A year ago this month, the fuel spill at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility on November 20, 2021, significantly impacted the communities, people, and environment in and around the facility, affecting the lives of our service members, civilians, contractors, their families, and the people of Hawaii.

I am incredibly proud of the work of these communities over the past year. I am grateful for the partnership with the State and the people of Hawaii, for the continued progress by Joint Task Force Red Hill to safely defuel the facility, and for the work of Navy Region Hawaii to ensure the health and safety of our Navy families and the safe closure of the facility.

We must continue to take care of our people, the environment, and the communities that our Sailors, Marines, their families, and the people of Hawaii call home. Nothing is more important to me than ensuring we get this right, and the Department of the Navy remains steadfast in its commitment to the health, safety, and welfare of the environment, the people of Hawaii, and the communities of which we are a part.