Rep. Tokuda Reintroduces Bill to Provide Fair SNAP EBT Benefits for Hawaiʻi’s Rural Households
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) reintroduced a bill that would adjust inequities in how federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) EBT is calculated for Hawaiʻi’s urban and rural areas. The Feeding Rural Families Act would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to conduct separate Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) calculations for urban and rural areas of Hawaiʻi when determining SNAP maximum monthly benefit allotments. Although federal law … Continue Reading
November 26, 2025
Reps. Tokuda, Moore, Bacon Introduce Bill Requiring 24-Hour Notice of Alleged Abuse in Military Child Care Programs
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Blake Moore (R-UT-01), and Don Bacon (R-NE-02) introduced legislation requiring military child and youth programs to notify parents or guardians within 24 hours after learning of alleged or suspected abuse or neglect involving their children that occurred at a military child development center or similar program. The Military Child and Youth Program Abuse and Neglect Notification Act would codify a Department of Defense … Continue Reading
November 24, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Introduces Bill to Repeal Tariffs on Indo-Pacific Allies Including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan & the Philippines
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) introduced a bill that would eliminate President Trump’s “emergency” tariffs on Indo-Pacific allies, reaffirming our nation’s commitment to our key economic partners. The Chinese Communist Party continues to escalate its aggressive and coercive behavior against our Indo-Pacific partners by developing military bases on artificial islands in the South China Sea, embargoing imports from Pacific countries, and provoking tensions along the … Continue Reading
November 21, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Leads Bipartisan Bill to Secure More Funding for Native Hawaiian Arts & Culture
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to clear longstanding administrative hurdles that have limited Native Hawaiian-serving arts and cultural organizations’ access to federal grant opportunities. The Native Arts and Culture Promotion Act streamlines the grant application process for Native Hawaiian-serving organizations by eliminating outdated signatory requirements that currently delay or block applications. Additionally, the bill … Continue Reading
November 20, 2025
Tokuda, Harshbarger Lead Bipartisan Coalition in Marking National Rural Health Day, Call for Transformational Action
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Representatives Jill Tokuda (HI-02) and Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), co-chairs of the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, led Members of Congress in celebrating National Rural Health Day and highlighting the urgent need for bipartisan efforts to expand access, improve services, and strengthen rural healthcare systems. “National Rural Health Day is a chance to honor the communities that keep this country moving: the farmers, teachers, kūpuna, health workers, first … Continue Reading
November 14, 2025
Administration Removes Coffee Tariffs Following Bipartisan Effort Led by Reps. Tokuda, Timmons
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and William Timmons (R-SC-04), co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Coffee Caucus, released the following joint statement after the Trump Administration announced most coffee products would be removed from the list of items subject to reciprocal tariffs: “When we led a bipartisan letter earlier this year urging the Trump Administration to remove coffee from tariffs, we did so to protect American jobs and secure a stable … Continue Reading
November 12, 2025
Rep. Tokuda’s Statement on House Vote to Reopen Government
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) released the following statement after voting against the Republican funding bill that failed to include affordable health care for Americans: “Today’s vote to end the shutdown is NOT a victory. It may reopen government, but it shuts the door on affordable health care for millions. This bill does nothing to help parents take their keiki to the doctor, seniors afford their medications, or small business owners cover their workers. It … Continue Reading
November 05, 2025
Reps. Tokuda, Titus, McGovern Lead Letter Urging President Trump to Reverse Course on Nuclear Testing
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Dina Titus (NV-01), and Jim McGovern (MA-02) led 24 of their House colleagues in a letter to President Trump, expressing opposition to the administration’s reported plans to resume testing of nuclear weapons for the first time since 1992. “We are alarmed and deeply concerned by your announcement that you have instructed the Department of Defense to resume testing of nuclear weapons,” the representatives wrote in the letter. “The … Continue Reading
October 28, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Meets with Air Traffic Controllers Across Hawaiʻi Amid Shutdown Strain
Hawaiʻi - Today, air traffic controllers nationwide are missing their first full paychecks due to the Republican shutdown, which entered its fifth week. As a show of support and gratitude, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda met with numerous air traffic controllers on Oʻahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island over the past two weeks and discussed the ongoing shutdown’s impacts on aviation safety and the livelihoods of federal workers. Nationwide, the workforce includes 10,800 controllers and 3,300 … Continue Reading
October 27, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Releases Statement on Passing of Maui County Councilmember Tasha Kama
Honolulu, HI — U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) released the following statement on the passing of Maui County Councilmember Tasha Kama: "I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear about the passing of Maui County Councilmember Tasha Kama, a dedicated public servant who gave her heart and soul to the County of Maui. She was a warm hand and mother to all, holding us together during good and bad times. Even in the most challenging moments, she brought people together with calmness, … Continue Reading
October 25, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Joins House Democrats Urging USDA to Protect SNAP During Republican Shutdown
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) joined 214 House Democrats in calling on U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to use all available authorities, including the $5 billion SNAP contingency fund, to ensure food assistance continues for millions of Americans during the ongoing Republican shutdown. The letter from House Democrats demands that USDA act immediately to provide November SNAP benefits using the contingency reserve fund Congress specifically established for … Continue Reading
October 01, 2025
Rep. Tokuda’s Statement on Federal Government Shutdown
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) released the following statement after Republicans, who control the White House and Congress, refused to work with Democrats to keep the federal government open. “Today, hardworking people across the nation are facing the damaging effects of Republican-led chaos and dysfunction. While House Democrats have worked nonstop to prevent a government shutdown, Republicans have chosen political games over responsible governance, refusing even … Continue Reading
September 25, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Leads Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation in Posthumous Promotions of Seven Nisei WWII Soldiers
Washington, D.C. - The Secretary of the Army posthumously promoted seven second-generation Territory of Hawaiʻi Japanese Americans, aka Nisei soldiers, and former University of Hawaiʻi Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets to the rank of second lieutenant. The promotions follow a June 26, 2024, request from the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation urging then-Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth to review the military records of the seven cadets … Continue Reading
September 19, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Votes No on Partisan House Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) released the following statement on the stopgap government spending bill, which passed the House by a vote of 217-212. “Security funding for government officials is important. But so is protecting families from losing Medicaid, keeping rural hospitals from closing, and ensuring small business owners and their employees aren’t crushed by health premiums that have more than doubled. This is about fighting for the healthcare our … Continue Reading
September 10, 2025
Rep. Tokuda Votes No on National Defense Authorization Act
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02), member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, which passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 231-196. “When the Armed Services Committee reported out this year’s NDAA, it was a strong, bipartisan bill that included real investments in housing, healthcare, and national security that I was proud to support. But for the … Continue Reading
August 15, 2025
Hirono, Tokuda Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation to Strengthen Social Security Program
~ The Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act aims to restore fairness in Social Security and protect the program from future cuts ~ WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, on the 90th anniversary of Social Security, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI) reintroduced the Protecting and Preserving Social Security Act, legislation that would strengthen Social Security’s financial state and ensure that seniors continue to benefit from the programs they have paid … Continue Reading
August 04, 2025
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