Tell Congress: Pass MPTERA
MPTERA (H.R. 10582 / S. 5552)
A federal film tax credit could bring production work back to Hawaiʻi. Help us get it passed. It takes 2 minutes.
Deadline: Congress is scheduled to wrap up for the year on December 18. If MPTERA doesn't pass by then, it starts over next year. The sooner you act, the better.
Do it in 3 steps
1. Send your letter (2 minutes) 2. Make a quick call (optional, 3 minutes) 3. Pass it on
Step 1: Send your letter (2 minutes)
- Tap Send Your Letter. A form opens in a new tab.
- Enter your name, email and home address. Your address is how the letter reaches YOUR senators and representative, so use where you live, not where you work.
- The letter is already written for you. To make it count more, add one sentence about yourself at the top (see ideas below).
- Tap Send. That's it. Your letter goes to Senator Schatz, Senator Hirono, and your representative.
Add one personal line. Copy one of these or write your own:
Why it matters: offices count every letter, but one real sentence from a constituent is what staff remember.
Step 2: Make a quick call (optional, 3 minutes)
Calls carry extra weight. You'll usually talk to a staff member or leave a voicemail. Both count.
What to say:
Call all three of your members:
Honolulu office: (808) 523-2061
Washington, D.C. office: (202) 224-3934
Honolulu office: (808) 522-8970
Washington, D.C. office: (202) 224-6361
Honolulu office: (808) 650-6688
Washington, D.C. office: (202) 225-2726
Honolulu office: (808) 746-6220
Washington, D.C. office: (202) 225-4906
Everyone calls both senators. Then call either Rep. Case or Rep. Tokuda, depending on where you live. Not sure which?
Tip: Honolulu offices are open business hours Hawaiʻi time. D.C. offices close at 11:00 a.m. HST (5 p.m. Eastern), so call D.C. in the morning.
Step 3: Pass it on
Share this page with your crew. Copy and text this to a friend:
What is MPTERA?
The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act is a bipartisan bill in the House (H.R. 10582) and Senate (S. 5552), introduced September 24, 2026. It's led by Senators Tim Scott (R) and Adam Schiff (D) and Representatives Nathaniel Moran (R) and Linda Sánchez (D).
How it works
- 20% federal tax credit on wages paid for work done in the United States. It rewards hiring American crews.
- Up to 30% with bonus credits for filming in rural or disaster-affected areas, shooting in more than one state, independent productions, and bringing work back from overseas.
- Stacks on top of state credits, including Hawaiʻi's.
What it means for Hawaiʻi
Hawaiʻi just strengthened its own film credit and extended it through 2038 with Act 185 (formerly SB 2580). A federal credit on top of ours makes the islands far more competitive with overseas locations. That means more productions choosing Hawaiʻi, and more days of work for local crew, cast and businesses.
Why now
Since 2022, the U.S. share of global film and TV production has dropped 14% as productions moved overseas. Hawaiʻi crews have felt it. Congress is scheduled to adjourn December 18, and bills that don't pass by the end of this Congress have to start over.
Who supports it
MPTERA has broad support across organized labor. The AFL-CIO passed its resolution supporting a federal film and TV incentive unanimously: 65 unions representing 15 million workers. Also backing it, inside and outside the AFL-CIO: IATSE, the Teamsters, SAG-AFTRA, DGA, WGA, AFM and LiUNA, plus studios, independent producers and film commissions.
Questions
Do I have to live in Hawaiʻi? To write to Hawaiʻi's delegation, yes. If you live elsewhere, the same letter tool sends your letter to your own members of Congress.
Who runs the letter form? It's hosted on Action Network by our union partners. It sends your letter directly to your members' offices.
Is this testimony? For a federal bill, letters and calls from constituents are how you weigh in. There's no hearing sign-up needed.
Sources: AFL-CIO letter to Congress (Oct. 13, 2026); Office of Sen. Tim Scott (Sept. 24, 2026); U.S. Senate 2026 calendar.
