation-calls-on-usda-to-extend-flexibility-for-child-nutrition-programs-to-combat-hunger-during-covid-19-pandemic", "Hawaii Congressional Delegation Calls on USDA to Extend Flexibility for Child Nutrition Programs to Combat Hunger During COVID-19 Pandemic", "2020-08-28", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "August 28, 2020\n\t\t\t Hawaii Congressional Delegation Calls on USDA to Extend Flexibility for Child Nutrition Programs to Combat Hunger During COVID-19 Pandemic \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Extending Waiver Authority for Several Child Nutrition Programs Would Help Schools, Community Organizations Feed Students During the 2020-2021 School Year\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz, and Representatives Tulsi Gabbard and Ed Case wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue urging him to extend child nutrition waivers to assist schools and community organizations in feeding students during the coming school year.\r\nFollowing nationwide school closures earlier this year, USDA granted several waivers to provide flexibility for schools to use federal school lunch programs and funding to feed students even if they are not physically at school. These waivers were only granted through August 31. Without extending the waivers into the coming school year, it will be even more difficult for schools to feed students learning remotely due to the COVID pandemic.\r\nTo date, the flexibility for schools and community partners to provide meals under USDA's waiver authority has helped students, families, and communities across the country prevent hunger through programs like the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO or Seamless Summer),Hawaii's Congressional Delegation wrote.The flexibility provided by these waivers has had a significant impact for Hawaii students and familiesby some estimates providing tens of thousands of meals per day during the recent school closures.\r\nGiven the success of the flexibility provided by these waivers and the clear need that remains, USDA should be focusing on providing maximum flexibility to support our families and schools. Instead, USDA is poised to let current waivers expire, and has failed to provide a detailed explanation of the legal or budgetary roadblocks that have prevented the agency from extending these waivers,the Delegation continued.\r\nAs Hawaii's schools grapple with the challenges of serving meals to our keiki, the Hawaii Child Nutrition Program is grateful for the support of Hawaii's Congressional delegation,said Sharlene Wong, Program Administrator for the Hawaii Child Nutrition Program.The extension of these critical waivers will allow us to meet the overwhelming needs of addressing food insecurity during this pandemic.\r\nDuring this difficult time when many children and families in Hawaii are dealing with unprecedented challenges, it is imperative that the USDA take action to provide local communities with the flexibility they need to feed students,said Nicole Woo, Senior Policy Analyst for the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice.Rather than making it more difficult for students to receive meals, we should be working to support families by extending these waivers.\r\nClickhereto download the signed letter, or read the full text below:\r\nAugust 28, 2020\r\n\r\nThe Honorable Sonny Perdue\r\nSecretary\r\nUnited States Department of Agriculture\r\n1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.\r\nWashington, DC 20250\r\nDear Secretary Perdue:\r\nWe are writing to urge you to reconsider your decision to allow waivers providing flexibility for child nutrition programs to expire in the coming days, and to urge you to fully exercise the broad authority provided in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127) by extending these and other important waivers through the 2020-2021 school year.\r\nTo date, the flexibility for schools and community partners to provide meals under USDA's waiver authority has helped students, families, and communities across the country prevent hunger through programs like the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO or Seamless Summer). The flexibility provided by these waivers has had a significant impact for Hawaii students and familiesby some estimates providing tens of thousands of meals per day during the recent school closures. Specifically, when Hawaii schools closed earlier this year, the waivers allowed them to shift their operating authorities to these programs, which, with additional flexibility, meant more students could be fed.\r\nWe are alarmed that USDA intends to allow these waivers to expire as the 2020-2021 school year begins. Jurisdictions around the country are resuming instruction after spending the summer struggling to make difficult decisions based on their local conditions about whether it is appropriate to provide that instruction in-person, virtually, or using a hybrid model. In some cases, state and local governments have had to make changes to their plans based on the facts. For example, the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) initially planned to resume in-person classes on August 4, but later delayed the start of in-person classes to August 17, before eventually deciding to move to fully distance learning through October 2 following a sharp increase in coronavirus case numbers. This kind of decision making based on local conditions is important to protecting students, teachers, school leaders, and other school personnel, and to helping stop the spread of the virus in our communities.\r\nGiven the success of the flexibility provided by these waivers and the clear need that remains, USDA should be focusing on providing maximum flexibility to support our families and schools. Instead, USDA is poised to let current waivers expire, and has failed to provide a detailed explanation of the legal or budgetary roadblocks that have prevented the agency from extending these waivers. The federal government should be working to provide state and local jurisdictions with maximum flexibility to stop the spread of the virus while providing educational opportunities for students.\r\nFor these reasons, we strongly urge you to reconsider your position and extend the following waivers:\r\nSummer Food Service Program (SFSP)/Seamless Summer Option (SSO or Seamless Summer) Waivers:Nationally, Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)/Seamless Summer Option (SSO) Waivers have allowed schools and community partners to feed more students during the coronavirus pandemic, including through flexible meal pattern requirements and higher reimbursement rates to cover additional costs for food and supplies. Without these waivers, it will be more difficult for schools and community partners in Hawaii and elsewhere to feed students at a time when many are already dealing with budget constraints and financial hardships due to the coronavirus pandemic. We urge you to extend these waivers through the 2020-2021 school year.\r\nArea Eligibility Waivers:Nationally, Area Eligibility Waivers have provided schools and community partners with flexibility to feed students during the pandemic, including by expanding eligibility for students to receive free meals through SFSP and SSO/Seamless Summer. Without these waivers, open site meal service would be limited to communities where at least half of the children are in low-income households, limiting the extent to which schools and community partners would be able to feed students. These waivers should be extended through the 2020-2021 school year.\r\nUnanticipated School Closure Waivers:When schools closed earlier this year, Unanticipated School Closure Waivers provided flexibility for them to feed students. This was certainly the case in Hawaii, where HIDOE closed schools for 179,000 students in mid-March. Even as schools return to in-person, virtual, or hybrid learning models for the 2020-2021 school year, uncertainty remains about what the school year will look like, and whether schools will need to suspend classes. These waivers should also be extended through the 2020-2021 school year.\r\nThe coronavirus pandemic continues to impact families across the country, many of which rely on child nutrition programs to feed their children. Rather than limiting schools and community partners in their ability to feed students, we should be making it easier for families to receive meals for their children. The disruptions to the 2020-2021 school year alone will present unprecedented challenges to our nation's children. There is no reason to exacerbate these challenges by making hunger an additional obstacle.\r\nWe request your immediate attention to this urgent matter and thank you for your consideration of this request.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/hawai-i-congressional-delegation-calls-usda-extend-flexibility-child-nutrition", "Hawaii Congressional Delegation Calls on USDA to Extend Flexibility for Child Nutrition Programs to Combat Hunger During COVID-19 Pandemic", "2020-08-28", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz, and Representatives Tulsi Gabbard and Ed Case wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue urging him to extend child nutrition waivers to assist schools and community organizations in feeding students during the coming school year.\n\nFollowing nationwide school closures earlier this year, USDA granted several waivers to provide flexibility for schools to use federal school lunch programs and funding to feed students even if they are not physically at school. These waivers were only granted through August 31. Without extending the waivers into the coming school year, it will be even more difficult for schools to feed students learning remotely due to the COVID pandemic.\n\nTo date, the flexibility for schools and community partners to provide meals under USDA's waiver authority has helped students, families, and communities across the country prevent hunger through programs like the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO or Seamless Summer), Hawaii's Congressional Delegation wrote. The flexibility provided by these waivers has had a significant impact for Hawaii students and familiesby some estimates providing tens of thousands of meals per day during the recent school closures.\n\nGiven the success of the flexibility provided by these waivers and the clear need that remains, USDA should be focusing on providing maximum flexibility to support our families and schools. Instead, USDA is poised to let current waivers expire, and has failed to provide a detailed explanation of the legal or budgetary roadblocks that have prevented the agency from extending these waivers, the Delegation continued.\n\nAs Hawaii's schools grapple with the challenges of serving meals to our keiki, the Hawaii Child Nutrition Program is grateful for the support of Hawaii's Congressional delegation, said Sharlene Wong, Program Administrator for the Hawaii Child Nutrition Program. The extension of these critical waivers will allow us to meet the overwhelming needs of addressing food insecurity during this pandemic.\n\nDuring this difficult time when many children and families in Hawaii are dealing with unprecedented challenges, it is imperative that the USDA take action to provide local communities with the flexibility they need to feed students, said Nicole Woo, Senior Policy Analyst for the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice. Rather than making it more difficult for students to receive meals, we should be working to support families by extending these waivers.\n\n\nAugust 28, 2020\n\nThe Honorable Sonny Perdue\nSecretary\nUnited States Department of Agriculture\n1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.\nWashington, DC 20250\n\nDear Secretary Perdue:\n\nWe are writing to urge you to reconsider your decision to allow waivers providing flexibility for child nutrition programs to expire in the coming days, and to urge you to fully exercise the broad authority provided in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127) by extending these and other important waivers through the 2020-2021 school year.\n\nTo date, the flexibility for schools and community partners to provide meals under USDA's waiver authority has helped students, families, and communities across the country prevent hunger through programs like the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO or Seamless Summer). The flexibility provided by these waivers has had a significant impact for Hawaii students and familiesby some estimates providing tens of thousands of meals per day during the recent school closures. Specifically, when Hawaii schools closed earlier this year, the waivers allowed them to shift their operating authorities to these programs, which, with additional flexibility, meant more students could be fed.\n\nWe are alarmed that USDA intends to allow these waivers to expire as the 2020-2021 school year begins. Jurisdictions around the country are resuming instruction after spending the summer struggling to make difficult decisions based on their local conditions about whether it is appropriate to provide that instruction in-person, virtually, or using a hybrid model. In some cases, state and local governments have had to make changes to their plans based on the facts. For example, the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE) initially planned to resume in-person classes on August 4, but later delayed the start of in-person classes to August 17, before eventually deciding to move to fully distance learning through October 2 following a sharp increase in coronavirus case numbers. This kind of decision making based on local conditions is important to protecting students, teachers, school leaders, and other school personnel, and to helping stop the spread of the virus in our communities.\n\nGiven the success of the flexibility provided by these waivers and the clear need that remains, USDA should be focusing on providing maximum flexibility to support our families and schools. Instead, USDA is poised to let current waivers expire, and has failed to provide a detailed explanation of the legal or budgetary roadblocks that have prevented the agency from extending these waivers. The federal government should be working to provide state and local jurisdictions with maximum flexibility to stop the spread of the virus while providing educational opportunities for students.\n\nFor these reasons, we strongly urge you to reconsider your position and extend the following waivers:\n\nSummer Food Service Program (SFSP)/Seamless Summer Option (SSO or Seamless Summer) Waivers: Nationally, Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)/Seamless Summer Option (SSO) Waivers have allowed schools and community partners to feed more students during the coronavirus pandemic, including through flexible meal pattern requirements and higher reimbursement rates to cover additional costs for food and supplies. Without these waivers, it will be more difficult for schools and community partners in Hawaii and elsewhere to feed students at a time when many are already dealing with budget constraints and financial hardships due to the coronavirus pandemic. We urge you to extend these waivers through the 2020-2021 school year.\n\nArea Eligibility Waivers: Nationally, Area Eligibility Waivers have provided schools and community partners with flexibility to feed students during the pandemic, including by expanding eligibility for students to receive free meals through SFSP and SSO/Seamless Summer. Without these waivers, open site meal service would be limited to communities where at least half of the children are in low-income households, limiting the extent to which schools and community partners would be able to feed students. These waivers should be extended through the 2020-2021 school year.\n\nUnanticipated School Closure Waivers: When schools closed earlier this year, Unanticipated School Closure Waivers provided flexibility for them to feed students. This was certainly the case in Hawaii, where HIDOE closed schools for 179,000 students in mid-March. Even as schools return to in-person, virtual, or hybrid learning models for the 2020-2021 school year, uncertainty remains about what the school year will look like, and whether schools will need to suspend classes. These waivers should also be extended through the 2020-2021 school year.\n\nThe coronavirus pandemic continues to impact families across the country, many of which rely on child nutrition programs to feed their children. Rather than limiting schools and community partners in their ability to feed students, we should be making it easier for families to receive meals for their children. The disruptions to the 2020-2021 school year alone will present unprecedented challenges to our nation's children. There is no reason to exacerbate these challenges by making hunger an additional obstacle.\n\nWe request your immediate attention to this urgent matter and thank you for your consideration of this request.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-murkowski-spanberger-wagner-to-defense-secretary-fight-online-child-sexual-exploitation-protect-vulnerable-children-punish-offenders", "Schatz, Murkowski, Spanberger, Wagner To Defense Secretary: Fight Online Child Sexual Exploitation, Protect Vulnerable Children, Punish Offenders", "2020-08-27", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz, Murkowski, Spanberger, Wagner To Defense Secretary: Fight Online Child Sexual Exploitation, Protect Vulnerable Children, Punish Offenders \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Bipartisan, Bicameral Group Urge DoD to Implement New Law, Investigate Child Exploitation On DoD Servers \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, August 27, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and U.S. Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) this week called for Defense Secretary Mark Esper to provide updates on how the Defense Department (DoD) is preventing and combating child sexual exploitation. Their call comes eight months after Schatz's legislation to fight online child exploitation on the DoD's network was signed into law as Section 550D of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020 (NDAA). The bill was co-led by Senator Murkowski, Representative Spanberger, and then-Representative Mark Meadows (R-N.C.). It is imperative that DoD fully implement Section 550D and begin the necessary work of ending child sexual exploitation, the members wrote. The timely implementation of these provisions is critical to ensure that all available federal government resources are being delivered to protect children and combat the perpetuation and sharing of inappropriate content. Across the internet, more than 45 million online images and videos of child sexual abuse material were reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In 2018, the DoD's network ranked 19th out of 2,891 networks nationwide when it came to peer-to-peer file trading of child pornography. Before the Section 550D of the NDAA became law, DoD lacked the training and law enforcement tools for the DoD to take on child sexual exploitation. The new law directs DoD to train military investigators on the use of technologies, tools, and techniques, including digital forensics, to enhance their ability to detect and combat child sexual exploitation.\r\n   Additionally, the NDAA requires DoD to collaborate with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies on issues relating to child sexual exploitation, including by participating in specialized task forces and establishing cooperative agreements to facilitate cotraining and collaboration.\r\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below:\r\nDear Secretary Esper,\r\nWe write to request a briefing with updates on the status of the Department of Defense's (DoD) implementation of Section 550D of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) (P.L. 116-92). This provision directs DoD to enhance the capability of military criminal investigative organizations to prevent and combat child sexual exploitation.\r\n   We are seeing a disturbingly sharp increase in peer-to-peer sharing of child pornography images and videos online. A New York Times investigation reported that tech companies alone flagged over 45 million images and videos as child sexual abuse and exploitation. DoD's initiative to combat child exploitation is an important step in closing the gap in training and expertise within the federal government. Section 550D of the NDAA directs DoD to work with internal and external functional experts to train the personnel of military criminal investigative organizations across the department. DoD must train personnel on this use of technologies, tools, and techniques, including digital forensics, to enhance the investigation of child sexual exploitation. DoD must also train personnel, in partnership and coordination with highly qualified national child protection organizations with demonstrated expertise, to conduct evidence-based forensic interviewing of child victims, and the referral of child victims for trauma-informed mental and medical health care, and other treatment and support services. Additionally, the NDAA requires DoD to collaborate with federal, state, local, tribal, and other civilian law enforcement agencies on issues relating to child sexual exploitation, including by participating in specialized task forces, establishing cooperative agreements to facilitate cotraining and collaboration with such agencies. DoD must establish a streamlined process for the referral of child sexual exploitation cases to other agencies and jurisdictions. Furthermore, DoD must assist in educating the military community on the prevention of and response to child sexual exploitation. This directive was also echoed by a February 2020 Government Accountability Office report on guidance and collaboration needed to improve the department's tracking and response to child abuse. The timely implementation of these provisions is critical to ensure that all available federal government resources are being delivered to protect children and combat the perpetuation and sharing of inappropriate content. It is imperative that DoD fully implement Section 550D and begin the necessary work of ending child sexual exploitation. Thank you for your attention to our request, and we look forward to your written response. Sincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/delauro-garcia-haaland-gabbard-mccollum-lead-86-members-congress-demanding", "DeLauro, Garcia, Haaland, Gabbard, McCollum Lead 86 Members of Congress in Demanding Answers on New CDC Testing Guidelines", "2020-08-27", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DCRepresentatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Deb Haaland (NM-01), Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02), and Betty McCollum (MN-04) led 86 Members of Congress in sending a letter to Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Doctor Robert Redfield condemning, urging the immediate halt of, and demanding an explanation for the recent modifications to COVID-19 testing guidelines that suggest not all those exposed to COVID-19 need to be tested.\n\nIn their letter, the Members wrote, Widespread testing is crucial to our public health and safety considering the sustained high rate of spread in the country, the prevalence of asymptomatic cases and our reliance on testing to track the status of the virus in our communities. That is why Congress has appropriated more than $25 billion to ramp up testing efforts with the explicit purpose to research, develop, validate, manufacture, purchase, administer, and expand capacity for testing to effectively monitor and suppress COVID-19 including tests for both active infection and prior exposure.' Funding was not provided for the purpose of minimizing the case count. Without explanation, it is difficult to comprehend how this updated guidance will work to provide any public health benefits to our country.\n\nIn addition, the Members requested a response from Director Redfield to a series of questions including the political motivations behind these changes, whether officials at the White House requested the CDC to issue this change in guidelines, and if an analysis was conducted regarding the impact of this policy change on communities of color and vulnerable populations.\n\nCongress has provided funding and public health departments and private partners have worked tirelessly to ensure there is ample testing for our communities, especially the most vulnerable, and we are still falling short, the Members wrote. This new guidance is counterproductive to these efforts. Until a sufficient explanation and the answers to our questions are provided that ensures to the public that this new guidance improves the effort to quickly identify the spread of the virus, testing should be expanded, not limited.\n\nThe letter was signed by a total of 91 House Democrats. In addition to Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Deb Haaland (NM-01), Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02), and Betty McCollum (MN-04), the letter was signed by Representatives Ted Deutch (FL-22), Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (CA-39), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26), Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20), Ted W. Lieu (CA-33), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Mike Levin (CA-49), Brian Higgins (NY-26), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), Donna E. Shalala (FL-27), Susan Wild (PA-07) , Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Joseph P. Kennedy, III (MA-04), Katie Porter (CA-45), C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Andy Levin (MI-09), Nydia M. Velzquez (NY-07), Adam Smith (WA-09), Grace F. Napolitano (CA-32), John B. Larson (CT-01), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09), Terri A. Sewell (AL-07), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40), Nanette Diaz Barragn (CA-44), Judy Chu (CA-27), Jackie Speier (CA-14), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jess G. Chuy Garca (IL-04), Tim Ryan (OH-13), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Andr Carson (IL-07), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), Linda T. Snchez (CA-38), John Yarmuth (KY-03), Nita M. Lowey (NY-17), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Norma Torres (CA-35), David E. Price (NC-04), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Suzan K. DelBene (WA-01), Matt Cartwright (PA-08), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ral M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Jos E. Serrano (NY-15), Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Peter Welch (VT-AL), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), Susan A. Davis (CA-53), David N. Cicilline (RI-01), Bradley S. Schneider (IL-10), Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Lois Frankel (FL-21), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Robin L. Kelly (IL-02), Val B. Demings (FL-10), Peter A. DeFazio (OR-04), Jim Himes (CT-04), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35).\n\n\nDear Dr. Redfield,\n\nWe write today with grave concerns about new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that suggest not all those exposed to COVID-19 need to be tested. The U.S. currently has the most deaths and cases in the world and our states are struggling to get the pandemic under control. Widespread testing is crucial to our public health and safety considering the sustained high rate of spread in the country, the prevalence of asymptomatic cases and our reliance on testing to track the status of the virus in our communities.\n\nThat is why Congress has appropriated more than $25 billion to ramp up testing efforts with the explicit purpose to research, develop, validate, manufacture, purchase, administer, and expand capacity for testing to effectively monitor and suppress COVID-19 including tests for both active infection and prior exposure.[1] Funding was not provided for the purpose of minimizing the case count.\n\nWithout explanation, it is difficult to comprehend how this updated guidance will work to provide any public health benefits to our country. We request answers to the following questions by Monday, August 31, 2020. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.\n\n \n\t\tDid any officials at the White House request or direct CDC to issue this change in guidelines?\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIf so, please identify those officials.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPlease identify all Executive Branch components and officials, including but not limited to components and officials in the White House and HHS, involved in decision-making relating to this change.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPlease provide copies of all correspondence between CDC and officials at the White House and HHS relating to the change in testing guidelines.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\tDid CDC personnel express concerns, orally or in writing, to you or other CDC leadership about political motivations relating to the amendments to the testing policy?\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIf so, did you elevate those concerns within HHS or take any other action in response to them? If you did not do so, why not?\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPlease provide copies of any correspondence or other documentation relating to such concerns.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\tPlease identify the criteria by which CDC determined to make the change to the testing policy. Please provide documentation that supported this policy change.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tWas analysis conducted regarding the impact of this policy change with respect to communities of color and vulnerable populations?\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tIf no such analysis was conducted, please explain why not.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPlease provide copies of any correspondence or other documentation regarding this analysis or lack thereof.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\tPrior to the amendments to the testing guideline, did CDC consult with states, cities, and localities to help them understand the implications of this policy change for their populations? If not, why not?\n\t\n \nCongress has provided funding and public health departments and private partners have worked tirelessly to ensure there is ample testing for our communities, especially the most vulnerable, and we are still falling short. This new guidance is counterproductive to these efforts. Until a sufficient explanation and the answers to our questions are provided that ensures to the public that this new guidance improves the effort to quickly identify the spread of the virus, testing should be expanded, not limited. As such, this recent guidance should be immediately halted. We await your timely response.\n--\n[1] Public Law 116-139.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/hawaii-county-set-to-receive-306-million-in-new-disaster-relief-funding-for-2018-natural-disasters", "Hawaii County Set To Receive $30.6 Million In New Disaster Relief Funding For 2018 Natural Disasters", "2020-08-26", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hawaii County Set To Receive $30.6 Million In New Disaster Relief Funding For 2018 Natural Disasters \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t New Funding Comes After Schatz Called On HUD To Review Funding Calculations, Ensure Hawaii Receives Fair Share Of Federal Recovery Dollars; To Date, Hawaii Has Received More Than Half A Billion Dollars In Relief Funding for 2018 Natural Disasters \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, August 26, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\n   HONOLULU  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that Hawaii County will receive $30.6 million in new federal disaster relief funding. The $23.7 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding will help the county to safely rebuild impacted communities, especially in low- and moderate-income areas, and provide resources to small businesses to help them recover and thrive. This new funding comes after U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, urged HUD to recognize the unique response and recovery challenges posed by the eruption and called for a review and increased funding for Hawaii County.\r\nWe haven't fully recovered from the natural disasters in 2018 yet, so this new funding will give Hawaii County more resources to continue working with residents on how to best rebuild, said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. As we continue to recover, I will keep fighting for more federal resources at every opportunity.\r\nThe county will also receive $6.8 million in a new funding to improve community resilience and mitigate the negative impacts of future disasters. The funding can be used to invest in measures that will prevent home flooding or harden infrastructure.\r\nTo date, Hawaii has received more than a half a billion dollars in federal relief funding to help the state recover from the 2018 natural disasters.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-kapiolani-medical-center-to-receive-more-than-107-million-in-new-federal-funding-to-support-patients-protect-providers-during-covid-19-pandemic", "Schatz: Kapiolani Medical Center To Receive More Than $10.7 Million In New Federal Funding To Support Patients, Protect Providers During Covid-19 Pandemic", "2020-08-24", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz: Kapiolani Medical Center To Receive More Than $10.7 Million In New Federal Funding To Support Patients, Protect Providers During Covid-19 Pandemic \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, August 24, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nHONOLULU  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) today announced that the Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children received $10,771,601 in new federal COVID-19 relief funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Kapiolani Medical Center is the only children's hospital in Hawaii, providing care to children and women regardless of their families' insurance status or ability to pay.\r\nHawaii's hospitals are experiencing increasing hospitalizations, and they need all the financial support they can get, said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. This new funding brings much need relief to Kapiolani Medical Center, ensuring they can continue to provide high quality care to vulnerable children and women.\r\nChildren's hospitals have been significantly impacted by the pandemic. Many have suspended nonemergency surgeries, purchased additional personal protective equipment (PPE), and served as a backup to other hospitals to support patient surges. As a result, they have faced lost revenues and increased expenses due to COVID-19.   \r\nThe new funding for Kapiolani is part of the $175 billion Provider Relief Fund authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.\r\nThis week, HHS also announced $300,000 in new federal funding for The Queen's Medical Center (QMC) to increase access to telehealth services. Specifically, the funds will be used to expand QMC's Telestroke Network, which connects QMC's neurology experts to emergency doctors in rural communities to help make treatment decisions quickly for patients who don't have access to specialists.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-senators-demand-fcc-increase-funding-for-health-providers-help-expand-telehealth-services-during-pandemic", "Schatz, Senators Demand FCC Increase Funding For Health Providers, Help Expand Telehealth Services During Pandemic", "2020-08-21", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz, Senators Demand FCC Increase Funding For Health Providers, Help Expand Telehealth Services During Pandemic \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Despite Increased Demand For Telehealth Due To COVID-19, FCC Chair Ajit Pai Failed To Adequately Scale Up Rural Health Care Program \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFriday, August 21, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) led a group of 15 senators in urging Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Ajit Pai to increase funding for and improve the operations of the Rural Health Care (RHC) program, which helps expand access to telehealth services in hard-to-reach and economically depressed communities.\r\nDemand for telehealth services as an alternative to in-person care has dramatically increased due to the pandemic  resulting in increased costs and stretched capacity for health providers. However, the FCC has denied the RHC program sufficient funds to operate and delayed making funding decisions that would send critical aid to communities across the country.\r\nCash-strapped health care providers are looking to the RHC Program for help to defray these costs, but you have so far not taken steps that would allow health care providers to receive additional support through the program, the senators wrote to Chairman Pai. We urge you to address these issues as soon as possible.\r\nTelehealth allows health care providers to treat patients safely without putting themselves or their patients at risk of contracting COVID-19, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend telehealth over in person visits wherever possible. However, many providers lack the resources to handle this increase in demand for telehealth services. These providers depend on the RHC program, the only federal initiative that supports broadband connectivity for health care providers.\r\nSenator Schatz has also led the bipartisan effort in the Senate to expand telehealth in the American health care system. After the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act included multiple provisions from Schatz's bipartisan CONNECT for Health Act (S. 2741) to increase access to Medicare telehealth services during the current public health emergency, he led a group of 30 senators calling for the changes to be made permanent.\r\nThe letter to Chairman Pai was also signed by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Tom Carper (D-Del.).\r\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below:\r\n\r\nDear Chairman Pai:\r\nWe write to express our concern about the Federal Communications Commission's failure to ensure that our nation's health care providers have the resources they need to engage in telehealth. Your actions over the last three and one half years since becoming Chairman, and especially over the last six months during the coronavirus pandemic, have shown your unwillingness to take decisive action within your power and the Commission's mandate to help our nation's health care providers. Specifically, the Commission has not made sufficient funding available, has delayed rural health care funding decisions, and has not been transparent about its operations. We urge you to address these issues as soon as possible.\r\nWhen Congress created the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program in 1996, it gave the Commission an important role in expanding telehealth in the United States. The RHC Program, which is the only federal program that provides support to health care providers for broadband connectivity, is comprised of two parts: the Telecommunications Program, which subsidizes the difference between urban and rural rates for telecommunications services, and the Healthcare Connect Fund, which provides health care providers a 65% discount on their telecommunications and broadband costs.\r\nIn recent years, demand for the RHC Program funding has outstripped support made available by the Commission. While the Commission increased the funding cap on the program in 2018, it was not enough, and funding requests continue to be greater than the Commission's funding levels. Moreover, although the Commission proposed an overall cap on the Universal Service Fund as a way to limit the contribution burden borne by ratepayers, you had no qualms about raising the contribution factor to collect an additional $100 million for the overlapping Connected Care Pilot Program created under your leadership. It is troubling that you are able to make adequate funding available for programs you create, but not for those lawfully established by Congress.\r\nFurthermore, the RHC application process has not kept pace with the urgent need for more telehealth funding, which has caused significant backlogs and delays for program applicants. Specifically, the rules of the RHC Program require the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to seek direction from the Commission on how to prioritize applications when funding demand outstrips available support. Under your leadership, the Commission has failed to provide such guidance until many months after the start of the funding year. As a result, applicants for RHC funding have waited months, sometimes even years, for USAC to process their applications, causing many health care providers to struggle with financial insecurity.\r\nIn early March, you infused more money into the RHC Program by rolling over funding available for future years to respond to the increasing demand. While on the one hand this is positive, on the other hand, these rollover funds were only available because the extreme delays in processing applications from the previous year were so significant that applicants did not have a chance to spend the funding that was ultimately committed to them. These processing delays continue today; a significant number of applicants for FY 2019 funding have still not received word whether or not their applications have been approved, even though many of these applications were filed over 13 months ago and the application filing window for the next funding year, FY 2020, just recently closed.\r\nThe coronavirus pandemic has continued to exacerbate increasing demands on the RHC Program. The waiver of Medicare restrictions to encourage telehealth visits, coupled with states' stay-at-home orders, have required many health care providers to increase their broadband capacity to enable greater use of telehealth. Although the use of telehealth has increased dramatically during the pandemic, a widely cited barrier is broadband availability. Cash-strapped health care providers are looking to the RHC Program for help to defray these costs, but you have so far not taken steps that would allow health care providers to receive additional support through the program for broadband connectivity.\r\nFinally, the Commission has not been transparent about the administration of its rural health care initiatives. Neither the Commission nor USAC has released information about the demand for RHC funding, even though a previous Commission order explicitly says that the Commission shall release such information. The same is true, unfortunately, with the recently-completed COVID-19 Telehealth Programthe Commission finalized all of its funding awards in July, but it has not released information about the overall demand for that funding program.\r\nYour failure to successfully manage and lead the RHC Program and associated policies is extremely disappointing and surprising in light of your public statements. By September 2, 2020, please provide your response to the questions below to explain how you plan to address these problems.\r\n \r\nWhy did the Commission wait until the start of the pandemic to give USAC the guidance it needed to prioritize applications for FY 2019 funding so that health care providers could receive the vital broadband support for which they were eligible? What will the Commission do in the future to hasten the pace of processing applications for the RHC program?\r\nWhy did the Commission decide to increase the contribution factor to raise $100 million for the upcoming Connected Care Pilot, but refuses to increase the RHC fund for existing health care provider needs?\r\nWhat RHC programmatic rules regarding eligibility or subsidy rates has the Commission revised to provide health care providers more support for broadband during the pandemic? Will the Commission amend its policies to allow providers using telehealth to immediately increase their broadband network capacity to handle the crisis, as applicants have requested?\r\nWhy hasn't the Commission increased the subsidies for RHC Program participants during the FY 2019 funding year and beyond to address the urgent need for more telehealth across America?\r\nWhy hasn't the Commission provided greater transparency regarding the demand for RHC and COVID-19 Telehealth Program funding? What specific actions will the Commission take to provide greater transparency about these programs? Please provide a specific timeline for when the Commission plans to implement these steps.\r\n \r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-leaves-army-reserve-duty-assist-alaska-native-tribe-critical", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Leaves for Army Reserve Duty to Assist Alaska Native Tribe with Critical Community Needs", "2020-08-20", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Honolulu, HIToday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) is leaving to fulfill her annual two-week Army duty requirement where she will be joining a U.S. Army Reserves Civil Affairs team to assist an Alaska Native Tribe with critical community needs through the Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program. IRT provides joint training opportunities to increase deployment readiness as well as key services  such as health care, construction, transportation, and cybersecurity  that benefit communities across the country and U.S. Territories.\n\nHawaii residents in her Congressional district have taken advantage of this program through Tropicare, a two-week annual training event during which military medical professionals provide free health care clinics throughout the islands. In past years, the clinics have offered basic dental, medical and optometry examinations, health education classes, and pharmaceutical and laboratory services to the public at no cost, with a focus on underserved communities.\n\nWhile on duty, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's congressional staff will continue to work on behalf of residents throughout Hawaii  through individual constituent casework, coordination with authorities, and on-the-ground efforts  as well as in Washington, D.C.\n\nBackground:Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for 17 years, and is a highly-decorated veteran of two Middle East deployments. She has participated in multiple joint-training exercises with countries such as Japan and Indonesia. She has been activated twice in recent years in response to natural disasters and community crises in Hawaii. In November 2014, Rep. Gabbard was activated and served in Hawaii National Guard efforts as an eruption of Klauea lava flow headed toward Phoa on Hawaii Island. In May 2018, as lava erupted from fissures throughout Lower Puna neighborhoods, Rep. Gabbard again served in uniform to provide support to a community facing the loss of homes, schools, and livelihoods. She continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserves.\n\nSince the early days of the coronavirus crisis, Rep. Gabbard and her team have been hard at work to bring Federal dollars to support the people of Hawaii, fighting for more masks and PPE (personal protective equipment) for Hawaii's healthcare professionals, and advocating for free mass testing capabilities across the state and country. She is keeping Hawaii residents updated regularly through e-newsletters and virtual town hall events.\n\nYou can read more about how she is fighting for families, frontline essential workers, to prevent the virus spread, and help the economy survive and recover from this crisis by visiting https://gabbard.house.gov/COVID-19.\n\nAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserves. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard...\n\nFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/honolulu-civil-beat-california-congresswoman-wants-answers-hawaii-s-virus-response", "Honolulu Civil Beat | California Congresswoman Wants Answers On Hawaiis Virus Response Effort", "2020-08-19", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The chairwoman of a congressional subcommittee on health wants to know details about how the state spent $50 million in CARES Act money aimed at testing and tracing. \n\nA California congresswoman is pressing Gov. David Ige for answers on why Hawaii has had such a turnaround on its COVID-19 infection rate and whether it mismanaged millions of dollars in federal stimulus money aimed at helping with virus prevention efforts.\n\nIn a letter dated Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, who chairs the House Health subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, asked Ige for more information on the Hawaii Department of Health's testing and contact tracing program, including things like how many contact tracing personnel the state has had on staff each week since the outbreak began.\n\nAs you know, less than two months ago, Hawaii had the lowest number of COVID-19 cases per capita of any state in the nation, wrote Eshoo, a California Democrat whose district includes Silicon Valley. However, this trend has reversed and now Hawaii has the highest infection rate in the United States.\n\nEshoo's criticisms and demands for transparency echoed those of U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who last week called for the resignations of Hawaii Department of Health Director Bruce Anderson and Dr. Sarah Park, the state epidemiologist.\n\nThe crisis we face today is a direct result of our state's failed leadership, Gabbard said in a press release that cited Eshoo's letter. Governor Ige and his team had months to hire, train and deploy a robust contact tracing team to prevent the very situation we face today.\n\nMonths ago we worked in Congress to deliver over $50 million in funding to the state so that they had the resources to trace, test, and contain future COVID-19 cases. Yet, we have around a dozen people doing contact tracing today, who are so overwhelmed that they can only reach a small number of individuals who have contracted COVID-19.\n\n\nGabbard blamed Ige and his staff for dropping the ball on contact tracing and testing and suggested the state's inaction led to the outbreak Hawaii is currently experiencing.\n\nIf Governor Ige and his team had done what they were supposed to do, we could have prevented the major outbreak we are experiencing today that has taken more lives and resulted in so many of our kupuna, families and keiki getting infected and sick, she said in the statement. This is a punch in the gut to Hawaii residents who have sacrificed so much to try to prevent the spread of this virus, only to see our state leaders failing the people.\n\nLast week, in a joint press conference with a DOH whistleblower, Gabbard accused Anderson and Park of lying about the state's capacity to do contact tracing after Jennifer Smith, a Ph.D. virologist and case investigator for the Department of Health, came forward to to say the department's lack of tracing capacity contributed to a recent surge in cases.\n\nAfter Smith last week said the department recently had only nine people doing contact tracing on Oahu, the department in a statement responded that it has about 100 for the state, and continues to add more. The statement did not respond directly to Gabbard's statement that Anderson and Park lied.\n\nRegardless, it appears a lack of contact tracing contributed to Hawaii's recent surge in cases. For much of May, it appeared the state had all but eliminated the virus, as the weekly average of new cases hovered at less than two.\n\nThe plan was to use extensive testing and tracing to keep the virus in clusters as the economy opened. As the state prepared to open the local economy in early June, Anderson rebuffed attempts to provide extra contact tracers and vowed the department would be able to surge from within to ramp up tracing capacity to trace and contain the expected surge in cases.\n\nBut that didn't happen. And as Eshoo noted, From early June through the end of July, your state's cases more than tripled to 2,111 confirmed infections, and from July 31 through August 14, the state's cases doubled and now stand at 5,042 positive cases.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/kitv-4-abc-tulsi-gabbard-demands-answers-governor-about-hawaiis-contact-tracing", "KITV 4 ABC | Tulsi Gabbard Demands Answers From the Governor About Hawai'i's Contact Tracing", "2020-08-19", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hawaii District Office \n  300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm. 5-104\n\nHonolulu, HI 96850\n\n  Phone: (808) 541-1986  \n\tFax: (808) 538-0233  \n\tEmail: TulsiOffice@mail.house.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/kwxx-island-conversations-rep-gabbard-says-state-must-fix-contact-tracing-snafus", "KWXX (Island Conversations) | Rep Gabbard Says State MUST Fix Contact Tracing SnafusWhere Are The Federal Funds?", "2020-08-19", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(NOTE: Listen to the full interview on kwxx.com)\n\nUnited State Congress Representative Tulsi Gabbard, who represents Hawaii Island and all the other neighbor islands plus rural O'ahu, talked with New West Broadcasting's Sherry Bracken on Wednesday, Aug. 19, about the state's response to COVID-19, its lack of doing appropriate contact tracing, concerns over federal monies allocated for tracing and testing, and the upcoming House bill addressing the issues with the post office.\n\nGabbard said she has serious concerns about the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic, specifically regarding how and if the state is doing effective contact tracing.  A whistleblower, Dr. Jennifer Smith, appeared with Rep. Gabbard last Friday at a press conference. Dr. Smith said despite the State Department of Health saying it had somewhere between 77 and 105 contact tracing, in reality there were few, and contact tracers were trying to handle 100 to 192 cases of COVID-19. Rep. Gabbard said Gov. David Ige and Dr. Bruce Anderson, head of the State DOH, must be clear about how many contact tracers they have, and how they are ramping upthough Rep. Gabbard said the ramp-up should have been done in May.\n\nThe State's Congressional delegation (Gabbard, Rep Ed Case, and State Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz) secured $50 million in funding to be used for contact tracing, testing, and more. Two days ago, Sen. Brian Schatz indicated his staff was having difficulty getting the state to explain how the funding was being used. Today, U.S. Congress Representative Anna Eshoo, chair of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health wrote a letter to Gov. David Ige asking that the state account for the monies allocated to it as part of the Federal CARES Act, funding that must be used for COVID-19 activities by December, 2020. The letter from Eshoo, in part, as she asked for an accounting of the funds:\n\nAs you know, less than two months ago, Hawaii had the lowest number of COVID19 cases per capita of any state in the nation. However, this trend has reversed and now Hawaii has the highest infection rate in the United States. From early June through the end of July, your state's cases more than tripled to 2,111 confirmed infections, and from July 31 through August 14, the state's cases doubled and now stand at 5,042 positive cases. At the same time, your state has implemented a 14-day travel quarantine for travelers visiting the islands, which suggests that the cause of the recent resurgence of Hawai'i COVID-19 cases is attributable to widespread community transmission.\n\nCongress appropriated significant funding to states to ensure adequate resources to track, trace and respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Hawaii has received over $50 million in federally appropriated funds through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epidemiology and Lab Capacity Grants program. This funding was intended to be used to develop, purchase, administer, process and analyze COVID-19 tests, scale-up laboratory capacity, trace contacts, support employer testing, and support other testing-related activities, which are essential to containing the virus.\n\nRep. Gabbard said if Congresswoman Eshoo does not get a response from the state that explains the specific use of the funding, there could be a congressional investigation. Rep. Gabbard has not been alone in her criticism of the state's contact tracing effort. Lt. Gov. Dr. Josh Green and members of the State Senate and State House Select Committees on COVID-19 have expressed great concern and asked for transparency, as have outside health leaders.\n\nRegarding the U.S. Post Office and the new Postmaster General's ordering high speed sorting machines removed from several post offices and the blue mail boxes removed from several locations, Rep. Gabbard is a co-sponsor of a bill to be voted on this weekend to restore the post office to its status as of January, 2020, and halt changes until January, 2021. Gabbard said she's confident it will pass the house, but said she learned today the Senate Majority Leader (Mitch McConnell) said he's unlikely to bring it to a vote in the Senate.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/congress-demands-answers-governor-about-failure-use-federal-funds-coronavirus", "Congress Demands Answers From Governor About Failure to Use Federal Funds for Coronavirus Testing & Contact Tracing", "2020-08-19", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard at a press conference last week adressing the media regarding revelations by a Department of Health whistleblower revealing that the Department had lied about the state of Hawai'i's contact tracing operation.\n\nHonolulu, HIToday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) joined Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-18), Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health in demanding answers and transparency from Governor David Ige about how federal funds designated for contact tracing and testing have been used in Hawaii. Representative Anna Eshoo has served in Congress for nearly 30 years and her committee exercises oversight over public health and quarantine, among other health-related issues.\n\n\nThe crisis we face today is a direct result of our state's failed leadership. Governor Ige and his team had months to hire, train and deploy a robust contact tracing team to prevent the very situation we face today. Months ago we worked in Congress to deliver over $50 million in funding to the state so that they had the resources to trace, test, and contain future COVID-19 cases. Yet, we have around a dozen people doing contact tracing today, who are so overwhelmed that they can only reach a small number of individuals who have contracted COVID-19. If Governor Ige and his team had done what they were supposed to do, we could have prevented the major outbreak we are experiencing today that has taken more lives and resulted in so many of our kupuna, families and keiki getting infected and sick. This is a punch in the gut to Hawaii residents who have sacrificed so much to try to prevent the spread of this virus, only to see our state leaders failing the people,said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. This is inexcusable. The people of Hawaii deserve better, and they deserve answers. So far, we are getting none. I want to thank Rep. Anna Eshoo for her leadership in seeking the truth and getting answers to determine where over $50 million in federal funding has gone, and what specifically is our state doing with contact tracing.\n\nIn the letter, Rep. Eshoo noted.\n\nAs you know, less than two months ago, Hawaii had the lowest number of COVID19 cases per capita of any state in the nation. However, this trend has reversed and now Hawaii has the highest infection rate in the United States. From early June through the end of July, your state's cases more than tripled to 2,111 confirmed infections, and from July 31 through August 14, the state's cases doubled and now stand at 5,042 positive cases. At the same time, your state has implemented a 14-day travel quarantine for travelers visiting the islands, which suggests that the cause of the recent resurgence of Hawai'i COVID-19 cases is attributable to widespread community transmission.\n\nRep. Eshoo called for answers:\n\nCongress appropriated significant funding to states to ensure adequate resources to track, trace and respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. Hawaii has received over $50 million in federally appropriated funds through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epidemiology and Lab Capacity Grants program. This funding was intended to be used to develop, purchase, administer, process and analyze COVID-19 tests, scale-up laboratory capacity, trace contacts, support employer testing, and support other testing-related activities, which are essential to containing the virus.\n\nBackground:Last week, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard hosted a press conference in Honolulu where she was joined by a Department of Health (DOH) whistleblower who came forward to expose the failure of Hawaii's DOH to hire, train and deploy a contact tracing operation in response to the coronavirus crisis. During the press conference, Rep. Gabbard and public health experts outlined the resources that Congress provided for testing and contact tracing efforts, the vital role they play in preventing the spread of the virus, and how the state went from having virtually no new infections to becoming one of the most infectious states in the nation  a trait directly impacted by the quality of contact tracing efforts. Rep. Gabbard reiterated her call for Dr. Bruce Anderson and Dr. Sarah Park to be fired for their negligence and inability to do their jobs.\n\nThe whistleblower noted that, contrary to public statements made by DOH leaders over the past several months, the contact tracing program had just over a dozen staff  not anywhere close to the numbers being cited by DOH leaders, and not nearly enough to prevent the spread of the virus. They became quickly overwhelmed as infections skyrocketed, and remain so today.\n\nThrough her work in Congress with Hawaii's Congressional delegation, the state has received over $50 million in federal funding for testing and tracing efforts. She is continuing to fight for more COVID-19 testing and tracing resources in the next round of federal emergency assistance currently being negotiated in Congress.\n\n\nIn early April, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard called for the resignation of Hawaii Department of Health officials Bruce Anderson and Dr. Sarah Park because of their repeated failures that put the health, lives and well-being of the people of Hawaii at risk. She added that should they refuse to step down, Governor Ige should fire them.\n\n\nIn July, with COVID-19 cases once again on the rise and reaching record numbers in several states, including Hawaii, she called on Governor Ige to continue the 14-day quarantine in effect for trans-Pacific travelers. The surge of COVID-19 infections saw a return to hospitals strained to the brink to treat new cases as well as a shortage in testing reagents, personal protective equipment, and medical supplies. The quarantine measure was set to be eased on August 1, but in the days following Rep. Gabbard's statement and concerns raised by Hawaii's Mayors, the Governor decided to keep the protective measures in place through the end of August.\n\nRep. Tulsi Gabbard has been working since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis to bring federal funding to Hawaii, and keeping Hawaii residents informed on Congressional action and COVID-related updates throughout the pandemic through a resource hub on her website, regular e-newsletter updates, and virtual town hall events including public officials and community leaders. She has also called for more decisive action from the State of Hawaii to increase contact tracing and testing capacity utilizing the federal resources secured by the congressional delegation.\n\nAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserve. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard...\n\nFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-coons-murray-colleagues-call-on-hhs-cdc-to-provide-comprehensive-guidance-for-child-care-providers-dealing-with-covid-19", "Hirono, Coons, Murray, Colleagues Call on HHS, CDC to Provide Comprehensive Guidance for Child Care Providers Dealing with COVID-19", "2020-08-18", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "August 18, 2020\n\t\t\t Hirono, Coons, Murray, Colleagues Call on HHS, CDC to Provide Comprehensive Guidance for Child Care Providers Dealing with COVID-19 \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHONOLULU  Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) joined a bicameral letter led by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Representatives Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Abby Finkenauer (D-Iowa) calling forthe Office of Child Care (OCC) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide comprehensive and detailed public health guidance for child care providers dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.\r\nThe letter follows a recentconversationSenator Hirono had with Hawaii child care providers. During their conversation, the providers indicated that the current guidance available to child care programs was oftentimes conflicting or unclear, and that additional guidance would be helpful. Nationally, child care centers and family-based child care providers have also noted that more guidance would be useful as they work to keep children healthy and safe while maintaining high-quality child care programs. Currently, more than one in three child care facilities could be at risk of permanent closure due to the financial strain of the pandemic.\r\nThe child care system is instrumental to our nation's recovery. By offering work support for essential workers and families, the child care system ensures that families can safely return to work. Equally paramount is the role providers play in fostering children's healthy development and providing supplemental education for our nation's youth,the Senators wrote.\r\nThe Senators continued,We request that the OCC work with the CDC and relevant health and child development experts to issue additional, specific recommendations for center-based and family child care providers. This detailed federal guidance can assist them with implementing the CDC's public health recommendations, while also maintaining high quality child care and providing developmentally appropriate instruction and interactions with children.\r\nSenator Hirono has continued to advocate for additional funding and resources for child care providers dealing with the pandemic, and has repeatedly called for Congress to provide additional support for providers. In June, she cosponsored the Child Care is Essential Act (S. 3874), which would provide an additional $50 billion for child care providers. The Senator also cosponsored the Coronavirus Child Care and Education Relief Act (S. 4112), which would provide the same amount for child care providers. The National Women's Law Center (NWLC) has estimated that nationally the child care system would need $9.6 billion per month to provide emergency relief and prevent permanent closures.\r\nIn addition to Senators Hirono, Coons, and Murray, the letter was signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.).\r\nIn the House, in addition to Representatives Scott and Finkenauer, the letter was signed by Representatives Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), David Trone (D-Md.), Donald Payne, Jr. (D-N.J.), Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Susan Davis (D-Calif.), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.), Susan Wild (D-Pa.), Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-Wash.), Andr Carson (D-Ind.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.), Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Nydia Velzquez (D-N.Y.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Katie Porter (D-Calif.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Jess \"Chuy\" Garca (D-Ill.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.), Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Ral Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), David Price (D-N.C.), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.), Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), Diana Titus (D-Nev.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), Jos Serrano (D-N.Y.), Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Andy Levin (D-Mich.), Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Conor Lamb (D-Pa.), and Filemn Vela (D-Texas).\r\nThe letter can be foundhereand below:\r\nDear Director Christian and Dr. Redfield:\r\nIn recognition of the critical role the child care industry plays in our economy and in children's development, we write to request that the Office of Child Care (OCC), in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and with input from other relevant agencies and health and child development experts, distribute comprehensive and detailed public health and safety guidance to assist child care providers in their response to the pandemic. The child care system is instrumental to our nation's recovery. By offering work support for essential workers and families, the child care system ensures that families can safely return to work. Equally paramount is the role providers play in fostering children's healthy development and providing supplemental education for our nation's youth. In several ways, the child care industry is the backbone of our economy.\r\nThe child care industry is at risk of collapse. A Bipartisan Policy Center nationwide survey reported in April that 60 percent of the child care facilities and family child care providers in the United States had to close their doors because of COVID-19 and, for 30 to 50 percent these providers, the closures will remain permanent. As more families across the country transition back to work and increasingly rely on child care, it is essential that the existing child care industry receives comprehensive guidance and implementation assistance so that providers are able to meet public health recommendations, protect the health and safety of both families and their workers, and continue to provide high quality and developmentally appropriate care for children.\r\nWe appreciate the preliminary steps the Administration has taken to provide interim guidance in April, revised interim guidance in May, and updated guidance in July to the industry. We believe it is critical that further work build on those efforts. The CDC has released some public health guidance for child care providers and schools that remain open or have reopened, which is a helpful first step. Child care providers, however, have reported that this guidance is insufficient, and at times contradictory. Providers have expressed particular concern about how to translate this guidance into concrete actions and practices, especially given that certain health and safety precautions that have become widely accepted for adults must be adapted for young children. According to data shared by the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), 61 percent of the family child care providers across the country who were surveyed would appreciate more guidance about health and safety procedures. Without a coordinated federal response that includes comprehensive and detailed best practices for how to best support the child care sector amid and following the pandemic, we worry that the providers will not be fully equipped to safely and effectively reopen and operate, thus further jeopardizing our economic recovery and the wellbeing of children.\r\nWe request that the OCC work with the CDC and relevant health and child development experts to issue additional, specific recommendations for center-based and family child care providers. This detailed federal guidance can assist them with implementing the CDC's public health recommendations, while also maintaining high quality child care and providing developmentally appropriate instruction and interactions with children. Such public health guidance should include:\r\n1.Technical assistance to child care centers and family child care providers for how to translate the guidelines from the CDC into actionable measures.\r\n2.Recommendations for how to use and find publicly available information on infection rates and community spread and make decisions on whether to remain closed, reopen, or close temporarily, such as what to do if community infection rates spike.\r\n3.Detailed information on how and whether to request COVID-19 testing of employees, vendors, and children. Additionally, the CDC guidance should take into consideration that family child care providers often operate their child care businesses in their own homes. Guidance is needed on how long child care providers should remain closed if positive cases are detected, whether to request employees undergo regular COVID-19 testing, and which personnel to recommend for testing (e.g. vendors vs. sanitation staff vs. child care staff). The guidelines should also include information about how to adjust staffing or recruit temporary qualified care provider substitutes in case an employee tests positive, requires isolation, or is exposed to the virus and requires quarantine.\r\n4.Detailed evidence-based or evidence-informed practices for providing quality, developmentally appropriate instruction while implementing public health recommendations that include social distancing guidelines. The guidance issued should take into consideration the developmental needs of children of different developmental stages and the ways in which they learn and play. For example, a facemask for children younger than five may lead to increased face touching and hinder the ability of an educator to read a child's facial expressions or signs of illness (e.g. runny nose)a crucial practice for monitoring the health and safety of young children. In addition, detailed guidance and best practices should be provided as to how to best serve children with disabilities, children who are immunocompromised, and children who have underlying health conditions.\r\n5.Comprehensive guidance on how center-based and family child care providers can safely continue to support breastfeeding mothers.\r\n6.Recommendations for child care providers on how to support children's social-emotional needs by providing:\r\na.Specific guidance on how child care providers may obtain support to better identify and address infant and child behaviors that suggest mental health needs or trauma and refer them to early childhood mental health specialists for treatment as needed; and\r\nb.Summaries of best practice suggestions for how child care providers can?maintain regular communication and contact with parents and guardians, despite the implementation of social distancing measures. These suggestions should also consider that families may not have broadband internet access, which would limit the use of video conferencing.??\r\nIn addition, we request that the OCC encourage states to provide technical assistance, conduct outreach, and disseminate public health guidance equitably across child care settings, including to both center-based and family child care providers. We recommend that OCC actively collaborate with Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs) and staff family child care networks to provide technical assistance and disseminate critical information to child care providers.\r\nThe public health guidance, technical assistance, and information we request is critical to supporting the child care system. We appreciate your efforts to ensure a strong, timely, and coordinated federal response to address the needs and concerns of child care providers across the nation, so they can reopen with the confidence that their business can survive for the long-term.\r\nSincerely,\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363", "Case Calls the Administration's Actions Undermining the United States Postal Service an Attack on Democracy", "2020-08-18", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=29", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today called on the Trump Administration to immediately reverse course and commit fully to strengthening the United States Postal Service as a critical core government service to weather the COVID-19 crisis and assure a full, fair and free election.\n\n\u201cThe Administration\u2019s various actions to date, though explained as necessary to \u2018improve\u2019 the USPS, can in fact only be viewed a direct and coordinated attack on the USPS,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cI also consider the Administration\u2019s actions as motivated at least in part to disrupt and call into question voting by mail in this year\u2019s crucial elections, and that is an attack on our democracy itself.\n\n\u201cThe USPS is a creature not of statute but of our Constitution because our founders recognized it as critical to a functioning government, democracy, economy and society. The USPS is not a business; it is a service that we all contribute to as a core function of government.\u201d\n\nCase continued: \u201cThe COVID-19 crisis has only magnified that importance. Now more than ever, the USPS is essential to continuing to address so many goals and needs, from business (especially small businesses) to health care (especially prescription drugs), Social Security, disability, veterans, unemployment and other benefits and assistance, tax returns and refunds and more.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s take Hawaii\u2019s over 110,000 veterans and their \u2018ohana as just one of many examples. For those receiving medicines, some 80% do so by mail; delaying these critical prescription deliveries could seriously jeopardize their health. More broadly, a fully functioning USPS was critical to so many Americans receiving desperately needed CARES Act assistance in the initial months of this crisis.\n\n\u201cBut nowhere this year is the USPS more essential than to ensure a full, free and fair general election. In a time of required social distancing when in-person voting is not a safe option for whole segments of our country, vote-by-mail is the only practical option to ensure the widest possible access to the ballot box for all voting Americans.\n\n\u201cAny claim that vote-by-mail does not result in higher election accessibility and results in widespread fraud is specious, as we in Hawai\u2018i just demonstrated to ourselves and the rest of the country with a very smooth all-mail election with virtually no fraud claims or disputed election results and the highest voter turnout in our history.\n\n\u201cThe Administration\u2019s antipathy to the USPS predated COVID-19, but the current crisis has only heightened a series of highly questionable decisions taken under the guise of responding to COVID-19 which taken together are far more than attempts to improve the USPS.\n\n\u201cFor example, the USPS directive eliminating overtime for mail carriers and instructing them to deliver the days\u2019 remaining mail the following day is contributing to a slowdown of mail delivery at a critical time when delivery must remain constant and dependable,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cThe USPS Inspector General is examining potential ethics violations within the USPS, and our President has politicized efforts to help the USPS by saying his opposition to emergency funding to the USPS \u2018means you can\u2019t have universal mail-in voting because they\u2019re not equipped to have it\u2019.\n\n\u201cAny President who was committed to a strong USPS through such a critical time would not have undertaken those actions. Instead she or he would have fought for the $25 billion in assistance urged by the USPS\u2019 own bipartisan Board of Governors, and already passed by the U.S. House. She or he would further have long ago convened an emergency committee to assure that the USPS is fully prepared in all of resources, equipment, personnel and funding to not only handle voting by mail without delay but to achieve the same result nationally as we were able to achieve in partnership with the USPS here in Hawai\u2018i. This President has done none of that.\n\n\u201cTo avoid any claim or excuse by anyone that the $25 billion of emergency funding is entangled in the ongoing larger negotiations over the next COVID-19 emergency assistance package, this Saturday my U.S. House is poised to pass our Delivering for America Act, focused exclusively on implementing the Board of Governors\u2019 recommendations on assuring the continued viability and full functioning of the USPS through the 2020 general elections and beyond.\n\n\u201cOur bill will aim to block any change that would delay mail or increase the volume of undelivered mail. Any refusal by the Senate majority to pass this bill or further opposition from the Administration can only then mean opposition to the critical functioning of the USPS not only for so many in need but to the right of all eligible Americans to vote.\u201d\n\nAttachments:\n\n- USPS Facts\n\n- USPS economic data for Hawai\u2018i Congressional District 1\n\n- Letter to USPS Postmaster General signed by Members of Congress (Congressman Case signature on Page 11)\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:24:54Z"], ["http://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/videos/view/senator-hirono-shares-your-usps-stories", "Senator Hirono Shares Your USPS Stories", "2020-08-15", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Hirono Shares Your USPS Stories\n               \n              \n              I heard from dozens of you about the delays in receiving medication, paychecks, ballots - all because Donald Trump is scared of the election.\nHe comes right out and says it - he isn't funding the USPS because of mail in ballots. We have to fight back. And we will together.\nConnect with Senator Mazie Hirono Online:\nVisit Senator Mazie Hirono's WEBSITE: https://sen.gov/Z7ZK\nLike Senator Mazie Hirono on FACEBOOK: https://sen.gov/W7WW\nFollow Senator Mazie Hirono on TWITTER: https://sen.gov/X5X0", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/honolulu-star-advertiser-us-rep-tulsi-gabbard-calls-contact-tracing-numbers-lie", "Honolulu Star Advertiser | U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard calls contact tracing numbers a lie", "2020-08-15", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who called for the resignations or firings of state Health Director Bruce Anderson and state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park in April and again this week, said on Friday that there are fewer than 10 so-called contact tracers on Oahu and fewer than 20 across the entire state--not the nearly 100 that state Health officials claimed this week are tracking down people who may have been exposed to.\n\nAt a press conference, Gabbard stood by a Health Department whistleblower named Dr. Jennifer Smith, an epidemiological specialist /influenza surveillance and response coordinator, who said she is one of fewer than 10 contact tracers on Oahu who are overwhelmed and unable to do their jobs properly.\n\nIn a Wednesday email to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo wrote that Oahu had \"76 individuals working on contact tracing and investigation. ... There are 15 additional contact tracing and case investigation staff who will be working this coming weekend on Oahu. This makes a total of 100 staff working on Oahu to investigate cases this week. Additional staff located on Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island investigate cases in those counties for a statewide total of more than 100 staff members focused on the investigation of cases with positive test results.\"\n\nGabbard on Friday called similar claims from the Health Department about its contact tracing staffing \"a lie.\"\n\nGabbard said she is working with congressional leaders to conduct oversight over Hawaii's $50 million in federal funding to improve COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, which Gabbard said appears to have been misspent or gone unused.\n\nShe called on Gov. David Ige to :--Immediately activate at least 560 contact tracers, with hundreds more on standby should the infection numbers continue to climb. Lt. Gov. Josh Green, a Hawaii island emergency room physician, has previously said that Hawaii needs 420 to 564 contact tracers to be on par with national recommendations.--Improve Hawaii's testing capability to test everyone, not just those with COVID-19 symptoms. Without rapid results testing capability, contact tracing efforts will be ineffective, Gabbard said.--Regularly test health care workers and not allow those treating COVID-19 patients to also treat non-COVID-19 patients.--Provide daily public reports on the number of contact tracers, their caseloads and the average time it takes for them to reach all contacts for each case--something that Gabbard said must be done within 24 hours.\n\n\"For the last three months, we have heard wildly different and conflicting information coming from state leaders about how many active contact tracers they employed, \" Gabbard said. \"... Even as they reported dozens or even over 100 contact tracers were working, in reality, there were around a dozen contact tracers working statewide, overwhelmed and ill-equipped to do their job. ... The lies and gross negligence coming from state leaders has resulted in thousands more infected, hundreds hospitalized and an increasing death toll. How many more people need to die before state leaders take necessary action?\"\n\nIn response, Ige said in a statement to the Star-Advertiser on Friday:\n\n\"The Department of Health was able to manage the level of contact tracing when the virus first started to affect Hawaii. As the recent case numbers began to surge on Oahu, the administration recognized the need to increase the Department of Health's capacity quickly. The recent restructuring of DOH's disease investigation branch is an important step in addressing the surge, and the department will continue to increase its capacity in the coming weeks.\n\n\"We have been working closely with county, state and federal partners in the fight against this pandemic. We appreciate their perspective and ongoing feedback. And we are committed to continuing to work with our partners so that we can protect the health and safety of our residents.\"\n\nDr. Scott Miscovich, the president and founder of Premier Medical Group Hawaii, who is overseeing COVID testing at many locations, joined Gabbard on Friday and said contact tracing should occur within 24 hours \"in an ideal setting.\"\n\n\"As a state, there was a road map for our Department of Health and it seemed like they purposefully denied every single thing that worked, \" Miscovich said. \"We are all being lied to. Lives will continue to be lost unless we do something about this. The failure of leadership is why we are here now.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/maui-now-rep-gabbard-and-whistleblower-call-immediate-action-hawai-i-contact", "Maui Now | Rep. Gabbard and Whistleblower Call For Immediate Action in Hawaii Contact Tracing", "2020-08-15", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "US Representative Tulsi Gabbard was joined by three medical experts, including a Department of Health employee whistleblower, criticizing the Hawai'i Department of Health leadership and contact tracing efforts.\n\nState leaders have assured the public that sufficient contact tracing staff were in place; however, the whistleblower said the states contact tracers are extremely overwhelmed and unable to conduct contact tracing for many of the positive cases in the state.\n\nRep. Gabbard is calling for a change in state leadership, and an immediate expansion of contact tracing and testing capacity. The congresswoman also announced that she is working with congressional leaders to conduct oversight over the state's COVID-19 response. This will help to determine how $50 million in federal funding awarded to the state to improve testing and contact tracing is being spent.\n\nOn Thursday, Governor David Ige highlighted some of the clusters the State has been seeing and the efforts to enhance Hawaii's contact tracing capacity. He also publicly announced a new Disease Investigation Branch Chief, Dr. Emily Roberson, who he said would take over contact tracing at the state Department of Health.\n\nDepartment leaders outlined changes to the contact tracing program that Dr. Roberson is helping oversee, which includes automating processes to reduce workload for contact tracers, standing up a call center with support from outside agencies to help with case management, and building in real-time monitoring and rapid-cycle evaluation of procedures and messaging.\n\nRep. Gabbard was joined at Friday's press conference by Dr. Jennifer Smith, an Epidemiological Specialist/Influenza Surveillance and Response Coordinator in the Hawaii Department of Health's Disease Investigation Branch, with an expertise in virology and pandemics. She is among the case investigators on the island of Oahu who is conducting contact tracing.\n\nToday we find ourselves greatly under-funded, under-resourced, and unable to serve the State of Hawaii at the level that is necessary to respond appropriately to the spread of the virus. The few contact tracers that are working right now have been struggling to keep up, struggling to serve our communities, and struggling to keep people safe during this pandemic. We're doing the best we have with what we have, but with more, we could do so much more. I am sounding the alarm now, asking for help, said Dr. Jennifer Smith. The bottom line: we don't have enough, and we need more. Someone needs to speak up. Someone needs to say something. We need a change. We need a more effective plan to handle the situation.\n\nFor the last three months, we have heard wildly different and conflicting information coming from state leaders about how many active contact tracers they employed, said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.\n\nOn Thursday, officials with the state Department of Health reported there were 76 individuals working on contact tracing and investigations and nine additional staff providing supervision and other support. The department also noted that 15 additional contact tracers and case investigation staff were working this week on Oahu to investigate cases and 21 additional personnel from the Hawaii National Guard were providing assistance on Oahu.\n\nBut Rep. Gabbard said, even as they reported dozens or even over 100 contact tracers were working, in reality, there were around a dozen contact tracers working statewide, overwhelmed and ill-equipped to do their job.\n\nThe people of Hawaii deserve the truth, and leaders who will fight for them and defeat this virus. I am working with Congressional leaders to ensure Federal oversight and accountability occurs over how taxpayer dollars are being used, she said.\n\nRep. Tulsi Gabbard and Dr. Smith were joined by two specialists, Dr. DeWolfe Miller, an expert infectious disease epidemiologist, and Dr. Scott Miscovich, a physician and the president and founder of Premier Medical Group Hawaii, who is running COVID testing sites across the state. Dr. DeWolfe Miller and Dr. Scott Miscovich spoke to the importance of contact tracing and testing in stopping COVID-19, and criticized the state's approach.\n\nContact tracing is a technique that has been around for decades. It's what we used to eradicate smallpox. We need a full court press. We need every contact tracer we can get our hands on recruited and put in place to help stop this epidemic, said Dr. DeWolfe Miller. Testing people only with symptoms, which has been the approach here, is bound to fail. This disease has spread under our noses because we haven't been testing enough.\n\nContact tracing should occur within 24 hours in an ideal setting. If you test positive, you should know immediately and should be put in quarantine. The roadmap was there from many successful countries, said Dr. Scott Miscovich.\n\nDuring the press conference, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard spoke to over $50 million in federal resources that were made available to Hawaii for testing and tracing. She also called on Governor Ige to restore trust in the Department of Health and fix the contact tracing operation by:\n\nImmediately activate at least 560 contact tracers, with hundreds more on standby should the infection numbers continue to climb.\n\nImprove Hawaii's testing capability so that everyone can be tested, not just symptomatic individuals.\n\nMedical staff and healthcare workers must be regularly tested, and those treating COVID patients must be dedicated to that task alone, and not be permitted to serve non-COVID patients.\n\nProvide daily public reports on the total number of active contact tracers, their individual caseload, and the average time it takes for them to reach all contacts for each case  something that must be done within 24 hours.\n\nMeantime, officials with the state Department of Health outlined further statistics and actions being taken by the department to better prepare the contract tracing division. The department reports that 20 new contact tracers are being onboarded from the UH training program, with another 20 to begin the onboarding process next week.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-capito-whitehouse-call-on-cms-to-make-all-recommended-vaccines-accessible-to-medicare-beneficiaries", "Hirono, Capito, Whitehouse Call on CMS to Make All Recommended Vaccines Accessible to Medicare Beneficiaries", "2020-08-14", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "August 14, 2020\n\t\t\t Hirono, Capito, Whitehouse Call on CMS to Make All Recommended Vaccines Accessible to Medicare Beneficiaries \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) along with Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) led a bipartisan group of their Senate colleagues in a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma requesting CMS make all recommended vaccines accessible to Medicare beneficiaries.\r\nUnder current law, Medicare immunization coverage varies by vaccine. Some vaccines, like those that protect against influenza and pneumococcal infection, are available with no additional out-of-pocket spending. However, other vaccineslike the shingles vaccineoften require significant additional spending, which in turn contributes to lower vaccination rates, particularly for elderly, disabled, and chronically ill people.\r\nAs the current COVID-19 pandemic rages on around the globe, researchers are racing to find a vaccine to protect and prevent further morbidity and mortality as a result of this novel virus. Older adults and persons with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and lung disease are especially vulnerable to serious illness and complications from vaccine preventable disease. Yet, Medicare coverage design for vaccines for these populations does not encourage access to this proven and cost-effective form of prevention,the Senators wrote.\r\nThe Senators continued,We encourage CMS to work with Part D sponsors to offer either a $0 vaccine tier, or to place vaccines on a formulary tier with low cost-sharing. Now is the time to empower vulnerable elderly and disabled Medicare beneficiaries with the tools they need to stay healthy and out of the health care system. Immunizations are one of the most reliable and efficient forms of prevention that we know save lives and billions in avoidable health care costs.\r\nIn addition to Senators Hirono, Capito, and Whitehouse, the letter was also signed by Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.).\r\nLast year, Senators Hirono, Capito, and Whitehouseintroducedthe Protecting Seniors through Immunizations Act, which would improve access to vaccines by requiring all recommended vaccines, including shingles and tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap), be available to Medicare beneficiaries at no additional cost,with the goal of increasing vaccination rates.\r\nThe letter can be foundhereand below:\r\nDear Administrator Verma,\r\nImmunizations are one of the greatest medical advances in human history. Vaccines have essentially eradicated deadly and debilitating conditions, such as measles, chickenpox, polio, that were once commonplace. As the current COVID-19 pandemic rages on around the globe, researchers are racing to find a vaccine to protect and prevent further morbidity and mortality as a result of this novel virus. Older adults and persons with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and lung disease are especially vulnerable to serious illness and complications from vaccine preventable disease. Yet, Medicare coverage design for vaccines for these populations does not encourage access to this proven and cost-effective form of prevention. We urge the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to take action to address this important issue.\r\nAs you know, immunization coverage for Medicare beneficiaries is segmented between Medicare Part B, which covers vaccinations against influenza, pneumococcal and hepatitis B for at-risk patients and Medicare Part D, which covers all other commercially available vaccines when deemed medically necessary to prevent illness. While beneficiaries receive Part B-covered vaccines with no cost sharing, Part D vaccines are typically subject to cost sharing requirements. The variable cost sharing requirements discourage immunization among elderly, disabled and chronically ill populations who account for a disproportionate percentage of the morbidity and mortality from vaccine preventable conditions.\r\nSince 2012, the CMS Annual Call letter to Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans has brought to light the need to strengthen beneficiary access to Part D vaccines to protect against costly and devastating vaccine preventable conditions. The FY20 call letter stated, In an effort to improve access to Part D vaccines routinely recommended by the CDC for all adults, or based on age or certain health conditions, we continue to encourage Part D sponsors to either offer a $0 vaccine tier, or to place these vaccines on a formulary tier with low cost-sharing.\r\nHowever, despite clear direction from CMS, few plans have taken advantage of the availability of a $0 vaccine tier as a means to improve beneficiary vaccination rates. A 2017 report by Avalere Health found between 47 and 72 percent of the 24 million Medicare beneficiaries with Part D coverage had some level of cost sharing for vaccines, ranging from $35 to $70 in 2015.Another study found that only 4 percent or less of Medicare Part D enrollees had access to vaccines with no cost sharing.Medicare beneficiaries deserve better access to high value preventive immunizations than what is presently available under the Part D benefit.  \r\nWe encourage CMS to work with Part D sponsors to offer either a $0 vaccine tier, or to place vaccines on a formulary tier with low cost-sharing. Now is the time to empower vulnerable elderly and disabled Medicare beneficiaries with the tools they need to stay healthy and out of the health care system. Immunizations are one of the most reliable and efficient forms of prevention that we know save lives and billions in avoidable health care costs. \r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/honolulu-civil-beat-whistleblower-exposed-health-department-s-covid-19-shortcomings", "Honolulu Civil Beat | This Whistleblower Exposed The Health Departments COVID-19 Shortcomings", "2020-08-14", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As the spread of COVID-19 spiraled out of control over the last week on Oahu, a story emerged about mismanagement at the Hawaii Department of Health. Despite previous assurances, Gov. David Ige on Thursday acknowledged that the department hadn't hired enough disease investigators to contain the virus.\n\nOn Friday, the state epidemiologist responsible for blowing the whistle on the department's failure came forward to tell her story, standing with a U.S. congressional representative and a prominent medical doctor at the forefront of the fight against the virus.\n\nJennifer Smith, a doctor of virology and an epidemiological specialist with the state Department of Health, explained how she and her colleagues, commonly called contact tracers, were so understaffed that she felt she had to begin looking outside the department for help.\n\nDepartment of Health virologist Jennifer Smith exposed the shortage of contact tracers within the department.\n\nBy last week, state lawmakers were calling Dr. Sarah Park, the state epidemiologist, to testify, and they later stormed the Department of Health offices to fact check whether there were really as many contact tracers as Park claimed. Never slow to engage on public health issues as a leader in the state's COVID-19 response, Lt. Gov. Josh Green, who is a medical doctor, also weighed in.\n\nOn Thursday, Ige announced changes meant to solve the problems, including a vow to bring on board more contact tracers and the removal of Park from her previous role overseeing the investigators.\n\nNone of that would have happened if not for Smith, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said during a press conference outside the federal courthouse in Honolulu.\n\nWe wouldn't be standing here today without Dr. Smith, Gabbard said.\n\nCongresswoman Tulsi Gabbard press conference about contact tracing whistleblower that came forth and shared about a future congressional inquiry into the matters.\n\nU.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said she will have news next week of a congressional inquiry into Hawaii Health Department matters.\n\nDr. Scott Miscovich, who has been leading efforts to bolster Hawaii's testing response, agreed.\n\nShe's the catalyst, Miscovich said. He added that Smith had shared with policymakers not just her observations but also documentation showing the number of active contact tracers and their case loads.\n\nJanice Okubo, a department spokeswoman, declined to say whether Smith had helped prompt the changes, citing the confidentiality of personnel matters. Instead, Okubo reiterated the bulk of a statement from the day before, when Ige promised to do better.\n\nThe Department of Health is acutely aware of the important role of disease investigation in fighting this pandemic, the DOH statement said. We have brought on additional staffing and resources and are working to further expand and realign the work of our disease investigation staff. We have expedited the redeployment of DOH staff from other programs, established teams of National Guard personnel, and continue to work with the University of Hawaii, Medical Reserve Corps and other entities to recruit skilled and knowledgeable workers.\n\nThe work of our entire public health staff is a testament to the enduring commitment the department has to Hawaii, the statement added.\n\nOkubo declined to comment on a number of specific statements made by Smith and Gabbard.\n\nAlthough technically known as a disease investigator, Smith's duties include interviewing people who have tested positive for the disease then tracking down all their close contacts, defined as people who had been within six feet of the infected person for at least 15 minutes in the previous two weeks.\n\nThe close contacts then theoretically can be tested to see if they have the virus, or, even if not tested at least stay isolated for two weeks while they see if they get sick.\n\nThe idea behind such contact tracing is that, if done quickly, it can contain the virus in clusters.\n\nThe problem was there weren't nearly enough contact tracers to do it quickly, Smith said. By some estimates, an island the population of Oahu would need a few hundred contact tracers during a pandemic. In this case, Oahu had fewer than 10 actively working, Smith said.\n\nThis meant that the few on the job were overwhelmed as the virus spread.\n\nGiven the demands of cold calling and explaining bad news to as many as dozens of close contacts of an infected person, Smith said a manageable case load is about three cases at a time. But department staff had far more than that.\n\nFor example, she said, in a recent week as cases began to escalate, she started with 22 on a Tuesday, then had 47 on Wednesday and 59 on Friday. There was simply no way to reach that many people. With lives depending on her doing a job she simply could not do, Smith said she had a panic attack and had to leave work.\n\nIn the health department's statement, the spokeswoman said the agency as of Friday has 100 active contact tracers and administrative staff on Oahu.\n\nCase Surge Is Likely To Continue\n\nDespite the challenges, Smith said she's ready to continue. She said she expects the case count to rise before it falls.\n\nThere's more coming; this is not the end, she said. And we need to be ready when that happens.\n\nAsked if she was worried about retaliation for speaking out, she said she wasn't.\n\nWhat more can they do to us? she asked. They beat us into the ground already.\n\nThe press conference with Smith could have been a fitting denouement for the week's dramatic events, but Gabbard said it will not stop there. She said Hawaii needs 560 contact tracers to deal with the widening crisis.\n\nShe said the mismanagement by Anderson and Park was so profound that Congress must step in to ensure the agency has properly spent some $50 million in federal money that was supposed to be used for testing and contact tracing.\n\nShe also criticized Ige for not holding Park and Anderson accountable.\n\nWhat will it take for our state leaders to actually fight for the people of Hawaii? she asked.\n\nMiscovich said the medical community was eager to step in and take over the effort. He said it could easily muster and train 560 contact tracers by the end of next week from the ranks of health care workers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/khon-2-foxcw-whistleblower-says-doh-lying-about-number-contact-tracers", "KHON 2 Fox/CW | Whistleblower says DOH lying about number of contact tracers", "2020-08-14", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "With another day of triple-digit spikes in coronavirus cases, a whistleblower is speaking out. She's a contact tracer with the Hawaii Department of Health who says officials are lying to us about how many are working to track down possible cases.\n\nDr. Jennifer Smith is with the health department's Disease Investigative Branch, which is responsible for contact tracing. For months, the DOH has been saying it has close to 100 contact tracers. But Smith says the number is closer to 10.\n\nWe need help, we sit there everyday crying out for help. We need more, that's the bottom line. We don't have enough and we need more, she said.\n\nSmith says she even had an anxiety attack as she saw the number of cases piling up. And that's why she finally decided to speak out, despite the great efforts from her coworkers.\n\nI'm here as a virologist and public health professional to tell you that I'm so proud of the work our team has done and humbled by all their sacrifices, said Smith.\n\nU.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who has been calling for Anderson and Park to step down, says the federal government gave DOH $50 million for contact tracing and testing. And now wants Congress to investigate to see what happened to that money.\n\nThey spoke themselves of the need to prepare for this situation and yet they have failed to stop it all. They have lied to the people of Hawaii all along, saying don't worry, we have it under control, said Gabbard.\n\nGov. David Ige announced Thursday that Anderson and Park will no longer be in charge of contact tracing but Gabbard says they should be fired, and says he's partly to blame.\n\nIt is his responsibility to lead and to make sure that he has a team that the people of Hawaii can trust and that is not what we have, said Gabbard.\n\nThe governor released a statement saying, The recent restructuring of DOH's Disease Investigation Branch is an important step in addressing the surge, and the department will continue to increase its capacity in the coming weeks.\n\nThe health department did not respond specifically to the accusation of lying about contact tracers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/kitv-4-abc-whistleblower-claims-state-health-officials-are-lying-about-contact", "KITV 4 ABC | Whistleblower claims state health officials are lying about contact tracing program", "2020-08-14", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dr. Jennifer Smith says there's no army of contact tracers -- only a group of demoralized workers buried under mounting positive cases and forgotten by their leadership. \n\nA whistleblower from the Department of Health sounded the alarm on what she describes as dire conditions that make it impossible to do effective contact tracing.\n\nDr. Jennifer Smith has been a case investigator for DOH since 2016 and says she had no choice but to go public to get help. There is no army of contact tracers -- only a group of demoralized workers buried under mounting positive cases, believing they've been forgotten by their leadership.\n\nSmith says health director Bruce Anderson has never met with her team during the pandemic, and Dr. Sarah Park spoke to them only once.\n\n\"All I heard was do more, do more, do more. All the while I thought we're drowning. There's not much more to give. It was just too much,\" said Smith, who said she suffered a panic attack from the overwhelming amount of cases assigned to her -- at one point as many as 59.\n\nShe says she watched press conferences where Anderson and Park said more contact tracers would be added, but no help came. She felt it was time to tell the public what's really happening.\n\nAll positive cases reported to DOH by a hospital or clinician start with an investigator who interviews the infected person and identifies people they may have come into close and prolonged contact with. Those contacts can be passed on to another worker to do contact tracing.\n\nBut the bottleneck starts with the small number of investigators on staff. As far as she can tell, Smith says 10 investigators are handling contact tracing on Oahu and four on neighbor islands. They also have other duties that take up time, including collecting and entering data into the DOH's system.\n\nDr. Park previously told KITV-4 a tracer can manage as many as 20 cases, but Smith says the reality is they can only do a handful each day. And with cases rising, Smith believes people are slipping through the cracks and have not been contacted for several days after testing positive.\n\n\"It's so hard knowing that I can't get to them and I can't do the same level of job that I was doing several months ago,\" Smith said.\n\nAs to DOH's claims that 50 to 100 contact tracers are on the job, Smith said she is not aware of anyone teleworking or DOH staff reassigned.\n\nWith the support of U.S. representative Tulsi Gabbard, Smith told reporters she risked possible retaliation to stand up for her team.\n\n\"Someone has to speak up, someone needs to say something. This has to change. We can't continue the way we're moving right now,\" she said.\n\nRep. Gabbard wants the state to hire at least 560 people to do contact tracing and increase testing, including of close contacts of positive cases even if they are asymptomatic.\n\nA Department of Health spokesperson said there were no lies by the DOH on the number of contact tracers and that 100 staff is working on Oahu this week.\n\nDanette Wong Tomiyasu, DOH Deputy Director of Health Resources, gave KITV-4 this statement: \"The Department of Health is acutely aware of the important role of disease investigation in fighting this pandemic. We have brought on additional staffing and resources and are working to further expand and realign the work of our disease investigation staff. We have expedited the redeployment of DOH staff from other programs, established teams of National Guard personnel, and continue to work with the University of Hawaii, Medical Reserve Corps and other entities to recruit skilled and knowledgeable workers. Increasing efficiency with the use of technology, equipment, and streamlining processes is also taking place to balance workloads and identify priorities. We want to see better results and are intensely aware of our service to the people of Hawaii. The work of our entire public health staff is a testament to the enduring commitment the department has to Hawaii.\"\n\nRep. Gabbard repeated her call for Governor David Ige to replace Anderson and Park and said she's working with Congressional leadership on a possible federal inquiry into how millions of dollars of CARES Act money meant for contact tracing have been used by the state.\n\nYesterday, the state said a new head of Disease Investigation, Dr. Emily Roberson, took over contact tracing at DOH. But Rep. Gabbard believe it's not enough.\n\n\"I don't believe this change has gone anywhere near enough to restore the integrity and trust in our state leadership,\" she said.\n\nDr. Scott Miscovich of the Premier Medical Group said he and Lt. Gov Josh Green secured whistleblower immunity for Smith in exchange for her inside information.\n\n\"This is not just her verbal. There is a very defined matrix of how many people each person was assigned and when, and the numbers are outrageous to see how they were assigned month by month by month and a little peripheral list of 2, 3 and 4 people that hadn't done anything,\" Dr. Miscovich said. \"The smoke and mirrors has to stop.\"\n\nSmith said her team of investigators are encouraged by the new leadership and need the public's support as they push for more change.\n\n\"I'm so proud of the work our team has done and humbled by all of their sacrifices,\" she said through tears.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/video-rep-tulsi-gabbard-department-health-whistleblower-reveal-lies-call", "VIDEO: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Department of Health Whistleblower Reveal Lies, Call For Immediate Action & Congressional Oversight", "2020-08-14", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Honolulu, HIRep. Tulsi Gabbard was joined by three medical experts, including a Department of Health employee whistleblower, exposing the lies coming from the Department of Health leadership regarding contact tracing efforts in Hawai'i. State leaders, including Governor David Ige, have long assured the public that sufficient contact tracing staff were in place. However, the whistleblower revealed that in fact there were less than 20 people statewide conducting contact tracing, and that they are extremely overwhelmed and unable to conduct contact tracing for many of the positive cases in the state.\n\nRep. Tulsi Gabbard called for a change in state leadership, and an immediate expansion of contact tracing and testing capacity. The congresswoman also announced that she is working with congressional leaders to conduct oversight over the state's COVID-19 response, as over $50 million in federal funding awarded to the state to improve testing and contact tracing, appears to have been misspent or gone unused.\n\nRep. Gabbard was joined at the press conference by Dr. Jennifer Smith, an Epidemiological Specialist/Influenza Surveillance and Response Coordinator in the Hawaii Department of Health's Disease Investigation Branch, with an expertise in virology and pandemics. She is one of less than 10 case investigators on the island of Oahu who is conducting contact tracing.\n\n\nFor the last three months, we have heard wildly different and conflicting information coming from state leaders about how many active contact tracers they employed. All along, Governor Ige and his state health leadership assured the people of Hawaii, not to worry, that they had it under control. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Thanks to the bravery of Dr. Jennifer Smith, a Department of Health employee who has spoken publicly about how little contact tracing is going on in the state, we now know state leaders were lying to us. Even as they reported dozens or even over 100 contact tracers were working, in reality, there were around a dozen contact tracers working statewide, overwhelmed and ill-equipped to do their job, said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.\n\nThe lies and gross negligence coming from state leaders has resulted in thousands more infected, hundreds hospitalized, and an increasing death toll. How many more people need to die before state leaders take necessary action? asked Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. As the Chief Executive of our state, Governor Ige is responsible. His failure to take action, and his decision to keep Dr. Bruce Anderson and Dr. Sarah Park in power even after they have lied numerous times to the people of Hawaii, is a slap in the face to every single person in our state, especially those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19. The people of Hawaii deserve the truth, and leaders who will fight for them and defeat this virus. I am working with Congressional leaders to ensure Federal oversight and accountability occurs over how taxpayer dollars are being used.\n\nRep. Tulsi Gabbard stated that she has raised these urgent concerns with Congressional leaders, who share her concerns and are committed to conducting oversight to ensure federal resources provided for testing and tracing are being used to serve the people of Hawaii.\n\nToday we find ourselves greatly under-funded, under-resourced, and unable to serve the State of Hawaii at the level that is necessary to respond appropriately to the spread of the virus. The few contact tracers that are working right now have been struggling to keep up, struggling to serve our communities, and struggling to keep people safe during this pandemic. We're doing the best we have with what we have, but with more, we could do so much more. I am sounding the alarm now, asking for help, said Dr. Jennifer Smith. The bottom line: we don't have enough, and we need more. Someone needs to speak up. Someone needs to say something. We need a change. We need a more effective plan to handle the situation.\n\nRep. Tulsi Gabbard and Dr. Smith were joined by two specialists, Dr. DeWolfe Miller, an expert infectious disease epidemiologist, and Dr. Scott Miscovich, a physician and the president and founder of Premier Medical Group Hawaii, who is running COVID testing sites across the state. Dr. DeWolfe Miller and Dr. Scott Miscovich spoke to the importance of contact tracing and testing in stopping COVID-19, and criticized the state's approach.\n\nContact tracing is a technique that has been around for decades. It's what we used to eradicate smallpox. We need a full court press. We need every contact tracer we can get our hands on recruited and put in place to help stop this epidemic, said Dr. DeWolfe Miller. And you have to test every contact - or this epidemic will get away from you. Testing people only with symptoms, which has been the approach here, is bound to fail. This disease has spread under our noses because we haven't been testing enough.\n\nContact tracing should occur within 24 hours in an ideal setting. If you test positive, you should know immediately and should be put in quarantine. The roadmap was there from many successful countries. As a state, there was a roadmap for our Department of Health and it seemed like they purposefully denied every single thing that worked. As a result, our contact tracers could not do their job. They could not serve the people of Hawaii in the way they needed to be served, said Dr. Scott Miscovich. We are all being lied to. Lives will continue to be lost unless we do something about this. The failure of leadership is why we are here now.\n\nDuring the press conference, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard spoke to over $50 million in federal resources that were made available to Hawaii for testing and tracing. She pointed to conflicting claims from state health officials that there were dozens or over a hundred contact tracers, which proved to be a lie. She also called on Governor Ige to restore trust in the Department of Health and fix the failed contact tracing operation by:\n\n \n\t\tImmediately activate at least 560 contact tracers, with hundreds more on standby should the infection numbers continue to climb.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tImprove Hawaii's testing capability so that everyone can be tested, not just symptomatic individuals. It has been known for months that asymptomatic carriers can infect others and currently over 40% of COVID-19 carriers have no symptoms at all. Without rapid results testing capability, contact tracing efforts will be ineffective.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tMedical staff and healthcare workers must be regularly tested, and those treating COVID patients must be dedicated to that task alone, and not be permitted to serve non-COVID patients.\n\t\n\t\n\t\tProvide daily public reports on the total number of active contact tracers, their individual caseload, and the average time it takes for them to reach all contacts for each case  something that must be done within 24 hours.\n\t\n \nFrom the outset of the coronavirus public health crisis and COVID-19 pandemic, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been an outspoken advocate for the need to contain the virus and prevent its spread. She has argued that doing so will limit infections, reduce strain on the public health system, and create the conditions necessary for the country's economy to be revitalized.\n\nBackground:Through public statements and in virtual meetings with constituents and officials, Rep. Gabbard has outlined the key elements to successfully containing the virus: preventing its introduction into a population, robust testing to detect it if the virus does make it into a community, and a large contact tracing workforce to identify where it might spread. She has also pointed out that testing and tracing must be done quickly, ideally the same day, in order to prevent those infected and potentially infected from exposing others.\n\nThrough her work in Congress and with Hawaii's Congressional delegation, the state has received over $50 million in federal aid to go toward testing and tracing efforts. She is continuing to fight for more COVID-19 testing and tracing resources in the next round of federal emergency assistance currently being negotiated in Congress.\n\n\nIn early April, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard called for the resignation of Hawaii Department of Health officials Bruce Anderson and Dr. Sarah Park because of their repeated failures that put the health, lives and well-being of the people of Hawaii at risk. She added that should they refuse to step down, Governor Ige should fire them.\n\n\nIn July, with COVID-19 cases once again on the rise and reaching record numbers in several states, including Hawaii, she called on Governor Ige to continue the 14-day quarantine in effect for trans-Pacific travelers. The surge of COVID-19 infections saw a return to hospitals strained to the brink to treat new cases as well as a shortage in testing reagents, personal protective equipment, and medical supplies. The quarantine measure was set to be eased on August 1, but in the days following Rep. Gabbard's statement and concerns raised by Hawaii's Mayors, the Governor decided to keep the protective measures in place through the end of August.\n\nRep. Tulsi Gabbard has been working since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis to bring federal funding to Hawaii, and keeping Hawaii residents informed on Congressional action and COVID-related updates throughout the pandemic through a resource hub on her website, regular e-newsletter updates, and virtual town hall events including public officials and community leaders. She has also called for more decisive action from the State of Hawaii to increase contact tracing and testing capacity utilizing the federal resources secured by the congressional delegation.\n\nAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserves. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard\n\nFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-casey-harris-colleagues-introduce-coronavirus-language-access-act", "Hirono, Casey, Harris, Colleagues Introduce Coronavirus Language Access Act", "2020-08-13", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "August 13, 2020\n\t\t\t Hirono, Casey, Harris, Colleagues Introduce Coronavirus Language Access Act \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Bill helps make COVID-19 resources accessible to LEP individuals, individuals with disabilities, older Americans\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, D.C.  Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and other colleagues introduced the Coronavirus Language Access Act, which expands access to coronavirus-related resources by increasing language access services and supporting culturally appropriate COVID-19 response programs to help older Americans, those who have limited English proficiency (LEP), and people with disabilities.\r\nThe pandemic has magnified language access issues and disparities in health care, as more than 25 million people in the United States have limited English proficiency15 percent of whom are age 65 or older. For many limited English proficient individuals, their work on the front lines of the pandemic response leaves them more vulnerable and subject to greater risks of contracting COVID-19.\r\nThe Coronavirus Language Access Act would:\r\n Require federal agencies receiving COVID-19 funding to provide translated materials for COVID-19-related programs and opportunities within 7 business days after the English version is available.\r\n Require federal agencies receiving COVID-19 funding to provide oral language assistance services for COVID-19-related programs and opportunities.\r\n Require the head of every federal agency affected by the bill to submit a report about its compliance with the requirements of the bill to the relevant congressional Committees.\r\n Provide $200 million for coronavirus-related language access services  $150 million of which must be for state (including DC), Tribal, and territorial health departments and community-based organizations to support culturally appropriate coronavirus response programs.\r\n Require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to create a coronavirus informational hotline with trained interpreters that provides COVID-19 information to the public.\r\n Require CDC to provide translated materials relating to COVID-19 screening, testing, treatment, and educational information to state (including DC), Tribal, and territorial agencies.\r\n Provide $20 million to states for Area Agencies on Aging and $10 million to states for Statewide Independent Living Councils to support older LEP individuals and LEP individuals with disabilities, respectively, in accessing COVID-19 information through partnerships with community-based organizations.\r\nCoronavirus cases in the United States have topped five million infections, and the devastation caused by the pandemic has reached every corner of our country. We must do more so that all communities  regardless of English proficiency, age, or disability  have access to the federal government's coronavirus-related services and resources in culturally appropriate and understandable ways,Senator Hirono said.\r\nThe coronavirus pandemic has exposed and exacerbated many obstacles and disparities in our health care system, including language barriers,said Senator Baldwin.Our legislation will require the federal government to deploy culturally-appropriate coronavirus-related information and resources that are accessible for everyone, regardless of their primary language.\r\nThis bill makes vital COVID-19 information accessible to countless Americans who face obstacles of age, disability, or language fluency. It provides language assistance and translation services so that lifesaving facts are available to everyone. While physical distancing is essential, information distancing or isolation can be devastating,Senator Blumenthal said.\r\nFor too many Nevadans coronavirus-related resources like testing information, and basic updates about how to keep families safe aren't available in their native languages,said Senator Cortez Masto.I'm proud to cosponsor legislation that will require federal agencies to provide accessible, translated materials for millions of hardworking Americans with disabilities or limited English proficiency, many of whom are frontline workers. Every Nevadan should be able to easily access everything from coronavirus prevention tips to information about relief programs.\r\nEnsuring that individuals with disabilities and those with Limited English Proficiency have equal access to accurate, culturally appropriate, up-to-date and easily understandable information regarding federal programs, health information and services available to them is common sense, period. Amid a public health crisis like the coronavirus pandemic, when emergencies are more likely, we must uphold our commitment to civil rights by ensuring all communities have equal access to information to prevent further spread of the virus,said Senator Brown.\r\nWe cannot overcome this crisis until we can speak to all Americans. At the beginning of the pandemic, I launched a portal on my website with information and assistance in different languages so that all Nevadans can access the resources they need as we navigate COVID-19. But the federal government must work harder to communicate with the nearly 25 million Americans who have limited English proficiency,Senator Rosen said.This legislation will ensure that coronavirus-related information, services, and relief programs are clear and accessible to all. By ensuring that all Americans have access to these much-needed resources, we can help stop the spread of coronavirus in our communities and put workers and families on the road to recovery.\r\nWe've seen that the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the existing disparities in our public health system. Given that communities of color have been particularly hard-hit by this crisis, we need to make sure that language is no barrier to seeking and accessing care and resources related to COVID-19,said Senator Warner.\r\nWe cannot expect to end this pandemic if 25 million American s who are Limited English Proficient cannot meaningfully communicate with their health care provider or receive lifesaving public health information about COVID-19,said Juliet K. Choi, Executive Vice President at the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum. This badly-needed legislation would address language barriers and systemic inequities by ensuring federal agencies provide translation and interpretation services, as well as provide funding to state health departments and community based organizations. We especially applaud the leadership of Senators Hirono, Casey and Harris for championing this Coronavirus Language Access Act.\r\nUnidosUS is proud to support the Coronavirus Language Access Act and we thank Sens. Hirono, Casey, and Harris for their leadership in introducing this vital health equity legislation. The bill makes critical investments, including by targeting resources to trusted community-based organizations which sensitively and effectively provide services in their diverse communities. Language access is an issue that has long been a priority for UnidosUS and during a pandemic it is particularly important that the tens of millions of Americans who speak a language other than English have the information and resources they need to stay safe and healthy,saidEric Rodriguez, Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, UnidosUS.\r\nOlder adults who are immigrants have been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and the hardest to reach. This legislation takes important and practical steps to ensure that everyone in our communities has the vital information and resources we all need to protect ourselves and our families,saidKevin Prindiville, Executive Director of Justice in Aging.\r\nDREDF knows that LEP communities have faced many of the same communication and information barriers that have confronted Deaf, hard-of-hearing, blind and other persons with disabilities seeking COVID-19 testing and treatment. Every person in our country has been affected by this virus and we must give everyone the equal chance to understand how to avoid, fight, and recover physically and economically from it,said Silvia Yee, senior staff attorney at the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF).\r\nUse of our native languages in accessing health care and resources, especially during these times, is a step in uplifting and empowering Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities in Hawaii and across the country. Papa Ola Lokahi strongly supports the efforts of Senator Hirono and her colleagues Senators Casey & Harris in standing up for the rights of our Native peoples. E Ola Ka Olelo Hawaii!saidDr. Sheri-Ann Daniels, Executive Director of Papa Ola Lokahi.\r\n\"The Legal Clinic is tremendously grateful for the steadfast leadership and care that our Senator Hirono, the only immigrant in the Senate, has demonstrated in filing the Coronavirus Language Access Act. This bill would ensure that those with Limited English Proficiency, many of whom are kupuna (seniors), receive the critical public health information they need to protect themselves and their families from COVID-19. With the recent spike in cases in our state and the disproportionate impact the virus has had on Pacific Islanders, especially Micronesian communities, it is imperative that every effort is made to get translated materials into the hands of trusted community leaders for further distribution and that resources are allocated to culturally-appropriate health services. We strongly urge the Senate to pass this measure and protect all people, regardless of language ability, from the deadly threat of this virus,\"said Amy Agbayani and Liza Ryan Gill, Advocacy Committee of The Legal Clinic Hawaii.\r\nOne of the most powerful ways to understand the needs of our 70,000 Medicaid members is through their own language. Navigating the coronavirus means community health plans like AlohaCare having access to culturally appropriate coronavirus-related informational materials. We commend Senators Hirono, Casey, and Harris for introducing the Coronavirus Language Access Act to provide our members and the communities we serve with essential information, services, and relief programs to meet Hawaii's urgent needs during the COVID-19 pandemic,saidFrancoise Culley-Trotman, Interim Chief Executive Officer of AlohaCare.\r\nIt is critical for the federal government to ensure that LEP individuals have access to culturally appropriate coronavirus-related informational materials, including in written and verbal formats. For our island, Lanai, an island comprised of many immigrants, we are seeing first-hand how important use of culturally appropriate information material is to reaching various community members.All you have to do is look at the location of positive clusters  and you can clearly see there is a relationship between different cultures understanding of the virus.With this Act, we have an opportunity to address this issue and decrease exposure to the virus,saidDr. Diana M V Shaw, Executive Director of Lanai Community Health Center.\r\n\"Language accessibility is important to ensure that everyone can understand and take advantage of the programs that the federal government has made available to the public, particularly as COVID-19 cases continue to mount. Maui Economic Opportunity touches more than 58,000 lives through various programs for early education, youth services, underserved families, entrepreneurship and business development, the incarcerated, specialized transportation, senior groups, and so many others, and additional resources properly translated into multiple languages would help us more effectively serve those in the community who need the help,said Debbie Cabebe, Chief Executive Officer of Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.\r\nThe ongoing COVID-19 case surge in Hawaii underscores the critically urgent need for providing translated informational materials, language-specific hotlines, and other language access services to help curb the pandemic. Pacific Islanders have seen a dramatic rise in transmission rates in recent weeks. Over 10% of Hawaii's population is limited English proficient, with a large number of residents born outside of the U.S. Lack of reliable science-based information in their original language places their households, their neighborhoods, and the larger community at increased risk of COVID-19 transmission. As such, the Coronavirus Language Access Act is a life-affirming response to a life-threatening pandemic that has already hit underserved populations particularly hard in Hawaii and across the nation,saidHeather Lusk, Executive Director of Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center.\r\nIn addition to Senators Hirono, Casey, and Harris, the bill was also cosponsored by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.).\r\nThe Coronavirus Language Access Act is supported by more than 160 national and local organizations, including theAsian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum; Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC; UnidosUS; NAACP; National Immigration Law Center (NILC); Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF); Families USA; Justice in Aging National Association of State Long Term Care Ombudsman Programs; GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Tahirih Justice Center, AlohaCare, Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center, Hep Free Hawaii, Lanai Community Health Center, Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc., NH&PI Hawaii COVID19 3R Team, Papa Ola Lokahi, and The Legal Clinic Hawaii.Click hereto see the full list of supporting organizations.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/honolulu-star-advertiser-hawaii-health-department-has-new-contact-tracing-leader", "Honolulu Star Advertiser | Hawaii Health Department has new contact tracing leader", "2020-08-13", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hawaii's top health officials have turned their much maligned \"contact tracing \" program over to a new hire, following record numbers of COVID-19 cases and a call for the removal of the state's health director and epidemiologist.\n\nBy the end of the week, there should be more than 100 contact tracers spread across the state, including 18 \"contact tracer team leaders \" from the Hawaii National Guard and approximately 20 contact tracers hired through a University of Hawaii training program, Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser in an email Wednesday.\n\nMore than a week ago, Health officials said they already had 105 active contact tracers and possibly some other staff, along with Hawaii National Guard members, public health nurses, and volunteers.\n\nWhatever the exact numbers, the number of Hawaii's contact tracers appears to be well below the 420 to 564 Lt. Gov. Josh Green said Hawaii needs to be on par with national recommendations.\n\nOn Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard called for the removal of Health Director Bruce Anderson and state epidemiologist Sarah Park.\n\n\"This is gross negligence, \" Gabbard tweeted. \"Anderson & Park need to go.\"\n\nIn her email to the Star-Advertiser Wednesday, Okubo wrote, \"Bruce Anderson and Dr. Sarah Park have led the pandemic response efforts based on sound national guidance and have had to work within constraints. They have been able to navigate this pandemic and helped us achieve many positive milestones that many have forgotten.\n\n\"Hawaii is not the only state that is experiencing a disenchantment with their public health leaders. Across the country, at least 49 state and local public health leaders in 23 states have stepped down.\n\n\"We believe there is always room for improvement, and we will continue to refine and enhance our efforts in prevention, detection, containment and treatment.\"\n\nSeveral key state legislators on Wednesday expressed ongoing frustration with the Health Department's response to COVID-19, but declined to join Gabbard in calling for the removal of Anderson or Park.\n\nStill several legislators called for new leadership of the department's contact tracing program.\n\nOkubo said Dr. Emily Robinson was hired on July 16 to lead the Health Department's Disease Investigation Branch, including its contact tracing program.\n\nRobinson is now \"reorganizing and re-envisioning the efficiency, capacity, reach, and effectiveness of the branch that manages disease investigation and contact tracing, \" Okubo wrote.\n\nGabbard's call for the removal of Anderson and Park follows the departures of the heads of the state departments of Tax, Human Services and Labor and Industrial Relations just since July.\n\nThe pace of change in Gov. David Ige's Administration, including a new attorney general hired in January, has raised concern among some lawmakers.\n\n\"Normally, three or four directors leave for a variety of reasons over a four-year time period. But certainly not this volume in this short period of time, \" said Sen. Glenn Wakai (D, Pearl Harbor-Kalihi ), who chairs the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology. \"It's not normal. But we aren't in normal times.\"\n\nSenate President Ron Kouchi and House Speaker Scott Saiki on Wednesday were not willing to join Gabbard in calling for the ouster of Anderson or Park.\n\nBut they clearly have not been happy with the Health Department's unwillingness to accept offers from the University of Hawaii, private Hawaii universities, the Hawaii National Guard and Department of Defense to provide additional trained contact tracers, including some at no cost.\n\n\"I just hope the Health Department will be more open to accepting help, \" Saiki said.\n\nKouchi said, \"I've been clear since back in April. We needed to get additional contact tracers.\"\n\nInstead of more resignations or departures, several legislators said they would prefer to see the department's contact tracing operation ramped up and moved out of the cramped Department of Health offices across the street from the state Capitol and into the Hawai 'i Convention Center. The convention center most recently was used for last week's primary election--and previously to handle increased staffing to address unemployment claims--all while allowing for social distancing in the era of COVID-19.\n\nMembers of the special Senate committee on COVID-19 toured the Health Department's contact tracing operation on Friday and still have questions.\n\nState Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, (D, Kailua -Kaneohe ) was particularly struck by what he perceived as the Health Department's lack of urgency in responding to the pandemic. But he was still unwilling to call for dismissals.\n\n\"They still refuse to admit there's a problem, \" Keohokalole said. \"That's the biggest gripe I have with Bruce (Anderson ). They need help. But chopping off heads is not helping. It's creating more of a challenge.\"\n\nIn her email to the Star-Advertiser, Okubo wrote that Oahu now has \"76 individuals working on contact tracing and investigation. ... There are 15 additional contact tracing and case investigation staff who will be working this coming weekend on Oahu. This makes a total of 100 staff working on Oahu to investigate cases this week. Additional staff located on Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island investigate cases in those counties for a statewide total of more than 100 staff members focused on the investigation of cases with positive test results.\"\n\nThe new staff include 18 National Guard \"contact tracer team leaders \" who reported on Monday and another three who are expected by the end of the week, Okubo wrote.\n\nApproximately 20 contact tracers hired through a UH training program are also expected by the end of the week, with another 20 \"beginning the onboarding process next week, \" Okubo wrote.\n\nWithout providing specific numbers, Okubo wrote that \"volunteers are also assisting with contact tracing, data analysis, and other disease response activities via the Medical Reserve Corps, university internship programs, medical residency programs, nursing clinical rotations, and community volunteering partnerships. Additional space has been procured and equipped. Any overtime is being compensated. We continue our efforts to move assets, improve processes, and respond effectively to this extraordinary circumstance.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-hosts-facebook-live-virtual-town-hall-discuss-covid-19", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Hosts Facebook Live Virtual Town Hall to Discuss COVID-19 Pandemic, Testing, Tracing Needs", "2020-08-13", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DCTomorrow at 4:00 p.m. HST, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) will be hosting a Facebook Live virtual town hall event to update Hawaii residents about the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. She will also discuss her press conference, to be held tomorrow morning, on the failure of Governor Ige and the Hawaii Department of Health to deploy an effective contact tracing strategy.\n\nThis will be the twentieth coronavirus-related virtual town hall event that Rep. Gabbard has hosted since the first COVID-19 cases appeared in Hawaii.\n\nFacebook Live Town Hall | COVID-19 Update # 20\nFriday, August 14 at 4:00 p.m. Hawaii Time\n(a Facebook account is NOT required to watch the event)\n\nBackground:Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and her team have been working since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and public health crisis to bring more resources home to Hawaii, while also keeping Hawaii residents informed through a resource hub on her website, https://gabbard.house.gov/COVID-19.\n\nIn addition to outlining federal, state, and local COVID-19 resources, the website provides a synopsis of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's work to address COVID-19 and related issues including protecting and providing for Americans during this public health crisis, securing emergency assistance, highlighting her votes and statements regarding legislation and Congressional action, as well as demands for protective measures to prevent the spread of the virus.\n\n\nAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major in the Army Reserve. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard\n\nFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-leahy-colleagues-demand-white-house-sustain-full-funding-for-national-guard-covid-19-response", "Hirono, Leahy, Colleagues Demand White House Sustain Full Funding for National Guard COVID-19 Response", "2020-08-12", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "August 12, 2020\n\t\t\t Hirono, Leahy, Colleagues Demand White House Sustain Full Funding for National Guard COVID-19 Response \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) joined a letter led by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and signed by 32 of their colleagues calling for President Trump to restore full federal funding in states where the National Guard has been deployed to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.\r\nWithout explanation, last week President Trump slashed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursement for National Guard operations from full funding to 75 percent for all states except Texas and Florida. Later, on August 7, President Trump directed the federal government to cover all the costs for National Guard units in Arizona, California, and Connecticut through September 30. National Guard units have collaborated with state and local officials to assist with testing, food distribution, and other urgent community health needs. States and territories will now have to pay for National Guard operations up front before requesting a lower reimbursement rate. This shift in reimbursement rates forces states to pay more for emergency services at a time when they are facing significant budget shortfalls.\r\nIn Hawaii, the National Guard has increased the state's capacity to meet the public health emergency brought on by this pandemic. The National Guard has performed temperature checks and symptom screenings on thousands of airport passengers, assisted with various medical projects like transporting beds and masks, supported the Department of Health with swabbing tests on Oahu, Hawaii Island, and Maui, and helped with traffic and security during food drive and distribution efforts on Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island, among other missions.\r\nWe write to request you restore one hundred percent Federal cost share to all states and territories for use of the National Guard under Title 32 of U.S. Code for responding to coronavirus, which was terminated by your August 3 memorandum for all states and territories except Florida and Texas. The National Guard response has been critical within our states to supporting the health and well-being of millions of Americans,the Senators wrote.\r\nThe Senators continued,This new determination to reduce the cost share comes at the worst possible time, as positive cases continue to rise, and food security and other basic needs increase due to the ongoing economic impact of the pandemic. Further, by singling out Florida and Texas for a full cost share as other states face challenges of similar magnitude, the decision appears arbitrary and without justification.\r\nIn addition to Senators Hirono and Leahy, the letter was also signed by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.). Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Tom Carper (D-Del.).\r\nSenator Hirono has advocated for supporting the National Guard's unique role in responding to the pandemic. She cosponsored the National Guard COVID-19 Response Stability Act, which would extend the Title 32 authority so that all troops activated to respond to the pandemic would be paid entirely by the federal government until 30 days after the end of the public health emergency. She also has sent several letters urging President Trump to extend Title 32 authority so that the Hawaii National Guard may continue to help the state respond to the coronavirus pandemic, including an August 1letterfrom the Hawaii Congressional delegation.\r\nThe letter can be foundhereand below:\r\nDear Mr. President:\r\nWe write to request you restore one hundred percent Federal cost share to all states and territories for use of the National Guard under Title 32 of U.S. Code for responding to coronavirus, which was terminated by your August 3 memorandum for all states and territories except Florida and Texas. The National Guard response has been critical within our states to supporting the health and well-being of millions of Americans.\r\nCongress has demonstrated repeatedly that we understand 32 USC 502(f) to include the ability for the National Guard, under command of state and territory governors, to respond with Federal resources to disasters that endanger Americans. Most recently, the CARES Act included funding specifically for COVID-19 response for the Army and Air National Guards, as requested by the Department of Defense. You determined to use reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency at one hundred percent cost share, and the resulting mission has lessened the negative impacts for Americans.\r\nThis new determination to reduce the cost share comes at the worst possible time, as positive cases continue to rise, and food security and other basic needs increase due to the ongoing economic impact of the pandemic. Further, by singling out Florida and Texas for a full cost share as other states face challenges of similar magnitude, the decision appears arbitrary and without justification. Exacerbating the arbitrary and capricious decision, the White House on August 7 extended a short term restoration for some states to a one hundred percent cost share through September 30. This inequity among states is irrational.\r\nWe ask that you re-authorize one hundred percent cost share for all states and territories through at least December 31.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hirono-announces-15-million-in-grants-to-university-of-hawaii-to-expand-education-programs-focused-on-food-agriculture-and-natural-resources-for-native-hawaiian-students_", "Senator Hirono Announces $1.5 Million in Grants to University of Hawaii to Expand Education Programs Focused on Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources for Native Hawaiian Students", "2020-08-12", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "August 12, 2020\n\t\t\t Senator Hirono Announces $1.5 Million in Grants to University of Hawaii to Expand Education Programs Focused on Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources for Native Hawaiian Students   \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced that the University of Hawaii will receive $1.5 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to expand education programs focused on food, agriculture, and natural resources. This funding is part of a competitive grant program for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions to promote educational equity for underrepresented students, expand education programs, and provide job training in these fields.\r\nThe food insecurity too many families are facing during the coronavirus pandemic only further highlights the urgency of Hawaii's efforts to promote food and agriculture sustainability,Senator Hirono said.This grant funding will support the University of Hawaii's work to increase educational and job training opportunities for Native Hawaiian students in these critical fields. I will continue to advocate for robust funding to support Native Hawaiian-serving institutions as we continue our work to diversify our economy and increase our food security.\r\nMore information about the individual projects receiving grants is included below:\r\nHI!AG CONSORTIUM UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII: EXPANDING AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN FY2020 ($1,040,235):UH's Hi!ag program provides education and training resources for underrepresented individuals and businesses to break the negative cycle of resource and employment insecurity. Grant funding will support individuals and businesses by ensuring equitable access to UH, state, and federal agribusiness resources, while addressing issues related to food security, climate change, social equity, land preservation, and a diversified economy. Separately, it will also support activities to improve science-based education, increase rural economic viability and job opportunities, and build a larger and better prepared workforce to serve Hawaii's food, agriculture, and natural resource management industries.\r\nMAUKA TO MAKAI: FROM THE MOUNTAIN TO THE SEA ($489,234):Grant funding will support a research methods and communications course, and internships with local industry and nonprofit organizations, to prepare students for science-based careers, particularly in food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. Separately, it will also support a Ridge-to-Reef summer bridge program for high-school students that incorporates place-based learning through field work experiences. Finally, it will support data collection to inform future policies and engage stakeholders in ridge-to-reef management strategies.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/videos/view/senator-hirono-wants-you-to-share-your-usps-story", "Senator Hirono Wants You To Share Your USPS Story", "2020-08-12", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Hirono Wants You To Share Your USPS Story\n               \n              \n              Donald Trump and his newest cronie Postmaster General Louis DeJoy are deliberately delaying your mail to undermine your confidence in the USPS.\n.\nI want to hear your stories on how Donald Trump's latest attempt to destroy our democracy is affecting you. Let me know below.\nConnect with Senator Mazie Hirono Online:\nVisit Senator Mazie Hirono's WEBSITE: https://sen.gov/Z7ZK\nLike Senator Mazie Hirono on FACEBOOK: https://sen.gov/W7WW\nFollow Senator Mazie Hirono on TWITTER: https://sen.gov/X5X0\nFollow Senator Mazie Hirono on INSTAGRAM: https://sen.gov/Y1YZ", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/nearly-96-million-headed-to-kauai-maui-hawaii-island-to-acquire-new-buses-and-improve-infrastructure", "Nearly $9.6 Million Headed To Kauai, Maui, Hawaii Island To Acquire New Buses And Improve Infrastructure", "2020-08-12", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Nearly $9.6 Million Headed To Kauai, Maui, Hawaii Island To Acquire New Buses And Improve Infrastructure \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, August 12, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nHONOLULU  Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) announced that Hawaii will receive $9,596,669 in new federal funding to purchase new buses for Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii Island.\r\n\r\nOur communities depend on public transportation to get to work, buy groceries, and support local businesses, said Senator Schatz, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. This grant will help make transit services on the neighbor islands more accessible, reliable, and clean.\r\n\r\nThe federal funds will be used to replace seven 35-foot hybrid buses and to acquire three new 40-foot to 45-foot ADA-compliant buses. The grant will also cover the land acquisition for and construction of a baseyard in Kona as a hub for operations, maintenance, and storage.\r\n\r\nThe U.S. Department of Transportation's Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program, which awarded Hawaii this competitive grant, offers state and local governments funding to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-murkowski-lead-bipartisan-group-of-48-senators-in-calling-for-extension-of-census-deadlines-to-give-census-bureau-enough-time-for-full-and-accurate-count-amid-delays-due-to-pandemic", "Schatz, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan Group Of 48 Senators In Calling For Extension Of Census Deadlines To Give Census Bureau Enough Time For Full And Accurate Count Amid Delays Due To Pandemic", "2020-08-11", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz, Murkowski Lead Bipartisan Group Of 48 Senators In Calling For Extension Of Census Deadlines To Give Census Bureau Enough Time For Full And Accurate Count Amid Delays Due To Pandemic \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Senators Urge Extension Be Included In Upcoming COVID-19 Relief Package \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, August 11, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON  U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today led a group of 48 bipartisan senators in calling for the extension of the statutory deadlines for the delivery of apportionment data and redistricting files following the 2020 Census. The senators urged House and Senate leaders to include the extension in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package.\r\nExtending the deadlines for the delivery of these files in the next COVID-19 relief package will ensure that the Census Bureau has adequate time to complete a full, fair, and accurate 2020 Census. It will also ensure that both the Congress and the states receive accurate data for apportionment and redistricting, the senators wrote in their letter to House and Senate leaders.\r\nCiting a request first made by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham to extend the deadlines for apportionment to April 30 and redistricting to July 31, the senators underscored the need to give the Census Bureau adequate time to collect and report an accurate count following delays due to the coronavirus pandemic.\r\nIn addition to Senators Schatz and Murkowski, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Angus King (I-Maine), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).\r\nThe full text of the letter can be found below and is available here.\r\n\r\nDear Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader McCarthy:\r\nAs you work on the next legislative package to address the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we strongly urge you to extend the statutory deadlines for the delivery of apportionment data and redistricting files following the 2020 Census.\r\nOn April 13, 2020, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they would be adjusting 2020 Census operations. At the same time, they had requested that the Congress extend the statutory deadlines for apportionment counts to be delivered to the President by April 30, 2021, and redistricting data to be delivered to the states no later than July 31, 2021. This would have given the Census Bureau adequate time to compile the data sets in light of the delayed enumeration window. However, the administration has reversed course and shortened the enumeration period from October 31 to September 30, 2020, citing these statutory constraints.\r\nCareer Census Bureau staff have indicated that they cannot meet the existing statutory deadlines. In May 2020, the census official leading field operations, Tim Olson, stated, We have passed the point where we could even meet the current legislative requirement of December 31. We can't do that anymore. And in July, the associate director of the census, Albert Fontenot, said, We are past the window of being able to get those counts by year's end.\r\nExtending the deadlines for the delivery of these files in the next COVID-19 relief package will ensure that the Census Bureau has adequate time to complete a full, fair, and accurate 2020 Census. It will also ensure that both the Congress and the states receive accurate data for apportionment and redistricting. We thank you for your consideration of our request.\r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=359", "Case Comments on Selection of Senator Kamala Harris as Vice President Joe Biden\u2019s Choice to be His Running Mate", "2020-08-11", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=29", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) - Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) commented as follows on former Vice President Joe Biden\u2019s selection today of United States Senator Kamala Harris as his Vice-Presidential running mate in November\u2019s general election:\n\n\u201cVice President Biden made a very difficult choice from among an incredibly talented pool of candidates, and he chose very well.\n\n\u201cI believe any candidate for Vice President must meet three critical criteria.\n\n\u201cFirst, the candidate must have the knowledge, experience, temperament, commitment to our Constitution and laws and other qualities necessary to serve as our country\u2019s Vice President. Second, the candidate must be a full partner to the President, devoted to assisting him or her in the critical responsibilities of governing our country and leading our world in a critical time. Third, in the worst-case scenario, the candidate must be able to assume the responsibilities of President at a moment\u2019s notice.\n\n\u201cSenator Harris fully meets all of these criteria, and I fully support Vice President Biden\u2019s choice.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:24:54Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/honolulu-civil-beat-tulsi-gabbard-calls-ige-fire-top-health-officials-gross", "Honolulu Civil Beat | Tulsi Gabbard Calls On Ige To Fire Top Health Officials For Gross Negligence", "2020-08-11", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard renewed her attacks on Hawaii Gov. David Ige and two of his top health officials Tuesday as the Aloha State struggles with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that so far has claimed 34 lives on the islands.\n\nHawaii has seen a sharp increase in coronavirus cases in recent weeks, and currently boasts the highest infection and virus reproduction rates in the country.\n\nYet, the state's response, which is led by Health Department Director Bruce Anderson and State Epidemiologist Sarah Park, has been underwhelming, Gabbard and others believe, especially when it comes to mobilizing contact tracers who can help find and contain the virus.\n\nGabbard took to Twitter to voice her frustrations Tuesday, citing a Honolulu Star-Advertiser article reporting that the state was slow to hire new contact tracers even though many of them are ready to go.\n\nShe blamed Ige directly and said it's time to get rid of Anderson and Park.\n\nThis is your responsibility, Gabbard told Ige. Your Health Director is keeping hundreds of trained contact tracers on the bench' because he doesn't think they're needed. Meanwhile we have the highest infection rate in the nation. This is gross negligence. Anderson & Park need to go.\n\nIn a statement to Civil Beat, Ige said the Department of Health has played a critically important role in the state's response to the pandemic, and that it comprises just one part of a team made up of federal, state and local officials.\n\nThe recent rapid surge in cases in Hawaii requires that we continue to improve and expand our response, in addition to reinstituting restrictions on social gatherings, Ige said. I am in ongoing discussions with DOH leadership on ways to improve our testing and contact tracing systems and capacity. And we are confident that plans and resources are being put in place to meet the needs of our community.\n\nHis statement did not address Gabbard's calls for Anderson and Park to be removed.\n\nThis isn't the congresswoman's first call out of Ige or his health department during the pandemic.\n\nIn April, she told Ige in no uncertain terms to fire Anderson and Park or resign himself so that he could let Lt. Gov. Josh Green, an emergency room physician, take charge.\n\nAnd just last week, her office issued a press release in which Gabbard directly criticized the state's refusal to hire more contact tracers, saying that Hawaii needs to put hundreds of more people out into the field to even have a chance of reducing the spread.\n\nCongress has provided funding for contact tracing, and the Department of Health has over 400 trained contract tracers while only employing around 100 of them, Gabbard said. There is no excuse not to actively employ all available, trained contact tracers, along with additional personnel from the Hawaii National Guard, to rapidly trace, investigate, and contain every single positive COVID case.\n\nShe cited a tool from George Washington University that estimated that Hawaii would need 564 contact tracers if it plans to reopen safely while mitigating any future waves of infection. Gabbard said the state, with about 100 contact racers on the ground, was only about one-fifth of the way there.\n\nEvery hour, every day we delay puts more people in our community at risk, she said.\n\nOther high profile politicians have taken the state to task too.\n\nGreen himself has said last week that it's time for new leadership at the Department of Health, specifically singling out Park for her handling of the outbreak.\n\nHonolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has also expressed frustration over the state's slow response to the virus and apprehension to accept help. In May, he even held a press conference to urge the state to conduct more testing and hire more contact tracers, but said at the time he was getting push back from officials in the health department.\n\nMore recently, he has complained publicly that his office has trouble getting good information about tracing from the health department even though he meets with the governor frequently and asks about it.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/honolulu-star-advertiser-us-rep-tulsi-gabbard-says-state-health-department-leaders", "Honolulu Star Advertiser | U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard says state health department leaders need to go", "2020-08-11", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard today posted a second twitter message calling for a change in leadership at the Hawaii state Department of Health, which has recently come under fire for its contact tracing capacity.\n\nGabbard's tweet to Gov. David Ige said DOH director Bruce Anderson and State Epidemiologist Sarah Park need to go.\n\nThis is your responsibility. Your Health Director is keeping hundreds of trained contact tracers on the bench' because he doesn't think they're needed. Meanwhile, we have the highest infection rate in the nation. This is gross negligence, Gabbard said in her tweet.\n\nGabbard's latest tweet is similar to an April 8 tweet, where she said. It's time for @LtGovJoshGreen to take charge of Hawaii's coronavirus crisis. I'm calling on everyone in Hawaii to join me in demanding the resignation of Dept of Health leaders Bruce Anderson & Sarah Park who're putting the lives of ourselves & our loved ones in grave danger by failing to take necessary actions to protect us from coronavirus. Latest example is their continued refusal to carry out most basic & effective policies to prevent spread of coronavirus: contact tracing, testing & isolation of those who've been in contact with the disease.\n\nGabbard's latest call for action follows a grievance filed by the Hawaii Government Employees Association that alleged there were only 15 epidemiological specialists on Oahu and three on the neighbor islands to perform contact tracing for thousands of potential COVID-19 cases.\n\nThe grievance, which was emailed to state Department of Heath director Bruce Anderson on Friday, was filed on behalf of employees who are performing or have performed COVID-19 contact tracing, field swabbing and outreach response duties.\n\nThe state DOH told the Star-Advertiser Monday that it was not available for immediate comment. It still hasn't responded to today's follow-up request for comment.\n\nThe union alleges that far fewer employees are working in contract tracing than DOH has publicly indicated and that they are overworked. According to HGEA's grievance, epidemiological specialists have been working daily overtime, including weekends and holidays. The union said some employees were mandated to work six-days a week and were required to answer and respond to phone calls during non-work hours and participate in last-minute meetings about newly assigned cases.\n\nHGEA's allegations are in direct contrast to comments made by Anderson during an Aug. 3 media briefing and by State Epidemiologist Sarah Park during an Aug. 6 hearing of the Senate Special Committee on COVID-19. Both said the state has about 105 active contract tracers that could be increased as needed.\n\nAnderson said DOH can tap other staff members, public health nurses and Hawaii National Guard members. He added that the state has a bench of about 450 tracers that had been trained at the University of Hawaii. But as of last week, only about 20 contact tracers had been hired from this partnership, which was funded with $2.5 million in CARES Act money.\n\nThe grievance continues an ongoing debate in Hawaii on whether the state has enough contact tracers  the people hired to locate everyone who comes in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19.\n\nHawaii Lt. Gov. Josh Green said today that Hawaii needs at least 400 to 500 contact tracers to handle the current increase in cases.\n\nRecommendations vary, but George Washington University proposes a staffing ratio of at least 40 contact tracers per 100,000 population, which in Hawaii is about 564 . The National Association of County and City Health Officials says there should be 30 tracers per 100,000 population  about 420 tracers in Hawaii.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/kitv-4-abc-congressional-member-demands-removal-state-health-department-leadership", "KITV 4 ABC | Congressional member demands removal of state health department leadership", "2020-08-11", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also looking into what kind of federal oversight and accountability can be created to manage use of federal CARES Act money. \n\nHONOLULU - A Congressional member is calling for heads to roll at the state health department. The flap is over the lack of contact tracers. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI 2nd District) wants Governor David Ige to remove Department of Health (DOH) director Dr. Bruce Anderson and chief epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park from their posts.\n\nThis, after news broke late last week that the health department does not have as many contact tracers as it's indicated. The state Senate COVID-19 committee made a surprise inspection and says it found just a handful of people working in a disorganized space. Committee chair Senator Donovan Dela Cruz says on Monday, the health department promised to \"stand up\" 100 more contact tracers. But Gabbard says she's angry it hasn't happened sooner. \"The word shocking doesn't even begin to describe how appalling it is to see that, as our state has the highest rate of COVID infections in the country, we don't have an effective contract tracing team or strategy in place,\" she tells me.\n\nLieutenant Governor Josh Greens confirms there are whistle blowers making accusations there are less than two dozen contact tracers working in disorganized conditions.  \n\tDirector Bruce Anderson says there's more than 100 of them on the job. Gabbard reacts, \"We have a handful of people working really hard to do an impossible task. Their caseload is so heavy they cannot reach out to individuals within 24 hours to make sure contact tracing is even effective. Over and over we've heard from the Department of Health, 'Don't worry, we have enough contact tracers. We're good to go.' Now they've been exposed.\"\n\nState Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole (D-24 Kane'ohe, MCBH, Kailua, He'eia, 'Ahuimanu) last week was part of the Senate COVID-19 committee that made a surprise inspection at the health department's contact tracing division. \"We went through the Department of Health building and it became evident they needed help. The fact that the Department of Health is using donated space in a credit union conference room downtown is indicative of the fact that they need help and urgency,\" says Keohokalole, who admits he's frustrated with how the DOH has managed the pandemic. \"It's time for the department, administration, and Governor to recognize and admit this is a crisis.\"\n\nNow, one of Hawaii's Congressional members is asking how Hawaii is using the $50 million in federal CARES Act funding that it got to beef up its contact tracing. \"The Department of Health has tens of millions of dollars for this purpose. They've talked and warned us since early in the pandemic about the need to be prepared for a second wave of the virus. And yet we don't have contact tracers, we don't seem to have a plan, and where is the federal money going?\" Gabbard says.\n\n\"Will you be calling for a federal investigation or anything like that?\" I ask.\n\nShe responds with, \"Oversight and accountabilty is absolutely necessary. We are exploring different options to bring about that oversight and accountabilty.\" Gabbard says she hopes to release more information about her calls for federal action later this week.\n\nKeohokalole says he's not interested in a federal inquiry. \"I don't think we have time for that. We're in the middle of a crisis. We need action,\" he says. \"I'm less concerned about that. I want the problem solved.\"\n\nNeither does he want the other drastic action Gabbard is insisting on: \"Dr. Sarah Park and Dr. Bruce Anderson should no longer be leading our Department of Health. I hold Gov. Ige responsible to make this decision,\" she states. This is not her first time during this pandemic to demand this change.\n\nKITV4 asked Governor and the Department of Health for an update on hiring contact tracers and a response to Gabbard's criticism. Governor Ige was not able to interview with me on Tuesday, but instead released a statement:\n\n\"The Department of Health has played a critically important role in this unprecedented battle against a global pandemic that has challenged public health officials, policy makers and members of the public from its very onset. The department has been part of a leadership team comprised of federal, state and local leaders, and Hawai'i continues to use public health guidance to make key decisions about what to do next.\n\n\"The recent rapid surge in cases in Hawai'i requires that we continue to improve and expand our response, in addition to reinstituting restrictions on social gatherings. I am in ongoing discussions with DOH leadership on ways to improve our testing and contact tracing systems and capacity. And we are confident that plans and resources are being put in place to meet the needs of our community.\"\n\nGabbard's not buying it. \"All the excuses given so far, Diane, whether lack of space, funding, support, it's all shibai.\" [Japanese word used colloquially in Pidgin English to mean \"lies.\"]", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-hawaii-set-to-receive-more-than-3-million-in-federal-funding-to-help-low-income-families-elderly-disabled-make-rent-during-covid-19-pandemic", "Schatz: Hawaii Set To Receive More Than $3 Million In Federal Funding To Help Low Income Families, Elderly, Disabled Make Rent During Covid-19 Pandemic", "2020-08-10", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz: Hawaii Set To Receive More Than $3 Million In Federal Funding To Help Low Income Families, Elderly, Disabled Make Rent During Covid-19 Pandemic \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t New Funding Will Help Cover Rent For Existing HCV Recipients Who Have Lost Their Job \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tMonday, August 10, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nHONOLULU  Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) announced that Hawaii will receive $3,004,369 in new federal funding to cover the increased costs associated with the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This grant will allow counties to increase the rent subsidies to low income, elderly, and disabled residents currently receiving HCV assistance who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic.\r\nFamilies should not have to worry about being evicted in the midst of a public health emergency, said Senator Schatz, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. This grant will help some of our most vulnerable residents make rent and stay in their homes while we ride out this pandemic.\r\nThe HCV program provides federal dollars to help subsidize rent payments for about 16,500 low income, elderly, and disabled voucher holders in Hawaii. These subsidies cover up to 70 percent of a recipient's rent.However, some beneficiaries of the program have recently lost their job because of the pandemic and can no longer afford to pay their share of rent after the subsidy. This surge in unemployment has resulted in rising rental costs for public housing authorities  and this grant will cover the increase in subsidies as well as cover increased administrative costs.\r\n\r\nThis funding comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and was authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.\r\n\r\nThe total allocated to each public housing authority is below:\r\n \r\nHawaii Public Housing Authority: $707,968\r\nCounty of Hawaii: $538,316\r\nCity and County of Honolulu: $1,126,482\r\nCounty of Maui: $423,813\r\nKauai County Housing Agency: $207,790\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/videos/view/senator-hirono-speaks-on-the-senate-floor-on-essential-workers", "Senator Hirono Speaks on the Senate Floor on Essential Workers", "2020-08-07", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Hirono Speaks on the Senate Floor on Essential Workers\n               \n              \n              The people doing the essential work aren't the Fortune 500 CEO or investment banker.\nIt's the custodian, child care worker, or bus driver who have ALWAYS been essential - it isn't enough to simply tell them thank you and call them heroes.\nActions speak louder than words.\nConnect with Senator Mazie Hirono Online:\nVisit Senator Mazie Hirono's WEBSITE: https://sen.gov/Z7ZK\nLike Senator Mazie Hirono on FACEBOOK: https://sen.gov/W7WW\nFollow Senator Mazie Hirono on TWITTER: https://sen.gov/X5X0\nFollow Senator Mazie Hirono on INSTAGRAM: https://sen.gov/Y1YZ", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/in-the-news/hawaii-news-now-congresswoman-gabbard-calls-contact-tracing-doh-half-hearted", "Hawaii News Now | Congresswoman Gabbard calls contact tracing from DOH \"half-hearted\"", "2020-08-06", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hawaii District Office \n  300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm. 5-104\n\nHonolulu, HI 96850\n\n  Phone: (808) 541-1986  \n\tFax: (808) 538-0233  \n\tEmail: TulsiOffice@mail.house.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-gillibrand-smith-and-colleagues-introduce-impact-aid-infrastructure-act-to-boost-school-infrastructure-projects", "Hirono, Gillibrand, Smith, and Colleagues Introduce Impact Aid Infrastructure Act to Boost School Infrastructure Projects", "2020-08-05", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Mazie Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "August 05, 2020\n\t\t\t Hirono, Gillibrand, Smith, and Colleagues Introduce Impact Aid Infrastructure Act to Boost School Infrastructure Projects \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), along with her colleagues Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) introduced the Impact Aid Infrastructure Act (IAIA), which provides $1 billion in supplemental funding for school infrastructure construction grants through the Impact Aid program. Similar legislation was introduced in the House last year.\r\nIAIA provides competitive and formula grants for school infrastructure projects, including school construction and facilities upgrades, in school districts with high percentages of children with military parents or children living on Indian lands. With these grants, school districts would have the flexibility to focus on their specific renovation and repair needs, which could include changes to help protect the health, safety, and well-being of students, teachers, school leaders, and school personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Association of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS) estimates that Hawaii would receive at least $17.8 million through the bill.\r\nAs schools in Hawaii prepare to open in the coming weeks following coronavirus-related delays, it is essential they have the expanded tools to protect students, their families, and staff. This bill would increase critical funding to help school districts across the country meet their specific infrastructure needs, so that every child, regardless of where they live, receives a quality education in a healthy and safe learning environment,Senator Hirono said.I will continue to advocate for federal resources to support our nation's schools, including through long-term investments in school infrastructure that keep students safe.\"\r\nEven before the pandemic, many federally impacted school districts were in need of significant repair and renovation to provide a safe learning environment -- now, they must be able to accommodate remote learning and public health guidelines to protect the health of students, teachers, and staff,said Senator Gillibrand. The Impact Aid Infrastructure Act is critical legislation to ensure these school districts can address the unique needs presented by this crisis and make the necessary repairs and renovations to ensure students, teachers, and staff have safe learning and working environments. I'm proud to lead this legislation with Senator Hirono and I will continue working to include this desperately needed funding in the next relief package so that schools on or near military communities, Federal or Tribal Lands in New York and across the country have the resources needed to provide every student with a quality education.\r\nAs schools in Minnesota and across the country prepare for a new school year, they are facing unprecedented challenges in preparing a safe school environment for students, teachers and support staff,said Senator Smith.Even prior to the pandemic, many Impact Aid schools already had significant infrastructure needs. These grants would allow them to address infrastructure needs that are critically important to helping students learn and helping teachers teach.\r\nAs the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect communities in California and across the nation, school districts need our support. We must ensure all schools have the resources they need to provide safe and healthy learning environments for their students. I'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Impact Aid Infrastructure Act to give federally impacted school districts the assistance they need to continue to serve our communities during this public health emergency and beyond,Senator Harris said.\r\nAs we continue to confront this pandemic, it's important to ensure that school districts can provide a quality education to their students - even those schools without the ability to fund their operations through property taxes,\"Senator Klobuchar said.This legislation will help ensure that even during these challenging times, local school districts in Minnesota on federal land can retain the teachers, technology, and transportation they need to help students succeed.\"\r\nBy addressing the backlog of Impact Aid projects, we can help federally impacted school districts in New Mexico repair or rebuild decades-old infrastructures,said Senator Heinrich.That is why I am proud to help introduce legislation that ensures these school districts have access to critical infrastructure funding so that we can improve the quality of education for all of our students.\r\nThe infrastructure and facilities needs in federally impacted school districts, which educate some of our nation's most vulnerable children, are well documented  as is their disadvantage in raising funds for capital projects due to the presence of federal property,said NAFIS Executive Director Hilary Goldmann.The Impact Aid Construction program has been underfunded for years. Particularly as these districts reopen school buildings in the context of COVID-19, they need additional resources to ensure school facilities are safe for students and staff to learn and work. NAFIS strongly supports this legislation, which will help them do so.\r\nThe Impact Aid program recognizes the kuleana (responsibility) created by the significant federal presence in our islands and the associated impacts on both our island's tax base and demand for services, including educational services. For decades this program has played a critical role in supporting a quality educational experience for all public school students,said Brian Hallett, Assistant Superintendent and CFO of the Hawaii State Department of Education's Office of Fiscal Services.\r\nAs the Senate Impact Aid Coalition co-chair, Senator Hirono has strongly and consistently supported Impact Aid. Earlier this year, in March, she signed a letter requesting strong and continued funding for the program in Fiscal Year 2021. More recently, in May, the Senatorsigneda letter requesting robust funding for the program in the next coronavirus emergency stimulus package. Last year, Impact Aid received around $1.5 billion for Fiscal Year 2020. Hawaii received $47.8 million through the program.\r\nSenator Hirono has continued to advocate federal funding for school infrastructure projects. Last year, in January, she cosponsored S. 266, the Rebuild America's Schools Act (RASA), which provides $100 billion for school infrastructure. In April, the Senatorsigneda letter requesting the same amount for school infrastructure in the stimulus package.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/view/protect-our-oceans-act-on-climate_sen-brian-schatz", "Protect Our Oceans. Act On Climate. | Sen. Brian Schatz", "2020-08-05", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Our oceans sustain communities, regulate weather patterns, and provide a home to marine life. But right now, they're under siege by the climate crisis.\nToday, on World Oceans Day, hear from professional surfers working with the Surfrider Foundation about why it's so important to protect oceans.\nTo hear more about what we're up to, connect with us on:\nTwitter ? @SenBrianSchatz\nInstagram ? @SenBrianSchatz\nFacebook ? @SenBrianSchatz\nOnline ? www.schatz.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/view/we-need-to-demilitarize-the-police_sen-brian-schatz", "We Need to Demilitarize the Police | Sen. Brian Schatz", "2020-08-05", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "American communities are not battlefields. The American people are not enemy combatants. And groups on the left and right agree: it's time to start to demilitarize the police.\nSenator Schatz introduced an amendment that would limit the transfer of tear gas and other weapons of war to police, as well as ban police from using military equipment from the 1033 program against peaceful demonstrators.\nTo hear more about what we're up to, connect with us on:\nTwitter ? @SenBrianSchatz\nInstagram ? @SenBrianSchatz\nFacebook ? @SenBrianSchatz\nOnline ? www.schatz.senate.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/view/wear-a-mask_sen-brian-schatz", "Wear a Mask | Sen. Brian Schatz", "2020-08-05", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Honolulu \n\t                        300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm 7-212   \n\t                        Honolulu, HI, 96850  \n\t                        PHONE: (808) 523-2061   \n\t                        FAX: (808) 523-2065\n\t                    \n\t                \n\t                    \n\t                    \n\t                         Washington \n\t                        722 Hart Senate Building   \n\t                        Washington, DC 20510  \n\t                        PHONE: (202) 224-3934   \n\t                        FAX: (202) 228-1153", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-calls-hawai-i-department-health-fully-mobilize-covid-19", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Calls For Hawaii Department of Health To Fully Mobilize COVID-19 Contact Tracing Force", "2020-08-05", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Honolulu, HIFrustrated by the Hawaii Department of Health's half-hearted deployment of too few trained contact tracers, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) is calling for answers and for the department to fully mobilize its contact tracing force.\n\nThe sheer number of COVID-19 infections that we are continuing to see blow through the roof require extensive testing and contact tracing. Congress has provided funding for contact tracing, and the Department of Health has over 400 trained contract tracers while only employing around 100 of them. There is no excuse not to actively employ all available, trained contact tracers, along with additional personnel from the Hawaii National Guard, to rapidly trace, investigate, and contain every single positive COVID case,said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Given the rate of infections we are seeing in Hawaii, George Washington University recommends a staffing ratio of at least 40 contact tracers per 100,000 population. If the problem gets worse in Hawaii, that ratio will increase. Currently the Hawaii Department of Health has deployed less than 19% of that amount. The people of Hawaii need a minimum of 564 contact tracers activated and employed immediately. Every hour, every day we delay puts more people in our community at risk.\n\nContact tracers are trained to communicate with people who have tested positive for COVID-19, determine who they may have been in contact with, and contact those individuals to quickly implement protective and isolating measures to contain the virus. Department of Health Director Bruce Anderson said recently that slightly over 100 Department staff are actively engaged in contact tracing today, while hundreds more are trained but not being utilized.\n\nRep. Tulsi Gabbard's call comes as Hawaii's daily COVID-19 case count continues to reach new records  including a new high of 173 infections today. Medical professionals, county officials, and both the Governor and Lieutenant Governor have all highlighted the need for increased contact tracing capacity and speed in order to help put a stop to the continuing high number of new COVID-19 infections.\n\n\n\tBackground:Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and her team have been working since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis to bring more resources home to Hawaii, while also keeping Hawaii residents informed through a resource hub on her website, regular e-newsletter updates, and virtual town hall events including public officials and community leaders to provide updates and directly answer constituent questions.\n\t\n\tProtecting and Providing for Americans During the Crisis\n\t\n\tIn early March, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard introduced H.Res.897, a resolution that would provide an emergency non-taxable Universal Basic Payment to all adult Americans until COVID-19 no longer presents a public health emergency. She was the earliest Member of Congress to introduce legislation for a Universal Basic Income-like payment as a temporary economic stimulus package to directly and immediately help Americans as they weather this crisis.\n\t\n\tIn March, working with Hawaii's Congressional Delegation, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sent two letters calling on President Trump to support Hawaii's request for medical equipment, supplies and resources for the state.\n\t\n\tIn April, she introduced H.R.6609 with Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) which directs the President to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to acquire and manufacture necessary components, materials, and supplies to conduct molecular and serological COVID-19 medical testing nationwide.\n\t\n\tIn May, she introduced H.R.6809, the Nurse Workforce Protection Act, with Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13). The bipartisan bill would prevent a healthcare provider receiving COVID-19 federal assistance from furloughing, reducing the salary, or reducing the hours of its nurses more than 25% as well as prevent them from forcing them to use paid vacation days.\n\t\n\tShe has fought to make sure that Economic Stimulus Payments get to individuals quickly. She called for a rule change to enable recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and non-taxable VA benefits (VA Disability Compensation and Veterans Pension) to more easily obtain their recovery rebates. She also called upon the Department of the Treasury to to prohibit financial institutions from garnishing the economic impact payments to pay debts owed, ensuring that taxpayers receive their direct cash payments as Congress intended. She continues to advocate for a monthly direct basic payment to continue for as long as this healthcare crisis continues.\n\t\n\tRep. Tulsi Gabbard has continued to work to make sure that much-needed medical supplies, testing, and personal protective equipment (PPE) are readily available and sent a letter requesting that the Trump Administration prioritize working with our trading partners to ensure medical providers can obtain needed equipment quickly. She also sent a letter to the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services calling for the Departments to ensure access to PPE for essential childcare providers.\n\t\n\tAfter slamming the Administration for their now-rescinded decision to implement a hard stop at 89 days of duty in late May, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sent a letter to the President, Secretary of Defense, and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator demanding that the National Guard personnel  who have been critical in the fight against COVID-19 nationwide  receive the benefits to which they are entitled.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\tNoting the unique vulnerability of nursing home residents during this public health emergency, on June 5, Rep. Gabbard called upon Heath and Human Services Secretary Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Verma to address the needs of nursing homes for testing kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), and sufficient staff to respond to the pandemic.\n\t\n\tIn March and early April, she cosponsored H.Res.908, a resolution which draws attention to the increased anti-Asian bigotry being witnessed during the coronavirus crisis and calls on the Federal government to work with state and local law enforcement to confront and prosecute hate crimes related to this. She recently joined her colleagues in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) to urge the Administration to make translated materials available on all official federal websites that have information related to COVID-19 and any of the benefits programs created to address this pandemic to ensure that everyone has access to these resources.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\tSecuring Emergency Funding\n\t\n\tOn May 15, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted to pass H.R.6800, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. Though she expressed grave concerns with the massive bill and how it was put together, she supported the legislation because it would provide urgently needed aid to state and local governments to improve testing and tracing efforts as well as another direct stimulus payment to Americans. In particular, the bill provides support to Counties in Hawaii that had not received direct assistance in past emergency legislation. It also closed loopholes and clarified discrepancies in previous emergency funding bills.\n\t\n\tThe HEROES Act would also fund personal protective equipment (PPE) purchases for frontline workers as well as hazard pay to essential and frontline workers. The bill would ensure smaller businesses get relief resources, extends the $600/week Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation as well as the Pandemic Extended Unemployment Compensation for gig economy employees. Finally, it included Native Hawaiians in funding provisions for education, employment as contact tracers, mortgage payment assistance, and housing block grants.\n\t\n\tTo date, Congress has passed 5 emergency funding bills that have been signed into law:\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\tS.4116, a bill that would extend the Paycheck Protection Program lending deadline from June 30 to August 8 (on July 1)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tH.R.6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (on March 4)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tH.R.6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (on March 14)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tH.R.748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (on March 27)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tH.R.266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (on April 23)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tH.R.7010, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (May 28)\n\t\t\n\t \n\tThe Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act provided urgently needed, immediate funds to help with the initial impact of the virus on America. Rep. Gabbard voted to pass this bill which included funds for 14 community health centers in Hawaii which received more than $750,000 combined in support.\n\t\n\tNext, she voted to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to provide free testing for COVID-19, two weeks of paid sick leave, up to three months paid family and medical leave, unemployment insurance for furloughed workers, food security for those who rely on food stamps, student meals, senior nutrition plans, and food banks, and increase federal Medicaid funds for local, state, tribal and territorial governments and health systems.\n\t\n\tThe CARES Act included direct cash payments to Americans, assistance for those who are out of work due to the outbreak, funding for small businesses, hospitals, and health care workers, and state and local governments. The bill's funding for state and local governments included at least $1.2 billion for Hawaii. Though the bill included Rep. Gabbard's idea for a direct benefit payment to support Americans reeling from the pandemic's impact, it fell short of the full scope suggested in her legislation, H.Res.897, and she urged Congress to do more.\n\t\n\tIn late April, Rep. Gabbard traveled to Washington, D.C. in the middle of the pandemic to vote on the fourth COVID-19 emergency funding bill. While carefully adhering to physical distancing rules and additional health precautions taken by House leadership, she voted to pass the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. The bill provided $310 billion to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program  including $30 billion set aside for community-based lenders, small banks and credit unions and $30 billion for medium-sized banks and credit unions. The bill also included $50 billion for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, and clarifies that small farms are eligible for this funding. Finally, the bill also addressed the continuing public health crisis by providing $75 billion in funding to support hospitals and frontline healthcare workers, including funding for PPE, as well as $25 billion for COVID-19 testing.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\tAt the beginning of July, the House passed S.4116, a bill that extended the Paycheck Protection Program lending deadline from June 30 to August 8. The bill was signed into law by the President in the following days.\n\t\n\tIn the weeks following the passage of the CARES Act, Hawaii received over $142 million in emergency funds to help support healthcare providers. This included more than $10 million in additional funds to the 14 community health centers which received funds after the first emergency bill as well as $132 million to other healthcare providers across the State to help cover the costs they are incurring due to the crisis. However, this $132 million came with the stipulation that these healthcare providers may not engage in surprise billing of patients they have treated for COVID-19.\n\t\n\tAlso, Hawaii received over $107 million in funds through the CARES Act to support public transportation systems, community public health infrastructure, and housing for vulnerable communities by way of Federal Transit Authority grants, Community Block Development Grants (CDBGs), and the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS program.\n\t\n\tBy mid-April, the CARES Act continued to yield funds for Hawaii, including an estimated $88 million for educational purposes and over $133 million for its airports. The educational funds will help support K-12 schools as well as colleges and universities. This includes a separate fund of $154 million for the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Also in April, FEMA announced another round of disaster relief funds, $100 million available to all 50 States and U.S. Territories.\n\t\n\tCalls for Preventative Measures\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\tIn early April, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard called for the resignation of Hawaii Department of Health officials Bruce Anderson and Dr. Sarah Park because of their repeated failures that put the health, lives and well-being of the people of Hawaii at risk. She added that should they refuse to step down, Governor Ige should fire them.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\tIn July, with COVID-19 cases once again on the rise and reaching record numbers in several states, including Hawaii, she called on Governor Ige to continue the 14-day quarantine in effect for trans-Pacific travelers. The surge of COVID-19 infections saw a return to hospitals strained to the brink to treat new cases as well as a shortage in testing reagents, personal protective equipment, and medical supplies. The quarantine measure was set to be eased on August 1, but in the days following Rep. Gabbard's statement and concerns raised by Hawaii's Mayors, the Governor decided to keep the protective measures in place through the end of August.\n\t\n\tAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard...\n\t\n\tFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-tulsi-gabbard-cosponsors-bill-help-independent-restaurants-devastated", "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Cosponsors Bill to Help Independent Restaurants Devastated by Coronavirus Crisis", "2020-08-05", "2020", "2020-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Tulsi Gabbard", "G000571", "gabbard.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DCYesterday, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) cosponsored H.R.7197, the Real Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistance Needed To Survive (RESTAURANTS) Act. This bipartisan bill would help independent restaurants through the end of 2020 as they continue to be impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nNearly 100,000 Hawaii residents work in the independent restaurant industry which continues to be hammered hard by the coronavirus crisis. That puts enormous strain on them and their families to make ends meet and for these businesses to stay afloat. Our local restaurants are valued members of our community and this legislation provides assistance both to employees and independent restaurant owners to weather the storm of this pandemic,said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.\n\nIndependent restaurants directly employ 11 million workers and indirectly employ 5 million more up and down the food and hospitality supply. They are particularly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the nature of how the virus spreads and the required physical distancing measures that prevent it. In Hawaii, nearly 100,000 people are employed by such restaurants  nearly 15% of the workforce  and they account for billions in sales.\n\nThe bill would establish a $120 billion restaurant revitalization fund at the Department of Treasury. Funding under the program would be available to food service or drinking establishments that are not publicly traded or part of a chain with 20 or more locations doing business under the same name. The grant values would cover the difference between revenues from 2019 and projected revenues through 2020. The first 14 days of the grant's availability is only available to restaurants with annual revenues of $1.5 million or fewer, ensuring that the smallest restaurants are prioritized. Additionally, the legislation directs $60 million of administrative funding toward outreach and engagement to restaurants owned and operated by women, Veterans, and people of color.\n\nEligible expenses include: payroll (not including employee compensation exceeding $100,000/year), benefits, mortgage, rent, utilities, maintenance, supplies (including protective equipment and cleaning materials), food, debt obligations to suppliers, and any other expenses deemed essential by the Secretary of the Treasury. Recipients must certify that current economic conditions make the grant request necessary, that the funds will be used to retain workers, maintain payroll, and make other payments, and that the recipient is only applying for and would only receive one grant.\n\n\n\tBackground:Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and her team have been working since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis to bring more resources home to Hawaii, while also keeping Hawaii residents informed through a resource hub on her website, regular e-newsletter updates, and virtual town hall events including public officials and community leaders to provide updates and directly answer constituent questions.\n\t\n\tProtecting and Providing for Americans During the Crisis\n\t\n\tIn early March, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard introduced H.Res.897, a resolution that would provide an emergency non-taxable Universal Basic Payment to all adult Americans until COVID-19 no longer presents a public health emergency. She was the earliest Member of Congress to introduce legislation for a Universal Basic Income-like payment as a temporary economic stimulus package to directly and immediately help Americans as they weather this crisis.\n\t\n\tIn March, working with Hawaii's Congressional Delegation, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sent two letters calling on President Trump to support Hawaii's request for medical equipment, supplies and resources for the state.\n\t\n\tIn April, she introduced H.R.6609 with Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) which directs the President to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) to acquire and manufacture necessary components, materials, and supplies to conduct molecular and serological COVID-19 medical testing nationwide.\n\t\n\tIn May, she introduced H.R.6809, the Nurse Workforce Protection Act, with Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13). The bipartisan bill would prevent a healthcare provider receiving COVID-19 federal assistance from furloughing, reducing the salary, or reducing the hours of its nurses more than 25% as well as prevent them from forcing them to use paid vacation days.\n\t\n\tShe has fought to make sure that Economic Stimulus Payments get to individuals quickly. She called for a rule change to enable recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and non-taxable VA benefits (VA Disability Compensation and Veterans Pension) to more easily obtain their recovery rebates. She also called upon the Department of the Treasury to to prohibit financial institutions from garnishing the economic impact payments to pay debts owed, ensuring that taxpayers receive their direct cash payments as Congress intended. She continues to advocate for a monthly direct basic payment to continue for as long as this healthcare crisis continues.\n\t\n\tRep. Tulsi Gabbard has continued to work to make sure that much-needed medical supplies, testing, and personal protective equipment (PPE) are readily available and sent a letter requesting that the Trump Administration prioritize working with our trading partners to ensure medical providers can obtain needed equipment quickly. She also sent a letter to the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services calling for the Departments to ensure access to PPE for essential childcare providers.\n\t\n\tAfter slamming the Administration for their now-rescinded decision to implement a hard stop at 89 days of duty in late May, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sent a letter to the President, Secretary of Defense, and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator demanding that the National Guard personnel  who have been critical in the fight against COVID-19 nationwide  receive the benefits to which they are entitled.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\tNoting the unique vulnerability of nursing home residents during this public health emergency, on June 5, Rep. Gabbard called upon Heath and Human Services Secretary Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Verma to address the needs of nursing homes for testing kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), and sufficient staff to respond to the pandemic.\n\t\n\tIn March and early April, she cosponsored H.Res.908, a resolution which draws attention to the increased anti-Asian bigotry being witnessed during the coronavirus crisis and calls on the Federal government to work with state and local law enforcement to confront and prosecute hate crimes related to this. She recently joined her colleagues in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) to urge the Administration to make translated materials available on all official federal websites that have information related to COVID-19 and any of the benefits programs created to address this pandemic to ensure that everyone has access to these resources.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\tSecuring Emergency Funding\n\t\n\tOn May 15, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard voted to pass H.R.6800, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act. Though she expressed grave concerns with the massive bill and how it was put together, she supported the legislation because it would provide urgently needed aid to state and local governments to improve testing and tracing efforts as well as another direct stimulus payment to Americans. In particular, the bill provides support to Counties in Hawaii that had not received direct assistance in past emergency legislation. It also closed loopholes and clarified discrepancies in previous emergency funding bills.\n\t\n\tThe HEROES Act would also fund personal protective equipment (PPE) purchases for frontline workers as well as hazard pay to essential and frontline workers. The bill would ensure smaller businesses get relief resources, extends the $600/week Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation as well as the Pandemic Extended Unemployment Compensation for gig economy employees. Finally, it included Native Hawaiians in funding provisions for education, employment as contact tracers, mortgage payment assistance, and housing block grants.\n\t\n\tTo date, Congress has passed 5 emergency funding bills that have been signed into law:\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\tS.4116, a bill that would extend the Paycheck Protection Program lending deadline from June 30 to August 8 (on July 1)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tH.R.6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (on March 4)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tH.R.6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (on March 14)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tH.R.748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (on March 27)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tH.R.266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (on April 23)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tH.R.7010, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (May 28)\n\t\t\n\t \n\tThe Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act provided urgently needed, immediate funds to help with the initial impact of the virus on America. Rep. Gabbard voted to pass this bill which included funds for 14 community health centers in Hawaii which received more than $750,000 combined in support.\n\t\n\tNext, she voted to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to provide free testing for COVID-19, two weeks of paid sick leave, up to three months paid family and medical leave, unemployment insurance for furloughed workers, food security for those who rely on food stamps, student meals, senior nutrition plans, and food banks, and increase federal Medicaid funds for local, state, tribal and territorial governments and health systems.\n\t\n\tThe CARES Act included direct cash payments to Americans, assistance for those who are out of work due to the outbreak, funding for small businesses, hospitals, and health care workers, and state and local governments. The bill's funding for state and local governments included at least $1.2 billion for Hawaii. Though the bill included Rep. Gabbard's idea for a direct benefit payment to support Americans reeling from the pandemic's impact, it fell short of the full scope suggested in her legislation, H.Res.897, and she urged Congress to do more.\n\t\n\tIn late April, Rep. Gabbard traveled to Washington, D.C. in the middle of the pandemic to vote on the fourth COVID-19 emergency funding bill. While carefully adhering to physical distancing rules and additional health precautions taken by House leadership, she voted to pass the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. The bill provided $310 billion to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program  including $30 billion set aside for community-based lenders, small banks and credit unions and $30 billion for medium-sized banks and credit unions. The bill also included $50 billion for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, and clarifies that small farms are eligible for this funding. Finally, the bill also addressed the continuing public health crisis by providing $75 billion in funding to support hospitals and frontline healthcare workers, including funding for PPE, as well as $25 billion for COVID-19 testing.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\tAt the beginning of July, the House passed S.4116, a bill that extended the Paycheck Protection Program lending deadline from June 30 to August 8. The bill was signed into law by the President in the following days.\n\t\n\tIn the weeks following the passage of the CARES Act, Hawaii received over $142 million in emergency funds to help support healthcare providers. This included more than $10 million in additional funds to the 14 community health centers which received funds after the first emergency bill as well as $132 million to other healthcare providers across the State to help cover the costs they are incurring due to the crisis. However, this $132 million came with the stipulation that these healthcare providers may not engage in surprise billing of patients they have treated for COVID-19.\n\t\n\tAlso, Hawaii received over $107 million in funds through the CARES Act to support public transportation systems, community public health infrastructure, and housing for vulnerable communities by way of Federal Transit Authority grants, Community Block Development Grants (CDBGs), and the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS program.\n\t\n\tBy mid-April, the CARES Act continued to yield funds for Hawaii, including an estimated $88 million for educational purposes and over $133 million for its airports. The educational funds will help support K-12 schools as well as colleges and universities. This includes a separate fund of $154 million for the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Also in April, FEMA announced another round of disaster relief funds, $100 million available to all 50 States and U.S. Territories.\n\t\n\tCalls for Preventative Measures\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\tIn early April, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard called for the resignation of Hawaii Department of Health officials Bruce Anderson and Dr. Sarah Park because of their repeated failures that put the health, lives and well-being of the people of Hawaii at risk. She added that should they refuse to step down, Governor Ige should fire them.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\tIn July, with COVID-19 cases once again on the rise and reaching record numbers in several states, including Hawaii, she called on Governor Ige to continue the 14-day quarantine in effect for trans-Pacific travelers. The surge of COVID-19 infections saw a return to hospitals strained to the brink to treat new cases as well as a shortage in testing reagents, personal protective equipment, and medical supplies. The quarantine measure was set to be eased on August 1, but in the days following Rep. Gabbard's statement and concerns raised by Hawaii's Mayors, the Governor decided to keep the protective measures in place through the end of August.\n\t\n\tAbout Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is serving her fourth term in the United States House representing Hawaii's Second District, and serves on the House Armed Services and Financial Services Committees. She previously served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Homeland Security Committee. She was elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2010, and prior to that at age 21, was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature in 2002, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. Tulsi Gabbard has served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for over 17 years, is a veteran of two Middle East deployments, and continues to serve as a Major. Learn more about Rep. Tulsi Gabbard...\n\t\n\tFollow Rep. Tulsi Gabbard on social media:\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 586, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "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"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "HI", "p2": "2020"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 586, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2020&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 586, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=HI&year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "HI", "label": "HI", "count": 586, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "2020", "label": "2020", "count": 586, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2020-08-05,https~3A~2F~2Fgabbard~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Frep-tulsi-gabbard-cosponsors-bill-help-independent-restaurants-devastated", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2020&_next=2020-08-05%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fgabbard~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Frep-tulsi-gabbard-cosponsors-bill-help-independent-restaurants-devastated&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 227.43666404858232, "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"}