Representative Ed Case

Aloha, Friend.This 150th day of the current Trump presidency continues to bring confusion and chaos to much of our country and world and increasing danger to the foundations of our government. What is the best way forward? Whether we support or oppose this administration, care about our cost of living as most of us do, want a larger or smaller federal government, support or oppose our country’s continued engagement with the world, Israel-Iran, and on; take your pick of issues. But in the big picture, what is our kuleana; what is yours? It cannot be violence. Countries that address their divisions through violence fail. It cannot be undermining and attacking our foundations and institutions. Separation of powers, checks and balances, separate, independent and co-equal branches of government, our federal courts and the rule of law, free speech, association, belief; these are how and why we have navigated crises for two and a half centuries now. Democracies that erode their foundations and institutions fail. It cannot be rejecting values that have paved our success to date, like equality, opportunity, compassion and tolerance. It cannot be disrespect and marginalization of our fellow citizens and their own circumstances and views. Countries that have no moral center, no shared understanding, experience and trust, no acceptance of differences and means to resolve them, fail. Within these basics, we each and all have our own kuleana, in ways that work best for us. But talking and listening more rather than yelling, screaming and swearing past each other in our homes, communities, places of worship, workplaces and everywhere else would be a good start. Whether you support or oppose the President, reconciliation, immigration, DOGE, foreign assistance, or anything else, voice your views, talk to your ‘ohana and community, tell your elected officials. This is very difficult, but critical to resist the pull to more division and forge acceptable and sustainable solutions to real problems. Lawful, nonviolent protest is also an indispensable part of our collective history. My own responsibilities arise from my role as a Member of Congress, a separate, independent and co-equal branch of government and linchpin of checks and balances, and from the oath I took to our Constitution. As such, I have worked with the Trump administration and the current Congressional majority where I can, but have opposed the administration and majority across a range of actions. Many of my efforts, from lawsuits and votes to legislation, speeches, media appearances, public statements, questioning in my House Appropriations Committee, letters and otherwise are summarized here. To highlight some of these efforts, first, as a lawyer by profession, I serve on the House Democrats Litigation Response Task Force, which advances lawsuits against the Trump administration for violating the Constitution and federal law and defends the authority of our federal courts, the only branch of government doing its job now. To date there have been over 280 lawsuits in federal courts against the administration and over 187 court decisions against the administration’s actions. I have also strongly and publicly questioned the President and his cabinet members and other administration officials in my committee work. See, for example, my questioning in Appropriations of Defense Secretary Hegseth on the impact of gutting non-defense federal assistance on national defense here, Homeland Security Noem on the attempted reduction of federal disaster assistance funding here, Acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Flores in Appropriations on border wall funding here, my remarks in Appropriations on proposed non-funding on further Ukraine assistance here, and my letter to Army Secretary Driscoll calling out the inexcusable deletion from Army websites of recognition of the legendary Japanese-American 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team here. I have further voted against several administration initiatives which I believe are not the right policy directions for our country. Foremost among them is the reconciliation measure (sometimes referred to as the Big [Beautiful or Ugly] Bill depending) because it would provide huge tax breaks to those who least need it, devastate Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other bedrock safety nets for those in the most need, increase our national debt by trillions of dollars, reverse decades of sound energy policy, and hide various special interest giveaways in its thousand pages. A summary of my votes this Congress is here. While these and other efforts to address the confusion, chaos and danger of this administration are all-consuming, there is a whole parallel universe of my ongoing Congressional work that cannot be ignored. Some examples are: Helping our country and Hawai‘i in our annual twelve-bill federal funding/appropriations process (see, for example, these summaries of our defense and veterans measures here and here).Sponsoring bipartisan legislation to strengthen our Pacific Islands relationships here, expand opportunities for employees to own the companies for which they work here, address our rapidly escalating national deficit and debt crisis here, and relieve the crushing burden of the Jones Act on the cost of living for islands and other non-contiguous parts of our country here.Helping over 500 of my constituents with your own individual questions and needs in key areas like Social Security, veterans benefits, immigration, taxes and more.Responding to over 26,000 Hawai‘i residents on your phone calls, emails and letters to my office on various issues.I was also very honored to receive the 2025 National Statesmanship Award from the bipartisan 800-Member U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress. In presenting the award (more here), the FMC said: "U.S. Representative Ed Case, who has the rare distinction of being both a current Member and a former Member, is a leader on issues ranging from education to environmental protection and more, bringing his collaborative and collegial approach to often-difficult debates as a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations and otherwise. He exemplifies a pragmatic and productive approach to legislating that FMC considers essential for the nation's success."I have further continued to meet with Hawai‘i residents wherever and however I can, from Capitol Hill to back in the district to virtually, to listen to your concerns and let you know what I’m doing about them. My next talk story districtwide community meeting, to add to my six in-person and one virtual one thus far this year, will be a virtual town hall currently scheduled for Tuesday, July 29th, at 6PM Hawai‘i time; details to follow but also check here.It is more critical than ever that I stay in touch with and hear from you as we work through this very difficult time and find the best way forward. The best way to keep up with what I’m doing, provide your concerns, get your questions answered and ask for assistance is by visiting my website at https://case.house.gov/. Please also feel free to call my Honolulu office at (808) 650-6688 or email me at ed.case@mail.house.gov.Walk Story image widgetWalk Story image widget

Aloha, Friend.

This 150^th day of the current Trump presidency continues to bring confusion and chaos to much of our country and world and increasing danger to the foundations of our government.

What is the best way forward? Whether we support or oppose this administration, care about our cost of living as most of us do, want a larger or smaller federal government, support or oppose our country’s continued engagement with the world, Israel-Iran, and on; take your pick of issues. But in the big picture, what is our kuleana; what is yours?

It cannot be violence. Countries that address their divisions through violence fail.

It cannot be undermining and attacking our foundations and institutions. Separation of powers, checks and balances, separate, independent and co-equal branches of government, our federal courts and the rule of law, free speech, association, belief; these are how and why we have navigated crises for two and a half centuries now. Democracies that erode their foundations and institutions fail.

It cannot be rejecting values that have paved our success to date, like equality, opportunity, compassion and tolerance. It cannot be disrespect and marginalization of our fellow citizens and their own circumstances and views. Countries that have no moral center, no shared understanding, experience and trust, no acceptance of differences and means to resolve them, fail.

Within these basics, we each and all have our own kuleana, in ways that work best for us. But talking and listening more rather than yelling, screaming and swearing past each other in our homes, communities, places of worship, workplaces and everywhere else would be a good start. Whether you support or oppose the President, reconciliation, immigration, DOGE, foreign assistance, or anything else, voice your views, talk to your ‘ohana and community, tell your elected officials. This is very difficult, but critical to resist the pull to more division and forge acceptable and sustainable solutions to real problems. Lawful, nonviolent protest is also an indispensable part of our collective history.

My own responsibilities arise from my role as a Member of Congress, a separate, independent and co-equal branch of government and linchpin of checks and balances, and from the oath I took to our Constitution.

As such, I have worked with the Trump administration and the current Congressional majority where I can, but have opposed the administration and majority across a range of actions. Many of my efforts, from lawsuits and votes to legislation, speeches, media appearances, public statements, questioning in my House Appropriations Committee, letters and otherwise are summarized here.

To highlight some of these efforts, first, as a lawyer by profession, I serve on the House Democrats Litigation Response Task Force, which advances lawsuits against the Trump administration for violating the Constitution and federal law and defends the authority of our federal courts, the only branch of government doing its job now. To date there have been over 280 lawsuits in federal courts against the administration and over 187 court decisions against the administration’s actions.

I have also strongly and publicly questioned the President and his cabinet members and other administration officials in my committee work. See, for example, my questioning in Appropriations of Defense Secretary Hegseth on the impact of gutting non-defense federal assistance on national defense here, Homeland Security Noem on the attempted reduction of federal disaster assistance funding here, Acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Flores in Appropriations on border wall funding here, my remarks in Appropriations on proposed non-funding on further Ukraine assistance here, and my letter to Army Secretary Driscoll calling out the inexcusable deletion from Army websites of recognition of the legendary Japanese-American 100^th Infantry Battalion/442^nd Regimental Combat Team here.

I have further voted against several administration initiatives which I believe are not the right policy directions for our country. Foremost among them is the reconciliation measure (sometimes referred to as the Big [Beautiful or Ugly] Bill depending) because it would provide huge tax breaks to those who least need it, devastate Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other bedrock safety nets for those in the most need, increase our national debt by trillions of dollars, reverse decades of sound energy policy, and hide various special interest giveaways in its thousand pages. A summary of my votes this Congress is here.

While these and other efforts to address the confusion, chaos and danger of this administration are all-consuming, there is a whole parallel universe of my ongoing Congressional work that cannot be ignored. Some examples are:

Helping our country and Hawai‘i in our annual twelve-bill federal funding/appropriations process (see, for example, these summaries of our defense and veterans measures here and here).

Sponsoring bipartisan legislation to strengthen our Pacific Islands relationships here, expand opportunities for employees to own the companies for which they work here, address our rapidly escalating national deficit and debt crisis here, and relieve the crushing burden of the Jones Act on the cost of living for islands and other non-contiguous parts of our country here.

Helping over 500 of my constituents with your own individual questions and needs in key areas like Social Security, veterans benefits, immigration, taxes and more.

Responding to over 26,000 Hawai‘i residents on your phone calls, emails and letters to my office on various issues.

I was also very honored to receive the 2025 National Statesmanship Award from the bipartisan 800-Member U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress. In presenting the award (more here), the FMC said:

"U.S. Representative Ed Case, who has the rare distinction of being both a current Member and a former Member, is a leader on issues ranging from education to environmental protection and more, bringing his collaborative and collegial approach to often-difficult debates as a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations and otherwise. He exemplifies a pragmatic and productive approach to legislating that FMC considers essential for the nation's success."

I have further continued to meet with Hawai‘i residents wherever and however I can, from Capitol Hill to back in the district to virtually, to listen to your concerns and let you know what I’m doing about them. My next talk story districtwide community meeting, to add to my six in-person and one virtual one thus far this year, will be a virtual town hall currently scheduled for Tuesday, July 29^th, at 6PM Hawai‘i time; details to follow but also check here.

It is more critical than ever that I stay in touch with and hear from you as we work through this very difficult time and find the best way forward. The best way to keep up with what I’m doing, provide your concerns, get your questions answered and ask for assistance is by visiting my website at https://case.house.gov/. Please also feel free to call my Honolulu office at (808) 650-6688 or email me at ed.case@mail.house.gov.

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