Case, Ed RSS Articles

Case Announces U.S. House Approval Of Critical Water Infrastructure Projects For Hawaii

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1) announced that the U.S. House yesterday approved major legislation to address improvements for the nation’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation system, flood and storm risk management, environment, and other aspects of our water resources infrastructure.

Case’s requests were included in H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026. WRDA is developed and passed by Congress every two years. The House approved this Congress’ bill by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 415-9.

WRDA-authorized federal projects are critical to communities throughout the country to keep them connected and safe and to strengthen the overall U.S. economy. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) implements these projects in partnership with federal, local and state agencies, non-government organizations and tribal nations.

Case works with government and community partners well in advance of each WRDA to request authorization of projects key to Hawaii’s safety, security and economy. The four provisions secured by Case in the 2026 WRDA include:

Expanding and upgrading Honolulu Harbor.

Case secured approval for an update on the in-depth study called for in previous measures on critical improvements to Honolulu Harbor which includes Case’s successful push in 2024 to amend the WRDA to reflect the expanded complexity, scope and funding needs for the Harbor, including elements of coastal storm risk management. House approval of the 2026 WRDA will help continue the project and focus its benefits on disaster resilience and enhanced national security from improved utilization of the harbor.

“As the main port of the State of Hawai‘i, Honolulu Harbor receives and distributes all overseas cargo shipments constituting over 80% of all imports into the state, supports fishing operations and cruise ships and handles federal maritime activity including the U.S. Coast Guard’s 14th District,” said Case.

“Providing this additional refined and expanded authorization will ensure our critical harbor is designed for resilience and that this literal lifeline for Hawai‘i remains operational in the face of natural disaster and other contingencies.”

Case said the 2026 WRDA also includes his call for the status of the assessment of the benefits of the project modification on disaster resiliency and enhanced national security from utilization of the harbor by the Department of Defense.

Case secured a complementary provision to conduct a full review of Honolulu Harbor’s critical role in our nation's defense and security. “With Honolulu Harbor being the main port for the State of Hawai‘i, our national defense presence also depends on this harbor to remain strong and reliable to maintain a steady flow of resources for our military needs and communities,” said Case.

Case added: “Strengthening this harbor will allow for enhanced military readiness and resilience and for our communities to be prepared for a national security threat. This provision directs USACE to consider the benefits of project modification for disaster resilience and enhanced national security from utilization of the harbor by the Department of Defense and assists in paving the way for full funding of improvement projects.”

Management of the risks of floods and coastal storms in Waikīkī

The 2026 WRDA includes approval of Case’s requests for federal feasibility studies on the management of the risks triggered by floods and coastal storms risk in the vicinities of the Waikīkī Natatorium War Memorial, Kāimana Beach and Waikīkī Beach.

“As was recently witnessed by the storms that have battered Hawai‘i, we all are facing the real-life evidence every day of the effects of climate change including disastrous flooding, and we must continue our efforts to mitigate catastrophic impacts to the coastline that are major attractions to both our kamaʻāina and visitors to these locales in Waikīkī,” said Case.

Expediting studies of projects O‘ahu, Maui and Kauaʻi

Case also secured approval to complete feasibility studies previously directed for the following projects (such studies being the first step in project authorization):

· Flood risk management for the Kaiaka-Waiʻalua watershed on O‘ahu;

· Flood risk and coastal storm risk management for the County of Kauaʻi; and,

· Flood risk management and ecosystem restoration for the County of Maui

Expedite completion of a project on Kauaʻi

The 2026 WRDA also includes Case’s call to expedite completion of a project involving aquatic ecosystem restoration of the wetlands in Waimea on the island of Kauaʻi.

The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.

· The House Committee on Transportation & infrastructure explanation of the 2026 WRDA is here.

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Case, Moylan Announce Full U.S. House Passage Of Their Bipartisan Bill To Combat Invasive Species

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (D-HI-01) and U.S. Congressman James Moylan (R-Guam) announced that the U.S. House recently voted 371-33 to approve their National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act, which would significantly expand federal efforts to combat invasive species, responsible for severely impacting environments across the country.

“Hawai‘i in particular faces unique challenges from invasive species. Our isolation has led to the evolution of many endemic species that are found nowhere else on Earth,” said Case, who formerly served six years on the House Natural Resources Committee and is in his eighth year on the House Appropriations Committee.

“Our measure is especially timely as we reckon with the wide-ranging ripple effect of the recent storms that have struck the state, including accelerated spread of destructive invasive species especially in vulnerable places such as our national wildlife refuges.

“In Hawai‘i, invasive species have caused significant ecological damage, threatening the survival of native birds and plants. Protecting Hawaii’s unique biodiversity is not just an environmental necessity – it is a cultural imperative that reflects the identity and heritage of the Hawaiian people.”

“For island communities like Guam, invasive species are more than an environmental concern - they threaten our ecosystems, agriculture, economy, and way of life, said Congressman Moylan. “Once an invasive species takes hold on an island, the cost of eradication can be enormous, and the damage may be impossible to reverse.

“I’m proud to see the House pass this bipartisan legislation to strengthen early detection and rapid response within our National Wildlife Refuge System. Prevention is our best defense, and investing in it today will help protect America’s natural resources, preserve our unique biodiversity, and save taxpayers from far greater costs down the road. I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this important legislation forward.”

“Tropical storms and hurricanes (and other extreme weather) cause havoc to endemic species, even in refuges,” said Jonetta “Jonee” Leina‘ala Peters, Executive Director of the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i. “

“Hawai‘i struggles already with the onslaught of other issues that cause extinctions, being insular is a huge issue, (our species have nowhere to escape these threats).

“We are now seeing and experiencing the effects of global warming or climate change.

“Storms do increase habitat destruction with damage to forests, rivers and streams, as well as coastal marine resources, bringing disturbances to ecosystems. These weather events also spread aggressive non-native invasive species (both plants and animals) to vulnerable areas which take hold and flourish. And, of course, these storms destroy native flora as well.”

“Invasive species are putting increased pressure on native wildlife and are especially damaging across our national wildlife refuges,” said Jill Feldhusen, senior manager of wildlife policy at the National Wildlife Federation.

“By establishing dedicated, regional strike teams, this bipartisan bill helps refuges respond more rapidly to invasive species threats before they cause lasting harm. Thank you, Representative Ed Case, for reintroducing the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act and broadening the impact of cross-jurisdictional collaboration.

Case continued: “Invasive species are not just a localized problem; they pose a significant threat to the integrity of our natural world. Addressing this crisis requires a coordinated and comprehensive approach, focusing on prevention, early detection, and effective management strategies to safeguard our vulnerable ecosystems.

“With multiple teams strategically positioned in all nine FWS regions across our country, they are on the front lines, addressing the unique challenges posed by invasive species.”

Case said formally establishing the Invasive Species Strike Teams program will create a stable and legally supported framework to ensure consistent funding and enhance management efforts. The act also signifies a transformative shift within the FWS, moving from a reactive, species-by-species approach to a more strategic, ecosystem-wide framework for managing emerging invasive species.

“The act also mandates enhanced coordination and reporting through integrated systems and standardized procedures, ensuring transparency and enabling us to track progress with annual reports to Congress and the public,” said Case.

“Furthermore, it authorizes $10 million annually from Fiscal Year 2027 through 2033 to support ongoing initiatives.”

Case introduced the measure after federal invasive species experts toured O‘ahu to research the effects of invasive species on island communities. The bill now move on to the Senate.

Video of Case remarks on the floor of the U.S. House is here
Text of Case remarks is here
Text of H.R. 4219 is here
Photo of both Case and Moylan attached

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In Support of the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act, a bipartisan measure which I was proud to introduce with my colleague from Guam, Mr. Moylan. A special thanks to the House natural Resources Committee, on which I was privileged to serve for six years, and the Chair and Ranking Member of the subcommittee and full committee, for working with us to develop a mutually acceptable measure and for bringing it to the floor.

Invasive species jeopardize and too often outright destroy the delicate balance of our ecosystems, as they can outcompete, prey on or introduce diseases to our native flora and fauna. The consequences of these disruptions are severe, leading to not only to extinction of wholes species but to declines in biodiversity, diminishment of the resilience of our ecosystems in the face of environmental change, and broader ripple economic and social consequences,

We in Hawaii understand, perhaps better than anyone, just how crucial it is that we remain vigilant in our response to invasive species. Hawaii's isolation has led to the evolution of many endemic species that are found nowhere else on Earth.

Unfortunately, these native species often lack the defenses to compete with or resist the pressures of the some 5,000 introduced invasive plants and animals, which can rapidly alter ecosystems and displace local species. Invasive species have caused significant ecological damage, threatening the survival of native birds and plants. Protecting Hawaii's unique biodiversity is not just an environmental necessity; it is a cultural imperative that reflects the identity and heritage of the Native Hawaiian people.

But invasive species are not just a localized problem; they pose a significant threat to the integrity of our natural world. Addressing this crisis requires a coordinated and comprehensive approach, focusing on prevention, early detection and effective management strategies to safeguard our vulnerable ecosystems.

The National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act will do just that, codifying the existing Invasive Species Strike Teams program currently operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). These specialized teams play an essential role in managing emerging invasive species, employing strategies tailored to local conditions across the National Wildlife Refuge System. With 21 teams strategically positioned in various Fish and Wildlife Service regions, they are on the front lines, addressing the unique challenges posed by invasive species.

As just one example, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee has been a part of a strike team for over a decade, working withing the Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge on the eastern slopes of Mauna Kea to manage little fire ant threats and remove fountain grass and holly plants, which can choke out our critical native plants. The Big Island Invasive Species Committee is just one of the many shining examples of this effective program, and reminds us of its crucial work.

This bill also mandates enhanced coordination and reporting through integrated systems and standardized procedures, ensuring transparency and enabling us to track progress with annual reports to Congress and the public. Furthermore, it authorizes $15 million annually through Fiscal Year 2029 to support ongoing initiatives.

This legislation is a crucial step forward in protecting our natural resources and enhancing our capacity to respond swiftly to the threats posed by invasive species. I humbly request my colleagues lend their support this bill and ensure the preservation of our ecosystems and promote a resilient future for our environment.

Mahalo nui loa, Mr. Speaker, I yield back.

Industrial Base and Workforce Development for Skilled Trades

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Thank you to Chair Calvert and our witnesses for this opportunity for us all to address critical industrial base workforce challenges that are in turn critical to the defense industrial base that is required for our national defense over the next generation. I also express greetings and appreciation from my Ranking Member, Ms. McCollum, for whom I’m filling in today.

We all know that our defense industrial base has eroded significantly over the past generation-plus, adversely affecting our advanced manufacturing and repair and maintenance capacity across several integral areas including supply chains, access to critical minerals and especially our trade workforce. What we are focused on here is not how we got here but where we must go over the next decades.

Our specific focus in this hearing is on our industrial workforce and how to develop and implement thoughtful, sustainable solutions to recruit, train and retain skilled workers not just now but over the next generation. In doing so, we must realistically assess our challenges, including a shortage of welders, electricians, pipefitters and other skilled trades, 76 million baby boomers retiring, a too-prevalent bias against careers in the trades, and difficulty recruiting international talent from our allies and partners over the last two years. We must also factor in changes in industrial production over that same generation that will significantly alter our projections and assumptions as to workforce needs such as AI and robotics, and maximize leverage of expertise and funding across government and the private sector.

Mr. Secretary, we appreciation this administration’s building on previous administrations’ efforts to develop our nation’s defense industrial base workforce. And on this Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, we are especially interested in specific programs, funding and other efforts inside and through the Department of Defense that will amplify your efforts.

As part of that, we need a better understanding of the current administration’s strategy for workforce development and the “Build Freedom Campaign.”

· What is the ultimate goal?

· What metrics will you utilize to track our progress?

· And what it will cost?

I understand that the FY 2027 Industrial Base and Analysis Sustainment (IBAS) request for workforce programs is about $160 million in discretionary funding and close to $2.3 billion in mandatory funding.

It would help to understand how, if provided, these funds will help the administration meet its goals, and over what time period. How would your efforts be impacted if the proposed $350 billion reconciliation package is not enacted?

Are there existing programs that meet our needs, and are they properly identified and funded? What are the known gaps in our current approach, and what unexpected challenges have we faced along the way?

Finally, we need to better understand how this program ties into other programs within the Department of Defense or across other departments and agencies. For example, many current Department of Labor programs serve to enhance community colleges and other workforce training programs; how are you working with them to avoid overlap?

We also cannot solve this problem through spending alone. I would like to understand how we can help find, develop and meet our workforce needs by working directly with primary schools. Regarding the administration’s proposal to “deploy a national K-12 curriculum aligned with DIB skills,” we need to understand:

· Which groups and business partnerships will inform this curriculum?

· Will it be an accredited program?

· How many educational institutions are you hoping to reach with this effort?

· What will it cost?

It would also be helpful to hear from our witnesses how they plan to retain trained workers, since training and recruitment is only half the challenge.

I also would like to consider the BuildFreedom.US website’s representation that these defense industrial jobs are “AI proof. Six figure jobs,” because hands-on trades are harder to automate. This characterization overlooks the major leaps forward in robotics, which are made possible by AI and machine learning. As we encourage our young people to train for trade jobs, we must consider how robotics can augment, but not replace, our skilled shipbuilding workforce.

Ultimately all these challenges will require multi-generation investment, so we need to continue this work in earnest.

I offer Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and other efforts in my home state of Hawai‘i as examples of how the defense industrial workforce of today and tomorrow can be trained, recruited and retained. The shipyard’s success in these areas, with close to 7,000 high-quality industrial jobs maintaining and repairing some of the most complicated and sophisticated equipment in our military has been sustained by its investment in the workforce. The shipyard’s apprentice program, which reaches initially down into the middle schools, draws thousands of applicants each year and has secured jobs for multiple generations within the same family.

Outside the shipyard, Hawai‘i is investing in the high-tech expertise that innovative companies need now. For example, with support from the Department through you, Mr. Secretary, Honolulu Community College offers advanced manufacturing courses to meet defense industrial base requirements in the Indo-Pacific, the heart of our nation’s priority theater. We also involve our high schools in the recruitment process, letting students know that jobs are available at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and we can start building their skills even before they graduate.

As we look across the nation, there are many unresolved issues on this topic. I appreciate that our collective effort to face and solve them as we will need to do to maintain our armed services as preeminent over the next generation is a bipartisan effort that I’m sure will be sustained over time, and thank you, Mr. Chair, for your personal focus.

With that, I yield back.

Federal Aviation Administration Denies Trident Adventures' Petition To Operate Tour Helicopter Snorkel and Scuba Drops Into State Waters

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has denied a petition from Trident Adventures for an exemption to the FAA’s rules governing the use of aircraft safety belts and supplemental restraints which would allow the company to continue operating its so-called “helocast” jumps from helicopters into the ocean while hovering at low altitude above the water.

Case had joined many others in communicating his strong opposition to the petition. In his letter to the FAA, Case said that Trident Adventures “has temporarily suspended this activity and is seeking an exemption from applicable Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations to resume conducting helocast jumps as part of its tour operations.

Case noted that the petition called for an exemption “that would allow temporary release of passenger restraints during a stabilized helicopter hover approximately 10 to 35 feet above open water for the purpose of conducting controlled water-entry operations.

“These provisions are critical to maintaining the safety of air travel, regardless of flight altitude or aircraft stability. Trident Adventures seeks to rely on its low-altitude, stable flight operations as grounds for an exemption from passenger restraint requirements and the resumption of helocast operations.”

“Any uncertainty regarding whether air-tour services such as those proposed by Trident Adventures are authorized to operate and comply with the applicable regulatory framework would place public safety at risk.”

The FAA noted that Trident Adventures was “not seeking a reduction in safety standards or operational oversight but believes that their operational history, documented procedures, training programs, and conservative performance based operating limitations together demonstrate an equivalent or greater level of safety” as called for in the agency’s rules.

However, in its analysis of the company’s helocast operations, the FAA noted that while the company made assurances for passenger safety “the operational and environmental controls do not provide an equivalent level of protection against slip, loss of footing, aircraft motion, turbulence, windblast, sudden control input, or human error that the regulation’s restraint framework is intended to provide.”

The FAA went on to say that “even under favorable conditions a participant remains exposed to the possibility of a fall caused by unexpected aircraft movement, momentary loss of balance, wet or unstable footing, downwash effects, or sudden participant movement.

“Therefore, although the controls put in place by Trident Adventures may reduce the probability of encountering a degraded operating environment and reduce the likelihood of an inadvertent separation of persons from the aircraft, the FAA finds that they do not provide for a level of safety at least equivalent to the restraint-based protections required by § 91.108 once the participant is no longer seated and restrained inside the aircraft.”

After reviewing the petition, the FAA in its 21-page ruling found that “a grant of exemption would not provide an equivalent level of safety” as defined in its rules “and therefore would not be in the public interest.”

FAA denial of the petition is here
Case letter opposing the petition is here

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Resolution Reaffirming the Partnership Between the Pacific Islands Forum and the United States

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

I rise today in support of my resolution reaffirming the enduring partnership between the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and its eighteen members and the United States toward stability, prosperity and peace in the Pacific, and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States will continue to remain a strong, reliable and active partner in advancing a peaceful, resilient and prosperous Blue Pacific.

The PIF is the Pacific Islands region’s premier political and economic policy organization, bringing together 18 member countries and four associate members to advance shared priorities across the Blue Pacific. The Forum provides an important platform for Pacific Island countries and territories to work collectively on regional security, disaster resilience, economic development, ocean governance and other issues that directly affect the people of the Pacific.

The United States has longstanding ties with the PIF and the Pacific Island countries it represents. The United States has been a PIF Dialogue Partner since 1989, and our relationship is grounded in shared interests and longstanding connections across the Pacific. The United States is itself a Pacific nation, home to millions of people with Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander heritage, and our Pacific territories of Guam and American Samoa are Associate Members of the PIF. We also share close relationships with the Freely Associated States through the Compacts of Free Association.

Our interests in the Pacific are clear. The United States and the PIF share a commitment to maintaining a peaceful and secure region, strengthening economic opportunity, responding to natural disasters, protecting our oceans and supporting a free and open Pacific. Strong engagement with the PIF is an important part of advancing these shared priorities while respecting Pacific leadership and the sovereignty of Pacific Island nations.

One of the PIF’s principal annual gatherings is the PIF Leaders Meeting, where Pacific leaders and Dialogue Partners come together to discuss regional priorities and set the Forum’s agenda for the year ahead. The 55th PIF Leaders Meeting will take place in Palau from August 30 to September 4. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau is also expected to participate, making this an important opportunity to demonstrate continued U.S. engagement with the region.

This resolution reaffirms the United States’ commitment to the PIF and encourages continued high-level engagement with Pacific regional institutions. It also supports Pacific-led implementation of the PIF’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and calls for continued cooperation on regional security, disaster resilience, economic development, ocean stewardship, technology and connectivity and other shared priorities.

The United States has a strong interest in a peaceful, resilient and prosperous Pacific, and the PIF is an essential partner in achieving that goal. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan resolution and reaffirm that the United States will remain a strong, reliable and active partner to the Pacific Islands Forum and the people of the Blue Pacific.

Key U.S. House Committee Approves Case's Bipartisan Bill To Combat Invasive Species

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) announced that the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee (Committee) has unanimously approved his National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act, which would significantly expand federal efforts to combat invasive species, responsible for severely impacting environments across the country.

“Unfortunately, these native species often lack the defenses to compete with or resist the pressures of invasive plants and animals, which can rapidly alter ecosystems and displace local species.

“For island communities like Guam, invasive species are more than an environmental concern—they threaten our native ecosystems, agriculture, economy, and way of life,” said Congressman James Moylan (R-Guam).

“Once an invasive species becomes established on an island, the cost of eradication can be enormous, and in many cases, the damage cannot be undone. This bipartisan legislation takes a proactive approach by strengthening rapid response and early detection efforts within our National Wildlife Refuge System. By investing in prevention today, we can better protect America’s natural resources, preserve our unique biodiversity, and reduce far greater costs in the future.”

"We are pleased with the passage of this measure that prioritizes funds and measures towards early detection through identifying, reporting, and eradicating invasive species and the harm it causes in the National Wildlife Refuge System lands and waters and its surrounding areas,” said Jonnetta "Jonee" Leina'ala Peters, Executive Director of the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i. “Early detection is critical in protecting endangered and threatened species. This is also a major step in eradicating invasive species that harm animals, humans, food sources, and the economy."

“This legislation will codify the existing Invasive Species Strike Teams program currently operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). These specialized teams play an essential role in managing emerging invasive species, employing strategies tailored to local conditions across the National Wildlife Refuge System. With multiple teams strategically positioned in all nine FWS regions across our country, they are on the front lines, addressing the unique challenges posed by invasive species.”

“Furthermore, it authorizes $10 million annually from Fiscal Year 2027 through 2033 to support ongoing initiatives.”

Case introduced the measure after federal invasive species experts toured O‘ahu to research the effects of invasive species on island communities. The bill also directs these experts to produce a report summarizing the Strike Teams’ work and advising how they can continue to help Hawai‘i and island territories. Following approval by the Committee, the measure awaits action by the full House.

Text of the measure is here.

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Case Votes Against First Version Of Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) Tuesday voted in the full U.S. House against the current version of the $1.15 trillion Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The annual authorization is considered must-pass legislation, with Congress enacting one every year since fiscal 1962. It is separate from the regular annual appropriations bills that Representative Case helps develop as a member of the House Appropriations Committee; those bills actually direct funding using the NDAA as an authorizing framework.

“Our National Defense Authorization Act is a critical annual measure that not only authorizes our defense spending for the year, supplementing my Appropriations Committee’s parallel funding responsibilities, but also establishes defense policies, including organization and administration of the Defense Department,” said Case, who serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, responsible for all defense and intelligence community funding, and previously served on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, responsible for all funding in those areas.

“While this current version of the FY 2027 NDAA includes many critical Hawai‘i and Indo-Pacific priorities I requested, I regrettably had to vote against it at this stage for various reasons. These included the lack of any Congressional authorization of the Iran war; the insufficiency of any justification for the huge authorized increase in defense spending; the lack of any assurance of adequate Congressional oversight of that spending; and the inclusion of various other proposals not relevant to defense such as the SAVE America Act, which I have separately voted against several other times.”

Given the significant economic contribution of military construction to Hawai‘i, Case highlighted various projects he advocated for that were included in the NDAA, including:

· $507 million to continue building Dry Dock 5 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

· $248 million to continue building the Red Hill Water Treatment Plant. Case provided the initial funding for this effort in FY 2026 through his assignment on the House Appropriations Committee.

· $184 million to expand the Ford Island Pacific Warfighting Center at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

· $142 million to make airfield improvements at the Pacific Missile Range Facility.

· $90 million for an aircraft maintenance hangar at Wheeler Army Airfield.

· $77 million to expand an armory at Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i.

· $72 million for water wells and storage tanks at Helemano Military Reservation.

· $71 million for a clear well and booster pump at Fort Shafter.

· $49 million to upgrade the main gate at Marine Corp Base Hawai‘i.

· $34 million at Marine Corps Base Hawai‘i for an air traffic control compound.

· $30 million for a fire station at Schofield Barracks.

· $26 million for an elevated water tank and distribution lines at Schofield Barracks.

· $21 million for a water storage tank Schofield Barracks.

· $4 million for a Secure Integration Support Lab on Maui.

The measure also included three floor amendments (amendments added in full House deliberations) authored by Case that:

· Require a study on the potential benefits of establishing a Strategic Infrastructure Partnership Initiative to assist U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) in identifying, developing and implementing dual-use infrastructure projects across the Indo-Pacific.

· Require a comprehensive analysis of the People's Republic of China's (PRC) influence and activities within the Freely Associated States and recommending steps to help protect these three Pacific nations.

· Direct the Space Force to assess the security, physical, cyber and geopolitical vulnerabilities of commercially owned and operated satellite ground-based nodes located within the Indo-Pacific. Multiple such locations are in Hawai‘i.

The bill further included several provisions advocated for and supported by Case to continue the military’s investment in Hawai‘i and the Indo-Pacific, including:

· Authorizing an additional $2.5 million for the Pacific Disaster Center on Maui.

· Extending the authority for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative.

· Formally establishing an Inter-Pacific Air Forces Academy. This existing yet uncodified program focuses on leader-follower self-awareness, enhancing strategic intelligence, cultivating intercultural communication and fostering relationships among the multinational enlisted force.

· Requiring a study on recapitalizing the Army’s watercraft fleet and how they will be supported by uncrewed systems. Hawai‘i is the homeport for three Army watercraft.

· Directing the military to prioritize the distribution and retention of KC-135 tanker aircraft to Air Force and Air National Guard installations in the Indo-Pacific. Hawai‘i Air National Guard’s 154th Wing currently operates KC-135s out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

· Requiring the military to establish a secure, all-domain, virtual-constructive training environment to support training in the Indo-Pacific. This will help reduce the need to conduct more dangerous live-fire training.

· Directing the Navy to evaluate installations that are critical to force generation, deployment and sustainment for USPACOM and what can be done to improve the capacity of naval shipyards, regional maintenance centers, depots, aircraft maintenance facilities and civilian industrial capacity to maintain, repair and rearm ships and aircraft.

· Authorizing $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative.

· Authorizing $8.4 billion for two Virginia-class attack submarines. Pearl Harbor is the home of this class of submarine and conducts major maintenance on them at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

The bill additionally included several provisions cosponsored by Case, including amendments that:

· Direct the Defense Department to conduct base hardening assessments at key logistics nodes and commercial interfaces for major defense installations, which would include locations in Hawai‘i.

· Direct the military to inventory, assess and prioritize all military construction and logistics infrastructure projects across the Indo-Pacific to meet USPACOM’s operational requirements.

· Extend the requirement to annually assess of Taiwan’s military readiness, regional allied responses and U.S. contingency planning in the face of rising Chinese aggression.

· Extend the Indo-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative through 2031 and expand it to include unmanned systems.

· Mandate a report to Congress on the military’s strategy for developing a resilient and distributed missile tracking system and authorize funds to implement the report’s recommendations. These efforts can be used to help improve the defense of Hawai‘i.

Finally, the NDAA version included various provisions Case has supported to assist our nation’s servicemembers, including:

· Directs a 7% pay raise for junior enlisted personnel, a 6% raise for senior enlisted personnel and junior officers, and a 5% raise for senior officers.

· Protects the collective bargaining rights of civilian Defense Department employees.

· Authorizes over $1.8 billion for new construction of barracks and family housing.

· Requires an assessment of junior enlisted housing shortfalls and a plan to close housing shortfalls.

· Authorizes incentive pay for medical officers with doctoral degrees.

· Increases the Family Separation Allowance for deployed servicemembers.

· Authorizes $226 million to design and build new childcare centers.

· Authorizes $170 million for new on-base schools.

· Authorizes a pilot program to provide grants to expand access to childcare for military families.

· Authorizes $50 million in Impact Aid assistance to public schools with military dependent students and an additional $20 million in assistance to local schools teaching children with severe disabilities.

· Requires a cost-of-living allowance to eligible servicemembers. The authority is currently optional and only applies to servicemembers assigned to high-cost areas.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 216 to 212 and now heads to the Senate for its consideration. “I am hopeful that, as this critical measure moves further through the legislative process, its serious flaws will be corrected and I will be able to vote yes on the final version, as I have with past NDAAs,” said Case.

ATTACHMENTS:

1. The text of the bill is available here.

2. The explanatory committee report is available here.

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Case Calls On President To Once Again Extend Jones Act Waiver To Address Severe Risk Of Disruption Of Critical Energy Supplies To Hawaii Resulting From Ongoing Iran War

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (Hawai‘i-First) asked President Trump to grant another 60-day extension of the current 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. In April, Case called on the President to grant the initial extension that is set to expire on August 15.

In his latest letter to the President, Case again urged that: “The waiver should be extended now rather than on current expiration because contracts for the acquisition and shipping of fossil fuel products to U.S. ports are signed well in advance of shipping and delivery and failure to provide clarity on that timeframe will seriously disrupt shipping options and prices with wide ranging effects.

“The waiver is operating nationally to mitigate the effects of market disruption on energy availability and pricing nationally. But the need for the waiver is especially acute in Hawai‘i and other noncontiguous jurisdictions which are largely reliant on external fossil fuel-based products for energy, agriculture, transportation, and other key needs, and where the Jones Act, even in a non-disrupted world, imposes unique severe constraints on the delivery of energy supplies and related pricing.”

Case continued: “As I explained before when asking you to extend the waiver earlier this year, Hawai‘i is one of the most isolated parts of our country and depends 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. For fossil fuel products specifically, of the thousands of tankers operating globally, only a small fraction are Jones Act-compliant and available for domestic transport, and virtually none are suited for certain bulk commodities such as fertilizer. As a result, even though the United States is a net energy exporter, Hawai‘i typically relies on foreign imports because Jones Act shipping is far more expensive and less dependable that international shipping.”

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 in oil shipping are even more 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.

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: “The military in Hawai‘i also depends on this same fuel network. 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. 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. Both these services and their active duty and civilian personnel and families are all being impacted by substantially higher fossil fuel-related costs.

“The conditions that justified the initial request, including global tanker dislocation, severely constrained availability of U.S.-flagged vessels and disruptions associated with instability in and around the Strait of Hormuz, continue to affect fuel logistics. These ongoing challenges underscore the importance of maintaining maximum flexibility in maritime transport to ensure both civilian and military fuel needs are met.”

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.

Attachments

Copy of letter to the President: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:04799e35-96b8-496f-9834-97812094233b

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

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Case Statement On The Death Of First Lieutenant Tyler Feehan Of Hawaii

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) issued the following statement on the death of 1^st Lieutenant Tyler Feehan of Ewa Beach in Jordan.

“I join all of our Hawai’i in mourning the passing in Jordan of United States Army First Lieutenant Tyler Feehan of ‘Ewa Beach. The loss of any of our servicemembers is tragic, but of one of our own ‘ohana is especially deep. I extend my deepest sympathies to Lt Feehan’s family with our Hawaii’s lasting gratitude for his service to our country.”

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