Aloha, Friend, and Happy New Year! I wish you and yours only the best for 2025.As I send you this, I have just arrived back on Capitol Hill for the beginning tomorrow, January 3rd, of the 119th Congress. This is the 119th time our United States Congress has convened for a two-year Congress since our very first Congress began in 1789. For the seventh time, I will stand in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives and take the same oath as did the Members of that first Congress: “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.” By any measure, this will be a very difficult Congress. Our challenges are many, our divisions run deep, our adversaries work every day toward our failure. In this Congress we also celebrate the 250th anniversary of our great country. Whether we overcome our challenges and divisions and persevere against our adversaries is our decision, just as it was for our founders and all of our generations since.I will continue to do everything in my power to do so, to chart the best way forward for our country and Hawai‘i in this difficult world and time. My mission remains the same: to (1) contribute to national leadership; (2) help our Hawai‘i; and (3) help you and yours.I need, want and ask for your continued guidance. In that spirit, I provide below (a) my 2024 Year-In-Review report back to you, (b) the results of my December 2024 anonymous online survey of your thoughts on issues of concern and on my performance as your United States Representative, and (c) my schedule of six more Congressman Ed Case Reports in-person, districtwide Talk Story community meetings in late January and early February.2024 Year-In-Review Report. Here is my report back to you on a sampling of my activities and results in 2024, together with my early 2025 Talk Story schedule. I welcome your questions and input at ed.case@mail.house.gov.December 2024 Anonymous Online Survey Results. I want to share what you told me in my anonymous online survey on current issues and my performance from my last e-newsletter here.  I deeply appreciate the many responses to my survey, not only the answers to each question but the individual comments, all of which I read. These responses are invaluable guides for my actions and decisions in Congress, and assist me greatly in reviewing my performance to date and confirming areas for further focus and improvement.  Below are the straight results, after each of which I provide some quick comments. There is much more on my actions in these and other areas at case.house.gov, and I welcome your further questions and comments at ed.case@mail.house.gov. What’s most concerning you now? (Please choose no more than three.)                (Top fifteen answers) Inflation/cost of living45%Trump administration42%Social Security/Medicare and other kūpuna programs38%Environment/climate change33%Federal spending/budget deficits/debt32%Health care28%Immigration/border security28%Crime/public safety/gun violence26%Political division/polarization/gridlock26%Roe v. Wade/abortion/women’s right of choice22%Economy/business/jobs22%Civil rights and justice17%Taxes17%National defense16%Education, child care and other efforts for our keiki16%             (Each of these issues and the several others mentioned are critical concerns in our overall national agenda. I have taken action on each of them (see case.house.gov), and welcome this confirmation that we’re on the same page as to the challenges and opportunities we must continue to address.) The high and increasing cost of living is a major concern for most of us. Which three of the following costs are of most concern to you? Food/clothing/household goods67%Health care61%Housing59%Utilities (electric/water/cable/internet)52%Education14%Transportation10%Child care 8%Entertainment/recreation/travel  5% (These all reflect national trends, but all are made worse by our Hawaii’s own situation. Solutions must focus not just on national but on specific state and local causes.) What are your views on our country’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? Current approach (defense and humanitarian aid but no troops) is adequate37%Increase aid to Ukraine for defense and humanitarian needs34%Decrease U.S. aid to Ukraine23%Increase U.S. aid for humanitarian, but not defense needs4%Deploy U.S. troops to Ukraine to assist in Ukraine’s defense3% (It remains just as true as it did three years ago that Russia’s unjustified, unprovoked and criminal war on Ukraine cannot be allowed to succeed, and that any success by Russia will have very negative consequences not just for Ukraine but for the world including our country. I thus agree with most that we must continue if not increase our aid, while assuring that our friends and allies especially Europe do their fair share.) Our national budget for discretionary spending (federal spending except for mandatory entitlements like Social Security, Medicare and veterans benefits) is some $1.6 trillion per year, with roughly half being defense-related spending and half being non-defense. Which one of the following best reflects your views?         Reduce defense and increase non-defense spending28%No change to current levels24%Reduce both defense and non-defense spending23%Increase defense and reduce non-defense spending16%Increase both defense and non-defense spending  9% (The lack of a consensus answer on this critical question mirrors our national debate. There are several related issues, including: a) what we need to spend for a strong national defense; b) what our federal government should be responsible for and what we need to spend for critical non-defense efforts; c) how we spend federal dollars far more efficiently and effectively; and d) what we must do to address our federal deficit/debt crisis. I will be serving my fourth term on our House Committee on Appropriations, responsible for all federal discretionary funding including these decisions, and will need your continued input as we work through very difficult related issues including taxes.)  How do you rate my overall performance as Hawaii’s U.S. Representative (with 10 being highest and 1 being lowest)?     1024%819%918%710%59%66%14%34%23%42%(I’m very grateful for the mostly positive ratings and comments, as they reflect that we’re on the right track. But I’m fully focused on where and how we can continue to improve our performance, especially for those who did not rate it positively, and especially appreciate the many constructive comments on how to do so. There were some comments wanting more information, communication and interaction. I try hard to keep my constituents informed on my actions (see case.house.gov) and to stay in touch through this e-newsletter, frequent talk story community meetings (see my upcoming Talk Story schedule below) and other means, but I’ll keep looking for other opportunities. Otherwise there was no one common area for improvement; it was mostly about specific issues on which folks disagreed, or about wanting me to be (for some) more or (for others) less partisan. I take very seriously differing views on specific issues, levels of partisanship and other areas that result from the fact that I represent a very diverse constituency of over 700,000 Hawai‘i residents. I hope and believe that overall I fairly represent my constituents, and will continue to seek out and welcome all views to improve my representation.)  What is your general political philosophy? Moderate31%Lean Liberal19%Strong Liberal17%Lean Conservative17%Strong Conservative8%Prefer Not to Answer8%  (I've never been one for labels as I believe they are far too simplistic andrigid, don't explain views on specific issues, and don't fully account for diverse views any one of us has, much less my constituency of over 700,000 residents. But I agree that these responses do fairly reflect themainstream of my own very diverse constituency, and remain committedto listening to all of my constituents regardless of general philosophy.)January/February 2025 Six More In-Person Talk Story Community Meetings. Again, here is my full schedule for my upcoming Talk Stories across my district. I’ll report back to you on the new Congress, answer your questions and listen to your input. Please join us.Monday, January 27, 2025Pearlridge Elementary School6:30 PM to 8:00 PM98-940 Moanalua Road, ‘Aiea/Pearl CityTuesday, January 28, 2025Filipino Community Center6:30 PM to 8:00 PM94-428 Mokuola Street, Waipahu/WaipioWednesday, January 29, 2025Mililani High School6:30 PM to 8:00 PM95-1200 Meheula Parkway, Mililani/Mililani MaukaThursday, January 30, 2025Honouliuli Middle School6:30 PM to 8:00 PM91-559 Maunakapu Street, ‘Ewa /KapoleiFriday, January 31, 2025Washington Middle School6:30 PM to 8:00 PM1633 South King Street, HonoluluSaturday, February 1, 2025Āina Haina Elementary School9:00 AM to 10:30 AM801 West Hind Drive, East Honolulu As always, I deeply appreciate your consideration and assistance as we allwork to find the best way forward for our country and Hawai‘i. For moreinformation on my efforts, and how we can help you, please visit my website at case.house.gov. If I can help you and yours with your own questions and needs, email us at https://case.house.gov/contact/, or call us at (808) 650-6688. P.S. Please sign up for my regular e-newsletter here.