Thursday - November 21, 2024
U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Hawaii Newsletter for Sunday September 15, 2024 ( 9 items )  

Hirono Applauds VA Announcement on Medical Care for COFA Veterans
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs' (VA) announcement that it intends to offer medical care to American veterans living in the Freely Associated States (FAS) of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau, consistent with the updated Compacts of Free Association (COFA)  more

Hirono, Tillis, Velazquez, Kim Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Collect Data About Who is Applying for Patents
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Representatives Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY) and Young Kim (R-CA) announced the reintroduction of the Inventor Diversity for Economic Advancement (IDEA) Act of 2024, bicameral, bipartisan legislation to permit the collection of data that will provide a better understanding of the disparate rates at which women, veterans, and other groups  more

Rep. Tokuda Introduces Bill to Tackle Illegal Campaign Coordination With Outside Groups
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 -- Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release on Sept. 12, 2024: 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 f  more

Rep. Tokuda Testifies on Her Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 -- Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release on Sept. 13, 2024: 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,   more

Schatz Introduces Legislation To Protect And Expand Social Security, Meets With Social Security Commissioner
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) reintroduced the Safeguarding American Families and Expanding Social Security (SAFE Social Security) Act, legislation to expand Social Security for seniors and families in Hawai'i and across the country. The bill will increase benefits on average by more than $125 per month, ensure the cost of living adjustments adequately reflect the living expenses of retirees,   more

Schatz Statement On FCC Implementing Safe Connections Act Provision Enabling Domestic Violence Survivors To Access Discounted Phone Service Through Federal Lifeline Program
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Senator Brian Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced it has implemented a key provision of the Schatz-authored Safe Connections Act which enables domestic violence survivors who've separated from their abuser's phone plan to qualify for discounted phone service throu  more

Schatz: More Than $18 Million In Federal Funding Heading To Hawai'i To Help Make Buildings More Energy Efficient, Lower Energy Bills, Combat Climate Change
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) announced Hawai'i will receive $18.1 million in federal funding to adopt a building performance standard for energy efficiency in commercial buildings. Improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings which currently account for approximately one-third of the state's total electricity use will both lower energy costs and help Hawai'i move closer to achieving its climate goa  more

Sens. Butler, Hirono Introduce Bill To Prepare Workers, Next Generation for Technology Driven Workforce
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 -- Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-California, issued the following news release on Sept. 12, 2024: Today, U.S. Senators Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced the Workforce of the Future Act, legislation that would require the Department of Labor (DOL), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Department of Education (ED) to conduct a study on the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on job outlooks across sectors. This bill would also create a $250 mil  more

U.S. House Passes Rep. Case Measure To Further Strengthen Partnerships Between United States, Pacific Island Nations
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Ed Case (Hawai'i-First District) today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 7159, his proposed Pacific Partnership Act, to further increase U.S. engagement in the critical Pacific region. Case, a Co-Chair and Founding Member of the first-ever Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus, introduced the measure together with 25 other bipartisan colleagues. "Our country's Ind  more