Newsletters

This has been a busy time for my staff and I in Washington D.C. and Hawai'i. Key legislation passed Congress from the Inflation Reduction Act to the PACT Act which will help build a stronger economy and expand healthcare for millions of veterans. I will continue to advance programs that provide critical funding to local organizations and help build a stronger economy for future generations.

Our country continues to face an epidemic of gun violence that has gone unaddressed for far too long. Gun violence is now the leading cause of death in children. The most recent mass shootings in Uvalde, TX, and Buffalo, NY are deeply disturbing. Here at home, we too have experienced gun-related crimes and violence. This is why I joined 130 of my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to call on Congressional Leadership to bring gun violence legislation to the floor immediately, because our children and the families who have lost theirs can no longer wait. We must do everything we can to put a stop to gun violence.

Over the past four months, my team and I have been walking with people in our community, listening to their concerns and working for a stronger, more resilient Hawaiʻi. As we near the halfway point in 2022, I want to share an update on some of the work we have accomplished for Hawaiʻi's second congressional district and to thank you for opening your homes and hearts as we work throughout all the Hawaiian Islands.

During the month of March, we maintained full speed ahead on so many pressing issues in Hawaiʻi and across our nation. President Biden recently signed the FY22 government spending bill which includes a total of $1.1 billion dedicated to Red Hill for the fiscal year. I also introduced new federal legislation to return Mākua Valley to the people of Hawaiʻi, unlocked millions in funding for local projects across our state and met with communities across West Hawaiʻi, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi and Maui. Here is a snapshot of what we accomplished this month.

February was a busy month working between Hawaiʻi and Washington, DC. From introducing legislation to permanently shut down Red Hill to meeting with communities across Maui, my team and I have been hard at work for the State of Hawaiʻi. With drive and determination, we can tackle any challenge we face head-on together. As we close out Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, I would like to leave you all with this ʻōlelo noeau: ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia. No task is too big when done by all.

One year ago this week, I took my oath of office. Although 2021 was a tumultuous year filled with both triumph and disaster for our communities, through it all we continued to move forward together to build a healthier and safer Hawaiʻi.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the law of the land and the Build Back Better Act has passed the U.S. House! We are on track to rebuilding our country stronger with working families and climate sustainability as a top priority. As we reach the end of 2021, I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve as your voice in Congress and look forward to continuing our important work for Hawaiʻi in the new year.

President Biden's Build Back Better Agenda will take decisive action on the climate crisis, create millions of good-paying jobs, enable more Americans to join and remain in the labor force, and grow our economy from the bottom up and the middle out. In Washington, as we continue to move forward to enact President Biden's agenda, I am doing my best to ensure the specific needs of our islands are included.