Press Releases

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) reported that his House Appropriations Committee today approved its Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) and Related Agencies funding measure.  

The measure would provide $80 billion, a $1.2 billion decrease from the current year, for the U.S. Department of Commerce (including the International Trade Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology), the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and more. 

Rep. Case opposed the overall bill, warning that its sweeping funding cuts “would weaken programs central to Hawaii’s environmental protection, public safety, civil rights enforcement and economic opportunity.”

Now in his eighth year on the House Appropriations Committee, Case said the legislation would also scale back critical federal support for conservation efforts, community services, STEM education and assistance for vulnerable populations across Hawai‘i and the nation. Programs significantly cut or eliminated include: 

·         Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles Protection, which safeguards our Hawaiian monk seals, dolphins, false killer whales and green sea turtles.  

·         Habitat Conservation and Restoration, which helps to restore and maintain crucial ecosystems and watersheds across Hawai‘i .  

·         Marine Debris Program surveys and cleans up derelict fishing nets and ocean plastics from the reef and habitats at Hawaii’s shores.  

·         Marine Mammal Commission, which provide science-based oversight of domestic and international policies and actions of federal agencies with mandates to address human impacts on marine mammals, such as the Hawaiian monk seal and the humpback whale.  

·         Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, the leading federal source of criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions, which assists a range of initiatives including law enforcement, prosecution and court, prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation and technology improvement, and crime victim and assistance.  

·         Community Relations Service, which offers assistance to communities where disputes, disagreements, or difficulties regarding discriminatory practices based on race, color, or national origin threaten peaceful relations among citizens. 

·         Legal Services Corporation, which provides civil legal aid for low-income Americans.  

·         Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetic information. 

·         Minority University Research Education Project, which focuses on STEM training for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students at our local universities and colleges.  

·         Minority Business Development Agency, which assists with the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises.  

Despite these deficiencies, Case secured ten of his Community Project Funding (CPF) requests that specifically focus on local needs in Hawai‘i, with funding for these projects totaling $7.25 million. His successful CPFs are:

  ·         $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. This funding 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. This project would 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 (DFR) Project at the Honolulu Police Department. This project will 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 Waikiki Flood Watch Test Project at the University of Hawai‘i. This project would develop a cyberphysical testbed that would transform how Hawaii 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 Waikiki. 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 for the Honolulu Police Department. This apparatus is a vital asset that enhances the Honolulu Police Department's rescue and recovery capabilities across the island of 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 will manage the invasive plant throughout the Ala Wai watershed by establishing field crews to remove the invasive plant, data management staff and coordinator positions. 

The House’s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member and must be subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here.  

Other provisions which Case requested and were included in the measure to fund the Department of Justice include: 

·         $762.5 million for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The COPS program provides funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire and/or rehire additional career law enforcement officers to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts.   

·         $148 million for grants to reduce the sexual assault kit backlog. 

·         $48 million for the Anti-Methamphetamine and Anti-Heroin Task Forces.

“Rising crime, both related and unrelated to gun violence, is of great concern to us all, and must be combatted at all levels of government,” said Case. “State and local law enforcement need increased assistance from our federal government to address crime at the state and local level.” 

“The funding I secured in the bill will help local and state law enforcement to not only investigate and prosecute crime but will also go to prevention and education programs to stop crime before it happens.”  

Case also won support to fund various science initiatives, including:

 ·         $26 million for the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, which enhances the research competitiveness of Hawai‘i by strengthening STEM capacity and capability. 

·         $92.5 million for the Climate Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes program to support the maintenance and needed repairs at the Atmospheric Baseline Observatories, including the Mauna Loa Observatory where the famous Keeling Curve proving rapid climate change was developed.   

·         $33.5 million for the Coral Reef Conservation Program.  

·         $6 million for Sanctuaries and Marine Protected Areas, which supports Papahānaumokuākea and our Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale sanctuaries.

·         $56 million for the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), which supports our Hawaii’s Pacific Island (Pac) IOOS. PacIOOS provides easily accessible coastal and ocean observing and forecasting to increase ocean safety and protect public and environmental health. 

·         $20 million for the Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments program, which provides vital research that allows communities to prepare for and respond to long-term shifts in weather patterns, resource availability and coastal conditions. 

·         $34 million for the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, which includes support for education and restoration of coastal and marine habitats in He‘eia. 

·         $80 million for the Sea Grant Program, which supports the Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Program at the University of Hawaiʻi that promotes healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies and environmental literacy and workforce development.  

Provisions which Case secured to promote commerce in Hawaiʻi include: 

·         $175 million for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program. This public-private partnership has centers in all 50 states, including Hawaiʻi, dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers. 

·         $1 million for the Minority Business Development Agency specifically for the Native American Business Development Program that awards grants to American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian entities qualified to provide business, financing and technical assistance.    

·         $3.5 million for the Assistant Secretary of Travel and Tourism position, which Case worked to establish in the Visit America Act to drive a cohesive federal response to the challenges facing the industry. 

This measure is the fifth of the twelve bills to be taken up by the House Appropriations Committee that will collectively fund the federal government for FY 2027 (commencing October 1, 2026).  

Despite Case’s opposition, the bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.  

A summary of the CJS and Related Agencies Appropriations bill is available here. 

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