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(Washington, DC) – According to a report by a non-partisan Congress tracking service, U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) ranks 4^th among all 214 Democrats in the House of Representatives in total funding for district community projects approved by his House Appropriations Committee for upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2027.

The report by Congressional Quarterly analyzed all approved Community Project Funding (CPFs) in the eleven federal funding measures passed to date by House Appropriations for FY27 (which begins October 1 of this year). There are twelve annual Appropriations-approved measures to fund the federal government (totaling $1.7 trillion for current FY26). The last one, Defense, does not include CPFs, so the report covers all House CPFs for FY27.

Congress implemented CPFs in FY22 to permit Members of Congress to provide direct federal funding to worthy state and local government and community projects in their districts. The CPF process is subject to strict rules: in the U.S. House each project must have demonstrated community support, requesting Members must personally disclose their CPF requests and attest to each project, and each project is subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/services/funding-disclosures.htm.  

Case gained approval of all 20 of his CPF requests for a total of $18,936,300 in his Appropriations Committee-approved FY27 measures, some of which have passed the full House and the rest of which are pending passage. For the five full fiscal years for which CPFs have been approved, Case has gained approval of 74 CPF requests for a total of $325,809,228 in direct district project funding. A full list of all of Case’s approved CPFs by fiscal year and Appropriations measure is attached. 

“I’m very happy that we’re having a fifth especially successful year for our CPF requests,” said Case, who is serving in his eighth year on the House Appropriations Committee. “This federal funding option is hard to master yet invaluable in helping so many worthy state, county and community projects to deliver on so many diverse community needs that might not otherwise be met fully. While the dollar amount of each project may be small compared to overall federal funding of billions of dollars to Hawai’i every year, for many of these projects it is essential.” 

“My CPF requests come straight from my ongoing outreach and partnerships with my state, county and community partners throughout my district, looking to match the needs and opportunities I find with the various possibilities for federal assistance through Appropriations and otherwise. Then, once we identify worthy CPF possibilities that I believe can be approved by Congress, we work hard to mold them into solid requests that have a solid chance of approval and then shepherd them through the Appropriations process maze.”

Case used as one example his outreach to the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i in advance of the FY22 appropriations cycle. The Blood Bank was short of funds to build its critical new Kapolei center. Case sought and gained a $2 million CPF to assist and was gratified to visit the beautiful new center on its opening earlier this year.

Here are Case’s FY27 approved CPFs:

- $1.8 million for the City and County of Honolulu’s Chinatown Affordable Housing Project. These funds would help preserve much-needed housing by upgrading mechanical systems, making roof and waterproofing improvements and installing accessibility enhancements.

- $250,000 for the Hawai‘i State Department of Education’s Safer Hawai‘i Schools Pilot Program. These funds would enhance the security infrastructure for Ruth Keli‘ikōlani Middle School by helping to build a new security camera system.

- $772,000 for Loko I‘a Restoration in Pu‘uloa by the University of Hawai‘i. The Pu‘uloa estuary (today commonly referred to as Pearl Harbor) once supported 35 highly productive fishponds. After years of watershed degradation, elevated levels of contaminants have led to unsafe seafood consumption and diminished ecosystem function. This project would support a coordinated effort to restore fishponds in Pu‘uloa through remediation planning, restoration of fishpond infrastructure and invasive species management.

- $772,000 for the Enhancing Hawai‘i Cargo Security through Advanced High-Energy Cargo Screening Systems Project at the Hawai‘i State Department of Law Enforcement. With these funds, the Hawai‘i State Department of Law Enforcement would develop advanced high-energy cargo screening systems for Honolulu's ports. This targeted investment will enhance the state's ability to interdict illegal fireworks, weapons, narcotics and other contraband, while also strengthening Hawaii's first line of defense against invasive species and other biosecurity threats entering through commercial freight pathways.

- $772,000 for the Food Analysis Research and Extension Lab at the University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience. These funds would establish the Food Analysis Research and Extension (FARE) Lab, which will serve as a hub for standardized data necessary to support local farmers and food innovators. The FARE Lab will use national standards to document differences across local species and cultivars that serve as staple foods in the diets of people living in Hawai‘i and the broader Pacific.

- $772,000 for the Marine Finfish Hatchery for Stock Enhancement Project at the Hawai‘i State Department for Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. These funds would help establish the first state-operated marine finfish hatchery on Oahu at the Division of Aquatic Resources Anuenue Fisheries Research Center to support the protection, restoration and sustainable management of reef fish populations.  

- $772,000 for the Drone as First Responder Project at the Honolulu Police Department. This project would use automated drones and intelligent surveillance cameras to improve emergency response. The system will include drone launch stations, secure storage, maintenance areas, and real-time video streaming so drones can arrive at incidents within minutes. 

- $772,000 for the Waikīkī Flood Watch Test Project at the University of Hawai‘i. This project would develop a cyberphysical testbed that would transform how Hawai‘i predicts and responds to flooding. Unlike traditional systems that rely on rainfall alone, this platform captures the full picture of compound flooding, including sensors, computer models, digital twins and AI alerts to provide faster and sharper predictions of floods in Waikīkī. By providing earlier and more actionable guidance to city and state emergency managers, the project strengthens preparedness, reduces risk to businesses and residents and helps safeguard one of Hawaii's most vital coastal communities, while demonstrating best practices for similarly situated communities nationally.

- $772,000 for a Critical Incident Response Apparatus (CIRA) for the Honolulu Police Department. This apparatus is a vital asset that enhances the Honolulu Police Department's rescue and recovery capabilities across Oahu. Designed as a shield and barricade tool for rapid deployment, CIRA provides critical protection for the public and first responders during emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters, hazardous material incidents, terrorist attacks and other large-scale critical events.

- $772,000 for the Hawai‘i Port Resilience and Coastal Erosion Study at the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation. This study would address vulnerabilities from coastal erosion and changing sea conditions impacting Hawaii's commercial ports by enhancing a digital twin model with wave modeling, vulnerability assessments, drone-based pier inspections and bathymetric surveys to advance resilience planning for Hawaii's maritime system.

- $772,000 for the Applied Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Research Laboratory at the Hawai‘i Pacific University. This project would establish a laboratory to conduct hands-on, applied research focused on securing AI systems, strengthening AI-enabled cyber defense and defending against AI-driven cyberattacks; while developing practical tools, testing environments and implementation guidance tailored to Hawaii's defense contractors and critical infrastructure operators.

- $300,000 for the Security Water Quantity and Quality in the Ala Wai Watershed Project at the Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. The Ala Wai watershed is currently heavily invaded by Miconia, an invasive plant that increases the propensity for erosion and landslides by limiting understory growth, destabilizing soil and decreasing water absorption. With these funds, the Division of Forestry and Wildlife would manage the invasive plant throughout the Ala Wai watershed by establishing field crews to remove the invasive plant, data management staff and coordinator positions.

· $1.9 million for the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) for two projects:

• An aviation fuel tender, to significantly strengthen HFD’s ability to sustain aerial firefighting and rescue operations during extended emergencies. The tender would allow for reliable on-site fueling capability, ensuring firefighting aircraft can remain operational near the incident rather than losing valuable time traveling long distances to refuel.
• A helicopter hoist training simulator. The simulator would allow HFD’s personnel to improve their skills, rehearse emergency procedures and practice complex hoist maneuvers without placing additional strain on the aircraft. It will boost readiness and extend the life of essential equipment, enabling HFD crews to consistently provide fast, dependable aerial rescue services.

· $1.9 million for Wai‘anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center’s (WCCHC) Waipahu Clinic Expansion Project. This project would allow WCCHC to increase access to health care and social services and open a new Health and Wellness Learning Center in Waipahu to support the WCCHC’s nurse practitioner and dental residency programs to meet crucial health workforce needs.

·  $1 million for Kalihi Palama Health Center’s (KPHC) Emergency Resilience and Internal Renovation Project. This project would repair KPHC’s air conditioning system, purchase an emergency generator to power its elevator and medication refrigerators in the case of power outages, and acquire a digital panoramic X-Ray machine.

· $395,000 for Waikīkī Health Center’s Clinical Upgrade and Service Enhancement Project. These funds would support the upgrade and build-out of a new clinical space and several physician exam rooms that need renovation, along with the purchase of new pharmacy vaccine refrigerators.

· $250,000 for Kōkua Kalihi Valley’s Accessibility and Resilience Project. This project would modernize key facility components through the installation of a solar photovoltaic system, an entry ramp and a new elevator.

·  $581,533 for the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency’s (HIEMA) Kapolei Warehouse Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Renovation. This project would fund the construction of a satellite EOC on the west side of Oahu in a multi-use Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) warehouse. 

· $1,007,060 for HIEMA’s DHHL Warehouse Retrofit Project. This project would fund critically needed improvements to the same multi-use DHHL warehouse by installing an emergency power backup generator, automatic transfer switch and housing, ultimately strengthening Hawaii’s ability to pre-position emergency supplies and equipment on the west side of Oahu.  

The Congressional Quarterly report also ranked Case #102 among all 441 House members in total CPF funding for FY27. The current House Republican majority, as did the prior Democratic majority, allocates a disproportionate share of total CPF funding to Republican members. “My overall result was especially good given I am not in the current majority,” said Case. “It demonstrates the importance of committee membership, experience, relationships, solid processes and hard work in producing results regardless of who is in the majority.” 

On the House Appropriations Committee, Case is in his fourth year now of service on the Subcommittee on Defense and Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which together make up almost 60% of the total federal budget. He formerly served for four years on the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, and the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch.

·       List of all CPFS requested and approved for Congressman Case FY 2022-FY 2027 here

·       Link to Congressional Quarterly article here

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