Aloha, Friend.As we near the last six months of our current 117th Congress, I want to report back to you on your responses to my recent constituent surveys, update you on some of my activities, and ask for your continued guidance.Survey ResultsIn my last e-newsletter on June 1st, “June 2nd FB Live/Cybersecurity; June 13th Live Talk Story; Anonymous Online Survey/Your Thoughts?” here, I asked for your top concerns and views on some critical issues. Separately, in my first text survey, I also asked for your top concerns. Here are the results.June 1st e-newsletter survey1. What’s most concerning you now? (Top fifteen in order)Crime/public safety/gun violenceInflation/cost of livingRoe v. Wade/abortion/women’s right of choiceEnvironment /climate changePolitical division/polarization/gridlockFederal spending/budget deficits/debtUkraine/foreign relationsImmigrationSocial Security/Medicare/other kūpuna programsNational defenseCivil rights and justiceEconomy/business/jobsChinaSafety net for those in needHealth care2. How much are you being affected by inflation and higher costs of living?Somewhat affected                                   61%Seriously affected                                     29%Not affected                                                9%Other                                                          1%3. If you are being affected by inflation and higher costs, which are affecting you most? (Choose all that apply)Food                                                         85%Transportation/auto/gas                           78%Household goods and supplies                57%Utilities/electricity                                     43%Health care                                              17%Recreation                                               12%Education                                                  5%Other                                                         9%4. What are your views on COVID-19 restrictions?Should return to some restrictions           45%Should remove any remaining restrict     23%Should continue as is                               22%Other                                                        10%5. What are your views on regulating gun ownership and sales?Expand current laws regulating               60%Keep current laws as is                           14%Reduce/remove current laws                     9%Other                                                        17%6. What are your views on our response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?Current approach (defense and humanitarian but no troops) is adequate                                                 41%Increase aid to Ukraine for defense and humanitarian needs            37%Decrease U.S. aid to Ukraine                  12%Deploy U.S. troops to Ukraine to assist in Ukraine’s defense                        6%Increase U.S. aid for humanitarian but not defense needs                               4%7. What are your views on Roe v. Wade/abortion/women’s right of choice?Roe v. Wade (providing women with a constitutional right of choice with conditions) should be retained                 70%Roe v. Wade should be repealed and each state should make its own decision                                            30%8. What is your general political philosophy?Moderate                                                             34%Lean liberal                                                         21%Strong liberal                                                      15%Lean Conservative                                  15%Strong conservative                                  6%Prefer not to answer                                  9%June 7th text survey1. What’s most concerning you now? (In order)Crime/gun violenceEconomyInflationPolitical divisionEnvironmentSocial Security/MedicareRoe v. WadeHealth careUkraine/foreign relationsCOVID-19EducationImmigrationHousehold goods/shortagesSocial safety netAs always, these surveys are just one of many ways I try to stay in touch with your concerns and priorities and be sure I am considering and pursuing them in Congress. But these results tell me three things all over again. First, I have a very diverse constituency of 730,000 fellow citizens with many different needs and views, and my job is to listen to and understand all voices, pursue inclusive solutions wherever I can, make decisions where I must, and explain my actions. Second, there are issues on which there is broad agreement that rises above other disagreements, such as (here and now) gun violence, inflation, Ukraine and political division. Third, while I may agree or disagree with individual constituents on specific issues, I believe my own actions in Congress remain generally aligned with my district. For more information, please go to case.house.gov or email me at ed.case@mail.house.gov.Appropriations/Infrastructure In addition to these very difficult issues, Congress must address responsibilities that continue from year to year. For me this is the annual work of my U.S. House Committee on Appropriations to forge our yearly federal budget with a projected $1.6 trillion of spending in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2023. Most of my time and effort over the next six weeks will be focused on Appropriations, both on national decisions and on ensuring our Hawai‘i has the funding we need for our own priorities. More on my Appropriations work at case.house.gov.I also remain fully focused on ensuring that our historic $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Package, the largest and broadest federal reinvestment in a generation and clearly one of the real successes in an otherwise deeply divided 117th Congress, is fully implemented. Our Hawai‘i has already been allocated hundreds of millions of dollars of a projected $3 billion, but my ongoing efforts are necessary to assure that we realize the fullest possible benefits of this law.Talk Stories, Educating Our Keiki on Government and Other OutreachI have continued my outreach to you and our district in several other ways, including:- On June 2nd I hosted an informative and successful Talk Story: Cybersecurity with some of our Hawai‘i experts to highlight an issue that is and should be a concern to us all in our governments, businesses, communities and homes. Here is a replay of our talk story, and here is some further information and tips from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.- I just sent to all 167 public and private elementary and secondary schools and other educators in my district this letter here plus these two videos here and here, “How Our Federal Government Works” (one a shorter version of the other), of me on Capitol Hill talking about our federal government, my duties as a Member of Congress, and how citizens can get involved. My goal is to help educate and involve our students in our government early in their lives, but I hope that the videos are informative for any age. I would appreciate your viewing them and forwarding them on.- If you read this e-newsletter before 6:30 PM Hawai‘i time on Monday, June 13th, there’s still time for you to join my next live Tele-Talk Story with Congressman Ed Case. I’ll update you on my actions in Congress, listen to your concerns and answer your questions. Details here. Last E-Newsletter Until Our Primary Election Unless You Sign UpThe rules of Congress require a “blackout period” in the sixty days prior to any election during which a Member cannot send out any official mass communications like this e-newsletter or texts or print mailers. However, e-newsletters can still be sent to folks who have signed up to receive them, and I can still contact and respond to individual constituents. Since Hawaii’s primary election is now just over sixty days away, I will not be sending any further print mail or text, and I will only send further e-newsletters to you if you are already signed up or sign up now. I hope you do so I can still keep in touch however I can. Here’s how: https://case.house.gov/forms/form/?ID=2. 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. For more information 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 ed.case@mail.house.gov, or call us at (808) 650-6688.Be safe and be well.Mahalo nui loa, Ed Case image widget