Press Releases

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today confirmed his reappointment to a third term on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, responsible for overseeing and funding all federal government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis.

The Committee works through twelve separate subcommittees, each focusing on specific portions of the federal budget. Case won appointment to the Subcommittees on Defense and Homeland Security.

“The Defense Subcommittee has the most expansive worldwide portfolio of any of the subcommittees, encompassing not just the Department of Defense and all military services, but also our intelligence community including the Central Intelligence Agency and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence,” said Case. “In our current fiscal year, the Subcommittee was responsible for funding $797 billion out of the total appropriation of $1.7 trillion.”

This appointment carries not just significant responsibility for our overall national defense, including continued challenges in the Indo-Pacific, Ukraine and elsewhere, but it will also allow me to significantly expand my focus on Hawaii’s role in the Indo-Pacific and on our re-engagement with our Pacific Islands ‘ohana,” said Case. “It also comes at a critical time for our broad Red Hill efforts, which require continued and enhanced oversight and additional funding over the coming years.”  

Case, who previously served on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (HAC-M), Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS), and Legislative Branch Subcommittees, will also take a second new subcommittee, Homeland Security, with jurisdiction over the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Among the sprawling responsibilities of DHS, which states that it “interacts with the public more than any other federal agency – on land, at sea, in the air, and in cyberspace,” are counterterrorism, cybersecurity, aviation security, border security, port security, maritime security, administration and enforcement of immigration and customs laws, protection of national leaders, protection of critical infrastructure, protection against chemical, biological and nuclear threats to the homeland, as well as response to disasters. Finally, the subcommittee oversees and funds the U.S. Coast Guard.

“I’m very excited to undertake the responsibilities and pursue the opportunities of the Homeland Security Subcommittee,” said Case. “Like Defense, this subcommittee not only focuses on significant national and international efforts, but has wide-ranging involvement on several fronts throughout the Indo-Pacific, the Pacific Islands and Hawai‘i and addresses a host of issues of everyday concern to Hawai’i residents.”

Case continued: “Just one of many examples is our Coast Guard, which is not only key to our way of life in Hawai‘i but is increasingly indispensable to our efforts throughout the Indo-Pacific.

“I’m also looking forward to continuing my work on HAC-M and CJS to assure our military facilities like Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard are first-class, we keep our promises to Hawaii’s veterans, our small business programs are operating and funded, our world-class scientific research facilities and programs continue, our oceans are protected and our law enforcement has the tools it needs to assure public safety.

“I retain my expertise, relationships and initiatives from my four years on those subcommittees, and of course I remain a full member of the overall Committee, able to address any issues and needs throughout federal government.”   

Together, Case’s two 118^th Congress subcommittees, including Homeland Security’s Fiscal Year ’23 $86.5 billion budget, are responsible for over half of the total federal budget.

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