Tokuda to hold Satellite Office Hours
Rep. Jill Tokuda’s office will hold “satellite office hour” events on Molokai, Lanai, Oahu and Hawaii island to assist residents and businesses with issues they are having with federal agencies. Tokuda’s office can provide support with passport issues, veterans’ benefits, Social Security, immigration, postal service problems, Medicare and more, according to a news release. Constituent advocates will be on-site to help with case work and listen to concerns. This service can also be accessed … Continue Reading
October 13, 2023
Resolution Honors Fire Victims, First Responders
The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed a resolution honoring the victims and first responders of the Aug. 8 Maui wildfires, Hawaii’s congressional delegation announced. The bicameral resolution was introduced by Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz in the Senate and Reps. Jill Tokuda and Ed Case in the House of Representatives. The Senate passed the resolution on Sept. 30. “As Lahaina and Upcountry Maui continue the recovery and rebuilding process from the August wildfires, this … Continue Reading
October 02, 2023
Rural America a Focus for Bipartisan Health Caucus Formed in U.S. House
A bipartisan congressional caucus aims to improve accessibility to quality health care and services in rural U.S. communities. The Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus had its first meeting Sept. 20 and serves as a forum for U.S. representatives to promote legislation and policy actions regarding rural health. Members came together to discuss the issues their rural communities face. There will be opportunities for members of the caucus to hear from patients, providers and health advocates … Continue Reading
September 29, 2023
“The stakes are high for Hawaii.” | Rep. Jill Tokuda shares impacts of government shutdown on Hawaii
Hawaii Representative Jill Tokuda talked to Island News' Diane Ako on the possible government shutdown that could impact thousands of workers across the Islands. "If this [shutdown] is protracted and prolonged out, we have over 150,000 SNAP recipients -- they could start to see themselves losing benefits," says Rep. Tokuda. Over 1.5 million families could go without pay if the government shuts … Continue Reading
September 29, 2023
Rep. Tokuda joins in introducing the Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act
Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) joined fellow Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) in introducing the Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act. Following a summer of climate emergencies across the country, including in Hawaiʻi and Vermont, Americans are suffering the cost, the Representatives said. While the physical damage is clear, disaster-stricken communities need resources to cope with the mental and emotional damage they endure, according to the lawmakers. Current Federal Emergency Management … Continue Reading
September 29, 2023
Rep. Jill Tokuda urges continued help for Maui Fire Recovery in Testimony before House Subcommittee
US Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) on Thursday morning gave testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on the deadly Maui fires. The Subcommittee is investigating the role that electric infrastructure played in the fires. Tokuda said she wants answers to so many questions that remain: “Not a day has gone by that I don’t ask myself questions. How did this happen? What could have been done differently? How do we make sure this never happens … Continue Reading
September 26, 2023
SBA urged to extend loan deadline for those impacted by the fires
Hawaii’s congressional delegation is urging the U.S. Small Business Administration to extend the deadline for homeowners, renters, businesses and organizations impacted by the wildfires to apply for loans. U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz, as well as U.S. Reps. Jill Tokuda and Ed Case, sent a letter to SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman on Monday. “The recent wildfires completely devastated an entire community in West Maui,” the lawmakers wrote. “Even as the community continues to … Continue Reading
September 22, 2023
Rep. Tokuda requests additional support for Maui Fire Recovery, Cultural Preservation
US Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02), along with House Natural Resources Ranking Member Raul Grijalva, and Rep. Ed Case sent a letter to Secretary Deb Haaland requesting that the Department of Interior provide support for the environmental recovery and cultural preservation efforts on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island. The letter outlines four areas of concern for the Department to focus on: Environmental Stewardship: Requesting that the Department offer its technical expertise in the … Continue Reading
September 12, 2023
Tokuda Urges Congress Not to Forget About Maui
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda led dozens of her colleagues in a moment of silence Tuesday on the House floor to honor those who died in the Lahaina wildfire. She highlighted the stories of Louise Abihai, 97, whose remains were found in the rubble of the Hale Mahaolu Eono senior living facility, and Tony Takafua, 7, who died with his family inside their vehicle while trying to escape the Aug. 8 blaze that consumed the historic beachfront town. Tokuda talked of the devastation, the … Continue Reading
September 12, 2023
U.S. Rep. Tokuda requests moment of silence for Maui on House Floor
U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda today, along with fellow U.S. Rep. Ed Case, stood on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and asked for a moment of silence “so that we may lift up and honor our Maui ohana as they grieve, as they recover and as they rebuild.” Tokuda asked to be joined by other representatives with connections to Maui and thanked House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, and other House colleagues across the political aisle for touring the devastation in Lahaina … Continue Reading
September 02, 2023
FEMA funding in the balance as Maui contends with fire’s aftermath
With Maui desperately in need of federal aid as residents struggle to recover from the Aug. 8 wildfires, the government shutting down and the Federal Emergency Management Agency running out of money “is absolutely not an option,” Hawaii’s U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda said. “Disasters are continuing to strike across our country.” Tokuda said Wednesday. “It is so critical that the billions and billions of dollars that we need to fund FEMA is put there when we go back in September.” But in a … Continue Reading
September 02, 2023
Hawaii Congressional Delegation Urges Immigration Support to those impacted by wildfires
The Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation urged the US Citizenship and Immigration Services to assist members of the immigrant community in replacing important legal and identification documents, as well as alleviating other challenges they might face during the recovery process. US Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Representatives Ed Case (D-HI) and Jill Tokuda (D-HI) urged US Citizenship and Immigration Services Director, Ur M. Jaddou, to continue and expand efforts … Continue Reading
September 01, 2023
Hawaii Congressional Delegation Calls Prompt Additional Request for $4B in Supplemental Disaster Relief
Following calls from US Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and US Representatives Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) and Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai‘i), President Joe Biden sent an updated request to Congress to increase the supplemental Disaster Relief Fund by $4 billion, bringing the new request total to $16 billion. “The President said he would do whatever it takes to help to Maui, and this is a down payment on that commitment. The recovery will take significant resources, and … Continue Reading
August 28, 2023
“We’re going to fight like hell” to ensure FEMA is funded for Maui Recovery
US Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) and Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05) announced a shared legislative priority for Congress to approve funding for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund as Maui continues recovery from the Aug. 8 deadly wildfire in Lahaina. “The Relief Fund will be in deep shortfall by the end of the fiscal year in September. With the increasing possibility that partisan gridlock could result in a government shut down, aid for Maui and communities across the country is at … Continue Reading
August 28, 2023
Hawaii Governor Enlists Help From Federal Lawmakers Visiting Maui
Standing before a gaggle of local reporters and Washington politicians, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green struggled to hold back his tears as he discussed what happened in Lahaina on Aug. 8. He recounted the story of a 15-year-old boy — someone about the same age as his daughter — who took his family’s car to save his 8-year-old brother and their mother who was trapped down on Front Street as the fires raged around them. “He’s driving for the first time and getting them out alive,” Green said. “Can … Continue Reading
August 27, 2023
Long Lines of Fire Survivors Underscores Demand for Help In Maui
The ongoing needs of evacuees and survivors from the Lahaina fire were best illustrated by the 100 to 200 people who lined up outside the Lahaina Civic Center gym on Saturday nearly two hours before another “help fair” opened to connect needs with services. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, whose congressional district includes the neighbor islands and rural Oahu, organized the event with U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and opened the doors to the gym nearly an hour early to let fire survivors inside the … Continue Reading
August 25, 2023
Rep. Tokuda, Sen. Hirono to host Federal Resource Fair in Lahaina on Aug. 26
Hawaii congress members Rep. Jill Tokuda and Sen. Mazie K. Hirono have joined forces to offer immediate assistance and support to the communities affected by the Maui fires. In a joint press release, Tokuda and Hirono announced a federal resource fair scheduled for Aug. 26 in Lahaina from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The resource fair aims to provide aid to residents who have been impacted by the fires, offering a wide array of essential services to alleviate the hardships they face. Tokuda and … Continue Reading
August 19, 2023
Help has landed on Maui
Earlier today at the federal resource fair community members spoke one-on-one with FEMA about what resources are available to them and residents said, it was an eye-opening experience. Congresswoman Jill Tokuda organized the resource fair in Kihei, where affected residents could find out how to get important documents like passports, register for FEMA assistance and more. “Because I did not register online right away, so I was able to sit down and they explain the whole process to me … Continue Reading
August 19, 2023
Federal Resource Fair Today for Disaster Relief, Lost Document Assistance
Today, Maui residents in need of disaster assistance or who suffered the loss of personal documents during the Maui wildfires can seek help from a number of federal agencies at a resource fair hosted by U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda. It will operate from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Maui Economic Development Board’s Malcom Center, 1305 North Holopono St., Suite 5 in Kīhei. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said Saturday that FEMA recognizes that some people who need help have lost everything, including … Continue Reading
August 18, 2023
Federal Resources Fair happening in Kihei Saturday For Those Affected by the Maui Wildfires
Hawaii US Rep. Jill Tokuda will be holding a federal resource fair for those who were affected by the devastating Maui wildfires. Saturday from 1pm to 5pm at the Maui Economic Development Boards Malcolm Center, federal agencies will be present to assist people in need to replace their passports and social security cards. Also participating is FEMA and the veteran's administration to ensure disaster aid and healthcare support be offered in a timely manner. Shuttle services will be … Continue Reading