Rep. Ed Case

The elections are over, but the challenges and work remain. Here’s my next Congressman Ed Case Reports districtwide enewsletter, “Closing Out The 119th Congress; Districtwide Survey Results; Your Thoughts”, for what’s on my agenda for the remaining two months of the current 119th Congress and as we approach the 120th Congress convening January. case.house.gov/news/email/sh…

If you’re eligible to vote and haven’t already voted, please vote today. Ballots must be received by 7pm. Don’t mail your ballot; it won’t be received by then. Drop your ballot in one of 17 ballot drop boxes around O’ahu by 7pm. Vote in person at one of Oahu’s four Voter Services Centers. Two (Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale) are open 7am to 7pm. Two (Wahiawa District Park and Kaneohe District Park) are open 9am to 5pm. If you’re eligible to vote but not registered, you can register to vote and vote same day at a Voter Service Center. Try not to wait until closing time to vote in person at a Voter Service Center; lines may be long. Questions (including ballot drop box locations, the easiest at this point): elections.hawaii.gov. It matters.

I was honored to join the retirement ceremony aboard the USS Missouri of Lieutenant Colonel Kaiali’i Kahele from a distinguished twenty-five year career with the Hawai’i Air National Guard and United States Air Force Reserve, culminating as Senior Director, Air Mobility Division, 613th Air Operations Center, Pacific Air Forces. I presented LTC Kahele with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition which stated: “Our state and nation are safer and better prepared because of your commitment, clarity of purpose and unrelenting focus on the mission.” A deep mahalo for your service.

An always-inspiring and educational day when I personally interview the best of our high school seniors seeking my annual nomination to our military service academies. Last week was no exception as I worked my way through 28 applicants and again concluded that our Hawai’i will continue to do us proud in our armed services.

I addressed the Hawai’i Chapter of the National Assn of Tax Professionals, the folks nationwide that help you make sense of your taxes, at their annual convention in Waikiki on national taxation issue before Congress as well as our individual constituent services on tax-related questions. More: case.house.gov/forms/casewor….

When Congress comes back into session November 9thfor the remaining two months of the current 119th Congress, one of my top priorities will be to advance H.R. 10828, the Prohibit Corrupt Russia Oil Deals Act, bipartisan legislation I cosponsored to block the President’s unacceptable deal with Putin to purchase and import Russian diesel and undermine our sanctions against Russia for its continued war on Ukraine. More:lhttps://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/10828

I joined Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez, Philippine Consul General Arman Talba and our Fil-Am community and others at the Philippine Consulate for a special showing of “Stories from the Field: Filipino Migrant Workers in Hawai’i”, a Smithsonian Asian Pacific Center exhibition highlighting the inspiring story of the sakada, Filipino contract laborers who first came to Hawai’i 120 years ago and built the foundation of our now almost 5 million Fil-Ams nationwide. si.edu/newsdesk/releases/smi…

Here’s my next monthly Congressman Ed Case Reports on ‘Olelo Community Media, this one on: my House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee’s California field hearing on strengthening our industrial base; opening Mililani High’s federally-supported MEERS Lab to foster career paths in industrial trades; the We Are Kalihi celebration at Kalakaua Middle; and my Problem Solvers gerrymandering reform news conference from the Capitol. youtu.be/IBk7kK3A1uc

Individuals with disabilities should be able to access health insurance and services that do not force them out of their homes. The Latonya Reeves Freedom Act would ensure that states and long-term service and support insurance providers allow individuals with disabilities to live in the most integrated settings including their homes. congress.gov/bill/119th-cong…

One big consequence of our increasing natural disasters is the cost and availability of property insurance, and we have to pursue different paths to keep it available and affordable. I co-introduced the Community Disaster Protection Act to promote the development of new disaster insurance products to help high-risk communities secure affordable coverage, incentivize more effective disaster prevention; and provide greater stability to property insurance markets. It would direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)  to establish a 5-year pilot program to award competitive grants to local governments, quasi-government bodies, and community-based organizations to design, develop, implement or facilitate community-based catastrophe insurance. More: H.R.10686 - 119th Congress (2025-2026): Community Disaster Protection Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

Hau’oli 100th La Hanau Aloha Tower! I was honored to join and provide thoughts at our iconic landmark’s centennial celebration and blessing ceremony as it reopened after major repairs, which I was able to partially fund through a $2 million direct Congressional Project Funding approval. I spoke of the history it has witnessed, the aloha it has emanated and the symbol it is for generations of kama’aina and visitors alike, as well as the need to continue to care for it for the generations coming.

I joined Gov. Green, Mayor Blangiardi, Hawai’i Public Housing Authority Exec. Dir. Hakim Ouansafi, and many partners in the dedication and grand opening of Ho’ohiki Senior Living on North School Street. These “250 new affordable senior homes in the heart of Honolulu” are not only a beautiful part of the answer to our affordable housing crisis but highlight the possibilities of committed public-private partnerships to meet other challenges.hoohikiseniorliving.com/

Hawai‘i general election ballots are being mailed to all registered voters. For info on registering, registration status, voting (by mailing back, dropping in ballot box or in person), deadlines, assistance or other voting questions: elections.hawaii.gov

I joined Hawaiian Islands Honor Flight at HNL in welcoming home 25 of our veterans – 24 Vietnam War and 1 Korean War – from a three-day trip to DC where they visited the Capitol, Arlington and our memorials. For most it was their first time in the capital of the country for which they fought. The great Honor Flight Network (honorflight.org) works nationally to “show our nation’s veterans the appreciation and honor they deserve” by providing a trip to DC to “share this momentous occasion with other comrades, remember the fallen, and share their stories and experiences with other veterans. Honored veterans always travel free of charge, thanks to generous donations to our organization” (including for our vets free airfare by Alaska/Hawaiian).

Franchising is a proven business approach that gives promising companies and products opportunities to grow (think L&L) and local owners opportunities to prosper (think McDonalds or 7-11). Today some 8.8 million jobs nationally are franchise-related, some 85% of franchisees live in their communities, and some 64% of franchisees are first-time business owners. Happy to join bipartisan colleagues in receiving the Franchise Champion Award for my support in Congress. stage.franchising.com/articl…

Working thru full week back home talking w/folks on various issues including: Laulani Teale on military presence in Hawai’i; Dr. Michael Carney on federal cancer research funding; Honolulu Museum of Art Director David Odo and Deputy Director Penni Hall on federal support possibilities; new Republic of Korea Consul General Sangmin Nam on US-Korea relations and assisting our Korean American community; and  AARP Hawaii’s Keali’I Lopez and Audrey Suga-Nakagawa on national kupuna issues.

I continue to be deeply honored to represent our Hawaii’s and country’s some 4.6 million Filipino Americans, and very proud to once again join my colleagues to commemorate this October as Filipino American History month. In doing so, we remember and honor the sacrifices and contributions of generations past and present, the embodiment of the best of America that Filipino Americans represent, and the continued advancement and promise of future generations. congress.gov/bill/119th-cong…

Huge congrats to the University of Hawai’i- West O’ahu and to Pueo everywhere as you kick off your 50th Anniversary Celebration Week. UHWO has grown into such an integral part of our community and you have truly lived up to your mission of “empowering generations of learners.” Mahalo and here’s to many more generations to come. westoahu.hawaii.edu/

Another Constituent Services Highlight on my office’s individual assistance: A constituent couldn’t get his deceased father’s Savings Bonds transferred over to his mother’s account. We contacted the U. S. Treasury Dept to get it done. More info on our services: case.house.gov/forms/casewor…

I joined the new bipartisan Congressional Free Enterprise Caucus, co-chaired by my colleagues Lou Correa and David Valadeo of California, August Pfluger of Texas and Brad Schneider of Illinois, and “dedicated to advancing public policy that strengthens free markets, restores fiscal discipline, and secures America's long-term economic leadership”. We can and must pursue integrated policies that are all of pro-growth, pro-worker and fiscally responsible. correa.house.gov/news/press-…