1657 Leeward

NARFE NEWSLINE:

Leeward Oahu Chapter 1657

President’s Newsline Report

March 25, 2026

As of March 25. 2026, after weeks of halting talks, a new proposal is materializing on Capitol Hill that aims to fund critical parts of theDepartment of Homeland Security as travelers across the country deal withlong lines and missed flights at airports experiencing TSA officer shortages. But despite optimism from top Senate Republicans, President Trump andSenate Democrats have yet to embrace the emerging framework.

For more than a month, Republicans demanded an agreement to fund DHS in its entirety. Funding for the department lapsed in mid-February amid anger over the agency's handling of immigration enforcement. GOP leadership previewed a plan Tuesday to fund most of the department,minus Immigration and Custom Enforcement's enforcement and removaloperations division.

Trump is also not sold on any deal that does not include an unrelated overhaul of federal elections known as the SAVE America Act. Ha Nguyen McNeil, the TSA acting administrator, told lawmakers that airports are dealing with the "highest wait times in history" as TSA absences top 40% at some airports. She said more than 480 officers have quit during the shutdown.  "We thought there had been some progress." Lawmakers have not released the full details of their plan, but top Senate Republicans say the proposed deal does include changes to ICE operations that Democrats negotiated earlier this year, like funding for officer-worn body cameras and reduced detention-center bed capacity. Theseconcessions were included in the House-passed DHS funding bill that stalled in the Senate after the two deadly shootings in Minneapolis.

But Democrats say the latest framework does not include other demands, like requiring judicial warrants for immigration agents to enter homes and businesses, and a ban on face coverings for agents.The gambit involves a plan to fund ICE separately and pass parts of the SAVE America Act, an elections overhaul bill, without any Democratic support through a budget process called reconciliation. But success is not guaranteed, NARFE National President William “Bill” Shackelford urged Congress to: continue to engage in good faith bipartisan negotiations over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bills to end this five-week partial government shutdown and extend funding for noncontroversial functions while negotiations remain at an impasse, and to authorize pay for federal employees impacted by the shutdown.

Post Script: On March 27, 2026, President Trump directed the Department of Homeland Security to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers and employees during a partial government shutdown. Then on April 3, 2026, a broader directive was issued by President Trump to pay all DHS employees, after the record shutdown at the DHS had lasted nearly 50 days.

Registration is Now Open for NARFE FEDCon 2026

FEDCon 2026 has scheduled pre-conference events for the National Executive Board and Federation Presidents on August 20 thru Aug. 23, 2026. FedCon 26 Events are scheduled to officially start on Sunday, August23, 2026, at 10:00am to 6:00pm with FEDcon26 Registration and Welcome Registration from 5:00pm to 6:00pm at Indianapolis. The conference continues August 24-25, 2026, with one of six training session options and symposiums. There will be a Business Session on August 25th when NARFE National Candidate Statements and Bylaws will be discussed.

You can go online at: https: narfe.org to register for this conference. The present registration fee is: Early-Bird Rate, Through May 22, 2026: $225 for NARFE members / $300 for non-members*. The event for booking the hotel room at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis will be on Sunday, Aug. 23 to Tues., Aug. 25, 2026, under Group Code: G-NARF Conference rate, $179 per night. See the booking link at https: narfe.org for details.

Hawaii State Federation is Celebrating their 50th Anniversary on Oct. 14, 2026

Please plan to attend HISF’s 50th Anniversary on October 14, 2026, at the Ala Moana Hotel from: 10:00am to 2:00pm for $25.00 for NARFE Members; and $48.00 for non-NARFE members. The $48.00 can also be used for the person to become a NARFE member, with 1 free one-year membership in a local NARFE Chapter. Please send any pictures, or videos of previous HISF conferences to Joyce Matsuo so they can consolidate it into their visual presentation at their luncheon celebration.

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Registration is Now Open for FEEA’s 6th Annual Feds in Motion Challenge Registration is officially open for FEEA’s 6th Annual Feds in Motion Challenge! Join us from May 1st to June 6th, 2026, and add movement to your day, connect with colleagues, and have an influence by supporting FEEA's essential programs for federal families.

Learn more and sign up today!

https://runsignup.com/.../Alexandria/FedsInMotionChallenge

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Filing a Claim due to Interruption of Electrical Service

Due to the “Kona low” storm, if you experienced a power outage, you have a right to file a claim for compensation for any loss caused by the outage. You may be able to receive reimbursement toward the cost to repair, or the depreciated value of the damaged items, whichever is less. Your claim must be filed with  Hawaiian Electric within 30 days of the power outage. Complete and mail the claim form that you can download for the website: hawaiianelectric.com, located within the Safety and Outages tab; under “File a Damage Claim.”

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Other Hotline Phone Numbers

If there are street light issues within your community, call the “Traffic Signals Division Hotline at: (808) 768-8387.

If you see suspected abandoned vehicles, you can report it through the City’s Customer Service Department (CSD) that manages the “Abandoned Vehicle Program” at: (808) 768-2530.

If you see a burglary or crime, the Crime Stoppers Hotline is available 24/7 and callers can remain anonymous at: (808) 955-8300.

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Our next NARFE Chapter 1657 Zoom Meeting will be held on Tuesday, Apri 28, 2026, at 11:00am.

Submitted by:

Chieko Higuchi, President

NARFE Chapter 1657