Aloha, Friend.

 

As I write you today the United States Senate is driving toward passage of a bipartisan $2 trillion emergency stimulus measure to further address the public health and economic crisis of COVID-19 and we in the U.S. House have every hope and expectation that we will also pass and the President will sign the measure into law in just the next few days.

 

I have spent many hours since early morning on six conference calls with my House colleagues to fully discuss the measure and what will be required to implement it as rapidly as possible. From that and my countless communications with you and many others throughout Hawai’i over the last few weeks, I know that it delivers massive, urgent, targeted and indispensable assistance to the critical needs of our country and Hawai’i, from our research and health care communities to our businesses especially small businesses, and workers, families and social safety net.

 

I will share details as soon as they are available, and of course will continue to dedicate my own efforts to assuring that all of this assistance gets to our specific Hawai’i needs as soon as possible. But as this measure follows two other emergency stimulus measures we in Congress have passed and the President has signed this month, there is already emergency assistance available and I have worked to get that information and assistance out here at home.

 
In doing so, I have followed my belief that in fighting through a crisis such as this the best way to avoid destructive uncertainty and fear is to share as much information as broadly and often as possible. To that end, I have expanded my online Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) webpage here to provide you with as much information as possible on my actions to help our Hawai‘i, key resources from my office and other government resources that can help you and your family and friends, and the latest medical information on COVID-19. Please take some time to review the extensive information there for answers to many of your questions.

I also stress that my offices in both D.C. and Honolulu remain open and my staff and I are on the job full time. Although we are mostly teleworking and cannot generally meet personally, we are still fully available to talk and assist you and your members with any questions and needs, especially related to COVID-19. Please contact us anytime through my contact page or my Honolulu office at (808) 650-6688.

I am grateful for the incredible input I have received from so many as I work with my colleagues in Washington, D.C. and at home and with each and all of you toward the best decisions and actions to guide us all through this unprecedented crisis as safely, fairly and urgently as possible.

Mahalo, and be well.