{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1023", "Case Secures Passage Of Hawai\u2018i National Forest Study Bill", "2022-12-28", "2022", "2022-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=16", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, today announced the inclusion of critical funding and programs to protect Hawaii\u2019s environment as part of the just-passed Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 omnibus funding bill.\n\n\u201cThe FY 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill makes substantial federal investments in Hawaii\u2019s efforts to conserve our lands and ocean for future generations and protect endangered species,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cThe omnibus includes my proposal to initiative a process which may lead to Hawaii\u2019s first-ever National Forest, which would assist us in preserving our truly unique ecosystem,\u201d explained Case. \u201cIt directs our federal government to pursue a formal process led by the U.S. Forest Service of engaging with state and community stakeholders toward identification of the most suitable Hawai\u2018i forests for inclusion as national forests.\u201d\n\nCase also added: \u201cThe FY 2023 omnibus funding measure will boost efforts to help Hawai\u2018i fight invasive species, which have caused Hawai\u2019i to be recognized as the invasive species capital of the world.\u201d\n\nThe bill adopts Case\u2019s request to support various invasive species programs, including $36 million for the Agricultural Quarantine Inspections Program to combat invasive species in Hawai\u2018i and $47 million for the U.S. Geological Survey Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program. The bill also creates a pilot program to prioritize the use of native plant species and combat invasive species within the National Park System.\n\nThe bill includes the following other funding and programs requested and secured by Case:\n\n\u00b7 $1.3 million to safeguard over nearly 700 acres in Maunawili Valley. The proposed forest reserve would be managed by the Hawai\u2018i Division of Forestry and Wildlife in partnership with local nonprofits seeking to steward the land, engage sustainable agriculture and restore cultural sites and lo\u2018i. Maunawili Forest is not only significant for its historic and cultural resources but is the natural habitat for three threatened or endangered Hawaiian damselfly species, a forest bird (\u2018elepaio), and four species of endangered Hawaiian wetland birds.\n\n\u00b7 $1.8 million to assist the State Department of Land and Natural Resources\u2019 acquisition of nearly 1,000 acres of in K\u0101ne\u2018ohe.\n\nThe K\u0101ne\u02bbohe Pali lands include freshwater springs, famous waterfalls, at least 11 streams and tributaries, native forest which comprises priority watershed, critical habitat for a wide range of native plant and animal species, the historic Luluku banana patches, mountain peaks and other geological formations.\n\n$12.9 million in additional funding for the possible acquisition of Kaup\u014d Ranch on the southern slope of Haleakal\u0101 for the NPS. Kaup\u014d Ranch is a key access point for the popular Kaup\u014d Gap Trail that traverses the crater of Haleakal\u0101 National Park. This funding will help secure a 3,018 acre portion and expand recreational activities and protect important natural resources, watersheds and endangered species.\n\n\u00b7 $1.7 million for the Hawai\u2018i State Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct forest protection and aquifer recovery activities for the Pearl Harbor watershed.\n\n\u00b7 $64 million for the U.S. Geological Survey Species Management Research Program to respond to the needs of critically endangered Hawaiian forest birds.\n\n\u00b7 $175 million for the protection, research and management of marine mammals, sea turtles and other ocean species.\n\n\u00b7 $80 million for the Sea Grant Program, which supports coastal and Great Lakes communities through research, extension and education. These funds help support the Hawai\u02bbi Sea Grant Program at the University of Hawai\u02bbi that concentrates on promoting healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies and environmental literacy and workforce development.\n\n\u00b7 $68 million for the Sanctuaries and Marine Protected Areas Program, including the Papah\u0101naumoku\u0101kea Marine National Monument.\n\n\u00b7 $34 million for the Coral Reef Conservation Program.\n\n\u00b7 $31 million for long-deferred maintenance projects at Hawaii\u2019s national parks.\n\n\u00b7 $19 million for the National Trails System, which will benefit the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail.\n\nCase\u2019s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.7 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis. A detailed summary of the FY 2023 omnibus is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T03:32:05Z"]], "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"], "primary_key_values": ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1023"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.053724903613329, "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"}