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
November 03, 2023
Heeding Call from Hawaii Delegation, SBA Announces Loan Deferments for Maui Businesses
WASHINGTON, DC - In response to a letter from the Hawaii Congressional delegation, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it is implementing a 6-month deferment period for Maui businesses impacted by the Hawaii wildfires. This deferment period covers principal and interest payments, as well as a pause on interest accrual, and includes all COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and any previous disaster loans that are still being repaid. “Thousands of people, … Continue Reading
October 30, 2023
Rep. Tokuda and Sen. Hirono Lead Hawaiʻi and Alaska Delegations in Introducing Bill to Expand Opportunities for Native Hawaiian and Alaska Natives in Agriculture
(Washington, D.C.) Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) and Senator Mazie Hirono (HI) led the Hawaiʻi and Alaska delegations in introducing the Parity for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Students in Agriculture Act. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Brian Schatz, and Representatives Ed Case and Mary Peltola are also original co-sponsors of the bill. The bill would reauthorize the Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Education Competitive Grants Program for … Continue Reading
October 27, 2023
Rep. Jill Tokuda to Hold Virtual Town Hall for Kauai
(Washington, D.C.) Representative Jill Tokuda announced today that her town hall in Kauai scheduled for Wednesday, November 1, 2023, will be moved to a virtual platform. Due to unforeseen changes in the congressional calendar, Rep. Tokuda must now be in Washington, D.C. to vote on the House floor. “While my official duties are keeping me from being home to do these town halls, continuing to connect with my constituents is important to me,” stated Tokuda. “I look forward to being back on … Continue Reading
October 25, 2023
Rep. Jill Tokuda’s Statement on Speaker Mike Johnson
(Washington, D.C.) Representative Jill Tokuda issued the following statement about the election of Speaker Mike Johnson: “After three weeks of chaos and inaction and three unsuccessful nominees, Republicans chose to elect a Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives with little experience in actual governance and a long record of dangerous and extreme far-right positions. Speaker Johnson’s past words and actions have focused on criminalizing abortion nationwide, stripping away … Continue Reading
October 24, 2023
Rep. Jill Tokuda Introduces the MAUI STRONG Act, a Bill to Support Maui Small Businesses and Nonprofits
(Hawaiʻi) - Today, Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) introduced the Micro-enterprise Assistance and Urgent Investment for Supporting Trade, Recovery Operations, and Neighborhood Growth (MAUI STRONG) Act, a bill that would provide nonprofits, small businesses with 25 or fewer employees, and independent contractors that experienced revenue loss because of the Maui fires grants of $20,000 to help with a variety of expenses. If enacted, the bill would establish the Emergency … Continue Reading
October 20, 2023
Rep. Jill Tokuda and Sen. Mazie Hirono Introduce Bill to Lessen Tax Burden for Those Impacted by Natural Disasters
(Washington, D.C.) Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) and Sen. Mazie Hirono (HI) recently introduced the Natural Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023. The bill would lessen the tax burden on people impacted by major natural disasters in 2023. It would allow more individuals impacted by the wildfires to claim a personal casualty loss by eliminating the requirement to itemize deductions and removing the 10 percent loss requirement to qualify. It would also waive the 10 percent penalty on hardship withdrawals … Continue Reading
October 19, 2023
Hawaiʻi Delegation Applauds $17.9 Million in Department of Energy Grants to Improve Renewable Energy Utilization and the Resilience of Hawaiʻi’s Power Systems
(Washington, D.C.)- Today, the Hawaiʻi congressional delegation applauded the news that the Department of Energy is awarding $3.5 billion in grants to 58 projects across 44 states to strengthen electric grid resilience and reliability across America, including $17.9 million to Hawaiʻi. The Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program was a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Program accelerates the deployment of transformative projects that will help to ensure … Continue Reading
October 17, 2023
Rep. Jill Tokuda Announces Second Kauaʻi Community Town Hall
(Hawaiʻi) - Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02) will hold her second Kauaʻi community town hall. Community members are invited to join Rep. Tokuda in Kapaʻa, Kauaʻi on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Tokuda will provide a legislative update and take questions and comments from attendees. For more information and to RSVP, please visit the events section on Rep. Tokuda’s website at tokuda.house.gov. Community Town Hall on Kauaʻi What: Kauaʻi Community Town Hall … Continue Reading
October 12, 2023
Rep. Jill Tokuda Announces Satellite Office Hour Events to Help Constituents Navigate the Federal Government
(Hawaiʻi) - Rep. Jill Tokuda’s office will be holding Satellite Office Hour events on Hawaiʻi Island, Oʻahu, Lānaʻi, and Molokaʻi to assist residents and businesses with inquiries on issues or problems that they are having with federal agencies. Tokuda’s office can provide support with passport issues, veteran’s benefits, Social Security, immigration, postal service problems, Medicare, and more. “Assisting constituents with navigating federal agencies is one of the most important ways that … Continue Reading
October 11, 2023
Hawaii Delegation Introduces Bicameral Resolution to Honor Victims and First Responders in Maui Wildfires
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) and U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and Ed Case (D-HI) introduced a bicameral resolution honoring the first responders and those who lost their lives in the devastating wildfires on Maui and expressing support for the communities of West and Upcountry Maui. The resolution was led by Senator Hirono in the Senate and Rep. Tokuda in the House and passed the Senate with the unanimous consent of all … Continue Reading
October 03, 2023
Rep. Jill Tokuda Votes to Oust Kevin McCarthy from the Speakership
(Washington, D.C.) Today, Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) voted yes on the Resolution to Declare the Office of the Speaker Vacant (also known as the Motion to Vacate), thereby removing Rep. Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Tokuda’s statement is as follows: “Since the beginning of his Speakership, Kevin McCarthy has been more concerned about keeping the gavel by catering to a handful of far-right extremists instead of taking care of the needs of our people … Continue Reading