{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"HI\" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4804", "Case Announces 2025 Winners Of His Congressional App Challenge", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=2", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today announced the winners of his 2025 Congressional App Challenge for Hawai\u2018i\u2019s First Congressional District at a reception at the Entrepreneurs Sandbox in Kaka\u2018ako.\n\nThe App Challenge is an official national initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, in which Members of Congress host annuals contests in their districts for middle and high school students. For 2025, 394 of the 441 Members of the House, or 89%, hosted such contests. More information is here: https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/.\n\n\u201cMy 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 contestants and their \u2018ohana at the Sandbox, \u2018Hawai\u2018i\u2019s community hub to inspire creativity, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship\u2019, adds an extra boost to what will hopefully be an inspiring and motivating experience for all of them.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd results of this year\u2019s Challenge prove once again that Hawai\u2018i\u2019s youth 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\nParticipation in Congressman Case\u2019s First District Congressional App Challenge has grown significantly from 2019, when he conducted his first Challenge after returning to Congress, to 2025. His 2019 Challenge saw ten app submissions from 27 students across four schools. This year, his challenge saw 16 app submissions from 30 students across 8 schools, including three public schools and five private schools.\n\nThe winners of Congressman Case\u2019s First Congressional District 2025 Challenge are:\n\n\u00b7 1st Place \u2013 Aren Sawa of Mid-Pacific Institute\n\nGrade: 11\n\nInstructor: n/a\n\nApp: Hawai\u2018iAlert.jp\n\nVideo: https://youtu.be/ifxGTRVAL0c\n\nSummary, according to the creator:\n\n\u201cHawai\u2018iAlert.jp is a bilingual disaster alert web app that automatically collects official emergency alerts from the U.S. National Weather Service and delivers accurate Japanese translations to users in real time.\n\n\u201cIt focuses on major hazards affecting Hawai\u2018i, such as tsunamis, hurricanes, floods, high surf, strong winds, and wildfires. The app ensures that Japanese-speaking residents, students, and tourists receive the same verified information that English speakers do\u2014instantly and without confusion.\n\n\u201cBuilt with Laravel (PHP), MySQL, and AWS Lightsail, the app automatically retrieves alerts through the NWS API, translates and summarizes them using GPT, and sends updates via the LINE Messaging API. Each message clearly shows its source and timestamp to maintain transparency and reliability.\n\n\u201cHawaiiAlert.jp bridges the language gap in public safety communication, helping everyone in Hawai\u2018i stay informed through trusted, official data\u2014without interpretation or delay.\u201d\n\n2nd Place \u2013 Taeseong Shin ( Iolani School), Lulu Wang (Punahou School), Sol Choi (Bishop Gorman High School\n\nGrade: 12\n\nInstructor: n/a\n\nApp: GQX (Green Quest Exchange)\n\nVideo: https://youtu.be/PMIBJPXX/nk\n\nSummary, according to the creator:\n\n\u201cGreenQuest Exchange (GQX) is a student-built platform turning climate concern into daily, trackable action. GQX has three main aspects.\n\n\u201cAction Tracking: students can log everyday behaviors (walking/biking, reusables, plant-forward meals, home energy steps), where each action converts to estimated CO\u2082e savings using assumptions housed in the app\n\nGamified Mechanics: school/user leaderboards, tree growth, streaks,and badges make progress visible and fun, making it an app fit for young students\n\n\u201cSustainable Marketplace: each school gets a moderated exchange where students post, borrow, or trade items like calculators, lab coats, art supplies, uniforms, and textbooks, or anything you can think of. That local loop reduces purchases, keeps materials in circulation, and meets real student needs.\n\n\u201cPrivacy and safety are non-negotiable. GQX is hosted on Microsoft Azure with integrations through Google Firebase and MongoDB Atlas. We minimize data collection, default to private profiles, and use school-domain access where possible. We provide institution-level insights so schools can see aggregate participation and CO\u2082e estimates, while individual data is never shared without proper consent, in compliance with applicable regulations.\n\n\u201cGQX is built for equity and adoption. The interface is lightweight for low-bandwidth use, mobile-first, and accessible. Moderation tools and community guidelines create safe exchanges.\u201d\n\n3rd Place \u2013 Owen Roe of Punahou School\n\nGrade: 10\n\nInstructor: n/a\n\nApp: The Mock Trial Online Trainer\n\nVideo: https://youtu.be/L_Y8dgDElj4\n\nSummary, according to the creator:\n\n\u201cMy app was designed to help students in mock trial. Mock trial is an annual state competition that mimics real court cases. Students must work as a team to prosecute or defend a random case. This requires different people to specialize in various roles. These include questioning witnesses, playing witnesses, or making long speeches. The Mock Trial Online Trainer mirrors the mock trial system as much as possible.\n\n\u201cTo begin, in mock trial, there are three witnesses on each side, which is reflected in the MTOT. Each witness has a name, a title, and a short statement, which allows the user to have a starting point for their questions.\n\n\u201cThe witnesses are split into two differently colored boxes, green for the prosecution and purple for the defense. Below the witnesses is the evidence, marked by a yellow box, including a name and a short description for each piece. Next, I made all of the different roles that students play during a trial. This includes the opening and closing statement lawyers, who give long speeches; the cross and direct lawyers, who question the witnesses; and the witnesses.\n\n\u201cThe statement lawyers are fairly simple; you give a speech to summarize the evidence, then the \u2018adversary\u2019 side gives their speech. In order to have the \u2018adversary\u2019 side give speeches, I used Groq\u2019s Llama 4 Scout API to generate random text output. This AI model is effective because it has a large limit on the number of tokens it can send each day. The cross and direct lawyer roles work similarly to the statement lawyers, just in an extended format. While the statement lawyers only require one response, the cross and direct roles act as a conversation, so you must repeatedly question the witness, building upon previous statements.\n\n\u201cFinally, as a witness, you are being cross-examined by the \u2018adversary\u2019 lawyer, and you must try to avoid their attacks and reaffirm your own case.\n\nAfter you have finished your case, you get judged. There is a \u2018judge me\u2019 button, available once the case is closed, which gives you a score out of 10 along with feedback on how you can improve. All of your cases are saved for later, so you are able to review your scores and see how you have improved over time. However, if you practice a lot, you can clear past cases with the clear all button.\u201d\n\nThe judges of Case\u2019s 2025 Challenge were: Trung Lam, Executive Director of Hawai\u2018i Technology Development Corporation, a state agency that is expanding Hawai\u2019i\u2019s tech industry; Ellen Ng, founder of Inoa, a blockchain technology consulting firm focused on real-world asset tokenization; and Stefan Holzer, a serial entrepreneur and AI researcher who previously co-founded Fyusion, a computer-vision company in the automotive industry.\n\nAttachments: pictures of Rep. Case at the Entrepreneurs Sandbox, and a group shot of judges and students who participated in this year\u2019s App Challenge with Rep. Case.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4800", "Case Announces Nominations To Nation's Service Academies For Incoming '26 Class", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=2", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) - U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) today announced his 2026 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 the four service academies (principal nominee and the rest in alphabetical order by last name):\n\nUnited States Air Force Academy\n\nPrincipal nominee: Ryder Goto Kalani High School\n\nKasyn Amazaki \u2018Iolani School\n\nLuke Barner Radford High School\n\nKodai Eskin Punahou School\n\nJohn Ganske New Mexico Military Institute/\n\nMoanalua High School\n\nTimothy Iha Pearl City High School\n\nTuan Pettaway Air Force Academy Preparatory School/ Mililani High School\n\nChristophe Tang Air Force Academy Preparatory School/ Campbell High School\n\nDerrick Ung \u2018Aiea High School\n\nUnited States Military Academy\n\nPrincipal nominee: Anthony Dang University Laboratory School\n\nJacob Blaze Cabuhat Punahou School\n\nLiam Martin Punahou School\n\nJazmine Mayo \u2018Aiea High School\n\nMalia McCoy Punahou School\n\nHayden Noland Punahou School\n\nParker Noland Punahou School\n\nChristopherJay Tenorio \u2018Aiea High School\n\nUnited States Naval Academy\n\nPrincipal nominee: Alicya Robson Naval Academy Preparatory School/\n\nCampbell High School\n\nLiliana Burrell Abeka Academy (home school)\n\nJuliet Caston Campbell High School\n\nAdam Ettlich Soli Deo Gloria Academy (home school)\n\nShota Eskin Punahou School\n\nVanessa He Hawaii Baptist Academy\n\nLyla Matthews Radford High School\n\nCharlotte Nakagawa Kamehameha Schools - Kap\u0101lama\n\nCaleb Parsons Moanalua High School\n\nEzekiel Schulz Radford High School\n\nJia Qi Zhan Naval Academy Preparatory School/ Roosevelt High School\n\nUnited States Merchant Marine Academy\n\nElizabeth Gillaspie Maryknoll School\n\nParker Reppun Punahou School\n\nFor the Class of 2026, Case selected 30 applicants from six private schools, eight public schools and two home schools.\n\nMembers of Congress are authorized by law to nominate candidates to four United States Service Academies: the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado; the Military Academy at West Point, New York; and the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. The Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.\n\nA Congressional nomination does not guarantee acceptance, but in most cases is required for an applicant to be considered. Acceptance 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.\n\nFor information on eligibility requirements and how to seek an appointment for the 2027 entering class, please go to Rep. Case\u2019s web site https://case.house.gov/services/service-academy-nominations.htm.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-tokuda-obernolte-matsui-hurd-lead-bipartisan-effort-to-improve-staffing-prevent-cuts-at-national-park-service", "Reps. Tokuda, Obernolte, Matsui, Hurd Lead Bipartisan Effort to \r\nImprove Staffing, Prevent Cuts at National Park Service", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23), Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), and Jeff Hurd (R-CO-03) led a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum urging him to address insufficient staffing levels and refrain from additional employee reductions at National Parks across the country, citing the impact of staffing shortages on park visitors and the economies of neighboring \u201cgateway\u201d communities.\n\nSince January 2025, the National Park Service (NPS) has fired or lost more than 24 percent of its staff, creating significant challenges at National Parks including decreased capacity for emergency response and disruptions to visitor services, infrastructure maintenance, and conservation work.\n\n\u201c[A]t Yosemite National Park, staffing cuts combined with record-setting visitation from January to July led to a 40% increase in search and rescue efforts compared to the same period last year. At Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Montrose, Colorado, the South Rim Fire burned campsites, maintenance vehicles, and other infrastructure, which, when taken along with a one-third reduction in workforce, will impact the local economy as well as park operations such as fire remediation and safety. Furthermore, at Joshua Tree National Park, staffing shortages have reduced fee-booth coverage and eliminated evening shifts, limiting visitor safety information, cutting needed fee revenue, and increasing the likelihood of congestion and search-and-rescue incidents. And at Haleakal\u0101 National Park, staffing shortages are delaying critical conservation work and backcountry maintenance, limiting both visitor access and protection of endangered species,\u201d the representatives wrote in the letter.\n\n\u201cWe recognize the importance of efficiency within the federal government. However, reducing National Park Service staff, including positions in supporting offices across DOI, would only intensify the operational challenges parks already face. We respectfully encourage you to work directly with NPS career professionals, including regional directors, associate directors, and Senior Executive Service staff, to identify practical solutions to staffing constraints.\u201d\n\nRecent court filings detail the Interior Department\u2019s plans for further staffing cuts, including reducing an additional 272 positions at NPS in the coming months. The letter also calls on Secretary Burgum to work with Congress to address staffing needs.\n\nThe bipartisan letter is also signed by Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04), Emily Randall (D-WA-06), Young Kim (R-CA-40), Gabe Amo (D-RI-01), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-08), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Maria Salazar (R-FL-27), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Jack Bergman (R-MI-01), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS-AL), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), David Valadao (R-CA-21), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Kevin Kiley (R-CA-03), Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), James Moylan (R-GU-AL), Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02), Kim Schrier (D-WA-08) and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-introduces-bill-to-support-law-enforcements-battle-against-zombie-guns", "Rep. Tokuda Introduces Bill to Support Law Enforcement\u2019s Battle Against \u2018Zombie Guns\u2019", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) introduced a bill to provide public agencies, including police departments, with greater resources to fully and safely destroy seized or surrendered firearms.\n\nThe Restoring Trust in Public Safety Act would create a new federal grant program to help state, Tribal, and local governments and law enforcement agencies acquire equipment, hire personnel, and conduct training to guarantee the complete destruction of firearms and firearm parts under their control. Last year, Rep. Tokuda met with police chiefs statewide and heard directly about their challenges with properly disposing of retired firearms. This legislation would help police departments tackle their backlogs of surrendered weapons and curb the proliferation of \u201czombie guns\u201d \u2013 weapons that should have been destroyed but are instead broken down, resold online as untraceable components, and frequently used to build ghost guns or sold as repair kids without background checks.\n\n\u201cGun violence is an epidemic in our country that must be stopped, and it starts by making sure illegal and untraceable guns stay off our streets,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cThe Restoring Trust in Public Safety Act ensures law enforcement agencies have the tools and capacity needed to fully destroy guns that are seized, surrendered, or retired \u2013 and reduces dependence on private disposal companies that have profited off inadequate public resources. We must shut down the illegal pipeline that continues to allow discarded weapons to evade background checks and circulate back into our communities.\u201d\n\nThe Restoring Trust in Public Safety Act builds on the Congresswoman\u2019s previous work to protect communities from the threat of gun violence. Earlier this year, Rep. Tokuda introduced the Gun Hardware Oversight and Shipment Tracking (GHOST) Act to help law enforcement track the interstate shipment of firearm kits and prevent the spread of unserialized firearms.\n\nThe Restoring Trust in Public Safety Act is cosponsored by Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Ed Case (HI-01), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Chuy Garcia (IL-04). The bill is also endorsed by the Hawai\u2018i Department of Law Enforcement, Hawai\u2018i Police Department, Kaua\u2018i Police Department, Brady: United Against Gun Violence, GIFFORDS, March for Our Lives, and Everytown for Gun Safety.\n\n\u201cThe Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement appreciates Representative Tokuda\u2019s commitment to public safety, particularly as it relates to gun violence. This bill will ensure that law enforcement agencies across the United States will have the necessary resources needed to properly destroy surrendered firearms. We look forward to supporting this bill and any other future legislation that reduces the likelihood of firearms falling into the hands of criminals,\u201d said Mike Lambert, Director of the Hawai\u2018i Department of Law Enforcement.\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4799", "Case Introduces Measure To Strengthen Economic Partnerships With Pacific Island Nations", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=2", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) - U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) today announced introduction of his Promoting Regional Opportunities for Sustainable Prosperity and Economic Resilience in the Pacific (PROSPER) Act to strengthen the U.S. Pacific Islands economic partnership.\n\n\u201cThe Pacific Islands, spread across the vast Pacific Ocean, are key partners in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific and strengthening mutual economic, security and cultural ties across countries sharing mutual values and goals,\u201d said Case, a founding co-chair of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus.\n\n\"It is in our mutual best interests that we develop, maintain and grow our relationships across all levels, of which economic advancement is especially important.\u201d\n\nCase continued: \u201cRecognizing this, successive administrations have committed to deepening U.S. engagement in the region, including through trade and investment. Most recently, the 2025 National Security Strategy asserts that \u2018the Indo-Pacific is already and will continue to be among the next century\u2019s key economic and geopolitical battlegrounds,\u2019 reaffirms our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and prioritizes winning the economic competition over the long term in the region.\n\n\u201cAdditionally, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission\u2019s 2025 Annual Report to Congress recommended that we strengthen economic assistance to Pacific Island countries to support U.S. national security interests and the priorities of partner countries.\n\n\u201cHowever, our economic toolkit for achieving our goals in the Pacific Islands needs to be strengthened. Many Pacific Island countries enjoyed preferential treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) when it was authorized, but the program lapsed in 2020. Some of the Pacific Islands\u2019 top exports to the U.S., including tuna, cane sugar, ginger and taro, would be eligible for duty-free treatment under GSP but for this lapse.\u201d\n\nCase noted that the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the leading multinational organization for the Pacific Islands region, has prioritized the region\u2019s need to build trade capacity and infrastructure and has specifically advocated for preferential trade agreements given its lack of competitiveness due to its small national markets, isolation from the global market, high cost of operating and land and labor constraints. The PIF has encouraged the U.S. to extend duty-free treatment under the GSP beyond preferences for Least Developed Beneficiary Developing Countries.\n\nActing on the PIF\u2019s expressed desire, Case\u2019s bill (H.R. 6619) extends duty-free treatment to certain goods imported from eligible Pacific Islands countries in the same manner afforded to least-developed beneficiary developing countries under GSP.\n\nIt also directs the President to develop a plan for negotiating free trade agreements with Pacific Island countries and create a dedicated trade facilitation and capacity building program for the Pacific Islands, all of which will promote inclusive economic development, create sustainable job opportunities and improve standards of living in the region.\n\nAdditionally, if enacted, the bill would serve U.S. national security interests in the region.\n\n\u201cImplementing such a program would come at a low cost to the U.S. while delivering a high strategic return, especially given the People\u2019s Republic of China\u2019s (PRC) increased focus on expanding its influence in the region, said Case.\n\n\u201cMy bill, PROSPER in the Pacific, would provide a visible alternative to the PRC by emphasizing economic partnership over debt-trap diplomacy, all while encouraging private-sector-led development, market-based economies and mutual goodwill between our countries.\u201d\n\nAttachments:\n\nCase remarks on his bill are here.\n\nU.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission\u2019s 2025 Annual Report to Congress is here.\n\n2025 National Security Strategy is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4795", "Case Moves To Assert Congress' Independent Authority Over Key Legislative Branch Agencies", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=2", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) today announced the introduction of a measure to assert Congress\u2019 full responsibility and control of key legislative branch positions to counter the Trump administration\u2019s efforts to remove Congressional agency leaders.\n\nIn May of this year, the administration fired Carla Hayden, head the Library of Congress (LOC), a Congressional entity, the de facto national library of the United States and the world\u2019s largest library. It also sought to remove Shira Perlmutter, the Register of Copyrights, whose was appointed by Hayden and whose office is part of the LOC.\n\n\u201cThe executive branch has no business selecting or removing the leaders of agencies which are part of the legislative branch and key to its independent operations,\u201d said Case, a member of the House Appropriations Committee who served four years on its Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch.\n\n\u201cMy bill (H.R. 6517) would amend the appointment processes for three key legislative branch positions - the Librarian of Congress, the Comptroller General and the Director of the Government Publishing Office (GPO) - to provide that appointment and removal of their leaders are the exclusive purview of Congress. These three agencies are critical to the independent operations of Congress and should not be subject to direction by the executive branch or any other external organization.\u201d\n\nThe Librarian of Congress is also the main research arm of Congress, managing the Congressional Research Service which is Congress\u2019 dedicated source of information, research and legislative development. The Comptroller General leads the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which conducts government-wide audits and reviews government programs to provide nonpartisan oversight for Congress. The GPO prints and distributes official Congressional and federal publications. \u201cTo ensure their independence from the executive branch, there must be no question that Congress has complete authority to dictate the appointment as well as the removal of the leaders of these organizations,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cThus, my proposal would remove the President from the appointment process for all these positions and change it to a commission structure. The commissions would be made up of House and Senate leadership, as well as members from the relevant Congressional committees. The House would now also have a say in the appointment process, since its appointees would have to be confirmed by the adoption of concurrent resolutions. Additionally, removal would be the exclusive purview of Congress.\u201d\n\n\u00b7 Case\u2019s remarks on introduction of his bill are here.\n\n\u00b7 Bill text is attached.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-releases-statement-on-passing-of-hawaii-county-fire-chief-kazuo-todd", "Rep. Tokuda Releases Statement on Passing of Hawai\u02bbi County Fire Chief Kazuo Todd", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) released the following statement on the passing of Hawai\u02bbi County Fire Chief Kazuo Todd:\n\n\u201cI am deeply saddened by the passing of Hawai\u02bbi County Fire Chief Kazuo Todd. Chief Todd was more than a dedicated public servant \u2014 he was a devoted son, a loving husband, and a proud father who carried those values of family into every part of his life and work.\n\nI will always remember the way Chief Todd took care of all of Hawai\u02bbi Island like family. Whether in moments of crisis or calm, he led with compassion, humility, and an unwavering sense of responsibility to the people he served. He was a true servant leader \u2014 someone who put others before himself, earned trust through action, and led not for recognition, but out of love for his community.\n\nIn this moment of deep sadness, perhaps the best way we can honor Chief Todd is to live and lead as he did \u2014 with courage, integrity, and care for one another.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-tokuda-fitzpatrick-balint-lamalfa-tran-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-increase-access-to-mental-health-care-services-for-first-responders", "Reps. Tokuda, Fitzpatrick, Balint, LaMalfa, Tran Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Mental Health Care Services for First Responders", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), joined by colleagues Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01), and Derek Tran (D-CA-45), introduced legislation to increase access to specialized mental health, substance abuse, and crisis counseling services for first responders.\n\nThe Crisis Assistance and Resources in Emergencies (CARE) for First Responders Act aims to strengthen resources and support systems for the individuals who are often first on the scene during emergencies. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, rescue workers, 911 operators, and other emergency response personnel regularly face significant yet frequently unseen trauma and challenges as they confront disasters and assist survivors in their moments of greatest need.\n\nThe CARE for First Responders Act would prioritize the needs of first responders by:\n\nEnsuring access to FEMA counseling and mental health services after major disasters.\n\nFunding on-site and mobile support through a grant program for mental health and substance use services.\n\nExpanding an existing, confidential 24-hour hotline to provide specialized first responder support.\n\nEstablishing a peer counseling program at HHS to assist first responders and their families.\n\nDirecting research on best practices for mental health care and suicide prevention for first responders.\n\n\u201cOur first responders go above and beyond, carrying the weight of trauma that no one should have to bear alone. After the devastating fires on Maui two years ago, I saw firsthand the toll that disasters can take on first responders and their families,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cI\u2019m proud once again to introduce the CARE for First Responders Act to ensure our frontliners who protect our communities have the specialized health support they desperately need and deserve. I\u2019m grateful to my Republican and Democratic colleagues for their partnership in this effort because crises don\u2019t care about politics, and neither should we when it comes to supporting our first responders.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve met too many local firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and telecommunicators who carry the heaviest parts of this job by themselves, not because they want to, but because the support isn\u2019t there when the shift ends. The CARE for First Responders Act changes that: true 24/7 confidential crisis care, tailored mental-health services during major disasters, and peer counselors who have lived the same calls. No one who saves lives should ever feel like they have to save their own alone,\u201d said Rep. Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force.\n\n\u201cBecause of the difficult work they do on the frontlines, Vermont\u2019s first responders are facing serious mental health challenges,\u201d said Rep. Balint. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join Rep. Tokuda once again in fighting to ensure that our emergency personnel, firefighters, 911 dispatchers, and law enforcement officers have access to the mental health resources they deserve. Our first responders shouldn\u2019t have to shoulder the weight of their jobs alone.\u201d\n\n\u201cFirst responders, medical personnel, and wildland firefighters carry an incredibly heavy burden,\u201d said Rep. LaMalfa. \u201cThey run toward danger when the rest of us run away, and the toll it takes on their mental and emotional health is real. Too often, getting the support they need is complicated or delayed. The CARE for First Responders Act will hopefully relieve some of that burden and let our first responders know that their work is not unnoticed or unappreciated.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom fighting crime to managing natural disaster response, California\u2019s first responders are on the front lines of keeping our community safe. This work is essential, but it also poses unique burdens on those who protect us day-in and day-out. First responders face serious mental health risks, but often lack access to specialized treatment plans that properly manage their needs. I\u2019m proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation to provide our first responders with the mental health support they deserve,\u201d said Rep. Tran.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), APCO International, and the National Association for Rural Mental Health.\n\nFull text of the bill can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4789", "Case Votes For Annual Defense Policy Bill That Includes Key Case-Requested Provisions For Hawaii And The Indo-Pacific", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=2", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) today voted for the final compromise version of the $900 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that includes six of his amendments and various other requests for Hawai\u2018i and the broader Indo-Pacific, including $1 billion for military construction projects in Hawai\u2018i.\n\nThe annual measure, setting priorities, policy and funding for the Department of Defense (DOD) and other national security activities and programs for the year, also includes Case-requested provisions to increase funding and staffing for the United States Coast Guard and expand Coast Guard operations in the Indo-Pacific.\n\nNDAA. The final version of the NDAA authorizes $900 billion to invest in our service members, their equipment and related infrastructure. The annual authorization is considered must-pass legislation, with Congress enacting one every year since fiscal 1962. It is separate from the regular annual appropriations bills that Congressman Case helps draft as a member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee; these bills actually direct funding using the NDAA as an authorizing framework.\n\n\u201cOur National Defense Authorization Act is a critical annual measure that not only authorizes our defense spending for the year, supplementing my Appropriations Committee\u2019s parallel funding responsibilities, but also establishes defense policies, including organization and administration of the Defense Department,\u201d said Case, who serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, responsible for funding all defense and intelligence community programs, and previously served on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.\n\n\u201cWhile the NDAA also addresses military readiness, the measure also supports several quality-of-life provisions that are critical to service members and their families,\u201d said Case.\n\nThe bill includes language encouraging the Army to fully develop and communicate its plans for the leased lands at P\u014dhakuloa Training Area to all stakeholders. It encourages the Army to continue working with the State of Hawai\u2018i and Congress to ensure any appropriate legislative authority aligns with the value of land in Hawai\u2018i and meets the training needs of all the services.\n\nGiven the positive economic impact from military construction in Hawai\u2018i, Case highlighted various military construction projects he supported that were included in the final version of the NDAA, including:\n\n\u00b7 $142 million to commence a multi-year project to build a water treatment plant at Red Hill that would allow the drinking water shaft to be reopened and help remove any residual contaminants from the ground surrounding Red Hill. Case has worked both through the authorization and appropriations bills to advance this critical project.\n\n\u00b7 $493 million of additional funding to continue construction a new drydock at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. This is a multi-billion dollar project requiring sustained funding over several years and is the largest current military construction project in the DOD today.\n\n\u00b7 $66 million for airfield improvements at the Pacific Missile Range Facility.\n\n\u00b7 $147 million for Military Housing Privatization Initiative projects (460 units) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.\n\n\u00b7 $37 million for Water Reclamation Facility Compliance Upgrades at Marine Corp Base Hawai\u2018i.\n\n\u00b7 $49 million to replace the main gate at Marine Corps Base Hawai\u2018i.\n\n\u00b7 $83 million for DDG-1000 Ship Support Infrastructure Upgrades at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.\n\n\u00b7 $15 million to modernize the electrical distribution system at Marine Corp Base Hawai\u2018i.\n\nThe bill includes several provisions Case proposed as amendments during the House\u2019s consideration of the bill, including:\n\n\u00b7 Directing the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment and United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) to assess the critical civilian and military infrastructure investments needed in Hawai\u2018i for any potential conflict.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the Army to conduct a study and send Congress a report on options for expanding a reserve contracted wartime sealift capacity in the Indo-Pacific region. Hawai\u2018i is the home to the Army\u2019s 8th Theater Support Command that is responsible for leading logistics and sustainment operations across the vast Indo-Pacific region, including ocean going transport.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the Government Accountability Office to examine how to improve the military\u2019s foreign exchange programs, which are a key soft-power tool that strengthen the ties between America and other countries throughout the globe.\n\n\u00b7 Directing USINDOPACOM to assess how to strengthen community relationships between the U.S. Armed Forces and Freely Associated States (FAS) citizens from the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia impacted by military installations and operating locations in the FAS.\n\n\u00b7 Preventing the Navy for from taking any action to disestablish the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Pacific located at Pearl Harbor, which had been proposed by the Trump administration. The provision would also require the Secretary to provide a briefing to Congress on: (1) the status of the decision of the Secretary with respect to the disestablishment of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Pacific; and (2) the strategic rationale, cost and benefits of such disestablishment.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the Navy, in coordination with USINDOPACOM, to assess the capacity of each U.S. public and private shipyard, and each foreign shipyard of an allied or partner country, to support battle damage repair in the event of an armed conflict in the Indo-Pacific.\n\nThe bill further includes several provisions advocated for and supported by Case to continue the military\u2019s investment in Hawai\u2018i and the Indo-Pacific, including:\n\n\u00b7 Prohibiting the DOD from carrying out a hiring freeze or reduction in force of certain public shipyard workers.\n\n\u00b7 Requiring the Secretary of the Navy to induct a class of not fewer than 100 apprentices at each of the Navy\u2019s shipyards, including Pearl Harbor.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the military to provide a report to Congress assessing the feasibility of, and funding necessary to accelerate the development and deployment of the major elements and programs comprising the next-generation air and missile defense architecture, to include Hawai\u2018i.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the military to brief Congress on the use and future potential of the Defense Access Roads Program in the Indo-Pacific region. Hawai\u2018i has previously used funding for this program to help improve Hawai\u2018i Route 200 on the Big Island.\n\n\u00b7 Providing $50 million for the purpose of aiding local educational agencies with military dependent students through the Impact Aid Program, and $20 million for local educational agencies eligible to receive payment for children with severe disabilities. The Impact Aid Program provides crucial federal funding to the Hawai\u2018i Department of Education by compensating for lost local property tax revenue due to the presence of U.S. military bases.\n\n\u00b7 Reaffirming support for the Pacific Deterrence initiative as a mechanism to strengthen U.S. posture in the Indo-Pacific reassure allies and partners and build readiness and operational capability in the region.\n\n\u00b7 Proving $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative designed to enhance Taiwan's defense capabilities and resilience.\n\n\u00b7 Providing $1.4 billion for Pacific Deterrence Initiative related construction, including another $364 million for USINDOPACOM\u2019s Military Construction Pilot Program to support minor construction projects across the Indo-Pacific.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the Air Force to submit a report to Congress on the potential value of ultra-short takeoff and landing aircraft in the Indo-Pacific. The report will assess potential missions, users and non-military uses, such as humanitarian relief and wildfire suppression.\n\n\u00b7 Requiring the Air Force to incorporate depot-level maintenance in at least one multinational exercise conducted in the Indo-Pacific.\n\n\u00b7 Requiring the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with USINDOPACOM, to conduct a comprehensive joint mobilization and sustainment readiness study to assess the capability of the U.S. military to respond to a high-intensity conflict in the Indo-Pacific.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the military, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Transportation, to assess the feasibility and advisability of the United States removing oil from three World War II-era sunken Japanese oil tankers located in the waters near the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the executive branch to provide certain telehealth benefits and mail order pharmacy benefits to veterans in the FAS.\n\n\u00b7 Expanding eligibility for intergovernmental support agreements to include the State of Yap of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau.\n\n\u00b7 Requiring the military, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to establish and maintain a security cooperation initiative to strengthen cooperation among the defense industrial bases of the United States and allied and partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region.\n\n\u00b7 Requiring the Secretary of Defense to implement a strategy to strengthen multilateral deterrence against regional aggression in the Indo-Pacific by expanding multilateral coordination with United States allies and partners in the region.\n\n\u00b7 Authorizing the military to provide a living quarter allowance for DOD civilian employees with \u201cpermanent duty station\u201d in Guam.\n\nThe FY 2026 NDAA also makes the most substantive reforms to the defense acquisition process and system in decades. It seeks to reduce the complexity, cost and risk of doing business with U.S. military by establishing a new acquisition architecture based on five key pillars of reform:\n\n\u00b7 Aligning acquisition to service members\u2019 priorities and operational outcomes,\n\n\u00b7 Accelerating the requirements process,\n\n\u00b7 Finding a balance between the need for regulation and efficiency\n\n\u00b7 Strengthening the American industrial base and leveraging commercial innovation, and\n\n\u00b7 Developing a mission-oriented acquisition workforce.\n\nThe reforms arise in part from the work of the bipartisan House Defense Modernization Caucus, of which Case is a member.\n\nFinally, the bill includes a 3.8% pay raise for members of the armed forces. It also includes the following provisions to help our nation\u2019s service members:\n\n\u00b7 Increased oversight of food programs across the services and of the Basic Allowance for Subsistence to ensure funds are used to provide food for service members,\n\n\u00b7 Requiring a pay and benefits education campaign for service members and their families,\n\n\u00b7 Expanding access to food on military installations by granting the Services authorities to conduct pilot programs to reform their food programs, and\n\n\u00b7 Requiring an analysis of alternative methods for calculating the Basic Allowance for Housing to better reflect market trends.\n\nUSCG Authorization. Congress included USCG Authorization as a separate section of the NDAA. It authorizes $35 billion in appropriations for USCG for FY 2026 and 2027, an overall 25 percent increase from previous authorization levels. It also increases the number of authorized active-duty personnel by 18 percent.\n\nAlso included was a provision from Case\u2019s Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act that requires an annual plan and budget display for Coast Guard operations in the Pacific. (More information about this provision is available at https://tinyurl.com/CASEUSCG.)\n\nOther provisions relevant to Hawai\u2018i and the Indo-Pacific include:\n\n\u00b7 Creating a Special Advisor to the Commandant for Tribal and Native Hawaiian Affairs, along with an annual briefing to Congress on their activities.\n\n\u00b7 Allowing the USCG Commandant to provide federal financial assistance to Native Hawaiian organizations if certain natural or cultural resources are damaged by certain Coast Guard actions.\n\n\u00b7 Requiring a feasibility study on supporting additional USCG port visits and deployments in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.\n\n\u00b7 Requiring the Coast Guard to develop a plan to increase joint and integrated training opportunities for USCG and the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration.\n\nATTACHMENTS:\n\n\u00b7 A summary of the FY 2025 NDAA is available here.\n\n\u00b7 The text of the bill is available here.\n\n\u00b7 The explanatory committee report is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-secures-key-hawaii-provisions-in-house-passed-annual-defense-policy-bill", "Rep. Tokuda Secures Key Hawai\u2018i Provisions in House-Passed Annual Defense Policy Bill", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted to pass the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which will now go the U.S. Senate for consideration.\n\nAs a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Tokuda secured key provisions to address critical needs in Hawai\u02bbi, support service members and military families, and ensure the nation\u2019s defense.\n\n\"This year\u2019s NDAA includes important provisions for Hawai\u02bbi, military families, and the nation as a whole. Most importantly, it does not provide DoD with any authority to condemn state land, despite recent threats by the U.S. Army,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cIn Hawai\u02bbi, we have learned a painful truth: once land is taken, it\u2019s gone forever. Under no circumstances should we entertain the idea of giving land away to the military. If they attempt such an illegal action, they will lose in court and more importantly, they will lose the trust of the people of Hawai\u02bbi.\"\n\nKey provisions authored and supported by Rep. Tokuda in the FY 2026 NDAA would:\n\nRequire Department of Defense civilian and contractor employees be included in the military\u2019s regular housing market analyses, which is especially important for military installations, like those in Hawai\u2018i, with substantial civilian and contractor workforces.\n\nMandate an independent review of the suitability of Department of Defense land in Hawai\u02bbi for service member housing to address the military\u2019s impact on the local housing market.\n\nRequire 24-hour parental notification for suspected child abuse and neglect in Department of Defense child development centers.\n\nPrevent the Trump Administration from decommissioning Kilo Moana and other oceanographic ships.\n\nEstablish a new authority to fund ordnance disposal through intergovernmental support agreements, allowing state and local governments in Hawai\u2018i and nationally to assist in the demining of formerly used defense lands.\n\nRequire the Secretary of Defense to brief Congress on the efficacy of the military\u2019s efforts to prevent criminal activity and other misconduct by service members stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and legislative or policy changes needed to better prevent and address misconduct.\n\nExtend the \u201cChild Care In Your Home\u201d Pilot Program that provides financial assistance for service members in Hawai\u2018i who hire a nanny or other in-home child care provider, helping to address long waitlists for child care.\n\nEliminate referral requirements for obstetrical and gynecological care under TRICARE.\n\nA full summary of the FY 2026 NDAA can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4787", "Confusion Over Federal Emergency Assistance To the Islands Draws Concern From The Hawaii Congressional Delegation", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=2", "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) joined in a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to \u201cexpress their concern regarding execution challenges with several Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants and the negative effects on the people and institutions of Hawai\u2018i.\u201d\n\nIn their letter to Secretary Kristi Noem, whose Department of Homeland Security oversees FEMA, and Karen Evans, FEMA\u2019s Senior Official Performing Duties of Administrator, the delegation stated that they \u201chave heard from various state and local agencies and nonprofits that they have experienced significant delays and obstacles\u201d with grants that support much needed assistance in Hawai\u2018i but that \u201cthe related funds have not been properly awarded and obligated.\u201d\n\nAfter local and state agencies and nonprofits shared several examples of confusion over the way FEMA has administered the various grant programs, the delegation stated that \u201cthese examples suggest that FEMA\u2019s current grant-making operations are experiencing significant difficulties marked by challenges in timelines, communication and procedural consistency.\u201d\n\nThe delegation is calling for answers to several questions by December 31, 2025, which can be found here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Noem and Ms. Evans:\n\nWe write today to express our deep concern regarding execution challenges with several Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants and the negative effects on the people and institutions of Hawai\u2018i.\n\nWe have heard from various state and local agencies and nonprofits that they have experienced significant delays and obstacles with the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program, the Homeland Security\n\nGrant Program (HSGP) and the Emergency Management Peformance Grant (EMPG) Program. These grants are critical to the execution of much-needed assistance in Hawai\u2018i, but as explained below the related funds have not been properly awarded and obligated.\n\nEFSP Funding. FEMA announced the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 EFSP funding (Phase 42) on December 6, 2024, with Hawai\u2018i allocated a total of $285,947 through Aloha United Way. After the announcement, the first step is typically to submit a plan to the EFSP National Board Program through an online portal, after which the funds are released. However, FEMA has not created an option for funding recipients to do so, and the steps to proceed have been unavailable all year.\n\nIn a letter dated September 16, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security wrote to Congress regarding EFSP: \u201cAs reviews are conducted, FEMA continues to process and release funding for grantees that meet all statutory and programmatic requirements to avoid disruption of vital services to eligible communities.\u201d However, Aloha United Way, like other EFSP funding recipients around the country, still does not have access to its funds and has not received any communication regarding any statutory or programmatic requirements from FEMA noting any noncompliance.\n\nWhile Aloha United Way administers EFSP funding for Hawai\u2018i, the organization distributes the funds to several key organizations that depend on this funding, including the Institute for Human Services, the Hawai\u2018i Foodbank, The Salvation Army and two federally qualified health centers \u2013 the Waim\u0101nalo and Wai\u2018anae Coast Comprehensive Health Centers. These organizations provide critical support for some of the most vulnerable in our communities.\n\nFor example, in FY 2023 the Hawai\u2018i Foodbank provided 150,000 meals on O\u2018ahu and Kaua\u2018i Islands with EFSP funds. Without access to FY 2024 EFSP funds all year, it was unable to serve as many meals in 2025. As yet another example, local service providers like the East and West Hawai\u2018i Domestic Abuse Shelters now have less capacity to provide meals and support to survivors escaping violence. Aloha United Way reports that food assistance is now the number one reason Hawai\u2018i residents call their 211 Statewide Helpline, surpassing housing assistance for the first time in many years. This truly underscores the need for food assistance, including through EFSP funding, in our communities.\n\nAdditionally, the Government Accountability Office found that FEMA violated the Impoundment Control Act by failing to award appropriated FY 2025 funds to the EFSP National Board Program in a timely manner (see 1). This has resulted in real harm as delays in both FY 2024 and FY 2025 EFSP funding are now having tangible and harmful effects on communities in Hawai\u2018i and across the country.\n\nTVTP Funding. The State of Hawai\u2018i Office of Homeland Security was awarded $803,330 in FY 2024 TVTP funding to support the nation\u2019s first-ever targeted violence prevention implementation plan (see 2). The plan is an effort to preemptively address mass shootings and other violent acts by ensuring the state has the resources needed to handle unexpected incidents.3 The VTP funding is intended to support payroll costs for two positions, as well as a framework for extending targeted violence prevention best practices, training and resources to the Territory of Guam.\n\nDespite the award to a project that directly implements the statutory intent of the TVTP Program \u2013 preventing targeted violence and terrorism \u2013 the State of Hawai\u2018i\u2019s FY 2024 TVTP funding was unfortunately abruptly terminated in July 2025. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has claimed that this termination, along with nearly $18 million in funding for other awardees, was \u201cslashing waste\u201d from projects that do not \u201cprevent terrorism or targeted violence.\u201d4\n\nWe question DHS\u2019s reasoning for concluding that supporting the implementation of the nation\u2019s first-ever targeted violence prevention plan is not preventing targeted violence. We are also concerned to hear that a 2025 TVTP Notice of Funding Opportunity was not published in Grants.gov, only afforded a three-day turnaround and was only advertised to certain states.\n\nThis approach not only runs the risk of eroding trust in DHS\u2019s grantmaking process, but also jeopardizes the efforts to prevent targeted violence that DHS aims to prioritize.\n\nHSGP and EMPG. There is significant confusion around the FY 2025 periods of performance (POP) for HSGP components \u2013 State Homeland Security Program and Urban Area Security Initiative \u2013 and EMPG. Typically, both grant programs carry three-year POPs to afford emergency managers and public safety partners adequate time to plan, coordinate with partners, procure resources and adapt to the highly dynamic nature of emergency management.\n\nHowever, when FEMA sent award notices in September 2025, it detailed just a one-year POP, which is highly unusual and operationally unrealistic given that emergency grant managers have historically planned for three-year POPs. In the case of the EMPG Program, both FY 2024 and FY 2025 funding are scheduled to end on the same day: September 20, 2026.\n\nThis is unfortunately nowhere near enough time for awardees like the Hawai\u2018i Emergency Management Agency to complete its proposed projects, some of which were planned to run through 2027.\n\nThis shortened period of performance puts an unexpected burden on any subrecipients, like the City and County of Honolulu\u2019s Department of Emergency Management. In its case, for the last several years $500,000 in EMPG funding has been used to directly fund relevant staff salaries.\n\nUnder the new timeline, these positions may no longer be financially sustainable, putting certain Hawai\u2018i residents at risk of losing their jobs and leaving communities across the state more vulnerable to emergencies due to reduced staffing and diminished capacity.\n\nFor HSGP, pending litigation may alter SHSP and UASI allocations, introducing further uncertainty for public safety agencies that depend on these funds to sustain intelligence and information sharing, violent crime reduction and counter\u2013transnational drug trafficking operations. Compounding the problem, many jurisdictions, including Hawai\u02bbi, cannot access previously awarded funds (FY2021\u2013FY2024) due to federal freezes and staffing issues at FEMA because of the government shutdown.\n\nTaken together, these examples suggest that FEMA\u2019s current grant-making operations are experiencing significant difficulties marked by challenges in timelines, communication and procedural consistency. These have unfortunately extended beyond routine administrative matters and are having concrete negative effects on our constituents, communities and local governing institutions.\n\nWith all of this in mind, we request that you respond to the following questions by December 31, 2025:\n\n1. Why did FY 2024 EFSP awardees not receive their funding in a timely manner?\n\n2. What steps are DHS and FEMA taking, in coordination with the EFSP National Board\n\nProgram, to ensure that FY 2024 EFSP awardees receive their funding expeditiously and\n\nthat the FY 2025 EFSP funding process experiences no further delays?\n\n3. Why did DHS and FEMA terminate the State of Hawai\u2018i Office of Homeland Security\u2019s\n\nFY 2024 TVTP grant that supported the implementation of the nation\u2019s first targeted\n\nviolence prevention plan?\n\n4. How does DHS and FEMA plan to support targeted violence prevention in Hawai\u2018i and\n\nother localities across the country?\n\n5. Why did DHS, through FEMA, only allow a one-year POP for FY 2025 HSGP and EMPG awards?\n\n6. Given that the one-year POP decision for HSGP and EMPG may reduce the capacity of emergency managers nationwide and potentially heighten community vulnerability, how does DHS and FEMA plan to address these potential impacts?\n\nWe look forward to engaging constructively with DHS and FEMA to clarify these matters and implement the solutions needed to correct them, all toward our mutual goal of making Americans and their communities safer across the nation.\n\nWith aloha,\n\n1 Government Accountability Office. \u201cDepartment of Homeland Security \u2013 Application of the Impoundment Control\n\nAct to Federal Emergency Management Agency Fiscal Year 2025 Federal Assistance Appropriations,\u201d September\n\n15, 2025,https://www.gao.gov/assets/890/881507.pdf.\n\n2 Department of Homeland Security. \u201cFiscal Year 2024 Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grantee\n\nAbstracts,\u201d last updated December 12, 2024, https://www.dhs.gov/fiscal-year-2024-targeted-violence-and-terrorism-prevention-grantee-abstracts\n\n3 Department of Homeland Security. \u201cState of Hawai\u2018i Office of Homeland Security Publishes a New Targeted\n\nViolence Prevention Plan,\u201d April 10, 2024, https://www.dhs.gov/archive/news/2024/04/10/state-hawaii-office-homeland-security-new-targted-violence-prevention-plan\n\n4 Department of Homeland Security. \u201cDHS Axes Wasteful, Misdirected Grants, Saves Taxpayers $18.5M,\u201d July 17,\n\n2025, https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/07/17/dhs-axes-wasteful-misdirected-grants-saves-taxpayers-185m.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4780", "Case Joins Bipartisan Group Of 35 House Members Proposing Solution To Affordable Care Act Crisis", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=2", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (D-HI-01) today joined 34 House colleagues led by Congressman Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05) and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) in the release of their Commonground 2025: A Bipartisan Health Care Framework to address the impending expiration of critical premium tax credits for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace enrollees.\n\n\u201cMillions of Americans are facing a crippling increase in their healthcare costs because of Congress\u2019s inability to extend these often literally lifesaving ACA provisions,\u201d said Case during a news conference today at the U.S. Capitol with his colleagues.\n\nTheir Bipartisan Health Care Framework would prevent impending drastic increases in premiums in 2026 for the more than 24 million Americans who get their health insurance through the ACA marketplaces including nearly 25,000 Hawai\u2018i residents. In most cases, the ACA is the only health insurance option available to participants, so the practical effect of its expiration would be not only dramatic premium increases but millions without health insurance.\n\n\u201cThe expiration of these credits at year-end would represent an utter failure of a divided Congress to deliver solutions on the real issues facing Americans,\u201d said Case. \u201cOur plan calls for a two-year extension of expiring health insurance premium savings for American families, including a year of the enhanced Premium Tax Credits, with targeted modifications.\u201d\n\nSince the passage of the enhanced premium tax credits, enrollment in ACA plans has increased from 11 million to more than 24 million people. If these enhanced premium tax credits are not extended by December 31, 2025, enrollees could see their premiums jump more than double on average, with some individuals seeing even greater increases.\n\nTo address the looming crisis, Case and his bipartisan group have worked behind-the-scenes over the last several months, including throughout the government shutdown which resulted in large part from the failure to address this central issue, to develop a solution they could all support and which would actually be able to pass Congress and be signed into law.\n\nCase continued: \u201cOur bipartisan plan offers a practical, common sense, mainstream solution, and many of its elements enjoy strong bipartisan support. As our plan lays out a two-year process, it also gives Congress the time to develop and legislate the deeper reforms necessary to improve a health care system which is simply too unavailable and unaffordable for too many Americans.\u201d\n\nThe current premium tax credit provisions of the ACA expire on December 31st of this year. Congress must pass either a straight extension, or an extension with modifications as the group has proposed, or some other solution, by then, or the large premium increases if not loss of insurance altogether will hit many if not most ACA participants in 2026.\n\nAttachments\n\n\u00b7 The proposal and the letter to House and Senate leadership explaining it is available here.\n\n\u00b7 A video of Case\u2019s remarks on the framework is available here.\n\n\u00b7 Pictures of Case at today\u2019s news conference are also attached.\n\nThe group\u2019s common news release is here:\n\nRELEASE: Bipartisan Group of 35 House Members Announce New Health Care Framework \u201cCommonGround 2025\u201d\n\nAddressing Skyrocketing Health Insurance Premiums for American Families\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, December 4, 2025, a bipartisan group of 35 total House Members, co-led by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Jen Kiggans (VA-2), announced a new health care framework, CommonGround 2025. The bipartisan framework includes a two-year extension of health insurance premium savings for American families, including a year of the enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs), with targeted modifications, to be voted on by December 18, 2025, in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.\n\nThe Members backing the framework have also co-signed a letter urging House and Senate leadership to meet with them to discuss the framework and a constructive pathway forward in both chambers.\n\nThe framework and letter, co-led by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Jen Kiggans (VA-2), are also co-signed by Reps. Adam Gray (CA-13), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-6), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Maria Salazar (FL-27), Darren Soto (FL-9), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Jim Costa (CA-21), Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-2), Josh Riley (NY-19), Tom Kean (NJ-7), Susie Lee (NV-3), Jeff Hurd (CO-3), Jared Golden (ME-2), David Valadao (CA-22), Chris Pappas (NH-1), Ryan MacKenzie (PA-7), Ed Case (HI-1), Carlos Gimenez (FL-28), Maggie Goodlander (NH-2), Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Robert Bresnahan (PA-8), Greg Landsman (OH-1), Don Bacon (NE-2), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Kevin Kiley (CA-3), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Nick LaLota (NY-1), Don Davis (NC-1), Scott Peters (CA-50), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3), Hillary Scholten (MI-3), and Tom Suozzi (NY-3).\n\nFind the CommonGround 2025 framework here and below. Find the letter to House and Senate leadership here.\n\nTop-line Summary.\n\nTwo-year extension of health insurance premium savings for American families \u2014 including a year of the enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs), with targeted modifications, to be voted on by December 18, 2025, in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.\n\nYear One: An extension of the ePTCs, with targeted modifications.\n\n\u00b7 Extension of the ePTCs for enrollees earning less than 600% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and a phase out of the ePTCs for enrollees earning between 600% FPL and 1000% FPL.\n\n\u00b7 New guardrails to prevent \u201cghost beneficiaries\u201d and crack down on fraud, including:\n\no Implementing the Insurance Fraud Accountability Act to crack down on civil & criminal penalties for fraudulent agents / brokers;\n\nCodifying part of CMS\u2019s marketplace integrity rule to remove bad actors from ACA marketplaces;\n\nDirecting ACA marketplaces to regularly confirm enrollee eligibility with the Death Master File; and,\n\nRequiring marketplaces to better notify recipients of the amount of PTCs they are receiving from the federal government.\n\n\u00b7 Extension of open enrollment until March 19, 2026, and requiring HHS to notify qualified individuals of the extension of open enrollment.\n\n\u00b7 PBM reform (provisions included in the bipartisan Continuing Resolution from December 2024 and featured in the PBM Reform Act and Bipartisan Health Care Act) which:\n\no Bans \u201cspread pricing\u201d in Medicaid.\n\nReforms Medicare Part D by delinking PBM compensation from the cost of medications.\n\nPromotes transparency for both employers and patients in their prescription drug plans.\n\nYear Two: Continued health insurance premium savings, including more significant reforms, agreed upon and voted on in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives by July 1, 2026.\n\nReforms for consideration:\n\nOption for consideration: Medicare physician fee schedule (from December 2024 CR).\n\nBoosts the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.\n\nOption for consideration: Hospital billing transparency.\n\nRequires hospitals to disclose prices, including negotiated rates and cash prices.\n\nOption for consideration: Give Kids A Chance Act (from December 2024 CR).\n\nAccelerates pediatric cancer treatments and expands access to life-saving therapies for children battling rare diseases.\n\nOption for consideration: Elimination of zero-dollar premiums with minimum monthly payments, but with need-based hardship support for those who cannot afford this payment.\n\nOption for consideration: HSA Accounts (Sen. Cassidy proposal).\n\nShifts funding that would have paid for the ePTCs to HSA accounts.\n\nPotential Pay-fors.\n\nAnti-Fraud provisions of IFAA, HOPE Act: not yet scored, but substantial.\n\nPBM reforms: as delineated in the December 2024 CR.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-reintroduces-bill-to-provide-fair-snap-ebt-benefits-for-hawaiis-rural-households", "Rep. Tokuda Reintroduces Bill to Provide Fair SNAP EBT Benefits for Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s Rural Households", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) reintroduced a bill that would adjust inequities in how federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) EBT is calculated for Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s urban and rural areas.\n\nThe Feeding Rural Families Act would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct separate Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) calculations for urban and rural areas of Hawai\u02bbi when determining SNAP maximum monthly benefit allotments. Although federal law provides for higher benefit levels in Hawai\u02bbi, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and in urban and rural parts of Alaska, Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s current adjustments rely only on Honolulu-area food prices.\n\n\u201cIt is unreasonable and inaccurate to penalize Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s neighbor island communities with a broken formula that values convenience over reality. Using a one-size fits-all calculation with no regard for the geography and food scarcity that exists throughout our island state makes absolutely no sense to our families already struggling with sky-high grocery prices,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cThe Feeding Rural Families Act ensures that SNAP benefits reflect the true cost of living in remote communities, strengthening the purchasing power of our families and helping them put food on the table.\u201d\n\nRep. Ed Case (HI-01) is cosponsoring the bill.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-tokuda-moore-bacon-introduce-bill-requiring-24-hour-notice-of-alleged-abuse-in-military-child-care-programs", "Reps. Tokuda, Moore, Bacon Introduce Bill Requiring 24-Hour Notice of Alleged Abuse in Military Child Care Programs", "2025-11-26", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Blake Moore (R-UT-01), and Don Bacon (R-NE-02) introduced legislation requiring military child and youth programs to notify parents or guardians within 24 hours after learning of alleged or suspected abuse or neglect involving their children that occurred at a military child development center or similar program.\n\nThe Military Child and Youth Program Abuse and Neglect Notification Act would codify a Department of Defense (DOD) policy that was established after it became known that the Department had no requirement to notify parents in such cases.\n\nThis legislation also goes beyond current policy by requiring the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, as well as members of Congress who represent the district where the alleged abuse or neglect occurred, be notified within 72 hours.\n\n\u201cParents who entrust their keiki to a military child care center deserve one guarantee: if something happens, they will be told quickly, clearly, and without exception. No family should ever be kept in the dark when it comes to their child\u2019s health, safety, and well-being,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cAs the mother of two boys, we must demand nothing less for our military families, and as a member of the House Armed Services Committee, we must ensure effective Congressional oversight and accountability across the military child care system, because no federal agency should be allowed to hide the truth.\u201d\n\n\"As the congressional representative of Hill Air Force Base and father to four boys, it is an honor to serve our military community and their families. I\u2019m proud to co-lead legislation that would require the DOD to immediately brief parents over suspected abuse or neglect of minors at DOD childcare facilities and create additional congressional oversight mechanisms. We must do all we can to ensure safe and healthy environments for all children, including those under the DOD\u2019s care,\u201d said Rep. Moore.\n\nLanguage in the Military Child and Youth Program Abuse and Neglect Notification Act is also included in the House-passed Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, demonstrating strong bipartisan support for transparency and protection of military families.\n\n\u201cNo parent should ever be kept in the dark when it comes to the safety of their child. I\u2019m glad to co-lead the Military Child and Youth Program Abuse and Neglect Notification Act with Rep. Tokuda, which requires programs to notify parents within 24 hours of any suspected abuse or neglect, no exceptions. Our bipartisan bill also requires notifying the Armed Services committees and the Members of Congress for the installation where the incident happened within 72 hours to provide real oversight and ensure these failures are never repeated,\u201d said Rep. Bacon.\n\nThis legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), Robert J. Wittman (R-VA-01), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10),Wesley Bell (D-MO-01), Derek Schmidt (R-KS-02), Ed Case (D-HI-01), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-00), Jennifer A. Kiggans (R-VA-02), Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-IN-07), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX-29), and Donald Davis (D-NC-01).\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-introduces-bill-to-repeal-tariffs-on-indo-pacific-allies-including-japan-south-korea-taiwan-and-the-philippines", "Rep. Tokuda Introduces Bill to Repeal Tariffs on Indo-Pacific Allies Including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan & the Philippines", "2025-11-24", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) introduced a bill that would eliminate President Trump\u2019s \u201cemergency\u201d tariffs on Indo-Pacific allies, reaffirming our nation\u2019s commitment to our key economic partners.\n\nThe Chinese Communist Party continues to escalate its aggressive and coercive behavior against our Indo-Pacific partners by developing military bases on artificial islands in the South China Sea, embargoing imports from Pacific countries, and provoking tensions along the border with India, just to name a few examples.\n\nThe Indo-Pacific Partner and Ally Tariff Repeal Act would reaffirm and strengthen our nation\u2019s alliances by removing unnecessary and counterproductive tariffs on 40 countries, including Japan and South Korea (15 percent), the Philippines (19 percent), and Taiwan (20 percent).\n\n\u201cAt a time when our Indo-Pacific partners face growing intimidation and coercion from the Chinese Communist Party, the United States cannot afford to send mixed signals. Slapping our closest partners with tariffs while they face down growing Chinese aggression is backwards, counterproductive, and dangerous, and hurts American businesses and consumers,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda, member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. \u201cIntroducing the Indo-Pacific Partner and Ally Tariff Repeal Act reaffirms our support for their security and our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. We must stand with our allies, not against them.\u201d\n\nCosponsors of the bill are Reps. Dina Titus (NV-01), Daniel S. Goldman (NY-10), Jim Costa (CA-21), Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN-07), Ted Lieu (CA-36), and Ed Case (HI-01).\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-leads-bipartisan-bill-to-secure-more-funding-for-native-hawaiian-arts-and-culture", "Rep. Tokuda Leads Bipartisan Bill to Secure More Funding for Native Hawaiian Arts & Culture", "2025-11-21", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to clear longstanding administrative hurdles that have limited Native Hawaiian\u2013serving arts and cultural organizations\u2019 access to federal grant opportunities.\n\nThe Native Arts and Culture Promotion Act streamlines the grant application process for Native Hawaiian-serving organizations by eliminating outdated signatory requirements that currently delay or block applications. Additionally, the bill would remove offensive and unnecessarily restrictive statutory language that limits program accessibility for Alaska Native applicants.\n\n\u201cThis bill is about ensuring that Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native artists, cultural practitioners, and organizations can access the resources they have always been promised by Congress. By breaking down outdated barriers, we are strengthening the ability of our communities to preserve, teach, and share their arts and cultural traditions on their own terms,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cInvesting in Native arts and culture isn\u2019t just about honoring the past\u2014it\u2019s about safeguarding the knowledge, creativity, and identity that will carry our Indigenous communities forward for generations.\u201d\n\n\u201cThroughout my prior service on the House Natural Resources Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs, and as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have worked to expand and fund programs that promote, sustain and honor the culture and art of our nation\u2019s indigenous peoples,\u201d said Rep. Ed Case (HI-01), cosponsor of the bill. \u201cI\u2019m happy to once again join Rep. Tokuda in this initiative to expand our Native Hawaiian Culture and Arts Development Grant Program so that Hawaii\u2019s indigenous peoples can continue to perpetuate traditional knowledge, strengthen their spiritual connection to the land and ancestors and reaffirm their cultural identity and resilience in the modern world.\u201d\n\nEstablished in 1994, the Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development Program provides grants through the National Park Service to support the preservation, study, and instruction of both traditional and contemporary Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian arts and culture. The program also promotes the long-term sustainability of these cultural practices by supporting educational centers, academic programs, and community-based initiatives that cultivate skills, knowledge, and artistic expression for future generations.\n\n\u201cAllowing the National Park Service to award more grants to a greater variety of Native Hawaiian organizations provides a more easily accessible and streamlined process for Native Hawaiian organizations who are often understaffed and under-resourced to readily submit proposals for their unique initiatives which perpetuate the storytelling and expression of Native Hawaiian arts and cultural practices,\u201d said Janet Bullard, Acting Director of Government Relations for Bishop Museum.\n\nIn addition to Rep. Case, Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK-At Large) is a cosponsor of the bill.\n\nThe full text of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/tokuda-harshbarger-lead-bipartisan-coalition-in-marking-national-rural-health-day-call-for-transformational-action", "Tokuda, Harshbarger Lead Bipartisan Coalition in Marking National Rural Health Day, Call for Transformational Action", "2025-11-20", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 This week, Representatives Jill Tokuda (HI-02) and Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), co-chairs of the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, led Members of Congress in celebrating National Rural Health Day and highlighting the urgent need for bipartisan efforts to expand access, improve services, and strengthen rural healthcare systems.\n\n\u201cNational Rural Health Day is a chance to honor the communities that keep this country moving: the farmers, teachers, k\u016bpuna, health workers, first responders, small business owners, and families who fuel our local economies and preserve our way of life. It\u2019s also a moment for Congress to recognize that rural communities face challenges that are different not because they are less\u2014but because they are too often asked to survive systems that were not built for them.\n\nRural America needs a chance to be known as more than just resilient\u2014it deserves a chance to thrive,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda.\n\nReps. Tokuda and Harshbarger convened a Special Order Hour on the House Floor with Caucus members to illustrate the critical challenges confronting rural healthcare and promote legislative solutions that improve telehealth and behavioral health access, strengthen EMS capacity, and support the rural workforce pipeline. The Members\u2019 remarks can be viewed here.\n\nThe Co-Chairs also convened a roundtable discussion focused on Medicare site neutral payment reforms and the potential impact on rural hospitals and clinics, provider stability, and patient access. Photos from the convening can be viewed here.\n\nCapping off the week, Tokuda and Harshbarger introduced H.Res. 891, a resolution recognizing Thursday, November 20, 2025, as \u201cNational Rural Health Day\u201d and expressing the House\u2019s commitment to advancing policies to improve health care accessibility and affordability in rural areas. The resolution text and list of cosponsors can be found online here.\n\nRep. Tokuda\u2019s call for action during \u201cNational Rural Health Month\u201d follows months of on-the-ground visits across Moloka\u02bbi, Maui, Hawai\u02bbi Island, and Kaua\u02bbi, where she visited hospitals, community health centers, independent physicians and specialists, and medical residents and faculty to hear directly from those delivering care in Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s most rural and remote communities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/administration-removes-coffee-tariffs-following-bipartisan-effort-led-by-reps-tokuda-timmons", "Administration Removes Coffee Tariffs Following Bipartisan Effort Led by Reps. Tokuda, Timmons", "2025-11-14", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and William Timmons (R-SC-04), co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Coffee Caucus, released the following joint statement after the Trump Administration announced most coffee products would be removed from the list of items subject to reciprocal tariffs:\n\n\u201cWhen we led a bipartisan letter earlier this year urging the Trump Administration to remove coffee from tariffs, we did so to protect American jobs and secure a stable supply chain for the U.S. economy. The Administration's decision reflects what is possible when members of both parties work together with industry and local communities to advocate for a commonsense solution. The Congressional Coffee Caucus will continue working across the aisle and with the Administration to strengthen our nation's competitiveness, support our businesses, and ensure that our nation's trade policies serve hardworking American people.\u201d\n\nA copy of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokudas-statement-on-house-vote-to-reopen-government", "Rep. Tokuda\u2019s Statement on House Vote to Reopen Government", "2025-11-12", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) released the following statement after voting against the Republican funding bill that failed to include affordable health care for Americans:\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s vote to end the shutdown is NOT a victory. It may reopen government, but it shuts the door on affordable health care for millions. This bill does nothing to help parents take their keiki to the doctor, seniors afford their medications, or small business owners cover their workers. It does nothing for families struggling to put food on the table or keep a roof over their heads. Instead, it keeps the status quo\u2014a status quo that is failing everyday Americans crushed by the rising costs of groceries, gas, rent, and childcare. Over the past 43 days, I\u2019ve seen the pain and frustration firsthand at food distributions, airports, and medical facilities across our islands. That's why I voted 'no.' We can't just do nothing to fix the affordability crisis families are living through, and I will continue to fight to make everything from food to healthcare accessible for the people of Hawai\u02bbi.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-tokuda-titus-mcgovern-lead-letter-urging-president-trump-to-reverse-course-on-nuclear-testing", "Reps. Tokuda, Titus, McGovern Lead Letter Urging President Trump to Reverse Course on Nuclear Testing", "2025-11-05", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Dina Titus (NV-01), and Jim McGovern (MA-02) led 24 of their House colleagues in a letter to President Trump, expressing opposition to the administration\u2019s reported plans to resume testing of nuclear weapons for the first time since 1992.\n\n\u201cWe are alarmed and deeply concerned by your announcement that you have instructed the Department of Defense to resume testing of nuclear weapons,\u201d the representatives wrote in the letter. \u201cThe United States is a signatory to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and has not tested a nuclear weapon since 1992. While the treaty is not yet in effect, it fostered a new norm, and except for North Korea, no nation has conducted a nuclear test in the 21st Century. Resuming nuclear testing would be a reckless action that would open a Pandora\u2019s box that could lead to dire consequences.\u201d\n\nThe Members contend that the United States can maintain a safe and reliable nuclear stockpile without live testing, arguing that renewed testing would jeopardize both U.S. security and international stability by encouraging other nations to resume their own nuclear programs.\n\n\u201cRestarting nuclear tests would not only betray the memory of those who suffered from past detonations, it would betray our shared responsibility to build a safer world for future generations. Entire communities still live with the physical and generational scars of nuclear testing. We owe it to them, and to the world, to break that cycle of destruction once and for all,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cThis administration\u2019s reckless, even maniacal disregard for global safety absolutely spits in the face of our duty as Americans to lead with courage and conviction toward peace. I urge the President and his administration to reverse course immediately and honor our responsibility of ensuring nuclear weapons are not part of our future\u2014because it only takes one bomb to eliminate mankind as we know it.\u201d\n\n\u201cDonald Trump has put his own ego and authoritarian ambitions before the health and safety of Nevadans. His announcement to resume nuclear testing in the United States not only goes against the arms control and nonproliferation treaties the U.S. has spearheaded since the end of the Cold War, it also puts Nevada and all those downwind back in the crosshairs of toxic radiation and environmental destruction,\u201d said Rep. Titus. \u201cRussia, China, and North Korea should not be the yardstick by which we measure ourselves. With less than 100 days until the only arms control agreement between the U.S. and Russia expires, now should be the time to step away from the brink and negotiate further agreements, not create mushroom clouds in the Nevada desert.\u201d\n\n\u201cResuming nuclear testing is not only unnecessary, but also a stupid and destabilizing waste of money,\u201d said Rep. McGovern. \u201cWe\u2019ve already spent billions ensuring the current warheads are safe without testing. Instead of creating new tensions, our leaders should preserve the testing moratorium and focus on preventing a new nuclear arms race by pushing for a world free from nuclear weapons.\u201d\n\nReps. Tokuda, Titus, and McGovern were joined by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Troy Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Danny Davis (IL-07), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), John Garamendi (CA-08), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Mike Levin (CA-49), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Eleanor Norton (DC), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Eugene Vindman (VA-07).\n\nA copy of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4768", "Long-Time Hawaii Federal, State and Non-Profit Executive Joins Case As Deputy Chief of Staff and Hawaii District Director", "2025-10-31", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=3", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) has appointed longtime Hawai\u2018i federal, state and non-profit executive Kekoa Kaluhiwa as his Deputy Chief of Staff and Hawai\u2018i District Director working out of Case\u2019s Honolulu district office.\n\n\u201cIn his twenty years of service across our federal, state and non-profit sectors and more, Kekoa has excelled at policy advocacy, community engagement and government relations,\u201d said Case. \u201cHe is especially skilled at moving easily among diverse communities, leading teams, building partnerships, and navigating complex cultural, political and environmental issues.\u201d\n\n\u201cEspecially important are his over ten years of Congressional experience with United States Senator Daniel Akaka. Representing Hawai\u2018i in Congress requires knowing and working smoothly and interchangeably in two very different worlds, and Kekoa especially brings this ability to my Congressional work.\u201d\n\nKaluhiwa joins Case from eight years with Kamehameha Schools, most recently as Director of \u02bb\u0100ina Stakeholder Engagement, responsible for advancing the institution\u2019s relationships with the community, government, and business sectors. He also directed Kamehameha\u2019s statewide land operations.\n\nKaluhiwa earlier served as First Deputy Director for the Hawai\u2018i State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DNLR) during the tenure of Case\u2019s sister, Suzanne Case, as Director. His responsibilities included assisting in management of DLNR\u2019s ten divisions, 900 employees and 1.2 million acres of public trust resources.\n\nKaluhiwa is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools-Kap\u0101lama and the University of Washington (B.A., Political Science). He also earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Hawai\u2018i-M\u0101noa.\n\nKaluhiwa succeeds Jacqueline (Jackie) Conant, who retired after twenty-five years of federal service. Conant worked for Case the entirety of his service in Congress, from 2002 to 2007 and from 2019 to her retirement. She began in Congress with U.S. Representative Patsy Mink and also served with then-U.S. Representative Mazie Hirono.\n\n\u201cJackie exemplified the work of Congressional staff everywhere; they contribute immeasurably without widespread recognition to the critical work of Members of Congress on forging national policy, assisting our states and helping our constituents,\u201d said Case. \u201cJackie also exemplified the unique role of a District Director to keep the critical district office functioning smoothly and to provide the face and voice of the office during the majority of the year when we are not home. While I miss her, I\u2019m happy for her next chapters, and know that Kekoa will provide the same level of service to my office and our community with his own twist.\u201d\n\nTim Nelson continues as Case\u2019s Chief of Staff, based in Case\u2019s Capitol Hill office. Like Conant, Nelson has served with Case throughout the entirety of Case\u2019s service in Congress, including as Chief of Staff since 2019. Nelson has a particular expertise in defense, especially Hawai\u2018i and the Indo-Pacific, and in addition to managing Case\u2019s overall office assists him in his responsibilities as a member of the House Appropriations Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Defense with oversight and funding jurisdiction over our defense and intelligence budgets.\n\nAttachment: Picture of Kekoa Kaluhiwa\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-meets-with-air-traffic-controllers-across-hawaii-amid-shutdown-strain", "Rep. Tokuda Meets with Air Traffic Controllers Across Hawai\u02bbi Amid Shutdown Strain", "2025-10-28", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Hawai\u02bbi - Today, air traffic controllers nationwide are missing their first full paychecks due to the Republican shutdown, which entered its fifth week. As a show of support and gratitude, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda met with numerous air traffic controllers on O\u02bbahu, Maui, and Hawai\u02bbi Island over the past two weeks and discussed the ongoing shutdown\u2019s impacts on aviation safety and the livelihoods of federal workers.\n\nNationwide, the workforce includes 10,800 controllers and 3,300 trainees, yet there remains a shortage of 3,800 positions. In addition to understaffing, controllers report burnout from grueling 10-hour shifts, mandatory overtime to keep up with day-to-day operations, and mounting anxiety as Hawai\u02bbi approaches the busy holiday travel season.\n\nRep. Tokuda thanked controllers for continuing to keep Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s skies safe despite working without pay and emphasized how essential they are to Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s medical transport system, economy, and inter-island connectivity. Controllers continue to uphold the highest safety standards even as preventive maintenance stalls, engineers remain furloughed, and staffing needs grow.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s important that we recognize the service and sacrifice of our air traffic controllers, and all our dedicated federal workers, not just during a shutdown, but every day,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cThese men and women are the reason families reach their destinations safely, the reason medical transports land on time, the reason our islands stay connected to one another and the world. They continue to show up, even without pay, out of love for their work and care for Hawai\u02bbi. I have nothing but the deepest mahalo for their professionalism and sacrifice, and I stand ready to work around the clock, with anyone negotiating in good faith, to reopen the government and give these workers the pay and stability they deserve.\u201d\n\nPhotos available from O\u02bbahu, Maui, and Hawai\u02bbi Island visits.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-releases-statement-on-passing-of-maui-county-councilmember-tasha-kama", "Rep. Tokuda Releases Statement on Passing of Maui County Councilmember Tasha Kama", "2025-10-27", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Honolulu, HI \u2014 U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) released the following statement on the passing of Maui County Councilmember Tasha Kama:\n\n\"I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear about the passing of Maui County Councilmember Tasha Kama, a dedicated public servant who gave her heart and soul to the County of Maui. She was a warm hand and mother to all, holding us together during good and bad times. Even in the most challenging moments, she brought people together with calmness, integrity, and a genuine respect for everyone's differences, while remaining committed to finding solutions that worked. Sending my heartfelt condolences and prayers to the Kama \u02bbohana, friends, and all those who were fortunate enough to work alongside such an inspiring and passionate leader -- she will truly be missed.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-joins-house-democrats-urging-usda-to-protect-snap-during-republican-shutdown", "Rep. Tokuda Joins House Democrats Urging USDA to Protect SNAP During Republican Shutdown", "2025-10-25", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) joined 214 House Democrats in calling on U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to use all available authorities, including the $5 billion SNAP contingency fund, to ensure food assistance continues for millions of Americans during the ongoing Republican shutdown.\n\nThe letter from House Democrats demands that USDA act immediately to provide November SNAP benefits using the contingency reserve fund Congress specifically established for this purpose. Without urgent action, 42 million Americans, including keiki, k\u016bpuna, and veterans, could see their food assistance cut off in November.\n\n\u201cThousands of Hawai\u02bbi households will soon face an impossible question \u2014 how to put food on the table with no certainty that their federal SNAP benefits will come through next month. SNAP contingency funds exist for emergencies like this, yet 42 million Americans, from keiki to k\u016bpuna, risk going hungry. That is unconscionable,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cUSDA already confirmed SNAP has multi-year contingency funds to keep operating through a shutdown. Now the Trump administration claims their hands are tied, and that guidance has vanished. As this Republican shutdown approaches its second month, the administration has a choice: either continue to use food as a political weapon or use the legal authority given to them by Congress to stop this crisis and keep families fed. I urge Secretary Rollins and the administration to do the right thing and fulfill their responsibility to the American people.\u201d\n\nThe letter is linked here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokudas-statement-on-federal-government-shutdown", "Rep. Tokuda\u2019s Statement on Federal Government Shutdown", "2025-10-01", "2025", "2025-10", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) released the following statement after Republicans, who control the White House and Congress, refused to work with Democrats to keep the federal government open.\n\n\u201cToday, hardworking people across the nation are facing the damaging effects of Republican-led chaos and dysfunction. While House Democrats have worked nonstop to prevent a government shutdown, Republicans have chosen political games over responsible governance, refusing even to show up for work this week. As a result, federal workers will lose their pay, healthcare services will be disrupted, and families will suffer delays in basic services.\n\nThe immediate reality is that something must be done to address rising healthcare costs and Trump\u2019s unchecked influence over federal spending, both of which continue to destabilize the lives and livelihoods of Hawaii residents. That\u2019s why Democrats will keep fighting to bring Republicans back to the negotiating table to lower costs for working-class Americans and protect the most vulnerable in our communities. As the shutdown continues, my office will remain fully operational as I believe my constituents deserve answers and support, especially now. In the meantime, I remain focused on reopening government as soon as possible and getting back to delivering for the people of Hawaii.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:32:54Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-leads-hawaii-congressional-delegation-in-posthumous-promotions-of-seven-nisei-wwii-soldiers", "Rep. Tokuda Leads Hawai\u02bbi Congressional Delegation in Posthumous Promotions of Seven Nisei WWII Soldiers", "2025-09-25", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=2&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 The Secretary of the Army posthumously promoted seven second-generation Territory of Hawai\u02bbi Japanese Americans, aka Nisei soldiers, and former University of Hawai\u02bbi Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets to the rank of second lieutenant. The promotions follow a June 26, 2024, request from the Hawai\u02bbi Congressional Delegation urging then-Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth to review the military records of the seven cadets and consider their eligibility for posthumous officer commissions.\n\nThe seven servicemembers served in University of Hawai\u02bbi's Army ROTC program, which was suspended during World War II. Shortly after signing up with the Hawaii Territorial Guard, all Nisei were expelled under policies related to Executive Order 9066 and widespread anti-Japanese American discrimination. After being removed, the seven servicemembers volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army as enlisted soldiers in the 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team. All seven were killed in combat in Europe in 1944.\n\n\u201cThese young men wanted to serve as leaders in the U.S. Army. They trained for it, they earned it, and they were denied that chance because of wartime prejudice. But they still put on the uniform and gave their lives in defense of our country. Today, we finally recognize them as the officers they were meant to be,\u201d said U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02). \u201cThis is about acknowledging the history of our Nisei veterans and honoring their sacrifice the way it should have been honored 80 years ago. I\u2019m grateful to the University of Hawai\u02bbi ROTC program, the Army, and the many who supported this long-overdue recognition.\u201d\n\nThe former cadets are:\n\nSSG Grover Nagaji (1920 \u2013 1944, Born in Honolulu)\n\nSGT Howard Urabe (1923 \u2013 1944, Born in Kapaa)\n\nSGT Robert Murata (1922 \u2013 1944, Born in Honolulu)\n\nSGT Jenhatsu Chinen (1922 \u2013 1944, Born in Wahiawa)\n\nSGT Daniel Betsui (1922 \u2013 1944, Born in Hanapepe)\n\nPFC Hiroichi Tomita (1923 \u2013 1944, Born in Wailuku)\n\nPVT Akio Nishikawa (1922 \u2013 1944, Born in Paia)\n\nThe University of Hawai\u02bbi awarded all seven men posthumous bachelor\u2019s degrees in 2012. They were not commissioned as officers at the time of their deaths due to their earlier expulsion from the ROTC program. The Army\u2019s decision to grant these promotions was based on documentation and research provided by the University of Hawai\u02bbi Army ROTC program and the review process requested by the Hawai\u2019i Congressional Delegation. The request was supported by the University of Hawai\u02bbi Army ROTC program, current cadets and alumni, the U.S. Army Pacific, and the Governor of Hawai\u02bbi.\n\n\u201cThe promotion of these seven former UH Army ROTC cadets is a meaningful, long-overdue step to recognize these brave men who served our country and fought alongside their fellow Americans on the battlefield in WWII,\u201d said U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI). \u201cEven in the face of the prejudice that followed Executive Order 9066\u2014which included being expelled from the UH ROTC program\u2014these men volunteered to serve with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the most decorated unit in U.S. military history. It has been 80 years since these brave, dedicated servicemembers were killed in action while protecting our country, and I am proud to work on righting this historic injustice and correcting their ranks to honor their sacrifice.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese seven sons of Hawai\u2018i were just barely out of their teens in our UH ROTC program when their commitment to serve their country loyally as United States Army officers was questioned by that country solely because of their race,\u201d said U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01). \u201cTheir perseverance in proving that loyalty as volunteer enlisted soldiers led to their ultimate sacrifice far from their home on the battlefields of Italy and France. The awarding of these gold bars three generations later means far more than final and just achievement of the rank of Second Lieutenant. It stands as still another in a long line of testaments to the commitment of Japanese Americans willing to fight and die to preserve and protect the values of democracy and freedom for a country that had not returned their loyalty.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad to see the Army is doing the right thing. These servicemembers made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and deserve every honor they\u2019ve rightfully earned,\u201d said U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI).\n\n\u201cIt is only right to honor these seven Americans who, through setback, strife, and sacrifice, continued to remain committed to the ideals and principles espoused in the Constitution of the United States. This is a testament to the strength and courage of them, and all Nisei, who fought and died for freedom on a global scale while in the midst of tenuous conditions for Americans of Japanese descent in the U.S. at the time,\u201d said Lieutenant Colonel Jerrod Melander, UH Professor of Military Science. \u201cThe UH Army ROTC Program continues to honor those former Cadets, Cadre, and Alumni who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this Country. This is one way to maintain the connection with our past and keep the Legacy alive. We shall never forget!\u201d\n\nPhotos and biographies for the seven cadets can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-votes-no-on-partisan-house-funding-bill", "Rep. Tokuda Votes No on Partisan House Funding Bill", "2025-09-19", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) released the following statement on the stopgap government spending bill, which passed the House by a vote of 217-212.\n\n\u201cSecurity funding for government officials is important. But so is protecting families from losing Medicaid, keeping rural hospitals from closing, and ensuring small business owners and their employees aren\u2019t crushed by health premiums that have more than doubled. This is about fighting for the healthcare our people deserve \u2014 and while Republicans have chosen to do nothing, Democrats are focused on saving lives.\n\nLet\u2019s be clear: this is not a clean funding bill. It may fund the government on paper, but without safeguards, there is no guarantee that money will actually reach the communities who need it. We\u2019ve seen the Trump administration weaponize funding before, even canceling funds Congress had already appropriated. Allowing that to happen again would be na\u00efve and irresponsible.\n\nRepublican leadership included funding in this bill to ensure the safety and security of Members of Congress, administration officials, the Supreme Court, and others, and I remain committed to working with Republicans on this important effort. However, protecting lawmakers cannot come at the expense of the health and well-being of our constituents.\n\nThe status quo is not working. Critical funding for health care, tax credits, and community programs should never be held hostage to partisan power plays, and working families should never be left behind while lawmakers secure their own protection. Our people deserve better, and that's why I voted no.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4738", "Case Opposes Commerce-Justice-Science Funding Measure That Slashes Support For Law Enforcement, Minority Businesses, Domestic Violence, Scientific Research And Development, Legal Aid And Other Core Programs", "2025-09-11", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=3", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted in Committee last night against the proposed $79 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.\n\nThis measure funds (or should fund) the U.S. Department of Commerce, including the International Trade Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology; the U.S. Department of Justice; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); the National Science Foundation (NSF) and more.\n\n\u201cAs with prior appropriations bills this year, there were several aspects of the bill that I requested and were included and that I otherwise supported,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cBut the sum total of the bill as proposed by my majority colleagues would reduce key support for state and local law enforcement when that support is key, reduce support for our minority-owned businesses which are the majority of businesses in Hawai\u02bbi, undercut gun and domestic violence prevention, cripple our world-leading scientific research and development, undermine legal assistance for those who cannot afford representation, and otherwise continue an overall effort to reduce if not eliminate the necessary role of federal funding of initiatives that matter to real people in their everyday lives.\u201d\n\nIn Committee, Case also secured a direction to the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to produce its agreements with other federal agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for use by those other agencies of BOP facilities such as the Federal Detention Center (FDC)-Honolulu. The amendment was prompted by BOP\u2019s refusal to provide to Case its agreement with ICE and details on ICE\u2019s use of FDC-Honolulu and other facilities for ICE detainee needs.\n\nCase remarked that a request by a Member of Congress for such information was a normal part of legislative, funding and oversight duties and any refusal to produce such information was not acceptable. His amendment was adopted, and his remarks in Committee (including support for funding of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), especially given Hawaii\u2019s recent tsunami and hurricane close calls) are here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7mFWp4FpWc\n\nThrough his assignment on the Committee, Case also secured the following five Member-designated Community Project Funding (CPF) projects that specifically focused on local needs in Hawai\u2018i:\n\n\u00b7 $1 million for the Hawai\u2018i Division of Aquatic Resources to survey and remove invasive coral spread at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.\n\n\u00b7 $1,031,000 for the University of Hawai\u2018i for its Fireshed Partnerships program, which would facilitate wildfire risk reduction.\n\n\u00b7 $1,031,000 for the Hawai\u2018i Division of Aquatic Resources to restore fishpond habitat and enhance water quality at Maunalua Fishpond.\n\n\u00b7 $1,031,000 for Hawai\u2018i Pacific University to develop its Aquaculture Program, improving the workforce pipeline and bolstering the aquaculture industry in Hawai\u02bbi.\n\n\u00b7 $1 million for the Honolulu Police Department to do acquire a new Emergency Mobile Command Vehicle to replace its current vehicle which is over 20 years old.\n\nThe House\u2019s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member and must be subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case\u2019s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/services/funding-disclosures.htm.\n\nProvisions with Case requested and which were provided in the measure include:\n\n\u00b7 $397 million for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne-JAG). Byrne-JAG is the leading federal source of criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions.\n\nThe funds can be used to support a range of program areas including law enforcement; prosecution and court; prevention and education; corrections and community corrections; drug treatment and enforcement; planning, evaluation and technology improvement; and crime victim and witness initiatives.\n\n\u00b7 $654 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The COPS program is designed to provide funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire and/or rehire additional career law enforcement officers to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.\n\n\u00b7 $52 million for grants to reduce the sexual assault kit backlog.\n\n\u00b7 $51 million for the Anti-Methamphetamine and Anti-Heroin Task Forces.\n\n\u00b7 $250 million for the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, which enhances the research competitiveness of Hawai\u2018i by strengthening STEM capacity and capability.\n\n\u00b7 $89 million for the Climate Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes program to support the maintenance and needed repairs at the Atmospheric Baseline Observatories, including the Mauna Loa Observatory where the famous Keeling Curve proving rapid climate change was developed.\n\n\u00b7 $84 million for STEM Engagement Programs at NASA. including Space Grant, to inspire young people to pursue future careers in science and engineering.\n\n\u00b7 $7.6 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop wildland-urban interface risk metrics to mitigate wildfire risk to communities.\n\n\u00b7 $33 million for the Coral Reef Conservation Program.\n\n\u00b7 $67 million for Sanctuaries and Marine Protected Areas, which supports Papah\u0101naumoku\u0101kea and our Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuaries.\n\n\u00b7 $68 million for Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles Protection, which safeguards our Hawaiian monk seals, dolphins, false killer whales and green sea turtles.\n\n\u00b7 $56 million for the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), which supports our Hawaii\u2019s Pacific Island (Pac) IOOS. PacIOOS provides easily accessible coastal and ocean observing and forecasting to increase ocean safety and protect public and environmental health.\n\n\u00b7 $33.3 million for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, which includes support for our He\u02bbeia fishpond.\n\n\u00b7 $80 million for the Sea Grant Program, which supports the Hawai\u02bbi Sea Grant Program at the University of Hawai\u02bbi that promotes healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies and environmental literacy and workforce development.\n\n\u00b7 $175 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program. This public-private partnership has centers in all 50 states, including Hawai\u02bbi, dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers.\n\n\u00b7 $4 million the Minority Business Development Agency specifically for Native American Business Development Program that awards grants to Tribes and American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian populations to address barriers to economic development, and another $5 million for grants to American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian entities qualified to provide business, financing and technical assistance.\n\n\u00b7 $3.5M for the Assistant Secretary of Travel and Tourism position, which Case worked to establish in the Visit America Act to drive a cohesive federal response to the challenges facing the industry.\n\n\u00b7 $20 million for the Climate Adaptation Partnership Program, which provides vital research that allows communities to prepare for and respond to long-term shifts in weather patterns, resource availability and coastal conditions.\n\nA summary of the bill is available here.\n\nThis is the last of twelve separate bills developed and approved by the Appropriations Committee that would fund the federal government at some $1.6 trillion for FY 2026 commencing October 1st of this year. The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4737", "Case Votes Against Initial House Version Of Annual Defense Measure That Fails To Exert Congressional Oversight Of Trump Administration Actions Undermining Our Nation's Military", "2025-09-10", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=3", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) tonight voted against the initial U.S. House $893 billion version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) despite adoption of five of his floor amendments and various other requests for Hawai\u2018i and the Indo-Pacific including $1.7 billion of military construction projects in Hawai\u2018i.\n\n\u201cOur National Defense Authorization Act is a critical annual measure that not only authorizes our defense spending for the year, supplementing my Appropriations Committee\u2019s parallel funding responsibilities, but also establishes defense policies including organization and administration of the Defense Department,\u201d said Case, who serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, responsible for funding all defense and intelligence community programs, and previously served on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. \u201cIt is a very serious vote and I have consistently voted for the final bipartisan versions of the NDAAs throughout my time in Congress.\n\n\u201cThis year is different, because the last eight months of the second Trump administration have been among the most disruptive if not destructive in our armed services\u2019 recent history,\u201d said Case. \u201cThe selfless, dedicated members of our military have been subjected to erratic leadership; leaks of highly sensitive military data; improper use of military personnel for domestic law enforcement; firings and marginalization of highly qualified and deeply dedicated men and women who have served our country with honor and distinction; personal loyalty purity tests; firing of the inspector general dedicated to combating waste, fraud, abuse and misconduct; servicemembers subjected and pulled into culture wars battles and witch hunts; politicization and obstruction of mission; demoralization; and more. All of this not only disrespects a committed, loyal, professional and apolitical military, but places our national security at risk.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s House version of the NDAA, complicated still further by divisive and irrelevant mandates, does nothing to fulfill Congress\u2019 responsibility to oversee and correct these serious risks and consequences. In the big picture, although there is much in this bill I fought successfully to include, I cannot sanction the continuation of this reckless path. I voted against the NDAA today because our national defense bills must provide for the common defense, I don\u2019t believe this version does so, and my vote is both a statement and a hope that with improvement I will be able to vote for the final version, as I have in past NDAAs.\u201d\n\nDespite these major overall concerns, Case highlighted various inclusions which he requested, such as $1.7 billion in Hawai\u2018i military construction projects including:\n\n$141 million to commence a multi-year project to build a water treatment plant at Red Hill that would allow the drinking water shaft to be reopened and help remove any residual contaminants from the ground surrounding Red Hill. Case has worked both through the authorization and appropriations bills to advance this critical project.\n\n$553 million of additional funding to continue construction a new drydock at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.\n\n$236 million for the Pacific Missile Range Facility.\n\n$147 million for Military Housing Privatization Initiative projects (460 units) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.\n\n$108 million for Water Reclamation Facility Compliance Upgrades at Marine Corp Base Hawai\u2018i.\n\n$83 million for DDG-1000 Ship Support Infrastructure Upgrades at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.\n\nExtension of authority for $25 million for electrical distribution upgrades at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam under the Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program.\n\nExtension of authority for $117 million for a C-40 Aircraft Maintenance Hangar at Marine Corp Base Hawai\u2018i.\n\nExtension of authority for $51 million for Army ammunition storage magazines at West Loch Naval Magazine Annex.\n\nExtension of authority for $33 million for water system upgrades at Fort Shafter. This follows on Case\u2019s previous successful efforts to secure $23 million for clearwell and booster pumps at Fort Shafter.\n\nExtension of authority for $64 million to continue updating Marine Corp Base Hawaii\u2019s outdated electrical distribution network.\n\nExtension of authority for $143 million for Navy missile magazines at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.\n\nThe NDAA-includes provisions for which Case advocated come as the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command headquartered in his District is holding its annual International Military Law and Operations Conference in Waik\u012bk\u012b. Related amendments Case proposed which were included in the NDAA are:\n\nDirecting the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment and United States Indo-Pacific Command to assess the critical infrastructure investments needed in Hawai\u2018i for any potential conflict-related military needs.\n\nDirecting the Army to conduct a study and send Congress a report on options for expanding a reserve contracted wartime sealift capacity in the Indo-Pacific region. Hawai\u2018i is the home to the Army\u2019s 8th Theater Support Command that is responsible for leading logistics and sustainment operations across the vast Indo-Pacific region, including ocean going transport.\n\nDirecting the Secretary of the Navy, in coordination with United States Indo-Pacific Command, to assess the capacity of each U.S. public and private shipyard, and each foreign shipyard of an allied or partner country, to support battle damage repair in the event of an armed conflict in the Indo-Pacific.\n\nMaking Joint Task Force-Micronesia in Guam responsible for strengthening community relationships between the U.S. Armed Forces and Freely Associated States (FAS) citizens \u2013 Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia \u2013 impacted by military installations and operating locations in the FAS.\n\nDirecting the Government Accountability Office to examine how to improve the military\u2019s foreign exchange programs, which are a key soft-power tool that strengthen the ties between America and other countries throughout the globe.\n\nFurther Indo-Pacific- related amendments that Case cosponsored and that were included in the bill include:\n\nRequiring a report on the impact and potential of AUKUS Pillar 1, a security partnership focused on supporting Australia's acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines to help deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific.\n\nMandating an annual report on the presence and activities of European Union and NATO militaries in the Indo-Pacific.\n\nRequiring an analysis of how the presence of the militaries of such countries contributes to deterrence against Chinese aggression, including a discussion of posture, capability, multilateral operations and strategic signaling effects.\n\nMandating a study of the Defense Access Road Program\u2019s current authorities and limitations preventing routine maintenance in the Indo-Pacific. This program has supported improvement of the Saddle Road on Hawai\u2018i Island.\n\nRequiring the Department of Defense to develop and implement a strategy to enhance defense industrial cooperation between the United States and its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region over the next five years, including incorporating lessons learned from defense industrial cooperation initiatives with European allies and identifying priority armaments for joint development, production or sustainment with Indo-Pacific allies and partners, including Taiwan.\n\nDirecting the release of an unclassified summary of certain independent assessments of the Guam missile defense system.\n\nExtending and expanding the Department of Defense\u2019s annual assessments of Taiwan\u2019s military readiness, regional allied responses and U.S. contingency planning in the face of rising Chinese aggression.\n\nDirecting the Defense Department to conduct a study of U.S. mobilization and sustainment readiness for a major Indo-Pacific conflict with emphasis on reserve forces mobilization.\n\nEstablishing a data sharing process to enable states to access military enlistment data to better inform high school students and educators on military careers and more accurately track the outcome of students who choose a career in the military after graduation.\n\nMandating a study examining the current role of the National Guard in cyber incident response, assessing both federal-level engagements and state-level deployments. The findings should inform recommendations on potential enhancements to the National Guard\u2019s cyber response capabilities to ensure a stronger and more coordinated national cyber defense strategy.\n\nThe bill further includes several provisions advocated for by Case to continue the military\u2019s investment in Hawai\u2018i and the Indo-Pacific, including:\n\nDirecting the military to hire an independent entity to conduct an evaluation of using land owned by the military in Hawai\u2018i for residential housing development for members of the Armed Services and their families.\n\nDirecting the military to assess the feasibility, costs and benefits of providing apartment-style or dormitory housing for civilian workers at naval public shipyards, including the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.\n\n$35 million for the purpose of aiding local educational agencies with military dependent students through the Impact Aid Program, and $10 million for local educational agencies eligible to receive payment for children with severe disabilities. The Impact Aid Program provides crucial federal funding to the Hawai\u2018i Department of Education by compensating for lost local property tax revenue due to the presence of U.S. military bases.\n\nExtending the authority for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, a Congressionally directed effort focused on deterring Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific.\n\n$1.4 billion for Pacific Deterrence Initiative construction, including another $162 million for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command\u2019s Military Construction Pilot Program to support minor military construction projects in the region.\n\n$1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative designed to enhance Taiwan's defense capabilities and resilience.\n\nRequiring the Secretary of Defense to implement a strategy to strengthen multilateral deterrence against regional aggression in the Indo-Pacific region by expanding multilateral coordination with United States allies and partners in the region.\n\nThe bill also includes a 3.8% pay raise for members of the armed forces. It also includes the following provisions to help our nation\u2019s servicemembers:\n\nAuthorizing two pilot programs that would expand obstetrical and gynecological care for TRICARE beneficiaries,\n\nExpanding mental health services to meet the unique needs of the Cyber Mission Force,\n\nWaiving fees and copays on the TRICARE Dental Program for all members of the Selected Reserve, and\n\nExpanding access to food on military installations by granting authorities to conduct pilot programs to reform their food programs. The measure passed the House and will now be referred to the Senate, which is working on its own version of the NDAA.\n\nThe measure passed the House and will now be referred to the Senate, which is working on its own version of the NDAA.\n\nThe House and Senate will seek to reconcile their respective versions and submit a common version for joint passage, as has occurred throughout the history of the NDAA.\n\nATTACHMENTS:\n\n1. A summary of the FY 2025 NDAA is available here.\n\n2. The text of the bill is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-votes-no-on-national-defense-authorization-act", "Rep. Tokuda Votes No on National Defense Authorization Act", "2025-09-10", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02), member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, which passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 231-196.\n\n\u201cWhen the Armed Services Committee reported out this year\u2019s NDAA, it was a strong, bipartisan bill that included real investments in housing, healthcare, and national security that I was proud to support. But for the third year in a row, House Republicans have chosen to completely hijack this committee\u2019s bipartisan work on the National Defense Authorization Act by forcing through divisive, poison pill provisions and shutting down debate on the issues that truly matter to our troops and veterans.\n\nI submitted ten amendments focused on improving national security and the quality of life of our service members, such as strengthening military housing, standing up to China, supporting Native Hawaiian veterans, and holding sexual predators accountable. Not one made it in. This isn\u2019t just a procedural failure, it\u2019s a betrayal of our oath, a failure of oversight, and a disservice to our service members and their families who rely on us to protect their interests. We owe them respect, integrity, and serious leadership\u2014not political theatrics or culture-war stunts. I will continue fighting to retain the bipartisan provisions that we crafted to support our service members and their families while stripping out the dangerous partisan amendments that have no place in a bill this critical to our national defense.\u201d\n\nFootage of Rep. Tokuda discussing the bill on the House Floor can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4736", "Case Opposes Annual Labor, Health, Human Services And Education Measure That Slashes Support For Public Education, Workforce Development, Public Health and Other Core Programs", "2025-09-09", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=3", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted in full Committee today against the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-H) Appropriations bill that cuts core assistance programs by $23.9 billion, or 11%, from current FY 2025 funding.\n\nThe annual Labor-H bill funds the Department of Labor, the Department of Education, much of the Department of Health and Human Services and various related agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The proposed FY 2026 bill advanced by the Republican majority would set discretionary funding at $197.5 billion, down from current FY 2025\u2019s $221.4 billion.\n\n\u201cWhile this measure funds many critical Hawai\u2018i priorities I requested, especially for Native Hawaiians, I could not vote for this version because it so fundamentally attacks many longstanding efforts in public health, education, welfare, job and retirement security and civic discourse that have uplifted generations of Americans,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cWhole programs that are so key to advancing virtually Americans across multiple fronts to realize the full opportunities of our country are decimated in this measure, including support for youth from preschool through higher education, public health research and delivery through the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, workforce development through the Employment and Training Administration and Job Corps, maternal and child health and family planning, substance abuse, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.\n\n\u201cOf all of Appropriations\u2019 twelve federal funding bills every year, this is the one that most reflects the health of our collective commitment to each other and our common advancement, and this version straight up fails us all.\u201d\n\nThrough his assignment on the Committee, Case was still able to gain inclusion in the measure for his funding requests for federal programs and services especially important for the State of Hawai\u2018i including those affecting Native Hawaiians, workforce development, education, and community health care. These include:\n\n\u00b7 $65 million for Native American job training programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014;\n\n\u00b7 $40 million for Native American Nutrition and Supportive Services grants to promote the delivery of nutrition and home and community-based services to Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian k\u016bpuna;\n\n\u00b7 $45.8 million for the Native Hawaiian Education Program;\n\n\u00b7 $24.5 million for the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program. These funds will support tutoring, mentorships, internships, faculty development and other activities to support Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students at the collegiate level;\n\n\u00b7 $27 million for the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems, with $10 million being included for Papa Ola L\u014dkahi;\n\n\u00b7 $6 million to establish a Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Health Research Office within the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. These funds will be used to address Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander health disparities as well as supporting research being done by Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander investigators;\n\n\u00b7 $6 million for the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity within the Office of Minority Health to advance Indigenous solutions to achieve health equity and encourage the Department of Health and Human Services to partner with universities in these efforts; and,\n\n\u00b7 $3.7 million for the Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Program, which provides grants to Native American-serving organizations and federally recognized tribes to sustain indigenous heritage, culture and knowledge through museum-related services;\n\n\u00b7 $285 million for the Registered Apprenticeship Program;\n\n\u00b7 $105 million for the YouthBuild program to provide at-risk youth with basic education and job skills training in the construction field;\n\n\u00b7 $65.5 million for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program;\n\n\u00b7 $945 million for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health within the Department of Health and Human Services, to accelerate the pace of scientific breakthroughs for diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer\u2019s disease, diabetes and cancer;\n\n\u00b7 $1.9 billion for Community Health Centers, to provide high quality cost-effective health care to predominantly low-income and medically underserved communities;\n\n\u00b7 $12.3 billion for Head Start, equal to the FY 2025 enacted level;\n\n\u00b7 $8.7 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, equal to the FY 2025 enacted level;\n\n\u00b7 $1.5 billion for Career, Technical and Adult Education;\n\n\u00b7 $1.2 billion for the Federal TRIO Program, to provide academic support to low-income individuals, first-generation college students, veterans and individuals with disabilities;\n\n\u00b7 $129 million for McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program, which provides homeless youth with the health services and academic support they need to succeed in and out of the classroom;\n\n\u00b7 $65 million to continue and expand Strengthening Community College Training Grants, which offer training to workers in in-demand industries at community colleges and four-year institutions to help meet local labor market needs; and,\n\n\u00b7 $23.3 billion for federal student aid programs to provide $7,395 for the maximum Pell Grant award.\n\nA summary of the bill is available here.\n\nThis is the eleventh bill of twelve separate bills developed and approved by the Appropriations Committee that would fund the federal government at some $1.6 trillion for FY 2026 commencing October 1st of this year. The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4735", "Case Proposal To Further Strengthen U.S. - Pacific Islands Partnerships Included In Bipartisan Foreign Policy Bill Approved By U.S. House", "2025-09-08", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=3", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i \u2013 First) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan foreign policy measure that included a provision of his Pacific Partnership Act to strengthen ties between the United States and our partners in the Pacific.\n\nH.R 4490, the PARTNER Act cosponsored by Case, passed the House on September 2nd. It would extend diplomatic privileges and immunities and other benefits of official recognition to five international organizations: the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN); Pacific Islands Forum (PIF); Caribbean Community; and African Union. The measure would formally authorize the organizations as public international organizations and allow them to operate independently, engage diplomatically and establish diplomatic missions in the United States, just as do foreign countries.\n\nInclusion of the PIF in the PARTNER Act arose from H.R. 3332, the Pacific Partnership Act introduced by Case to bolster U.S. engagement in the Pacific through a variety of initiatives including official recognition of the PIF. Case\u2019s measure was cosponsored by 23 bipartisan colleagues, most of them fellow members of the Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus which Case cofounded in 2019 and co-chairs.\n\nThe Pacific Islands Forum brings the region together to address pressing issues and challenges, and foster collaboration and cooperation in the pursuit of shared goals. Founded in 1971, it comprises 18 members: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Its vision is for a resilient Pacific region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, that ensures all Pacific peoples can lead free, healthy and productive lives.\n\n\"To fully partner with our Pacific Islands \u2018ohana in meeting the challenges and seizing the opportunities of our times, from climate change to human and drug trafficking, economic sustainability, infrastructure and social development and the defense of sovereignty and democracy, we must accord full recognition and respect to the collective representation of the Pacific Islands, and that is the PIF\u201d, said Case. \u201cI\u2019m grateful that my House colleagues have supported this important step forward in fully addressing these challenges and opportunities with our partners and look forward to the PIF establishing an official diplomatic mission in our country.\u201d\n\nThe PARTNER Act has been forwarded to the U.S. Senate, where it has been referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations for consideration.\n\nCopy of H.R. 4490, the PARTNER Act, is here\n\nCopy of Case\u2019s remarks on the measure is here\n\nCopy of H.R. 3322, the Pacific Partnership Act, is here\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4734", "Case Opposes Fiscal Year 2026 Funding Measure Cutting Small Business and Consumer Protections", "2025-09-04", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=3", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee responsible for federal funding, yesterday voted in Committee against the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations bill that slashed support for key small business programs and for agencies that safeguard the public.\n\nThe FSGG Appropriations bill funds the U.S. Treasury Department, the Small Business Administration (SBA), federal courts, the Federal Communications Commission, the Office of Personnel Management and various independent agencies. The bill\u2019s proposed FY 2026 discretionary funding level is $23.2 billion, $2.9 billion below the current FY 2025 enacted level.\n\n\u201cWhile this measure funds many critical national and local priorities for Hawai\u2018i that I requested, I regrettably had to vote against this version because of severe funding cuts to programs assisting the some 134,000 small businesses who form the backbone of Hawaii\u2019s economy,\u201d said Case. \u201cThese include efforts that aid entrepreneurs, provide mentorship training and expand trade opportunities in the international marketplace.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn addition, the bill slashes funding to agencies that protect the public, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which keeps us safe against unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with defective products,\u201d said Case. \u201cThe measure also reduces support for the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, both of which keep us secure from scams, price-gouging and market manipulation.\u201d\n\nCase spoke in Committee in support of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), which play an important role in helping Hawai\u2018i. It assists 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\nHe stressed that in Hawai\u2018i alone, there are 11 certified CDFIs that in Fiscal Year 2022 made 935 loan originations that totaled $132 million, all repayable. He urged full funding to the CDFI Fund which supports CDFI efforts of FY 2025 funding already appropriated by Congress but wrongfully withheld by the administration and noted that his no vote on the FY 2026 funding measure was in part because it slashed $47 million from the current year appropriation. See his speech in the Appropriations Committee here.\n\nCase also offered an amendment directing the Government Accountability Office (GAO, Congress\u2019 own independent oversight agency) to review current budget execution by the executive branch and to provide recommendations on how to modernize and improve these frameworks. His amendment aimed at safeguarding taxpayer dollars and ensuring that agencies implement appropriations in a timely and predictable way. See Case\u2019s speech in Committee here.\n\nDespite serious issues with the bill, through his assignment on the Committee Case was still able to gain approval of his funding requests for federal programs and services important for the State of Hawai\u2018i including:\n\n\u00b7 $35 million for CDFIs,\n\n\u00b7 $35 million for the Native American Community Development Financial Institution Assistance Program,\n\n\u00b7 $5.3 million for the Native American Outreach Program,\n\n\u00b7 $150 million for Small Business Development Centers,\n\n\u00b7 $41 million for the Microloan Technical Assistance Program.\n\n\u00b7 $27 million for the Women\u2019s Business Centers Program,\n\n\u00b7 $11 million for the Regional Innovation Clusters Program,\n\n\u00b7 $10 million for the State Trade Expansion Program,\n\n\u00b7 $7 million for the Program for Investment in Micro-Entrepreneurs,\n\n\u00b7 $3 million for the Historically Underutilized Business Zones Program,\n\n\u00b7 $110 million for the Drug-Free Communities Program,\n\n\u00b7 $300 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, and\n\n\u00b7 $1.6 billion for Defender Services.\n\nIn addition, the bill included his provision directing the SBA to coordinate with relevant federal agencies, businesses, employees and financial institutions about employee ownership, including cooperatives and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), provide technical assistance to assist employees in becoming business owners, and assist in accessing capital sources.\n\n\"ESOPs and similar employee ownership structures are vital to building succession plans to ensure small businesses remain in their communities where they belong,\u201d said Case. \u201cIn Hawai\u2018i, we\u2019ve seen firsthand the benefits of ESOPs. Hawai\u2018i is home to the second-oldest ESOP chapter in the nation, underscoring the success and importance of employee-owned businesses in our state.\u201d\n\nThis provision builds off Case\u2019s bipartisan measure (H.R. 2993) that would assist small businesses to adopt ESOPs, which offer a tested solution to employment and business productivity, stability and ownership transfer. (See here for more information.)\n\nA summary of the FSGG Appropriations bill is available here.\n\nThis is the 10th bill of twelve separate bills developed and approved by the Appropriations Committee that would fund the federal government at some $1.6 trillion for FY 2026 commencing October 1st of this year. The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4733", "Case And Colleagues Secure Improvements In Mail Deliveries To Hawaii And Other Areas Outside The Continental U.S.", "2025-09-03", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=3", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Congressman Ed Case (D-Hawai\u2018i-First District) has led an effort that highlighted problems with mail delivery to Hawai\u2018i and U.S. territories, prompting the United States Postal Service (USPS) to undertake corrective actions that \u201cwill improve the timely and accurate processing and transportation of mail that is designed for deliver in areas outside the 48 contiguous states.\u201d\n\nThe move by the USPS came after Case initiated a bipartisan letter co-signed by several of his U.S. House colleagues to Postmaster General David Steiner expressing concern over what they referred to as \u201cpersistent delays and service disruptions\u201d with the United States Postal Service (USPS) Ground Advantage service to noncontiguous areas of the country, including the Pacific and Caribbean.\n\nThe shipping option, launched two years ago, was intended to offer a more simplified and more affordable and expedited delivery service for packages up to 70 pounds. However, it has been plagued by delivery delays and tracking inaccuracies.\n\nJoining Case on his letter to the USPS Postmaster were Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai\u2018i-Second District), Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas), Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa), Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-U.S. Virgin Islands) and Congressman James Moylan (R-Guam).\n\n\"Reliable mail service is a necessity \u2014 especially in our rural and remote communities, and our constituents should not be forced to endure unfair delays and poor service. The United States Postal Service has acknowledged errors with their Ground Advantage service to non-contiguous areas and is committing to changes that will directly benefit our families, businesses, and consumers,\" said Congresswoman Tokuda.\n\n\"I'm proud to join my colleagues on this bipartisan effort giving constituents the fairness they deserve. USPS\u2019s corrective actions and renewed focus on delivery performance are important steps to ensure equitable and dependable mail service for every American regardless of their ZIP code.\"\n\n\"The Virgin Islands and our fellow noncontiguous territories have endured unacceptable postal delays that directly impact our families' daily lives and hinder our businesses from competing in the national economy,\" said Congresswoman Plaskett.\n\n\"The U.S. Postal Service's acknowledgment that Priority Mail and lightweight Ground Advantage packages were improperly sent by sea instead of air validates what our constituents have been reporting for months.\n\n\u201cWhile I welcome these corrective measures and new validation procedures, we will continue our bipartisan oversight to ensure that geographic realities never become an excuse for substandard service\u2014all Americans deserve reliable, timely postal delivery regardless of where they live.\"\n\n\u201cSlow services cause more challenges and can add costs to our small businesses and island economy. It\u2019s important to see improvements, and this is bipartisan work to ensure the quality postal services our people deserve. Thank you to Congressman Case and my colleagues for unity on this effort,\u201d said Congresswoman Radewagen.\n\n\u201cFor too long, Guam has faced unacceptable delays in mail delivery that directly impact our veterans, families, and small businesses. These aren\u2019t just logistical hiccups\u2014they\u2019re real-life consequences, especially when prescriptions for our veterans arrive weeks late,\u201d said Congressman Moylan.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful to Congressman Case for leading this bipartisan effort and to my colleagues for standing united in demanding accountability. The USPS\u2019s commitment to corrective action is a step forward, but we will continue to push for lasting solutions that treat Guam, Hawai\u2018i, and all U.S. non-contiguous areas with the same urgency and respect as the mainland. Our communities deserve nothing less.\u201d\n\nIn their letter, Case and his House colleagues said: \u201cThese significant delays are first patently unfair to our noncontiguous areas. They also create several practical problems for both consumers and businesses, especially when return windows have already expired by the time packages finally arrive.\n\n\u201cIn response to the reliability problems with Ground Advantage, some sellers have opted to offer Priority Mail at an additional fee to guarantee timely delivery. This defeats the purpose of Ground Advantage, which was designed to provide a more affordable shipping alternative.\u201d\n\nIn response to the letter from Case and his House colleagues, the USPS undertook a review which \u201cfound that some offshore destinating mail with a service standard requiring air transportation was incorrectly transported by sea. Specifically, the review determined that some Priority Mail items and lightweight Ground Advantage packages were improperly placed in mail containers for sea transportation.\u201d\n\nThe USPS response continued: \u201cTo correct these errors, headquarters officials instructed management at relevant processing facilities to validate package processing flows to ensure parcels destinating to offshore locations are correctly transported.\n\n\u201cSpecifically, these processing facilities have been instructed to validate and certify procedures for combining lightweight Ground Advantage items with Priority Mail items for air transportation to offshore destinations.\u201d\n\nThe USPS apologized for the delays and recognized that Hawai\u2018i and the U.S. territories \u201crely on the Postal Service for efficient and effective service. It is always our goal to meet their expectations, and it is disappointing to us when we fail to do so.\u201d\n\nAttachments:\n\n1. Response from USPS is here\n\n2. Letter from Congressman Case and his colleagues to the Postmaster General is here\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T15:07:37Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4729", "Case Seeks Applicants For Nominations For Appointments To Our Nation's Service Academies For The 2026 Incoming Class", "2025-08-26", "2025", "2025-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=3", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) is seeking qualified applicants for his Congressional nomination to our nation\u2019s four 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/Nassau County \u2013 New York).\n\n\u201cOne of my favorite and most serious duties as a member of the U.S. Congress is nominating Hawaii\u2019s best and brightest young men and women to our nation\u2019s service academies,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cI have had the privilege for over ten years now of nominating many candidates to our service academies, many of whom are in service or now attending. I\u2019m again honored to do my part to ensure that Hawai\u02bbi continues our long tradition of contributing to the next generation of America\u2019s outstanding military leaders.\u201d\n\nA Congressional nomination is the exclusive avenue for appointment to our nation\u2019s service academies for most applicants. A nomination does not guarantee an appointment, but it is a requirement for final consideration for the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Successful applicants must have high moral character, a strong academic record and a motivation to dutifully serve our nation.\n\nIn a letter to all high schools in his district (see below), Case said: \u201cAn applicant must also be a U.S. citizen, a high school graduate between the ages of 17 and 23, unmarried and without dependents. Fully completed applications must be received by my office no later than October 10, 2025. Please also visit my military academy nomination webpage at https://case.house.gov/services/service-academy-nominations.htm.\u201d\n\nCase continued: \u201cAdditionally, please note that I may only consider applicants who are legal residents of the First Congressional District which I represent (Honolulu from Makapu\u2018u through Downtown and Pearl City up to Mililani and then through Waipahu and \u2018Ewa Beach to Kapolei). My office can assist in verifying this requirement, but you can check yourself by entering your home address here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative.\n\n\u201cI encourage and invite students and school officials assisting candidates with their applications to mail in application packets to my Honolulu Office and or submit applications electronically in a Portable Document Format (.pdf) to my Honolulu office staff via Nestor Garcia at Nestor.Garcia@mail.house.gov, or contact him at phone (808) 650-6688.\u201d\n\nAttachment: Case letter to high school principals, college career counselors and JROTC instructors\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/hirono-tokuda-reintroduce-bicameral-legislation-to-strengthen-social-security-program", "Hirono, Tokuda Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation to Strengthen Social Security Program", "2025-08-15", "2025", "2025-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "~ The Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act aims to restore fairness in Social Security and protect the program from future cuts ~\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, on the 90th anniversary of Social Security, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI) reintroduced the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act, legislation that would strengthen Social Security\u2019s financial state and ensure that seniors continue to benefit from the programs they have paid into throughout their lives.\n\n\u201cFor 90 years, Social Security has provided critical support to millions of kupuna, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable communities in Hawaii and across the country,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cAmidst this administration\u2019s attacks on federal programs, I am proud to reintroduce this legislation to help strengthen the Social Security program and ensure that it remains accessible for the millions of Americans who rely on it.\u201d\n\n\u201cSocial Security is an earned benefit\u2014not a handout\u2014and a promise that brings peace of mind to following a lifetime of hard work. In Hawaii, nearly 300,000 workers, kupuna, and families depend on it to make ends meet,\u201d said Representative Tokuda. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to reintroduce the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act with Senator Hirono. Our bill strengthens benefits, accounts for the true cost of living, ends unjust practices like reclaiming final checks, and\u2014most importantly\u2014makes the wealthiest finally pay their fair share, securing this promise for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThis bill will make significant progress toward extending the Social Security lifeline. According to the Social Security Administration\u2019s Office of the Chief Actuary, the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act is expected to extend the ability of the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program to pay scheduled benefits in full and on time for an additional 11 years, from 2034 to 2045.\n\nThe reintroduction of this legislation follows Trump\u2019s recent attacks on Social Security, including a hiring freeze, efforts to force out workers, and efforts to close field offices, which has led to longer wait times for seniors. It also follows new analysis that shows Trump\u2019s Big Ugly Bill could accelerate the depletion of Social Security trust funds. Earlier this year, Senator Hirono offered a budget amendment that would have prevented DOGE cuts to customer service. However, all but two Senate Republicans opposed the amendment, which was not agreed to.\n\nThe Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act aims to improve the Social Security system\u2019s fairness, solvency, and benefits. Specifically, the bill:\n\nEnsures the appropriate weight is given to the real costs in seniors\u2019 budgets by using the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) to calculate the relevant cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), rather than the more generic Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W); and\n\nRequires the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share by phasing out the cap on Social Security contributions, gradually over the next seven years.\n\nIn addition to Senator Hirono, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tina Smith (D-MN) in the Senate.\n\nIn addition to Representative Tokuda, the bill is cosponsored by Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Paul Tonko (D-NY) in the House.\n\nThe Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act is endorsed by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM); Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA); and Social Security Works (SSW).\n\n\u201cThe National Committee proudly endorses the 'Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act.' This legislation represents a bold step on behalf of seniors and all Americans, and we thank Senator Hirono and Rep. Tokuda for their leadership on these vitally important matters,\u201d said Max Richtman, President & CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. \u201cFor years, we have been calling for an improved COLA formula that reflects the real impact of inflation on seniors, which the current one (CPI-W) does not. Every extra dollar in COLAs will help older Americans to meet their monthly living expenses\u2014from groceries to gas to housing. We also applaud the bill for strengthening Social Security's trust fund by asking the wealthy to pay their fair share. We look forward to working with our allies on Capitol Hill to enact this crucial legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Alliance for Retired Americans is proud to back the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act, which requires the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share into Social Security and ensures that full benefits can be paid well into the future. It also changes the formula used to calculate cost-of-living increases to better reflect the cost of goods and services that older Americans spend their money on,\u201d said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the ARA. \u201cWe are grateful to Sen. Hirono, who has earned a 100% lifetime pro-retiree score in the Alliance's annual Congressional Voting Record, for always fighting to protect older Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cSocial Security Works enthusiastically endorses the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act. One of Social Security\u2019s most important features is its annual cost of living adjustment which is designed to ensure that Social Security\u2019s modest benefits don\u2019t erode over time. Unfortunately, the current index under-measures the cost of living experienced by Social Security beneficiaries,\u201d said Nancy Altman, President of SSW. \u201cSenator Hirono\u2019s wise legislation updates the formula to make it more accurate and generous. She understands how crucial it is, particularly during this time of rising prices, for Social Security\u2019s cost of living adjustment to reflect the real expenses beneficiaries face every day. Importantly, the legislation ensures that all benefits will continue to be paid in full and on time for the foreseeable future, by requiring that the highest-paid workers contribute to Social Security all year long, just as the rest of us do. Everyone who receives Social Security now or hopes to in the future owes Senator Hirono a debt of gratitude not only for this legislation but also for her invaluable leadership on Social Security.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-accepting-applications-for-military-service-academies", "Rep. Tokuda Accepting Applications for Military Service Academies", "2025-08-04", "2025", "2025-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Honolulu, HI \u2013 U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) announced that her office is now accepting applications from students in Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s Second Congressional District for Military Service Academies. Qualified applicants must submit their applications no later than Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 11:59 pm HST.\n\nEvery year, members of Congress are given a limited number of candidates to nominate for appointment to these academies. Rep. Tokuda can only nominate a limited number of exceptional students for each vacant academy slot allotted to the Second Congressional District.\n\n\u201cI have the honor of nominating some of our brightest and most talented students to attend prestigious military service academies across our country,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. \u201cIt will be challenging to select nominees from such a passionate, hard-working, and dedicated group of students, but I look forward to seeing this year\u2019s Hawai\u02bbi applicants who are ready to serve in our military and provide the kind of leadership our country needs.\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 submit a complete nomination application by Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 11:59 pm HST, to Rep. Tokuda\u2019s office. For more information on eligibility and the application process, visit https://tokuda.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations 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", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4725", "Case, Moylan Push To Shift Construction And Repair Of U.S. Jones Act Ships From Adversaries Like The People's Republic Of China (PRC) To Allies And Partners Like Japan And Korea", "2025-08-01", "2025", "2025-08", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=3", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (D-HI-01) and U.S. Congressman James Moylan (R-Guam) today announced they have introduced a measure in the U.S. House of Representatives to address loopholes in a 1920 law that incentivizes U.S. domestic trade ships to have major modifications and repairs done in the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC).\n\nThat law, the Jones Act, is widely recognized as creating domestic shipping monopolies that artificially inflate the cost of critical imported goods to Hawai\u2018i, Guam and other non-contiguous parts of the United States.\n\n\u201cUnder long-standing loopholes in maritime law, Jones Act shippers can and do outsource major vessel parts fabrications and modifications to foreign shipyards, primarily those in the PRC,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cThese modifications are not minor, and often include full engine replacements, liquefied natural gas conversions and other critical overhauls. These modifications largely avoid the 50% import duty imposed on foreign ship repair.\u201d\n\nCase said the Jones Act is usually defended on domestic industrial base and national security grounds. \u201cHowever, under long-standing loopholes in maritime law, the Act has led to an accelerating decline in domestic shipping, with less than 100 Jones Act vessels now in service, many of them committed to specialized uses,\u201d said Case. \u201cThe results have included extreme monopolistic conditions and exorbitant shipping prices, especially for those parts of our country with no real transportation alternatives.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut equally so, this poses a significant and immediate national security concern, especially if this same work, which cannot be done economically or practically under any circumstances in the U.S., at least without cripplingly higher shipping costs hitting the whole country and not just our non-Continent locations, can be done in shipyards located in allied or partner countries, such as Japan and South Korea \u2013 nations with world-class maritime industries and deep national security alignment with the United States.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan bill is about modernizing outdated maritime laws that have unfairly burdened Americans in places like Guam and Hawai\u2018i for decades,\u201d said Moylan. \u201cBy closing loopholes that benefit the People\u2019s Republic of China and instead partnering with trusted allies like Japan and South Korea, we can grow our shipbuilding capacity, support good-paying jobs, and deliver real relief for families and businesses. I\u2019m proud to join Congressman Case in advancing a smarter, stronger maritime strategy that puts all Americans\u2014and our national security\u2014first.\u201d\n\nCase and Moylan say their proposed Merchant Marine Allies Partnership Act would address four concerns:\n\n\u00b7 the domestic build and repair requirement is largely honored in the breach by Jones Act shippers who profess agreement with the Jones Act, take its monopolistic benefits, but outsource the build and repair wherever possible for profit motive;\n\n\u00b7 the United States clearly should not be reliant on adversaries such as the PRC to build and repair our coastal trade vessels;\n\n\u00b7 even if the law is revised to eliminate all such loopholes, the domestic industrial base could not sustain domestic shipping needs, and;\n\n\u00b7 the United States and its territories have strong partners and allies in countries such as Japan and Korea with world-class shipping capabilities who can assist them with their needs at more affordable shipping prices and markedly reduced national security concerns.\n\nCase and Moylan say their proposed legislation seeks to realign Jones Act requirements and incentives in a way that serves all of national security, coastal trade capacity and lower shipping (and thus consumer) prices. It does so by:\n\n\u00b7 Exempting U.S. companies from the 50% tax on major vessel modifications if the work is performed in shipyards located in allied nations, such as Japan and South Korea, rather than adversarial nations like the PRC.\n\n\u00b7 Allowing ships purchased from allied countries to qualify for the coastal trade by granting them a Jones Act exemption, ensuring more flexible access to quality vessels without incentivizing PRC shipyards.\n\n\u00b7 Providing a path for companies from allied nations to operate foreign-built, foreign-crewed vessels in coastwise trade, under appropriate regulatory conditions, in recognition of the global nature of modern shipping.\n\nTheir Merchant Marine Allies Partnership Act comes on the heels of three other measures they introduced earlier this year that proposed amendments to the Jones Act:\n\nthe Noncontiguous Shipping Relief Act, which exempts all noncontiguous U.S. locations, including Hawai\u2018i and Guam, from the Jones Act (text of the measure is here);\n\nthe Noncontiguous Shipping Reasonable Rate Act, which benchmarks the definition of a \u201creasonable rate\u201d which domestic shippers can charge as no more than ten percent above international shipping rates for comparable routes (text of the measure is here; and\n\nthe Noncontiguous Shipping Competition Act (text of measure is here), which rescinds the Jones Act wherever monopolies or duopolies in noncontiguous Jones Act shipping develop.\n\nText of the Merchant Marine Allies Partnership Act is here\n\nText of Case\u2019s Congressional Record remarks on introduction is here\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:57:50Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-tokuda-nunn-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-ustaiwan-defense-collaboration", "Reps. Tokuda, Nunn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen U.S.\u2013Taiwan Defense Collaboration", "2025-07-31", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-03) and Jill Tokuda (HI-02) today introduced the United States-Taiwan Defense Innovation Partnership Act, bipartisan legislation to accelerate defense technology collaboration between the United States and Taiwan in response to ongoing aggression from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar (MI-02) and Representative Ashley Hinson (IA-02) joined as original cosponsors.\n\n\u201cThe complex security challenges that the United States and our allies and partners face in the Indo-Pacific call for new and innovative technologies, approaches, and vendors,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to cosponsor this bill with Congressman Nunn to establish a defense innovation partnership between the U.S. Department of Defense and Taiwan\u2019s defense ministry and promote strategic and meaningful collaborative efforts, strengthen our allies\u2019 defense industrial base, and counter the CCP\u2019s growing technological and military influence. This effort will benefit both Taiwan and the United States as we work together to solidify a free and open Indo-Pacific.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Chinese Communist Party has made clear its intent to take Taiwan by 2027,\u201d said Rep. Nunn. \u201cThe defense partnership laid out in this bill will be a critical deterrence tool, accelerating Taiwan\u2019s access to next-generation U.S. technology and giving them the asymmetric edge they need to defend their sovereignty.\u201d\n\nThe United States-Taiwan Defense Innovation Partnership Act directs the U.S. Department of Defense to work directly with Taiwan\u2019s Ministry of National Defense through their respective Defense Innovation Units. This cooperation will fast-track the development and fielding of dual-use technologies\u2014such as drones, artificial intelligence, microchips, and advanced surveillance systems\u2014that enhance collective deterrence and reinforce America\u2019s strategic edge in the region.\n\n\u201cWith each passing day, Xi Jinping expands coercion aimed at Taiwan,\u201d said House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar. \u201cThis legislation would strengthen critical defense industrial collaboration with Taiwan while enhancing our shared readiness against an increasingly threatening Beijing.\u201d\n\n\u201cSince coming to Congress, I have been a staunch advocate of our diplomacy with Taiwan, and I remain committed to maximizing our strategic partnership with our longstanding ally,\u201d said Rep. Hinson. \u201cI am proud to support Rep. Nunn\u2019s legislation that will expand collaboration on emerging technologies, meaningfully counter China, and rejuvenate American innovation to modernize our defense industrial base so we can, together, deter our greatest adversary and remain the world\u2019s most powerful military.\u201d\n\nIn addition to establishing direct collaboration between the U.S. Department of Defense and Taiwan\u2019s Ministry of National Defense, the United States-Taiwan Defense Innovation Partnership Act would:\n\nPrioritize joint development of next-generation defense technologies, including drones, artificial intelligence, microchips, intelligence surveillance reconnaissance (ISR) systems, and directed energy weapons\n\nStrengthen coordination on supply chain resiliency and bolster both nations\u2019 defense industrial bases\n\nAccelerate the deployment of critical capabilities to deter CCP aggression\n\nBy deepening our technological ties with Taiwan, this legislation reinforces America\u2019s commitment to peace through strength. It empowers innovators, strengthens our allies, and sends a clear message to the CCP: the United States will stand firm against aggression and invest in the tools needed to defend freedom in the Indo-Pacific.\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4722", "Case Provision To Strengthen Coast Guard Presence In The Indo-Pacific Secures Overwhelming Bi-Partisan Support In The House", "2025-07-27", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=3", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Representative Ed Case Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i-First District) announced today that last week the full U.S. House of Representatives in an overwhelming show of bipartisan support passed the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 4275) which includes a provision to increase focus on Coast Guard operations in the Indo-Pacific that he introduced with Congressman Trent Kelly (Mississippi-First District).\n\nCase explained, \u201cWith bipartisan support of the full House, the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, Congressman Kelly and Congressman John Garamendi, the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act includes my push to mandate an annual plan for Coast Guard operations in the Indo-Pacific, including the annual budget needed to support these operations.\u201d\n\nCase continued: \u201cOur plan will significantly enhance the Coast Guard's effectiveness, readiness and strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific by integrating Coast Guard activities with broader U.S. defense and foreign policy goals in the region.\u201d\n\nCase added that the provision \u201cwill allow for better forecasting of operational, personnel, asset and funding needs. It will ensure that the U.S. engagement in the region is sustained across the federal government and help to identify any operational gaps we have in the Indo-Pacific to better safeguard American and allied national security interests, respond to articulated needs of our Pacific Island partners and counter the People's Republic of China's increasingly malign influence in the region.\u201d\n\nCase said the provision comes from H.R. 3397, the Pacific Ready Coast Guard Act, a measure introduced by himself and Congressman Kelly. The provision was taken from that measure and inserted into H.R. 4275 by Congressman John Garamendi (California-Eight District), a cosponsor of the measure and a member of the T&I Committee.\n\nHawai\u2018i is the home of the Coast\u2019s Guard\u2019s operations throughout the Indo-Pacific. Its Oceania District is responsible for directing Coast Guard operations throughout Hawai\u2018i, Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Oceania, Singapore and Japan. The Coast Guard works closely with the Department of Defense and America\u2019s allies and partners to advance maritime governance as part of the rules-based international order essential to a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific.\n\nH.R. 4275 authorizes $66.5 billion for Coast Guard operations and maintenance for five years, along with $185 billion in total funding for Coast Guard procurement and construction for the next five years. It also provides policy guidance for the Coast Guard.\n\nThe Coast Guard Reauthorization Act would also update Coast Guard sexual assault and harassment policies and modify requirements for commercial vessels. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee previously approved the bill by a 60 to 0 vote on July 15 and sent the measure to the full House, which was approved on July 23 by a vote of 399 to 12.\n\nThe text of the measure is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4717", "Case Opposes Foreign Affairs Funding Measure That Weakens National Security By Slashing Critical Foreign Assistance Efforts", "2025-07-24", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=4", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted in Committee against the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations bill that would slash our nation\u2019s foreign affairs programs and agencies by 22%\n\nThis measure funds (or should fund) U.S. foreign policy efforts, including the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. contributions to the United Nations and its agencies and more.\n\nThe bill historically 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. The bill\u2019s proposed FY 2026 discretionary funding level is $46.2 billion. This is a decrease of $13 billion (22 percent) from the FY 2025 enacted level.\n\n\u201cWhile this measure did fund many critical Hawai\u2018i and Indo-Pacific priorities I requested, I had to vote against it because on balance it weakens our global leadership when the world most needs our continued full engagement,\u201d said Case.\n\nCase spoke in Committee in opposition to the measure, saying it would \u201csplit our alliances, partnerships and friendships and cast our country as an unreliable partner\u201d, allowing the People\u2019s Republic of China to fill voids left by U.S. disengagement. His remarks are here.\n\nThe bill continues the Trump administration\u2019s gutting of U.S. foreign assistance across a broad array of efforts, including:\n\n\u00b7 Codifying the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development.\n\n\u00b7 Cutting international humanitarian aid by 42% in activities previously funded under International Disaster Assistance and Migration and Refugee Affairs.\n\n\u00b7 Cutting U.S. bilateral economic assistance by 21% in activities previously funded under Development Assistance, Economic Support Fund and other accounts.\n\n\u00b7 Creating a $1.7 billion transactional slush fund for the Trump administration called the \u201cAmerica First Opportunity Fund\u201d with no effective congressional oversight.\n\nHowever, Case did welcome support in the bill for various of his requests related to Hawai\u2018i and the Indo-Pacific, especially $16.7 million for the East-West Center in Honolulu.\n\n\u201cAs we continue to focus on the growing influence of the PRC in the Indo-Pacific, our national security interests must also include diplomatic engagement and assistance to promote peace and diplomacy in the region,\u201d said Case. \u201cContinued funding for our East-West Center and other world-leading institutions in Hawai\u2018i supports our country\u2019s standing in an area widely seen as the most dynamic and critical on earth.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor all seven of my years on Appropriations, I have ranked full funding for the Center at the top of my annual requests to my committee because I believe not only in the Center\u2019s invaluable work but in what it represents for Hawaii\u2019s central role in the Asia-Pacific and in the broader benefits that bring high-quality \u2026 jobs to our overall economy,\u201d he said.\n\n\u201cThough we still have a long way to go this appropriations year, I\u2019m grateful that my House colleagues have again favorably considered my request, especially when the President\u2019s budget proposed zero funding for the Center.\u201d\n\nOther bill provisions requested by Case include:\n\n\u00b7 $1.8 billion for the implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, which promotes peace, prosperity and democracy in the region.\n\n\u00b7 $175 million for the Pacific Islands region, the same as FY 2025 enacted levels.\n\n\u00b7 $3 million for the Advancing Port Enhancement and Customs Security program in the Pacific Islands.\n\n\u00b7 Funding for Pacific Islands exchange programs, with a focus on partnering with universities in Pacific locations.\n\n\u00b7 Funding for small grants programs to assist local communities across the Pacific Islands.\n\n\u00b7 Funding for a Flexible Microfinance Facility for the Pacific Islands, launched by the Development Finance Corporation with the Department of State.\n\n\u00b7 Report language supporting funding for free and open media in the Pacific.\n\n\u00b7 Funding for trade capacity-building activities in the Pacific Islands.\n\n\u00b7 Report language supporting the Peace Corps\u2019 expansion in the Pacific.\n\n\u00b7 Funding for a demand-driven initiative to diversify trade opportunities in the Pacific Islands.\n\n\u00b7 Language requiring a report on ways to strengthen U.S. trade and investment with the Pacific Islands.\n\n\u00b7 Funding for unexploded ordinance removal in the Pacific Islands, including Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.\n\n\u00b7 Language requiring a strategy for faith-based engagement for assistance in the Pacific Islands.\n\nThe bill further includes funding for several foreign policy programs supported by Case, although some at unacceptably low levels. Among them are:\n\n\u00b7 $411 million for the Peace Corps, a decrease of $20 million from FY 2025.\n\n\u00b7 $411 million for peacekeeping operations, the same as FY 2025.\n\n\u00b7 $562.3 million to support international peacekeeping activities, a decrease of $838 million.\n\n\u00b7 $701 million for educational and cultural exchange programs, which include the Fulbright programs, a decrease of more than $40 million.\n\n\u00b7 $310 million for contributions to international organizations, a decrease of $1.2 billion.\n\n\u00b7 $1.5 billion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a decrease of $200 million.\n\n\u00b7 $915 million for maternal and child health programs.\n\nA summary of the bill is available here.\n\nThis is the ninth of twelve separate bills developed and approved by the Appropriations Committee that would fund the federal government at some $1.6 trillion for FY 2026 commencing October 1st of this year. The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4714", "Case Introduces Proposal To Expand Indigenous-Based Tourism", "2025-07-23", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=4", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Representative Ed Case (D-Hawai\u2018i-First District) has introduced proposed legislation in the U.S. House to authorize federal grants to Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiian organizations for fostering indigenous history and culture-based travel and tourism.\n\n\u201cThis measure is especially important for my home state of Hawai\u2018i, where the link between tourism and our indigenous peoples, Native Hawaiians, is essential\u201d, said Case. \u201cNative Hawaiian history and culture is at the heart of our islands\u2019 uniqueness. It is one of the major draws for our visitors, and activities based on our indigenous history and culture should be developed by Native Hawaiians wherever and however possible.\u201d\n\nCase said his measure is the House companion to S. 612, introduced by Senators Lisa Murkowski, Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, and Brian Schatz, Vice Chairman of the Committee. The bill makes important corrections to the NATIVE Act to authorize grants to Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiian organizations for recreational travel and tourism activities.\n\nCase said that Congress enacted the NATIVE Act in 2016 to provide grants, loans and technical assistance to Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiian organizations to assist in developing tourism in indigenous peoples communities and enhancing opportunities for visitors to learn about indigenous peoples\u2019 history, cultures, traditional foods, languages and arts. He said unfortunately, the act did not clearly authorize the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) or the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations (ONHR) to issue the grants, which led to implementation challenges.\n\n\u201cOur bill corrects this oversight by clearly authorizing the BIA and ONHR, along with several other federal agencies, to issue these grants and authorize appropriations for the program,\u201d said Case. \u201cThe bill will enable improved access to federal resources, helping these communities build sustainable tourism infrastructure and expand cultural tourism. In turn, it will foster a broader appreciation of indigenous peoples and create jobs and boost economic development in rural and underserved areas.\u201d\n\nCase continued: \u201cThe past generations have witnessed a great renaissance of the Hawaiian language and culture, and in turn over the ensuing years Native Hawaiian practitioners and culture have become an increasingly visible and central part of our visitor industry. We in Hawai\u2018i are committed to fostering this sector of our economy in a way that encourages long-term cultural preservation efforts.\n\n\u201cThrough improving the implementation of the NATIVE Act, which has helped both Native Hawaiian Organizations and local Native Hawaiian businesses, our federal government will do a better job preserving and promoting Native Hawaiian culture.\n\n\u201cWe can help connect tourists with the rich indigenous heritage of Hawai\u2018i though community-based visitor experiences that protect cultural sites, promote education and create jobs.\u201d\n\n1. Link to measure is here\n\n2. Link to Case remarks on the measure is here\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4712", "Case To Host Another Live District-Wide Tele-Talk Story July 29th", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=4", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01), now in his sixth full term in the U.S. House, will host another live virtual Tele-Talk Story with constituents on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. The event will be broadcast live on his Facebook page at @repedcase and on his official web site at https://case.house.gov/events/.\n\n\u201cIt is critical to my representation of a very diverse district in Congress that I communicate openly and frequently with my over 700,000 constituents in all possible ways,\u201d said Case. \u201cMy regular in-person and virtual live districtwide events, at which I report back from Congress, listen to concerns and guidance and answer questions, have been a central part of my connection with my district throughout my time on Capitol Hill.\u201d\n\nSince returning to Congress in 2019 representing Hawaii\u2019s First Congressional District (Honolulu from Makapu\u2019u to Mililani and Kapolei), Case has held 55 live districtwide in-person and virtual Talk Story meetings with his constituents, including throughout COVID-19. Case also served in Congress representing Hawaii\u2019s Second Congressional District (Windward, North Shore, West O\u2019ahu and all other islands) from 2002 to 2007, during which he hosted 172 live in-person Talk Story community meetings throughout the islands in order to reach a far more dispersed constituency.\n\nTo broaden his 1st Congressional community outreach, Case also this year initiated his Walk Stories, in which he spends a week home from Capitol Hill randomly walking communities throughout his district, talking with his constituents where they live, work and play. He has completed two Walk Stories, as follows:\n\n1. In July, Case walked the communities of P\u0101lolo, Kaimuk\u012b , M\u014d\u2018ili\u2018ili, Kalihi, Salt Lake, \u0100liamanu, Foster Village, Moanalua, H\u0101lawa and \u2018Aiea.\n\n2. In April, Case walked parts of Kalama Valley, Niu Valley, \u2018\u0100ina Haina, Wai\u2018alae, Nui Valley, McCully, Pearlridge, Waimalu, Pearl City, Pacific Palisades, Mililani Mauka, Waipi\u2018o Acres, Waipahu, \u2018Ewa Beach, \u2018Ewa Villages, Kalaeloa and Kapolei.\n\nTo join Case\u2019s July 29th Tele-Talk Story, constituents can call during the Talk Story at (855) 274-9528 or go to https://case.house.gov/live/ or https://www.facebook.com/RepEdCase/ for a live broadcast or anytime during the Talk Story.\n\nQuestions can be submitted in advance by emailing the Congressman at ed.case@mail.house.gov or, during the Talk Story, on his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RepEdCase/.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4713", "Case Opposes Public Lands And Natural Resources Funding Measure That Cripples Efforts To Combat Climate Change And Slashes Funds For National Parks", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=4", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted in full Committee today against the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Interior Appropriations bill that cut $2.9 billion from programs and agencies that support public lands and our nation\u2019s natural resources.\n\nThe Interior, Environment and Related Appropriations bill funds the U.S. Department of the Interior, including the National Park 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. The bill\u2019s FY 2026 discretionary funding level is $38 billion. This is a decrease of $2.9 billion from the FY 2025 enacted level.\n\n\u201cWhile these measures fund many critical Hawai\u2018i and priorities I requested, I regrettably had to vote against this version because it cripples efforts to deal with climate change by defunding all of the climate work by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cIt further decimates public lands by slashing funding for the National Park Service and gutting key conservation agencies that protect our parks, forests and wildlife. It also undermines museums and cultural institutions, cutting support for the Smithsonian and slashing the arts and humanities by $72 million each.\u201d\n\nIn full Committee debate on the measure, Case voiced his strong opposition to the bill\u2019s proposed $1.7 billion in cuts to federal support for Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds (see remarks here: https://youtu.be/0w197WN4wys).\n\nThese vital programs offer low-cost financing to local communities for a broad spectrum of water quality infrastructure projects. They have played a critical role in efforts to remediate Red Hill, including supporting technical assistance for source water protection, and are critical to continued maintenance of Hawaii\u2019s drinking water quality.\n\n\u201cRed Hill reinforced all over again that in an island community our water systems are fragile and priceless,\u201d Case said.\n\n\u201cWe need sustained investment not just to meet the urgent demands of remediation, but to ensure the long-term safety, resilience, and sustainability of our water infrastructure. We cannot cut back now on the very programs that have made that possible over the last half century,\u201d Case said.\n\nContinued support for the State Revolving Funds is also essential to Hawaii\u2019s ability to confront emerging contaminants like PFAS, or \u201cforever chemicals,\u201d which pose serious risks to public health and the environment. Furthermore, these funds are critical for moving forward on 38 high-priority water infrastructure projects across the state. These projects strengthen drinking water safety, improve wastewater treatment, and build long-term resilience in Hawaii\u2019s water systems. Without adequate federal investment, many of these initiatives risk delay or cancellation, leaving our communities vulnerable.\n\nHowever, the measure added several of Case\u2019s priority requests, including:\n\n\u00b7 $5 million for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service\u2019s State of the Birds Activities to respond to the urgent needs of critically endangered birds that now face possible extinction. These funds will help save numerous endemic birds in Hawai\u2018i that have been devastated by climate change and avian malaria.\n\n\u00b7 $45 million for the U.S. Geological Survey Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program.\n\n\u00b7 $66 million for the U.S. Geological Survey\u2019s Climate Adaptation Science Centers, which includes the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center based out of the University of Hawai\u2018i-M\u0101noa. These centers provide regionally relevant scientific information, tools and techniques to resource managers and communities in Hawai\u2018i in response to our changing climate.\n\n\u00b7 $63 million for State Historic Preservation Offices, which will help preserve Hawaii\u2019s treasured historic properties.\n\n\u00b7 $80 million for State Fire Assistance, which provides financial and technical support directly to states to enhance firefighting capacity, support community-based hazard mitigation and expand outreach and education to homeowners and communities concerning fire prevention.\n\n\u00b7 $20 million for the Joint Fire Science Program, which supports a national collaboration of fire science exchanges providing science information to federal, state, local, tribal and private stakeholders.\n\n\u00b7 $5 million for Japanese Confinement Site Grants and funding for the 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\nThrough his assignment on the Committee, Case was also able to secure a Member-designated Community Project Funding (CPF) project of $1,092,000 for the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) to upgrade the sewer infrastructure at Papak\u014dlea.\n\n\u201cPapak\u014dlea is the only Hawaiian Home Lands community located in central Honolulu with more than 300 homes and some 1,300 residents,\u201d said Case. \u201cAs the infrastructure in Papak\u014dlea ages, the sewer system has become susceptible to cracks, root intrusions and other defects that diminish the effectiveness of the service lines. My CPF will assist DHHL to work on a sewer line rehabilitation/replacement program for the community.\u201d\n\nThe House\u2019s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member and must be subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case\u2019s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/services/funding-disclosures.htm.\n\nA summary of the bill is available here.\n\nThis is the eighth bill of twelve separate bills developed and approved by the Appropriations Committee that would fund the federal government at some $1.6 trillion for FY 2026 commencing October 1st of this year. The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-urges-va-to-remove-former-kamehameha-schools-psychiatrist-from-punchbowl-over-sex-abuse-allegations", "Rep. Tokuda Urges VA to Remove Former Kamehameha Schools Psychiatrist from Punchbowl Over Sex Abuse Allegations", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) sent a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins requesting support for legislation allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to review and initiate disinterment proceedings for Dr. Robert McCormick Browne who is interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, commonly known as \u201cPunchbowl Cemetery.\u201d\n\nThe request to exhume and disinter Dr. Browne from Punchbowl Cemetery came from one of Rep. Tokuda\u2019s constituents, who identifies as a survivor of sexual abuse by Dr. Browne and has family members buried at the VA national cemetery in Honolulu. Dr. Browne, who worked as a psychiatrist for Kamehameha Schools, faced dozens of allegations from former students before his death in 1991.\n\n\u201cThe presence of an alleged serial abuser in a place reserved for those who served with distinction is deeply painful and unacceptable to survivors and the families of those buried alongside him,\u201d the letter stated.\n\n\u201cAlthough Dr. Browne was never convicted due to his suicide prior to trial, credible and documented findings of his extensive sexual abuse of minors warrant a full review by the VA as authorized under 38 USC \u00a7 2411(c). Unfortunately, current law only provides these authorities to VA for decedents interred from December 2013 onward, leaving his victims with little recourse.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of survivors and families who have expressed deep distress over Dr. Browne\u2019s continued memorialization at Punchbowl Cemetery, we respectfully request your support for legislation that would allow VA to review Dr. Browne\u2019s case and, in accordance with any findings and the law, remove him from this place of national reverence. Doing so would maintain the integrity of our cemeteries and affirm VA\u2019s commitment to honoring the memory of those interred with the respect they deserve.\u201d\n\nIn 2013, Congress enacted the Alicia Dawn Koehl Respect for National Cemeteries Act (P.L. 113-65), which establishes grounds for disinterment of individuals who have committed certain serious crimes, including provisions for those who died or fled before they could be prosecuted or convicted. In 2019, the VA barred convicted Tier III sex offenders from burial or memorialization in national cemeteries, a policy Congress codified in the 2022 National Cemeteries Preservation and Protection Act (P.L. 117-355).\n\nSenator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Representative Ed Case (HI-01) also signed the letter, which can be read here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-tokuda-timmons-lead-bipartisan-push-to-eliminate-coffee-tariffs", "Reps. Tokuda, Timmons Lead Bipartisan Push to Eliminate Coffee Tariffs", "2025-07-22", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and William Timmons (R-SC-04), co-chairs of the Congressional Coffee Caucus, led a bipartisan letter urging Ambassador Jamieson Greer, United States Trade Representative, to remove existing and future tariffs on coffee in order to protect American jobs and support the continued vitality of the nation\u2019s import-dependent coffee industry.\n\n\u201cUnlike many other goods affected by recent tariffs, coffee is not produced at a scale within the United States that can meet domestic demand. Though small quantities of predominantly specialty coffee are grown in Hawai\u2018i and Puerto Rico, their combined production accounts for less than 1 percent of U.S. coffee consumption,\u201d the letter stated.\n\n\u201cBecause there is no viable domestic substitute, tariffs on imported coffee create challenges for the industry. Sixty-six percent of American adults drink coffee every day, making it the most popular beverage in the country. But coffee is more than a daily ritual for millions of Americans \u2013 it is a vital pillar of our economy and local communities. Nationally, the coffee industry supports more than 2.2 million American jobs, generates over $100 billion in wages, and contributes an estimated $343 billion in economic output per year. Every $1 of imported coffee creates an estimated $43 in value throughout the supply chain, and coffee shops, roasters, and distributors serve as important economic engines supporting small businesses and creating jobs that help sustain local economies.\u201d\n\nReps. Tokuda and Timmons were joined by Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), Maria Salazar (R-FL-27), Sarah McBride (D-DE-AL), Scott Perry (R-PA-10), Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Pat Fallon (R-TX-04), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), and Ben Cline (R-VA-06).\n\nA copy of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/-rep-tokuda-votes-against-cuts-to-public-broadcasting-foreign-aid", "Rep. Tokuda Votes Against Cuts to Public Broadcasting, Foreign Aid", "2025-07-18", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 This morning, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted against the $9 billion spending cut package that rescinds federal funds appropriated for public broadcasting and foreign aid. H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, passed the House by a vote of 216-213 and now heads to the President to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cPublic broadcasting serves as a lifeline for rural and underserved communities, providing essential educational content and emergency alerts in times of crisis. But this rescissions package will now force radio and television stations across the country to make difficult decisions.\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cIn Hawai\u02bbi, local stations have shared how deeply these cuts will impact their ability to serve, leading to possible staff layoffs and reduced programming. We cannot afford to weaken this vital public good, especially as access to trusted information is more important than ever to support children, inform families, and keep communities safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt a time when American leadership is needed most, Republicans are also gutting the very programs that ensure our national security, stabilize our allies, and project our values. Slashing foreign aid abandons vulnerable communities abroad, while ceding ground to adversaries like China and Russia. With this vote, Republicans and the President have turned their back on the world and worse, on the very people they swore to serve.\u201d\n\nThe rescissions package includes the following federal funding cuts:\n\n\u00b7 $3.6 billion from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID);\n\n\u00b7 $4.3 billion from broader foreign assistance (including support for global health programs, democracy initiatives, and peacekeeping efforts); and\n\n\u00b7 $1.07 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).\n\nWhile the full effects of these cuts are still being evaluated, based on Fiscal Year 2024 funding levels, CPB provided the following support to Hawai\u02bbi:\n\n\u00b7 Hawai\u02bbi Public Radio (statewide): $419,480\n\n\u00b7 PBS Hawai\u02bbi (statewide): $1,712,659\n\n\u00b7 KKCR-FM (Kaua\u02bbi): $83,010\n\n\u00b7 Pacific Islanders in Communications (Honolulu): $1,858,591\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4709", "Case Opposes Housing And Transportation, Energy And Water Funding Measures That Fail To Support Americans Facing Rising Housing, Energy And Transportation Costs", "2025-07-17", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=4", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, today voted in full Committee against the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Appropriations and FY 2026 Energy and Water Appropriations measures.\n\nThe FY 2026 housing and transportation bill proposes to spend $89.9 billion for HUD, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Department of Transportation, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This is a decrease of $4.5 billion from the FY 2025 enacted level.\n\nThe $57.3 billion Energy and Water Appropriations bill funds the Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 (USACE) civil works programs and various energy programs. This is a decrease of nearly $776 million from the FY 2025 enacted level.\n\n\u201cWhile these measures fund many critical Hawai\u2018i priorities I requested, I regrettably had to vote against both bills because of massive cuts to federal program that help everyday Americans with rising housing, transportation and energy costs,\u201d explained Case.\n\nThe Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill included some important wins for Hawai\u2018i requested by Case including $5.5 million for Case\u2019s Community Funding Projects (described below), as well as $18.3 million for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant and $28 million for the Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund (for both of which programs the President\u2019s budget has proposed $0). It also included Case\u2019s request to continue funding for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which plays a crucial role in enhancing the safety of the helicopter and small aircraft industry through accident investigation, analysis and recommendations to prevent future incidents, including several fatal accidents throughout Hawai\u2018i.\n\nDespite these positives, Case said the bill poses significant risks to vulnerable communities by exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis and undercutting critical housing support systems. The bill eliminates the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the only federal program dedicated to developing new affordable rental and homeownership options. It also defunds the PRO Housing Program, which empowers local governments to address housing shortages. Together, these actions remove essential tools for expanding the affordable housing supply.\n\nThe bill further harms Americans aspiring to homeownership by stripping funding from housing counseling assistance. The net effect of the bill threatens nearly 415,000 households that rely on HUD assistance, putting them at risk of eviction and housing instability.\n\nThe Energy and Water Appropriations bill also included numerous wins for Hawai\u2018i requested by Case, including funding for USACE programs that aid in the preservation of Hawaii\u2019s coastlines across all seven inhabited islands. Specifically, the bill includes $2 million to study avenues of protection for public infrastructure on small beaches from erosion and damage caused by storms and natural wave currents; $18 million for regional sediment management, construction, operations and regulatory functions in the coastal zone; and $38 million for programs which manage aquatic weeds in public waters.\n\nNotably, one of Case\u2019s highest priorities, an instruction to the USACE to complete a major update study for Honolulu Harbor, was included in the bill. This provision directs the USACE to investigate modifications to Honolulu Harbor to better handle the impacts of military operations in the state and throughout the Indo-Pacific as a whole, which can open up additional federal resources for the planned improvements of Honolulu Harbor. Also included in the bill is $9.5 million for USACE program that aids in the planning, designing and construction of small projects for commercial navigation purposes such as channels, breakwaters and jetties. This funding will aid in the investigation of best practices for Honolulu Harbor modifications.\n\nDespite these positives, Case opposed the measure in light of the widespread elimination of funding to advance clean, affordable and secure energy for Americans. The bill slashes vital clean energy funding nationwide, with Hawai\u2018i set to experience a cut of 31% on federal funding for clean energy projects and investments.\n\n\u201cWhile the Energy and Water Appropriations measures fund many critical Hawai\u2018i and priorities I requested, regrettably the bill will increase energy costs for American families by revoking more than $5 billion in clean energy investments.\n\n\u201cWithout these federally funded programs and incentives, we risk falling dangerously behind our clean energy goals,\u201d said Case.\n\nThrough his assignment on the Committee, Case secured the following seven Member-designated Community Project Funding (CPF) projects across the two bills that specifically focused on local needs in Hawai\u2018i:\n\n\u00b7 $2 million for the Hawai\u2018i Department of Transportation to repair Aloha Tower, including replacing its 40-foot mast, repairing the crown of the tower and replacing its windows to weatherproof the landmark. This funding is essential to maintain Aloha Tower\u2019s structural integrity, enhance public access and ensure that it remains a celebrated symbol of Honolulu\u2019s history for generations to come.\n\n\u00b7 $1 million for the City and County of Honolulu for its Waik\u012bk\u012b Vista Project. This project converts former Tokai University and Hawai\u2018i Pacific University classrooms into a consolidated, family-friendly emergency shelter and additional affordable housing units for low-income families. This investment will directly enhance the City\u2019s ability to reduce family homelessness and expand affordable housing inventory in one of Hawaii\u2019s most housing-challenged areas.\n\n\u00b7 $850,000 for the City and County of Honolulu to support its Safe Harbor Support for Housing Survivors of Domestic Violence project. This funding will expand the Domestic Violence Action Center\u2019s successful housing program by supporting property acquisition and staffing to increase safe and stable housing options for survivors and their children.\n\n\u00b7 $850,000 for Kalihi Waena Elementary School to construct a new single-span pedestrian bridge with American with Disabilities Act-compliant access between K\u016bhi\u014d Park Terrace and the school. The new bridge will replace dangerously deteriorating infrastructure and ensure safe and equitable access for students and community members.\n\n\u00b7 $300,000 for Highlands Intermediate School to modernize and expand its media center infrastructure. The renovation will create a collaborative, technology-driven learning environment that fosters student creativity, innovation and digital literacy.\n\n\u00b7 $250,000 for the Hawai\u2018i State Parks System and Hawai\u2018i Nature Center to upgrade educational and operational facilities, including classroom expansion and replacement of a sustainable wetland wastewater system supporting environmental education for thousands of Title I students annually.\n\n\u00b7 $250,000 for the Hawai\u2018i State Broadband Office for broadband infrastructure development in our local community centers. Funding will be used toward essential network enhancements, including rewiring, electrical system upgrades and the installation of Wi-Fi access points to ensure reliable, high-speed connectivity.\n\nThe House\u2019s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member and must be subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case\u2019s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/services/funding-disclosures.htm.\n\nTransportation-HUD Funding Bill\n\nMore specifically, the bill includes the following funding requested by Case for programs to improve access to affordable housing in Hawai\u2018i and nationwide:\n\n\u00b7 $18.3 million for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant Program, which supports the building, acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable homes.\n\n\u00b7 $5 million for core housing research partnerships with Native Hawaiian serving institutions among other minority serving institutions.\n\n\u00b7 $56 million for the Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity Program.\n\n\u00b7 $17 billion for project-based rental assistance.\n\n\u00b7 $5.6 billion for the Community Development Fund, which includes $3.3 billion for the Community Development Block Grant formula program.\n\n\u00b7 $4 billion for the Homeless Assistance Grants.\n\nTransportation and infrastructure programs requested and secured by Case include:\n\n\u00b7 $380 million for the Maritime Security Program, $123 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program and $30 million for assistance to small shipyards like Kalaeloa/Barbers Point.\n\n\u00b7 $64 billion for the Federal Highway Administration to improve the safety and long-term viability of our highways.\n\n\u00b7 $23 billion for the FAA, including $10 billion to fully fund air traffic control operations and allow the FAA to hire 2,500 air traffic controllers to replace the retiring workforce.\n\n\u00b7 $15 billion for the Federal Transit Administration.\n\nA summary of the Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill is available here.\n\nEnergy and Water Funding Bill\n\nMore specifically, the bill includes the following energy and water-related programs and provisions requested and secured by Case and of specific benefit to Hawai\u2018i:\n\n\u00b7 Language directing the USACE to investigate modifications to Honolulu Harbor to better accommodate the impacts of military operations in the state and throughout the Indo-Pacific as a whole.\n\n\u00b7 $2 million for the USACE\u2019s beach erosion and hurricane and storm damage reduction activities.\n\n\u00b7 $40 million for flood control and coastal emergencies efforts.\n\n\u00b7 $18 million for the USACE\u2019s National Coastal Mapping Program, which provides high-resolution elevation and imagery data along the U.S. shorelines on a recurring basis which can provide a better understanding of human uses, issues and constraints in coastal regions.\n\n\u00b7 $12 million for the USACE\u2019s Aquatic Plant Control Program, which conducts research and development of biological, chemical, cultural and ecological capabilities for controlling invasive aquatic plants.\n\n\u00b7 Language modifying a clean energy program under DOE that has been widely beneficial for Hawai\u2018i. The newly named Energy Technology Innovation Office, previously known as the Energy Transitions Initiative, supports island and remote communities by providing personalized technical and financial assistance. Case recently introduced legislation make to make this program permanent. (See here for more details.)\n\n\u00b7 Language directing the DOE to investigate potential benefits of having small-modular nuclear reactors as a source of clean, domestically sourced electricity for remote, noncontiguous U.S. areas such as Hawai\u2018i.\n\nA summary of the Energy and Water Appropriations bill is available here.\n\nThese two bills are the 6th and 7th of twelve separate bills developed and approved by the Appropriations Committee that would fund the federal government at some $1.6 trillion for FY 2026 commencing October 1st of this year. The bills now move on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-defends-hawaii-priorities-in-markup-of-annual-defense-policy-bill", "Rep. Tokuda Defends Hawai\u2018i Priorities in Markup of Annual Defense Policy Bill", "2025-07-16", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Last night, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted to send H.R. 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, to the full House of Representatives. If enacted into law, this NDAA would mark the 65th consecutive year in which Congress has passed this critical law for national security. The committee reported the bill as amended by a vote of 56 to 2.\n\n\u201cAs a member of the House Armed Services Committee, it\u2019s important to me that the Department of Defense is a good neighbor to those that reside in Hawai\u2019i and takes the utmost care to protect our most vulnerable communities,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cBy mandating the Department to more accurately capture its housing needs, we can plan for a proper amount of military workforce housing while responding to the local impact of the military\u2019s presence on Hawaii\u2019s limited supply of affordable homes. I also fought for new reporting mandates for cases of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and child abuse to ensure that the Department of Defense meets its responsibility to care for our military families.\u201d\n\n\"In response to the tragic deaths of Mischa Johnson and her unborn child, I worked with my colleagues to increase the maximum sentence for voluntary manslaughter cases under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. This important change strengthens military justice and ensures that future violent criminals face consequences as serious as the strong laws in Hawai\u2018i and other states,\u201d continued Rep. Tokuda.\n\n\u201cThese various provisions directly address the challenges facing our military families, from including civilian employees in housing market analyses to ensuring swift reporting of abuse and neglect. By holding the Department accountable for the safety of servicemembers and their families, these measures reflect our commitment to their well-being.\u201d\n\nThe bill, as amended, also includes several top priorities for Hawai\u2018i and for servicemembers, veterans, Department of Defense civilian employees, and their families secured by Rep. Tokuda, including:\n\nA requirement for the Department of Defense to report to Congress quarterly on efforts to combat sexual assault, sexual harassment, and intimate partner violence;\n\nA requirement to review and increase the maximum sentence for voluntary manslaughter under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, currently much lower than the maximum sentence in Hawai\u2018i and many other states, which came to light amid the prosecution for the gruesome killing of Hawai\u2018i resident Mischa Johnson and her unborn child by her Soldier husband;\n\nThe full inclusion of Department of Defense civilian employees and contractors in the military\u2019s regular housing market analyses, plus an independent review of the suitability of Department of Defense land in Hawai\u2018i for housing construction for service members to help address the military\u2019s impact on the local housing market;\n\nA 24-hour parental notification requirement for child abuse and neglect that occurs at Department of Defense child and youth programs, plus a 72-hour congressional notification requirement to hold the Department accountable;\n\nA provision to prevent the Trump Administration from decommissioning oceanographic ships, like the Kilo Moana, without providing a plan to maintain and recapitalize the oceanographic fleet;\n\nA new authority to fund ordnance disposal through intergovernmental support agreements, opening up a new possibility for local and state governments in Hawai\u2018i and throughout the nation to assist in the demining of formerly used defense lands;\n\nAn independent review of the military\u2019s efforts to prevent criminal activity and other misconduct by service members stationed in Okinawa, Japan, along with reporting requirements on the Department\u2019s efforts to improve communication with the local community in Okinawa regarding criminal allegations involving U.S. service members; and\n\nA review by the Government Accountability Office of the costs and impacts on military readiness of the Trump Administration\u2019s efforts to use the military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for immigration enforcement;\n\nThis year\u2019s NDAA also includes other provisions to improve the quality of life for military servicemembers and their families, including a 3.8 percent pay increase for military personnel, extending the \u201cChild Care In Your Home\u201d Pilot Program, and creating a new initiative to provide TRICARE coverage of obstetrical and gynecological care without the need for a referral.\n\nA full summary of the FY 2026 NDAA, as reported by the House Armed Services Committee, can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4707", "Case Completes Second Weeklong District Walk Story This Year", "2025-07-13", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=4", "scraper", "(HONOLULU, HI) -- U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i-First District) devoted most of his July 7-11th week home from Congress to five days of walking communities across his district, talking with constituents he met along the way at their homes, workplaces and other areas.\n\nIn his second weeklong district \u201cWalk Story\u201d this year, Case walked the communities of P\u0101lolo, Kaimuk\u012b , Mo\u2019ili\u2019ili, Kalihi, Salt Lake, \u0100liamanu, Foster Village, Moanalua, H\u0101lawa and \u2018Aiea, talking with hundreds of residents wherever he found them.\n\nCase kicked off his Walk Stories while back home the week of April 21st of this year, when over another five day stretch he walked parts of Kalama Valley, Niu Valley, \u2018\u0100ina Haina, Wai\u2018alae, Nui Valley, McCully, Pearlridge, Waimalu, Pearl City, Pacific Palisades, Mililani Mauka, Waipio Acres, Waipahu, \u2018Ewa Beach, \u2018Ewa Villages, Kalaeloa and Kapolei.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve always been committed to staying as close to my constituents as possible in different ways that work best for them\u201d, said Case, who over his decade-plus in the U.S. House has hosted hundreds of live, in-person Talk Story community meetings throughout his districts as well as virtual meetings, including six in-person and one virtual Talk Story earlier this year.\n\n\u201cBut as this 119th Congress (2025-2027) and the second Trump administration got underway this year and the polarization and noise of anger and division on Capitol Hill and across the country reached new highs, I felt I needed to strengthen my direct connection to all of the residents of Hawaii\u2019s First Congressional District, especially those that do not regularly engage their government or me, by reaching out and talking story in different ways when I\u2019m home.\n\n\u201cFor me, these two full weeks now of Walk Story have been incredibly valuable because I\u2019ve been able to talk personally with a highly diverse and representative part of my constituency just going about their lives and expressing their views and concerns for our country, Hawai\u2018i, family, workplaces and communities.\n\n\u201cAfter each of my Walk Story weeks, I\u2019ve returned to Capitol Hill with a sense strong connection back home and direction for the issues I must focus on and directions I must take.\n\n\u201cAs for what I heard in my most recent Walk Story, like April\u2019s, it\u2019s no surprise that the cost of living remains a universal concern. But is not just the actual costs; it\u2019s the uncertainty of where the costs are going that makes it so difficult to plan and adjust.\n\n\u201cClosely related, most remain concerned about the direction of our country, especially under the Trump administration. What was different from my April Walk Story, though, was that more folks who had voted for President Trump were undecided to unsupportive about many of his administration\u2019s initiatives, on both foreign and domestic policy, and there was far more concern for preservation of the rule of law. Many regardless of how they voted were especially concerned at the recent reconciliation budget law and its effects on their own families and communities.\n\n\u201cAnother major area of concern was our small businesses, which is virtually all of our businesses in Hawai\u2018i.\n\n\u201cI walked into dozens and dozens of small businesses of all kinds, from eateries to vehicle repair shops, florists, financial institutions, travel agencies, insurers, remodelers, contractors, engineers, food distributors, jewelers and on and on, talking with their owners, managers and employees about their businesses and what concerned them.\n\n\u201cVirtually all expressed uncertainty about their own situations, especially given the administration\u2019s ongoing trade and tariff wars on imports from other countries which is resulting in increasing prices to their customers.\n\n\u201cAlthough I wasn\u2019t surprised at the big picture of what I heard from my constituents, to have it all validated with real-world stories of personal views and impacts from across the political, economic and social spectrum was deeply valuable to my responsibility to represent all of my district in addressing the major challenges we all face.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m already looking forward to my next Walk Story on one of my upcoming times home, to add again to my many other efforts to stay strongly connected with my constituents to listen to their views and concerns and answer their questions.\u201d\n\nAs part of his ongoing efforts, Case is also hosting another live districtwide Tele-Talk Story on Tuesday, July 29th, 6PM to 7:30PM Hawai\u2018i time. Details on how constituents can join and provide questions are at case.house.gov.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4692", "Case Votes Against Reconciliation Budget Measure", "2025-07-03", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=4", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Representative Ed Case (D-HI-01) this morning voted against H.R. 1, the massive \u201creconciliation\u201d budget bill that has been under consideration in Congress since January.\n\nThe measure passed on a vote of 218-214, with all Democrats including Case voting against.\n\nCase made the following statement on his vote:\n\n\u201cLaws are not just about policy; they are ultimately about our values.\n\n\u201cOn so many counts, H.R. 1 fails miserably as sound policy reflecting strong values.\n\n\u201cIt gifts a massive tax break to those who have benefited the most from our society and least need help.\n\n\u201cIt pays for that tax cut by borrowing from our future, plunging our nation into another $5 trillion of debt.\n\n\u201cIt guts our bedrock efforts to provide all Americans with affordable quality nutrition, health care, housing and other life basics, and tens of millions of Americans will be far worse off and even die as a result.\n\n\u201cIt reverses generations of effort to convert to clean renewable energy despite the sheer folly of doubling down on fossil fuels.\n\n\u201cIt hides special interest provisions in its almost-thousand pages that reflect the worst of insider Washington.\n\n\u201cIt makes life today and into the next generation harder, not easier, for most of us.\n\n\u201cAs a tragic, cruel measure that so deeply benefits so few so well at the expense of so many so severely, it accelerates deepening inequality and division throughout our country and further stretches the fraying fabric of our society.\n\n\u201cNone of this can be sound policy, none of this can be our values.\n\n\u201cWe must start today, wherever and however we can, in our governments, communities and election booths, to contain and reverse the damage of this measure and to return to a course that reflects sound policy and core values for all Americans.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-votes-against-big-ugly-bill", "Rep. Tokuda Votes Against \u201cBig Ugly Bill\u201d", "2025-07-03", "2025", "2025-07", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted against passage of the budget reconciliation bill, which implements President Trump\u2019s agenda to extend tax cuts to the wealthiest, while slashing Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and student aid for millions of working people. The bill passed the House by a vote of 218-214.\n\n\"It's been sickening to see Republicans fast track a bill that's not just bad policy, it's reckless and selfish, and it's a betrayal to our people. This bill would rip lifesaving Medicaid coverage from 17 million Americans, including 150,000 in Hawai\u2018i, and take food out of the mouths of 42 million people who rely on SNAP to feed their families, including 22,000 right here at home. It guts the income our farmers and grocers depend on to nourish our communities, all while handing billions in tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy. These aren\u2019t handouts, they\u2019re lifelines. And the cruelest part? Our keiki will be stuck paying off the $5 trillion in debt this bill creates,\u201d said Rep. Jill Tokuda. \u201cTo push this through on the eve of our nation\u2019s birthday isn\u2019t just heartless \u2014 it\u2019s anti-American. It\u2019s wrong, and Hawai\u2018i and our country deserves better. While we lost the battle on this bill today, I will never stop fighting against the war Republicans have waged on our people and the safety nets and lifelines that help to lift our families up. From health care to housing, the food on our tables, and the education and jobs that give our people a chance, I will not waiver in my commitment to justice and opportunity to all.\"\n\nIf enacted into law, the \"One Big Beautiful Bill\" would lead to the largest cuts in health care coverage and nutrition benefits in our nation\u2019s history. Here are some of the impacts to Americans:\n\nCuts off healthcare access by removing 17 million children, seniors, and people with disabilities, including over 150,000 Hawai\u02bbi residents, from their health insurance.\n\nIncreases grocery bills for all 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP to afford food, including 22,000 people in Hawai\u2019i, due to a 20 percent cut in benefits.\n\nRaises household energy costs by more than $110 per year starting in 2026, increasing to over $400 annually by 2035, through the repeal of clean energy tax credits.\n\nEliminates 840,000 good-paying jobs in the clean energy sector over the next five years, and another 790,000 over the next 10 years.\n\nFavors the top 0.1% by cutting their taxes an average of $309,000 a year ($850 a day), while people making under $50,000 will only see a decline of $247 a year (less than $1 a day).\n\nAdds to the national debt by over $5 trillion over the next decade, driving up debt and interest payments to new record highs and accelerating Social Security and Medicare insolvency to 2032.\n\nBefore voting against the bill, Rep. Tokuda proposed several amendments, including the following, to:\n\nProtect Rural Hospitals: Prevent any provider payment changes from taking effect unless the Dept. of Health and Human Services certifies that the Act would not reduce access to care or lead to rural hospital closures.\n\nPreserve Food Assistance: Ensure continued support to help states run SNAP more efficiently and effectively for hungry keiki, kupuna, and families.\n\nKeep Keiki Insured: Prohibit any reduction in eligibility, enrollment, or benefits of the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program, which provides coverage to low-income keiki.\n\nSupporting Our Farmers: Prevent cuts to food assistance programs unless the Dept. of Agriculture certifies that it would not cause financial harm to farmers, ranchers, or producers.\n\nStrengthen the Workforce: Preserve access to federal graduate and professional student loans for aspiring doctors.\n\nThe bill now heads to the president\u2019s desk for his signature.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T14:40:33Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/reps-tokuda-begich-seek-fair-medicare-reimbursements-for-hawaii-and-alaska", "Reps. Tokuda, Begich Seek Fair Medicare Reimbursements for Hawai\u02bbi and Alaska", "2025-06-30", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and Nick Begich (R-AK) introduced two bills to address Medicare underpayments for rural hospitals in Hawai\u02bbi and Alaska: the Save our Lone Emergency Services (SOLES) Act and the Ensuring Outpatient Quality for Rural States Act. These bills seek to ensure Medicare reimbursement rates reflect the unique challenges and tremendous disparities that significantly increase healthcare delivery costs in the noncontiguous states.\n\nThe SOLES Act would set a floor on Medicare payments to isolated community hospitals in Hawai\u02bbi and Alaska, ensuring these facilities have the financial stability to continue delivering essential health services. The Ensuring Outpatient Quality for Rural States Act would authorize a cost-of-living adjustment for Medicare-covered hospital outpatient services in these states. Together, these bills make sure the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services pay for the higher regional costs faced by remote healthcare facilities when determining reimbursement rates in these states.\n\n\u201cProviding quality healthcare in Hawai\u02bbi and Alaska costs more, whether it\u2019s due to the geographic isolation, limited infrastructure, difficulty recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals, or the exceptionally high cost of living. Yet, Medicare continues to reimburse rural hospitals in the noncontiguous states at the same rate as those in the U.S. mainland making it especially difficult to deliver care to our remote communities,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda, co-chair of the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join my colleague Representative Begich in introducing these bills to promote fair reimbursement rates and provide lasting support for healthcare providers in Hawai\u02bbi and Alaska. By aligning Medicare payments with the true costs of healthcare delivery in our states, we can strengthen our local health systems and ensure sustained access to care for our kupuna, no matter where they live.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccess to healthcare for those who live in rural and remote communities presents significant challenges especially in places like Alaska and Hawaii. For too long, Medicare reimbursement formulas have failed to reflect the true cost of delivering care. We must continue to look for innovative ways to provide better access to healthcare in states with large rural populations,\u201d said Rep. Begich. \u201cThat\u2019s why I am proud to introduce the SOLES Act with the support of Representative Tokuda and co-sponsor the Ensuring Outpatient Quality for Rural States Act, bills that recognize these challenges and take concrete steps to ensure that our rural hospitals and dedicated providers have the tools they need to provide access to quality care in rural areas. These bipartisan bills are essential to protecting access to critical inpatient and outpatient services for our rural communities.\u201d\n\nText of the two bills can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4689", "Case Opposes Legislative Branch Funding Measure That Weakens Congressional Oversight Abilities", "2025-06-27", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=4", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, yesterday voted in full Committee against the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Legislative Branch Appropriations measure.\n\nThe bill, which funds Congress, provides $5 billion, a decrease of $272 million or 5 percent below the FY 2025 enacted level. This total excludes the Senate items, which are added later in the legislative process.\n\nThe bill supports the U.S. House of Representatives, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Library of Congress, the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police.\n\n\u201cI voted against this bill because it weakens Congress when Congress must most remain a fully functioning separate, independent and co-equal branch of government, including vital oversight and information-gathering agencies like the Library of Congress and the Government Accountability Office,\u201d said Case, who served for four years on the Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee.\n\nIn full Committee, Case especially criticized the Republican majority\u2019s proposal to cut the GAO\u2019s budget by almost 50%. He specifically referred to the GAO\u2019s identified \u201chigh risk\u201d areas that Congress should focus on in order to control wasteful spending and asked his majority colleagues how they proposed to address these areas if they denied Congress the oversight resources required. (See Case\u2019s speech here.)\n\nThe measure\u2019s key provisions weakening Congress\u2019s oversight powers include:\n\n\u00b7 $415 million for the GAO, a decrease of $396.5 million or 48.8 percent below fiscal year 2025 and $518.6 million less than the fiscal year 2026 request.\n\n\u00b7 Prohibiting the GAO from bringing civil actions against any department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States for failing to comply with the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 without Congressional approval. The GAO, acting per its statutory direction from Congress, currently has nearly forty open investigations into whether the executive branch is illegally withholding (impounding) money Case\u2019s Appropriations Committee previously appropriated.\n\n\u00b7 $767.6 million for the Library of Congress, a decrease of $84.6 million or 10 percent below fiscal year 2025 and $133.7 million less than the FY 2026 request.\n\nThis will directly harm the Library\u2019s Congressional Research Service (CRS), which serves as shared nonpartisan staff to Congressional committees and Members of Congress. CRS experts assist at every stage of the legislative process \u2014 from the early considerations that precede bill drafting, through committee hearings and floor debate, to the oversight of enacted laws and various agency activities.\n\nCase was able to secure a number of key programs and provisions he requested, including:\n\n\u00b7 $20.6 million in funding to help pay for interns in House Member Offices.\n\n\u00b7 Supported an amendment that allows the recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program, also known as Dreamers, to work in the United States Congress. The amendment passed by a vote of 32 to 29.\n\n\u00b7 $1.9 million for the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services which helps coordinate services for individuals with disabilities including Members of Congress, staff and visitors to the Capitol.\n\nThis measure is one of the twelve bills developed by the House Appropriations Committee that will collectively fund the federal government for FY 2026 (commencing October 1, 2025). The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.\n\nA summary of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-tokuda-begich-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-reliability-for-essential-air-service-passengers", "Reps. Tokuda, Begich Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Reliability for Essential Air Service Passengers", "2025-06-27", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and Nick Begich (R-AK) introduced the Essential Air Service (EAS) Reliability Act, which would require EAS carriers to have a plan to accommodate passengers in the event of unexpected cancellations.\n\nThe EAS program helps air carriers maintain scheduled service to over 100 small regional airports across the country, ensuring residents in rural and remote communities stay connected to the national air transportation system. This bill would require EAS carriers to include contingency plans for maintenance or other non-weather-related service disruptions as part of the competitive application process for EAS contracts.\n\n\u201cReliable air service is more than just convenience, it\u2019s an essential lifeline. People in Hawai\u2019i depend on inter-island transportation to access healthcare, get to work, and connect with loved ones. Our communities need consistent air service, and we can\u2019t afford to let essential services be jeopardized by poor planning or unreliable operations,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cThis bill is an important step to ensure EAS carriers do their part to deliver more reliable service without compromising safety. It\u2019s not just about holding them accountable when things go wrong \u2013 it\u2019s about making sure they have solid backup plans to avoid such problems in the first place. Our people shouldn\u2019t have to worry about getting stranded.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlaska has a vast interconnected aviation system and air travel remains a critical component of daily life for many across our state. Our expansive aviation network connects 65 rural communities through the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, ensuring access to vital services. As we advance into the 21st century, it's imperative to enhance both the safety and reliability of our aviation sector,\u201d said Congressman Begich. \u201cThis legislation takes an important step towards addressing reliability by mandating that EAS carriers include comprehensive contingency plans for maintenance and other non-weather-related disruptions in their contract applications. I'm proud to collaborate with Rep. Tokuda on this initiative, helping ensure that our rural communities continue to receive dependable and secure air services.\u201d\n\nIn Hawai\u2019i, Mokulele Airlines currently services all four EAS routes, which include flights to Kaulapapa, L\u0101na\u2018i, H\u0101na and Kamuela. Earlier this year, Mokulele, grounded their entire fleet without warning, leaving these communities with no alternative means of transportation to critical healthcare, employment, and government services on other islands. This was the second time in less than a year that EAS flights were unexpectedly cancelled for a prolonged period in the state.\n\nRep. Tokuda has actively engaged with airline stakeholders and federal agencies to address the reliability of EAS service in Hawai\u2018i and prevent future outages. At her request, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued reporting requirements as part of Mokulele\u2019s renewed EAS contracts for service to L\u0101na\u2018i and Kaulapapa to increase accountability and ensure more consistent and dependable routes.\n\nCosponsors of the Essential Air Service Reliability Act include: Reps. Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-CNMI), Hillary Scholten (D-MI).\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4686", "Case Opposes Homeland Security Funding Measure That Would Cripple Federal Disaster Assistance To State And Local Governments", "2025-06-25", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=4", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee and of its Subcommittee on Homeland Security, voted yesterday in the full committee against the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations measure.\n\nThe FY 2026 Homeland Security bill proposes a total discretionary allocation of $66.4 billion to the Department of Homeland Security, an increase of $1.3 billion over the FY 2025 enacted level.\n\nCombined with the additional $26.5 billion for disaster response and $6.3 billion for programs offset by fee collections, the bill proposes to spend a total of $99.1 billion for the Department of Homeland Security in FY 2026.\n\nThe bill supports the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service and more.\n\n\u201cWhile the measure funds many critical Hawai\u2018i and Indo-Pacific priorities I requested, I regrettably had to vote against this version because it dangerously underfunds disaster mitigation and cybersecurity initiatives, ultimately leaving Americans less safe,\u201d said Case. \u201cThe Committee also was forced to draft the bill in the dark because the administration failed to provide a detailed budget request, and this is a dangerous precedent to support.\u201d\n\nIn his remarks to the full committee here, Case focused specifically on critical FEMA assistance to for the Maui wildfire disaster as well as proposed cybersecurity cuts.\n\nThrough his assignment on the Subcommittee, Case secured $1 million for the Hawai\u2018i Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (HIEMA) Emergency Operations Center IT Modernization Project. This is one of Case\u2019s Member-designated Community Project Funding (CPF) projects that specifically focuses on local needs in Hawai\u2018i. The project will fund the procurement and installation of touchscreen monitors for a new information wall at the emergency operations center to facilitate emergency response communications and instantaneous information sharing.\n\n\u201cThese facilities will share information in real time so that emergency responders can make informed decisions and take necessary actions to save lives and protect property in the event of a disaster,\u201d said Case.\n\nThe House\u2019s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member and must be subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case\u2019s disclosures are here.\n\nCase also secured a number of other key programs and provisions for Hawai\u2018i, including:\n\n\u00b7 $355 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants, which support state and local emergency management agencies like HIEMA.\n\n\u00b7 $360 million for FEMA\u2019s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, which is a major source of funding for county fire departments.\n\n\u00b7 $360 million for FEMA\u2019s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program.\n\n\u00b7 $60 million for increased Coast Guard operations and support funding in the Indo-Pacific, to include workforce support in housing, medical and childcare access for Coasties in Hawai\u2018i.\n\n\u00b7 $15 million for the Coast Guard\u2019s Honolulu Homeport Project, which funds expansion of operations and cutter maintenance activities at Base Honolulu.\n\n\u00b7 $101 million for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, a $10 million increase over FY 2025, which funds University of Hawaii\u2019s National Disaster Preparedness Training Center.\n\n\u00b7 $60 million for another Coast Guard Medium Endurance Cutter to be stationed in the Indo-Pacific.\n\n\u00b7 $40 million for FEMA\u2019s Next Generation Warning System.\n\n\u00b7 Language requiring a report on the opportunity for the Coast Guard to acquire additional pier and related space at Base Honolulu.\n\n\u00b7 Language requiring a report on unmet requirements for the infrastructure at the Coast Guard\u2019s Air Station Barbers Point.\n\n\u00b7 Language encouraging TSA to address potential degradation of security scanning equipment at open-air airports.\n\nThe measure also includes the following priorities requested by Case:\n\n\u00b7 $14.4 billion for the Coast Guard.\n\n\u00b7 $54 million for the National Computer Forensic Institute, through which 397 state and local law enforcement officers from agencies in Hawai\u2018i have received a host of forensic training courses.\n\n\u00b7 Report language supporting the growth of CISA support in the Pacific Islands.\n\n\u00b7 Language requiring a report on Coast Guard engagement and needs in the Indo-Pacific.\n\n\u00b7 Language requiring a briefing on the Coast Guard\u2019s role in combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, which is a major issue in the Indo-Pacific.\n\n\u00b7 $615 million for the Urban Area Security Initiative under FEMA.\n\n\u00b7 $520 million for the State Homeland Security Grant Program, which provides funding to protect against terrorism and other threats.\n\n\u00b7 $95 million for the Transit Security Grant Program, which protects critical transportation infrastructure from acts of terrorism.\n\n\u00b7 $105 million for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.\n\n\u00b7 $100 million for FEMA\u2019s Port Security Grant Program.\n\n\u00b7 $45 million for the TSA Law Enforcement Officer Reimbursement Program.\n\nThis measure is one of the twelve bills developed by the House Appropriations Committee that will collectively fund the federal government for FY 2026 (commencing October 1, 2025). The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.\n\nA summary of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4682", "Case Opposes Proposed Funding Bill That Cuts Food Assistance To Hawaii Residents", "2025-06-23", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=4", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) - U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, tonight voted against the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Related Agencies funding measure.\n\nThe measure would provide $25.5 billion, a $1 billion decrease from the current year, for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agriculture and rural development programs, the Farm Credit Administration, Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the FDA.\n\nIt is the third of twelve separate bills developed and approved by the Appropriations Committee that would fund the federal government at some $1.6 trillion for FY 2026 commencing October 1st of this year.\n\n\u201cWhile the measure funds many critical Hawai\u2018i priorities, I regrettably had to vote against it because it would cut food assistance for vulnerable families and make it even harder for Hawai\u2018i farmers to make ends meet,\u201d said Case, who is in his seventh year on Appropriations and previously served on the House Committee on Agriculture.\n\n\u201cAt a time when families around the country and our state are struggling with the high cost of living and rising food costs, and when Hawai\u2018i agriculture is struggling with high production costs and the consequences of the administration\u2019s rash and chaotic tariff war, we should be maintaining our time-tested federal programs, not reducing or even eliminating them.\u201d\n\nThe bill:\n\n\u00b7 Cuts $100 from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and fails to support the cash benefit for fruits and vegetables that ensures women, infants and children get the nutrients they need.\n\n\u00b7 Reduces staffing for the Farm Service Agency (FSA), which operates offices across the country that assist farmers in getting needed federal assistance. The bill provides $110 million less for FSA staffing than what was provided in FY 2025.\n\n\u00b7 Cuts funding for the Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Operations by 5 percent below FY 2025 funding levels.\n\n\u00b7 Cuts rural housing and water and waste-water grants.\n\nIn addition, the bill eliminates key programs for Hawai\u2018i, like the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program for Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers. This program helps our local farmers with the cost of getting their produce to the mainland markets. Additionally, the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program, which increases the quantity and quality of locally grown food through small-scale gardening, herding and livestock and apiary operations, was eliminated.\n\nCase especially objected to large cuts in critical foreign food assistance programs, including $900 million for Food for Peace, almost 50% down to its lowest level since 2002, and $220 million for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition program, $20 million below the FY 2025 level.\n\n\u201cCutting our international food assistance programs is contrary to our values and harms our national security. Global food insecurity leads to political instability, making countries more vulnerable to conflict and extremism, and helping other countries and peoples with their food needs knits together alliances and partnerships which are critical to our national defense,\u201d said Case, a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.\n\nDespite these and other significant problems with the bill, Case highlighted positive provisions he requested including important victories for Hawai\u2018i, including $216 million for the Specialty Crop Pests Program, which helps to protect our topical crops from invasive species. In addition, $15 million was included for Minor Crop Pest Management, which provides expert assistance for effective minor/specialty crop protection. The bill also provides research and education funds for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving institutions, in addition to funding for our land-grant universities like the University of Hawai\u2018i.\n\n\u201cInvasive species pose a significant ecological and economic threat to our Hawai\u2018i, with specially damaging impacts on local agriculture,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cThis agriculture funding bill provides support for our local farmers, farmers markets and food promotion programs, which combined will help our Hawai\u2018i deal with the soaring cost of food, much of which is imported to our islands,\u201d said Case.\n\nProvisions in the bill of interest to Hawai\u2018i that Case worked to secure include:\n\n\u00b7 $5 million for Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions. 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\u00b7 $123 million for the USDA Wildlife Damage Management Program, which helps to prevent the spread of the Brown Tree Snake to Hawai\u2018i.\n\n\u00b7 $3 million for Agricultural Canine Detection and Surveillance of invasive species and diseases, an increase of $500,000.\n\n\u00b7 $1.1 billion for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, including $216 million for combating specialty crop pests.\n\n\u00b7 $36 million for Agriculture Quarantine Inspections to prevent infestations of pests and diseases.\n\n\u00b7 $15 million for the Minor Crop Pest Management Program to provide expert assistance to minor and specialty crop producers.\n\n\u00b7 $8 million for the Grassroots Source Water Protection Program that is designed to prevent water source pollution.\n\n\u00b7 $5 million for Aquaculture Centers and $2 million for aquaculture research programs.\n\n\u00b7 $1 million for Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Research Grants for Insular Areas.\n\nThe measure also:\n\n\u00b7 Directs the Agricultural Research Service to continue research on tropical and subtropical crops, emphasizing the need to combat invasive pests.\n\n\u00b7 Directs the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to report on existing protocols protecting Hawai\u2018i from invasive species and evaluate options for enhancing this protocol.\n\nA summary of the agriculture funding bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4681", "Case Statement On The U.S. Attack On Iran", "2025-06-21", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=5", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today issued his statement following the U.S. attack on Iran:\n\n\"Iran under its current leadership has chosen to be our enemy and cannot possess nuclear weapons under any circumstances, but that end doesn't justify any means.\n\n\"The administration has not provided the information required to determine whether this attack was appropriate, including whether diplomatic efforts were exhausted, whether there was a risk of imminent attack on our country, and whether the administration consulted in any way with Congress as required by the Constitution and law.\n\n\"I return to DC tomorrow where I expect a full classified briefing addressing all of these issues.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4679", "Case Proposes Measure To Advance Energy Resiliency For Remote Island, Native Hawaiian and Tribal Communities", "2025-06-19", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=5", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today announced an effort to codify into law a federal program to expand energy resilience and reliability for some of the nation\u2019s most vulnerable regions \u2013 isolated island, Native Hawaiian and Tribal communities \u2013 which often face common and unique energy obstacles including limited energy infrastructure, high costs of imported energy and vulnerability to natural disasters.\n\n\u201cIn Hawai\u2018i, which ranks as the state with the most expensive power in the nation, residential electricity rates average 34 cents per kilowatt, far exceeding the national average by threefold,\u201d said Case. \u201cMy bill will ensure continued federal support for Hawaii\u2019s effort to transition to clean, affordable energy sources in ways that address our unique challenges.\u201d\n\nThese unique energy resilience challenges in Hawai\u2018i, along with remote and Tribal areas, are the focus of the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s Energy Transitions Initiative Project program. Since its inception, this program has partnered with over 25 Tribal, coastal, remote and island communities across the nation to help them secure reliable and affordable energy. Congressman Case has long supported this program through his assignment on the House Appropriations Committee.\n\n\u201cAlthough the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project program has helped Hawai\u2018i and many other communities many across our great nation, it has never been formally codified,\u201d said Case. \u201cMy bill, the Energy Transitions Initiative Authorization Act, will ensure this program can continue the technical assistance offered to remote, island and Tribal communities that is unique and accommodating to their expertise and deep knowledge of local challenges and solutions.\u201d\n\nThe Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project program provides customized technical and financial assistance to community projects aimed at accessing reliable and affordable power and increasing energy resilience. Specific community projects include solar power interconnection, analyzing wind energy potential, conducting wildfire preparedness, advancing weatherization retrofits and implementing microgrids and battery storage projects.\n\nIn Hawai\u2018i, the Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project program has provided technical assistance to the City and County of Honolulu to conduct microgrid location analyses for regional hybrid microgrids and map designs.\n\nBecause Hawai\u2018i is prone to severe weather conditions that have previously caused long-duration power outages, Hawai\u2018i has identified hybrid microgrids as one method to improve resilience. Microgrids are best suited to areas prone to prolonged outages during weather events, with clusters of customers and potential availability of renewable energy sources.\n\nThe product of this partnership was a map identifying potential locations given a set of criteria that stakeholders prioritized in the areas of criticality, vulnerability and societal impact.\n\n###\n\nAttachments:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3671", "Case Opposes Proposed Annual Defense Funding Measure That Does Not Support Ukraine And Lacks A Coordinated Strategy For The Indo-Pacific", "2025-06-12", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=5", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee and of its Subcommittee on Defense, voted in Committee against the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Defense Appropriations bill today.\n\nThe FY 2026 Defense bill proposes to spend $831.5 billion, an amount equal to the FY 2025 enacted level, for federal agencies and programs in the Department of Defense (DoD) and intelligence community,\n\nincluding the military branches of services, the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. Case\u2019s Subcommittee on Defense is responsible for developing the bill.\n\n\u201cWhile the measure funds many critical Hawai\u2018i and Indo-Pacific priorities I requested, I regrettably had to vote against this version because it eliminates support for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative and fails to fund a cohesive and coordinated all-government defense strategy, all of which is critical as we face the generational challenge of the People\u2019s Republic of China,\u201d said Case. \u201cThe Committee also was forced to draft the bill in the dark because the administration failed to provide a detailed budget request, and that is a dangerous precedent to support.\u201d\n\nCase spoke in Committee in favor of continued support for Ukraine. He stressed that despite the tragic consequences of President Putin\u2019s unprovoked and unjustified war, \u201cyou cannot fail to do something that is hard, when you know that if you don\u2019t do it, it will be harder in the future. That was the lesson of Neville Chamberlain in World War II.\u201d (See Case\u2019s speech here.)\n\nCase also spoke in Committee on the proposal\u2019s lack of a coordinated whole-of-government national defense strategy, which would include soft power tools like international assistance and trade. He called for a broader understanding of national security that looks beyond the narrow confines of military spending, including in the Indo-Pacific. He explained that \u201conly a strong national defense, coordinated and delivered over time, will achieve the foundational necessity of all else.\u201d (See Case\u2019s speech here.)\n\nCase also offered an amendment, which was accepted by the Committee, to prevent the transmission of classified information or war plans over unsecured networks. His amendment is a direct response to high-level Trump administration officials who used Signal to discuss U.S. military plans to attack Houthi groups in Yemen. Case said: \u201cThere are clear federal rules \u2026 that prohibit handling classified material outside of approved, encrypted and monitored systems \u2026 The rules around are not just suggestions, they are mandates.\u201d (See Case\u2019s speech here.)\n\nDespite his significant problems with the bill, Case highlighted programs and provisions he requested and secured that are especially critical to Hawai\u2018i, including:\n\n\u00b7 $30 million to continue efforts to replace O\u2018ahu\u2019s outdated air surveillance radar, which is needed to defend Hawai\u2018i from missile attacks.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the Navy to support a program to control and eradicate invasive coral at naval installations, which is in response to the invasive coral found at the mouth of Pearl Harbor.\n\n\u00b7 Protecting the special contracting preference for Native Hawaiian businesses.\n\n\u00b7 $357 million for the Navy\u2019s Environmental Restoration program plus an additional $235 million for the cleanup 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\u00b7 Funding 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\u00b7 $186 million for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which maintains critical scientific laboratories at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.\n\n\u00b7 $177 million for the Sea-Based X-Band Radar, which will help defend Hawai\u2018i from ballistic missile threats.\n\n\u00b7 Over $421 million for \u201cCivil-Military Programs,\u201d which will support Hawaii\u2019s Youth Challenge Academy.\n\n\u00b7 Over $70 million for Impact Aid programs, which help Hawaii\u2019s public schools by partially reimbursing the cost of educating military children.\n\n\u00b7 Blocked 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\nOther programs and provisions in the measure also requested and supported by Case and especially critical to the broader Indo-Pacific include:\n\n\u00b7 $8 million for the Asia Regional Pacific Initiative (ARPI) managed by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. ARPI supports a wide range of exercises, humanitarian assistance, programs and training symposiums that help expand U.S. influence in the Indo-Pacific. The initiative is an important tool for the U.S. military to strengthen relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific region.\n\n\u00b7 Continued support for providing humanitarian and other assistance by U.S. military Civic Action Teams in the Freely Associated States.\n\n\u00b7 $6 million to expand the National Disaster Medical System Pilot Program to provide critical support to military and civilian health objectives. It will help advance national medical innovation, preparedness, disaster response and integration efforts to underserved regions, such as the Indo-Pacific.\n\n\u00b7 $75 million for decoupling rare earth magnet manufacturing from China.\n\nGeneral military-related programs and provisions supported by Case related to the DoD overall include:\n\n\u00b7 3.8% basic pay increase for all military personnel.\n\n\u00b7 $700 million for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP). The CDMRP fills research gaps by funding high impact, high risk and high gain projects that other agencies may not venture to fund.\n\nThis measure is one of the twelve bills developed by the House Appropriations Committee that will collectively fund the federal government for FY 2026 (commencing October 1, 2025). The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.\n\nA summary of the defense funding bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-demands-answers-from-secretary-hegseth-on-shooting-protesters", "Rep. Tokuda Demands Answers from Secretary Hegseth on Shooting Protesters", "2025-06-12", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, at the House Armed Services Committee\u2019s Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request Hearing, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) demanded truthful answers from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about the possibility of firing at protesters in Los Angeles and across the nation.\n\n\"Mr. Secretary, during your confirmation hearing, you failed to deny the conclusion that you would carry out an order to shoot protesters in the legs. So let me be direct, given what we're seeing across the country right now, would you carry out or issue an order by the President for our military to fire upon protesters actively engaging in their civil right to exercise free speech, their First Amendment rights, would you give that order from the President?\" asked Rep. Tokuda.\n\n\"I assume you're insinuating what's going on in Los Angeles,\" said Secretary Hegseth.\n\n\"Not just in Los Angeles, if you take a look at protests throughout the country, it's a simple question,\" said Rep. Tokuda.\n\n\"As you know and as this committee knows, we have standard rules of engagement that are in place that give guidance to our troops and they abide by them,\" said Secretary Hegseth.\n\n\"I'm asking what you would do,\" said Rep. Tokuda. \"Again, you said you serve at the pleasure of the President, is that not true?\"\n\n\"I do serve,\" said Secretary Hegseth.\n\n\"So if the President told you to shoot people in the legs, would you do so? Now, you failed to answer this question as well as at the confirmation hearing when asked by members of the Senate,\" said Rep. Tokuda.\n\n\"Because I refuse to accept a false hypothetical that's attempting to put me in a corner,\" said Secretary Hegseth.\n\n\"At a time when we have more Marines and National Guard in Los Angeles than we do in Syria and [Iraq] alone, I don't think this is a hypothetical. This is an actual situation that we are dealing with right now,\" said Rep. Tokuda.\n\nRep. Tokuda also grilled Secretary Hegseth about Elon Musk\u2019s invitation to a war briefing with China at the Pentagon.\n\nVideo of the hearing can be seen here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3670", "Case Opposes Proposed Funding Bill That Shortchanges Critical Military Infrastructure Needs In Hawaii, The Indo-Pacific and NATO", "2025-06-11", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=5", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, early this morning voted against the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations funding measure.\n\nThe measure (MILCON-VA) would fund worldwide military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and various small agencies and programs supporting our nation\u2019s some 19 million veterans, including some 112,000 throughout Hawai\u2018i, and their families.\n\nThe bill is the first of twelve separate bills developed by the Appropriations Committee that would fund the federal government at some $1.6 trillion for FY 2026 commencing October 1st of this year.\n\n\u201cWhile the measure does have positive provisions including funding for essential veterans programs, I regrettably had to vote against it because it kicks critical military infrastructure projects down the road yet again, pursues the Project 2025 goal of privatizing VA medical care, shortchanges dedicated funding for Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) cleanup, eliminates climate resiliency efforts and excludes important VA infrastructure funding,\u201d said Case, who is in his seventh year on Appropriations and previously served on the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs for four years. He currently serves on its Subcommittees on Defense and Homeland Security.\n\nCase spoke to his Appropriations Committee colleagues on the serious deficiencies in the bill that fail to address critical military infrastructure needs throughout the Indo-Pacific (speech here). He stated that only one milcon project is located in the Indo-Pacific despite critical needs in meeting the challenge of the People\u2019s Republic of China. The bill also fails to provide funding for infrastructure in Europe to support U.S. servicemembers working to bolster NATO and deter Russia.\n\nCase further said that the funding measure specifically advances the privatization of veterans health care by proposing vastly larger increases for medical care provided in private sector compared to shorfunding the government\u2019s VA healthcare system, a key goal of the Project 2025 plan being followed by the Trump administration. By vast margins, veterans oppose privatizing the VA and want to receive their medical care at VA clinics and hospitals with a direct mission to care for veterans and their families as opposed to the private sector.\n\nDespite these and other significant problems with the bill, Case highlighted positive provisions he requested, including fully funding the budget request for veterans\u2019 medical care at $131.4 billion and for veterans\u2019 toxic exposures-related needs under the PACT Act.\n\nIt also includes $1.3 billion for specific care for women veterans, and supports 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\n\u201cWomen veterans often require specialized care due to unique health needs stemming from their military service and gender,\u201d said Case. \u201cWith sustained support from my Committee over multiple years, Congress is working to ensure the VA set the standard for women veterans care, ensuring consistent, high-quality services across all facilities.\u201d\n\nThe measure also continues support as Case requested for the VA Center for Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and United States-affiliated Pacific Islander (NHPIUSAPI) Veterans. The center\u2019s doctors and scientists coordinate research from all over the Pacific Islands and the United States to specifically address veterans\u2019 healthcare in the Hawaiian Islands and throughout the Pacific. The center works with the University of Hawai\u2018i, and the bill encourages the VA to continue partnering with universities in the Pacific region focusing on issues unique to the NHPIUSAPI community.\n\nFurther details follow:\n\nVeterans-Related Programs\n\nThe bill provides $133.7 billion in discretionary spending for veterans-related programs, an increase of $4.7 billion above the FY 2025 enacted level\n\n\u201cOur Hawai\u2018i veterans and their families make up one of the largest percentages of any state in our nation including in such key areas like women and minority veterans. I continued to focus especially on the often unique challenges of delivering full veterans\u2019 health and other benefits in a diverse island state,\u201d said Case.\n\nSpecific veterans-related programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include:\n\n\u00b7 $12 million for the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program, which is $6 million above the FY 2025 level.\n\n\u00b7 Contracting preferences for Native Hawaiian owned business that work with the VA.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the VA to continue supporting the VA Center for NHPIUSAPI Veterans.\n\n\u00b7 $1.5 million for a pilot project using the most advanced technology to identify the remains of unidentified fallen servicemembers buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the VA to develop a plan for more fully providing VA benefits for veterans living in the Freely Associated States.\n\n\u00b7 $106 million for the American Battle Monument Commission, which manages the Honolulu Memorial at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.\n\n\u00b7 $60 million for the VA Grants for the Construction of Veterans Cemeteries Program, which regularly provides fundings to support Hawaii\u2019s state cemeteries.\n\n\u00b7 $233 million for substance-use disorder (SUD) efforts to ensure veterans can receive timely SUD specialty services.\n\n\u00b7 $3.4 billion for the Veterans\u2019 Homelessness Program Resources Account for our nation\u2019s veterans. 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 $342 million for Rural Health Initiatives, $5 million above FY 2025 level. This will improve access and quality of care for the more than 3 million enrolled veterans residing in highly rural areas.\n\nMilitary Construction\n\nThe bill provides $453.6 billion for Department of Defense (DoD) military construction and family housing, $480 million above the FY 2025 enacted level.\n\nSpecific military construction programs and provisions requested and secured by Case critical to Hawai\u2018i include:\n\n\u00b7 $634 million for the Energy Resiliency and Conservation Investment Program, which funds projects that save energy and water, reduce DoD energy costs and improve energy resilience.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the DoD to identify the Army\u2019s investment needs in order to support the wildland firefighters located on Schofield Barracks.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the DoD to provide a report on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam infrastructure development plan, to address ongoing concerns of the aging water and wastewater facilities on the installation.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the DoD to assess the aging infrastructure that houses the headquarters of the Marine Corps, Space Force and Special Operations Commands on O\u2018ahu.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the DoD to assess the requirement for a floating drydock at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the DoD to assess the capacity for battle damage repair of all public shipyards and how to prepare these shipyards for conflict requirements under the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP). SIOP is a multi-billion multi-year effort to upgrade the Navy\u2019s four public shipyards, including Pearl Harbor.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the DoD to assess the infrastructure needs and shortfalls for 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment on Marine Corps Base Hawai\u2018i.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the DoD to study the impacts of unexploded ordnance on military construction sites in Guam.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the DoD to study the necessary steps and what actions would be required to begin construction on port improvements on Tinian Island.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the DoD to study the necessity and feasibility of establishing a biosecurity inspection facility to combat invasive species on the Northern Mariana Islands.\n\n\u00b7 Directing the DoD to study the impact and develop a plan to address growing solid waste management issues on Tinian Island.\n\nThe bill now moves to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.\n\nA summary of the VA-MilCon funding bill is available here. The committee report explaining the full bill in detail is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-speaker-emerita-pelosi-congressional-equality-caucus-chair-takano-rep-simon-lead-effort-demanding-defense-secretary-rescind-decision-to-rename-usns-harvey-milk", "Reps, Tokuda, Pelosi, Takano, Simon Lead Effort Demanding Defense Secretary Rescind Decision to Rename USNS Harvey Milk", "2025-06-11", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Mark Takano (CA-39), and Representative Lateefah Simon (CA-12) led 66 other Members of Congress in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanding that he rescind his order to rename the USNS Harvey Milk and reported plans to rename other vessels named after prominent civil rights leaders.\n\nThe letter describes Harvey Milk\u2019s inspirational story, serving in the United States Navy and later becoming the first openly gay man elected to public office in California.\n\n\u201cOrdering this renaming and intentionally timing this announcement to coincide with Pride Month is a cruel insult to tens of thousands of LBTQI+ individuals currently serving in our nation\u2019s military, as well as to an estimated one million LGBTQI+ veterans across the country. They have all served and sacrificed on behalf of our nation. Combined with your harmful decision to remove transgender service members from the military, your order is a slap in the face to all service members, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and sends the wrong signal that their service is not valued,\u201d the letter stated.\n\n\u201cAlongside the planned renaming of Navy vessels named after other civil rights leaders, renaming the USNS Harvey Milk does nothing to \u2018reestablish the warrior culture\u2019 or to address real issues affecting our warfighters and national defense. Instead, these decisions to break longstanding Navy traditions merely serve to divide the Joint Force and erect barriers between our service members. They set a harmful and irresponsible precedent and risk the further politicization of our military.\u201d\n\nRep. Tokuda, Speaker Emerita Pelosi, Ranking Member Takano, and Rep. Simon were joined by Reps. Gabe Amo, Becca Balint, Wesley Bell, Julia Brownley, Nikki Budzinski, Salud Carbajal, Judy Chu, Gil Cisneros, Emanuel Cleaver, Angie Craig, Jasmine Crockett, Sharice Davids, Danny Davis, Madeleine Dean, Suzan DelBene, Mark DeSaulnier, Dwight Evans, Cleo Fields, Lizzie Fletcher, Valerie Foushee, Laura Friedman, John Garamendi, Robert Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Dan Goldman, Josh Gottheimer, Chrissy Houlahan, Jared Huffman, Sara Jacobs, Pramila Jayapal, Hank Johnson, Julie Johnson, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Rick Larsen, Summer Lee, Mike Levin, Sam Liccardo, Sarah McBride, Jennifer McClellan, Betty McCollum, Morgan McGarvey, James McGovern, Kweisi Mfume, Gwen Moore, Kevin Mullin, Jerrold Nadler, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Johnny Olszewski, Scott Peters, Mark Pocan, Delia Ramirez, Emily Randall, Andrea Salinas, Jan Schakowsky, Terri Sewell, Eric Sorensen, Greg Stanton, Marilyn Strickland, Mike Thompson, Rashida Tlaib, Paul Tonko, Ritchie Torres, Juan Vargas, Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Nikema Williams.\n\nA copy of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-votes-in-favor-of-bipartisan-support-reauthorization-act", "Rep. Tokuda Votes in Favor of Bipartisan SUPPORT Reauthorization Act", "2025-06-06", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Supports expanded access to substance use recovery and treatment services\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted in favor of H.R. 2483, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation that strengthens the federal response to the opioid epidemic and expands access to treatment, prevention, and recovery services, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The bill passed the House with broad bipartisan support.\n\n\u201cIn Hawai\u02bbi and across the country, rural communities are facing growing mental health and substance use challenges, often with limited resources and support,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cThe SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act makes critical investments in prevention, treatment, and recovery -- meeting people where they are, especially in areas where access to care is a daily struggle. This bill is about saving lives, supporting families, and giving every community, no matter how remote, a fair shot at healing and recovery.\u201d\n\nKey highlights of the bill include:\n\nReauthorizes and Expands Programs: Extends funding for substance use disorder treatment centers, safe drug disposal initiatives, and coordination between public health laboratories and law enforcement.\n\nAddresses Workforce Development: Funds education and training grants to address shortages of professionals in substance use disorder treatment.\n\nImproves Access to Treatment: Enhances Medicaid coverage for people battling addiction, supports new models of addiction care, and funds treatment programs for special populations such as pregnant and postpartum women.\n\nStrengthen Overdose Prevention: Supports first responder training, naloxone distribution, and efforts to reduce fentanyl and synthetic opioid overdoses.\n\nHawai\u02bbi has seen a significant increase in overdose deaths in recent years, with 346 fatalities recorded in 2023, up from 284 in 2022. Most of these deaths are attributed to methamphetamine, which was involved in 222 cases in 2023. However, fentanyl-related deaths have risen sharply, accounting for 107 deaths in 2023, a 35 percent increase from the previous year.\n\nIn addition to supporting the overall bill, Rep. Tokuda submitted two amendments for consideration:\n\nSpecialized Services for First Responders \u2013 Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a mental health program tailored specifically for first responders, providing 24/7 access to services, a dedicated hotline, outreach, and peer support. The amendment is based on Tokuda\u2019s own legislation, H.R. 6415, the CARE for First Responders Act, introduced in the 118th Congress.\n\nClosing Gaps in Rural Addiction Services \u2013 Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the collection and reporting of data on the effectiveness of substance use disorder treatment and recovery initiatives in rural and frontier areas.\n\nThe SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act now moves to the Senate for consideration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T01:08:28Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-agriculture-subcommittee-holds-first-hearing-with-rep-tokuda-as-ranking-member-and-hawaii-cattlemens-council-as-witness", "House Agriculture Subcommittee Holds First Hearing with Rep. Tokuda as Ranking Member & Hawaii Cattlemen\u2019s Council as Witness", "2025-06-05", "2025", "2025-06", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology held its first hearing of the 119th Congress with U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) servingas Ranking Member. Nicole Galase, Managing Director of the Hawaii Cattlemen\u2019s Council, testified as a witness. Both women strongly supported and promoted food producers and conservation programs statewide.\n\n\u201cThe weather isn't what it used to be. No matter what you want to call it \u2014 climate change, extreme weather, shifting seasons \u2014 our producers are living it every day. Longer droughts, harder rains, heatwaves in April, frost in May \u2014 it's getting harder to grow the food, fuel and fiber that this country relies on. And that's not a partisan talking point. It's reality for farmers and ranchers across this country,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda during her opening statement, which can be viewed here.\n\n\u201cAnd let me be clear: this is not about left or right. It's about forward. Whether you're in red states, blue states, purple states or farm country, right in between, producers are not asking for politics. They're asking for access, for flexibility, for conservation tools that make their land more resilient, their water more efficient, and their operations more secure \u2014 because their livelihoods, as you all know, depend on it, and so do our nation\u2019s food supply.\u201d\n\nRep. Tokuda was instrumental in bringing Galase to Congress, marking the first time a Hawai\u02bbi expert has testified in the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology. Galase spoke to subcommittee members about Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s unique agriculture and conservation landscape.\n\n\u201cSome of the biggest challenges and threats to our industry come from the loss or conversion of our natural resources. In Hawai\u02bbi, like many other states, we face a decline in pasture lands. A decline in pasture inevitably leads to a decline in agricultural production, which weakens food security. Our goal is to keep grasslands green. Since our livelihood is made on the land, resource stewardship not only makes good environmental sense, it is economically fundamental. Maintaining robust voluntary conservation programs must remain a top priority for both USDA and this committee. Accomplishing this goal is impossible without the flexibility and attention to locally led decision making. Cattle producers take pride in our efforts to improve the land and are always looking for partnership opportunities,\u201d said Galase during her testimony, which can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:34:38Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-condemns-decision-to-pause-job-corps-operations", "Rep. Tokuda Condemns Decision to Pause Job Corps Operations", "2025-05-29", "2025", "2025-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Nationally recognized locations in Hawai\u02bbi will be affected\n\nWashington, DC -- Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) announced plans to pause operations at all contractor-run Job Corps centers nationwide, including Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s nationally recognized programs on Maui and O\u02bbahu.\n\n\"I am outraged by the Department of Labor\u2019s reckless decision to halt operations at Job Corps centers, a lifeline for young people in Hawai\u02bbi and across the country. This isn\u2019t budget management; it\u2019s a betrayal. Job Corps works. It gives vulnerable youth the tools to build stable futures and creates economic opportunities in our communities. Shutting it down abandons them and undermines everything we claim to stand for.\n\nWhen Maui was in crisis, it was Job Corps students who showed up \u2014 delivering aid, offering comfort, standing strong for their neighbors. That\u2019s not just a program. That\u2019s resilience in action.\n\nWe should be investing more in Job Corps, not gutting it. I will fight this shortsighted move and focus on increasing our support because our youth deserve opportunity, not abandonment.\"\n\nHawai\u02bbi\u2019s two Job Corps campuses on Maui and O\u02bbahu, ranked second out of 125 locations nationwide, provide hands-on career training in high-demand fields. In 2024, 112 Hawai\u02bbi students launched careers through the program. Over 80 percent of Hawai\u02bbi graduates are employed, enrolled in college, or plan on serving in the military within six months \u2014 earning an average wage of $17.87 per hour, well above the state and federal minimum wage.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3666", "Case Outlines Hawaii And Indo-Pacific Defense Priorities In Testimony On Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act", "2025-05-27", "2025", "2025-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=5", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i \u2013 First District) outlined Hawai\u2018i and Indo-Pacific defense priorities in testimony submitted to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee as it considers the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Congress\u2019 annual legislation authorizing national defense efforts.\n\nCase, a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations and of its Subcommittee on Defense, which is then responsible for funding Department of Defense and related programs authorized by the NDAA, stated that, in the broad context, the Indo-Pacific \u201cis the frontline of our generation-pacing challenges led by the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC)\u201d and that Hawai\u2018i \u201cwill remain central to our presence and strategy\u201d in the region.\n\nCase went on in his testimony to highlight five inter-related issues that collectively are critical to \u201cmaintaining a superior force posture in Hawai\u2018i, maintaining the support of the people of Hawai\u2018i for that posture, and projecting our military presence out of Hawai\u2018i into the broader Indo-Pacific.\u201d\n\nCase\u2019s full testimony is here. His five issues are summarized as follows:\n\nDefense of Hawai\u2018i\n\nCase stated that while Hawai\u2018i serves as the headquarters of the Indo-Pacific Command and hosts a range of force-multiplying assets, \u201cthe Department of Defense itself has acknowledged that Hawai\u2018i lacks modern surveillance and response capacities for missile attacks.\u201d He called that gap \u201cunacceptable\u201d and urged the Committee to prioritize and accelerate investment in a state-of-the-art missile defense system for Hawai\u2018i, as well as investing further in the Hawai\u2018i National Guard, which provides much of the operation of the system.\n\nEnvironmental Protection of Hawai\u2018i\n\nWhile Case shared his appreciation for the billions of dollars authorized and appropriated by Congress to remediate, defuel and close Red Hill, he highlighted remaining work to protect O\u2018ahu\u2019s aquifers, as well as to identify and mitigate PFAS risks elsewhere. He also highlighted key natural resource protection programs such as the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program (REPI) under which broad areas of defense and civilian areas near military have been dedicated to protective uses.\n\nSoft Power in the Pacific\n\nCase testified in continued support of defense-administered \u201csoft power\u201d efforts throughout the Indo-Pacific that \u201cfoster goodwill, enhance influence and promote stability \u201cin ways that go beyond combat capabilities and at a fraction of the cost.\u201d He referred to programs and institutions like the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, the State Partnership Program under which our National Guards partner with foreign militaries, and the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) that focuses on military-civilian relationships in states like Hawai\u2018i and foreign countries.\n\nDefense Contracting Reform and Innovation\n\nTo maintain the country\u2019s competitive edge in the Indo-Pacific, Case urged the Committee to \u201cembrace contracting innovation as a strategic imperative.\u201d\n\nCase continued: \u201cWe need to continue expanding the use of rapid prototyping pathways that allow us to move at the speed of relevance. By streamlining the acquisition regulations, we can more effectively compete with the PRC, which has invested billions in an effort to develop technology that leapfrogs past our slow-moving acquisition system.\u201d\n\nHe cited as an example the work of the Defense Innovation Unit, headquartered in Mountain View, California and which he recently visited, as being instrumental \u201cin bridging the gap between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon, tapping into the commercial sector\u2019s agility to deliver cutting-edge solutions directly to the warfighter.\u201d\n\nHawai\u2018i Defense Land Needs/Lease Renegotiations\n\nCase also highlighted defense-related land needs in Hawai\u2018i, including ongoing efforts to renegotiate leases of some existing state lands. He said, \u201cThese lands, many of which are critical for training, readiness and regional posture, must remain available to support our national security objectives.\n\n\u201cAt the same time, we must recognize the unique cultural, environmental and community considerations involved.\n\n\u201cThat is why I firmly believe the outcome must reflect a win-win \u2013 one that upholds the strategic needs of the military over the next generation while honoring the values and priorities of the people of Hawai\u2018i.\u201d\n\nThe House Armed Services Committee will be deliberating the FY 2026 NDAA over the next weeks, at the same time as Case\u2019s Appropriations Defense Subcommittee is considering the FY 2026 budget for the Department of Defense and intelligence agencies.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/hirono-tokuda-lead-hawaii-delegation-in-reintroducing-legislation-to-improve-affordability-of-health-care-for-native-hawaiian-veterans", "Hirono, Tokuda Lead Hawaii Delegation in Reintroducing Legislation to Improve Affordability of Health Care for Native Hawaiian Veterans", "2025-05-22", "2025", "2025-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Bill would create parity for Native Hawaiian veterans by eliminating copays for VA health services and codifying the reimbursement relationship between VA and Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Ed Case (D-HI) and U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee, and Brian Schatz (D-HI) reintroduced the Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act, legislation to improve the affordability of health care services for Native Hawaiian veterans. Among other things, the bill would eliminate copays for Native Hawaiian veterans for care received through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and would enable Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems to seek direct reimbursement from VA for care provided to Native Hawaiian veterans.\n\n\u201cNative Hawaiian veterans courageously served and sacrificed for their country but are not being offered the same benefits as their American Indian and Alaska Native counterparts,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cThat\u2019s why I am proud to reintroduce this important bill that will allow direct reimbursement to Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems and eliminate copays, providing equal access to care and services. This bill is not just about fairness\u2014it\u2019s about fulfilling our nation\u2019s commitment to all veterans and ensuring they receive the respect and support they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cVeterans of Native Hawaiian ancestry have unique challenges in accessing the health care they are owed as a result of specific heath impacts, lack of knowledge of benefits and inaccessibility to care,\u201d said U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01). \u201cOur measure would tailor health care delivery to Native Hawaiians by the providers that know them and that they know best, such as the Native Hawaiian Health Care systems.\u201d\n\n\u201cNative Hawaiian veterans deserve access to quality, affordable health care that is tailored to the unique culture and needs of our communities,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cI\u2019m proud to lead our congressional delegation in the reintroduction of this bill to expand the affordability and access of health care services provided to Native Hawaiian veterans, while also creating parity for Native Hawaiian vets in alignment with the benefits that American Indian and Alaska Native veterans already receive. I am grateful to our veterans for their service and sacrifice to our country.\u201d\n\n\u201cNative Hawaiian veterans shouldn\u2019t be treated differently than other veterans after their years of selfless service to our country,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cOur bill would make health care more affordable and more accessible for them, which is exactly what they deserve.\u201d\n\nIn 2023, copays were eliminated for American Indian and Alaska Native veterans receiving health care and urgent care through VA. Additionally, Indian Health Service (IHS)/Tribal Health Programs or IHS-funded Urban Indian Organizations providing care to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native veterans are currently able to seek direct reimbursement from the VA for care rendered. The Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act would create parity for Native Hawaiian veterans by eliminating copays and codifying the same reimbursement relationship between VA and the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems. The bill would also change the statutory definition of Native Hawaiian under Title 38 to better reflect the current relationship VA has with Native Hawaiian veterans.\n\nThe Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems aims to improve the health of Native Hawaiians living in Hawaii by advocating, initiating, and maintaining culturally appropriate strategic actions aimed at improving physical, mental and spiritual health. There are five systems, each serving different islands, that offer a range of health care and other services, including primary care, mental health, and fitness programs.\n\nThe full text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-votes-against-republicans-big-ugly-bill", "Rep. Tokuda Votes Against Republicans\u2019 \u201cBig Ugly Bill\u201d", "2025-05-22", "2025", "2025-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Republicans' budget bill would cut $880 billion from Medicaid, $313 billion from SNAP, and $500 billion from Medicare, and increase the national debt by $45 trillion\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted against passage of Republicans\u2019 budget bill which implements President Trump\u2019s agenda to permanently give tax cuts to the wealthy while gutting essential social safety net programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP that millions of Americans depend on for health care and food. Despite House Democrats\u2019 united opposition and efforts to delay and prevent the bill\u2019s passage, House Republicans rammed the budget bill through early Thursday morning by a party-line vote of 215 in favor, 214 against, and 1 abstention.\n\n\"It really was disgusting and shameful to see Republicans cheering as they passed a bill that's only going to support billionaires, all at the expense and on the backs of hardworking Americans,\" said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cAmericans will go hungry because of this bill. Americans will die without the health care that Republicans are ripping away from them. And Republicans who have spent decades railing about \u2018fiscal responsibility\u2019, have betrayed the American people, forcing our keiki to shoulder the long-term costs of these tax cuts. I will not give up and will continue fighting against this agenda to protect our working families and our future.\u201d\n\nIf enacted into law, the \"One Big Beautiful Bill\" would lead to the largest cuts in health care coverage and nutrition benefits in our nation\u2019s history. Here are some of the impacts to Americans:\n\nAn estimated 13.7 million would lose their health care.\n\nAt least 3 million a year would lose SNAP benefits.\n\nThe top 0.1 percent will get an average benefit of $255,000 a year ($700 a day), while the average benefit for people making less than $50,000 will be $265 a year (less than $1 a day).\n\nFive trillion dollars would be added to the national debt over the next decade and $45 trillion over the next 30 years, triggering cuts to Medicare by the end of the decade without action by Congress.\n\nIn addition to Rep. Tokuda's leading role last week as a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee during the marathon markup of Republicans\u2019 proposals to gut SNAP benefits, she worked tirelessly this week to prevent the budget bill's passage. Yesterday, in a last-ditch effort to prevent the bill\u2019s cuts to SNAP from affecting rural and remote communities in Hawai\u2018i, she proposed another amendment to the House Rules Committee. In a meeting that lasted over 20 hours, Rep. Tokuda testified in support of her amendment and urged her colleagues to help protect families and businesses in rural America.\n\n\"SNAP works. It feeds families and fuels local economies. Every SNAP dollar we know generates over $1.50 in economic activity. It supports farmers, grocers, small-town businesses. It breaks cycles of poverty. And Medicaid keeps rural hospitals open, keeps parents and kids healthy \u2014 it keeps people alive. Cutting these programs isn't just cruel, it's anti-American,\" she said during her remarks on the amendment, which can be seen here.\n\nAs House Republicans prepared to bring the budget bill for debate earlier this week, Rep. Tokuda also spoke twice on the House Floor against the bill, sharing stories of her constituents who would be harmed by cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.\n\n\"Atalina is a mother of five, soon to be six. Her husband, battling cancer and now severe back injuries, can't work consistently. And yet Atalina still works full time, still serves her neighbors and her community. If I put my entire family on my employer insurance, she told me, it would cost more than half my paycheck. Medicaid gave her family access to life-saving care. SNAP made sure her kids didn't go to bed hungry. These programs aren't handouts, she says, they're lifelines,\" said Rep. Tokuda on the House Floor, which can be seen here.\n\n\"Rural America is already in crisis. People there die younger. Mothers there face greater risk giving birth, and hospitals teeter on the edge of collapse. Medicaid is the thin lifeline that fragile systems are using to hold itself together. Cut it and people will die. At Adventist Health Castle in Kailua, 75 percent of patients rely on Medicaid and Medicare. They've weathered already the storm of COVID, but with new GOP-led cuts to provider fees, they may be forced to shut down essential services: obstetrics, pediatrics, emergency services \u2014 care that literally keeps babies and people alive. But this is not just about one hospital in Hawai\u02bbi. This a national crisis. Rural Americans face significantly worse health outcomes and health disparities. In too many rural counties, life expectancy is a decade shorter than that of their urban neighbors,\" said Rep. Tokuda on the House Floor, which can be seen here.\n\nThe bill now heads to the Senate for consideration, and Republican leaders have set a deadline to enact this bill by the Fourth of July.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/warren-merkley-tokuda-renew-fight-to-hold-soldiers-accountable-for-wounded-knee-massacre", "Warren, Merkley, Tokuda Renew Fight to Hold Soldiers Accountable for Wounded Knee Massacre", "2025-05-22", "2025", "2025-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=3&", "scraper", "Legislation would strip Medal of Honor from soldiers who participated in the slaughter of hundreds of Lakota men, women, and children at the Wounded Knee massacre\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), along with Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), reintroduced the Remove the Stain Act. The bill would revoke the Medal of Honor from the soldiers who perpetrated the Wounded Knee massacre on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota on December 29, 1890. During the massacre, U.S. soldiers slaughtered hundreds of Lakota men, women, and children\u2014most of them unarmed. Twenty U.S. soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor\u2014the highest military decoration\u2014for their actions at Wounded Knee.\n\nSenators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) co-sponsored thebill.\n\nAs the country's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor is awarded in the name of Congress for \"gallantry beyond the call of duty.\" The 101st Congress (1989-1990) adopted a concurrent resolution acknowledging the 100th anniversary of the massacre and \"expresse[d] its deep regret on behalf of the United States\" for the \"terrible tragedy.\"\n\nCongress has rescinded Medals of Honor before. The Remove the Stain Act would do the same for perpetrators of the Wounded Knee Massacre, to respect and honor the Lakota men, women, and children who lost their lives, advance justice, and take a step toward righting a profound wrong in our nation's history.\n\n\"We cannot be a country that celebrates and rewards horrifying acts of violence against Native people,\" said Senator Warren. \"Congress must recognize how shameful this massacre was and take an important step toward justice for the Lakota people.\"\n\n\u201cWe must acknowledge our history and take concrete steps to right historic wrongs from America\u2019s darkest chapters,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \"Moving forward together as a nation demands we remember, reflect on, and work to rectify the abhorrent massacre of hundreds of innocent Lakota men, women, and children at Wounded Knee. This horrific injustice is not deserving of our nation\u2019s highest award for military valor, and our long-overdue bill helps finally set the record straight by revoking these medals.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe massacre of hundreds of unarmed Lakota men, women, and children at Wounded Knee was a crime against humanity, and honoring the perpetrators with theMedal of Honor adds insult to that deep wound. The Remove the Stain Act is about facing the truth, no matter how painful,\u201d said Representative Tokuda. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce this bill to revoke medals that should never have been given, because healing begins with honesty\u2014and the Lakota people deserve nothing less.\u201d\n\nSenators Warren and Merkley first introduced the Remove the Stain Act in the 116th Congress, and again in 117th Congress. Former Representatives Denny Heck (D-Wash.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), and Paul Cook (R-Calif.) led the bill in the House in the 116th Congress and Congressman Kaiali'i Kahele (D-Hawaii) led thebill in the 117th Congress.\n\nThe Remove the Stain Act is supported by the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT), Great Plains Tribal Chairmen\u2019s Association, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Yankton Sioux Tribe, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe, Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, the Native Organizers Alliance, Four Directions, Friends Committee on National Legislation, and the Spotted Elk, Afraid of Hawk, Catches, and LeBeau families \u2014 alongside other stakeholders. It is also supported by coalitions of veterans, including Veterans for Peace, VoteVets, Common Defense, and Veterans for American Ideals.\n\n\"For decades, NCAI and Tribal Nations have steadfastly called on Congress to revoke the Medals of Honor awarded to the U.S. 7th Cavalry for their role in theWounded Knee Massacre. The continued recognition of those responsible for the brutal slaughter of our Lakota relatives\u2014women, children, and elders\u2014remains a shameful stain on our nation's conscience. Our ancestors and their survivors have long awaited justice, and taking action on this issue is long overdue. We are deeply grateful to Senator Warren and Senator Merkley for reintroducing the Remove the Stain Act, a critical step toward condemning the horrific atrocities committed at Wounded Knee. NCAI has and will continue to advocate for the passage and signing into law of this important legislation. We remain committed to working alongside our partners to ensure justice, healing, and reconciliation for all Native American communities affected by this historic injustice,\u201d said the National Congress of American Indians. Read the full letter of support here.\n\n\"As President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, I express my Tribal Nation's gratitude to Senator Warren for again reintroducing the Remove the Stain Act. The Act will revoke the Medals of Honor inappropriately awarded to soldiers for slaughtering hundreds of Lakota men, women, and children at the Wounded Knee Massacre. This bill would not only help recognize a monstrous injustice but also preserve the integrity I and so many others associate with being awarded a Medal of Honor for service to the United States of America,\" said Frank Star Comes Out, President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Read the full letter of support here.\n\n\u201cMy Un\u010d\u00ed (grandmother) Marcella LeBeau served as a U.S. Army nurse in World War II at the Battle of the Bulge, she strongly advocated for the Remove theStain Act to rescind the Wounded Knee Massacre Medals of Honor. She said, \u2018there is a pervasive sadness among our Lakota People due to the tragic loss of our Relatives at Wounded Knee.\n\nThe Remove the Stain Act takes the significant step of revoking Medals of Honor that were unjustly awarded to U.S. soldiers who murdered over 350 children, women and men at the Wounded Knee Massacre. We commend Senator Warren and Senator Merkley\u2019s leadership and commitment to ensuring that the wrongs of the past are acknowledged and addressed,\u201d said Ryman LeBeau, Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Read the full letter of support here.\n\n\"December 29, 2025, will mark 135 years since the Wounded Knee Massacre, when historians estimate that members of the U.S. Army 7th Cavalry Regiment killed at least 150 women and children \u2014 some estimates go even higher. In 1990, to commemorate one hundred years since the massacre, the 101st Congress passed a concurrent resolution describing the victims murdered and wounded as \u2018tragic death and injury,\u2019 going on to express \u2018... its deep regret on behalf of the United States to the descendants of the victims and survivors and their respective tribal communities\u2026\u2019 I was angered but, unfortunately, not surprised that soldiers received awards for their role in the atrocities. I am outraged that, despite our government's explicit recognition of the crimes, those who refuse to face the ugly and racist parts of U.S. history prevail. It is past time for acknowledgement and accountability. Revoke the awards now,\u201d said Michael T. McPhearson, U.S. Army Captain Combat Veteran of Desert Shield and Desert Storm, with Veterans for Peace.\n\n\u201cI support the Remove the Stain Act as a critical step toward justice for the victims of the Wounded Knee Massacre and their descendants. Rescinding these Medals of Honor will restore the integrity of this prestigious award and honor the truth of our nation\u2019s history. This legislation is a necessary measure to acknowledge historical injustices, promote healing for Native American communities, and demonstrate a commitment to equity and reconciliation,\u201d said Chairman Garret Renville of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe.\n\n\u201cAs direct blood descendants of several ancestors, including the leader, Chief Spotted Elk, a Minneconjou treaty signer, we strongly support the Remove the StainAct. Our ancestors were killed in one of the largest and most notorious massacres in history, and the Medals of Honor awarded to the soldiers responsible for their deaths continue to dishonor their memory. It is well-documented that the soldiers deliberately targeted women and children with cannons, killing innocents and even their own men in the chaos. Our people, unaware of their fate that day, were brutally massacred, and this alone is reason enough to rescind the medals. For the Spotted Elk Tiospaye, the Medals of Honor symbolize not only the massacre but also the erasure of our ancestors' dignity and legacy. Rescinding them is a critical step in correcting history and ensuring that our ancestors, Spotted Elk and Flying Horse, and the others are remembered as leaders, not as casualties of a government that celebrated their killers. Spotted Elk\u2019s photograph, taken after his death, where he is frozen in the snow, has become a grim icon. Yet, to this day, no meaningful effort has been made to correct the errors surrounding his true name or history. He continues to be confused with an Oglala sub-chief who died nine years after the Wounded Knee Massacre. This long-standing confusion compounds the burden and grief we carry as direct descendants, dividing our people and perpetuating false narratives that tragically impact families in ways too painful to fully express here. We are grateful for your work on the Remove the StainAct to rescind the medals and ask for your continued assistance in correcting this grave injustice. We stand with you in supporting the removal of these Medals as a necessary step toward healing and justice, and we deeply appreciate your leadership in making this long-overdue change possible,\u201d said Calvin and Michelle Spotted Elk of the Spotted Elk Family. Read the full letter of support here.\n\n\u201cI am the living Descendant of my Grandfather Richard Afraid of Hawk/Cetan Kokipa, who was one of the 1890 Wounded Knee Descendant Survivor. At the age of 16/17 years of age. The tragedy of the massacre of Uphan Gleska/Spotted Elk/Big Foots Band. From Our Homelands of the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. Was a planned attack directed by Colonel James Forsyth. And his 7th Calvary Unit. A senseless act of cowardice. To this day the unjust wrong done by the US Government/7th Calvary. Can be felt the heavy sadness. Upon the living Descendants. The removal of the Medals of Honor will be righteous and just cause. As this was indeed a Massacre done to our Relatives. So that the grieving and healing process will begin. As a Lakota Nation as a whole. Thank you/Pilamaye for your passion and hard work. To correct the wrong of Our Relatives,\u201d said Marlis Afraid of Hawk of the Afraid of Hawk Family.\n\n\u201cAs Co-Executive Directors of Four Directions Native Vote Barb & I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley and Representative Jill Tokuda for reintroducing the Remove the Stain Act. We and the descendants continue to think of our relatives who faced a terrible massacre at Wounded Knee. We must show the World these types of actions are not condoned and this legislation will start a healing process for the people and Nations,\u201d said OJ and Barb Semans of Four Directions Native Vote. Read the full letter of support here.\n\n\u201cAs Chairman of the Coalition of Large Tribes and Chairman of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, I want to express my gratitude on behalf of COLT and SWO to Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jeff Merkley and Representative Jill Tokuda for reintroducing the Remove the Stain Act in the 119 Congress. The Oglala, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribes as well as the 7 other Tribes in South Dakota all have Wounded Knee Descendants within our territories and the passage of this bill will create healing for the Descendants and our Nation,\u201d said J. Garret Renville, Chairman Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT).\n\n\u201cRescinding these Medals of Honor \u2013 awarded for actions that embody dishonor \u2013 is essential to maintaining the distinction of our nation\u2019s highest military award. Those who have been earned the Medal of Honor for true acts of valor in the course of their military service should not be in the same company as thetwenty individuals awarded for participation in the Wounded Knee Massacre. It\u2019s long past time for Congress to act and rescind those Medals. We applaud Senator Warren\u2019s leadership and encourage every Member to join her in this effort,\u201d said Mary Kaszynski, VoteVets Director of Government Relations.\n\n\u201cHistory lives and breathes in the stories we tell and is buried by those we ignore. The Wounded Knee Massacre is a story we cannot forget. It was not an act of bravery but a brutal attempt to erase the Lakota people from their land. And yet, rather than mourning the over 300 lives lost, we rewarded the very hands that pulled the triggers with Medals of Honor. The Remove the Stain Act is not about rewriting history\u2014it is about recognizing the truth and acknowledging our rights, as Native peoples, to live freely in our homelands. The Native Organizers Alliance stands with the Tribal Nations and leaders in demanding justice. Therevocation of these medals will not undo the tragedy of Wounded Knee, but it will be a step toward telling the truth about what happened that day. It is time for Congress to act, not out of favor, but out of respect for the Lakota people and the truth,\u201d said Tre Nez, Director of Policy at the Native Organizers Alliance.\n\nAdditional letters of support for the Remove the Stain Act are available from the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen\u2019s Association, Inc., Shoshone-Paiute Tribe of theDuck Valley Indian Reservation, and a Descendant of the Wounded Knee Massacre Violet Catches.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3662", "Case Receives 2025 National Statesmanship Award From U.S. Association Of Former Members Of Congress", "2025-05-20", "2025", "2025-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=5", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) was presented with the 2025 Statesmanship Award by the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC) in a ceremony tonight in Washington, D.C.\n\nIn presenting the prestigious award to Case, the FMC said: \"U.S. Representative Ed Case, who has the rare distinction of being both a current Member and a former Member, is a leader on issues ranging from education to environmental protection and more, bringing his collaborative and collegial approach to often-difficult debates as a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations and otherwise.\n\n\u201cHe exemplifies a pragmatic and productive approach to legislating that FMC considers essential for the nation's success.\"\n\nCase was joined in receiving this year\u2019s award by U.S. Representative Young Kim (R-CA, and a graduate of St. Andrews Priory (now St. Andrews Schools) in Honolulu), and U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Cory Booker (D-NJ).\n\nOn receiving the award, Case said: \u201cI\u2019m deeply honored and somewhat embarrassed to receive this award, as there are a number of my House colleagues who deserve it.\n\n\u201cI have always believed as they do that our representative democracy relies absolutely on inclusion and responsiveness to real citizen concerns with real practical problem solving. That is the only approach that will lead us out of this disturbing time to deep national division and polarization and validate to the rest of our world that democracy remains the best path forward.\n\n\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that we ignore deep policy disagreements and debates and make the tough decisions when required. But it does mean that we must consciously and constantly work to strengthen the institutions and ability of our government to solve them.\n\nThe FMC (https://www.usafmc.org/) was founded over a half century ago and, at some 800 members today, is a \u201cbipartisan, nonprofit, voluntary alliance of former United States Senators and Representatives, advocating for representative democracy at home and abroad.\u201d\n\nIts annual Statesmanship Award is given to Members who have demonstrated a life-long dedication to solutions-based governing, respectful debate, and placing the interests of citizens above politics.\n\nCase served as U.S. Representative for Hawaii\u2019s 2nd Congressional District from 2002 to 2007, following which he continued his involvement with Congress on various FMC efforts. He was re-elected to the U.S. House in 2018 and is now serving his sixth full term in the House. He has served on the House Committee on Appropriations since his return to Congress, currently on the Subcommittees on Defense and on Homeland Security. Among other activities, he serves as Vice Chair of the House Problem Solvers Caucus (https://problemsolverscaucus.house.gov/), a bipartisan group of Members of Congress -evenly split between Republicans and Democrats \u2013 committed to advancing common-sense solutions to key issues facing our nation.\n\n###\n\nAttachments: Pictures of U.S. Representatives Ed Case and Young Kim at tonight\u2019s Statesmanship Awards ceremony, along with the Award to Case.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3645", "Case, Cortez Masto, Ernst, Radewagen Work To Strengthen Strategic Relationships With Pacific Islands", "2025-05-13", "2025", "2025-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=5", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C) -- Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Congressman Ed Case (D-Hawaii-01), and Delegate Aumua Amata Radewagen (R-A.S.), introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill aimed at strengthening the United States\u2019 strategic partnerships with Pacific Island nations, supporting sustainable development, and combating the increasing Chinese aggression in the region. The Pacific Partnership Act would help the U.S. establish a clear, comprehensive strategy to support diplomatic, security, and economic relationships in the Indo-Pacific region.\n\n\u201cOur Pacific Partnership Act responds directly to the reality that our country's and world's future lies in the Indo-Pacific, and that the islands of the Pacific are our indispensable partners in charting that future,\u201d said Congressman Case.\n\n\u201cThe Pacific Islands are under increasingly severe economic, environmental and geopolitical stress, and we must expand our generational engagement to assist them where they most need assistance. The Pacific Partnership Act, molded directly on the Pacific Islands\u2019 own blueprint to their collective future, is our roadmap to expanded engagement as well.\u201d\n\n\u201cSupporting our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific is essential to combating the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s influence and to our long-term national security,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cThis bipartisan bill is critical to strengthening our ties with our allies in the Pacific and ensuring they become enduring global relationships.\u201d\n\n\u201cStrengthening America\u2019s partnerships in the Indo-Pacific is critical to deterring Chinese aggression,\u201d said Senator Ernst. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation equips us to work with nations in the Pacific that serve as the first line of defense against the Chinese Communist Party and keep Americans safe at home.\u201d\n\n\u201cThank you to Senator Cortez Masto, Senator Ernst, and Congressman Case for their focus on these important partnerships that are close to home for my congressional district in the South Pacific,\u201d said Congresswoman Radewagen. \u201cWe need sustained U.S. engagement for enduring partnerships in the Pacific Islands, keeping China\u2019s influence in check, and strengthening mutual development opportunities.\u201d\n\nThe U.S. has a longstanding relationship with the Pacific Islands, and they play a crucial role in U.S. national security, facilitating military operations in support of American allies and partners. Nevada \u2013 through the National Guard \u2013 collaborates with the Republic of Fiji, the Kingdom of Tonga, and the Independent State of Samoa under the National Guard Bureau\u2019s State Partnership Program, strengthening security cooperation globally.\n\nThe Pacific Partnership Act would strengthen these crucial ties by creating a \u201cStrategy for Pacific Partnership\u201d.\n\nThis strategy, crafted by the President and presented to Congress every four years, would outline U.S. involvement in the Pacific Islands and highlight combined efforts to combat regional challenges including natural disasters, security threats, and economic development.\n\nRead the full bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-introduces-bill-to-empower-law-enforcement-efforts-to-crack-down-on-ghost-guns", "Rep. Tokuda Introduces Bill to Empower Law Enforcement Efforts to Crack Down on Ghost Guns", "2025-05-13", "2025", "2025-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "GHOST Act Follows Continued Work by Congresswoman to Reduce Gun Violence\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) introduced the Gun Hardware Oversight and Shipment Tracking (GHOST) Act to help law enforcement prevent the spread ofunserialized firearms, also known as \u201cghost guns.\u201dPolice departments across the country are reporting a surge in ghost guns recovered from crime scenes, including firearms assembled using 3D-printed parts. The GHOST Act would help law enforcement stay ahead of this emerging threat by developing a system to observeinterstate shipments of gun kitsused to build ghost guns and detect individuals who are acquiring gun parts but are not licensed to possess a firearm.\n\nYesterday, Rep. Tokudajoined the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) at their Ke Kula Maka\u02bbi Training Academy for a briefing and demonstration by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on how 3D-printing and the proliferation of gun kits are increasing the number of untraceable firearms in Hawai\u02bbi and across the country.\n\n\u201cGhost guns made from legally purchased DIY-gun kits combined with3D-printed gun partspose a serious threat to the safety of our communities and our police officers. That\u2019swhy I am proud to introduce this bill that will give our partners in law enforcement another tool they need to track and prevent the production and spread of these dangerous and illegal weapons,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cSeeing firsthand how easy it is to print and assemble an untraceable weapon and create deadly firearm modificationsrenews my sense of urgency to close loopholes and give law enforcement the support they need toreduce gun violence, prevent tragedies, and make our communities safer.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe State of Hawai\u2018i is grateful to Representative Tokuda for taking our concerns of unserialized firearms, commonly referred to as \u02bbghost guns\u2019, to the national forefront. In the present day, 3D printing has created the opportunity for criminals to obtain firearms by merely ordering unregulated firearm parts online and then illegally printing the regulated parts in the comfort of their homes. This bill moves the needle in the right direction to limit the availability of illegal firearms in our streets and those of our fellow states,\u201d said Mike Lambert, Director of the Hawai\u2018i Department of Law Enforcement.\n\nThe GHOST Act is just the latest effort by Rep. Tokuda to tackle the threat of gun violence in Hawai\u2018i and nationwide. In March, Rep. Tokuda led a letter signed by 21 Members of Congress to UPS, the nation\u2019s largest shipping company, urging them to review and update their policies for shipping gun parts and assembly kits, and enhance their collaboration with law enforcement to track shipments of gun parts that can be easily used to illegally build ghost guns. Last December, Rep. Tokuda convened a briefing with the Biden administration\u2019s White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention for community leaders and local non-profits working to combat gun violence on Oahu\u2019s west side and provide federal resources for community violence prevention for state and local agencies. The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention has since been eliminated by the Trump administration.\n\nThe GHOST Act has been endorsed by GIFFORDS and March for Our Lives gun violence prevention advocacy groups. Original cosponsors of the bill are Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Greg Casar (TX-35), Sarah McBride (DE-AL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Madeline Dean (PA-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Derek Tran (CA-45), Mike Levin (CA-49), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Emily Randall (WA-06), Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07), Danny Davis (IL-07), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Dan Goldman (NY-10), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Dave Min (CA-47) and Shri Thanedar (MI-13).\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/hawaii-congressional-delegation-reintroduces-legislation-to-safeguard-health-care-for-seniors-in-hawaii", "Hawai\u2018i Congressional Delegation Reintroduces Legislation to Safeguard Health Care For Seniors In Hawai\u2018i", "2025-05-07", "2025", "2025-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "Protecting Access To Health Care in Hawai\u2018i Act Would Ensure Fair Medicare Reimbursements, Help Retain, Recruit Physicians\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai\u2018i) and Ed Case (D-Hawai\u2018i) and U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai\u2018i) today introduced the PATCH (Protecting Access To Care in Hawai\u2018i) Act as part of a renewed push to address ongoing challenges in Hawai\u2018i\u2019s health care system. This bipartisan, bicameral bill aims to ensure seniors across the islands can continue to receive quality medical care by adjusting Medicare reimbursement rates for local providers. The legislation is designed to ease the strain on Hawai\u2018i\u2019s health care workforce, making it easier to attract and retain doctors and ensure long-term access to essential services for older residents.\n\n\u201cHawai\u2018i\u2019s seniors deserve reliable, timely care, no matter where they live. But our health care system is under real strain, especially in rural and Neighbor Island communities, where too many providers are already operating on thin margins,\u201d said Representative Tokuda. \u201cThe PATCH Act is simply about fairness and sustainability. By adjusting Medicare payments to reflect the true costs of care in Hawai\u2018i, we can better support our doctors, strengthen local health systems, and ensure that our kupuna aren\u2019t left behind when they need care the most.\u201d\n\n\u201cNearly one in five of our Hawai\u2019i \u2018ohana are now age 65 or older and our senior population continues to grow rapidly,\u201d said Representative Case. \u201cThe PATCH Act reinforces our commitment to Hawai\u2018i\u2019s kupuna by ensuring that their medical practitioners are adequately compensated for the care they provide to our seniors.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs more people reach Medicare age in Hawai\u2018i, we are seeing fewer health care providers because of the rising operating and living costs in our state,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cOur bill would help fix that, boosting Medicare payments to providers and protecting health care access for the 300,000 seniors in Hawai\u2018i that rely on Medicare.\u201d\n\n\u201cHundreds of thousands of seniors rely on Medicare throughout Hawai\u2018i, yet there are numerous obstacles that prevent them from accessing the care they need,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cHawai\u2018i\u2019s high cost of living and unique geography make it difficult to attract and retain physicians, further exacerbating the state\u2019s shortage of health care professionals. That is why I am proud to support the PATCH Act, legislation that will help expand and protect access to health care across the islands by ensuring that physicians and other health professionals are being fairly compensated.\u201d\n\nHawai\u2018i faces the lowest Medicare physician reimbursement rates in the nation, despite bearing some of the highest medical operating costs. This mismatch has placed added pressure on the state\u2019s health care providers and strained access to care for Medicare patients. The PATCH Act proposes a 24% increase in payments to physicians, aiming to better align compensation with the actual cost of delivering care in Hawai\u2018i and help retain a strong provider network to serve the state\u2019s 300,000 Medicare recipients.\n\n\u201cThere is a serious workforce shortage in Hawai\u2018i that affects the ability of residents in the state to access timely care. We\u2019ve known for decades that physician reimbursements in the state do not accurately reflect the actual costs of providing care. Coupled with our unique, difficult geography, more steps need to be taken by Medicare to ensure that all Hawai\u2018i residents can see a doctor when they need one. This bill will provide long-overdue relief to our state by ensuring that physicians are paid fairly for their services,\u201d said Hilton Raethel, President and CEO of Healthcare Association of Hawai\u2018i.\n\nThe full text of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-announces-winner-of-congressional-art-competition", "Rep. Tokuda Announces Winner of Congressional Art Competition", "2025-05-04", "2025", "2025-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "K\u0101ne\u02bbohe, HI \u2013 Yesterday, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) announced Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s Second Congressional District Winner of the U.S. House of Representatives\u2019 Artistic Discovery Contest in a ceremony held at Windward Community College.\n\nArtwork was submitted from multiple islands. Professors from UH West O\u02bbahu and Windward Community College assisted in judging and selecting the finalists. A pencil on paper drawing titled \u201cSelf-Portrait\u201d was selected as the winner. The artist is Emily-Ann Oshiro, a senior at James B. Castle High School.\n\nEmily-Ann\u2019s art will be displayed in the Cannon tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for one year so Members of Congress and other visitors can see her winning entry. She is also invited to attend the awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. where she and the winners from other congressional districts will be honored.\n\n\u201cOnce again, we received impressive pieces of outstanding artwork from across our islands. Their use of various mediums and the depth and meaning behind their creations highlight the talent and creativity of our students. I will be proud to see Emily-Ann's creative and bold self-portrait as I walk to the Capitol each day,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cMahalo to all the teachers and families who have guided and supported these talented students, and congratulations and best wishes to all our finalists.\u201d\n\nEach spring, the U.S. House of Representatives sponsors this high school art competition in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories to showcase the artistic talent of youths across the nation.\n\nHere are the 2025 winners from Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s Second Congressional District:\n\n1st place\n\nEmily-Ann Oshiro\n\nJames B. Castle High School, 12th grade\n\n\u201cSelf-Portrait\u201d (pencil on paper)\n\n2nd place\n\nGeneva Phillips\n\nKea\u02bbau High School, 12th grade\n\n\u201cThe Endemic \u2018Alal\u0101\u201d (colored pencil)\n\n3rd place\n\nEmily-Ann Oshiro\n\nJames B. Castle High School, 12th grade\n\n\u201cAlpinia Purpurata (Red Ginger)\u201d (watercolor)\n\nHonorable Mention\n\nSadie Stafford\n\nMaui Preparatory Academy, 11th grade\n\n\u201cSweet 15\u201d (pencil on paper)\n\nPhotos are available for viewing here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-releases-statement-on-the-elimination-of-funding-for-the-native-hawaiian-housing-block-grant-in-presidents-fy-2026-skinny-discretionary-budget", "Rep. Tokuda Releases Statement on the Elimination of Funding for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant In President\u2019s FY 2026 \u201cSkinny\u201d Discretionary Budget", "2025-05-02", "2025", "2025-05", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "\u201cI am deeply disappointed, yet sadly not surprised, by President Trump\u2019s \u2018skinny budget\u2019 proposal to eliminate funding for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant in the upcoming fiscal year. This action is a blatant betrayal and shows complete disregard for the federal trust responsibility to Native Hawaiians and unfairly shifts the duty solely to the State of Hawai\u2018i, ignoring generations of legal, historical, and moral obligations to this community. Claiming there is only one grantee shows a lack of understanding that they serve hundreds of thousands of native Hawaiian beneficiaries and their families. Citing unspent balances as justification oversimplifies a much deeper problem\u2014one rooted not in need, but in execution.\n\nFor over a decade, I\u2019ve been calling DHHL on the carpet for their failure to spend down federal housing funds effectively. Back when I was Ways and Means Chair in the Hawai\u2018i State Senate, I was raising red flags about the $55 million of unspent federal NAHASDA dollars sitting idle while native Hawaiian families sat waiting. In fact, the Obama administration cut their funding for the same reason, because DHHL couldn\u2019t demonstrate they were using the money to deliver results. Year after year, millions of dollars intended to provide housing for native Hawaiian housing and community development have gone unused\u2014not for lack of purpose, but for lack of progress. These delays don\u2019t just waste time and jeopardize funding. They deny housing, stability, and dignity to native Hawaiian families who have been left behind for far too long.\n\nWe must demand better. DHHL must step up and the federal government must not walk away. As a Member of Congress, I will fight any attempts by the Trump administration to eliminate Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant funds, and I will work with beneficiaries, homestead associations, and the State to improve transparency and accountability so we finally deliver on the promises made to our native Hawaiian community.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:49:36Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3627", "Case, Bresnahan, Jr. Introduce Small Business Measure To Expand Employee Stock Ownership Plans", "2025-04-29", "2025", "2025-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=5", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (D-Hawai\u2018i-01), along with U.S. Representative Robert Bresnahan, Jr. (R-Pennsylvania-08), today announced introduction of a bipartisan measure to assist small businesses to adopt Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), which offer a tested solution to employment and business productivity, stability and ownership transfer.\n\nTheir ESOP Funding For SBA Position Act 2025 is also co-sponsored by U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan-12).\n\n\u201cESOPs are a proven mechanism for allowing employees to become full stakeholders in their businesses,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cThis wealth-generating and, especially for small family-owned businesses, retirement plan approach creates a more engaged and productive workforce by aligning employee interests with a company\u2019s success. This model promotes a stronger sense of ownership and community and keeps investment and wealth in local economies, benefiting workers and their families.\u201d\n\n\"When employees share in ownership, they also share in success, which builds a business where everyone is invested, not just financially, but personally,\" said Rep. Bresnahan, Jr.\n\n\"ESOPs are vital to building succession plans to ensure these small businesses remain in their communities where they belong. This legislation will improve access to this program for thousands of businesses and millions of employees across the country, and I thank Rep. Case for his partnership on this crucial investment for small businesses.\"\n\nCase continued: \u201cIn Hawai\u2018i, we\u2019ve seen firsthand the benefits of ESOPs. Hawai\u2018i is home to the second-oldest ESOP chapter in the nation, underscoring the success and importance of employee-owned businesses in our state.\n\n\u201cFrom that humble beginning, the Hawai\u2018i Chapter of the ESOP Association now represents over 45 ESOP companies and professional service providers in the state, which is a significant number considering our state\u2019s size. These businesses, with the help of ESOPs, have continued to thrive, contributing to the local economy in ways that benefit families and the broader community.\u201d\n\n\u201cDespite this strong record of ESOPs in Hawai\u2018i and throughout the United States, many small businesses face challenges in navigating the complex process of establishing and maintaining an ESOP. They often lack expertise in tax considerations, regulatory compliance, stock valuation, and securing the necessary funding. Our measure expands the availability of that necessary expertise and advocacy to grow ESOPs further across our country.\u201d\n\nNationally, as of 2021 there were 6,247 ESOPs, with nearly 11 million workers and a little more than $2 trillion in ESOP assets, with average assets per employee of $165,000.\n\nAttachments:\n\n\u00b7 Text of the measure is here\n\n\u00b7 Rep. Case\u2019s remarks on introduction of the measure are here\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3562", "Case Leads Effort In Congress Calling On President To Rescind Executive Order Permitting Deep Seabed Mining", "2025-04-25", "2025", "2025-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=5", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i\u2013 First District) in a letter today urged President Donald Trump to reconsider his decision to allow for seabed mining in U.S. and international waters, saying the decision \u201crecklessly prioritizes short-term economic gain over the current and long-term health of our oceans, ignoring the profound and potentially irreversible damage it could cause not just to fragile marine ecosystems but to all of our other ecosystems which are intertwined with our oceans.\u201d\n\nCase\u2019s letter came the day after the President issued his executive order opening up unregulated mining, saying the nation \u201cmust take immediate action to accelerate the responsible development of seabed mineral resources\u201d both within and beyond national jurisdiction.\n\nIn his letter, Case said fast-tracking seabed mining \u201cis an unwise gamble with our planet\u2019s future, and it is imperative that we fully understand the implications of such actions before moving forward.\u201d\n\nCase\u2019s letter was joined by U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-2), the Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, his Hawai\u2018i colleague Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-2), and Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Chellie Pingree (ME-1), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC).\n\nCase further stated:\n\n\u201cThe deep ocean represents an irreplaceable frontier, playing a critical role in carbon sequestration, sustaining marine biodiversity and supporting climate stability. Fast-tracking permits for seabed mining threatens to destroy these fragile ecosystems through highly destructive practices that could decimate habitats, contaminate food chains and disrupt vital carbon processes.\n\n\u201cWhile the full impacts of deep-sea mining remain uncertain, the risks we do understand are alarming. The potential damage far outweighs any anticipated benefits. Furthermore, coastal and Indigenous communities\u2014many of whom are already disproportionately affected by climate change\u2014will bear the heaviest consequences of this policy.\n\n\u201cThis is a profoundly misguided step. At a time when the world is watching how we lead, the United States should be setting a standard for responsible ocean stewardship, not racing to exploit unproven resources. We must choose protection over economic expediency and uphold our responsibility to safeguard the deep ocean, not only for ourselves, but for the generations that will follow.\n\n\u201cTo that end, earlier this Congress I introduced the American Seabed Protection Act and the International Seabed Protection Act, two critical bills that would halt new seabed mining permits in U.S. waters and advocate for a global moratorium on international seabed mining. These pieces of legislation are rooted in science and caution, ensuring that environmental protections come first while we work to fully understand the ecological impacts of deep-sea extraction.\u201d\n\nWhen Case introduced his measures, he referred to an area most sought after by the industry for immediate unregulated mining: the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.\n\nThis Zone is an abyssal plain as wide as the continental United States punctuated by seamounts which extends to just hundreds of miles southeast of Hawai\u2018i Island. Yet little if anything material is known about the marine ecosystem of this area or its connection to Hawaii\u2019s own unique marine and related ecosystem.\n\nAttachments:\n\n\u00b7 Letter to President Trump is here\n\n\u00b7 Picture of Sea cucumber Amperima sp. on the seabed in the eastern Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone. Image courtesy of Craig Smith and Diva Amon, ABYSSLINE Project.\n\n\u00b7 Picture of Relicanthus sp a new species from a new order of Cnidaria collected at 4,100 meters in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCZ) that lives on sponge stalks attached to nodules. Image courtesy of Craig Smith and Diva Amon, ABYSSLINE Project.\n\n\u00b7 Information on Case\u2019s bills is here\n\n\u00b7 Case\u2019s remarks in the Congressional Record on introduction of his bills is here\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3558", "Case Announces Winners Of His 2025 Congressional Art Competition", "2025-04-24", "2025", "2025-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=5", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) -- U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i \u2013 First District) announced the winners of his 2025 Congressional Art Competition at Bishop Museum, where entries were on public display.\n\nTwenty-three art pieces were entered this year from eight schools throughout his district.\n\n\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 judges to select the winners.\u201d\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\u2019ll be very proud to highlight the winners\u2019 work in the U.S. Capitol and my congressional offices.\n\nEach spring since 1982, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual arts competition to recognize and encourage artistic talents in each Congressional district. Most Members of Congress participate in sponsoring the competitions.\n\nThe winners for Case\u2019s event this year are:\n\n1st Place\n\nMay Shiraishi\n\nGrade 9\n\nHawai\u2018i Baptist Academy\n\nTitle: \u201cBeauty Amidst the Debris\u201d\n\nMedium: soft pastel, plastic debris, acrylic paint\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\nRai Angelo Santos\n\nGrade 10\n\nFarrington High School\n\nTitle: \u201cMother of Three\u201d\n\nMedium: photography\n\nHis image will be displayed in the Washington, D.C. Office of Congressman Case for one year, along with a certificate.\n\n3rd Place\n\nDeinalyn Theodore\n\nGrade 11\n\nFarrington High School\n\nTitle: \u201cWoven in Me\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 Mention\n\nJanelle De Castro\n\nGrade 12\n\nFarrington High School\n\nTitle: \u201cWants and Needs\u201d\n\nMedium: photography\n\n\u201cI want to especially thank our panel of judges who reviewed the works and made some very tough decisions\u201d, said Case.\n\nThe judges included:\n\n- Meleanna Aluli Meyer\n\nMeleanna Aluli Meyer is an acclaimed artist, educator, and cultural advocate known for her decades-long commitment to Hawaiian art, education, and social justice. Honored with awards like the MAMO Kumu Kukui Master Teaching Artist Award, she blends creative expression with healing and cultural preservation. Her work is deeply rooted in Hawaiian values and dedicated to empowering communities through art and culture.\n\n- Zoe Liu\n\nZoe Liu is a Hong Kong-born artist based in Honolulu, Hawai\u2018i, known for her evocative works exploring education, identity, and spiritual growth. A graduate of the University of Hawai\u02bbi at M\u0101noa with top honors in Drawing and Digital Imaging, she is also the founder of Art Tent Studio and a dedicated teaching artist at institutions such as the Honolulu Museum of Art School and the Hawai\u2018i State Art Museum. Using ink, watercolor, and mixed media, her art delves into existential themes and reflects her meditative, teaching-informed practice.\n\n- Kahi Ching\n\nKahi Ching was born in Honolulu, Hawai\u2018i. He is a lifelong creative known for his versatility across painting, sculpture, bonsai, and public art. A child prodigy, he sold his first painting at age 11 and earned national recognition as a teen. With over 30 years of experience, Kahi has continually explored diverse media, valuing authenticity over convention. He is the founder of Kahi Gallery, a space dedicated to sharing his vision and supporting other artists. Today, he continues to create while balancing his artistic practice with family life\n\nAttachments:\n\n\u00b7 May Shiraishi with her 1st place entry alongside Rep. Case\n\n\u00b7 Rai Angelo Santos with his 2nd place entry alongside Rep. Case\n\n\u00b7 Deinalyn Theodore with her 3rd place entry alongside Rep. Case\n\n\u00b7 Janelle De Castro with her Honorable Mention entry alongside Rep. Case\n\n\u00b7 Group photo with Rep. Case, art entrants and judges\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-joins-waianae-community-for-peace-pole-installation_fronting-makua-military-reservation", "Rep. Tokuda Joins Wai\u02bbanae Community for Peace Pole Installation  \r\nFronting Makua Military Reservation", "2025-04-24", "2025", "2025-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "Wai\u02bbanae, HI \u2013 This week, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) joined members of M\u0101lama M\u0101kua and the Wai\u02bbanae Moku Kupuna Council, with support from U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii, for the installation of a Peace Pole in front of Makua Military Reservation.\n\nThe Peace Pole, inscribed with \u201cMay Peace Prevail on Earth\u201d and \u201cHo\u02bbomaluhia Me Ka Honua,\u201d is part of a global project to promote harmony and unity, while also acknowledging the harms and impacts of past and present conflicts.\n\n\u201cDuring this time of great turbulence and divide in our country, it is even more important that we lean into peace and show respect and aloha for one another,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cI was humbled to stand with the many hands and hearts, past and present, who made this Peace Pole installation possible. It serves as a reminder of how far we have come, and the work we will do together to strive for a more peaceful and safe world.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere are fences of violence everywhere and those fences do nothing to build friendly and lasting relationships,\u201d said Sparky Rodrigues of M\u0101lama M\u0101kua. \u201cOur job is to remind the people of Hawai\u02bbi that building relationships is better than building fences. The aloha embrace welcomes all peace-loving people everywhere.\u201d\n\nPhotos of the Peace Pole installation can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/mcgovern-and-tokuda-reintroduce-resolution-calling-for-renewed-us-leadership-on-nuclear-disarmament", "McGovern and Tokuda Reintroduce Resolution Calling for Renewed U.S. Leadership on Nuclear Disarmament", "2025-04-10", "2025", "2025-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, U.S. Representatives James P. McGovern (MA-02) and Jill Tokuda (HI-02) reintroduced a House resolution urging the United States to return to the negotiating table on nuclear disarmament and to lead a global effort to reduce and eliminate nuclear weapons. The resolution, H. Res. 317, reaffirms the United States\u2019 moral and strategic obligation to prevent nuclear war and calls on the United States to pursue a world free of nuclear weapons as a national security imperative.\n\n\u201cNuclear weapons do not make us safer\u2014they put the entire planet at risk,\u201d said Congressman McGovern. \u201cWe are closer to nuclear catastrophe today than at any point since the Cold War. We need bold action to stop a new arms race before it\u2019s too late. This resolution is a call for courage, diplomacy, and common sense.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a Japanese American, my heritage is deeply tied to the devastating impact of nuclear weapons and the atrocities of war. This resolution is about our moral imperative to achieve nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament. It is not only a call for peace, but a commitment to ensuring that such tragedies are never repeated. This resolution represents a vital step toward a safer, more just world,\u201d said Congresswoman Tokuda.\n\nThe resolution urges the United States to:\n\nEngage in good-faith negotiations with all nuclear-armed states to halt the buildup of nuclear arsenals and pursue verifiable, time-bound reductions;\n\nConclude new arms control agreements with Russia and engage China on nuclear risk reduction;\n\nRenounce the option of using nuclear weapons first;\n\nEnd the Cold War-era \u201chair trigger alert\u201d posture;\n\nRein in the production of new nuclear warheads and delivery systems;\n\nPreserve the moratorium on nuclear testing;\n\nProtect radiation-impacted communities and workers through full remediation, compensation, and expanded health care, including an expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA); and\n\nPlan a just economic transition for workers and communities dependent on the nuclear weapons industry.\n\nThe renewed push comes amid growing concerns over a global nuclear arms race, the collapse of key arms control treaties, and rising tensions between major powers. Since the United States and Russia withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, many fear that hard-won progress on arms control is unraveling. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the United States is projected to spend over $750 billion on nuclear weapons over the next decade\u2014diverting critical resources away from health care, education, climate resilience, and more pressing national security needs. The resolution has received massive public support from across the country.\n\n\"At a time of increased tensions around the world, we cannot risk letting nuclear threats increase. That is why Council for a Livable World supports Congressman McGovern's H. Res. 317 to lower nuclear risks and promote diplomacy to work toward a world free from nuclear threats. We urge Members to support this legislation and all efforts to reduce nuclear tensions in favor of foreign and national security that will address the issues we face rather than bring us to the precipice of confrontation and waste billions of taxpayer dollars in the process,\u201d said John Tierney, Executive Director of the Council for a Livable World.\n\n\u201cThrough the years, Americans have successfully pressed our leaders to pursue nuclear arms control in order to reduce the nuclear threat. But now, eighty years after the first use of nuclear weapons, the danger of nuclear war and nuclear arms racing is on the rise once again. This timely resolution outlines a practical plan for action to restore U.S. leadership to lead the world back from the nuclear brink and build a safer world for our children and generations to come,\u201d said Daryl G. Kimball, Executive Director of the Arms Control Association.\n\n\u201cThe McGovern-Tokuda resolution is more than a statement\u2014it\u2019s a detailed, actionable roadmap to nuclear disarmament. It provides a clear strategy for reducing nuclear risks, ending outdated policies, championing justice for impacted communities, and advancing a future free from the threat of nuclear war,\u201d said Denise Duffield, Co-Manager of the Back from the Brink Coalition\n\n\"I fully support House Resolution 317. From the beginning of the first arms race, the U.S. and Russia rejected minimal deterrence in favor of nuclear war fighting capabilities even though there are no winners in a nuclear war. Now that we are in a second arms race, the two nuclear superpowers should demonstrate global leadership by honoring the disarmament obligations they promised to in the 1970 Nonproliferation Treaty. H. Res. 317is an important step in that direction. I strongly urge the New Mexican congressional delegation to support it as well,\u201d said the Most Reverend John C. Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe.\n\n\u201cThe United Methodist Church has long called for the abolition of nuclear weapons. The existence of nuclear weapons is antithetical to our faith, which calls on us to practice responsible stewardship. This resolution is a moral imperative, urging us to prioritize peace and the well-being of our communities over weapons of war,\u201d said Bishop Julius Trimble, General Board of Church and Society, United Methodist Church.\n\n\"Nuclear weapons are one of the greatest risks humanity faces. They endanger every person's health, every nation's security, and the very survival of our planet. As an organization of healthcare professionals, we know there is no cure for the devastation caused by these weapons. That's why Physicians for Social Responsibility supports this resolution that seeks to prevent nuclear war and abolish nuclear weapons,\u201d said Brian Campbell, PhD, Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility.\n\nA full list of supportive statements is available here.\n\n\u201cEither we end nuclear weapons\u2014or they will end us,\u201d McGovern added. \u201cThis is not just a policy debate. It\u2019s a question of existence.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the resolution can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3549", "Case Introduces Measure To Coordinate Diplomacy And Engagements Among And With Indigenous Peoples Around The World", "2025-04-08", "2025", "2025-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=6", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i-First District) today announced introduction of his Indigenous Diplomacy and Engagement Act \u201cto ensure that our country\u2019s foreign affairs efforts fully encompass and incorporate the independent interconnectedness of our world\u2019s indigenous peoples.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe estimated 476 million indigenous peoples spread across all parts of our world are bound together by a common heritage, common wisdom and common challenges that transcend often artificial lines of national sovereignty,\u201d said Case in remarks on introduction. \u201cTo recognize their international status and leverage their collective knowledge, in 2007 the international community adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.\u201d\n\n\u201cRather than step away from the international stage, we must redouble efforts for meaningful engagement wherever and however we can. This includes strengthening our relationships and partnerships with international indigenous peoples to more fully include their special perspective and connectedness in an inextricably interlinked world.\u201d\n\nCase said that his proposal arose in part from the success of the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture, a gathering of the indigenous peoples of Oceania in Honolulu in June 2024. \u201cThe Pacific Festival was a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of the indigenous peoples of the Pacific and of mutual commitment across national boundaries to addressing the challenges of our times, and we should take those lessons in our own responses.\u201d\n\nCase further said that, to better coordinate focus on indigenous peoples worldwide and engage internationally on issues important to indigenous peoples, including Native Hawaiians, his bill would create an Office for Indigenous Affairs at the Department of State responsible for coordinating all efforts of the federal government regarding diplomacy and engagements with international indigenous peoples.\n\n\u201cThe office would be headed by a Coordinator for Indigenous Affairs, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The coordinator would be tasked with establishing a comprehensive international strategy for promoting diplomacy and engagement with indigenous peoples.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe strategy would be developed in coordination with various federal departments and agencies as well as an Advisory Commission on Indigenous Peoples established by the bill. The Commission would consist of members appointed by the Secretary of State, President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, as well as representatives from the National Congress of American Indians, Alaska Federation of Natives and Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the representative entities for the largest groups of our country\u2019s own indigenous peoples. This will help more directly link our nation\u2019s indigenous peoples with efforts to build relationship with those in other countries.\u201d\n\nCase added that his bill would also require Foreign Service Officers to be trained on the history and culture of indigenous communities that reside near their posts of assignment. He said Foreign Service Officers will often be the primary American officials for interaction with these communities and should be well versed in specific indigenous peoples\u2019 issues.\n\n\u00b7 Copy of bill is here\n\n\u00b7 Case remarks in the Congressional Record is here\n\n\u00b7 Pictures of Congressman Case at the Closing Ceremony for the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture on June 16, 2024\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-tokuda-timmons-launch-bipartisan-congressional-coffee-caucus", "Reps. Tokuda, Timmons Launch Bipartisan Congressional Coffee Caucus", "2025-04-08", "2025", "2025-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and William Timmons (R-SC-04) launched the Congressional Coffee Caucus to provide a forum to uplift coffee\u2019s positive impact on the U.S. economy and help strengthen the resilience of the crop\u2019s global supply chain.\n\n\"Coffee is more than just a daily ritual\u2014it\u2019s a vital pillar of our economy, supporting millions of farmers, businesses, and communities across the country. From the fields in my home state of Hawai\u02bbi, to the roasteries and manufacturing plants in South Carolina and Vermont, coffee is consumed and enjoyed in every congressional district in the nation,\" said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to launch the Congressional Coffee Caucus with my colleague Rep. Timmons to highlight the positive impacts of our coffee industry that brings people together, one cup at a time.\"\n\n\u201cCoffee is a vital part of the U.S. economy, supporting millions of American jobs and generating billions in revenue from coast to coast. Beyond that, its health benefits keep our workforce sharp. The Coffee Caucus celebrates this powerhouse industry by uniting lawmakers over a cup, fostering bipartisan collaboration, and paving the way for policies that strengthen both our economy and our well-being,\" said Rep. Timmons.\n\nFocus areas of the caucus are:\n\nAgricultural Resilience: strengthening and increasing research and development funding to assist coffee farmers, both domestically (including in Hawai\u02bbi and Puerto Rico) and globally;\n\nEconomic Development: prioritizing coffee in trade and economic policy to support a strong U.S. coffee market, resilient supply chain, and broad-based social and economic development in coffee-growing countries that advance U.S. national security interests; and\n\nHealthy Diets: advancing the development of scientific research into the health benefits of drinking coffee.\n\n\u201cWith two-thirds of American adults drinking coffee each day, NCA is proud to see Congressional leaders sharing the joy of coffee and kicking off this historic effort to recognize coffee as a touchstone in Americans\u2019 daily lives and a huge driver of economic value in every U.S. state and territory,\u201d said National Coffee Association President and CEO William \u201cBill\u201d Murray.\n\n\u201cCongratulations to Reps. Tokuda and Timmons in leading this Congressional bipartisan effort to support the important needs of the U.S. coffee industry. Coffee may be small in scale when compared to most American Agricultural production, but we rank very high in keeping American Commerce moving. Mahalo to all of you,\u201d said Kimo Falconer, Hawai\u02bbi Coffee Growers Association.\n\nMembers of the Congressional Coffee Caucus include: Co-Chair Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Co-Chair William Timmons (R-SC), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Derek Tran (D-CA), Ed Case (D-HI), Max Miller (R-OH), Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson (R-PA), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Sarah McBride (D-DE), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Mark Green (R-TN), Laura Friedman (D-CA), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Becca Balint (D-VT), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), and Maxine Dexter (D-OR).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3546", "Case, Neguse Introduce Resolution To Designate April as National Native Plant Month", "2025-04-07", "2025", "2025-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=6", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (D-Hawai\u2019i-01), along with U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D-Colorado-02), today introduced a resolution to designate April as National Native Plant Month to promote the importance of biodiversity, climate and water conservation throughout our country. The Senate passed its version of the resolution co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono.\n\n\u201cNative plants are not just a vital part of our natural landscape; they are integral to the environmental health of our nation,\u201d said Case. \u201cFrom supporting biodiversity to enhancing local ecosystems, native plants play a crucial role in promoting sustainability and resilience in our environment.\u201d\n\nColorado is home to over 3,000 native plant species, all of which play a crucial role in environmental conservation. As biodiversity declines, we must continue to advocate for and take action that protects our environment while highlighting the importance of native plant species. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to join Rep. Case in leading the effort to designate April as National Native Plant Month,\u201d said Neguse, House Assistant Minority Leader.\n\nCase continued: \u201cIn my home state of Hawai\u2018i, our kuleana (responsibility) is to care for over 1,400 native plant species, nearly 90% of which are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else on Earth. These plants are not only critical to the islands\u2019 biodiversity but also serve as living treasures that reflect the resilience and adaptation of life in an isolated, often harsh environment.\u201d\n\n\u201cNative plants are those best suited to our local climates and support native insects and wildlife,\u201d said Jennifer Neale, Director of Research & Conservation, Denver Botanic Gardens. \u201cWe connect people with plants, native plants in particular, through our horticultural displays, educational programming and scientific studies. We should all celebrate our native plants and the unique beauty they bring to our local landscapes.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Hawai\u2018i Nature Center\u2019s core mission is to connect children and families to nature via environmental education and outdoor exploration,\u201d said Todd Cullison, the Executive Director of the Hawai\u2018i Nature Center.\n\n\u201cA main focus is teaching our keiki about their island home and how to m\u0101lama \u2018\u0101ina (care for the land). A significant tenet of this is the ecological and cultural importance of native and endemic plants, how they provide ecosystem services like soil formation and nutrient cycling, promote clean water and provide habitat for native wildlife .\n\n\u201cThis resolution by Representative Neguse of Colorado and Representative Case of Hawai\u2018i further solidifies the importance of native plants and provides a pathway for future celebration and education that Hawai\u2018i Nature Center and other entities can embrace into the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt the National Tropical Botanical Garden, we are committed to the perpetuation of Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s irreplaceable native plants and native biodiversity everywhere,\u201d said Tami Rollins, Interim CEO, National Tropical Botanical Garden.\n\n\u201cHawaiian native plants are at the very foundation of our island ecosystems, the livelihoods of our communities, and the essence of Hawaiian culture. Dedicating a month to native plants across the country is a great way to foster appreciation and inspire action for these increasingly imperiled species that are critical to life on our island home - from the \u02bb\u0101ina of Hawai\u02bbi to the entire planet.\"\n\nCase continued: \u201cBeyond their ecological value, native plants in Hawai\u2018i hold profound cultural and historical significance for Native Hawaiian communities. For centuries, Hawaiians have relied on these plants for a variety of essential purposes, including as staple foods like sweet potato (\u2018uala), taro (kalo), and breadfruit (\u2018ulu), which were central to their diet and agricultural system. These plants also provided medicinal benefits, with species like \u2018a\u2018ali\u2018i (hopbush) and ni\u2018oi (chili pepper) integral to the holistic health practices of Native Hawaiians By designating this month, we can shine a spotlight on the importance of native plants in maintaining the ecological balance of our communities and encourage the public to take steps to protect and conserve these species.\u201d\n\nAttachment(s):\n\n\u00b7 Text of measure here\n\n\u00b7 Case remarks here\n\n\u00b7 Picture of \u2018\u014chi\u2018a lehua with \u02bbI\u02bbiwi bird - Hawai\u2018i courtesy Keith Burnett\n\n\u00b7 Picture of acacia koa - Hawai\u2018i courtesy National Tropical Botanical Garden\n\n\u00b7 Picture of native plants - Plains Garden at Denver Botanic Gardens courtesy Scott Dressel-Martin\n\n\u00b7 Picture of endangered Penstemon Penlandii - Colorado courtesy Scott Dressel-Martin\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-leads-bipartisan-effort-to-protect-labor-rights-of-dod-educators", "Rep. Tokuda Leads Bipartisan Effort to Protect Labor Rights of DoD Educators", "2025-04-07", "2025", "2025-04", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) led 44 bipartisan Members of Congress in urging the Secretary of Defense to protect the collective bargaining rights of educators and educational support staff at the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). The letter requests that the Secretary of Defense respond by no later than Thursday, April 10, 2025.\n\nOn March 27, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order removing collective bargaining rights for federal employees while also authorizing the Secretary of Defense to exempt Department of Defense components from the impacts of the Executive Order.\n\nDoDEA educators and other employees operate 161 accredited schools across 11 foreign countries, 7 states, and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico. These schools are consistently ranked the best in the country in both reading and mathematics under the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and they ensure that military service members and their families can focus on defending the nation while their children receive the best available public education.\n\n\u201cSecretary Hegseth must ensure that this Executive Order does not unfairly impact DoDEA educators and staff whose sole responsibility is providing the best available education for children in military families across the world. These employees do not have clearances, they do not conduct military or national security missions, and they are not on the frontlines of conflicts. But to a soldier actually doing this work on behalf of our country, our DoDEA educators have an even more important mission--to care for their children and support their families while they serve to ensure America's war fighting and readiness posture. Protecting collective bargaining rights for these dedicated public servants ensures that we can continue to provide a high-quality education to our military families. They deserve nothing less,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda.\n\n\u201cDepartment of Defense Education Activity schools play a critical role in serving children of our servicemembers and Department of Defense civilians. The Trump Administration is once again gutting workplace protections, diminishing the voice of working people, and attacking collective bargaining rights \u2013 this time from educators and educational support staff work hard to educate and care for our military-connected children,\u201d said Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association. \u201cWhen you take away collective bargaining, you take away workers' voices. I want to thank Congresswoman Jill Tokuda and the bipartisan members of Congress who supported this letter. Together, we must stand up for the servicemembers of our country and for the educators who have dedicated their lives to helping students from military-connected families.\u201d\n\nA copy of the letter can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:33:40Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3633", "Case Speaks on the Sustainable Budget Act", "2025-03-31", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=6", "scraper", "Mr. Speaker, I rise to focus attention on one of our most pressing crises: our rapidly deteriorating federal budget, crippled by unsustainable annual deficits and accelerating overall debt. While most prefer to deny or explain it away, we all recognize it, and we all must address it.\n\nOur federal budget operates on principles no different from those of a business or family budget. Revenues come from taxes and fees, and expenses from government operations. When revenues exceed expenses, the government runs a surplus. When expenses exceed revenues, the government runs a deficit.\n\nThe federal budget operates on a fiscal year, meaning surpluses and deficits are calculated annually. When the government runs a deficit in any given year, it must borrow money to cover the shortfall. This is done primarily through issuing government bonds. Additionally, we borrow from intragovernmental sources such as the Social Security Trust Fund, which must eventually be repaid in order to fund Social Security benefits.\n\nWe also pay interest on the money we borrow. The total amount borrowed, largely to cover accumulated net deficits over time, constitutes our national debt.\n\nMuch like a family or business, it is ideal to avoid deficits and debt. However, some level of debt can be acceptable so long as it is not chronic, not an excuse for irresponsible spending, and remains proportionate to our overall budget and our gross domestic product (GDP).\n\nSadly, none of these sound budgetary principles has been followed for a full generation now. The last time the United States had a balanced budget was in 2001. Since then, we have run deficits every year, and our total debt and annual interest on that debt have ballooned.\n\nThe highest recorded annual deficit was in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching $3.1 trillion. Since then, the deficit has remained high, with the current year's deficit at approximately $1.9 trillion. If we continue on this path, the annual deficit is projected to reach $2.9 trillion by 2034.\n\nOur national debt has reached unprecedented levels as well. In 2004, the total debt was $7 trillion. By 2014, it had increased to $18 trillion. In 2019, it stood at $23 trillion. Today, our total debt has surpassed $36 trillion.\n\nOur gross debt-to-GDP ratio is now 124 percent, the highest it has been since the final years of World War II, when it peaked at 126 percent. If left unaddressed, this ratio is projected to reach 134 percent of GDP by 2034, with total debt climbing to $57 trillion.\n\nAdditionally, we are now spending more on interest payments on our national debt than any other federal program except for Social Security, so including even defense or Medicare. Interest will rise from $881 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 to $1 trillion by FY 2026.\n\nFailing to address our mounting debt and deficits has severe implications. It crowds out other critical spending in both defense and non-defense areas; reduces fiscal flexibility especially in times of crisis; contributes to inflationary pressures; slows economic growth; increases pressure to raise interest rates; creates national security risks, particularly as adversaries hold significant portions of our debt; discourages responsible budgeting practices on an international scale; and fuels arguments made by our adversaries, in particular the People's Republic of China, for replacing the U.S. dollar as the world's reserve currency.\n\nIn a Congress where we often repeat the platitude that our budget reflects our values, it is disturbing that the main common value reflected is fiscal unsustainability ranging to irresponsibility. We need look no further than a mirror for the root cause: our collective inability to face the music of fiscal responsibility and sustainability. It is clear that we need additional help to focus our Nation on the specific issues and collective decision-making required to stabilize our budget.\n\nTo set us on some path to righting our fiscal ship, I have introduced the Sustainable Budget Act with my colleagues Congressmen Steve Womack, Scott Peters, and Zachary Nunn. Our bill will create a National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, similar to other such commissions past, to serve this function.\n\nThe commission would consist of eighteen members split between Democrats and Republicans, and would be charged with proposing recommendations designed to achieve a balanced annual federal budget within ten years and meaningfully improve the long-term federal fiscal outlook. This commission would also include recommendations to address the growth in entitlement spending, which we all, regardless of our views on the issue, know is a key fiscal concern on its current track.\n\nThe commission's final recommendations would be due to Congress by no later than one year after the Commissioners are appointed. If the proposal is supported by at least twelve members of the committee, including at least four members of each party, it would receive expedited consideration in the House and Senate, which would have to vote on the proposal.\n\nA commission process has been utilized in other times of fiscal uncertainty and has facilitated some tough, but necessary, discussion. It has been attempted before in the federal fiscal context through various commissions such as Simpson-Bowles, which came close to succeeding in restoring some fiscal discipline in Washington. There is no reason to conclude that it would not work here, and every reason to conclude that absent such an approach we will be in far worse shape far faster than followed previous attempts.\n\nWe clearly need help with our collective inability to confront this reality. My Sustainable Budget Act is at least a start toward a solution.\n\nI urge this bill's prompt consideration and passage.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-reintroduces-bill-to-stop-illegal-campaign-coordination", "Rep. Tokuda Reintroduces Bill to Stop Illegal Campaign Coordination", "2025-03-31", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 On Thursday, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) reintroduced the Stop Illegal Campaign Coordination Act to tackle the influence of dark money in federal elections and help restore Americans\u2019 trust in their democracy.\n\nFederal law prohibits campaigns from coordinating their messaging and communications with outside groups like super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from corporate and special interests. Yet campaigns have skirted these laws through a practice known as \u201credboxing,\u201d in which they publish data and content \u2013 such as messaging points and pictures \u2013 to help supportive outside groups align their efforts.\n\nThe Stop Illegal Campaign Coordination Act would explicitly target redboxing by establishing clear legal standards for the Federal Election Commission to assess and determine campaign coordination.\n\n\u201cRight now, we have an unelected billionaire \u2013 Elon Musk \u2013 who bought his way to power and is intent on gutting federal programs that Americans depend on all the while enriching his own companies at taxpayer expense. And he\u2019s not alone. Donald Trump has the wealthiest Cabinet in our nation\u2019s history, and the extraordinary influence of these oligarchs in our government today is the culmination of over a decade of virtually unlimited spending by special interests in our elections,\u201d stated Rep. Tokuda. \u201cThe Stop Illegal Campaign Coordination Act fixes a clear gap in our election laws by eliminating the practice of redboxing, thereby increasing integrity in our elections and putting our voters and people above special interests.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Stop Illegal Campaign Coordination Act is a much-needed step forward to address the risk of corruption fostered by unlawful coordination strategies like 'redboxing.\u2019 By establishing clear rules and guidelines that better define what makes campaign spending 'coordinated' with outside groups like super PACs and dark money 501(c) groups, we can stop candidates from directing the activities of these allied groups, which are largely funded by wealthy special interests seeking more power and influence over elected officials. This important bill will ensure the integrity of our elections and put a stop to this brazen avenue for political corruption that marginalizes the electoral voices of everyday Americans,\u201d said Saurav Ghosh, Director of Federal Campaign Finance Reform at Campaign Legal Center.\n\nThe Stop Illegal Campaign Coordination Act has been endorsed by the Campaign Legal Center and Public Citizen. Original cosponsors of the bill are Reps. Paul Tonko (NY-20), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Ed Case (HI-01).\n\nText of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3534", "Case Appears As Special Guest On C-SPAN's Washington Journal TV Show", "2025-03-27", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=6", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i-First District) this morning appeared on C-SPAN\u2019s nationally-televised program, Washington Journal.\n\nThe live half-hour show features a single member of Congress addressing questions from the host, followed by direct questions from the viewing audience across the country alternating among Republicans, Democrats and independents.\n\nCase covered a range of topics, including:\n\n\u00b7 \u201cClearly classified information\u201d that should not have been disclosed in a group chat among the highest-ranking administration officials leading up to, during and after the recent bombing mission in Yemen;\n\n\u00b7 The budget and tax measure under consideration in Congress as \u201cnot reflecting the values\u201d of most Americans; and,\n\n\u00b7 \u201cThe biggest missing piece\u201d in government today, being a Congress that is not providing effective oversight and a check and balance on Presidential actions.\n\nCase also addressed viewer questions including:\n\n\u00b7 Protecting Medicare and Social Security;\n\n\u00b7 Widespread public disapproval of Congress and both political parties;\n\n\u00b7 His bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus\u2019 focus on finding solutions to everyday American concerns;\n\n\u00b7 The urgent need to address our federal deficit and debt crisis;\n\n\u00b7 The \u201cDepartment of Government Efficiency\u2019s\u201d efforts to destroy rather than improve large and critical parts of the federal government; and,\n\n\u00b7 His continuing efforts to protect our oceans including our coral reefs.\n\nThe entirety of the show can be viewed here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-recognized-as-one-of-the-most-effective-lawmakers-in-the-118th-congress", "Rep. Tokuda Recognized as One of the Most Effective Lawmakers in the 118th Congress", "2025-03-27", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) has been recognized as one of the most effective lawmakers of the 118th Congress by the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL), earning a Legislative Effectiveness Score (LES) that places her among the top ten most effective Democratic lawmakers in a Republican-controlled House. She was the only Democratic freshman to be recognized.\n\nThe Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) is a joint research, education, and outreach initiative between the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University. To complete their ranking, CEL analyzed a combination of fifteen metrics that measure a legislator\u2019s success in introducing bills, advancing them through Congress, and enacting their policies into law.\n\nThe report states, \u201cIn addition to setting herself apart from her Democratic freshman counterparts, a deeper consideration of Rep. Tokuda\u2019s legislative record demonstrates that she cultivated a highly specialized policy agenda during her freshman term...\u201d with over 70 percent of her sponsored bills addressing issues facing Hawai\u02bbi. The report also recognizes Rep. Tokuda as part of a distinguished group of women lawmakers whose heightened effectiveness in the minority party highlights the growing impact of women lawmakers in the legislative process and their significant contributions to passing legislation.\n\n\u201cI am honored to be recognized for my work in Congress, which has always focused on the people of Hawai\u02bbi and ensuring that the federal government is delivering for our people back home and making a real difference in their lives,\u201d stated Rep. Tokuda. \u201cDespite the challenges we continue to face working in a Republican-controlled Congress and a hack-and-slash administration, I will continue to fight tirelessly to advance the needs of our communities and remain committed to working across the aisle to ensure that our people have the support and resources they need.\u201d\n\nRep. Tokuda introduced 30 bills in the 118th Congress, with three passing the House and two becoming law.\n\nThe full report on the Legislative Effectiveness Scores is available here. Each legislator\u2019s LES can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-jill-tokuda-and-nikema-williams-lead-colleagues-in-demanding-president-trump-cease-attacks-on-the-us-institute-of-peace", "Reps. Jill Tokuda and Nikema Williams Lead Colleagues in Demanding President Trump Cease Attacks on the U.S. Institute of Peace", "2025-03-26", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representatives Jill N. Tokuda (HI-02) and Nikema Williams (GA-05) led 20 members of Congress in demanding that President Trump halt his administration\u2019s ongoing attacks on the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), including the unlawful firing of the USIP Board, trespass onto USIP property, and efforts to shut down the independent organization completely.\n\nOn Friday, March 14, 2025, the Trump administration tried to unlawfully fire USIP\u2019s board, even though Congress created USIP to be an independent, nonprofit organization. On Monday, March 17, 2025, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) personnel trespassed onto USIP\u2019s headquarters, aided by federal and local law enforcement officials. Since then, they have prevented USIP personnel from accessing the building, and USIP\u2019s website has since been shut down.\n\n\u201cHawai\u2018i\u2019s own Senator Spark Matsunaga played an integral role in establishing the U.S. Institute of Peace because, as a veteran of the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team, he had seen the horrors of war and was determined to make peace a focal point of our nation\u2019s foreign policy. For decades, the U.S. Institute of Peace has done just that, helping to advance our nation\u2019s understanding of and commitment to peace in the world,\u201d stated Rep. Jill Tokuda. \u201cTo have this place of peace violated by President Trump and Elon Musk as they weaponized federal law enforcement to target USIP over the will of Congress is an insult to every American who has fought and died for our freedoms. We cannot allow them to shut down this storied institution and to continue this reckless ransacking of public and private organizations.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe U.S. Institute of Peace demonstrates our nation\u2019s commitment to investing in those most marginalized,\u201d stated Rep. Nikema Williams. \u201cWithout peace, people cannot thrive\u2014personally, economically, or as a society. The Trump Administration\u2019s takeover of USIP is illegal, defies Congressional intent, and has inflicted irreparable harm on our national security and vulnerable communities worldwide.\u201d\n\n\u201cInstead of adhering to Congress\u2019s intent and the law, your administration has launched an unprecedented and unlawful assault on USIP,\u201d wrote the lawmakers to President Trump. \u201c[\u2026] we demand that you cease your administration\u2019s unlawful actions against USIP by respecting the authority of the duly appointed USIP Board members and recognize USIP\u2019s status as an independent, nonprofit organized established by Congress. [\u2026] We believe that USIP has played and can continue to play a crucial role in our nation\u2019s and your foreign policy.\u201d\n\nOther co-signers of the letter are Representatives Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-02), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ed Case (HI-02), Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Betty McCollum (MN-04), James P. McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Mark Takano (CA-39), Dina Titus (NV-01), Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07), and Maxine Waters (CA-43).\n\nA copy of the letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-issues-statement-on-us-department-of-labors-incremental-funding-for-maui", "Rep. Tokuda Issues Statement on U.S. Department of Labor's Incremental Funding for Maui", "2025-03-25", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor announced an incremental award of $2.5 million to continue employment and training services for those impacted by the Maui wildfires:\n\n\"I am happy to announce that $2.5 million in incremental funding through the National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) has been released for Hawai\u02bbi to further support workers and communities impacted by the Maui wildfires. While this is good news for our Maui \u02bbohana, I will continue to push the U.S. Department of Labor to make available any and all remaining NDWG funds that can be used as intended through September 2025.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-leads-colleagues-in-urgent-request-to-reinstate-terminated-agricultural-inspectors", "Rep. Tokuda Leads Colleagues in Urgent Request to Reinstate Terminated Agricultural Inspectors", "2025-03-25", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) announced she led 32 of her colleagues in a letter urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to urgently re-hire terminated Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) agricultural inspectors.\n\nSince February, USDA has terminated at least 5,692 probationary employees, including a reported 200 workers in the plant protection and quarantine program of APHIS. Court orders to reinstate employees have not immediately gone into effect, which has increased the risks of pests and invasive species decimating our nation\u2019s agriculture and economy.\n\n\u201cAPHIS agricultural inspectors serve a critical role in protecting and preserving fragile environmental resources and ecosystems that we depend on to grow the food, fuel, and fiber this country runs on. In Hawai\u02bbi, we are an island state where we greatly depend on these inspectors to ensure a secure exchange of goods and to be the first and best line of defense against invasive species and other threats,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda. \u201cA lapse in the reinstatement of these important federal workers could cause significant and irreparable damage to our agriculture, environment, and economy.\u201d\n\nTo better understand and prepare for the impacts of a current decrease in the number of APHIS agricultural inspectors, the letter also requests more details about their termination and reinstatement, as well as measures to maintain a robust agricultural inspection operation in the future.\n\nThe letter to the USDA can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3533", "Case Reintroduces Measure To Restrict Imports Of Ornamental Reef Fish And Coral Species Collected By Destructive Practices", "2025-03-24", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=6", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i-First District) today reintroduced his measure to protect the world\u2019s increasingly fragile coral reef ecosystems by restricting international imports of protected ornamental reef fish and coral species collected through destructive practices.\n\n\u201cOur oceans, teeming with life and rich biodiversity, depend on the health of coral reefs, some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth,\u201d said Case. \u201cNearly 25% of the ocean\u2019s fish rely on coral reefs for shelter, food and breeding grounds. These reefs and the species that inhabit them are critical to the balance and vitality of our oceans.\u201d\n\nCase continued: \u201cUnfortunately, coral reefs and the marine life living in them are under threat due to the high demand for ornamental reef species. This has resulted in unsustainable and harmful collection practices, such as overcollection of species, particularly younger specimens; reef-dredging; the use of harmful gill nets, explosives, or poisons; and excessive mortality of specimens during transit.\n\n\u201cThese practices not only deplete species populations but also cause irreversible damage to the coral ecosystems themselves. In some cases, this damage has led to the extirpation of species from specific areas and the introduction of invasive species, which further disrupt the ecological balance. The long-term consequences of these practices are the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of habitats that are vital to the health of our oceans.\u201d\n\n\u201cMarine life inhabiting coral reefs have been in high demand in recent years, creating a culture of unsustainable and damaging collection methods,\" said U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, and an original co-sponsor of the measure. \"The irresponsible tactics being used are killing off these special creatures and ravaging ecosystems that are already getting decimated by climate change. It's more important now than ever that we hold fishing industries accountable and take extra precautions to protect our marine ecosystems \u2013 and this bill will help us do exactly that.\"\n\n\u201cAs a science-based organization, we stand behind the science that calls for keeping the reef fish populations intact to generate healthy reef ecosystems,\u201d said Jonnetta \u201cJonee\u201d Peters, Executive Director, Conservation Council for Hawai\u2018i. \u201cThis practice also helps to combat the ever-increasing threats from climate change.\u201d\n\nPeters continued: \u201cOn a cultural level, over harvesting of our reef fish takes away a food source from the community, lessening the chance for the fish to re-populate, and therefore affecting other species ability to thrive.\n\n\u201cHome aquarium fanciers fish harvesting and collecting and other commercial entities take away thousands of reef fish for a select and privileged few, sacrificing the health of our reefs and minimizing the ability for the people of Hawai\u2018i to utilize the reef as a food source and maintain our responsibility to protect our native species.\u201d\n\n\"Protecting coral reefs isn\u2019t just an environmental issue; it\u2019s a promise to future generations that they will experience the beauty, biodiversity, and benefits of a healthy ocean,\u201d said Mark Haver, Sustainable Ocean Alliance North America Regional Representative and Policy Advisor.\n\n\u201cThe Saving NEMO Act is an essential step toward fulfilling that promise.\"\n\n\u201cWe have an opportunity to take decisive action,\u201d said Case. \u201cMy Saving Natural Ecosystems and Marine Organisms (NEMO) Act would prohibit the importation into the United States of protected reef species taken through unsustainable or destructive practices.\u201d\n\nCase continued: \u201cMy bill will also fill a critical gap in existing laws by addressing those species that, while not endangered, are still collected through methods that harm marine ecosystems. It also includes a process for delisting a species if the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce determine that its collection no longer poses a substantial risk to its sustainability, providing an incentive for the industry to adopt responsible practices.\u201d\n\nAttachments:\n\n\u00b7 Text of measure here\n\n\u00b7 Case remarks on measure here\n\n\u00b7 Picture of yellow tang reef fish courtesy Paula Ayotte and NOAA Fisheries\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3531", "Case Decries Trump Attempt To Dismantle U.S. Department Of Education", "2025-03-20", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=6", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S, Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2019i-First) today decried President Trump\u2019s effort to abolish the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) as \u201cone of the broadest and deepest and outright shortsighted and heartless of many attacks on the foundations of our society to date.\u201d\n\n\u201cEducation, especially our collective centuries-old commitment to a free education for all, is one of the most basic building blocks of our success as a country,\u201d said Case. \u201cIt is a core part of the American Dream, the great equalizer of our society, providing all with the building blocks of success as well as the shared experience of our democracy.\u201d\n\nCase continued: \u201cOur federal government has been an integral part of our commitment since the earliest years of our country, and the USDOE, as a stand-alone cabinet-level department appropriate to its importance, has been the law of our land since 1980. Its dismantling, and the real underlying purpose to eliminate any federal funding for education, would cause severe harm on a broad scale that would have lasting effects not just immediately but for generations.\n\n\u201cThis action, which is not only heartless, not only selfish since its real intent is to cut taxes for those that have benefited the most from that foundation already, not only the worst public policy, is also illegal since it is contrary to existing law.\n\n\u201cIf the President wants to come to Congress to discuss and debate real improvements to the USDOE, realignments including reductions to the USDOE\u2019s mission and transfers of responsibility to state and local governments and communities in an ordered way, changes in federal funding, or any other aspect of federal efforts in education throughout our country, that would be a debate well worth having. But, like many other of his actions, their real intent is not to improve in a responsible manner but to destroy irresponsibly and in many cases unconstitutionally and illegally, and that should not be acceptable to any citizen.\n\nSome Hawai\u2019i-specific statistics from USDOE on federal support for Hawai\u2019i public education and the broader benefits of education follow:\n\nSupporting over 178,000 kids across 200 Hawaii K-12 schools\n\n\u00b7 $72 million for Title I schools\u2014which serve over 104,000 students\u2014to guarantee every public school receives adequate funding and our kids have what they need to get ahead.\n\n\u00b7 $55 million for 20,000 of our kids who receive help like speech services, reading support or other assistance to get to appropriate grade levels, to ensure accessibility for students with disabilities.\n\n\u00b7 $7 million to ensure our schools are safe and teach life skills (through programs like career counseling), to set our kids up for success beyond the classroom.\n\n\u00b7 $6.5 million for before- and after-school programs to support working parents and for clubs and sports to help our kids lead well-rounded lives.\n\n\u00b7 $3.3 million to support students learning English.\n\n\u00b7 $50 million to support students in military families or on Native American reservations.\n\nEstimated cuts to services supporting our kids: $193.8 million\n\nDeveloping our workforce\n\n\u00b7 $13 million for career and technical education, including pathways to jobs through apprenticeship programs in traditional trades or STEM careers.\n\n\u00b7 $9.3 million to ensure people who want a job\u2014 including those with disabilities\u2014have the skills and access to the services they need to help them find a job.\n\nEstimated cuts to services supporting our workers: $22.3 million\n\nInvesting in two- and four-year colleges and trade development\n\n\u00b7 $5 billion in federal student loans, supporting over 123,000 Hawaii residents pursuing education beyond a high school diploma, including first-generation college students.\n\n\u00b7 $81 million in Pell grants, ensuring over 16,000 students can pursue a college degree regardless of income status.\n\n\u00b7 $24 million to support students enrolled in Hawaii\u2019s 13 minority-serving institutions, such as a historically Black college or university, a Hispanic - serving institution, a tribal college or university, or an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution.\n\n\u00b7 $12 million to help underrepresented students succeed including those who are the first in their families to attend college, are from lower-income households or have disabilities.\n\nEstimated cuts to services supporting our continuing students: $5.12 billion\n\nImproving our schools and strengthening our communities\n\n\u00b7 $765,000 to support our kids\u2019 mental health and learning needs, including hiring more reading coaches, parent liaisons, counselors and psychologists.\n\n\u00b7 $1.6 million to address the teacher shortage by recruiting new teachers and support staff, continuing to train current employees, and keeping those who already serve our kids.\n\nEstimated cuts to services supporting our communities: $2.4 million\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-joins-house-democrats-urging-administration-to-protect-social-security-phone-service", "Rep. Tokuda Joins House Democrats Urging Administration to Protect Social Security Phone Service", "2025-03-20", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013Yesterday, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) joined 61 House Democrats in a letter sent to the Social Security Administration (SSA) expressing deep concerns over their plan to eliminate or reduce telephone services for beneficiaries.\n\nYesterday, SSA announced an overly burdensome change to seniors lacking transportation options and broadband connectivity, especially those living in rural and remote parts of the country. Beginning March 31, new and existing recipients who need to alter their banking information will need to provide identity verification to be done online or in person at a SSA field office.\n\n\u201cMany of the constituents in my district are SSA beneficiaries living in rural areas of the state. Limiting or eliminating telephone service in any way and forcing individuals to seek assistance by going online or physically having to travel to an office will create significant barriers for k\u016bpuna and other beneficiaries, especially those who live in remote areas. We live in an island state. That means for many of our k\u016bpuna, getting to an office requires access to auto, ferry, and even air transportation, making accessing the funds they earned through a life of work prohibitive. Cutting phone service will not protect individuals or reduce fraud. Instead, it will cut off a critical lifeline our k\u016bpuna depend on to keep their prescription filled, a roof over their head, and food on their tables,\u201d said Rep. Tokuda.\n\nThe letter to the SSA can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-releases-statement-on-trump-gutting-the-us-dept-of-education", "Rep. Tokuda Releases Statement on Trump Gutting the U.S. Dept. of Education", "2025-03-20", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) issued the following statement after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to begin dismantling the U.S. Dept. of Education:\n\n\u201cGutting the U.S. Department of Education is one of the most personal, egregious cuts, especially as a parent, that President Trump can make. He has already bullied employees into retirement or fired them, and by returning the DOE back to the State, he is robbing keiki of the quality education they deserve, and starving educators of much-needed resources and funds, whittling the DOE down until it becomes inoperable. As a proud product of the public school system and the mother of two sons who attend a public school, putting billionaires over the needs of America\u2019s future is truly heartbreaking and unacceptable. Only an act of Congress can eliminate the DOE and I can assure you I will continue to push back and battle this order in the House.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/revised-includes-new-location-for-maui-town-hall-rep-tokuda-to-hold-town-halls-in-every-county-of-hawaii", "REVISED: INCLUDES NEW LOCATION FOR MAUI TOWN HALL: Rep. Tokuda to Hold Town Halls in Every County of Hawai\u02bbi", "2025-03-15", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "Hawai\u02bbi \u2013 Next week, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) will begin a series of town halls in every county of Hawai\u02bbi. Over the past 4 weeks, Rep. Tokuda has held a telephone town hall, as well as town halls in P\u0101hoa and Wahiaw\u0101.\n\nRep. Tokuda will address concerns about the Trump Administration\u2019s actions, discuss policies affecting Hawai\u02bbi, and answer questions from community members. Her staff will also be on site to offer assistance to people having issues with federal agencies. For more information regarding Rep. Tokuda\u2019s town halls, please visit the Events section on her website at tokuda.house.gov.\n\nMaui (NEW LOCATION)\n\nTUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2025\n\nH.P. Baldwin High School Auditorium\n\n5:30pm-6:30pm\n\nPlease RSVP at bit.ly/tokudawailukutownhall\n\nKapa\u02bba\n\nTHURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025\n\nKapa\u02bba Middle School Cafeteria\n\n5:30pm-6:30pm\n\nPlease RSVP at bit.ly/tokudakapaatownhall\n\nKona\n\nSATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2025\n\nKealakehe High School Cafeteria\n\n10:00am-11:00am\n\nPlease RSVP at bit.ly/tokudakonatownhall\n\nWai\u02bbanae\n\nSATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2025\n\nWai\u02bbanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Ka\u02bbaha\u02bbaina Caf\u00e9\n\n10:00am-11:00am\n\nPlease RSVP at bit.ly/tokudawaianaetownhall\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3528", "Case Questions Secretary Of The Army On Deletion Of Web Page Devoted To The Legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team", "2025-03-14", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=6", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i \u2013 District 1) today asked Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll to explain the apparent deletion of Army websites recognizing the Nisei veterans of World War II, awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, and other Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander servicemembers.\n\n\u201cErasing history one website at a time is no different than the tragic practices of the authoritarian regimes throughout history that so many of our own have sacrificed to oppose,\u201d said Case. \u201cIt not only diminishes public access to crucial historical information but also risks erasing the sacrifices and contributions of these American heroes from the digital archive of our nation\u2019s military legacy.\u201d\n\nAttachment: Letter to Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-issues-statement-on-usda-cancellation-of-local-food-grant-funding-programs", "Rep. Tokuda Issues Statement on USDA Cancellation of Local Food Grant Funding Programs", "2025-03-12", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) issued the following statement after the USDA announced that it was eliminating two local food purchasing programs that provided schools and food banks over $1 billion in funding to buy food directly from local farmers and producers:\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration is literally stealing food from the mouths of our keiki. The USDA local food grant funding program has helped to feed hungry children in Hawai\u02bbi and has supported local farmers who grow and produce the food. USDA Secretary Rollins has said the $1 billion in funding that was cut was \u2018not essential.\u2019 She should ask the 43,000 hungry keiki and 7,900 food banks and pantries nationwide if they thought these funds were \u2018not essential.\u2019 Real children and families will go hungry. We cannot allow the Administration to continue this indiscriminate hack and slash of critical assistance programs for our communities who need it most.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"], ["https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-to-hold-town-halls-in-every-county-of-hawaii", "Rep. Tokuda to Hold Town Halls in Every County of Hawai\u02bbi", "2025-03-12", "2025", "2025-03", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Jill N. Tokuda", "T000487", "tokuda.house.gov", "tokuda", "https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases?PageNum_rs=4&", "scraper", "Hawai\u02bbi \u2013 Next week, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) will begin a series of town halls in every county of Hawai\u02bbi. Over the past 4 weeks, Rep. Tokuda has held town halls in P\u0101hoa and Wahiaw\u0101.\n\nAdditionally, Rep. Tokuda will be holding a telephone town hall tomorrow, March 13, at 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Those who are interested in joining are encouraged to RSVP to be added to the list of phone numbers that are automatically called at the start of the event. If participants are not contacted, they can call the event directly by dialing (833) 946-1568. They can also go to Rep. Tokuda's Facebook page to listen to the telephone town hall.\n\nRep. Tokuda will address concerns about the Trump Administration\u2019s actions, discuss policies affecting Hawai\u02bbi, and answer questions from community members. Her staff will also be on site to offer assistance to people having issues with federal agencies. For more information regarding Rep. Tokuda\u2019s town halls, please visit the Events section on her website at tokuda.house.gov.\n\nTelephone Town Hall:\n\nTHURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2025\n\nDial (833) 946-1568 or listen in live from Facebook.\n\n5:30pm-6:30pm\n\nPlease RSVP at bit.ly/tokudateletownhall\n\nKahului\n\nTUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2025\n\nUH Maui College, P\u0101\u02bbina Building\n\n5:30pm-6:30pm\n\nPlease RSVP at bit.ly/tokudakahuluitownhall\n\nKapa\u02bba\n\nTHURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025\n\nKapa\u02bba Middle School Cafeteria\n\n5:30pm-6:30pm\n\nPlease RSVP at bit.ly/tokudakapaatownhall\n\nKona\n\nSATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2025\n\nKealakehe High School Cafeteria\n\n10:00am-11:00am\n\nPlease RSVP at bit.ly/tokudakonatownhall\n\nWai\u02bbanae\n\nSATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2025\n\nWai\u02bbanae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Ka\u02bbaha\u02bbaina Caf\u00e9\n\n10:00am-11:00am\n\nPlease RSVP at bit.ly/tokudawaianaetownhall\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T00:15:27Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 130, "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": "2025"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 130, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2025&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 130, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=HI&year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "HI", "label": "HI", "count": 130, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "2025", "label": "2025", "count": 130, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2025-03-12,https~3A~2F~2Ftokuda~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Frep-tokuda-to-hold-town-halls-in-every-county-of-hawaii", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=HI&year=2025&_next=2025-03-12%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Ftokuda~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Frep-tokuda-to-hold-town-halls-in-every-county-of-hawaii&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 157.8519670292735, "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"}