Rep. Tokuda Introduces Bill to Increase Conservation Financial Assistance for Farmers and Ranchers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI) introduced the bipartisan Eliminating Access Barriers to Conservation Act to promote the use of voluntary conservation practices among agricultural producers in high-cost localities. The bill would grant the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) the authority to eliminate payment caps for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) in Hawaiʻi, Alaska, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the … Continue Reading
March 22, 2024
Rep. Tokuda Votes to Pass Second Government Funding Package for Fiscal Year 2024
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda voted to pass the second and final package of government spending bills for Fiscal Year 2024, providing critical funding for federal programs that support working families in Hawai‘i and across the country. The package, which includes funding for roughly 70 percent of the federal budget, including the Department of Education, the Department of Defense, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services, passed by a … Continue Reading
March 13, 2024
Rep. Tokuda and Colleagues Urge Congressional Leadership to Include Supplemental Disaster Recovery Funds in Government Funding Deal
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda led a bipartisan group of 25 Members of Congress in urging Congressional leadership to include supplemental disaster recovery funds in the next package of government funding bills or the next legislative vehicle. “Communities across the country require additional support to sustain their recoveries,” wrote the Members. “Last October, President Biden submitted a supplemental appropriations request that included over $23 billion … Continue Reading
March 11, 2024
Rep. Tokuda Leads Delegation in Introducing Bill to Extend Disaster Unemployment Assistance
(Washington, D.C.) - Representative Jill Tokuda led the Hawaii congressional delegation in introducing the Hawaii Wildfire Disaster Unemployment Assistance Continuity Act to extend the availability of federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits for residents impacted by the Maui wildfires. Following the major disaster declaration issued by President Biden, workers, business owners, and self-employed individuals who had been impacted by the wildfires could receive DUA … Continue Reading
March 06, 2024
House Approves 14 Community Projects Secured by Representative Tokuda, Sends Them to the Senate for Final Passage
Washington, D.C. - Today, Representative Jill Tokuda voted to pass an appropriations package of six bills for Fiscal Year 2024 that includes 14 community projects she requested to support Hawai‘i’s Second Congressional District. The package, which includes funding for federal agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Transportation, and many more, passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 339 to 85. “I’m proud to have fought for and helped … Continue Reading
March 01, 2024
Rep. Tokuda Announces 2024 Congressional Art Competition, Calls for Submissions from High School Students
(Hawaiʻi) - Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) announced that her office is accepting submissions for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition and encourages participation from high school students across Hawaiʻi’s Second Congressional District to demonstrate their artistic talents. “Throughout Hawaiʻi, we have young, talented, artistic students who are eager to share their perspectives on the world and what is happening around them,” stated Rep. Tokuda. “Contests like the Art … Continue Reading
February 16, 2024
Representatives Tokuda, Kiggans Lead Bipartisan Effort to Invite Japanese Prime Minister Kishida to Address Congress
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) led 44 of their House colleagues in a bipartisan letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives urging him to invite the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, to address a joint meeting of Congress during his upcoming official visit in April 2024. “For over seven decades, the U.S.-Japan alliance has been the anchor of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the representatives wrote in the letter. … Continue Reading
January 31, 2024
Rep. Jill Tokuda Votes to Expand Child Tax Credit and Provide Targeted Tax Relief for Maui Victims
(Washington, D.C.) - Representative Jill Tokuda voted to pass the bipartisan H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024, which passed the House with 357 votes. This bill is a significant step forward in reducing child poverty and would help families in Hawaiʻi and across the nation afford essentials like food, rent, and child care. The bill also includes an important provision based on legislation authored and supported by Rep. Tokuda to allow more … Continue Reading
January 23, 2024
Reps. Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06) Introduce Bill to Increase Mental Health Support for Firefighters
Washington, DC - U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) joined Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06) in introducing the Peer Support for Firefighters Act to expand access to mental and behavioral health care services for firefighters. “I am proud to join my friend and colleague, Rep. Salinas, in introducing this important bill to address the mental and behavioral health needs of firefighters. The Peer Support for Firefighters Act would ensure existing federal grants to assist firefighters can be … Continue Reading
January 18, 2024
Representative Jill Tokuda Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Workforce Training in Rural Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, Representative Jill Tokuda introduced the bipartisan Creating Access to Rural Employment and Education for Resilience and Success (CAREERS) Act to address the skills gap and workforce shortage in rural communities. This legislation is co-led with Representative Nick Langworthy (NY-23). “Hawai‘i has one of the highest costs of living in the country, which means that too many of our people are getting priced out of paradise. We need sustainable career … Continue Reading
January 18, 2024
Rep. Jill Tokuda Announces Winner of the Congressional App Challenge for Second Congressional District
(Honolulu, Hawaiʻi) - Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) is proud to announce the winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge for Hawaiʻi’s Second District. “I am pleased to congratulate Mazzy McCloud as our winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge for Hawaii’s Second Congressional District and extend my sincerest gratitude to all students who have participated,” stated Rep. Jill Tokuda. “This year’s Congressional App Challenge showcased talented youth with a passion for creativity … Continue Reading
January 18, 2024
Representative Jill Tokuda Applauds the United States Department of Agriculture’s Announcement to Review Food Price Data for the State of Hawai‘i
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Jill Tokuda commended the announcement from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service to collect information on food price data for the State of Hawaiʻi as a whole. Tokuda led Members of the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation in highlighting the significant disparity between the cost of food on O‘ahu and in rural communities on the neighbor islands in Hawai‘i. The USDA currently uses food cost data from the City and … Continue Reading
January 14, 2024
House Passes FY24 National Defense Authorization Act and Enacts Key Priorities for Hawai‘i Led by Rep. Tokuda
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Representative Jill Tokuda voted to pass the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill, which the Senate passed earlier this week, passed with a 310-118 vote in the House and will be sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Tokuda fought for and secured provisions that would advance key priorities for Hawai‘i, for service members and their families, and for national … Continue Reading
January 12, 2024
Rep. Jill Tokuda Announces Class of 2028 Nominees to the United States Service Academies
Hawaiʻi - U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) announced the nomination of 11 Hawaiʻi students to U.S. military service academies for the Class of 2028. The academies will now consider the students’ applications for final selections. “I am honored to nominate an inspiring and dedicated group of young people to our nation’s military academies. Their strong commitment to service and to advancing our shared principles leaves me confident that they will represent Hawaiʻi with the highest … Continue Reading
January 08, 2024
Rep. Jill Tokuda Visits Molokaʻi and Hilo Focused on Services to Veterans and Access to Healthcare and Mental Health Services
(Honolulu, HI) - Representative Jill Tokuda had meetings and toured sites on Molokaʻi and in Hilo this week with a focus on veterans and access to healthcare and mental health services in our rural and remote communities. In Hilo, Rep. Tokuda toured the site of Hale Na Koa ‘O Hanakahi, a 92-unit affordable housing development for veterans and their surviving spouses. The site will include a community center and future plans include the addition of an outpatient clinic on the adjoining … Continue Reading
December 07, 2023
Rep. Jill Tokuda Announces District-Wide Telephone Town Hall
(Hawaiʻi) - Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) will be holding a district-wide telephone town hall on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. Rep. Tokuda will provide a 2023 wrap up, cover her work and priorities, provide a legislative update, and take questions from participants. Those who are interested in joining are encouraged to RSVP to be added to the event call list to receive a call when the event starts. If participants do not receive a call, they can call directly to the event … Continue Reading
November 15, 2023
Rep. Tokuda Delivers Second “Maui Minute” Floor Speech Honoring First Responders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 15, 2023 Carly Sylva-Gabrielson, (202) 374-3738 Rep. Tokuda Delivers Second “Maui Minute” Floor Speech Honoring First Responders (Washington, D.C.) - Yesterday, Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) addressed the U.S. House of Representatives to deliver her second “Maui Minute” floor speech. She spoke about the first responders involved with evacuating communities and keeping people safe from the devastating Maui wildfires. Rep. Tokuda … Continue Reading
November 14, 2023
Tokuda, Fitzpatrick, Balint, LaMalfa Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Access to Mental Health Services for First Responders
Washington, D.C - Today, Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02), alongside Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01, Becca Balint (VT-AL), and Doug LaMalfa (CA-01) introduced the Crisis Assistance and Resources in Emergencies (CARE) for First Responders Act, bipartisan legislation to provide specialized mental health, substance abuse, and crisis counseling services to first responders including law enforcement, firefighters, emergency response workers, and 9-1-1 operators. In the United States, there are roughly … Continue Reading
November 09, 2023
Rep. Jill Tokuda Marks Three-Month Anniversary of Maui Fires, Delivers First “Maui Minute” Speech to U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C - Last night, Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) addressed the U.S. House of Representatives to mark the three-month anniversary of the deadly Maui fires and to deliver her inaugural “Maui Minute” floor speech. Tokuda will deliver a “Maui Minute” speech every week the House is in session to share the stories, the needs, and the hopes of the people of Maui to make sure Congress and our country does not forget the collective responsibility it has to help Maui recover and rebuild. … Continue Reading
November 03, 2023
Rep. Tokuda Delivers Remarks Honoring Former Hawaiʻi State Senator Sam Slom
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) delivered remarks honoring former Hawaiʻi State Senator Sam Slom, who will be celebrated and remembered this Sunday at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol. Slom served in the Hawaiʻi State Senate for 20 years, from 1996 to 2016, serving as the only Republican member in the State Senate from 2010 to 2016. “I had the honor and privilege of serving alongside Sam. Yes, we disagreed on many things but more than not, we saw eye to eye. … Continue Reading