Press Releases

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) has announced approval by his U.S. House Committee on Appropriations of the final two of twelve measures to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2022 (commencing October 1, 2021): the $53 billion Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations (E&W) bill; and the $84 billion Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations (T-HUD) measure.

Of the E&W bill, Case, a member of the Appropriations Committee, said: “As Hawai‘i continues to lead the nation in moving away from fossil fuel reliance for our energy needs, our measure supports the deployment of clean energy technologies and green jobs, and confronts the climate crisis.”

Case also cited the bill’s investments in our nation’s water infrastructure, including his request, under Member-designated Community Project Funding (CPF), to provide $800,000 for a Honolulu Harbor Modification Feasibility Study, to go with an overall increase in Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund funding to $2.1 billion.

“Honolulu Harbor is Hawaii’s lifeline to and from the world, as it receives and distributes more than 90 percent of all of the goods that come to our state,” said Case.

“This funding would supplement state funding to charge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with assessing the current vulnerabilities of the harbor to natural disaster, navigation mishap and sea level rise, and then propose opportunities, alternatives or solutions to identified vulnerabilities.”

“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.

These projects must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed, and they are subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office.” Case’s disclosures are here https://case.house.gov/media/funding-disclosures.htm

Other programs and provisions requested and secured by Case in the E&W measure 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, is enormously beneficial to its recipients that 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.

·         $177 million for the Office of 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.

·         $375 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program, an increase of $65 million above FY 2021 level. This funding will support the weatherization of nearly 50,000 low-income households and directly benefits the improvement of older homes in Hawai‘i that pass from generation to generation.

·         $600 million for Advanced Research Projects – Energy, an increase of $173 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. 

·         $61 million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s Continuing Authorities Program which provides a useful tool for the Corps to undertake small localized projects without the lengthy study and authorization process typical of larger projects.

·         $75 million for geothermal technologies and for next-generation geothermal demonstration projects in diverse geographic areas.

The T-HUD measure 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.

“In our T-HUD measure our Committee especially focused on improving our transportation network, addressing aircraft safety and noise disruption, and providing a critical lifeline to those increasing numbers left vulnerable to homelessness,” said Case.

The bill includes:

·         $18.9 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 $300 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program.

·         Report language (Congressional instructions) 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.

“Our bill also grows opportunity through homeownership and rental assistance, including new housing vouchers targeted to families experiencing or at risk of homelessness and thousands of units for seniors and persons with disabilities,” said Case. 

Housing-related funding requested and secured by Case include:

·         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.

·         $4 million for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG). The NHHBG funds support the building, acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable homes.

·         $4.7 billion for the Community Development Fund.

·         $3.4 billion for the Homeless Assistance Grants

·         $65 million for the Self-Help and Assisted Homeownership Opportunity Program.

·         $20 million for the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program.

·         $14 billion on total project-based rental assistance.

In response to chronic and now-again-escalating concerns in Hawai‘i and nationwide arising from tour helicopter and other commercial flights, the bill includes multiple provisions requiring the FAA to address various worsening safety and community disruption issues.

“Together with my Safe and Quiet Skies legislation, which I reintroduced earlier this year in Congress and addressed before the full House (see attached), and the House Concurrent Resolution #81 (also attached) which was adopted by our Hawai‘i State Legislature in this year’s legislative session, I am continuing the efforts sought by myself and local lawmakers to address the disruptions and safety concerns that continue to plague our communities statewide,” said Case. “And judging from similar requests from my colleagues and this bill’s extensive responses, we are not alone in our country on these issues.”

Among the bill and related report’s provisions are directives to the FAA to:

·         Finish its report, as required by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (P.L. 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.

·         Spend an additional $8 million to 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 public; make aggregated information from the FAA noise portal available to the public; and ensure FAA participation and technical analysis at roundtables, workshops and other public forums about noise.

·         Update Congress on FAA effort to implement recommendations from the Government Accountability Office’s report (GAO–21–200, attached) 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. 

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 through twelve separate bills. 

The E&W and T-HUD bills now moves on to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

A summary of the E&W bill is here. A summary of the T-HUD bill is here.

On the T-HUD measure: 

·         The Government Accountability Office’s report GAO–21–200 is here.

·         Case’s remarks before the full House on his Safe and Quiet Skies is attached.

·         House Concurrent Resolution #81 is attached.

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