Rep. Tokuda Secures Hawai‘i Priorities in Markup of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted to send H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025, 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 by a vote of 57 to 1. … Continue Reading
May 21, 2024
House Passes Tax Relief Bill to Support Disaster Victims Includes Rep. Tokuda’s Efforts to Help Those Impacted by Maui Fires
Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. House passed the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023, cosponsored by Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02). The measure would make it easier for Maui Fire victims to deduct disaster-related losses by eliminating the minimum 10 percent loss threshold and the requirement to itemize deductions to receive this tax benefit. It would also exempt qualified wildfire disaster relief payments received between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025. “This bill makes … Continue Reading
May 18, 2024
Rep. Tokuda Announces Winner of 2024 Congressional Art Competition
May 15, 2024
House Approves FAA Reauthorization Legislation, Including Rep. Tokuda's Bill Addressing Air Safety Concerns
Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House overwhelmingly approved the bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act, which includes improved air safety standards as well as an increase in workforce and consumer protection. The legislation authorizes more than $105 billion in appropriations for the FAA through Fiscal Year 2028, including $66.7 billion for key safety programs. It addresses air traffic controller shortages by requiring the FAA to implement better … Continue Reading
May 09, 2024
Rep. Tokuda, Colleagues Seeks Answers on Department of Defense Policies for Reporting Abuse and Harm at Child Care Centers
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) led 21 of their colleagues in seeking urgent answers from the U.S. Department of Defense in response to an April 10, 2024 article from Military.com detailing systemic failures to report child abuse and harm at military child care centers. That article included shocking details of one military family’s experiences at the Ford Island Child Development Center near Joint Base … Continue Reading
May 02, 2024
Rep. Tokuda Seeks Study to Establish Lahaina as a National Heritage Area
Washington, D.C. - To recognize Lahaina’s historical, cultural, and ecological value, Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) introduced the Lahaina National Heritage Area Act yesterday, which would begin the process of potentially designating the Maui town 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 Lahaina. “Lele, or Lahaina, … Continue Reading
April 20, 2024
Rep. Tokuda Statement on House Passing $95 Billion Foreign Aid Package
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) issued the following statement after the House passed more than $95 billion in foreign aid funding: “Today, after months of needless delay, the House finally voted to send critical security and humanitarian assistance to our allies and partners around the world. My votes today are about putting peace, democracy, and human rights at the center of our foreign policy. I am proud to stand with our Ukrainian partners who have waited far too long … Continue Reading
April 11, 2024
Rep. Tokuda Applauds Federal Action to Expand Background Checks for Firearm Sales
Washington, D.C. - Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) issued the following statement after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) announcement on final regulations to expand required background checks for firearm sales: “Too many people have bypassed background checks to obtain firearms and our people and communities have paid the price with their lives. Today we closed a dangerous loophole that allowed firearms to be sold and purchased online and at gun shows … Continue Reading
April 03, 2024
Rep. Tokuda Applauds FEMA for $35 Million to Rebuild Maui Public Housing After Fires
Honolulu, HI - Today, Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) commended the announcement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of more than $35 million in federal funding for the State of Hawaii associated with the August wildfires on Maui. The first award provides $20,891,921.32 to the state’s Public Housing Authority for damage to the nine buildings of the David Malo Circle housing facility. The second award will provide $14,120.421.86 in federal … Continue Reading
April 01, 2024
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