Rep. Tokuda Accepting Applications for Military Service Academies
Honolulu, HI - U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) announced that her office is now accepting applications from students in Hawaiʻi’s Second Congressional District for Military Service Academies. Qualified applicants must submit their applications no later than Sunday, October 19, 2025, at 11:59 pm HST. Every year, members of Congress are given a limited number of candidates to nominate for appointment to these academies. Rep. Tokuda can only nominate a limited number of exceptional … Continue Reading
July 31, 2025
Reps. Tokuda, Nunn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen U.S.–Taiwan Defense Collaboration
Washington, D.C. — Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-03) and Jill Tokuda (HI-02) today introduced the United States-Taiwan Defense Innovation Partnership Act, bipartisan legislation to accelerate defense technology collaboration between the United States and Taiwan in response to ongoing aggression from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman John Moolenaar (MI-02) and Representative Ashley Hinson (IA-02) joined as original … Continue Reading
July 22, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Urges VA to Remove Former Kamehameha Schools Psychiatrist from Punchbowl Over Sex Abuse Allegations
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) sent a letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins requesting support for legislation allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to review and initiate disinterment proceedings for Dr. Robert McCormick Browne who is interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, commonly known as “Punchbowl Cemetery.” The request to exhume and disinter Dr. Browne from Punchbowl Cemetery came from one of Rep. Tokuda’s … Continue Reading
July 22, 2025
Reps. Tokuda, Timmons Lead Bipartisan Push to Eliminate Coffee Tariffs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and William Timmons (R-SC-04), co-chairs of the Congressional Coffee Caucus, led a bipartisan letter urging Ambassador Jamieson Greer, United States Trade Representative, to remove existing and future tariffs on coffee in order to protect American jobs and support the continued vitality of the nation’s import-dependent coffee industry. “Unlike many other goods affected by recent tariffs, coffee is not produced at a scale within the … Continue Reading
July 18, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Votes Against Cuts to Public Broadcasting, Foreign Aid
Washington, D.C. - This morning, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted against the $9 billion spending cut package that rescinds federal funds appropriated for public broadcasting and foreign aid. H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, passed the House by a vote of 216-213 and now heads to the President to be signed into law. “Public broadcasting serves as a lifeline for rural and underserved communities, providing essential educational content and emergency alerts in times of crisis. … Continue Reading
July 16, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Defends Hawai‘i Priorities in Markup of Annual Defense Policy Bill
Washington, D.C. — Last night, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted to send H.R. 3838, the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, to the full House of Representatives. If enacted into law, this NDAA would mark the 65th consecutive year in which Congress has passed this critical law for national security. The committee reported the bill as amended … Continue Reading
July 03, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Votes Against “Big Ugly Bill”
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted against passage of the budget reconciliation bill, which implements President Trump’s agenda to extend tax cuts to the wealthiest, while slashing Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and student aid for millions of working people. The bill passed the House by a vote of 218-214. "It's been sickening to see Republicans fast track a bill that's not just bad policy, it's reckless and selfish, and it's a betrayal to our people. This bill … Continue Reading
June 30, 2025
Reps. Tokuda, Begich Seek Fair Medicare Reimbursements for Hawaiʻi and Alaska
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and Nick Begich (R-AK) introduced two bills to address Medicare underpayments for rural hospitals in Hawaiʻi and Alaska: the Save our Lone Emergency Services (SOLES) Act and the Ensuring Outpatient Quality for Rural States Act. These bills seek to ensure Medicare reimbursement rates reflect the unique challenges and tremendous disparities that significantly increase healthcare delivery costs in the noncontiguous states. The … Continue Reading
June 27, 2025
Reps. Tokuda, Begich Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Reliability for Essential Air Service Passengers
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and Nick Begich (R-AK) introduced the Essential Air Service (EAS) Reliability Act, which would require EAS carriers to have a plan to accommodate passengers in the event of unexpected cancellations. The EAS program helps air carriers maintain scheduled service to over 100 small regional airports across the country, ensuring residents in rural and remote communities stay connected to the national air transportation system. … Continue Reading
June 12, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Demands Answers from Secretary Hegseth on Shooting Protesters
Washington, DC - Today, at the House Armed Services Committee’s Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request Hearing, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) demanded truthful answers from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth about the possibility of firing at protesters in Los Angeles and across the nation. "Mr. Secretary, during your confirmation hearing, you failed to deny the conclusion that you would carry out an order to shoot protesters in the legs. So let me be direct, given … Continue Reading
June 11, 2025
Reps, Tokuda, Pelosi, Takano, Simon Lead Effort Demanding Defense Secretary Rescind Decision to Rename USNS Harvey Milk
Washington, DC - U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Mark Takano (CA-39), and Representative Lateefah Simon (CA-12) led 66 other Members of Congress in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanding that he rescind his order to rename the USNS Harvey Milk and reported plans to rename other vessels named after prominent civil rights leaders. The letter describes Harvey Milk’s inspirational story, … Continue Reading
June 06, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Votes in Favor of Bipartisan SUPPORT Reauthorization Act
Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted in favor of H.R. 2483, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation that strengthens the federal response to the opioid epidemic and expands access to treatment, prevention, and recovery services, particularly in rural and underserved communities. The bill passed the House with broad bipartisan support. “In Hawaiʻi and across the country, rural communities are facing growing … Continue Reading
June 05, 2025
House Agriculture Subcommittee Holds First Hearing with Rep. Tokuda as Ranking Member & Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council as Witness
Washington, DC - Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology held its first hearing of the 119th Congress with U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) servingas Ranking Member. Nicole Galase, Managing Director of the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, testified as a witness. Both women strongly supported and promoted food producers and conservation programs statewide. “The weather isn't what it used to be. No matter what you want to call it — climate … Continue Reading
May 29, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Condemns Decision to Pause Job Corps Operations
Washington, DC -- Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) announced plans to pause operations at all contractor-run Job Corps centers nationwide, including Hawaiʻi’s nationally recognized programs on Maui and Oʻahu. "I am outraged by the Department of Labor’s reckless decision to halt operations at Job Corps centers, a lifeline for young people in Hawaiʻi and across the country. This isn’t budget management; … Continue Reading
May 22, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Votes Against Republicans’ “Big Ugly Bill”
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted against passage of Republicans’ budget bill which implements President Trump’s agenda to permanently give tax cuts to the wealthy while gutting essential social safety net programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP that millions of Americans depend on for health care and food. Despite House Democrats’ united opposition and efforts to delay and prevent the bill’s passage, House Republicans rammed the budget bill through … Continue Reading
May 22, 2025
Hirono, Tokuda Lead Hawaii Delegation in Reintroducing Legislation to Improve Affordability of Health Care for Native Hawaiian Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Ed Case (D-HI) and U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and Brian Schatz (D-HI) reintroduced the Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act, legislation to improve the affordability of health care services for Native Hawaiian veterans. Among other things, the bill would eliminate copays for Native Hawaiian veterans for care received through the Department of Veterans Affairs … Continue Reading
May 22, 2025
Warren, Merkley, Tokuda Renew Fight to Hold Soldiers Accountable for Wounded Knee Massacre
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), along with Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), reintroduced the Remove the Stain Act. The bill would revoke the Medal of Honor from the soldiers who perpetrated the Wounded Knee massacre on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota on December 29, 1890. During the massacre, U.S. soldiers slaughtered hundreds of Lakota men, women, and children—most of them unarmed. Twenty U.S. soldiers were awarded the … Continue Reading
May 13, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Introduces Bill to Empower Law Enforcement Efforts to Crack Down on Ghost Guns
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) introduced the Gun Hardware Oversight and Shipment Tracking (GHOST) Act to help law enforcement prevent the spread ofunserialized firearms, also known as “ghost guns.”Police departments across the country are reporting a surge in ghost guns recovered from crime scenes, including firearms assembled using 3D-printed parts. The GHOST Act would help law enforcement stay ahead of this emerging threat by developing a system to … Continue Reading
May 07, 2025
Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation Reintroduces Legislation to Safeguard Health Care For Seniors In Hawai‘i
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai‘i) and Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) today introduced the PATCH (Protecting Access To Care in Hawai‘i) Act as part of a renewed push to address ongoing challenges in Hawai‘i’s health care system. This bipartisan, bicameral bill aims to ensure seniors across the islands can continue to receive quality medical care by adjusting Medicare reimbursement rates for local … Continue Reading
May 04, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Announces Winner of Congressional Art Competition
Kāneʻohe, HI - Yesterday, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) announced Hawaiʻi’s Second Congressional District Winner of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Artistic Discovery Contest in a ceremony held at Windward Community College. Artwork was submitted from multiple islands. Professors from UH West Oʻahu and Windward Community College assisted in judging and selecting the finalists. A pencil on paper drawing titled “Self-Portrait” was selected as the winner. The artist is Emily-Ann … Continue Reading