Aloha, Friend. I just landed back in D.C. for two critical weeks of very difficult issues on Capitol Hill. These include two huge infrastructure proposals, our annual defense and appropriations measures, our worsening federal deficits and debt and more. Passions are high and misinformation and division are everywhere. I want to focus here on infrastructure and report back to you on exactly what is happening and what I’m thinking and doing. I'm following up on my August 14th survey of you here  and my August 21st report of my survey results here .  I believe we can mostly agree that we must fix our nation’s crumbling infrastructure, respond urgently to climate change, strengthen our social safety net and reverse growing inequality. President Biden proposed two huge measures to do so: the $1 trillion-plus American Jobs Plan (physical infrastructure like roads, harbors, airports and water and sewer systems but also broadband, clean energy, climate resiliency and environmental clean-up); and the $3.5 trillion American Families Plan (social infrastructure including an extended child tax credit, free community college for all, expanded paid sick and family leave and other expanded or new social programs).  This “Build Back Better” agenda is immense, controversial and very difficult to pass in a deeply divided country and Congress. However, in early August the Senate, with input from House members (including my Problem Solvers Caucus) and with the President’s full support, did amazingly pass on a bipartisan vote of 69-30 (our two Senators voting yes) a $1 trillion-plus version of the American Jobs Plan usually referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package (BIP). The BIP is scheduled for a House vote September 27th and, if passed, would go straight to the President who has said he will sign it right away. I fully support the BIP, as (1) the largest infrastructure investment in our history, (2) a central pillar of President Biden’s agenda, and (3) desperately needed proof that our government can overcome division and get things done. It is critically needed for our workers, businesses, economy, communities and defense. It is widely supported from labor unions to business organizations and by a great majority of Americans. For our Hawai‘i alone, it would mean around $2 billion of federal reinvestment in our own infrastructure needs. I have been fully committed to passage of the BIP for months now and will be focusing on a successful House vote next Monday. The separate $3.5 trillion social infrastructure package is also critical but is more controversial and nowhere near as developed. It is moving in Congress through a process called reconciliation, which means that it can pass by simple majorities in the House and Senate but is supposed to be limited to financial rather than policy matters. But even gaining a simple majority in both House and Senate will be very difficult, and this reconciliation bill has a ways to go to get there. I generally support many of the reconciliation proposals. There are some that I believe should be based on demonstrated need rather than across-the-board, like community colleges. I also believe, like the President and my House leadership, that any proposals we adopt must be “paid for,” meaning that we must offset their cost with new revenues or reduced expenses rather than worsen our national deficits and debt, which stand at record levels and deteriorating rapidly. (The one exception is climate change, where I believe we must make urgent investments now even if borrowed.) I support some of the proposed revenue generators, like expiring the corporate and upper income tax cuts of recent years and forcing lower Medicare drug prices.  I believe that there is a limit to how much new revenue we can or should generate before it becomes too high a load on our businesses and families and instead cripples our ability to provide for real needs. I also believe there is a limit to how much a simple majority in Congress will support. The reality is that, to formulate a social infrastructure measure that meets real needs, fairly spreads the burdens, and can actually pass Congress, we will have to make critical choices. I will continue to focus with my colleagues on what it will actually take to get there.  Some in and out of Congress have urged that we not pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package unless and until we complete and pass the reconciliation measure. I have not agreed and do not agree with that linkage. I believe we should pass BIP now, and joined with colleagues to set the September 27th BIP vote. I am hopeful that it will pass then, and that we can then devote the time and effort it will still take to focus in on reconciliation. Some who disagree with my positions and efforts have begun running ads. Although I accept full debate and strong disagreement, I don’t accept the intentional misinformation woven throughout these ads. So straight from me: this is what’s going on, what I think and what I’m doing to find the best overall way forward for our Hawai’i and country. As always, I welcome your questions and comments. Please visit my website at case.house.gov, email me at ed.case@mail.house.gov, or call me at (808) 650-6688. Be safe and well.