{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4980", "Case Announces U.S. House Approval Of Critical Water Infrastructure Projects For Hawaii", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=1", "scraper", "(Washington, DC) \u2013 U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai\u2018i \u2013 District 1) announced that the U.S. House yesterday approved major legislation to address improvements for the nation\u2019s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation system, flood and storm risk management, environment, and other aspects of our water resources infrastructure.\n\nCase\u2019s requests were included in H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026. WRDA is developed and passed by Congress every two years. The House approved this Congress\u2019 bill by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 415-9.\n\nWRDA-authorized federal projects are critical to communities throughout the country to keep them connected and safe and to strengthen the overall U.S. economy. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) implements these projects in partnership with federal, local and state agencies, non-government organizations and tribal nations.\n\nCase works with government and community partners well in advance of each WRDA to request authorization of projects key to Hawaii\u2019s safety, security and economy. The four provisions secured by Case in the 2026 WRDA include:\n\nExpanding and upgrading Honolulu Harbor.\n\nCase secured approval for an update on the in-depth study called for in previous measures on critical improvements to Honolulu Harbor which includes Case\u2019s successful push in 2024 to amend the WRDA to reflect the expanded complexity, scope and funding needs for the Harbor, including elements of coastal storm risk management. House approval of the 2026 WRDA will help continue the project and focus its benefits on disaster resilience and enhanced national security from improved utilization of the harbor.\n\n\u201cAs the main port of the State of Hawai\u2018i, Honolulu Harbor receives and distributes all overseas cargo shipments constituting over 80% of all imports into the state, supports fishing operations and cruise ships and handles federal maritime activity including the U.S. Coast Guard\u2019s 14th District,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cProviding this additional refined and expanded authorization will ensure our critical harbor is designed for resilience and that this literal lifeline for Hawai\u2018i remains operational in the face of natural disaster and other contingencies.\u201d\n\nCase said the 2026 WRDA also includes his call for the status of the assessment of the benefits of the project modification on disaster resiliency and enhanced national security from utilization of the harbor by the Department of Defense.\n\nCase secured a complementary provision to conduct a full review of Honolulu Harbor\u2019s critical role in our nation's defense and security. \u201cWith Honolulu Harbor being the main port for the State of Hawai\u2018i, our national defense presence also depends on this harbor to remain strong and reliable to maintain a steady flow of resources for our military needs and communities,\u201d said Case.\n\nCase added: \u201cStrengthening this harbor will allow for enhanced military readiness and resilience and for our communities to be prepared for a national security threat. This provision directs USACE to consider the benefits of project modification for disaster resilience and enhanced national security from utilization of the harbor by the Department of Defense and assists in paving the way for full funding of improvement projects.\u201d\n\nManagement of the risks of floods and coastal storms in Waik\u012bk\u012b\n\nThe 2026 WRDA includes approval of Case\u2019s requests for federal feasibility studies on the management of the risks triggered by floods and coastal storms risk in the vicinities of the Waik\u012bk\u012b Natatorium War Memorial, K\u0101imana Beach and Waik\u012bk\u012b Beach.\n\n\u201cAs was recently witnessed by the storms that have battered Hawai\u2018i, we all are facing the real-life evidence every day of the effects of climate change including disastrous flooding, and we must continue our efforts to mitigate catastrophic impacts to the coastline that are major attractions to both our kama\u02bb\u0101ina and visitors to these locales in Waik\u012bk\u012b,\u201d said Case.\n\nExpediting studies of projects O\u2018ahu, Maui and Kaua\u02bbi\n\nCase also secured approval to complete feasibility studies previously directed for the following projects (such studies being the first step in project authorization):\n\n\u00b7 Flood risk management for the Kaiaka-Wai\u02bbalua watershed on O\u2018ahu;\n\n\u00b7 Flood risk and coastal storm risk management for the County of Kaua\u02bbi; and,\n\n\u00b7 Flood risk management and ecosystem restoration for the County of Maui\n\nExpedite completion of a project on Kaua\u02bbi\n\nThe 2026 WRDA also includes Case\u2019s call to expedite completion of a project involving aquatic ecosystem restoration of the wetlands in Waimea on the island of Kaua\u02bbi.\n\nThe measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.\n\n\u00b7 The House Committee on Transportation & infrastructure explanation of the 2026 WRDA is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"]], "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=4980"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8199230544269085, "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"}