‘We need her in Congress now more than ever.’
Posted: July 19, 2024
The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association Thursday announced its support of Jill Tokuda for re-election to Congress.
Tokuda represents Hawaiʻi’s Second Congressional District, which covers suburban and rural Oʻahu, including the Leeward and Windward coasts and all neighbor islands.
HSTA President Osa Tui, Jr. says Tokuda has a proven record of supporting public education.
Tui said she’s a “public school parent, proud public school graduate, and also a strong supporter of labor. We need her in Congress now more than ever considering everything that’s going on.”
As one of her constituents on Hawaiʻi Island, Hope Pualani McKeen, says Tokuda has done a tremendous job representing her district.
“She educates herself on important issues to Hawaiʻi and the nation, supporting strategic bills and issues that protect workers’ rights, eliminating student debt, building up infrastructure and most importantly, standing up for women to retain autonomy over their own bodies,” said McKeen, a Hawaiian studies kumu (teacher) at Keonepoko Elementary.
“I am also confident she will continue this dedication and commitment to follow through,” added McKeen, who chairs HSTA’s Government Relations Committee.
Tokuda promised to fight even harder in her second term for public education and democracy.
“Our kids are growing up in a time when they’re going to have fewer rights than we had than their grandparents,” she said.
“There has never been a more important time in our country when we need to stand up for our workers. We need to stand up for our communities, the most vulnerable, and most importantly, what you do every single day when you stand up for our kids,” she said.
Among her recent accomplishments, Tokuda received an A from the National Education Association for her strong support for public education and educators during the 118th Congress. She also co-sponsored:
- The Rebuild America’s Schools Act, which provides support for long-term improvements to public elementary and secondary school facilities.
- The Green New Deal for Public Schools Act of 2023, which directs the U.S. Department of Education to award resource block grants to qualified local educational agencies to hire and retain educators and staff in high-need schools.
- The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2023, which prohibits governmental restrictions on the provision of, and access to, abortion services.
- The Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which expands various labor protections related to employees’ rights to organize and collectively bargain in the workplace.
- America’s College Promise Act of 2023, which amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish grants for tuition-free community colleges, student success grants, and grants for historically black colleges and universities, tribal colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions.
- The Student Loan Interest Elimination Act, which directs the U.S. Department of Education to establish and implement procedures to modify the terms of federal direct loans so that beginning on July 1, 2024, no interest shall accrue on such a loan.
“We’ve worked hard together to make sure that Hawaiʻi and our kids got what they needed, and we’ve got so much more work to do for our kids and the rest of this country,” Tokuda said.
Tokuda received her undergraduate degree in International Relations and a minor in Japanese Studies from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Married to Kyle Michibata, she and her husband have two sons, Matt and Aden, who now attend the same public school from which their parents graduated — Castle High School in Kāneʻohe.
About our recommendations
HSTA recommends candidates who are strong supporters of public education, educators, and labor, and are committed to creating a better future for our keiki.
Voting these candidates into office ensures we have allies who will champion public education, working families, and our freedom to teach and learn. Protect the rights of our students, our fellow educators, and our families by casting your vote in this year’s primary and general elections.