U.S. Rep. Tokuda documenting fallout of federal firings
U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda remains alarmed over ongoing job cuts among Hawaii-based federal workers, which could lead to more workers leaving the islands while residents lose access to federal services they rely on. Tokuda spent the past several days reviewing feedback from 70 or so federal workers so far who sent her their experiences through her website — overlaid by a new culture of fear, intimidation and uncertainty — following Elon Musk’s continuing purge of the federal workforce, all with … Continue Reading
March 04, 2025
Tokuda wears opposition to Trump on her pink sleeves
Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI) wears a jacket with writing of the U.S. Constitution on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025, in Washington, DC. President Trump was expected to address Congress on his early achievements of his presidency and his upcoming legislative agenda. Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI) holds a protest sign with fellow Democrats as U.S. President Donald Trump addresses a joint … Continue Reading
February 28, 2025
McKelvey and Tokuda push back against Trump Administration federal job cuts
State Sen. Angus McKelvey and US Rep. Jill Tokuda are rebuking the administration of President Donald Trump for the loss of thousands of federal jobs as part of an effort to shrink government bureaucracy. Earlier this week, US Rep. Jill Tokuda reached out to constituents to seek out their stories on how they’ve been harmed by the Trump Administration and the Department of Government Efficiency. “From firing our federal workers without cause, threatening to cut funding for essential lifeline … Continue Reading
February 25, 2025
‘DOGE is a dictatorship’: Hundreds turn out in Puna to express their concerns about Trump administration, Musk
JOHN BURNETT/Tribune-Herald U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) addresses a crowd of about 300 Saturday during a town hall at Pahoa High and Intermediate School cafeteria. A crowd of perhaps 300 showed up Saturday at a town hall hosted by U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) at the Pahoa High and Intermediate School cafeteria. The majority of attendees were gray or graying. The mood, however, was boisterous. Cheers, applause and hoots filled the air for the few able, in a seemingly brief hour, to … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Tokuda leads call for details on federal resignations
Monday, led by U.S. Reps. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, and Steny Hoyer, D-Md., House Democrats called on U.S. Office of Personnel Management acting director Charles Ezell to release a full breakdown of workers who have accepted OPM’s “deferred resignation” offer. The Trump administration believes over 20,000 federal employees accepted their offer to resign immediately, continuing to receive full pay and benefits until Sept. 30 without returning to work. Management told workers that refusing … Continue Reading
January 28, 2025
U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda says 'political courage' needed amid Trump administration
Interview Highlights On the aftermath of Trump's executive orders JILL TOKUDA: From the moment he got sworn into office, stacks of executive orders that you saw on his desk that he's signing — from the most frivolous things like renaming gulfs to serious, serious things like pausing and halting federal funding that goes to, in many cases, life-saving services to the public. I'm hearing from colleagues across the country where domestic violence centers aren't sure if they can keep their doors … Continue Reading
December 27, 2024
Biden signs bill to study designating Lahaina as National Heritage Area
U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday signed 50 bills into law, one of them directing the National Park Service to assess the suitability of designating Lahaina, Maui, as the “Lahaina National Heritage Area.” The Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act was introduced by U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono in the U.S. Senate. Both are Hawai‘i Democrats. The bicameral legislation calls for a study by the National Park Service, in coordination … Continue Reading
October 13, 2023
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