Aloha, Friend!I’m (blessedly) home for a very full two weeks after an intense first few months of the still-new 118th Congress (2023-2025) on Capitol Hill. Although most of my work and time are in D.C., I treasure my time back in my district as it keeps me grounded on the everyday wants and needs of the communities I represent, what I must do in Congress to address concerns and solve problems back home, and what you think about how best to move our country forward in an increasingly difficult world.In this further report back to you, I summarize some of my activities as this Congress completes our first stretch. I’m also excited to be hitting the road again next week for six more in-person Talk Story open community meetings after a way-too-long COVID-19 suspension. Finally, I would very much appreciate your taking a few minutes to complete another anonymous online constituent survey to provide me with one more source for your guidance as I continue through the 118th Congress.First Quarter ’23 ReportThe first quarter of every year in Congress is always intense, especially as our annual appropriations (federal funding) cycle begins anew and requests from each Member for funding priorities must be submitted. This is all heightened in the first months of each two-year Congress, since all leadership and committee positions must be refilled, all prior proposals must be restarted, and new initiatives must be commenced as early as possible. I know from my now decade-plus experience on Capitol Hill that the first three months of any Congress set the tone and chances of success for the whole Congress.Appropriations Funding. Most important for me and my service has been reappointment to the House Committee on Appropriations, responsible for overseeing and funding all parts of our federal government. I also assumed new responsibilities on two critical Appropriations subcommittees:Defense has the most expansive worldwide portfolio of any of Appropriations’ twelve subcommittees, with responsibility for not only our armed services but our intelligence community. With funding at $797 billion out of a total $1.7 trillion in the current fiscal year, Defense is critical to not only our country’s efforts in Ukraine but to our own Indo-Pacific and Hawai‘i including the defueling and closure of Red Hill.Homeland Security, also with one of the largest budgets of our twelve subcommittees, touches all of our lives in many ways, ranging from counterterrorism and cybersecurity to aviation security, border security, port security, maritime security, administration and enforcement of immigration and customs laws, protection of national leaders, protection of critical infrastructure, protection against chemical, biological and nuclear threats to the homeland, as well as responses to disasters (FEMA). We also oversee and fund the U.S. Coast Guard, an increasingly critical part of our Indo-Pacific world. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law/Inflation Reduction Act Implementation. The recently-concluded 117th Congress (2021-2023) enacted two landmark pieces of legislation, both of which I strongly supported. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (also known as the BIL or Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act/IIJA) is the largest reinvestment in our country’s infrastructure in generations, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the largest climate/energy-related investment in our history. These are game-changing laws not only for our country, but, if fully understood and implemented, for our Hawai‘i, which stands to gain billions in additional federal funding for critical needs. We have already gained around $1 billion in BIL funding to help upgrade our airports, harbors and other key infrastructure. One of my top priorities in the 118th Congress is to assure our Hawai‘i takes full advantage of these generational opportunities, which for me means tracking each of the hundreds of federal programs through which the funding will be distributed and be sure that my government and community partners throughout Hawai‘i are fully aware of these opportunities and fully seek and obtain the funding. More on these laws and this effort here and here. Pacific Islands Caucus Leadership. Our country’s future is being charted across the broad Indo-Pacific, and yet over recent decades we had allowed our engagement with our ‘ohana, the islands of the Pacific whose present and future are central to the Indo-Pacific, to lag. To re-engage across the Pacific, in 2019 I co-founded the first-ever Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus to advocate collectively for the partnerships that are necessary at all levels of government and community. We have had notable successes to date in our legislative and funding initiatives, but much more remains. I am continuing as Co-Chair of our now-29 Member strong caucus to continue this important work, which also cements our Hawaii’s central role in the Pacific here. Problem Solvers Caucus Leadership. Amidst ongoing division and polarization, we Americans can agree on one thing: we just want our government to solve our problems. The House Problem Solvers Caucus here is a unique Member organization, by its rules equally divided between Democrats and Republicans, that seeks common ground on our toughest issues. We were at the center, for example, of successful passage last Congress of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was almost brought down by hyperpartisanship. In this Congress I was honored here to be chosen as one of four Democratic Vice Chairs and one of eight Executive Council members on the now-64 member Caucus, and am devoting effort to solving tough problems like the debt ceiling and immigration reform. Six More In-Person Open Talk Story Community Meetings April 10-15After three years in which COVID restricted our ability to gather in public places, I’m really excited to return next week to my in-person Talk Stories, with six across my district from Monday, April 10th, to Saturday April 15th. While virtual works well enough, there’s no substitute for talking story one-on-one with your constituents in your communities where you live and work, and it is a critical time to remain in very close touch with you as our country and Hawai‘i continue to face many difficult issues. As always, I’ll provide an overview of current issues and my activities in Congress and then open it up for constituent questions and comments. My staff and I will also provide information on how my office can assist you and be available to address individual concerns. We hope to see you at one or more of my Talk Stories; here’s our schedule:East HonoluluMonday, April 10, 20236:30PM-8:00PM         Niu Valley Middle School, 310 Halemaʻumaʻu St.                                                WaipahuTuesday, April 11, 20236:30PM-8:00PM         Waipahu High School, 94-1211 Farrington Highway          MililaniWednesday, April 12, 20236:30 PM-8:00PM   Mililani Waena Elementary School, 95-502 Kipapa Drive‘Aiea/Pearl CityThursday, April 13, 2023      6:30PM-8:00PM  Pearl Ridge Elementary School, 98-940 Moanalua Road Central HonoluluFriday, April 14, 2023          6:30PM-8:00PMWashington Middle School, 1633 South King St.‘Ewa/KapoleiSaturday, April 15, 2023      9:00AM-10:30AM Hono'uli'uli Middle School, 91-559 Maunakapu St.      Anonymous Online Pre-Talk Story Constituent SurveyAs always, I seek your guidance to ensure I’m properly focused. May I please ask you to take a few minutes to complete this anonymous online survey here. Please feel free to use the survey to add any additional input on any issue. Please note that as this is anonymous, I won’t be able to respond directly to you on any survey questions or comments. So if you’d like me to respond specifically, please mail me directly at [email protected]. I deeply appreciate your consideration and assistance as we all work to find the best way forward for our country and Hawai‘i. For more information on my efforts, and how we can help you, please visit my website at case.house.gov. If I can help you and yours with your own questions and needs, email us at [email protected], or call us at (808) 650-6688. Be safe and be well.