Aloha, Friend.
As 2023 draws to a close and we look to 2024, I report back to you again on my activities this year and ask for your continued input.
This was another difficult year for our country and Hawai‘i. We faced various crises, from House Speaker disarray (twice) to debt ceilings, government shutdowns, Ukraine, Israel-Hamas and the Maui wildfires at home, while we also sought to address ongoing challenges, from COVID-19 and the cost of living to our federal finances and social safety net, climate change and China. Our solutions continued to be obstructed by deep political divisions.
But throughout my mission in Congress remained the same: to (1) contribute to national leadership for our country and world; (2) assure that Hawaii’s needs are addressed by our federal government; and (3) assist you with your individual concerns. I continued to use all the resources available to me, including my seniority,
experience and relationships and my Appropriations Committee membership, to forge solutions wherever and however possible.
We had some notable successes. The defueling and closure of Red Hill is on track. Hawai‘i has now received and is projected to receive an estimated $3.3 billion through 2026 from the two huge infrastructure laws I fought for last Congress. We have fully funded federal disaster assistance for Maui to date. We stayed in touch with my district and assisted many with your own needs.
Here I summarize just some examples of my 2023 activities. There’s much more on my website at case.house.gov, or please call my office at (808) 650-6688 with questions or suggestions. All of this is ongoing and my office and I are looking forward to the challenges and opportunities of 2024.
As aIways, I must remain fully connected with you, so I’m kicking off January with five more Talk Story community meetings throughout my district. I’ll personally report to you, answer your questions and listen to your concerns. Details later in this letter; I hope you will come.
My staff and I remain here for all of our Hawai‘i and wish for you and yours only the best of the Holidays and New Year.
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2023 HIGHLIGHTS
Here are just a few representative highlights of my activities in 2023 (for full record, please see case.house.gov):
JANUARY
Sworn in to 118th Congress (‘23-‘25); first Congressman Ed Case Reports e-newsletter of year; reappointed to House Appropriations and Natural Resources Committees; Hawai‘i Congressional delegation meeting with Gov. Green and Lt. Gov.
Luke; continued Red Hill defueling/closure oversight including meetings with Defense Department and Ernie Lau/Board of Water Supply; Hawai‘i State Legislature Opening Day and Martin Luther King Jr. and Lunar New Year celebrations.
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I continued to focus especially on my House Appropriations Committee, responsible for federal funding. |
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FEBRUARY
Reappointed Co-Chair of House Pacific Islands Caucus and Executive Board member of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus; hosted another Federal Funding Workshop for state and county government colleagues; welcomed Hawai‘i Credit Union League to Congress; co-introduced Sustainable Budget Act with Rep. Steve Womack (R-Arkansas).
MARCH
Appointed Vice Chair of House Problem Solvers Caucus and co-chaired Caucus solution to avert debt ceiling default; joined Appropriations Defense Subcommittee colleagues on delegation to Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan and South Korea; co-introduced
with Sen. Hirono Compact Impact Fairness Act to require federal government to cover Compact resident federal program costs.
APRIL
Hosted six in-person Talk Story community meetings throughout district; co-introduced with Rep.Tokuda our Hawai‘i Invasive Species Prevention Act; met with Mayor Blangiardi/cabinet on federal funding opportunities especially through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan and Inflation Reduction Act; continued Fiscal Year 2024 hearings and deliberations in Appropriations Committee.
MAY
Visited Radford and Farrington High Schools and joined UH-West O’ahu spring commencement; received Small Business Council of America’s Special Congressional Award; conducted roundtable for Hawai’i small businesses on federal issues and assistance;(highlighting constituent services) assisted one to receive $13,422 of delayed overpayment refund from IRS; joined Memorial Day services.
JUNE
Received National Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s Leadership Award for protecting world’s oceans; co-introduced with Sen. Schatz our Red Hill Health Impact Act to track and treat exposure to fuel leaks; joined Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) in welcoming Hōkūle’a to Juneau; joined opening of Honolulu rail project; co-introduced again the Equality Act to protect our LBGTQ+ community from discrimination.
JULY
Joined former colleague/Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge in reviewing Honolulu affordable housing and homeless assistance projects and programs; re-introduced with Pacific Islands Caucus our BLUE Pacific Act to re-engage across the Pacific; visited Hawai‘i Army National Guard training at Ft. Johnson, Louisiana; hosted live Tele-Talk Story from my District Office; re-introduced
three Jones Act reform measures.
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Discussing issues in Congress at the Filipino Fiesta/Flores de Mayo |
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AUGUST
Focused fully on Maui wildfire disaster and maximizing federal assistance, including: immediate disaster declaration providing expedited federal assistance; joining the President and First Lady, former colleague/Secretary of Health and Human
Services Xavier Becerra, and my House Natural Resources Committee in Maui disaster response reviews; and working with the Administration and my House Appropriations Committee, especially my Homeland Security Subcommittee that funds the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assure full and immediate funding of programs and needs
SEPTEMBER
Continued full focus on Maui, especially a $16 billion replenishment of FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund; co-chaired Problem Solvers Caucus solution to avert government shutdown; spoke at 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony in downtown Honolulu; joined Nisei Veterans Memorial Service at Punchbowl; sent out eighth e-newsletter report of the year, “Crises and Solutions.
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My staff and I are here to serve you on Capitol Hill and in Honolulu |
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OCTOBER
Continued oversight of ongoing Red Hill defueling; led a congressional delegation to the United Nations focusing on the Indo-Pacific; hosted Mililani Mauka Middle School students on Capitol Hill; answered thousands of constituent communications, met with local Jewish, Muslim and other leaders and worked with colleagues to find the best paths forward for the tragic Israel-Hamas conflict.
NOVEMBER
Continued with Hawai‘i congressional delegation to advocate for federal environmental, housing, small business and other assistance for Maui wildfire disaster; hosted special live Talk Story focusing on Hawaii’s 113,000 veterans; sent a special Kūpuna Report focusing on federal senior citizen issues especially Social Security and Medicare to my 65+ constituents; gave keynote speech at United Filipino Council of Hawaii’s Progress Award Ceremony.
DECEMBER
Hosted 500th constituent of year for Capitol tour; joined Liliha and Mānoa holiday parades; hosted last ’23 Hawai’i congressional delegation meeting; sent Mele Kalikimaka/mahalo video message to armed forces serving away from home; began work on Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations process.
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Overseeing the Navy's defueling and closure of Red Hill |
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TALK STORY
with Congressman Ed Case
TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024
Moanalua Middle School
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
1289 Mahiole Street, Moanalua/Salt Lake
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2024
McKinley High School Cafeteria
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Entrance off Pensacola Street, Honolulu
THURSDAY, January 4, 2024
Mililani Mauka Elementary School
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
95-111 Makaikai Street, Mililani Town/Mililani Mauka
FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2024
Haha‘ione Elementary School
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
595 Pepeekeo Street, East Honolulu
SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 2024
Kapolei High School
9:00 AM to 10:30AM
91-5007 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei
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.
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P.S. Please sign up for my regular e-newsletter here. |
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