Hawai‘i delegation calls to extend funding

HONOLULU — U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawai‘i) and Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i) Wednesday called on President Trump to approve Gov. David Ige’s request to extend authorization and funding for Hawai‘i National Guard’s COVID-19 response operations.

“These brave soldiers and airmen are performing essential missions, such as contact tracing, operating mobile swab teams, delivering health education to at-risk communities, screening travelers, and supporting food and medical supply distribution. We also anticipate that the Hawai‘i National Guard will be instrumental in supporting the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to the public,” the delegation wrote in their letter to the president. “Your approval of this extension will give the Federal Emergency Management Agency the authority to amend the current mission assignment and release needed resources to the State of Hawai‘i as we continue to work to combat this virus and protect the public.”