Aloha, Friend:

As the new Administration and Congress seek to focus on governing our country after a tumultuous January, the public health, economic and social crisis of COVID-19 remains foremost. My own obligations remain to contribute to sound national leadership including further federal emergency assistance, help our Hawai‘i with the federal resources desperately needed here at home, and help you and yours with your own questions and needs through the crisis.

Our top priority must be vaccinations, as that is the answer to the public health crisis and public health is the answer to the rest of the crisis. COVID-19 has also affected many institutions on which so many of us depend such as Social Security resulting in many questions. And it is more important than ever that I utilize my own resources, especially my continuing membership on the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for federal funding, to make the right decisions on funding for our country and Hawai‘i.

To these ends, this week I will be hosting two live open community talk stories online, one on vaccinations and one on Social Security. I will be joined by experts in these areas; we will give you the most up-to-date information, answer your questions and listen to your own thoughts and concerns. Please join us; details below.

I am also well into my Appropriations Committee’s activities this Congress, including readying my own requests for Hawai‘i for the federal fiscal year starting this coming October 1st. There is more information below along with my request for your input. 

Facebook Live Talk Story on COVID-19 Vaccinations

Tuesday, February 2^nd, 6:00 - 7:30PM Hawai‘i Time

Please join me for my second Facebook Live talk story meeting this year on a subject critical to us all: COVID-19 vaccinations. 

I will be joined by Hilton Raethel, President and CEO of the Healthcare Association of Hawai‘i, representing our healthcare associations across the state, and Dr. Jennifer Mbuthia, an allergist and immunologist by specialization who focuses on informing the public on healthcare matters at the Queen's Medical Center. We will update you on the status of vaccine manufacture and distribution across the country and state as we all work to ensure the maximum expedited availability of safe vaccinations.

Please join us on my official Facebook page at https://Facebook.com/RepEdCase. We welcome your questions in the comments section during our talk story.

Online Talk Story on Social Security

Wednesday, February 3^rd, 10:00 – 11:30AM Hawai‘i time

As mentioned in my last Congressional E-Newsletter, I am hosting an online talk story meeting focusing on Social Security. I  be joined by Jane Burigsay, Public Affairs Specialist with the Social Security Administration (SSA).  We will be discussing how SSA is operating in the Covid-19 environment to deliver you your benefits and answer your questions.  

To sign up for this workshop, please register here:
 https://ushr.zoomgov.com/j/1607369437pwd=TjdITGFaSDVRZVhQcGVWSlNjUTI2UT09. You may submit questions ahead of time to edcase.events@mail.house.gov and we will get to as many as possible during our event or else after.

Please look for future talk stories in my Congressional E-Newsletters focusing on other important issues, services, opportunities and updates. If you have suggestions for areas you think I should especially cover, please email me at ed.case@mail.house.gov.

Delivering Federal Assistance to Hawai’i Through My Appropriations Committee 

For the new 117^th Congress (2021-2023), I will remain on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. I will also continue my service on “Approps’” Subcommittees on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; Commerce, Justice and Science; and the Legislative Branch.

Approps plays a critical role for our country as we are responsible for directing some $1.4 trillion in annual funding (in addition to our responsibility for COVI-19 emergency funding) across our federal government in all areas including agriculture, defense, veterans, energy, environment, justice, homeland security, labor, health and human services, education, transportation and housing. It is also critical for our Hawai‘i especially considering our federal government’s overall contribution to our economy and so many of our needs.

In addition to critical further federal emergency assistance for COVID-19, we are already at work on our legislative proposals to fund our federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 (October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022). That process includes Members of the U.S. House submitting requests to Approps. As I prepare my own requests, I ask for your help and suggestions on priorities for funding areas of special interest to our Hawai‘i. Because my own deadline for my submissions to Approps are coming up fast, I need to receive your suggestions by February 15, 2021. For more information and to submit a request, please visit my website at https://case.house.gov/services/appropriations-requests.htm.

Please know that my D.C. and Honolulu staff and I remain fully committed to seeing our county, our Hawai’i and you and yours through this very difficult time for us all. As always, please contact me at ed.case@mail.house.gov with any questions and comments.

Best wishes and be well.

P.S. Please sign up for my regular e-newsletter here.