Monday - June 15, 2026
Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Hawaii Newsletter for Friday May 22, 2026 ( 20 items )  

AASCU and Ithaka S+R Announce Rural Student Success Network
WASHINGTON, May 22 [Category: Education] -- The American Association of State Colleges and Universities posted the following news release on May 21, 2026 with Ithaka S+R: * * * AASCU and Ithaka S+R Announce Rural Student Success Network The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), in collaboration with Ithaka S+R, today announced the cohort of institutions participating in the Rural Student Success Network. This new national initiative is designed to strengthen studen  more

Alaska Airlines Advances Global Expansion With Launch of New European Routes and Landmark Lounge Investment
SEATTLE, May 22 -- Alaska Airlines, a subsidiary of Alaska Air Group, issued the following news release on May 21, 2026: * * * Alaska Airlines advances global expansion with launch of new European routes and landmark lounge investment Summary * Alaska Airlines begins service to London today, marking a major milestone in the carrier's international expansion, with service to Reykjavik to follow on May 28, just weeks after launching nonstop service to Rome. * Opening in late 2027, Alaska's  more

Attorney General James Urges Charity Funds to Continue Donations to Southern Poverty Law Center
ALBANY, New York, May 21 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General James Urges Charity Funds to Continue Donations to Southern Poverty Law Center * NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James today joined a coalition of 15 other attorneys general in urging three major donor-advised funds, Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program, Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund, and Donor Advised Charitable Giving, Inc., not to cut off   more

Barnard College: Pam Crabtree '72 Carves the Future for the Next Generation of Archaeologists
NEW YORK, May 22 -- Barnard College issued the following news: * * * Pam Crabtree '72 Carves the Future for the Next Generation of Archaeologists Ahead of her retirement in August, the veteran zooarchaeologist reflects on more than 50 years of groundbreaking work with some of the world's oldest remains. * It's difficult for Pam Crabtree '72 to estimate the number of countries she's visited to conduct fieldwork across the span of her career as a zooarchaeologist. There are the standouts, of  more

Case Opposes Fiscal Year 2027 Energy And Water Funding Bill That Hikes Energy Costs, Risks Natural Disaster Cleanup Efforts And Cuts Research Projects
WASHINGTON, May 20 -- Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: * * * Case Opposes Fiscal Year 2027 Energy And Water Funding Bill That Hikes Energy Costs, Risks Natural Disaster Cleanup Efforts And Cuts Research Projects * (Washington, DC) - U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) reported that his Appropriations Committee today approved two Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 bills: the Legislative Branch and the Energy and Water funding measures. The Energy and Water measure would provide  more

Curtis Raises Concerns About Prediction Markets, Gambling
WASHINGTON, May 20 -- Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, issued the following news release: * * * Curtis Raises Concerns About Prediction Markets, Gambling * Senator warns federal prediction markets could undermine state gambling laws and consumer protections at Senate hearing WASHINGTON -During a U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing on sports betting in prediction markets and federally regulated event contracts, Senator John Curtis (R-UT) raised concerns about the ri  more

Fedorchak, Hoeven, Slotkin, & Carter lead call for Section 301 Investigation into unfair sugar trade practices
WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Rep. Julie Fedorchak, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Fedorchak, Hoeven, Slotkin, & Carter lead call for Section 301 Investigation into unfair sugar trade practices * Washington, D.C. - Representatives Julie Fedorchak (R-N.D.) and Troy Carter (D-La.) and Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) today led a bipartisan, bicameral effort, along with 112 of their colleagues, in support of efforts by U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)  more

Hirono, Jayapal Introduce Legislation to Ensure AANHPI Students are Accounted for in Schools
WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, issued the following news release: * * * Hirono, Jayapal Introduce Legislation to Ensure AANHPI Students are Accounted for in Schools * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) introduced the All Students Count Act, legislation that would require more comprehensive and equitable disaggregation of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) student data   more

Jayapal, Hirono Introduce Legislation to Ensure AANHPI Students are Accounted for in Schools
WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, issued the following news: * * * Jayapal, Hirono Introduce Legislation to Ensure AANHPI Students are Accounted for in Schools * WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) introduced the All Students Count Act, legislation that would require more comprehensive and equitable disaggregation of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) student data in K  more

Md. A.G. Brown Urges Sponsors to Reevaluate Decision to Stop Funding Southern Poverty Law Center
BALTIMORE, Maryland, May 22 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release on May 21, 2026: * * * Attorney General Brown Urges Sponsors to Reevaluate Decision to Stop Funding Southern Poverty Law Center Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and a coalition of 15 other attorneys general urged several large donor-advised fund sponsors to carefully evaluate their decision to stop payments to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) following the Department of Justice's  more

MGMA Urges Congress to Pass the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act
WASHINGTON, May 21 -- The Medical Group Management Association issued the following letter on May 19, 2026: * * * The Honorable Greg Murphy, MD, U.S. House of Representatives, 407 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Tom Suozzi, U.S. House of Representatives, 203 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representatives Murphy and Suozzi: The undersigned physician organizations representing national medical specialty societies and state medical asso  more

Michael Army Airfield's Historic Air Control Tower Demolished After 69 Years
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Maryland, May 21 -- The U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command issued the following news: * * * Michael Army Airfield's Historic Air Control Tower Demolished After 69 Years * Back in 1942, Dugway Proving Ground built its first airfield and cost over $110,000. It would continue improvements through September 1943 with a new asphalt runway, a connecting taxiway, decontamination apron, parking apron, and hangar facility. By 1954 a new airfield complex was constructed inc  more

Opportunity Zones Round Two Selection Process Topic of CRS Report
WASHINGTON, May 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48952) entitled "Opportunity Zones Round Two Selection Process: Frequently Asked Questions" by public finance specialists Anthony A. Cilluffo and Donald J. Marples. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The Opportunity Zone program provides tax incentives to taxpayers who invest in certain designated geographic areas. The program was enacted in 2017, as part of P.L. 115-97, and began operations in  more

PATA Announces Newly Elected Board Members at Annual Summit 2026
BANGKOK, Thailand, May 22 -- The Pacific Asia Travel Association issued the following news release: * * * PATA Announces Newly Elected Board Members at Annual Summit 2026 New Board Members not present include Fazal Bahardeen, CEO, Crescentrating Pte Ltd.; Jason Wang, Chief Operating Officer, Global Tourism Economy Research Centre; Mike Stewart, Regional General Manager SEA, Intrepid Travel; Yeji Cho, PATA Face of the Future 2025 and Assistant Manager, Korea Tourism Organization; Khem Lakai, C  more

Rep. Fischbach Joins Letter Pressing for Action to Protect U.S. Sugar Producers from Unfair Foreign Trade Practices
WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minnesota, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Fischbach Joins Letter Pressing for Action to Protect U.S. Sugar Producers from Unfair Foreign Trade Practices * WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07) signed a letter in support of efforts by U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer to utilize a Section 301 investigation into unfair and discriminatory trade practices by foreign sugar-producing countr  more

Rep. Simpson Joins Letter Pressing for Action to Protect U.S. Sugar Producers from Unfair Foreign Trade Practices
WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Simpson Joins Letter Pressing for Action to Protect U.S. Sugar Producers from Unfair Foreign Trade Practices * WASHINGTON- Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson signed a letter in support of efforts by U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer to utilize a Section 301 investigation into unfair and discriminatory trade practices by foreign sugar-producing countries. In the letter, the mem  more

Senator Katie Britt Celebrates House Passage of Lulu's Law, Recounts Lulu Gribbin's Incredible Story on Senate Floor
WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Katie Britt Celebrates House Passage of Lulu's Law, Recounts Lulu Gribbin's Incredible Story on Senate Floor * WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today spoke on the Senate floor to celebrate yesterday's passage of her legislation, Lulu's Law, in the U.S. House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation was originally introduced in the Senate in July of 2024 and passed the Sena  more

Sens. Cruz, Gillibrand Lead Senate Passage of TREY'S Law To Protect Child Sexual Assault Victims
WASHINGTON, May 20 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Sens. Cruz, Gillibrand Lead Senate Passage of TREY'S Law To Protect Child Sexual Assault Victims * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) issued statements following the Senate's passage of the Terminating Restrictive Enforcement of Youth Settlements (TREY'S Law). The bipartisan bill voids non-disclo  more

VA Home Loan Programs Topic of CRS Report (Part 2 of 3)
WASHINGTON, May 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42504) entitled "VA Home Loan Programs:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * Requirements for Appraisals and Closing Costs Improving Access to the VA Home Loan Benefit Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-308) P.L. 117-308, enacted on January 27, 2022, directed VA to "prescribe updated regulations or program requirements to clarify when an appraisal is required, how an appraisal is to be conducted, and who  more

Welch, Cruz, Gillibrand, Britt, and Schmitt Lead Senate Passage of Bipartisan TREY'S Law to Protect Child Sexual Assault Victims
WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, issued the following news release: * * * Welch, Cruz, Gillibrand, Britt, and Schmitt Lead Senate Passage of Bipartisan TREY'S Law to Protect Child Sexual Assault Victims * WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) in leading the Senate's passage of their bipartisan Termina  more