Tsutsui Travels to DC for Discussion on Federal-State Relations

Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui of Maui travels to Washington, DC this week to discuss federal-state relations, the impact of sequestration and other federal actions on the state.

He joins 20 of his peers in the meetings hosted by the National Lieutenant Governors Association, from Wednesday, March 20 through Friday, March 22, 2013.

In addition to sequestration, discussion will also include state-federal collaboration in the area of emergency preparation and response.

“Every region of the country has been hit with emergencies related to nature, whether drought, flooding, snow, or superstorm,” said NLGA Director Julia Hurst in a media statement.

According to Hurst, Lt. Gov. Tsutsui will meet with leading officials at the Corps of Engineers, the Department of Defense, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

At the meetings, the lt. governor said he plans to explore opportunities to assist in increasing employment rates among veterans and the disabled, and to increase opportunities in the life sciences fields.

In addition to impacts of federal actions on state government, discussion is also reportedly aimed at opening new economic opportunities for Hawai’i.

“The meeting is an opportunity to work with international leaders to open doors of trade and commerce while working with federal leaders on issues that may impact the way Hawai’i serves its people and families,” said Tsutsui in a press release today.

Meetings are reportedly planned between the lt. governor and US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, the Ambassador of Mexico to the US, and officials from Embassies in Germany and Israel, officials said.