Ed Case

National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act of 2025

introduced

Hawai‘i National Cemetery Act

in committee

PROSPER in the Pacific Act

in committee

“Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my Fireworks Trafficking and Money Laundering Prevention Act, co-introduced with my colleague from Hawaii, Representative Jill Tokuda. Our legislation addresses a growing criminal enterprise that threatens public safety, fuels illicit financial activity and has devastated communities in Hawaii and across the country. Illegal fireworks trafficking is far more than a minor regulatory violation. It is a sophisticated interstate operation involving the unlawful transportation, distribution and sale of explosive materials in violation of federal and state law. These highly profitable black- market networks often operate for years, moving illegal fireworks across state lines and generating substantial criminal proceeds. Investigations have repeatedly shown that traffickers frequently engage in related financial crimes, including money laundering, concealing profits and evading law enforcement. Yet despite the serious risks involved, the current maximum federal penalty for unlawful interstate fireworks trafficking is only one year of imprisonment, an insufficient deterrent when compared to the enormous financial incentives these criminal enterprises enjoy. The consequences are severe. Illegal fireworks have caused catastrophic explosions, serious injuries, mass casualty incidents and fatalities nationwide. These incidents place enormous strain on firefighters, emergency responders and hospitals, while endangering families and neighborhoods. Because illegal fireworks are often manufactured, transported and stored without proper safety standards, they carry a heightened risk of fires and deadly explosions. These dangers are especially acute in Hawaii, where illegal aerial fireworks are regularly smuggled into our islands through shipping containers and underground distribution networks. Communities across our state have experienced tragic losses, significant property damage and serious injuries tied to illegal fireworks. In densely populated neighborhoods, a single explosion can threaten entire communities and overwhelm emergency response systems. This legislation would strengthen law enforcement's ability to combat these criminal networks by designating illegal interstate fireworks trafficking as a specified unlawful activity under federal money laundering statutes. Doing so would provide investigators and prosecutors with stronger tools to follow illicit proceeds, dismantle trafficking operations and hold offenders accountable with penalties that better reflect the seriousness of these crimes. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense measure to strengthen public safety, combat organized criminal activity and help prevent future tragedies in Hawaii and across the Nation.”

2026-05-22 · Criminal Justice

“Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, during the consideration of the Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, the House was scheduled to vote on an amendment to eliminate the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund. I opposed the proposal, and even though it was ultimately not offered, we must oppose any similar effort to do so in the future. In 1941, more than 250,000 Filipino soldiers responded to President Roosevelt's call-to-arms in the Philippines and elsewhere and fought bravely for the U.S. and our allies during World War II. They endured the horrors of the Bataan Death March and wartime prison camps. They waged a relentless guerrilla campaign and eventually rejoined American forces that eventually returned to the Philippines. Filipino soldiers ultimately paved the way for the liberation of the Pacific and the end of the Second World War. After sacrificing for our country, many returned home from the war only to be denied the benefits promised for their service. Because of the Rescission Acts of 1946, most Filipino World War II Veterans did not receive compensation on par with United States veterans for their service. To help right this wrong, in 2019 Congress passed and the President signed into law legislation that created the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund. It set up one-time payments to eligible Filipino veterans who aided American troops during World War II. Filipino veterans who were United States citizens were eligible for a one-time payment of $15,000, and veterans who are non-citizens were eligible for a one-time payment of $9,000. Despite efforts to make a payment to every possible beneficiary, many Filipinos struggled to obtain the documentation needed to prove their eligibility given the many decades that passed since World War II. The federal government has held onto these funds to allow these veterans who fought for our Nation every chance possible to prove their service and receive a payment in the final years of their lives, to ease any hardships they may have and to pay off a small part of the debt owed to them for the benefits they earned, yet were taken away from them. Rather than close this program, we should redouble our efforts to help those who struggled to obtain the document to prove their service. We must help and not again abandon these Filipino veterans, most of whom are now in their late 90s or over 100 years old. I strongly urge all my colleagues to oppose this misguided effort. ____________________”

2026-05-19 · Veterans

“Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to Amendment No. 43 offered by Mr. Roy, to eliminate the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund. In 1941, more than 250,000 Filipino soldiers responded to President Roosevelt's call-to-arms in the Philippines and elsewhere and fought bravely for the U.S. and our allies during World War II. They endured the horrors of the Bataan Death March and wartime prison camps. They waged a relentless guerrilla campaign and eventually rejoined American forces that eventually returned to the Philippines. Filipino soldiers ultimately paved the way for the liberation of the Pacific and the end of the Second World War. After sacrificing for our country, many returned home from the war only to be denied the benefits promised for their service. Because of the Rescission Acts of 1946, most Filipino World War II Veterans did not receive compensation on par with United States veterans for their service. To help right this wrong, in 2019 Congress passed and the President signed into law legislation that created the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund. It set up one-time payments to eligible Filipino veterans who aided American troops during World War II, Filipino veterans who were United States citizens were eligible for a one-time payment of $15,000, and veterans who are non-citizens were eligible for a one-time payment of $9,000. Despite efforts to make a payment to every possible beneficiary, many Filipinos struggled to obtain the documentation needed to prove their eligibility given the many decades that passed since World War II. The federal government has held onto these funds to allow these veterans who fought for our Nation every chance possible to prove their service and receive a payment in the final years of their lives to ease any hardships they may have and to pay off a small part of the debt owed to them for the benefits they earned yet were taken away from them. Rather than close this program, we should redouble our efforts to help those who struggled to obtain the document to prove their service. We must help and not again abandon these Filipino veterans, most of whom are now in their late 90s or over 100 years old. ____________________”

2026-05-15 · Veterans