(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 and other actions he sought and secured to strengthen Hawai‘i’s economy as part of the current 2022 fiscal year (FY) funding bill. H.R. 2471, the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2022, passed Congress earlier this month and was signed into law by the President last week.
“This measure will help strengthen our top-generating tourism sector, promote small business development and assist in economic diversification as our state’s economy continues to recover from the effects of COVID-19,” said Case.
“My Committee’s bill also continues critical federal contracting opportunities that help Native Hawaiian and other minority entrepreneurs throughout our state.”
Support for Small Businesses
“Hawaii’s small businesses are the lifeblood of our state,” explained Case. “While the average small business in Hawai‘i employs just 12 people, as a whole, Hawaii’s small businesses still employ a majority of our workforce. My Committee’s effort to expand federal assistance to small businesses will advance this backbone of our state’s economy.”
Key small business provisions in the legislation requested, secured and supported by Case include:
- $975,000 for digital skills literacy training at the State of Hawai‘i Workforce Development Council, which will strengthen the labor pool for businesses throughout Hawai‘i.
- $500,000 for the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture Small Business Incubator Project at Leeward Community College.
- $1 billion (nationally) for the Small Business Administration, an increase of $109 million above the FY 2021 funding level. This includes:
- $290 million, an $18 million increase, for Entrepreneurial Development Programs that provide small businesses with quality training, counseling and access to resources.
- $37 million for the Microloan Technical Assistance Program, which provides loans up to $50,000 to help small businesses and certain not-for-profit childcare centers start up and expand.
- $24 million for Women’s Business Centers, which will help the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership.
- $295 million (nationally) for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), an increase of $25 million above the FY 2021 enacted levels. CDFIs are specialized community-based financial institutions that promote economic development by providing financial products and services to people and communities underserved by traditional financial institutions, particularly in low-income and minority communities. They were especially valuable in delivering COVID-19 emergency assistance funds to communities without ready access to other means.
- Maintaining contracting preferences for Native American tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations within the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, which will help ensure equitable access in securing government contract work.
Support for Tourism Industry
“Travel and tourism are huge contributors to the U.S. economy, especially to major visitor destinations like Hawai‘i, but COVID-19 devastated this vital industry and all of its components including accommodations, transportation, food services and attractions,” said Case. “We need to continue to support our tourism industry as it recovers and brings more jobs back into our economy.”
Key tourism provisions in the legislation requested, secured and supported by Case include:
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Enacting the Restoring Brand USA Act, which will invest $250 million to promote the return of international visitors who generally spend more per person than domestic travelers.
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Report language clarifying that the tourism industry can make requests for Economic Development Administration funds for certain travel promotion activities.
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Report language supporting the continued expansion of the preclearance program to eligible partners in the Indo-Pacific region to support ease of travel and tourism.
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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