I returned to DC this week to work with like-minded colleagues on ending the now-fifteen day old federal government shutdown. I want to update you on the shutdown and the way out, share with you replays of my recent live Districtwide Tele-Talk Story as well as Hawai‘i State Senate testimony on the rule of law, recap my recent Walk Story Round 3 back home, and especially ask for your thoughts.
Federal Government Shutdown. As I said in my October 1st e-newsletter to you here, this shutdown is way beyond disappointing, was completely avoidable, and is completely solvable. Here is my summary of what’s going on and why and my answers to common questions.
The underlying issue remains the administration’s and my majority colleagues’ avoidance of critical action needed to assure basic health care to tens of millions of Americans including tens of thousands of our own throughout Hawai‘i. They have cancelled three invaluable voting weeks now in the House when we could have gotten this done, and have failed nine times now on votes in the Senate on a measure that ignores this impending health care crisis.
Obviously the only way out is a bipartisan compromise solution for the good of the country that continues both overall government funding and assures tens of millions of fully-at-risk Americans of some basic affordable health care. My efforts are dedicated to forging and achieving that solution as soon as possible.
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My concerns back home are largely focused on the some 48,000 active duty military, 25,000 federal civilian employees, and federal contractors and their employees throughout our Hawai‘i whose lives are in turmoil. They are in some combination of required work without pay, furloughed without pay, and fired or under threat of firing. The administration has also cruelly threatened to withhold their back pay after the shutdown to which they are entitled by law (and is being sued for illegally firing - a federal district court today ordered the administration to reverse and halt such firings - as well as threatening to withhold back pay). At a bare minimum, they are owed every level of support and assistance we can provide, including pay however legally possible. These immediate consequences are in addition to broader effects that will accelerate as the shutdown continues.
I have been in ongoing contact with Hawaii’s federal workers and their representatives to keep them updated, understand the specifics of how the shutdown and the administration’s actions are impacting our Hawai‘i federal civilian workforce and contractors and active military, answer questions and work to address concerns. My efforts have included two targeted reports to date as well as a special federal civilian employees talk story (in addition to my districtwide Tele-Talk Story which focused largely on the shutdown; see below). I also joined an all-hands meeting with the Governor and my Congressional delegation partners, talked with UH President Hensel and others about specific impacts and questions, and further followed up on specific issues such as with the Hawai‘i Unemployment Office on eligibility and issues.
I want to specifically address some deliberate misinformation being pushed out there. The first is that the expiring health care benefits would go to illegal immigrants. That is completely false; illegal immigrants are not eligible for these benefits today and they would not be under any extension or modification. The second is that all that has to happen is for the Senate to pass the “clean CR” (referring to a continuing resolution) earlier passed by the House on a 217-212 vote. That CR was anything but a simple clean funding extension; it was loaded with conditions, locked in administration positions being challenged in court, and again did not avert a health care crisis facing tens of millions of Americans, all of which is why I voted no. It has also been rejected on nine separate votes since by the Senate, so it should now be pretty clear that the only way through this is a bipartisan compromise.
Here again is information on the shutdown, and here is information specifically for our federal workers. I especially need to hear from you on your questions or comments on the shutdown ([email protected]), and my office is fully available to assist wherever and however we can (https://case.house.gov/forms/casework/).
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Tele-Talk Story. On October 2nd I hosted my eighth live districtwide Tele- Talk Story community meeting of the year, to go with six in-persons and one tele-talk story earlier. These are just some of issues I covered in both my report and questions and answers: federal government shutdown; Trump administration; cost of living; my regular Appropriations Committee work; foreign policy focused on the Indo-Pacific; problem solving in divided government; the social safety net including Social Security and Medicare; natural resources protection; Israel-Gaza; Ukraine; Epstein; federal fiscal instability; federal science and health funding; political violence; and immigration. I also again highlighted my website for further information (https://case.house.gov/) and my office’s individual constituent services (see https://case.house.gov/forms/casework/).
Here is a replay of my Tele-Talk Story; I welcome your questions and comments ([email protected]).
Rule of Law. I have continued throughout this year to work with this administration and my Congressional majority colleagues where I can (for example, in my Appropriations Committee on federal funding), but to oppose them where I must. Here is an updated summary of my actions throughout this year in opposition to the administration, including my votes, speeches, statements, joint letters, lawsuit participation and otherwise. I welcome your questions and comments ([email protected]).
For me, there is a huge difference between policy disagreements on the one hand, and actions by this administration that undermine the rule of law and the basic foundations of our country which is where the greatest threat of this administration lies. I recently appeared as a special witness before the Hawai‘i Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Karl Rhoads, to discuss the critical importance to our country of the rule of law, outline specific actions by the administration that are undermining it, and address what we all as citizens of our country can and should do about it. Here is a replay of that hearing and here is my Powerpoint outline of my testimony. I welcome your questions and comments ([email protected]).
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Walk Story Round 3. Last week, with my unexpected time home due to the unfortunate cancellation of House votes, I hit the road again with Round 3 of what I call my Walk Stories. Like my two earlier Walk Story weeks this year, I got out of my office and the endless meetings, calls, emails and other activities that can otherwise soak up all my time, and just walked neighborhoods through my district, talking story one-on-one wherever I found my constituents.
In Round 3, I walked the small businesses of Kapahulu and the industrial warehouses and offices of Sand Island, Kalihi Kai, Airport and Mapunapuna. I talked with hundreds of my constituents, of all ages, all walks of life, across the political spectrum. We discussed concerns shared by all such as the cost of living, housing, educating our keiki, our economy, crime and more.
But foremost was the cost of goods and of doing business, especially resulting from the trade and tariff policies of the administration which are causing severe price hikes across the board. Here is a quick reel highlighting my Walk Story Round 3; I am already looking forward to Round 4 as this is as direct and personal as representation gets and assures me that I remain on the right path in representing our Hawai’i and you on Capitol Hill.
It is more critical than ever that I stay in touch with and hear from you as we work through this very difficult time and find the best way forward. The best way to keep up with what I’m doing, provide your concerns, get your questions answered and ask for assistance is by visiting my website at https://case.house.gov/. Please also feel free to call my Honolulu office at (808) 650-6688 or email me at [email protected]. |
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