Congressman Ed Case

I joined Rep. Tokuda and our colleagues Reps. Pete Sessions of Texas and Katie Porter of Calif in a U.S. House hearing in Lahaina to review the federal response to the Maui wildfires. The bottom line: real progress toward recovery over the last year but a long way to go requiring sustained federal assistance.

Honoring Labor Day today and the workers of our country whose hard work lays the foundation of our community. Mahalo!

Here is another positive casework result from my office. For assistance with a federal agency, visit https://case.house.gov/forms/casework/

My office joined the Palolo Chinese Home ‘ohana in celebrating a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to assist our kupuna in need to age in place. Serving our community so well for 127 years now. More info: https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/hud_no_24_074

I secured Kula no na Po‘e Hawai‘i $1.8m in Fiscal Year 2023 Community Project Funding for its Native Hawaiian Education Program, the Kūkalahale Learning Project, which offers academic support and wrap-around services to some 300 children and youth over a 12-month period.

Next Saturday, September 7th, the U.S. Passport Agency/Honolulu Office is hosting a Passport Day to help folks either obtaining and renewing passports. Call 877-487-2778 to make an appointment.

I signed on to a joint letter with my House Natural Resources Committee colleagues requesting a review of Federal Wildfire Mitigation Programs. I’m also linking my office’s wildfire resource guide at case.house.gov/services/wildfire-resources Link to press release: https://democrats-naturalresources.house.gov/media/press-releases/grijalva-committee-democrats-request-review-of-federal-wildfire-mitigation-programs

My annual Congressional App Challenge is now accepting submissions. This nationwide competition sponsored by Congress to recognize talent and foster interest in computer science is open to all middle and high school students in my district. Saw some great talent last year and looking forward to seeing what students create this year! More info: https://case.house.gov/services/congressional-app-challenge.htm

Congrats to Hawai‘i Pacific Univ for earning a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation for scholarships to students with financial needs pursuing degrees in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Biotechnology Engineering. More info: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2424492

My office joined colleagues including State Rep Cory Chun and City Councilmember Matt Weyer at the Fairway Villas Community Fair in Waikele to talk story with our constituents and share information on our services. Mahalo to the Fairway Villages Community Assn. and Prez. Dr. Lou Jones for putting this on and including us.

Great $6.5 million Veterans Administration grant to Hawai‘i organizations, Catholic Charities and US Veterans Initiative for their Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program, to assist homeless and at-risk vets and their families. More info: https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-awards-over-800-million-in-grants-to-help-homeless-and-at-risk-veterans-and-their-families/

Every year I’m responsible for nominating promising high school senior/recent grad constituents committed to a career our nation’s military to our invaluable service academies. My application deadline is October 11th. Info: https://case.house.gov/services/service-academy-nominations.htm

Still more good news on competitive federal funding grants for the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa: $26 million from the National Science Foundation to the Department of Chemistry to establish a fourth-generation NSF Engineering Research Center to pursue next-gen climate-friendly cooling technology: https://www.hawaii.edu/news/article.php?aId=13408

Another proud-of-my-constituents edition: Kapolei resident Ambassador Frankie Reed had a very distinguished diplomatic career representing our country around the world with a special focus on the Indo-Pacific, and was called out of retirement to serve as our first United States Envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum, the central organization of our islands ʻohana. As we expand our engagement throughout the Pacific, it’s great to talk story and coordinate efforts with your resident expert.

I fought for the Inflation Reduction Act of ‘22 in large part because it required the large drug companies to negotiate rather than dictate prescription drug prices with Medicare and its millions of enrollees. Great news that lower prices are now being negotiated due the first ten drugs, for diabetes, heart and kidney disease, arthritis, blot clots and more. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/08/15/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-lower-prices-for-first-ten-drugs-selected-for-medicare-price-negotiation-to-lower-costs-for-millions-of-americans/

I secured $963,000 in FY2024 Community Project Funding to upgrade integrated on-campus security and safety for the University of Hawaiʻi. Great to see the grant award made today by the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs. !

Here’s my latest Congressman Ed Case Reports on ‘Olelo Community Media in which I join two great events: the Festival of the Pacific closing ceremonies and Philippine Independence Day commemoration.

Congressman Ed Case Reports to Hawai‘i – August 2024 ‘Ōlelo

A true win-win: I joined the annual Daniel Akaka ALA Hawai’i Food Show and Conference which showcases and markets our great local companies and products to our military commissaries and exchanges. Since the show started in ’97 some 6,000 local products have been sold into the system which is a critical link in our servicemember ‘ohana’s quality of life, plus helping our local economy. Quite a selection of further products from 70 local companies in this year’s show.

Here’s my next district e-newsletter reporting on my August district work period activities and including another anonymous online districtwide survey asking for your further input on current issues.

Representative Ed Case Congress is in our annual August district work period before reconvening on Capitol Hill in September. My activities have focused on continuing efforts in DC, personal outreach throughout my district, and representing our country overseas. Here are some highlights (plus another constituent survey .....

We need to close the digital divide that leaves too many without needed skills. I joined a beginning digital literacy class at Kaimuki Public Library, part of a great statewide partnership between the Hawaiʻi Department of Labor/Workforce Development Council and the Hawaiʻi State Library system to train some 6,000 of our ʻohana on basic computer skills which is funded by my Fiscal Year 2022 Community Project Funding award of $975,000 for workforce advancement.https://www.librarieshawaii.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/HSPLS-News-Release-Free-Entry-level-Computer-Classes-at-Your-Library.pdf

Great result for the University of Hawaiʻi with a record $615 million in external research and development funding, mostly federal. So much expertise, benefiting not just UH but the whole state. Happy to be part of a great partnership contributing to this success. https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2024/08/12/extramural-funding-record-fy-2024/

Two years ago we enacted the landmark CHIPS and Science Act to build a strong and diverse workforce and bolster our ability to compete on a global scale in leading industries. Our Hawai’i companies are benefiting, including Innovate Hawai’i under the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program. More info: https://www.nist.gov/mep/centers/innovate-hawaii or https://www.nist.gov/mep/centers

Today is two years since enactment of our landmark Honoring Our PACT Act to expand benefits to our veterans in need. Under PACT some 1.1 million additional veterans and their survivors have been extended benefits. More information: VA.gov/PACT

Next steps for Maui on federal disaster recovery assistance: I joined my Hawai‘i Congressional partners in this letter to our colleagues itemizing billions in additional funding requests for our currently-being-negotiated supplemental disaster funding measure. More info: https://tokuda.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-tokuda-joins-hawaii-delegation-urge-congressional-action-and-more-funding

On this National Purple Heart Day, we again remember and honor the some 2,000,000 of our service members who have been wounded or killed while serving since World War One, including over 400,000 who received the Purple Heart posthumously.

We’re getting much closer to our longstanding goal of sustainable renewable energy from the waves, led in Hawaiʻi by a great UH-Marine Corps Base Kaneʻohe - UH partnership. In Congress I cosponsored the Marine Energy Technologies Acceleration Act to invest up to $1 billion to advance marine energy toward full scale commercialization. https://newatlas.com/energy/revolutionary-wave-turbine-hooked-hawaii-energy/

Focus on constituent services. One on immigration tracking down a family’s green card application status. Another on taxes tracking down a $16,000 refund after six months waiting. For my constituents: https://case.house.gov/forms/casework/