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Congressional Daily Record
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Issued
May 22, 2026
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Extensions of Remarks
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextINTRODUCTION OF THE FIREWORKS TRAFFICKING AND MONEY LAUNDERING
PREVENTION ACT
HON. ED CASE
of hawaii
in the house of representatives
Friday, May 22, 2026
Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my Fireworks Trafficking and Money Laundering Prevention Act, co-introduced with my colleague from Hawaii, Representative Jill Tokuda.
threatens public safety, fuels illicit financial activity and has devastated communities in Hawaii and across the country. Illegal fireworks trafficking is far more than a minor regulatory violation. It is a sophisticated interstate operation involving the unlawful transportation, distribution and sale of explosive materials in violation of federal and state law. These highly profitable black- market networks often operate for years, moving illegal fireworks across state lines and generating substantial criminal proceeds.
engage in related financial crimes, including money laundering, concealing profits and evading law enforcement. Yet despite the serious risks involved, the current maximum federal penalty for unlawful interstate fireworks trafficking is only one year of imprisonment, an insufficient deterrent when compared to the enormous financial incentives these criminal enterprises enjoy.
The consequences are severe. Illegal fireworks have caused catastrophic explosions, serious injuries, mass casualty incidents and fatalities nationwide. These incidents place enormous strain on firefighters, emergency responders and hospitals, while endangering families and neighborhoods. Because illegal fireworks are often manufactured, transported and stored without proper safety standards, they carry a heightened risk of fires and deadly explosions.
fireworks are regularly smuggled into our islands through shipping containers and underground distribution networks. Communities across our state have experienced tragic losses, significant property damage and serious injuries tied to illegal fireworks. In densely populated neighborhoods, a single explosion can threaten entire communities and overwhelm emergency response systems.
these criminal networks by designating illegal interstate fireworks trafficking as a specified unlawful activity under federal money laundering statutes. Doing so would provide investigators and prosecutors with stronger tools to follow illicit proceeds, dismantle trafficking operations and hold offenders accountable with penalties that better reflect the seriousness of these crimes.
strengthen public safety, combat organized criminal activity and help prevent future tragedies in Hawaii and across the Nation.