{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"HI\" and year = 2023 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2304", "Case Announces Class of 2024 Service Academy Nominations", "2023-12-15", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=11", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) - U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today announced his 2024 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 most of my applicants before making my decisions,\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 four service academies:\n\nUnited States Air Force Academy\n\nJoseph Barroga (Moanalua)\n\nAlex Chounramany (Kalani)\n\nRyan Cochling (Moanalua)\n\nKeegan Distelzweig (Radford)\n\nMichael Hayslett (Radford)\n\nMaulama Kimata (Punahou)\n\nSamuel Lorge (Kaiser)\n\nCorin Matsuzaki (Punahou)\n\nThomas Pak (Aiea)\n\nLucas Webb (Radford)\n\nUnited States Military Academy at West Point\n\nIan Ahn (Punahou)\n\nFallon Barretto (Kamehameha)\n\nKaili Bellisle (Radford)\n\nCharlotte Campbell (Punahou)\n\nJace Furuto (Iolani)\n\nTyler Ishikawa (Mililani)\n\nYukari Kobayashi (Waipahu)\n\nAvery Morano (St. Louis)\n\nThomas Wahl (Campbell)\n\nMayhem Woolsey (Kapolei)\n\nUnited States Naval Academy\n\nKaili Bellisle (Radford)\n\nAlex Chounramany (Kalani)\n\nAlexia Cramer (Mililani)\n\nCaleb Emery (Radford)\n\nLuke Mamiya (Punahou)\n\nThomas Pak (Aiea)\n\nEnoch Pangaribuan (Myron B. Thompson)\n\nMia Patton (Iolani)\n\nKatherine Philpott (Hawai\u2019i Prep Academy; resident 1st District)\n\nCamryn Smith (Radford)\n\nUnited States Merchant Marine Academy\n\nJoseph Barroga (Moanalua)\n\nBoris Dimitrov (Radford)\n\nAvery Morano (St. Louis)\n\nThomas Pak (Aiea)\n\nBlayne Shiraki (Punahou)\n\nFor the Class of 2024, Case selected 35 applicants from five private schools, nine public schools, and one charter school.\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.\n\nThe Coast Guard Academy in 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 2025 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", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2308", "Case Calls For Restrictions On Importing Ornamental Reef Fish and Coral Species Collected By Destructive Practices Into The United States", "2023-12-15", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=11", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i-First District) has introduced into Congress proposed federal legislation to protect the world\u2019s fragile coral reef ecosystems by restricting international imports of protected ornamental reef fish and coral species collected through destructive practices.\n\nCase\u2019s H.R. 6447, the Saving Natural Ecosystems and Marine Organisms (NEMO) Act, comes as the Hawaii State Board of Land and Natural Resources meets today to consider further restrictions on the taking of certain reef fish.\n\nThe meeting follows a recent study here showing that overfishing of certain species such as convict tang or manini can undermine the health of coral reefs.\n\n\u201cOur oceans are indispensable to life on our planet, not only to our global environment but to the billions that are directly or indirectly reliant on its resources,\u201d said Case. \u201cOur oceans in turn rely on the health and diversity of our coral reefs, some of our most diverse ecosystems, with nearly 25 percent of the ocean\u2019s fish dependent on coral reefs for shelter, food and reproduction. And our coral reefs are interdependent with healthy, diverse and sustainable marine flora and fauna.\"\n\nCase said his act would do so by prohibiting the import into our country of protected reef species taken using unsustainable or destructive practices.\n\n\u201cAmong these are prized ornamental reef fish and coral species highly valued by collectors. While it is possible to collect them at sustainable levels which do not harm the coral reef or broader marine ecosystem, high demand leads too often to unsustainable and destructive collection practices such as overcollection of species overall, overcollection of younger specimens, collection through reef- dredging, gill nets, explosives or poison and harm to specimens leading to excessive deaths in transit.\n\n\u201cMost of the collection occurs internationally where most of our world\u2019s coral reefs are found, in countries, such as in Southeast Asia, which do not have strong regulation or enforcement regimens against unsustainable or destructive practices.\n\n\u201cAs the largest importer of ornamental reef fish, our country has both responsibility for creating the demand that leads to such practices, and the opportunity to channel that demand to sustainable collection.\u201d\n\nATTACHMENTS: Introductory Floor statement, bill text and bill summary.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2309", "Case Calls For Restrictions On Importing Ornamental Reef Fish and Coral Species Collected By Destructive Practices Into The United States", "2023-12-15", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=11", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i-First District) has introduced into Congress proposed federal legislation to protect the world\u2019s fragile coral reef ecosystems by restricting international imports of protected ornamental reef fish and coral species collected through destructive practices.\n\nCase\u2019s H.R. 6447, the Saving Natural Ecosystems and Marine Organisms (NEMO) Act, comes as the Hawaii State Board of Land and Natural Resources meets today to consider further restrictions on the taking of certain reef fish.\n\nThe meeting follows a recent study here showing that overfishing of certain species such as convict tang or manini can undermine the health of coral reefs.\n\n\u201cOur oceans are indispensable to life on our planet, not only to our global environment but to the billions that are directly or indirectly reliant on its resources,\u201d said Case. \u201cOur oceans in turn rely on the health and diversity of our coral reefs, some of our most diverse ecosystems, with nearly 25 percent of the ocean\u2019s fish dependent on coral reefs for shelter, food and reproduction. And our coral\n\nreefs are interdependent with healthy, diverse and sustainable marine flora and fauna.\"\n\nCase said his act would do so by prohibiting the import into our country of protected reef species taken using unsustainable or destructive practices.\n\n\u201cAmong these are prized ornamental reef fish and coral species highly valued by collectors. While it is possible to collect them at sustainable levels which do not harm the coral reef or broader marine ecosystem, high demand leads too often to unsustainable and destructive collection practices such as overcollection of species overall, overcollection of younger specimens, collection through reef- dredging, gill nets, explosives or poison and harm to specimens leading to excessive deaths in transit.\n\n\u201cMost of the collection occurs internationally where most of our world\u2019s coral reefs are found, in countries, such as in Southeast Asia, which do not have strong regulation or enforcement regimens against unsustainable or destructive practices.\n\n\u201cAs the largest importer of ornamental reef fish, our country has both responsibility for creating the demand that leads to such practices, and the opportunity to channel that demand to sustainable collection.\u201d\n\nATTACHMENTS: Introductory Floor statement, bill text and bill summary.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2303", "U.S. House Passes Annual Defense Bill Authorizing $1.7 Billion In Construction Projects For Hawai\u2018i", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=11", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) announced that the full U.S. House has approved the $886 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including his priorities on strengthening America\u2019s national security interests in the Indo-Pacific, boosting Hawaii\u2019s economy and continuing to improve the relationship between the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the local community.\n\n\u201cThe 2024 NDAA authorizes another $1.7 billion in construction projects in Hawai\u2018i that will boost both our national defense preparedness and local economy,\u201d said Case, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations and of its Subcommittee on Defense.\n\n\u201cThe bill also advances Hawaii\u2019s critical role in our country\u2019s efforts to increase our presence throughout the Indo-Pacific. It further includes several provisions which I authored and advanced that require the DoD to strengthen communications and partnerships with, and support to, our local community at a critical juncture for our military-civilian relationship.\u201d\n\n\u00b7 Requiring the Secretary of Defense to (1) review federal programs and services available to individuals exposed to petroleum and submit a report on impacted individuals from the Red Hill fuel contamination and (2) assess the feasibility of an epidemiological study or studies to assess outcomes for individuals impacted by the Red Hill incident. These efforts will support ongoing work to establish a registry for those impacted by the fuel leak. This provision is based on legislation authored and introduced by Senator Brian Schatz and Congressman Case that was also cosponsored by Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Congresswoman Jill Tokuda.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the military to issue a report on efforts to renew training land leases in the State of Hawai\u2018i. The bill includes a related provision sponsored by Congresswoman Jill Tokuda to create a senior official responsible for coordinating lease negotiations between the services and the State of Hawai\u2018i.\n\n\u00b7 Amending DoD\u2019s Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) to ensure that services can coordinate more closely together on conservation projects which could affect multiple installations. In 2023 alone, REPI will provide $10 million of DoD funding for projects in Hawai\u2018i, which will be coupled with $18 million in partner contributions. REPI provides a strong opportunity for the military and local community to partner together to protect our land and ocean for future generations.\n\n\u00b7 Allowing additional federal agencies to join the Sentinel Landscape Program, which makes it easier for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to participate in effort to help private landowners to advance sustainable land management practices around Pacific Missile Range Facility.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs to brief Congress on plans to assess and develop further Civic Action Teams (CATs) in the Pacific Islands. The military currently has a highly effective and welcomed CAT stationed in Palau working on community projects, apprenticeship training, vehicle maintenance, medical support and construction. (Case is a Co-Chair of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus whose focus is on strengthening relationships with our Pacific \u2018ohana.)\n\n\u00b7 Modifying the Pilot Program to Develop Young Civilian Defense Leaders in the Indo-Pacific to also include civilians working for ministries with a security mission so that Pacific Island countries without militaries can participate.\n\nThe bill also includes several provisions to continue the military\u2019s investment in Hawai\u2018i:\n\n\u00b7 The bill would require each DoD installation that has an Indian Tribe, Native Hawaiian Organization or Tribal interests in the area surrounding the installation to have an indigenous person as liaison.\n\n\u00b7 The legislation establishes a special account to receive funding from the Australian government to support the AUKUS agreement under which the United States will assist Australia in building nuclear submarines. A senior Australian official has said Australian government plans to invest up to $3 billion into the U.S. shipyards, to include the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, as part of the AUKUS arrangement.\n\n\u00b7 The military is required to develop a comprehensive strategy for developing, acquiring and establishing an integrated air and missile defense systems for the Indo-Pacific. It specifically includes building the ability to identify and intercept missile threats to the Hawaiian Islands. To assist in oversight of these efforts, the bill requires the submission of an annual report to Congress outlining: (1) the activities conducted and progress made in developing and implementing the strategy over the previous year, (2) the planned activities for developing and implementing the strategy in the upcoming year, and (3) a description of likely risks and impediments to the successful implementation of the strategy.\n\n\u00b7 The bill authorizes the Navy to divest its electrical utility operations at Kalaeloa. Due to various legal restrictions, the Navy is not allowed to bring the electrical grid up to Navy standards because it does not serve any Navy facilities, thus hampering the further redevelopment of Kalaeloa for needed commercial and housing capacity.\n\n\u00b7 The military must conduct a housing requirement and market analysis for military installations in Hawai\u2018i and report on impacts to Hawaii\u2019s affordable housing supply and private rental market.\n\n\u00b7 The bill makes the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot permanent. This program provides grants to support community infrastructure projects that benefit military installations and those who live near military bases. In 2022, Hawai\u2018i received $2.5 million through this program to work with the Department of Land and Natural Resources to construct a new firefighting and conservation warehouse to improve wildfire response and enable maintenance and repair of firefighting vehicles. The military wants to continue to use this program to help Hawai\u2018i in future years.\n\n\u00b7 The measure directs the Government Accountability Office to submit a report assessing the state of ongoing testing and remediation by the DoD of current or former military installations contaminated with perfluoroalkyl substances or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).\n\n\u00b7 DoD is authorized to transfer as much as $5 million to the Health and Human Services Department to assess the health implications of PFAS in drinking water.\n\nThe bill authorizes further or continued construction projects in Hawai\u2018i with a combined value of $1.7 billion. This includes two projects specifically requested and secured by Case \u2013 clearwell and booster pumps upgrades at Fort Shafter ($23 million) and commencement of the construction process for building at new air traffic control tower at Wheeler Army Airfield. Below is the full list of projects:\n\n\u00b7 Joint Base Pearl Harbor- Hickam, Dry Dock Replacement Project, $1.3 billion\n\n\u00b7 Marine Corps Base Hawai\u2018i, Water Reclamation Facility Compliance Upgrades, $135 million\n\n\u00b7 Joint Base Pearl Harbor- Hickam, Military Privatized Housing Investments, $75 million\n\n\u00b7 Joint Base Pearl Harbor- Hickam, Waterfront Production Facility Planning and Design Funds, $60 million\n\n\u00b7 Helemano Military Reservation, Wells and Storage Tanks, $33 million\n\n\u00b7 Schofield Barracks, Water Storage Tank, $21 million\n\n\u00b7 \u0100liamanu Military Reservation, Water Storage Tank, $20 million\n\n\u00b7 Fort Shafter, Clearwell and Booster Pumps, $23 million\n\n\u00b7 Schofield Barracks, Elevated Tank and Distribution Lines, $16 million\n\n\u00b7 Joint Base Pearl Harbor- Hickam, Waste Water Treatment Plant, $15 million\n\n\u00b7 Joint Base Pearl Harbor- Hickam, Primary Electrical Distribution Upgrades, $13 million\n\n\u00b7 Joint Base Pearl Harbor- Hickam, 500 KW PV Covered Parking Electric Vehicle Charging Station, $7.5 million\n\n\u00b7 Wheeler Army Airfield, Air Traffic Control Tower Planning and Design Funds, $5.4 million\n\nThe bill continues the DoD\u2019s reinvestment in the Indo-Pacific. For example, the bill includes provisions to:\n\n\u00b7 Authorize $14.7 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, aimed at countering China;\n\n\u00b7 Establish an Indo-Pacific Campaigning Initiative to deter military aggression by potential adversaries against the U.S. and allies in the region;\n\n\u00b7 Authorize $1.3 billion for campaigning activities in the Indo-Pacific, which is $508 million above the President\u2019s budget request;\n\n\u00b7 Create a plan for enhancing security cooperation with Japan;\n\n\u00b7 Establish a comprehensive training, advising and institutional capacity building program for the military forces of Taiwan, an effort the Hawai\u2018i National Guard has long supported;\n\n\u00b7 Create a Senate-confirmed Special Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum, the central multilateral organization of the Pacific Islands;\n\n\u00b7 Authorize the DoD to sell up to three Virginia-class submarines to Australia in support of the AUKUS agreement; and\n\n\u00b7 Establishes an \"Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Initiative\" with allies and partners of the United States in the Indo-Pacific, including Australia, Japan and India.\n\nOther key provisions include:\n\n\u00b7 A 5.2 percent pay raise for military personnel.\n\n\u00b7 An increase to the number of service members and military families who may qualify for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) by authorizing the Secretaries of the military departments to exclude the Basic Allowance for Housing from their gross household income in certain instances. The BNA helps military households better afford basic needs.\n\n\u00b7 Providing access to commissaries and morale, welfare and recreation programs for remarried Gold Star Spouses.\n\n\u00b7 Expanding access to family and medical leave for veterans working as federal employees by allowing them to take Family and Medical Leave Act Leave, including paid parental leave, sooner.\n\n\u00b7 A $300 million authorization for security assistance to help fortify Ukraine\u2019s military after nearly two years of fighting against the Russian invasion. That is separate from the tens of billions of dollars in aid requested by President Biden.\n\n*Text of the FY 2024 NDAA is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2302", "Case Announces 2023 Winners of Congressional App Challenge", "2023-12-08", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=11", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today announced the winners of his 2023 Congressional App Challenge for Hawai\u2018i\u2019s First Congressional District at a reception at the Entrepreneurs Sandbox in Kaka\u2018ako.\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. \u201cCongratulating the winners at the Sandbox, which is described as \u2018Hawaii\u2019s community hub to inspire creativity, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship\u2019, will hopefully also open the students\u2019 minds to possibilities beyond their imagination.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd results of this year\u2019s Challenge prove once 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 for Hawaii\u2019s First Congressional District:\n\n1st Place \u2013 Jaylen Rabago of DreamHouse \u2018Ewa Beach, a public charter school\n\nGrade: 10\n\nInstructor: Coach Cerina Livaudais\n\nApp: SpeakSafe\n\nVideo: https://vimeo.com/880351700?share=copy\n\nSummary, according to the creators:\n\n\u201cMy app, SpeakSafe, aims to bring awareness to women's safety and help them feel empowered and secure in their daily lives. The main feature of this app is the voice recording library. The voice recording library in SpeakSafe is designed to provide a sense of security by creating the illusion of an ongoing conversation, which can help deter potential attackers. Additionally, the 'panic' button enhances the app by instantly alerting loved ones of the user\u2019s location when faced with dangerous situations.\n\n\u201cWhat inspired me to create this app was the experiences of myself and my loved ones. As a woman, sometimes it feels unsafe to navigate certain situations or environments. Through conversations with people in my community, I realized that many women share similar concerns and fears. I wanted to develop an app that could provide a sense of security and empowerment for women, encouraging them to feel more confident and in control of their personal safety. I have also found that there are often situations where someone feels uncomfortable or threatened, but not threatened enough where calling 911 or using a defense weapon (i.e. pepper spray) would be necessary.\n\n\u201cThis motivated me to create an app that not only addresses these issues but also offers a practical solution. By leveraging technology, I aim to bridge the gap between feeling vulnerable and having a reliable tool to enhance personal safety. Nearly everyone I know carries a phone with them all the time, which means that they can also carry my app to feel safer in any situation.\u201d\n\n2nd Place \u2013 Jeremiah So of Christian Academy\n\nGrade: 8\n\nInstructor: n/a\n\nApp: Maui Fire\n\nVideo: https://youtu.be/8R1qkoVSre4\n\nSummary, according to the creator:\n\n\u201cMy app, Maui Fire, https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/903942140/ , encourages and spreads awareness to help the people of Maui through the tragic fire that happened not too long ago. There is information on the island itself, information on how to help, like what websites and organizations to choose from, and lastly there are some games that you can play for fun. The three websites to the funds to support Maui are, The Shelter Relief Fund, https://www.firstaog.com/shelter-relief-fund/, The People's Fund of Maui, https://www.eifoundation.org/peoples-fund-of-maui/ and Maui Strong Bank of Hawaii, https://www.boh.com/philanthropy/maui-strong.\n\n\u201cThere are four games to play, the first one is called Fight the Flames, you as the Scratch cat carries a bucket of water and little fires are going to pop up all around the screen. Your job is to walk around and press the space key to pour the water and to get as many flames out in 60 seconds. The next game is called Fix the Lines. The goal of the game is to climb the pole as fast as you can and then fix the wires by dragging them together according to their color. Then there is Water the Ground where you are a rain cloud and the goal of this game is to water all of the plants and to keep them from drying and catching on fire. The faster you finish the better because this game is timed also.\n\n\u201cAnd lastly there is Evacuation Stampede. You are in an endless loop of running and you have to avoid obstacles like a cone or barrier. For cones, you need to jump over them and for barriers, you can slide under them. Try to keep on running as long as you can to beat the high score.\n\n\u201cNews of the Maui Fire inspired me to make this project. At my church, they were talking about helping Maui and every week they would mention giving to The Shelter Relief fund. According to https://www.firstaog.com/shelter-relief-fund/ , The Shelter Relief fund's \"campaign is created to bring relief efforts on behalf of those who need transitional housing due to natural disaster or crisis. This fund will allow the Shelter to purchase domes that will help those in need of housing on a temporary basis. We were hoping for the first twelve domes to be deployed to Maui in the near future.\" I contributed to the shelter relief fund but I wanted to do even more to help those in need, so I created this project.\u201d\n\n3rd Place \u2013 Jinghao Li and Kekoa Dung of Island Pacific Academy\n\nGrade: 10\n\nInstructor: Dr. Devon Widmer\n\nApp: PyQuCryptor\n\nVideo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6IaMa5cwB0\n\nSummary, according to the creators:\n\n\u201cPyQuCryptor is a modern, post-quantum encryption software written in Python 3.12 (compatible with 3.11) using the PyCryptoDome and HashLib cryptographic libraries. It uses AES-256-CTR for encryption, PBKDF2-SHA3-256 for encryption key derivation, and SHA3-512 for integrity authentication and validation as well as AES-CTR\u2019s built in authentication. This application is designed specifically for Windows 10 and 11 as Python 3.12 only supports those versions. Our project is free and open-source software, licensed under the BSD 3-Clause No-Nuclear license (Same as the standard BSD 3-Clause, except for the no-nuclear clause which warns against, not prohibits, using it in a nuclear facility [Yes, this is a joke]).\n\n\u201cMy inspiration came from an early build of an \"encryption\" software that I had made in Python. It uses AES-256-GCM instead of CTR and had no authentication tag, but uses the built in authentication of GCM mode that it operates in. And for the purpose/implementation of that software, it didn't need authentication. The encryption key was originally stored in a file called encr_key.txt which has been encrypted using 16384-bit RSA. But since all current public/private key (which RSA is) crypto-systems are not quantum resistant, this made it so that it was possible to recover the 256-bit encryption key via a quantum attack against the RSA key used to encrypt the cipher text. I have a lot of experience with cryptography as I have dealt with 7-Zip's AES-256 encryption, BitLocker device encryption, and VeraCrypt volume encryption, I am also running my own website supporting HTTPS (with TLS v1.3/v1.2) and a valid digital certificate from Let's Encrypt, and I run my own VPN servers based off of the ShadowSocks, OpenVPN, and WireGuard protocols.\u201d\n\nThe Entrepreneurs Sandbox is Hawaii\u2019s front door to creativity, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. This 13,500 square foot collaboration facility was developed in 2019 to inspire all, by the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, a State agency attached to the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. Together with Hub Coworking Hawaii, the space is made available to bring community together through networking, educational, business training, and coworking opportunities.\n\nAttachments:\n\n\u00b7 Picture of 1st place winner Jaylen Rabago of DreamHouse \u2018Ewa Beach, a public charter school, with U.S. Rep. Ed Case\n\n\u00b7 Picture of 2nd place winner Jeremiah So of Christian Academy (in Moanalua), with U.S. Rep Ed Case\n\n\u00b7 Picture of 3rd place winner Jinghao Li of Island Pacific Academy (in Kapolei), with U.S. Rep. Ed Case. Missing is teammate Kekoa Dung.\n\n\u00b7 Group photo with winners, judges, friends and family and U.S. Rep. Ed Case\n\n\u00b7 U.S. Rep. Ed Case with Jeremiah So at the Entrepreneurs Sandbox\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-announces-district-wide-telephone-town-hall", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Announces District-Wide Telephone Town Hall", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=8&", "scraper", "(Hawai\u02bbi)\u2013 Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) will be holding a district-wide telephone town hall on Wednesday, December 13, 2023.\n\nRep. Tokuda will provide a 2023 wrap up, cover her work and priorities, provide a legislative update, and take questions from participants.\n\nThose who are interested in joining are encouraged to RSVP to be added to the event call list to receive a call when the event starts. If participants do not receive a call, they can call directly to the event by dialing (833) 946-1568.\n\nFor more information and to RSVP, please visit the events section on Rep. Tokuda\u2019s website at tokuda.house.gov or call (808) 746-6220.\n\nWhat: District-Wide Telephone Town Hall\n\nWhen: Wednesday, December 13, 2023\n\n5:30pm to 6:30pm HST\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2290", "U.S. Congressman Ed Case's Statement On The Proposed Acquisition Of Hawaiian Airlines By Alaska Airlines", "2023-12-03", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=11", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, DC) -- U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i-First District) made the following statement on the announcement today of the proposed acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines by Alaska Airlines:\n\n\u201cMy earliest memories include flying with my dad on Hawaiian Airlines from Hilo to the Big City. So, like all of us it is difficult to accept that this truly kama\u02bb\u0101ina company, such a deep part of the lives of generations of residents and visitors, may not continue as an independent and uniquely Hawaiian enterprise. But if this is going to and needs to happen to maintain Hawaiian\u2019s contributions to our state, Alaska Airlines is a promising partner.\n\n\u201cIts undertakings to continue the Hawaiian brand, employ the over 7,000 Hawai\u2018i \u2018ohana that have served us so well, and sustain reliable, affordable and competitive inter-island and Hawai\u2019i-outside world service are very welcome.\n\n\u201cWhat matters, though, is that there are full, binding and transparent commitments to back up those words. That must be our focus in the upcoming federal and state review and approval processes and community discussions of this major change in our Hawai\u2018i fabric.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-delivers-second-maui-minute-floor-speech-honoring-first-responders", "Rep. Tokuda Delivers Second \u201cMaui Minute\u201d Floor Speech Honoring First Responders", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=8&", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nNovember 15, 2023\n\nCarly Sylva-Gabrielson, (202) 374-3738\n\nRep. Tokuda Delivers Second \u201cMaui Minute\u201d Floor Speech Honoring First Responders\n\n(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 Yesterday, Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) addressed the U.S. House of Representatives to deliver her second \u201cMaui Minute\u201d floor speech. She spoke about the first responders involved with evacuating communities and keeping people safe from the devastating Maui wildfires.\n\nRep. Tokuda plans to deliver a \u201cMaui Minute\u201d speech every week the House is in session to share the stories, the needs, and the hopes of the local people to make sure Congress and our country does not forget the collective responsibility it has to help Maui recover and rebuild.\n\nA video of Rep. Tokuda\u2019s remarks can be viewed here.\n\nRep. Tokuda\u2019s remarks as entered into the record:\n\nMr. Speaker,\n\nToday, I rise to recognize and extend a heartfelt \u201cmahalo\u201d to the brave first responders involved with evacuating communities and keeping our people safe from the devastating wildfires in Maui.\n\nFrom police and firefighters to emergency medical personnel and 911 operators, first responders have played an essential role in providing physical and emotional support to those grappling with the impacts of the fires.\n\nYet, despite their important work in times of crisis, first responders often face their own barriers with seeking help and getting care for the trauma and other struggles they experience on the job.\n\nLike other survivors, many first responders in Maui also lost loved ones and homes to the fires but continued to serve and protect, while putting their own lives on the line.\n\nThat\u2019s why this week I introduced the Crisis Assistance and Resources in Emergencies, or \u201cCARE,\u201d for First Responders Act to increase access to mental health resources and services specific to the unique needs and experiences of first responders.\n\nFirst responders are always there for us when we need them most. We owe it to our first responders to get them the assistance they need to be well and to succeed.\n\nI yield back.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/tokuda-fitzpatrick-balint-lamalfa-introduce-bipartisan-bill-increase-access", "Tokuda, Fitzpatrick, Balint, LaMalfa Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Mental Health Services for First Responders", "2023-11-14", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=8&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C - Today, Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02), alongside Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01, Becca Balint (VT-AL), and Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) introduced the Crisis Assistance and Resources in Emergencies (CARE) for First Responders Act, bipartisan legislation to provide specialized mental health, substance abuse, and crisis counseling services to first responders including law enforcement, firefighters, emergency response workers, and 9-1-1 operators.\n\nIn the United States, there are roughly 4.6 million first responders serving in law enforcement, fire and rescue services, emergency management, and public works. First responders are usually the first on the scene to face challenging, dangerous, and draining situations. They are also among the first to reach out to disaster survivors and provide them with emotional and physical support. These duties, although essential to the entire community, are strenuous for first responders and with time put them at an increased risk of experiencing mental health issues.\n\nAccording to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 30 percent of first responders develop behavioral health conditions including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, as compared with 20 percent of the general population. Data from the National Violent Death Reporting System indicates that first responders made up 1 percent of all suicides from 2015 to 2017. When broken down by disciple, these first responder suicides occurred among law enforcement (58 percent), firefighters (21 percent), emergency medical services providers (18 percent), and public safety telecommunicators (2 percent).\n\nUnfortunately, there are a limited number of services and resources available specifically to address the mental health conditions of first responders. Often, first responders are directed to general mental health practitioners and counselors who may not understand the unique demands faced by first responders or the cultures in which they operate.\n\nThe CARE for First Responders Act addresses this gap by:\n\n\u2022Ensuring first responders of major disasters, including emergency response workers and public safety telecommunicators, are eligible to receive professional counseling and other mental health services offered through the Federal Emergency Management Administration\u2019s Crisis Assistance and Training Program;\n\n\u2022Establishing a grant program to support on-site and mobile delivery of mental health and substance use disorder services for first responders of major disasters;\n\n\u2022Establishing a 24-hour hotline within the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline program to promote access to specialized services for first responders;\n\n\u2022Creating a peer support counseling program within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assist and conduct outreach to first responders and their families;\n\n\u2022Requiring HHS to conduct research, in consultation with other federal agencies, on best practices for providing mental health services to, and preventing suicide among, first responders.\n\n\u201cEvery day, brave men and women, our first responders, answer the call when we need them most. In the wake of the devastating fires on Maui and Hawaii Island, they played essential roles in evacuating homes and providing survivors with physical and emotional support. Yet, despite their essential work, first responders often face their own barriers with seeking help and accessing mental health services as they deal with their own trauma as a result of what they see and experience,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02). \u201cAs disaster strikes across our country, we must do better to support these real-life heroes. That is why I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that will ensure we take \u201cCARE\u201dof the mental health needs of our first responders.\u201d\n\n\"First responders are the heroes in our communities who bravely respond to emergencies,\" said Congressman Fitzpatrick, co-chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force. \"It is imperative that we provide these public servants with the needed support and access to resources for mental health and substance use disorder challenges, and this bipartisan bill will do just that.\"\n\n\u201cWhen I talk to first responders across Vermont, it\u2019s clear that they are facing mental health challenges as a result of their work on the frontlines responding to climate disasters,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL).\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to join Rep. Tokuda in getting our emergency personnel, firefighters, 911 dispatchers, and law enforcement the specialized mental health services they need and deserve after all they do to protect us.\u201d\n\n\u201cFirst responders, medical personnel, and wildland firefighters carry an incredibly heavy burden. I am a co-lead of the bipartisan CARE for First Responders Act to hopefully relieve some of that burden and let our first responders know that their work is not unnoticed or unappreciated,\u201d said Congressman LaMalfa.\n\n\u201cFirst responders\u201d covered by this legislation include Federal, State, and local governmental and nongovernmental emergency public safety, fire, law enforcement, emergency response, emergency medical, and related personnel, agencies, and authorities, along with public safety telecommunicators (such as 911 operators and fire dispatchers).\n\nThe CARE for First Responders Act is endorsed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.\n\n\u201cFirefighters, EMS professionals, police officers, and 911 dispatchers get our communities through any emergency. But all too often, responding to trauma causes trauma. Our first responders shouldn\u2019t have to deal with the stress of the job all by themselves. The CARE for First Responders Act will provide funding for critical mental health services and benefits to these essential workers, including a crisis hotline and counseling. We urge Congress to pass this bipartisan legislation from Reps. Jill Tokuda and Brian Fitzpatrick,\u201d said AFSCME President Lee Saunders.\n\n\u201cIt is critical that we support the mental health of our nation\u2019s first responders, particularly after times of disaster,\u201d said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). \u201cNAMI proudly supports the Crisis Assistance and Resources in Emergencies (CARE) for First Responders Act and thanks Rep. Tokuda for bringing attention to this critical issue.\u201d\n\nThe bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Paul Tonko (NY-20), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Eleanor Holmes-Norton (DC-AL), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), and Norma Torres (CA-35).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-marks-three-month-anniversary-maui-fires-delivers-first-maui", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Marks Three-Month Anniversary of Maui Fires, Delivers First \u201cMaui Minute\u201d Speech to U.S. House of Representatives", "2023-11-09", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=8&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C \u2013 Last night, Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) addressed the U.S. House of Representatives to mark the three-month anniversary of the deadly Maui fires and to deliver her inaugural \u201cMaui Minute\u201d floor speech.\n\nTokuda will deliver a \u201cMaui Minute\u201d speech every week the House is in session to share the stories, the needs, and the hopes of the people of Maui to make sure Congress and our country does not forget the collective responsibility it has to help Maui recover and rebuild.\n\nTokuda\u2019s remarks can also be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/heeding-call-hawaii-delegation-sba-announces-loan-deferments-maui-businesses", "Heeding Call from Hawaii Delegation, SBA Announces Loan Deferments for Maui Businesses", "2023-11-03", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=8&", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 In response to a letter from the Hawaii Congressional delegation, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it is implementing a 6-month deferment period for Maui businesses impacted by the Hawaii wildfires. This deferment period covers principal and interest payments, as well as a pause on interest accrual, and includes all COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and any previous disaster loans that are still being repaid.\n\n\u201cThousands of people, businesses, and families were impacted by the wildfires on Maui,\u201d said the delegation in a joint statement. \u201cAs our communities continue the recovery process, this deferment period will provide borrowers who have been impacted by the wildfires with additional time to determine next steps after the destruction. We are grateful the SBA has heeded our call and we\u2019ll continue to support our families, businesses, and communities to ensure they have the federal assistance they need to begin rebuilding.\u201d\n\nSBA will automatically place all COVID-19 EIDL and disaster loans for borrowers in Maui County that are still in repayment into deferment for 6 months. At the end of the deferment period, loan payments will return to the normal payment amount and interest accrual will resume on the outstanding principal balance. Borrowers still experiencing financial hardship at the end of the 6-month deferment period should contact SBA to discuss additional options, such as the Hardship Accommodation Plan for COVID-19 EIDL borrowers.\n\nBorrowers located in Hawaii, but outside of Maui County, can request a deferment of their payments and pause on interest accrual for 6 months due to financial hardship caused by the wildfires by submitting a request to their loan servicing center. Borrowers who are in Hawaii, but outside of Maui County, should request their deferment through the messaging feature in the MySBA Loan Portal. Eligible COVID-19 EIDL borrowers can also contact the COVID-19 EIDL Customer Service Center at 833-853-5638 or by email at COVIDEIDLServicing@sba.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-delivers-remarks-honoring-former-hawaii-state-senator-sam-slom", "Rep. Tokuda Delivers Remarks Honoring Former Hawai\u02bbi State Senator Sam Slom", "2023-11-03", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=8&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) delivered remarks honoring former Hawai\u02bbi State Senator Sam Slom, who will be celebrated and remembered this Sunday at the Hawai\u02bbi State Capitol. Slom served in the Hawai\u02bbi State Senate for 20 years, from 1996 to 2016, serving as the only Republican member in the State Senate from 2010 to 2016.\n\n\u201cI had the honor and privilege of serving alongside Sam. Yes, we disagreed on many things but more than not, we saw eye to eye. Especially when it came to lowering costs for working families and being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Sam was a statesman until the very end and given the partisan times that we find ourselves in, I truly miss my friend,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda.\n\nA video of Rep. Tokuda\u2019s remarks can be downloaded for media use here.\n\nRep. Tokuda\u2019s extended remarks as entered into the record:\n\nMr. Speaker,\n\nI rise today to celebrate the life of one of my favorite Republicans, my former colleague, my friend, the late Hawaii State Senator Sam Slom.\n\nFor 20 years, Sam represented East Honolulu's 9th Senatorial District, and for almost half that time, he was the sole Republican member of the Hawaii Senate earning him the self-imposed nickname, \"The Lone Ranger.\"\n\nAs one of a handful, or the only, member of the minority party, Sam read every bill, every resolution, and defied time and space to try and get to every committee and vote.\n\nI had the honor and privilege of serving many years side by side Sam. Yes, we disagreed on many things, but more than not, we saw eye to eye. Especially on our commitment to lowering the cost of living for middle class working families and good fiscal stewards with taxpayer dollars.\n\nPrior to his service in the State Senate, Sam served as the chief economist for the Bank of Hawaii, and for over 30 years he was the President and Executive Director of Small Business Hawaii.\n\nThere is much that could be said about the boy from Allentown, Pennsylvania who found his way to Hawaii in the sixties and made Hawaii his home.\n\nWhat I can personally share is that he was often the member I could count on to be there. When I needed his vote, even if he disagreed, he'd help me get it to the floor and was open and honest with me on why he disagreed.\n\nHe was a statesman till the very end, and given the partisan times we find ourselves in, I truly miss my friend.\n\nMahalo Sam for blessing us with your wisdom, your advocacy, and your friendship. There are more Hawaiian hoary bats in our islands because of you and we will forever remember you as the lone ranger who challenged our minds and won our hearts.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-and-sen-hirono-lead-hawaii-and-alaska-delegations-introducing-bill", "Rep. Tokuda and Sen. Hirono Lead Hawai\u02bbi and Alaska Delegations in Introducing Bill to Expand Opportunities for Native Hawaiian and Alaska Natives in Agriculture", "2023-10-30", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=8&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) and Senator Mazie Hirono (HI) led the Hawai\u02bbi and Alaska delegations in introducing the Parity for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Students in Agriculture Act. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Brian Schatz, and Representatives Ed Case and Mary Peltola are also original co-sponsors of the bill.\n\nThe bill would reauthorize the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program for another five years and increase the authorized funding level of the program from $10 million to $15 million. The bill would also ensure grant awards could be used over multiple years to reduce administrative burdens on institutions.\n\nThe program promotes the ability of institutions like the University of Hawai\u2018i and University of Alaska to improve and expand their capacity to provide supplemental educational services to Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students. Grant funds can be used to carry out education, applied research, and related community development programs and to address educational needs within food and agricultural sciences-related disciplines. Priority is given to projects that enhance educational equity for underrepresented students; strengthen institutional educational capacities; prepare students for careers related to the food, agricultural, and natural resource systems; and maximize the development and use of resources to improve food and agricultural sciences teaching programs.\n\n\u201cI am proud to introduce this legislation to support our Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native students in food, agriculture, and ecosystem stewardship education and research,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cThis is especially important for rural and remote areas like Hawai\u02bbi and Alaska where food costs are higher and fresh produce and food are hard to access. By increasing educational equity and investing in our students, we are promoting indigenous and traditional farming techniques and systems and providing economic opportunities for the next generation.\n\n\u201cAt a time when people in Hawaii and across the country lack access to healthy and affordable food and produce, it is important that we invest in institutions that are working to address these issues,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThis grant program provides essential funding for institutions that support Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students pursuing these issues. By investing in our students, we are also investing in the future of our communities and economies\u2014helping to strengthen long-term food sustainability.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe potential of Alaska\u2019s agriculture industry continues to grow \u2014and it\u2019s critical we ensure young Alaska Natives take an active role in its growth. This bill will invest in Alaska Native students, preparing them for future careers that will strengthen food security and feed communities in the state. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in the Alaska and Hawai\u2019i Delegations on this effort that will not only support Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students in the agriculture field, but also enhance traditional Indigenous farming practices that will feed communities for generations to come,\u201d said Senator Lisa Murkowski.\n\n\u201cOur bill is about investing in Hawaii agriculture and our next generation of farmers. This federal program will give students the chance to learn more about indigenous farming practices and food production, engage Native Hawaiian perspectives, and will help grow Hawaii\u2019s agricultural economy,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2280", "Case To Hold Nov. 4 Talk Story In Honolulu Focusing On Veterans", "2023-10-29", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=11", "scraper", "(HONOLULU, HI) -- U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i -First District) will host another of his series of Talk Story community meetings, this one focused on veterans, on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 in Honolulu.\n\n\u201cAs a member of the House Appropriations Committee, responsible for all federal discretionary funding including programs and services for our nation\u2019s veterans, I look forward to the opportunity to share my work in our nation\u2019s capitol in Washington, DC, as well as to hear directly any concerns or issues from our veterans, who number around 112,000 in Hawai\u2018i,\u201d said Case.\n\nCase\u2019s Veterans Talk Story will be held:\n\n1. Saturday, November 4, 2023\n\n2. 9 AM to 10:30 AM\n\n3. Ke'ehi Lagoon Memorial\n\n4. Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Hall\n\n2685 North Nimitz Highway\n\nCase will share with veterans the House-passed version of the appropriations measure for the Department of Veterans Affairs which allocated almost $300 billion for the agency. This is in addition to the $20 billion Congress included for the Cost of War Toxic Exposure Fund under the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act), the law that expands health care and benefits for veterans exposed to Agent Orange, burns pits and other toxic substances.\n\nOther topics to be discussed will include addressing veterans mental health and suicide prevention, and Case\u2019s work on advocating for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander veterans.\n\nThere will also be an update on two facilities under construction in West Oahu that are nearing completion \u2013 the Daniel K. Akaka Clinic in Kalaeloa and the Daniel K. Akaka Veterans Home in Kapolei.\n\nFinally, Case and his staff will be available to address individual veteran concerns and need such as VA benefits.\n\nCase recently shared his work on behalf of veterans in a mailer here.\n\nThis is another in a series of Talk Stories that Case has held this year, the last of which was a series of six in April in communities throughout his Urban Honolulu district. Another series of Talk Stories is scheduled for the first week of January 2024.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-hold-virtual-town-hall-kauai", "Rep. Jill Tokuda to Hold Virtual Town Hall for Kauai", "2023-10-27", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=8&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) Representative Jill Tokuda announced today that her town hall in Kauai scheduled for Wednesday, November 1, 2023, will be moved to a virtual platform. Due to unforeseen changes in the congressional calendar, Rep. Tokuda must now be in Washington, D.C. to vote on the House floor.\n\n\u201cWhile my official duties are keeping me from being home to do these town halls, continuing to connect with my constituents is important to me,\u201d stated Tokuda. \u201cI look forward to being back on Kauai soon, but until then I hope a virtual platform will allow even more individuals to participate.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokudas-statement-speaker-mike-johnson", "Rep. Jill Tokuda\u2019s Statement on Speaker Mike Johnson", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) Representative Jill Tokuda issued the following statement about the election of Speaker Mike Johnson:\n\n\u201cAfter three weeks of chaos and inaction and three unsuccessful nominees, Republicans chose to elect a Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives with little experience in actual governance and a long record of dangerous and extreme far-right positions.\n\nSpeaker Johnson\u2019s past words and actions have focused on criminalizing abortion nationwide, stripping away the rights of our LGBTQ+ community, and leading \u201cstop the steal\u201d claims to overturn the will of the people in the 2020 election that fueled the January 6th insurrection. He\u2019s denied the existence of climate change and threatened our k\u016bpuna by trying to slash Social Security and Medicare.\n\nTo be Speaker is about more than getting the required number of votes. It\u2019s about exhibiting the leadership and courage to lead in a way that is representative and reflective of all people in this beautiful mosaic that is the United States. While Speaker Johnson\u2019s past words and actions have reflected only the extreme views of the Republican Party, he will now be challenged and judged on his ability to be inclusive for the good of our people and our country. That\u2019s going to take more than words. It will require action. Action on behalf of all of our people, inclusive of their identity and orientation, and decisions they have a right to make about their own bodies.\n\n\u2018The time is late. The crisis is great.\u2019 These are Speaker Johnson\u2019s very words, and I agree. We must get back to work. Our constituents, our country, our global allies and partners, are counting on us to prevent a government shutdown and stop devastating budget cuts Republicans have been pushing for months that would hurt workers, children, families, and seniors. We must pass the President\u2019s supplemental requests for funding to support our ability to defend ourselves and our allies, protect childcare for working families, and above all, secure the disaster relief and federal support Maui needs as continue down the long road to recovery. Our constituents demand and deserve nothing less.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-introduces-maui-strong-act-bill-support-maui-small-businesses", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Introduces the MAUI STRONG Act, a Bill to Support Maui Small Businesses and Nonprofits", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Hawai\u02bbi)\u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) introduced the Micro-enterprise Assistance and Urgent Investment for Supporting Trade, Recovery Operations, and Neighborhood Growth (MAUI STRONG) Act, a bill that would provide nonprofits, small businesses with 25 or fewer employees, and independent contractors that experienced revenue loss because of the Maui fires grants of $20,000 to help with a variety of expenses.\n\nIf enacted, the bill would establish the Emergency Micro-enterprise Recovery Grant Pilot Program to award tax-free grants to eligible nonprofits and small businesses on Maui. Grants could be used to maintain payroll, purchase materials or equipment, make rent or mortgage payments, or pay for obligations that cannot be met due to revenue losses.\n\n\u201cNonprofits and small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities. As Maui begins to rebuild and focus on long-term recovery, I\u2019ve heard from residents, micro-business owners, and nonprofit organizations who are facing an uncertain future and feel frustrated that not enough is being done to be responsive to their needs. Lahaina was home to as many as a thousand businesses, many that were small and considered a mico-business with nine employees or less. They provided a range of goods and services for Kamaaina and visitors alike. We must do everything possible to support those who are struggling due to the fires. My MAUI STRONG Act would provide direct relief for the small businesses and nonprofit organizations that support our local ohana and communities,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda.\n\n\u201cMahalo to Congresswoman Tokuda for introducing the Maui Strong Act. Maui\u2019s business community has suffered extensive financial and personal losses from the August wildfires and to date, federal loans have been the only form of relief. This bill is a critical first step to provide non-repayable financial support to boost Maui\u2019s economic recovery.\u201d - Sherry Menor-McNamara, President and CEO, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii\n\nRepresentative Ed Case cosponsored the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nThis bill follows Representative Tokuda\u2019s recent introduction of the Natural Disaster Tax Relief Act, which would lessen the tax burden on people impacted by major disasters in 2023.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-and-sen-mazie-hirono-introduce-bill-lessen-tax-burden-those", "Rep. Jill Tokuda and Sen. Mazie Hirono Introduce Bill to Lessen Tax Burden for Those Impacted by Natural Disasters", "2023-10-20", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) and Sen. Mazie Hirono (HI) recently introduced the Natural Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023. The bill would lessen the tax burden on people impacted by major natural disasters in 2023. It would allow more individuals impacted by the wildfires to claim a personal casualty loss by eliminating the requirement to itemize deductions and removing the 10 percent loss requirement to qualify. It would also waive the 10 percent penalty on hardship withdrawals from retirement accounts to help those impacted by the fires make ends meet.\n\n\u201cOur Maui ohana have been through enough. This bill helps victims of the fires reduce their tax burden and penalties as they seek to recover and rebuild. Having the cash and financial resources they need goes a long way in supporting themselves and their families,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda.\n\n\u201cAs communities on Maui continue to heal and recover from the devastating wildfires, this bill will help provide relief to those who have lost so much as a result of this disaster,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cBy easing the financial burden on those impacted by the wildfires, as well as other disasters across our country, the Natural Disaster Tax Relief Act will help bring some peace of mind for families and individuals and help ensure they have the necessary resources to support themselves.\u201d\n\nThe bill is also cosponsored by Sen. Brian Schatz (HI) and Rep. Ed Case (HI-01).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/hawaii-delegation-applauds-179-million-department-energy-grants-improve", "Hawai\u02bbi Delegation Applauds $17.9 Million in Department of Energy Grants to Improve Renewable Energy Utilization and the Resilience of Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s Power Systems", "2023-10-19", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2013 Today, the Hawai\u02bbi congressional delegation applauded the news that the Department of Energy is awarding $3.5 billion in grants to 58 projects across 44 states to strengthen electric grid resilience and reliability across America, including $17.9 million to Hawai\u02bbi.\n\nThe Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program was a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Program accelerates the deployment of transformative projects that will help to ensure the reliability of the power sector\u2019s infrastructure, so that all communities have access to affordable, reliable, and clean electricity.\n\n\"Kaua\u2018i has been a leader in Hawai\u2018i when it comes to protecting ratepayers from energy disruptions and global market volatility,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02). This funding allows Kaua\u2018i to now take it to the next level and be a national leader when it comes to meeting and exceeding our renewable energy goals and providing cleaner, locally produced energy and economic cost savings.\"\n\n\u201cAs we work to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events, it\u2019s important that communities across the islands are equipped with reliable, resilient energy infrastructure,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThis funding will help strengthen the electrical grid in Hawaii and across the country, increasing access to affordable, renewable, and reliable electricity to better serve our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur landmark infrastructure law continues to deliver for Hawai\u2018i. This new money will improve Hawai\u2018i\u2019s electrical infrastructure, making it safer, more reliable and resilient to climate change and extreme weather,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\n\u201cHawaii\u2019s isolated islands, where we cannot exchange power across interconnected grids like the continent, make it critical for each island to develop its own unique energy generation and distribution systems based on its own needs and resources\u201d, said Congressman Ed Case (HI-01). \u201cFederal demonstration and development grants like these are just what Congress\u2019 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law intended to assist next-generation energy systems to fit different circumstances around our country.\u201d\n\nAmong the awards, the Hawai\u02bbi Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism will receive $16.3 million to utilize solar grid forming technology and $1.7 million to enable high penetration renewables with Synchronous Condenser Conversion Technology.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-announces-second-kauai-community-town-hall", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Announces Second Kaua\u02bbi Community Town Hall", "2023-10-17", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Hawai\u02bbi)\u2013 Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) will hold her second Kaua\u02bbi community town hall. Community members are invited to join Rep. Tokuda in Kapa\u02bba, Kaua\u02bbi on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.\n\nTokuda will provide a legislative update and take questions and comments from attendees. For more information and to RSVP, please visit the events section on Rep. Tokuda\u2019s website at tokuda.house.gov.\n\nCommunity Town Hall on Kaua\u02bbi\n\nWhat: Kaua\u02bbi Community Town Hall\n\nWhen: Wednesday, November 1, 2023: 5:30pm to 6:30pm\n\nWhere: Kapa\u02bba Middle School Library\n\n4867 Olohena Road\n\nKapa\u02bba, Hawai\u02bbi 96746\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-announces-satellite-office-hour-events-help-constituents", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Announces Satellite Office Hour Events to Help Constituents Navigate the Federal Government", "2023-10-12", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Hawai\u02bbi) \u2013 Rep. Jill Tokuda\u2019s office will be holding Satellite Office Hour events on Hawai\u02bbi Island, O\u02bbahu, L\u0101na\u02bbi, and Moloka\u02bbi to assist residents and businesses with inquiries on issues or problems that they are having with federal agencies. Tokuda\u2019s office can provide support with passport issues, veteran\u2019s benefits, Social Security, immigration, postal service problems, Medicare, and more.\n\n\u201cAssisting constituents with navigating federal agencies is one of the most important ways that I can ensure our government is working for the people of Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s Second Congressional District. Getting answers from federal agencies can be daunting and time-consuming, which is why I want my team and I to be as accessible as possible and take this service directly to the heart of our communities,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda.\n\nRep. Tokuda\u2019s Satellite Office Hour events are specifically designed for constituents who need direct support with a federal issue. Rep. Tokuda\u2019s Constituent Advocates will be onsite to assist constituents with case work, and to listen to the needs and concerns of residents. Constituents are always able to access this service on Rep. Tokuda\u2019s website at www.tokuda.house.gov. Tokuda\u2019s office asks the community to RSVP on the events section of her website.\n\nREP. TOKUDA\u2019S UPCOMING SATELLITE OFFICE HOURS\n\nSatellite Office Hours \u2013 Puna\n\nWhat: Puna Satellite Office Hours\n\nWhen: Saturday, October 14, 2023\u201410:00 am to 12:00 pm\n\nWhere: Kea\u02bbau Armory\n\n16-512 Volcano Road\n\nKea\u02bbau, Hawai\u02bbi 96749\n\nRSVP: bit.ly/tokudapunaSOH\n\nSatellite Office Hours \u2013 Wai\u02bbanae\n\nWhat: Wai\u02bbanae Satellite Office Hours\n\nWhen: Saturday, October 28, 2023\u20141:00 pm to 3:00 pm\n\nWhere: Wai\u02bbanae Public Library\n\n85-625 Farrington Hwy\n\nWai\u02bbanae, HI 96792\n\nRSVP: bit.ly/tokudawaianaeSOH\n\nSatellite Office Hours \u2013 L\u0101na\u02bbi\n\nWhat: L\u0101na\u02bbi Satellite Office Hours\n\nWhen: Friday, November 3, 2023\u201411:00 am to 1:00 pm\n\nWhere: ILWU Union Hall\n\n840 Ilima Avenue\n\nL\u0101na\u02bbi City, Hawai\u02bbi 96763\n\nRSVP: bit.ly/tokudalanaiSOH\n\nSatellite Office Hours \u2013 Moloka\u02bbi\n\nWhat: Moloka\u02bbi Satellite Office Hours\n\nWhen: Tuesday, November 7, 2023\u2014 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm\n\nWhere: Home Pumehana Hall\n\n290 Kolapa Place\n\nKaunakakai, Hawai\u02bbi 96748\n\nRSVP: bit.ly/tokudamolokaiSOH\n\nIf you have questions regarding the Satellite Office Hours, please call Rep. Tokuda\u2019s Hawai\u02bbi office at (808) 746-6220.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/hawaii-delegation-introduces-bicameral-resolution-honor-victims-and-first", "Hawaii Delegation Introduces Bicameral Resolution to Honor Victims and First Responders in Maui Wildfires", "2023-10-11", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) and U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Ed Case (D-HI) introduced a bicameral resolution honoring the first responders and those who lost their lives in the devastating wildfires on Maui and expressing support for the communities of West and Upcountry Maui. The resolution was led by Senator Hirono in the Senate and Rep. Tokuda in the House and passed the Senate with the unanimous consent of all Senators.\n\n\"I am proud to join my Hawaii delegation colleagues in introducing this important resolution lifting up those who lost their lives in the Maui fires and honoring our first responders,\u201d said Representative Tokuda. \u201cTheir sacrifice and heroism will not be forgotten, and I will continue to fight for the resources and support Lahaina and our Maui ohana need to recover and rebuild.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Lahaina and Upcountry Maui continue the recovery and rebuilding process from the August wildfires, this resolution acknowledges and honors the many sacrifices of first responders, as well as those whose lives were lost,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cI\u2019m glad to see this resolution pass the Senate with unanimous support. I will continue advocating for the federal resources necessary for Maui to recover, guided by the community voices and values of those who call Maui home.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe mourn every victim whose life was cut short, honor the first responders and those across Hawai\u2018i who did everything they could to help their neighbors and communities, and recognize those whose lives have been upended,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cAs the recovery continues, we will keep doing everything we can to ensure Maui gets the support it needs from the federal government.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs we pass into the third month since the Maui wildfires, we honor our \u2018ohana lost and our first responders who saved many more even at their own expense, both in recognition of the worst and best of this tragedy but also in recommittal to the long road still ahead to recovery,\u201d said Representative Case.\n\nThe full text of the resolution is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2272", "Case Votes To Remove McCarthy As House Speaker", "2023-10-03", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=12", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, DC) -- U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2019i-1st) today voted to remove U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (California-20th) as Speaker of the House.\n\n\u201cI considered my vote every which way, take no pleasure in it, and worked for alternatives\u201d said Case, Vice Chair of the bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus. \u201cThe last thing I want to do is support the small minority within my Republican colleagues who initiated this removal.\n\n\u201cBut at the end of the day, on the vote required of me, I voted for change in the House that I believe best moves us all toward a more functional Congress that actually gets things done for all Americans.\u201d\n\nThe motion on which Case voted and which passed 216-210 is technically a motion to vacate, which removes the Speaker. By rules a temporary Speaker Pro Tem is appointed (Representative Patrick McHenry, R-North Carolina (10th) was so designated) to preside over the House and oversee the process of electing the next Speaker, which is by majority vote of all House members. McCarthy could be re-elected to the Speaker position, or the House could elect another Speaker. The timing of the next vote for Speaker is unknown.\n\n\u201cUnder Representative McCarthy\u2019s leadership to date, we have seen dysfunction worsen at a time when we most need Congress to function fully. We have also seen blind catering to an extreme minority even within the Republican Party who do not represent the vast majority of the country and certainly not my constituents, and who prefer dysfunction over practical mainstream governing.\n\n\u201cI cannot support this direction. I will continue to work with my colleagues of whatever party or perspective to put in place both the people and the processes that give us the best chance of a government that most people want: one that works.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-votes-oust-kevin-mccarthy-speakership", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Votes to Oust Kevin McCarthy from the Speakership", "2023-10-03", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) Today, Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted yes on the Resolution to Declare the Office of the Speaker Vacant (also known as the Motion to Vacate), thereby removing Rep. Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Tokuda\u2019s statement is as follows:\n\n\u201cSince the beginning of his Speakership, Kevin McCarthy has been more concerned about keeping the gavel by catering to a handful of far-right extremists instead of taking care of the needs of our people and moving our country forward. In all aspects of life, your word is your bond. When it mattered most for the good of our country, McCarthy has broken his word and fostered and encouraged distrust in government. Our people, all Americans, demand better. For our Maui ohana that have been devastated by the fires, for our keiki and families working hard across Hawaii, and for the kupuna who deserve better, I voted in favor of removing McCarthy from the Speakership. House Democrats have stood united in our goal of putting people over politics, and we've delivered when it mattered, by averting a default on the debt limit and preventing a government shutdown. What happens next remains uncertain, but regardless of who sits in the Speaker seat, we must remain focused on putting people first.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2268", "Case Votes To Prevent Federal Government Shutdown And Add Billions In Emergency Assistance For Maui And Other Disasters", "2023-09-30", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=12", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i-01) made the following statement on his vote today in the U.S. House to prevent a federal government shutdown tonight and add $16 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA\u2019s) Disaster Relief Fund:\n\n\u201cThe deep division and polarization on Capitol Hill should never have been allowed to take Congress to the brink of still another damaging federal government shutdown. The measure we passed today, while temporary and incomplete, shows that we can if we want work for practical bipartisan compromise solutions to get things done.\n\n\u201cAnd it is especially good news that the measure adds fully $16 billion to FEMA\u2019s rapidly depleting Disaster Relief Fund which is providing most of our Maui wildfire emergency disaster assistance.\n\n\u201cWe have a lot more work to do, but this is a good result for now.\u201d\n\nFor a video message from Case following the vote today, go to his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RepEdCase.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-votes-prevent-shutdown-keep-funding-federal-relief-maui", "Rep. Tokuda Votes to Prevent Shutdown, Keep Funding Federal Relief for Maui", "2023-09-30", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) Today, Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted yes on the House bill to prevent a government shutdown and keep funding federal relief for Maui. Rep. Tokuda\u2019s statement is as follows:\n\n\u201cI have been clear over and over again \u2013 our Maui \u2018ohana cannot afford a government shutdown that risks slowing down the relief they need to recover and rebuild. This bill is less than perfect and a temporary solution, but it will keep government open and replenishes FEMA\u2019s Disaster Relief Fund with $16 billion dollars to ensure that Maui and other areas hit hard by natural disasters will continue to recover. My constituents sent me to Congress to keep government working for them, so I voted today to send this bill to the Senate and ensure that our government stays open for the people.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-and-rep-balint-introduce-addressing-addiction-after-disasters-act", "Rep. Tokuda and Rep. Balint Introduce the Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act", "2023-09-29", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) and Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) introduced the Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act. Following a summer of climate emergencies across the country, including in Hawai\u02bbi and Vermont, Americans are suffering the cost. While the physical damage is clear, disaster-stricken communities need resources to cope with the mental and emotional damage they endure.\n\nCurrent Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants are authorized to provide professional counseling services to victims of major disasters through the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCATP). The Addressing Addiction After Disasters (AAAD) Act strengthens the CCATP by allowing FEMA to provide services for substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder.\n\n\u201cFrom Hawaii to Vermont, our nation has been hit hard by natural disasters. For those struggling with substance abuse and mental health problems, these are even darker times. This critical legislation will expand the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program to ensure we can respond quickly when people need us most. I\u2019m pleased to join Representative Balint in this effort, as we work to destigmatize substance and alcohol abuse disorders and help survivors of natural disasters gain access to the full range of health services and support they need,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02).\n\n\u201cStates like Vermont and Hawaii are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. In the aftermath of disasters when stress and emotions run high, it\u2019s important we show up to support our communities with the resources they need,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint. \u201cTogether, Rep. Tokuda and I are in the fight to end the stigma around substance and alcohol abuse disorders. I\u2019m proud to introduce legislation that can get our communities the direct assistance they need during challenging times.\u201d\n\nStudies show that following Hurricane Katrina, alcohol consumption increased by about 185% from before the storm and the annual hospitalization rate for substance use disorders increased by approximately 30%. Following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, 60% of individuals with substance use disorders experienced withdrawal and 70% of those on opioid maintenance therapy could not obtain sufficient doses.\n\nThe CCATP helps people recover and rebuild their lives after a disaster. The CCATP works through immediate interventions such as:\n\nAssisting disaster survivors with navigating their current situation and reactions\n\nReducing stress and providing emotional support\n\nReviewing survivors\u2019 disaster recovery options\n\nDisseminating the use or development of coping strategies\n\nConnecting survivors with other people and agencies who can help them in their recovery process\n\nThe Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act is endorsed by the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) and the Kennedy Forum.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-testimony-house-energy-and-commerce-committee-maui-fires", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Testimony to House Energy  and Commerce Committee on Maui Fires", "2023-09-28", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) gave testimony to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on the deadly Maui fires. The Subcommittee is investigating the role that electric infrastructure played in the fires.\n\nA video of Rep. Tokuda\u2019s remarks can be viewed here.\n\nTokuda\u2019s remarks as written:\n\nChairman Griffith, Ranking Member Castor, and Members of the Subcommittee:\n\nThank you for allowing us the opportunity to testify about the wildfires that have devastated our Maui \u2018ohana.\n\nLike all of you, I want answers. Not a day has gone by that I don\u2019t ask myself questions. How did this happen? What could have been done differently? How do we make sure this never happens again? How do we keep our people safe? What now?\n\nWhy?\n\nI have also been asked many questions. When can I go home? Is the air safe to breathe? How will I pay my mortgage? Who can help me rebuild my business? How do I tell my student their friend didn\u2019t make it?\n\nOne question that sticks with me came shortly after the fire. A woman approached me and asked if I could please find her husband. They\u2019d gone to all the shelters, hospitals, given a DNA sample. What should they do now? She showed me a picture of her husband\u2019s burned up truck and asked me why the backdoor was open? Did he escape? Where is he now?\n\nI could not answer her questions that day. All I could do was hold her hand. Put my arms around her and comfort her. In the weeks that followed I looked for her husband\u2019s name on every list that came out. First, it was on the list of the missing. Then a few weeks ago, identified among the dead.\n\nI share this with you because there are many questions about this tragedy that must be answered. People want answers. People want accountability.\n\nBut our people are still grieving. They are frustrated, angry, and grappling with their new reality. Far too many have lost loved ones in this tight-knit community. Some are still waiting anxiously for news of their loved ones, wanting some kind of resolution, but fearing that knock on their door. While it\u2019s been almost two months, most still have not seen what remains of their homes, with the first L\u0101hain\u0101 residents being allowed to enter their properties just this week.\n\nThe question we need to be focused on right now is how do we keep the help coming to Maui? We are two days away from a shutdown. Our people have gone through enough, the wheels of government must keep turning to provide support and resources, so they focus on recovery and rebuilding.\n\nLast week, in a House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee hearing, one of our colleagues suggested that the Maui fires were the result of Hawai\u2018i\u2019s pursuit of renewable energy. He then insinuated to FEMA Administrator Criswell that the federal government should not support recovery efforts for disasters in states that pursue net-zero policies.\n\nUnfortunately, these comments betray not only a lack of understanding of Hawai\u2018i\u2019s unique energy infrastructure but also a willingness to exploit our pain and tragedy for political gain.\n\nWhat we already knew, even before this disaster, is that L\u0101hain\u0101 is not unique among rural and remote communities across the country that have not received enough investment and where ensuring access to services is a constant struggle.\n\nThis tragedy has highlighted the disparities that exist in energy, telecommunications, transportation, and water infrastructure. Our rural communities lack access to health care and mental health services, emergency services, and more.\n\nThe investments we have made through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act must be a first step, and we understand the urgent need to do more.\n\nThe path ahead for Maui will be long and difficult. It will take years if not generations to recover and rebuild from this disaster. Homes, schools, and businesses will be rebuilt, but the\n\nscars of trauma on people will take much longer to heal.\n\nAs various local, state, and federal entities continue to investigate the cause of the Maui wildfires and the emergency response across all levels of government, we must not forget the human element of this tragedy. Behind the whirlwind of investigations and litigation that have emerged from this disaster is a community still healing and fighting every day to recover and rebuild.\n\nWhile the historic banyan tree has become a symbol of hope, we must never forget that the people of L\u0101hain\u0101 are her roots. There is no L\u0101hain\u0101 without the vision and the voice of her people.\n\nLike you and I, our people have questions. We all deserve answers. Right now, the most important question must be, how do we keep the help coming?\n\nMahalo for allowing myself and Congressman Case to testify before this committee. We will continue to count on your support in the weeks, months, and years ahead. But with all of you as part of our extended ohana, I have hope that our people can and will continue to stay Maui Strong.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-announces-congressional-app-challenge-calls-submissions-middle", "Rep. Tokuda Announces Congressional App Challenge, Calls for Submissions from Middle School and High School Students", "2023-09-27", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "Hawai\u02bbi \u2013 Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) announced that her office is accepting student submissions for the 2023 Congressional App Challenge launched by the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cWe need to encourage students to get excited about coding and app development, and thinking about a possible career in these fields,\u201d stated Rep. Tokuda. \u201cCompetitions like the Congressional App Challenge stimulate creativity, innovation, and essential skillsets our young people will need for jobs of the future.\u201d\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge encourages student participation in computer science, coding, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields and motivates our nation\u2019s young talent to use their creativity to make an app for desktop/PC, web, tablet, mobile, raspberry Pi or other devices. The Congressional App Challenge is open to all middle school and high school students residing in or attending a school in Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s Second Congressional District.\n\nThe winner(s) of Hawaii\u2019s 2nd Congressional District will be featured on the U.S. House of Representative\u2019s Congressional App Challenge webpage, posted on Congresswoman Tokuda's website and social media pages, and will be eligible to be on display in the U.S. Capitol during #HouseOfCode\u2014which will honor all winners from across the country.\n\nStudents should visit Tokuda\u2019s website: https://bit.ly/tokudaappchallenge to learn more about the registration and submission process. Submissions are due by 6:00am HST on Wednesday November 1, 2023.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-d-hi-02-rep-diana-harshbarger-r-tn-01-members-mark-successful", "Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), Members Mark Successful Kickoff Event of the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus", "2023-09-22", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2013 On Wednesday, Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) held the first kick-off event of the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus. The event received wide participation, including from caucus members Rep. Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson (R-PA-15), Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA-07), Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV-01), Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Rep. James C. Moylan (R-GU-00), Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), and Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01).\n\nThe event also included remarks by Carrie Cochran-McClain, Chief Policy Officer of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA).\n\n\u201cRepublicans and Democrats from across the country came together to share health care issues impacting their districts,\u201d said Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02). \u201cFrom increasing mental health needs to expanding broadband to support telehealth and addressing provider shortages, it\u2019s clear that while our districts vary in location and demographic, we are united in the fight to improve health care access. We agree that Congress must do more to target resources to address the health disparities in rural and remote communities. I am proud to co-lead the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus with my esteemed colleague, Rep. Harshbarger, and look forward to continuing this important work together.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a community pharmacist in East Tennessee for over 30 years, I understand the health care issues faced by rural communities,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (TN-01). \u201cI was proud to join fellow Rural Health Caucus co-chair, Representative Jill Tokuda, and our colleagues in the first of many events held by the caucus to highlight the needs of patients and health care professionals in rural and remote areas. I look forward to working with my counterparts to address issues such as workforce shortages, supply scarcities, limited access to care, and other health care challenges to improve patient outcomes.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe National Rural Health Association (NRHA) applauds Representatives Tokuda and Harshbarger for relaunching the Congressional Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, and for all the participating members for their advocacy on rural health issues. The Caucus will be a great opportunity to bring critical issues facing rural providers and patients to the forefront and develop solutions. NRHA is excited to work closely with the Rural Health Caucus and advance rural health priorities in Congress,\u201d said Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association.\n\n\u201cHaving spent nearly 30 years in health care before coming to Congress, I am acutely aware of the many challenges facing rural communities,\u201d Rep. Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson (PA-15) said. \u201cThe Rural Health Care Caucus will raise awareness about the unique issues my constituents, and others in rural America, face when accessing medical services. I will always use my voice in Congress to support policies that improve access to quality health care services, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to address these challenges.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m excited to work with my colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, to address barriers to accessing quality health care in rural areas across the country,\u201d said Congresswoman Susan Wild (PA-07). \u201cWhether it\u2019s advocating for fair reimbursement rates for rural hospitals, or pushing to protect the 340B drug pricing program, I\u2019ll continue pushing to make sure that everyone\u2014no matter where they live\u2014can access the quality, affordable care they need to stay healthy.\u201d\n\n\u201cHaving access to affordable health care is the difference between life and death for many rural Americans,\u201d said Congresswoman Miller (WV-01). \u201cIt is unacceptable that all West Virginian\u2019s don\u2019t have quality health care available to them when they need it. I am looking forward to working with the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus on health care policies that will provide quality care in our communities, prioritize our health care workforce, and educate members of Congress on why rural America needs better and more accessible health care.\u201d\n\n\"Every American deserves to have access to affordable, high-quality health care, no matter where they live,\" said Congresswoman Budzinski (IL-13). \"I'm excited to help launch the Bipartisan Rural Health Care Caucus to focus on addressing the challenges too many of my constituents face in receiving the care they need.\"\n\n\u201cNo one should have to travel for hours through treacherous terrain to see a doctor. But for so many in rural Oregon, this is simply reality,\u201d said Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06). \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to be a founding member of the Rural Health Care Caucus. Together, we will find ways to increase access to quality, affordable health care \u2013 including mental health care \u2013 for our rural communities. As Oregon continues to experience an unprecedented mental health and substance use crisis, it\u2019s even more critical that we address these issues now. I\u2019m excited to get to work, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to unite behind this caucus and its important mission.\u201d\n\nThe Caucus, which currently has 34 members, provides a forum for Members of Congress to advocate for legislation and policy actions that improve access to quality, affordable health care and mental health services for people living in rural and remote communities across the country.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-leads-letter-us-department-interior-requesting-additional-support", "Rep. Tokuda Leads Letter to U.S. Department of the Interior Requesting Additional Support for Maui Fire Recovery, Cultural Preservation Efforts", "2023-09-22", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02), along with House Natural Resources Ranking Member Raul Grijalva, and Rep. Ed Case sent a letter to Secretary Deb Haaland requesting that the Department of Interior (the Department) provide support for the environmental recovery and cultural preservation efforts on Maui and Hawai\u02bbi Island.\n\nThe letter outlines four areas of concern for the Department to focus on:\n\nEnvironmental Stewardship\n\nRequesting that the Department offer its technical expertise in the consideration of the future resilience of communities in Hawai\u02bbi, as well as respect the traditional stewardship of these areas.\n\nRepatriation of Native Hawaiian Artifacts\n\nRequesting that the Department take an active role to ensure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other Federal agencies involved in L\u0101hain\u0101 remediation efforts are compliant with requirements under the Native American Graves, Patrimony, and Repatriation Act.\n\nNative Hawaiian Climate Resilience\n\nRequesting that the Department\u2019s Office of Native Hawaiian Relations help build capacity in the Native Hawaiian Community to increase climate resilience on Maui, Hawai\u02bbi Island, and throughout the State of Hawai\u02bbi.\n\nNative Hawaiian Consultation\n\nRequesting that the Department\u2019s Office of Native Hawaiian Relations continue working to develop and finalize formal consultation procedures with the Native Hawaiian Community so that they can be utilized by Federal agencies charged with remediation efforts on Maui and Hawai\u02bbi Island.\n\nThe full letter is as follows:\n\nSeptember 22, 2023\n\nThe Honorable Deb Haaland\n\nSecretary of the Interior\n\nU.S. Department of the Interior\n\n1849 C Street NW\n\nWashington, DC 20240\n\nDear Secretary Haaland:\n\nWe first want to thank the U.S. Department of the Interior (the Department) for its swift response and continued support in the aftermath of the wildfires that resulted in the loss of life and destruction of communities in Hawai\u02bbi. We greatly appreciate the Department\u2019s direct support in firefighting efforts that protected the Pu\u2019ukohol\u0101 Heiau National Historic Site on Hawai\u2019i Island and the Department\u2019s critical role in fire evacuation and search and rescue efforts in Maui.\n\nAs we transition from the immediate wildfire response to long-term action, we request that the Department provide support for environmental recovery and cultural preservation efforts on Maui and Hawai\u02bbi Island.\n\nEnvironmental Stewardship\n\nThese tragic wildfires continue a pattern of frequent once-in-a-lifetime weather events that are negatively impacting every aspect of life in Hawai\u2018i. Climate-fueled environmental conditions, including prolonged drought, dangerously high winds, and invasive species, contributed to these wildfires, which have tragically resulted in over 100 confirmed deaths. In addition to more than 2,100 structures damaged and 5,600 residents displaced, thousands of acres of agricultural and conservation land have been burned.\n\nLand management also remains an important factor in the mitigation of increased natural disasters. The Native Hawaiian Community recognizes the interconnectedness of ecosystems with the traditional ahupua\u2018a subdivision of land, from the mountains to the sea. The increase of fallow agricultural lands, lack of support for conservation lands, and difficulty in accessing critical resources, such as water, exacerbate the community impacts of climate disasters.\n\nAs Federal agencies look to assist the people of Hawai\u2018i in efforts to restore the local ecosystems, we request the Department offer its technical expertise in the consideration of the future resilience of these communities as well as respect the traditional stewardship of these areas. The Department will play a vital role in coordinating and overseeing the federal response to help in the rebuilding of these communities.\n\nRepatriation of Native Hawaiian Artifacts\n\nThe recent wildfires that swept through L\u0101hain\u0101, Maui have left many residents, including members of the Native Hawaiian Community, mourning not only the loss of family and friends but also destruction of homes, historic landmarks, and cultural items.\n\nFor hundreds of years, L\u0101hain\u0101 was the center of religious and political activity in Hawai\u02bbi. In 1810, after King Kamehameha succeeded in unifying the Hawaiian Islands, he made L\u0101hain\u0101 his royal residence. For three decades, L\u0101hain\u0101 served as the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom before it was moved to Honolulu. As one of the most significant archaeological sites in Hawai\u2018i, L\u0101hain\u0101 was also home to historic documents such as the Mahele (the great land division agreement of the 1840s), the Hawaiian government\u2019s first constitution, and the remains of several Hawaiian monarchs.\n\nOver the past 30 years, in Hawai\u02bbi, repatriation advocates have helped bring back feather cloaks, wooden statues, and more than 6,000 ancestral bones, an effort which has been critical to restoring Native Hawaiian cultural assets, preserving history, and perpetuating traditional indigenous practices. As part of ongoing efforts to rebuild the town of L\u0101hain\u0101 and revitalize its rich history, we ask that the Department work with local leaders and community members to support the repatriation and transfer of any human remains and other cultural items of significance to the Native Hawaiian Community.\n\nWe also ask that the Department take an active role to ensure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other Federal agencies involved in L\u0101hain\u0101 remediation efforts are in compliance with requirements under the Native American Graves, Patrimony, and Repatriation Act.\n\nNative Hawaiian Climate Resilience\n\nThe wildfires on Maui have renewed centuries-old tensions over water rights and management of natural resources between community members and developers. In the late 18th century, L\u0101hain\u0101 was once abundant with natural wetlands, extensive taro patches, and fishponds that sustained wildlife and generations of Native Hawaiian families. However, after more than a century and a half of plantation agriculture driven by American and European colonists, many L\u0101hain\u0101 streams have been depleted, and the large-scale monoculture of sugar cane and pineapple industries has drastically altered the ecology of the island.\n\nOver the past two decades, Native Hawaiian farmers in Maui have fought to reclaim water rights and restore streamflow on their ancestral lands for taro farming, sustainable fishing, and other traditional agricultural practices. We ask the Department\u2019s Office of Native Hawaiian Relations help build capacity in the Native Hawaiian Community to increase climate resilience on Maui, Hawai\u02bbi Island, and throughout the State of Hawai\u02bbi by considering these efforts to revive sustainable indigenous agricultural practices when determining Native Hawaiian Climate Resilience and Adaption grant awards authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act.\n\nNative Hawaiian Consultation\n\nDuring his recent visit to L\u0101hain\u0101, President Biden assured community members in Maui that the Administration would \u201cdo everything possible to help [them] recover, rebuild, and respect culture and traditions when the rebuilding takes place.\u201d He also promised the L\u0101hain\u0101 community that the federal government would support cleanup and rebuilding efforts and \u201cget it done the way [they] want it done.\u201d\n\nIt is critical that the federal government follow the President\u2019s directive to elevate and advance the needs of affected communities \u2013 not the interests of predatory developers. The devastating wildfires present the Native Hawaiian Community with an opportunity to rebuild their homelands and manage their resources in ways they have not been afforded in the past. They are best equipped to navigate their own future, and we must do all that we can to protect their seat at the decision-making table.\n\nIn October 2022, the Department\u2019s Office of Native Hawaiian Relations announced its plans to develop the agency\u2019s first-ever consultation policy with the Native Hawaiian Community. We encourage the Department to continue working to develop and finalize these formal consultation procedures with the Native Hawaiian Community so that they can be utilized by Federal agencies charged with remediation efforts on Maui and Hawai\u02bbi Island to ensure the full participation of the Native Hawaiian Community in long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.\n\nWhile communities in Maui and Hawai\u02bbi Island continue to recover and start to rebuild, it is crucial that state and local governments and residents have access to strong resources and necessary assistance. The historical, cultural, and ecological importance of these islands and the affected areas cannot be overstated. We stand ready to assist the Administration in the environmental response and cultural preservation efforts of Maui and Hawai\u02bbi Island.\n\nThank you for your time and consideration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-d-hi-02-and-rep-diana-harshbarger-r-tn-01-hold-first-kick", "Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) to Hold First Kick-off Event of the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus", "2023-09-18", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2013 On Wednesday, Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) will hold the kick-off event of the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus.\n\nThe roundtable-style event will include introductory remarks by the Caucus co-chairs and a short presentation by Carrie Cochran-McClain, Chief Policy Officer of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). Members will also provide brief remarks about health care access in their districts as well as rural health issues of interest.\n\nDate: Wednesday, September 20th\n\nTime: 12:45pm to 1:45pm EDT\n\nLocation: Longworth 1302 (Agriculture Committee hearing room)\n\nMedia are invited to attend and should RSVP to Carly Sylva-Gabrielson.\n\nThe Caucus, which currently has 24 members, provides a forum for Members of Congress to advocate for legislation and policy actions that improve access to quality, affordable health care and mental health services for people living in rural and remote communities across the country.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2261", "Hawaii Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $42 Million In Federal Grants To Expand Access To Trees And Green Space In Communities Throughout The State", "2023-09-16", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=12", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (HI-01) and Jill Tokuda (HI-02) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $42,585,500 in grants to nine organizations to plant and maintain trees, combat extreme heat, and improve access to green space in communities throughout the state. The largest award - $20 million \u2013 went to Kupu, a conservation and youth education nonprofit based in Honolulu.\n\n\u201cWe need to be doing everything we can to make our communities more resilient to climate change,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cThis funding will help expand our urban tree canopy and mitigate the effects of extreme heat \u2013 all while providing job training opportunities to those who need it most.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs we work to mitigate the impacts of climate change and promote sustainability, this funding brings us one step closer in creating healthier, more equitable communities across Hawai\u02bbi,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThis historic investment in urban forests will help ensure people in Hawaii have access to quality outdoor spaces, no matter where they live. I am proud to have helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act last year\u2013the largest action on climate change ever passed by Congress, which made this funding possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe funding was made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act , the largest climate and energy related investment in our history, so that we can fully seek and obtain the assistance offered for various critical projects,\u201d said Representative Case. \u201cThese grants administered by the USDA\u2019s Urban and Community Forestry Program provides the organizations the crucial funding needed to strengthen Hawaii\u2019s capacity to advance climate resiliency efforts.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis grant administered by the USDA\u2019s program provides Kupu the crucial funding needed to expand opportunities for, and develop marketable professional skills of, the Pacific workforce to strengthen Hawai\u02bbi and other Pacific communities and their capacity to advance climate resiliency efforts.\u201d\n\n\"Communities across our state are looking at the extreme drought conditions and rising temperatures in their own backyards and they are scared,\u201d said Representative Tokuda. \u201cThis USDA funding is critical as we meet the moment and invest in adaptable green spaces, plant native trees and flora to combat heat and reduce fire risks, combat urban heat islands, mitigate the impacts of natural disasters, and ensure long term climate resiliency.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Kupu\u2019s $20 million award, the other organizations awarded grants include*:\n\n\u00b7 Smart Trees Pacific $9 million\n\n\u00b7 Grow Good Hawai\u02bbi $5 million\n\n\u00b7 Friends of Amy B.H. Greenwell\n\nEthnobotanical Garden $2 million\n\n\u00b7 State of Hawai\u02bbi Department of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR)\n\nDivision of Forestry & Wildlife $2 million\n\n\u00b7 University of Hawai\u02bbi $2 million\n\n\u00b7 Akaka Foundation for Tropical Forests $1 million\n\n\u00b7 City & County of Honolulu\n\nDepartment of Parks and Recreation $1 million\n\n\u00b7 DLNR $585,500\n\n*See attachment to read how each organization will use the funding.\n\n\u201cThese investments arrive as cities across the country experience record-breaking heatwaves that have grave impacts on public health, energy consumption, and overall well-being,\u201d said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.\n\n\u201cThanks to President Biden\u2019s Investing in America agenda, we are supporting communities in becoming more resilient to climate change and combatting extreme heat with the cooling effects of increased urban tree canopy, while also supporting employment opportunities and professional training that will strengthen local economies.\u201d\n\nThe Urban and Community Forestry Program is the only program in the federal government dedicated to enhancing and expanding the nation's urban forest resources. This is the largest single USDA Inflation Reduction Act investment to date in urban and community forests.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/hawaii-congressional-delegation-announces-more-42-million-federal-funding", "Hawaii Congressional\u00a0Delegation Announces More than $42 Million in Federal Funding Grants to Expand Access to Trees and Green Space in Communities Throughout the State", "2023-09-16", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "\u201cAs we work to mitigate the impacts of climate change and promote sustainability, this funding brings us one step closer in creating healthier, more equitable communities across Hawai\u02bbi,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cThis historic investment in urban forests will help ensure people in Hawaii have access to quality outdoor spaces, no matter where they live. I am proud to have helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act last year\u2013the largest action on climate change ever passed by Congress, which made this funding possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese investments arrive as cities across the country experience record- breaking heatwaves that have grave impacts on public health, energy consumption, and overall well-being,\u201d said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.\n\n\u201cThanks to President Biden\u2019s Investing in America agenda, we are supporting communities in becoming more resilient to climate change and combatting extreme heat with the cooling effects of increased urban tree canopy, while also supporting employment opportunities and professional training that will strengthen local economies.\u201d\n\nThe Urban and Community Forestry Program is the only program in the federal government dedicated to enhancing and expanding the nation's urban forest resources. This is the largest single USDA Inflation Reduction Act investment to date in urban and community forests.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-accepting-applications-military-service-academy-nominations", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Accepting Applications for Military Service Academy Nominations", "2023-09-15", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) announced that her office is accepting applications from students in Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s Second Congressional District for Military Service Academy Nominations. Qualified applicants must submit their applications no later than Monday, October 16th, 2023.\n\nEvery year, members of Congress are given a limited number of candidates to nominate for appointment to the U.S. service academies. Rep. Tokuda can only nominate up to ten exceptional students for each vacant academy slot allotted to the Second Congressional District.\n\n\u201cThere are students throughout our islands who have the strength of character and tenacity to be among our next generation of leaders in our U.S. Military,\u201d Representative Tokuda, a member of the Armed Services Committee, said. \u201cIt is an honor for me to nominate our young leaders in Hawai\u02bbi to attend a military service academy to pursue their dreams of service while proudly representing our values and our home.\u201d\n\nTo be considered for a nomination, candidates must reside in Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s Second Congressional District, meet the basic eligibility requirements established by the academies, and must submit a complete nomination application by Monday, October 16th, 2023, to Rep. Tokuda\u2019s office. For more information on eligibility and the application process, visit bit.ly/tokudanominations or call Rep. Tokuda\u2019s District Office at (808) 746-6220.\n\nTo apply for a Military Service Academy Nomination through Tokuda\u2019s office, please click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-gives-house-floor-speech-maui-fires-leads-moment-silence", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Gives House Floor Speech on Maui Fires, Leads Moment of Silence", "2023-09-14", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) delivered remarks on the House floor and, along with Rep. Ed Case, led a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the devastating Maui fires. Tokuda\u2019s House colleagues wore red in solidarity with our Maui \u02bbohana.\n\nA video of Rep. Tokuda\u2019s remarks can be downloaded for media use here and viewed here.\n\nRep. Tokuda\u2019s remarks as written:\n\nMr. Speaker,\n\nI invite all my colleagues who have ties to Maui, who have been to Maui, or who stand by our community to join me here in the Well of the Chamber.\n\nLouise Abigail was 97 and an active grandmother that lived in the Hale Mahaolu \u2018Eono Independent Living Complex. Tony Takafua was just seven years old and was with his mother and grandparents.\n\nThey are the youngest and oldest victims of the wildfires, the difference in their ages spanning almost a century yet connected by one cruel fate.\n\nOn August 8th, Maui and Hawai\u2018i Island were ablaze with 11 separate fires.\n\nSpurred by 80 mph winds, fire ripped through our town of Lahaina in just 17 minutes, tragically claiming the lives of 115 people, with dozens more still unaccounted for and thousands displaced and grieving.\n\nIt would be easy enough to speak of our pain and grief. The hands I\u2019ve held, the stories I\u2019ve heard. I have come to know all too well what death and destruction smells and feels like and how the sadness clings to you.\n\nInstead, I\u2019d like to focus on something just as important: hope.\n\nWhen I first went back to Lahaina, the absence of color, of structure, of anything familiar is what hit me.\n\nBut as I\u2019ve returned there, including with the Speaker and other members of the House, whom I want to thank for the support made clear by their presence, I\u2019ve noticed something amidst the rubble.\n\nLife.\n\nSprinkled through the burn zone, I\u2019ve seen one plant in particular that has survived.\n\nBanana trees.\n\nThey are one of the original canoe plants brought to Hawai\u2018i from Polynesia because of their ability to feed and heal people.\n\nHow fitting to see these trees come to life as we prepare for the arduous journey ahead of us.\n\nOur people are strong and resilient. They have a gracious grit that has both inspired me and moved me to tears in the face of this unthinkable tragedy.\n\nBut they also feel justifiable anger and frustration that they are even in this situation. And, we feel an overwhelming sense of urgency to provide the help, the support, and yes, even the answers people need.\n\nThis is a national disaster that will require a national whole-of-government response.\n\nOur strong support for our Maui \u2018ohana will send a clear message to every American that no matter where you live in this great country, you will not be left behind.\n\nMr. Speaker, we will need the help of all our colleagues as we set sail for what must be a better future for our people, determined by our people.\n\nThe asks we make will not be insignificant, and the support we need will span generations.\n\nBut today, I simply ask for your humanity.\n\nHawai\u2018i has so often shared its aloha, its people, whatever we can give, with the world.\n\nNow, our people need your k\u014dkua (help), your help.\n\nWe have been tested, but we are not broken.\n\nWe will rise again. And we will be stronger than before. I\u2019ve said it before, and I\u2019ll say it again: if there's one thing you can always count on, it\u2019s that aloha always wins.\n\nMr. Speaker, on behalf of Congressman Case and myself, I humbly ask for a moment of silence so that we may lift up and honor our Maui \u2018ohana as they grieve, as they recover, and as they rebuild.\n\n[moment of silence]\n\nThank you, and I yield back.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2260", "Case Contracts Covid; Will Not Join U.S. House Speaker-Led Delegation To Maui Today To Review Wildfire Tragedy And Disaster Response", "2023-09-02", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=12", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i -1st), who was scheduled to join a U.S. House of Representatives member delegation to Maui today led by Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy (California-20th), tested positive for COVID-19 this morning and will not attend.\n\nThe delegation, which includes U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (Ohio-14th), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security with oversight and funding responsibility for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Coast Guard and on which Case also serves, will review the Lahaina devastation as well as recovery and assistance efforts and meet with survivors.\n\nCase is a member of the subcommittee and invited Joyce.\n\nThe delegation will view the devastation of Lahaina by air and ground, meet with survivors, and review the federal and other responses. Its trip comes as the President has just asked Congress to increase emergency aid to FEMA by $4 billion in the Fiscal Year 2023 supplemental appropriations bill, which Congress is taking up when it returns to Washington, D.C. later this month.\n\n\u201cOur delegation\u2019s goal with our congressional colleagues has been to invite as many of them as we can to come to Maui and see and feel the devastation and recovery challenges for themselves,\u201d said Case. \u201cWhen you do that, it\u2019s impossible to treat this disaster as a distant event and impossible to ignore the compelling life-and-death needs of our community which must be addressed fully by our federal government.\u201d\n\nHawai\u2018i will be represented on the delegation by Case\u2019s colleague, Rep. Jill Tokuda (Hawai\u2018i-2nd), Governor Josh Green and Mayor Richard Bissen will also join portions to brief Members on specific needs and issues.\n\nCase, who to his knowledge has not contracted COVID-19 previously, is isolating at home under standard COVID protocols and will continue working on the disasters and his other congressional business as he can. He took the opportunity to highlight that COVID-19 remains a serious public health concern throughout Hawai\u2019i and the country.\n\n\u201cWhile we\u2019ve come a long way through this pandemic, COVID-19 infection rates are climbing. We need to utilize the proven tools to reverse this latest trend, including CDC safety protocols, testing and vaccines.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-and-senator-hirono-announce-federal-resource-fair-those", "Rep. Jill Tokuda and Senator Hirono Announce Federal Resource Fair for Those Impacted by Maui Fires", "2023-08-23", "2023", "2023-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "(Hawai\u2018i)\u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) and Senator Mazie K. Hirono announced that their offices are holding a federal resource fair for constituents on Maui impacted by the devastating fires. The resource fair is happening this Saturday, August 26, 2023, in Lahaina from 11:00am-5:00pm.\n\nThe members and their staff will be on site with a collection of federal agencies to take immediate action on behalf of constituents who\u2019ve lost personal documents in the fires. Staff will also provide ongoing direct support for everyone to ensure that their individual issues are fully resolved in an expedited manner.\n\nOn site with Rep. Tokuda and Senator Hirono\u2019s offices will be:\n\nThe State Department: Passport Replacement\n\nFEMA: Disaster Aid\n\nDepartment of Housing and Urban Development: Housing Assistance\n\nThe Social Security Administration: Federal Documents Replacement\n\nUnited States Citizenship and Immigration Services: Immigration Support\n\nU.S. Postal Service (USPS): Mail Services\n\nVeterans Affairs Pacific Island Health Care System: Health Care Support\n\nSmall Business Administration: Small Business Support\n\nHawai\u02bbi Disability Rights Center: Legal and Advocacy Services\n\nDepartment of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: Bank Programs & Insurance Information\n\nDepartment of Human Services: Medicaid and SNAP\n\nDepartment of Health: Adult Mental Health Services & State Documents Replacement (birth certificate, marriage license)\n\nDepartment of Health: State Documents Replacement\n\nMaui Economic Opportunity: Housing Assistance\n\nThe County of Maui\n\nMaui Red Cross\n\nMaui United Way\n\nWhat: Federal Resource Fair hosted by Rep. Jill Tokuda and Senator Mazie K. Hirono\n\nWhere: Lahaina Civic Center Gymnasium\n\n1840 Honoapiilani Highway\n\nLahaina, Hawai\u2018i 96761\n\nWhen: Saturday, August 26, 2023\n\n11:00am to 5:00pm\n\nA shuttle service will pick up those staying in Red Cross Shelter Hotels to provide transportation to the Resource Fair. The shuttle will service the following hotels: Honua Kai, Royal Lahaina, KBH, Westin Maui (Ka\u2018anapali), and the Hyatt Hotel (Ka\u2018anapali). The shuttle will begin circulation at 10:00am.\n\nIt\u2019s important to note that this is not a town hall, but an event specifically designed for those impacted by the fires. Staff asks the public to honor this so they can serve those who are in the most need immediately following the crisis.\n\n*No filming or photography from unauthorized individuals will be allowed in the building.\n\nMahalo to the County of Maui for their support of this event.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:30:18Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-announces-federal-resource-fair-those-impacted-maui-fires", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Announces Federal Resource Fair for Those Impacted by Maui Fires", "2023-08-15", "2023", "2023-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=9&", "scraper", "Tokuda and her team will be on site with a collection of federal agencies to take immediate action on behalf of constituents who\u2019ve lost personal documents in the fires. Tokuda\u2019s staff will also provide ongoing direct support for everyone to ensure that their individual issues are fully resolved in an expedited manner.\n\nOn site with Rep. Tokuda and her office will be:\n\nThe State Department: Passport Replacement\n\nFEMA: Disaster Aid\n\nThe Social Security Administration: Social Security Card Replacement\n\nThe Veterans Administration: Veterans Benefits\n\nVeterans Affairs Pacific Island Health Care System: Health Care Support\n\nSmall Business Administration: Small Business Support\n\nUSDA- Natural Resources Conservation Services: Agricultural Support for Producers and Communities\n\nMaui Economic Opportunity\n\nAdditional agencies are pending.\n\nIt\u2019s important to note that this is not a town hall, but an event specifically designed to provide individual assistance for those impacted by the fires, or who need assistance with a federal agency. Rep. Tokuda asks the public to honor this so they can serve those who are in the most need immediately following the crisis.\n\n*This event is fully closed to the media.\n\nWhat:\n\nFederal Resource Fair hosted by Rep. Jill Tokuda\n\nWhere:\n\nMaui Economic Development Board\u2019s Malcom Center\n\n1305 North Holopono Street, Suite 5\n\nKihei, Hawaii 96753\n\nWhen:\n\nSaturday, August 19, 2023\n\n1:00 pm to 5:00 pm\n\nMaui Economic Opportunity will provide shuttle service from the shelter at the South Maui Community Park Gym to the federal resource fair. The shuttle is reserved for those staying in shelters or community members directly impacted by the fires.\n\n*MEDIA: As noted above, this event is completely closed to all members of the media, including bloggers and social media influencers. No filming or photography from unauthorized individuals will be allowed in the building, on the premises, or in the private parking lot. We ask that the media respect this request and the privacy of our constituents at this difficult time.\n\nTo submit an interview request with Rep. Jill Tokuda, contact Carly Sylva-Gabrielson at carly.sylva.gabrielson@mail.house.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:30:18Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-statement-third-indictment-former-president-trump", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Statement on Third Indictment of Former President Trump", "2023-08-01", "2023", "2023-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "(Hawai\u02bbi) \u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) issued the following statement on the third indictment of former President Trump:\n\n\u201cThe United States has long prided itself as a beacon of democracy, with free and fair elections unobstructed from domestic or foreign influence as the cornerstone to the success of our nation.\n\nAs we mark the third indictment for former President Trump, the gravest charges every faced by an American President, we are reminded how fragile our democracy can be. In the months leading up to the 2020 elections, President Trump pushed false claims of election fraud and sought to block the peaceful transition of power. When his efforts to overturn the election failed, Trump cowardly turned to violence, inspiring the January 6th insurrection that defiled the United States Capitol and resulted in the deaths of U.S. Capitol Police Officers. His instructions to the mob to \u201cfight like hell\u201d at the Capitol was a direct violation to his sworn oath of office to \u201cpreserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States\u201d and it cut at the very core of our democracy.\n\nIf we are to strengthen and uphold our values as a country, then we must show that words matter, and actions have consequences. I have full faith and confidence that this case will proceed fairly through our legal system and that he will be held fully accountable for any and all transgressions committed.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:30:18Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2231", "Case Urges Hawaii Veterans Who May Be Eligible For Promise To Address Comprehensive Toxins (PACT) Act Benefits, But Who Have Not Yet Applied, To Apply By August 9th To Assure Retroactive Benefits", "2023-07-28", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=12", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today urged Hawai\u2018i veterans and their survivors who may be eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care benefits under the historic PACT Act of August 2022, and who have not yet applied for PACT Act benefits, to file or at least complete and submit an intent to file before Wednesday, August 9th to preserve eligibility for retroactive benefits back to the law\u2019s enactment.\n\nThe Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act is one of the largest VA health care and benefit expansions ever. It:\n\nExpands and extends eligibility for VA health care to certain diseases linked to exposures to toxins during service in the Vietnam and Gulf Wars and post-9/11 era as well as in nuclear testing.\n\nAdds over twenty presumptive conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic exposures.\n\nAdds more presumptive-exposure locations for Agent Orange and radiation.\n\nRequires the VA to provide a toxic exposure screening to every veteran enrolled in VA health care.\n\nHelps improve research, staff education and treatment related to toxic exposures.\n\nFor those veterans and their survivors, there is no deadline for filing PACT Act claims. But in order for any benefits to also be paid back to the date of the law\u2019s enactment, those claims must be filed by August 9, 2023.\n\n\u201cLast year, I was honored to co-introduce and vote for the PACT Act to keep our promise to our nation\u2019s veterans,\u201d said Case, a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations and of its Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (2019-2023) and Subcommittee on Defense (2023-). \u201cBut this law is only as good as our veterans and survivors gaining full access to authorized benefits including back pay and care where eligible. I want to ensure that all eligible Hawai\u02bbi veterans and their survivors not only apply for PACT Act benefits but do so by August 9th to qualify for the retroactive benefits.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe VA has also consistently said that even if veterans and survivors are uncertain whether they are eligible for PACT Act benefits, they should apply anyway,\u201d continued Case.\n\n\u201cSo, if you have not yet filed and have any question as to whether you\u2019re eligible, I urge you to file by August 9th to maximize any benefits that may be awarded especially retroactively. Please contact my office at (808) 650-6688 or ed.case@mail.house.gov with any questions or needs.\u201d\n\nClick here to file your PACT Act claim or intent to file. Again, there is no deadline to apply for PACT Act benefits, but if you file your PACT Act claim or submit your intent to file before August 9, 2023, you may receive benefits backdated to August 10, 2022 when the bill was enacted. If you file a claim or intent to file after August 9th, you will not be eligible for the retroactive portion of any benefits awarded.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-launches-bipartisan-rural-health-caucus-house-floor", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Launches Bipartisan  Rural Health Caucus on House Floor", "2023-07-28", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2013 On Wednesday, Representative Jill Tokuda took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to talk about the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, which she officially launched on June 20, 2023.\n\nTokuda is co-leading the Caucus with Representative Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) to provide a forum for Members of Congress to advocate for legislation and policy actions that improve access to quality, affordable health care and mental health services for people living in rural and remote communities across the country.\n\n\u201cAs the representative of one of the most rural and remote districts in the country, I have seen and heard firsthand the devastating consequences of inadequate access to care. On every island in Hawai\u02bbi, I have listened to difficult and painful stories of families who\u2019ve lost loved ones simply because of where they live,\u201d said Representative Jill Tokuda\n\nWhen it comes to my hopes for rural health care, it comes down to the four A\u2019s:\n\nAccessibility: the distance a patient must travel by car, plane, or ferry to receive medical services;\n\nAffordability: the cost for a patient to get the care they need;\n\nAcceptability: the extent to which a patient receives culturally and linguistically appropriate services in health care; and,\n\nAvailability: the extent to which a provider has the requisite resources, such as personnel and technology, to meet the individual needs of patients.\n\n\u201cFor many of my constituents, they are just one diagnosis way from a major illness and the impossible financial and family decisions that will come with it, yet they live in geographically isolated areas\u2014their homes, where they continue to be denied their right to health care. These disparities in health care access highlight the need for greater attention and resources aimed at improving health care and outcomes in rural and remote communities. That\u2019s why I am proud to co-lead the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus.\u201d\n\nRep. Tokuda\u2019s speech can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-announces-tokuda-your-town-events-help-constituents-navigate", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Announces Tokuda in Your Town Events to  Help Constituents Navigate the Federal Government", "2023-07-27", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2013 On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, Rep. Jill Tokuda will be in Hilo, Hawai\u02bbi for her first Tokuda in Your Town event to help constituents navigate the federal government and its agencies.\n\nRep. Tokdua and staff will be at the Hilo Public Library on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, from 12:00pm-3:00pm to answer questions, field concerns, and most importantly, take direct and appropriate action.\n\n\u201cNavigating the federal government and its agencies can be difficult and time consuming. As your U.S. Representative, I am committed to making sure that you have an advocate on your side and that you can access all the resources that the federal government can provide. From passport issues, IRS, immigration, Social Security benefits, veteran's benefits, and more\u2014 we are here to help. Constituents can submit support requests online using my website, but I want to make sure that we're serving all of our ohana\u2014 especially those who just have questions, might not have access to the internet, or are unsure if they qualify for support. While we cannot guarantee a favorable outcome, we will do our best to help people in Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s Second Congressional to ensure a fair and timely response to the issue or connect them with the relevant state and local authorities.\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda.\n\nTokuda in Your Town- Hilo\n\nSatellite Office Hours\n\nWednesday, August 2, 2023\n\n12:00pm-3:00pm\n\nHilo Public Library\n\n300 Waianuenue Ave\n\nHilo, Hawai\u02bbi 96720\n\nTokuda plans to hold future events on neighbor islands. Constituents with questions should call Rep. Tokuda\u2019s Hawai\u02bbi office at (808) 746-6220 or visit tokuda.house.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2228", "Case Introduces Measure To Ban Discriminatory Treatment And Pricing Of Shipping Of Goods To U.S. Locations Outside Of Continent", "2023-07-24", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=12", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case\u2019s (HI-01) today announced the introduction of a bill in the U.S. House to end what he called in remarks in the Congressional Record \u201cthe exclusionary and discriminatory practices of private shipping services to Hawai\u2018i and the other non-contiguous parts of our country.\u201d\n\nCase said Hawai\u2018i, located almost 2,500 miles off the West Coast, and like other non-48 states parts of our country, \u201cdepends on shipping more than many other locations in our country, importing well over 90 percent of our life necessities, yet people living in Hawai\u2018i have encountered three unfair shipping practices.\u201d\n\n\u201cFirst, when ordering essentials online, we often learn that a particular online store or item doesn\u2019t even ship to Hawai\u2018i at all. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reviewed this issue and confirmed that \u2018some companies . . . are unwilling to ship products to Alaska, Hawai\u2018i, Puerto Rico, and the other territories\u2019,\u201d said Case.\n\nHe said this exclusion prevents millions of Americans in the non-contiguous states from obtaining key products that should be available to them the same as any others.\n\n\u201cSecond, as many of my constituents know, those who live in Hawai\u2018i are often denied free shipping options from online retailers. It is so painful when a website advertises free shipping and you fill up your shopping cart and input your address only for a red error message to pop up with the news that Hawai\u2018i, Alaska, Guam and elsewhere are not included in the free shipping deal.\n\n\u201cThird, even when companies do ship to Hawai\u2018i, the prices bear no reasonable relationship to the distances involved. The cost to ship to and from anywhere in the United States depends on several factors, including the weight and size of your package and service class. However, according to the FTC, private shipping companies\u2019 delivery options may cost considerably more for a destination in Alaska, Hawai\u2018i, Puerto Rico and the other U.S. territories than for the contiguous states.\u201d\n\n\u201cI'd like to thank my colleague, Congressman Ed Case for introducing the Fair Shipping for Non-Contiguous Areas Act of 2023, said Congressman James Moylan of Guam. \u201cI'm a proud co-sponsor of this bill, as it seeks to directly address shipping inequities in both of our districts.\n\n\u201cDue to our location, Guamanians are all too familiar with being denied online essentials or paying outrageous fees for them. It is my hope that this bill will be passed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe residents of the Northern Mariana Islands rely on imports to provide many of life\u2019s necessities, making us particularly vulnerable to the cost of shipping,\u201d said Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan of the Northern Mariana Islands.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s bill requires fair pricing and service to all U.S. locations to ensure that consumers in the Marianas and other remote locations are not penalized because of where they live. I look forward to working with Rep. Case to advance this legislation through Congress.\u201d\n\nCase said his \u201cFair Shipping for Non-Contiguous Areas Act of 2023\u201d includes prohibitions to address the unfair shipping practices:\n\n1. No private shipping service may exceed the shipping charge for the same product to and from a location in the contiguous United States as charged to a consumer product or producer good to the non-contiguous area of the United States; and\n\n2. No private shipping service may exclude a non-contiguous area of the United States from its shipping policies; or a non-contiguous area of the United States from shipping to its location.\n\nCase cited the example of a 2-pound package sent from Los Angeles to Hawai\u2018i, which costs $45.33, but the same shipment from Los Angeles to New York, essentially the same distance, is just $14.28. He said this outrageous price is from a private shipping company that categorizes shipping to Hawai\u2018i as an international shipment.\n\n\u201cIt is hard to believe that over 60 years after becoming a state and over 120 years after becoming part of America, Hawai\u2018i is still treated as a foreign country,\u201d said Case.\n\nAttachments:\n\n1. Text of Fair Shipping for Non-Contiguous Areas Act of 2023\n\n2. Case remarks on the measure\n\n3. Federal Trade Commission Report To Congress March 2020\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2223", "Case Visits Hawai\u2018i Army National Guard On Advanced Combat Training In Louisiana", "2023-07-22", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=12", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Congressman Ed Case on Friday joined the Hawai\u2018i Army National Guard\u2019s lead 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (29th IBCT) in the middle of a month-long advanced combat training exercise at the U.S. Army\u2019s Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in Fort Johnson, Louisiana.\n\nThe 29th IBCT is the lead component in the exercise and incorporates Guard units from 24 states. It is commanded by Colonel David Hatcher II of Honolulu and includes over 1,600 Guard members from throughout Hawai\u2018i.\n\nCase, a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense with oversight and funding responsibilities for all U.S. National Guard functions, was hosted by Brigadier General Steven Logan, Commander of the Hawai\u2018i Army National Guard, and Guard Command Sergeant Major James Jimenez.\n\nThe RTC at Fort Johnson (formerly Fort Polk) is one of the Army\u2019s three premier combat training centers and provides the most advanced and realistic simulated combat conditions on a dedicated battlefield area larger than Moloka\u2019i. Training participants including the 29th IBCT participate in a month-long full scale, multi-domain exercise against a highly trained real-life opposing force of active Army troops. It is the last major training exercise before participants are assessed as ready for actual deployment into combat environments.\n\nOnly ten training exercises are conducted annually at JRTC, of which usually only two are allocated to Guard units. About a third of Guards receive this advanced training. The 29th IBCT was awarded this coveted training slot over three years and has been progressing through levels of training to the capstone JRTC mission.\n\n\u201cAs I visited, our troops had literally been in the field already \u2013 no beds, showers, regular meals, contact \u2013 for over a week in 24/7 operations in sweltering Louisiana summer heat and humidity and heavy uniforms and gear,\u201d said Case. \u201cThey were executing very difficult maneuvers requiring high levels of expertise, coordination and flexibility in facing multiple threats from the opposing force on land, in the air, cyber, electromagnetic, counterintelligence and other forms, just as happens in the real world today.\u201d\n\n\u201cTheir trainers, who plan and watch every move and recognize accomplishments and offer constructive criticism, were very complimentary at their abilities and progress. They especially recognized the 29th\u2019s internal cohesion, ability to work in very difficult conditions with their colleagues from elsewhere in the country, and readiness to listen to guidance and adjust.\u201d\n\n\u201cI was honored to be able to join the Lava Brigade in this very realistic action as it was occurring and to talk with many for a little bit and relay how proud we are of them.\u201d\n\nThe 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was formed in 1959, is headquartered at Kalaeloa, O\u2019ahu with units on Hawai\u2018i Island, Maui, Moloka\u2019i, O\u2019ahu and Kaua\u2019i as well as Arizona and California, and is the largest component of the Hawai\u2018i Army National Guard with over 3,000 troops. Over the course of his service in Congress, Case has visited the Hawai\u2018i Army Guard on deployment in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Egypt/Sinai, and Washington, D.C. in the wake of January 6, 2001.\n\nATTACHMENTS: Pictures courtesy of Congressman Ed Case", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2221", "Case Critical Of His House Appropriations Committee's Approved Measures Funding Federal Transportation, Housing, Urban Development And Public Lands And Natural Resources Protection", "2023-07-19", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=12", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case\u2019s (HI-01) U.S. House Committee on Appropriations today passed two key measures funding federal programs addressing transportation, housing, urban development, environmental protection, public lands, natural resources, indigenous peoples and other areas. The measures propose funding for the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 (commencing October 1, 2023).\n\nThe Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, one of twelve total bills funding the federal government annually, supports the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) including the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, and Department of Transportation (DOT) including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).\n\nThe Interior Appropriations bill funds the U.S. Department of the Interior, including the National Parks Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service and various independent agencies including the National Endowments on Arts and the Humanities.\n\nThrough his assignment on the Committee, Case secured funding for nine of his Member-designated Community Project Funding (CPF) projects that specifically focus on local Hawai\u2019i needs, being:\n\n\u00b7 $1 million to support the City and County of Honolulu\u2019s Safe Streets for All program.\n\n\u00b7 $1 million for Goodwill Hawai\u2018i to install a rooftop carport for the center's parking lot and solar energy as well renovate its parking tarmac.\n\n\u00b7 $940,000 for the Special Olympics Hawaii\u2019s proposed outdoor multi-purpose community facility.\n\n\u00b7 $850,000 million for Catholic Charities to upgrade Hale Aloha, a 12-unit apartment building in Honolulu that help single mothers with children who need stable and affordable housing.\n\n\u00b7 $850,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawai\u2018i to help build a new headquarters that can provide space for its youth programs, support community and family workshops and act as a hub for mentoring services.\n\n\u00b7 $850,000 for Feeding Hawai\u2018i Together to help it with a modernization effort to improve the storage and distribution of food assistance.\n\n\u00b7 $959,757 for the Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management to develop new Deep Monitoring Wells in Waialae and Waianae (joint project with Congresswoman Tokuda)\n\n\u00b7 $959,757 for the Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management to support statewide small public water systems to better conserve water.\n\n\u00b7 $959,757 for the Honolulu Board of Water Supply to update and improves the water systems in Aiea.\n\nThe House\u2019s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member, and be subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case\u2019s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/services/funding-disclosures.htm.\n\nDepartments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development\n\nThis bill\u2019s FY 2024 discretionary funding level is $90.2 billion or $2.9 billion above the FY 2023 level. In spite of the increase, Case said the funding measure still falls short of what is needed to make traveling safe, ignores low-income families living in hazardous conditions, and threatens to shutter our economy.\n\n\u201cWe should be doing more to build affordable housing, promote safe travel and attract economic development. Instead, this measure slashes funding to help our communities, especially low-income families\u201d said Case, who voted against the bill overall. \u201cI cannot support a measure that sets our country back, instead of moving forward to meet the needs of our community.\u201d\n\nCase continued: \u201cThis measure also cripples our efforts to deal with climate change by prohibiting the implementation of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rule aimed at encouraging states to establish declining carbon dioxide targets and a method for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions associated with transportation.\u201d\n\nTransportation and infrastructure programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include:\n\n\u00b7 $753 million for the Maritime Administration, including $318 million for the Maritime Security Program, $69.7 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program and $20 million for Assistance to Small Shipyards like Kalaeloa/Barbers Point.\n\n\u00b7 Language directing the Maritime Administration to review the fuel transportation capabilities of the Jones Act fleet to ensure Hawai\u2018i and other non-contiguous areas can meet their energy needs.\n\n\u00b7 $62.1 billion for the Federal Highway Administration to improve the safety and long-term viability of our highways.\n\n\u00b7 $14.7 billion for the Federal Transit Administration, including $14.0 billion for formula grants to states to expand their bus fleets and ensure transit systems are in good repair.\n\n\u00b7 $19.6 billion for the FAA, including $12.7 to fully fund air traffic control operations and allow the FAA to hire\n\n\u00b7 1,800 air traffic controllers to replace the retiring workforce.\n\n\u00b7 Support for the FAA to continue to engage communities regarding aircraft noise and urges the FAA to continue to its ongoing efforts to evaluate alternative metrics to the current Day Night Level 65 standard. The Committee also urged the FAA to complete and operationalize a central repository for constituent complaints regarding airport noise.\n\nThe bill includes the following provisions to improve access to affordable housing:\n\n\u00b7 $22.3 million for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG). The NHHBG funds support the building, acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable homes.\n\n\u00b7 Language directing the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide technical assistance to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in developing and executing plans to meet the housing needs of low-income Native Hawaiians.\n\n\u00b7 $31.1 billion for project-based rental assistance.\n\n\u00b7 $5.6 billion for the Community Development Fund.\n\n\u00b7 $3.7 billion for the Homeless Assistance Grants.\n\n\u00b7 $60 million for the Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity Program.\n\nDepartment of the Interior\n\nThe Interior bill\u2019s FY 2024 discretionary funding level is $34.8 billion, or $5.7 billion below the FY 2023. The measure slashes funds for national parks, removes protections for numerous endangered species, and reduces assistance for arts, culture and history programs, among other drastic cuts.\n\n\u201cThis funding measure falls short of what is needed for programs across the country to protect and preserve our public lands and I could not vote for it,\u201d said Case. \u201cBut I am grateful that my Committee colleagues continued support my requests in environmental protection and land conservation, clean water to protect our communities\u2019 health, protect our public lands and endangered species in my Hawai\u2018i.\u201d\n\nThe Interior bill includes the following funding requested and secured by Case:\n\n\u00b7 $4.75 million for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service State of the Birds Activities to respond to the urgent needs of critically endangered birds that, due to climate change, now face extinction. These funds will help save numerous endemic birds which have been devastated by climate change and avian malaria.\n\n\u00b7 $46.7 million for the U.S. Geological Survey Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program.\n\n\u00b7 $33 million for a long-deferred water infrastructure project at Hawai\u2018i Volcanoes National Park.\n\n\u00b7 $3 million for the NPS to acquire an important expansion to the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, which is part of the National Trails System.\n\n\u00b7 $67 million for the U.S. Geological Survey\u2019s Climate Adaptation Science Centers, which includes the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center based out of UH M\u0101noa. These centers provide regionally-relevant scientific information, tools, and techniques to resource managers and communities in Hawai'i in response to our changing climate.\n\n\u00b7 $2.75 million for the NPS American Indian and Native Hawaiian Art and Culture Grants program.\n\n\u00b7 $62.1 million for State Historic Preservation Offices, which will help preserve Hawaii\u2019s treasured historic properties.\n\n\u00b7 $4.7 million for Japanese Confinement Site Grants and funding for the newly authorized Amache National Historic Site, which was one of ten incarceration sites established by the War Relocation Authority during World War II to detain Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their communities on the West Coast.\n\nThe bills now move onto the full House of Representatives for consideration.\n\nA detailed report explaining the transportation and housing funding bill is available here.\n\nA detailed report explaining the interior funding bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2220", "Case: Annual Defense Authorization Bill Passed By House Fails On National Issues But Further Strengthens Hawaii's Role In The Indo-Pacific", "2023-07-18", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=12", "scraper", "Washington, DC) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today described the U.S. House-passed version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as fatally flawed on key national issues but positive on his priorities of strengthening America\u2019s national defense in the Indo-Pacific and improving the Department of Defense\u2019s (DoD) relationship with the local community.\n\nThe $886 billion measure passed by the House late last week includes six floor amendments introduced by Case and considered and approved by the full House. It also authorizes funding he requested to begin construction of a new air traffic control tower at Wheeler Army Airfield.\n\n\u201cWith the FY 2024 NDAA, I join my colleagues in the Hawai\u2018i Congressional delegation in continuing our efforts to strengthen Hawaii\u2019s critical role in our national security\u201d said Case. \u201cAt the same time, we aim to ensure that the military fully embraces its kuleana (responsibility) to be a good neighbor and partner in our islands community.\u201d\n\nAlso requested by Case, the bill authorizes $9.7 billion to expand the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, which seeks to enhance U.S. deterrence and defense posture in the Indo-Pacific region. This is an increase of $600 million over President Biden\u2019s budget request.\n\n\u201cThe Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) is an instrumental part of our nation\u2019s integrated deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and highlights key elements and investments needed to maintain our competitive advantage and lays the foundation that will be indispensable to our efforts for decades to come,\u201d explained Case. \u201cHawai\u2018i, which plays a central role in our National Defense Strategy in the Indo-Pacific, is an important element of this initiative and stands to continue to benefit from the investments necessary to implement PDI.\u201d\n\nThe bill includes the following full House amendments secured by Case:\n\n\u00b7 Directing the military to issue a report to provide transparency on efforts to renew training land leases in the State of Hawai\u2018i.\n\n\u00b7 Requiring the DoD to assess local capacity for applicable medical care and educational services on quarterly basis to support Exceptional Family Member Program-enrolled families. This will help ensure military families get the support and care they need while also preventing long wait times and access to care issues for everyone in Hawai\u2018i.\n\n\u00b7 Requiring the military to reexamine the calculation of impact aid payments for eligible federally connected children with disabilities. This will help ensure the military better supports local educational agencies, including the Hawai\u2018i Department of Education, in providing quality education.\n\n\u00b7 Amending the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) to ensure that regionally associated installations, such as those in Hawai\u2018i, can better coordinate and enter into agreements with projects that are in vicinity to other installations but effect current or anticipated military training, testing or operations within the region. For 2022, REPI will provide $19.2 million for three projects in Hawai\u2018i, which will be coupled with $15.1 million in partner contributions. The military wants to continue this effort in Hawai\u2018i in future years.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs to assess and develop plans for Civic Action Teams (CATs) in the Pacific Islands. The military currently has a CAT stationed in Palau working on community projects, apprenticeship training, vehicle maintenance, medical support and construction.\n\n\u00b7 Modifying the Pilot Program to Develop Young Civilian Defense Leaders in the Indo-Pacific to also include civilians working for ministries with a security mission so that Pacific Island countries without militaries can participate.\n\nThe bill authorizes over $1.5 billion in military construction projects in Hawai\u2018i. This includes Case\u2019s request to add $5.4 million to begin construction of a new air traffic control tower at Wheeler Army Airfield as the existing control tower no longer meets the current operational and safety requirements for airfield operations. The value of this project extends beyond the critical operations of Wheeler Army Airfield to the local community and the Island of O\u2018ahu. This tower also monitors and supports surrounding commercial and recreational airspace operations to ensure smooth transitions in and around the airspace associated with the installation.\n\nThe bill includes the following other programs, provisions and funding affecting Hawai\u2018i and requested by Case:\n\n\u00b7 Construction projects authorized for Hawai\u2018i:\n\no Pearl Harbor Dry Dock: $1.4 billion\n\no Military Housing Privatization Initiative restructure at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam: $75 million.\n\no Water Reclamation Facility Compliance Upgrade at Marine Corps Base Hawai\u2018i: $50 million.\n\no \u0100liamanu Military Reservation Water Storage Tank Upgrade: $20 million.\n\no Wheeler Army Airfield Air Traffic Control Tower: $5.4 million\n\n\u00b7 Requiring the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan for the transition of Joint Task Force Red Hill. This transition plan will ensure continued engagement and communication with the community and state and local stakeholders.\n\n\u00b7 Establishing a Space National Guard, limited to those states and territories with Air National Guard units currently performing the space mission. The State of Hawai\u2018i currently has members of the Air National Guard executing Space Force missions.\n\n\u00b7 Requiring the Secretary of Defense to conduct a feasibility study into leveraging resources across states and the private sector to better advance the Department of Defense State Partnership Program. The Hawai\u2018i National Guard currently has partnerships with Indonesia and the Philippines.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the DoD to conduct a Joint Housing Requirement and Market Analysis for military installations in Hawai\u2018i and report on impacts to Hawaii\u2019s affordable housing supply and private rental market.\n\n\u00b7 Making the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot permanent. This program provide grants to support community infrastructure projects that benefit military installations and those who live near military bases.\n\nIn 2022, Hawai\u2018i received $2.5 million through this program to work with the Department of Land and Natural Resources to construct a new firefighting and conservation warehouse to improve wildfire response and enable maintenance and repair of firefighting vehicles. The military wants to continue to use this program to help Hawai\u2018i in future years.\n\n\u00b7 Requiring the military to evaluate service members for exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, as part of its periodic health assessments and deployment assessments.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the DoD to assess the missile defense of Hawai\u2018i to ensure that Hawai\u2018i is sufficiently protected from missile threats by potential adversaries.\n\nThe NDAA also address various critical Indo-Pacific priorities:\n\n\u00b7 $360 million to address unfunded priorities from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command that were not included in the President\u2019s budget.\n\n\u00b7 $7.1 billion for two Virginia-class attack submarines, which are critical for the Indo-Pacific and can be stationed and maintained at Pearl Harbor.\n\n\u00b7 $500 million to continue developing a modern missile defense system for Guam.\n\n\u00b7 $225 million to accelerate the Glide Phase Interceptor program to defend against hypersonic threats.\n\n\u00b7 $63 million for hypersonics-related research and development across multiple military programs.\n\n\u00b7 Authorizing U.S. Special Operations Forces to continue training Taiwan and other partner nations in resisting the aggression and malign influence from China.\n\n\u00b7 Expressing a sense of Congress that the United States should reinforce its alliance with the Republic of Korea.\n\n\u00b7 A study on health care availability for servicemembers, DoD civilians and their families supporting missions in Japan and Joint Region Marianas.\n\nFinally, this year\u2019s bill has several provisions that increase service members\u2019 pay and benefits. It includes a 5.2% pay raise for service members and civilians, in addition to a monthly bonus for junior enlisted service members. It also restores Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) levels to 100% while simultaneously removing BAH from the calculation of the Basic Needs Allowance.\n\nThe bill also authorizes $50 million to assist local schools with military dependent students and $20 million for local educational agencies that support eligible children with severe disabilities.\n\n\u201cEven with these positive increased resources for Hawai\u2018i, investments in the Indo-Pacific and added support for our servicemembers, I could not support the overall measure in its final form as proposed for full House passage,\u201d said Case. \u201cUnfortunately, and even tragically, as the annual NDAA has been one of the last bastions of nonpartisanship in a divided Congress, the majority chose to adopt poison pill amendments on national culture war issues which have no place in our national defense and in a bill which should be focused on national security matters. I sincerely hope those provisions are removed along the further progress of this otherwise-worthy bill and that I can vote yes on final passage.\u201d\n\nA summary of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2219", "Case Deeply Disappointed In 2024 Foreign Operations Funding Measure Approved By His House Appropriations Committee Despite Inclusions Of Requests For Hawai'i/Indo-Pacific Programs", "2023-07-14", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=12", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case\u2019s (HI-01) U.S. House Committee on Appropriations this week approved annual federal funding for the U.S. Department of State and other foreign operations focusing on international diplomacy and development including continued funding for the East-West Center in Honolulu. His Committee also approved another funding measure for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and various agencies focused on financial regulation, consumer protection and law enforcement.\n\nThe two measures are among twelve bills to collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 (commencing October 1, 2023).\n\nState, Foreign Operations and Related Programs\n\nThe State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations measure funds U.S. foreign policy programs and agencies, including the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. contributions to the United Nations and its agencies and more. The bill provides for international diplomatic presence and outreach as well as foreign assistance in public health, basic education, educational and cultural exchanges, climate change and more.\n\nThe Appropriations Committee approved an overall funding level of $52.5 billion, a cut of $7.2 billion or 12% below the current fiscal year funding. Case voted against the bill.\n\nIn his remarks in Committee, Case said (in part):\n\n\u201cI am truly disappointed that an often promising and optimistic bill has succumbed to fatal flaws driven by partisan posturing and representing outdated and frankly dangerous positions underminingour indispensable, unavoidable world leadership role.\n\n\u201cThe increases in funding and engagement in the Indo-Pacific generally and the Pacific Islands specifically deserve broad support.\n\n\u201cHowever, theseare countered by deliberate underfunding of foreign assistance overall and the outright elimination of support for institutions that underpin the international rules-based order.\n\n\u201cMost egregiously, this unfortunate proposal slashes funding for development assistance by $1.3 billion, international disaster assistance by $793 million and economic support to other nations by another $1.3 billion. For contributions to linchpin international organizations like the United Nations, the bill offers up a fully 82% cut.\n\n\u201cDefunding these real-world efforts as this proposal would do undermines our progress, our reputation, our moral authority. It is not just an abdication of our duty as international leaders, but also subverts our own strategic interests and widens the path for others.\n\n\u201cOur enemies are more than happy to fill the void. We cannot forget that our own security depends not just on military might but on the strength of our partnerships the stability and prosperity of our international community.\n\n\u201cThis particular proposalon balance is an unfortunate boon to those who would seek to undermine the United States\u2019 position in the world to their own specific benefit. I sincerely hope it proves to be a blowing-off-steam moment rather than a misguided attempt at serious and consequential policy.\n\nNOTE: Video of his remarks to the Committee is here. Text of his remarks is here.\n\nPrograms and provisions in the measure as passed secured by Case and related to Hawai\u2018i and the Indo-Pacific include:\n\n$19.6 million for the East-West Center, down from $22 million for FY 2023,\n\n$1.2 billion for diplomatic engagement and $2.2 billion for assistance in support of the implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy to promote peace, prosperity and democracy in the region.\n\n$175 million for the Pacific Islands region, an increase of $25 million.\n\nReport language supporting funding for the Young Pacific Leaders Program, a Department of State program for emerging young leaders from Hawai\u2018i, Guam, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands and other Pacific nations.\n\nReport language encouraging the Department of State to increase the number of scholarships available for Pacific Islanders to study in the United States, many of whom study at the University of Hawai\u2018i.\n\n$411 million for the Peace Corps, a decrease of $20 million over the FY 2023 enacted level.\n\nLanguage in support of expanding the U.S. diplomatic presence in the Pacific Islands and expanding the programming of the U.S. Agency for Global Media in the region.\n\nReport language requiring the Department of State to create a strategy on trade capacity building in the Pacific Islands.\n\nReport language recommending the expansion of the International Law Enforcement Academy to the Pacific Islands and supporting the Pacific Islands in their efforts to combat transnational crime.\n\nThe bill also sustains or increases funding for several foreign policy programs supported by Case including:\n\n$421 billion for peacekeeping operations, a decrease of $40 million.\n\n$1.3 billion to support United Nations international peacekeeping activities, a decrease of $213 million.\n\n$701 million for educational and cultural exchange programs, which include the Fulbright programs, a decrease of more than $76 million.\n\n$246 million for contributions to international organizations, down from $1.4 billion for FY 2023.\n\n$2 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.\n\n$910 million for maternal and child health programs.\n\n$970 million for basic education, an increase of $810 million.\n\n$2.5 billion for migration and refugee assistance, a decrease of $364 million.\n\nFinancial Services and General Government\n\nThe bill as passed proposes to spend $24.7 billion to fund the U.S. Treasury Department, federal courts, the Federal Communications Commission, the Office of Personnel Management and various independent agencies. Case voted against the bill.\n\nFor the SBA, the bill provides $823 million, including $299 million for entrepreneurial development programs that assist small businesses with quality training, counseling and access to resources.\n\nThis is a decrease of $72 million, or 8%, over the current year.\n\n\u201cOur Hawai\u2018i is truly Small Business Country, with some 135,000 small businesses making up 99 percent of all businesses in the state and employing some 275,000 of our people,\u201d said Case. \u201cWe also have a very unique small business mix, with some of the highest levels of minority, women and veteran-owned small businesses in the country, as well as small business economy. All of this takes unique, targeted assistance, which the SBA provides, and so I focus especially on SBA and other federal programs that benefit our small businesses.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, even with the proposed resources for Hawai\u2018i, I could not support this measure in its current form,\u201d said Case. \u201cAside from insufficiently funding the SBA, the bill slashes funding to federal agencies like the Internal Revenue Service which works to ensure that the many that pay their taxes are not shortchanged by the few that don\u2019t, the Consumer Product Safety Commission that protects the public from unsafe products, and the Securities and Exchange Commission that protects the fairness of financial markets.\u201d\n\nCase, who was presented with the Special Congressional Award in May by the Small Business Council of America, was still able to gain approval in the measure for his funding requests for federal programs and services important for the State of Hawai\u2018i including:\n\n\u00b7 $30 million for the Native American Community Development Financial Institution Assistance Program,\n\n\u00b7 $5 million for the Native American Outreach Program,\n\n\u00b7 $3 million for the Historically Underutilized Business Zones Program,\n\n\u00b7 $27 million for the Women\u2019s Business Centers Program,\n\n\u00b7 $5 million for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative,\n\n\u00b7 $140 million for Small Business Development Centers,\n\n\u00b7 $109 million for the Drug-Free Communities Program,\n\n\u00b7 $20 million for the State Trade Expansion Program,\n\n\u00b7 $8 million for the Regional Innovation Clusters Program,\n\n\u00b7 $297 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program,\n\n\u00b7 $41 million for the Microloan Technical Assistance Program, and\n\n\u00b7 Continuation of an additional federal judgeship for Hawai\u2018i to handle a high caseload.\n\nThe bill also provided $279 million for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). CDFIs are specialized community-based financial institutions that promote economic development by providing financial products and services to people and communities underserved by traditional financial institutions, particularly in low-income and minority communities.\n\nThe two bills now move on to the full House of Representatives for consideration.\n\nA summary of the FY 2024 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations is here.\n\nA summary of the FY 2024 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations is here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-votes-no-national-defense-authorization-act-opposes-house", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Votes NO on National Defense Authorization Act, Opposes House Republican\u2019s Extremist Agenda", "2023-07-14", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda, Member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement on H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 219-210. Tokuda voted no due to far-right extremist amendments that were added on the House Floor.\n\n\u201cFor decades, successive National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) have been crafted in a bipartisan manner, reflecting careful compromises struck in the shared interest of supporting our troops and advancing our national security. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I proudly and solemnly undertook the responsibility of helping to craft the Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA. The result was a balanced bill that included many hard-fought priorities for Hawai\u2018i that I was proud to support.\n\nIt is a sad day when that tradition of bipartisan compromise is broken because the House Republican majority has been held hostage by far-right extremists intent on turning the NDAA into a political tool for their reckless agenda. An agenda that is both harmful to national security and to our servicemembers and their families. The bill House Republicans amended and passed today strips away access to reproductive rights and basic health care, refuses to acknowledge or address the discrimination and racists attacks experienced by our servicemembers, and rejects our vision of a more diverse and inclusive society.\n\nThe bill that passed especially hurts people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ people who serve our country proudly and bravely, undermines national security, and undermines our military readiness posture home and abroad. For these reasons, I voted against the NDAA as it was amended on the House Floor.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2218", "Case Leads Re-Introduction Of Next Generation Framework For United States Policy In The Pacific Islands", "2023-07-12", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=13", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) -- Congressman Ed Case (D-HI), joined by colleagues including Co-Chairs of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA), Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), and Congresswoman Amua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS), have re-introduced their Boosting Long-term U.S. Engagement in the Pacific, or BLUE Pacific, Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nThe BLUE Pacific Act, first introduced in July 2020 during the 116th Congress, and re-introduced in 117th Congress, lays out a renewed vision and framework for U.S. foreign policy in the Pacific Islands over the coming generation.\n\nSpecifically, the BLUE Pacific Act pursues a comprehensive, long-term U.S. strategy in the Pacific Islands region that:\n\nExpands U.S. diplomatic and development presence in the Pacific Islands;\n\n2. Increases U.S. security cooperation and assistance to address regional maritime security, transnational crime and law enforcement issues, including Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing;\n\n3. Deepens and diversifies bilateral and multilateral trade between the U.S. and the region and invests in trade capacity building programs for the region;\n\n4. Supports regional economic and social development in areas of public health, education, infrastructure, climate change resilience and adaptation, and more;\n\n5. Builds on existing regional institutions and frameworks, including efforts of like-minded allies and partners of the United States;\n\n6. Promotes shared values like press freedom and gender equality; and\n\n7. Strengthens people-to-people relationships and civil society.\n\nThe updated bill reflects the Pacific Island Forum\u2018s 2022 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, and requires continued support for and quadrennial updates to the Pacific Partnership Strategy, released at the 2022 U.S.-Pacific Islands Summit in Washington, D.C.\n\n\u201cThe lands and waters of the jurisdictions spread across Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia comprise an area larger than the land areas of China and Russia combined and represent a major portion of the vast Pacific Ocean and our Earth\u2019s surface, said Congressman Ed Case. \u201cThe peoples of these islands have developed their own proud cultures and identity over millennia, and for centuries now have shared historic, cultural, economic and strategic ties with the United States. Tens of thousands of U.S. and allied servicemembers died throughout the Pacific Islands in World War Two defending the common values shared between our country and the Pacific Islands. Our presents and futures are entwined; they are being and will be determined jointly.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur BLUE Pacific Act reintroduced today updates our prior versions to account for portions already enacted through other vehicles as well as the historic U.S.-Pacific Islands Summit.\n\n\u201cIt supports the tenets of the Pacific Islands Forum\u2019s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, ensuring that our efforts are fully responsive to and synchronized with the expressed direction and needs of the Pacific Islands nations. It specifically codifies the Strategy for Pacific Partnership and requires updates to the strategy every four years. It also includes language encouraging the allocation of more staff to the Pacific Islands, and the facilitation of U.S. support for trade capacity building, environmental change mitigation, education, civil society engagement and security training.\u201d\n\n\"The well-being and security of our Pacific Island friends and partners is inseparably linked to our own,\" said Congressman Ami Bera, M.D., Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific. \u201cAs a Pacific nation, the United States shares deep-rooted historical connections with Pacific Island countries built upon the mutual values of freedom and democracy. That is why I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing the BLUE Pacific Act, legislation that strengthens ties with Pacific Island nations in the areas of economic development, climate resiliency, maritime security, and people-to-people bonds. Together, we can forge a more prosperous and resilient future in the Pacific.\"\n\n\u201cThere has never been a more important time to strengthen our relationship with our Pacific Islands allies, a relationship built on shared commitments and values,\u201d said Congressman Brad Sherman, HFAC Member. \u201cThat\u2019s why, as a member of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus, I\u2019m pleased to help introduce the BLUE Pacific Act which will institute a comprehensive U.S. strategy to reinforce our diplomatic and economic presence in the Pacific Islands and help us further build upon this vital partnership. I commend Co-Chair of the Pacific Islands Caucus, Congressman Case, for his leadership on this important legislation and for his steadfast commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe importance of U.S. engagement in the Pacific region and especially the Pacific Islands goes far beyond defense considerations, and the BLUE Pacific priorities are a great example,\u201d said Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen, HFAC Member. \u201cDiplomacy, climate resilience efforts for our beautiful ocean, encouraging the Peace Corps regionally, and recognizing development opportunities all come together. Thank you to Congressman Case for his leadership in these commitments.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe appreciate Congressman Case\u2019s leadership in introducing legislation that focuses on Pacific Island countries with whom both Japan and the United States share fundamental values such as freedom, democracy, respect for basic human rights and the rule of law,\u201d said Japan Charge d'Affaires ad interim Tamaki Tsukada. \u201cJapan will host the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 10) next year, bringing together the leaders of Pacific island countries.\n\n\u201cWe will continue to support Pacific island countries and are determined to work with them and with the United States and other regional partners to address regional and global challenges in order to achieve a \"Free and Open Indo-Pacific.\"\n\n\u201cAustralia encourages Congressional support for a comprehensive, long-term strategy for partnering with the Pacific Islands region,\u201d said Australian Ambassador to the US, Dr Kevin Rudd AC. \u201cEnhanced US engagement in the Pacific region, including in diplomatic, development, economic and security domains is vital and welcome. It strengthens alliances and partnerships in the region, helping us to do more together.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe congratulate Representatives Ed Case, Aumua Amata Radewagen, Ami Bera, and Brad Sherman for introducing the BLUE Pacific Act to the US House of Representatives, said Ambassador Bede Corry of New Zealand. \u201cAs a country in and of the Pacific, New Zealand warmly welcomes the significant degree of US engagement and investment in the region. We support the United States\u2019 intent to address Pacific priorities, including economic recovery from COVID-19, climate change, and those outlined in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Taking a holistic and long-term approach alongside our partners is essential to achieve these priorities. We believe the BLUE Pacific Act would bolster these efforts for the critical years ahead.\u201d\n\n\u201cRepresentative Case is a leader who seeks to maintain and build upon the long-standing ties between the United States and the sovereign nation of Palau, as well as with the two other Pacific nations associated with the United States,\u201d said Surangel Whipps, Jr., President of Palau. \u201cOur subregion of Micronesia encompasses a vast expanse in the Pacific Ocean that spans thousands of miles, from Asia across to the Hawaiian Islands. His visionary plan, the Blue Pacific Act, promises to increase the U.S.' engagement with the other nations of the Pacific region.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands applauds legislative efforts of the Pacific Islands Caucus co-chairs for re-introducing the BLUE Pacific Act, which demonstrates United States commitment to strengthen its engagement with the Pacific Islands countries,\u201d said Ambassador Gerald M. Zackios, Republic of the Marshall Islands.\n\n\u201cThe bill covers a wide range of critical issues the region is facing today: the existential threat of climate change, the integrity of our ocean resources, trade, critical infrastructure needs, education, health, IUU and maritime security, financing opportunities, and much more. We thank the co-chairs for their leadership, and we look forward to continuing our work together to ensure a safe and prosperous Pacific region.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongressman Case has been a longtime friend and champion of the Federated States of Micronesia and its citizens,\u201d said Jackson Soram, Charge' d'Affaires, a.i., Federated States of Micronesia.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful for Rep. Case\u2019s leadership on the \u201cBoosting Long-term U.S. Engagement in the Pacific Act\u201d also known as the BLUE Pacific Act, which would advance the U.S\u2019s long term comprehensive strategy and policy for the Pacific Islands and authorize new investments in capacity building in the region. Micronesia and the United States share a longstanding history of mutual values and priorities. As a Pacific Island nation and partner, we are pleased to see the reintroduction of the BLUE Pacific Act and look forward to working with Congress on the advancement of this legislation.\u201d\n\nAttachments: Section-by-section summary of the bill as well as text of the measure.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2211", "Case Introduces Measures To Halt Deep-Seabed Mining Until Full Consequences Understood And Protective Regulatory Regimes Established", "2023-07-11", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=13", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today introduced two measures calling for moratoria on the mining of our world\u2019s deep seabed unless and until its consequences are fully understood and an appropriate protective regulatory regime is established.\n\n\u201cOur deep oceans and seabed are the last unexplored regions of our world, yet what we do know of them is that they are among our most intricate and fragile,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cOver half of all known coral species are found in the deep sea, and as many as 10 million marine species may inhabit the deep sea, a massive and interrelated biodiversity seen nearly nowhere else on the planet.\n\n\u201cSome of these species have had surprising benefits to humanity, including enzymes from one microbe found in deep-sea hydrothermal vents being used to develop COVID-19 tests. In addition, the deep ocean is one of our planet\u2019s largest and most important stores of carbon and could play a critical role in the fight against climate change.\n\n\u201cYet all of these species and natural processes, and in fact our entire marine ecosystem, are now imperiled by the imminent commencement of large-scale commercial seabed mining operations. Seabed mining could take a number of destructive forms, including methods which would shear off seamounts on the ocean floor, the functional equivalent of strip mining.\u201d\n\nCase said the American Seabed Protection Act will place a moratorium on deep-sea mining activities in American waters or by American companies on the high seas. It also tasks the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Academies of Science with conducting a comprehensive assessment of how mining activities could affect ocean species, carbon sequestration processes and communities that rely on the ocean.\n\nThe International Seabed Protection Act will require the United States to oppose international and other national seabed mining efforts until the President certifies that the International Seabed Authority has adopted a suitable regulatory framework which will guarantee protection for these unique ecosystems and the communities that rely on them.\n\nThe introduction of the measures comes as the International Seabed Authority prepares to consider regulations that could open the international seabed for mining. While both companies and countries are lining up to secure mining permits, many are concerned about the impact on marine ecosystems, habitats and communities.\n\n\u201cWhile deep sea mining holds potential to provide minerals for batteries and other renewable energy technology, we cannot blindly exploit the ocean floor,\u201d said Ra\u00fal Grijalva (D-AZ), House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member. \u201cOur transition to renewable energy must be just and safe.\n\n\u201cThe studies outlined in Representative Case\u2019s bill are an important first step in understanding the environmental and social impacts of mining the deep ocean seabed. This research will give us the information we need to make appropriate decisions about deep sea mining in U.S. waters and will be invaluable in combating the climate crisis and preserving the biodiversity and health of our oceans for future generations.\u201c\n\n\u201cMining in pristine, fragile ecosystems like the seabed could open a pandoras box of unintended consequences reaching far beyond the excavation sites,\u201d said Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA). \u201cThis kind of activity could decimate fish and marine mammal populations, destroy ecosystems, and inhibit carbon sequestration. Extracting industries should not have carte blanche access to what are some of the last untouched places on our planet. I\u2019m glad to be joining Rep. Case on these bills to prevent the exploitation of seabeds before the proper research and regulations can be established.\u201d\n\n\u201cSeabed mining poses a risk to the health of the ocean and the life it sustains,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR). \u201cWe must not disrupt the fragile marine environment and its aquatic inhabitants when there is still much more to learn about seabed mining and its effects.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s promote proven ocean-climate solutions that enhance natural processes and avoid any action that may permanently damage precious ecosystems. I\u2019m grateful to work with Congressman Case on these bills to place a moratorium on seabed mining, promote research, and sustain ocean health.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere is a lot of misleading information and unsubstantiated hype about deep-sea mining being peddled by the proponents of this industry both in the United States and at the International Seabed Authority (ISA) which meets this week and may well begin authorizing deep-sea mining in the Pacific Ocean within the next year,\u201d said Matthew Gianni, Co-founder, Deep Sea Conservation Coalition. \u201cCongressman Case\u2019s bills are timely and critically important in calling on the National Academy of Science and others to conduct an independent study to assess the environmental and social risks of this industry and for the US to promote a moratorium on any deep-sea mining to prevent the ISA from causing large-scale irreversible damage to the environment, including the ocean\u2019s role as a carbon sink, and disruptions to fisheries and coastal communities in Hawaii and elsewhere in the Pacific.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe deep seabed of our ocean is teeming with diverse ecosystems and species that scientists are still discovering and that are interconnected with shallow ocean waters and the climate,\u201d said Addie Haughey, Earthjustice Legislative Director for Lands, Wildlife and Oceans \u201c\n\n\u201cAs multinational mining companies rush to utilize untested technologies to exploit the deep seabed for its mineral resources, we need strong protections to prevent permanent damage to ocean ecosystems and the communities in the Pacific and elsewhere that rely upon them. We thank Rep. Case for recognizing the importance of ocean ecosystems and introducing these bills to protect the ocean from reckless exploitation.\u201d\n\nCase summarized: \u201cPaired together, these bills will establish the United States as an international leader in protecting our precious oceans through a responsible process to address the potentially devastating effects of widespread, unregulated deep seabed mining.\n\nThis legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Ra\u00fal Grijalva (D-AZ), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME).\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, Earthjustice, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Ocean Protection Coalition, Sustainable Ocean Alliance, Greenpeace USA, Earthworks, Benioff Ocean Science Lab, Blue Climate Initiative, the Ocean Foundation, Marine Conservation Institute, Parley for the Oceans, Oceanic Preservation Society, Inland Ocean Coalition, FutureSwell, Conservation Council for Hawai\u2018i, Keiko Conservation, 350Hawai\u2018i, Zero Waste Hawai\u2018i Island and Greenpeace Hawai\u2018i.\n\nText for the American Seabed Protection Act is available here. Text for the International Seabed Protection Act is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-biden-administration-officials-visit-molokai-meet-kalaupapa", "Rep. Jill Tokuda & Biden Administration Officials Visit Molokai, Meet with Kalaupapa Residents, Tour Health Care Facilities", "2023-07-06", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "Honolulu, HI \u2013 Yesterday, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda led a group of Biden Administration officials to visit the island of Molokai to meet with residents of Kalaupapa, tour health care facilities, and review airport infrastructure projects.\n\nRep. Tokuda\u2019s Molokai visit included the following Biden Administration officials:\n\nKrystal Ka\u2018ai, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders\n\nErika Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American, and Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Senior Liaison, The White House\n\nNani Coloretti, Deputy Director, Office of Management and Budget, The White House\n\nSummer Sylva, Senior Advisor for Native Hawaiian Affairs, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Interior\n\nMarvin Figueroa, Director of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services\n\nJamila Thompson, Senior Advisor to the U.S. Trade Representative, The White House\n\n\u201cI am grateful that the Biden Administration was able to join me on Molokai, one of the most rural and remote islands in Hawai'i with a substantial Native Hawaiian population. For those living on Molokai, it can be difficult to get basic goods and access essential services such as healthcare \u2013 things that are easily taken for granted in other communities. This is about equity for our rural and underserved Native Hawaiian communities. Having our friends from the White House see and understand the unique challenges facing the people of Molokai will help us as we advocate at the highest levels of the federal government for support. I look forward to working with the Biden Administration to provide strategic, meaningful federal assistance to Molokai in the future,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda.\n\n\u201cI was especially humbled and honored to spend time with the patients and staff on Kalaupapa, and to get a tour of the national historic park. There was a definite sense of urgency felt by all of us to continue to support those living and working in Kalaupapa, and to preserve the history and legacy of the people and community.\u201d\n\nIn Kalaupapa, Rep. Tokuda and Biden Administration officials met with Hansen\u2019s disease patients and staff at Kalaupapa Care Home. The group also visited the St. Philomena Catholic Church and the area identified for the future Kalaupapa Memorial Site, along with officials from the National Park Service, and Hawai\u02bbi Department of Health, which administers Kalaupapa Settlement. The group discussed the long-term plans for Kalaupapa, including efforts to create a memorial that honors the residents and their legacies, and met with Ka \u2018Ohana O Kalaupapa \u2013 the nonprofit organization authorized by the Secretary of the Interior to establish a memorial.\n\nAt Molokai Airport, Tokuda and officials reviewed the progress of U.S. Department of Transportation-funded airport modernization and safety projects, including an $11 million award to strengthen runways, taxiways, and apron pavement, and a total of $2.4 million in FY 2022 and FY 2023 to address aging airport infrastructure as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\nTokuda and officials met with staff at the Molokai Community Health Center, which is the only federally qualified health center on Molokai that offers medical, dental, behavioral health care, and social services to residents, regardless of the ability to pay. The group discussed the growing need for primary and specialty care among Molokai residents and the facility\u2019s ongoing efforts to provide and expand access to comprehensive health services. Last year, Congress allocated $1.6 million in Community Project Funding to support the expansion of the dental clinic and services at Molokai Community Health Center, to meet the substantial demand for oral hygiene and dental care.\n\nTo end the day, Tokuda and officials visited N\u0101 Pu\u2018uwai, the Native Hawaiian Health Care System, where the group met with staff to learn more about their innovative and culturally-informed approaches to improving health outcomes among Native Hawaiians. During the COVID-19 pandemic, N\u0101 Pu\u2018uwai received federal funding through the American Rescue Plan to sustain operations and access to critical health services. In June 2023, N\u0101 Pu\u2018uwai was also awarded $2.5 million as part of annual federal funding awarded through the Native Hawaiian Health Care Program.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-joined-codel-affirm-us-commitment-peace-and-security-indo", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Joined CODEL to Affirm U.S. Commitment to Peace and Security in the Indo-Pacific", "2023-07-04", "2023", "2023-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Last week, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, joined a bipartisan congressional delegation (CODEL) trip to Hawai\u2018i, Guam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, and Okinawa.\n\n\u201cI am proud to have joined Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith on this important CODEL to learn, discuss and see first-hand the many security challenges we face in the Indo-Pacific, as well as the opportunities for partnerships and soft power diplomacy in pursuit of peace and prosperity in this region,\u201d stated Representative Tokuda. \u201cEconomic security and national security are interwoven, which makes for a far more complicated and nuanced dynamic. I saw that very clearly with each of the allies we visited. We must stand with our allies and partners in deterring aggression and defending our shared values in democracy, freedom, and human rights.\u201d\n\n\u201cHawai\u2018i and Guam play increasingly important \u2018tip of the spear\u2019 roles in our nation\u2019s posture and readiness in the Indo-Pacific. The United States is essential to future security and stability in the region, a long-term commitment that means not just enhancing our military capabilities but also deepening our relationships with allies and partners, investing in our people, building our infrastructure, and strengthening our communities at home.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Rep. Tokuda, the delegation was comprised of Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA) of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL), Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC), Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL), and Delegate Jim Moylan (R-GU).\n\nAt each stop, the CODEL met with senior officials to discuss regional security issues and affirmed the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. In Hawai\u2018i and Guam, the delegation met with senior military leaders and local civilian officials to discuss U.S. efforts in deterring aggression in the region. In the Philippines, the CODEL witnessed firsthand the ongoing efforts to deepen security cooperation and effectively respond to growing aggression in the Western Pacific. In Taiwan, the CODEL met with President Tsai Ing-wen to reaffirm the United States\u2019 and Congress\u2019s commitment to Taiwan\u2019s security and democracy. Lastly, the CODEL visited Tokyo and Okinawa to support the U.S-Japan alliance and efforts to enhance security cooperation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:18:03Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2198", "Case Honored With National Leadership Award For Work On World's Oceans", "2023-06-30", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=13", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i \u2013 District 1) was given the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation\u2019s prestigious 2023 Leadership Award during a recent 600-person gala in Washington, DC which wrapped up the annual Capitol Hill Ocean Week bringing together advocates for the world\u2019s oceans.\n\nThe Foundation honors one or two political leaders per year who demonstrate a commitment to ocean, coastal and Great Lakes stewardship. Previous awardees include President Clinton, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, and U.S. Senators Ted Stevens (Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island).\n\n\u201cWhile I was truly honored to have received this award, it is just a moment in time when compared to the critical threats that face our oceans across a number of fronts,\u201d said Case. \u201cI am mostly just grateful to be part of a community of true passion who cares so deeply for our oceans and are so personally committed to saving them from what has become their worst enemy: humankind.\u201d\n\nThe Foundation recognized Case as a longtime leader in ocean policy in Congress. Case was an early advocate for and was instrumental in the designation of the Papah\u0101naumoku\u0101kea Marine National Monument in 2006 and current efforts to expand protections for the Pacific Remote Islands.\n\nCase, a member of the House Appropriations and Natural Resources Committees since his return to Congress in 2019, also co-led reauthorization of the Coral Reef Conservation Program and continues to fight for ocean-based climate solutions, sustainable climate ready fisheries management, and international cooperation and coordination in saving our world\u2019s oceans.\n\nCase shared the 2023 Leadership Award with his colleague, Congressman Ra\u00fal M. Grijalva of Arizona. The Foundation said that he has been a leading voice on environmental and social justice issues since being elected Congress more than two decades ago. In 2018, he became Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, a role in which he successfully elevated climate action, environmental justice and indigenous affairs in national ocean policy.\n\nTwo fellow Hawai\u2019i residents - Solomon (Sol) Pili Kaho\u02bbohalahala and William J. Ail\u0101 \u2013 received the Foundation\u2019s Sanctuary Wavemaker Award for their critical work benefiting national marine sanctuaries.\n\nKaho\u02bbohalahala, who served with Case in the Hawai\u2018i State House of Representatives, serves as Chairperson of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council. He is the current native Hawaiian member on the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument community group and a member of the Pacific Remote Islands Coalition. During the Obama Administration, he advocated successfully for the expansion of the Papah\u0101naumoku\u0101kea Marine National Monument, creating the world\u2019s largest marine protected area, and currently serves as its native Hawaiian elder on the reserve advisory council.\n\nAila, who has served Hawai\u2019i in various capacities including Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Hawaiian Homes Commission, has been deeply committed to protecting areas that have deep cultural importance as well as significant natural resource value. He expanded Hawaii\u2019s Natural Area Reserve program, streamlined permitting for restoration of Hawaiian fishponds and helped create the first community-based subsistence fishing area in Haena, Kauai. He was also instrumental in the creation and expansion of Papah\u0101naumoku\u0101kea Marine National Monument and was the former chair of the Papah\u0101naumoku\u0101kea Reserve Advisory Council.\n\nAttachments:\n\n\u00b7 Video of Congressman Case\u2019s remarks accepting Leadership Award courtesy National Marine Sanctuary Foundation here.\n\n\u00b7 Pictures of gala ceremony courtesy National Marine Sanctuary Foundation\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:08:25Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2191", "Case's House Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Bills For Nation's Defense, Energy and Water Programs", "2023-06-22", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=13", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case\u2019s (HI-01) U.S. House Committee on Appropriations today approved two key measures \u2013 one funding national defense programs and one funding energy and water programs \u2013 that are among twelve bills to collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 (commencing October 1, 2023).\n\nThe FY 2024 Defense Appropriations bill proposes to spend $826.4 billion for federal agencies and programs in the Department of Defense (DoD) and intelligence community, including the military branches of services, the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. Case is a member of the Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Defense with jurisdiction over the bill and all covered programs.\n\nThe Committee provided an additional $106 million for Red Hill, on top of the $2.1 billion provided in FY 2022 and FY 2023. The Committee also included provisions to improve the oversight of the military\u2019s actions regarding Red Hill. The military would be required to submit quarterly reports to Congress on its actions to comply with the State of Hawaii\u2019s regulatory rulings, address the individual health care needs of service members and their families that were affected by the crisis, improve water quality testing surrounding the facility, improve efforts to engage with the community, and move the fuel to other locations in the Indo-Pacific.\n\nThe bill also includes $9 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI), which bolsters U.S. military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. PDI is a key subset of the department\u2019s efforts and investments that strengthen regional deterrence needed to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.\n\n\u201cMy Committee\u2019s Defense bill recognizes Hawaii\u2019s continued critical role through investments in facilities, personnel and institutions that are integral parts of our overall efforts, in addition to major contributors to our local economy,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cIn addition, the bill continues the critical oversight needed to keep military on track to close Red Hill and help those dealing with the health impacts from the devasting fuel leak.\u201d\n\nThe FY 2024 Energy and Water Appropriations bill proposes to spend $55.2 billion to support deployment of energy technologies and flood and waterway projects through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), including key areas in Hawai\u2018i especially the Ala Wai, Waik\u012bk\u012b and Honolulu Harbor.\n\n\u201cMy Committee\u2019s energy and water funding bill follows up on my successful inclusion of the Waik\u012bk\u012b Beach stabilization and restoration project in the federal Water Resources Development Act (WRDA),\u201d said Case. \u201cThat request authorized a project to restore ecosystems and address the impacts of climate change and sea level rise on Waik\u012bk\u012b Beach, which is so central to our local recreation and visitor economy,\u201d said Case.\n\nWRDA is the measure authorizing USACE to conduct water resources development projects and studies throughout the nation. It also establishes federal policies to address inland and coastal flooding, improve our ports and inland waterways, address the unique needs of communities across the country and ultimately strengthen the U.S. economy.\n\nThrough his assignment on the Committee, Case secured $500,000 as a Member-designated Community Project Funding (CPF) that specifically focus on local needs in Hawai\u2018i. The project will fund USACE feasibility study for ecosystem restoration and storm water management for the Waik\u012bk\u012b shoreline. The feasibility study is the critical first step in securing further funding for a future major USACE project.\n\nThe House\u2019s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member, and is subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case\u2019s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/services/funding-disclosures.htm.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, even with these proposed resources for Hawai\u2018i, I could not support the measures in their current forms,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cThe defense proposal slashes funding to critical climate change programs, restricts female service members\u2019 access to reproductive health, degrades our nation\u2019s civilian defense workforce and more. Similarly, the energy and water bill simply guts many key programs in both areas that would advance needed energy and water initiatives in several areas including climate change, renewable energy and energy resiliency.\u201d\n\nDefense Funding Bill\n\nMilitary related programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include:\n\nOver $106 million towards the decommissioning of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, environmental remediation, state and local community engagement in Hawai\u2018i and building a more distributive fuel infrastructure for the Indo-Pacific. This is in addition to the $2.1 billion previously secured by Congressman Case and his delegation colleagues.\n\nFunding for two Virginia-class fast attack submarines, which are critical to protecting the Indo-Pacific and will be maintained at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.\n\n$345 million for the Navy\u2019s Environmental Restoration program, which is $10 million over the President\u2019s budget request, plus an additional $232.8 million for the environmental restoration of Formerly Used Defense Sites. These funds will help accelerate efforts to remediate per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) contamination and remove unexploded ordnance and discarded military munitions in Hawai\u2018i and throughout the nation.\n\n$40 million to advance development of a next-step radar system to protect Hawai\u2018i from missile attacks.\n\n$5 million for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command\u2019s Community Engagement Initiative to strengthen the ties between the military and the local community.\n\n$5 million to expand the intelligence community\u2019s efforts to work with a university in Hawai\u2018i to develop a career development program for students.\n\n$150 million for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which maintains critical scientific laboratories at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.\n\n$178 million for the Sea-Based X-Band Radar, which will help defend Hawai\u2018i from ballistic missile threats.\n\n$180 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI). The DoD created the REPI program in response to land development and loss of habitat in the vicinity of or affecting military installations, ranges and airspace that can lead to restrictions or costly and inadequate training and testing alternatives. Through REPI, DoD works with state and local governments, conservation organizations and willing private landowners to address these challenges to the military mission and the viability of DoD installations and ranges. For 2023, REPI will provide $10 million for four projects in Hawai\u2018i, which will be coupled with $18.5 million in partner contributions. These projects will preserve and protect cultural, natural, and land resources across the state near four Hawai\u02bbi - based installations - Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands, P\u014dhakuloa Training Area, Marine Corps Base Hawai\u2018i, and U.S. Army Garrison\u2013Hawai\u2018i.\n\n$11 million for the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative, a key program supporting U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. This program enables the military to execute Theater Security Cooperation activities, such as humanitarian assistance and paying incremental personnel costs of training and exercising with foreign security forces. The initiative is a critical tool for the U.S. military to strengthen relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific region.\n\nOver $280 million for \u201cCivil-Military Programs,\u201d to include support for Hawaii\u2019s Youth Challenge Academy.\n\n$168 million for the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program, which last year provided $2.5 million to the State of Hawai\u2018i Department of Land and Natural Resources on Hawai\u2018i Island in conjunction with the Army\u2019s P\u014dhakuloa Training Area.\n\n$1.2 billion for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), including $583.5 million for cancer research. The CDMRP fills research gaps by funding high impact, high risk and high gain projects that other agencies may not venture to fund.\n\nOver $70 million or Impact Aid programs, which includes Impact Aid for children with disabilities. Out of a concern for possible discrepancies and inconsistencies, the Committee also called for the Director of the Department of Defense Education Activity to submit a report on how local educational agencies receive this funding.\n\nBlocked efforts to change the command and control structure of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. There have been efforts within the department to streamline control of forces under one command structure, which would limit the ability of Navy forces in Hawai\u2018i to respond quickly to changing threats in the Indo-Pacific region.\n\nContinued military contracting preference language for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations.\n\nContinued support for providing humanitarian and similar assistance by using Civic Action Teams in Freely Associated States.\n\nThe measure also includes:\n\n$300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. This is in addition to $6 billion for the Initiative, and $9 billion to replenish United States stocks of equipment sent to Ukraine, provided by the recent Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act.\n\n$22 million for the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN). The NSIN is a government program office that collaborates with major universities and the venture community to develop solutions that drive national security innovation and has small business participants in Hawai\u2018i.\n\n$1.2 billion investment in drug interdiction and counter-drug activities, including increased funding for counter-narcotics support and the National Guard Counter-Drug Program.\n\nFull funding necessary to support the proposed 5.2% military pay raise.\n\nEnergy and Water Bill\n\nEnergy and water related programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include:\n\n1. Language directing the USACE to assist indigenous communities in coastal areas, including Native Hawaiians, as well as other vulnerable coastal communities to address coastal resiliency and flooding.\n\n2. $8.5 million for USACE\u2019s Coastal Ocean Data System, which funds high-resolution observations and models of coastal ocean waves and shoreline change.\n\n3. $40 million for flood control and coastal emergencies efforts.\n\n4. $170 million for hydrogen and fuel cell technology development.\n\n5. $9 million for aquatic ecosystem restoration.\n\n6. $470 million for Advanced Research Projects for Energy Technologies Programs.\n\n7. $100 million for marine power technology development.\n\n8. $10 million for the USACE\u2019s National Coastal Mapping Program.\n\n9. $1 million for the USACE\u2019s beach erosion and hurricane damage reduction activities.\n\nThe bills now move onto the full House of Representatives for consideration.\n\nA detailed explanation of the defense funding bill is available here. A detailed explanation of the energy and water funding bill is available here. Case\u2019s remarks in Committee on the defense measure are here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:08:25Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-advances-hawaii-priorities-committee-markup-fy24-national", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Advances Hawai\u2018i Priorities in Committee Markup of FY24 National Defense Authorization Act", "2023-06-22", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda, a member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) voted to report the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to the full House.\n\nEnacted into law annually for over sixty consecutive years, the NDAA is a critical piece of legislation that addresses the Department of Defense and national security-related programs. Representative Tokuda participated in a 14-hour markup of the NDAA that began on Wednesday morning and ended in the early hours of Thursday morning with a bipartisan vote of 58 to 1.\n\nThe House Armed Services Committee mark as reported includes Representative Tokuda\u2019s provisions to ensure the Department of Defense has a plan to remove residual fuel from Red Hill, foster improved military relations with local communities, address failing military infrastructure in Hawai\u02bbi, military housing impacts, and more.\n\n\u201cMy provisions in this year\u2019s National Defense Authorization Act will ensure that Hawai\u02bbi and our unique needs are priorities for the Department of Defense going forward. Since day one, I\u2019ve promised to be a strong voice to advocate for our needs and to foster a better relationship between the military and Hawai\u02bbi. We know we have a critical role to play for our country\u2019s national security in the challenging strategic environment of the Indo-Pacific, but there is much the Department needs to do to rebuild broken trust and demonstrate its commitment to a more sustainable future that addresses local concerns from the people of Hawai\u2018i,\u201d said Representative Jill Tokuda.\n\nRepresentative Tokuda\u2019s provisions in this year\u2019s NDAA include:\n\nRequiring the Department of Defense to provide a plan for the removal of residual fuel at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and for transitioning community engagement related to Red Hill prior to the termination of the Joint Task Force Red Hill;\n\nDirecting the Department of Defense to appoint a senior official responsible for coordinating land lease renewal negotiations and related issues with the State of Hawai\u2018i;\n\nExpressing concern with the slow pace of unexploded ordnance removal at the former Waikoloa Maneuver Area and requiring a progress update, timeline to completion, and community engagement plan;\n\nRequiring a feasibility study on implementing optional Native Hawaiian cultural education and training for servicemembers stationed in Hawai\u2018i to improve community relations and respect for local customs and traditions;\n\nDirecting the Department of Defense to conduct a joint Housing Requirement and Market Analysis in Hawai\u2018i and report on impacts to Hawai\u2018i\u2019s affordable housing supply and private rental market;\n\nRequiring the Department of Defense to report on failing military infrastructure in Hawai\u2018i and provide a list of priority projects in need of maintenance and repair;\n\nRequiring the Department of Defense to provide an updated Strategic Plan for its Combating Trafficking in Persons program with a greater focus on places with significant military populations, such as Hawai\u2018i;\n\nAuthorizing $50 million for the Water Reclamation Facility Compliance Upgrade at the Marine Corps Base Hawai\u2018i to prevent unauthorized wastewater discharges into K\u0101ne\u2018ohe Bay and ensure compliance with Federal and State laws;\n\nDirecting the Department of Defense to reassess the missile defense of Hawai\u2018i and ensure that Hawai\u2018i is sufficiently protected from ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missile threats by potential adversaries;\n\nDirecting the Department of the Navy to enhance workforce development initiatives at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, the largest industrial employer in Hawai\u2018i, and assess the integration of additive manufacturing and other technologies; and\n\nEnsuring that recycled and reused minerals are considered as potential sources of critical minerals such as graphite, tungsten, and magnesium that are important for essential for defense technologies.\n\nThe HASC mark of the NDAA also included other key priorities for Representative Tokuda, including a 5.2 percent pay raise for servicemembers, initiatives to tackle food and housing insecurity among servicemembers, support for childcare, extending the Department\u2019s support for community infrastructure needs around military installations, fostering defense innovation and workforce development, and strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.\n\nFor a summary of provisions in the HASC mark of this year\u2019s NDAA, please see here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:08:25Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2189", "Case's House Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2024 Federal Funding Measure For Homeland Security Programs", "2023-06-21", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=13", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case\u2019s (HI-01) U.S. House Committee on Appropriations today approved a key measure funding federal homeland security programs nationally and in Hawai\u2018i for the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 (commencing October 1, 2023).\n\nThe FY 2024 Homeland Security bill, one of twelve total bills funding the federal government annually, proposes to spend $91.5 billion for all programs under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security, an increase of $5 billion over the FY 2023 enacted level.\n\nThe bill supports the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement ,the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service and more. Case is a member of the Appropriations Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Homeland Security which is responsible for this bill.\n\n\u201cMy recent site visits to U.S. Coast Guard stations in Honolulu, Washington State and Alaska not only reinforced my understanding of the service\u2019s critical role in our country\u2019s maritime security and emergency search and rescue operations, but the visits also strengthened my push to increase the Coast Guard\u2019s presence in the Indo-Pacific,\u201d said Case. \u201cThe Committee responded to my request and approved $335 million for the acquisition of four additional Coast Guard Fast Response Cutters, which will support Coast Guard operations in the Indo-Pacific.\u201d\n\nThrough his assignment on the Committee, Case also secured $1.4 million in partial funding for a backup generator for Pali Momi Hospital as a Member-designated Community Project Funding (CPF) project that specifically focuses on local needs in Hawai\u2018i. The funding of a backup generator will help the hospital to build its resilience in the event of a major storm.\n\nThe House\u2019s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member, and be subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case\u2019s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/services/funding-disclosures.htm.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, even with these proposed resources for Hawai\u2018i, I could not support the overall measure in its current form because of the areas in which it underfunds critical operations,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cThe proposal slashes funding to critical programs I have supported in the past including application processing to reduce the backlog at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and provides a false sense of security by calling for billions of dollars on an outdated and expensive border wall, leaving our ports of entry and interior Border Patrol checkpoints vulnerable to trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit narcotics.\u201d\n\nCase was able to secure a number of programs and provisions, including:\n\n$355 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants, which support state and local emergency management agencies like the Hawai\u2018i Emergency Management Agency.\n\n$360 million for assistance to firefighter grant programs, which are a major source of funding for county fire departments.\n\n$10 million for the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, which provides citizenship preparation resources, support and information to immigrants and immigrant-serving organizations.\n\nReport language encouraging the U.S. Coast Guard to continue to coordinate with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, expand intelligence-sharing efforts with partners and allies and take steps to improve U.S. Coast Guard facilities in Hawai\u2018i.\n\nA provision directing FEMA to report on its strategies to respond to the unique challenges posed by disasters in Hawai\u2018i and other non-contiguous areas.\n\nLanguage requiring the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to brief Congress on resources needed to shorten the wait times for family members of Filipino World War II veterans and more quickly process the permanent resident applications of those enrolled in the Filipino War Veteran Parole Program.\n\nThe measure also provides the following priorities requested by Case:\n\n\u00b7 $335 million for the acquisition of four additional Coast Guard Fast Response Cutters, which will support U.S. Coast Guard operations in the Indo-Pacific\n\n\u00b7 $106 million for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, a $5 million increase over FY 2023, which funds University of Hawaii\u2019s National Disaster Preparedness Training Center.\n\n\u00b7 $530 million for the State Homeland Security Grant program, which provides funding to protect against terrorism and other threats.\n\n\u00b7 $105 million for the Transit Security Grant Program, which protects critical transportation infrastructure from acts of terrorism.\n\nThe bill now moves onto the full House of Representatives for consideration.\n\nA detailed report explaining the funding bill is available here.\n\nAttachments: pictures of Congressman Case during site visits at Coast Guard stations in Hawai\u2018i, Washington State and Alaska.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-introduces-grow-your-own-food-act-increase-quality-quantity", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Introduces the Grow Your Own Food Act to Increase Quality & Quantity of Locally Grown Food", "2023-06-21", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda announced the recent introduction of the Grow Your Own Food Act to expand the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program. The program assists agricultural departments in eligible states and territories to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food in food insecure communities through small-scale gardening, herding, and livestock operations in food insecure communities in areas of the United States that have significant levels of food insecurity and import a significant quantity of foods.\n\nThe Grow Your Own Food Act would amend the Agriculture Improvement Act to:\n\nIncrease program funding from $10 million to $30 million.\n\nIncrease the size of the awards by $5,000. Individual grants would be increased to $10,000 and organization grants to $20,000.\n\nDouble the amount of funds states and territories can use to administer the grant to 6 percent from 3 percent.\n\nExempt funds from income relating to federal programs (SNAP, housing subsidies) and clarifies that grants are not taxable income.\n\nAt a time of rising hunger and food insecurity, it\u2019s critical for the federal government to take additional measures to support local producers, farmers, and help those who put food on our tables. This is especially important for rural and remote areas like Hawai\u02bbi, where food costs are higher and access is impacted by barge and air transport delays,\u201d said Representative Jill Tokuda. \u201cWhen I toured the Second Congressional District holding listening sessions about the Farm Bill, I heard from many communities that they want to be able to produce more to help take care of their own\u2014they just need a little help. This bill will do just that, giving them the resources and capacity to increase the amount of locally grown food to feed Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s people.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Micro-Grants for Food Security Program continues to be a game changer for Hawai\u2018i families who want to increase their food security,\u201d said Sharon Hurd, chairperson of the Hawai\u2018i Board of Agriculture. \u201cThis grant program received an overwhelming response in the last round with more than 7,400 applicants and the projects that we were able to fund included the purchasing of seed, vertical gardens and planters, compost, refrigeration units, fencing and more. Congresswoman Tokuda\u2019s proposed amendment to increase the appropriation will mean many more families will be able to grow their own food.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Micro-Grants for Food Security Program is an innovative and highly acclaimed initiative that tackles food insecurity by providing funding to bolster local food production. Congresswoman Tokuda's proposal to increase the program's authorization to $30 million will be of significant benefit, particularly to the Native Hawaiian community, said K\u016bhi\u014d Lewis, CEO of Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. \u201cResearch indicates that 27 percent of Native Hawaiians experience food insecurity, surpassing the state average of 22 percent. The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement extends a heartfelt mahalo to Congresswoman Tokuda for her zealous advocacy on behalf of the most vulnerable members of our community.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn order to be more climate resilient, U.S. islands need locally grown agriculture programs to become less dependent on expensive imports, become more self-reliant, and ensure consistent access to food, especially during and after natural disasters. Because of their unique geography and populations, islands are the ideal place for small-scale agricultural investments and innovation. The Climate Strong Islands Network (CSIN) applauds Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Stacey Plaskett (D-USVI) for their attention to the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program and supports increasing the authorization from $10 million to $30 million amongst other necessary improvements. Increased investments to the Micro-Grants for Food Security program support a transition to traditional food systems that increases island food security while simultaneously adding new sectors to island economies.\u201d -Climate Strong Islands Network\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:08:25Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-jill-tokuda-and-diana-harshbarger-launch-congressional-bipartisan-rural", "Reps. Jill Tokuda and Diana Harshbarger Launch Congressional Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus", "2023-06-20", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01) along with the National Rural Health Association announced the launch of the Congressional Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus.\n\nThe Congressional Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus will provide a forum for Members of Congress to advocate for legislation and policy actions that help increase access to quality, affordable health care and mental health services for all rural Americans.\n\nIn addition to supporting legislation, the Caucus will host briefings and events designed to educate and inform Members of Congress and the public about the most pressing health care needs in rural areas and potential policy solutions, including stemming hospital closures, ensuring fair and adequate reimbursement rates, strengthening the health workforce, reducing health inequities, expanding telehealth access, and other policies that enhance the quality and efficiency of health care services in rural areas.\n\nThese events will allow Members to interact with patients, providers, and health advocates to hear the stories of the challenges and opportunities with rural health care delivery in the U.S.\n\n\u201cAs the representative of one of the most rural and remote districts in the country, I have seen firsthand just how difficult it can be for individuals and families to access basic primary care and mental health services. Nationwide, rural health care providers are struggling more than ever to keep their doors open and sustain services for their communities,\u201d said Representative Tokuda. \u201cThat\u2019s why I am proud to re-launch the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus with Representative Diana Harshbarger. Together, we are looking beyond the partisan gridlock in Congress to tackle the rural health care crisis and ensure equitable access to health care for patients in all areas of our country.\u201d\n\n\u201cHaving served as a pharmacist in East Tennessee for over 30 years, I understand the unique health care challenges faced by our rural communities each and every day,\u201d said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. \u201cRural health care providers throughout the country, especially those in East Tennessee, grapple with workforce shortages, supply scarcities, reimbursement challenges, and difficulties ensuring their patients receive the care they need. I am proud to join Representative Jill Tokuda in re-launching the Rural Health Caucus to place the needs of patients and their providers throughout rural America at the forefront of our healthcare policy-making process and deliver meaningful results to patients across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe National Rural Health Association (NRHA) applauds Representatives Tokuda and Harshbarger for their efforts to stand up the Rural Health Caucus. The Caucus is an opportunity to shed light on critical issues facing many rural providers and patients. NRHA looks forward to working closely with the Rural Health Caucus and moving rural health priorities forward,\u201d said Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association.\n\nMore than 46 million Americans, or 15 percent of the U.S. population, live in rural areas. Compared with their urban counterparts, rural Americans experience lower life expectancy and poorer health status. In general, residents in rural areas face barriers to accessing health care due to the limited number of providers, especially those providing specialized care, and inadequate health insurance. Rural residents may also lack access to reliable transportation and deal with exposure to environmental and occupational hazards. These disparities highlight the need for greater attention and resources aimed at improving health care and outcomes in rural areas.\n\n###\n\nCarly Sylva-Gabrielson, Rep. Tokuda, (202) 374-3738", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2183", "Case's House Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2024 Federal Funding Measure To Support Nation's Agriculture And Food Security", "2023-06-15", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=13", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) has announced approval by his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations of a key measure funding agriculture and food security programs nationally and in Hawai\u2018i that is among twelve bills to collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 (commencing October 1, 2023).\n\nThe FY 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations bill proposes to spend $25.3 billion to support the bulk of the programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).\n\n\u201cMy Committee\u2019s agriculture funding bill recognized that dangers that invasive species pose to our Hawaii\u2019s unique ecosystems, natural resources and agricultural communities,\u201d said Case. \u201cThe bill provides resources and the federal focus needed to help Hawai\u2018i combat Coffee Leaf Rust, the Coffee Berry Borer, the Avocado Lace Bug and other invasive species.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, even with these proposed resources for Hawai\u2018i, I could not support the overall measure in its current form because its proposed reduction of overall funding to $17.1 billion, a level last seen in 2007, does not match current needs,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cThe proposal slashes funding to critical programs I have supported in the past including harmful changes to the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) cash value voucher that cuts benefits for 5 million women, infants and children enrolled in the program.\n\n\u201cIn another example, this funding measure will hurt my Hawai\u2018i by denying assistance to needy farmers through the distressed farm loan program.\u201d\n\nCase was able to secure a number of programs and provisions including:\n\n* $36 million for Agriculture Quarantine Inspections to prevent infestations of pests and diseases.\n\n* $15 million for the Minor Crop Pest Management Program to provide expert assistance to minor and specialty crop producers.\n\n* $122 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.\n\n* $269 million in ReConnect funding to meet continued strong demand to provide loans, grants and loan-grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas.\n\n* $32 billion for child nutrition programs, a $3.5 billion increase over FY 2023, which includes the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and Summer Food Service Programs.\n\n* $1.2 billion for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that includes $9 million for specialty crop pests.\n\n* $1.6 billion for the Rental Assistance Program.\n\n* $374 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides food to low-income seniors.\n\n* $125 million for the USDA Wildlife Damage Management Program.\n\n* $50 million for loans authorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.\n\n* $20 million for Rural Cooperative Development Grants including $8 million for the Value-added Agricultural Product Market Development Grant Program.\n\n* $8 million for the Grassroots Source Water Protection Program that is designed to prevent water source pollution.\n\n* $3.5 million for Agricultural Canine Detection and Surveillance of invasive species and diseases, an increase of $500,000.\n\n* Maintenance of funding for coffee research to address the threats of Coffee Leaf Rust and Coffee Berry Borer on our iconic coffee industry.\n\n* Recognition of the critical need for continued tropical and subtropical crops research.\n\n* Maintenance of funding for research on the macadamia felted coccid.\n\n* $5 million for Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, the first increase for this vital program in years. This program addresses the educational needs of food and agricultural sciences-related disciplines and prepares low-income students for careers related to food, agricultural and natural resources.\n\n* $2 million for aquaculture research programs and recognition of the essential role the program plays in regional aquaculture centers.\n\nThe measure also provides:\n\n* Provides $91 million for the Economic Research Service.\n\n* Recognizes the importance of continuing to support combatting invasive species in the Indo-Pacific.\n\n* Protects the current funding level for the macadamia tree health research initiative.\n\n* Directs the Agricultural Research Service to ensure each of its facilities housing animals are adhering to the Animal Welfare Act at all times.\n\n* Continues to support coordinated research efforts to address the impact of the Avocado Lace Bug.\n\n* Supports strategies to mitigate the impact of axis deer on native forests.\n\nThe bill now moves onto the full House of Representatives for consideration.\n\nA detailed explanation of the funding bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2182", "Case's U.S. House Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2024 Federal Funding Measure For National Military Construction And Veterans Programs", "2023-06-14", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=13", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case\u2019s (HI-01) U.S. House Committee on Appropriations today approved the first of twelve bills that will collectively fund the federal government for FY 2024 (commencing October 1, 2023).\n\nThe FY 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations bill proposes to fund construction and maintenance of our defense facilities throughout the country and world, our national cemeteries and battle monuments, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and various small agencies and programs supporting our nation's some 19 million veterans and their families. The discretionary funding level is $170.4 billion, an increase of almost $20 billion over the FY 2023 enacted level.\n\n\u201cThis is for me a mixed result,\u201d said Case. \u201cThe measure funds many critical national, Indo-Pacific and Hawai\u2018i priorities for our military infrastructure and veterans which I support. But I regrettably had to vote against it overall because it proposes $1.5 billion in cuts to critical military construction projects, shortchanges dedicated funding for PFAS cleanup, eliminates climate and military base resiliency efforts, rejects important VA infrastructure funding, and rejects diversity advancement initiatives.\u201d\n\nThe bill includes a number of priorities critical to veterans in Hawai\u2018i, such as improving Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) veterans\u2019 access to mental health care and increasing outreach to AANHPI veterans. It also provides $138.1 billion for veterans\u2019 medical care, including $5.5 billion for the Cost of War Toxic Exposure Fund, which provides funding for the landmark 2022 Honoring our PACT Act.\n\nThe Committee\u2019s proposal also includes significant investments to improve our nation\u2019s security in the Indo-Pacific. It provides $1.3 billion to continue construction of anew dry dock to replace a World War II era dry dock that will become obsolete once the Navy\u2019s Los Angeles-class submarines are no longer in service. It also invests $131 million specifically for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command projects through the broader Indo-Pacific.\n\nThrough his assignment on the Committee, Case secured $5.4 million to improve the air traffic control tower at Wheeler Army Airfield as a Member-designated Community Project Funding (CPF) that specifically focus on local needs in Hawai\u2018i. The existing control tower no longer meets the current operational and safety requirements for airfield operations.\n\nThe value of this project extends beyond the critical operations of Wheeler Army Airfield to the local community and the Island of O\u2018ahu. Not only does the air traffic control tower support multiple types of rotary and fixed wing aircraft across the various military services, but it also monitors and supports surrounding commercial and recreational airspace operations to ensure smooth transitions in and around the airspace associated with the installation.\n\nThe House\u2019s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member, and is subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case\u2019s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/services/funding-disclosures.htm.\n\nMilitary Construction\n\nThe bill provides $17.5 billion for Department of Defense (DoD) military construction and family housing, nearly $1 billion above the FY 2024 budget request.\n\nThe bill provides an additional $50 million for the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP), a $21 billion multi-year effort to upgrade the Navy\u2019s four public shipyards.\n\nThis includes over $1.3 billion to construction a new dry dock at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Hawaii\u2019s largest industrial employer with some 6,000 local employees.\n\n\u201cKeeping SIOP on track and fully funded is one of my top priorities on my Appropriations Committee,\u201d said Case\n\nSpecific military construction programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include:\n\n\u00b7 $1.4 billion for infrastructure related to the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and $131 million specifically for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command projects.\n\n\u00b7 $548 million for the Energy Resiliency and Conservation Investment Program.\n\n\u00b7 $73.1 million for Air National Guard and $73 million for Army National Guard unspecified minor military construction.\n\n\u00b7 $1.9 billion for defense-wide military construction and family housing.\n\n\u00b7 $50 million in planning and design funds for SIOP project, in addition to the $1.3 billion set aside for Pearl Harbor\u2019s dry dock project.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the DoD to address underfunded and dilapidated Army infrastructure on O\u2018ahu via the Hawai\u2018i Infrastructure Readiness Initiative.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the Government Accountability Office to conduct an audit and submit recommendations to improve the management and oversight of SIOP.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the Navy to assess how to best utilize SIOP to prepare public shipyards for conflict.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the Navy to develop a plan to address the infrastructure backlog on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.\n\n\u00b7 Requesting the results of the Defense Health Agency\u2019s Hawai\u2018i Market Facilities Master Plan.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the DoD to assess military construction and associated infrastructure needs to maximize the effectiveness of an enhanced posture in and alliance with the Philippines.\n\nVeterans-Related Programs\n\nThe bill provides $152.5 billion for veterans-related programs, $16.5 billion above the FY 2024 budget request. It specifically includes $138.1 billion for veterans\u2019 medical care, matching the FY 2024 budget request.\n\n\u201cWith some 112,000 veterans in Hawai\u2018i and their families making up one of the largest percentages of any state in our nation including in such key areas like women and minority veterans, I focused especially on the often unique challenges of delivering full veterans\u2019 health and other benefits in a diverse island state,\u201d said Case.\n\nThe bill specifically includes $1.3 billion to meet the need for specific care for women veterans and support the Office of Women\u2019s Health, including its childcare initiative. These funds will allow the VA to continue hiring women primary care providers and to increase the number of peer support specialists for women veterans. These efforts have become even more critical as the number of female veterans using VA health care services has increased.\n\nCase\u2019s committee included $5.5 billion for the Cost of War Toxic Exposure Fund, which provides funding to implement the Honoring our PACT Act. The PACT Act, which Case supported and helped enact into law, expands health care and benefits for more than five million servicemembers who were exposed to dangerous burn pit fumes, Agent Orange and other toxins during their service.\n\nOther specific veterans-related programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include:\n\n\u00b7 $287 million for the Board of Veterans Appeals, which is $2 million above the prior FY and requires quarterly reporting on all pending appeals.\n\n\u00b7 $2.7 million for the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program, which is $1.3 million above the FY 2023 enacted level.\n\n\u00b7 $60 million for the VA Grants for the Construction of Veterans Cemeteries.\n\n\u00b7 $715 million for opioid treatment and prevention efforts, which is $27 million above the FY 2023 enacted level.\n\n\u00b7 $5.2 billion for Telehealth and Connected Care. This will continue expansion of telehealth services and includes additional mental health, primary care and rehabilitation services.\n\n\u00b7 $3.1 billion for Veterans\u2019 Homelessness Program Resources for our nation\u2019s veterans, an increase of $241 million above the FY 2023 enacted level. This funding will enhance homeless veterans service providers ability to provide high demand care such as health services, substance use disorder programs, compensated work therapy and other supportive services.\n\n\u00b7 $110 million for the Veterans Justice Outreach and Legal Services for Veterans Programs.\n\n\u00b7 $338 million for Rural Health Initiatives, which is equal to the President\u2019s budget request. This will improve access and quality of care for the more than 3 million enrolled veterans residing in highly rural areas.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the VA to build upon and establish new community partnerships with counseling and wellness providers and marriage and family therapy for veterans and their families.\n\n\u00b7 Continuing rigorous reporting requirements to track each regional VA office\u2019s performance on claims processing and appeals backlogs.\n\n\u00b7 Encouraging the VA to include veteran benefit usage into its annual suicide prevention report to enable a better understanding of the correlation between benefit use and suicide and allow for more effective programs to assist veterans.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the VA to provide a report describing an outreach plan to extend the time limit for accepting initial and revised applications for a sufficient period to ensure all eligible, living WWII Filipino Veterans can apply for and receive the benefits they are entitled to receive.\n\n\u00b7 Noting the success of the tiny home village model by multiple veterans service organizations and encourages VA to support this work and facilitate the creation of additional villages of tiny homes within VA\u2019s existing Grants Per Diem program.\n\n\u00b7 Requesting a report on a plan to improve access of AANHPI veterans to mental health care and increase outreach to AANHPI veterans who have a lower use of VA and non-VA mental health services.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the Office of Rural Health to increase efforts to improve transportation mobility for veterans and to allocate funding to enhance rural access and transportation services and to ensure the new beneficiary travel system is user-friendly and that staff are trained to provide assistance.\n\n\u00b7 Urging the VA to implement mandatory lethal means safety trainings for all VA employees who regularly interact with veterans to be prepared to have a conversation that could save a veteran\u2019s life.\n\nThe bill now moves onto the full House of Representatives for consideration.\n\nAttachments:\n\n\u00b7 a video of Case speaking against an amendment which would in part reduce funding for the Pearl Harbor dry dock project is here.\n\n\u00b7 a detailed report explaining the military construction and veterans funding bill is available here.\n\n\u00b7 picture of the air traffic control tower at Wheeler Army Airfield. Courtesy U.S. Army Garrison Hawai\u2018i\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:15:57Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2179", "Case To Join Welcome Of Hokulea To Juneau, Alaska This Weekend", "2023-06-08", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=13", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i \u2013 District 1) will join the arrival of the H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba at Auke Bay in Juneau this Saturday as the iconic Polynesian voyaging canoe and crew continue their historic circumnavigation of the Pacific.\n\n\u201cOur country is a Pacific nation, and together with my home state of Hawai\u2018i\n\nand the rest of our Pacific Islands \u2018ohana, we continue to embrace this historic journey by the Polynesian Voyaging Society as H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba pursues its four-year voyage around our Earth\u2019s largest ocean and our cultural home,\u201d said Case.\n\nCase, a member of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources and its Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries, with jurisdiction over U.S. oceans policy, will welcome the H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba when the voyaging canoe arrives at Auke Bay in Juneau. The bay sits on the traditional lands of the A\u2019akw Kw\u00e1an \u2013 the \u201cSmall Lake People\u201d \u2013 said to be the first peoples to inhabit the area north and south of Juneau.\n\nPrior to welcoming H\u014dk\u016ble\u02bba, Case will tour U.S. Coast Base Seattle and Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, both in Washington State, as well as Coast Guard Stations Juneau and Sitka in Alaska.\n\n\u201cAs a member of our House Appropriations Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Homeland Security, with jurisdiction over the Coast Guard, I am responsible for overseeing and funding the worldwide capabilities and activities of this unique service charged with our nation\u2019s maritime security, search and rescue and law enforcement duties. This is especially important at this time of heightened focus on the Indo-Pacific,\u201d said Case.\n\nAside from touring land facilities and meeting with Guardsmen, Case will join Coast Guard cutters at sea and a MH-60 helicopter crew out of Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, from where the recent operation was staged to locate and rescue five people onboard a charter fishing boat that sank off the coast. The bodies of three people were recovered, two of whom were identified as a husband and wife who were residents of Waipahu, and the remaining two are still missing and presumed lost.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:08:25Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-jill-tokuda-smith-blumenauer-armstrong-introduce-rural-health-clinic", "Reps. Jill Tokuda, Smith, Blumenauer, Armstrong Introduce Rural Health Clinic Burden Reduction Act", "2023-06-06", "2023", "2023-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Recently, Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) introduced the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) Burden Reduction Act. This legislation would modernize RHC regulations to ensure RHCs can effectively treat patients.\n\nThe members released the following statements:\n\n\u201cFor so many in rural and underserved communities, their only means of accessing health care is through a rural health clinic. Communities in my district are not just rural, they are remote. Access to critical and specialty care on our Neighbor islands often requires travel by air transport. That is why rural health clinics are life savers, helping to stabilize and triage patients in these communities,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. I am proud to support the RHC Burden Reduction Act. This bipartisan bill will modernize the 30-year-old law governing rural health clinics to increase operational flexibility for facilities and remove outdated regulations that restrict providers\u2019 ability to treat patients.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural Health Clinics are integral partners in the delivery of health care in rural and underserved communities,\u201d said Rep. Smith. \u201cThere are 115 RHCs in Nebraska\u2019s Third District, and we must ensure overly burdensome regulations are not barriers to Rural Health Clinics\u2019 ability to treat patients. This bipartisan bill will address erroneous and outdated regulations, and I look forward to working with Rep. Blumenauer to move our proposal through the legislative process.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural health clinics are a lifeline for millions of Americans in rural communities across the country,\u201d said Rep. Blumenauer \u201cWe must do more to support these clinics\u2014this starts with eliminating outdated and arcane barriers that prevent clinics from effectively serving the communities that depend on them.\u201d\n\n\u201cNorth Dakota\u2019s 57 rural health clinics provide vital care to communities across our state,\u201d said Congressman Armstrong. \u201cI\u2019m proud to support this bipartisan bill that will remove outdated and ineffective regulations and increase access to care for patients in rural areas.\u201d\n\nThe RHC Burden Reduction Act provides regulatory relief and increases operational flexibility for clinics. The 5,200 RHCs nationwide provide services in rural and underserved areas, operating either independently or affiliated with a hospital with fewer than 50 beds, and are an essential access point for primary care services.\n\nRHCs are currently subject to unique regulations \u2013 some of which have never been updated since the RHC program launched in 1977. This legislation would remove outdated regulations requiring onsite laboratory equipment, expand the ability of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants to provide care in RHCs, and improve access to telehealth by allowing clinics to function as a distant site for telehealth services.\n\n\u201cThe Hawai\u02bbi State Rural Health Association (HSRHA) applauds Representative Tokuda\u2019s forward thinking and leadership in collaborating with her colleagues in the House of Representatives to introduce the Rural Health Clinic Burden Reduction Act. This legislation is essential to provide critically needed heath care in Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s rural and remote neighbor island locations. Nearly six in ten residents of Hawai\u02bbi have experienced health care delays in the past year while over one in three have cut back on medical care or medicine due to financial constraints. Allowing RHCs to be more flexible with staffing requirements would help address the critical workforce shortage in the state. Additionally, as the entire State of Hawai\u02bbi is considered a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, expanding RHCs\u2019 behavioral health care delivery could relieve stress on a strained system. These provisions will modernize and strengthen the RHC program and better enable RHCs to continue their mission of providing health care in the rural and underserved regions of Hawai\u02bbi and the rest of the nation. We are lucky to have a such a strong advocate with Rep. Tokuda,\u201d said Lisa Rantz, President of the Hawai\u02bbi State Rural Health Association.\n\n\"By modernizing statutory provisions first created in 1977 we can reduce administrative burdens and unlock the Rural Health Clinic program's full potential,\" said Nathan Baugh, Executive Director for the National Association of Rural Health Clinics. \"This bipartisan legislation presents a very realistic opportunity to eliminate outdated red tape for our nation's 5,200 RHCs.\"\n\n\u201cThe National Rural Health Association (NRHA) applauds Representatives Smith and Blumenauer for their work to provide regulatory relief Rural Health Clinics. The Rural Health Clinic Burden Reduction Act makes critical efforts to modernize the 30+ year old law governing rural health clinics across the country, removing unnecessary and outdated regulations that impact access. This legislation is a common-sense step to enhance health care in rural areas throughout our country,\u201d said Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association.\n\nThe RHC Burden Reduction Act is supported by numerous stakeholder groups including the Hawai\u02bbi State Rural Health Association, the National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC), the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), and the Nebraska Rural Health Association (NeRHA).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:08:25Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-statement-debt-limit-agreement-vote", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Statement on Debt Limit Agreement Vote", "2023-05-31", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda issued the following statement on the debt limit agreement vote:\n\n\u201cFrom day one of this debate, I have said we cannot raise the debt limit on the backs of our keiki, our kupuna, and the most vulnerable. For months, Democrats have been offering a clean and swift solution, while House Republicans chose to play partisan politics. To default on our debt would be catastrophic for our people, our economy, our environment, and global security.\n\n\u201cThe agreement before us would prevent default. But let us be clear: there will be consequences for people and communities in Hawaii and across our nation who will lose resources, benefits, and protections.\n\n\u201cWhile this is not the solution I would have liked to see, President Biden and Democrats did everything to mitigate the worst of Republicans\u2019 demands which would have cut programs that working families rely on. With across-the-board cuts of 22 percent, veterans would have had 30 million less outpatient visits, over a million seniors would be dropped from Meals on Wheels, and 200,000 keiki would lose access to Head Start programs.\n\n\u201cMy constituents sent me to Congress to work for our shared priorities, to lead with aloha and strength, reach across the aisle when possible, and to help guide our nation to a more stable and healthier future. I will continue fighting for increased investments in our communities, to eliminate the debt ceiling once and for all, expand access to social safety net programs, and enhance protections for our environment.\n\n\u201cTonight, I will vote for the debt limit agreement, but my work is far from over. This is not the bill that the American people deserve, and I will keep fighting in Congress to get what our people and communities need.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2172", "Case Announces $1.5 million Grant Award To Assure Honolulu Emergency Food Supply In Event Of Severe Storms", "2023-05-25", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=13", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i \u2013 District 1) today announced that Honolulu nonprofit Lanakila Pacific, best known for its popular \u201cMeals on Wheels\u201d program, will receive a $1.5 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fortify its facility to protect critical reserve food supplies during severe storms.\n\n\u201cSuper Typhoon Mawar and its devastating impact on our Guam and Northern Marianas \u2018ohana drive home yet again that we must assume and fully prepare for similar direct hurricane and other severe storm impacts on Hawai\u2018i,\u201d said Case, a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations and of its Subcommittee on Homeland Security with federal funding and oversight authority over FEMA.\n\n\u201cLanakila Pacific is a critical part of our overall preparedness, especially for our seniors and others who will need special support with food and other essentials during a severe weather disaster.\u201d\n\nThe grant is the second round of funding to Lanakila Pacific by FEMA, which previously awarded $229,000 to Lanakila Pacific to harden its Liliha headquarters. Case said the funds will go to repair the roof, replace and install new impact resistant doors in place of exterior perimeter gates, and strengthen air conditioning systems, among other structural improvements.\n\n\u201cWorking with FEMA and the Hawai\u2018i Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) to fortify the structural integrity of our roof and building entrances will safeguard Lanakila Pacific\u2019s resources so we are ready to assist with feeding the community in the aftermath of a disaster, including the seniors and people with disabilities who rely on our Meals on Wheels program,\u201d said Rona Yagi Fukumoto, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lanakila Pacific.\n\nThe FEMA grant comes as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today issued an \u201cabove normal\u201d hurricane season outlook this year for Hawai\u2018i and the Central Pacific, with a forecast of 4 to 7 tropical cyclones (a normal season sees 4 to 5 cyclones). This means in the Central Pacific overall, not necessarily making landfall.\n\nIt also comes as the President designates emergency assistance coordinated by FEMA for Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to address Mawar, and Hawai\u2018i recognizes \u201cHurricane Preparedness Week\u201d to highlight the importance of hurricane preparedness by residents throughout Hawai\u2019i.\n\n\u201cFEMA and other federal agencies along with HIEMA have a variety of information resources to help residents prepare fully,\u201d said Case. \u201cA central source is here, and residents can contact me for further information at ed.case@mail.house.gov or (808)-650-6688.\u201d\n\nAttachments: Picture of 2023 NOAA Hurricane Forecast\n\nPictures of Lanakila Pacific courtesy Lanakila Pacific\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-introduces-keep-kupuna-fed-act-maintain-snap-food-benefits", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Introduces the Keep Kupuna Fed Act to Maintain SNAP Food Benefits, Delivers Floor Speech", "2023-05-24", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda spoke about her recently introduced bill, the Keep Kupuna Fed Act, on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would exempt Title II Social Security benefits (Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance) from the SNAP program\u2019s income eligibility requirements to ensure that kupuna (seniors) can stay on SNAP, despite any future cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) to Social Security.\n\nDuring her recent visits throughout district, holding community town halls, Farm Bill listening sessions, and visiting SNAP processing centers, Rep. Tokuda heard from kupuna who lost their food assistance benefits due to the significant COLA increase for 2023. While COLA increases make sure that Social Security benefits keep up with inflation, they can have a disproportional impact by reducing benefits or kicking recipients off SNAP completely.\n\n\u201cSenior hunger is real and often our k\u016bpuna are too humble to reach out for help; they want to leave food resources for keiki and families. But it\u2019s our kuleana to take care of our k\u016bpuna just as they\u2019ve taken care of us and our communities, said Rep. Jill Tokuda. \u201cPeople are being forced even further into hunger and food insecurity because of what should have been a benefit. That was not the intention of the cost for living adjustment and we must rectify it by striking it from income eligibility and making good on what our intent was \u2014 to keep kupuna fed.\u201d\n\nTokuda\u2019s Floor speech can be viewed here.\n\nBackground:\n\nAccording to AARP, in 2020, nearly 9.5 million Americans ages 50 and older\u20148 percent of the total U.S. population\u2014were considered food insecure. To help kupuna deal with the emergent challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress enacted legislation to provide SNAP recipients with extra benefits. The SNAP Emergency Allotments played a critical role in preventing millions of Americans, including our kupuna, from experiencing food insecurity in the face of the public health crisis, plus corresponding supply chain disruptions and rising inflation.\n\nTo address post-pandemic economic challenges, earlier this year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Social Security Administration provided an historic 8.7 percent COLA increase to more than 65 million Social Security beneficiaries. While this bump in Social Security is welcome news, there has been an unintended and adverse impact on seniors\u2019 SNAP benefits.\n\nSeniors in every district in the country have or will lose or see a decrease in benefits because of this increase in Social Security benefits and its unintended impacts on their income levels. In Hawai\u2018i alone, thousands of kupuna will likely lose access to SNAP or experience a larger decrease in their SNAP benefits than the increased COLA can offset.\n\nIn March, Tokuda joined Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Ranking Member of the Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture Subcommittee, and 28 other Members in a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inquiring about recent reductions to SNAP due to the COLA increase to Social Security benefits and the termination of the COVID-19 emergency.\n\nA copy of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-gives-speech-house-floor-congratulating-iam-tongi-winning", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Gives Speech on House Floor Congratulating Iam Tongi on Winning American Idol\u2019s Season 21", "2023-05-23", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) addressed the U.S. House of Representatives to congratulate Hawai\u02bbi-born performer, Iam Tongi, a proud son of Kahuku, on winning American Idol\u2019s Season 21.\n\n\u201cIam Tongi, a proud son of Kahuku, just won American Idol\u2019s Season 21 and today I congratulated him on the Floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Iam captured the hearts of millions across the country with his soulful performances, becoming the first Hawai\u02bbi-born and Pacific Islander contestant to ever win. Like many kama\u02bb\u0101ina, Iam and his family were forced to move to the continent because of the high cost of living. Our children have become our greatest exports. That\u2019s not pono. We must make Hawai\u02bbi more affordable so families like Iam\u2019s don\u2019t have to leave their home,\u201d said Representative Jill Tokuda. \u201cIam, congratulations on winning American Idol. Your music, your story, and your spirit have inspired us all. Hawai\u2018i is so proud of you\u2014 wherever you go, we will always be your \u2018ohana.\u201d\n\nA video of Rep. Tokuda\u2019s remarks can be viewed here and downloaded for media use here.\n\nRep. Tokuda\u2019s remarks as written:\n\nMr. Speaker,\n\nI rise today to congratulate Iam Tongi, a proud son of Kahuku, on winning American Idol\u2019s Season 21.\n\nIam is the first Hawai\u02bbi-born and Pacific Islander contestant to ever win American Idol.\n\nFrom the very beginning, Iam captured the hearts of the judges and viewers across the country with his incredible voice and soulful performances, dedicating many of them to his late father, Rodney.\n\nThroughout his American Idol journey, Iam not only showcased Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s local music on a national stage but also the challenges with getting priced out of paradise.\n\nLike many residents, Iam and his family were forced to move to the continent because of Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s high cost of living.\n\nOur children like Iam have become our greatest exports. That\u2019s not pono. That\u2019s not right. We must make Hawai\u02bbi more affordable so that families like Iam\u2019s don\u2019t have to leave their home.\n\nIam, congratulations again on winning American Idol.\n\nYour music, your story, and your spirit have inspired millions of Americans across this country. Hawai\u2018i is so proud of you, and wherever you go, we will always be your \u2018ohana.\n\nI yield back.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:07:47Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2164", "Case Highlights $1.2 Billion Allocated To Date For Hawai\u2018i Projects By The Biden Administration Under $1.2 Trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law", "2023-05-15", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=13", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i \u2013 District 1) today highlighted a new report from the Biden Administration itemizing some $1.2 billion in federal funding announced to date for 59 key infrastructure projects throughout Hawai\u2018i under the November 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\nThe report includes a state-by-state summary of progress in infrastructure reinvestment under the $1.2 trillion law, also now known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).\n\nCase strongly supported the IIJA in the prior 117th Congress (2021-2023) and has been tracking hundreds of programs under the law to ensure that Hawai\u2018i takes full advantage of what he has called a generational opportunity.\n\n\u201cWe had a hard time getting the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law across the finish line last Congress,\u201d said Case. \u201cBut it is now recognized as a real success story in how our federal government can solve problems, like our crumbling infrastructure, when we focus together on doing so.\u201d\n\nThe 59 projects for Hawai\u02bbi here range across road, bridge, airport, harbor, broadband and other infrastructure and include:\n\n\u00b7 $5 million for schools in Hawai\u02bbi through the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s Clean School Bus Program. In addition, communities in Hawai\u02bbi were awarded $43.2 million for clean transit buses and improved bus service through the Department of Transportation\u2019s Low- and No Emission Bus and Bus and Bus Facilities Program.\n\n\u00b7 $110 million in 2022 and 2023 for Hawai\u02bbi airports with $30.9 million for the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport\n\n\u00b7 $47 million for the Kap\u0101lama Container Terminal Project to help upgrade electrified ship-to-shore cranes and allow for the installation of solar panels on terminal buildings, ultimately improving the reliability of port operations, among other improvements.\n\nCase said: \u201cMy office will continue to assure that my government and community partners throughout Hawai\u02bbi are fully aware of the major federal funding opportunities available not just from the IIJA, but also from the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate and energy related investment in our history, so that we can fully seek and obtain the assistance offered for various critical projects.\u201d\n\nCase\u2019s Congressional webpages about the IIJA here and Inflation Reduction Act here include downloadable spreadsheets listing the funding available to state and county governments and non-profit organizations. The spreadsheets detail who is eligible and, in as much detail as currently available, information on how to apply.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2160", "National Small Business Organization Recognizes Case With Special Congressional Award", "2023-05-11", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=14", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i \u2013 District 1) was honored last night with the 2023 Special Congressional Award by the Small Business Council of America (SBCA) during an event held in Washington, DC. The SBCA is a national, non-profit organization representing the interests of 100,000 privately held and family-owned businesses.\n\n\u201cI am honored to receive this award, but also appreciate the attention it draws to the importance of small business as a critical economic engine for our country, as well as in my Hawai\u2018i, where there are more than 137,000 small businesses that make up more than 99 percent of all businesses in the islands,\u201d said Case.\n\nThe SBCA previously honored Case with its Special Congressional Award in 2006, when he represented Hawaii\u2019s Second Congressional District and served on the U.S. House Committee on Small Business. He was also presented with SBCA\u2019s Appreciation Award in 2019, the first year of his return to Congress, \u201cfor his keen understanding of small business issues and his dedication to promoting fiscally responsible solutions in Congress.\u201d\n\nIn presenting the award Darryl Taira, Honolulu attorney and member of the SBCA, praised Representative Case for his contributions in helping small businesses, including his support of the various Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan programs, co-sponsorship of a number of bills which support the Small Business Administration (SBA) and reduce bureaucratic barriers, and securing funding in excess of $1 billion for key small business assistance award programs managed by the SBA.\n\nIn his remarks, Taira noted: \u201cRepresentative Case is truly a friend of small businesses in Hawai\u2018i. No one is more deserving of this honor and prestigious award than Representative Case. The SBCA also greatly appreciates everything Mr. Case does for all small businesses.\u201d\n\nThis year, the SBCA recognized Case \u201cfor his efforts and leadership to protect the interests of the small businesses of this country, in particular, your work with the Problem Solvers Caucus to pursue bi-partisan solutions to the challenging issues facing our country.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy Problem Solvers Caucus, where I serve on the Executive Council as one of four vice-chairs here, has advocated for various measures to support small business, including the historic $1 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan enacted into law last year.\n\n\u201cAlso known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the law will boost small business by improving infrastructure increases access to customers and suppliers, enhancing business operations and creating demand for goods and services, closing the digital divide to ensure that more people can participate in the growth of our economy, and opening up federal contract opportunities for small business to compete for infrastructure work.\u201d\n\nIn 2020, Case also sponsored a measure similarly endorsed by his Problem Solvers Caucus here, the PPP Flexibility Act, signed into law, that revamped some of the rules of the program to make it more accessible and equitable for small businesses struggling to address the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nIn the recent Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 federal omnibus funding measure, Case, as a member of the House Appropriations Committee responsible for overseeing and funding all federal government agencies, departments, and organizations on an annual basis, helped to secure $1.2 billion for the Small Business Administration, an increase of $188 million above FY 2022\u2019s funding measure.\n\nCase has sponsored other measures to support small business, including:\n\n1. H.R. 6454, the Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2022, which would have expanded the Small Business Administration\u2019s (SBA) Office of Advocacy. This office is the independent voice for small businesses within the federal government, the watchdog for the Regulatory Flexibility Act and a trusted source of small business statistics.\n\n2. H.R. 6445, the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) Improvement Act of 2022, which would have provided additional federal funding to expand the SBDCs program that provide counseling and training to help small businesses access capital, improve financial management skills and develop plans for measurable growth.\n\n3. H.R. 6441, the Women\u2019s Business Centers (WBCs) Improvement Act of 2022, which would have reauthorized the WBCs program to assist women in starting and growing small businesses across the United States.\n\n4. H.R. 6450, the SCORE for Small Business Act of 2022, which would have reauthorized and modernized the SBA\u2019s SCORE program to better pair experienced volunteers with young entrepreneurs for mentoring and training.\n\n5. H.R. 7670, the Women-Owned Small Business Program Transparency Act. This bill would have required the SBA to report the number and total dollar amount of contracts awarded under the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program.\n\n6. H.R. 7664, the Supporting Small Business and Career and Technical Education Act of 2022, which would have assisted small businesses in hiring graduates from career and technical education programs.\n\nThe Special Congressional Award is one of just a few such honors that the SBCA has awarded over the last forty years. The SBCA has advocated for small businesses on federal tax, health care and employee benefit matters since 1979. This year\u2019s awards will mark the 40th year that the SBCA has honored members of Congress who have assisted small businesses to make them more productive and profitable, thereby allowing them to grow and become leaders in the community.\n\nAttachments (pictures courtesy of the Office of Rep. Ed Case)\n\n\u00b7 Picture of Rep. Case with Honolulu attorney Darryl Taira and a member of the SBCA\n\n\u00b7 Picture of 2023 Special Congressional Award for Rep. Case\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-jill-tokuda-mary-peltola-and-ed-case-introduce-legislation-increase", "Reps. Jill Tokuda, Mary Peltola, and Ed Case Introduce Legislation to Increase Medicare Payments for Nursing Facilities", "2023-05-11", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) led Reps. Mary Sattler Peltola (AK-At Large) and Ed Case (HI-02) in announcing the introduction of legislation to ensure skilled nursing facilities in Hawai\u02bbi and Alaska receive fair reimbursements for the services they provide. The Equitable Payments for Nursing Facilities Act of 2023 would authorize a cost-of-living adjustment to the Medicare payment formula for skilled nursing facilities in Hawai\u02bbi and Alaska to account for the significantly higher cost to provide care in these areas.\n\nUnder current law, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has the authority to provide adjustments to payment amounts in consideration of the unique circumstances of hospitals located in Hawai\u2018i and Alaska \u2014 but this authority only applies to hospitals and inpatient psychiatric facilities, not skilled nursing facilities.\n\n\u201cSkilled nursing facilities are a critical part of Hawai\u2018i\u2019s health care system and especially important in our rural communities. They provide hospitalized patients with continued care following an accident, severe illness, or surgery. In addition to helping them regain their ability to do daily activities and tasks, our skilled nursing facilities are a life saver for families and caregivers that want to be sure their loved ones have a safe place to recover and heal,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02). \u201cThat is why we must make sure our skilled nursing facilities are adequately compensated, especially in high cost-of-living states like Hawai\u2019i, to ensure access to high-quality care and the best health outcomes for patients. My bill represents an important step in making that goal a reality.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlaska and Hawai\u02bbi have many wonderful things in common, but we also face some similar challenges,\u201d said Representative Peltola. \u201cOne challenger of our remote locations and dispersed populations is the high cost of living and delivering health care services. Skilled nursing facilities are an important part of our health care systems, providing a safe and stable environment for patients to recover following intensive medical treatment. We must provide appropriate compensation for these facilities and skilled health care workers that take care of our loved ones. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to support this bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor years, long-term care operations including skilled nursing facilities have struggled with staff shortages, low pay and the lack of patient beds across the country including Hawai\u2018i,\u201d said Rep. Ed Case (HI-01). \u201cWith the growing population of seniors in our islands, referred to as \u2018Silver Tsunami\u2019, this bill calls for adjustments to Medicare payment rates to relieve the financial strain of these facilities, and ensure that beds will be available for our kupuna on the waiting list for continuous health care in their golden years.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis legislation, if passed, will make payments to Hawaii nursing facilities more equitable given the high cost of providing care in Hawaii. Skilled nursing facilities continue to provide care to an increasingly vulnerable and medically complex population, but struggle with rates that fail to take into account the costs of living and doing business in Hawai\u2018i. Hawaii\u2019s population is aging at a higher rate than that of the continental United States and the need for skilled nursing care is increasing. Skilled nursing facilities also face challenges with workforce retention and recruitment as they struggle to compete for workers with acute care facilities in a sector that has been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d said Hilton Raethel, President and CEO of Healthcare Association of Hawai\u2018i.\n\nIf enacted, the Equitable Payments for Nursing Facilities Act would provide the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services the authority to make adjustments to Medicare payment rates for Skilled Nursing Facilities in Hawai\u2018i or Alaska.\n\nCompanion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Brian Schatz (D-HI), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-announces-winner-second-congressional-art-competition-maui", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Announces Winner of Second Congressional Art Competition from Maui High School", "2023-05-08", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2013 Saturday, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) held a ceremony in Oahu to announce the winner of the U.S. Hou Representatives Artistic Discovery Contest, a high school art competition in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories to showcase their artistic talent.\n\nRep. Tokuda announced that the panel of three local artist judges selected art created by Cailyn Omuro from Maui High School. Cailyn's masterpiece will hang in the U.S. Capitol in the Cannon tunnel on display for Members of Congress and tens of thousands of visitors to see.\n\nCailyn\u2019s artwork is titled Hanagasa Waraba and the medium is colored pencil. Cailyn shared the significance of Hanagasa Waraba:\n\nWaraba means \u201cchild\u201d and Hanagasa is a flower hat worn traditionally by female Okinawan dancers. However, in this piece, I chose to portray the wearer as the feminine version of a boy in order to illustrate the struggle with sexuality and gender that is an integral part of society. There is a stigma associated with discussion about gender and sexuality. By including the illustration of magpies, I tried to showcase the subjectiveness of stigma. In Western culture, the magpie is a symbol of bad luck, but in Eastern Asian culture, it is just the opposite. The duality of the magpie\u2019s symbolism mirrors the juxtaposing impact of the boy in the Hangasa. I hope that with this piece, I can make a small contribution to breaking the silence effect of the stigma on this topic.\n\nTokuda also announced that the two finalists will have their art featured in her offices in Washington, D.C. and Hawai\u02bbi on a rotating exhibit so visitors to her offices can see the works of art.\n\nThe top two high school finalists from the Second Congressional District are:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2154", "Case Announces Winners Of His 2023 Congressional Art Competition", "2023-05-06", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=14", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i \u2013 District 1) announced the winners of his Hawai\u2019i District 1 2023 Congressional Art Competition during an awards ceremony at the Bishop Museum on Thursday, where entries had been on public display.\n\n\u201cWith more than 70 art pieces entered this year from public, private and home-schooled high school students, this was my largest number of entries yet,\u201d said Case. \u201cAll of this year\u2019s contestants earned our respect for participating in a contest that featured so many quality art pieces and made it so difficult for our three judges to select the winners,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cThe quantity, quality and diversity of the artwork presented was inspiring and truly showcased the range of artistic talent across my district. I will be very proud to highlight the winners\u2019 work in the U.S. Capitol and in my Congressional offices.\u201d\n\nEach spring since 1982, the Congressional Institute has sponsored a nationwide high school visual arts competition to recognize and encourage artistic talents in each Congressional district. The winners for Case\u2019s event this year are:\n\n1st Place\n\nYu-An Ma\n\nGrade 12\n\nKalani High School\n\nTitle: \u201cBurden of Paradise\u201d\n\nMedium: colored pencils on black paper\n\nShe and a guest will receive a round trip for two on Southwest Airlines to attend the National Awards Competition in Washington, D.C., among other prizes. Her image representing Hawai\u2018i\u2019s 1st Congressional District will also be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year along with those of the winners in other districts.\n\n2nd Place\n\nNayeon Gil\n\nGrade 10\n\nMaryknoll High School\n\nTitle: \u201cConsequence, What\u2019s Next?\u201d\n\nMedium: drawing\n\nHer image will be displayed in the Washington, D.C. Office of Congressman Case for one year, along with a certificate.\n\n3rd Place\n\nKailee Umaga-Silva\n\nGrade 12\n\nFarrington High School\n\nTitle: \u201cWill I Ever Be Seen?\u201d\n\nMedium: photography\n\nHer image will be displayed in the District Office of Congressman Case in downtown Honolulu for one year, along with a certificate.\n\nHonorable Mentions\n\nRachael Kim\n\nGrade 11\n\nMid-Pacific Institute\n\nTitle: \u201cBackstage\u201d\n\nMedium: recycled denim fabrics\n\nDane Nishizaki\n\nGrade 12\n\nKalani High School\n\nTitle: \u201cUlua from the \u2018\u0100ina\u201d\n\nMedium: acrylic paint\n\n\u201cI want to especially thank our panel of judges who reviewed the works and made some very tough decisions,\u201d said Case. The judges were:\n\n- Mark Brown\n\nHas been active in the arts for the last 40 years. He is a Plein air, landscape artist.\n\n- Keliilalo \u201cLalo\u201d Ishiki-Kalahele\n\nLalo is a Native Hawaiian photographer and artist. She currently works with community at K\u014dkua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services.\n\n- Janet Meinke-Lau\n\nJanet is a watercolor artist and surfer whose paintings are inspired by life in Hawai\u2018i.\n\nLink to B-roll of the awards ceremony is here\n\nAttachments (pictures):\n\n1st place Yu-An Ma (black dress)\n\n\u201cBurden of Paradise\u201d (see entry label)\n\n2nd place Nayeon Gill (white long-sleeve top)\n\n\u201cConsequence, What\u2019s Next?\u201d (see entry label)\n\n3rd place Kailee Umaga-Silva (blue short-sleeve top)\n\n\u201cWill I Ever Be Seen?\u201d (see entry label)\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-announces-congressional-art-competition-finalists-second", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Announces Congressional Art Competition Finalists for Second Congressional District", "2023-05-05", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.)\u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) is thrilled to announce three finalists in the U.S. House of Representatives Artistic Discovery Contest, a high school art competition in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories to showcase their artistic talent.\n\nThe finalists were selected by three local renowned artists: Kirk Kurokawa, based on Maui; Brook Parker from Kahalu\u2019u, O\u2019ahu; and Iliahi Anthony, based in Hilo.\n\nThe top three high school finalists from the Second Congressional District are:\n\nCailyn Omuro, Maui High School:\n\nLia Kuo, Hilo High School:\n\nTiffany Castillo, Leilehua High School:\n\nThe winning artwork will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol in the Cannon tunnel, which Members of Congress use every day as well as tens of thousands of visitors. The winning artwork is also featured on the House.gov Congressional Art Competition page and on Congresswoman Tokuda's website and social media pages.\n\nMembers of the media are invited to a special event tomorrow in which the finalist will be unveiled.\n\nCongressional Art Competition Unveiling\n\nSaturday, May 6\n\n10:00am-12:00pm\n\nHawai\u02bbi State Art Museum, MultiPurpose Room\n\n250 S. Hotel Street\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-statement-investigation-afff-spill-red-hill", "Rep. Tokuda Statement on Investigation of AFFF Spill at Red Hill", "2023-05-05", "2023", "2023-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "\u201cThis investigation makes clear that the November 29, 2022 AFFF spill at Red Hill should never have happened. When incident after incident is the result of \u201chuman error,\u201d there comes a time when we need to recognize that there are systemic problems. The Navy needs to act now to hold people accountable for this spill and ensure that its continued work to remediate and close Red Hill meets the standards of quality and safety that the people of Hawai\u2018i deserve. Moving forward, we need to ensure that our people and our business are the ones leading efforts and doing the work to remediate, restore and protect Hawaii's precious resources and environment,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda. \u201cIn March, our congressional delegation requested a third-party investigation by the Government Accountability Office into the Navy\u2019s procedures and practices to protect human health and the environment from PFAS at Red Hill. I look forward to reviewing the results of that investigation when it is completed. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I will continue to demand transparency and accountability from the Navy and the Department of Defense on all matters related to Red Hill.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:55:44Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2146", "Case and Tokuda Introduce Measure To Combat Invasive Species in Hawai\u2018i", "2023-04-28", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=14", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) - Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), and Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (HI-02) announced the introduction of their Hawai\u2019i Invasive Species Protection Act, a bill to require that baggage and cargo transporting into the State of Hawai\u2018i by air or sea be pre-inspected for invasive species and high-risk agricultural materials, in the same manner as similar baggage and cargo transported to the U.S. mainland must be inspected pre-departure.\n\n\u201cInvasive species pose an especially grave threat to Hawaii\u2019s unique ecosystems, natural resources, and agricultural communities, in part due to Hawaii\u2019s unique geography,\u201d said Rep. Ed Case. \u201cHawai\u2018i is the most isolated island chain and one of the most ecologically diverse places in the world.\n\n\u201cHowever, tragically, in large part due to invasive species, Hawai\u2018i has become the endangered species and extinction capital of the world. The Pacific Islands are home to 44% of the threatened and endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act, and Hawai\u2018i currently has 468 species listed as endangered, more than any other state and almost half of the total endangered species nationwide.\u201d\n\nCase continued: \u201cMany of these species are critically endangered and face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Although we will never know the true number of species that have gone extinct in Hawai\u2018i, in 2021 alone nine Hawaiian species were declared extinct.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re losing the war against invasive pests and diseases in Hawai\u2018i, and our farmers and producers are paying the price. Every year more invasive pests and diseases enter and establish themselves in our state, and there are fewer resources for control and management. It\u2019s hard enough to put food on our tables and shelves, and these threats to agriculture further threaten food security in Hawai\u02bbi,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda.\n\n\u201cThis bill is a needed first step to turn the tide on invasives by providing federal resources to prevent invasive species from even reaching Hawai\u2018i. I look forward to continuing to fight for increased biosecurity in Hawai\u2018i in the 2023 Farm Bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur bill, the Hawai\u2018i Invasive Species Protection Act, will require the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS), in cooperation with other federal departments and the State of Hawai\u2018i, to conduct visual, x-ray and canine inspections, as appropriate, on person, baggage, cargo and any other article destined for direct movement to the State of Hawai\u2018i,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cThe inspections will search for high-risk invasive species and agricultural materials. The inspections will be conducted at airports, ports, and postal sorting facilities prior to direct travel to the State of Hawai\u2018i.\n\n\u201cOur bill further requires APHIS to work with the State of Hawai\u2018i to develop and publish a list of the high-risk invasive species and agricultural materials for the State of Hawai\u2018i. It pays for these inspections by increasing Agriculture Quarantine Inspection fees to cover the full cost of inspection.\u201d\n\nAttachments:\n\n\u00b7 Case full House remarks on the introduction of the bill\n\n\u00b7 Picture of coffee berry borer, courtesy Hawai\u2018i State Department of Agriculture\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-holds-press-conference-announce-farm-bill-listening-sessions", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Holds Press Conference to Announce Farm Bill Listening Sessions", "2023-04-28", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) will hold a press conference with Hawai\u02bbi media to announce her statewide Farm Bill Listening Session tour to hear from farmers, agriculture producers, nutrition advocates, and workers on what they\u2019re hoping to see from the 2023 Farm Bill.\n\nThe Farm Bill is renegotiated every five years, and Rep. Tokuda is the only member of Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s Delegation to hold a seat on the Agriculture Committee, making her uniquely positioned to ensure that Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s agriculture economy is accounted for in negotiations.\n\nRep. Tokuda will speak with members of the media today at 8:30am HT/2:30pm ET to announce five Farm Bill Listening Sessions as well as three additional town halls on neighbor islands, all taking place the first week of May. Members of the agriculture community are encouraged to participate in the Listening Session and the general public is invited to Tokuda\u2019s town halls.\n\nPlease RSVP to the press conference by emailing Carly at: carly.sylva.gabrielson@mail.house.gov.\n\nRep. Tokuda May Recess Schedule\n\nMonday, May 1, 2023\n\nKona Town Hall\n\n5:30pm to 6:30pm\n\nWest Hawaii Civic Center, Council Chambers\n\n74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740\n\nTuesday, May 2, 2023\n\nMaui Farm Bill Listening Session\n\n11:30am to 1:00pm\n\nUH Extension Community Hall\n\n310 W. Kaahumanu Ave. Wailuku, HI 96793\n\nWednesday, May 3, 2023\n\nLanai Farm Bill Listening Session\n\n2:00pm to 3:15pm\n\nILWU Hall, 840 Ilima Ave., Lanai City, HI 96763\n\nLanai Town Hall\n\n4:00pm to 5:00pm\n\nILWU Union Hall, 840 Ilima Ave., Lanai City, HI 96763\n\nThursday, May 4, 2023\n\nMolokai Farm Bill Listening Session\n\n4:30pm to 5:30pm\n\nMitchell Pauole Community Center, 90 Ainoa St, Kaunakakai, HI 96748\n\nMolokai Town Hall\n\n5:00pm to 6:00pm\n\nMitchell Pauole Community Center, 90 Ainoa St, Kaunakakai, HI 96748\n\nFriday, May 5, 2023\n\nWaianae Farm Bill Listening Session\n\n1:00pm to 2:30pm\n\nNanakuli Public Library, 89-070 Farrington Hwy, Waianae, HI 96792\n\nSaturday, May 6, 2023\n\nNorth Shore Farm Bill Listening Session\n\n2:30pm to 4:00pm\n\nWaialua Elementary School,\n\n67-020 Waialua Beach Rd, Waialua, HI 96791", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-joins-white-house-us-treasury-hawaii-delegation-and-gov-green", "Rep. Tokuda Joins White House, U.S. Treasury, Hawai\u02bbi Delegation, and Gov. Green to Announce $115.5 Million to Expand Broadband in Hawai\u02bbi", "2023-04-27", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) joined the White House, U.S. Tresury, Hawai\u02bbi Delegation, and Governor Josh Green to announce $115.5 million in funding to expand broadband in Hawai\u02bbi. The Capital Projects Funding is a part of President Biden\u2019s Invest in America agenda.\n\nSpecifically, the funding will implement two programs:\n\n$101.7 million investment in the Hawai\u02bbi Subsea Middle Mile Program to address the subsea cable infrastructure needed to provide high-speed internet access to the islands.\n\n$8 million investment in the Hawai\u02bbi Public Housing Authority Connection Program to update housing facilities with provide residents with high-speed internet.\n\n\u201cI am thrilled to help announce this critical funding to invest in broadband infrastructure in Hawai\u02bbi and expand reliable, high-speed internet access for our rural communities. In Hawai\u02bbi, our rural communities are spread out across many islands in which residents must travel by plane to access essential services. The digital divide is real in Hawai\u02bbi and we need to do everything possible to increase digital literacy, said Rep. Jill Tokuda. \u201cThe expansion of high-speed internet will help lessen the burden by increasing access for our teachers and students, to help people connect with essential telehealth services, digital commerce for small businesses and farms, online classes for degrees or career and technical training, and simply keeping in touch with loved ones on a neighbor island or abroad. Mahalo to President Biden and the U.S. Treasury for awarding this funding to expand access to services for our communities and residents.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccess to reliable internet is critical for our keiki to be able to learn, for our kupuna to access telemedicine, and for our small businesses to access markets around the world,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cBut too many communities in our state, especially on the neighbor islands, still do not have access to reliable internet. Our children shouldn\u2019t have to sit in a Zippy\u2019s parking lot just to do their homework, and this funding will help ensure they don\u2019t have to. This investment will help keiki and families connect with their schools, their workplaces, and their loved ones. This funding is one more way Democrats are investing in our communities and helping ensure our children are set up for lifetimes of success.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-gives-speech-congratulating-sasha-colby-rupaul-drag-race", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Gives Speech Congratulating Sasha Colby, RuPaul Drag Race Winner, and Honoring Hawaiian M\u0101h\u016b Trans Culture", "2023-04-26", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=10&", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) addressed the U.S. House of Representatives to congratulate Hawai\u02bbi-born drag performer, Sasha Kekauhoa, more famously known as Sasha Colby, on being crowned the winner of \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u201d Season 15.\n\n\u201cI am so proud that a fellow Windward girl, hailing from the homesteads of Waimanalo, has earned the title of America\u2019s Next Drag Superstar,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda. \u201cFrom the very start of the 15-week-long competition, Sasha put her vulnerabilities front and center for the world to see, often drawing upon her Native Hawaiian and Irish heritage and childhood trauma as sources of inspiration for her performances. Throughout Drag Race, she authentically represented her Hawaiian culture both in her looks and interviews, talking about the legacy she\u2019s building for her home state and about being m\u0101h\u016b.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday, we are seeing increasing attacks on LGBTQ+ rights that particularly target trans people and drag queens including state laws banning drag queen performances and gender affirming care. In her own words, Sasha says, \u2018I am literally the living embodiment of what they want to eradicate.\u2019 Sasha\u2019s win is not only well deserved; it gives us hope,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda.\n\nA video of Rep. Tokuda\u2019s remarks can be viewed here and downloaded for media use here.\n\nRep. Tokuda\u2019s remarks as written:\n\n\u201cI rise today to congratulate Hawai\u02bbi-born Sasha Kekauoha, more famously known as Sasha Colby, on being crowned the winner of \u201cRuPaul\u2019s Drag Race\u201d Season 15.\n\nI am so proud that a fellow Windward girl, hailing from the homesteads of Waimanalo, has earned the title of America\u2019s Next Drag Superstar.\n\nFrom the very start of the competition, Sasha, a seasoned drag legend, drew upon her ethnic heritage and childhood trauma as sources of inspiration for her performances.\n\nThroughout \u2018Drag Race,\u2019 she authentically represented her Hawaiian culture, talking about the legacy she\u2019s building for our home state and about being m\u0101h\u016b.\n\nIn ancient Hawaiian days, m\u0101h\u016b were considered \u201cextraordinary individuals of male and female spirit,\u201d who brought their healing powers to O\u2018ahu from Tahiti.\u201d\n\nToday, trans people are among the most revered members in the Hawaiian community.\n\nAmidst ongoing attacks on LGBTQ+ rights that particularly target trans people and drag queens, her win is not only well-deserved, it gives us hope.\n\nCongratulations, Sasha Colby. You are a leader, a proud m\u0101h\u016b, and every drag queen\u2019s favorite drag queen.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-joins-booker-welch-casar-introducing-bicameral-bill-hold", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Joins Booker, Welch, Casar in  Introducing Bicameral Bill to Hold Corporations Accountable for Child Labor Violations", "2023-04-25", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=11&", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) joined U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas), alongside more than 50 advocacy organizations, in introducing the bicameral Child Labor Exploitation Accountability Act, legislation aimed at holding corporations accountable for the exploitation of children and workers in the food industry.\n\nThe bill prohibits the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from engaging in contracts with companies that have committed egregious labor law violations and/or contracted with vendors that have incurred, and failed to rectify, serious worker or labor infractions.\n\n\u201cIt is absolutely unacceptable that in this day and age, Congress must take action to hold corporations accountable for making profits on the backs of our children. These cruel and dangerous actions can not be allowed to stand in the United States of America,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda. \u201cUS Department of Labor studies show that child employment has increased 69% across the county since 2018 which is unacceptable. Companies that are illegally employing children must be held accountable for these violations. This bill will do just that by establishing strong enforcement measures to prevent abusive child labor.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday, we\u2019re seeing so many children \u2013 especially migrant children \u2013 forced to work unsafe, dangerous, and overnight jobs by some of the biggest corporations in our country,\u201d said Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas). \u201cIt\u2019s unacceptable. That\u2019s why we\u2019re introducing the Child Labor Exploitation Accountability Act to end child labor by ensuring that if companies want USDA dollars, then they shouldn\u2019t break federal labor law. We can care for all children, and make sure they can get the education, food, housing, and development opportunities they need.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must hold companies accountable if they violate labor laws and exploit workers, including vulnerable children,\u201d said Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.). \u201cCompanies that benefit from federal contracts have a responsibility to ensure that their workers, whether direct employees or contract workers, are treated fairly and safely. My bill will ensure companies are barred from participating in federal contracts if they engage in labor law violations that include the use of child labor. This sends a clear message to corporations that they cannot put their profits above the health, safety, and well-being of workers, especially children.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo child should be made to do hazardous work \u2013 but as recent reporting has shown, that remains all too common in the United States,\u201d said Senator Peter Welch (D-VT). \u201cWe must use every tool at our disposal to end child labor, and that\u2019s why I am proud to join Sen. Booker to introduce the Child Labor Exploitation Accountability Act and leverage the power of federal contracts to hold corporations accountable for these shameful practices.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Child Labor Exploitation Accountability Act would:\n\nRequire companies competing for contracts with Department of Agriculture to disclose labor and worker safety infractions by the company itself as well as by any of their contractors in the preceding three years\n\nEmpower the Secretary of Labor to determine corrective measures for a company and/or their contractors to remain eligible for the USDA contracts\n\nRequire the Secretary of Labor to prepare a list of companies that are ineligible for USDA contracts for that year based on serious, repeated, or pervasive violations of labor laws, and\n\nEstablish strong enforcement measures to ensure USDA and DOL compliance.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2138", "Case, Kim Advance Bipartisan Measure To Assist Countries Facing Economic Coercion From China And Russia", "2023-04-20", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=14", "scraper", "(Washington, DC ) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) and Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-40) have introduced a measure to assist partner countries to combat economic coercion by other countries including in particular China and Russia. The measure comes after both countries have stepped up such tactics against several governments to achieve their policy aims.\n\n\u201cIt is clear that the Chinese Communist Party and Russia have increasingly exerted or threatened economic pressure on governments to force them to accept its national interests,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cA classic example is the case of Australia, where China levied punitive tariffs on Australian wine and restricted imports of Australian beef and coal after Australia raised security concerns about the actions of Huawei, a Chinese-owned global provider of information and communications technology. And Russia of course is leveraging its fuel and other exports to leverage countries to accede to its invasion of Ukraine. While Australia and Europe are weathering those tactics, smaller countries have been far more seriously affected by such coercion or even its threat.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe cannot allow adversaries like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin to take advantage of our freedom-loving allies. The United States and like-minded partners need to be able to step in to help countries suffering from the consequences of the CCP\u2019s malign influence,\u201d said House Foreign Affairs Indo-Pacific Subcommittee Chairwoman Young Kim.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s why I am proud to join Rep. Ed Case to lead the Economic Defense Response Teams Act to ensure we can deploy smart, responsible economic assistance and support countries subject to our adversaries\u2019 coercive schemes.\u201d\n\nCase and Kim said the bill would create a pilot program of targeted economic defense response teams to provide emergency technical assistance and support to countries subjected to the threat or use of coercive economic tactics.\n\nThis emergency assistance would include minimizing the damage caused by the coercive economic tactics, assisting in dealing with foreign investment in infrastructure that could undermine the target country\u2019s sovereignty, and helping combat efforts by an adversary to employ economic coercion by undermining the partner country\u2019s cybersecurity or digital security.\n\n\u201cChina in particular has used economic coercion as a cudgel to prevent smaller nations from challenging its attempts to undermine the international rules-based order. This bill will help rebalance the scales by assisting our partners to push back against China\u2019s use of coercive economic tactics,\u201d said Case and Kim, two of the six co-Chairs of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus.\n\nAttachment: copy of the bill on Economic Defense Response Teams\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2135", "Case Urges Waiver From Jones Act/Cargo Preference Requirements To Expedite Defueling Of Red Hill", "2023-04-18", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=14", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i - District 1) today urged U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to grant an advance waiver from the Jones Act and military cargo preference requirements to provide for the safe, cost-effective, dependable and expedited execution of the Department of Defense\u2019s (DoD) critical defueling of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawai\u2018i.\n\n\u201cAs part of [the proposed defueling process], over one hundred million gallons of bulk fuel now stored in the Red Hill tanks must be removed and distributed to other storage facilities under a plan supervised by the Environmental Protection Agency and Hawai\u2018i Department of Health,\u201d Case wrote Mayorkas.\n\n\u201cThe current plan will require ten bulk petroleum tankers to ship the fuel from a pier at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to various points, ranging in distance from ten miles away at Kalaeloa to various replacement storage sites thousands of miles overseas.\u201d\n\nCase continued: \u201cA series of highly organized and sequenced events is critical to the plan, which must achieve not only the safe and efficient removal of the fuel but also maintain military operational tempo and readiness in Hawai\u2018i and beyond. The plan anticipates some twelve consecutive weeks of full utilization of ten oceangoing petroleum storage tankers, with each tanker contracted in advance on a time-chartered basis.\u201d\n\nCase emphasized that tanker contracting and movement must be closely coordinated with the transport of the fuel from Red Hill to the departure pier and loading of the fuel. Subject to pending plan review and removal processes, fuel removal could commence by late 2023, requiring all tankers to be contracted by mid-2023. \u201cThe failure to contract or deliver any one tanker in the timing and sequence required disrupts the plan and increases risk of interrupting fuel removal and movement to alternative storage on land,\u201d he wrote.\n\n\u201cUnder existing law, these tanker movements for the simple transport of fuel ten miles from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to Kalaeloa are subject to Jones Act requirements, and are further subject to government-impelled cargo [aka cargo preference] requirement for overseas movements,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cAs a practical matter, Jones Act ships are functionally unavailable for this timeframe and prohibitively expensive due to the very limited number of fuel tankers in the Jones Act fleet, which are fully committed elsewhere. Additionally, requirements on government-impelled cargo, if and to the extent available for a committed and predictable period, are administratively complicated and similarly prohibitively expensive.\u201d\n\nThe Jones Act is a century-old federal law that requires cargo between U.S. locations to be transported on ships built and flagged in the U.S. There are now less than 100 total Jones Act vessels in service (including the Matson and Pasha container ships that enjoy a duopoly on Hawaii\u2019s cargo lifeline from the continental U.S.) and even less Jones Act fuel tankers all dedicated to other fuel transport routes, as opposed to plentiful international tanker capacity. The government-impelled/cargo preference requirements generally require military cargo between a U.S. destination and a non-U.S. destination to be transported on a U.S. flagged vessel (commonly built and flagged overseas).\n\nCase said current time charter rates are estimated at $40,000 per day for international shipping, $70,000 per day for cargo preference and $100,000 per day for Jones Act. Assuming each committed charter availability for ten total tankers at ninety days, total cost for all service by international shipping would be about $36 million, versus about $66 million for cargo preference plus Jones Act tankers (assuming just one Jones Act tanker, which may not be the case depending on other domestic destinations for the fuel).\n\n\u201cIt is critical to DoD and the people of Hawai\u2018i that an advance waiver from the Jones Act and government-impelled cargo requirement be issued to provide DoD with the fullest possible range of options to contract internationally available fuel tanker transport on a predictable and cost-effective basis. To allow for the full range of options as to timing and sequencing of defueling, which require contracting to be complete by July 2023, this waiver should be issued now.\u201d\n\nThe Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu, Hawai\u2018i is a DoD 200-million gallon capacity bulk fuel storage facility located just one hundred feet over the principal aquifer for the City and County of Honolulu. In November 2021, Red Hill sustained a major leak, polluting the aquifer, sickening residents and dislocating tens of thousands of people from their homes. As a result, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, at the strong urging of Hawaii\u2019s Congressional delegation and residents, committed DoD to the safe and expedited defueling, closure and decommissioning of Red Hill. To date, over $2 billion has been directly appropriated to this critical mission.\n\nAttachment: Letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2133", "Hawai\u2018i Congressional Delegation Introduces Bills To Protect Passengers on Air Tours, Reduce Air Tour Noise For Hawai\u2018i Residents", "2023-04-13", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=14", "scraper", "(WASHINGTON, DC) \u2013 U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai\u2018i) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawai\u2018i) and Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai\u2018i) introduced two bills that will improve air tour safety and reduce noise for local residents. The Air Tour and Skydiving Safety Improvement Act, first introduced by Senators Schatz and Hirono in 2020, will create new safety standards that protect passengers on air tours and improve the safety of skydiving flights in Hawai\u2018i and across the country. The Hawai\u2018i Air Tour Management Act will require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to work with the State of Hawai\u2018i to create a new management plan that reduces the noise of these tours.\n\n\u201cThe constant noise and tragic number of accidents we\u2019ve seen in Hawai\u2018i have made it clear that we need to do more to both make air tours less disruptive for residents and safer for passengers and pilots,\u201d Senator Schatz said. \u201cOur two bills will apply new standards to make air tours safer, help air tour companies operate more responsibly, and reduce noise.\u201d\n\n\u201cAir tours contribute to Hawai\u2018i\u2019s tourism economy, but repeated crashes and safety incidents have underscored the need to do more to protect passengers, operators, and communities,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cSafety must be the top priority for air tour operators. This bill will help prevent future tragedies by strengthening the safety regulations governing air tours in Hawai\u2018i and across the county.\u201d\n\n\u201cSevere safety and community disruption concerns from tour helicopter and small aircraft operations have been rampant for several years if not decades, and it is ignoring the facts and reality to assume the operators will self-regulate or that the Federal Aviation Administration will do so in any meaningful way,\u201d said Representative Case. \u201cClearly Congress must act to require reasonable regulation to protect lives and property and preserve communities as the operators and FAA will not.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am pleased to introduce the Air Tour and Skydiving Safety Improvement Act and co-lead the Hawai\u2018i Air Tour Management Act with my delegation colleagues to increase safety in our skies and address noise pollution. Activities popular with tourists, like helicopter tours and skydiving, impact the daily lives of locals and we need to make sure that these operations are conducted safely and that our policies are fostering an environment of respect and a sustainable use of Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s air space and natural resources,\u201d said Representative Tokuda. \u201cThese bills will do just that by ensuring that commercial tour operators meet many of the same safety requirements as commercial and charter flights, resulting in better management of Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s airspace as a whole.\u201d\n\nIn Hawai\u2018i, at least 85 people have died in air tour crashes since the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) began keeping records \u2013 the highest number of any state. Because of a gap in federal law, certain commercial air tour operators are subject to less stringent safety standards \u2013 known as \u201cPart 91\u201d under U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations \u2013 that were intended for small, private recreational flights. Most commercial air tours and charter flight operators are subject to more rigorous safety and training standards, known as \u201cPart 135.\u201d\n\nThe Air Tour and Skydiving Safety Improvement Act closes the loophole for Part 91 commercial air tour operators and improves Part 135 regulations to be more in line with those of larger flight operations. The bill also requires small aircraft tour operators to use warning systems for remote terrain flights, begins a process to improve data collection to track these flights, and aims to improve pilot training and aircraft maintenance for parachute operators. It is supported by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Helicopter Association International, National Air Transportation Association, and National Business Aviation Association.\n\nThe Hawai\u2018i Air Tour Management Act would require the FAA Administrator to work with the Governor of Hawai\u2018i to establish an air tour management plan for all parts of the state not already covered by a National Park air tour management plan.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2112", "Case Applauds IRS Decision Supporting His Request To Not Tax Relocation Assistance Given to Help Those Forced From Homes During The Red Hill Fuel Crisis", "2023-04-05", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=14", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today applauded the decision announced this Wednesday by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to not tax emergency assistance given to an estimated 1,700 resident families who were temporarily relocated from their homes due to the Red Hill fuel crisis in 2022.\n\n\u201cWhen I heard from constituents who were receiving 1099 income forms from the IRS a few months ago stating they owed taxes on the value of the emergency relocation assistance they received during the Red Hill crisis, I knew it was straight-out wrong to tax families displaced from their homes through no fault of their own,\u201d said Case.\n\nOn March 2, 2023, Case sent a letter with the other members of Hawaii\u2019s Congressional delegation to IRS Acting Commissioner Douglas O\u2019Donnell expressing \u201cdeep concern\u201d over an effort to tax those who received temporary assistance. Case and the delegation asked the IRS to \u201cuse its administrative authority to exempt any assistance provided by the Department of Defense to ensure the \u2018equitable administration\u2019 of the tax code.\u201d The delegation also noted that just as assistance provided to individuals by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Stafford Act is exempted from taxation, Red Hill emergency assistance should be exempted.\n\nIn its announcement today, the IRS stated it will use its administrative authority to correct the situation and \u201cinforms Federal civilian employees and other civilians who are not employed by the Federal government who received certain payments in 2022 and 2023 from the Department of Defense (DOD) in reimbursement for lodging, meals, and personal property damage expenses after the release of petroleum from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility on O\u02bbahu, Hawaii (Red Hill Fuel Spill) that such payments are excludable from gross income for Federal income tax.\u201d\n\nAttachments:\n\n1. Hawai\u2018i Congressional delegation letter to the IRS March 2, 2023\n\n2. IRS press release April 5, 2023", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-receives-large-turnout-hilo-townhall-announces-three", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Receives Large Turnout at Hilo Townhall, Announces Three Additional Events", "2023-04-04", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=11&", "scraper", "(Hawai\u2018i)\u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) announced that her first townhall in Hilo on Hawai\u02bbi Island received a large response from the community with more than 80 people in attendance.\n\n\u201cIt was valuable hearing directly from Hilo residents about their needs and concerns,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda. \u201cFrom lack of access to healthcare and mental health services, to issues with the USPS, to concerns about wastewater treatment and clean water, the community conversation that we had will enhance my ability to take these concerns directly to the halls of Congress.\u201d\n\nRep. Tokuda also announced three additional community townhalls on neighbor islands:\n\nMAUI\n\nThursday, April 6, 2023\n\n5:30pm to 6:30pm\n\nUH Maui College, Paina Building\n\n310 Kaahumanu Avenue\n\nKahului, Hawaii 96732\n\nKAUAI\n\nSaturday, April 22, 2023\n\n10:00am to 11:00am\n\nWilcox Elementary School Cafeteria\n\n4319 Hardy Street\n\nLihue, Hawaii 96766\n\nKONA\n\nMonday, May 1, 2023\n\n6:00pm to 7:00pm\n\nWest Hawaii Civic Center, Council Chambers- Building A\n\n74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway\n\nKailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740\n\nFor more information and to RSVP, community members should visit: tokuda.house.gov/townhalls. Photos from Rep. Tokuda\u2019s Hilo townhall are attached.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2108", "Case Returns To In-Person Talk Story Districtwide Community Meetings Next Week", "2023-04-03", "2023", "2023-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=14", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today announced that he will host six in-person open house Talk Story community meetings across his Congressional district next week.\n\nThe meetings, at which Case will update his constituents on his activities in Congress, listen to concerns, answer questions and provide assistance, are his first personal Talk Stories since COVID-19 imposed restrictions on meetings in public places. He conducted nine such Talk Stories in 2019 and four in 2020 before the advent of COVID, and conducted frequent virtual community meetings throughout COVID.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m really excited to return to my in-person Talk Stories, because, while virtual works well enough, there\u2019s no substitute for talking story one-on-one with your constituents in their communities where they live and work,\u201d said Case. \u201cAnd it is a critical time to continue to stay in very close touch with the folks I represent in Congress, as our country and Hawai\u2018i continue to face many difficult issues.\u201d\n\nCase, who is home for two weeks after completing the first three months of the new 118th Congress (2023-2025), will provide an overview of current issues and his own activities in Congress and then open it up for constituent questions and comments. He and his staff will also provide information on how his office can assist constituents and be available to address individual concerns.\n\nCase\u2019s six districtwide Talk Stories this month are as follows:\n\nEast Honolulu\n\nMonday, April 10, 2023 Niu Valley Middle School\n\n310 Halema\u02bbuma\u02bbu St.\n\n6:30PM-8:00PM\n\nWaipahu\n\nTuesday, April 11, 2023 Waipahu High School\n\n94-1211 Farrington Hwy.\n\n6:30PM-8:00PM\n\nMililani\n\nWednesday, April 12, 2023 Mililani Waena\n\nElementary School\n\n95-502 Kipapa Drive\n\n6:30PM-8:00PM\n\nAiea/Pearl City\n\nThursday, April 13, 2023 Pearl Ridge\n\nElementary School\n\n98-940 Moanalua Road\n\n6:30PM-8:00PM\n\nCentral Honolulu\n\nFriday, April 14, 2023 Washington Middle School\n\n1633 South King St.\n\n6:30PM-8:00PM\n\n\u2018Ewa/Kapolei\n\nSaturday, April 15, 2023 Hono'uli'uli Middle School\n\n91-559 Maunakapu St.\n\n9:00AM-10:30AM\n\nAttachments: Congressman Case at previous community-wide Talk Story sessions.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:44:29Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-announces-congressional-art-competition-asks-submissions-high", "Rep. Tokuda Announces Congressional Art Competition, Asks for Submissions from High School Students", "2023-03-31", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=11&", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) announced that her office is accepting submissions for the 2023 Congressional Art Competition sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives. The Artistic Discovery Contest is open to all high school students in Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s Second Congressional District.\n\nFinalists will be selected from each county in the Second Congressional District and will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol in the Cannon tunnel, which Members of Congress use every day as well as tens of thousands of visitors from across the country and world. The finalist\u2019s artwork will also be featured on the U.S. House of Representative\u2019s Congressional Art Competition webpage, and on Congresswoman Tokuda's website and social media pages.\n\nStudents should visit Tokuda\u2019s website to learn more and to make a submission. Submissions are due by 5:00pm on Wednesday, April 26.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-speaks-against-and-votes-no-republican-giveaway-oil-gas-and-mining", "Rep. Tokuda Speaks Against and Votes NO on Republican Giveaway to Oil, Gas, and Mining Industries", "2023-03-30", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=11&", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted no on H.R. 1, \u201cthe Polluters of People Act.\u201d This bill is House Republicans\u2019 shameless giveaway to polluters and is full of loopholes to benefit the oil, gas, and mining industries. It would reverse the significant climate provisions included in President Biden\u2019s Inflation Reduction Act, including repealing:\n\nThe Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a $27 billion program focused on investing in clean energy projects to create good-paying jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.\n\nThe $4.5 billion program that provides rebates to Americans for new high-efficient upgrades on appliances and heating designed to lower energy consumption.\n\nThe Methane Emissions Reduction Program which lowers methane leaks and pollution from the oil and gas industry.\n\n\u201cToday, I voted no on H.R. 1, which puts corporations over people and is a shameful giveaway to big fossil fuel interests and polluters by creating loopholes and providing industry handouts. In Hawai\u02bbi, we view the environment as more than just a resource\u2014it\u2019s a sacred responsibility, our kuleana to ourselves and future generations\u201d said. Rep. Jill Tokuda. \u201cFor centuries, Native Hawaiians have sought balance--from mauka to makai--understanding the intimate connections that we have with each other and our lifegiving resources. This is the kind of future that we should be striving for: one that promotes community and fosters responsible use of natural resources. Everyone deserves to have a seat at the table on proposed projects that pollute their water and air, especially underserved communities and communities of color who have historically bore the brunt of industrialization. This bill puts an undue burden on ordinary, hard-working Americans to fight for their basic right to clean water, clean air, and a clean environment.\u201d\n\nYou can watch Rep. Tokuda\u2019s remarks here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-statement-indictment-former-president-trump", "Rep. Tokuda Statement on the Indictment of Former President Trump", "2023-03-30", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=11&", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) issued the following statement on the indictment of former President Trump:\n\n\u201cThe rule of law is a pillar of any democracy, and that means that no one, including former presidents, are above the law. The indictment of a former president is unprecedented in our nation\u2019s history, yet so is the harm that Trump caused the country and to the office of the President. I have faith in our legal system and our courts to hear this case fairly and deliver justice,\u201d said Representative Jill Tokuda.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2102", "Case Welcomes Increased Coast Guard Presence In Hawai\u2018i", "2023-03-24", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=14", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today welcomed the announcement by the United States Coast Guard that it will deploy the Harriet Lane, a 270-foot Cutter with a 100-person crew, to Hawai\u2018i.\n\nThe Coast Guard plans to use the Medium Endurance Cutter as an addition to a Hawai\u2018i-based fleet for responsibilities in Hawai\u2018i waters as well as an increasing Coast Guard presence throughout the Indo-Pacific. The ship is especially suited for longer-range six-to-eight week joint operational and training patrols in the Pacific, taking pressure off shorter range Hawai\u2018i-based ships more suited to service closer to home port.\n\n\u201cThe deployment of the Harriet Lane signals our country\u2019s stepped-up interest in the Indo-Pacific, the most dynamic and consequential region in the world, to include two of the world\u2019s largest economies (China and the United States), nine of the ten busiest seaports and 60 percent of global maritime trade,\u201d said Case, a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which has jurisdiction over the Coast Guard.\n\nCase, who recently joined a Congressional delegation with his House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense that visited Japan, Taiwan, and Korea, says \u201cHawai\u2018i is at the center of the Indo-Pacific\u2019s future, and the Coast Guard is a critical part of our country\u2019s efforts in maritime security, humanitarian and other region-wide engagement.\u201d\n\nThe Coast Guard announced that Harriet Lane was selected as the new Indo-Pacific Support Cutter, and will relocate from Portsmouth, VA to the Pacific theater early in FY 2024. The Service intends to initially berth the Cutter in Hawai\u2018i for several years to ensure the asset meets the operational needs and has proper shoreside support.\n\nThe Coast Guard will continue conducting thorough port assessments in the Indo-Pacific region to ensure the final permanent homeport has the necessary logistical foundations available and in place.\n\nAs a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Case included language in the federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget supporting the Coast Guard in the Indo-Pacific and requiring the Coast Guard to examine its assets in Oceania and its facilities on O\u2018ahu.\n\nThe Coast Guard is utilizing that budget funding to operate the Harriet Lane in the Pacific and provide necessary supporting elements and personnel to maintain the vessel.\n\nIn January of this year, Case discussed his support for increased Coast Guard presence in the Indo-Pacific during meetings in Honolulu with Rear Admiral Michael Day, Commander of the 14th Coast Guard District which has jurisdiction from the Hawaiian Islands and across most of the Central and Western Pacific, as well as with Captain Aja Kirksey, Commander of Coast Guard Sector Honolulu, which covers 200 nautical miles surrounding the islands and atolls of the State of Hawai\u2018i.\n\nOver the last three years, Case has repeatedly called for increased Coast Guard presence in the Indo-Pacific. As a founding member of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus, Case gained approval in the FY 2021 federal budget of an overall funding level of $12.8 billion for the Coast Guard, including language advocating for an increased operational role for the Coast Guard in our national Indo-Pacific Strategy and requiring a new strategic intent report to reflect the Coast Guard\u2019s evolving and growing role in the region.\n\nSpeaking at a conference this Wednesday, Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations Policy Rear Adm. Michael Ryan said that Western Pacific deployments would increase threefold in coming years.\n\nCase said: \u201cI welcome the Coast Guard\u2019s expanded role in the Indo-Pacific, as it has been one of our country\u2019s best ambassadors to this critical region. And this expansion will heighten Hawaii\u2019s own role as a center of our country\u2019s efforts in the Indo-Pacific as well as ensuring that our own home waters are fully protected.\u201d\n\n1. Picture of the USCG Cutter Harriet Lane. Courtesy US Coast Guard\n\n2. Picture of Case with Coast Guard Rear Admiral Michael Day, Commander, 14th Coast Guard District. Courtesy Rep. Ed Case\n\n3. Picture of Case with Coast Guard Captain Aja Kirksey, Commander, Sector Honolulu. Courtesy Rep. Ed Case\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-joins-congresswoman-hillary-scholten-and-group-congressional-moms", "Rep. Tokuda Joins Congresswoman Hillary Scholten and a Group of Congressional Moms to Support Parental Rights, Condemn H.R. 5", "2023-03-24", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=11&", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, House Republicans passed H.R. 5, an extreme, anti-parent, anti-student, anti-education bill that seeks to use the power of the federal government to co-opt our schools and turn them into instruments for imposing a radical agenda on children across the country. The measure is opposed by parents, teachers, and students across the country, as well as the national Parent Teacher Association.\n\nThat\u2019s why Reps Scholten, Tokuda, McClellan, Hayes, Wasserman-Schultz, Salinas, and Balint are leading the charge to stand up for parents, students, and schools by condemning this legislation as moms in Congress.\n\n\u201cAs a mom of two school-aged kids, I know how important it is to center parents in the education of our children. Parents across the country are counting on their representatives now more than ever to legislate in a way that will enhance, not inhibit their freedoms, like the freedom to learn and educate their children in a way that prepares them to engage in a 21st century world, their freedom to send their kids to school without fear of violence, and their freedom not to have to choose between gas in the car and food on table,\u201d said Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI-03). \u201cBut instead, Republicans are doing the opposite. Today, Republicans could have put forward legislation to truly uplift parents\u2014expand the child tax credit, or to lower the cost of insulin for kids, or make college more affordable. But they did not. Instead, they used our time, and taxpayer dollars, to vote on a bill that holds parents hostage to a radical agenda, and makes kids less safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cH.R. 5 is a divisive piece of legislation that puts politics over the needs of our parents and students,\u201d said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04). \u201cAs a mother of two young children in our public school system, I know parents are concerned about mental health resources, safe and constructive school environments, and much-needed funding for crumbling buildings and equipment. This legislation disregards those priorities and instead aims to bring unnecessary culture wars into the classroom. I strongly oppose this legislation, because parents and students deserve action and tangible results, not a political stunt.\u201d\n\n\u201cHR 5 would expand the colossal education nightmare unfolding in my home state of Florida, where state lawmakers ban books, suppress African American history, and now propose barring girls from discussing their menstrual cycle with one another in school,\u201d said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), the Moms in the House Caucus founder and a mother of three who attended public schools. \u201cAt a time when LGBTQ+ youth face a relentless politicization of their lives, HR 5 could even require schools to forcibly out transgender youth to their parents. I speak for millions of moms when I say that all we want for our children is a safe learning environment that ensures they discover the wider world, and not one that forces them to grow into narrow-minded, ignorant adults. This legislation just hands a vocal and extreme minority of parents the power to dictate what every American child learns.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a gay woman and mom of two teens, I\u2019m so tired of these hateful attacks on LGBTQ+ youth, on families, on teachers. We won\u2019t stand for it and we can\u2019t let it become our norm,\u201d said Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL). \u201cIn a moment where LGBTQ+ kids need our support more than ever; Republicans passed a sham bill that does not help our kids. This has never been about freedom or protecting children. It inserts the federal government between parents, students, and schools. It promotes censorship and book banning. And it puts students at risk when we should be focused on investing in their success. Moms want safe, high-quality education for their kids and don\u2019t have time for these games that do nothing but stoke fear. I\u2019m disturbed that the majority continues to ignite culture wars for political gain, when there is real work to be done.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a teacher, I understand the critical importance of parent-teacher partnerships. It deeply pains me to watch as these relationships are mischaracterized by a small minority. The public servants who enter the teaching profession do it because they truly believe that on some level they can contribute to student success,\u201d said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-5). \u201cAt a time when students and teachers are facing competing crisis on a daily basis, legislators should be fostering cooperation- not division. As both a mother and a teacher, I stand against these attacks and will fight to ensure parents and teachers can work together to ensure every child has access to a high-quality education \u2013 free from censorship or bias.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-gives-speech-democratic-leadership-conference-anniversary", "Rep. Tokuda Gives Speech at Democratic Leadership Conference on Anniversary of Affordable Care Act", "2023-03-23", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=11&", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) joined House Democratic Chair Pete Aguilar and Vice Chair Ted Lieu for a press conference with Rep. Glenn Ivey (MD-04) to celebrate the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Tokuda covered Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s Prepaid Health Care Act, which passed in 1974, guaranteeing employer-sponsored health coverage for most employees in Hawai\u02bbi that helped pave the way for the ACA. Today, Hawai\u02bbi has one of the lowest uninsured rates and remains among the healthiest in the nation.\n\nA video of Rep. Tokuda\u2019s remarks can be viewed here.\n\nTokuda\u2019s remarks as written:\n\n\u201cThank you, Glenn, and thanks for calling me out on the fact that I'm still six hours behind right now, but who\u2019s keeping track? Thank you again for including me in this press conference. And it's hard to follow Glenn\u2019s story, but it is truly a testament that his story, unfortunately, is not unique. There are so many Americans across this country that, had it not been for that health care coverage they received through the Affordable Care Act, could likely not live to see another day. And so today is truly important. They often say about Hawai\u2018i, \u2018Lucky you live Hawai\u2018i, right? And they're not just talking about the wonderful people, the beautiful beaches, the great food. It really comes down, in my humble opinion, to the fact that we prioritize health care. Hawaii is about being healthy and taking care of our people like family.\n\nNearly forty years ago before the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, Hawai\u2018i became the first state in the country to set minimum health standards and coverage for workers. The Prepaid Health Care Act, which some of you may be familiar with, passed in 1974 and guaranteed employer-sponsored health coverage for most employees in Hawaii and capping their premiums at 1.5% of their pay. I served in the Hawai\u2018i State Senate for twelve years. I walked door to door to countless people, and I will tell you that there's not many people who don't know about the Prepaid Health Care Act in Hawaii. They credit it with the fact that in many cases it has saved their lives, kept them healthy. In many ways, our Prepaid Health Care Act was the ACA before the ACA. And on March 23rd of 2010, the rest of the country finally caught up with Hawai\u2018i and figured out something we knew all along: health care matters. Taking care of our people like family, it matters, and the enactment of the ACA put in place comprehensive reforms that have since made health care affordable, it has prohibited insurers from discriminating against people with preexisting health conditions and ensured women are guaranteed essential services. Hawaii\u2019s Prepaid Health Care Act was enacted nearly half a century ago. And today, we have some of the lowest uninsured rates in the country with under 4% uninsured in Hawai\u2018i, and we remain one of the healthiest states, happiest states in the country as well. At the same time, I will tell you, representing a district that is 96% rural, and we\u2019ve got some of the most challenged communities in the country, health care still is an issue. But what we know when we sit down at tables together and talk about is that the ACA has, and will continue to, make a difference in their ability to access care and coverage.\n\nI once sat down in a park on L\u0101na\u2018i and an old man told me, \u2018it's really difficult to be born and to die here.\u2019 And when we talked more about what we could do together to make it a place where they could really call this home for themselves and their children, it became evident that through the Affordable Care Act provisions and what we are doing here in Congress, we would be able to make sure that generations of Hawai\u2018i residents, residents across this country, can rely on the care that they need to really see a life for themselves in their communities and this country. Knowing what we know about Hawai\u2018i's example and forty years ago what we did through the Prepaid Health Care Act and the results that it's had on our community, let's just imagine what this country could look like in forty years. How many millions more Americans will live longer, healthier, and happier lives. And all because comprehensive health care reforms we made thirteen years ago with the enactment of the ACA are continuing to be fought for and possible. So, thank you for including me in this conversation, and we look forward to many more years of the ACA. Mahalo.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/tokuda-and-hirono-lead-hawaii-delegation-introducing-legislation-combat-rapid", "Tokuda and Hirono Lead Hawaii Delegation in Introducing Legislation to Combat Rapid Ohia Death in Hawaii", "2023-03-22", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=11&", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Jill Tokuda joined U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Senator Brian Schatz, and Representative Ed Case in introducing legislation to combat Rapid Ohia Death (ROD), which has killed more than a million Ohia trees in Hawaii since its discovery in 2014. The Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2023 authorizes $55 million in federal funding over the next eleven years to support ongoing efforts by federal agencies including the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS), working in partnership with state agencies, to help combat Ohia tree death in Hawaii.\n\n\u201cOhia Lehua are Hawaii\u2019s most abundant native tree, but ROD poses a serious threat to the species\u2019 survival,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAs ROD continues to decimate Hawaii\u2019s Ohia population, federal support is crucial to combating ROD and protecting Ohia trees across Hawaii. Ohia plays an important role in protecting our native ecosystems and I am proud to lead our delegation in advocating for the federal resources Hawaii needs to prevent further Ohia death and protect our state\u2019s unique biodiversity.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to join Senator Hirono in co-leading the introduction of the Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act, which will unlock federal support to combat the spread of Rapid Ohia Death and restore Hawaii\u2019s ohia forests. Covering nearly one million acres throughout Hawaii, Ohia lehua forms the basis of our watershed, preventing runoff and providing critical habitat for endangered birds like honeycreepers. In recent years, Rapid Ohia Death has devastated too many ohia forests, especially on the Big Island, and its spread throughout Hawaii is deeply troubling. This bill is a step in the right direction to ensure this critical natural and cultural resource is there for the next generation,\u201d said Representative Jill Tokuda.\n\n\u201cIn order to fight Rapid Ohia Death, we need more resources to research the disease and work to control its spread. Our bill will give us more tools to preserve our Ohia and restore our native forests and ecosystems,\u201d said Senator Schatz.\n\n\u201cRapid Ohia Death, first detected on O\u02bbahu just a few years ago, poses a major threat to these precious endemic trees found on tens of thousands of acres throughout the Ko\u02bbolau and Waianae mountain ranges,\u201d said Representative Ed Case. \u201cOur measure will help to combat this deadly fungus which left unchecked will devastate not only our most abundant native tree but with it our unique and endangered forest ecosystem.\u201d\n\nROD is a fungus, Ceratocystis, that was first found in Hawaii in 2014 and has since killed over a million native Ohia trees. Over the past nine years ROD has been detected on Hawaii Island, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu. In that time, the USFS has partnered with the State of Hawaii and the U.S. Department of the Interior in efforts to detect and respond to the spread of ROD. Specifically, the Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2023 would support these ongoing efforts by:\n\nDirecting the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Geological Survey, to continue providing resources for the purposes of researching ROD vectors and transmission;\n\nRequiring the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to work with the State of Hawaii and other local stakeholders on ungulate management in control areas on federal, state, and private land;\n\nRequiring the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, to continue providing resources to prevent the spread of ROD and restore the native forests in Hawaii, and to also continue to provide financial and staff resources to the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (IPIF), located in Hilo, to continue research on ROD; and\n\nAuthorizing $55 million in appropriations over the next eleven years for both the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to carry out these actions.\n\nThe full text of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2098", "Case Applauds President Biden's Commencement Of Marine Sanctuary Designation Process For U.S. Pacific Remote Islands Waters", "2023-03-21", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=14", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today applauded President Biden\u2019s direction to the Secretary of Commerce to initiate consideration of designation of the waters of the U.S. Pacific Remote Islands as a National Marine Sanctuary.\n\nThe action follows Case\u2019s calls, commencing in May 2022 in partnership with the Pacific Remote Islands Coalition and others, for maximum protection of U.S.-owned and controlled waters surrounding the U.S. Pacific Remote Islands, including the Central Pacific atolls and reefs of Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Island; Johnston, Wake, and Palmyra Atoll; and Kingman Reef. (See Case\u2019s attached letters to the President of May 31 and October 31, 2022, and March 10, 2023.)\n\n\u201cThese waters are among the last pristine marine environments on our Earth, and also the most fragile,\u201d said Case, a member of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries who, during his prior service in Congress (2002-2007), also advocated successfully for creation of today\u2019s Papah\u0101naumoku\u0101kea Marine National Monument.\n\n\u201cOur world\u2019s oceans are at mortal risk, a breaking point precipitated by the unsustainable overfishing and other resource extraction, debris and land-based pollution, exacerbated and compounded by the devastating and pervasive marine effects of climate change.\u201d\n\nCase continued: \u201cThe Pacific Remote Islands including their waters are not only a critical interlocking component of the broader Pacific marine ecosystem, but an integral part of the historical and cultural ties of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific as well as a key source of scientific knowledge on the preservation of a sustainable ocean environment. As a nation, we have a duty to ensure the long-term survival of the PRI\u2019s ecological, scientific and cultural value. This process will do just that and will achieve the marine protection goals of President Biden\u2019s America the Beautiful Initiative to protect thirty percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.\u201d\n\nParts of U.S. Pacific Remote Islands waters were designated as a National Marine Monument by President Bush in 2009 and expanded by President Obama in 2014. Case, working with the Pacific Remote Islands Coalition, has urged designation of all of the waters surrounding all of the PRIs to the full extent of their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as a new Sanctuary, especially for the currently unprotected waters surrounding Howland and Baker Islands, Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef. The Coalition, which has been working toward expansion since 2014, says a Sanctuary designation would add some 265,000 square miles of highly protected waters, resulting in the creation of the world\u2019s largest highly protected marine area (MPA) in national waters at some 777,000 square miles, an area larger than Alaska.\n\nAs a follow-up to his initial support in May and October 2022, Case recently penned a letter to President Biden, which urged the President to incorporate the following crucial protections as guidelines for a Sanctuary designation:\n\n1. Any potential marine sanctuary study areas should include the entire area of the existing monument plus the expansion areas around Baker and Howland Islands as well as Palmyra Atoll and Kingman Reef.\n\n2. Any directive should include a strong purpose statement with clear goals and objectives consistent with the comprehensive conservation provisions of the current PRIMNM to ensure any subsequent monument expansion or national marine sanctuary designation supplement, complement and enhance the current high levels of protection of the monument across the entire EEZ.\n\n3. The process should result in a sustainable management regime that includes co-management by indigenous peoples.\n\n4. An advisory council should be formed to provide guidance.\n\n5. The renaming process and final decision on names should be pursued in a culturally appropriate framework.\n\nThe Sanctuary designation process directed by the President will include opportunities for public comment. The President is also directing the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a public process to work with the Indigenous communities of the Pacific to appropriately rename the existing Pacific Remote Islands National Monument, and potentially the Islands themselves, and to provide posthumous recognition for young mostly Native Hawaiian men sent to secure U.S. territorial claim to the islands in the run up to World War II, as remembered in the 2010 award-winning documentary, \u201cUnder a Jarvis Moon\u201d.\n\nAttachments:\n\n\u00b7 Case letters to the President calling for designating the PRIs as a National Marine Sanctuary\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-celebrates-president-bidens-action-pacific-remote-islands-national", "Rep. Tokuda Celebrates President Biden\u2019s Action on Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Sanctuary", "2023-03-21", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=11&", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) attended an event at the White House to celebrate President Biden\u2019s announcement of two new national monuments and plans to advance designation of a new National Marine Sanctuary within the next 30 days to protect all U.S. waters around the Pacific Remote Islands. The Pacific Remote Islands are in Hawaii\u2019s Second Congressional District, represented by Rep. Tokuda.\n\n\"I am thrilled that President Biden is taking this action to protect some of the most fragile and ecologically precious waters in the world home in Hawaii. As the area\u2019s representative in Congress, I will do everything in my power both to advance this designation and to ensure that the federal government takes the appropriate steps by working with the Native Hawaiian community who are interconnected to the Pacific Remote Islands,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda.\n\nWhen completed, the new sanctuary would conserve 777,000 square miles and encompass areas undressed by previous administrations so that all areas around the Hawaiian Islands including atolls and reefs, would be protected. The Biden administration is dedicated to conducing a public process to work with Native Hawaiian cultural leaders.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-and-rep-case-introduce-bill-support-floriculture-and-nursery-plant", "Rep. Tokuda and Rep. Case Introduce Bill to Support Floriculture and Nursery Plant Health", "2023-03-09", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=11&", "scraper", "Rep. Tokuda and Rep. Case Introduce Bill to\n\n(Washington, DC) \u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) and Rep. Ed Case (HI-01) introduced the Floriculture and Nursery Plant Health Initiative Act.\n\nThe Floriculture and Nursery Plant Health Initiative Act would amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act by expanding research and extension grants to:\n\nDevelop and disseminate science-based tools and treatments to combat plant pests and pathogens that impact floriculture and nursery crops;\n\nEstablish an areawide integrated pest management program in areas affected by, or areas at risk of being affected by, invasive plant pests or pathogens;\n\nSurvey and collect data on the production of, health of, and markets for floriculture and nursery crops;\n\nEstablish area-wide integrated pest management programs in areas affected by, or areas as risk of being affected by, invasive plant pests or pathogens;\n\nInvestigating the biology, genomics, and production systems of floriculture and nursery crops;\n\nConduct research on various factors that may contribute to or be associated with resilient floriculture and nursery crop systems, and combating other serious threats to floriculture and nursery crops, including research on:\n\nutilizing beneficial insects, soil improvement techniques, and chemicals (organic and nonorganic) to improve the health and productivity of floriculture and nursery crops;\n\nbreeding new varieties to maintain the worldwide market advantage of the floriculture and nursery crop industries; and\n\nbest management practices in floriculture and nursery crop growing regions under various climate conditions.\n\n\u201cI am pleased to introduce this bill to expand and support research that will help Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s floriculture industry thrive,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda. \u201cHawai\u02bbi\u2019s flowers and plants are treasured around the world and are a crucial part of our economy. This bill will make critical investments in research and extension that will help sustain the industry and ensure that it remains competitive globally and a vibrant part of our Hawai\u02bbi economy well into the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cHawaii\u2019s floriculture industry, including cut flowers, foliage, bedding plants and other products, has been a multi-million-dollar economic engine, in addition to maintaining diverse communities, small, often family-owned businesses, and work opportunities across our state,\u201d said Congressman Ed Case. \u201cBut it has struggled to emerge from various challenges, including a 2014 hurricane and a 2018 volcanic eruption that devastated many of the nurseries on the Island of Hawai\u2018i , as well as more recently the lingering effects of the pandemic, supply chain problems, and inflation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill first and foremost recognizes the value of floriculture as a central segment of Hawai\u2019i and national agriculture and focuses federal assistance on its often unique components, such as increasing capacity for high-yield plant breeding. In doing so, it will contribute to not only diversifying our economy and increasing Hawai\u2018i exports of value-added brands but also reducing our own dependence on foreign plant product imports,\u201d said Congressman Case.\n\n\u201cHawaii has long been at the forefront of floriculture innovation, with the unique beauty of our orchids, the striking presence of our palms, and the colors of our anthuriums. But we face many challenges with invasive pests and disease.\u201d said Eric Tanouye, President of the Hawai\u2018i Floriculture and Nursery Association. \u201cThis threat will likely increase due to climate change. Science is our defense, and we are in full support of Representatives Tokuda\u2019s and Case\u2019s Floriculture and Nursery Health Research Initiative which will assist our family-driven agribusinesses with research to ensure that our iconic products continue to thrive.\u201d\n\n###\n\nRep. Tokuda: Carly Sylva-Gabrielson, (202) 374-3738", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2082", "Case Takes Leadership Role On U.S. House Problem Solvers Caucus", "2023-03-08", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=15", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) has been appointed as one of four Vice Chairs and on the eight-member Executive Council of the U.S. House Problem Solvers Caucus, an official caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives consisting of 63 House Members equally divided between Democrats and Republicans (one position being filled).\n\n\u201cI\u2019m truly looking forward to continuing to work with my fellow Problem Solvers toward applying our perspectives to the toughest of our issues,\u201d said Case, who first joined the Caucus in April 2021.\n\n\u201cIn our deeply divided and polarized country, it is more critical than ever that we move past the politics of all-or-nothing and forge a better path to just plain solving problems and delivering solutions for all Americans. The Problem Solvers Caucus offers that path, starting with open and civil debate on the most difficult issues of our time, and on through to mainstream solutions that will earn the lasting support of most Americans.\u201d\n\nThe Caucus was first formed in 2017 \u201cto create a durable bloc that champions ideas that appeal to a broad spectrum of the American people. It is a group united in the idea that there are commonsense solutions to many of the country's toughest challenges. Only when we work together as Americans can we successfully break through the gridlock of today\u2019s politics.\u201d (www.problemsolverscaucus.house.gov) The Caucus is one of the fastest growing member-driven caucuses in Congress, adding 24 new Members this Congress.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m honored to be re-elected Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus alongside my friend Congressman Gottheimer, and I\u2019m thrilled to welcome our returning and new members,\u201d said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01). \u201cOur Caucus has a lot of room for legislative accomplishments and consensus building in the 118th Congress, and I look forward to working with this group of colleagues to deliver for the American people.\u201d\n\n\u201cLast Congress, from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the CHIPs Act, to historic gun safety legislation, the Problem Solvers Caucus helped enact meaningful legislation to move the nation forward. As the size and strength of the new PSC class shows, it\u2019s clear that there is growing enthusiasm to break through the gridlock and get things done. This is all about putting commonsense over extremism,\u201d said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05).\n\nIn its first years, the Caucus worked towards bipartisan solutions on a broad range of issues, including COVID-19, infrastructure, health care, immigration, criminal justice reform and gun violence reduction.\n\nIn the just-completed 117th Congress, the Caucus continued on these and other difficult issues including energy, election security, climate change and broadband development in addition to immigration.\n\nIn particular, the Caucus forged the framework for what became the $1 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Package, otherwise known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law in November 2021. That law will eventually deliver some $3 billion to Hawai\u2018i for roads, bridges, water infrastructure, climate resiliency projects, access to broadband, and much more.\n\n\u201cIn our democracy, partisan debate and disagreement will always have a place and there will always be times for decisions supported by the majority and opposed by the minority\u201d, said Case. \u201cBut that cannot be the rule governing each and every issue we face, with no room left even for constructive discussion and solutions that meld the best of diverse views. This is where the voice and efforts of our Problem Solvers Caucus are most needed and most effective.\u201d\n\nMore information on the Problem Solvers Caucus can be found here. Link to Problem Solvers Caucus announcement of leadership slate and membership list here.\n\nAttachments:\n\n\u00b7 Picture of Congressman Case with Caucus members at the southern border June 2021\n\n\u00b7 Picture of Congressman Case with fellow Representatives and Senators at Problem Solvers press conference on Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan July 2021\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2078", "Hawai\u2018i Congressional Delegation Calls On The Internal Revenue Service To Exempt Residents From Taxation Of Emergency Assistance In Response To Red Hill Fuel Crisis", "2023-03-02", "2023", "2023-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=15", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 All four members of Hawaii\u2019s Congressional Delegation sent a letter today to Mr. Douglas O\u2019Donnell, Acting Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), expressing their \u201cdeep concern\u201d that the IRS \u201cmay tax emergency assistance provided to individuals in response to the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (Red Hill) drinking water crisis.\u201d\n\nThe letter goes on to say that \u201cJust as assistance provided to individuals by the Federal Emergency Management Agency under the Stafford Act is exempted under Section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code, we believe the Red Hill emergency assistance should also be exempted.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:30:02Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-jill-tokuda-announces-agriculture-subcommittee-assignments", "Rep. Jill Tokuda Announces Agriculture Subcommittee Assignments", "2023-02-27", "2023", "2023-02", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=11&", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) announced her appointment to serve on three Subcommittees on the House Committee on Agriculture:\n\nThe Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture oversees nutrition, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; horticulture including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and specialty crops; bees; organic agriculture; foreign agricultural assistance and trade, and more.\n\nThe Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry oversees livestock, seafood, poultry, and dairy; aquaculture; grazing; animal welfare, and more.\n\nThe Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology oversees pest and disease management, including pesticides; conservation; quarantine; education, research, and extension; biotechnology, and more.\n\n\u201cI am honored to have been selected to serve on three subcommittees on the House Committee on Agriculture that are important for Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s farmers, producers, workers, and our economy. Over the last two weeks, I spent time listening and talking to farmers and ranchers across the islands about the challenges they face and hopes for the future. I look forward to being a strong voice to ensure that the Second Congressional District is well-represented as the Agriculture Committee negotiates the 2023 Farm Bill and implements policy that will impact our kids, agricultural producers, and families well into the future,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda.\n\nTokuda recently introduced her first two bills in Congress, which have been referred to the House Committee on Agriculture. The Coffee Plant Health and Macadamia Tree Health Initiatives Acts would expand high-priority research to help farmers and producers combat plant pests and noxious weeds, survey and collect data on plant health, improve best management practices, and increase access to resources that will ensure that the industries thrive well into the future.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2076", "Case Announces 2022 Winners of Congressional App Challenge", "2023-02-24", "2023", "2023-02", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=15", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today announced the winners of his 2022 Congressional App Challenge for Hawai\u2018i\u2019s First Congressional District at a reception at the Entrepreneurs Sandbox in Kaka\u2018ako.\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. \u201cCongratulating the winners at the Sandbox, which is described as \u2018Hawaii\u2019s community hub to inspire creativity, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship\u2019 will hopefully also open the students\u2019 minds to possibilities beyond their imagination.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd results of this year\u2019s Challenge prove once 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 winner for Hawaii\u2019s First Congressional District:\n\n1st Place \u2013 Syreena Fortuno and Cabien Nelson of DreamHouse \u2018Ewa Beach, a public charter school\n\nGrade: 8\n\nInstructor: Coach Cerina Livaudais\n\nApp: \u2018Imi Loa\n\nVideo: https://youtu.be/YC7fOTpZ1XM\n\nSummary, according to the creators:\n\n\u201cOur app, 'Imi loa, is an engaging game for players of ages 10 years and up to learn about the environmental and social problems in Hawai'i 2022. As a player, your goal is to complete all of the quests by traveling to all the islands. With each quest the player learns how to make an impact on some of the problems we face here in Hawai'i.\n\n\u201cThe inspiration for our app was wanting our home to be more represented in the media. Growing up many of us didn't know about Hawai'i's challenges until middle school. We hope our app will make this knowledge accessible to the younger generation. We were also inspired by the winners from last year's congressional app challenge. Their game was really cool and the fact that they came from our school made us feel confident that we too could accomplish what they did.\u201d\n\n2nd Place \u2013 Chase Graham of \u2018Iolani School\n\nGrade: 11\n\nInstructor: n/a\n\nApp: Giveback Hawai\u2019i\n\nVideo: https://youtu.be/9J2ziEV87SQ\n\nSummary, according to the creator:\n\n\u201cMy app encourages users to contribute small, everyday things in response to the ongoing environmental/climate crisis. From the app, users have access to their energy usage data, energy consumption statistics for the state of Hawai\u2019i, and tips for minimizing wasteful energy usage. Users' energy data is provided when they connect their account to their local energy provider through Green Button, a standardized way for users to access their data that has recently been increasingly adopted across the country.\n\n\u201cThe app acts as a hub for community-driven environmental change in Hawai'i; users can participate with and compete against other users in campaigns to lower their energy use, join events like periodic beach cleanups and local environmental work, and learn more about their environmental impact and ecological footprint. In addition, users can earn in-app currency or 'points' for participating in these local events, learning about their carbon footprint, competing in campaigns, and completing challenges to reduce energy use.\n\n\u201cUsers directly contribute, alongside members of their local community, towards a cleaner Hawai'i and simultaneously earn rewards. Users redeem their points for rewards with real value, like a recycled water bottle, a local business voucher, and an assortment of popular gift cards. Thus, users are motivated to work towards an energy goal and have a direct impact on their future and their communities. These points have real value because the app is self-fulfilling; any redemption of points is paid for through advertisements that appear on their feed.\n\n\u201cUsers will be rewarded for spending time on the app to learn about their ecological impact, actively compete with other users, and improve their energy usage. Opportunities for users to earn points will appear on their feed; an example of this opportunity is a short quiz where the user can determine their carbon footprint, read about environmentally friendly tips, and participate in beach cleanups.\n\n\u201cUsers also receive points for completing challenges--for example, participating in a statewide campaign or reducing energy usage by 15% for a week--and campaigns, which are community events in which users compete to minimize energy usage and earn points. Giveback uses fun to change peoples' behavior by making the process seem like a game and is simultaneously rewarding; users who want to contribute to the environment earn 'badges' for completing challenges and reaching notable achievements and are also given the opportunity to help the environment for rewards.\u201d\n\n3rd Place \u2013 Joshua Tom, Desmond Adams, and Owen Gostage of Ewa Makai Middle School\n\nGrade: 8\n\nInstructor: Ms. Miki Cacace\n\nApp: myGlucose\n\nVideo: https://vimeo.com/764284475\n\nSummary, according to the creators:\n\n\u201cOur app scans and tracks a patient with medical conditions that cause them to easily bruise but cannot easily recover. Our target audience are patients with diabetes; however, anyone can use our app. You just upload a photo of your bruise to our app, and it will scan it using our AI and tell you what stage it is at and if it is at any level for concern. It also monitors the amount of times you scan your bruise and at what stages your bruise progresses through. This helps prevent amputations from septic bruising.\u201d\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.\n\nThe Challenge encourages students to learn code and inspires them to pursue careers in computer science.\n\nStudents may use any programming language and the app can be on any platform (web app, desktop/PC app, a web browser extension, mobile app, etc.). The app can be about any topic, but it must be original.\n\nAn 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\nAttachments:\n\n\u00b7 Picture of Case with the two 1st place winners\n\n\u00b7 Picture of Case with one of the 3rd place winners\n\n\u00b7 Group picture with participants in 2022 App Challenge along with App Challenge judge Dan Smith\n\n\u00b7 (2nd place winner not present at event)\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2070", "Case Reintroduces Measure To Impose Strict Safety Requirements And Provide For State And Local Community Disruption Regulation On Commercial Air Tour Operations", "2023-02-20", "2023", "2023-02", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=15", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) today announced reintroduction in the current 118th Congress of his Safe and Quiet Skies Act to impose strict safety regulations on commercial air tour operations to include helicopters and small planes.\n\nH.R. 1071 would direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which has virtually exclusive jurisdiction over such aircraft, to adopt tighter safety recommendations long advanced by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the wake of repeated deadly crashes across the country.\n\nThe measure would also authorize state and local government to impose reasonable conditions of the operation of such aircraft to address worsening noise and other community disruption from increasingly frequent and intrusive operations.\n\n\u201cMy Hawai'i is but one example of these worsening concerns nationwide. For too many years, Hawai\u2018i has seen deadly crashes of commercial air tour helicopters, including in residential neighborhoods, and far too many dead from the crashes of commercial skydiving planes.\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cFollowing just three of the most recent tragedies at Kailua, Kaua'i and Dillingham Airfield, which are not isolated instances nationally, the NTSB, which is responsible for investigating accidents but not for direct safety regulation, suggested strongly and directly to the FAA that safety-related regulation of commercial tour helicopters and small aircraft skydiving operations is generally insufficient.\n\n\u201cThese tragedies occurred amidst a rapid increase in commercial helicopter and small plane overflights of all parts of Hawai\u2018i including residential, commercial and industrial neighborhoods, cemeteries and memorials, land and marine parks and other recreation areas, and sensitive military installations. These have disrupted whole communities with excessive noise and other impacts, destroyed the peace and sanctity of special places, increased risk to not only passengers but those on the ground, and weakened security and management of defense operations.\n\n\"Clearly the FAA should now follow the NTSB\u2019s lead before any more lives are lost, and clearly Congress must act to protect lives and property and to allow communities to regulate against unacceptable disruption if as is clear the FAA will not.\u201d\n\nThe bill is introduced as Congress takes up reauthorization of the FAA. Case is joined in its introduction by Rep, Jerry Nadler (NY), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (Washington, DC), the senior Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to which the bill was referred and which will address FAA reauthorization, Rep. Nydia Velazquez (NY), the ranking member of the House Small Business Committee, and Reps. Brad Sherman (CA), Dan Goldman (NY) and Jill Tokuda (HI).\n\n\"I am proud to join Representative Ed Case in introducing this legislation to direct the FAA to finally adopt National Transportation Safety Board recommendations that will increase the safety of commercial air tours and prohibit flights over federal properties like National Parks and cemeteries that deserve privacy, dignity, and respect,\" said Rep. Nadler.\n\n\"Last year, nearly eight thousand commercial air tours flew over National Parks of New York Harbor Management Unit sites, which include national treasures like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.\n\n\u201cThe large volume of commercial air tours over these sites are increasingly unsafe and create substantial quality of life issues for New Yorkers and tourists alike through noise and environmental impacts. I have repeatedly called on the FAA to impose additional regulations to address this issue. Not only has the FAA failed to act, they recently agreed to a new Voluntary Agreement with helicopter tour operators that makes the situation worse.\n\n\u201cI am proud to join my colleagues in authoring legislation to place needed restrictions on commercial air tour operations. Low-flying tourist helicopters and small planes are both a nuisance and a clear danger: it\u2019s time we put an end to reckless joyrides over New York City.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs co-chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus, I am proud to co-lead this legislation to improve safety and reduce community disruption from commercial air tours,\u201d said Rep. Norton. \u201cIt is past time for the FAA to follow the safety recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board.\u201d\n\nThe Quiet Skies Caucus counts close to 60 members of Congress including Reps. Case, Nadler and Norton who seek to raise awareness on the issue of aircraft noise and find meaningful solutions to the problem.\n\nCase continued: \u201cThis current situation is not acceptable for both safety and community impact concerns. Regarding ground disruption and risk, the FAA takes the position that its responsibility is strictly operational safety and national airspace efficiency and does not extend to ground disruption and other negative impacts.\n\n\u201cAs a result, the operators, aside from strict takeoff and approach, avoidance of established flight paths and other limited circumstances, are virtually free to fly wherever, whenever and as often as they want. And they do, with little to no self-regulation.\n\n\u201cMy Safe and Quiet Skies Act will further mandate strict regulation of commercial air tour operations to address defense risks and community disruption, including no overflights of defense, national parks and cemeteries, and other sensitive installations and minimum altitude maximum noise limits on all flights. Additionally, it will allow states, localities, and tribes to impose stricter regulations on tour flights in their jurisdictions, to include time, route and frequency, with required public engagement.\u201d\n\nThe measure's reintroduction follows funding and related provisions included in the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill that funds $19 billion for the FAA, including $1.6 billion for aviation safety and Case\u2019s call for additional funding for the FAA\u2019s community engagement capacity. The bill also requires the FAA to make aggregated information about noise complaints available to the public and includes Case\u2019s request to direct the FAA to work with other federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, to participate in community engagement to address noise concerns. Case serves on the House Appropriations Committee and helped to draft and pass the bill through Congress.\n\nBuilding on these efforts, the Safe and Quiet Skies Act would:\n\nRequire that tour flights fly above the 1,500-foot altitude over actual ground at all times with very limited exceptions for emergencies and takeoff/landing.\n\nRequire tour flights over occupied areas (including residential, commercial and recreational areas) to be no louder than 55 dbA, the same level of noise commonly allowed for residential areas.\n\nAllow states and localities to impose additional requirements \u2013 stricter than the minimum national requirements called for in the Act \u2013 on tour flights.\n\nRequire that all regulations under this Act, in addition to any updates to any Air Tours Common Procedure Manuals (voluntary understandings between operators and the FAA), include public engagement.\n\nProhibit tour flights over military installations, national cemeteries, national wilderness areas, national parks, and national wildlife refuges.\n\nApply the \u201csterile cockpit rule\u201d to tour flights, which requires that pilots only focus on safely operating the aircraft and would define tour-giving and narrating as outside of the duties required for safe operation.\n\nRequire FAA to implement NTSB recommendations regarding Part 135 regulations, which most tour flights fly under.\n\nRequire all tour flights to fly under Part 135 regulations and prohibit tour flights from flying under less restrictive Part 91 regulations.\n\nAttachments: Text of the Safe and Quiet Skies Act and section-by-section summary.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T23:18:08Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 121, "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": "2023"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 121, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2023&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 121, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=HI&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "HI", "label": "HI", "count": 121, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "2023", "label": "2023", "count": 121, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2023-02-20,https~3A~2F~2Fcase~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fdocumentsingle~2Easpx~3FDocumentID~3D2070", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2023&_next=2023-02-20%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fcase~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fdocumentsingle~2Easpx~3FDocumentID~3D2070&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 117.66294436529279, "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"}