Tokuda, Named To House Ag Panel, Says Hawaii Deserves Its ‘Fair Share’
The congresswoman will also serve on the House Armed Services Committee, following in the footsteps of her predecessors.
WASHINGTON — It took awhile, but U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda finally found out what her committee assignments will be during her first term in Congress.
Tokuda announced this week that she will sit on the House Agriculture and Armed Services committees.
In a press release, the Democratic congresswoman said she is particularly excited about her seat on the ag panel, especially with renewal of on the horizon — something that happens once every five years or so.
She said she wants to make sure that Hawaii receives its “fair share,” when it comes to defending federal food nutrition programs, helping the islands’ specialty crops, such as macadamia nuts, coffee and tropical flowers, thrive and addressing the perils caused by invasive species.
“The decisions made in the 2023 Farm Bill will impact Hawaii’s agriculture producers, workers, and families for years to come.” Tokuda said.
Tokuda is the latest in a long line of Hawaii lawmakers to sit on the Armed Services Committee. Her predecessors include Kai Kahele, Tulsi Gabbard, Colleen Hanabusa, Mark Takai and Neil Abercrombie.
Hawaii is a critical hub for the military in the Pacific and is home to all branches of the U.S. armed forces, from the Army and Navy to the Coast Guard and Space Force.
Tokuda told Civil Beat she was vying for a position on the House Education and Labor Committee. Education is one of Tokuda’s passions and had previously served as chair of that policy committee when she was in the Hawaii State Senate.
