Case, Ed RSS Articles

Case Provides Summary Of Legislative Record Since Returning To Congress In 2019

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) provides below and at https://case.house.gov/ detailed information on key portions of his legislative record over the last eight years since he returned to Congress in 2019.

“My mission is to help lead our country, help our Hawai‘i and help my constituents,” said Case, who also previously served in Congress from 2002 to 2007.

“My legislative record is the sum total of my efforts and accomplishments to fulfill that mission. It includes my votes in Congress (6,032 to date), legislation, work in my House Appropriations Committee and other committees and caucuses, speeches, joint letters and statements and more. I believe in making it readily available to let constituents know what I’m doing and why, to answer questions and to correct misunderstandings.

“My first and main effort is to provide a simple, central, transparent resource on my record and other efforts through my official website at https://case.house.gov/. That has information on me, my positions and activities, legislation and votes, public statements and communications, key issue summaries, and how to contact me.

“In addition, I’m providing the following summaries of my record in several areas of interest to me and my constituents:

1. Cost of Living link

2. Crime link

3. Defense link

4. Education link

5. Energy link

6. Federal Deficit/Debt/Finances link

7. Foreign Affairs link

8. Health Care link

9. Kūpuna link

10. Labor link

11. LGBTQ+ link

12. Maui Wildfires link

13. Native Hawaiians link

14. Natural Resources link

15. Oceans link

16. Small Business link

17. Trump Opposition link

18. Veterans link

19. Voting Rights link

20. Women link

“My Appropriations Committee is responsible for all federal discretionary funding, currently at about $1.7 trillion total per year,” said Case. “I’m serving my eighth year on Appropriations overall, and fourth year on our Subcommittee on Defense and Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which together make up almost 60% of our total federal budget. This is a national leadership position that also results in billions of federal funding to Hawai‘i every year. For these reasons, I focus on my Appropriations work and my legislative record reflects my efforts and accomplishments in the oversight and funding of all our federal government.

“Each year in Appropriations, we pass twelve separate measures, each of which covers parts of our federal government and all of which make up our total federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year. We just completed our last measure, Defense, and now move on to full House passage of the measures, and Senate and conference consideration before final passage.

“Here are my news releases on my efforts and accomplishments in Appropriations so far this year as we work to fund Fiscal Year 2027, which starts October 1^st of this year:

· Military Construction and Veterans Affairs link

· Financial Services and General Government link

· National Security, State Department and Related Programs link

· Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies link

· Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies link

· Legislative Branch and Energy and Water link

· Transportation/Housing/Urban Development and Interior Department link

· Labor, Health and Human Services and Education link

· Homeland Security Department link

· Defense Department link

“I was also just ranked #4 of 214 House Democrats in securing direct Congressional funding for worthy community projects in my district (known as Community Project Funding, or CPFs) in our FY27 measures,” said Case. “I secured all 20 of my CPF requests for a total of $18,936,300.

“Overall, for the five years Congress has authorized CPFs, I’ve gained approval of 74 district projects for $326 million. More here.

“Finally, I want to highlight as well the third part of my mission, which is to help my individual constituents with their own questions and concerns,” said Case. “Since 2019 my great staff and I have assisted over 10,000 constituents with concerns with Social Security, Medicare, veterans benefits, immigration and many other matters.

“Again, please see my website at https://case.house.gov/ for more information on my legislative record and other activities. For any questions or further information, please contact me at ed.case@mail.house.gov.”

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In Support of the Native American Entrepreneurial Act

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act, introduced by my colleague, Representative Sharice Davids of Kansas, and co-sponsored by me.

The Small Business Administration’s Office of Native American Affairs works with Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations to provide entrepreneurial development, contracting and capital access and to support the establishment and expansion of small businesses owned or controlled by our nation’s indigenous peoples, including Native Hawaiians. It helps our nation remain focused on our Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities and their vital contributions to our national and local economies.

This bill will provide formal, statutory authority for the office so it can continue its efforts. Statutorily authorizing the Office of Native American Affairs will ensure continued access to federal programs and services that support entrepreneurs from our indigenous peoples across the country and help them launch and grow small businesses, and in turn, promote economic development in their communities.

This bill will especially help businesses in my home state of Hawai‘i. Small businesses are the lifeblood of Hawai‘i, and it is essential to equip Native Hawaiian-owned small businesses with the tools and resources they need to start, grow and thrive in our communities.

I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this bill and supporting small business owned by our nation’s indigenous peoples.

Case Opposes Defense Funding Measure That Fails To Properly Oversee Proposed Massive Increases In Defense Spending And To Fairly Balance National Security And Pressing Domestic Needs

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) reported that his U.S. House Appropriations Committee today approved its final Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 funding bill – the Defense Appropriations Act.

The measure, the twelfth of twelve annual federal funding measures considered by Appropriations, provides funding for federal agencies and programs in the Department of Defense (DoD) and intelligence community, including the military branches of services, the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.

Case, who is in his eighth year on Appropriations, serves on its Subcommittee on Defense, which is responsible for developing the bill.

Case voted against the FY 2027 Defense bill that proposes $1.1 trillion in discretionary spending, $234 billion more than the current fiscal year. Total defense spending would grow to nearly $1.5 trillion annually if combined with the proposed reconciliation, or mandatory spending, bill requested by the Present.

“While the measure funds many critical Hawai‘i and Indo-Pacific priorities I requested, I regrettably had to vote against this version because the proposed increase in total defense spending is not accompanied by any substantial Congressional oversight of such massive new spending levels, and comes as the Congressional majority and President Trump propose steep cuts to domestic programs that support working people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis,” said Case. (Click here to watch Case explain the flawed overall structure for the President’s funding request and the bill.)

Case also stressed that the bill embraced a partisan approach to various aspects of our nation’s security. For example, it fails to include the $400 million for the bipartisan Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, continues funding for a National Guard Reaction Force to be deployed into American cities and fails to provide any checks on the President’s military operations in Iran.

During the Committee’s debate over the bill, Case also spoke in strong opposition to recent actions by the Secretary of Defense to fire qualified military leaders and undermine military promotion boards that have become political rather than merit based, which has disproportionally targeted women and minorities. He explained that two recent military leaders that served in Hawai‘i were harmed by these purges - General Charles “CQ” Brown (former head of Pacific Air Forces and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs) and Admiral Stephen Barnett (former Head of Navy Region Hawai‘i).

Case warned of the negative message sent throughout the current and future officer corps and enlisted ranks and implications for recruitment, retention and merit-based service and advancement, asking rhetorically what the 75% of Hawai‘i that are minorities would consider their opportunities in the military to be. (See Case’s speech here.)

Case also warned about the dangers of approving further funding for the Golden Dome missile defense program when the Department of Defense has failed to provide an overall plan and detailed information on the program and proposed spending which even at conservative estimates would cost over $1 trillion. (See Case’s speech here).

Despite his opposition to the bill, Case highlighted programs and provisions that he requested and secured in the Defense funding measure that are especially critical to Hawai‘i, including:

· Protecting the special contracting preference for Native Hawaiian businesses.

· $10 million for Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility long-term environmental monitoring, additional scientific studies and targeted remediation efforts to facilitate the permanent closure of the site.

· $10 million of additional funding for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program, which help address shared environmental concerns affecting the military and local communities in Hawai‘i.

· $10 million to advance Indo-Pacific-focused advance manufacturing efforts in Hawai‘i.

· $10 million of additional funding for Regional Centers for Security Studies, to include the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (DKI-APCSS) in Honolulu.

· $44 million to continue efforts to replace O‘ahu’s outdated air surveillance radar, which is needed to defend Hawai‘i from missile attacks.

· $309 million for the Navy’s Environmental Restoration program plus an additional $239 million for the cleanup of Formerly Used Defense Sites. These funds will help accelerate efforts to remediate per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) contamination and remove unexploded ordnance and discarded military munitions in Hawai‘i and throughout the nation.

· Funding for two Virginia-class fast attack submarines, which are critical to protecting the Indo-Pacific and are maintained at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

· $160 million for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which maintains critical scientific laboratories at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

· $264 million for the Sea-Based X-Band Radar, which helps defend Hawai‘i from ballistic missile threats.

· $202 million for the National Guard Youth Challenge Program to help at-risk youth improve life skills, academic achievement and employment potential – an increase of $100 million. These funds will help support Hawaii’s Youth Challenge Academy.

· $50 million for Impact Aid and $20 million for Impact Aid for children with disabilities, which help Hawaii’s public schools by partially reimbursing the cost of educating military children.

· Blocked efforts to change the command and control structure of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. There have long been efforts within the department to “streamline” control of forces under one command structure, which would limit the ability of Navy forces in Hawai‘i to respond quickly to changing threats in the Indo-Pacific region.

Case requested and supported other programs and provisions in the measure that are especially critical to the broader Indo-Pacific, including:

· $18 million for the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative (APRI) Program, managed by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. APRI supports a wide range of exercises, humanitarian assistance, programs and training symposiums that help expand U.S. influence in the Indo-Pacific. The initiative is an important tool for the U.S. military to strengthen relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

· Continued support for providing humanitarian and other assistance by U.S. military Civic Action Teams in the Freely Associated States.

· $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative to increase Taiwan’s defense, readiness and deterrence capabilities.

· Carveout allowing Hawai‘i-based military hospitals to treat civilian patients from American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and Guam.

General military-related programs and provisions supported by Case related to the DoD overall include:

· Providing a military pay raise of 7% for all military personnel ranked E-5 and below, 6% for E-6 to O-4, and 5% for O-4 and above.

· $917 million for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP). The CDMRP fills research gaps by funding high impact, high risk and high gain projects that other agencies may not venture to fund.

· $15 million for the Military and Family Life Counseling Program, which provides counseling services to service members and their families to support operational readiness and resilience.

A summary of the Defense Appropriations bill is available here.

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Case Ranked 4th Among 214 U.S. House Democrats In Appropriations-Approved Community Project Funding For His District In Fiscal Year 2027 Measures

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – According to a report by a non-partisan Congress tracking service, U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) ranks 4^th among all 214 Democrats in the House of Representatives in total funding for district community projects approved by his House Appropriations Committee for upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2027.

The report by Congressional Quarterly analyzed all approved Community Project Funding (CPFs) in the eleven federal funding measures passed to date by House Appropriations for FY27 (which begins October 1 of this year). There are twelve annual Appropriations-approved measures to fund the federal government (totaling $1.7 trillion for current FY26). The last one, Defense, does not include CPFs, so the report covers all House CPFs for FY27.

Congress implemented CPFs in FY22 to permit Members of Congress to provide direct federal funding to worthy state and local government and community projects in their districts. The CPF process is subject to strict rules: in the U.S. House each project must have demonstrated community support, requesting Members must personally disclose their CPF requests and attest to each project, and each project is subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/services/funding-disclosures.htm.

Case gained approval of all 20 of his CPF requests for a total of $18,936,300 in his Appropriations Committee-approved FY27 measures, some of which have passed the full House and the rest of which are pending passage. For the five full fiscal years for which CPFs have been approved, Case has gained approval of 74 CPF requests for a total of $325,809,228 in direct district project funding. A full list of all of Case’s approved CPFs by fiscal year and Appropriations measure is attached.

“I’m very happy that we’re having a fifth especially successful year for our CPF requests,” said Case, who is serving in his eighth year on the House Appropriations Committee. “This federal funding option is hard to master yet invaluable in helping so many worthy state, county and community projects to deliver on so many diverse community needs that might not otherwise be met fully. While the dollar amount of each project may be small compared to overall federal funding of billions of dollars to Hawai’i every year, for many of these projects it is essential.”

“My CPF requests come straight from my ongoing outreach and partnerships with my state, county and community partners throughout my district, looking to match the needs and opportunities I find with the various possibilities for federal assistance through Appropriations and otherwise. Then, once we identify worthy CPF possibilities that I believe can be approved by Congress, we work hard to mold them into solid requests that have a solid chance of approval and then shepherd them through the Appropriations process maze.”

Case used as one example his outreach to the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i in advance of the FY22 appropriations cycle. The Blood Bank was short of funds to build its critical new Kapolei center. Case sought and gained a $2 million CPF to assist and was gratified to visit the beautiful new center on its opening earlier this year.

Here are Case’s FY27 approved CPFs:

- $1.8 million for the City and County of Honolulu’s Chinatown Affordable Housing Project. These funds would help preserve much-needed housing by upgrading mechanical systems, making roof and waterproofing improvements and installing accessibility enhancements.

- $250,000 for the Hawai‘i State Department of Education’s Safer Hawai‘i Schools Pilot Program. These funds would enhance the security infrastructure for Ruth Keli‘ikōlani Middle School by helping to build a new security camera system.

- $772,000 for Loko I‘a Restoration in Pu‘uloa by the University of Hawai‘i. The Pu‘uloa estuary (today commonly referred to as Pearl Harbor) once supported 35 highly productive fishponds. After years of watershed degradation, elevated levels of contaminants have led to unsafe seafood consumption and diminished ecosystem function. This project would support a coordinated effort to restore fishponds in Pu‘uloa through remediation planning, restoration of fishpond infrastructure and invasive species management.

- $772,000 for the Enhancing Hawai‘i Cargo Security through Advanced High-Energy Cargo Screening Systems Project at the Hawai‘i State Department of Law Enforcement. With these funds, the Hawai‘i State Department of Law Enforcement would develop advanced high-energy cargo screening systems for Honolulu's ports. This targeted investment will enhance the state's ability to interdict illegal fireworks, weapons, narcotics and other contraband, while also strengthening Hawaii's first line of defense against invasive species and other biosecurity threats entering through commercial freight pathways.

- $772,000 for the Food Analysis Research and Extension Lab at the University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience. These funds would establish the Food Analysis Research and Extension (FARE) Lab, which will serve as a hub for standardized data necessary to support local farmers and food innovators. The FARE Lab will use national standards to document differences across local species and cultivars that serve as staple foods in the diets of people living in Hawai‘i and the broader Pacific.

- $772,000 for the Marine Finfish Hatchery for Stock Enhancement Project at the Hawai‘i State Department for Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. These funds would help establish the first state-operated marine finfish hatchery on Oahu at the Division of Aquatic Resources Anuenue Fisheries Research Center to support the protection, restoration and sustainable management of reef fish populations.

- $772,000 for the Drone as First Responder Project at the Honolulu Police Department. This project would use automated drones and intelligent surveillance cameras to improve emergency response. The system will include drone launch stations, secure storage, maintenance areas, and real-time video streaming so drones can arrive at incidents within minutes.

- $772,000 for the Waikīkī Flood Watch Test Project at the University of Hawai‘i. This project would develop a cyberphysical testbed that would transform how Hawai‘i predicts and responds to flooding. Unlike traditional systems that rely on rainfall alone, this platform captures the full picture of compound flooding, including sensors, computer models, digital twins and AI alerts to provide faster and sharper predictions of floods in Waikīkī. By providing earlier and more actionable guidance to city and state emergency managers, the project strengthens preparedness, reduces risk to businesses and residents and helps safeguard one of Hawaii's most vital coastal communities, while demonstrating best practices for similarly situated communities nationally.

- $772,000 for a Critical Incident Response Apparatus (CIRA) for the Honolulu Police Department. This apparatus is a vital asset that enhances the Honolulu Police Department's rescue and recovery capabilities across Oahu. Designed as a shield and barricade tool for rapid deployment, CIRA provides critical protection for the public and first responders during emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters, hazardous material incidents, terrorist attacks and other large-scale critical events.

- $772,000 for the Hawai‘i Port Resilience and Coastal Erosion Study at the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation. This study would address vulnerabilities from coastal erosion and changing sea conditions impacting Hawaii's commercial ports by enhancing a digital twin model with wave modeling, vulnerability assessments, drone-based pier inspections and bathymetric surveys to advance resilience planning for Hawaii's maritime system.

- $772,000 for the Applied Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Research Laboratory at the Hawai‘i Pacific University. This project would establish a laboratory to conduct hands-on, applied research focused on securing AI systems, strengthening AI-enabled cyber defense and defending against AI-driven cyberattacks; while developing practical tools, testing environments and implementation guidance tailored to Hawaii's defense contractors and critical infrastructure operators.

- $300,000 for the Security Water Quantity and Quality in the Ala Wai Watershed Project at the Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. The Ala Wai watershed is currently heavily invaded by Miconia, an invasive plant that increases the propensity for erosion and landslides by limiting understory growth, destabilizing soil and decreasing water absorption. With these funds, the Division of Forestry and Wildlife would manage the invasive plant throughout the Ala Wai watershed by establishing field crews to remove the invasive plant, data management staff and coordinator positions.

· $1.9 million for the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) for two projects:

An aviation fuel tender, to significantly strengthen HFD’s ability to sustain aerial firefighting and rescue operations during extended emergencies. The tender would 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.
A helicopter hoist training simulator. The simulator would 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.

· $1.9 million for Wai‘anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center’s (WCCHC) Waipahu Clinic Expansion Project. This project would allow WCCHC to increase access to health care and social services and open a new Health and Wellness Learning Center in Waipahu to support the WCCHC’s nurse practitioner and dental residency programs to meet crucial health workforce needs.

· $1 million for Kalihi Palama Health Center’s (KPHC) Emergency Resilience and Internal Renovation Project. This project would repair KPHC’s air conditioning system, purchase an emergency generator to power its elevator and medication refrigerators in the case of power outages, and acquire a digital panoramic X-Ray machine.

· $395,000 for Waikīkī Health Center’s Clinical Upgrade and Service Enhancement Project. These funds would support the upgrade and build-out of a new clinical space and several physician exam rooms that need renovation, along with the purchase of new pharmacy vaccine refrigerators.

· $250,000 for Kōkua Kalihi Valley’s Accessibility and Resilience Project. This project would modernize key facility components through the installation of a solar photovoltaic system, an entry ramp and a new elevator.

· $581,533 for the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency’s (HIEMA) Kapolei Warehouse Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Renovation. This project would fund the construction of a satellite EOC on the west side of Oahu in a multi-use Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) warehouse.

· $1,007,060 for HIEMA’s DHHL Warehouse Retrofit Project. This project would fund critically needed improvements to the same multi-use DHHL warehouse by installing an emergency power backup generator, automatic transfer switch and housing, ultimately strengthening Hawaii’s ability to pre-position emergency supplies and equipment on the west side of Oahu.

The Congressional Quarterly report also ranked Case #102 among all 441 House members in total CPF funding for FY27. The current House Republican majority, as did the prior Democratic majority, allocates a disproportionate share of total CPF funding to Republican members. “My overall result was especially good given I am not in the current majority,” said Case. “It demonstrates the importance of committee membership, experience, relationships, solid processes and hard work in producing results regardless of who is in the majority.”

On the House Appropriations Committee, Case is in his fourth year now of service on the Subcommittee on Defense and Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which together make up almost 60% of the total federal budget. He formerly served for four years on the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, and the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch.

· List of all CPFS requested and approved for Congressman Case FY 2022-FY 2027 here

· Link to Congressional Quarterly article here

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Case Opposes Homeland Security Funding Measure That Weakens Key National Security Components And Ignores Immigration Enforcement Reform

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) reported that his House Appropriations Committee early this morning approved its proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Homeland Security Appropriations measure over his no vote.

The Homeland Security measure is the 11^th of 12 measures taken up by Appropriations to collectively fund the federal government for FY 2027 (commencing October 1, 2026).

The measure proposes a total $99.5 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which includes FEMA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard, Secret Service and more.

Case is in his 8^th year on Appropriations and his 4^th year on the Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee which develops this measure. He has focused on ensuring FEMA’s continued support for Hawai‘i, investing in the Coast Guard’s presence in the Pacific and enhancing the security of Hawai‘i through significant investments in physical, cyber and infrastructure security.

“Despite the strong support this bill provides for emergency management and our Coast Guard, I could not accept the overall result, which would make Americans less safe through deep cuts to key elements of homeland security including CISA and TSA,” said Case. “I also cannot support additional funding to ICE or CBP’s Border Patrol without comprehensive, meaningful immigration enforcement reforms.”

He cited the following examples from the measure, which significantly cut or eliminated key programs including:

A roughly 10 percent cut to CISA’s operations, leaving Americans more vulnerable to cybersecurity and infrastructure security threats at a time where there is a need for heightened security.
The elimination of funding for the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, whose primary responsibility is to investigate abuse, misconduct and rights violations in immigration detention facilities.
A 12 percent cut to the DHS Office of Inspector General, which is responsible for conducting independent oversight of the DHS.
An overall $347 million cut to TSA.

The FY 2026 appropriations process for this Subcommittee was particularly consequential and difficult.

Earlier this year, DHS experienced a record government shutdown following the tragic deaths of two Americans in encounters involving ICE and CBP agents in January 2026. Case has maintained throughout that any additional funding for immigration enforcement agencies must be paired with meaningful oversight, transparency measures and reforms to ensure accountability, protect civil liberties and restore public trust.

Congress was unable to reach a deal on reforms and funding for ICE and CBP’s Border Patrol in FY 2026, and instead it passed an annual appropriations bill funding the other non-controversial agencies in DHS. The President recently signed into law a separate reconciliation bill to fund those activities through 2029, which Congress approved solely on a partisan basis over Case’s no vote.

However, some common-sense reforms and positive additions advocated for by Case were included in the FY 2027 draft bill:

Bill language prohibiting the restriction of individuals from recording or documenting immigration enforcement actions.
Bill language reinstating CBP and ICE training requirements from January 2025.
Bill language requiring visible identification for officers carrying out immigration enforcement activities.
Bill language prohibiting the detention or deportation of U.S. citizens.
$40 million for the body-worn camera program.

Additionally, through his assignment on the Committee, Case secured $1.6 million in Member-designated Community Project Funding projects that specifically focus on local needs in Hawai‘i:

· $581,533 for the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency’s (HIEMA) Kapolei Warehouse Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Renovation. This project would fund the construction of a satellite EOC on the west side of O‘ahu in a multi-use Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) warehouse.

$1,007,060 for HIEMA’s DHHL Warehouse Retrofit Project. This project would fund critically needed improvements to the same multi-use DHHL warehouse by installing an emergency power backup generator, automatic transfer switch and housing, ultimately strengthening Hawaii’s ability to pre-position emergency supplies and equipment on the west side of O‘ahu.

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

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

346 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants, which support state and local emergency management agencies like HIEMA.
$353 million for FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program, which is a major source of funding for county fire departments.
$353 million for FEMA’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program.
$117 million for increased Coast Guard operations and support funding in the Indo-Pacific, to include workforce support in housing, medical and childcare access for Coasties in Hawai‘i.
$106 million for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, a $10 million increase over FY 2026, which funds University of Hawaii’s National Disaster Preparedness Training Center.
$50 million for FEMA’s Next Generation Warning System.
Support for Homeland Security Investigations’ Pacific Islands Liaison Initiative, an initiative based out of the Honolulu field office focused on deterring and disrupting transnational crime in the Indo-Pacific.
Support for increased Secret Service presence in the Indo-Pacific to strengthen its investigative efforts against growing financial crimes in the region, including fraud schemes and scams that target our Hawaii’s kūpuna.
Funding for the survey and design of an additional C-130J hangar at Barbers Point and direction to the Coast Guard to consider conducting survey and design activities for land acquisition and construction for forward operating locations in the Pacific Islands region.

The measure also includes the following priorities requested by Case:

$15.4 billion overall for the Coast Guard.
$69 million for the National Computer Forensic Institute, through which 404 state and local law enforcement officers from agencies in Hawai‘i have received a host of forensic training courses
Language encouraging CISA’s to bolster the cybersecurity of partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
$127 million for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.
$599 million for the Urban Area Security Initiative under FEMA.
$507 million for the State Homeland Security Grant Program, which provides funding to protect against terrorism and other threats.
$100 million for the Transit Security Grant Program, which protects critical transportation infrastructure from acts of terrorism.
$97 million for FEMA’s Port Security Grant Program.
$46 million for the TSA Law Enforcement Officer Reimbursement Program.

A summary of the DHS Appropriations bill is available here. The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.

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Case Opposes Funding Measure That Slashes Legacy Support For Federal Education And Health Care

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) reported that his House Appropriations Committee HAS approved its Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services (Labor-HHS) Appropriations bill.

The FY 2027 Labor-HHS funding measure is the 10^th of the twelve bills taken up by House Appropriations to collectively fund the federal government for FY 2027 (commencing October 1, 2026). The bill proposes a total of $201.8 billion for the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education along with several other related agencies. This is a cut of over $19 billion (9%) from the FY 2026 enacted levels.

“I could not accept the overall result that slashes longtime key federal health, education and workforce programs that address top priorities for our country and Hawai‘i,” said Case.

He warned that, among other flaws, the bill:

Cuts $3.3 billion from the Employment and Training Administration, which is tasked with administering crucial workforce training programs for adults and youth.
Cancels $2 billion in funding needed to operate Affordable Care Act health insurance plans, which threatens health care coverage for millions of Americans and tens of thousands of Hawai‘i residents.
Cuts $2 billion from grants to local education agencies for supporting Title I Schools.
Eliminates funding for the Senior Community Service Employment for Older Americans Program.
Reduces funding for Domestic HIV/AIDS Prevention and Research by $800 million.
Cuts $14 million from the Office on Women’s Health.
Eliminates funding for Title X Family Planning.
Reduces the Job Corps Program by $880 million.
Cuts $1.8 billion from Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) State Grants and would eliminate the WIOA Adult and Youth Job Training programs.
Reduces the National Labor Relations Board’s funding by $94 million.
Cuts $721 million from Career, Technical and Adult Education.
Eliminates the International Education and Foreign Language Account.

“However, I did succeed in incorporating many of my requests directed at Hawai‘i-specific needs, starting with Native Hawaiians and other programs that assist our nation’s indigenous peoples,” said Case. The bill specifically includes:

$45.9 million for the Native Hawaiian Education Program, including language allowing for funds to be used for the renovation and construction of schools that serve predominantly Native Hawaiian students.
$27 million for the Native Hawaiian Health Care Program, including $10 million for Papa Ola Lōkahi.
$7.5 million for the Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Health Research Office at the National Institutes of Health.
$6 million for the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity
$5.8 million for the Native American/Native Hawaiian Library Services Program.
$3.8 million for the Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Program.
$65 million for Native American Programs under the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.
$24.9 million for the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program.
$45 million for the Native American Nutrition and Support Services Program.
$14 million for the Native American Caregivers Program.
$7 million for Native American Language Immersion Programs.
$4 million Native American Language Resource Centers.
$3.8 million for the Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Program.
$2 million for the Native Hawaiian Resource Center on Domestic Violence.

Through his assignment on the Committee, Case also secured $3.5 million in Member-designated Community Project Funding projects that specifically focus on local needs in Hawai‘i. The bill includes:

$1.9 million for Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health’s (WCCHC) Waipahu Clinic Expansion Project.

This project will allow WCCHC to increase access to health care and social services and open a new Health and Wellness Learning Center in Waipahu to support the WCCHC’s nurse practitioner and dental residency programs to meet crucial health workforce needs.

$1 million for Kalihi Palama Health Center’s (KPHC) Emergency Resilience and Internal Renovation Project. This project would repair KPHC’s air conditioning system, purchase an emergency generator to power its elevator and medication refrigerators in the case of power outages, and acquire a digital panoramic X-Ray machine.
$395,000 for Waikīkī Health’s Clinical Upgrade and Service Enhancement Project. The funds provided for this project will support the upgrade and build-out of a new clinical space and several physician exam rooms that need renovation, along with the purchase of new pharmacy vaccine refrigerators.
$250,000 for Kōkua Kalihi Valley’s Accessibility and Resilience Project. This project will modernize key facility components through the installation of a solar photovoltaic system, an entry ramp and a new elevator.

The Appropriations Committee also included Case’s requests for funding for federal programs and services especially important for the State of Hawai‘i, including those supporting local families through workforce development, education and community health care. Some of the programs requested and secured by Case include:

$12.4 billion for the Head Start program which provides nearly 2,800 keiki in our Hawai‘i with access to high quality early learning opportunities.

Case was also able to secure language urging the Administration for Children and Families to provide technical assistance to any potential Native Hawaiian Head Start providers.

$8.8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant that helps subsidize the high cost of childcare for our local families.
$290 million for the Registered Apprenticeship Program.
$108 million for the YouthBuild program to provide at-risk youth with basic education and job skills training in the construction field.
$66 million for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.
$48.8 billion for the National Institutes of Health, to support a wide range of biomedical and behavioral research.
$1.5 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health within the Department of Health and Human Services, to accelerate the pace of scientific breakthroughs for diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and cancer.
$1.9 billion for Community Health Centers, to provide high quality cost-effective health care to predominantly low-income and medically underserved communities.
$825 million for Health Workforce Development programs including loan repayment assistance for nurses and physicians.
$1.2 billion for the Federal TRIO Program, to provide academic support to low-income individuals, first-generation college students, veterans and individuals with disabilities.
$500 million for the Charter School Grants Program which provides funds to help establish new charter schools, replicate current successful charter schools and disseminate best practices for charter schools.
$394 million for the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, which helps to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.
$129 million for McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program, which provides homeless youth with the health services and academic support they need to succeed in and out of the classroom.
$75 million to continue and expand Strengthening Community College Training Grants, which offer training to workers in in-demand industries at community colleges and four-year institutions to help meet local labor market needs.
$24.2 billion for federal student aid programs to provide $7,445 for the maximum Pell Grant award.

The Labor-HHS Appropriations bill was approved by the Committee and now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration. A summary of the measure is available here .

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Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

I rise today in support of the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act, introduced by my colleague, Representative Griffith of Virginia, and recently passed by the House

As the independence of the legislative branch continues to be challenged and eroded, we must take the necessary steps to ensure our ability to function as an unimpeded co-equal branch of government. This important legislation is part of an overall effort to trengthen and protect Congressional independence.

Similar to my bill, the Legislative Branch Independence Act (H.R. 6517), the House is seeking in this legislation to provide the necessary clarity regarding the governance of agencies that uniquely serve the Legislative Branch and reaffirm Congress’ constitutional authority over its own institutions.

By shifting the appointment authority away from the executive branch for the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office, both bills further align the responsibilities of these agencies to the Legislative Branch.

While my bill differs in its addition of the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office, the shared effort to retain Congressional control over the appointment process for key legislative branch officials reflects our common intent to strengthen and protect the structure of these institutions that serve us.

I urge my colleagues to join me in working to secure the enactment of these bills to empower Congress to control all aspects of key legislative branch agencies.

Case Opposes Funding Measures That Cripple Efforts To Combat High Housing Cost And Weaken Core Environmental Programs

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) reported that his Appropriations Committee approved two more of its twelve Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 appropriations bills: the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) and the Interior/Environment funding measures.

The FY 2027 T-HUD funding bill proposes a total $92.2 billion for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and the U.S. Department of Transportation, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a reduction of 8% from current Fiscal Year 2026.

The Interior/Environment bill proposes a total $39 billion for the U.S. Department of the Interior, including the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Forest Service, and various independent agencies including the National Endowments on Arts and the Humanities, a further reduction of 2% off a steep reduction in FY26.

“In both cases, I could not accept the overall result which is to walk away from key federal programs to assist with top priorities for our country and Hawai’i in affordable housing, transportation, environmental protection and historical and cultural preservation,” said Case. He cited the following examples from the T-HUD measure, which significantly cut or eliminated key programs including:

· The HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the only federal program dedicated to developing affordable housing.

· The Housing Counseling Assistance Program, which helps families obtain, sustain and retain their homes.

· The Continuum of Care Program, which supports local service providers in community-based approaches to rehouse individuals and families and build pathways towards greater self-sufficiency.

· National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts.

· The Asian Pacific American Center, which documents and shares the contributions of Asian and Pacific Islanders to the nation’s history.

· The Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, which help to finance local water infrastructure projects.

“However, I did succeed in incorporating many of my requests that are directed at Hawai’i-specific needs, starting with Native Hawaiian-focused housing programs”, said Case. Specifically:

T-HUD

The bill provides $15 million for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant and $28 million for the Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund. The funding represents a significant victory for Native Hawaiian housing programs, which have faced heightened scrutiny and proposed cuts this year, including the President’s proposal to eliminate both programs entirely. By rejecting those cuts, the bill preserves critical federal investments that expand housing opportunities and support Native Hawaiian communities across Hawaiʻi.

The bill also included Case’s request to continue funding for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which plays a crucial role in enhancing the safety of the helicopter and small aircraft industry through accident investigation, analysis and recommendations to prevent future incidents, including several fatal accidents throughout Hawai‘i. The $175 million provided to the NTSB will help make Hawai‘i safer in response to the many aviation tragedies and accidents endured by the state in recent years.

The bill further includes the following funding requested by Case for programs to improve access to affordable housing in Hawai‘i and nationwide:

· $5 million for core housing research partnerships with Native Hawaiian serving institutions among other minority serving institutions.

· $38.8 billion for the Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program, Section 8.

· $3.3 billion for the Community Development Block Grant formula program, which support state and local government efforts to increase access to affordable housing, community assistance services and jobs.

· $290 million for Emergency Solutions Grants, which support emergency shelters, rapid rehousing programs and homeless prevention.

Other transportation and infrastructure programs requested and secured by Case include:

· $372 million for the Maritime Security Program.

· $123 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program.

· $105 million for assistance to small shipyards like Kalaeloa/Barbers Point.

· $21.7 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including $1 million to assess the capabilities of using transponder landing systems in space and weather constrained airports such as those in Hawai‘i.

Finally, through his assignment on the Committee, Case also secured two Member-designated Community Project Funding projects that specifically focus on local needs in Hawai‘i:

· $1.8 million for the City and County’s Chinatown Affordable Housing Project. These funds would help to preserve much-needed housing by upgrading mechanical systems, making roof and waterproofing improvements and installing accessibility enhancements.

· $250,000 for the Hawai‘i State Department of Education’s Safer Hawai‘i Schools Pilot Program. These funds would enhance the security infrastructure for Ruth Keli‘ikōlani Middle School by helping to build a new security camera system.

Interior/Environment

The bill includes the following requests by Case:

· $5 million for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s State of the Birds Activities to respond to the urgent needs of critically endangered birds that now face possible extinction. These funds are helping to save numerous endemic birds in Hawai‘i that have been devastated by climate change and avian malaria.

· $4.6 million for Japanese Confinement Site Grants and funding for the Amache National Historic Site, which was one of ten incarceration sites established by the War Relocation Authority during World War II to detain Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their communities on the West Coast.

· $80 million for State Fire Assistance, which provides financial and technical support directly to states to enhance firefighting capacity, support community-based hazard mitigation and expand outreach and education to homeowners and communities concerning fire prevention.

· $65 million for the U.S. Geological Survey’s Climate Adaptation Science Centers, which includes the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center based out of the University of Hawai‘i-Mānoa. These centers provide regionally relevant scientific information, tools and techniques to resource managers and communities in Hawai‘i in response to our changing climate.

· $62 million for State Historic Preservation Offices which help preserve Hawaii’s treasured historic properties.

· $29 million for the U.S. Geological Survey’s Cooperative Research Units Program, which includes the Hawai‘i Cooperative Fishery Research Unit.

These two measures are the 8^th and 9^th of the twelve bills taken up by the House Appropriations Committee to collectively fund the federal government for FY 2027 (commencing October 1, 2026). Both bills now move on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.

A summary of the THUD Appropriations bill is available here.

A summary of the Interior Appropriations bill is available here.

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Transit Oriented Development Act

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

I rise today in support of my legislation, the Transit Oriented Development Act, and urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan effort to expand affordable housing opportunities in communities across our country.

The affordable housing shortage remains one of the most significant drivers of the rising cost of living facing millions of Americans. In my home state of Hawaiʻi, the crisis is particularly acute. Housing costs consume an outsized share of household income, forcing working families to make impossible choices between rent, groceries and health care. Far too many of our keiki and kamaʻāina find themselves priced out of the communities they call home.

To truly address affordability, we must not only increase the supply of housing, but do so in ways that reflect the unique economic realities of our communities and lower overall living costs for families. That means building housing that is attainable, well-located and connected to jobs and services.

One of the most important federal tools we have to do that is the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which has long been one of our nation's most successful programs for financing affordable rental housing. Yet the current allocation structure does not always reflect the significant differences in housing costs and development challenges that exist across the country. Because allocations are based principally on population, communities facing exceptionally high housing costs—including Hawaiʻi and other non-contiguous jurisdictions—often face greater difficulty producing affordable housing despite having substantial need.

Our Transit Oriented Development Act takes a targeted approach to addressing that challenge. The bill provides an enhanced Low-Income Housing Tax Credit incentive for affordable housing developments located within designated transit-oriented development areas. This includes places that are already served by rail, bus, harbor or waterway transportation and are zoned for higher-density development. By encouraging affordable housing near existing transportation infrastructure, we can help reduce transportation costs for residents, improve access to jobs and essential services and support more efficient and sustainable community growth.

The legislation also recognizes the unique circumstances facing Hawaiʻi, Alaska and the United States territories by providing a modest additional basis boost for developments in those jurisdictions. This adjustment reflects the higher costs and unique constraints associated with affordable housing development in non-contiguous areas while helping ensure that the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit can more effectively serve the communities it was designed to assist.

Finally, this bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to study how geographic differences in housing costs and transit accessibility might be better reflected in future tax credit allocations. That analysis will help inform future policy discussions and ensure that federal housing resources are distributed in a manner that more accurately reflects real-world conditions.

Mr. Speaker, affordable housing and accessible transportation are both essential components of strong, resilient communities. This legislation advances both goals through a practical, bipartisan approach that builds on an existing and proven housing program. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support the Transit Oriented Development Act.

Case, Tokuda Introduce Measure To Crack Down On Interstate Trafficking Of Illegal Fireworks

Fri, 22 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representatives Ed Case (Hawaiʻi-01) and Jill Tokuda (Hawaiʻi-02) today introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives proposed legislation to crack down on illegal fireworks by allowing prosecutors to pursue money laundering charges against criminals moving illegal fireworks across state lines.

“Our legislation addresses the source dealers in illegal fireworks who engage in large-scale national criminal enterprise that threatens public safety, fuels illicit financial activity and has devastated communities in Hawai‘i and across the country,” said Case.

Current federal law carries a maximum prison time of only one year for those convicted of transporting illegal fireworks across state lines, which Case called a completely insufficient consequence which does not deter this source criminal activity when compared to profits realized. He said their proposed “Fireworks Trafficking and Money Laundering Prevention Act” would increase the maximum prison time for such activity to twenty years, a far more consequential sentence for highly harmful activity.

“Illegal fireworks trafficking is far more than a minor regulatory violation. It is a sophisticated interstate operation involving the unlawful transportation, distribution and sale of explosive materials in violation of federal and state law,” said Case. “These highly profitable black-market networks often operate for years, moving illegal fireworks across state lines and generating substantial criminal proceeds.”

“For too long, the punishment for trafficking illegal fireworks has not matched the danger these criminal operations pose to our communities. These sophisticated enterprises exploit our borders and ports, fueling preventable tragedies that have already cost Hawaiʻi families far too much,” said Rep. Tokuda. “This bill sends a clear message: illegal fireworks trafficking that harm our communities will not be tolerated. I’m proud to co-lead this measure with Representative Case to give law enforcement the federal tools they need to stop these shipments, crack down on illicit profits, and hold those responsible fully accountable.”

Case said: “Our legislation would strengthen law enforcement’s ability to combat these criminal networks by designating illegal interstate fireworks trafficking as a specified unlawful activity under federal money laundering statutes. Doing so would provide investigators and prosecutors with stronger tools to follow illicit proceeds, dismantle trafficking operations and hold offenders accountable with penalties that better reflect the seriousness of these crimes.”

Case emphasized that their proposal does not determine whether specific fireworks manufacture and use are illegal, as that is left to the individual states, but only that if specific fireworks are designated as illegal, a state can adequately regulate and enforce its laws.

“For our Hawai‘i, it is widely known that many if not most fireworks that we have designated as illegal and which have maimed and killed our fellow residents are either manufactured and distributed on the continent, or imported from foreign countries to the continent, and then transshipped to Hawai‘i for distribution. If we can disrupt the source distribution of illegal fireworks, then we can better enforce whatever laws we choose to enact on what is and is not permissible in our balancing of cultural traditions and public safety.”

The introduction of the measure comes after Case last week secured funding in his House Appropriations Committee of a project to better screen for illegal fireworks at Honolulu’s ports of entry. The Committee approved his request for $772,000 for the Enhancing Hawai‘i Cargo Security through Advanced High-Energy Cargo Screening Systems Project which would support the efforts of the Hawai‘i State Department of Law Enforcement to develop advanced high-energy cargo screening systems for Honolulu's ports.

“This targeted investment will enhance the state's ability to interdict illegal fireworks, weapons, narcotics and other contraband, while also strengthening Hawaii's first line of defense against invasive species and other biosecurity threats entering through commercial freight pathways,” said Case.

A copy of Case’s remarks in Congress on introduction of their measure is here.

The fireworks measure is here.

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