Press Releases

September 25, 2024

Rep. Tokuda Votes to Prevent Government Shutdown

Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) issued the following statement after voting yes on the House bill to prevent a government shutdown. “Our communities can’t afford to lose critical services, but House Republicans have yet again been unable to write or pass legislation to keep the government operating. A shutdown would hurt working families in Hawaiʻi who are already struggling to make ends meet and that’s why I voted today to send this stopgap funding bill to … Continue Reading


September 20, 2024

Committee Sends Rep. Tokuda’s Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act to Full House

Washington, DC - Yesterday, the House Natural Resources Committee voted to advance the Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act - introduced by U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) - to the full House of Representatives. The committee reported the bill unanimously. H.R. 8219, the Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act, would direct the National Park Service, in consultation with state and local partners, to study the suitability and feasibility of a National Heritage Area designation … Continue Reading


September 13, 2024

Rep. Tokuda Testifies on her Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act

Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) testified before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, which held a legislative hearing on her bill, H.R. 8562, the Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act of 2024, a bill to improve healthcare access and affordability for Native Hawaiian veterans. “They served and sacrificed the same as their fellow veterans, yet our country is failing to meet our obligations to them. More must be done to … Continue Reading


September 12, 2024

Rep. Tokuda Introduces Bill to Tackle Illegal Campaign Coordination with Outside Groups

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) introduced the Stop Illegal Campaign Coordination Act to end efforts by campaigns to circumvent federal election laws and illegally coordinate with outside groups. Federal law already prohibits campaigns from coordinating their messaging and communications with outside groups like super PACs that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from corporate and special interests. However, campaigns have skirted around these … Continue Reading


September 03, 2024

Rep. Tokuda to Question Officials in Maui Wildfires Congressional Hearing

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) announced that she will join the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Workforce in a field hearing in Lahaina next week to take a closer look at the federal issues and improvements needed to help Maui continue to rebuild following last year’s August wildfires. During the one-day hearing titled “Assessing the Federal Government’s Response to the 2023 Maui Wildfires,” Rep. … Continue Reading


August 15, 2024

Rep. Tokuda Joins Effort Urging Senate to Act on Natural Disaster Tax Relief

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) joined Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), Greg Steube (R-FL), and 76 other House members in sending a letter to Senate leadership urging them to promptly bring the bipartisan Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023 (H.R. 5863) to the floor for a vote. Cosponsored by Rep. Tokuda, the bill would exempt wildfire disaster relief payments received between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025, from taxable income. In May … Continue Reading


August 13, 2024

Rep. Tokuda Joins Congressional Delegation in Taiwan

Taipei - This week, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, is visiting Taiwan as part of a congressional delegation (CODEL). Yesterday, the CODEL met with a number of officials including Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Bi-Khim, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung. “It’s been more than 30 years since Hawaiʻi began a sister-state relationship with Taiwan and the common bonds and shared challenges we … Continue Reading


August 07, 2024

Rep. Tokuda Joins with Hawaii Delegation to Urge Congressional Action and More Funding for Maui

Washington, D.C. - Today, the Hawaii delegation sent a letter to House and Senate leaders urging congressional action to ensure Maui receives necessary supplemental disaster funding as the one year anniversary of the Maui fires approaches. The letter details their requests, including an additional $20.9 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund to meet anticipated needs through Fiscal Year 2025, as well as support for President Biden’s request for $3.5 billion for the Community Development … Continue Reading


July 23, 2024

Rep. Tokuda’s Statement on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Address to Congress

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) issued the following statement on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress scheduled for tomorrow and her decision not to attend. “Foreign dignitaries addressing a joint meeting of Congress is a highly regarded invitation that reflects a mutual relationship based on shared diplomatic values. While the United States has long had a pivotal relationship with Israel to deter our adversaries and … Continue Reading


July 13, 2024

Rep. Tokuda's Statement on Incident at Trump Rally

“Sending out my deep condolences to those affected by today’s tragic incident, and prayers of recovery and safety to everyone impacted. I spent most of today encouraging civic engagement, telling AANHPI to use their voice and be seen. Our democracy must be grounded in civil discourse, mutual respect, and most of all aloha. These kinds of horrific acts only serve to silence and instill fear, and do not reflect the values of our country. We are better than this, and we must come together to … Continue Reading


July 09, 2024

Rep. Tokuda Introduces Bill to Provide More Funding for Native Hawaiian Culture & Arts

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) introduced a bill to ensure that Native Hawaiian organizations can fully access funding they are entitled to under the Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development Program for cultural programming and activities. The Native Hawaiian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development Program was created in 1984 to provide grants through the National Park Service for the scholarly study of and instruction in … Continue Reading


July 01, 2024

Rep. Tokuda Introduces Bill to Rename Hawaiʻi Island Post Office After Vietnam War Veteran Hero

Washington, D.C. - On Friday, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) introduced a bill to rename the Captain Cook Post Office on Hawaiʻi Island after First Lieutenant John Kuulei Kauhaihao of Hōnaunau, who was killed in action in Vietnam and posthumously awarded the U.S. Army’s second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross. “There are no amount of words to express my sincere gratitude to First Lieutenant Kauhaihao who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country … Continue Reading


June 28, 2024

Rep. Tokuda Issues Statement on President Biden's Request for Additional $700M Disaster Funding

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) issued the following statement on President Joe Biden’s additional $700 million request to Congress for the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program which would help communities nationwide, including Maui, with disaster needs. "We have been pushing for supplemental disaster funding in Congress since the wildfires took place. Maui continues to grapple with both physical damage and emotional trauma in the … Continue Reading


June 27, 2024

Rep. Tokuda Testifies on Her Lahaina National Heritage Area Act

Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a hearing on the Lahaina National Heritage Area Act - introduced by U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) - which would begin the process of evaluating the Maui town for designation as a National Heritage Area. The Lahaina National Heritage Area Act would direct the National Park Service, in consultation with state and local partners, to study the suitability and feasibility of this designation for … Continue Reading


June 26, 2024

Rep. Tokuda's Priorities Included in House Water Resources Development Act

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02), announced the referral of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA) to the full House of Representatives. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee reported the bill as amended by a bipartisan vote of 61 to 2. “As Hawai‘i has seen in increasing frequency, extreme weather events are leaving a trail of destruction and loss behind. From hurricanes to flooding to wildfires, we need to do all we can to … Continue Reading


June 24, 2024

Rep. Tokuda Statement Marking Two Years Since SCOTUS Overturned Roe v. Wade

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) issued the following statement, marking the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, which eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion. “The Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade remains one of the biggest threats to the health and safety of women across the country. Two years later, the consequences of the Dobbs decision continue to grow, and the impacts are being … Continue Reading


June 17, 2024

Rep. Tokuda Introduces Bill to Combat ‘Zombie Guns’, Support Law Enforcement

Washington, D.C. — On Friday, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) introduced the "Restoring Trust in Public Safety Act," legislation to address the government’s role in the proliferation of gun violence in communities by providing public agencies, including police departments, with greater resources to fully destroy seized and surrendered firearms. A recent New York Times investigation found that hundreds of cities and towns have turned to private companies that offer to destroy … Continue Reading


June 14, 2024

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 2025, which passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 217-199. “Once again, House Republicans have derailed a bipartisan process for this year’s National Defense Authorization Act by adding harmful poison-pill policy riders that attack reproductive rights and health care for our … Continue Reading


June 06, 2024

Rep. Tokuda Travels to Normandy for 80th D-Day Anniversary

Normandy, France - Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, paid tribute to members of the military and honored them at the 80th D-Day Anniversary ceremonies at the American Cemetery. “Eighty years ago, tens of thousands of men, including many from Hawaii, put freedom before fear and marked a turning point in the war here on the beaches of Normandy. It has been a humbling honor to remember and pay respect to the brave soldiers where … Continue Reading


June 04, 2024

Rep. Tokuda Accepting Applications for Military Service Academies

(Honolulu, HI) - 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 Friday, October 25, 2024, 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

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