Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on CNN’s State of the Union, where he pointed out how Donald Trump and Republicans have shown no interest in ending their reckless government shutdown while Democrats are standing up for a bipartisan spending agreement that meets the needs of the American people.

JAKE TAPPER: And joining me now is House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Leader Jeffries, thanks so much for joining us. So, even these emergency supplemental funds for SNAP, even if they ultimately, the Trump administration ultimately does use them, it’s only enough to keep benefits going, food stamp benefits going for two to three weeks, which is a significant but obviously not a long-term solution. I understand why Democrats are voting against the continuing resolution to fund the government. You’re fighting for the extension of the Obamacare premiums, you’re fighting to restore Medicaid funds, but I wonder, when these SNAP funds are gone, whether this week or three weeks from now, if the contingency funds are used, are you worried at all that that pressure point will cause more Democrats to rethink the strategy and maybe ultimately vote for the government funding bill?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we’re continuing to make life better for the American people. We want to reopen the government, we want to enact a bipartisan spending agreement that actually makes life better for everyday Americans and, of course, we want make sure that we can decisively address the Republican healthcare crisis which is crushing people all across the country, including working-class America, rural America, urban America, small town America, the heartland of America and Black and brown communities throughout America. It’s very unfortunate that Donald Trump and Republicans have decided to weaponize hunger and withhold SNAP benefits, even in contravention of two federal courts, which have made clear that not a single person in this country should go without their nutritional assistance, and, of course, that the funds exist to make sure that those SNAP benefits are paid through November, as has been the case with Donald Trump and his administration finding funding for other projects, but somehow they can’t find money to make sure that Americans don’t go hungry.

JAKE TAPPER: You’re refusing to fund the government until Republicans join you to help prevent Americans’ healthcare costs from skyrocketing as well as to restore some of the money from Medicaid that was cut. I understand why Democrats are making the choice, but you acknowledge that it’s a choice here, right?

LEADER JEFFRIES: No, what I acknowledge is that we’re asking Republicans to sit down, as we’ve indicated our willingness, to sit down with them anytime, anyplace, anywhere, either at the Capitol or back at the White House, in order to find a bipartisan path toward enacting a spending agreement that actually makes life better for the American people. So yes, we are committed to doing things like lowering the high cost of living for the American people in an environment where Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one. But costs haven’t gone down. Costs are going up. Housing costs are up. Grocery costs are up. Child care costs are up. Electricity prices are through the roof. And now, because of the Republicans’ refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, we know that tens of millions of Americans are about to experience dramatically increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles, such that they will be unable to go see a doctor. In some cases, Jake, you’re talking about premium increases of $1,000 to $2,000 per month. That is completely and totally unsustainable, unacceptable and un-American.

JAKE TAPPER: I understand, but the decision to not fund the government means very real pain caused today. People not getting paychecks today and SNAP funds today. And then, obviously, at airports across the country, delays are getting worse due to air traffic controller shortages. The FAA says that in the New York area, nearly 90 percent, 90 percent of air traffic controllers are out. The White House says that Thanksgiving travel could be a disaster if this shutdown continues that long. Are Democrats prepared to keep the government closed through Thanksgiving if it comes to that?

LEADER JEFFRIES: The question is, why are Republicans continuing to keep the government shut down? They have the House, the Senate and the presidency. Donald Trump just made clear over the weekend repeatedly that Republicans have the ability to reopen this government. They don’t want to do it because they’d rather continue to gut the healthcare of the American people. And here are some questions that need to be asked. Why have House Republicans remained on a taxpayer-funded vacation for the last six weeks? They keep canceling votes. They canceled votes for next week. Of course, they are unserious as it relates to reopening the government. Why has Donald Trump spent more time on the golf course, including this weekend, than he has in talking to Democrats on Capitol Hill who represent half of the country? It’s because, apparently, Donald Trump is uninterested in reopening the government. He doesn’t want to stand up for hardworking federal employees. They fired more than 200,000 federal employees prior to them shutting the government down on October 1. And why are Republicans so unwilling to even sit down and have a conversation with their Democratic colleagues on Capitol Hill in order to find a bipartisan path forward? It’s because they are trying to inflict this cruelty on the American people. And Jake, this is a group of folks who passed their One Big Ugly Bill, largest cut to Medicaid in American history. At the same time, they cut $186 billion from SNAP, literally ripped food out of the mouths of hungry children, seniors and veterans. They did this in July, and that was done so they could reward their billionaire donors with massive tax breaks that they made permanent, and now they’re unwilling to extend tax credits for working-class Americans. It’s all unacceptable, and it’s obviously part of their plan.

JAKE TAPPER: So you alluded to President Trump saying that the Senate Republicans have the power to pass a government shutdown. He’s saying that by saying that they should get rid of the filibuster. You’re saying that they should get rid of the filibuster and just own this entirely?

LEADER JEFFRIES: No. What I’m saying is that that’s a decision ultimately for the Senate to make. However, President Trump has acknowledged, listen, from the very beginning of this presidency, he’s enacted a my-way-or-the-highway approach to jam their extreme right-wing ideology down the throats of the American people—reckless Republican policies, which are now causing hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health centers to close all across the country. Now he’s saying to his Republican colleagues, Senators, those who actually just work for him because they don’t work for the American people, reopen the government, and they refuse to do it.

JAKE TAPPER: Big elections coming up in just two days. Governor’s race in Virginia, Governor’s race in New Jersey and then the Mayor of the city in which you live, New York, New York. You’ve already cast your ballot for mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Do you see Mamdani as the future of the Democratic Party?

LEADER JEFFRIES: No, I think the future of the Democratic Party is going to fall, as far as we’re concerned, relative to the House Democratic Caucus and Members who are doing great work all across the country as it relates to our need to both take back control of the House. But in doing so, make sure that we’re communicating to the American people, like we understand, you deserve better than the country that you have received. Donald Trump and Republicans have gone way too far and have failed to deliver anything meaningful for the American people. And as Democrats, we’re going to focus on lowering the high cost of living, on fixing our broken healthcare system that Republicans continue to make worse with their toxic policies and, of course, on cleaning up corruption in the Congress, in the courts and within the administration with Donald Trump running the largest pay-to-play scheme in the history of the country. So we’re going to continue to affirmatively lean in on the issues that we know matter to the American people. I expect that we’re gonna see a big night on Tuesday in New Jersey and in Virginia and certainly as it relates to Prop 50 in California where we stop Trump from stealing the election. And then that’ll lay a foundation for Democrats to take back control of the House in 2026.

JAKE TAPPER: Well, I mean, I asked you if Mamdani was the future of the party and you didn’t answer the question. You said the House Democrats are. I would note that at least a couple House Democrats from the New York area are not endorsing Mamdani. Your endorsement took a long time. Schumer still has not endorsed him. Are you concerned about Republicans using him as a lightning rod so as to hurt your ability to win back the House in 2026?

LEADER JEFFRIES: No, the lightning rod in terms of what’s going to impact the ability of either side to win control of the House or hold control of the House in 2026 is going to be the failure of Republicans to actually deliver on the promises that they’ve made and to actively make life worse for everyday Americans. The country knows that we’re heading in the wrong direction. We see it repeatedly. The country knows that Republicans have refused to make healthcare affordable and are actively making it unaffordable, depriving working-class Americans of their ability to see a doctor when they need one. And the country knows that Republican policies have been all about the wealthy, the well-off and the well-connected, and they have not focused on making life better for everyday Americans. We will, as House Democrats.

JAKE TAPPER: Alright, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, thank you so much for your time today sir, appreciate it.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Thank you.

Full interview can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on NBC’s Saturday TODAY, where he emphasized that as millions of Americans cruelly lose their SNAP benefits, Republicans remain unwilling to follow the law, to find a bipartisan solution to end the government shutdown and to work with Democrats to fix the healthcare crisis that they created.

PETER ALEXANDER: We want to bring in the House Democratic Leader, Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Leader Jeffries, we appreciate your waking up with us. Good morning to you.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning.

PETER ALEXANDER: As we just heard from both Julie and Ryan, this—if it wasn’t already, this crisis just got very real for a lot more Americans. Food lines at football stadiums. 42 million Americans beginning today are gonna go without those SNAP benefits. This isn’t just blue states, red states. Everybody is affected by this. Democrats have framed this debate as being about healthcare premiums which are expected to skyrocket at the end of the year right now. But have we reached the point where other crises like those benefits now no longer available to Americans have become more immediate that it needs to be addressed right now?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, all of it needs to be addressed. And we continue to believe that the government needs to reopen, we need to find a bipartisan path forward to enacting a spending agreement immediately that meets the needs of everyday Americans in terms of improving their quality of life and lowering the high cost of living, while at the same time addressing the Republican healthcare crisis that now threatens for premiums, co-pays and deductibles to increase dramatically for tens of millions of people immediately.

LAURA JARRETT: So Leader Jeffries, the President says, ‘let’s just get the government reopen. Let’s just get the government reopen and then we can figure out a solution on healthcare and I’m willing to negotiate with Democrats.’ Why not accept his premise on that?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the President is clearly unwilling to negotiate. In fact, he’s playing golf this weekend at his beach resort. And that’s consistent with what we’ve seen over the 32 days that he and Republicans have shut the government down. In fact, Donald Trump, of course, has spent more time talking to Hamas and more time talking to the Chinese Communist Party during this government shutdown than he has with Democrats on Capitol Hill who represent half the country. And we continue to say we want to sit down in good faith with the other side of the aisle to resolve this issue, to reopen the government, to make sure that people don’t go hungry in America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world.

PETER ALEXANDER: So to be clear, Leader Jeffries, how does this end? Is there some outside event that you see as an endpoint here? Is it some more major problem with flights? Is it perhaps the elections coming up this week in states like Virginia and New Jersey? Is it photos of families going without food? Where is the enough-is-enough point?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well we think that we had already reached the enough-is-enough point. The fact that we have hardworking federal employees who are being furloughed without paychecks or forced to work without pay. That’s enough. The fact that Republicans refuse to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, don’t want to spend a dime to keep healthcare affordable for working-class Americans and middle-class Americans, but over the last few weeks could find $40 billion to bail out Argentina and their right-wing wannabe dictator friend is extraordinary in this country. It’s also extraordinary that two federal courts have said that the Trump administration has the money and is required to make sure that not a single person in this country loses their nutritional assistance benefits so they can continue to put food on the table, including 16 million children, yet the Trump administration refuses to spend taxpayer dollars in a manner consistent with what Congress had previously instructed them to do.

PETER ALEXANDER: Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives. We appreciate your making time to speak to us this morning.

Full interview can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MSNBC’s Velshi, where he made clear that Democrats will continue fighting against the healthcare and hunger crises that Republicans are inflicting on the American people as they simultaneously refuse to reopen the government.

ALI VELSHI: Joining me now is the House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York. Leader Jeffries, welcome. Thank you for joining us. I want to talk to you first about this most urgent matter, and that is these SNAP benefits. It’s very unclear. Two separate judges said the government can’t do this. Donald Trump basically said not clear exactly how we’re going to do this. Where do you believe things stand and where should they be?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, the law is clear, the courts have been clear and the morality of it is clear. The Trump administration needs to release these benefits. They have the funds for a contingency situation like we confront, but this is a choice that they have made to violate the law as part of an effort to pressure the Congress to continue to gut the healthcare of the American people. It’s an extraordinary thing. And as you indicated, Ali, at your beginning, the Trump administration and Republican policies have been a complete and total disaster for the American people. Costs haven’t gone down, they’re going up. Grocery costs are up. Housing costs are up. Electricity prices are through the roof. And now, 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, are confronted with the possibility that they may not be able to put food on the table because of a crisis that the Trump administration is inflicting on them.

ALI VELSHI: Your goal, the Democrats’ goal with not supporting the reopening of the government has been to try and secure these ACA subsidy extensions, which will kick in at the end of the year, beginning of 2026. But for people who are in open enrollment starting today, they’ll see these new premiums. So tell me how this affects your approach to the shutdown and getting these ACA subsidies extended.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, our approach from the very beginning has been clear. House Democrats, working with Senate Democrats under the leadership of Chuck Schumer, has been—we want to reopen the government. We want to do it immediately. We want to enact a bipartisan spending agreement that actually meets the needs of the American people and improves their quality of life, as opposed to continuing these destructive Republican policies. And, of course, we want to address the Republican healthcare crisis in a situation where their refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits is going to result in tens of millions of people experiencing dramatically-increased healthcare premiums. In many instances, people are going to be forced to pay $1,000 or $2,000 per month. These are working-class families, middle-class families. The average family that receives these tax credits makes around $60,000 or so per year. This is incredibly unaffordable. And now that we’re in open enrollment, it’s going to be even clearer to people throughout the country, including in red states like Louisiana that Mike Johnson and Steve Scalise purport to represent, that this is a very real crisis that Congress must decisively address now.

ALI VELSHI: Let’s go back to the SNAP issue for a second. There are a number of Republican Senators who are concerned, as they should be, about healthcare that people in their states are going to be heavily affected by this—Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins. Josh Hawley, by the way, is proposing that the Senate restore SNAP funding. Chuck Schumer has said he’s open to supporting a move to do that. Talk to me about how that would work. Do you think that’s likely? And then what happens in the House? Which, you know, Speaker Johnson still isn’t looking to move on this.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, Speaker Johnson is not looking to move on anything because the House has now canceled votes for six consecutive weeks. These extremists have been on vacation, camping or traveling the world including spending time in Europe, while their constituents are suffering and while they’ve shut the government down. This is extraordinary. Now, from our perspective as House Democrats, we’ve made clear we will consider in good faith anything that emerges from the Senate in a bipartisan way that reopens the government, of course, that enacts an enlightened spending agreement and addresses these twin crises moments that we now are confronting because of Republican cruelty and extremism, both the hunger crisis that is upon us and the ongoing healthcare crisis because of failed Republican policies that include doing things like the largest cut to Medicaid in American history and shutting hospitals, nursing homes and community-based health centers down. Now, the Trump administration just needs to comply with the law. These benefits should be released today. These two federal courts issued these rulings yesterday. Donald Trump claims to know nothing about it, which is extraordinary, because it’s his administration that was arguing against the Democratic Attorneys General saying we don’t have the ability to release this money. Yes, you do. And it needs to be done immediately.

ALI VELSHI: Kind of wild. The court said you do. And then he said, well, maybe the courts can tell us how we do. I want to ask you one question. In New York City and your district, advanced polling for the New York mayoral race has been through the roof. It’s running at about five times normal. What’s your message to New Yorkers right now?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, this is the last weekend of early voting, and we’re encouraging everyone to come out and exercise your right to determine who will serve in office at all levels—the City Council, the Borough President, the DAs, of course, the Mayor, the Comptroller and the Public Advocate. This is our democracy. In order for us to keep it, we’ve got to aggressively participate in it.

ALI VELSHI: Leader Jeffries, good to see you. Thank you for joining us, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Full interview can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press availability at The Campaign Against Hunger’s Bed-Stuy location with CEO Dr. Melony Samuels and constituents to highlight the pain being inflicted on everyday Americans as a result of the Trump SNAP Crisis. 

“Here in this great country, America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, not a single person should ever go hungry. Not one. And yet, here we are on November 1 with the Trump administration having been ordered by two different federal courts to make sure that SNAP benefits were not discontinued, but they are unlawfully withholding this nutritional assistance from 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors and over a million veterans. There are approximately 3 million people in New York State who are now going to struggle to put food on the table because of the unlawful decision by the Trump administration to withhold SNAP benefits. And where is Donald Trump right now? He’s on the golf course at his luxury resort in Florida. This is not leadership. It’s cruelty in action,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08). “Our commitment is to make sure that we get full restoration of the SNAP benefits urgently and as soon as possible. It should be done immediately, consistent with the law. And our commitment will continue to be to make sure that that happens because hunger is not a personal choice. It’s a result of challenges, hardship and inequality in a society that should never exist.” 

“Today, as millions, and I say millions, of New Yorkers face our reality of losing access to SNAP benefits, we are reminded that hunger is not an abstract issue. It lives right here in our neighborhood, right here in Bed-Stuy, in Brooklyn, in our schools, in our home, with our hardworking families simply trying to make ends meet. Our community is under siege, as fear, anxiety and depression has taken a hold and with families that are struggling to put food on their table,” said Dr. Melony Samuels, CEO, The Campaign Against Hunger.” At TCAH, we serve over 14,000 families every week, but since Thursday until now, we have seen a 40% increase in families that need food because of this shutdown, because of what’s going on. If this continues, we expect that we don’t know what we’ll do because SNAP is our first line of defense when it comes to feeding families. We cannot replace SNAP. But in the meantime, we have to do the best that we can to make sure that no one is turned away.”

“I’ve been working two full-time jobs with three kids, single mom. And since 2017, eventually, I got sick and I could not work, and I applied for extra help. I can’t get it because I’m making too much money. Extra food stamps, I can’t get it because I’m getting too much income,” said Blossom Robinson, NY-08 Constituent. “Someone had told me about The Campaign Against Hunger over here, and I came over here and I registered, and this place saved my life and saved my children’s life.”

Full press availability can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

FRESNO, Calif. – Representative Jim Costa (CA-21), member of the House Agriculture Committee, partnered with Central California Food Bank to unite local Valley leaders and community organizations to sound the alarm on the devastating impacts of the Trump Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to withhold November SNAP funding during the ongoing government shutdown – despite having the authority to use $5 billion from the contingency fund. 

This decision would impact 42 million Americans nationwide. With nearly 30% of households in Congressman Costa’s district relying on SNAP, this decision threatens to leave hardworking Valley families without critical food assistance next month. As a result, veterans, seniors, children, and individuals with disabilities could be left without support to meet their most basic needs. In CA-21 households, 60 percent include a child, 34 percent include an elderly person, and 46 percent include someone living with a disability. 
During the press conference, it was announced that Judge John J. McConnell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island ordered today that the Trump Administration “must distribute the contingency money timely, or as soon as possible, for the Nov. 1 payments to be made. The order came as another federal judge, Judge Indira Talwani of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, ruled that the Trump Administration must use emergency funds to partially pay for SNAP benefits during the government shutdown and gave the administration until Monday, November 3, 2025, to report back how it will provide at least partial benefits for November.  
In addition to this press conference, Congressman Costa has sponsored legislative efforts to help provide SNAP benefits for the month of November:  

Sent a letter to Secretary Brooke Rollins, along with 214 Democratic colleagues, urging the Administration to release the funds needed to sustain SNAP benefits for November.
Co-Sponsored the Feed Our Families Act, which would appropriate three months of funding into the SNAP reserve fund to ensure families aren’t left behind during this difficult time. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor released the following statement:

With health insurance premiums surging and Republican Speaker Mike Johnson keeping the House on a paid vacation for six weeks, I urge the President and colleagues to return to work now to hammer out a bipartisan agreement.  I also call on the President to release SNAP resources to states from the USDA SNAP contingency fund that a federal judge ruled today was unlawfully withheld. The SNAP contingency fund currently contains $5B that can be sent to states to ensure that children, seniors and families receive food assistance. 

On his way to his Mar-a-Lago resort today, the President seemed to relish withholding food aid.  While this is consistent with the massive cuts to food assistance passed last summer in the Big Ugly bill ($186B) to fund tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy, it stands out as one of the more callous and cruel actions of his presidency. Over 3 million Florida children, seniors and families rely on SNAP, and many are also bracing for huge health care cost increases.

• Health insurance premiums are rising by 114 percent because of the Republican health care crisis. Public servants have been working without pay for nearly a month. But House Republicans have been on a paid vacation since mid-September.

• The American people want to see the government reopened, critical lifelines like SNAP protected, and real action to end the health care crisis and lower the cost of health care for hardworking people. Republicans must get back to Washington so we can sit down and negotiate a bipartisan agreement

Instead of extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax savings that help millions — including 4.7 million Floridians — afford care, extreme MAGA Republicans are letting them expire without a second thought. It’s not a trick — it’s a downright wicked move that will haunt family budgets, spike premiums and put lifesaving health care out of reach.

No family should face the terrifying choice between a doctor’s visit and a stocked pantry. Yet Republicans are leaving families trapped in a financial purgatory — all while handing out treats to billionaires and corporate special interests.

Democrats are fighting to lower costs, protect families’ health and security and ensure no one goes hungry or loses their coverage. This Halloween, the scariest thing wandering the halls of Congress isn’t a ghost or a ghoul — it’s Republicans choosing tricks, cruelty and chaos over compassion, common sense and the well-being of America’s families. Floridians deserve better than this horror show.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)

WORCESTER, MA—Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee Jim McGovern (D-MA) released the following statement in response to rulings from U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani of Massachusetts and U.S. District Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island ordering the Trump administration to follow the law and send out food assistance to families in need:

“In a pair of rulings today, the courts confirmed what we already knew: The Trump administration has the legal authority, moral obligation, and financial ability to make sure food assistance goes out next month. I couldn’t tell you why Donald Trump and USDA Secretary Rollins wanted so badly to withhold help from seniors, kids, and veterans just before the holidays—it’s a nasty, rotten thing to do. I guess they thought they could create political leverage by inflicting pain on people. Clearly, they don’t care about the rising cost of groceries or the impact the tariffs are having on everyday people at the supermarket. But now, the courts have now told them to stop playing games and get these benefits out.

“I’m grateful to Attorney General Andrea Campbell and the people of Massachusetts for leading 26 states in suing this administration and serving as a check on Trump’s lawless and cruel disregard for the 42 million Americans—many who voted for him—who desperately need to know if they will have enough money to put food on the table next month.

“Secretary Rollins already knew this day would come—because 214 Democrats wrote to her just last week, and we made explicitly clear that she had the discretion and responsibility to make sure that people don’t go hungry. She ignored our letter. But we will not let her ignore the law.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

(Honolulu, HI) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) has appointed longtime Hawai‘i federal, state and non-profit executive Kekoa Kaluhiwa as his Deputy Chief of Staff and Hawai‘i District Director working out of Case’s Honolulu district office.

“In his twenty years of service across our federal, state and non-profit sectors and more, Kekoa has excelled at policy advocacy, community engagement and government relations,” said Case. “He is especially skilled at moving easily among diverse communities, leading teams, building partnerships, and navigating complex cultural, political and environmental issues.” 

“Especially important are his over ten years of Congressional experience with United States Senator Daniel Akaka. Representing Hawai‘i in Congress requires knowing and working smoothly and interchangeably in two very different worlds, and Kekoa especially brings this ability to my Congressional work.”

Kaluhiwa joins Case from eight years with Kamehameha Schools, most recently as Director of  ʻĀina Stakeholder Engagement, responsible for advancing the institution’s relationships with the community, government, and business sectors. He also directed Kamehameha’s statewide land operations. 

Kaluhiwa earlier served as First Deputy Director for the Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DNLR) during the tenure of Case’s sister, Suzanne Case, as Director. His responsibilities included assisting in management of DLNR’s ten divisions, 900 employees and 1.2 million acres of public trust resources.

Kaluhiwa is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools-Kapālama and the University of Washington (B.A., Political Science). He also earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Hawai‘i-Mānoa.

Kaluhiwa succeeds Jacqueline (Jackie) Conant, who retired after twenty-five years of federal service. Conant worked for Case the entirety of his service in Congress, from 2002 to 2007 and from 2019 to her retirement. She began in Congress with U.S. Representative Patsy Mink and also served with then-U.S. Representative Mazie Hirono.

“Jackie exemplified the work of Congressional staff everywhere; they contribute immeasurably without widespread recognition to the critical work of Members of Congress on forging national policy, assisting our states and helping our constituents,” said Case. “Jackie also exemplified the unique role of a District Director to keep the critical district office functioning smoothly and to provide the face and voice of the office during the majority of the year when we are not home. While I miss her, I’m happy for her next chapters, and know that Kekoa will provide the same level of service to my office and our community with his own twist.”

Tim Nelson continues as Case’s Chief of Staff, based in Case’s Capitol Hill office. Like Conant, Nelson has served with Case throughout the entirety of Case’s service in Congress, including as Chief of Staff since 2019. Nelson has a particular expertise in defense, especially Hawai‘i and the Indo-Pacific, and in addition to managing Case’s overall office assists him in his responsibilities as a member of the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Defense with oversight and funding jurisdiction over our defense and intelligence budgets. 

Attachment: Picture of Kekoa Kaluhiwa

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

The event took place on the eve of Open Enrollment, as new data shows premiums are set to soar to one of the largest increases since the ACA was enacted more than a decade ago. Without Republican action to extend the enhanced subsidies, which expire at the end of the year, working families face devastating premium hikes and possible loss of coverage. 

“Donald Trump and Republicans need to stop holding families hostage and reopen the government now,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez. “Tomorrow, open enrollment begins, and millions of working families will see their insurance premiums spike because Republicans refuse to extend the ACA tax credits that make coverage affordable. This is about dignity. It’s about decency. It’s about whether we believe in a country that looks out for working people, or just works for the billionaires. We’re calling on Republicans to reopen the government, extend lifesaving ACA subsidies, and fund SNAP.” 

Rep. Gomez was joined by Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez (D-Los Angeles), John Raffoul, President of Adventist Health White Memorial; Lucy Sanchez, a cancer survivor and patient advocate at the Cecilia De La Hoya Cancer Center; and local clinicians and ACA subsidy recipients who shared their experiences navigating care amid the shutdown.

“At Adventist Health White Memorial, our mission has always been to inspire health, wholeness, and hope, and today, that mission is at risk,” said John Raffoul, DPA, FACHE, President of Adventist Health White Memorial. “Thousands of families in East and Central Los Angeles depend on Affordable Care Act subsidies to afford their health insurance. Without congressional action, those subsidies could expire, leaving many of our patients facing skyrocketing premiums and impossible choices between healthcare and basic necessities like rent or food. We see firsthand what happens when people lose coverage — they delay care, end up in emergency rooms, and face worse health outcomes. This isn’t just a healthcare issue — it’s a community issue.”

Nationwide, roughly 24 million Americans are enrolled in ACA plans, a record high, but analysts warn that millions stand to lose coverage or face crippling premium hikes if Congress fails to act. In California’s 34th District, home to one of the largest populations of working-class and immigrant families in Los Angeles, the impact could be particularly severe.