One of Hawaii’s most important native plants is the Naio tree. Naio has been widely planted in landscapes and is an important component of our island’s coastal ecosystems. A decade ago naio became threatened with a small invasive insect pest known as thrips found on Hawai’i Island. Thrips are narrow, dark brown to black and approximately 2.2.5 mm in size and are native to Tasmania. They were likely first accidentally introduced in the U.S. in California. Thrips have also been found on Oʻahu and they threaten the overall survival of naio in the wild. Thrips attack naio by sucking tissue out of new leaves. With no known, natural predators, they thrive and feed so heavily on plants, that they stop producing new leaves and eventually die. Pesticide treatments have not been effective at completely removing thrips from naio landscape and there are no effective pesticides for treatment in natural areas. Thrips were recently discovered at the State Kalanimoku Building native garden. They’ve been removed by O’ahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC) staff. The crew clipped off the infested ends, removed entire plants and transported them to H-Power to be burned. A few months ago, thrips were also discovered in DLNR Chair Suzanne Case’s yard. Landscaped naio will provide a jumping off point for these insects and help them spread to important wild spaces like Kaʻena Point, the Kaiwi Shoreline, the National Wildlife Refuge at Kalaeloa and the offshore islets. Removing infected landscape naio is the best way to preserve Oʻahu’s wild naio for future generations. On Hawai’i Island, where naio was an important part of the dry mid-elevation forest, surveys were not able to find 10 healthy trees in the Puʻu Waʻawaʻa forest a decade after the thrips were accidentally introduced there. One conservationist on the Big Island likened the destructive ability of these insects to wildfire. If you would like to help monitor naio trees, you can sign up for the Adopt-a-Naio Program. “So, if you drive past a naio plant or if you have a naio plant in your yard, you can help us by monitoring that plant. What you should look for is curling of the leaves at the end of the plant,” said Erin Bishop OISC Outreach Specialist. If you inform OISC of your infected naio tree, they will help replace it. “OISC can provide aʻaliʻi or hao as a replacement if you have infected naio,” said Bishop. To view video please click on photo or view at this link: https://vimeo.com/359147895 #Naio #NaioTree #NaioThrips #HawaiiIsland #OahuInvasiveSpecies #PuuWaawaa #ErinBishop #SuzanneCase #Hawaii #Environmental #Hawaii #Conservation

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health (DOH) recently launched a statewide broadcast media campaign to educate parents about the new seventh grade attendance immunization requirements, which go into effect at all Hawai‘i schools beginning in school year 2020–2021. Through a partnership with the Hawai‘i Association of Broadcasters, television and radio public education announcements will air throughout the year. Additionally, parents of current sixth grade students will receive an information sheet through their child’s current school. Hawai‘i residents can expect to see campaign ads in MidWeek and other local publications. Posters will also be distributed to schools and healthcare provider offices statewide. Before the first day of school year 2020–2021, all seventh grade students must provide documentation of having received the following vaccines or risk being excluded: • Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis vaccine) • HPV (human papillomavirus vaccine) • MCV (meningococcal conjugate vaccine) One dose each of Tdap and MCV vaccines and two doses of HPV vaccine, given six months apart, are required for all students entering seventh grade. Parents of current sixth grade students are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider to schedule the first HPV vaccination as soon as possible so that the second dose can be administered before the new school year begins. For more information about the campaign and new school immunization requirements, visit www.VaxToSchoolHawaii.com #Vaccines #VAXtoSchoolHawaii #HawaiiDepartmentofHealth #DOH #HawaiiState #HealthCampaign #HawaiiAssociationofBroadcasters

“Without intervention, we will lose this species, and we’ll lose it forever,” said Dr. Hanna Mounce, Project Coordinator at the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project (MFBRP). “The Kiwikiu is hanging on in a very small and vulnerable population. We are committed to doing everything we can to save this species, and the partnership has used the best science we have to move forward with these recovery efforts.”(Haleakalā, Maui; September 30, 2019) In a bold action aimed at saving the endangered Kiwikiu (Maui Parrotbill, or Pseudonestor xanthophrys), in October four conservation partners will begin translocating both captive-bred and wild birds to a restored forest with the goal of creating a second, “insurance” population for this species. The Kiwikiu has declined by over 50 percent in recent years, and fewer than 312 birds remain in the wild. This unique and beautiful songbird, with its heavy, hooked bill, is only found in the high-altitude native forests on East Maui. As its one remaining wild population has declined, the species’ range has shrunk to less than 7,400 acres. Hawaiian honeycreepers, of which the Kiwikiu is one, make up one of the world’s most endangered bird groups. Over the past few centuries, dozens of Hawaiian species have been lost forever. The committed partnership is dedicated to preventing continued population declines, and another tragic Hawaiian bird extinction. The Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife; Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project; San Diego Zoo Global; and American Bird Conservancy have been working for over a decade to implement an action plan to save this species. These partners have been restoring native forests and preparing to translocate Kiwikiu from the State’s Hanawi Natural Area Reserve to the Nakula Natural Area Reserve, where the birds were previously found on the southwestern slope of Haleakalā Volcano. “We are excited and proud of all that the partners have accomplished, including planting over 250,000 native plants and restoring the native forest within Nakula Natural Area Reserve in preparation for this October’s translocation of Kiwikiu to this site,” said Dr. Chris Farmer, Hawai‘i Program Director for American Bird Conservancy. “Kiwikiu died out from this site historically, and reintroducing them back here will greatly increase the species’ chances of survival for future generations.” “Kiwikiu were once found on these slopes in the drier forests, even down to 500’ elevation in the past,” said Dr. Fern Duvall, the Hawai‘i Department of Lands and Natural Resources’ Maui Natural Area Reserve Manager. “It is hoped that these new releases will once again allow these birds to prosper in their ancestral home range.” The project partners will release birds captured in Hanawi as well as those raised at the Maui Bird Conservation Center. Using individuals from these different sources will increase the likelihood of success, and boost the birds’ chances of doing well at the release site. “Conservation breeding is a critical step in saving Hawai‘i’s most endangered birds,” said Jennifer Pribble, Senior Research Coordinator for the Hawai‘i Endangered Bird Conservation Program, San Diego Zoo Global. “But it is a last resort and a stop-gap measure. The goal is always to return the birds back into the wild where they belong.” The team will move the birds from the Maui Bird Conservation Center into temporary release aviaries at the Nakula release site in mid-October. There they will be intensively monitored to ensure that they are adjusting to the environmental conditions. Soon after, the field team will begin capturing wild birds in Hanawi and transporting them by helicopter to the Nakula release site. Inside the temporary aviaries, the wild Kiwikiu will be paired up with the birds from the Maui Bird Conservation Center and observed daily. After the birds have adjusted to the release site, the pairs will slowly be released into the restored native forest, where supplementary food will be provided to help the birds survive and transition to the newly restored forest. The team will outfit each bird with a small radio transmitter, and the movements of the entire cohort will be intensively tracked. These observations will be used to determine if the birds are surviving and if they start to breed — measures of the overall success of the project — and whether any changes will be necessary in future translocations. #Kiwikiu #MauiParrotbill #NakulaNaturalAreaReserve #Heleakala #MauiForestBirdRecoveryProject #MFBRP #HannaMounce #DLNR #ChrisFarmer #AmericanBirdConservancy #MauiBirdConservationCenter #HawaiiState #Conservation

HONOLULU –  Gov. David Ige has appointed Tyler Iokepa Gomes as deputy to the chairman of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, effective today. Gomes most recently served as the partnership manager at Elemental Excelerator, where he oversaw the Elemental Hui – a partnership network of local business, non-profit, educational, and philanthropic institutions. Previously, Gomes served as deputy public defender in the Office of the Public Defender, and co-authored and co-edited legal pleadings in Waters v. Nago, which successfully overturned the 2018 election results in the District IV Honolulu City Council race. A resident of Maunawili, O‘ahu, Gomes is a graduate of the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, having earned a bachelor’s degree in Hawaiian Language and a J.D. and certificate in Native Hawaiian Law from the William S. Richardson School of Law. Gomes’ appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. #IokepaGomes #DHHL #DepartmentOfHawaiianHomeLands #ElementalExcelerator #HawaiiState #DavidIge

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige today signed new administrative rules for Planned Communities, Multi-Family Complexes and Rental Housing within the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL). The new rules will take effect ten days after the signed rules are filed at the Office of the Lt. Governor. DHHL submitted its final rules to the governor in June after nearly two years of efforts that will expand residential lease offerings to include multi-family housing, along with rental and kupuna housing opportunities. “I’m excited about this set of administrative rules because it really expands the options for beneficiaries. We continue to work with beneficiary communities in every county to pave the way to homeownership for more families across the state. I believe developing Hawaiian Home Lands is an essential part of addressing the state’s affordable housing crisis,” said Gov. Ige. “I would like to thank Gov. Ige for his strong support of Hawaiian Home Lands,” said DHHL Chair William J. Aila, Jr. Today’s culmination of this rule signing is something we wanted to get done as quickly as possible under the Ige administration. These rules offer an excellent tool in our tool chest for serving DHHL beneficiaries.” The adoption of the new rules will create the addition of Chapter 10-7 to the Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) — DHHL’s governing rules that implement the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. DHHL’s approval of beneficiary consultation on the proposed rules was given by the Hawaiian Homes Commission at its December 2017 meeting. From April 2018 through July 30, 2019, DHHL conducted statewide beneficiary consultation meetings with beneficiaries to discuss the proposed rules and gather feedback. Recent awards have included turn-key home lots, the most sought-after product on O‘ahu, as well as vacant lots. Efforts are underway to award subsistence agricultural lots in addition to Kuleana Homestead lots. The former Bowl-O-Drome site in Mo‘ili‘ili will be DHHL’s first urban high-rise project where these new rental rules will be implemented. In 2019, the department will have awarded 395 lots. DHHL has more than 1,300 lots in its production pipeline that are scheduled to be completed over the next five years. For more information or to view the rules in full, visit www.dhhl.hawaii.gov. #GovernorIge #PlannedCommunities #MultiFamilyComplex #RentalHousing #DHHL #DepartmentofHawaiianHomeLands #HawaiianHomesCommission #HawaiiState #Housing

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige has appointed Anne E. Perreira-Eustaquio as the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ deputy director, effective Oct. 1, 2019. Eustaquio is the current unemployment insurance program administrator, managing the safety net of the federal-state program. She has spent her career working in various capacities in the unemployment division, working her way up from auditor to administrator of the program. “I am honored and looking forward to the opportunity to serve under Governor Ige and his administration. I hope to make a positive impact and contribution leveraging my 30 years of public service experience,” said Eustaquio. Eustaquio was born and raised in Hilo and is a graduate of Waiākea High School. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration from Chaminade University of Honolulu. Eustaquio’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. #AnnePerreiraEustaquio #DLIR #DavidIge #HawaiiSenate #HawaiiState

HONOLULU – Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald announced today that he is seeking public comment on judicial nominees for two vacancies in the District Family Court of the First Circuit (Island of Oahu), as a result of the retirement of Judges Linda K.C. Luke and Jennifer L. Ching. The names submitted for these vacancies by the Judicial Selection Commission, in alphabetical order, are: Rebecca A. Copeland Ms. Copeland is currently employed at the Law Office of Rebecca A. Copeland, LLC and serves as a Per Diem Judge in the District Court of the First Circuit. Copeland is a graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2003. Thomas A.K. Haia Mr. Haia is currently employed at Thomas A.K. Haia, Attorney at Law, and serves as a Per Diem Judge in the District Court of the First Circuit. Haia is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1995. Chastity T. Imamura Ms. Imamura is currently employed as a Hearings Officer with the Office of Dispute Resolution in the Department of the Attorney General. Imamura is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2002. Craig W. Jerome Mr. Jerome is currently employed as an Assistant Federal Public Defender with the Office of the Hawaii Federal Public Defender. He is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2007. Alvin P.K.K. Nishimura Mr. Nishimura is currently employed at Alvin Nishimura, Attorney at Law, and serves as a Per Diem Judge in the District Court of the First Circuit. Nishimura is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1985. Andrew T. Park Mr. Park is currently employed at the Law Office of Andrew T. Park, and serves as a Per Diem Judge in the District Family Court of the First Circuit. He is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 2008. Shanlyn A.S. Park Ms. Park is currently employed at McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP. She is a graduate of the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1995. Bryant G.F.Y. Zane Mr. Zane is currently employed as a Deputy Public Defender with the Office of the Public Defender. He is a graduate of Howard University School of Law and was admitted to the Hawaii State Bar in 1996. The Chief Justice has the discretion to assign judges to the district or district family court calendar. Comments about the qualifications and character of any of the nominees with regard to either calendar assignment may be sent, in writing, to: Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald Supreme Court of Hawaii 417 South King Street Honolulu, HI 96813 Fax: (808) 539-4703 E-mail: chiefjustice@courts.hawaii.gov Comments must be post-marked, e-mailed, faxed, or hand delivered no later than Wednesday, October 2, 2019. All comments will be kept confidential. The individuals selected by the Chief Justice are subject to Senate confirmation.

LĪHU‘E, HI – The Department of Health’s (DOH) Kaua‘i District Health Office conducted door-todoor surveys in July at randomly selected households island-wide to assess preparedness levels and evacuation plans. Over the course of three days, survey teams completed a total of 186 interviews, collecting valuable data about the island’s residents, their health status, preparedness levels and evacuation plans. The survey methodology, known as a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER), is a validated health needs assessment methodology developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to rapidly obtain information about the health and resource needs of a community pre- and post-disaster. Information obtained is generalizable to the entire sampling frame, providing population-based estimates. The CASPER survey has been conducted each year on Kaua‘i since July 2017. From 2018 to 2019, statistically significant increases were observed across several household emergency preparedness indicators. For example, the percentage of Kaua‘i households with a 14-day supply of non-perishable food increased from 41 to 44 percent, while the percentage of households with a 14-day supply of water increased from 20 to 28 percent. Combined, the percentage of households with a 14-day supply of both food and water increased from 14 to 18 percent, representing a 29 percent increase over a one-year period. “Although we’ve made significant improvements, we have a long way to go to reach the state’s goal of 14 days’ worth of emergency supplies for all households,” said Lauren Guest, public health preparedness planner with the Kaua‘i District Health Office. “Tracking community progress on indicators such as emergency supplies, evacuation plans, and communication sources allows emergency management partners to assess gaps, prioritize limited resources, and evaluate the impact of county, state, and non-profit efforts to achieve an informed and prepared community for all hazards.” Over the past three years, CASPERs have been an enormous capacity building exercise for the Department of Health and partner agencies, allowing collaboration across programmatic silos while increasing community awareness of agencies and the services they provide to the community. On Kaua‘i, DOH has expanded its ability to rapidly deploy survey teams to assess health needs on the ground post-disaster, which can be used to inform emergency response priorities. Thanks to neighbor island participation in Kaua‘i’s 2019 CASPER, this capability has the potential to be expanded statewide. The 2019 Kaua‘i CASPER Final Report is available here: https://health.hawaii.gov/kauai/files/2019/09/Kauai-2019-CASPER-Final-Report.pdf. #KauaiDistrictHealthOffice #KauaiCasperReport #LaurenGuest #PublicHealthEmergencyResponse #Kauai #Lihue #CASPER

HONOLULU – Lt. Col. Horace Meek Hickam, Lāʻie and Waialua elementary schools have been named 2019 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the US Department of Education. The program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools based on academic performance and progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. The three Hawaiʻi schools were among 312 public school and 50 non-public school winners nationwide announced today by US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. “The National Blue Ribbon Schools award reflects the long-term commitment of an entire school community to deliver on our promise to improve equity, excellence and innovation in our public schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto. “It reflects the hard work of students, teachers, administrators and families, and we congratulate Hickam, Lāʻie and Waialua elementary schools on this very prestigious recognition.” Public schools nominated for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award must meet one of two performance award criteria: Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s subgroups and all students over the past five years. Schools are ranked based on one year of performance in math and reading. The eligible top six schools that meet the criteria set by the National Blue Ribbon Schools are presented to a selection committee of local community members. The committee selects the top three schools to be considered for nomination of the award. The U.S. Department of Education will formally recognize all the honored schools at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on November 14 and 15. Hickam Elementary has met the performance award criteria for Exemplary High Performing schools and is ranked in the top 15 percent of Hawaiʻi schools in achievement in English and math. Hickam’s performance has outpaced other school performance averages statewide in English Language Arts (ELA, 18 percent higher), Math (18 percent higher) and Science (19 percent higher) in School Year 2018-19. Hickam’s enrollment consists of 99 percent military-dependent students and is highly transient due to military personnel movements. Understanding that one of the biggest challenges military children face is integration into new communities and schools, Hickam recently dedicated its Aloha Transition Center, the “front door” to the campus and a space that provides a feeling of belonging to the school ʻohana for any student new to the school. The student-led welcome program allows new students to focus on academics, knowing they already have friends who can empathize with their transition and support them in times of uncertainty. Hickam currently serves a student body of 566 students. Lāʻie Elementary has also met the performance award criteria for Exemplary High Performing schools and is ranked in the top 15 percent of Hawaiʻi schools in achievement in English and math. Lāʻie’s performance has outpaced other school performance averages statewide in ELA (25 percent higher), Math (30 percent higher) and Science (29 percent higher) in School Year 2018-19. Lāʻie implemented several initiatives that have been central to its success, including detailed writing goals, reading stamina goals, and a schoolwide Response to Intervention (RTI) plan. A variety of co-curricular programs are also offered to reinforce the curriculum, providing students with opportunities to excel outside of academics in art, physical education, music, dance, Hawaiian language, drawing and sports. After-school programs such as Homework Help, Math Club and Dance Club also help to improve student success. Lāʻie currently serves a student body of 638 students. Waialua Elementary has met the performance award criteria for Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing schools and is in the top 15 percent of schools closing achievement gaps in English and math in the last three years. Since School Year 2015-16, the school has reduced the achievement gap in English by 17 percentage points and in math by 15 percentage points. Waialua’s curriculum is standards-based with focused targets and clear criteria. Each classroom has a teacher and a paraprofessional tutor or part-time teacher, and the teaming allows for real-time interventions to minimize and prevent learning gaps from occurring. Teachers use effective instructional strategies, formatively assess every aspect of student learning, provide feedback based on data, and hold their students accountable for their learning. Waialua currently serves a student body of 507 students. For more information on the National Blue Ribbon Schools program, please visit: http://www.ed.gov/nationalblueribbonschools. Click here for B-roll footage from Hickam, Lāʻie and Waialua elementary schools. View this news release online here. #HawaiiDepartmentofEducationHIDOE #LaieaElementarySchool #WaialuaElementarySchool #HickamElementarySchool #LtColHoraceMeekHickamSchool #NationalBlueRibbonSchools

HONOLULU — The monthly test of the all-hazard Statewide Outdoor Warning Siren System, coordinated with the test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System, is scheduled for Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at 11:45 a.m. During this monthly test, all Statewide Outdoor Warning Sirens will sound a one-minute Attention Alert Signal (Steady Tone). A simultaneous test of the Live Audio Broadcast segment of the Emergency Alert System is conducted with the monthly siren sounding, in cooperation with Hawaii's broadcast industry. There will be no exercise or drill accompanying the test. The all-hazard Outdoor Siren Warning System for Public Safety is one part of Hawai’i’s Statewide Alert & Warning System used to notify the public during emergencies. If you hear this siren tone in circumstances other than a test, follow emergency information and instructions provided by official government channels. This may be in the form of a local radio, television station broadcast, and/or cellular Wireless Emergency Alert. Wireless Emergency Alert delivers sound-and-text warnings to compatible mobile cellular phones. The Emergency Alert System & Wireless Emergency Alert’s notifications are managed by FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, the nation’s alert and warning infrastructure. Oahu residents in areas surrounding Campbell Industrial Park may also hear a “whooping” tone following the siren test. These areas include portions of Kalaeloa, Makakilo, Nanakuli, Kapolei, and Ewa Beach. The “whooping” tone is a test of the Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) siren warning group that will be activated in the event of an actual HAZMAT incident requiring emergency notification of businesses, schools and residents within the vicinity of Campbell Industrial Park. Contact the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management at (808) 723-8960 for more information on the HAZMAT warning group siren test. Emergency management and disaster preparedness information is located at the front section of telephone directories in all counties. The public may contact emergency management and county civil defense agencies to report siren operation issues: City and County of Honolulu (808) 723-8960 Maui County (808) 270-7285 Kaua’i County (808) 241-1800 Hawai’i County (808) 935-0031 #HawaiiEmergencyManagementAgency #HIEMA #MonthlySirenAlert #EmergencyAlertSystem #LiveAudioBroadcast #StatewideOutdoorWarningSiren #AttentionAlertSignal #FEMA #WirelessEmergencyAlert #HawaiiSenate #HawaiiSenateMajority

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige has tapped Scott Glenn to serve as the chief executive officer of the Hawai‘i State Energy Office. Glenn has served as director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) since 2015, where he led the modernization of the state environmental review process by developing new administrative rules and updating best practices. In addition, Scott was the co-chair of the Sustainable Hawai‘i Initiative, and liaison to the U.S. Climate Alliance – a coalition of U.S. governors committed to the Paris Agreement. In these roles, he worked with state, county, and federal agencies, as well as communities across the state, and stakeholders nationally and internationally to coordinate state policy development on energy, climate change, and key sustainability initiatives. “The newly created Hawai‘i State Energy Office will lead Hawai‘i in implementing our goals on clean energy, clean transportation, and a clean, resilient economy. I am confident that Scott will bring the same balanced, innovative, collaborative perspective to move us forward as we strive to reach our goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2045,” said Gov. Ige. “Hawai‘i has shown tremendous leadership through the years on energy and climate change. I am deeply honored and humbled for Gov. Ige to entrust me with these critical initiatives for Hawai‘i’s future. I look forward to working with everyone to implement our ambitious clean energy and decarbonization goals,” said Glenn. Glenn’s appointment is effective Oct. 16, 2019 and is subject to Senate confirmation. #ScottGlenn #GovernorDavidIge #DavidIge #HawaiiStateEnergyOffice #HawaiiStateSenate #HawaiiSenateMajority

HONOLULU – Hawaii Attorney General Clare E. Connors today joined a coalition of coalition of 24 Attorneys General opposing the Trump administration’s proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The proposed changes would take basic food assistance away from more than three million people, disqualify hundreds of thousands of children from free school meals, and punish working families with modest savings. The coalition filed a comment letter against a proposed United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) rule that would end states’ ability to set rules for SNAP eligibility based on the unique needs of their communities. The letter argues that the proposed rule would violate federal law and harm the states, their residents, their local economies, and public health. “The proposed rule is being implemented in violation of federal law,” said Attorney General Connors. “It takes away the ability of states to determine who in their communities need basic food assistance.” Based on federal guidelines, each state designs its own process for how low-income people can apply for SNAP benefits. The states must track whether participants meet the income and asset requirements for the program on a monthly basis. The Trump administration’s proposed rule would eliminate a long-standing policy known as “broad based categorical eligibility” (BBCE). BBCE allows states to consider local economic factors like high costs of living or costs of childcare when determining eligibility for SNAP. It also lets states adopt less restrictive asset limits so that families, seniors, and people with disabilities can have some savings without losing food aid. BBCE is used by 39 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This proposed rule is the latest in a series of unlawful attempts by the Trump administration to cut important safety-net programs. The AGs argue in the comment letter that the proposed rule harms the states by: Taking food assistance away from 3.1 million vulnerable people: If finalized, the proposed rule would cause 3.1 million low-income people, including working poor families with children, seniors, and people with disabilities, to lose critical nutrition assistance. According to the administration’s own calculations, the rule would cause low-income Americans to lose at least $10.5 billion in SNAP benefits over four years. Causing 265,000 children to lose free school meals: Children in households that receive SNAP are eligible for free meals at school. This rule change would mean an estimated 265,000 children would lose access to free school meals, leading to food insecurity and malnourishment. According to studies, food-insecure children are more likely to have learning difficulties and reduced academic performance, stomachaches, frequent headaches and colds, iron deficiency anemia, asthma, and mental health problems. Disproportionately taking SNAP benefits from seniors: According to estimates, this rule change would have a disproportionate impact on seniors. More than 13 percent of all SNAP households with elderly members would lose food assistance, which could potentially force low-income seniors to choose between paying for necessary medication and food. Harming public health and increasing healthcare costs: States’ medical, disability, and other systems will be burdened when people who lose SNAP benefits become food insecure or malnourished. Food insecurity is linked to some of the most potentially costly health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and complications in pregnancy. Studies have shown that SNAP is associated with better health and, correspondingly, reduced health care costs. Harming state economies: SNAP benefits are provided to low-income individuals with immediate spending needs, and SNAP boosts local economies by increasing consumer demand, injecting money directly into the economy, creating jobs, and supporting national and local retailers and the food industry generally. If 3.1 million people lose SNAP benefits, these cuts will have negative ripple effects across the nation’s economy. Increasing administrative burdens on states: The Government Accountability Office has consistently found that polices like BBCE can save state and federal resources and improve productivity. The proposed rule will eliminate these efficiency gains and increase administrative costs—and every dollar that states spend on administrative costs is money taken away from needy families. The Attorneys General also argue that the proposed rule violates the federal Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which governs how federal agencies implement rule changes. Among other violations of the APA, the proposed rule fails to provide a legitimate justification for changing longstanding USDA policy, conflicts with the clear intent of Congress, and exceeds USDA’s authority. The multistate letter to the USDA on its proposed SNAP rule is available at: https://oag.dc.gov/sites/default/files/2019-09/SNAP-Eligibility-Comment-Letter.pdf The coalition of states and territories opposing this rule was led by District of Columbia AG Karl Racine and New York AG Letitia James, and joined by Attorneys General from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. #StateofHawaiiDepartmentoftheAttorneyGener #SupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgram #SNAP #BBCE #BroadBasedCategoricalEligibility #AdministrativeProcedureAct #APA #USDA #ClareConnors