Press Releases

(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.

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