Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to address this House for what will likely be my last formal address from this floor.

While my term has been short, it has been an honor and privilege representing the people of Hawaii. It is testimony to the greatness of our Nation that a child of immigrants from China and Thailand can call himself a maker of laws in the United States.

I want to first thank the voters of Hawaii for giving me this opportunity to serve them, but I also want to thank all the volunteers who worked so hard to get me here. But most of all, I want to thank my family for giving me everything that I have.

I believe that a limited government is better at establishing prosperity than an expansive government. I believe that a vibrant two- party democracy is better at preserving liberty than one-party monolithic rule. And I believe that open and responsive public officials are better at ensuring an accountable government than an old boy network.

But I also believe one of the beauties of our Nation is that the voters always have the final say. And while I may be disappointed in my results, I recognize that my views are in the minority in my congressional district. Yielding to the final word of the voters is something that I always will respect.

May God bless this House and may God bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, my congressional district potentially lies in the flight arc of North Korea's ballistic missiles. Should anything happen in the Korean Peninsula and deteriorate to war, it is the soldiers, sailors, and airmen in my congressional district at Pearl Harbor, Hickam Air Force Base, and Schofield Barracks who will be the first ones called into action on the Korean Peninsula.

The United States must make a firm and clear commitment not only to condemn these belligerent acts by North Korea, but also firmly commit our Nation to unifying the Korean Peninsula under a free, democratic, and capitalist regime. Our Nation must make a commitment to a unified, free, and capitalist Korea in the same fashion that we committed to a united, free, and capitalist Germany during the Cold War.

During this past year, the North Korean Government has shown its unwarranted, unprovoked attacks on South Korea by illegally seizing a South Korean fishing vessel and illegally sinking a South Korean naval vessel. And now the shelling of a South Korean island, unprovoked, shows that the North Korean regime cannot be trusted and must be changed.

This is why it is so important the United States commit to a quick and prompt passage of a free trade agreement between the United States and South Korea, and through the passage of this resolution. We must strengthen our bonds between the United States and South Korea to stand as a bulwark against the aggressive and repressive North Korean Government.

Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to speak and urge passage of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroism and sacrifices of Dr. Pete Tatsuo Okumoto and other Japanese-American veterans of World War II.

Dr. Okumoto served as a frontline combat surgeon with the United States Army's 10th Mountain Division in Northern Italy during World War II and participated in two major campaigns including North Apennine and Po Valley. Dr. Okumoto received numerous military decorations for his honorable service. I commend Dr. Okumoto for his dedication and commitment to the field of medicine and honorable service to the United States. It is with great pleasure to formally recognize Dr. Okumoto on the floor of the House of Representatives.

As a Captain in the Army Reserve, I understand the demands placed on our servicemen and women. I thank Dr. Okumoto and all other Japanese- American veterans for their heroism and for their service to the state of Hawai'i and the United States. Aloha.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the students of Hawai`i HOSA who traveled to Orlando to compete in 25 health-related medical events with 7,000 delegates from 46 states. The excellence displayed by the team throughout this competition is indicative of the bright futures they can have in the health care community.

Hawai`i sent a delegation of 84 students from 12 high schools and four colleges from Maui and Oahu to compete in the 2010 HOSA National Leadership Conference. Hawai`i is incredibly proud of the 13 students awarded Top 3 Medallions and the 18 students who earned the Top 10 Finalist award. I would like to recognize the following students from Hawai`i for their tremendous accomplishments at the HOSA National Leadership Conference: Rance China, Josie Gomez, Brianna Daranciang, Ashley Layco, Carianne Matsuo, Ana Liza Capulong, Sandra Jamilla, Joybell Pablo, Vanessa Joy Sagaoinit, Tony Valdez Jr, Britteny Acoba, Joleen-Taylor Baxa, Marikris Racho, Nicole Kawahara, Allen Orense, Kevin Quitoriano, Kimiyo Lindley, Glady Meir Baloran, Cheryl Batara, Diana Simon, Woody Hoshibata, Brandy-Shaye Au-Stein, Mericris Neyra, Catherine Sabio, Ty Nakama, Zachery Grace, Nicole Colello, Samantha DeLeon, Liane Hisamoto, Aprilei Ramirez, Alnora Murai, Ruel Reyes, Lisa Kaaihue, Charmaine Alontaga, Shaneen Northington, Lian Balmores, Jenna Maligro, Judy Sadoyama, Harriet Gumban, Brittney Acoba, Jade Simpliciano, Angel Badua, Johnelyn Cadang, Jensine Domingo, Benedict Juliano, Suzanne Lieu, Shaynna Palasigue, Kristine Saguid, and Theodore Ueki.

The Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) promotes knowledge, technology education, and skill and leadership development for all health sciences to prepare and equip our students to meet the needs of the future healthcare community. Programs like HOSA promote academic excellence, encourage our students to specialize in subjects that interest them, and allow our students to interact with peers from around the country who share those interests. Education is crucial to our success as a nation and we must continue to ensure that quality education remains a priority.

On behalf of the schools, parents, and teachers of the First Congressional District of Hawai`i, I would like to extend my congratulations to the students of Hawai`i HOSA. Aloha.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Waipio Little League Baseball Team of Waipahu, Hawai'i for their outstanding achievements as National Champions in the 2010 Little League World Series.

The Waipio team competed against the best Little League teams in America. The team defeated Texas in the U.S. Championship game

with an impressive 10 to 0 victory. The Waipio team then represented the U.S. in the International Championship game against Japan. Although Japan came out ahead that day, the Waipio team kept the fans cheering and chanting ``U.S.A.'' through the game's conclusion.

I am thrilled that our hometown teams are continuing Hawaii's tradition of Little League success and honorable sportsmanship. Americans across the country are proud of the effort and spirit displayed by these young players. While the practices, training, and games are an important part in the team's success, the coaches, parents and the community serve vital roles in supporting the team.

On behalf of the citizens of the 1st Congressional District of Hawai'i, I extend my congratulations to 2010 Little League World Series National Champions, the Waipio Baseball team, for their amazing achievements throughout the season.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1055 to grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, I want to echo the words of my colleague, the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono). Madam Speaker, it is with great pride the people of Hawaii join in the recognition of the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

And I speak also with a bit of personal pride that we are recognizing the 442nd today. I had served in the United States Army Reserve, and today the 100th Battalion 442nd Infantry Division is part of the 9th Mission Support Command based at Fort Shafter in my congressional district. And in my previous service as an Army reservist, the 442nd was my sister battalion, and it is with great pride I see them being recognized today.

The 442nd has a long and illustrious history having served our Nation in Vietnam as well as most recently in Operation Iraqi Freedom, although the most important amount of recognition for the 442nd and the reason we are here today is for their initial service in World War II.

Madam Speaker and colleagues, when somebody asks, Where does the strength of our Nation come from? I say to all of them, It does not come from machines. It does not come from a regulation. It does not come from the Halls of the United States Congress. The strength of our Nation comes from young individuals who are willing to raise their hands, to take an oath of office and to defend this Nation--with their lives, if necessary.

When the 442nd was formed in 1942, it was these young men, Americans of Japanese ancestry, who raised their hands, despite facing discrimination from their own country in having expressed a willingness to fight on behalf of this Nation.

It was their willingness to go into harm's way, to risk their lives in the fields of Italy, that has accorded the 442nd this honor and this well-deserved respect from the United States Congress.

Therefore, Madam Speaker, on behalf of myself, my colleagues and the people of the State of Hawaii, I strongly urge the passage of S. 1055.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Eric Liaw and the rest of the American high school students representing the United States at the 2010 International Biology Olympiad in Changwon, South Korea. Team USA placed first overall and placed among the top competitors in the individual competition.

Eric Liaw is the first student from Hawai`i to ever advance to the International Biology Olympiad and I would like to congratulate him and the rest of the USA Team for their tremendous accomplishment.

I am proud that America's youth are excelling in the ever-growing science and technology fields. I will continue to support initiatives, like the International Biology Olympiad, which promote academic excellence, encourage our students to specialize in subjects that interest them, and allow our students to interact with peers from around the world who share those interests. Education is crucial to our success as a nation and we must continue to ensure that quality education remains a priority.

On behalf of the parents and teachers of the First Congressional District of Hawai`i, I would like to extend my congratulations to Eric Liaw and Team USA for their hard work and success at the International Biology Olympiad.

I thank my colleague from Florida.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to express my disappointment that my amendment was not allowed to be submitted to this body. I specifically wanted to highlight my amendment, which was asking to restore funding for the relocation of American forces away from Okinawa to Guam, as requested by President Obama. I think it is a major mistake that this body is not going to support the President's request for the relocation of American forces.

As a member of the Armed Services Committee and a Member who represents a large portion of the Pacific fleet in Hawaii, I support restoring funds for construction to further the realignment of Marine Corps forces from Okinawa to Guam in H.R. 5822. The committee reduced the appropriation request submitted by the President by 50 percent.

The Guam realignment will be one of the largest moves of military forces in decades. The postponement of construction of necessary military facilities and infrastructure will cause unnecessary delay and threaten our geopolitical positioning in the Asia-Pacific region.

My amendment was also completely offset by reallocating funds from military construction requests that were put above what President Obama had asked for. Mr. Speaker and Members, I want to highlight to this body that right now, as all of us talk, 2 days ago, the United States Armed Forces began the largest war game operations in the Korean peninsula in the Yellow Sea since the end of the Cold War. The reason we entered these war game operations is because of the instability that continues to unfortunately exist in East Asia and the Korean peninsula.

By failing to support the President in allocating sufficient funding to establish new force location in Guam, over the short term we might be okay; but over the long term, this is a major geopolitical mistake that this Congress is making. I hope that Congress reconsiders and I hope the Senate re-examines this. I am disappointed I was unable to offer this amendment on this very important and serious matter.

Madam Speaker, Members of the House, yesterday the United States Navy began conducting war game operations off the coast of Korea. Many of the sailors and ships come from Pearl Harbor, located in my district.

Yesterday, I also had the opportunity to finally meet with the Korean ambassador to the United States, who is also the former Prime Minister of South Korea. These are important developments. It is important for our Nation to strengthen and deepen our ties with Korea in the troubling times we have in the Korean Peninsula.

I want to state and strongly urge this House to most expeditiously move the free trade agreement between the United States and South Korea to make sure that what happened 60 years ago in the Korean Peninsula doesn't happen again.

Mr. Speaker, the American people expect Congress to act responsibly and be trustworthy, but how can this happen when this Congress has no plan? No plan for a budget, no plan to create jobs, no plan to turn around our economy other than to spend, spend, and spend some more of the people's money. We spent more than a trillion dollars to create jobs, but as of yet, our unemployment rate still languishes at 9.5 percent.

Our Nation is plagued with debt, and not creating a budget further amplifies the problem.

Mr. Speaker, we are spending too much money. Even worse, we are spending too much money on programs that do not work. And even worse than that, we have no plan to pay any of this money back. And this problem is further compounded by this House's refusal to pass a budget.

It's time to cut spending and enact real, meaningful tax relief and put more money in the hands of the American people.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I support House Resolution 1470.

I want to thank my colleague from Hawaii for her kind words, and I want to echo much of her sentiment--a voice on the life of Chief Justice William S. Richardson.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, this resolution honors the life, achievements, and the distinguished career of William S. Richardson, the former chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Hawaii and former Democratic chairman of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

Chief Justice Richardson passed away on June 21 of this year. He was one of Hawaii's most influential figures. As Hawaii's Governor, Linda Lingle, recently stated, ``The former chief justice played an integral role in shaping Hawaii's political and legal landscape.''

For myself and my family, personally, Chief Justice Richardson touched my wife and I, as my wife is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law, and I taught at the law school that bears his name.

Chief Justice Richardson was born on December 22, 1919, and always referred to himself as ``just a local boy from Hawaii.'' He graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and he later attended law school at the University of Cincinnati.

Then, at the outset of World War II, he volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army. He saw combat as a platoon leader with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment. He was later inducted into the Infantry Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame.

After service in World War II, he returned to Hawaii where he played a key role in promoting Hawaii statehood. In 1959, when Hawaii became a State, Chief Justice Richardson was one of the most prominent figures, and he deserves the thanks of all of us for Hawaii's becoming the 50th State.

In 1962, Hawaii elected John Burns as its Governor. Chief Justice Richardson was his Lieutenant Governor, serving one term as the Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii from 1962 to 1966, as a Democrat. He was the first person of Hawaiian ancestry to hold that office.

Then, from 1966 to 1982, Richardson served as the chief justice of Hawaii's Supreme Court. During his 16 years as chief justice, he made a number of landmark rulings that have shaped Hawaii and our Nation's case law to this day.

Most of all, he is much loved by his family. As his son Bill Richardson recently stated, we should always remember him as a grandfather: ``When school ended, I could always count on him ready to pick me up. He'd come by and watch my practices as much as he could.''

I think that is the legacy all of us want to remember Chief Justice Richardson for.

For many years, Chief Justice Richardson fought for the establishment of a law school. His efforts culminated in 1973, establishing the first and, thus far, only law school in the State of Hawaii: the University of Hawaii's William S. Richardson School of Law. Chief Justice Richardson shared his wealth of knowledge with students, attorneys and judges; and he leaves a lasting legacy in our State.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, this resolution honors this long-time leader and path-breaking American. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this resolution.

Mahalo and aloha.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding.

Madam Speaker, today, I rise and count myself among the 1.1 million Americans who have already voted to cut spending via YouCut, a dynamic idea courtesy of the Republican whip, Eric Cantor.

These Americans are saying to this Congress that enough is enough. This government is spending far too much money on programs that do not work. Worst of all, we have no plan to pay this money back. Since the majority in Congress is refusing to cut spending, to exercise discipline or to even pass a budget, the American people are rising up and are standing in this gaffe.

Today's YouCut winner, which we are going to be looking at, is a straightforward proposal. It would simply prohibit taxpayer funding for union activities. This would save taxpayers $120 million this year alone and $1.2 billion over the next 10 years. This is a simple, commonsense idea, and it is one step in the right direction to restoring fiscal order in our House.

I urge my colleagues to listen to the American people, to cut this wasteful spending and to make tough choices that will provide us with a better tomorrow for ourselves and for our families.

Thank you to the gentlelady from Florida. I also want to express my thanks to Mr. Faleomavaega for bringing this resolution.

Mr. Speaker and Members, it is with some degree of sadness that I rise to speak in support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker and Members, it is my understanding from the House Historian's Office that I am the first Member of the United States Congress of Thai ancestry.

For myself, Thailand is not just a place. It is not just an ally of the United States. It is some place where my mother was born and raised and most of my mother's side of the family continues to reside. I of course speak in very strong support of this resolution asking for a peaceful resolution of the conflict and dispute going on currently in Thailand.

Mr. Speaker and Members, for us here in this Nation, while we may have very strong and bitter disagreements between Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals, we ultimately resolve our differences peacefully at the ballot box--not with a cartridge box. But now what is happening in Bangkok, Thailand, is saddening, disappointing; and it is something that we all, as Americans, must be troubled by. Thailand is an important ally for the United States in Southeast Asia and has been the lynch pin of our strategic interests in Southeast Asia for decades.

What I have seen on the streets of Bangkok and what my family has witnessed firsthand over the last few months is incredibly disappointing. Last month, Mr. Speaker, my family, when I talked to my cousins, it was with both joy and sadness to see what had transpired in our immediate family. It is with incredible honor and distinction that I was able to take the oath of office as a Member of the United States Congress. But my first cousins, who were born and raised in Thailand, unfortunately witnessed firsthand what was happening on the streets of Bangkok and saw firsthand the violence that was going on in the city center.

I think it is a reminder to all of us as Americans the uniqueness, the importance, the vitality and the incredible, incredible good fortune we have to call ourselves Americans.

But it is also what is happening in Bangkok that should remind us that we as a Nation should lead by example and remind all of the peoples of the world of what we can have and what we have here in this Nation, and it doesn't have to always end in violence.

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I strongly urge passage of this resolution and hope, on behalf of my family, that these differences that are going on right now in Thailand are resolved peacefully.

Mr. Speaker, I address the House this afternoon to remind our Nation of what has happened in the last 48 hours: The discussion of the Korean Peninsula has great impact and meaning upon our Nation as a whole.

I represent a congressional district that lies within the flight arc of North Korea's ballistic missiles. I am troubled by the report this morning in the Washington Post that the Korean Workers' Party in North Korea is trying to manage a dynastic transfer of its dictatorship from Kim Jong Il to his son, and I believe the United States must redouble its efforts to change this regime and establish a democratic and united Korea.

But I am also encouraged by the opportunity which has happened this past weekend and compliment President Obama for committing to a free trade agreement between the United States and South Korea.

Now is the time for us to further cement our bonds and our relationships between the United States and South Korea and make sure that we change the dictatorship in North Korea for the benefit of our Nation and the world as a whole.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service and achievements of Master Sergeant Buenalflor Robles, Jr. throughout his 28 years in the US Air Force and the Hawaii Air National Guard.

MSgt. Robles enlisted in 1983 and served on Active Duty until 1993, when he joined the Hawaii Air National Guard. For his service in the United States Air Force, MSgt. Robles received Air Force Achievement, Commendation and Meritorious Service Medals. MSgt. Robles served as a Knowledge Operations Management Specialist in the Hawaii Air National Guard, and held numerous supervisory positions in the Air Force. While serving full-time in the Hawaii Air National Guard, MSgt. Robles completed his Bachelor of Business Administration.

As a Captain in the Army National Guard, I understand the demands placed on guardsmen and I commend MSgt. Robles for his dedication to education and honorable service to the United States. I would also like to recognize MSgt. Robles' wife, Cheryl, his son, Andrew, and his daughter, Azia, each of whom supported his work throughout the years. I congratulate MSgt. Robles on his retirement from the Hawaii Air National Guard and thank him for his service to the state of Hawaii.