url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1026,University of Hawai‘i Will Benefit From Solid Results In Federal Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill,2022-12-31,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=16,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, has announced millions in funding and other actions he sought and secured to strengthen the University of Hawaii’s (UH) position as a major research institution and economic generator for the state. The funds are included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Omnibus Appropriations measure recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden. “This funding measure continues to showcase a very productive partnership between our Hawai’i congressional delegation and UH, our flagship institution of higher education and engine of our economy, with its excellent record of attracting hundreds of millions in research funding,” said Case. “In President Lassner’s report to the UH Board of Regents earlier this year, he referred to the result of our FY 2022 federal spending bill as ‘an excellent year for UH’ and thanked the Hawai‘i congressional delegation, ‘all of whom have been actively working on behalf of the State of Hawai‘i and the University of Hawai‘i with programs that will really help us serve our communities on every island.’ This year’s spending bill builds further on that foundation to provide UH with enhanced federal support.” Case worked to directly support UH through his Community Project Funding (CPF) requests by securing: · $6.5 million for the UH Center to complete construction of the Early Phase Clinical Research Center on its Kaka‘ako campus. The 17,000 square foot outpatient early phase clinical trial clinic—the first of its kind in State of Hawai‘i—will provide Hawai‘i cancer patients who have exhausted traditional treatments with greater access to novel clinical trials across multiple disciplines. Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono also supported this request. · $1.8 million for the Hawai‘i Public Health Institute to develop and train navigators to support kūpuna and family caregivers. This is a joint initiative between UH-Mānoa and the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute. · $1 million for UH’s Office of Indigenous Innovation to establish an indigenous data science hub. This will engage students in experiential learning opportunities and foster collaboration between indigenous researchers and cultural practitioners in developing community-derived, culturally grounded and globally relevant climate resilience strategies. UH will administer this hub in North Kohala on Hawaiʻi Island. Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono also supported this request. The FY 2023 omnibus spending bill also includes Case-requested support for other key initiatives at UH including: $101 million for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, which includes the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPC) at UH Mānoa. The NDPC, a seven-member professional alliance, is the principal means through which the Federal Emergency Management Agency identifies, develops, tests and delivers training to state and local emergency responders. The NDPC has trained over 2.5 million people throughout the United States and its territories. $302 million for the High Performance Computing Modernization Program in the Department of Defense, which supports the UH-managed Maui High Performance Computing Center. $38 million for the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program, which provides continuing support to the UH Hilo Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes. $83 million for the U.S. Geological Survey’s Climate Adaptation Science Centers, which includes the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center based out of UH Mānoa. These Centers provide regionally relevant scientific information, tools and techniques to resource managers and communities in Hawai‘i in response to our changing climate. $4 million to support the work of the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity at UH in advancing indigenous research and policy solutions to achieve health equity The FY 2023 omnibus funding measure also makes strong investments in major federal programs from which UH directly benefits such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “In my work on the House Appropriations Committee, I know that if I support these programs at the national level then UH and other Hawai‘i institutions and communities will benefit locally,” said Case. Such programs of benefit to UH include: · $470 million for Advanced Research Projects – Energy and High Energy Physics, which directly supports groundbreaking research at UH aimed at rapidly developing energy technologies that can address the nation’s critical economic, environmental and energy security challenges. · $144 million for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Engagement, an increase of $7 million above the FY 2022 enacted level, to inspire young people to pursue future careers in science and engineering. This includes $45 million for NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project, which funds Hawai‘i STEM programs. · $80 million for the Sea Grant Program, which supports coastal and Great Lakes communities through research, extension and education. These funds help support the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Program at UH that concentrates on promoting healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies and environmental literacy and workforce development. · $28 million for the Centers of Excellence program, a $4 million increase from last year. This program supports health professions schools across the country, including the Native Hawaiian Center of Excellence at the University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine, that seek to recruit, train and retain underrepresented minority students and faculty. · $25 million to support facilities like the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on the Island of Maui, the world’s most advanced solar observatory. · $24 million for the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions program, a $3 million increase from last year. This program provides funding support to institutions of higher education in the States of Alaska and Hawai‘i including UH to improve and expand their capacity to serve Native Hawaiian students. · $18 million for the Strengthening Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions program, an $8 million increase from last year. These funds help undergraduate institutions like UH expand their capacity to serve Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students. · $15 million for Energy Transitions Initiatives, a $5 million increase from FY 2022. This program, which aims to advance self-reliant island and remote communities through the development of resilient energy systems, helps recipients who face unique energy challenges due to their remote location, fossil fuel dependency and limited access to affordable infrastructure improvements. · $9 million for the Resilient Innovative Sustainable Economies via University Partnership (RISE-UP) Initiative, a $1.5 million increase from FY 2022. This program seeks to leverage the technical expertise of public universities located in isolated states that play an important role in our national security. The universities are working to create incubators, develop and commercialize scalable technologies and build a workforce to meet future national security needs in areas such as clean energy and marine technology and economy. Direct Support for College Students The bill also includes $24.6 billion for federal student aid programs, which includes increasing the maximum Pell Grant award by $500 to $7,395 for the 2023–24 academic year. It further includes $1.2 billion for the Federal Work Study Program, an increase of $20 million above the FY 2022 enacted level, and $910 million for the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program, an increase of $15 million above the Fiscal Year 2022 enacted level. Finally, Case also secured an instruction to the U.S. Department of State to consider increasing the number of scholarships available for Pacific Islanders to study in the United States, many of whom study at UH. This is a key component of Case’s efforts to re-engage with the nations of the Pacific across multiple areas including education. Case’s 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 can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1025,Case Ensures Continued Federal Assistance For Native Hawaiians In 2023 Omnibus Spending Measure,2022-12-30,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=16,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, today announced millions in funding and other actions he sought and secured that will directly benefit the Native Hawaiian community. The funds are included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill recently approved by Congress and signed into law by the President. “Native Hawaiians are a unique community within our national fabric, and so are many of their challenges and needs, especially in health care, education and housing,” said Case. “I successfully sought millions in funding to support and advance various Native Hawaiian economic, cultural, educational and health initiatives. The 2023 omnibus spending bill builds on past funding increases I have been able to secure for Native Hawaiian-serving programs and includes new funding to support specific needs within the Native Hawaiian community.” Provisions in the $1.7 trillion omnibus funding measure that Case sought and won approval for include: Native Hawaiian-Serving Programs and Initiatives · Native Hawaiian Education: $45.9 million, a $7 million increase, for the Native Hawaiian Education Program (NHEP). Of these funds, Congressman Case also secured $10 million in set-aside funding to specifically fund construction, renovation, and modernization of Native Hawaiian schools and education program – the first time ever NHEP funds will be made available for capital improvements. Congressman Case also secured additional report language directing the U.S. Department of Education to (1) provide sufficient funding to the Native Hawaiian Education Council and (2) offer technical assistance to quality applicants with experience educating Native Hawaiian children and youth. These new requirements seek to address concerns raised by Native Hawaiian education advocates and improve the program’s impact on Native Hawaiian community. · Native Hawaiian Health Care: $27 million, a $5 million increase, for the Native Hawaiian Health Care Program. Of these funds, $10 million will be made available to Papa Ola Lōkahi for administrative purposes including strengthening the capacity of the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems and supporting additional activities such as expanded research and surveillance of Native Hawaiian health issues. · Native Hawaiian Housing: $22.3 million for the Native Hawaiian housing block grant program, which supports affordable housing and community development activities for Native Hawaiians eligible to reside on Hawaiian Home Lands. · Native Hawaiian Veterans: $5 million to create a new Center for Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islander Health inside the Department of Veterans Affairs. It will focus on research, data collection and potential practice improvements to better serve these veterans. · Native Hawaiian Health Research: directs the National Institutes of Health to provide a report to Congress on coordination of Native Hawaiian health research-related activities across the agency and with the Native Hawaiian community and to take steps to support the development of Native Hawaiian investigators. While Native Hawaiian health disparities are well documented, these populations are often left out of existing federal research initiatives that seek to improve the health status of other Native American communities. This report will help raise the profile of health disparities in Native Hawaiian communities and identify the current gaps in biomedical research specific to Native Hawaiians. · Native Hawaiian Resource Center on Domestic Violence: $2 million, an increase of $1 million, to support the continued implementation of the Native Hawaiian Resource Center on Domestic Violence. The Center will provide supportive services for adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence and dating violence in Native Hawaiian communities. Congressman Case previously secured funding to establish the Center in Fiscal Year 2022. Native American-Serving Programs and Initiatives · Native American/Hawaiian Museum Services: $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. · Native American Language Resource Center: $1.5 million, an increase of $1 million, to support the continued implementation of Native American Language Resource Center. The Center will support a consortium of higher education institutions in teaching and learning languages, including research on new teaching methods for educators and developing instructional materials, among other things. Congressman Case previously secured funding to establish the Center in Fiscal Year 2022. · Native American Language Preservation: $15 million, a $1 million increase from last year, for Native American language preservation activities under the Administration for Native Americans. · Native American Job Training: $60 million, an increase of $3 million from last year, to support programs that provide quality employment and training services to Native Hawaiian Organizations, Tribes, Tribal organizations, Alaska Native entities and Indian-controlled organizations serving unemployed and low-income American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. · Native American Nutrition and Support Services: $41 million, an increase of $5 million from last year, for Native American Nutrition and Supportive Services grants to promote the delivery of nutrition and home and community-based services to American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian elders. · Native American Caregiver Services: $13 million, a $2.5 million increase from last year, to provide grants to support American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian families caring for older relatives with chronic illness or disability Community Project Funding (CPF) “I was also able to secure millions for worthy local community projects that will have a direct impact on Native Hawaiians and that would have been difficult to complete if not for specific and direct funding from Congress,” said Case. Case-sponsored CPF projects to support the Native Hawaiian community include: · $1.7 million for the King Lunalilo Trust and Home to support capital improvements to the facility, Lunalilo Home is licensed as a Type II Expanded Adult Residential Care Home that provides housing and services to disadvantaged Native Hawaiian kūpuna . · $1.8 million for Kula no na Poe Hawaii (KULA) to provide academic supports and wrap-around services to children and youth of the Hawaiian homestead communities of Papakōlea, Kewalo and Kalawahine. KULA partners with neighboring public schools to improve student’s educational outcomes, classroom attendance and social and emotional learning through culturally sensitive interventions. “In preparing my own CPF requests, I consulted with Hawai’i state and county governments, including individuals throughout the Native Hawaiian community and non-profits, applied my own knowledge and beliefs as to district needs, considered whether a project could obtain federal funding through other means, and made some difficult decisions given my limited number of CPF requests,” said Case. The House’s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member, and is subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/media/funding-disclosures.htm. Case’s 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. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1024,Case: Congress-Passed Funding Measure Focuses Billions On Indo-Pacific And Hawaii's Role,2022-12-29,2022,2022-12,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, said that the $1.7 trillion omnibus measure to fund the federal government for the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 includes billions in State and Defense Department funding focused on the Indo-Pacific and Hawaii’s role, a measure just signed into law by the President. “This measure strengthens our national defense and bolsters our commitments to diplomacy, development and democracy throughout the Indo-Pacific, where the future of our country and world is being determined,” said Case. “It also recognizes Hawaii’s continued critical role through investments in facilities, personnel and institutions that are integral parts of our overall efforts, in addition to major contributors to our local economy.” Provisions of special interest to Hawai‘i and for which Case advocated throughout the yearlong FY 2023 appropriations process include: · $22 million for the East-West Center. · $1.8 billion for implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy to counter malign influence and promote peace, prosperity and democracy in the region, an increase of over $100 million from the prior fiscal year. · Report language encouraging the Department of State to increase the number of scholarships available for Pacific Islanders to study in the United States, many of whom study at the University of Hawai‘i. · An $8 million increase for the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative, a key program supporting the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. This program enables the military to execute Theater Security Cooperation activities, such as humanitarian assistance and paying incremental personnel costs of training and exercising with foreign security forces. The initiative is a critical tool for the U.S. military to strengthen relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific region. · Support for the Coast Guard’s role in the Indo-Pacific and a required review of the Coast Guard’s assets in Oceania and facilities on O‘ahu. State and Foreign Operations The FY 2023 measure, passed by Congress last Thursday, December 23rd and soon to be signed by the President, includes $59.7 billion in U.S. foreign assistance in public health, basic education, educational and cultural exchanges, climate change and other programs through the U.S. Department of State, Agency for International Development, contributions to the United Nations and its agencies and more. It also implements provisions of Case’s BLUE Pacific Act, to increase overall U.S. engagement throughout the Pacific Island, and includes $22 million for the East-West Center. “Our BLUE Pacific Act, together with funding for the East-West Center and other institutions and efforts focused in the Indo-Pacific, sends a powerful message to our critical Pacific Islands partners and allies that our country values our relationships, will invest further in them and will continue as an active and engaged partner in pursuit of our shared interests values,” said Case, who joined four congressional delegations to the Indo-Pacific this year including most recently Fiji. Programs and provisions secured by Case related to the Indo-Pacific and his BLUE Pacific Act include: · $1.8 billion for implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy to counter malign influence and promote peace, prosperity and democracy in the region, an increase of over $100 million. · Bill language requiring at least $150 million for the Pacific Islands region, almost double previous spending. · Increased funding for the Young Pacific Leaders Program, a Department of State program for emerging young leaders from Hawai‘i, Guam, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands and other Pacific nations. · Report language encouraging the Department of State to increase the number of scholarships available for Pacific Islanders to study in the United States, many of whom study at the University of Hawai‘i. · $430.5 million for the Peace Corps, an increase of $20 million over the FY 2022 enacted level, along with language encouraging the Peace Corps to prioritize the Pacific Islands in the return of volunteers. · Report language recommending no less than $20 million for climate resilient development and climate mitigation and adaptation efforts in the Pacific Islands. · Language in support of expanding the U.S. diplomatic presence in the Pacific Islands and expanding the programming of the U.S. Agency for Global Media in the region. · Report language requiring the Department of State to create a strategy on trade capacity building in the Pacific Islands. · Report language recommending the expansion of the International Law Enforcement Academy to the Pacific Islands, and supporting the Pacific Islands in their efforts to combat transnational crime. “As Hawai`i and the rest of our planet continue to confront the impacts of climate change, we must focus on our Pacific Island communities, as they and we act are particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels, extreme weather events, protracted droughts and land loss, to name just a few,” said Case. The measure includes $2 billion in the State and Foreign Operations section to address climate change and other environmental programs, including: · $150 million for the Global Environment Facility, $1 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. · $125 million for the Clean Technology Fund. · $270 million for adaptation programs. · $260 million for clean energy programs. DEFENSE The measure’s U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) provisions include another $1 billion to continue Red Hill defueling, closure, health and water quality monitoring and other efforts, over and above the $1.1 billion secured by the Hawai‘i Congressional delegation on an emergency basis earlier this year for FY 2022, together with various Case requests to strengthen oversight. It also supports Case’s effort to expand and improve the military’s engagement with the local community throughout Hawai‘i, including a directive that the Secretary of Defense work with Hawai‘i government to address the disconnect between the services and various communities in Hawai‘i. “The military must foster a better relationship with our local community to repair the damaged trust of Red Hill and rebuild support for various critical defense initiatives in our state,” said Case. The measure includes Case’s requested funding for various national programs that are utilized by the military in Hawai‘i to support local communities. Those requests include $80 million for Impact Aid education programs, $175 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) that protects environmentally sensitive lands, and $260 million for the National Guard Youth Challenge, Starbase and other programs to help troubled youth. Through REPI, DoD works with state and local governments, conservation organizations and willing private landowners to implement compatible uses of lands for the military mission and conservation. For calendar year 2022, REPI will provide $19.2 million, which will be coupled with $15.1 million in partner contributions, to acquire and protect invaluable lands on O’ahu. The measure also supports the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI), which bolsters deterrence and maintains our competitive edge in the Indo-Pacific in recognition of threats posed by China and the need to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific. A key component of the PDI for FY 2023 is $393.2 million for the missile defense of Guam, which faces threats from ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles. Increased funding is also directed to joint exercises and other activities with our partners and allies in the region. Other programs and provisions of specific relevance to Hawai‘i and requested and secured by Case include: · Funding for two SSN-774 Virginia Class attack submarines, which are critical to protecting the Indo-Pacific and will be maintained at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. · $317 million for Environmental Restoration, Formerly Used Defense Sites, which is $90 million over the President’s budget request. These funds will help accelerate efforts to remove unexploded ordnance and discarded military munitions in Hawai‘i and throughout the nation. · $150 million for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which maintains large scientific laboratories and other efforts at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. · Retention of the military contracting preference language for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations. · $164 million for the X-Band Radar, which defends Hawai‘i from ballistic missile threats as the DoD pauses funding for Homeland Defense Radar-Hawai‘i and conducts a large study to reassess how to best protect Hawai‘i from missile attacks. · An $8 million increase for the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative, a key program supporting the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command headquartered in Hawai’i. This program enables the military to execute Theater Security Cooperation activities, such as humanitarian assistance and paying incremental personnel costs of training and exercising with foreign security forces. The initiative is a critical tool for the U.S. military to strengthen relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific region. · $39.2 billion for medical and health care programs, which includes the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), which allocates $582.5 million for cancer research. The CDMRP fills research gaps by funding high impact, high risk and high gain projects that other agencies may not venture to fund. Military Construction The FY 2023 omnibus measure includes several Case requests through his membership on the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. These include $71 million for two critical community project funding requests, submitted jointly with Senators Schatz and Hirono, for the initial planning, design and construction phase for two water system distribution upgrades serving Fort Shafter and Tripler Army Medical Center. The water systems at both locations have begun to fail and must be replaced to ensure access to clean drinking water. The medical center upgrade will support over 450,000 service members, veterans and their families that use the hospital. These beneficiaries come from not only Hawai‘i but from throughout the Indo-Pacific. Case said that, in addition to the $1 billion provided through the Defense portion of the measure, another $25 million is provided to address the Red Hill Crisis for the planning and design of water treatment and distribution facilities construction. He added that the funds can also be used to design facilities to help remediate the Red Hill shaft. There is also $50 million for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command planning and design and minor construction to advance critical projects in a strategically vital region of the world. The additional funds can be used by the Navy and the Indo-Pacific Command to begin the planning and design for building new facilities to remove and relocate the fuel currently at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. The bill also provides a further $1.3 billion, an increase of $492 million above FY 2022, for the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan (SIOP), a $21 billion multi-year effort to upgrade the Navy’s four public shipyards. This includes over $621 million for Dry Dock 5 and $20 million for the planning and design for the Waterfront Production Facility at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Hawaii’s largest industrial employer with some 6,000 local employees. “Keeping SIOP on track and fully funded is one of my top priorities on my Appropriations Committee,” said Case. “These additional funds are especially targeted at continuing the massive Pearl Harbor project to build a new $3.5 billion state-of-the-art drydock for the next generation of Navy submarines and surface ships, a project that will contribute tremendously not just to our national defense but to our local economy.” The bill funds critical defense infrastructure in Hawai‘i. These projects include $87.9 million for a new barracks on Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i, $103 million for upgrading the missile magazines at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, and $111 million for a new company operations facility on Schofield Barracks. Other specific programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: · $29 million for the Army National Guard Readiness Center in Kapolei, which would improve the Hawai‘i National Guard’s facilities. · Provision directing the DoD to address Hawai‘i missile defense in the absence of the Homeland Defense Radar-Hawai‘i, which has been paused as the department conducts a large study to reassess how to best protect Hawai‘i from missile attacks. · Provision directing the DoD to address underfunded and dilapidated Army infrastructure on O‘ahu via the Hawai‘i Infrastructure Readiness Initiative. Case’s 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. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1023,Case Secures Passage Of Hawai‘i 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’s environment as part of the just-passed Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 omnibus funding bill. “The FY 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill makes substantial federal investments in Hawaii’s efforts to conserve our lands and ocean for future generations and protect endangered species,” said Case. “The omnibus includes my proposal to initiative a process which may lead to Hawaii’s first-ever National Forest, which would assist us in preserving our truly unique ecosystem,” explained Case. “It 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‘i forests for inclusion as national forests.” Case also added: “The FY 2023 omnibus funding measure will boost efforts to help Hawai‘i fight invasive species, which have caused Hawai’i to be recognized as the invasive species capital of the world.” The bill adopts Case’s request to support various invasive species programs, including $36 million for the Agricultural Quarantine Inspections Program to combat invasive species in Hawai‘i 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. The bill includes the following other funding and programs requested and secured by Case: · $1.3 million to safeguard over nearly 700 acres in Maunawili Valley. The proposed forest reserve would be managed by the Hawai‘i Division of Forestry and Wildlife in partnership with local nonprofits seeking to steward the land, engage sustainable agriculture and restore cultural sites and lo‘i. 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 (‘elepaio), and four species of endangered Hawaiian wetland birds. · $1.8 million to assist the State Department of Land and Natural Resources’ acquisition of nearly 1,000 acres of in Kāne‘ohe. The Kāneʻohe 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. $12.9 million in additional funding for the possible acquisition of Kaupō Ranch on the southern slope of Haleakalā for the NPS. Kaupō Ranch is a key access point for the popular Kaupō Gap Trail that traverses the crater of Haleakalā 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. · $1.7 million for the Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct forest protection and aquifer recovery activities for the Pearl Harbor watershed. · $64 million for the U.S. Geological Survey Species Management Research Program to respond to the needs of critically endangered Hawaiian forest birds. · $175 million for the protection, research and management of marine mammals, sea turtles and other ocean species. · $80 million for the Sea Grant Program, which supports coastal and Great Lakes communities through research, extension and education. These funds help support the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Program at the University of Hawaiʻi that concentrates on promoting healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies and environmental literacy and workforce development. · $68 million for the Sanctuaries and Marine Protected Areas Program, including the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. · $34 million for the Coral Reef Conservation Program. · $31 million for long-deferred maintenance projects at Hawaii’s national parks. · $19 million for the National Trails System, which will benefit the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. Case’s 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. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1021,Case Says Federal FY 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill Includes Provisions To Assist Hawai’i Small Business And Tourism And Strengthen Worker Retirement Savings,2022-12-27,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=16,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, today announced that the $1.7 trillion Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Omnibus Appropriations measure, recently passed by Congress and soon to be signed into law by President Biden, includes several initiatives to strengthen Hawaii’s dominant tourism and small business economies as well as assist Hawai’i workers with their retirements. “This measure will strengthen our top-generating tourism sector, promote small business development and assist in economic diversification as our state’s economy continues to recover from the lingering effects of COVID-19,” said Case. The omnibus bill includes the Visit America Act, a top initiative of the national travel and tourism industry which Case, a member of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus, and like-minded colleagues introduced and advanced. It would mandate a coordinated national effort to stabilize and recover one of the country’s primary industries, and create a first-ever Assistant Secretary of Travel and Tourism within the U.S. Department of Commerce. The federal spending measure also includes retirement provisions that will provide millions of workers and retirees with significant improvements to the nation’s private retirement system. “The aptly named ‘SECURE 2.0 Act’ provision expands automatic enrollment into retirement plans, raises the age for required minimum disbursements from retirement plans to 75 from 73 and increases the amount that individuals aged 50 and older can put into their retirement account,” said Case. Tourism “The COVID-19 pandemic devastated our travel and tourism industry and all of its components including accommodations, transportation, food services and attractions,” said Case, formerly a travel and tourism executive with industry leader Outrigger Enterprises headquartered in Waikīkī. “Travel and tourism are huge contributors to the U.S. economy, especially to major visitor destinations like Hawai‘i. Inclusion of the Visit America Act in the FY 2023 omnibus spending measure will ensure a coordinated, high-level federal response to this challenge that delivers critical assistance to affected businesses and their employees as well as state and local economies dependent on tourism and also fully engages the federal government in pursuing long-term success and growth.” The Visit America Act would: Express the sense of Congress that the federal government must work with the industry and other stakeholders toward a visitation goal of 116 million annual travelers to the United States by 2028, an increase of some 25% over pre-COVID numbers; Establish within the Department of Commerce an Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism appointed by the President with responsibilities to set and pursue international visitation goals, ensure public and private sector coordination on travel and tourism, set visa processing goals with the Departments of State and Homeland Security, promote travel exports abroad, and more; Require the Department of Commerce to create a 10-year Travel and Tourism Strategy; and Authorize the creation of a U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. Worker Retirement The federal spending measure also includes significant changes in federal law to provide millions of workers and retirees with significant improvements to the nation’s private retirement system. “Americans deserve dignified retirements after decades of hard work. To help them, for the first time, millions more workers would access resources for retirement and can see retirement contributions year after year, even if they have no tax liability. These are reforms that will make a meaningful difference for workers throughout out states,” said Case. Case added that the provision allows employers to contribute matching payments to retirement accounts to match an employee’s student loan payments, and it will give part-time workers better access to retirement benefits by allowing more individuals to join their companies’ 401(k) plan. Additionally, the bill includes incentives for small businesses to set up retirement savings plans for their workers, encourages individuals to set aside long-term savings and makes it easier for annuities to be an income option for retirees. Small Businesses According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), there are more than 137,000 small businesses in Hawai’i, making up more than 99 percent of all businesses in the islands,” said Case. “We have seen what the pandemic has done to these companies, and what they are having to deal with now as they struggle with the rising costs of inflation. “That is why I worked in this measure and elsewhere to ensure that small businesses remain the backbone of our economy including financial, technical and emergency assistance, boosting trade opportunities, and ensuring that women-owned and Native Hawaiian-owned businesses get the help they need.” To assist small businesses nationwide, the bill provides $1.2 billion for the SBA, which delivers various federal programs to assist small businesses, an increase of $188 million above the FY 2022 funding level. This includes $320 million, a $30 million increase, for Entrepreneurial Development Programs that provide small businesses with quality training, counseling and access to resources. The measure includes several of Case’s requests for funding for federal programs and services important for businesses in the State of Hawai‘i including: $25 million for the Native American Community Development Financial Institution Assistance Program, $4 million for the Historically Underutilized Business Zones Program, $27 million for the Women’s Business Centers Program, $140 million for Small Business Development Centers, $20 million for the State Trade Expansion Program, $10 million for the Regional Innovation Clusters Program, and $41 million for the Microloan Technical Assistance Program. The bill also provided $324 million for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), an increase of $29 million above the FY 2022 enacted levels. CDFIs are specialized community-based financial institutions that promote economic development by providing financial products and services to people and communities underserved by traditional financial institutions, particularly in low-income and minority communities. They were especially valuable in delivering COVID-19 emergency assistance funds to communities without ready access to other means. Another provision highlights Congress’ concern about equal opportunities and expects the SBA to work closely with Congress to provide equal opportunities for Native Hawaiian organizations. To that end, the bill also includes $70 million for the Minority Business Development Agency with $5 million specifically set aside 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. Finally, the bill continues the military contracting preference for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations. Case’s 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. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1020,Case Secures More Than $94 Million For Local Community Projects In Final Federal Funding Package,2022-12-23,2022,2022-12,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), completing his fourth year as a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, announced today that the final $1.7 trillion Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 omnibus federal funding package approved by Congress and expected to be signed by the President includes billions in assistance for Hawai‘i, of which $94,382,465 is directed to his fourteen Community Project Funding (CPF) requests. “Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle worked together to avoid a government shutdown and fund programs critical to our country, our communities and our families,” said Case. “For our Hawai‘i, I especially worked to include an additional $1 billion of funding, over and above the $1.1 billion we secured for Fiscal Year 2022, to ensure the continued remediation and closure of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Facility and to address the health concerns related to the water contamination crisis,” said Case. “To address affordable housing for our residents, I was also able to secure funds to assist with a wide range of housing needs, which have worsened for our workforce, kūpuna and veterans. “I was also able to provide millions for worthy local community projects that would have difficulty being completed if not for specific and direct funding from Congress.” Case’s CPF projects are listed below: $4.8 million to the City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services to develop a 30-mile active transit corridor connecting East to West O‘ahu. (Schatz and Case joint request) $500,000 to the Institute for Human Services for the Village of Redemption project to support housing for formerly incarcerated individuals. $1 million for the Clean Energy Wayfinders Program that fosters engagement in local clean energy and energy efficiency policy, programs and projects and in training and deploying the next generation of energy workers in the state. $2 million for the Honolulu Fire Department to harder fire station doors. (Schatz and Case joint request) $1.8 million for the Hawai‘i Public Health Institute to develop and train navigators to support kūpuna and family caregivers. $1.7 million for the King Lunalilo Trust and Home to replace and reinforce its leaking roof. $1.8 million for the Kula No Na Po‘e Hawai‘i to provide students with academic support and wraparound services. $250,000 to the Bishop Museum to relocate and preserve its world class ichthyology collection. $1.7 million for the Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct forest protection and aquifer recovery activities for the Pearl Harbor watershed. $1 million for the University of Hawaii’s Office of Strategic Health Initiatives for an indigenous data science hub. (Schatz, Hirono, and Case joint request) $6.5 million for the University of Hawaii’s Office of Strategic Health Initiatives to fund the construction of an early phase clinical trial unit. (Schatz, Hirono, and Case joint request) $270,000 for the YMCA of Honolulu to support wellness and mental health services for children and youth. $38 million to upgrade the Army Medical Center’s failing water system. (Schatz, Hirono, and Case joint request) $33 million to update Fort Shafter’s failing water system. (Schatz, Hirono, and Case joint request) “In preparing my own CPF requests, I consulted with Hawai‘i state and county governments and non-profits, applied my own knowledge and beliefs as to district needs, considered whether a project could obtain federal funding through other means, and made some difficult decisions given my limited number of CPF requests.” The House’s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member, and is subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/media/funding-disclosures.htm. The FY 2023 omnibus federal funding package includes $858 billion in defense spending, a $76 billion increase over the FY 2022 funding level, as well as $773 billion in non-defense funding, a $43 billion increase over the last fiscal year. Provisions of special interest to Hawai‘i and for which Case also advocated throughout the yearlong FY 2023 appropriations process include: $46 million for the Native Hawaiian Education Program, a $7 million increase from the FY 2022 enacted level. $36 million for the Agricultural Quarantine Inspections Program to combat invasive species in Hawai‘i. $1.1 billion of military construction projects throughout the state, which will benefit not just the national defense but local businesses. This is almost double the amount requested by the President. $22 million for the East-West Center, placing the Center on a solid and sustainable foundation from which to build further. $1.2 billion for the Small Business Administration (SBA), an increase of $188 million above the FY 2022 funding level. $19 million for the National Trails System, which will benefit the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. $2.7 billion for homeless assistance programs for our nation’s veterans, an increase of $531 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. $25 million to support facilities like the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on the Island of Maui, the world’s most advanced solar observatory. Support for various elements of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI), which bolsters deterrence and maintains our competitive edge in the Indo-Pacific in recognition of threats posed by China and the need to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific. The omnibus further includes Case’s proposal to advance creation of Hawaii’s first national forest. It directs the 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‘i forests for inclusion as a national forest. “The bill will move us toward finally correcting a longstanding omission by adding the best of Hawaii’s unique and endangered forests to our country’s invaluable National Forest System,” said Case. The bill also includes $45 billion in emergency funding to support the Ukrainian people and our North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies in their effort to defend global democracy in the wake of Russia’s unprovoked war on Ukraine. The Ukrainian people need these funds to defend themselves against the Russian invasion, liberate occupied territories and provide assistance to those in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. A summary of other Case-requested and supported provisions in the major sections of the omnibus measure follows: Transportation-Housing Urban Development The Transportation-Housing Urban Development Appropriations section of the bill supports the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Transportation including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Maritime Commission, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, National Transportation Safety Board, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The bill’s discretionary funding level is $87.3 billion, an increase of $6.3 billion over the FY 2022 enacted level. “My Appropriations Committee confronted the everyday challenges this bill covers across our country and provided the funds necessary to address our crumbling infrastructure as well as the lack of affordable housing,” said Case. “When it comes to transportation, we must work towards other means of mobility for those who either can’t afford or don’t want to rely on motor vehicles,” said Case. “The $4.8 million in funding I secured to build 30-mile active transit corridor connecting East to West O‘ahu complements the City and County of Honolulu’s ‘complete streets’ approach that seeks to accommodate reasonable access and mobility for all users of public highways and byways by investing in bike and pedestrian paths, thereby reducing traffic congestion while boosting our Hawaii’s efforts to combat greenhouse gases and climate change.” The bill also includes $64 million in new federal funding for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project. These funds can be used to cover inflationary cost increases, and they are in addition to the remaining federal funding the Federal Transit Administration has already committed to the project. “This bill represents our Appropriations Committee’s commitment to fund the generational investment secured in last year’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which I fought for,” said Case. “This funding will ensure Hawai‘i can repair and modernize our ports, roads and mass transit systems to keep up with growing use.” Additional transportation and infrastructure programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: $896 million for the Maritime Administration, including $318 million for the Maritime Security Program, $212 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program and $20 million for Assistance to Small Shipyards like Kalaeloa/Barbers Point. $62.9 billion for the Federal Highway Administration to improve the safety and long-term viability of our highways. $16.9 billion for the Federal Transit Administration, including $13.6 billion for formula grants to states to expand their bus fleets and ensure transit systems are in good repair. $800 million for National Infrastructure Investments. $19 billion for the FAA, including $1.6 billion for aviation safety. Direction to the FAA to work with other federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, to participate in community engagement to address noise concerns. Additional funding for the FAA’s community engagement capacity and requires the FAA to make aggregated information about noise complaints available to the public. The bill further includes the following provisions to improve access to affordable housing: $3.3 billion for the Community Development Fund. $3.6 billion for the Homeless Assistance Grants. $63 million for the Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity Program. $58 million for the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program and Native American Veterans programs. $14.9 billion for project-based rental assistance. $22 million for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG). The NHHBG funds support the building, acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable homes. A provision allowing up to $28 million in housing loans through the Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee Program. The Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 established a loan guarantee program for Native Hawaiians who are eligible to reside on Hawaiian home lands and would otherwise face barriers to acquiring such financing because of the unique legal status of the Hawaiian home lands. A summary of the Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations is here. Energy and Water The bill’s Energy and Water section funds the Department of Energy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) civil works programs, the Bureau of Reclamation and agencies focused on nuclear energy. The bill’s discretionary funding level is $54.6 billion, an increase of $1.7 billion over the FY 2022 enacted level. “Our $54 billion Energy and Water Appropriations bill supports the deployment of clean energy technologies to fight climate change and reduce energy prices,” said Case. “It also provides funding for flood and waterway projects through the USACE, to include key areas in Hawai‘i like the Ala Wai, Waikīkī and Kalaeloa.” “This bill makes the long term investments needed to help lower energy costs by strengthening America’s energy independence,” said Case. “At a time when our country is facing rising gas prices, the bill invests in an all-of-the-above energy strategy that leverages clean solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric technologies while still using our domestic resources, such as the Strategic Petroleum Reserves, to ease current supply and price pressures. Specifically, there is $15.3 billion included for energy and science innovation to support our diversification of energy sources away from foreign adversaries, create new clean energy technology jobs and ultimately save consumers money.” The bill also includes Case’s CPF request to fund the Hawai‘i State Energy Office’s Clean Energy Wayfinders Program. That groundbreaking program fosters engagement in local clean energy and energy efficiency policy, programs and projects and in training and deploying the next generation of energy workers in the state. “As our communities transition to more and more sources of renewable energy, it is critical that we also transition our current energy workforce and train the new generation to take over,” said Case. “The Hawai‘i State Energy Office, in conjunction with multiple local partners and stakeholders, has worked tirelessly to deploy their Wayfinders Program, which redefines what community engagement in the energy sector looks like by involving local workers from the start. This funding will secure their much-needed next steps in ensuring that this program continues to grow and become available to more Hawai‘i residents.” The bill also provides $8.7 billion for the USACE for its civil works programs. Case’s committee provided $173 million for the USACE’s investigations account, which funds studies for projects in Hawai‘i like the Ala Wai Flood Zone so it can be evaluated for safety and flood risks. It also provided $5.1 billion for the USACE’s operation and maintenance account, which supports ongoing USACE work in Hawai‘i, such as the Barbers Point Deep Draft Harbor. “As we in Hawai‘i brace each year for ‘hurricane season’ in the Central Pacific, this bill will assist the USACE with funds to help protect our island communities from severe storms,” said Case. “My Committee’s investment in the USACE will also help revive our water infrastructure, especially our harbors, to help keep transportation costs low. This funding will supplement state funding to help maintain our harbors in Hawai‘i, which are a critical lifeline to and from the world as we receive and distribute more than 90 percent of all of the goods through our harbors.” Other programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: $15 million and report language for the Energy Transitions Initiative (ETI). This program, which aims to advance self-reliant island and remote communities through the development of resilient energy systems, helps recipients who face unique energy challenges due to their remote location, fossil fuel dependency and limited access to affordable infrastructure improvements. This funding supports two ETI projects in Hawai‘i - electrical infrastructure resiliency in Honolulu and alternative and autonomous mobility options for Kaua‘i. $366 million for weatherization activities, which will increase energy efficiency of over 40,000 low-income homes nationwide. In Hawai‘i, these funds are used to help low-income households reduce their energy costs by providing energy conservation education and funding weatherization measures. $3.5 billion for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. This funding will go to support many of the renewable energy projects underway across the State of Hawai‘i $470 million for Advanced Research Projects – Energy and High Energy Physics, which directly supports groundbreaking research at the University of Hawai‘i aimed at rapidly developing energy technologies that are capable of significantly changing the energy sector to address the nation’s critical economic, environmental and energy security challenges. $200 million for Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response. This funding provides for efforts to secure the nation’s energy infrastructure against all hazards, reduce the risks of and impacts from cybersecurity events, and assist with restoration activities. Other provisions requested and secured by Case include: Encouraging the USACE to give special consideration to vulnerable coastal communities in their flood risk planning assistance, with specific direction to the Native Hawaiian community. Directing the Department of Energy to conduct and provide a report on their plan to recruit more minority populations, such as Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiians and Asian Americans to job positions in the department. Continuing Congressional support for a previously directed report to examine benefits of dredged materials to non-contiguous states, like Hawai‘i. A summary of the energy and water provisions is here. Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies The $84.2 billion Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations section of the bill supports 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. Case is in his fourth year of service on the Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, with jurisdiction over the bill. This year’s bill and Case’s efforts focused especially on combating crime, continuing our nation’s leadership in science and protecting our oceans. “Rising crime, both related and unrelated to gun violence, is of great concern to us all, and must be combatted at all levels of government,” said Case. “State and local law enforcement need increased assistance from our federal government to address crime at the state and local level. The more than $700 million to help local and state law enforcement will help not only to investigate and prosecute crime, but will also go to prevention and education programs to stop crime before it happens.” “My Committee’s funding comes following this summer’s enactment, with my support, of our bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant gun violence prevention legislation in nearly 30 years. “Coming after still more horrific mass shootings this year, the omnibus includes provisions to improve mental health and school security and implement stricter controls on gun purchases, all funded by our bill.” The FY 2023 funding bill makes major additional investments in federal, state and local law enforcement programs, including greatly expanding gun violence prevention efforts. These include: $770 million for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne-JAG), which is an increase of $95 million over the current funding level. Byrne-JAG is the leading federal source of criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The 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. $700 million, an increase of $125 million above FY 2022, for Violence Against Women Act programs. These programs support comprehensive, cost-effective responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. $324 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Grants, which is an increase of $78 million over the current funding level. The COPS program is designed to provide funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire and/or rehire additional career law enforcement officers in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. $50 million for the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative, which supports partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve to address violence intervention and prevention programs, including gang and gun violence. $125 million for grants to help state governments improve their submissions into the National Instant Criminal Background Check system for gun purchases. $55 million for Grants to Reduce the Sexual Assault Kit Backlog. $51 million for the Anti-Methamphetamine and Anti-Heroin Task Forces. $38.7 billion for the Department of Justice, including $11.3 billion for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and $860 million for the Executive Office for Immigration Review. “Our funding measure also focuses on our flagship national science programs, which translate into world-leading research and development and science and high-tech engineering projects in our Hawai‘i. “They also ensures that young people across our country can pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related education to lead innovation and contribute to a better economy back home,” said Case. The FY 2023 bill’s investments in science include: $25 million to support facilities like the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on the Island of Maui, the world’s most advanced solar observatory. An increase of $1.2 million 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. $144 million for STEM Engagement, an increase of $7 million above the FY 2022 enacted level, to inspire young people to pursue future careers in science and engineering. This includes $45 million for NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project, which funds Hawai’i STEM programs. $9.5 billion for the NSF, an increase of $700 million. $7.8 billion for science programs at NASA to continue efforts to explore the solar system, other planets and other solar systems. Among other things, this will support space telescopes and efforts to gain scientific knowledge about the Earth’s changing climate. Case also highlighted his efforts to boost funding of federal agencies and programs focused on the world’s oceans. Case, who traveled to Lisbon, Portugal in June 2022 as part of a delegation of Members of Congress representing the United States at the United Nations Ocean Conference 2022, said: “Our world’s oceans are in mortal danger from a variety of human-caused factors, including climate change, pollution, debris, overfishing and other over-extraction. We have very limited time to reverse course, and our country and Hawai‘i can and must lead the way.” The FY 2023 bill’s investments in the oceans and coastal communities include: $175 million for the protection, research and management of marine mammals, sea turtles and other ocean species. $80 million for the Sea Grant Program, which supports coastal and Great Lakes communities through research, extension and education. These funds help support the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Program at the University of Hawaiʻi that concentrates on promoting healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies and environmental literacy and workforce development. $68 million for the Sanctuaries and Marine Protected Areas Program, including the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. $34 million for the Coral Reef Conservation Program. $4.5 million for the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grants. The bill also included Case’s requests for several key U.S. Department of Justice programs, including: $560 million for the Legal Services Corporation, which helps ensure equal access to justice under the law for all Americans by providing funding for civil legal aid through organizations like Legal Aid Hawai‘i to those who otherwise would be unable to afford it. $175 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program. This public-private partnership has centers in all 50 states, including Hawaiʻi, dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers. $70 million for the Minority Business Development Agency. This includes $5 million 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. $455 million for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, an increase of $35 million. $122 million for the International Trade Commission, an increase of $12 million. A summary of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations funding bill is here. Interior The Interior Appropriations bill funds the Department of the Interior, including the National Parks Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service and various independent agencies including the National Endowments on Arts and the Humanities. The discretionary funding level is $38.9 billion, an increase of $850 million over the FY 2022 enacted level. “With the support of my Appropriations Committee, we are poised to conserve critical lands for future generations in Hawai‘i, including a possible major expansion of Haleakalā National Park and preservation of precious lands in the Kāne‘ohe Pali and Maunawili Valley,” said Case. The bill includes the following funding requested and secured by Case: $1.3 million to safeguard over nearly 700 acres in Maunawili Valley. The proposed forest reserve would be managed by the Hawai‘i Division of Forestry and Wildlife in partnership with local nonprofits seeking to steward the land, engage sustainable agriculture and restore cultural sites and lo‘i. 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 (‘elepaio), and four species of endangered Hawaiian wetland birds. $1.8 million to assist the State Department of Land and Natural Resources’ acquisition of nearly 1,000 acres of in Kāne‘ohe, O‘ahu. The Kāneʻohe Pali lands include freshwater springs, famous waterfalls, at least eleven 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. $12.9 million in additional funding for the possible acquisition of Kaupō Ranch on the southern slope of Haleakalā for the NPS. Kaupō Ranch is a key access point for the popular Kaupō Gap Trail that traverses the crater of Haleakalā 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. Case also requested and secured funding to further address the Red Hill crisis, which is in addition to the $1 billion included in the earlier FY 2022 defense and military construction appropriations sections described below. “We need to pursue every federal resource possible from every source to pursue the continued remediation, defueling and closure of Red Hill and assure our safe drinking water,” said Case. “In this bill we supplemented other efforts by restoring native forests in the Ko‘olau Mountains that assist in recharging the Pearl Harbor watershed and increasing funding for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program.” Specifically the bill includes: $1.7 million for the Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct forest protection and aquifer recovery activities for the Pearl Harbor watershed. Protecting and restoring native forests in the Ko‘olau Mountains will help safeguard drinking water supplies and replenish the Pearl Harbor Aquifer. $93 million for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program, which includes funding to the Hawai‘i Department of Health to address Red Hill issues. $2.8 billion for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, which provide funding to Hawaii’s regulated water systems for Hawaii’s water infrastructure projects. Case also worked to continue his effort to preserve Hawaii’s historic sites and institutions. For FY 2023, he secured $250,000 for the legacy Bishop Museum to relocate and preserve its world class ichthyology collection through the Save America’s Treasures program. Case explained: “The Bishop Museum houses one of the largest collections of coral reef fishes in the world, including the most comprehensive representation of both specimens and color images of fishes from the vast Indo‐Pacific region, including Hawai‘i and other U.S. territories. With the effects of climate change expected to devastate coral reef ecosystems in the coming decades, the importance of this collection – which emphasizes the discovery and documentation of species new to science – continues to increase.” “The collection is housed within an aging warehouse building built in the 1970s and designed to last for 10 years, which is suffering severe problems such as a leaking roof and outdated facilities. Moreover, the collection has completely filled all the available shelf space and struggles to absorb newly collected material.” Additional programs and provisions secured by Case in the Interior Appropriations bill include: $5 million for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service State of the Birds Activities to respond to the urgent needs of critically endangered birds that, due to climate change, now face extinction. These funds will help save numerous endemic birds which have been devastated by climate change and avian malaria. The measure also includes $46.6 million for the U.S. Geological Survey Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program. $64 million for the U.S. Geological Survey Species Management Research Program, which includes an increase of $500,000 to respond to the needs of critically endangered Hawaiian forest birds. $31 million for long-deferred maintenance projects at Hawaii’s National Parks. $2.9 billion for the NPS’s basic operations, an increase of $156 million. $19 million for the National Trails System, which will benefit the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. $38 million, a $7.5 million increase, for the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program. This includes funding for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, which monitors the active volcanoes in Hawai‘i, assesses their hazards, issues warnings and advances scientific understanding to reduce impacts of volcanic eruptions. $83 million for the U.S. Geological Survey’s Climate Adaptation Science Centers, which includes the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center based out of UH Mānoa. These centers provide regionally-relevant scientific information, tools, and techniques to resource managers and communities in Hawai'i in response to our changing climate. $3 million for the NPS American Indian and Native Hawaiian Art and Culture Grants program. Language instructing the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations to expand the federal government’s Native Hawaiian community consultation efforts. $61 million for state historic preservation offices nationwide, which will help the State of Hawai‘i Historic Preservation Division preserve Hawaii’s treasured historic properties. $5 million for Japanese Confinement Site Grants and funding for the newly authorized Amache National Historic Site, which was one of ten incarceration sites established by the War Relocation Authority during World War II to detain Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their communities on the West Coast. The increase of $1.3 million over FY 2022 enacted levels will fund projects to tell the stories of Japanese Americans during World War II, including those interned at Hono‘uli‘uli in Kunia. $207 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, an increase of $27 million, which benefits the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts as well as arts projects statewide. $207 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities, an increase of $27 million, which provides funding to the Hawai‘i Council on the Humanities, a nonprofit which supports public programs in humanities disciplines to help express I’s unique culture, stories, histories and people. A summary of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations is here. State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs The State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations section of the bill funds U.S. foreign policy programs and agencies, including the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. contributions to the United Nations and its agencies and more. Globally, this bill provides for U.S. foreign assistance in public health, basic education, educational and cultural exchanges, climate change and more. The discretionary funding level is $59.7 billion, an increase of $3.6 billion over the FY 2022 enacted level. This year’s bill will also implement provisions from Case’s BLUE Pacific Act, which increases overall U.S. engagement throughout the Pacific Islands. The bill also will fund key institutions and programs in Hawai‘i, such as the East-West Center and scholarships for Pacific Islanders, while supporting international efforts to combat climate change. The bill includes $22 million for the East-West Center, an increase of $2.3 million over the FY 2022 enacted level. This further increase, after years at a lower level and facing an annual zero budget request throughout the Trump Administration, places the Center on a solid and sustainable foundation from which to build further. “This bill bolsters our commitments to diplomacy, development and democracy in the Indo-Pacific, and the $22 million for the East-West Center will help cement Hawaii’s role in that effort,” said Case. “The Committee’s funding of major parts of my BLUE Pacific Act and the approval of my request to continue funding the East-West Center send a powerful message to our critical Pacific Islands partners and allies that our country values our relationships and intends to invest further in them and to continue as an active and engaged partner in pursuit of our shared interests and in defense of our shared values.” Programs and provisions secured by Case related to the Indo-Pacific and his BLUE Pacific Act include: $1.8 billion for implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy to counter malign influence and promote peace, prosperity and democracy in the region, an increase of over $100 million. Bill language requiring at least $150 million for the Pacific Islands region, almost double previous spending. Increased funding for the Young Pacific Leaders Program, a Department of State program for emerging young leaders from Hawai‘i, Guam, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands and other Pacific nations. Report language encouraging the Department of State to increase the number of scholarships available for Pacific Islanders to study in the United States, many of whom study at the University of Hawai‘i. $431 million for the Peace Corps, an increase of $20 million over the FY 2022 enacted level, along with language encouraging the Peace Corps to prioritize the Pacific Islands in the return of volunteers. Report language recommending no less than $20 million for climate resilient development and climate mitigation and adaptation efforts in the Pacific Islands. Language in support of expanding the U.S. diplomatic presence in the Pacific Islands and the programming of the U.S. Agency for Global Media in the region. Report language requiring the Department of State to create a strategy on trade capacity building in the Pacific Islands. Report language recommending the expansion of the International Law Enforcement Academy to the Pacific Islands, and supporting the Pacific Islands in their efforts to combat transnational crime. “As Hawai`i and the rest of our planet confront the very real impacts of climate change, we must act immediately to respond to this global crisis, and small islands in the Pacific are particularly vulnerable as they confront rising sea levels, extreme weather events, protracted droughts and land loss, to name just a few of the impacts brought on by this crisis,” said Case. The bill includes $2 billion to address climate change, including: $150 million for the Global Environment Facility, $1 million above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. $125 million for the Clean Technology Fund. $270 million for adaptation programs. $260 million for clean energy programs. The bill also sustains or increases funding for several foreign policy programs supported by Case including: $1.4 billion for contributions to international organizations. $1.5 billion to support United Nations international peacekeeping activities. $777 million for educational and cultural exchange programs, which include the Fulbright programs. $6.7 billion to fight HIV/AIDS, including $2 billion for the Global Fund. $4.2 billion for maternal and child health programs. $970 million for basic education. $6.8 billion for migration and refugee assistance, and $2.5 billion for humanitarian needs in Ukraine and other countries impacted by the war. A summary of the FY 2023 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations is here. Homeland Security The FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations sections of the bill provide $86.5 billion for the Department of Homeland Security to invest in smart, effective border security, meet humanitarian needs of migrants and support federal efforts to keep the country safe. A provision in the bill would secure the nation’s critical infrastructure with dramatically increased funding to prevent cyberattacks and root out cyber intrusions. “The bottom line is that we should fully expect and prepare for Russia and individuals and entities associated with Russia to continue to engage in cyber warfare across the world, as they are already doing in Ukraine and have done in our country and elsewhere in the world and as we pursue our critical response through sanctions and other means,” said Case. “This is just as true in Hawai‘i as anywhere else in our country. For although we may be physically located on the other side of the world and far from the actual war, cyberattacks do not care about physical locations.” “We should also not assume that the targets are just governments and businesses with key infrastructure roles. The intent of cyberwarfare is to disrupt economies and societies across a broad range and so nobody is immune.” The bill also supports the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service and more. The discretionary funding level is $86.5 billion, an increase of $3.5 billion over the 2022 enacted level. The bill includes $101 million for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, which includes the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPC) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. The NDPC, a seven-member professional alliance, is the principal means through which FEMA identifies, develops, tests and delivers training to state and local emergency responders. The NDPC has trained over 2.5 million people throughout the United States and its territories. Other programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: $355 million for the Emergency Management Performance Grants, which support state and local emergency management agencies like the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency. $360 million for assistance to firefighter grant programs, which are a major source of funding for county fire departments. $25 million for the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. The measure also: Includes Case’s CPF request for $2 million to harden fire station doors for the Honolulu Fire Department. Includes Case’s requested report language to support the U.S. Coast Guard in the Indo-Pacific and require the U.S. Coast Guard to examine its assets in Oceania and the facilities in O‘ahu. Directs FEMA to report on its strategies to respond to the unique challenges posed by disasters in Hawai‘i and other non-contiguous areas. Requires the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to brief Congress on resources needed to shorten the wait times for family members of Filipino World War II veterans and more quickly process the permanent resident applications of those enrolled in the Filipino War Veteran Parole Program. A summary of the FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations is here. Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (Labor-HHS) The Labor, Health, Human Services and Education Appropriations sections of the bill provide for significant investments in key federal programs that increase public health research and capacity, expand access to education and childcare, address labor market demands, improve health outcomes and bolster our nation’s responses to current and future public health threats. The discretionary funding level is $226.8 billion, an increase of $15 billion (7.1 percent) above FY 2022 enacted levels. “Our $227 billion Labor-HHS bill helps families and communities with the high costs of living, trains Americans for American jobs, supports workers, and strengthens our health care infrastructure,” said Case. The bill addresses our nation’s labor shortages and supports workers with: $1.8 billion for Job Corps, an increase of $11.5 million above the FY 2022 enacted level, which provides career development services for youth. $1.1 billion, for youth employment and training activities, an increase of $20 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. $885 million for adult employment and training activities, which is a $15 million increase above the FY 2022 enacted level. $285 for the Registered Apprenticeship Program, an increase of $30 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. $115 million to provide ex-offenders with training and credentials in fields that prepare them for successful reintegration into society, an increase of $13 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. $105 million for the YouthBuild program, an increase of $5 million above FY 2022 enacted level, to provide at-risk youth with basic education and job skills training in the construction field. $66 million, an increase of $5 million above the FY 2022 enacted level, for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program. $557 million for AmeriCorps State and National Grants, an increase of $90 million over the FY 2022 enacted level. The bill helps Hawai‘i and the nation respond to current and future health threats with: $47.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health, an increase of $2.5 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level, to support a wide range of biomedical and behavioral research. $1.5 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health within the Department of Health and Human Services, an increase of $500 million to accelerate the pace of scientific breakthroughs for diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and cancer. $1.9 billion for Community Health Centers, an increase of $110 million above FY 2022 enacted level, to provide high quality, cost-effective health care to predominantly low-income and medically-underserved communities. $350 million, an increase of $150 million above the FY 2022 enacted level, for public health infrastructure and capacity nationwide. $286 million for the Title X Family Planning Program $75 million to address the health impacts of climate change. $12.5 million for firearm injury and mortality prevention research. The bill invests in public education, school safety and childcare with: $19 billion for Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies (low income schools), an increase of $850 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. $12 billion for Head Start, an increase of $1 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level. $8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, an increase of $1.9 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level. $2.2 billion for Career, Technical and Adult Education, an increase of $100 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. $1.2 billion for the Federal TRIO Program, $50 million more than the FY 2022 enacted level, to provide academic support to low-income individuals, first-generation college students, veterans and individuals with disabilities. $315 million for Preschool Development Grants, an increase of $25 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. $70 million for Teacher Quality Partnerships, an increase of $10 million about the FY 2022 enacted level, to support teacher preparation and residency programs. $130 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. $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. $18 million for youth violence prevention. Provides $24.6 billion for federal student aid programs to provide $7,395 for the maximum Pell Grant award, an increase of $500 above the FY 2022 enacted level. The bill supports our Native Hawaiian community with: $60 million for Native American job training programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. $38 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 Kupuna. $46 million for the Native Hawaiian Education Program, a $7 million increase from the FY 2022 enacted level. $25 million for the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program, an increase of $3 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. These funds will support tutoring, mentorships, internships, faculty development and other activities to support Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students at the collegiate level. $27 million for the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems, an increase of $5 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. $3 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. $3 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. $2 million for the Native Hawaiian Resource Center on Domestic Violence within the Family Violence Prevention Program to provide supportive services for adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence and dating violence and to prevent such incidents in Native Hawaiian communities. $1.5 million for the Native American Language Resource Centers, which support higher education institutions in teaching and learning languages, including research on new teaching methods for educators and developing instructional materials, among other things. Case also secured more than $13 million for his CPF requests that specifically focus on local needs in Hawai‘i: $1.8 million for the Hawai‘i Public Health Institute to develop and train navigators to support Kupuna and family caregivers. $1.8 million for Kula No Na Po‘e Hawai‘i to provide students with academic support and wraparound services. $1.7 million for the King Lunalilo Trust and Home to replace and reinforce its leaking roof. $6.5 million for the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center to fund the construction of an early phase clinical trial unit. $1 million for the University of Hawai‘i for an indigenous data science hub. $270,000 for the YMCA of Honolulu to support wellness and mental health services for children and youth. “My Committee provided more funding for federal workforce programs that help develop local talent to address labor shortages and support our local economy,” said Case. “The measure also provides for major investments in educator recruitment and training, maternal health equity initiatives, home care for seniors and people with disabilities and high-quality childcare and preschool programs.” “This year’s funding bill builds on past funding increases I have been able to secure for Native Hawaiian-serving programs plus includes additional provisions to ensure these programs are more accessible to Native Hawaiian Organizations,” said Case. A summary of the FY 2023 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations is here. Financial Services and General Government The FY 2023 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations sections of the bill provide funding for the Department of the Treasury, including the Internal Revenue Service; the Executive Office of the President; the federal court system; the District of Columbia; and more than two dozen independent federal agencies including the SBA. The omnibus bill provides $27.6 billion for financial programs to foster community development and help small businesses and middle class families struggling with the high costs of inflation. This is an increase of $1.7 billion (7 percent) above FY 2022 enacted levels. “According to the SBA, there are more than 137,000 small businesses in our state, making up more than 99 percent of all businesses in the islands,” said Case. “But we have seen what the pandemic has done to these companies, and what they are having to deal with now as they struggle with the rising costs of inflation. “That is why I worked in this measure and elsewhere to ensure that small businesses remain the backbone of our economy including through financial, technical and emergency assistance, boosting trade opportunities, and ensuring that women-owned and Native Hawaiian-owned businesses get the help they need.” To help our small businesses nationwide, the bill provides $1.2 billion for the SBA, an increase of $188 million above the FY 2022 funding level. This includes $320 million, a $30 million increase, for Entrepreneurial Development Programs that provide small businesses with quality training, counseling and access to resources. Another provision highlights Congress’ concern about equal opportunities and directs the SBA to work closely with Congress to provide equal opportunities for Native Hawaiian Organizations. The measure includes several of Case’s requests for funding for federal programs and services especially important for Hawai‘i including: $25 million for the Native American Community Development Financial Institution Assistance Program, $4 million for the Native American Outreach Program, $4 million for the Historically Underutilized Business Zones Program, $27 million for the Women’s Business Centers Program, $24 million for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, $140 million for Small Business Development Centers, $109 million for the Drug-Free Communities Program, $20 million for the State Trade Expansion Program, $10 million for the Regional Innovation Clusters Program, $302 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, and $41 million for the Microloan Technical Assistance Program. The bill also provided $324 million for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), an increase of $29 million above the FY 2022 enacted levels. CDFIs are specialized community-based financial institutions that promote economic development by providing financial products and services to people and communities underserved by traditional financial institutions, particularly in low-income and minority communities. They were especially valuable in delivering COVID-19 emergency assistance funds to communities without ready access to other means. One of the provisions in the measure would help to rebuild the Internal Revenue Service’s ability to finally crack down on tax avoiders and to provide better customer service to working families struggling to navigate the tax system. The bill provides $2.8 billion for Taxpayer Services, which includes support for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Matching Grants Program, Low Income Taxpayer Clinics, the Taxpayer Advocate and Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program. The measure also adopts Case’s requests to: Support efforts to improve U.S. Postal Service mail delivery in remote areas. Direct the Federal Trade Commission to produce recommendations to address the exploitation and inauthentic use of native language and culture in marketing under the Fair Package and Labeling Act. Direct the Internal Revenue Service to submit a report to Congress on the reasons for the backlog of tax returns and recommendations for preventing future backlogs. Direct the National Personnel Records Center to provide quarterly reports on its plan to spend emergency money to reduce its request backlog. A summary of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations section of the bill is here. Defense The FY 2023 Defense Appropriations sections of the bill provide $797.7 billion for federal agencies and programs in the Department of Defense (DOD) and Intelligence Community, including the military branches of services, the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. “My Committee on Appropriations is continuing its full support of our efforts to respond directly on multiple fronts to the Red Hill crisis,” said Case. “The Committee included my request to create a $1 billion Red Hill Recovery Fund to fix, defuel and close Red Hill as safely and quickly as possible, continue to address the continuing health and other concerns of affected residents and restore our aquifer. An additional $25 million for planning and designing water treatment and distribution facilities are provided through the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies section of the bill.” The $1.0 billion included in the FY 2023 Defense Appropriations bill comes on top of $1.1 billion secured by the Hawai‘i Congressional delegation on an emergency basis earlier this year for FY 2022. Additionally, the bill supports Case’s effort to expand and improve the military’s engagement with local community throughout Hawai‘i, directing the Secretary of Defense to work with the Governor of Hawai‘i to help address the disconnect between the services and various communities in Hawai‘i. Furthermore, the bill includes Case’s requested funding for various national programs to assist the military in efforts to support local communities, including $80 million for Impact Aid education programs, $175 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) that protects environmentally sensitive lands, and $317 million to remediate contaminants and military munitions remaining from past activities at active military installations and formerly used defense sites. The measure also includes over $260 million for programs including the National Guard Youth Challenge and Starbase to help troubled youths. All of these programs are fully utilized by the military in Hawai‘i. “The military must foster a better relationship with the local community to repair the damaged trust caused by Red Hill and build the support needed for various defense initiatives in our state,” said Case. “A positive relationship between the military and the people of Hawai‘i is needed to prepare and respond to the threats posed by China, Russia and North Korea in the Indo-Pacific.” The bill directly addresses the risks posed by Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) to Hawai‘i and communities nationwide. The bill provides an additional $30 million above the President’s request for PFAS remediation and disposal technology; an additional $15 million for on-site PFAS remediation technologies; and an additional $20 million for Aqueous Film Forming Foam replacement, disposal and cleanup technology. The measure also supports PDI, which bolsters deterrence and maintains our competitive edge in the Indo-Pacific in recognition of threats posed by China and the need to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific. A key component of the PDI for FY 2022 is $393 million for the missile defense of Guam, which faces threats from ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles. More importantly, more funds are directed for exercises and activities with our partners and allies in the region. Programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: Funding for two SSN-774 Virginia Class attack submarines, which are critical to protecting the Indo-Pacific and will be maintained at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. $317 million for Environmental Restoration, Formerly Used Defense Sites, which is $90 million over the President’s budget request. These funds will help accelerate efforts to remove unexploded ordnance and discarded military munitions in Hawai‘i and throughout the nation. $150 million for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which maintains central facilities and operations at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Blocking 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‘i to respond quickly to changing threats in the Indo-Pacific region. Retention of the military contracting preference language for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations. $164 million for the X-Band Radar, which assists in defending Hawai‘i from ballistic missile threats as the DoD pauses funding for Homeland Defense Radar-Hawai‘i, and direction to continue a detailed reassessment of how to best protect Hawai‘i from missile attacks. $175 million for REPI, which is $8 million over the President’s request. The DoD created the REPI Program in response to land development and loss of habitat in the vicinity of or affecting military installations, ranges and airspace that can lead to restrictions or costly and inadequate training and testing alternatives. Through REPI, DoD works with state and local governments, conservation organizations and willing private landowners to address these challenges to the military mission and the viability of DoD installations and ranges. For 2022, REPI will provide $19.2 million for three projects in Hawai‘i, which will be coupled with $15.1 million in partner contributions. An $8 million increase for the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative, a key program supporting the U.S. IndoPacific Command. This program enables the military to execute Theater Security Cooperation activities, such as humanitarian assistance and paying incremental personnel costs of training and exercising with foreign security forces. The initiative is a critical tool for the U.S. military to strengthen relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific region. $39.2 billion for medical and health care programs, which includes the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), which allocates $583 million for cancer research. The CDMRP fills research gaps by funding high impact, high risk and high gain projects that other agencies may not venture to fund. The measure also includes: $479 million to fully implement the recommendations of the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment. In addition, the bill provides $47 million for the Special Victims’ Counsel program. $2 billion in investments in clean energy and climate adaptation to protect facilities, readiness and global security Full funding necessary to support a 4.6 percent military pay raise. Overall, the FY 2023 Defense Appropriations bill reflects an increase of $69.3 billion to combat Russian aggression, protect national security, support servicemembers, address gender-based violence and extremism, and confront the climate crisis A summary of the defense section of the bill is here. Military Construction and Veterans Affairs The FY 2023 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations sections of the bill fund construction and maintenance of our defense facilities throughout the country and world, our national cemeteries and battle monuments, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and various small agencies and programs supporting our nation's some 19 million veterans and their families. The discretionary funding level is $154.2 billion, an increase of $26.6 billion over the FY 2022 enacted level. Case is in his fourth year of service on the Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, with jurisdiction over the bill. This section of the bill includes another $25 million in funding to address the Red Hill Crisis for the planning and design of water treatment and distribution facilities construction. These funds can also be used to design facilities to help remediate the Red Hill shaft. This will augment the $1 billion Case secured in the FY 2023 Defense Appropriations bill and the $1.1 billion the Hawai’i delegation secured in FY 2022. There is also $50 million for Indo-Pacific Command planning and design and minor construction to advance critical projects in a strategically vital region of the world. The additional funds can be used by the Navy and the Indo-Pacific Command to begin the planning and design for building new facilities to remove and relocate the fuel currently at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. The bill also provides a further $1.3 billion, an increase of $492 million above the FY 2022 funding level, for the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan (SIOP), a $21 billion multi-year effort to upgrade the Navy’s four public shipyards. This includes over $621 million for Dry Dock 5 and $20 million for the planning and design for the Waterfront Production Facility at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Hawaii’s largest industrial employer with some 6,000 local employees. “Keeping SIOP on track and fully funded is one of my top priorities on my Appropriations Committee,” said Case. “These additional funds are especially targeted at continuing the massive Pearl Harbor project to build a new $3.5 billion state-of-the-art drydock for the next generation of Navy submarines and surface ships, a project that will contribute tremendously not just to our national defense but to our local economy.” The bill funds critical defense infrastructure in Hawai‘i. These projects include $87.9 million for a new barracks on Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i, $103 million for upgrading the missile magazines at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and $111 million for a new company operations facility on Schofield Barracks. Case also won approval of his CPF requests for the initial planning, design and construction phase for two water system distribution upgrades serving Fort Shafter and the Tripler Army Medical Center. The water systems at both locations have begun to fail and must be replaced to ensure access to clean drinking water. The medical center upgrade will support over 450,000 service members, veterans and their families that use the hospital. These beneficiaries come from not only Hawai‘i but from throughout the Indo-Pacific. “With some 112,000 veterans in Hawai‘i and their families making up one of the largest percentages of any state in our nation including in such key areas like women and minority veterans, I focused especially on the often unique challenges of delivering full veterans’ health and other benefits in a diverse island state.” It includes a total of $134.7 billion in discretionary appropriations for VA, an increase of $22.5 billion above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. Specific veterans programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: $2.7 billion for homeless assistance programs for our nation’s veterans, an increase of $531 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. This funding will enhance VA’s ability to reach homeless veterans, which is particularly crucial as the most recent homelessness survey showed that on a given night in 2021, an estimated 19,750 veterans nationwide were experiencing homelessness. $13.9 billion for veteran Mental Healthcare, including $498 million for suicide prevention outreach. This will support the nearly two million veterans who receive mental health services in a VA specialty mental health setting, as well as support suicide prevention services like the Veterans Crisis Line, which is expected to see an increase in demand by over 100 percent this year. $183 million for Substance Use Disorder programs. This funding will help support care for the over 540,000 veterans who had a substance use disorder diagnosis in 2021. Additionally, $663 million is for opioid abuse prevention, an increase of $41 million above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level and equal to the budget request. This funding will allow for more targeted funding of pain management and opioid safety programs primarily at the facility level. $338 million for Rural Health Initiatives, which is $10 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. This will build upon VA’s success in having served 2.9 million veterans at 600 rural serving sites. $840.4 million to support gender-specific care for women to continue upgrading medical facilities to meet the needs of women veterans. $5.2 billion for Telehealth and Connected Care. This will continue expansion of telehealth services and includes additional mental health, primary care and rehabilitation services. The measure also: Directs the DOD to address Hawai‘i missile defense in the absence of the Homeland Defense Radar-Hawai‘i, which has been paused as the department conducts a detailed study to reassess how to best protect Hawai‘i from missile attacks. Directs the DOD to address underfunded and dilapidated Army infrastructure on O‘ahu via the Hawai‘i Infrastructure Readiness Initiative. Directs $575 million for Base Realignment and Closure remediation, an increase of $45 million above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level and $290 million above the fiscal year 2023 budget request. Within this amount, cleanup of PFAS contamination is funded at $200 million. Provides $653 million for the Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program, which is $100 million above the fiscal year 2023 budget request and supports the DOD's investments in energy efficiency, resilience, renewable energy systems, and energy security. Invests $16 billion in additional VA programs, including support for the Veterans Benefits Administration, medical and prosthetic research, construction programs and the VA electronic health record system Ensures veterans receive the compensation and benefits that they have earned without unreasonable delays Continues rigorous reporting requirements to track each regional VA office’s performance on claims processing and appeals backlogs. Directs the VA to examine the contracts entered into with each state home for nursing home care to determine if adequate compensation is provided for the cost of furnishing care in that location, and that no undue burden is placed on the state governments providing care to veterans. A summary of the military construction and veterans section of the bill is here. Agriculture, Rural Development, the Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies This bill would provide $25.5 billion, a 3 percent increase, for the Agriculture, Rural Development, the Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations sections of the bill, which support the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Credit Administration, Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Food and Drug Administration. The bill includes $3.5 billion, an increase of $175 million from FY 2022, for agriculture research, including pest control and specialty crop health. It also includes over $188 billion for efforts to tackle hunger and nutrition insecurity through the Women, Infants, Children; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; and child nutrition programs like school meals. “I focused in my Appropriations Committee on supporting our local farmers, farmers markets and food promotion programs, which combined will help our Hawai‘i deal with the soaring cost of food, much of which is imported to our islands,” said Case. Specific programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: $6 million for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program. $8 million for the Micro-Grants for Food Security program, which provides direct farming assistance to Hawaii’s subsistence and small commercial farmers. $9 million for the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Program. $26 million for Farmers Market Nutrition Program, which helps address food insecurity with fresh produce and supports local farms. $5 million for Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, the first increase for this vital program in years. This program addresses the educational needs of food and agricultural sciences-related disciplines and prepares low-income students for careers related to the food, agricultural and natural resources. $2 million to make competitive grants for agricultural research facilities in support of the Research Facilities Act and encourages the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to prioritize facilities that are located at or primarily benefit minority serving institutions when making awards. In addition, the agreement urges NIFA to conduct outreach and grant writing technical assistance prior to issuing any funding awards. $36 million appropriated for the Agricultural Quarantine Inspections Program, which focuses on preventing introduction of invasive species to Hawai‘i. The measure also: Encourages USDA to increase the number of organic research projects funded under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative and the Specialty Crop Research Initiative. Directs USDA to submit a report to Congress regarding the National Detector Dog Training Center's role in protecting the domestic agriculture sector from pests and diseases. Expresses concern that states and territories outside the contiguous U.S. are having difficulty participating in USDA broadband programs, and encourages the Secretary to consider grants or loans for satellite, or other technologies, and directs the agency to report back to the Appropriations Committee with recommendations to address these concerns. A summary of the agriculture section of the bill is here. Other Provisions In addition, the final Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus funding package included these legislative measures: Electoral Count Reform Act. The inclusion of these provisions, which Case fully supported during earlier House deliberations, is a critical and needed step safeguard the peaceful transition of power following future presidential elections. Secure Act 2.0. The inclusion of these retirement provisions, which Case fully supported during earlier House deliberations, will provide millions of workers and retirees with significant improvements to the nation’s private retirement system. The provision expands automatic enrollment into retirement plans, raises the age for required minimum disbursements from retirement plans to 75 from 73 and increases the amount that individuals aged 50 and older can put into their retirement account. It also allows employers to contribute matching payments to retirement accounts to match an employee’s student loan payments. Visit America Act. This measure supports the travel and tourism industry and establishes national goals for international visitors to the U.S. It also establishes an Assistant Secretary of Travel and Tourism within the U.S. Department of Commerce to provide high-level coordinated leadership across the federal government, one of the industry’s highest priorities which Case fully supported as a member of the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus. Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.7 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis. A link to the FY 2023 omnibus is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1019,"Congress Approves Case, Kahele Measure To Advance Possible Designation Of Ka'ena Point As A National Heritage Area",2022-12-22,2022,2022-12,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) announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives has given final Congressional approval to a bill he and U.S. Congressman Kai Kahele (HI-02) introduced to advance the possible designation of Ka‘ena Point on O‘ahu’s westernmost tip as Hawaii’s first Natural Heritage Area (NHA). The Senate, where a companion measure was introduced by Senator Mazie Hirono, approved passage of the bill earlier this week as part of an end-of-117th-Congress NHA package. The measure now goes to President, who is expected to sign it into law. “Our bill, which I first drafted and introduced in the 116th Congress (2019-2021), directs the U.S. Department of the Interior to evaluate whether Ka‘ena Point, a treasured wilderness area on otherwise densely-populated O‘ahu, should be designated as our first NHA,” said Case. “Kaʻena Point, largely state-owned, is the perfect candidate for an NHA in Hawaiʻi given its truly unique cultural, historic and environmental heritage and qualities. I fully expect the required study to confirm that Ka‘ena Point holds valuable resources that reflect our country’s heritage and are worthy of conservation and recognition. “The State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has already created a management plan for the Ka‘ena Point Stewardship Area to protect one of the last few remaining and easily accessible wilderness areas on O‘ahu,” said Case. “With a NHA designation, we can unlock federal funds to support existing local plans for Ka‘ena Point. The local community will be fully involved in both the study and, in the event of NHA designation, in its stewardship. “I am grateful for the partnership of Congressman Kahele and Senator Hirono in achieving passage of our measure.” “Kaʻena Point holds a special place for many Native Hawaiians who visit the area for traditional cultural practices & spiritual connection,” said Kahele. “The potential establishment of Kaʻena Point as a National Heritage Area will ensure the conservation and preservation of the unique cultural, archaeological & ecological features & species found nowhere else in Hawai’i”. Case and Kahele’s measure focuses on the undeveloped area of Kaʻena Point on the west end of Oʻahu from Mākua to Waialua. It is the site of the last intact sand dune ecosystem in Hawaiʻi and is said to be named after a sibling of the Hawaiian goddess Pele. Kaʻena Point also includes a leina ka ‘uhane, an important recognized cultural site that, according to Hawaiian tradition, is where the souls of the deceased leapt into the next plane of existence. Ka‘ena is also home to various protected species including the Hawaiian monk seal, Laysan albatross and ‘ōhai flower. The study would include the approximately 1,500 acres of both the State of Hawaii’s natural area reserve and the state park already in place at Ka‘ena Point. NHAs are designated to recognize and protect our nation’s unique conservation, recreation, historic, cultural, education and preservation areas. NHAs can receive federal funds to help local communities preserve and manage such resources under federal-state-community partnerships. The text of the bill is available here . Video of Case speaking in the U.S. House on the day the bill initially passed his Chamber on March 15, 2022, is here . Attachments: Aerial picture of Ka‘ena Point courtesy Congressman Case Other pictures of Ka‘ena Point courtesy Lindsay Young ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1006,U.S. House Passes Annual Defense Authorization Bill To Further Address Red Hill Fuel Crisis Including Health Impacts,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=16,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) announced that the full U.S. House has approved the $847.3 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including his priorities relating to closing Red Hill, strengthening America’s national defense in the Indo-Pacific and improving the Department of Defense’s (DoD) relationship with the local community. The bill retains nine floor amendments introduced by Case and approved during earlier House consideration. “Through the FY 2023 NDAA, the Hawai‘i Congressional delegation reaffirms our efforts to ensure the closure of Red Hill and ensure transparency in the defueling, closure and remediation process. Equally important, it reinforces the importance of tracking the long-term health of those affected by the crisis,” said Case. The bill’s Red Hill provisions include: · Requiring the Navy to issue a publicly available report every quarter on the status of the effort to close the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. · Directing the DoD to determine the need, number and optimal locations of additional sentinel or monitoring wells to detect and track the movement of fuel that has leaked into the ground, in coordination with the United States Geological Survey. · Requiring the DoD to conduct a hydrology study around Red Hill and assess how best to address the water needs on O‘ahu and mitigate water shortages, to include water treatment plants or the placement of a new drinking water shaft. · Directing the DoD to track the long-term health implications of fuel leaks from Red Hill for members of the armed forces and their dependents in conjunction with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Hawai‘i Department of Health. The bill also supports Case’s continued efforts to strengthen the military’s community engagement efforts as it works to rebuild trust with the people of Hawai‘i following the Red Hill fuel leaks. “The military must do everything it can to earn back trust from our communities,” said Case. “This can only be done by coordinated performance and partnership among all services over time.” Case introduced and secured passage of provisions that require the DoD to develop and implement a Hawai‘i-specific community engagement strategy that strengthens the ties between the military and the local community and improves coordination across military departments on consultation and engagement initiatives. Additionally, the NDAA requires the DoD to increase cultural support to military units in the state, which includes training on Hawaiian culture and improved consultation with the Native Hawaiian community. Finally, the bill requires the military to enhance defense cooperation with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. The bill also authorizes crucial investments in America’s global network of alliances and partnerships, including more than $11.5 billion in funding for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative. Additionally, the bill expands DoD funding to include support for U.S. Coast Guard personnel and capabilities in the participation of training, exercises and other activities with foreign partners in the region. “Military installations in Hawai‘i play a crucial role in keeping the U.S. safe and protecting our national interests worldwide,” said Case, “especially given the shift in our national security strategies and resources to the Indo-Pacific. As the only state located in the Indo-Pacific, it is instrumental in deterring and denying our adversaries’ ability to engage in acts of aggression or coercion against our partners and allies. The FY 2023 NDAA reaffirms the importance of the U.S. presence, and that presence begins in our state.” To strengthen America’s presences in the Indo-Pacific, the NDAA also requires the military to submit a report on the advisability of enhancing defense cooperation with partners in the region and includes expanding the role of the National Guard in support of these initiatives, especially in Oceania. This includes a pilot program to enhance DoD engagement with young civilian defense and security leaders in the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, it directs the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development to provide an independent assessment of the resources needed to fulfill the Indo-Pacific Strategy. Finally, the bill directs the military to increase its support for the Compact negotiations with the Freely Associated States - the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau – that are essential to our country’s national security. In addition to the provisions described above, the bill includes the following amendments secured by Case: · Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) Facilities Review: Directs the Navy to improve the SIOP’s efforts to optimize facilities and replace outdated equipment, such as those at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. · Improving Oversight of Large Construction Projects: Requires the DoD to review the Navy’s ability to manage, supervise and inspect projects that cost more than $500 million, to include SIOP projects in Hawai‘i. · Underground Facilities in Hawai‘i: Requires the military to survey underground tunnels and facilities like the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility located in Hawai‘i. · Assessing Future Investments on Guam: Requires the military to brief Congress on required infrastructure investment in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands based on emerging threats in the region and the ongoing relocations of U.S. service members from Japan. · Joint Base Military Construction Assessment: Requires the DoD to review prioritization of military construction, maintenance and upgrades of joint base infrastructure and facilities, with a particular focus on facilities belonging to subordinate services relative to the lead service on joint bases, such as Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The bill includes various other programs, provisions and funding affecting Hawai‘i and the Indo-Pacific, as follows: · Authorizes $873 million in military construction projects and acquisition in Hawai‘i, including: o Pearl Harbor Dry Dock: $446 million o Pearl Harbor Missile Magazines: $10 million o Pearl Harbor Primary Electrical Distribution Upgrade: $25 million o Pearl Harbor Water Line Upgrades: $10 million o Pearl Harbor Shipyard Waterfront Production Facility: $40 million o Maui Secure Integration Support Lab: $89 million o Marine Corps Base Kāne‘ohe Bay Bachelor Enlisted Quarters: $58 million o Marine Corps Base Kāne‘ohe Bay C-40 Hangar: $40 million o Kapolei National Guard Readiness Center: $29 million o Tripler Army Medical Center Water System Upgrades: $38 million o Fort Shafter Water System Upgrades: $33 million o Schofield Barracks Company Operations Facility: $25 million o Energy Resilience on Pearl Harbor: $30 million · Authorizes the transfer of the former Barber’s Point utility system to the State of Hawai‘i. · Authorizes the construction of two new Virginia-Class Submarines that will be maintained at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. · Expresses Congressional support for the U.S. defense relationship with Taiwan, a key effort for the Hawai‘i National Guard. · Requires U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to provide a report to Congress describing the support and sustainment for critical capabilities necessary to meet operational requirements in a conflict. · Requires an independent study on fuel distribution logistics in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility and quarterly reporting on the progress made in establishing permanent fuel logistics points. · Requires the DoD to analyze Chinese influence in the Pacific Islands region in its annual report. · Expresses congressional support for South Korea as a critical ally of the U.S. and requires a briefing on how the DoD will seek to implement the U.S. extended deterrence commitment to Korea. · Secures significant investments in clean energy and energy efficiency at DoD, harnessing solar and electric technologies to ensure that our defense facilities and vehicle fleets are resilient to climate disaster and energy disruptions. This year’s bill also supports a 4.6% pay raise for service members and civilians, and additional resources to help ease inflationary pressures. It also directs the Department of Transportation to develop and deliver to Congress a strategy to assist state maritime academies and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in improving the representation in the next generation of the mariner workforce of women and underrepresented communities, to include Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. “We need to continue to support our service members and help them through the rising inflation that affects their ability to care for their families,” said Case. “Along with the pay raise, Congress also provided financial support for the commissaries and expanded support for childcare through this bill.” Overall, the FY 2023 NDAA authorizes $847.3 billion in discretionary spending for national defense across the DoD, parts of the Department of Energy and other agencies. It seeks to restore U.S. alliances and partnerships and strengthen our country’s global competitiveness. This year’s NDAA will fulfill Congress’s constitutional obligation to “provide for the common defense.” A summary of the bill is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1007,Case Announces Passage Of Most Consequential Oceans Legislation In Decades,2022-12-08,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=17,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) announced that the full U.S. House passed a package of oceans bills included in the annual National Defense Authorization Act that include his longtime efforts to conserve coral reefs, protect marine mammals and better understand marine ecosystems. “From warmer temperatures and acidification to nonpoint-source pollution, trash, overfishing and beyond, our oceans are on an unsustainable path and desperately need our help to save them,” said Case, a member of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources with jurisdiction over federal ocean programs, as well as the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations and of its Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science which oversees and funds many such programs. “This legislation not only focuses attention on our oceans, but also commits resources to effectively respond to the concerns which is critical not just to our island home but to the global environment as well.” “Hawaii’s oceans and coral reefs are in dire need of investment to sustain their future in the face of climate change,” said Suzanne Case, Chair of the Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). “DLNR is very grateful for our delegation’s strong leadership and Congress’s commitment to conserving Hawaii’s oceans and coral reefs.” Chair Case continued: “The Ocean and Coral Reef Legislation will be a major boost to Hawaii’s coral reef conservation program to help sustain Hawaii’s reefs to protect our shorelines and support thriving fisheries, ecosystems, and our economy.” The package includes a number of bills that Congressman Case helped draft, introduced and advance in the House Natural Resources Committee, including the Coral Reef Sustainability through Innovation Act and the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act. Overall, the package will help advance: Coral Reef Conservation These titles reauthorize and amend the Coral Reef Conservation Act to better address climate change, ecosystem loss, disease outbreaks and other threats to corals. In addition, these titles establish new programs and funding opportunities for states and territories for coral research, conservation, and restoration and authorize the Coral Reef Task Force and U.S. Department of the Interior coral reef activities, with a focus on U.S. insular areas. Ocean Science To date, less than 5% of the ocean has been explored. Smart investments in ocean research and technology will contribute to a greater knowledge of the oceans and coastlines, as well as lay the groundwork for more growth and job creation in the attractive blue economy sector. This title directs existing ocean-focused interagency committees to coordinate overlapping data collection, align supercomputing and data storage efforts, develop cross-agency databases and support consistent archiving practices. This title also directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to create, maintain and regularly update a publicly available website that provides links and information about all resiliency grant programs administered by NOAA. Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) ROPs help coordinate interstate management. This provision authorizes federal support for these partnerships by directing the Secretary of Commerce to establish new ROPs on request from the governor of a coastal state. The provision authorizes $10.1 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, with increases each year through 2027, and it authorizes $1 million for FY 2023 through FY 2027 for tribes and Indigenous communities to participate or engage with ROPs. National Ocean Exploration Provides statutory authority for the National Ocean Mapping, Exploration and Characterization Council and revises several programs at NOAA that support ocean and coastal mapping, hydrographic surveys and spatial data collection. Marine Mammals This title updates and modernizes the highly successful Marine Mammal Protection Act. It improves marine mammal science, creates ""Marine Mammal Health Monitoring and Analysis Platform to collect and report data about the death of marine mammals, promoting interdisciplinary research, facilitating communication and improving collaboration among scientists and observation networks. The title also provides for new conservation and grant programs that harness technology to reduce ocean noise, monitor marine mammals and help vessels avoid them and improve technology for marine mammal conservation. Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing and Forced Labor The U.S. is the largest seafood importer in the world. Despite efforts to deny illegally and unethically harvested seafood access to U.S. markets, nearly 11% of total U.S. seafood imports in 2019 - worth $2.4 billion - were illegal or unreported fishing products. China is a major source of these fish products and a top country of concern for human rights violations in the seafood supply chain. This title strengthens laws surrounding illegal fishing/slave labor provisions. Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force This section updates the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force to provide assistance and recommendations to state and tribal agencies for inspecting and decontaminating recreational vessels for the purposes of managing and controlling aquatic invasive species. NOAA Corps Makes updates to the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, building off Case’s bill enacted last Congress to strengthen the NOAA Commissioned Office Corps. The section also provides authorities for the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations to acquire new hurricane hunter aircraft. Banning Shark Fin Sales Since 1970, shark populations have declined by 70%, posing a major threat to ocean ecology and biodiversity. The fins from as many as 73 million sharks make it into the shark fin trade each year, with China having one of the largest markets. The U.S. continues to contribute to the global shark fin trade even though a number of states, airlines, shipping companies, and others have already banned it. The section prohibits the domestic sale of shark fins and creates a violation penalty under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. A summary of the bill is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1003,Case Announces Nominations To Nation's Service Academies For Incoming '23 Class,2022-12-07,2022,2022-12,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=17,scraper,"(Honolulu, HI) - Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today announced his 2023 nominations to three of our nation’s service academies: the U.S. Military Academy (West Point/Army); U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis/Navy); and the U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs/Air Force). “I take my responsibility to nominate deserving applicants from my district to our legendary service academies very seriously, and personally interviewed all of my nominees before making my decisions,” said Case. “I was truly impressed with the applicants, and it was very encouraging and rewarding to have spent time with our next generation of military leaders.” Case named the following nominees to three service academies: United States Air Force Academy Ah Yo, Xavier (Punahou) Akiyama, Owen (Kamehameha) Gotsch, Kota (Kaiser) Hoskins, Harrison (Radford) Kimura, Jaren (Mililani) Kwak, Justin (Punahou) Martinez, Kyle Dominic (Leilehua) Tanioka, Mia (Iolani) Wadolowski, Jack (Kadena) Zaa, Logan (Kamehameha) United States Military Academy at West Point Ah Yo, Xavier (Punahou) Akiyama, Owen (Kamehameha) Benchoff, Jonathan (Radford) Ellazar, Ivan Oliver (Farrington) Henderson, Danielle (Moanalua) Hoskins, Harrison (Radford) Kwak, Justin (Punahou) Lee, Luke (Punahou) Tanaka, Steinar (Kaiser) Ushiroda, Kennedy (Roosevelt) United States Naval Academy Allman, Stanton (Radford) Durkin, Matias (Radford) Ellazar, Ivan Oliver (Farrington) Ines, Camden (Campbell) Kimura, Jaren (Mililani) Lentz, William (St. Louis) Matsuzaki, Corin (Punahou) Panganiban, Anthony Joseph (Maryknoll) Tanaka, Steinar (Kaiser) Wadolowski, Jack (Kadena) For the Class of 2023, Case interviewed 22 candidates from among nine public and five private schools. Members of Congress are authorized by law to nominate candidates to the four United States Service Academies (Case had no nominees this year for 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. 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. For information on eligibility requirements and how hot seek an appointment for the 2024 entering class, please go to Congressman Ed Case’s web site at https://case.house.gov/services/service-academy-nominations.htm. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:32:05Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=985,Case Joins House Colleagues In Celebrating Filipino American History Month,2022-10-28,2022,2022-10,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=17,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today co-led introduction in the U.S. House alongside Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-39), Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-3), Congresswoman Michelle Steel (CA-48) and 23 other colleagues of a bi-partisan measure to celebrate October 2022 as Filipino American History Month. “Each year our country recognizes October as Filipino American History Month, a time for all Americans to celebrate the incredible past, present and future of our fellow citizens whose heritage lies in the great country of the Philippines,” said Congressman Ed Case in his written remarks submitted to the Congressional Record. “I am especially humbled to do so as the Representative of Hawaii’s First Congressional District, where according to the 2021 American Community Survey more than 190,000 Filipino Americans live, more than any other of our 435 districts throughout the country. “With Hawaii’s Second Congressional District – with the second largest Filipino American population – our Fil-Am community in Hawai’i stands at more than 370,000. “In total, fully a quarter of all Hawai’i residents are Filipino Americans, by far the largest percentage of any state or territory.” In his remarks, Case spotlighted the arrival of the first Filipinos who immigrated to the United States on October 18, 1587, when the ship the Nuestra Señora de Esperanza arrived in Morro Bay, California. The first Filipinos to arrive in I came onboard the SS Doric in 1906 with fifteen “sakadas” (contract laborers) who arrived in Honolulu to work in the sugar plantations. “To Fil-Ams everywhere, Maraming Salamat Po and Dios ti Agngina, congratulations. I truly look forward to partnering with you on your next proud chapters,” said Case. “As the only currently serving member of Congress with Filipino ancestry and co-chair of the U.S.-Philippines Friendship Caucus, I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing this resolution to celebrate Filipino American History Month,” said Congressman Bobby Scott. “Filipino Americans have contributed significantly to our nation through military service, the arts and sciences, health care and so much more. I am also proud to represent the Hampton Roads, Virginia region in Congress, which is home to a large and vibrant community of Filipino Americans, many of whom have served our nation in uniform. The ties between the United States and the Philippines could not be stronger. And I was honored to witness those strong ties firsthand this summer, when I attended the Inauguration of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Jr. as part of the Presidential Delegation led by Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff. I hope all Americans join us in celebrating the rich contributions made to our nation by Filipino Americans.” “Filipino Americans are contributing to our history and culture in my district, throughout California and across the nation, and their unique stories are embedded into the American fabric,” said Congresswoman Young Kim. “I am so proud to represent a vibrant Filipino American community in Congress and thank my friend Rep. Ed Case for leading a bipartisan resolution to recognize Filipino American History Month.” “Filipino Americans in southern California and across the country have made incredible contributions to our nation’s success,” said Rep. Steel. “I am proud to cosponsor this resolution commemorating Filipino American History Month and honoring the history, heritage, and culture of our Filipino communities,” said Congresswoman Michelle Steel. “I’m proud to join my Congressional colleagues to formally recognize Filipino American contributions to the United States,” said Congressman Juan Vargas. “This is an excellent time to further appreciate and learn from Filipino American history and culture across our nation. I’m honored to represent almost 60,000 Filipino Americans in Congress, and I’m proud to celebrate their legacy in my district and across our country during this special month and beyond.” Attachment: Case remarks in the Congressional Record for Filipino American History Month. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:20:33Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=973,"Kahele, Case Announce More Than $2 Million In Federal Funding To Help Combat Wildfires On the Big Island",2022-09-29,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=17,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Kaiali'i Kahele (HI-02) and Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) announced today that the Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources will receive $2,485,308.00 in federal funding to support the Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on the island of Hawai‘i to improve the PTA’s response to wildfires. “Wildfires pose a significant threat to the safety of lives and property, particularly on Hawaiʻi Island where tens of thousands of acres were destroyed last year during the Mana Road wildfire,” said Kahele. “These important funds from the Department of Defense (DOD) will support the PTA Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program and improve wildfire response efforts to help keep our communities safe.” “Climate change is all too real for those who had to evacuate last year as the Mana Road wildfire, the largest in the history of the Big Island which scorched some 42,000 acres, threatened hundreds of homes in Waikaloa Village, Pū‘u Kapu Hawaiian Homestead and Waikiʻi area,” said Case. “We need to improve the capability to combat wildfires which are predicted to be more frequent and larger due to drought conditions brought on by climate change.” “The $2 million in federal funding further demonstrates the DOD’s continuing effort to build key partnerships and resiliency in the communities where they are stationed.” Kahele said the funds will construct a new firefighting and conservation warehouse to improve wildfire response and enable the maintenance and repair of firefighting vehicles. The U.S. Army Garrison’s PTA is a member of the Big Island Wildfire Group and agrees to team up with local, state and other federal firefighting units, and when called upon can dispatch dozens of pieces of apparatus, aircraft and firefighters to take on wildfires. Case said the funding comes from programs administered by the DOD to support state and local governments to respond to base closures, base restructuring or realignment, growth issues affecting land and air use for military bases and nearby communities and other issues that can impact the economy of a region. Case, a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, said he is calling on Congress to provide $298 million in grants next year for the Defense Community Investment Program, another DOD initiative that supports public schools on military bases. “This is another Defense Department program that is critical to ensure that the military is a good partner with local communities and will also help to ensure the quality of life for our troops,” said Case. “For us in Hawai‘i, investing in communities around military bases is the right thing to do for our islands, for military families, and for our national security.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=964,"Case Calls President's Pacific Islands Summit This Week In Washington, DC A Critical First Step In Full U.S. Re-Engagement In Crucial Region",2022-09-27,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=17,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) issued the following statement on the eve of President Biden’s hosting of leaders of several Pacific Island nations at the first summit of its kind with the United States. “I welcome the Administration’s initiative to bring these leaders to Washington, DC, to discuss and address their concerns and our mutual goals,” said Case. “Clearly these fall into three overall categories: enhancing our connectivity and mutual aid, addressing climate change and meeting the geopolitical challenge of China.” “In Congress, we have been working to address all of these issues in various forms and forums, all with the conviction that our country’s interests, and in fact our future, hinge on how we formulate, advance and strengthen our role and relationships in the Pacific.” “The take-aways from this Summit will no doubt also enhance the natural leadership role of my Hawai‘i, which serves as our gateway to the Pacific and Asia and is critical to the defense posture of our country in our half of the world. Hawai‘i will continue to have a unique role in the Pacific because of the values, history and identify we share with the rest of our island ‘ohana (family).” As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Case has won Congressional approval for many initiatives focusing on Asia and the Pacific, including funding in the Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act signed by the President in March that included: 1. Millions for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI), in part to strengthen America’s contributions to Pacific Islands security-related concerns, 2. $19.7 million in further federal funding for the East-West Center to advance Hawai‘i’s leadership role in the Indo-Pacific, and 3. $4 million for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s Regional Centers. This funding will help expand the work of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies at Fort DeRussy, a premier defense-supported research and education center in Honolulu that fosters shared understanding and networked relationships among civilian and military leaders throughout the Indo-Pacific. Here are just some of Case’s other initiatives addressing issues involving the Indo-Pacific Region: 1. On July 25, 2019, he co-announced the formation of the first-ever Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus, which he serves as co-chair, at which time he said, “I have been convinced for some time that our country’s and world’s future are in the Indo-Pacific, and the islands of the Pacific are a key yet too-often overlooked part of that region.” 2. On July 30, 2020, he co-introduced legislation that drew the attention of Congress with his “Boosting Long-term U.S. Engagement in the Pacific Act” also knowns as the BLUE Pacific Act. He said: “Our BLUE Pacific Act establishes a comprehensive, long-term framework for United States foreign policy in the Pacific Islands focusing on three essential pillars: security, development and shared values.” Much of the provisions in this measure are included in the COMPETES Act, the ground-breaking foreign affairs measure passed by the House in February 2022. 3. On June 29, 2021, Case joined several other Members of Congress in a joint letter to the President urging the Administration to prioritize negotiations with the Freely Associated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. The letter stated that “the COFAS (Compacts of Free Association), their subsidiary agreements and enacting legislation define a decades-old special and mutually beneficial relationship and provide our country with valuable economic and security benefits.” Case also advised on a report released this month by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) entitled “China’s Influence on the Freely Associated States (FAS) of the Northern Pacific.” The report stated that since achieving full sovereignty in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s “the FAS have considered the United States their most important partner on economic and security issues. However, in the last decade, and especially the last five years, China’s role in the region has grown.” 4. On April 8 to 14, 2022, Case joined a Congressional delegation with stops in the Philippine Papua New Guinea to foster and strengthen ties between the United States and the two countries, and attended the “Our Ocean” Conference in Palau. 5. On May 17, 2022, in testimony before the House Committee on Appropriations (of which Case is a member) Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, Case said “we have made progress through renewed diplomatic and other efforts to engage Pacific leaders, including Secretary Blinken’s and Congress’ own travels to the region. However, without funding to support specific initiatives, visits alone and promises made will ring hollow. Now is the time to ensure that our foreign policy budget reflects the importance of our ties to the Pacific Islands and our support for a secure and stable Indo-Pacific, committed to an order based on mutual respect, cooperation and freedom.” ### Attachments: 1. Press release on the formation of the Pacific Islands Caucus 2. Congressional Record: introduction of the BLUE Pacific Act 3. Joint letter to the President on the COFAs 4. USIP Report on China’s Influence in the FAS 5. Press Release on Case’s CODEL to the Pacific 6. Statement to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=957,Case Statement On The Navy's Supplement Of Its Red Hill Defueling Plan,2022-09-07,2022,2022-09,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=17,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) issued the following statement on the U.S. Navy’s recent release of a supplement to its defueling plan for the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility: “This proposed plan is an important step in a process that must be pursued as quickly and deliberately as possible toward our goal of the safe and full defueling and closure of Red Hill,” said Case. “It still must be fully reviewed and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Hawai’i as part of a full and appropriate independent oversight of the process. Full transparency and public input remain critical to maximize a successful result and regain public trust.” · See the Navy’s supplement to the June 30, 2022 defueling plan here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T03:08:33Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=950,Case Introduces Resolution Commemorating 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal In the Solomon Islands,2022-08-15,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=17,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) introduced a resolution to recognize the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, a battle that proved to be pivotal in World War II. “The six-month Solomon Islands campaign which commenced in August 1942 was one of the bloodiest of World War II, with thousands of our own lost, but it turned the tide of the entire war,” said Case. “We cannot forget this critical effort, nor that their sacrifice was and remains the foundation for three generations now of a democratic Indo-Pacific.” The Battle of Guadalcanal was the site of the first major amphibious landing of World War II, where American and Allied servicemembers fought heat, mosquitos, disease, dense vegetation, and unfamiliar terrain in an all-consuming six-month around-the-clock battle focused on seizure of a now-iconic airfield, Henderson Field. By seizing Henderson Field, the United States halted Japanese efforts to disrupt supply routes and the Allies took one of the first vital steps toward winning WWII. The battle, together with the associated naval battles of Ironbottom Sound, cost the United States and its Allies the lives of some 7,000 servicemembers, with an additional 7,000 servicemembers wounded, 29 ships sunk, and more than 600 aircraft shot down. Case recalled his Congressional delegation to the Western Pacific in April of this year and stressed again the critical importance of full United States engagement throughout the Indo-Pacific including the Solomon Islands. “We must not only commemorate the significance of this battle and honor the great sacrifice it required, but also recommit to the fullest extent to the countries and peoples of the Indo-Pacific who have been our partners in democracy and peace for the three generations since.” A copy of the resolution is attached. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=948,Case Votes for Historic Measure to Combat Climate Crisis and Lower Costs for American Families,2022-08-12,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=17,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today voted to pass the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (Act), which will make the largest climate investment in American history, lower health care and prescription drug costs for families and older adults, boost America’s manufacturing capacity, create good-paying jobs in the clean energy sector, and more, all while cutting the federal deficit. “Families across our Hawai‘i are suffering from high energy prices at the pump and on their electricity bills, along with rising health care costs in their pharmacies and at the doctor’s office,” said Case. “To help everyone during these challenging times, the Inflation Reduction Act will lower health care premiums, prescription drug costs and out-of-pocket spending for seniors, while increasing American energy security, reducing energy costs and creating millions of jobs. The Act will also bring down the national deficit and debt by ensuring corporations pay their fair share and allocating Medicare savings back to fiscal responsibility.” “The crisis of climate change is very real and accelerating, and we must lead the world in combatting it on every front,” said Case. “By investing $369 billion in clean energy, this measure provides for the single biggest climate investment in U.S. history. It increases renewable energy production, lowers energy costs and our dependency on imported oil, and reduces national emissions to 40% below 2005 levels by 2030. This will help Hawai‘i achieve its goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2045.” Clean Energy Investments The Act’s provisions to address the use and production of energy in Hawai‘i and Hawai’i energy costs include: Residential Clean Energy · Provides $9 billion in consumer home energy rebate programs, focused on low-income consumers, to electrify home appliances and for energy efficient retrofits. Additionally, it provides a $1 billion grant program to make affordable housing more energy efficient. · Includes 10 years of consumer tax credits to make homes energy efficient and run on clean energy, making heat pumps, rooftop solar, electric HVAC and water heaters more affordable. Energy Production · Includes production tax credits to accelerate U.S. manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and critical minerals processing, estimated to invest $30 billion and $10 billion investment tax credit to build clean technology manufacturing facilities, like facilities that make electric vehicles, wind turbines and solar panels. · Invests in electric vehicles (EVs). The measure would modify the existing tax credit that provides as much as $7,500 to individuals for purchases of qualifying electric vehicles. It would equal 30% of the vehicle’s sale price or the incremental cost of the vehicle, whichever is less. The credit currently phases out after at least 200,000 qualifying EVs are sold by a manufacturer. The measure would change the credit through 2032 so it: o Applies to “clean vehicles” such as electric and fuel cell vehicles. o Applies to vehicles with final assembly occurring in the U.S. o Equals $3,750 if a certain percentage of the critical minerals contained in the vehicle’s battery is extracted or processed in the U.S. or in any country with which the U.S. has a free trade agreement or is recycled in North America. The applicable percentage would start at 40% for vehicles placed in service in 2023 and increase to 80% by 2027. o Equals $3,750 if a certain percentage of the value of components in a vehicle’s battery is manufactured or assembled in North America. The required percentage would start at 50% for vehicles placed in service in 2023 and increase to 100% by 2029. o Phases out beginning at $300,000 for joint filers and $150,000 for single filers. o Bars credits if inputs for a vehicle’s battery are sourced or made in China, Russia, Iran or North Korea. It would also bar credits for vehicles if the suggested retail price exceeds certain amounts. o Establishes credits through 2032 for purchasing a: § Used clean vehicle. The credit would equal $4,000 or 30% of the vehicle’s sale price, whichever is lower. It would phase out at $150,000 for joint filers and $75,000 for single filers. Health Care Investments The Act will protect affordable health care for millions of Americans, especially for Hawaii’s kūpuna, with the biggest change on Medicare being able to lower prescription drug prices and annual out-of-pocket costs for seniors. “I have fought for two decades, dating back to my first years in Congress, to allow Medicare to negotiate directly down the price of high-cost and high-use pharmaceutical drugs, and this measure will finally achieve that goal for the nearly 300,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Hawai‘i and millions more across the country,” said Case. “The Act will also build on the promise of the Affordable Care Act and efforts made in the American Rescue Plan Act to make health care plans more affordable and ensure no one has to decide between getting the care they need and paying for groceries, rent or other essential needs.” The Act includes several landmark health care provisions that would lower prescription drug prices and the cost of health coverage for people in Hawai‘i: Negotiate Lower Drug Prices · Empowers the federal government to negotiate drug prices on the highest cost single-source drugs purchased in Medicare, lowering prices for seniors and people with disabilities. · Requires the federal government to begin negotiating on 10 drugs in 2026 and increasing steadily to more than 80 by 2030. · Delays negotiation of biologicals for two additional years if a biosimilar is likely to come to market. Inflation Rebate · Requires drugmakers to pay a rebate to Medicare if they increase their drug prices faster than the rate of inflation, beginning in October 2022 for Part D drugs and January 2023 for Part B drugs. Senior Out-of-Pocket Costs · Caps out-of-pocket spending at $2,000 annually on Medicare Part D prescription drug costs, beginning in 2025. · Redesigns the Medicare Part D program to option to break up that amount into more affordable monthly payments, for nearly 4,000 Hawaiʻi seniors. · Eliminates the coinsurance requirement for Medicare beneficiaries who reach the catastrophic coverage threshold, including 5,000 Hawaiʻi seniors. · Imposes a $35 per month limit on the cost of insulin for over 10,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Hawai’i. · Makes all vaccines free through Medicare Part D for 22,000 seniors in Hawai‘i, beginning in 2023. ACA Premium Tax Credits · Lowers health care costs for nearly 19,000 Hawaiʻi residents and saves the average American family $2,400 a year in premiums by extending for three years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that Congress enacted last year as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, which increased the amount of financial help available to people already eligible to buy subsidized health plans in the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces and expanded subsidies to more middle-income people. Environmental Conservation Investments The Act will support environmental conservation efforts to address the impact of climate change in Hawai‘i, including: Native Hawaiian Climate Resilience · Provides $25 million to the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations to support climate resilience and adaptation activities that serve the Native Hawaiian Community. Grants to Conserve and Restore Coastal Habitats · Provides $2.6 billion to conserve, restore, and protect coastal and marine habitats, resources and fisheries to build climate resilience. Reducing Emissions in our Communities · Provides $27 billion to help states, local governments, Tribes, and non-profits leverage private investments in projects that combat climate change and reduce emissions, focused on low-income and disadvantaged communities. · Provides $3 billion to decarbonize port infrastructure and reduce air pollution in surrounding communities. Grants to Support Healthy Forests · Provides $5 billion in grants to support healthy, fire resilient forests, forest conservation and urban tree planting. Deficit Reduction Finally, the measure places the country on a sounder fiscal footing by including the proposal Case and Representative Carolyn Bourdeaux (D-GA) led with colleagues in a July 2022 letter encouraging the House to use reconciliation for deficit reduction. “Focusing on deficit reduction is particularly important at this moment as American families are feeling the pain of inflation. Deficit reduction has the dual benefit of reducing current inflation as well as leaving future generations with the resources they need to address the challenges of the future.” The Act’s provisions to advance fiscal responsibility include: · Reducing the federal deficit and debt by over $300 billion. · Reducing the cost of Medicare by allowing the government to negotiate the price of certain prescription drugs and applying the savings to deficit reduction. · Assuring that our largest multinational businesses, some of which are paying very low or no taxes, finally pay a minimum 15% tax rate. A summary of the Inflation Reduction Act is attached. Case returns to Hawai‘i Saturday, August 13th, to resume his August District Work Period. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=944,"Case Returning To Washington, DC To Vote For Most Comprehensive Climate Change Measure Ever",2022-08-10,2022,2022-08,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=17,scraper,"(Honolulu, HI) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today leaves back to Washington, DC to vote for the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (Act). “This Act, in combatting climate change, easing inflation, lowering health care costs, and strengthening our economy and federal finances and more, is certainly one of the hallmarks of this Congress and one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in decades”, said Case, a member of the U.S. House Committees on Appropriations and on Natural Resources which contributed to development of the measure. The Act originated in the U.S. House of Representatives as the Build Back Better Act and passed the House last November with Case voting yes. It passed the U.S. Senate in amended form this past Sunday, and the full House is returning from its August district work period to vote on the Act this Friday. Assuming passage, it will go straight to the President, who is expected to sign it into law. “The crisis of climate change is very real and accelerating, and we must lead the world in combatting it on every front,” said Case. “At $369 billion, this measure’s climate-related provisions alone are the largest and most comprehensive effort we have ever passed, and are critical to lowering our energy costs, increasing cleaner production and reducing carbon emissions by roughly 40% by 2030.” “On inexcusably high prescription drug costs, I have fought for two decades, dating back to my first years in Congress, to authorize Medicare to negotiate down the prices of large bulk purchases of lifesaving drugs for our kūpuna, and this measure will finally achieve that goal for many of the most needed drugs,” said Case. “It also caps out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 for Medicare Part D beneficiaries, and lowers Affordable Care Act health care premiums for millions of Americans.” “Moving our nation back toward a fiscally responsible path, the measure further is fully paid, meaning it won’t further increase our ballooning deficits and debt”, said Case, a Co-Chair of the U.S. House Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of House Democrats focused on fiscal responsibility, national defense and pragmatic, results-oriented governing. “It does so fairly by assuring that our largest multinational businesses, some of which are paying very low or no taxes, must pay a minimum 15%. It holds to President Biden’s pledge not to raise taxes families making $400,000 or less or to impose new taxes on small businesses, and further also reinvests revenues and savings in significantly reducing our deficits.” “The Inflation Reduction Act is critical not only to our world and country, but to our Hawai‘i on several fronts,” said Case. “By offering grants, rebates and tax credits to help states, counties, communities and families move toward cleaner energy sources, the Act is fully synched with our own state leadership to renewables. It offers funding to conserve and restore coastal habitats as well as grants to support healthy forests, and also provides assistance for Native Hawaiian communities specifically to implement climate resilience and adaptation activities. Further, the Act’s health care cost controls aimed largely at kūpuna care are especially relevant in Hawai‘i given the forecast by our State Plan on Aging that one-third of the state’s population will be over the age of 60 by the year 2035.” A summary of the Inflation Reduction Act is attached. Highlights of the Medicare prescription savings in the Act is attached. Case expects to return to Hawai‘i on Saturday to resume his August district work period activities. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:59:24Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=930,U.S. House Passes Annual Defense Authorization Measure Including $1.0 Billion to Address the Red Hill Fuel Crisis,2022-07-14,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=17,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) announced that the full U.S. House has approved its version of the $839.3 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that addresses his priorities related to the closure of Red Hill, strengthening America’s national defense in the Indo-Pacific and improving the Department of Defense’s (DoD) relationship with the local community. The bill includes nine floor amendments introduced by Case and considered and approved by the full House. “With the FY 2023 NDAA, the Hawai‘i Congressional delegation is continuing our efforts to ensure the military fulfils its promise to close Red Hill and address critical issues, such as expanding transparency, restoring our aquifer and tracking the long-term health of those affected by the crisis,” said Case. “I remain committed to ensuring we defuel and close Red Hill as safely and quickly as possible.” The bill’s Red Hill provisions: Require the Navy to issue a publicly available report on the status of the $1 billion effort to close the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. Direct the DoD to determine the need, number and optimal locations of additional sentinel or monitoring wells to detect and track the movement of fuel that has leaked into the ground, in coordination with the United States Geological Survey. Require the DoD to conduct a hydrology study around Red Hill and assess how best to address the water needs on O‘ahu and mitigate water shortages, to include water treatment plants or the placement of a new drinking water shaft. Direct the DoD to track the long-term health implications of fuel leaks from Red Hill for members of the armed forces and their dependents. The bill also supports Case’s continued efforts to strengthen the military’s community engagement efforts as it works to rebuild trust with the people of Hawai‘i following the Red Hill fuel leak. “The military and the local community in our Hawai‘i have a long relationship that has been severely strained by the recent Red Hill crisis,” said Case. “It is critical that the military win back the trust of our community through its actual actions.” Case introduced and secured passage of provisions that require the DoD to develop and implement a Hawai‘i-specific community engagement strategy that strengthens the ties between the military and the local community and develop a centralized office with better coordination for various community engagement initiatives. Additionally, the NDAA requires the DoD to increase cultural support to military units in the state, which includes training on Hawaiian culture and improved consultation with the Native Hawaiian community. Finally, the bill requires the military to enhance defense cooperation with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. The bill also authorizes crucial investments in America’s global network of alliances and partnerships, including more than $7 billion in funding for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative. “Hawai‘i is a critical component of the U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific, and the FY 2023 NDAA reaffirms our Hawaii’s place in and our country’s commitment to this region,” said Case. “These provisions, especially the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, will keep America competitive against China and reassure our friends and allies that the U.S. will be there for them as we defend our shared values.” To strengthen America’s presences in the Indo-Pacific, the NDAA also requires the military to submit a report on the advisability of enhancing defense cooperation with partners in the region and includes expanding the role of the National Guard in support of these initiatives, especially in Oceania. Additionally, it directs the DOD and the U.S. Agency for International Development to provide an independent assessment of the resources they need to fulfill the Indo-Pacific Strategy. Finally, the bill directs the military to increase its support for the Compact negotiations with the Freely Associated States - the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau – that are essential to our country’s national security. In addition to the provisions described above, the bill includes the following additional amendments secured by Case: Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) Facilities Review: Directs the Navy to study ways to improve the SIOP’s efforts to optimize facilities and replace outdated equipment, such as those at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. Improving Oversight of Large Construction Projects: Requires the DoD to review the Navy’s ability to manage, supervise and inspect projects that cost more than $500 million, to include SIOP projects in Hawai‘i. Underground Facilities in Hawai‘i: Requires the military to survey underground tunnels and facilities like the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility located in Hawai‘i. Assessing Future Investments on Guam: Requires the military to brief Congress on required infrastructure investment in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands based on emerging threats in the region and the ongoing relocations of U.S. service members from Japan. Joint Base Military Construction Assessment: Requires the DoD to review prioritization of military construction, maintenance and upgrades of joint base infrastructure and facilities, with a particular focus on facilities belonging to subordinate services relative to the lead service on joint bases, such as Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Community Engagement Overseas: Directs the military to report on community engagement activities at military installations overseas. The bill includes various other programs, provisions and funding affecting Hawai‘i and the Indo-Pacific. The NDAA: Authorizes $856 million in military construction projects in Hawai‘i, including: Pearl Harbor Dry Dock: $621 million Pearl Harbor Primary Electrical Distribution Upgrade: $25 million Maui Secure Integration Support Lab: $89 million Marine Corps Base Kāne‘ohe Bay Bachelor Enlisted Quarters: $88 million Kapolei National Guard Readiness Center: $29 million Tripler Army Medical Center Water System Upgrades: $2 million Fort Shafter Water System Upgrades: $2 million Directs the Army to brief the Committee on Armed Services on measures taken to consult with Native Hawaiian organizations on the timing, planning, methodology and implementation for removing unexploded ordnance and other contaminants at Pōhakuloa Training Area. Authorizes the transfer of the former Barber’s Point utility system to the State of Hawai‘i. Authorizes the construction of two new Virginia-Class Submarines that will be maintained at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility. Expresses Congressional support for the U.S. defense relationship with Taiwan, a key effort for the Hawai‘i National Guard. Requires U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to provide a report to Congress describing the support and sustainment for critical capabilities necessary to meet operational requirements in a conflict. Requires an independent study on fuel distribution logistics in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility and quarterly reporting on the progress made in establishing permanent fuel logistics points. Requires the DoD to analyze Chinese influence in the Pacific Islands region in its annual Report on Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China. Expresses congressional support for South Korea as a critical ally of the United States and requires a briefing on how the DoD will seek to implement the U.S. extended deterrence commitment to Korea. This year’s bill also supports a 4.6% pay raise for service members and civilians, in addition to supporting inflation bonuses for service members and civilians earning less than $45,000 per year. It also codifies a $15 minimum wage for workers on federal service and construction contracts. Overall, the FY 2023 NDAA authorizes $839.3 billion in discretionary spending for national defense across the DoD, parts of the Department of Energy and other agencies. It seeks restore U.S. alliances and partnerships and strengthen our country’s global competitiveness. This year’s NDAA will fulfill Congress’s constitutional obligation to “provide for the common defense.” A summary of the bill is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:49:02Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=927,Case Praises Major Expansion of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park,2022-07-12,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=18,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) praised today’s transfer of ownership of Pōhue Bay in South Kona to the National Park Service for a landmark expansion of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, as announced by the Trust for Public Land (TPL) which arranged the transfer. “This is another strong show of commitment by our federal government and our conservation partners to protect our ‘āina and culture for future generations,” said Case. “As Hawai‘i and the rest of our Earth’s special places continue to come under serious threat or outright disappear, it is even more critical that we protect their unique natural, cultural and historical resources wherever and however we can including our National Park System.” Case continued: “As a Member of the U.S. House Committees on Natural Resources and Appropriations, which have jurisdiction over our National Parks and our nation’s spending, I am especially happy that this long-pursued expansion of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park to include a pristine mauka to makai parcel has been achieved.” Acquisition of the 16,451-acre parcel on the South Kona coast of Hawai’i Island adjoining the Park’s Kahuku parcel was funded by a combination of the federal government’s Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and private donation. The LWCF, which distributes $900 million annually to safeguard our nation’s natural areas, water resources and cultural heritage, was permanently funded following Congressional passage of the Great American Outdoors Act in 2020, a measure which Case strongly supported. Pōhue Bay is home to significant Hawaiian cultural sites, including burial sites, trails, fishing shrines, lava tubes, petroglyphs and a well-preserved portion of the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. The bay is also critical habitat for federally listed endangered Hawaiian species, including the Hawaiian hawksbill turtle (honu‘ea) and Hawaiian monk seal. Stewardship of the area now lies with the National Park Service (NPS), and the Friends of the Volcanoes National Park, a separate non-profit that supports the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, received a donation of $800,000 from TPL to help administer the site. NPS is developing an interim operating plan which will explore opportunities for public use and resource protection. Attachments: pictures courtesy of National Park Service and Trust for Public Land ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:20:25Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=923,Case Announces Additional Federal Funding for Airport Use From Landmark Infrastructure Law,2022-07-06,2022,2022-07,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=18,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) announced today that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $10 million in competitive grant funding to the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), drawn from the landmark $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Package (BIP) that Case advocated and voted for and was signed into law by the President in November 2021. “This is yet another round of funding to the Hawai’i Department of Transportation/Airports Division from the BIP to follow the $49.2 million awarded for various airport projects in December,” said Case. “As Hawai‘i emerges from the pandemic and our tourism industry recovers, the federal funding for our airports will improve customer experiences, move goods through the economy more efficiently to lower prices, and enhance U.S. competitiveness.” Competitive grants mean potential grantees must compete on merit with other applicants as opposed to formula funds which are distributed automatically according to specific criteria. Case said this award was good news for the State’s ability to seek out and obtain harder-to-get federal funding. “Americans deserve modern airports that meet the needs of their families and growing passenger demand. Funded through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, today’s grants will improve our airport terminals while also creating good jobs in communities across the country,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Case said the $10 million for the HNL Airport will go towards reconstruction of the 1970’s terminal roadway which includes approximately 142,000 square feet of pavement, as well as drainage and lighting on the Ewa and Diamond Head Concourses. Today’s grant funding is from the Airport Terminal Program, one of three aviation programs created by the BIP law. The law provides $1 billion annually for five years for Airport Terminal grants. “This is just the latest of many tangible benefits to Hawai‘i from the BIP, the largest federal reinvestment ever in our backbone infrastructure across the country,” said Case. “The BIP will eventually deliver some $3 billion to our state for roads and bridges, water infrastructure, climate resilience projects, access to broadband and much more.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:20:25Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=919,"Case’s House Appropriations Committee Approves FY 2023 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill",2022-06-30,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=18,scraper,"Case focused his efforts on increasing job training and education opportunities, addressing the nation’s most pressing health threats and supporting middle class and working families (Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) has announced approval by his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations of another key measure for Hawai‘i that is among the twelve bills to collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (commencing October 1, 2022). “Our $242 billion Labor-H Appropriations bill helps families and communities with the high costs of living, trains Americans for American jobs, supports workers, and strengthens our health care infrastructure,” said Case. The Labor, Health, Human Services and Education Appropriations bill provides for significant investments in key federal programs that increase public health research and capacity, expand access to education and childcare, address labor market demands, improve health outcomes and bolster our nation’s responses to current and future public health threats. The discretionary funding level is $242.1 billion, an increase of $28.5 billion - 13 percent - above FY 2022 enacted levels. Case also secured more than $7 million for the following Member-designated Community Project Funding (CPF) that specifically focus on local needs in Hawai‘i: $1,800,000 for Hawai‘i Public Health Institute to develop and train navigators to support kūpuna and family caregivers. $1,800,000 for Kula No Na Po‘e Hawai‘i to provide students with academic support and wraparound services. $1,740,550 for King Lunalilo Trust and Home for facilities and equipment needs. $1,000,000 for the University of Hawai‘i System to fund the construction of an early phase clinical trial unit. $1,000,000 for the University of Hawai‘i System for an indigenous data science hub. $270,000 for the YMCA of Honolulu to support wellness and mental health services for children and youth. The House’s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member, and is subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/services/funding-disclosures.htm. “This year’s funding bill builds on past funding increases I have been able to secure for Native Hawaiian-serving programs plus includes additional provisions to ensure these programs are more accessible to Native Hawaiian Organizations,” said Case. “The measure would also direct more resources to study and address various health disparities among Native Hawaiian communities.” The measure provides federal funding to address many of the cultural, economic, educational and health needs of Native Hawaiians and other indigenous communities, including: $64 million to support Native American job training programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. $41million 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 kūpuna. $40 million for the Native Hawaiian Education Program, a $2 million increase from the FY 2022 enacted level. $25 million for the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program, an increase of $3 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. These funds will support tutoring, mentorships, internships, faculty development and other activities to support Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students at the collegiate level. $23 million for the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems, an increase of $1 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. $4 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. $3 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. $2 million for the Native Hawaiian Resource Center on Domestic Violence within the Family Violence Prevention Program to provide supportive services for adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence and dating violence and to prevent such incidents in Native Hawaiian communities. $1.5 million for the Native American Language Resource Centers, which support higher education institutions in teaching and learning languages, including research on new teaching methods for educators and developing instructional materials, among other things. “In response to our nation’s ongoing labor shortages, my Committee increased funding for various federal programs that help develop local talent to support our local economies,” said Case. “Key provisions from the Build Back Better Act are also included that would provide for major investments to expand educator recruitment and training, maternal health equity initiatives, home care for seniors and people with disabilities and high-quality childcare and preschool programs.” Other funding and provisions requested and secured by Case include: Addressing the Nation’s Labor Shortages $1.8 billion for Job Corps, an increase of $50 million above the FY 2022 enacted level, which provides career development services for youth. $1 billion, for Youth Employment and Training activities, an increase of $100 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. $940 million for Adult Employment and Training activities, which is a $70 million increase above the FY 2022 enacted level. $303 million for Registered Apprenticeships, an increase of $48 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. $150 million to provide ex-offenders with training and credentials in fields that prepare them for successful reintegration into society. $145 million for the YouthBuild program, an increase of $46 million above FY 2022 enacted level, to provide at-risk youth with basic education and job skills training in the construction field. $70.5 million, an increase of $10 million above the FY 2022 enacted level, for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program. $523 million for AmeriCorps State and National Grants, an increase of $56 million over the FY 2022 enacted level. Responding to Current and Future Health Threats $47.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health, an increase of $2.5 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level, to support a wide range of biomedical and behavioral research. $2.75 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) within the Department of Health and Human Services to accelerate the pace of scientific breakthroughs for diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and cancer. $1.95 billion for Community Health Centers, an increase of $198 million above FY 2022 enacted level, to provide high quality, cost-effective health care to predominantly low-income and medically-underserved communities. $750 million, an increase of $550 million above the FY 2022 enacted level, for public health infrastructure and capacity nationwide. $500 million for the Title X Family Planning Program, a $214 million increase above the FY 2022 enacted level. $75 million to address the health impacts of climate change. $60 million for firearm injury and mortality prevention research. Investing in Public Education, School Safety and Childcare $20.5 billion for Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies (low income schools), an increase of $3 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level. $12.4 billion for Head Start, an increase of $1.4 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level. $7.2 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, an increase of $1 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level. $2.2 billion for Career, Technical and Adult Education, an increase of $124 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. $1.3 billion for the Federal TRIO Program, $161 million more than the FY 2022 enacted level, to provide academic support to low-income individuals, first-generation college students, veterans and individuals with disabilities. $350 million for Preschool Development Grants, an increase of $60 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. $132 million for Teacher Quality Partnerships, an increase of $30 million about the FY 2022 enacted level, to support teacher preparation and residency programs. $122 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. $100 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. $100 million, an increase of $86 million above the FY 2022 enacted level, for community and youth violence prevention. Additional Provisions Provides $24.6 billion for Federal student aid programs to provide $7,395 for the maximum Pell Grant award, an increase of $500 above the FY 2022 enacted level. Includes language to allow DREAMERS and students with temporary protected status to be eligible for Pell Grants and other Federal student financial assistance. Eliminates the Hyde and Weldon Amendments, long-standing policies that have denied low-income women access to abortion care. Includes language consistent with the Administration’s Title X rule to ensure continued access to federal funding for health care clinics that offer the full range of reproductive health services. Includes a new provision preventing discrimination by federally-funded foster care agencies on the basis of sex, age, disability, race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity. Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.6 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis through twelve separate bills. he bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for consideration. A summary of the FY 2023 Labor, Health and Human Services, Labor and Related Agencies funding bill is here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=920,Case’s House Appropriations Committee Approves FY2023 Transportation and Housing Bill to Advance Affordable Housing And Fix Critical Infrastructure,2022-06-30,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=18,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) has announced approval by his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations of another key measure for Hawai‘i that is among the twelve bills to collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (commencing October 1, 2022). The Transportation-Housing Urban Development Appropriations bill, the last of 12 bills considered and passed by the full Committee over the past two weeks, supports the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Transportation (DOT) including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Maritime Commission, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, National Transportation Safety Board, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The bill’s discretionary funding level is $90.9 billion, an increase of $9.9 billion over the FY 2022 enacted level. “My Appropriations Committee confronted the everyday challenges this bill covers across our country and provided the funds necessary to address our crumbling infrastructure as well as the lack of affordable housing,” said Case. The bill also funds the following Member-designated Community Funding Projects (CPF) requested by Case to address critical needs in Hawai‘i: $4.8 million to the City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services to develop a 30 mile active transit corridor connecting East to West O‘ahu. $500,000 to the Institute for Human Services for the Village of Redemption project to support housing for formerly incarcerated individuals. “When it comes to transportation, we must work towards other means of mobility for those who either can’t afford or don’t want to rely on motor vehicles,” said Case. “The $4.8 million in funding for the City complements the ‘complete streets’ approach that seeks to accommodate reasonable access and mobility for all users of public highways and byways by investing in bike and pedestrian paths, thereby reducing traffic congestion while boosting our Hawai‘i’s efforts to combat greenhouse gases and climate change.” The House’s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member, and is subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/media/funding-disclosures.htm “This funding measure also addressed a wide range of housing needs which have worsened for our work force, our kūpuna and veterans,” said Case. The bill includes the following provisions to improve access to affordable housing: $5.299 billion for the Community Development Fund. $3.6 billion for the Homeless Assistance Grants. $62.5 million for the Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity Program. $50 million for the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program and Native American Veterans programs. $14.94 billion on project-based rental assistance. $10 million for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG). The NHHBG funds support the building, acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable homes. A provision allowing up to $28 million in housing loans through the Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee Program. The Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 established a loan guarantee program for Native Hawaiians who are eligible to reside on Hawaiian home lands and would otherwise face barriers to acquiring such financing because of the unique legal status of the Hawaiian home lands. “This bill also represents our Appropriations Committee’s commitment to fund the generational investment secured in last year’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which I fought for”, said Case “This funding will ensure Hawai‘i can repair and modernize our ports, roads and mass transit systems to keep up with growing use.” Transportation and Infrastructure programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: $987 billion for the Maritime Administration, including $318 million for the Maritime Security Program, $300 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program and $20 million for Assistance to Small Shipyards like Kalaeloa/Barbers Point. Language directing the Maritime Administration to review the fuel transportation capabilities of the Jones Act fleet to ensure Hawai‘i and other non-contiguous areas can meet their energy needs. $61 billion for the Federal Highway Administration to improve the safety and long-term viability of our highways. $17.5 billion for the Federal Transit Administration, including $13.6 billion for formula grants to states to expand their bus fleets and ensure transit systems are in good repair. $775 million for National Infrastructure Investments. $18.7 billion for the FAA, including $1.6 billion for aviation safety. Direction to the FAA to work with other federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, to participate in community engagement to address noise concerns. Additional funding for the FAA’s community engagement capacity and requires the FAA to make aggregated information about noise complaints available to the public. Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.6 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis through twelve separate bills. The bill now moves onto the full House of Representatives for consideration. A summary of the Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies funding bill is here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=921,Case Statement On The Investigation Report on the 2021 Red Hill Fuel Leaks and the Navy's Proposed Defueling Plan,2022-06-30,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=18,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) issued the following statement following the U.S. Navy’s release of the two documents this morning: “While I have been fully briefed on the Command Investigation and the Defueling Plan, I have not had time to review the actual documents in detail. But they appear to be an exhaustive and objective review of exactly what happened and why, and a credible and realistic plan to achieve defueling and move to closure of Red Hill as soon as can be achieved safely and completely. “The Command Investigation details a series of ‘cascading failures’ that should never have happened, and there are many painful lessons to be learned. There must also be specific accountability for those failures. “The Hawai’i Department of Health must approve the Defueling Plan and oversee implementation throughout to assure that our drinking water and public health are fully protected. “I will continue to oversee the federal agencies responsible for all of these actions, in particular the Department of Defense, assist in coordinating among federal, state and local efforts, and keep our community fully informed. “Through my U.S. House Committee on Appropriations and otherwise, I will also continue to assure the billions of dollars of federal funding that will be required.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=916,Case’s House Appropriations Committee Approves FY 2023 Interior Funding Bill That Secures Protection Of Sensitive Hawai‘i Lands,2022-06-29,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=18,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) has announced approval by his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations of another key measure for Hawai‘i that is among the twelve bills to collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (commencing October 1, 2022). The Interior Appropriations bill funds the Department of the Interior, including the National Parks Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service and various independent agencies including the National Endowments on Arts and the Humanities. The discretionary funding level is $44.8 billion, an increase of $6.8 billion over the FY 2022 enacted level. “With the support of my Appropriations Committee, we are poised to conserve critical lands for future generations in Hawai‘i, including a major expansion of Haleakalā National Park and preservation of precious lands in the Kāne‘ohe Pali and Maunawili Valley,” said Case. The bill includes the following funding requested and secured by Case: · $1.3 million to safeguard over nearly 700 acres in Maunawili Valley. The proposed forest reserve would be managed by the Hawai‘i Division of Forestry and Wildlife in partnership with local nonprofits seeking to steward the land, engage sustainable agriculture and restore cultural sites and lo‘i. 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 (‘elepaio), and four species of endangered Hawaiian wetland birds. · $1.8 million to assist the State Department of Land and Natural Resources’ acquisition of nearly 1,000 acres of in Kāne‘ohe, O‘ahu. The Kāneʻohe 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. · $12.9 million in additional funding for the acquisition of Kaupō Ranch on the southern slope of Haleakalā for the NPS. Kaupō Ranch is a key access point for the popular Kaupō Gap Trail that traverses the crater of Haleakalā 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. Case also requested and secured funding to further address the Red Hill crisis which is in addition to the $1.1 billion included in the earlier FY23 defense and military construction appropriations bills. “We need to pursue every federal resource possible from every source to pursue the continued remediation, defueling and closure of Red Hill and assure our safe drinking water,” said Case. “In this bill we supplemented other efforts by restoring native forests in the Ko‘olau Mountains that assist in recharging the Pearl Harbor watershed and increasing funding for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program.” Specifically the bill includes: · $1.7 million for the Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct forest protection and aquifer recovery activities for the Pearl Harbor watershed. Protecting and restoring native forests in the Ko‘olau Mountains will help safeguard drinking water supplies and replenish the Pearl Harbor Aquifer. · $92 million for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program, which includes funding to the Hawai‘i Department of Health to address Red Hill issues. · $1.1 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and $1.8 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which provides funding to Hawaii’s regulated water systems for Hawaii’s water infrastructure projects. Case also worked to continue his effort to preserve Hawaii’s historic sites and institutions. For FY 2023, he secured $250,000 for the historic Bishop Museum to relocate and preserve its world class Ichthyology Collection through the Save America’s Treasures program. Case explained: “The Bishop Museum houses one of the largest collections of coral reef fishes in the world, including the most comprehensive representation of both specimens and color images of fishes from the vast Indo‐Pacific region, including Hawai‘i and other U.S. territories. With the effects of climate change expected to devastate coral reef ecosystems in the coming decades, the importance of this collection – which emphasizes the discovery and documentation of species new to science – continues to increase.” “The collection is housed within an aging warehouse building built in the 1970s and designed to last for 10 years, which is suffering severe problems such as a leaking roof and outdated facilities. Moreover, the collection has completely filled all the available shelf space and struggles to absorb newly collected material.” The Bishop Museum and Pearl Harbor watershed projects were requested by Case as Member-designated Community Funding Projects (CPF), which address key, unmet community needs. U.S. House CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member, and is subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/media/funding-disclosures.htm. Additional programs and provisions secured by Case in the Interior Appropriations bill include: $6.8 million for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service State of the Birds Activities to respond to the urgent needs of critically endangered birds that, due to climate change, now face extinction. These funds will help save numerous endemic birds which have been devastated by climate change and avian malaria. The measure also includes language directing funding to the NPS to save endangered forest birds with habitats on park lands. $46.7 million for the U.S. Geological Survey Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program. $30.2 million for long-deferred maintenance projects at Hawaii’s National Parks. $3.1 billion for the NPS’s basic operations, an increase of $323 million. $18.8 million for the National Trails System, which will benefit the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. $34 million, a $4 million increase, for the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program. This includes funding for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, which monitors the active volcanoes in Hawai‘i, assesses their hazards, issues warnings and advances scientific understanding to reduce impacts of volcanic eruptions. $85.2 million for the U.S. Geological Survey’s Climate Adaptation Science Centers, which includes the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center based out of UH Mānoa. These centers provide regionally-relevant scientific information, tools, and techniques to resource managers and communities in Hawai'i in response to our changing climate. $3.4 million, an increase of $1.3 million, for the NPS American Indian and Native Hawaiian Art and Culture Grants program. Language instructing the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations to expand the federal government’s Native Hawaiian community consultation efforts. $58.6 million for State Historic Preservation Offices, which will help preserve Hawaii’s treasured historic properties. $4.7 million for Japanese Confinement Site Grants and funding for the newly authorized Amache National Historic Site, which was one of ten incarceration sites established by the War Relocation Authority during World War II to detain Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their communities on the West Coast. The increase of $1.3 million over FY 2022 enacted levels will fund projects to tell the stories of Japanese Americans during World War II, including those interned at Hono‘uli‘uli in Kunia. $207 million for the National Endowment for the Arts, an increase of $27 million, which benefits the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts as well as arts projects statewide. $207 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities, an increase of $27 million, which provides funding to the Hawai‘i Council on the Humanities, a nonprofit which supports public programs in humanities disciplines to help express Hawaii’s unique culture, stories, histories and people. The bill now moves onto the full House of Representatives for consideration. A summary of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations funding bill is here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=918,Case Secures Foreign Affairs Funding To Expand and Strengthen Hawai‘i and U.S. Leadership In Indo-Pacific Region,2022-06-29,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=18,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) has announced approval by his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations of another key measure for Hawai‘i that is among the twelve bills to collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (commencing October 1, 2022). The State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations measure funds U.S. foreign policy programs and agencies, including the Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), U.S. contributions to the United Nations and its agencies and more. Globally, this bill provides for U.S. foreign assistance in public health, basic education, educational and cultural exchanges, climate change and more. The discretionary funding level is $66 billion, an increase of $8.5 billion over the FY 2022 enacted level. This year’s bill as passed today by the Appropriations Committee will implement provisions from Case’s BLUE Pacific Act, which increases overall U.S. engagement throughout the Pacific Islands. The bill also will fund key institutions and programs in Hawai‘i, such as the East West Center and scholarships for Pacific Islanders, while supporting international efforts to combat climate change. The bill includes $21 million for the East West Center, an increase of $1.3 million over the FY 2022 enacted level. This further increase, after years at a lower level and facing an annual zero budget request throughout the Trump Administration, places the Center on a solid and sustainable foundation from which to build further. “This bill bolsters our commitments to diplomacy, development and democracy in the Indo-Pacific, and the $21 million for the East-West Center will help cement Hawaii’s role in that effort,” said Case. “My BLUE Pacific Act, together with the Committee’s approval of my request to continue funding the East-West Center, sends a powerful message to our critical Pacific Islands partners and allies that our country values our relationships and intends to invest further in them and to continue as an active and engaged partner in pursuit of our shared interests and in defense of our shared values.” Programs and provisions secured by Case related to the Indo-Pacific and his BLUE Pacific Act include: $1.7 billion for implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy to counter malign influence and promote peace, prosperity and democracy in the region, an increase of almost $100 million. Bill language requiring at least $40 million for the Pacific Islands region, almost double previous spending. Increased funding for the Young Pacific Leaders Program, a Department of State program for emerging young leaders from Hawai‘i, Guam, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Solomon Islands and other Pacific nations. Report language encouraging the Department of State to increase the number of scholarships available for Pacific Islanders to study in the United States, many of whom study at the University of Hawai‘i. $430.5 million for the Peace Corps, an increase of $20 million over the FY 2022 enacted level, along with language encouraging the Peace Corps to prioritize the Pacific Islands in the return of volunteers. Report language recommending no less than $20 million for climate resilient development and climate mitigation and adaptation efforts in the Pacific Islands. Language in support of expanding the U.S. diplomatic presence in the Pacific Islands and expanding the programming of the U.S. Agency for Global Media in the region. Report language requiring the Department of State to create a strategy on trade capacity building in the Pacific Islands. Report language recommending the expansion of the International Law Enforcement Academy to the Pacific Islands, and supporting the Pacific Islands in their efforts to combat transnational crime. “As Hawai`i and the rest of our planet confront the impacts of climate change, we must act immediately to respond to this global crisis, and small islands in the Pacific are particularly vulnerable as they confront rising sea levels, extreme weather events, protracted droughts and land loss, to name just a few of the impacts brought on by this crisis,” said Case. The bill includes $3.6 billion to address the climate change, including: $1.6 billion for bilateral climate assistance. $1.6 billion for the Green Climate Fund, $1.6 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level. $350 million for Clean Technology Fund, $225 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. $100 million for the Adaptation Fund and the Least Developed Countries Fund The bill also sustains or increases funding for several foreign policy programs supported by Case including: $1.7 billion for contributions to international organizations and $1.8 billion to support United Nations international peacekeeping activities, which includes U.S. dues and arrears. $773 million for Educational and Cultural Exchange programs, which include the Fulbright programs. $6.7 billion to fight HIV/AIDS, including $2 billion for the Global Fund. $890 million for maternal and child health programs. $985 million for basic education. $2.9 billion for migration and refugee assistance and $3.9 billion for international disaster assistance. The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for consideration. A summary of the FY23 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations funding bill is here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=913,Case’s House Appropriations Committee Approves $56 Billion FY 2023 Energy and Water Funding Measure,2022-06-28,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=18,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) has announced approval by his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations of another key measure for Hawai‘i that is among the twelve bills to collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (commencing October 1, 2022). “Our $56 billion Energy and Water Appropriations bill supports the deployment of clean energy technologies to fight climate change and reduce energy prices,” said Case. “It also provides funding for flood and waterway projects through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), to include key areas in Hawai‘i like the Ala Wai, Waikīkī and Kalaeloa.” The bill’s discretionary funding level is $56.3 billion, an increase of $3.4 billion over the FY 2022 enacted level. “This bill makes the long term investments needed to help lower energy costs by strengthening America’s energy independence,” said Case. At a time when our country is facing rising gas prices, the bill invests in an all-of-the-above energy strategy that leverages clean solar, wind, geothermal and hydroelectric technologies while still using our domestic resources, such as the Strategic Petroleum Reserves, to ease current supply and price pressures. Specifically, there is $16 billion included for energy and science innovation to support our diversification of energy sources away from foreign adversaries, create new clean energy technology jobs and ultimately save consumers money. This is a $2 billion increase over the FY 2022 enacted level. The bill also includes Case’s request for a Member-designated Community Funding Project (CPF) to fund the Hawai‘i State Energy Office’s Clean Energy Wayfinders Program. That groundbreaking program fosters engagement in local clean energy and energy efficiency policy, programs and projects and in training and deploying the next generation of energy workers in the state. “As our communities transition to more and more sources of renewable energy, it is critical that we also transition our current energy workforce and train the new generation to take over,” said Case. “The Hawai‘i State Energy Office, in conjunction with multiple local partners and stakeholders, has worked tirelessly to deploy their Wayfinders Program, which redefines what community engagement in the energy sector looks like by involving local workers from the start. This funding will secure their much-needed next steps in ensuring that this program continues to grow and become available to more Hawai‘i residents.” The House’s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member, and is subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/media/funding-disclosures.htm The bill also provides $8.9 billion for the USACE for its civil works programs. Case’s committee provided $160 million for the USACE’s investigations account, which funds studies for projects in Hawai‘i like the Ala Wai Flood Zone so it can be evaluated for safety and flood risks. It also provided $5.1 billion for the USACE’s operation and maintenance account, which supports ongoing USACE work in Hawai‘i, such as the Barbers Point Deep Draft Harbor. “As we in Hawai‘i brace each year for ‘hurricane season’ in the Central Pacific, this bill will assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with funds to help protect our island communities from severe storms,” said Case. “My Committee’s investment in the USACE will also help revive our water infrastructure, especially our harbors, to help keep transportation costs low. This funding will supplement state funding to help maintain our harbors in Hawai‘i, which are a critical lifeline to and from the world as we receive and distribute more than 90 percent of all of the goods through our harbors.” Other programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: $10 million and report language for the Energy Transitions Initiative (ETI). This program, which aims to advance self-reliant island and remote communities through the development of resilient energy systems, helps recipients who face unique energy challenges due to their remote location, fossil fuel dependency and limited access to affordable infrastructure improvements. This funding supports two ETI projects in Hawai‘i - electrical infrastructure resiliency in Honolulu and alternative and autonomous mobility options for Kaua‘i. $370 million for weatherization activities, which will increase energy efficiency of over 40,000 low-income homes nationwide. In Hawai‘i, these funds are used to help low-income households reduce their energy costs by providing energy conservation education and funding weatherization measures. $4 billion for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, an increase of $800 million above FY 2022 level. This funding will go to support many of the renewable energy projects underway across the State of Hawai‘i $1.6 billion for Advanced Research Projects – Energy (ARPA-E) and High Energy Physics, which directly supports groundbreaking research at the University of Hawai‘i aimed at rapidly developing energy technologies that are capable of significantly changing the energy sector to address the nation’s critical economic, environmental and energy security challenges. $205 million for Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response. This funding provides for efforts to secure the nation’s energy infrastructure against all hazards, reduce the risks of and impacts from cybersecurity events, and assist with restoration activities. Other provisions requested and secured by Case include: · Encouraging the USACE to give special consideration to vulnerable coastal communities in their flood risk planning assistance, with specific direction to the Native Hawaiian community. · Directing the Department of Energy to conduct and provide a report on their plan to recruit more minority populations, such as Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiians and Asian Americans to job positions in the department. · Continuing Congressional support for a previously directed report to examine benefits of dredged materials to non-contiguous states, like Hawai‘i. Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.6 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis through twelve separate bills. The bill now moves onto the full House of Representatives for consideration. A summary of the energy and water funding bill is here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=914,Case’s House Appropriations Committee Approves Billions to Fight Crime and Make Communities Safer,2022-06-28,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=18,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) has announced approval by his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations of another key measure for Hawai‘i that is among twelve bills to collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (commencing October 1, 2022). The $86 billion Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill supports 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. Case is in his fourth year of service on the Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, with jurisdiction over the bill. This year’s bill and Case’s efforts focused especially on combating crime, continuing our nation’s leadership in science and protecting our oceans. “Rising crime, both related and unrelated to gun violence, is of great concern to us all, and must be combatted at all levels of government”, said Case. “State and local law enforcement need increased assistance from our federal government to address crime at the state and local level. The more than $700 million to help local and state law enforcement will help not only to investigate and prosecute crime, but will also go to prevention and education programs to stop crime before it happens.” “Approval by my Appropriations Committee also comes just as the U.S. House passed, with my vote, and the President signed the bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant gun violence prevention legislation in nearly 30 years. Coming after still more horrific mass shootings, the Act includes provisions to improve mental health and school security and implement stricter controls on gun purchases, all funded by our bill.” The FY 2023 funding bill makes major additional investments in federal, state and local law enforcement programs, including greatly expanding gun violence prevention efforts. These include: $717 million for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne-JAG), which is an increase of $42 million over the current funding level. Byrne-JAG is the leading federal source of criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. The 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. $642 million, an increase of $67 million above FY 2022, for Violence Against Women Act programs. These programs support comprehensive, cost-effective responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. $277 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Grants, which is an increase of $31 million over the current funding level. The COPS program is designed to provide funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire and/or rehire additional career law enforcement officers in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. $150 million for the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative, which supports partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve to address violence intervention and prevention programs, including gang and gun violence. $110 million for grants to help state governments improves their submissions into the National Instant Criminal Background Check system for gun purchases. $90 million for Grants to Reduce the Sexual Assault Kit Backlog. $53 million for the Anti-Methamphetamine and Anti-Heroin Task Forces. $38.1 billion for the Department of Justice, including $10.7 billion for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and $964 million for the Executive Office for Immigration Review. “Our funding measure also focuses on our flagship national science programs, which translate into world-leading research and development and science and high-tech engineering projects in our Hawaii. They also ensures that young people across our country can pursue STEM-related education to lead innovation and contribute to a better economy back home,” said Case. The FY 2023 bill’s investments in science include: $20.7 million to support the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on the Island of Maui, the world’s most advanced solar observatory. $6 million to support maintenance and repair of Atmospheric Baseline Observatories, including the Mauna Loa Observatory where the famous Keeling Curve proving rapid climate change was developed. $150 million for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Engagement, an increase of $13 million above the FY 2022 enacted level, to inspire young people to pursue future careers in science and engineering. This includes $48 million for NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP), which funds Hawai’i STEN programs. $9.3 billion for the NSF, an increase of $793 million. $7.9 billion for science programs as NASA, an increase of $291 million above FY 2022, to continue efforts to explore the solar system, other planets and other solar systems. Among other things, this will support space telescopes and efforts to gain scientific knowledge about the Earth’s changing climate. Case also highlighted his efforts to boost funding of federal agencies and programs focused on the world’s oceans. Case, who recently returned from Lisbon, Portugal as part of a delegation of Members of Congress representing the United States at the United Nations Ocean Conference, said: “Our world’s oceans are in mortal danger from a variety of human-caused factors, including climate change, pollution, debris, overfishing and other over-extraction. We have very limited time to reverse course, and our country and Hawai’i can and must lead the way.” The FY 2023 bill’s investments in the oceans and coastal communities include: $164 million for the protection, research and management of marine mammals, sea turtles and other ocean species. $97 million for the Sea Grant Program, which supports coastal and Great Lakes communities through research, extension and education. These funds help support the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Program at the University of Hawaiʻi that concentrates on promoting healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies and environmental literacy and workforce development. $68 million for the Sanctuaries and Marine Protected Areas Program, including the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. $34 million for the Coral Reef Conservation Program. $5 million for the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grants. The bill also included Case’s requests for several key U.S. Department of Justice programs, including: $675 million for the Legal Services Corporation, which helps ensure equal access to justice under the law for all Americans by providing funding for civil legal aid through organizations like Legal Aid Hawai’i to those who otherwise would be unable to afford it. $275 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program. This public-private partnership has centers in all 50 states, including Hawaiʻi, dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers. $70 million for the Minority Business Development Agency. This includes $5 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. $465 million for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, an increase of $45 million. $122 million for the International Trade Commission, an increase of $12 million. Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.6 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis through twelve separate bills. The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for consideration. A summary of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations funding bill is here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=912,"Case’s House Appropriations Committee Approves $30 Billion Fiscal Year 2023 Federal Financial Services, Small Business and General Government Funding Measure",2022-06-26,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=18,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) has announced approval by his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations of another of the twelve bills that will collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (commencing October 1, 2022). The FY 2023 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill would provide $29.8 billion for financial programs to foster community development and help small businesses and middle class families struggling with the high costs of inflation. “According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), there are more than 137,000 small businesses in our state, making up more than 99 percent of all businesses in the islands,” said Case. “But we have seen what the pandemic has done to these companies, and what they are having to deal with now as they struggle with the rising costs of inflation. That is why I worked in this measure and elsewhere to ensure that small businesses remain the backbone of our economy including financial, technical and emergency assistance, boosting trade opportunities, and ensuring that women-owned and Native Hawaiian-owned businesses get the help they need.” To help our small businesses nationwide, the bill provides $1.1 billion for the SBA, an increase of $ 77 million above the FY 2022 funding level. This includes $326 million, a $36 million increase, for Entrepreneurial Development Programs that provide small businesses with quality training, counseling and access to resources. The Appropriations Committee also approved several of Case’s requests for funding for federal programs and services important for the State of Hawai’i including: $22.5 million for the Native American Community Development Financial Institution Assistance Program, $5 million for the Native American Outreach Program, $ 5 million for the Historically Underutilized Business Zones Program, $ 30 million for the Women’s Business Centers Program, $ 24 million for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, $145 million for Small Business Development Centers, $110 million for the Drug-Free Communities Program, $22 million for the State Trade Expansion Program, $10 million for the Regional Innovation Clusters Program, $300 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, and $41 million for the Microloan Technical Assistance Program. The bill also provided $336 million for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), an increase of $41 million above the FY 2022 enacted levels. CDFIs are specialized community-based financial institutions that promote economic development by providing financial products and services to people and communities underserved by traditional financial institutions, particularly in low-income and minority communities. They were especially valuable in delivering COVID-19 emergency assistance funds to communities without ready access to other means. One of the provisions in the measure would help to rebuild the Internal Revenue Service to finally crack down on tax avoiders and to provide better customer service to working families struggling to navigate the tax system. This measure funds the U.S. Treasury, federal courts and various independent agencies including the SBA, Federal Communications Commission and Office of Personnel Management. The discretionary funding level is $29.8 billion, an increase of $4.3 billion over the 2022 enacted level. The measure also adopts Case’s requests to: Include language supporting improved USPS service in remote areas. Direct the Federal Trade Commission to produce recommendations to address the exploitation and inauthentic use of native language and culture in marketing under the Fair Package and Labeling Act. Include report language directing the IRS to submit a report to Congress on the reasons for the backlog of tax returns and recommendations for preventing future backlogs. Direct the National Personnel Records Center to provide quarterly reports on its plan to spend emergency money to reduce its request backlog. Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.6 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis through twelve separate bills. The bill now moves onto the full House of Representatives for consideration. A summary of the financial services and general government funding is here ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=911,Case’s House Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2023 Homeland Security Funding Measure,2022-06-25,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=19,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) has announced approval by his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations of another of the twelve bills that will collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (commencing October 1, 2022). The FY 2023 Homeland Security Appropriations bill proposes to fund $85.67 billion to invest in smart, effective border security, meet humanitarian needs of migrants and support federal efforts to keep the country safe. A provision in the bill would secure the nation’s critical infrastructure with dramatically increased funding to prevent cyberattacks and root out cyber intrusions. “The bottom line is that we should fully expect and prepare for Russia and individuals and entities associated with Russia to continue to engage in cyber warfare across the world, as they are already doing in Ukraine and have done in our country and elsewhere in the world and as we pursue our critical response through sanctions and other means,” said Case. “This is just as true in Hawai’i as anywhere else in our country. For although we may be physically located on the other side of the world and far from the actual war, cyberattacks do not care about physical locations.” “We should also not assume that the targets are just governments and businesses with key infrastructure roles. The intent of cyberwarfare is to disrupt economies and societies across a broad range and so nobody is immune.” The bill also supports the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service and more. The discretionary funding level is $85.67 billion, an increase of $2.7 billion over the 2022 enacted level. The bill includes $101 million for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, which includes the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPC) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. The NDPC, a seven-member professional alliance, is the principal means through which FEMA identifies, develops, tests and delivers training to state and local emergency responders. The NDPC has trained over 2.5 million people throughout the United States and its territories. Other programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: $370 million for the Emergency Management Performance Grants, which support state and local emergency management agencies like the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency. $370 million for assistance to firefighter grant programs, which are a major source of funding for county fire departments. $30 million for the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. The measure also: Includes Case’s requested report language to support the Coast Guard in the Indo-Pacific and requires the Coast Guard to examine its assets in Oceania and the facilities in O‘ahu. Directs FEMA to report on their strategies to respond to the unique challenges posed by disasters in Hawai‘i and other non-contiguous areas. Includes language requiring U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to brief Congress on resources needed to shorten the wait times for family members of Filipino World War II veterans and more quickly process the permanent resident applications of those enrolled in the Filipino War Veteran Parole Program. Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.6 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis through twelve separate bills. The bill now moves onto the full House of Representatives for consideration. A summary of the homeland security funding bill is here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T18:13:54Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=909,Case Statement On United States Supreme Court Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade,2022-06-24,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=19,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1) released this statement on the United States Supreme Court decision today in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, effectively overturning the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established the constitutional right to abortion: “The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling striking down Roe v. Wade is tragic on so many fronts. It rejects the basic rights of women, condemns millions of women and their families back to a dark pre-Roe world, dismisses a careful balancing of interests that has stood for two generations, undermines our institutions of government and embarrasses us in the eyes of the world. “Our Hawai‘i had it right with our first-in-the-nation law in 1970, and must now stand strong with other like-minded states against the further assault on women’s and other rights already underway until we can reverse this retreat to an intolerant past in our legislatures and courts."" ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=910,Case Announces House Appropriations Committee Approval of FY 2023 Federal Funding Measure To Support Nation’s Agriculture and Food Security,2022-06-24,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=19,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1) today announced that his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations has approved another funding measure among the twelve bills that will collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (commencing October 1, 2022). This bill would provide $27.2 billion for the FY 2023 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The bill includes $1.7 billion for agriculture research, including pest control and specialty crop health. The measure funds federal efforts to tackle hunger and nutrition insecurity, grow opportunities and uplift rural communities, confront the climate crisis and advance world-leading agriculture research and development. The funding level is $27.2 billion, an increase of $2.1 billion over the FY 2022 enacted level. “I focused in my Appropriations Committee on supporting our local farmers, farmers markets and food promotion programs, which combined will help our Hawai‘i deal the soaring cost of food, much of which is imported to our islands,” said Case. Specific programs and provisions requested and secured by Case in the Agriculture bill include: $35 million for the Agricultural Quarantine Inspections program, which focuses in preventing introduction of invasive species to Hawai‘i. $5 million for coffee research to address the threats of Coffee Leaf Rust and Coffee Berry Borer on our iconic coffee industry $1.7 million for research on the macadamia felted coccid. $10 million for the Micro-Grants for Food Security program, which provides direct farming assistance to Hawaii’s subsistence and small commercial farmers. $7.4 million for Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, which helps address food insecurity with fresh produce and supports local farms. $5 million for Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, the first increase for this vital program in years. This program addresses the educational needs of food and agricultural sciences-related disciplines and prepares low-income students for careers related to the food, agricultural and natural resources. The measure also: Recognizes that the prevention of agricultural infestations of pests and diseases is much more cost effective than subsequent control or eradication, including pre-departure and interline inspections. Directs the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to coordinate federal research to address the impact of the avocado lace bug, spittle bug and the Queensland longhorn beetle. Directs the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production to create funding opportunities through the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program and the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to develop or improve farmers’ markets and their ability to access local community markets. Directs to U.S. Department of Agriculture to improve the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, which provides low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers' markets and roadside stands, so the program can serve more eligible low-income seniors. Recognizes the importance of outreach and assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers programs. The Committee requests the Secretary to identify any barriers to access the program and make recommendations for improvements. Encourages the ARS to continue research on Tropical and Subtropical crops. The Committee notes this research is critical as the presence of and destruction by invasive pests such as fruit flies, coffee berry borer, felted macadamia nut coccid, and plant viruses and funguses increase and threaten crop security in the Pacific and insular areas “Coming on the heels of the recently approved passage in the U.S. House earlier this month of the landmark Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, this funding measure will also boost efforts to help Hawai‘i deal with invasive species which, unfortunately, has been recognized as the invasive species capital of the world,” said Case. Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.6 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis through twelve separate bills. The bill now moves to the full House of Representatives for consideration. A summary of the agriculture funding bill is here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=908,Case Announces House Appropriations Committee Approval of FY 2023 Federal Funding Measure for National Military Construction and Veterans Programs,2022-06-23,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=19,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) has announced approval by his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations of another key measure for Hawai‘i that is among the twelve bills to collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 (commencing October 1, 2022). The FY 2023 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations bill proposes to fund construction and maintenance of our defense facilities throughout the country and world, our national cemeteries and battle monuments, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and various small agencies and programs supporting our nation's some 19 million veterans and their families. The discretionary funding level is $150.5 billion, an increase of $23 billion over the FY 2022 enacted level. It includes another $100 million in funding to address the Red Hill Crisis, which will augment the $1 billion Case secured in the FY 2023 Defense Appropriations bill and the $1.1 billion the Hawai’i delegation secured in current FY 2022. The additional funds will be used by the Navy and the Indo-Pacific Command to begin the planning and design for building new facilities to remove and relocate the fuel currently at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. These funds can also be used to design facilities to help remediate the Red Hill shaft. The bill also provides a further $1.3 billion, an increase of $492 million above the FY 2022 funding level, for the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan (SIOP), a $21 billion multi-year effort to upgrade the Navy’s four public shipyards. This includes over $621 million for Dry Dock 5 at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Hawaii’s largest industrial employer with some 6,000 local employees. “Keeping SIOP on track and fully funded is one of my top priorities on my Appropriations Committee,” said Case, a member of the Appropriations subcommittee which develops and oversees all military construction and veterans affairs funding. “These additional funds are especially targeted at continuing the massive Pearl Harbor project to build a new $3.5 billion state-of-the-art drydock for the next generation of Navy submarines and surface ships, a project that will contribute tremendously not just to our national defense but to our local economy.” Case also won approval of his community project funding requests for the initial planning, design and construction phase for two water system distribution upgrades serving Fort Shafter and Tripler Army Medical Center. The water systems at both locations have begun to fail and must be replaced to ensure access to clean drinking water. The medical center upgrade will support over 450,000 service members, veterans and their families that use the hospital. These beneficiaries come from not only Hawai‘i but from throughout the Indo-Pacific. “Finally, with some 112,000 veterans in Hawai‘i and their families making up one of the largest percentages of any state in our nation including in such key areas like women and minority veterans, I focused especially on the often unique challenges of delivering full veterans’ health and other benefits in a diverse island state.” Specific programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: · $2 million for the initial planning and design of the Fort Shafter Water System Upgrade Project, which would improve the water supply system that supports service members and local businesses in the area. · $2 million for the initial planning and design of the Tripler Army Medical Center Water System Upgrade Project, which would improve the water distribution system for the hospital. · $621 million for the Pearl Harbor Navy Shipyard Dry Dock 5, which would continue construction on the shipyard’s recapitalization. · $29 million for the Army National Guard Readiness Center in Kapolei, which would improve the Hawai‘i National Guard’s facilities. · $2 billion for military family housing construction around the country, which would help fund new family housing on O‘ahu. · $2.7 billion for homeless assistance programs for our nation’s veterans, an increase of $531 million above the FY 2022 enacted level. This funding will enhance VA’s ability to reach homeless veterans, which is particularly crucial as the most recent homelessness survey showed that on a given night in 2021, an estimated 19,750 veterans nationwide were experiencing homelessness. · $307.5 million for Rural Health Initiatives, which is equal to the FY 2021 enacted level. This will build upon VA’s success in having served 2.9 million veterans at 600 rural serving sites. · $5.2 billion for Telehealth and Connected Care, an increase of $2.7 billion from the FY 2021 enacted funding level. This will continue expansion of telehealth services and includes additional mental health, primary care and rehabilitation services. The measure also: · Directs the Department of Defense (DOD) to address Hawai‘i missile defense in the absence of the Homeland Defense Radar-Hawai‘i, which has been paused as the department conducts a large study to reassess how to best protect Hawai‘i from missile attacks. · Directs the DOD to address underfunded and dilapidated Army infrastructure on O‘ahu via the Hawai‘i Infrastructure Readiness Initiative. · Directs the VA to address the parking shortage at the Tripler Army Medical Center. · Directs the VA to ensure equity in support and outreach to U.S. veterans living in the Philippines. · Continues rigorous reporting requirements to track each regional VA office’s performance on claims processing and appeals backlogs. · Allows the VA to provide more grants to assist states in constructing state home facilities; for furnishing domiciliary or nursing home care to veterans; and to expand, remodel or alter existing buildings. Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.6 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis through twelve separate bills. The bill now moves onto the full House of Representatives for consideration. A summary of the military construction and veterans funding bill is here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=907,Case's House Appropriations Committee Advances Bill to Provide $1.0 Billion More to Address Red Hill Crisis,2022-06-22,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=19,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) has announced approval by his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations today of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Defense funding bill, the first of twelve bills that will collectively fund the federal government for FY 2023 (commencing October 1, 2022). The FY 2023 Defense Appropriations bill proposes to fund $762 billion for federal agencies and programs in the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community, including the military branches of services, the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. “My Committee on Appropriations is continuing its full support of our efforts to respond directly on multiple fronts to the Red Hill crisis,” said Case, a member of the Committee. “The Committee included my request to create a $1 billion Red Hill Recovery Fund to fix, defuel and close Red Hill as safely and quickly as possible, continue to address the continuing health and other concerns of affected residents, and restore our aquifer. Additional funds will be provided through the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies bill later this week.” The $1.0 billion proposed for FY 2023 Defense Appropriations bill comes on top of $1.1 billion secured by the Hawai‘i Congressional delegation on an emergency basis earlier this year for current FY 2022. The Committee also included provisions requested by Case to improve the oversight of the military’s actions regarding Red Hill. The military would be required to submit quarterly reports to Congress on its actions to comply with the State of Hawaii’s regulatory rulings, address the individual health care needs of service members and their families that were affected by the crisis, improve water quality testing surrounding the facility, improve efforts to engage with the community, and move the fuel to other locations in the Indo-Pacific. Additionally, the Committee supported Case’s effort to expand and improve the military’s engagement with local community throughout Hawai‘i. The Committee directed the Secretary of Defense to work with the Governor of Hawai‘i to help address the disconnect between the services and various communities in Hawai‘i. Furthermore, the bill included Case’s requested funding for various national programs to assist the military in efforts to support local communities, including $70 million for Impact Aid education programs, $175 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) that protects environmentally sensitive lands, $293 million to remediate contaminants and military munitions remaining from past activities at active military installations and formerly used defense sites, and $130 million above the President’s request for programs like the National Guard Youth Challenge and Starbase to help troubled youths. All of these programs are fully utilized by the military in Hawai‘i. “The military must foster a better relationship with the local community to repair the damaged trust caused by Red Hill and build the support needed for various defense initiatives in our state,” said Case. “A positive relationship between the military and the people of Hawai‘i is needed to prepare and respond to the threats posed by China, Russia and North Korea in the Indo-Pacific.” The measure also supports the President’s $6.1 billion request for various elements of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI), which bolsters deterrence and maintains our competitive edge in the Indo-Pacific in recognition of threats posed by China and the need to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific. A key component of the PDI for FY 2022 is $374 million for the missile defense of Guam, which faces threats from ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles. More importantly, more funds are directed for exercises and activities with our partners and allies in the region. Programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: Funding for two SSN-774 Virginia Class attack submarines, which are critical to protecting the Indo-Pacific and will be maintained at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. $293 million for Environmental Restoration, Formerly Used Defense Sites, which is $65 million over the President’s budget request. These funds will help accelerate efforts to remove unexploded ordnance and discarded military munitions in Hawai‘i and throughout the nation.$150 $150 million for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which maintains large scientific laboratories at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The Appropriations Committee again 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‘i to respond quickly to changing threats in the Indo-Pacific region. Retention of the military contracting preference language for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations. $160 million for the X-Band Radar, which will help defend Hawai‘i from ballistic missile threats as the DoD pauses funding for Homeland Defense Radar-Hawai‘i and conducts a large study to reassess how to best protect Hawai‘i from missile attacks. $175 million for REPI, which is $8 million over the President’s request. The DoD created the REPI Program in response to land development and loss of habitat in the vicinity of or affecting military installations, ranges and airspace that can lead to restrictions or costly and inadequate training and testing alternatives. Through REPI, DoD works with state and local governments, conservation organizations and willing private landowners to address these challenges to the military mission and the viability of DoD installations and ranges. For 2022, REPI will provide $19.2 million for three projects in Hawai‘i, which will be coupled with $15.1 million in partner contributions. $11 million for the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative, a key program supporting U.S. IndoPacific Command. This program enables the military to execute Theater Security Cooperation activities, such as humanitarian assistance and paying incremental personnel costs of training and exercising with foreign security forces. The initiative is a critical tool for the U.S. military to strengthen relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific region. $1.1 billion for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), including $583.5 million for cancer research. The CDMRP fills research gaps by funding high impact, high risk and high gain projects that other agencies may not venture to fund. The measure also includes: $479 million to fully implement the recommendations of the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment. In addition, the bill provides $47 million for the Special Victims’ Counsel program. $2.5 billion in investments in clean energy and climate adaptation to protect facilities, readiness, and global security Full funding necessary to support the proposed 4.6 percent military pay raise. $300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, as requested. This is in addition to $6 billion for the Initiative, and $9 billion to replenish United States stocks of equipment sent to Ukraine, provided by the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act. Supports working families by requiring contractors to pay a $15 minimum wage. Overall, the FY 2023 Defense Appropriations bill reflects a modest increase over last fiscal year’s funding measure, an increase endorsed by the Secretary of Defense, and is in line with President Biden’s budget request. Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.6 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis through twelve separate bills. The Defense Appropriations funding bill now moves onto the full House of Representatives for consideration. A summary of the bill is here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=905,Case's House Appropriations Committee Moves Fiscal Year 2023 Funding Bills To Provide Another $1.1 Billion to Respond to the Red Hill Crisis,2022-06-15,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=19,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) announced that his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations is advancing two bills that would provide an additional $1.1 billion to respond to the Red Hill crisis. These two bills are part of the twelve bills that will collectively fund the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, which commences on October 1, 2022. “As a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations and of our Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, I am fully committed to ensuring the funding for our federal government to implement its commitment to fully remediate the consequences of the Red Hill fuel leakage, and defuel and close the facility as safely and quickly as possible,” said Case. “I am also focused on fully funding our continued reserve fuel requirements in the Indo-Pacific through alternatives to Red Hill.” Case requested the additional funding in the federal appropriations measures for Fiscal Year 2023, which commences October 1st of this year. These measures are first drafted, debated and passed in Case’s House Appropriations Committee. The Committee is now introducing its specific proposed measures. In response to Cases’ requests, the Department of Defense Appropriations bill includes $1 billion to conduct activities to comply with the State of Hawaii’s health order related to infrastructure improvements and the defueling of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations bill includes $100 million for planning and design of water treatment and distribution facilities construction, including those relating to improvements of infrastructure, aquifer remediation and defueling operations at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. The FY 2023 bills will be considered in Appropriations subcommittees beginning today and by the full U.S. House Committee on Appropriations later this month, and the full House is expected to vote on the bills in July. The $1.1 billion proposed for FY 2023 comes on top of $1.1 billion secured by the Hawai‘i Congressional delegation for FY 2022. The text of the Department of Defense funding bill is available here. The text of the military construction funding bill is available here. Attachments: images inside the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility courtesy the U.S. Department of Defense. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=892,"Case Announces U.S. House Passage Of Landmark Bill Authorizing Millions To Hawaii To Conserve, Restore And Protect The State's Endangered Wildlife",2022-06-14,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=19,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1) today announced that the U.S. House has passed H.R. 2773, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA), which includes mandatory federal funding of $1.3 billion annually to states, including $60 million to Hawai’i, to assist in managing wildlife species in greatest need of protection. “The act will direct an estimated $60 million each year to Hawai‘i to help implement our wildlife action plan, which will make a crucial difference as we strive to save critically endangered species and preserve our uniquely diverse ecosystems,” said Case. “Overall, the measure will provide over $1.3 billion annually to assist programs across the country to conserve, restore and protect wildlife and their habitats.” Ulalia Woodside, Executive Director, The Nature Conservancy Hawai'i and Palmyra, said: ""Hawai‘i has less than one percent of the land of the United States, but we are home to nearly half of the country’s endangered species and climate change is exacerbating the situation. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will provide much-needed resources to help prevent the extinction of our rarest forest birds and to fund important recovery work across Hawaii’s landscapes and ecosystems. Mahalo a nui loa to our Representatives for valuing our natural resources."" Case pointed out that under current law, on average, individual endangered species on the mainland receive 10 times more federal funding than those in Hawai‘i. He worked in his Committee to revise the formula to direct more funding to the states like Hawai‘i that are home to species of the greatest conservation need. Of the nearly 1,600 endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act today, almost 500 are found in Hawai‘i. Just last year, nine more of Hawaii’s endemic species were officially reclassified as extinct. Case explained that “the world is in the middle of an extinction crisis, and, unfortunately, Hawai‘i is at its center. As a result of climate change, invasive species and other environmental stressors, Hawai‘i has become the invasive species capital of the world. RAWA will help save countless species that would otherwise be lost."" RAWA focuses on preventative measures to conserve and restore the nation’s fish and wildlife, helping to avoid more restrictive “emergency room” protections of the Endangered Species Act. This approach to conservation supports the outdoor recreation economy and provides regulatory certainty for farmers, small businesses and industry. RAWA now goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration. Click here for bill text. Click here for a fact sheet from the Natural Resources Committee. Attachments: · pictures of endangered wildlife – photos courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=888,U.S. House Approves Case Measure To Pursue Federal Project To Assist In Preserving Waikiki Beach,2022-06-08,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=19,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1) today announced that the U.S. House has passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, which includes his requests to pursue potential federal projects to address the impacts of climate change and sea level rise on Waikīkī Beach, provide $20 million to fund water and wastewater infrastructure projects for the City and County of Honolulu, and streamline the process for Native Hawaiian Organizations to receive federal assistance for water resources projects. The WRDA, which Congress passes every few years, is the measure authorizing the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to conduct water resources development projects and studies throughout the nation. It also establishes federal policies to address inland and coastal flooding, improve our ports and inland waterways, address the unique needs of communities across the country and ultimately strengthen the U.S. economy. “Preserving Waikīkī Beach is critical for our state, for not only our tourism industry but our own recreation,” said Case. “We all are faced with the real-life evidence every day of the effects of climate change, high tides and coastal erosion on Waikiki Beach, and must increase our efforts now to assure it survives. The majority of tourists who visit Hawai‘i stay at some point in Waikīkī hotels and resorts, right on Waikīkī Beach or right next to it so they can visit the beach. A 2016 report by the University of Hawai‘i concluded that some 58% of tourists to Waikīkī would not have visited if there was no beach and easy ocean access at Waikīkī. “Only the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can conduct a project of this magnitude. It is a unique federal entity with capacity to address specific locations suffering from environmental challenges across the country. Very few new studies and projects, deemed ‘new starts’ are authorized in each WRDA; in our last WRDA, just 27 new feasibility studies were approved nationally. A new study of potential projects to preserve our Waikīkī shorelines is a critical opportunity to pursue a project that is more than just patchwork.” The House approval of the Waikīkī study under conditions requested by Case is significant since current law restricts studies to only rivers and harbors. The current law does not include surveys of related shorelines or nearby buildings and infrastructure. “There is no justification for this distinction, especially in the specific case of Waikīkī Beach where the basic challenge extends from the land through the beach to the marine environment,” said Case. “This study is needed to make sure we take into consideration the outsized issues like this that remote and coastal locations like Hawai‘i face as our country debates how to approach impacts to infrastructure due to climate change.” Case also won House approval of his WRDA provisions authorizing $20 million to fund water and wastewater infrastructure projects for the City and County of Honolulu. This authorization will enable necessary investments in wastewater treatment and related facilities, stormwater management, sewer overflow, water supply storage facilities and other projects as needed. Additionally, the House approved Case’s and Congressman Kaialiʻi Kahele’s (Hawai‘i – District 2) call to exempt indigenous peoples’ organizations, to include Native Hawaiian Organizations, from being required to advance money to match the amount the federal government would fund towards the cost of a water resources project. This will allow for a direct relationship between Native Hawaiians and the federal government to collaborate on critical land and water projects dealing with flood damage, environmental restoration, and ultimately, preservation of cultural and natural resources. “For Native Hawaiian Organizations and other indigenous peoples’ groups that do not have the same access to funds as their State government agency counterparts, this cost-share waiver removes the barrier for these groups to have a place at the table in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project process. Native Hawaiians have a unique relationship with the environment, and under our amendment they will be able to fully address the issues they see arise that are often overlooked from an outside perspective.” said Case. The bill passed the House on a bipartisan vote of 384 to 37. The legislation now moves to the Senate for its consideration. · Link to the bill text and additional information is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=885,Case Praises Announcement Of A Future U.S. Navy Ship To Be Named After Filipino Sailor Congressional Medal Of Honor Awardee,2022-06-03,2022,2022-06,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=19,scraper,"(Honolulu, HI) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1) today praised the recent decision by U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro to name a ship after Telesforo De La Cruz Trinidad, a Filipino American Fireman 2nd class who died after he rescued shipmates injured in an explosion onboard their Navy cruiser in 1915. In a May 2021 letter to then Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas W. Harker, Case joined Congressional colleagues to urge that a U.S. Navy surface combat ship be named after Trinidad, who was awarded the Medal of Honor. The members of Congress stated in the letter that: “The naming of a ship after Trinidad is a resolute symbol of Navy leadership and commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion during this time of national racial tensions an unwarranted violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. “Equally important, it will honor the tens of thousands of Filipinos who have served faithfully and loyally in the U.S. Navy since 1901.” Navy Secretary Del Toro said that a future Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, ships that serve as the backbone of the Navy’s surface fleet protecting America and allies around the globe, will be named USS Telesforo Trinidad (DDG 139). Trinidad earned the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism in the line of duty during boiler explosions onboard the USS San Diego (ACR-6) while Saithe ship was underway in the Gulf of California on January 21, 1915. Trinidad brought two crewmembers to safety in spite of his own physical injuries from the explosion. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in accordance with General Order Number 142 signed by the Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels on April 1, 1915. The Medal of Honor, which was awarded during peacetime, highlights the importance of service and sacrifice for shipmates and country not only during a time of war but during day to-day operations. After 107 years, Trinidad still holds the distinction of being the only Asian American and only Filipino American in U.S. Navy history to receive a Medal of Honor. · Link to Secretary Del Toro’s announcement here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:39:01Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=867,Case Announces More than $14 Million In Further Federal Assistance To Boost Endangered Species Protection Programs In Hawai‘i,2022-05-16,2022,2022-05,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=19,scraper,"(Honolulu, HI) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1) today announced that more than $14 million in federal assistance from the U.S. Department of the Interior will go to conservation programs in the State of Hawaiʻi as a priority distribution from the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Package (BIP) enacted last year. “The funding will assist the state in combating mosquitoes that especially threaten critically endangered Hawaiian forest birds which are found nowhere else in the world,” said Case. “Invasive species pose an especially grave threat to Hawaii’s unique ecosystems, natural resources and agricultural communities. In large part due to invasive species, Hawai‘i has become the endangered species and extinction capital of the world. Hawai‘i currently has 502 species listed as endangered, more than any other state and almost half of the total endangered species nationwide. “Many of these species, such as the Kiwikiu (a endemic Hawaiian honeycreeper) on which invasive mosquitoes prey, are critically endangered and face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Although we will never know the true number of species that have gone extinct in Hawai‘i, best estimates are that in the last 200 years alone, 28 bird, 72 snail, 74 insect and 97 plant species have gone extinct.” Case, a member of the House Natural Resources Committee, says the federal conservation aid is from the BIP that he strongly supported through its enactment last November. Case said the law included $1.4 billion for Ecosystem Restoration and Resilience that will be administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to restore habitat restoration, control invasive species like mosquitoes and conserve at-risk listed species. This is a DOI priority disbursement under BIP before other grants are considered. “This is just the latest of many disbursements to Hawai‘i from the BIP, the largest federal reinvestment ever in our backbone infrastructure across the country,” said Case. “The BIP will eventually deliver some $3 billion to our state for roads and bridges, water infrastructure, climate resilience projects, access to the Internet and much more.” Case is also a member of the House Appropriations Committee, responsible for all federal discretionary spending including the recent $1.5 trillion Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act. That measure won approval of Case’s efforts to include millions more for Hawai‘i for conservation and wildlife programs under the jurisdiction of the Interior Department, including $6 million to help acquire a 3,018 acre parcel adjacent to Haleakalā National Park. This portion of Kaupō Ranch spans from the volcanic crater rim down 10,000 feet to the ocean. The acquisition will expand Haleakalā National Park to protect important natural resources, including priority watersheds and endangered species facing a warming climate and will ensure public access to recreational activities and the Kaupō Gap Trail. Additional programs and provisions requested and secured by Case in the Interior section of the Act include: · $4 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s State of the Birds program. These funds support efforts to recover our most endangered Hawaiian forest bird species. $330 million for National Park Service State Assistance Grants. · Language instructing the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations to expand the federal government’s Native Hawaiian community consultation efforts. · $33 million, a $3 million increase, for the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program. This includes funding for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, which monitors the active volcanoes in Hawai‘i, assesses their hazards, issues warnings and advances scientific understanding to reduce impacts of volcanic eruptions. · $1.5 million, an increase of $250,000, for the NPS American Indian and Native Hawaiian Art and Culture Grants program. · $58 million for State Historic Preservation Offices. The Act also includes: · $1.1 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and $1.6 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which provides funding to Hawaii’s regulated water systems for Hawaii’s water infrastructure projects. · $92 million for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program, which includes funding to address Red Hill issues. · $40 million for the U.S. Geological Survey Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program. · $17 million for the National Trails System, which will benefit the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. Case said today’s announcement of $14 million in BIP funds is just the latest round of BIP disbursements that Hawaiʻi has already received including $49 million for the state’s airports in December, $339 million in January to repair and maintain the state’s bridges and culverts over the next five years, $3.6 million in March to lower energy costs from the Weatherization Assistance Program, and more than $61 million in April for the state to buy new buses, address their repair backlogs, modernize their fleets and transition to new technologies to address the climate crisis. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:29:07Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=863,Case Announces Winners Of His 2022 Congressional Art Competition,2022-05-04,2022,2022-05,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=20,scraper,"(Honolulu, HI) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1) today announced the winners of his Hawai’i District 1 2022 Congressional Art Competition at Bishop Museum, where entries were on public display. “All of this year’s contestants have earned our admiration for participating so fully just as our schools are returning to some normal,” said Case. “The quantity, quality and diversity of the artwork presented was inspiring and truly showcased the range of artistic talent across my district. I’ll be very proud to highlight the winners’ work in the U.S. Capitol and in my Congressional offices.” Each spring since 1982, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual arts competition to recognize and encourage artistic talents in each Congressional district. The winners for Case’s event this year are: 1st Place Joy Leung Grade 11 Punahou School Title: “You Are What You Eat” Medium: mixed media She 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‘i’s 1st Congressional District will also be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year along with those of the winners in other districts. 2nd Place Tifany Subramaniam Grade 10 Kalani High School Title: “Puppet” Medium: scratch board Her image will be displayed in the Washington, D.C. Office of Congressman Case for one year, along with a certificate. 3rd Place Kimie Koga-Takeuchi Grade 10 James Campbell High School Title: “In the Trees” Medium: photography Her image will be displayed in the District Office of Congressman Case in downtown Honolulu for one year, along with a certificate. “I want to especially thank our panel of judges who reviewed the works and made some very tough decisions”, said Case. The judges were: - Solomon Enos Has been an artist for 30 years and is adept in a wide variety of media including oil paintings, book illustrations, murals and game design. - Kelly Kimura Has spent most of her career as administrative support in the health care industry and is a watercolor artist hobbyist. - Major General Kenneth Hara Serves as the Hawai‘i State Adjutant General and head of the Hawai‘i State Department of Defense; recently took up painting and is an avid collector of antique bottles. ### Attachments: · three winning entries · group photo of student participants with Congressman Case at the Bishop Museum today where the art was on display · Congressman Case with two of the judges – Ms. Kelly Kimura and Major General Kenneth Hara",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:29:07Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=840,Joint Statement: Gallego And Case On Congressional Delegation To Pacific Islands Countries,2022-04-15,2022,2022-04,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=20,scraper,"PALAU – Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations of the House Armed Services Committee, joined by Congressman Ed Case (D-HI), Co-Chair of the Pacific Island Caucus and member of the House Committee on Appropriations, led a bipartisan delegation of lawmakers to key Pacific Islands countries this week to meet with allies and partners in the region, to include key military and civilian leaders, and senior members of the U.S. diplomatic corps. Congressmen Gallego and Case were joined in the delegation by: · House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA), · Congressman Juan Vargas (D-CA), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and · Representative Amata Radewagen (R-AS), member of the House Natural Resource Committee. In the Philippines, the delegation met with senior officials including Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana and the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to the Philippines Heather Variava. It also travelled to Fort Magsaysay in Luzon and Zamboanga City in Mindanao to visit with leaders of the Philippine Armed Forces and members of the U.S. military. In Papua New Guinea, the delegation met with Prime Minister James Marape, Chief of Defense Force Major General Goina, former Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Dame Meg Taylor, and U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Erin McKee, to discuss efforts to enhance the relationship between Papa New Guinea and the United States to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. In Palau, the delegation participated in the international Our Oceans Conference focused on safeguarding our world’s oceans, and met with President of Palau Surangel Whipps Jr., former U.S. Secretary of State and current Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, U.S. Ambassador to Palau John Hennessy-Niland, and other key leaders from throughout the Pacific. Subjects ranged from the existential threat of climate change to the Pacific Islands to the growing presence of China in the Pacific and renewal of the Compacts of Free Association. Joint statement from Congressmen Ruben Gallego and Ed Case: “As the atrocities in Ukraine and attack on democracy everywhere by Russian President Vladimir Putin expand, the world is watching closely how the United States and our partners and allies respond to ensure the continuation of the international rules-based order that has ensured peace and property throughout the globe for generations. In these times of crisis, it is even more critical than ever that we foster, strengthen, and expand our democratic alliances around the world through our shared values, interests, and goals. Nowhere are those relationships more important than throughout the Indo-Pacific, where we all face the challenge of China and where we must continue to assist with the environmental, developmental, security and other challenges of the region and its partner countries. “The strong bond between the U.S. and the Philippines was readily apparent on this visit, and we remain committed to strengthening this critical treaty alliance with investments to ensure interoperability and resilience as we work with the Philippines on a range of issues, such as maritime security, humanitarian-assistance, and disaster-relief. We also have opportunities to better fulfill our promises by helping the Department of Veterans Affairs Manila Regional Benefit Office and Manila Outpatient Clinic assist U.S. veterans living in the Philippines. “Our shared history with Papua New Guinea provides both countries with opportunities we can further build upon in the coming years. Key to these efforts is mutual investment into the recently agreed-upon ten-year strategy to prevent conflict and promote stability, which will engage civic partners on an integrated approach to prevent conflict, promote resilience and stability, and advance economic development. “Our visit to Palau only reinforced the leadership of our Compact and other Pacific Islands partners on a range of issues, especially reversing the degradation of our world’s precious oceans. We also confirmed our commitment to a fair and expedited renewal of the Compacts of Free Association. “Overall, at each meeting the delegation conveyed our full support for strengthening, alongside our partners, collective regional capabilities to prepare for and respond to geopolitical challenges, natural disasters, biological threats, and more to assure freedom of navigation and other foundations of our international rules-based order, and to build technical resilience and interoperability.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:19:30Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=837,Case Announces $61 Million Of Additional Federal Funding For Hawai’i Transportation Programs,2022-04-06,2022,2022-04,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=20,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, announced that Hawai’i will receive $61,101,570 from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration. “The funds will enable transportation agencies throughout our state to buy new buses, address their repair backlogs, modernize their fleets, and transition to new technologies to address the climate crisis,” said Case. “This is just the latest of many disbursements to Hawai’i from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package (BIP), the largest federal reinvestment ever in our backbone infrastructure across the country,” said Case. “BIP will eventually deliver some $3 billion to our state for roads and bridges, water infrastructure, climate resilience projects, access to the Internet and much more.” The first round of funds from the BIP in December amounted to $49 million for Hawaii’s airports. That was followed in January with $339 million of funding over five years to repair and maintain the state’s bridges and culverts. Last November, Case voted for the historic $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Package which included $20 billion to support the country’s transit projects. The President signed the measure into law a few days later. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:19:30Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=835,Case Votes to Strengthen Hawai‘i Residents' Long-Term Financial Security With Transformative Retirement Bill,2022-03-29,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=20,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) voted today for bipartisan legislation he cosponsored to bolster and protect the people of Hawaii’s retirement savings. “By expanding retirement plan coverage and providing more saving options, our Securing a Strong Retirement Act will ensure more people can retire with dignity and stability after a lifetime of work”, said Case. “This measure will expand the tools people need to plan for and achieve a secure retirement, especially as they recover from the challenges of the last two years.” As Hawai‘i and the rest of the country recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, many are struggling to rebuild their savings. At the height of the pandemic, nearly one in four Americans either stopped contributing to their retirement accounts or withdrew from their savings. Passed by the U.S. House with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote, the Securing a Strong Retirement Act will help people get back on track toward a stable retirement. Known as “SECURE 2.0,” this legislation builds on the progress of the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019 through several new reforms. Endorsed by a range of advocacy groups ranging from AARP to the American Red Cross, SECURE 2.0 will help save for retirement by: · Expanding automatic enrollment in 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans. · Strengthening coverage for part-time workers in 401(k) plans. · Encouraging small businesses to offer retirement plans. · Increasing and modernizing the Saver’s Credit to reward retirement contributions. · Raising the required minimum distribution age to 75, giving people more time to save for retirement. Case said this legislation also gives people more financial flexibility, allowing workers 50 and older to save more as they near retirement. Additionally, it allows people to pay down student loans in lieu of a 401(k) contribution, while still saving for the future through an employer match. SECURE 2.0 also helps safeguard families’ savings, creating a searchable online database so that people can recover lost retirement accounts. As section-by-Section summary of SECURE 2.0 can be found here. The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate for its consideration. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=830,Case Supports Defense Department's Proposed Additional $1 Billion Fund To Address Red Hill Water Crisis,2022-03-28,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=20,scraper,"(Washington, DC) - Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, today endorsed the Biden Administration’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget proposal to allocate $1 billion more to address the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility water contamination crisis. “Full remediation, defueling and closure of Red Hill and identification of alternative strategic fuel storage capacity in the Indo-Pacific will take sustained federal funding in the billions over several fiscal years”, said Case. “This new $1 billion fund is a welcome reflection of continued commitment by the Department of Defense and this Administration to achieve all of this.” “I remain fully committed, especially as a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations and of our Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, to supporting and funding all of these efforts. I will carefully review this request and make any adjustments needed to ensure the federal government fulfills its promises to our state.” The $1 billion Red Hill Recovery Fund is an item in the $773 billion Defense Department budget request that is included in President Biden’s $5.8 trillion Fiscal Year 2023 budget submitted today to Congress. This funding proposal comes just weeks after Case’s Appropriations Committee provided some $736 million in new funding for Fiscal Year 2022 to support displaced servicemembers, civilians and their families; address drinking water contamination; and conduct activities in compliance with the State of Hawaii’s emergency order. Those funds were in addition to the $403 million in emergency funding obtained in another bill in February 2022, bringing Congress’ total funding for all aspects of Red Hill in the current fiscal year alone to over $1.1 billion. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=833,"Case Secures $500,000 In Federal Fiscal Year 2022 Funding To Boost Incubator Project For Leeward O’ahu Small Businesses",2022-03-28,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=20,scraper,"(Washington, DC) - Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, announced today that H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 signed into law by the President on March 15, 2022, included his request to provide $500,000 in federal funding for the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE), a small business incubator program developed to assist small businesses and entrepreneurs. “INPEACE’s Leeward Community Small Business Incubator Project provide critical assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs directly in their community where they live and work and contribute and grow, rather than downtown Honolulu,” said Case. “With support from my Appropriations Committee, INPEACE will be able to expand its current business development program capacity, which primarily services Native Hawaiian and veteran communities, to meet the growing needs of our Leeward community.” ""We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity to serve our community,” said Lisa Pakele, INPEACE Program Director. “Our Ho'oulu Waiwai program is committed to providing entrepreneurs the support needed with technology access and business workshops for those who are starting or growing their business."" INPEACE operates its program at the West O‘ahu Center for Entrepreneurship in Kapolei. Those who have benefitted from the INPEACE program include Ariel Ani-Anguay with LEIRA Organics. “We purchased QuickBooks but didn’t know how to set it up,” said Ani-Anguay. “We had a wonderful meeting set up by Ho'oulu Waiwai and received valuable information and support in setting up QuickBooks. This will help us with next year’s tax season – which will be a breeze now.” “Our small business journey began in 2017 with INPEACE,” said Wallace and Leimomi Ākau with Ākau Boards. “We attended business development classes and have had business coaching which has been a great support in guiding our business where we want it to go.” The Ākaus continued: “INPEACE has also supported our business by sponsoring us into events that were out of range of our capacity to pay and hard to get into. Enough can’t be said to show our gratitude to INPEACE for all the support they have provided and continue to provide. We will continue to support INPEACE by using the programs they have made available.” This year the U.S. House incorporated CPF requests by individual Members of Congress for specific projects and purposes in their district into its annual appropriations process. CPF requests may only be directed to governments or non-profits, not for-profit businesses or individuals. They must have demonstrated community support, and they are subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Finally, all Members must publicly disclose their CPF requests and signed required ethics certifications. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/media/funding-disclosures.htm. Case made ten CPF requests, all of which were funded. Attachments: picture of Ariel Ani-Anguay with LEIRA Organics picture of Leimomi and Wallace Ākau in black shirts standing with Lisa Pakele of INPEACE ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=829,Federal Fiscal Year 2022 Funding Measure Includes Millions Sought By Case To Support Education And Health And Strengthen Social Safety Net In Hawai’i,2022-03-26,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=20,scraper,"Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, today announced that H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2022 that passed Congress and was signed into law by the President earlier this month, included millions in funding and additional studies he sought to improve education, health care and social safety net programs for Hawai’i. “My House Appropriations Committee led historic federal investments in our federal FY22 budget to assure the building block programs of our communities and to strengthen our collective assistance to those most in need,” said Case. “I’m grateful that our measure also included funding and Congressional directives I sought for programs that have the most impact throughout Hawai’i, especially those targeting homelessness, improving education and health care, and strengthening our social safety net.” Homelessness As part of his oversight of federal programs and funding in Hawai’i and preparation for his Appropriations Committee’s upcoming work on forging the Fiscal Year 2023 federal funding bill, this past Tuesday, March 22nd, Case joined Anton Krucky, Director of the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Community Services, in visiting several programs serving our unsheltered and in-need communities especially in the areas of housing and health care. “We were able during COVID-19 to contribute federal emergency assistance funding of close to $40 million for City and County application to these programs to help pull them through. This was not just about funding and programs but about lives, and demonstrates how much such assistance in all areas including outreach, temporary shelter, mental health and substance abuse treatment, re-housing assistance, and low-income housing, means in our efforts to help our ‘ohana who struggle on the outer margins of our society.” Key provisions in the FY22 federal budget bill requested, supported and secured by Case to target homelessness include: · $3 billion for the Homeless Assistance Grants Program a primary avenue for federal funding to states and localities to combat homelessness. · $2.2 billion for homeless assistance programs for our nation’s veterans, an increase of $246 million above the 2021 enacted level. This funding will enhance the Department of Veterans’ Affairs ability to reach homeless veterans, which is particularly crucial as the most recent homelessness survey showed that on any given night roughly 40,000 veterans nationwide are experiencing homelessness. · $114 million for the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program, which helps homeless youth access critical health and wellness services and provide them with the support they need to succeed in and out of the classroom. Health Care “As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, our FY 2022 budget measure will bolster our public health infrastructure with resources for states and local governments to strengthen their own health infrastructure and capacity,” said Case. “Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders in particular have experienced disproportionately high rates of obesity, hypertension, asthma, diabetes and other chronic diseases. These disparities are, in large part, perpetuated because of systemic barriers to health care and social determinants of health. “My Appropriations Committee addressed these disparities through various programs. For example, funding in the FY 2022 budget for the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems will provide continued primary, dental and behavioral care as well as make available health education, health promotion, disease prevention and Native Hawaiian traditional healing services to fit the needs of their respective communities.” Key provisions in the legislation requested, secured and supported by Case include: · $22 million for the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems, which is $1.5 million above the FY 2021 enacted level. · $2 million for facilities and equipment at the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i. · $1.1 million for facilities and equipment at Kōkua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services. · $1 million for the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity in the Office of Minority Health. The funds will advance Indigenous solutions to achieve health equity and encourage the Department of Health and Human Services to partner with universities in these efforts. · $6.5 billion for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an increase of $530 million above the FY 2021 enacted level. This includes $491 million, an increase of $15 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, for opioid overdose prevention and surveillance. · $8.5 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an increase of $582 million above the FY 2021 enacted level. This includes $61 million, an increase of $5 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, in public health workforce initiatives to ensure our health workforce is prepared to meet emerging and future challenges. · $1 billion to establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to accelerate the pace of scientific breakthroughs for diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and cancer. · $45 billion for the National Institutes of Health, an increase of $2.25 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level to support a wide range of biomedical and behavioral research. Social Services “My Committee created a new Native Hawaiian Resource Center on Domestic Violence,” said Case. “The $1 million included in the bill will allow the center to provide supportive services for adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence and dating violence and to prevent such incidents in Native Hawaiian communities.” Other key provisions in the legislation requested, secured and supported by Case include: · $1.2 billion for the Corporation for National and Community Service, an increase of $30 million above the FY 2021 enacted level. This includes $467 million for AmeriCorps State and National Grants and $231 million for SeniorCorps. · $399 million for home and community-based supportive services, an increase of $6 million above the FY 2021 enacted level; · $205 million for family and Native American caregivers services, an increase of $6 million above the FY 2021 enacted level. Education “Ensuring that our keiki are given every opportunity to achieve full development starts with education,” said Case. “This fiscal year’s funding measure saw increases for schools, grants and even research programs on how to improve teaching methods – all of which will help prepare students to compete in the global economy.” Key provisions in the legislation requested, secured and supported by Case include: · $500,000 to establish the first-ever Native American Language Resource Center, which will support higher education institutions in teaching and learning languages, including research on new teaching methods for educators and developing instructional materials. · $1.6 billion for Impact Aid, an increase of $56 million above the FY 2021 enacted level. · $18 billion for Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies (low income schools), an increase of $1 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level – the largest increase in the program in more than a decade. · $25 billion for Federal student aid programs, which includes funding to raise the maximum Pell Grant award to $6,895, a $400 increase from the FY 2021 enacted level. Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.5 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis. A detailed summary of the FY 2022 Omnibus is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=824,"Case Secures $975,000 To Build Hawaii's Workforce For The Digital Economy",2022-03-25,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=20,scraper,"(Washington, DC) - Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, announced today that H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 signed into law by the President on March 15, 2022, included his request to fund increased training for Hawai’i residents in skills necessary for work in our growing digital economy. “The COVID-19 pandemic has increased not only our digital economy overall but our reliance on digital technologies to access employment, healthcare, education and other opportunities,” said Case. “This means that we must even more rapidly expand training of our Hawai’i workforce in digital economy skills not only to keep pace but to take full advantage of these opportunities.” “Our State of Hawai‘i Workforce Development Council, in partnership with the Hawai‘i State Library System, is addressing this need through digital literary training via in-person computer classes and access to online learning resources to help individuals attain computer skills and perform basic activities available online. This $975,000 in targeted federal funding will allow for substantial expansion of these efforts to get more of our residents into this workplace faster.” “I am grateful for the support that Representative Case is providing for a program designed to help our residents in Hawai‘i gain the computer skills necessary to thrive in the digital economy,” said Stacey A. Aldrich, Hawaii’s State Librarian. “It is recognition that a more digitally literate population enables Hawaii to be ready for the challenges and opportunities that the future brings to our world.” Aldrich continued: “This funding will support the expansion of a pilot project created by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Workforce Development Council (WDC) under the leadership of Director Anne Eustacio. “The WDC staff partnered with the Hawai‘i State Public Library System and University of Hawaii Community Colleges to deliver over 200 free classes and provide over 200 laptops and/or desktops to participants without devices. We are excited to be able to offer learning opportunities to almost 10x what was offered in the pilot. Our residents will have access to free classes in our public libraries and community spaces to build the digital skills they need to be successful.” This year the U.S. House incorporated Community Project Funding (CPF) requests by individual Members of Congress for specific projects and purposes in their district into its annual appropriations process. CPF requests may only be directed to governments or non-profits, not for-profit businesses or individuals. They must have demonstrated community support, and they are subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Finally, all Members must publicly disclose their CPF requests and signed required ethics certifications. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/media/funding-disclosures.htm. Case made ten CPF requests, all of which were funded. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=823,Case Secures Millions Of Federal Funding To Help Hawai‘i Small Businesses and Tourism,2022-03-23,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=20,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, today announced millions in funding and other actions he sought and secured to strengthen Hawai‘i’s economy as part of the current 2022 fiscal year (FY) funding bill. H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2022, passed Congress earlier this month and was signed into law by the President last week. “This measure will help strengthen our top-generating tourism sector, promote small business development and assist in economic diversification as our state’s economy continues to recover from the effects of COVID-19,” said Case. “My Committee’s bill also continues critical federal contracting opportunities that help Native Hawaiian and other minority entrepreneurs throughout our state.” Support for Small Businesses “Hawaii’s small businesses are the lifeblood of our state,” explained Case. “While the average small business in Hawai‘i employs just 12 people, as a whole, Hawaii’s small businesses still employ a majority of our workforce. My Committee’s effort to expand federal assistance to small businesses will advance this backbone of our state’s economy.” Key small business provisions in the legislation requested, secured and supported by Case include: $975,000 for digital skills literacy training at the State of Hawai‘i Workforce Development Council, which will strengthen the labor pool for businesses throughout Hawai‘i. $500,000 for the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture Small Business Incubator Project at Leeward Community College. $1 billion (nationally) for the Small Business Administration, an increase of $109 million above the FY 2021 funding level. This includes: $290 million, an $18 million increase, for Entrepreneurial Development Programs that provide small businesses with quality training, counseling and access to resources. $37 million for the Microloan Technical Assistance Program, which provides loans up to $50,000 to help small businesses and certain not-for-profit childcare centers start up and expand. $24 million for Women’s Business Centers, which will help the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership. $295 million (nationally) for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), an increase of $25 million above the FY 2021 enacted levels. CDFIs are specialized community-based financial institutions that promote economic development by providing financial products and services to people and communities underserved by traditional financial institutions, particularly in low-income and minority communities. They were especially valuable in delivering COVID-19 emergency assistance funds to communities without ready access to other means. Maintaining contracting preferences for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations within the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, which will help ensure equitable access in securing government contract work. Support for Tourism Industry “Travel and tourism are huge contributors to the U.S. economy, especially to major visitor destinations like Hawai‘i, but COVID-19 devastated this vital industry and all of its components including accommodations, transportation, food services and attractions,” said Case. “We need to continue to support our tourism industry as it recovers and brings more jobs back into our economy.” Key tourism provisions in the legislation requested, secured and supported by Case include: Enacting the Restoring Brand USA Act, which will invest $250 million to promote the return of international visitors who generally spend more per person than domestic travelers. Report language clarifying that the tourism industry can make requests for Economic Development Administration funds for certain travel promotion activities. Report language supporting the continued expansion of the preclearance program to eligible partners in the Indo-Pacific region to support ease of travel and tourism. Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.5 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis. A detailed summary of the FY 2022 Omnibus is available here ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=816,Case Urges Public Comment Supporting Ban On Commercial Tour Helicopter/Small Aircraft Of Hawaii's Two National Parks,2022-03-22,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=20,scraper,Ban Is One Alternative Under Consideration By National Park Service And Federal Aviation Administration In Development Of Air Tour Management Plans For Precious But Disrupted Hawai’i Volcanoes And Haleakala National Parks,1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=819,Congressman Case Accepting Submissions For 2022 Congressional Art Competition,2022-03-22,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=21,scraper,"(Honolulu, HI) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) announced today that he is now accepting submissions for his 2022 Congressional Art Competition. “Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives,” said Case. “The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, including my First Congressional District here in Hawai‘i.” The competition is open to all high school students in the District (Honolulu from Makapu‘u to Mililani and Ko ‘Olina). “The winning artwork of my district’s competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol alongside the winning artwork from many other Congressional districts throughout the country,” said Case. “The second and third place artwork for the 1st Congressional District will be displayed in my district office in downtown Honolulu and my congressional office at the Capitol in Washington, DC.” Case’s District office is now accepting submissions for the 2022 Congressional Art Competition. All current rules, requirements, and submission guidelines can be found at: https://case.house.gov/forms/submitartwork/. For students to submit an art piece, a TYPED copy of the 2022 Student Information and Release Form, signed by the teacher, a parent or guardian, and the student, must be securely attached to the back of the artwork to certify the originality of the piece. Interested students can drop off or ship their artwork at Case’s District Office at 1003 Bishop Street, Suite 1110, 96813. If there are any questions, call the District office at (808) 650-6688. Below are some important dates: · April 4-22, 2022 – District office accepts drop off entries from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. · April 22, 2022 – Deadline to submit artwork to be considered for the competition. Works submitted in-person must arrive in the District office by 4:30 p.m. Shipped artwork must be postmarked by April 22, 2022. · May 2022 – In-person art exhibition, judging and awards ceremony. More details and updates can be found at Case’s website here. · TBD – DC Winners Reception The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition. · Attachment: 2020 Congressional First District winner submittal by Maria Tanaka, then a Senior at Kalani High school, entitled “Boat Ride.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=822,Congressman Case Urges Public Comment Supporting Ban On Commercial Tour Helicopter/Small Aircraft Overflights Of Hawaii's Two National Parks,2022-03-22,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=21,scraper,"(Honolulu, HI) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources and Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands which has jurisdiction over the country’s 63 National Parks, today urged the public to submit comments to call for the protection of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and Haleakalā National Park. “Throughout our Hawai'i, excessive unregulated commercial helicopter/small aircraft tour operations have heightened safety concerns in the air and on the ground and severely disrupted our communities and special places,” said Case. “This has been especially true in our two treasured national parks, Hawai'i Volcanoes and Haleakalā, with pre-COVID overflights of 16,500 per year for Hawai'i Volcanoes and 5,000 per year for Haleakalā, some of the very highest in the entire National Park System. “These flights disrupt communities on the way to and from the parks, destroy the serenity of these natural treasures, have significant impacts on the natural environment and soundscape, inhibit perpetuation of cultural connections to our landscapes, impede the preservation of endemic Hawaiian ecosystems and diminish visitors’ abilities to learn about and enjoy the parks’ resources.” Case continued: “In 2000, Congress passed the National Parks Air Tour Management Act to require the National Park Service (NPS) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to work together to set up specific air tour management plans (ATMP) for each national park, but the agencies, especially the FAA, dragged their feet for over a decade. It took a lawsuit from a Hawai'i community group for the federal courts to order FAA and NPS to implement either ATMPs or voluntary agreements for the most heavily-impacted parks including Hawaii's. “The NPS is now proceeding with development of ATMPs for Hawai'i Volcanoes and Haleakalā and is requesting public comment on alternatives: (1) no action/status quo/historic levels; (2) maximum protection/no air tours under 5,000 feet above ground within a half mile of the parks; (3) specific routes through the parks with caps on total flight per day and annually; and (4) (for Hawai'i Volcanoes) more limited routes with caps. The Honolulu Civil Beat article here summarizes the process.” “I will be submitting comments urging maximum protection for both of our parks,” said Case. “I will be saying basically that no company or person has the right to destroy our national parks for any reason, including tourism, that we have many other opportunities for different people of different abilities to enjoy our national parks, and that air tours are fundamentally inconsistent with the reasons for which we established our national parks to start with.” “We need your help with your own comments in your own words and from your own experiences,” said Case. The deadline for submission is April 1st. The NPS is asking for ""substantive comments,"" meaning more than just that you support an alternative, but why and why the other alternatives won't work. To review the ATMP proposals and comment: here for Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and here for Haleakalā National Park. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=815,Case Says Federal Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Includes Major Funding For The University Of Hawaii,2022-03-21,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=21,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, today announced hundreds of millions in federal funding in the just-signed Fiscal Year 2022 federal funding measure for the 10-campus University of Hawai‘i (UH) system, including research funding which together with prior fiscal years has UH on track for a record-breaking year of around $500 million for its research programs alone. “I’ve worked very closely with UH President David Lassner and his excellent federal grants and other funding team to maximize federal funding opportunities for our University, which besides being our flagship institution of higher education has been regularly ranked as one of the top research universities in the world,” said Case. “In President Lassner’s recent report to the UH Board of Regents, he referred to the result of our FY22 federal spending bill as ‘an excellent year for UH’ and thanked the Hawai‘i Congressional delegation ‘all of whom have been actively working on behalf of the State of Hawai‘i and the University of Hawai‘i with programs that will really help us serve our communities on every island’.” “President Lassner also reported that UH was on track to a record-breaking research funding year, with $397 million year-to-date and a projected $500 million total.” See here for President Lassner’s report to the Board of Regents and here for the UH’s press release of Friday, March 18th. H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2022, was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President earlier this month. Provisions of specific relevance to UH funding include: Low-income and Minority Serving Institutions · The maximum Pell Grant award was increased by $400, to $6,895, for the 2022–23 academic year, the biggest increase to the Pell maximum in more than a decade. · $10.9 million for the Strengthening Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions program, a $5.8-million increase from federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, which runs from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022. · $21.3 million for the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions program, a $2.3-million increase from FY 2021. · Other federal programs received increases including the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, TRIO, GEAR UP and the Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need programs. Native Hawaiians · $38.9 million for the Education for Native Hawaiians program, an increase of $1.5 million from FY 2021. · $4 million for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Institutions program, an increase of $806,000 from FY 2021, the first increase the program has received in years. · A $5 million increase for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Minority University Research and Education Project, which has been directed to utilize funds to connect science, Indigenous culture and community at minority-serving higher education institutions, including Native Hawaiian-serving institutions. · A $1 million increase, for a total of $3 million, was provided for the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity, a partnership between UH, Oklahoma State University and the University of Alaska. The measure encouraged the Office of the Director in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to prioritize the research needs of Native Hawaiians and to partner with entities that have a proven record of working closely with Native Hawaiian communities and organizations to allow for the development of NIH researchers. UH Programs · $1 million for the UH Hilo ʻImiloa Astronomy Center for the Hale Pōhaku Exhibition and Planetarium Expansion. · $1 million for Asia-Pacific Microgrid Development and Training through Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute, a unit of the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST). · $1 million for a Strategic Center for Indo-Pacific Studies in the UH Mānoa School of Pacific and Asian Studies. · $1 million for a Rural Health Research Center in the UH System Office of Strategic Health Initiatives. · $900,000 for a new post-harvest processing facility at MAʻO Organic Farms, a UH partner, to provide more locally produced foods in the community while expanding their youth internship program, training and other educational opportunities through UH. · $445,000 for Partnerships for Puʻuloa (Pearl Harbor) Shoreline Biocultural Restoration in partnership with the UH System Office of Indigenous Innovation and the UH Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources’ Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management. · $200,000 for the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, a unit of UH Mānoa SOEST, for the Nature-Based Coral Reef Features for Coastal Protection project. Research The FY 2022 Omnibus includes more than $700 million in new funding to address the Red Hill water crisis. As UH has played an important role in the state’s response to the crisis, the university is expected to receive tens of millions over the coming years for related research. That would include a water security and resilience initiative, hydrogeology studies and fuel tank corrosion evaluation and monitoring. The bill also includes a specific $5 million to continue UH ongoing efforts to improving the safety of underground fuel storage tanks at Red Hill as the Navy works to defuel the facility. The act also makes strong investments in federal research agencies, all of which benefit UH, including the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The funding for research also includes: · $40-million increase for the High Performance Computing Modernization Program in the Department of Defense, which includes the UH-managed, Maui High Performance Computing Center. · $3-million increase for the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program, which provides continuing support to the UH Hilo Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes. · $7-million increase for the Energy Transitions Initiative, which helps remote and island communities design their own resilience and clean energy solutions. · $2.5-million increase in the Alternative Energy Research program, which supports the UH Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute and climate resiliency work in SOEST. · $7.5 million for a new program called Resilient Innovative Sustainable Economies via University Partnerships that will support a collaboration between universities in isolated and island states with expertise in energy, marine and blue economy technologies to diversify their state economies. · $1.2 million for coffee leaf rust research. · $1 million for science-based pest management strategies for invasive insect species that affect tropical grazing lands. Case says the federal funding measure also included his request for $1 million to fund rural health initiatives for the University of Hawai‘i and $200,000 for the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology. The funding came through Congress’ Community Project Funding (CPF) process. Using the CPF, the Rural Health Research Center will focus on rural health workforce policy and health equity in its Office of Strategic Health Initiatives to conduct high-quality and policy-relevant research and develop policy recommendations to improve rural health care in Hawaiʻi. This project is part of the existing UHealthy Hawaiʻi initiative and in partnership with key local rural health stakeholders. The Nature-Based Coral Reef Features for Coastal Protection project at the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology will explore the potential use of engineered coral reef “living shoreline” approaches for coastal protection and restoration. This project will pilot bio-enhancing concrete materials, textures and shapes (e.g. eco-concrete, composite pumice, or carbon infused concrete) on small sections of seawall at the institute to promote habitat for native organisms including corals, other invertebrates and fish, to achieve eco-friendly designs that simultaneously restore reef habitat and protect the shoreline. This year the U.S. House incorporated CPF requests by individual Members of Congress for specific projects and purposes in their district into its annual appropriations process. CPF requests may only be directed to governments or non-profits, not for-profit businesses or individuals. They must have demonstrated community support, and they are subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Finally, all Members must publicly disclose their CPF requests and signed required ethics certifications. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/media/funding-disclosures.htm. Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.5 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis. A detailed summary of the FY 2022 Omnibus is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=814,Case Secures Federal Assistance To Help City And County Of Honolulu Mitigate Impact Of Climate Change,2022-03-20,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=21,scraper,"(Washington, DC) - Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, announced today that H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 signed into law by the President on Tuesday, March 15, included his request for $300,000 to assist the City and County of Honolulu to adapt to climate change with its city-wide Tree Inventory and Management Plan. “Often underappreciated, O‘ahu’s trees, especially in our highly dense urban center, besides lending beauty to our Honolulu, are environmental workhorses and essential components of both climate change adaptation and mitigation,” said Case. “According to the City and County of Honolulu, for each dollar spent on tree planting and care, Honolulu’s trees provide $3 in benefits. Recent assessments have determined that O‘ahu has lost nearly 5 percent of its total tree canopy over the study area in just four years.” “This assistance through Congress’ Community Project Funding (CPF) program will enable Honolulu to develop a complete inventory of its tree assets, which is essential for determining the number of publicly owned trees, planning for new trees and tracking their maintenance needs. Analyzing a complete inventory against social vulnerability and other demographic and environmental data can identify potential disparities in city tree assets across communities and work towards equitable distribution of resources.” “Trees and our urban forests are some of the most important elements of a thriving, sustainable community,” said Director of the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation, Laura H. Thielen. “We have excellent programs in place for City and community tree planting, and to grow our tree canopy. With this funding for an integrated tree asset management system, we can more effectively manage the expanding tree resources.” “We’re grateful for the support of Congressman Ed Case and staff in securing resources to both modernize City operations and support targeted climate change adaptation efforts,” added Chief Resilience Officer and Executive Director for the City Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, Matthew Gonser. “A complete City street and park tree inventory is the foundation to inform planting priorities and actions to address environmental and social justice; improve efforts to manage increasing temperatures due to climate change; better manage rain where it falls; create green and complete streets; and improve environmental and neighborhood conditions island-wide.” This year the U.S. House incorporated CPF requests by individual Members of Congress for specific projects and purposes in their district into its annual appropriations process. CPF requests may only be directed to governments or non-profits, not for-profit businesses or individuals. They must have demonstrated community support, and they are subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Finally, all Members must publicly disclose their CPF requests and signed required ethics certifications. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/media/funding-disclosures.htm. Case made ten CPF requests, all of which were funded. Attachments: pictures provided by the City and County of Honolulu. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=810,Case Secures $19.7 Million In 2022 Federal Fiscal Year Budget To Fund East-West Center,2022-03-19,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=21,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, today announced $19.7 million in further federal funding for the East-West Center in Honolulu and other funding and studies to advance Hawaii’s leadership role in the Indo-Pacific. These provisions were included in the Fiscal Year 2022 funding bill. H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2022, passed Congress last week and was signed into law by the President earlier this week. “This bill bolsters our nation’s commitments to diplomacy, development and democracy in the Indo-Pacific on several fronts,” said Case. “And as we advance our interests in the Indo-Pacific, so do we play to Hawaii’s natural position as the center of our part of the world and to opportunities to generate and increase world-class institutions and employment hubs. “Key for our Hawai‘i is $19.7 million more for the East-West Center, representing continued stable year-to-year funding after a decade of efforts by some in Washington, D.C. to reduce or even eliminate such funding. Our allies and partners and friends all over the world are clear that they look even more in these times to the United States to engage, stabilize and lead, and Hawai‘i plays a key role in that effort given our location in the geographic, cultural and economic heart of the Pacific.” The FY 2022 Appropriations Bill provides over $1.6 billion to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, with a focus on countering the growing influence of the government of the People’s Republic of China in developing countries. This includes $300 million to implement the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018, which provide a framework for the development of a long-term and comprehensive Indo-Pacific strategy. To link Hawai‘i to these efforts, the bill includes the following additional funding requested and secured by Case besides the $19.7 million for the East-West Center: · $4 million for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s Regional Centers. This funding will help expand the work of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies at Fort DeRussy, a premier defense-supported research and education center in Honolulu that fosters shared understanding and networked relationships among civilian and military leaders throughout the Indo-Pacific. · $5 million for the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative, a key program supporting U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. This program enables the military to execute Theater Security Cooperation activities, such as humanitarian assistance and paying incremental personnel costs of training and exercising with foreign security forces. The initiative is a critical tool for the U.S. government to strengthen relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific region. The legislation also seeks to enhance U.S. coordination with and support for the Pacific Islands. “For decades, the United States has been a consistent albeit quiet partner in the Pacific Islands, with our strong historical ties and shared interests and values,” explained Case. “With this year’s funding bill, our nation is reinvesting in our cultural, historic, economic and national security ties with the Pacific Islands.” Key provisions in the bill related to the Pacific Islands and requested by Case include: · Report language (Congressional directives) directing funds to enhance engagement with the Pacific Islands on strengthening resilience against malign influences, promoting development and good governance and supporting economic growth. · Report language urging the U.S. Development Finance Corporation to prioritize investments in the Pacific Islands, especially investments in minority- and women-owned businesses. · Report language encouraging the Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development to hire locally employed staff in the Pacific Islands to promote and expand our diplomacy and development engagement. · Report language supporting coverage of Voice of America on digital and conventional media in the Pacific Islands, including through the pursuit of regional affiliates. · Report language directing the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development to update and submit an Indo-Pacific climate security report assessing the impacts of climate change on U.S. foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific and providing a plan on how best to address such impacts. Supplementing his work in the Appropriations Committee, Case also introduced a Congressional resolution this week recognizing the accelerating importance of a strong relationship between our country and the nations and other jurisdictions of the vast Pacific Ocean. The resolution recognizes the importance of the U.S.-Pacific Island partnerships to promote peace, security and prosperity, and urges the administration to redouble its efforts to work with the Pacific Islands on mutual interests. A copy of the resolution can be found here. Case is a founding Co-Chair of the first-ever Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus, which seeks to promote a greater understanding of this dynamic region in Congress and greater U.S. engagement with the countries and peoples of the region. More information about the caucus is available here. Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.5 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis. A detailed summary of the FY 2022 Omnibus is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=809,Case Secures Two Million Dollars In Federal Funding To Help Build A New Home For The Blood Bank of Hawai‘i,2022-03-18,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=21,scraper,"(Washington, DC) - Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, announced today that H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 signed into law by the President on Tuesday, included his request for $2 million to build a new home for the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i. “As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal funding measure for this fiscal year will bolster our public health infrastructure and capacity and provide for long-term strategy and investment, beginning with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention down to states and local public health departments, to further public health for all Americans and address health inequities,” said Case. “As the U.S. faces our worst blood shortage in over a decade, I am especially pleased that my Committee approved my Community Project Funding (CPF) to support a new home for the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i. Due in part to its geographic isolation, Hawai‘i particularly depends on the generosity of people to donate the gift of life-saving blood, and we have turned to the Blood Bank time and again to ensure a safe and reliable blood supply for all of Hawai‘i. This funding could not have come at a more critical time.” “We are grateful to Congressman Case for his early and strong support of our project,” said Kim-Anh Nguyen, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i. “The $2.0 million federal assistance is an investment toward our efforts to ensure that lifesaving blood and blood products are readily available. These funds will make a difference in the lives of thousands of patients each year who rely on the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i.” The Blood Bank’s headquarters on Dillingham Boulevard is being displaced by the HART rail project. The new 18,000 sq ft headquarters to be located at Kapolei will provide state-of-the-art facilities and operations for the community institution founded in 1941. This year the U.S. House incorporated CPF requests by individual Members of Congress for specific projects and purposes in their district into its annual appropriations process. CPF requests may only be directed to governments or non-profits, not for-profit businesses or individuals. They must have demonstrated community support, and they are subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Finally, all Members must publicly disclose their CPF requests and signed required ethics certifications. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/media/funding-disclosures.htm. Case made ten CPF requests, all of which were funded. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=803,U.S. House Approves Case Bill To Advance Designation of Ka‘ena Point As National Heritage Area,2022-03-17,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=21,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed his bill, co-introduced by Congressman Kaiali’i Kahele (HI-02) to advance possible designation of Ka‘ena Point on Oahu’s westernmost tip as Hawaii’s first Natural Heritage Area (NHA). NHAs are designated to recognize and protect our nation’s unique conservation, recreation, historic, cultural, education and preservation areas. NHAs can receive federal funds to help local communities preserve and manage such resources under federal-state-community partnerships. There are currently 55 designated NHAs in 34 states, but none in Hawai’i. “Kaʻena Point, largely state-owned, is the perfect candidate for a National Heritage Area in Hawaiʻi given its truly unique cultural, historic and environmental heritage and qualities,” said Case. “Our bill directs the U.S. Department of the Interior to evaluate whether Ka‘ena Point, a treasured wilderness area on otherwise densely-populated O‘ahu, should be designated as an NHA. The three-year study would confirm whether Ka‘ena Point holds valuable resources that reflect our country’s heritage and are worthy of conservation and recognition. I am certain it will, with a future designation for Ka‘ena Point offering critical support to the local community in Hawai‘i to conserve the area for present and future use.” “The State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) has already created a management plan for the Ka‘ena Point Stewardship Area to protect one of the last few remaining and easily accessible wilderness areas on O‘ahu. With a NHA designation, we can unlock federal funds to support existing local plans for Ka‘ena Point,” said Case. Case’s measure focuses on the undeveloped area of Kaʻena Point on the west end of Oʻahu from Mākua to Waialua. It is the site of the last intact sand dune ecosystem in Hawaiʻi and is said to be named after a sibling of the Hawaiian goddess Pele. Kaʻena Point also includes a leina ka ‘uhane, an important recognized cultural site that, according to Hawaiian tradition, is where the souls of the deceased leapt into the next plane of existence. Ka‘ena is also home to various protected species including the Hawaiian monk seal, laysan albatross, and ohai flower. NHAs offer federal assistance of joint efforts to manage NHAs for specific protections and uses appropriate approaches unique to each site. Case emphasized that any studies for Kaʻena Point would fully involve all engaged communities in charting the overall plan for protection and use of these unique parts of the rich heritage of our country. The study would include the approximately 1,500 acres of both the State of Hawaii’s natural area reserve and the state park already in place at Ka‘ena Point. The text of the bill is available here Video of Case speaking on the bill in the full House is here. Attachments: pictures of Ka‘ena Point courtesy Lindsay Young ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=807,Case Announces Successful Effort To Secure Millions In Federal Fiscal Year 2022 Funding Bill To Protect Hawaii's Lands And Oceans,2022-03-17,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=21,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, today announced millions in funding he sought and secured to protect Hawaii’s environment as part of the current 2022 fiscal year (FY) funding bill. H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2022, passed Congress last week and was signed into law by the President Tuesday. The bill makes critical investments in environmental protection for our lands and oceans, including efforts to protect endangered species. Case focused on funding and Congressional directives for a number of natural resources issues as a member of both the Appropriations Committee and of the House Committee on Natural Resources. “The bill makes substantial further federal investments to help Hawai’i conserve our ‘āina for future generations and protect endangered species,” said Case. “Especially key for Hawai‘i is $6 million to the National Park Service to expand Haleakalā National Park on Maui to create more recreational opportunities and enhance access to the Kaupō Gap Trail.“ This portion of Kaupō Ranch spans from the volcanic crater rim down 10,000 feet to the ocean. The acquisition will expand Haleakalā National Park to protect important natural resources, including priority watersheds and endangered species facing a warming climate, and will ensure public access to recreational activities and the Kaupō Gap Trail. Case also highlighted investments he secured in the bill made to protect our oceans. “We cannot truly protect our planet without protecting our oceans,” explained Case. “My Appropriations Committee provided increased funding to provide that protection for our oceans, including our corals and wildlife, which feed us, buffer us from climate change, protect our shorelines, and anchor our economy from transportation to tourism.” Mālama I Ka ‘Āina (Caring for the Land) The FY 2022 Omnibus Appropriations includes a full range of actions Case sought to protect our natural heritage and ensure sensitive and important areas survive and prosper for generations to come. Key provisions in the bill include: $17 million for the National Trails System, which will benefit the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. $108 million for the Endangered Species Recovery Account to protect and restore endangered species, including $4 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s State of the Birds program, which focuses on endangered birds in Hawai‘i. $300,000 for the City and County of Honolulu to develop its city-wide Tree Inventory and Management Plan. $3.3 billion for the National Park Service, $142 million above the FY 2022 enacted level, to help support Hawaii’s two national parks and various historic sites and parks. · $52 million for the US Geological Survey’s National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers, including the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center based out of the University of Hawaii. $75 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI). The Department of Defense (DoD) created the REPI Program in response to land development and loss of habitat in the vicinity of or affecting military installations, ranges and airspace that can lead to restrictions or costly and inadequate training and testing alternatives. Through REPI, DoD works with state and local governments, conservation organizations and willing private landowners to address these challenges to the military mission and the viability of DoD installations and ranges. Mālama I Ke Kai (Caring for the Oceans) The FY 2022 Omnibus Appropriations also makes historic investment in our oceans, which are a key part of life in Hawai‘i. “The bill puts federal funding behind bipartisan solutions to climate change as it affects our oceans, our coastlines and our lakes. The bill also focuses on protecting wildlife, fostering federal-state organization partnerships, and ultimately investing in critical linkages to our oceans.” Key provisions in the bill sought by Case include: $61 million for the Sanctuaries and Marine Protected Areas account, which supports Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. $148 million for the protection, research and management of marine mammals, sea turtles and other species. $34 million for the National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund, also known as the National Coastal Resilience Fund. $33 million for the Coral Reef Conservation Program, which supports coral reef ecosystems management and research critical to national coral reef restoration efforts. $4 million for the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grants. $415,000 for the Waikīkī Marine Life Conservation District Site Restoration project. $200,000 for the Moku o Lo‘e (Coconut Island) Marine Laboratory Refuge Eco-Friendly Sea Wall Research project. Overall, the bill includes $5.9 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a large increase of $447 million above FY 2021. This funding includes $1.0 billion for NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, which is active throughout the Pacific out of NOAA’s regional headquarters at Ford Island, Honolulu, and $200 million to accelerate information and decisions on adaptation to our changing climate. It further includes $6 million to maintain and repair NOAA’s Atmospheric Baseline Observatories, including the Mauna Loa Observatory where the famous Keeling Curve proving rapid climate change was developed. Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating some $1.5 trillion in funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis. A detailed summary of the FY 2022 Omnibus is available here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=802,Case Secures One Million Dollars In Federal Funding To Build Indigenous Health And Education Center In Kalihi Valley,2022-03-16,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=21,scraper,"(Washington, DC) - Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, announced today that H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 signed into law by the President yesterday, included his request for $1 million in community project funding for Kōkua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services (KKV) to build a health and education center for indigenous people. “For the FY 2022 federal appropriations, I secured this funding through Congress’ Community Project Funding (CPF) process for ‘Hale Lauele’, KKV’s center in upper Kalihi Valley which will integrate indigenous knowledge and practices into conventional clinical programs to address the unique health needs of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and other populations,” said Case. “Hale Lauele will be a center for Native Hawaiian land-based healing, health education and training of health professionals built at Ho‘olu ‘Āina,” said Diane Evans, grants manager for KKV. Evans says the 7,500 square foot structure will provide community space for cultural activities, patient education, instruction for medical providers and residents in indigenous healing and activities that support forestry and agroforestry programs. “The last two pandemic years have only emphasized that much more must be done to address social determinants of health and tackle the root causes of health disparities in differing ways that are often unique to a specific community”, said Case, who personally visited KKV and the project site. “This is especially true in the community of Kalihi Valley with its diversity of communities and needs, and I believe that Hale Lauele will prove a highly effective example of addressing those needs in a community-appropriate way.” KKV (www.kkv.net) is a federally-qualified community health center that serves the diverse ahupua’a of Kalihi, from upper Kalihi Valley through Kalihi-Palama to Honolulu Harbor. Begun in 1972, it has grown into an integral part of the Kalihi community, serving as the primary deliverer of health and other community services for much of its population, including in recent decades its Compact communities. The staff is fluent in 26 Asian and Pacific Island languages and dialects and work out of nine locations. It is also the nation’s only community health center to have a nature preserve as a site for healing. This year the U.S. House incorporated CPF requests by individual Members of Congress for specific projects and purposes in their district into its annual appropriations process. CPF requests may only be directed to governments or non-profits, not for-profit businesses or individuals. They must have demonstrated community support, and they are subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Finally, all Members must publicly disclose their CPF requests and signed required ethics certifications. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/media/funding-disclosures.htm. Case made ten CPF requests, all of which were funded. A rendering of Hale Lauele can be found here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=801,Case Announces Successful Effort To Secure Millions In Increased Federal Assistance For Native Hawaiians In Fiscal Year 2022 Federal Appropriations Measure,2022-03-15,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=21,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for all federal discretionary spending, today announced that the just-enacted $1.5 trillion measure to fund the federal government for the current 2022 fiscal year (FY) includes millions in funding he sought and secured to advance the specific and often unique cultural, economic, educational, health and other needs of Native Hawaiians. H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2022, passed Congress last week and was signed into law by the President today. Case focused on a number of Native Hawaiian initiatives as a member of both the Appropriations Committee and of the House Committee on Natural Resources and of its Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States with jurisdiction over federal Native Hawaiian laws and programs. “Native Hawaiians are the indigenous peoples of our country whose homeland is Hawai’i. Our nation's historical and unique legal relationship with the Native Hawaiian Community has been consistently recognized and affirmed through laws that extend to Native Hawaiians many of the rights, privileges and programs accorded to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Just as Native Hawaiians are a unique community within our national fabric, so are many of their challenges and needs,” said Case. “I am gratified that Congress has once more recognized the importance of supporting federal programs and initiatives that seek to strengthen the lives and livelihoods of Native Hawaiians. I will continue working to ensure Native Hawaiian Organizations take full advantage of these federal funds and that Native Hawaiian-serving programs are efficiently and appropriately administered at the agency level.” Last year, to set the groundwork for his FY22 appropriations efforts, Case testified personally at the House Appropriations Labor-HHS-ED Subcommittee Member Day to discuss the importance of adequately funding Native Hawaiian-serving programs. His full testimony is here. Below is a full list of provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 pertaining to the Native Hawaiian community: AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES Agricultural Programs · Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Participation: Report language (Congressional directives) to urge the Secretary of Agriculture to draft and implement a plan to support AANHPI farmers applying to and participating in the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers program. · National Institute of Food and Agriculture Research and Education Activities: $4 million for Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, a $806,000 increase over FY 21 enacted level—the first increase for this vital program in years. Rural Development Programs · Indian Country Broadband: Report language that urges the U.S. Department of Agriculture to responsibly and efficiently take action to increase access to broadband on entities related to Hawaiian Home Lands. Domestic Food Programs · Barriers to Accessing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Report language to increase efforts to address barriers to accessing SNAP in Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Black and Latino communities. COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES Department of Commerce · Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA): $55 million, an increase of $7 million above the FY 21 enacted level, toward cooperative agreements, external awards and grants, · Native American populations: $3 million directed specifically to continue the entrepreneurship pilot initiated in the previous fiscal year with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Servicing Institutions, Alaska Native Serving Institutions, Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges and Universities. · Native American Business Development: $3 million for the MBDA to award grants to address barriers to economic development for Tribes and American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian populations. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE · Military Contracting: Report language to maintain military contracting preference for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations. FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT Small Business Administration · Native American Outreach: $3 million for the Native American Outreach Program, equal to the FY 21 enacted level, to ensure that American Indians Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians have full access to SBA’s entrepreneurial development, lending and procurement programs. · Community Project Funding: $500,000 for the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture Small Business Incubator Project at Leeward Community College (Case). Federal Communications Commission · Broadband Connectivity: Report language urging the FCC to increase access to broadband on Tribal lands and Hawaiian Home Lands and to use all available resources to support consultation with federally recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska Native villages and entities related to Hawaiian home lands. Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund · Native American Initiatives: $21.5 million for the Native American CDFI Assistance Program to provide funding to build capacity of certified Native CDFIs, emerging Native CDFIs and sponsoring entities and to increase access to capital in Native communities. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES Department of the Interior · Office of the Secretary: $1 million to carry out land assessments, appraisals, surveys and other activities in support of the Secretary’s responsibilities under the Hawaiian Home Lands Recovery Act. · Native Hawaiian Consultation: Language directing the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations, an office within the Department of Interior, to expand the federal government’s consultation efforts with the Native Hawaiian Community. · Cultural Programs: $2.1 million for Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation grants that provide financial assistance to nonprofit organizations or institutions that support Native Hawaiian or Alaska Native culture and arts development. · National Recreation and Preservation: $1.5 million, an increase of $250,000, for the National Park Service American Indian and Native Hawaiian Art and Culture Grants program. · Community and Economic Development: $7.5 million to be used for grants to Tribal Organizations and Native Hawaiian Organizations to promote sustainable native tourism activities. · Advisory Council on Historic Preservation: $8.2 million, $855,000 above the FY 21 enacted level, to assist Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations with the National Historic Preservation Act’s Section 106 process, which requires Federal agencies to consider the effects of their projects on historic properties. · Saving America’s Treasures Grants: $26.5 million, $1.5 million increase over FY 21 enacted level, to provide preservation and conservation assistance to nationally historical properties and collections. Eligible entities include federally recognized Indian Tribes, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiian Organizations. DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES Department of Labor · Native American Programs: $57 million to support Native American job training programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. Department of Health and Human Services · Native Hawaiian Health Care Program: $22 million, a $1.5 million increase over the FY 21 enacted level to support activities and initiatives under the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act. · Family Violence and Prevention Services: $1 million to create a new Native Hawaiian Resource Center on Domestic Violence within the Family Violence Prevention Program. It provides supportive services for adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence and dating violence and to prevent such incidents in Native Hawaiian communities. · Native American Caregiver Support Services: $11 million, a $1.5 million increase over FY 21 enacted level, provides funding for eligible organizations to provide support for family and informal caregivers of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. · Native American Nutrition and Supportive Services: $36 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 kūpuna. · Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity: $1 million to fund the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity in the Office of Minority Health to advance indigenous solutions to achieving health equity and encourage the Department of Health and Human Services to partner with universities in these efforts. Department of Education · Education for Native Hawaiians Program: $38 million, a $1.5 million increase over the FY 21 enacted level, to support supplemental education services for Native Hawaiian children including to provide for teacher training, family-based education, gifted and talented education, special education, higher education and community-based learning centers. · Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions: $21 million, a $2 million increase over FY 21 enacted level, to improve and strengthen the academic quality, institutional management and fiscal stability of eligible institutions that serve Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities. · Native American Programs: $14 million for Native American language preservation activities and $5.5 million for language immersion programs authorized by the Native American Programs Act, as amended by the Esther Martinez Native American Language Preservation Act of 2006. · International Education and Foreign Language Studies: $500,000 to establish the first-ever Native American Language Resource Center, which will support higher education institutions in teaching and learning languages, including research on new teaching methods for educators and developing instructional materials, among other things. Institute for Museum and Library Services · Native American/ Hawaiian Museum Services: $2.2 million, equal to the FY 21 enacted level, to provide grants to Native American-serving organizations and federally recognized tribes to sustain indigenous heritage, culture and knowledge through museum-related services. · Native American/ Hawaiian Library Services: $5.2 million, equal to the FY 21 enacted level, for programs to archive, preserve and make accessible materials or services focused on preserving Native Hawaiian history and culture. MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES Department of Veterans Affairs · Veteran Health Care in the Pacific: Report language to promote additional research, service and education to improve the lives of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and United States-Affiliated Pacific Islander Veterans. · Native American Veteran Housing: $1.4 million, an increase of $214,000 above FY 21 enacted level, to make direct housing loans to Native American Veterans for the purpose of purchasing, constructing or improving dwellings on trust lands including Hawaiian Home Lands. DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES Department of Housing and Urban Development · Office of Native American Programs: $1 billion for the Office of Native American Programs, which administers programs designed to support affordable housing and community development activities for Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians eligible to reside on Hawaiian Home Lands. · Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant: $22.3 million, an increase of $20 million over FY 21 enacted level, to provide grants to the State of Hawai‘i Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for housing housing-related assistance for eligible low-income Native Hawaiian families. · Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund Program: $28 million in loan guarantee commitment authority to offer Native Hawaiian homeownership, property rehabilitation and new construction opportunities on Hawaiian Home Lands. A detailed summary of the bill is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=798,Case Says Congress-Passed Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations Measure Boosts IndoPacific Defense-Related Spending and Enhances Hawaii's Presence and Role,2022-03-14,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=22,scraper,"(Honolulu,HI) - U.S. Congressman Ed Case, a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, responsible for all federal discretionary spending, voted on March 09, 2022, with a majority of his colleagues to pass a $1.5 trillion measure to fund the federal government for the current fiscal year (FY 2022), to include billions for America’s national security H.R. 2471, the FY 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act, now awaits the President’s consideration and expected signature into law after the Senate voted to pass the measure a day after approval in the House. Case said the bill addresses many priorities for Hawai‘i, including over $700 million more for Red Hill, $235 million for military construction projects throughout the state, and billions to fund the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) to strengthen America’s national security in the Indo-Pacific and Hawaii’s central role. “On Red Hill in particular, and on the heels of the recent announcement by the Secretary of Defense to defuel and permanently close Red Hill, my Appropriations Committee included some $736 million in new funding I requested to continue supporting displaced servicemembers, civilians and their families, addressing drinking water contamination and conducting activities in compliance with the State of Hawaii’s emergency order.” “These funds are in addition to the $403 million in emergency funding we obtained in another bill we passed just weeks ago, bringing Congress’ total funding for all aspects of Red Hill in the current fiscal year alone to over $1.1 billion. But billions more will be required to complete all aspects of the cleanup, stabilization, defueling and closing of Red Hill and the relocation of its fuel and build fuel storage capacity elsewhere, and I am already working with the Department of Defense on the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bill to assure that such funding is fully available,” said Case. Case also stressed that PDI is key to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. “PDI provides the foundation for establishing a forward-deployed, properly equipped and postured force to deter aggression and assure our allies and partners,” he explained. “We must deter and deny our adversaries’ ability to engage in acts of aggression or coercion against our partners and allies. We need investments in Guam, our Pacific Island partners, training ranges throughout the Indo-Pacific and a new generation of weapons to overcome the tyranny of distance.” Case also highlighted the importance of continued Congressional support for the Homeland Defense Radar Hawai‘i (HDR-H). “Given the prominence of Hawaii’s military and strategic value, Hawai’i has become far more of a target to those who wish to do us harm. The need for a fixed, persistent and comprehensive missile defense cannot be overstated. This requirement hasn’t gone away and won’t. The Homeland Defense Radar Hawai‘i is the solution. It is regarded by the Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command as vital and appropriate,” he said. Red Hill The agreement includes over $686 million to continue supporting displaced servicemembers, civilians and their families, addressing drinking water contamination and to conduct activities in compliance with the State of Hawaii’s emergency order. The Secretary of Defense is also directed to provide a report to Congress no later than 90 days after enactment of the bill detailing all options under consideration by the Department of Defense (DoD) to mitigate issues related to the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, as well as future fuel storage requirements. The military construction section of the bill, developed by Case’s Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, also includes two key provisions related to Red Hill: 1. $50 million to the Navy for planning and design in order to advance future water treatment and distribution infrastructure projects needed to address the Red Hill drinking water crisis. 2. Directs the Secretary of Defense to provide the House Appropriations Committee a report, within 90 days, that identifies future military construction and remediation requirements related to Red Hill and implementation of the Secretary of Defense’s order. Finally, the bill includes $5 million to continue improving the safety of underground fuel storage tanks at the Red Hill Underground Fuel Facility as the Navy works to defuel the facility. National Defense Priorities for Hawai‘i Hawaii’s strategic importance is growing with the continued threats and instability in the Indo-Pacific, home to more than 50% of the world’s population, several of the world’s largest militaries, and two of the three largest economies in the world. Case said this investment in the State of Hawai‘i has a direct economic impact as well. Per a 2021 report from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, total defense-related payroll and contract spending in the state accounted for $7.2 billion. Key programs and provisions requested and secured by Case relevant to Hawai‘i include: · $75 million to continue development of HDR-H. This “discriminating radar” is a critical state-of-the-art radar system designed to protect our country and state from ballistic missile threats and was strongly supported by our Indo-Pacific military leaders. The radar system will be capable of identifying and classifying specific missile threats and will address current and emerging threats. · Funding for the non-construction elements of the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP), to include $264 million for ongoing operations and maintenance (in addition to military construction described below). Case requested funds to ensure support for the SIOP, which is undertaking a multi-year $21 billion effort to improve the Navy’s public shipyards, including Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, Hawaii’s largest industrial employer. · $4 million for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s Regional Centers. This funding will help expand the work of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies at Fort DeRussy, a premier defense-supported research and education center in Honolulu that fosters shared understanding and networked relationships among civilian and military leaders throughout the Indo-Pacific. · $293 million for Environmental Restoration, Formerly Used Defense Sites Program, which is $74 million over the President’s budget request. These funds will help accelerate efforts to remove unexploded ordnance and discarded military munitions in Hawai‘i and throughout the nation. · A study from the DoD’s Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) on how local communities are impacted by military helicopter and tiltrotor noise. This study will result in noise contour maps that can be incorporated in community planning through the OLDCC’s existing Noise Mitigation Community Partnership Program. · Military contracting preference language for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations. · Support for the Naval Shipyard Apprentice Program, with instructions to the Secretary of the Navy to induct classes of not fewer than 100 apprentices at each of the respective naval shipyards and to include the costs of the class of apprentices in the Fiscal Year 2023 budget request. · 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‘i to respond quickly to changing threats in the Indo-Pacific region. · A briefing to Congress on any upgrades to the electrical utility system on Barbers Point that would be necessary to facilitate its divestiture from the Navy. The briefing shall identify the funding requirements by appropriation for the design costs and electrical utility infrastructure upgrades, as well as customer connections to the new lines. The measure also includes: Full funding necessary to support the proposed 2.7 percent military pay raise. $75 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI). The DoD created the REPI Program in response to land development and loss of habitat in the vicinity of or affecting military installations, ranges and airspace that can lead to restrictions or costly and inadequate training and testing alternatives. Through REPI, DoD works with state and local governments, conservation organizations and willing private landowners to address these challenges to the military mission and the viability of DoD installations and ranges. Efforts to confront the climate crisis with historic investments for clean energy and climate adaptation to protect facilities, readiness and global security, to include $1.6 billion for restoration and modernization of military facilities. Military Construction Projects for Hawai‘i Military installations in Hawai‘i play a crucial role in keeping the U.S. safe and protecting our national interests worldwide, especially given the shift in our national security strategies and resources to the Indo-Pacific. Improvements to these facilities also expand Hawaii’s economy and support high-paying construction jobs that ensure a high-quality standard of living. Programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: $625 million for SIOP projects nationwide, which is $465 million above the FY 2021 enacted level and $219 million above the FY 2022 budget request. A portion of these funds will assist with planning of a new dry dock for Pearl Harbor Navy Shipyard, estimated to cost $2 billion. Support for multiple military construction projects in Hawai‘i, including: o $65 million to Marine Corps Base Kāne‘ohe to upgrade its electrical distribution system, which needs major improvements to support future missions at the base related to redesigning the Marine Corps for current threats in the Indo-Pacific. o $55 million to complete U.S. Army Pacific’s new Command and Control Facility on Fort Shafter. o $51 million for the West Loch Naval Magazine Annex, which would enable the Army to move its munitions from its current storage magazines at the Navy’s Lualualei Annex near Wai‘anae on the leeward side to the West Loch Annex. o $30 million for the Veterinary Treatment Facility Replacement at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, which is staffed by Army Veterinary Corps personnel who provide complete veterinary care for all government-owned animals. o $19 million for advance planning and design efforts to support the Homeland Defense Radar-Hawai‘i. o $9 million for advance planning and design efforts to support planned upgrades to the Air Force’s Maui Experimental Lab. o $6 million for Marine Corps Training Area Bellow’s perimeter security fence. Directs the military to address the parking shortage at the Tripler Army Medical Center. PDI / Indo-Pacific Priorities Congress created and funded the PDI to help prioritize China as the number one pacing challenge for our military. It is designed to bolster deterrence and maintain our competitive edge in the Indo-Pacific in recognition of threats posed by China and the need to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific. Key components of the PDI for FY 2022 include: $80 million for the missile defense of Guam, which faces the threats of ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles. This is $40 million more than the President’s budget request. $88 million for wargaming analytical tools to support U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. $59 million for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command to support planning and design efforts to advance future construction projects throughout the Indo-Pacific. $19 million to advance a Pacific multi-domain training and experimentation capability. $4.6 million increase for the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative, a key program supporting U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. This program enables the military to execute Theater Security Cooperation activities, such as humanitarian assistance and paying incremental personnel costs of training and exercising with foreign security forces. The initiative is a critical tool for the U.S. military to strengthen relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific region. $500,000 for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s proposed Pacific Movement Coordination Center. Support for international security cooperation programs with countries in the Indo-Pacific, with a focus on Maritime Security Programs. Summaries/Overviews The bill’s defense section supports federal agencies and programs in the DoD and Intelligence Community, including the military branches of services, the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. The bill provides $728.5 billion for these national defense programs, an increase of $32.5 billion over the FY 2021 enacted level. A detailed summary of the bill’s defense provisions is available here. The bill’s military construction section supports the construction and maintenance of our defense facilities throughout the country and world. The bill provides a total of $15 billion for military construction, which is nearly $7 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level. A detailed summary of the bill’s military construction provisions is available here. The bill also includes the Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act that provides $13.6 billion in emergency funding to support the Ukrainian people and defend global democracy in the wake of Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine. A detailed summary of the bill’s Ukraine-related provisions is available here. A detailed summary of the overall bill is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=785,Case Announces More Than $72 Million In Federal COVID-19 Assistance Funding Received To Help Hawai’i Students Learn Online At Home,2022-03-10,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=22,scraper,"(Honolulu, HI) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) announced today that, one year after he and the majority of his Congressional colleagues passed the American Rescue Plan, the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education, the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System and eight schools in his First Congressional District have received a total of more than $72 million from the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Emergency Connectivity Fund Program (ECF). “The ECF program helps schools and libraries ensure that students can connect to the internet at home, allowing them to take advantage of online learning and do their homework,” said Case. Known as the “homework gap” or the “digital divide”, students who lack access to the internet at home often fall behind their peers as curriculums and educational opportunities rely more and more on the ability to conduct online research and connect to the web. “The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare what was already true - that with educational tools, homework, and opportunities increasingly online, keiki without home internet access are often left without the basics needed to succeed,” said Case. “This critical funding, made possible by our American Rescue Plan, has helped ensure digital equity especially for those Hawai’i children who don’t have the equipment or internet access necessary to stay connected and get their work done.” The ECF Program helps cover costs of laptop and tablet computers, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and broadband connectivity purchases for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons. The schools and departments in Hawaii’s First Congressional District that have received the ECF Program funding in the past year include: · Hawaiʻi State Department of Education $71,520,353 · Dreamhouse Ewa Beach Charter School $29,400 · Hālau Kū Māna Public Charter School $57,855 · Hawaiʻi State Public Library System $119,331 · Hawaiʻi Technology Academy $182,475 · Holy Nativity School $47,400 · Mary, Star of the Sea $41,526 · Mid-Pacific Institute $398,829 · School for Examining Essential Questions of Sustainability Public Charter School $1,960 · St. Andrews Schools $19,812 Another major Congressional initiative that Case supported, the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package enacted last November, includes a $65 billion generational reinvestment in broadband, with at least $100 million to Hawai’i and substantially more possible in competitive grants. Case will discuss the status of Hawai’i broadband and digital equity and how best to maximize federal resources to advance connectivity and utilization at an upcoming Facebook Live session on Wednesday, March 16th, Noon Hawai’i time, with guests Burt Lum, the state Strategy Officer in the Hawaiʻi Broadband and Digital Equity Office and David Miyashiro, the Founding Executive Director of HawaiiKidsCAN, at (https://Facebook.com/RepEdCase). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=784,U.S. House Approves $1.5 Trillion Federal Funding Bill For Current Fiscal Year 2022,2022-03-09,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=22,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 voted with a majority of his colleagues to pass a $1.5 trillion measure to fund the federal government for the current fiscal year (FY2022). If approved by the Senate as expected, the bill will go to President Biden for his expected signature into law. “This bipartisan agreement addresses the major challenges our country faces at home and abroad, from supporting Ukraine in its struggle against Russia to continuing our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic to helping our country and our communities and families with pressing needs in defense, health care, education, social services, natural resources and more,” said Case. “The bill also includes key provisions of special importance to our Hawai‘i that I pursued in my House Appropriations Committee, including major additional funding to address Red Hill, increased funding for federal Native Hawaiian programs, provisions to protect our natural resources and stabilize our economy, additional funding to fully implement our $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law in Hawai’i, and increased support for specific programs that have proven especially beneficial back home. “On Red Hill in particular, and on the heels of the recent announcement by the Secretary of Defense to defuel and permanently close the facility, my Appropriations Committee included some $736 million in new funding I requested to continue supporting displaced servicemembers, civilians and their families, addressing drinking water contamination and to conducting activities in compliance with the State of Hawaii’s emergency order. “These funds are in addition to the $403 million in emergency funding we obtained in another bill we passed just weeks ago, bringing Congress’ total funding for all aspects of Red Hill in the current fiscal year alone to some $1.139 billion. But billions more will be required to complete all aspects of the cleanup, stabilization, defueling and closing of Red Hill and the relocation of its fuel and build fuel storage capacity elsewhere, and I am already working with the Department of Defense on the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations bill to assure that such funding is fully available,” said Case. Representative highlights of the FY 2022 measure of special interest to Hawai‘i and for which Case advocated throughout the yearlong FY2022 appropriations process include: · $38 million for the Native Hawaiian Education Program, a $1.5 million increase from the FY 2021 enacted level and the President’s budget request. · $6 million to maintain and repair Atmospheric Baseline Observatories, including the Mauna Loa Observatory where the famous Keeling Curve proving rapid climate change was developed. · $34 million for the Agricultural Quarantine Inspections program to combat invasive species in Hawai‘i. · $19.7 million for the East-West Center, representing continued stable year-to-year funding after a decade of efforts to reduce or even eliminate such funding. · $1 billion for the Small Business Administration (SBA), an increase of $109 million above the FY 2021 funding level. · $6 million to Haleakalā National Park to expand public access to recreational activities and the Kaupō Gap Trail. · A requirement that the Consumer Product Safety Commission investigate the importation and shipment of illegal aerial fireworks and develop recommendations for stopping it. · $17 million for the National Trails System, which will benefit the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. · $235 million of military construction projects throughout the state, which will benefit not just the national defense but local businesses. · $2.2 billion for homeless assistance programs for our nation’s veterans, an increase of $246 million above the 2021 enacted level. · Support for various elements of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI), which bolsters deterrence and maintains our competitive edge in the Indo-Pacific in recognition of threats posed by China and the need to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific. “The FY 2022 funding bill also includes all of the $8.2 million in Community Project Funding that I requested,” Case said. “I chose these ten specific projects to support underserved areas and foster economic, social and community development where a direct federal investment will be particularly impactful and make a real difference in the lives of so many in our community.” Case’s Appropriations Committee is responsible for allocating funding to federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis through twelve separate bills. Highlights of each of these bills, in addition to Case’s Community Project Funding and specific separate provisions aimed at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, follow: Ukraine Supplemental The Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, included in the FY2022 appropriations bill, provides $13.6 billion in emergency funding to support the Ukrainian people and defend global democracy in the wake of Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine. The bill addresses the dire humanitarian needs of the millions of refugees who have fled Ukraine or been displaced within Ukraine with more than $4 billion. Through the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. will provide emergency food assistance, health care and other urgent support. The act also includes nearly $1.8 billion to flexibly respond to macroeconomic needs in Ukraine and its neighbors, including energy and cybersecurity efforts. Additionally, the bill provides more than $3.6 billion in defense support for both Ukraine and North Atlantic Treaty Organization partners to deter Russian aggression. It also increases the President’s authorization to transfer defense equipment to Ukraine and other allies to $3 billion. Finally, it enforces the tough sanctions that have been imposed on Russia with funding for the Departments of Commerce, Justice and the Treasury to further develop and enforce sanctions and prepare for and respond to cyber threats. Community Project Funding (CPF) The bill includes ten requests from Case for Member-designated CPF to address key, unmet community needs. U.S. House CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member, and is subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/media/funding-disclosures.htm. “CPF requests are submitted by individual Members and are for specific projects and purposes in our respective districts,” explained Case. CPF requests are only for state and local governments or non-profits organizations. The following specific local projects will receive federal funds this fiscal year: 1. $500,000 for the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture Small Business Incubator Project at Leeward Community College. 2. $300,000 for the City and County of Honolulu to develop its city-wide Tree Inventory and Management Plan. 3. $1 million for the planning and design of the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency’s State Emergency Operations Center in the Mililani First Responder Tech Campus. 4. $415,000 for the Waikīkī Marine Life Conservation District Site Restoration project 5. $200,000 for the Moku o Lo‘e (Coconut Island) Marine Laboratory Refuge Eco-Friendly Sea Wall Research project. 6. $2 million for facilities and equipment at the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i. 7. $1 million for rural health research initiatives at the University of Hawaiʻi. 8. $975,000 for digital skills literacy training at the State of Hawai‘i Workforce Development Council. 9. $1.05 million for facilities and equipment at Kōkua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services. 10. $800,000 for a Honolulu Harbor Modification Feasibility Study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess the current vulnerabilities of the harbor to natural disaster, navigation mishap and sea level rise, and propose opportunities, alternatives or solutions to identified vulnerabilities. Financial Services and General Government The bill’s Financial Services and General Government Appropriations section funds the U.S. Treasury, federal courts and various independent agencies including the SBA, Federal Communications Commission and Office of Personnel Management. The discretionary funding level is $25.5 billion, an increase of $1.1 billion over the FY 2021 enacted level. To help our small businesses nationwide, the bill provides $1 billion for the SBA, an increase of $109 million above the FY 2021 funding level. This includes $290 million, an $18 million increase, for Entrepreneurial Development Programs that provide small businesses with quality training, counseling and access to resources. The bill also provided $295 million for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), an increase of $25 million above the FY 2021 enacted levels. CDFIs are specialized community-based financial institutions that promote economic development by providing financial products and services to people and communities underserved by traditional financial institutions, particularly in low-income and minority communities. They were especially valuable in delivering COVID-19 emergency assistance funds to communities without ready access to other means. The Appropriations Committee also approved several of Case’s requests for funding for federal programs and services important for the State of Hawai’i, including: · $22 million for the Native American Community Development Financial Institution Assistance Program, · $3 million for the Native American Outreach Program, · $3 million for the Historically Underutilized Business Zones Program, · $24 million for the Women’s Business Centers Program, · $23 million for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, · $138 million for Small Business Development Centers, · $106 million for the Drug-Free Communities Program, · $20 million for the State Trade Expansion Program, · $8 million for the Regional Innovation Clusters Program, · $297 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, and · $37 million for the Microloan Technical Assistance Program. The measure includes the following further Case requests: · Requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to investigate the importation and shipment of illegal aerial fireworks and develop recommendations for stopping it. · Extends Hawaii’s long-standing fourth temporary judgeship. · Requests the United States Postal Service to coordinate with the United States Department of Agriculture to better combat endangered species trafficking and the spread of invasive species. · Directs the National Personnel Records Center to quickly address its unacceptable backlog of veterans’ requests for records that they need to receive the benefits they deserve. · Instructs the Election Assistance Commission to review the lessons learned from the 2020 elections and make recommendations to state governments on best practices to improve the administration of vote-by-mail and expand access to the ballot. Interior The bill’s Interior Appropriations section funds the Department of the Interior, including the National Parks Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service and various independent agencies including the National Endowments on Arts and the Humanities. The discretionary funding level is $38 billion, an increase of $2.5 billion over the FY 2021 enacted level. The bill includes $97 million to expand the country’s National Parks through a series of land acquisitions, including $6 million to help acquire a unique 3,018 acre parcel adjacent to Haleakalā National Park. This portion of Kaupō Ranch spans from the volcanic crater rim down 10,000 feet to the ocean. The acquisition will expand Haleakalā National Park to protect important natural resources, including priority watersheds and endangered species facing a warming climate and will ensure public access to recreational activities and the Kaupō Gap Trail. Additional programs and provisions requested and secured by Case in the Interior section of the bill include: · $330 million for National Park Service State Assistance Grants. · Language instructing the Office of Native Hawaiian Relations to expand the federal government’s Native Hawaiian community consultation efforts. · $4 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s State of the Birds program. These funds support efforts to recover our most endangered Hawaiian forest bird species. · $33 million, a $3 million increase, for the U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program. This includes funding for the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, which monitors the active volcanoes in Hawai‘i, assesses their hazards, issues warnings and advances scientific understanding to reduce impacts of volcanic eruptions. · $1.5 million, an increase of $250,000, for the NPS American Indian and Native Hawaiian Art and Culture Grants program. · $58 million for State Historic Preservation Offices. The measure also includes: · $1.1 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and $1.6 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which provides funding to Hawai‘i’s regulated water systems for Hawai‘i’s water infrastructure projects. · $92 million for the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund Program, which includes funding to address Red Hill issues. · $40 million for the U.S. Geological Survey Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program. · $17 million for the National Trails System, which will benefit the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. Agriculture The bill’s Agriculture Appropriations section funds federal efforts to tackle hunger and nutrition insecurity, grow opportunities and uplift rural communities, confront the climate crisis and advance world-leading agriculture research and development. The discretionary funding level is $25.1 billion, an increase of $1.4 billion over the 2021 enacted level. The bill includes a record $34 million for the Agricultural Quarantine Inspections program for invasive species in Hawai‘i, and report language which allows these inspections to occur at inter-island airports to help mitigate the spread of invasive species between islands. The bill also includes other report language (directives to federal agencies) targeting invasive species in Hawai‘i, such as the spittlebug, avocado lace bug and little fire ant. Programs and provisions requested and secured by Case in the Agriculture bill include: · $5 million for the Micro-Grants for Food Security program, which has provided direct farming to Hawaii’s subsistence and small commercial farmers. · $4 million for Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, the first increase for this vital program in years. · $4.5 million for coffee research to address the threats of Coffee Leaf Rust and Coffee Berry Borer on our iconic coffee industry. · $26 million for farmers market nutrition programs, which helps address food insecurity with fresh produce and supports local farms. · $1.2 million for research for the macadamia felted coccid. The measure also: · Directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to update its Biosecurity Plan for Invasive Ants in the Pacific to help Hawai‘i deal with little red fire ant and other invasive ant species. · Requests the U.S. Department of Agriculture study the ability and effectiveness of managed forestry best practices to aid in the reforestation of native trees and the cultivation of forest crops in tropical and subtropical forests. · Emphasizes the importance of tropical and subtropical crop research, given the threats posed by climate change and invasive species and diseases. · Urges the U.S. Department of Agriculture to responsibly and efficiently take action to increase access to broadband on entities related to Hawaiian homelands. Military Construction and Veterans Affairs The bill’s Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations section supports the construction and maintenance of our defense facilities throughout the country and world, our national cemeteries and battle monuments, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and various small agencies and programs supporting our nation's some 19 million veterans and their families. The bill provides $285 billion for these programs, an increase of $33 billion over the FY 2021 enacted level. Case serves on the Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. The bill specifically provides a total of $112 billion in discretionary appropriations for the VA, an increase of $8 billion above the 2021 enacted level. These resources will serve to expand access to services for veterans and will boost oversight and accountability across the department. This includes increases for rural health and telehealth initiatives, key to veterans throughout the islands. The military construction section of the bill also includes two key provisions related to Red Hill: 1) $50 million to the Navy for planning and design in order to advance future water treatment and distribution infrastructure projects needed to address the Red Hill drinking water crisis. 2) Direction that the Secretary of Defense to provide Case’s Appropriations Committee a report, within 90 days, that identifies future military construction and remediation requirements related to Red Hill. Programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: · $625 million for the Shipyard Improvement Optimization Program (SIOP), a twenty-year, $21 billion commitment targeting our nation’s four public naval shipyards, including Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, the largest industrial employer in Hawai’i. Under the SIOP, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard is underway on a massive multi-billion dollar upgrade to service the Navy’s next generation of vessels. This SIOP increase is $465 million above the FY 2021 enacted level and $219 million above the FY 2022 budget request. · Support for multiple military construction projects in Hawai‘i, including: o $65 million to Marine Corps Base Kāne‘ohe to upgrade its electrical distribution system to support future missions at the base. o $55 million to complete the U.S. Army Pacific’s new Command and Control Facility on Fort Shafter. o $51 million for the West Loch Naval Magazine Annex, which would enable the Army to move its munitions from its current storage magazines at the Navy’s Lualualei Annex near Wai‘anae to the West Loch Annex. o $30 million for the Veterinary Treatment Facility Replacement at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, which is staffed by Army Veterinary Corps personnel who provide complete veterinary care for all government-owned animals. o $19 million for advance planning and design efforts to support the Homeland Defense Radar-Hawai‘i proposed to be located at Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kaua’i. o $9 million for advance planning and design efforts to support planned upgrades to the Air Force’s Maui Experimental Lab. o $6 million for Marine Corps Training Area Bellow’s perimeter security fence. · $59 million for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) to support planning and design efforts to advance future construction projects throughout the Indo-Pacific. · $2 billion for homeless assistance programs for our nation’s veterans, an increase of $246 million above the 2021 enacted level. This funding will enhance VA’s ability to reach homeless veterans, which is particularly crucial as the most recent homelessness survey showed that on any given night roughly 40,000 veterans nationwide are experiencing homelessness. · $327 million for the Office of Rural Health and Rural Health Initiatives, an increase of $20 million above the President’s request. This will build upon VA’s success in having served 2.9 million veterans at 600 rural serving sites. The measure also: · Directs the military to address the parking shortage at the Tripler Army Medical Center. · Requires the VA to assess the benefits of expanding the Veterans Affairs Accessing Telehealth through Local Area Stations Program in more areas, including Hawai‘i. This program offers veterans the ability to securely access VA care in purpose-built settings from easily accessed locations in their home communities. · Continues contracting preferences for Native Hawaiian businesses. · Directs the VA to ensure support and outreach to WWII Filipino veterans overseas and prevents the transfer of funding from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund to any other VA account. Defense The bill’s Defense section supports federal agencies and programs in the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community, including the military branches of services, the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. The bill provides $728.5 billion for these national defense programs, an increase of $32.5 billion over the 2021 enacted level. This agreement includes over $686 million to continue supporting displaced servicemembers, civilians and their families, addressing drinking water contamination and conducting activities in compliance with the State of Hawaii’s emergency order. The Secretary of Defense is also directed to provide a report to Congress no later than 90 days after enactment of the bill detailing all options under consideration by the DoD to mitigate issues related to the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, as well as future fuel storage requirements. Other programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: · $75 million to continue development of Homeland Defense Radar – Hawai‘i (HDR-H). The HDR-H is a critical state-of-the-art radar system designed to protect our country and state from ballistic missile threats and was strongly supported by our Indo-Pacific military leaders. This “discriminating radar” will be capable of identifying and classifying specific missile threats and will address current and emerging threats. · $5 million additional to continue improving the safety of the underground fuel storage tanks at Red Hill as the Navy works to defuel and close the facility. · Continued funding for the non-construction elements of the SIOP, to include $264 million for ongoing operations and maintenance (in addition to military construction described above). · $4 million for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s Regional Centers. This funding will help expand the work of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies at Fort DeRussy, a premier defense-supported research and education center in Honolulu that fosters shared understanding and networked relationships among civilian and military leaders throughout the Indo-Pacific. · $293 million for Environmental Restoration, Formerly Used Defense Sites Program, which is $74 million over the President’s budget request. These funds will help accelerate efforts to remove unexploded ordnance and discarded military munitions in Hawai‘i and throughout the nation. · The Appropriations Committee again 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‘i to respond quickly to changing threats in the Indo-Pacific region. · Helicopter and Tiltrotor Noise Study report language, which directs the DoD’s Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) to study how local communities are impacted by military helicopter and tiltrotor noise. Such noise is a consistent complaint to Case’s office. This study will result in noise contour maps that can be incorporated in community planning through the OLDCC’s existing Noise Mitigation Community Partnership Program. · Retention of the military contracting preference language for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations. · Support for the Naval Shipyard Apprentice Program, with instructions to the Secretary of the Navy to induct classes of not fewer than 100 apprentices at each of the four naval shipyards and to include the costs of the class of apprentices in the FY2023 budget request. The measure also includes: · Full funding necessary to support the proposed 2.7 percent military pay raise. · Support for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, which bolsters deterrence and maintains our competitive edge in the Indo-Pacific in recognition of threats posed by China and the need to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific. A key component of the PDI for FY 2022 is $80 million for the missile defense of Guam, which faces the threats of ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles. This is $40 million more than the President’s Budget request. · $26 billion to procure 13 Navy ships. · $75 million for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI). The DoD created the REPI Program in response to land development and loss of habitat in the vicinity of or affecting military installations, ranges and airspace that can lead to restrictions or costly and inadequate training and testing alternatives. Through REPI, DoD works with state and local governments, conservation organizations and willing private landowners to address these challenges to the military mission and the viability of DoD installations and ranges. · $5 million increase for the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative, a key program supporting USINDOPACOM. This program enables the military to execute Theater Security Cooperation activities, such as humanitarian assistance and paying incremental personnel costs of training and exercising with foreign security forces. The initiative is a critical tool for the U.S. military to strengthen relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific region. · Efforts to confront the climate crisis with historic investments for clean energy and climate adaptation to protect facilities, readiness and global security, to include $1.6 billion for restoration and modernization of military facilities. State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs This measure funds U.S. foreign policy programs and agencies, including the Department of State, USAID, U.S. contributions to the United Nations and its agencies and more. Globally, this bill provides for U.S. foreign assistance in public health, basic education, educational and cultural exchanges, climate change and more. The discretionary funding level is $56 billion, an increase of $595 million over the FY 2021 enacted level. Case continued to advocate on the Committee and as a Co-Chair of the House Pacific Islands Caucus for increased reinvestment in the Indo-Pacific and America’s allies and partners. The bill approved his request for $19.7 million appropriated for the East-West Center, representing continued stable year-to-year funding after a decade of efforts to reduce or even eliminate such funding. The East-West Center’s work not only furthers Hawaii’s understanding of the Indo-Pacific region but also enhances our country’s relationships with citizens, scholars, diplomats and military officials from other countries in the region. Other programs and provisions related to the Pacific Islands and the Indo-Pacific requested and secured by Case include: · $1.6 billion for implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy to counter malign influence and promote peace, prosperity and democracy in the region. · Report language recommending funds to enhance engagement with the Pacific Islands on strengthening resilience against malign influences, promoting development and good governance and supporting economic growth. · Report language urging the U.S. Development Finance Corporation to prioritize investments in the Pacific Islands, especially investments in minority- and women-owned businesses. · Report language encouraging the Department of State and USAID to hire locally employed staff in the Pacific Islands to promote and expand our diplomacy and development engagement. · Report language supporting coverage of Voice of America on digital and conventional media in the Pacific Islands, including through the pursuit of regional affiliates; and · Report language directing the Department of State and USAID to update and submit an Indo-Pacific climate security report assessing the impacts of climate change on U.S. foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific and providing a plan on how best to address such impacts. The bill also sustains or increases funding for several foreign policy programs supported by Case, including: · $1.7 billion for contributions to international organizations and $1.5 billion for to support United Nations international peacekeeping activities, which includes U.S. dues and arrears. · $753 million for Educational and Cultural Exchange programs, which include the Fulbright programs. · $411 million for the Peace Corps, an increase of $20 million over the FY 2021 enacted level. · $6 billion for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, including $1.6 billion for the Global Fund. · $4 billion for maternal and child health programs and combating infectious diseases. · $950 million for basic education. · $7 billion for humanitarian assistance programs, including refugee assistance and international disaster assistance. Homeland Security This section supports the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service and more. The discretionary funding level is $81.1 billion, an increase of $5.6 billion over the 2021 enacted level. The bill includes $101 million for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, which includes the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPC) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. The NDPC, a seven-member professional alliance, is the principal means through which FEMA identifies, develops, tests and delivers training to state and local emergency responders. The NDPC has trained over 2.5 million people throughout the United States and its territories. Other programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: · Report language supporting the continued expansion of the preclearance program to eligible partners in the Indo-Pacific region to support ease of travel and tourism. · Report language supporting the evaluation of space-based radio frequency detection technologies to support maritime domain awareness and combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. · Report language directing CBP to continue efforts to address invasive species in Hawai‘i and the non-contiguous U.S. territories. · Report language directing TSA to examine the safety and efficiency of using local law enforcement partnerships to staff airport exit lanes under TSA oversight. · Congressional direction to the administration on the continued introduction of invasive species to Hawai‘i and the non-contiguous U.S. territories. · $355 million for the Emergency Management Performance Grants, which support state and local emergency management agencies like the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency. · $360 million for firefighter grant programs, which are a major source of funding for county fire departments. · $20 million for the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. Commerce-Science-Justice The bill’s Commerce-Science-Justice Appropriations section of the bill supports the Department of Commerce, including the International Trade Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and more. Case serves on the Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science. The section’s discretionary funding level is a historic $76 billion. Programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: · $6 million to support maintenance and repair of Atmospheric Baseline Observatories, including the Mauna Loa Observatory where the famous Keeling Curve proving rapid climate change was developed. · $61 million for Sanctuaries and Marine Protected Areas, including the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. · $43 million for NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project. · $33 million for the Coral Reef Conservation Program. · $148 million for protection, research and management of marine mammals, sea turtles and other species. · $4 million for the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grants. · $158 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnerships program. · $675 million for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants and $512 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services. · Report language directing the Economic Development Administration to assist local- and state-level public-private partnerships in advancing stakeholder-based frameworks that measure progress in sustainable development through open-data platforms, such as the Aloha+ Challenge Dashboard advanced by Hawai‘i Green Growth. · Report language directing the Federal Bureau of Prisons to establish residential reentry centers in federal court districts like Hawai‘i that currently lack such facilities. · Report language directing the Minority Business Development Agency to provide at least $3 million in grants to Native American populations, including Native Hawaiians, for addressing barriers to economic development. · Report language allowing applicants in the tourism industry to make requests for Economic Development Administration funds for certain travel promotion activities. The measure also includes: · $6 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. · $55 million for the Minority Business Development Agency. · $35 billion for the Department of Justice, including $11 billion for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and $760 million for the Executive Office for Immigration Review. · $24 billion for NASA. · $9 billion for the NSF. · $420 million for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. · $110 million for the International Trade Commission. Labor, Health, Human Services and Education The bill’s Labor, Health, Human Services and Education section supports a broad range of key federal programs that support public health, child care, mental health, maternal health, job training and workforce development, public education and various initiatives to address the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. The discretionary funding level is $214 billion, an increase of $15 billion over the FY 2021 enacted level. The measure directs federal funding to address many of the cultural, economic, educational and health needs of Native Hawaiians and other indigenous communities, including: · $22 million for the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems, which is $1.5 million above the FY 2021 enacted level. · $38 million for the Native Hawaiian Education Program, a $1.5 million increase from the FY 2021 enacted level and the President’s budget request. · $36 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 kūpuna. · $21 million for the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program, $2 million above the FY 2021 enacted level. These funds will support tutoring, mentorships, internships, faculty development and other activities to support Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students at the collegiate level. · $57 million to support Native American job training programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. · $2 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. · $1 million to create a new Native Hawaiian Resource Center on Domestic Violence within the Family Violence Prevention Program, providing supportive services for adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence and dating violence and to prevent such incidents in Native Hawaiian communities. · $1 million for the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity (more)in 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. · $500,000 to establish the first-ever Native American Language Resource Center, which will support higher education institutions in teaching and learning languages, including research on new teaching methods for educators and developing instructional materials, among other things. Programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: · $45 billion for the National Institutes of Health, an increase of $2.3 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level, to support a wide range of biomedical and behavioral research. · $1 billion to establish ARPA-H within the Department of Health and Human Services to accelerate the pace of scientific breakthroughs for diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and cancer. · $1.8 billion for Community Health Centers, $65 million above FY 2021 and $15 million more than the President’s budget request, to provide high quality, cost-effective health care to predominantly low-income and medically-underserved communities. · $16 million for the Health Careers Opportunity Program to assist students from minority and economically disadvantaged backgrounds navigate careers in the health profession. · $17.5 billion for Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies (low income schools), an increase of $1 billion above the FY 2021 enacted level - the largest increase in the program in more than a decade. · $25 billion for Federal student aid programs, which includes funding to raise the maximum Pell Grant award to $6,895, a $400 increase from the FY 2021 enacted level. · $1 billion for the Federal TRIO Program, $40 million more than the FY 2021 enacted level, to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, veterans and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs. · $114 million for McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program, which helps homeless youth access critical health and wellness services and provide them with the support they need to succeed in and out of the classroom. · $20 million in Supplemental Education Grants, an increase of about $3 million above the FY 2021 enacted level, for general education assistance in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. · $57 billion for the National Farmworker Jobs Program, which helps agricultural workers upgrade their skills in and outside agriculture by providing job training, placement and other services to eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers, while helping local businesses find workers with the skills they require. Energy & Water The bill’s Energy and Water section supports the deployment of clean energy technologies and green jobs, in addition to funding flood and waterway projects through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to include key Hawai‘i areas like the Ala Wai and Honolulu Harbor. The discretionary funding level is $55.0 billion, an increase of $3.2 billion over the FY 2021 enacted level. Programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include: · $10 million and report language for the Energy Transitions Initiative (ETI). This program, which aims to advance self-reliant island and remote communities through the development of resilient energy systems, helps recipients who face unique energy challenges due to their remote location, fossil fuel dependency, and limited access to affordable infrastructure improvements. · This funding supports two ETI projects in Hawai‘i: electrical infrastructure resiliency in Honolulu, and alternative and autonomous mobility options for Kaua‘i. · Report language directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address the flooding concerns in Kaua‘i and to provide a briefing on the efforts to address these issues, including any authorized studies, timelines, challenges, and other related projects that are required to be expedited to mitigate flood risks. · A record-level $3.2 billion for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, an increase of $338 million above FY 2021 level. This funding will go to support many of the renewable energy projects underway across the state of Hawai‘i, · $186 million for Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response. This funding provides for efforts to secure the nation’s energy infrastructure against all hazards, reduce the risks of and impacts from cybersecurity events, and assist with restoration activities. · $8.3 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a whole, to include $143 million for the investigations account, which funds studies for projects in Hawai‘i like the Ala Wai Flood Zone to be evaluated for safety and flood risk, and $4.6 billion for the operation and maintenance account, which supports ongoing U.S. Army Corps work in Hawai‘i like the Barbers Point Deep Draft Harbor. · $450 million for Advanced Research Projects – Energy, an increase of $23 million above the FY 2021 level. This funding supports research aimed at rapidly developing energy technologies that are capable of significantly changing the energy sector to address the nation’s critical economic, environmental and energy security challenges. Transportation-Housing Urban Development The bill’s Transportation-Housing Urban Development section supports the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Transportation (DOT) including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Maritime Commission, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, National Transportation Safety Board, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The bill’s discretionary funding level is $81 billion, an increase of $6 billion over the FY 2021 enacted level. To help combat increasing noise and community disruption from civilian aircraft operations, including from tour helicopters, the bill provides $8 million to the FAA to better support regular engagement with communities affected by aviation noise. These funds would be used to provide on-line, real-time and authoritative information to the public about airport operations and aircraft position and altitude; respond to questions and complaints from the public; make aggregated information from the FAA noise portal available to the public; and ensure technical and analytical support to communities. The bill also includes: · $25 billion for the FAA, including $1.5 billion for aviation safety. · $1.3 billion for the Maritime Administration, including $318 million for the Maritime Security Program and $230 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program. · Report language directing the DOT to emphasize resiliency and support for roads that are currently in crisis situations, ensuring that the most vulnerable roads are being modernized and that planning for future resilient roads take climate change realities into account. · A provision allowing up to $28 million in housing loans through the Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee Program. The Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 established a loan guarantee program for Native Hawaiians who are eligible to reside on Hawaiian home lands and would otherwise face barriers to acquiring such financing because of the unique legal status of the Hawaiian home lands. · $22 million for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG). The NHHBG funds support the building, acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable homes. · $5 billion for the Community Development Fund. · $3 billion for the Homeless Assistance Grants · $63 million for the Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity Program. · $55 million for the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program and Native American Veterans programs. · $13.5 billion on project-based rental assistance. Among the bill and related report’s provisions are directives to the FAA to: · Finish its report, as required by Public Law 116–260, on its responses to the National Transportation Safety Board on safety recommendations regarding commercial air tour flights flying under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 and Part 135, including what action the FAA has taken on each recommendation and why or why none was taken. · Update Congress on FAA effort to implement recommendations from the Government Accountability Office’s report (GAO–21–200) that recommended the FAA consistently and fully share noise complaints with helicopter operators and pilots and that they, in turn, need to share the same with the FAA in order to develop an effective strategy to address these complaints. · Invite federal agencies that operate military, law enforcement or rescue aircraft to participate in community noise events. · Consult with the Federal Interagency Committee on Aviation Noise and the Council on Environmental Quality on the implications the agency’s noise policy review may have on fields and industries outside of aviation. A detailed summary of the bill is available here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=780,Case Asks President To Waive Jones Act To Facilitate Available and Affordable Shipping Of US Oil From US Ports To Hawaii To Replace Banned Russian Oil Imports,2022-03-08,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=22,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today urged President Biden to exercise existing authority to grant a waiver from the federal Jones Act to permit international shipping to ship oil and other petroleum products from mainland U.S. ports to Hawai‘i to allow for full replacement from domestic supply of the some one-third of total Hawai‘i oil imports from Russia and banned today by Presidential order. Case also introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives today to mandate such a waiver. The Jones Act is a century-old federal law that requires all shipping between U.S. ports to be provided by U.S.-built and flagged vessels. With now less than 100 total Jones Act vessels in the country today (including the container ships of Hawai‘i providers Matson and Pasha), with all Jones Act tankers dedicated to other purposes, and with the cost of shipping crude oil from the mainland to Hawai‘i on any available Jones Act capacity being substantially higher than non-Jones Act international shipping of crude oil from overseas to Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i has been driven to depend on foreign oil for its gas and other fossil fuel-based energy needs. The ban on Russian imports, which has accounted for between one quarter and one-third of all Hawai‘i oil imports in recent years, forces Hawai‘i to seek other sources for its energy needs, and domestic oil is the clearest alternative but for the adequacy and cost of Jones Act shipping. “I join the vast majority of the people of Hawai‘i in support of your decision to ban imports of Russian oil and other fossil fuel products,” Case wrote President Biden. “This is a necessary and unavoidable action if we are to implement the full range of available sanctions against Russia for its unprovoked and unjustified war on Ukraine. In support of our mutual efforts, yesterday I joined colleagues in Congress in co-introducing our bipartisan Ban Russian Energy Imports Act to prohibit the importation of Russian crude oil, petroleum, petroleum products, liquified natural gas and coal. “In Hawai‘i, with widespread support, Par Hawai‘i, our state’s only oil refiner, has already suspended any future purchase and importation of Russian oil. We understand that this must be done, and further understand that we must and will share with the rest of the country the consequences of a nationwide ban. “However, without action, the people of Hawaiʻi will be asked to bear consequences far out of proportion to those of most other Americans. “This is because the best replacement for Russian oil imports to Hawai‘i is domestic supply, and the transport of that supply 2,500 miles to our remote island state is subject to the Jones Act requiring any such transport to occur exclusively on a very limited number of domestic vessels. “As a result, the costs of such shipping, even if it were available domestically to start with, would be higher by a number of multiples than transport on the plethora of non-U.S. flagged specialty vessels. These costs would be passed on in price increases that are already among the highest in our country and would directly affect our national defense headquartered in Hawai’i, our economy, and our communities. “The bottom line is that through a combination of factors unique to Hawai‘i, absent action the people of Hawai‘i will be asked to bear a far greater burden of any Russian oil ban than anywhere else in the country. Your Administration holds the necessary authority to counteract some of the adverse effects caused by a ban on Russian energy imports through a limited, targeted waiver of the Jones Act for domestic supply shipping to Hawai‘i.” Under the Jones Act, the executive branch is authorized to provide for limited Jones Act waivers The last time a waiver order was executed was in 2017, when President Trump temporarily waived the Jones Act to allow for disaster relief efforts to be shipped to Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria. “We cannot stake Hawaii’s energy dependence on foreign actors in the current geopolitical climate, and we should not force a disproportionate burden on the State of Hawaiʻi when we have the necessary tools at our disposal to mitigate these unique consequences as we implement this nationwide embargo,” Case wrote President Biden. Case also wrote Matt Cox, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Matson, Inc., and George W. Pasha, IV, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Pasha Group, whose companies together dominate the Jones Act shipping trade from West Coast sources to Hawai’i for the vast majority of Hawai’i needs, asking them both to support his waiver request to the President and his bill. “I hope and believe that you will fully understand and appreciate the gravity of the moment for our country and world and especially the severe disproportionate impact that the national import ban we have just commenced will likely have on Hawai‘i especially absent such a Jones Act waiver,” Case wrote Cox and Pasha. “I ask for your affirmative full support of my letter to the President and my bill at your earliest opportunity. If you decline to provide that support, I ask for your specific reasons, including your full description of how specifically the up to one third of Hawaii’s total oil needs provided by Russia using non-Jones Act shipping before the ban will be replaced by domestic oil transported on Jones Act ships without the severe cost premium which drove Hawai’i to import foreign oil to start with.” “This is a critical time to set aside the endless debate over the pros and cons of the Jones Act both nationally and as applied specifically and, in my view, unfairly to our remote island state,” said Case. “It is crystal clear that in this specific crisis the effects of the Jones Act on Hawai‘i are especially severe and we should be able to agree that of all times this is one in which the Jones Act should be waived for the duration of our necessary ban on Russian oil.” Attachments: - Case letter to President Biden - Case House bill to exempt Hawai‘i from the Jones Act for oil imports for the Russian oil ban duration - Case letter to Matson’s Cox and Pasha’s Pasha",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=776,Case Statement On Defense Department's Decision To Close Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility,2022-03-07,2022,2022-03,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=22,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) issued the following statement on the Secretary of Defense’s directive to defuel and close the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility: “Secretary of Defense Austin’s directive today that the Navy proceed to defuel and close Red Hill is exactly the right decision for assuring both safe drinking water and national security.” “It is painfully clear that protecting the natural resource of our aquifer cannot be assured through the continuation of Red Hill. It is also clear that other fuel storage distribution strategies will fulfill our real national security needs in this difficult century for the Indo-Pacific. “As the Secretary said, this will be a multi-step process. But I am convinced of the Defense Department’s good-faith commitment to work through it as quickly and safely as possible. “My own efforts in Congress will continue to be focused on working with all concerned to achieve these goals and, through my House Appropriations Committee and otherwise, to secure the necessary major funding required for both defueling and closing Red Hill and providing for our continued national security through other means of bulk fuel storage.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T02:06:17Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=762,Case Urges Heightened Preparation and Vigilance Against Cyberattacks Associated With Russian Invasion of Ukraine and Resulting Imposition of Sanctions,2022-02-25,2022,2022-02,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=22,scraper,"(Honolulu, HI) - U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i-01) is urging all Hawai’i state and county governments, businesses and residents to practice heightened preparation and vigilance against cyberattacks on their computers and online platforms associated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and resulting sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus. He also is relaying resources and practical advice from our country’s leading cybersecurity and law enforcement agencies together with a direct request that any online incidents or unusual activity be immediately reported to federal agencies. “Today I joined a briefing to Members of Congress by U.S. Attorney General Garland, Director of Homeland Security Mayorkas, FBI Director Wray and our other national law enforcement and cybersecurity leaders on the reality of the heightened threat of cyberattacks associated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and our response and what each of us can and should do to prepare, deter and respond,” said Case. “The bottom line is that we should fully expect and prepare for Russia and individuals and entities associated with Russia to engage in cyber warfare across the world, as they are already doing in Ukraine and have done in our country and elsewhere in the world and as we pursue our critical response through sanctions and other means. “This is just as true in Hawai’i as anywhere else in our country. For although we may be physically located on the other side of the world and far from the actual war, cyberattacks do not care about physical locations.” “We should also not assume that the targets are just governments and businesses with key infrastructure roles. The intent of cyberwarfare is to disrupt economies and societies across a broad range and so nobody is immune. “The briefers also stated that those initiating cyberattacks could be various bad actors, starting with Russia itself but also including criminal enterprises sponsored by Russia, other countries and organizations associated with Russia, or other countries, organizations and individuals who may take the opportunity to conduct their own attacks.” Case said that the briefers asked and urged all Americans to assist, beginning with reviewing the information, resources and contact directions through the SHIELDS UP program at the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) website here. CISA also offers the following contact number for questions or information: (888) 282-0870. He also said that their number one request was that any actual attacks or unusual activity be reported as soon as possible to the federal authorities through the CISA website or the FBI. For the FBI, the number to call is 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324). You can file a report online with the FBI here. The FBI also features an interview with the head of its Cyber-Division in Washington, DC here, with further advice on safety and security here. “The reason for prompt reporting is that in the area of cyberattack vigilance, response and prevention time is of the essence to identify, authenticate and counter-attack,” said Case. Case also relayed the following practical advice to heighten cybersecurity and head off attacks: Update antivirus and antispyware software and operating systems to their latest versions. Avoid clicking unknown links in emails Enable and use multifactor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. Never give your password to anyone, and do not reuse passwords across multiple sites. Turn unused devices all the way on and off once a day If you are not sure about an email, link, or attachment you have received, save it as an attachment and send it to your IT department or to the FBI for analysis. “Unfortunately, this is the reality of instability and conflict in a modern world so dependent on technology, “ said Case. “We have some of the most advanced cyber operations in the world, but others like Russia have long known that one key way to wage war is in the cyber realm and they have no hesitation to do so. “So we must meet this threat just as seriously with preparation and defense throughout our governments, businesses, communities and homes (in addition to the counter-cyber efforts we will continue to conduct through our federal agencies).” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:57:46Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=761,Case Issues Statement On Russia's Attack On Ukraine,2022-02-23,2022,2022-02,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=22,scraper,"(Honolulu, HI) - U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i-01) tonight issued the following statement on Russia’s attack on Ukraine: “Russia’s attack on Ukraine, a sovereign independent country that wants nothing more than to chart its own course in peace, violates everything that our country and our partners around the world stand for. “We must stand united against Russia, not only to defend our international rules-based order that has largely kept the peace and enabled international advancement for three generations, but to assure that Ukraine is not just one of a long list of victims of Russia and other countries and authoritarian regimes around the world.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:57:46Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=757,"Kahele, Case Introduce Legislation To Permanently Shut Down Red Hill",2022-02-11,2022,2022-02,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=22,scraper,"(HONOLULU, HI) – U.S. Congressmen Kaialiʻi Kahele (HI-02) and Ed Case (HI-01) announced today the introduction of the Red Hill Watershed and Aquifer Initiative (WAI) Act, federal legislation to permanently shut down the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. “The Red Hill WAI Act ensures the complete and permanent shut down of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and requires the United States Navy to defuel the facility by the end of the year,” said Congressman Kaialiʻi Kahele. “Too many people have suffered and are still suffering as a direct result of the fuel leaks at Red Hill – this is unacceptable. “I have spoken to many families who describe serious illnesses after cooking, bathing, or ingesting tainted water. And still, after several months, there are thousands of families that remain displaced – unable to return to their homes. I will continue to do everything I can to help protect the people and the island of Oʻahu and our most precious natural resource, our wai.” “I support our military, and understand fully our need to remain strong and prepared throughout the Indo-Pacific including a strategic fuel reserve capacity,” said Congressman Ed Case. “But that cannot excuse Red Hill’s harm to thousands of my constituents, nor justify the ongoing risk it poses to our drinking water under its current or any future configuration and operation as a bulk fuel storage facility. “Rather than prolong the Department of Defense’s unfortunate legal action and analysis of Red Hill’s future, Congress and Hawaiʻi must step in now and mandate that Red Hill’s future does not include bulk fuel storage. “I remain fully committed, especially as a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, to supporting and funding both the defueling, decommissioning and remediation of Red Hill and the identification and funding of alternate strategic fuel storage capacity that will maintain a strong national defense without risk to our families.” The Red Hill Watershed and Aquifer Initiative (WAI) Act would: Discontinue all fuel operations at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawaiʻi; Defuel all bulk storage tanks located at Red Hill by the end of 2022; Permanently close the facility in accordance with the current practices recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency This legislation authorizes funding to allow the Navy to address and perform environmental remediation for the November 2021 spill and any other spill that occurred during the operation of the facility. In addition, it would require the Navy to establish water treatment and testing facilities; reimburse the State of Hawaiʻi Departments of Health and Education and the Honolulu Water Supply for costs associated with water contamination; and provide a monthly report to Congress on the progress towards defueling. This legislation would also require additional funding for research so the federal government can continue water monitoring to protect the residents of Oʻahu. Companion legislation is being introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaiʻi).",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:57:46Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=754,Case Announces $403 Million For Red Hill In U.S. House Fiscal Year 2022 Continuing Resolution,2022-02-07,2022,2022-02,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=22,scraper,"(Washington, DC) - U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i-01) today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has included $403 million to address drinking water contamination at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in its proposed Fiscal Year 2022 federal funding continuing resolution introduced today and expected to be voted on by the full House tomorrow. H.R. 6617 will extend all current federal discretionary funding through March 11th while the House and Senate work to complete the full appropriations process for the current fiscal year expiring September 30th of this year. It is expected to pass both the House and the Senate and be signed by the President this week. “It is highly unusual to include new funding in such a continuing resolution and is reserved for truly urgent matters that cannot await the normal appropriations process,” said Case, a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee responsible for all federal discretionary funding. “This initiative to include desperately-needed Red Hill funding was led by Senator Schatz, who negotiated the funding request with the executive branch and his Senate colleagues. I contributed to securing agreement within the U.S. House and our Appropriations Committee, where all federal appropriations must originate.” The $403 million is provided in three portions of the continuing resolution: · $250 million to address current drinking water contamination resulting from the Red Hill leak, · $100 million to implement the State of Hawaii’s emergency order to defuel Red Hill, and · $53 million in existing general operational funding now directed specifically to Red Hill. “These amounts are immediately appropriated on enactment of the continuing resolution,” said Case. “We are pursuing further funding in our overall spending bill for current Fiscal Year 2022, as well as for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2023 and beyond.” A section-by-section summary is here. The full text of the legislation is here. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:57:46Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=753,Bulk of Case's Boosting Long-Term Engagement In the Pacific (BLUE Pacific) Act Passes U.S. House,2022-02-02,2022,2022-02,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=22,scraper,"Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) joined a majority of his colleagues today in supporting U.S. House of Representatives passage of the “Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology and Economic Strength” or COMPETES Act, groundbreaking legislation to ensure the country’s success in long-term global competition. “This measure will greatly strengthen both our economic and national security, especially as we tackle the growing challenges posed by China throughout our Indo-Pacific,” said Case. “I especially worked with colleagues to include in the COMPETES Act much of the Boosting Long-Term U.S. Engagement in the Pacific (BLUE Pacific) Act, a bill I introduced in 2019 to re-establish a long-term, comprehensive strategy for U.S engagement in the critical Pacific Islands region.” The BLUE Pacific Act provisions in the COMPETES Act include: · Expanded U.S. diplomatic and development presence in the Pacific Islands; · Improved coordination of U.S. engagement, including security and development assistance, through a formal consultative process with regional partners, allies and multilateral institutions; · Requiring U.S. agencies to devise and implement a strategy to invest in climate resilient development projects, including by using the U.S. voice and vote at international financial institutions, and authorize $50 million per year for the next five years for this purpose; · Expanded coverage of the International Law Enforcement Academies program to the Pacific Islands; · Development of a comprehensive strategy for U.S. security assistance to the Pacific Islands to enhance maritime security, address illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, tackle transnational crimes like human and drug trafficking and more; · Increased U.S. efforts to assist the Pacific Islands in addressing transnational crime through ratification and implementation of international legal instruments and enhanced action on illegal forestry and logging; · Implementing an emergency preparedness initiative for the Pacific Islands through education and training programs, technical assistance and more, supported by an authorization of $40 million per year for the next five years; and · Expanded Peace Corps presence in the Pacific Islands. In addition, the full House also approved the following floor amendments to the COMPETES Act offered by Case to: · Order a comprehensive study into offshore aquaculture including the environmental impact, and an assessment on the impact of international offshore aquaculture industries on the US seafood market. · Direct the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of the Interior and in consultation with other relevant federal departments and agencies, to report on international indigenous engagement, to include Native American representation and participation in international organizations dedicated to indigenous communities. · Establish a program for the professional development of young adult leaders and professionals in the Pacific Islands similar to the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative. Case also co-sponsored the following floor amendments adopted by the House for inclusion into the COMPETES Act to: · Express a Sense of Congress that it is in the national interest for the United States to become a formal signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). · Add the text of the Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act to the bill, which orders a study on the feasibility of manufacturing more goods in the United States, in particular, products that are key to our critical infrastructure. · Create a Congressionally charted commission to make recommendations to Congress on how best to maintain and bolster U.S. supply chains. · Direct the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to publish an annual report to promote evidence-based policies and controls that small entities (i.e., small businesses, nonprofits and local governments) may employ to improve cybersecurity; and require a Commerce Department annual report on barriers small entities face in implementing cybersecurity policies and controls. The bill also includes several provisions from separate measures Case has cosponsored to protect our oceans and strengthen our partnerships abroad, including: · Reauthorizing the Coral Reef Conservation Program, including a $58.5 million authorization for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of the Interior to conduct their corals programs for each Fiscal Year from 2022 through 2026; · Prohibiting domestic sale of shark fins; · Improving laws to control illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing on the high seas; · Phasing out large-scale driftnet fishing in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone; · Establishing a grant program to promote the consumption of seafood products that are local or domestic, climate-friendly or from well-managed but less known species; · Assessing the progress of studies into the effects of climate change on our island jurisdictions; · Studying the environmental impacts associated with deep seabed mining; · Studying the global carbon sequestration potential of protecting or restoring oceanic blue carbon; · Establishing a fellowship program with Taiwan; and · Creating an Ambassador at Large for Artic Affairs within the Department of State. ### See Case testify on February 1, 2022, before the House Rules Committee on the COMPETES Act here",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:57:46Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=752,Case Statement On Decision By The U.S. Defense Department To Appeal The State Department Of Health's Emergency Order On Red Hill,2022-01-31,2022,2022-01,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=23,scraper,"(Honolulu, HI) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) issued the following response to the statement today by Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks on Red Hill: “I strongly disagree with the Defense Department’s decision to further contest the State’s emergency order. I will do everything I can to fully effectuate the order and, if necessary, to confirm that Hawai’i and any other state is legally entitled to protect its drinking water.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:50:39Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=748,Case Announces Additional $2.5 Million To Aid Tonga In The Aftermath Of Destructive Volcanic Eruption,2022-01-22,2022,2022-01,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=23,scraper,"(Honolulu, HI) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today announced that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing an additional $2.5 million in critical assistance to the Kingdom of Tonga in the aftermath of the destructive eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano. “This funding is in addition to the initial $100,000 already provided to the Tonga Red Cross Society that will fund critical water, sanitation and hygiene supplies and support disease prevention campaigns to reduce the spread of infectious disease,” said Case. The humanitarian aid comes after the underwater volcano erupted on January 15th local time in Tonga, the biggest recorded anywhere on the planet in 30 years which triggered widespread damage to Tonga as well as a tsunami that was felt across the Pacific. Earlier this week, Case and his fellow co-chairs of his bipartisan Pacific Islands Caucus in the U. S. House sent a letter to President Biden, with copies to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and USAID Administrator Samantha Power, urging immediate and full action to assist Tonga. The letter states “Given reports of extensive damage from both the tsunami and ashfall, we are deeply concerned for the health and welfare of the roughly 100,000 residents of Tonga.” In their letter, the Members of Congress added: “We stand ready to work with you to ensure that assistance is promptly delivered to address this ongoing disaster and that support continues as Tonga rebuilds.” Attachment: letter to President Biden dated January 21, 2022 ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:50:39Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=747,Case Announces $48 million In Federal Assistance For Additional Health Care Workers Brought To Hawaii To Assist With COVID-19,2022-01-19,2022,2022-01,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=23,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $48 million to provide for surge medical staffing at local hospitals and clinics in fighting the current Omicron variant surge largely responsible for record COVID-19 cases throughout Hawai‘i. “This is great news for our severely overextended hospitals struggling with staffing shortages and health care workers closing in on two straight years of very difficult conditions as they continue to deal not just with record COVID cases but other often-deferred medical needs,” said Case, a member of the House Appropriations Committee responsible for the funding of federal government agencies, departments and organizations. Last month, the state’s Department of Health—in consultation with health care facilities across Hawai‘i—submitted a formal request to FEMA for 700 clinicians to return to Hawai‘i if COVID-19 threatened to overwhelm hospitals in the islands, as it now is. Since then, the state’s request for surge medical staffing was updated to 955 clinicians to address the recent spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations because of Omicron. Case said the FEMA award will also assist the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) to fund emergency protective measures as a direct result of the pandemic. ### (2) “This is great news for our severely overextended hospitals struggling with staffing shortages and health care workers closing in on two straight years of very difficult conditions as they continue to deal not just with record COVID cases but other often-deferred medical needs,” said Case, a member of the House Appropriations Committee responsible for the funding of federal government agencies, departments and organizations. Last month, the state’s Department of Health—in consultation with health care facilities across Hawai‘i—submitted a formal request to FEMA for 700 clinicians to return to Hawai‘i if COVID-19 threatened to overwhelm hospitals in the islands, as it now is. Since then, the state’s request for surge medical staffing was updated to 955 clinicians to address the recent spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations because of Omicron. Case said the FEMA award will also assist the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) to fund emergency protective measures as a direct result of the pandemic. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:50:39Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=744,Case Announces $339 Million In Federal Assistance For Critical Hawaii Bridge Projects,2022-01-15,2022,2022-01,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=23,scraper,"(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today announced that Hawai‘i is receiving another major round of funding from the historic $1 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Package (BIP) passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in late 2021. “This second round of funding under BIP amounts to $339 million over five years, with $68 million set for release this year, that will go to critical bridge and culvert projects throughout the State of Hawai‘i,” said Case, a member of the House Appropriations Committee responsible for allocating funding each year for federal government agencies, departments and organizations. “These are the latest of many disbursements to Hawai’i under BIP, the largest federal reinvestment ever in our backbone infrastructure across the country,” said Case. “BIP will eventually deliver some $3 billion to our state for roads and bridges, water infrastructure, climate resilience projects, access to the Internet and much more.” The Hawai’i Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains this priority list of bridges and culverts across the state requiring action based on their condition List of Bridge Priorities Based on Bridge Condition | State of Hawaii Department of Transportation The DOT listed these bridge repairs and improvements programmed to advance in 2022 utilizing the BIP funding (over and above priority bridges already funded with regular annual federal assistance): • H-2 84"" Culvert Emergency Repairs $10M • Wailua River Bridge Scour Repairs $30M • Hamakua Coast Bridge Repairs (Nanue, Kolekole, Hakalau, Wailuku, Paheehee) $170M • H-2 Culvert Panakauahi Repairs $775K • Kaupuni Stream Bridge Rehab $1.4M • Kapalama Canal (EB) Rehab $2.6M • Niu Stream Bridge Rehab $1.8M • Culvert Repairs Statewide $20M • Waiahole Bridge $20M • Waipilopilo Bridge $15M Case said this latest round of funding from BIP follows the first round of funds announced last month of more than $49 million targeted for airport projects throughout the state, with the largest amount, $21 million, going to the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:50:39Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=739,Case Announces 2021 Winners Of Congressional App Challenge Contest,2022-01-07,2022,2022-01,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=23,scraper,"(Honolulu, HI) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today announced the winners of his 2021 Congressional App Challenge for Hawai‘i’s First Congressional District at a virtual reception via Zoom with the winning students. “The 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,” said Case. “And results of this year’s Challenge prove once again that they have the skill set, imagination and resolve to compete against the best of our young people nationwide in science, technology, engineering and math, along with the potential to lead the next generations of computer science and technology.” The winner for Hawaii’s First Congressional District: 1st Place – Jaylen Rabago, Kaden Hieger, Aureanna Inay, & Zaydi Willis of DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach, a public charter school Grade: 8 Instructor: Ms. Cerina Epple App: Nani Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jth6JuEDP4w Summary, according to the creators: “Our app is called Nani (Nani means beautiful in Hawaiian). Nani is a dress-up game that can be played on a computer and is created for young children to play. It encourages Hawaiian keiki (kids) to connect with their culture in a fun way. We wanted the app to show underrepresented kids (i.e. Hawaiian kids) that their culture is beautiful. In the game, the user is prompted to dress up a character in traditional Hula attire according to a hint, like ""yellow hibiscus"" or ""orange sunset"". The user earns kalo (Hawaiian plant) when they dress the character correctly. Our app promotes diversity and cultural exploration. It teaches kids about Hawaiian culture and gives Hawaiian children an opportunity to see themselves represented in an app.” “When we were coming up with ideas for our app, we knew that we wanted the main idea to be around mental health. During our design-thinking process, we recognized that a huge component of mental health well-being in Hawai'i has to do with being connected to our culture. Hawaiian children are using social media and apps at a really young age these days and are exposed to mainly Western beauty standards and culture. We decided it's time for Hawaiian children to see themselves represented in an app. This is why we created Nani—a dress-up game about that connects kids to the Hawaiian cultural tradition of Hula. We hope kids have fun playing this app, and that the app prevents important practices such as Hula from dying out.” The Congressional App Challenge is an official national initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, in which Members of Congress host contests in their districts for middle and high school students. The Challenge encourages students to learn code and inspires them to pursue careers in computer science. Students may use any programming language and the app can be on any platform (web app, desktop/PC app, a web browser extension, mobile app, etc.). The app can be about any topic, but it must be original. An application is a type of software that allows a person to perform specific tasks. Applications for desktop or laptop computers are sometimes called desktop applications, while those for mobile devices are called mobile apps. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:50:39Z https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=736,Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation: Navy Must Comply With DOH Emergency Order To Defuel Red Hill Tanks,2022-01-04,2022,2022-01,Democrat,House,HI,Ed Case,C001055,case.house.gov,case,https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=23,scraper,"WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) and Kaiali‘i Kahele (D-Hawai‘i) released the following statement on the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s emergency order requiring the Navy to defuel its Red Hill fuel tanks. “The Navy must fully comply with the order and begin the process of planning and executing the safe removal of fuel that continues to pose a threat to O‘ahu’s drinking water. Defueling safely will require a coordinated effort, and the delegation will do everything possible to support this effort. Clean drinking water is essential to our health and safety, and our future—we all agree this cannot be compromised for anything.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-08T01:50:39Z