Case, Ed RSS Articles

U.S. House Passes Homeland Security Funding Bill Ending Shutdown For All Department Of Homeland Security Agencies Except ICE and CBP

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, responsible for all federal discretionary funding, announced that the U.S. House passed legislation earlier passed by the U.S. Senate to fund all of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 except immigration enforcement in two agencies, bringing an end to a shutdown affecting thousands of federal workers. The President has signed the bill into law.

“Today’s action will fund DHS and end the painful and unnecessary shutdown, other than for the contentious immigration enforcement agencies,” said Case. “This will continue important government services, restart paychecks for hard working government employees at our airports and elsewhere, ensure continued FEMA disaster response following the Kona Lows, fully restore Coast Guard operations nationwide and allow other critical homeland security work to restart.”

Case is a member of his Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which was responsible for drafting the legislation and negotiating a compromise with the Senate.

The measure follows the approach advocated for by Congressman Case since the shutdown began. He was an original cosponsor of H.R. 7481, a compromise DHS funding bill to fund most agencies in DHS except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to ensure that others are not unfairly punished while Congress focuses its attention on ICE and CBP reforms.

Case said, “I will continue to work with likeminded Members of Congress to advocate for ICE and CBP reforms. We need to enforce our immigration laws, but we cannot do so by surrendering our values.”

The final bill appropriates $48 billion to the covered DHS agencies and includes various provisions to provide more oversight on the Trump administration’s immigration-related policies and actions. It supports most of DHS including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service and more.

It does not provide funding for ICE or CBP's Border Patrol; those employees are currently being paid from last year's reconciliation law.

The measure included Case’s request for $1 million in Community Project Funding (CPF) to install a new information system in the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency’s (HIEMA) Emergency Operations Center. It will serve as a centralized platform for real-time information sharing, situational awareness and multi-agency coordination, and help ensure the safety and well-being of communities across the State of Hawai‘i.

“This new IT system will share information in real time so that emergency responders can make informed decisions and take necessary actions to save lives and protect property in the event of a disaster,” said Case.

The House’s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member and must be subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/services/funding-disclosures.htm.

The bill also responds to concerns raised about the Trump administration’s immigration efforts by:

· Directing DHS to develop and implement a standard uniform policy to ensure that federal law enforcement personnel are clearly identifiable as such,

· Strengthening oversight of ICE and reconciliation funds through a $37 million increase (20 percent) to the DHS Office of Inspector General, and

· Including funding for both the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, two offices the Trump Administration shuttered last year.

Case also secured a number of other key programs and provisions for Hawai‘i and the Indo-Pacific, including:

· $337 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants, which support state and local emergency management agencies like HIEMA.

· $342 million for FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, which is a major source of funding for county fire departments.

· $342 million for FEMA’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program.

· $116 million to support the Coast Guard’s expanding mission in the Indo-Pacific.

· $15 million for the Coast Guard’s Honolulu Homeport Project, which funds expansion of operations and cutter maintenance activities at Base Honolulu.

· $96 million for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, a $5 million increase over FY 2025, which funds University of Hawaii’s National Disaster Preparedness Training Center.

· $48 million for FEMA’s Next Generation Warning System.

· Language requiring a report on the opportunity for the Coast Guard to acquire additional pier and related space at Base Honolulu.

· Language requiring a report on unmet requirements for the infrastructure at the Coast Guard’s Air Station Barbers Point.

· Language encouraging TSA to address potential degradation of security scanning equipment at open-air airports.

The measure also includes the following priorities requested by Case

· $13.9 billion for the Coast Guard overall.

· $65 million for the National Computer Forensic Institute, through which 397 state and local law enforcement officers from agencies in Hawai‘i have received a host of forensic training courses.

· Report language supporting the growth of CISA support in the Pacific Islands.

· Language requiring a report on Coast Guard engagement and needs in the Indo-Pacific.

· Language requiring a briefing on the Coast Guard’s role in combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, which is a major issue in the Indo-Pacific.

· $584 million for the Urban Area Security Initiative under FEMA.

· $494 million for the State Homeland Security Grant Program, which provides funding to protect against terrorism and other threats.

· $124 million for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.

· $95 million for FEMA’s Port Security Grant Program.

· $46 million for the TSA Law Enforcement Officer Reimbursement Program.

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Case Opposes Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture/Rural Development Funding Measure That Slashes Nutrition Assistance To Hawaii Families

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) today voted in his Appropriations Committee against his majority colleagues’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Related Agencies funding measure.

The bill, which covers most of the federal government’s efforts for U.S. agriculture and rural development through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and related agencies for the Fiscal Year 2027 beginning October 1 of this year, totals some $204 billion, most of which is mandatory spending through national farm support and other programs.

The discretionary spending level subject to the annual appropriations process is set at $26.3 billion, a $1.1 billion decrease from the current year, for USDA’s non-forestry and rural development programs, the Farm Credit Administration, Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Food and Drug Administration.

“I opposed this bill because it slashes funds for the SNAP program, which has already seen more than 6,700 people in Hawai‘i lose critical food assistance following enactment of the President’s budget reconciliation bill, which I opposed last year. The FY 2027 funding bill also decimates the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and fails to fund the McGovern-Dole international emergency food assistance program,” said Case, who is in his eighth year on Appropriations and previously served four years on the House Committee on Agriculture.

Case highlighted further deficiencies with the bill, including:

Eliminating $200 million from the fresh fruit and vegetable benefit from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Reducing funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which provides food to low-income or elderly individuals at no cost to them during times of disaster
Slashing Food for Peace by 25 percent, a program that supports American farmers while delivering critical assistance to people facing famine worldwide.
Eliminating the Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program, which provides reimbursements to producers for the high costs of transporting agricultural commodities or inputs.

Despite drastic reductions, Case successfully worked to protect Native Hawaiian programs that are under direct threat by the Trump administration. As one example: “The bill provides $5 million for Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions. This program addresses the educational needs of food and agricultural sciences-related disciplines and prepares low-income students for careers related to food, agricultural and natural resources.”

Through his assignment on the Committee, Case secured $1.9 million for the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) through two Member-designated Community Project Funding (CPF) projects that specifically focus on local needs in Hawai‘i.

The first project, an aviation fuel tender, will significantly strengthen HFD’s ability to sustain aerial firefighting and rescue operations during extended emergencies. The tender will allow for reliable on-site fueling capability, ensuring firefighting aircraft can remain operational near the incident rather than losing valuable time traveling long distances to refuel.

The second project is for a helicopter hoist training simulator. The simulator will allow HFD’s personnel to improve their skills, rehearse emergency procedures and practice complex hoist maneuvers without placing additional strain on the aircraft. It will boost readiness and extend the life of essential equipment, enabling HFD crews to consistently provide fast, dependable aerial rescue services.

Case further worked with his Democratic colleagues Representatives Veronica Escobar and Henry Cuellar of Texas to offer an amendment to fully restore proposed cuts to the Rural Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants Program. These grants are designed to specifically assist American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Colonia (any identifiable unincorporated community within 150 miles of the United States-Mexico border with a population less than 1 million residents) communities with their safe water and waste disposal need.

Case spoke in full Committee on their amendment to educate colleagues on the unique history and needs of the Hawaiian Home Lands with which this program assists; his remarks are here.

While Case and his colleagues earned bipartisan support for their amendment, it was not adopted on an unusual tie vote. Case did secure the undertaking of his colleagues to continue to work on the omission as the measure moves through the legislative process.

Other provisions in the bill of interest to Hawai‘i that Case worked to secure include:

$124 million for the USDA Wildlife Damage Management Program, which helps to prevent the spread of the Brown Tree Snake to Hawai‘i
$3 million for agricultural canine detection and surveillance for invasive species and diseases.
$1.6 billion for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, including $209 million for combating specialty crop pests.
$365 million for agriculture quarantine inspections to prevent infestations of pests and diseases.
$15 million for the Minor Crop Pest Management Program to provide expert assistance to minor and specialty crop producers.
$8 million for the Grassroots Source Water Protection Program that is designed to prevent water source pollution.
$5 million for Aquaculture Centers and $2 million for related aquaculture research programs.
$2.5 million for the Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Research Grants for Insular Areas Program.
$10 million for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Account.

The measure also incorporated the following Case requests:

Provides just under $17 million for the Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, allowing it to continue researching Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death, genetic improvements in coffee and cacao and additional plant disease cures.
Provides $1 million for the Food Donations Programs for Pacific Island Assistance.
Funds Hatch Act agricultural research to land-grant universities in all 50 states, insular areas and the District of Columbia to conduct research on all aspects of agriculture. The University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience receives roughly $1 million per year from this program.
$1.2 billion for the Food Safety and Inspection Service, which is $11 million above the FY 2026 enacted level, to fund our nation’s frontline meat and poultry inspectors.
$37.9 billion for Child Nutrition programs, which is $59 million above the FY 2026 enacted level

This measure is the fourth of the twelve bills to be taken up by the House Appropriations Committee that will collectively fund the federal government for FY 2027.

Despite Case’s opposition, the bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.

A summary of the Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA and Related Agencies Appropriation bill is available here.

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Case Opposes Fiscal Year 2027 Foreign Affairs Funding Bill That He Says Further Weakens Country's Global Leadership Role

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) reported that his Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 National Security, Department of State and Related Programs (NSRP) funding measure.

The measure would provide $47.3 billion, a $2.7 billion decrease from current enacted levels, for U.S. foreign policy efforts executed by the Department of State, U.S. contributions to the United Nations and its agencies and more.

“I voted against this measure because while it did fund some critical Hawai‘i, Indo-Pacific and global priorities I requested, the bill as a whole weakens our global leadership when the world most needs our continued full engagement,” said Case.

Case, while opposing the overall funding reductions, welcomed support in the bill for several of his requests including $830 million for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), $1 billion for the Development Finance Corporation (DFC), $87 million for the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), $20 million for the Asia Foundation and significant support for the Philippines including $200 million in Foreign Military Financing and $100 million under National Security Investment Programs.

He also welcomed support for his specific requests related to Hawai‘i and the Indo-Pacific, especially $16.7 million for the East-West Center in Honolulu, which was proposed to be zeroed out by President Trump in his budget request to Congress. While this funding is a meaningful improvement over a proposed elimination of Congressional support, it still represents a $5.3 million reduction from last fiscal year, underscoring that significant work remains to be done to fully restore support for the Center.

“Continued funding for our East-West Center and other world-leading institutions in Hawai‘i supports our country’s standing in an area widely seen as the most dynamic and critical on earth. As strategic competition intensifies and partnerships across the Indo-Pacific grow ever more important, this bill also secures key investments to strengthen regional stability, deepen our alliances and ensure the United States remains a leading and reliable presence in the region.”

Other bill provisions requested by Case, who continues as co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus that advocated collectively for Pacific programs, include:

· $1.8 billion for the implementation of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, which promotes peace, prosperity and democracy in the region.

· $175 million in assistance for the Pacific Islands region, the same as FY 2026 enacted levels.

· $2.5 million for partnering with Pacific Island nations and regional organizations to build capacity to oversee coastal fisheries management, combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and address transnational organized crime.

· $3 million for the Advancing Port Enhancement and Customs Security Program in the Pacific Islands.

· Funding for the Pacific Islands Forum’s Pacific Resilience Facility, a Pacific-led and member-owned financial institution designed to support Pacific Islands nations facing climate change and disaster risks.

· Funding for commitments made by Deputy Secretary Landau to Pacific Island nations in his February 2026 trip, including to support subsea cable branching units for Tonga and Samoa, containing life-threatening disease outbreaks in Fiji, Foreign Military Financing for Fiji and the migration of Tongan government data assets to trusted cloud infrastructure.

· Report language directing the DFC and USTDA to prioritize the Pacific Islands in financing for projects.

· Report language supporting the Peace Corps’ expansion in the Pacific.

· Language requiring a report on ways to strengthen U.S. trade and investment with the Pacific Islands.

· Funding for unexploded ordinance removal in the Pacific Islands, including Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

The report also included a provision that Case had requested repeatedly in previous years that the State Department better utilize faith-based organizations in aid implementation which is particularly effective in regions like the Pacific Islands where such organizations play a significant role in civil societ

“As we continue to focus on the growing influence of the PRC in the Indo-Pacific, our national security interests must also include diplomatic engagement and assistance to promote peace and diplomacy in the region,” said Case. “Ultimately, I had to vote against this measure since it falls short of doing just that.”

The bill funds several foreign policy programs supported by Case at unacceptably low levels. Among them are:

· $310.2 million for contributions to international organizations, a decrease of $1.1 billion from FY 2026.

· $489.5 million to support international peacekeeping activities, a decrease of $741 million from FY 2026.

· $5 billion for International Humanitarian Assistance, a decrease of $400 million from FY 2026.

· $235 million for Security Sector Programs (previously known as Peacekeeping Operations), a decrease of $100.5 million from FY 2026.

· $647 million for educational and cultural exchange programs, which include the Fulbright programs and other exchange programs that benefit Hawaii’s education institutions, a decrease of $20 million from FY 2026.

· $410.5 million for the Peace Corps, the same as FY 2026 but a $20 million cut from FY 2025.

The bill also completely zeroes out funding for the U.S. Institute for Peace and International Organizations and Programs, the account that funds U.S. contributions to critical multilateral development organizations like UNICEF, UN Women and UN Development Program. It rescinds an additional $1 billion for humanitarian assistance and includes harmful partisan policy riders that endanger women's health by prohibiting funding to the UN Population Fund, fail to address the climate crisis by prohibiting funding to implement the Paris Agreement and codify the expanded Global Gag Rules that will further hinder U.S. foreign assistance efforts.

The measure is the third of the twelve bills to be taken up by the House Appropriations Committee that will collectively fund the federal government for FY 2027 (commencing October 1, 2026).

The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.

A summary of the FY 2027 NSRP bill is available here.

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Case Votes Against Measure That Cuts Funding For Election Security Grants, Attacks Clean Energy Programs And Fails To Include Cost Of Living Increase For Federal Employees

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) reported that his Appropriations Committee approved its second Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 funding measure : the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations bill, which funds the Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Treasury Department, federal courts, the Federal Communications Commission, the Office of Personnel Management and various independent agencies.

The bill’s proposed FY 2027 discretionary funding level is $25.3 billion, about $1 billion below the current FY 2026 enacted level.

Case voted against the final measure because of unacceptable cuts to key programs. However, he worked with majority and minority Appropriations colleagues to incorporate several of his requests into the bill, most particularly funding for key Native Hawaiian programs that are under direct threat in the Trump administration’s FY 2027 budget request.

The measure provides $35 million for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Native Initiatives that support indigenous peoples to include Native Hawaiians; appropriates $5.3 million for the SBA Native American Outreach Program that focuses on creating entrepreneurial opportunities for Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians; includes language in support of the SBA 8(a) Program and questions efforts to terminate the 8(a) status of hundreds of small businesses; and includes funding for other programs that help America’s indigenous peoples.

On small businesses, Case highlighted a mixed result. The bill provides $827.8 million for the SBA, an increase of $498.8 million above the President’s budget request of just $329 million. However, it only includes $285.5 million for Entrepreneurial Development Programs, a decrease of $44.5 million below the FY 2026 enacted level.

“These SBA programs are critical to sustaining and growing Hawaii’s 134,000 small businesses, especially as we foster the entrepreneurism that is so necessary to today’s economic health,” said Case. “The measure is far better than the President’s budget proposal but does not go far enough to support federal programs assisting small businesses, including specific efforts to aid entrepreneurs, provide mentorship training, and expand trade opportunities in the international marketplace.”

“Additionally, the bill does nothing to alleviate the strain on working families who are struggling just to get by as the cost-of-living crisis continues unabated.

“In fact, it makes this problem even worse by failing to include a pay raise for federal employees who will otherwise take an effective pay cut given rising costs and inflation.”

The White House budget proposal for FY 2027 and the bill were “silent” on a civilian federal pay raise, effectively proposing a freeze for 2027. Case voted for an amendment that would have provided them with a pay raise in 2027, but the amendment was defeated.

Case said the bill also includes language expressing concerns over the SBA’s grant application review procedures for prospective disaster loan recipients and challenges with delayed processing and reimbursements. These have been particular concerns of Hawai’i small businesses in recovering from recent disasters. Case’s Committee directed the SBA to develop a plan to reduce these delays and report its findings and proposed policy changes to the Committee by March 2027.

Case gained approval of his funding requests for several other specific federal programs and services especially important for Hawai‘i, including:

· $5.3 million for the SBA Native American Outreach Program.

· $140 million for Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), which supports six SBDCs in Hawai‘i.

· $32 million for the Microloan Technical Assistance Program.

· $27 million for the Women’s Business Centers Program, which supports the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership.

· $5 million for the Regional Innovation Clusters Program.

· $15 million for the State Trade Expansion Program.

· $4 million for the Historically Underutilized Business Zones Program.

· $277 million for the CDFI Fund Program. In Hawai‘i alone, there are 10 certified CDFIs that have loans totaling $56 million as of March 2026.

· $109 million for the Drug-Free Communities Program.

· $300 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program.

· $1.8 billion for Defender Services.

Case noted as another serious deficiency in the measure its failure to address the real risks from climate change. He specifically referenced partisan riders that:

· Prohibit the SBA from funding climate change initiatives to help small businesses cut energy costs and reduce carbon emissions.

· Prohibit investment options under the Thrift Savings Plan (the federal employees pension plan) that make investment decisions based on environmental, social or governance criteria.

· Prohibit the procurement of electric vehicles, electric vehicle batteries, electric vehicle charging stations or infrastructure.

Finally, the bill only provides $15 million in funding for Election Security Grants to safeguard elections and democracy, $30 million below FY 2026. “This represents an unacceptable further attack on our national election process further removing federal guardrails against fundraising abuses, misinformation and disinformation, election processing security and more,” warned Case.

The measure is the second of the twelve bills to be taken up by the House Appropriations Committee that will collectively fund the federal government for FY 2027 (commencing October 1, 2026). The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.

A summary of the FSGG Appropriations bill is available is available here.

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Case's House Appropriations Committee Fiscal Year 2027 Veterans And Military Construction Measure Advances His Priorities For Hawaii And Indo-Pacific

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01), an eight-year member of the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations, responsible for all federal discretionary funding, reported that Appropriations yesterday approved its first of twelve annual Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 funding measures, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies (MilCon-VA) Appropriations bill.

The measures fund military facilities throughout the Department of Defense, as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and various small agencies and programs supporting our nation’s some 18 million veterans, including over 112,000 throughout Hawai‘i. As passed by the Committee, the bill’s FY 2027 total funding is $157 billion, nearly $20 billion above the FY 2026 enacted level.

“I voted for our MilCon-VA FY 2027 measure because it advances our key military infrastructure worldwide as well as our multiple efforts for our veterans and their families, secures further hundreds of millions in investments in Hawaii’s military facilities which strengthen our state’s number two economic driver, protects key Native Hawaiian programs from elimination, and moves forward a second national cemetery to supplement a near-capacity Punchbowl,” said Case, who previously served on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and currently serves on its Subcommittees on Defense and Homeland Security.

During full Committee consideration of the bill, Case spoke on the critical need to reinvest in Hawaii’s aging military infrastructure (see here). He highlighted several key deficiencies, including failing sewage treatment systems at Pearl Harbor.

Also in this bill, Case successfully worked to protect Native Hawaiian programs that are under direct threats from by the Trump administration. “My Committee agreed with my requests to maintain contracting preferences for Native Hawaiians in the VA; continue funding for the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program that assists Native Hawaiian veterans; and support the VA Center for Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islander (NHPIUSAPI) Veterans Health." Case further worked to advance the health care needs of veterans residing in the Freely Associated States (Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of Palau), as agreed to in the renewed Compacts of Free Association between the U.S. and those countries.

Further details follow:

Veterans-Related Programs

The bill provides $137 billion in discretionary spending for veterans-related programs, an increase of $4 billion above the FY 2026 enacted level.

“Hawaii’s veterans and their families make up one of the largest percentages of any state in our nation including in such key areas like women and minority veterans,” said Case.

“While this bill includes some important investments both parties can support, we must continue to do everything we can to lower the cost of living for our veterans and ensure they are able to find jobs, feed their families and keep roofs over their heads.”

The measure also continues support for the VA Center for NHPIUSAPI Veterans Health. The Center’s doctors and scientists coordinate research from all over the Pacific Islands and the United States to specifically address veterans healthcare in the Hawaiian Islands and throughout the Pacific. The Center works with the University of Hawai‘i, and the bill encourages the VA to continue partnering with universities in the Pacific region focusing on issues unique to the NHPIUSAPI community.

The Committee accepted Case’s amendment (see here) to redirect the VA’s efforts to expand medical care for veterans living in the Freely Associated States (FAS), as previously instructed to do so by Congress. Citizens of the FAS enlist in the U.S. military at some of the highest enlistment rates per capita. In exchange for exclusive military basing rights, the U.S. provides the military defense of these countries as part of a decades-long compact agreement. In 2024, the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act gave the VA the authority to provide medical services and beneficiary travel benefits to U.S. veterans in the FAS. To date, the VA has not exercised this authority.

“U.S. veterans in the FAS deserve the same care as all other service members without having to navigate unjustified barriers or traveling long distances to get the case they need,” said Case.

“Today's amendment will help clarify Congressional direction to provide these veterans the care they earned.”

The Committee included language requested by Case directing the VA to provide a report assessing the need and options for building a new national veterans cemetery in Hawai‘i, including the costs and size of land needed to support burials for the next 50 years. Case secured the language because the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific has been essentially closed to casketed burials since 1991 and will stop accepting cremated remains by 2036. This is a serious concern for the roughly 115,000 veterans living in Hawai‘i, some 11% of the state’s population.

This provision will help advance legislation introduced by Congressman Case, Congresswoman Jill Tokuda and Senator Mazie Hirono to build a new national cemetery in Hawai‘i. More details about Congressman Case’s Hawai‘i National Cemetery Act is available here.

The MilCon-VA Appropriations bill also includes $1.4 billion to meet the need for specific care for women veterans and supports the Office of Women’s Health, including its childcare initiative. These funds will allow the VA to continue hiring women primary care providers and to increase the number of peer support specialists for women veterans. These efforts have become even more critical as the number of female veterans using VA health care services has increased.

“Women veterans often require specialized care due to unique health needs stemming from their military service and gender,” said Case. “With sustained support from my Committee over multiple years, Congress is working to ensure the VA sets the standard for women veterans care, ensuring consistent, high-quality services across all facilities.”

Other specific veterans-related programs and provisions requested and secured by Case include:

Protecting contracting preferences for Native Hawaiian owned business that work with the VA.
$108 million for the American Battle Monument Commission, which manages the Honolulu Memorial at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
$60 million for the VA Grants for the Construction of Veterans Cemeteries Program, which regularly provides funding to support Hawaii’s state cemeteries.
$237 million for substance-use disorder (SUD) efforts to ensure veterans can receive timely SUD specialty services.
$3.5 billion for the Veterans’ Homelessness Program Resources Account. This funding will enhance homeless veterans service providers’ ability to provide high demand care such as health services, substance use disorder programs, compensated work therapy and other supportive services.
$349 million for Rural Health Initiatives, $2 million above FY 2026 level. This will improve access and quality of care for the more than three million enrolled veterans residing in highly rural areas.
$8.5 million for the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program, which is $3.6 million below the FY 2026 level.

Military Construction

The bill provides $19.2 billion for Department of Defense (DoD) military construction and family housing, $537 million below the FY 2026 enacted level.

Although Case supported the bill, he explained that “the bill fails to fully account for the President’s budget request, which was received too late to be incorporated. The bill must be amended along its path once the Committee has had time to review all the proposed construction projects, including the some $1.7 billion that I advocated for and that Hawai‘i is slated to receive under the President’s proposed budget – the second highest in the nation behind Alaska ($2.4 billion).”

The following Hawai‘i projects listed in the budget can later be included in the MilCon-VA bill after the Trump administration provides the detailed justifications for the projects:

Pearl Harbor Dry Dock 3 Replacement ($507 million)
Red Hill Water Treatment Plant ($248 million),
Pacific Warfighting Center Expansion ($184 million),
Pacific Missile Range Airfield Pavement Upgrades ($142 million),
Kāne‘ohe Bay Company Compound $134 million),
Wheeler Aircraft Maintenance Hangar ($90 million),
Kāne‘ohe Bay 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment Armory Expansion ($77 million),
Helemano Wells and Storage Tanks ($72 million),
Fort Shafter Clearwell and Booster Pump ($71 million),
Kāne‘ohe Bay Main Gate Entry Control Point ($49 million),
Schofield Wildfire Station ($30 million),
Schofield Elevated Tank and Distribution Lines ($26 million),
Schofield Water Storage Tank ($21 million),
Maui Secure Integration Support Lab acquisition ($4 million).

Other specific military construction programs and provisions requested and secured by Case critical to Hawai‘i include:

$750 million for the Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program, which helps military installations in Hawai‘i and nationwide transition to renewable energy sources.
Language directing the Army to provide a report on the 25th Infantry Division’s current headquarters, to include operational risks, the plan for addressing facility requirements and a detailed timeline and estimated costs for improvements to ensure adequate capability and resiliency.
Language directing the Navy to study a long-term cost benefit analysis of Waterfront Production Facilities at each public shipyard, timeline and estimated costs for planned Waterfront Production Facilities under Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) and actions that can be taken to accelerate the construction of SIOP-related Waterfront Production Facilities.
Language directing the Army and Defense Health Agency to conduct preliminary construction planning to renovate Tripler Army Medical Center, to include the core buildings constructed in the 1940s and address related infrastructure needs such as a parking structure.
Language directing a report assessing the progress of the Hawai‘i Infrastructure Readiness Initiative, a decade-long infrastructure improvement plan for U.S. Army Garrison Hawai‘i that was estimated to invest over $1 billion in Hawai‘i.
Language supporting dual use military-civilian infrastructure investments in the FAS for the first time in generations and requesting details of how to better foster the civilian-military relationship for major planned military construction in the region.

The measure is the first one of the twelve bills to be taken up by the House Appropriations Committee that will collectively fund the federal government for FY 2027 (commencing October 1, 2026).

The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.

A summary of the MilCon-VA funding bill is available here.

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Case Calls On President To Extend Jones Act Waiver Allowing International Shipping To Deliver Oil And Other Energy Products Between U.S. Ports

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai‘i-First) today asked President Trump to extend the current 60-day waiver of the Jones Act, citing continued global shipping disruptions, constrained fuel supply chains and rising gasoline and energy costs in Hawai‘i, along with implications for U.S. military readiness in the Indo-Pacific.

The current waiver, which will expire soon, allows international shipping to transit critical oil, fuel and other fossil fuel-based products from the Continental U.S., where supplies are available, to Hawai‘i. It provides an alternative if international shipping stops or becomes prohibitively expensive. This alternative is not available under the Jones Act because there are not enough qualifying ships (built and flagged in the U.S.) to deliver these products to Hawai‘i from the Continental U.S. even in stable times and especially not in times of international disruption.

In his letter, Case told the President: “As Epic Fury continues to disrupt international oil, shipping and related markets, placing especially the non-contiguous parts of our country such as Hawai‘i at particular risk, I respectfully request that you extend your March 18, 2026, waiver of the Jones Act pursuant to 46 U.S.C. § 501(a), currently set to expire May 17, 2026, for another sixty days.”

Case warned that without the waiver, Hawai‘i is exposed not only to even higher sustained price spikes but also to potential fuel supply interruptions given Hawaii’s extreme reliance on maritime imports and limited shipping options.

Case shared with the President that Hawai‘i “is one of the most isolated parts of our country, depending on shipping for over ninety percent of our goods, including nearly all of our fossil fuel products. Yet the Jones Act severely limits shipping options from the continental U.S. to U.S. Jones Act vessels only, despite the widespread availability of shipping in the international markets.”

The Jones Act, a century-old federal maritime law, mandates that all cargo shipped between U.S. ports be transported on U.S.-flagged vessels, excluding most ships operating in global trade that are flagged internationally. With fewer than 100 oceangoing Jones Act vessels nationwide, limited domestic capacity faces no international competition, contributing to higher shipping costs.

The constraints are stark: of the nearly 7,500 oil tankers operating worldwide, only 54 are Jones Act-compliant and eligible to move fossil fuel products from the Continent to Hawai‘i, which remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuel products for energy. As a result, Hawai‘i typically must source most of its essential resources from foreign markets, where shipping is far cheaper.

“Epic Fury has further disrupted this already fragile system. International suppliers that Hawai‘i has historically relied upon are restricting exports, forcing greater dependence on domestic energy sources at precisely the time when Jones Act-compliant vessels are least available. This dual constraint of reduced international supply and insufficient domestic shipping capacity has made the waiver essential to maintaining adequate fuel flows to the state.”

Without the waiver, these combined pressures risk not only continued upward pressure on already elevated fuel prices, but also meaningful constraints on the ability to reliably secure and deliver essential energy supplies to Hawai‘i under stressed market conditions.

Case also highlighted to the President the extensive military presence in Hawai’i which is largely dependent on the same sources of energy, fuel and other fossil fuel products as the civilian population. He said: “Both these services and their active duty and civilian personnel and families are all being impacted by substantially higher fossil fuel-related costs and will be even more impacted if oil imports to Hawaii are outright unavailable.”

In the current 119^th Congress, Case again introduced legislation to reform the Jones Act and open up Hawai‘i - continent shipping to international competition.

· Copy of the letter to the President is here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:dcf0ffa6-f721-4784-9b38-b4abace3276d

· Case’s February 14, 2025, press release on introduction of his current measures is here: https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3520.

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Case Statement On The Passing Of Former Governor George Ariyoshi

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1) issued the following statement on the passing of former Governor George Ariyoshi.

“With the passing of Governor George Ariyoshi, our Hawai‘i has lost one of our best. The stability and foundation he set in those still-early decades after Statehood was not only essential to his times but instrumental in navigating the intense change to come.

"The example he set as a public servant is timeless. He may have served quietly and effectively, but he also inspired quietly and effectively. Those lessons are his real legacy. I join all of Hawai‘i in extending to Jean and the Ariyoshi ‘ohana my gratitude for this life so well lived.”

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State of Military Infrastructure in Hawai‘i

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

I rise today to highlight the critical need to address seriously aging and increasingly failing physical infrastructure in Hawai‘i across all services. This can no longer be chalked up or explained away as deferred maintenance; it requires Congressional action considering the Department’s negligent administration and budgeting to address clear risks to personnel safety, mission readiness and ultimately our ability to deter and prevail in the Indo-Pacific.

Hawai‘i has served as a linchpin of our nation’s presence in the Indo-Pacific since 1875 when King Kalākaua granted the United States the right to enter Pearl Harbor and establish a coaling and repair station. Today, Hawai‘i is the Indo-Pacific home to every service – the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Space Force – along with a significant presence of our nation’s intelligence community. It is our nation’s Indo-Pacific headquarters, hosting U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Army Pacific, Marine Corps Forces Pacific, Special Operations Command Pacific, Space Force Indo-Pacific and the National Security Agency Hawai‘i. It also has many key military installations including Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i, Schofield Barracks, Fort Shafter, the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Pōhakuloa Training Area and various other locations. These installations support key operating forces based in Hawai‘i, including nuclear attack submarines, surface combatants, an Army infantry division, F-22s, MV-22s, C-17s, fuel tankers, Apaches, a Marine Corp regiment and approximately 60,000 Department of Defense (DoD) personnel plus families.

This presence requires significant physical infrastructure investments that are sometimes difficult to maintain. Hawaii’s geographic isolation makes everything from fuel to concrete significantly more expensive because they must be transported across thousands of miles of oceans. Our tropical location with buildings on or close to the ocean is also incredibly stressful on infrastructure. We face constant eposure to salt-laden air and high humidity, that can quickly cause metal to rust and lead to shorter lifespans than identical structures built on the mainland.

Despite generosity from the House Armed Services and Appropriations Committees in recent years, we must face the hard truth that the Department is not prioritizing critical repair and maintenance on its own. A 2023 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) study found that Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam alone requires almost $5 billion to properly renovate and modernize – twice that of the next closest Navy base needing major upgrades. A 2022 CBO study found that U.S. Army Garrison Hawai‘i and Fort Bragg essentially tied with a $1.5 billion deferred maintenance backlog, and a 2024 CBO report noted that Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i was among the “top” three Marine Corps bases with the worst backlog of deferred maintenance. Failing to perform such maintenance will accelerate the degradation of real property and increase the cost of future renovations and repairs.

The effects of avoiding infrastructure investments for years are now having real world consequences in Hawai‘i. For example, our aging waste water treatment systems at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i have repeatedly spilled raw and insufficiently treated sewage into our oceans, and power outages and water main breaks have become all too real occurrences with potentially major impacts on service members’ safety, especially when it affects Tripler Army Medical Center – the military’s largest medical facility in the Indo-Pacific.

For far too long we have also ignored the need for major new construction. The Marine Corps’ three-star command headquarters for the Indo-Pacific operates in the 1940s era ‘Aiea Heights Naval Hospital that lacks sufficient classified spaces and secure connections. Special Operations Command Pacific, which serves as the functional component for all special operations missions throughout the Indo-Pacific, has personnel spread across 19 locations in O‘ahu due to facility space limitations at its primary headquarters at Camp H. M. Smith. Space Forces Indo-Pacific is operating out of temporary buildings, which are little more than trailers. The 25th Infantry Division’s Headquarters lacks sufficient Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility spaces and a modern headquarters facility. Failing to invest in these headquarters units now will make command and control more difficult in a time of war.

Further, the modern equipment used by our troops is in desperate need of new modern buildings to house them. The 3^rd Marine Littoral Regiment does not have a magazine for the new weapons it needs, lacks sufficient climate-controlled facilities for its modern equipment and has insufficient classified workspaces. Army helicopters operate out of World War II era hangers without modern climate control that often lead to spare parts being rusted and unusable. The Air Force’s runways and taxiways at Hickam Field have gotten so bad that waivers are requested for all routine landings, and aircraft stationed in Hawai‘i have longer depot periods because there isn’t even an adequate aircraft wash facility. Piers throughout Pearl Harbor should have been fully replaced years ago as many cannot support the cranes needed to maintain our vessels, and most piers and wharves cannot be used to refuel our vessels.

Finally, housing remains a major concern for too many. The barracks at U.S. Army Garrison Hawai‘i and Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i do not meet modern standards, and there is a strong desire from both the military and State of Hawai‘i to move more service members back onto base to alleviate high stress on the civilian housing supply, yet military housing is essentially full and many older buildings face ongoing maintenance issues, especially related to air conditioning that leads to dangerous mold when left unaddressed.

The failure to address these infrastructure issues is placing our nation’s presence and mission in the Indo-Pacific at risk, and I ask for your help to address it. Given the depth of the problem, it will likely take many years and actions to address the challenge, but some of our first steps can include:

Investing in Critical Conflict-Related Infrastructure. The FY 2026 NDAA conference report mandated a study on the infrastructure investments required to support potential conflict-related needs in Hawai‘i. Congress must carefully review this forthcoming report and act on recommendations that can prepare Hawai‘i for any future contingency.
Funding Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization (FSRM). Congress has wisely required the military to no longer short-change FSRM accounts. We must ensure this happens over multiple years and prevent further backsliding.
Support Unfunded Priorities. Far too often the military has been reluctant to fund projects in Hawai‘i because they are expensive. However, many projects make the unfunded priorities list, a sign that the military needs Congressional help to address critical shortfalls. When justified and executable, we must authorize these projects.
Reforming Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI). Despite the need for investments to support U.S. military power in the Indo-Pacific, rarely do Hawai‘i construction projects carry a PDI “label.” The Government Accountability Office reviewed the DoD’s PDI budget and concluded that the PDI does not consistently reflect department-wide priorities or requirements and generally presents an inconsistent mix of programs and funding. We need to reform the PDI budget presentation rules so readiness projects critical to the Indo-Pacific are properly considered and funded.
Creating Infrastructure “Tiger Teams.” Given workforce shortages in key public works departments, we need small, specialized and cross-functional group of high-level experts assembled temporarily to investigate and develop actionable plans to address our infrastructure woes in Hawai‘i. These teams bypass standard slow-moving hierarchies and create plans for action.
Resolving Joint Infrastructure Issues. Much of the military’s infrastructure in Hawai‘i has a joint element especially since the services need to share installations given the limited land available in our islands. For example, Pōhakuloa Training Area is used by all the services and could use improvement to its airfield and temporary barracks. However, there are often disagreements over how to move forward in a joint manner as illustrated by ongoing disagreements over how to prioritize and fund Air Force infrastructure needs at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam that have remained unresolved for years. Given the joint nature of Hawaii’s military infrastructure, it needs leadership from a joint perspective to ensure all interests are considered and supported.

We must face the hard truth that the status quo for military infrastructure in Hawai‘i is unsustainable. We can no longer expect our service members to project 21st-century power from 20th-century infrastructure. The fiscal and operational costs of continued neglect far outweigh the investment required to modernize these aging facilities. The steps I have proposed today represent a roadmap to restoring our regional readiness, but I stand ready to work with my colleagues to ensure the FY 2027 NDAA and appropriations bills provides the necessary resources to rebuild and protect our nation’s most critical Indo-Pacific location.

Case Comments On President Trump's Waiver Of Jones Act For Domestic Shipping Of Oil And Other Energy Products

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai‘i-First) made the following comments on President Trump’s order today of a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act for shipping between U.S. ports of oil, natural gas, fertilizer and other energy commodities:

“President Trump’s waiver of the Jones Act is a no-brainer response to rapid increases in gas and other fossil fuel products from severe disruptions in international energy markets resulting from the Iran war.

“That we even have to waive the Jones Act to try to hold down skyrocketing fuel and other energy costs is a blanket admission of the Jones Act’s crippling effects on our economy, especially Hawai‘i and the other non-continent parts of our country (island territories and Alaska) that are wholly dependent on shipping.”

The Jones Act, a century-old federal maritime law, mandates that all cargo shipped between U.S. ports can only be shipped on U.S.-flagged vessels. Meanwhile, the vast majority of international-flagged vessels doing worldwide shipping are excluded from doing so. Additionally, with the number of oceangoing Jones Act vessels now well less than 100 country-wide, scarce and declining domestic shipping faces no competition from international shipping, driving up shipping prices nationwide.

This effect is especially severe for places like Hawai‘i which depend exclusively on shipping for over 90% of our goods, and where Jones Act shipping companies have developed virtual monopolies over a captive market and charge some of the highest shipping rates in the world. These are all passed down to Hawai‘i businesses and families as one of the primary drivers of our unacceptable high cost of living. A 2020 study estimated the cost of the Jones Act (the difference between high costs from the Jones Act monopoly passed down, and costs if shipping between Hawai‘i and the continent was open to the competition of international shipping) at almost $650 per year for each Hawai‘i resident.

Hawai‘i remains heavily dependent on fossil fuel products – crude oil, refined fuel and natural gas for energy and transportation, fertilizer for agriculture, and others – all of which must be shipped into Hawai‘i. Yet because the Jones Act restricts shipments of energy commodities from the continent, in normal periods Hawai‘i ends up sourcing most of its essential resources from foreign markets, where shipping is far cheaper. The constraints are stark: of the nearly 7,500 oil tankers operating worldwide, just 54 are Jones Act-compliant and permitted to ship fossil fuel products from the continent to Hawai‘i. Among oceangoing dry bulk vessels ideally suited for transporting fertilizer, not a single one qualifies.

As a result, despite being part of the United States, which is a net fossil fuel exporter, Hawai‘i normally sources only a small share of its energy from the continent. In 2024, just 16% of the oil used for electricity generation came from the continent, all carried on higher-cost Jones Act vessels, while the overwhelming majority was imported from abroad at lower cost.

However, the Iran war has disrupted these normal operations in numerous ways that further affect Hawai‘i negatively. First, international oil distribution and supply has been disrupted and countries that are normally exporting product are holding their product home for domestic supplies, requiring Hawai’i to rely far more heavily on domestic fossil fuel products. Second, the domestic Jones Act tanker fleet is devoted elsewhere and largely not available to transport substantially increased fuel supplies from the continent to Hawai‘i.

The President’s 60-day waiver temporarily lifts the Jones Act restrictions for shipments of energy commodities from the continent to Hawai‘i, thus allowing international shipping to continue domestic supply shipping to Hawai‘i.

“President Trump’s Jones Act waiver is important to maintain fuel imports to Hawai’i at a time when we must rely far more on domestic supply while the capacity of domestic shipping has declined, and it certainly shines a high-beam spotlight on the crippling effects of the Jones Act on the cost of living for island and other non-continent parts of our country,” said Case.

“But make no mistake: That alone will not reduce prices; it will just mitigate further increases the longer these disruptions continue. It is the President’s war in Iran itself that is the overall driver of huge increases in gas, electricity, food and other costs to Hawai‘i families because of the disruption in both international energy supplies and worldwide shipping.”

In the current 119^th Congress, Case again introduced legislation to reform the Jones Act and open up Hawai‘i - continent shipping to international competition. Case’s February 14, 2025, press release on introduction of his current measures is here: https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3520.

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Case Opposes Onerous Additional Information Requirements For Visas To Visit The U.S.

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Honolulu, HI) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Homeland Security with funding and oversight jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is opposing a proposed DHS rule which would impose onerous additional data collection requirements on residents of various countries including our allies and partners applying for visas to travel to the United States.

“These additional requirements represent a fundamental shift in the entry process for lawful travelers to our country,” said Case.

“They would have the effect of chilling a broad range of travel to our country with indiscriminate blanket requirements that would unnecessarily harm key international-travel-related industries such as travel and tourism, education, and trade, especially with our closest allies and partners.”

In his letter to soon-exiting Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney S. Scott (see attached), Case explained that “while security enhancements are important, the breadth of these requirements risks creating a perception of complexity, intrusiveness and unpredictability,” and “risks imposing unnecessary burdens on lawful international travelers [which] could have disproportionate economic consequences for the State of Hawai‘i.”

Currently, travelers applying for visas from countries designated for participation in the Visa Waiver Program (Program), which eases travel requirements from allies and partners with no significant security or overstay risks, use the Arrival and Departure Record (Form I-94) and the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) to enter the United States. Under the proposed rule, these applicants would also have to disclose five years of social media data, extensive historical contact information, detailed biographical information about family members and expanded biometric identifiers.

If adopted, the proposed rule would affect travelers from 42 countries listed in the Program, including Japan and the Republic of Korea (full list here).

“Travel and tourism is and will remain Hawaii’s primary economic driver,” said Case. “Because of our geographic isolation and limited economic diversification, lawful domestic and international travel is foundational to our fiscal stability, workforce participation and small business ecosystem. In 2025, Hawai‘i welcomed approximately 9.6 million visitors and Honolulu’s industry and visitor spending generated $12 billion in economic activity, supported 64,000 jobs and contributed $1.9 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue.

“International travel remains an important component of Hawaii’s visitor industry. While overall visitor spending has increased, key international markets remain significantly below pre-pandemic levels. As Hawai‘i continues its recovery and works to rebuild these relationships, maintaining a predictable and efficient entry process for lawful travelers is critical to supporting jobs, small businesses and public revenues across our islands. The last thing we need now is unnecessarily restrictive travel requirements that send international travelers elsewhere with no return on our national security.”

Case urged DHS to “reconsider and revise this proposal to ensure that enhanced security measures are narrowly tailored and do not unintentionally deter lawful travel. I further request meaningful consultation with Hawaii’s state and local leaders, hospitality industry representatives and economic stakeholders before finalizing any changes to ESTA or I-94 requirements.”

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