Case Opposes Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture/Rural Development Funding Measure That Slashes Nutrition Assistance To Hawaii Families

This press release from Representative Ed Case (D-HI) was published on 2026-04-29 and titled "Case Opposes Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture/Rural Development Funding Measure That Slashes Nutrition Assistance To Hawaii ". It focuses on immigration and touches on healthcare, taxes.

Case Opposes Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture/Rural Development Funding Measure That Slashes Nutrition Assistance To Hawaii Families

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) today voted in his Appropriations Committee against his majority colleagues’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Related Agencies funding measure. The bill, which covers most of the federal government’s efforts for U.S. agriculture and rural development through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and related agencies for the Fiscal Year 2027 beginning October 1 of this year, totals some $204 billion, most of which is mandatory spending through national farm support and other programs. The discretionary spending level subject to the annual appropriations process is set at $26.3 billion, a $1.1 billion decrease from the current year, for USDA’s non-forestry and rural development programs, the Farm Credit Administration, Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Food and Drug Administration. “I opposed this bill because it slashes funds for the SNAP program, which has already seen more than 6,700 people in Hawai‘i lose critical food assistance following enactment of the President’s budget reconciliation bill, which I opposed last year. The FY 2027 funding bill also decimates the Commodity Supplemental Food Program and fails to fund the McGovern-Dole international emergency food assistance program,” said Case, who is in his eighth year on Appropriations and previously served four years on the House Committee on Agriculture. Case highlighted further deficiencies with the bill, including: Eliminating $200 million from the fresh fruit and vegetable benefit from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Reducing funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which provides food to low-income or elderly individuals at no cost to them during times of disaster Slashing Food for Peace by 25 percent, a program that supports American farmers while delivering critical assistance to people facing famine worldwide. Eliminating the Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program, which provides reimbursements to producers for the high costs of transporting agricultural commodities or inputs. Despite drastic reductions, Case successfully worked to protect Native Hawaiian programs that are under direct threat by the Trump administration. As one example: “The bill provides $5 million for Education Grants for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions. This program addresses the educational needs of food and agricultural sciences-related disciplines and prepares low-income students for careers related to food, agricultural and natural resources.” Through his assignment on the Committee, Case secured $1.9 million for the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) through two Member-designated Community Project Funding (CPF) projects that specifically focus on local needs in Hawai‘i. The first project, an aviation fuel tender, will significantly strengthen HFD’s ability to sustain aerial firefighting and rescue operations during extended emergencies. The tender will allow for reliable on-site fueling capability, ensuring firefighting aircraft can remain operational near the incident rather than losing valuable time traveling long distances to refuel. The second project is for a helicopter hoist training simulator. The simulator will allow HFD’s personnel to improve their skills, rehearse emergency procedures and practice complex hoist maneuvers without placing additional strain on the aircraft. It will boost readiness and extend the life of essential equipment, enabling HFD crews to consistently provide fast, dependable aerial rescue services. The House’s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member and must be subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here . Case further worked with his Democratic colleagues Representatives Veronica Escobar and Henry Cuellar of Texas to offer an amendment to fully restore proposed cuts to the Rural Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants Program. These grants are designed to specifically assist American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Colonia (any identifiable unincorporated community within 150 miles of the United States-Mexico border with a population less than 1 million residents) communities with their safe water and waste disposal need. Case spoke in full Committee on their amendment to educate colleagues on the unique history and needs of the Hawaiian Home Lands with which this program assists; his remarks are here . While Case and his colleagues earned bipartisan support for their amendment, it was not adopted on an unusual tie vote. Case did secure the undertaking of his colleagues to continue to work on the omission as the measure moves through the legislative process. Other provisions in the bill of interest to Hawai‘i that Case worked to secure include: $124 million for