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(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai‘i – First District) outlined Hawai‘i and Indo-Pacific defense priorities in testimony submitted to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee as it considers the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Congress’ annual legislation authorizing national defense efforts. 

Case, a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations and of its Subcommittee on Defense, which is then responsible for funding Department of Defense and related programs authorized by the NDAA, stated that, in the broad context, the Indo-Pacific “is the frontline of our generation-pacing challenges led by the People’s Republic of China (PRC)” and that Hawai‘i “will remain central to our presence and strategy” in the region.

Case went on in his testimony to highlight five inter-related issues that collectively are critical to “maintaining a superior force posture in Hawai‘i, maintaining the support of the people of Hawai‘i for that posture, and projecting our military presence out of Hawai‘i into the broader Indo-Pacific.”

Case’s full testimony is here. His five issues are summarized as follows:

Defense of Hawai‘i

Case stated that while Hawai‘i serves as the headquarters of the Indo-Pacific Command and hosts a range of force-multiplying assets, “the Department of Defense itself has acknowledged that Hawai‘i lacks modern surveillance and response capacities for missile attacks.” He called that gap “unacceptable” and urged the Committee to prioritize and accelerate investment in a state-of-the-art missile defense system for Hawai‘i, as well as investing further in the Hawai‘i National Guard, which provides much of the operation of the system.

Environmental Protection of Hawai‘i

While Case shared his appreciation for the billions of dollars authorized and appropriated by Congress to remediate, defuel and close Red Hill, he highlighted remaining work to protect O‘ahu’s aquifers, as well as to identify and mitigate PFAS risks elsewhere. He also highlighted key natural resource protection programs such as the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program (REPI) under which broad areas of defense and civilian areas near military have been dedicated to protective uses. 

Soft Power in the Pacific

Case testified in continued support of defense-administered “soft power” efforts throughout the Indo-Pacific that “foster goodwill, enhance influence and promote stability “in ways that go beyond combat capabilities and at a fraction of the cost.” He referred to programs and institutions like the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, the State Partnership Program under which our National Guards partner with foreign militaries, and the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) that focuses on military-civilian relationships in states like Hawai‘i and foreign countries.

Defense Contracting Reform and Innovation

To maintain the country’s competitive edge in the Indo-Pacific, Case urged the Committee to “embrace contracting innovation as a strategic imperative.”

Case continued: “We need to continue expanding the use of rapid prototyping pathways that allow us to move at the speed of relevance. By streamlining the acquisition regulations, we can more effectively compete with the PRC, which has invested billions in an effort to develop technology that leapfrogs past our slow-moving acquisition system.”

He cited as an example the work of the Defense Innovation Unit, headquartered in Mountain View, California and which he recently visited, as being instrumental “in bridging the gap between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon, tapping into the commercial sector’s agility to deliver cutting-edge solutions directly to the warfighter.”

Hawai‘i Defense Land Needs/Lease Renegotiations

Case also highlighted defense-related land needs in Hawai‘i, including ongoing efforts to renegotiate leases of some existing state lands. He said, “These lands, many of which are critical for training, readiness and regional posture, must remain available to support our national security objectives.

“At the same time, we must recognize the unique cultural, environmental and community considerations involved.

“That is why I firmly believe the outcome must reflect a win-win – one that upholds the strategic needs of the military over the next generation while honoring the values and priorities of the people of Hawai‘i.”

The House Armed Services Committee will be deliberating the FY 2026 NDAA over the next weeks, at the same time as Case’s Appropriations Defense Subcommittee is considering the FY 2026 budget for the Department of Defense and intelligence agencies.

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