Case Opposes Fiscal Year 2027 Funding Bill That Slashes Billions For Scientific Research, Technology Development And STEM Education

This press release from Representative Ed Case (D-HI) was published on 2026-05-13 and titled "Case Opposes Fiscal Year 2027 Funding Bill That Slashes Billions For Scientific Research, Technology Development And STE".

Case Opposes Fiscal Year 2027 Funding Bill That Slashes Billions For Scientific Research, Technology Development And STEM Education

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) reported that his House Appropriations Committee today approved its Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) and Related Agencies funding measure. The measure would provide $80 billion, a $1.2 billion decrease from the current year, for the U.S. Department of Commerce (including the International Trade Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology), the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and more. Rep. Case opposed the overall bill, warning that its sweeping funding cuts “would weaken programs central to Hawaii’s environmental protection, public safety, civil rights enforcement and economic opportunity.” Now in his eighth year on the House Appropriations Committee, Case said the legislation would also scale back critical federal support for conservation efforts, community services, STEM education and assistance for vulnerable populations across Hawai‘i and the nation. Programs significantly cut or eliminated include: · Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles Protection, which safeguards our Hawaiian monk seals, dolphins, false killer whales and green sea turtles. · Habitat Conservation and Restoration, which helps to restore and maintain crucial ecosystems and watersheds across Hawai‘i . · Marine Debris Program surveys and cleans up derelict fishing nets and ocean plastics from the reef and habitats at Hawaii’s shores. · Marine Mammal Commission, which provide science-based oversight of domestic and international policies and actions of federal agencies with mandates to address human impacts on marine mammals, such as the Hawaiian monk seal and the humpback whale. · Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, the leading federal source of criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions, which assists a range of initiatives including law enforcement, prosecution and court, prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation and technology improvement, and crime victim and assistance. · Community Relations Service, which offers assistance to communities where disputes, disagreements, or difficulties regarding discriminatory practices based on race, color, or national origin threaten peaceful relations among citizens. · Legal Services Corporation, which provides civil legal aid for low-income Americans. · Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetic information. · Minority University Research Education Project, which focuses on STEM training for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students at our local universities and colleges. · Minority Business Development Agency, which assists with the growth and global competitiveness of minority business enterprises. Despite these deficiencies, Case secured ten of his Community Project Funding (CPF) requests that specifically focus on local needs in Hawai‘i, with funding for these projects totaling $7.25 million. His successful CPFs are: · $772,000 for Loko I’a Restoration in Pu’uloa by the University of Hawai‘i. The Pu’uloa estuary (today commonly referred to as Pearl Harbor) once supported 35 highly productive fishponds. After years of watershed degradation, elevated levels of contaminants have led to unsafe seafood consumption and diminished ecosystem function. This project would support a coordinated effort to restore fishponds in Pu’uloa through remediation planning, restoration of fishpond infrastructure and invasive species management. · $772,000 for the Enhancing Hawai‘i Cargo Security through Advanced High-Energy Cargo Screening Systems Project at the Hawai‘i State Department of Law Enforcement. With these funds, the Hawai‘i State Department of Law Enforcement would develop advanced high-energy cargo screening systems for Honolulu's ports. This targeted investment will enhance the state's ability to interdict illegal fireworks, weapons, narcotics and other contraband, while also strengthening Hawaii's first line of defense against invasive species and other biosecurity threats entering through commercial freight pathways. · $772,000 for the Food Analysis Research and Extension Lab at the University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience. This funding would establish the Food Analysis Research and Extension (FARE) Lab, which will serve as a hub for standardized data necessary to support local farmers and food innovators. The FARE Lab will use national standards to document differences across local species and cultivars that serve as staple foods in the diets of people living in Hawai‘i and the broader Pacific. · $772,000 for the Marine Finfish Hatchery