Aloha, Friend.
Just as I did in my Second Quarter Report last year, I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who attended my five in-person Talk Story community meetings that I held to start the New Year. I will be hosting further Talk Stories later this year; please stay tuned.
In that same spirit, this is another report to stay in touch with the Neighborhood Boards in my district. I consider you all my full partners as we address the needs and concerns of our mutual constituency.
My Work For The First Quarter
I shared in my recent e-newsletter here what I believe are solid results for the first three months of the year despite continuing dysfunction and division in Congress.
In particular, as a member of the House Appropriations Committee I reported on solid efforts for our Hawai‘i in funding to government agencies and departments and community organizations.
I am also proud to report that over the last three years, 38 out of 40 of my Community Project Funding (CPF) requests have been approved by Congress. These CPFs fund specific projects and purposes for local and state governments and non-profits. In fact, in partnership with my colleagues in the Hawai‘i Congressional delegation, we did very well versus other states when it comes to delivering CPFs to our Hawai‘i. You can read about it in the local press here.
Reports To Hawaii On Olelo
I try to provide many opportunities for you to keep tabs on my work in Congress. One way is my monthly Congressman Ed Case Reports To Hawai‘i, which can be viewed on Olelo Channel 49. The videos run for nearly an hour (check for the schedule of broadcasts on Olelo web site here).
The video for the month of April here features a few of my activities in February including my participation in the Lunar New Year parade through Honolulu’s Chinatown, my talk with advocates for the Hawaiian homesteads at Papakōlea, donating books from the Library of the Congress to students at Princess Ruth Keʻelikōlani Middle School, and a ceremony at the State Capitol to honor the late Congressman Mark Takai and his work on behalf of our veterans.
Honoring Patsy Mink
I was honored to join many others at the US Capitol recently to commemorate the life and legacy of Patsy Mink and the release of a coin graced with her likeness. Her quarter is the 12th coin in the American Women Quarters Program. The United States Mint recently issued the coin in honor of Congresswoman Mink who co-authored Title IX in the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities.
Last year, to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX, I told my House colleagues that “we see the results of her labor with nearly three million young women participating in high school sports across the country and 1.1 million female college graduates every year. For this, we owe her an immense amount of gratitude.
“But it would be a true mistake to remember her only for this one singular accomplishment, for over her long and productive career she fought endlessly on so many fronts to end poverty, discrimination and injustice, advance the inherent right of all peoples and realize a more perfect union. And, as a true keiki o ka ‘āina, child of the land, she always stayed true to her roots and her Hawai‘i home.”
After her death in 2002, Title IX was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act.
Congressional Art Competition Underway
My district office in Honolulu is busy gathering entries for my annual art competition, held each spring across Congressional offices across the country. The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition.
Last year, more than 70 art pieces entered the competition, and the winner was a senior from Kalani High School whose artwork titled “Burden of Paradise” got displayed in the US Capitol for a year.
The best way into my office, including information on my activities and resources and how to get in touch with us, remains my website: case.house.gov. You can also call my Honolulu district office and staff, who join many of your meetings, at (808) 650-6688, or email us at ed.case@mail.house.gov.
I would appreciate your forwarding this enewsletter and information on to our mutual constituents and others.
As always, I deeply appreciate your consideration and assistance as we all work to find the best way forward for our country and Hawai‘i. I look forward to seeing you soon, and thank you again for your invaluable service.
