Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I also rise today in support of the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act, a bipartisan measure which I am proud to have introduced with my colleague from Guam (Mr. Moylan).

A special thanks to the House Natural Resources Committee, on which I was privileged to serve for 6 years, and the chair and ranking member of the subcommittee and full committee, for working with us to develop a mutually acceptable measure and for bringing it to the floor.

As already mentioned, invasive species jeopardize and too often destroy the delicate balance of our ecosystems, as they can outcompete, prey on, or introduce diseases to our native fauna and flora. The consequences of these disruptions are severe, leading to not only extinction of whole species but to declines in biodiversity, diminishment of the resilience of our ecosystems in the face of environmental change, and broader ripple effects economically, socially, and otherwise.

We in Hawaii understand, perhaps better than anyone, just how crucial it is that we remain vigilant in our response to these invasive species. Hawaii's isolation has led to the evolution of many endemic species that are found nowhere else on Earth.

Unfortunately, these native species often lack the defenses to compete or resist the pressures of the some 5,000 introduced invasive plants and animals, which can rapidly alter ecosystems and displace local species. Invasive species have caused significant ecological damage, threatening the survival of native birds and plants. Protecting Hawaii's unique biodiversity, through invaluable national wildlife refuges and otherwise, is not just an environmental necessity. It is also a cultural imperative that reflects the identity and heritage of the Native Hawaiian people.

However, invasive species are not just a localized problem. They pose a

significant threat to the integrity of our natural world. Addressing this crisis requires a coordinated and comprehensive approach, focusing first on prevention; second on early detection, which is key; and third on effective and coordinated management strategies to safeguard our vulnerable ecosystems.

Our bill, the National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act, will do just that, codifying the existing program currently operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These specialized teams play an essential role in managing emerging invasive species, employing strategies tailored to local conditions across the National Wildlife Refuge System. With 21 teams strategically positioned in various Fish and Wildlife Service regions, they are on the front lines, addressing the unique challenges posed by invasive species.

As another example, the Big Island Invasive Species Committee has been a part of a strike team for over a decade, working with the Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge on the eastern slopes of Mauna Kea to manage little fire ant threats and remove fountain grass and holly plants, which can choke out our native plants. The Big Island Invasive Species Committee is just one of the many great examples of this effective program and reminds us of its crucial and effective work.

This bill also mandates enhanced coordination and reporting through integrated systems and standardized procedures, ensuring transparency and enabling us to track progress with annual reports to Congress and the public. Furthermore, it authorizes $15 million annually through fiscal year 2029 to support ongoing initiatives.

This legislation is a crucial step forward in protecting our natural resources and enhancing our capacity to respond swiftly to the threats posed by invasive species. I humbly request my colleagues to lend their support to this bill and ensure the preservation of our ecosystems and promote a resilient future for our environment.

Mr. Speaker, ``thank you so very much.'' ``Mahalo nui loa.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1492, our bipartisan resolution reaffirming the enduring partnership between the Pacific Islands Forum and the United States.

The United States is a Pacific nation. We share deep and longstanding ties and values with the peoples of the Pacific.

The Pacific Islands Forum, currently 18 members strong, has served since 1971 as the Pacific's premier multilateral political and economic organization, advancing shared priorities, including regional security, economic development, and disaster resilience.

The United States has partnered with the PIF for decades to pursue our shared goals of a peaceful, secure, resilient, and prosperous Pacific.

As Pacific leaders gather in Palau for the 55th PIF leaders meeting, we wish the PIF continued success and express Congress' firm resolve that the United States will remain a strong, reliable, and active partner in the Blue Pacific.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support and cosponsor our resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my resolution reaffirming the enduring partnership between the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and its eighteen members and the United States toward stability, prosperity and peace in the Pacific, and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States will continue to remain a strong, reliable and active partner in advancing a peaceful, resilient and prosperous Blue Pacific.

The PIF is the Pacific Islands region's premier political and economic policy organization, bringing together 18 member countries and four associate members to advance shared priorities across the Blue Pacific. The Forum provides an important platform for Pacific Island countries and territories to work collectively on regional security, disaster resilience, economic development, ocean governance and other issues that directly affect the people of the Pacific.

The United States has longstanding ties with the PIF and the Pacific Island countries it represents. The United States has been a PIF Dialogue Partner since 1989, and our relationship is grounded in shared interests and longstanding connections across the Pacific. The United States is itself a Pacific Nation, home to millions of people with Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander heritage, and our Pacific territories of Guam and American Samoa are Associate Members of the PIF. We also share close relationships with the Freely Associated States through the Compacts of Free Association.

Our interests in the Pacific are clear. The United States and the PIF share a commitment to maintaining a peaceful and secure region, strengthening economic opportunity, responding to natural disasters, protecting our oceans and supporting a free and open Pacific. Strong engagement with the PIF is an important part of advancing these shared priorities while respecting Pacific leadership and the sovereignty of Pacific Island nations.

One of the PIF's principal annual gatherings is the PIF Leaders Meeting, where Pacific

leaders and Dialogue Partners come together to discuss regional priorities and set the Forum's agenda for the year ahead. The 55th PIP Leaders Meeting will take place in Palau from August 30 to September 4. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau is also expected to participate, making this an important opportunity to demonstrate continued U.S. engagement with the region.

This resolution reaffirms the United States' commitment to the PIF and encourages continued high-level engagement with Pacific regional institutions. It also supports Pacific-led implementation of the PIF's 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and calls for continued cooperation on regional security, disaster resilience, economic development, ocean stewardship, technology and connectivity and other shared priorities.

The United States has a strong interest in a peaceful, resilient and prosperous Pacific, and the PIF is an essential partner in achieving that goal. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan resolution and reaffirm that the United States will remain a strong, reliable and active partner to the Pacific Islands Forum and the people of the Blue Pacific.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Cruise Ship Fair Share Act, which confirms that states, territories, and other non- federal entities may levy taxes on cruise ships, their passengers, and their crew when those vessels are operating as tourist accommodations.

My legislation is prompted in part by recent litigation by cruise ship companies challenging Hawaii's application of its transient accommodations tax (TAT), a tax on all short-term accommodations like hotels, vacation rentals, timeshares and similar locations, to cruise ship operations in Hawaii waters at Hawaii ports. The TAT helps fund public infrastructure and environmental stewardship that is impacted by tourism operations, thus supporting both tourism and community impacts and resilience. Cruise ships, however, have challenged application of the TAT on federal grounds although accommodations on cruise ships are functionally no different from other transient accommodations and have the same impacts on our communities.

For Hawaii, these issues are about more than tax policy alone. Our islands face growing demands to maintain public infrastructure, preserve fragile ecosystems, protect coastal resources and strengthen community resilience in the face of environmental challenges. At the same time, visitors and visitor-serving industries benefit enormously from Hawaii's natural beauty and unique environment.

The Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act, which this bill would amend, was never intended to exempt ships from generally applicable taxes. This bill confirms that states and territories have the ability to ensure that all sectors of the visitor industry, including cruise ships, help support the stewardship and preservation of the places and resources that make those destinations possible, and that sufficient resources remain available to protect them for future generations. As this bill would make clear, federal law does not place cruise ships in a preferred position over hotels, vacation rentals and other visitor accommodations in who does and does not share the responsibility of addressing operations impacts.

I urge my colleagues to support my measure and confirm the right of states and territories to ensure that those who benefit from their communities contribute fairly to their upkeep and future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock as we recognize the completion of their first Operation Blue Pacific patrol.

The Hollyhock is a seagoing buoy tender, which the Coast Guard uses to monitor and perform repairs and maintenance on buoys and other navigational aids in U.S. territories and other areas with U.S. shipping interests. Originally ported in Port Huron, Michigan, the Hollyhock was reassigned to Honolulu in October 2025.

In April, the 50-person crew departed from Honolulu for the 42-day long Operation Blue Pacific, where they traveled over 7,500 nautical miles throughout the broader Oceania region.

Operation Blue Pacific is an ongoing multi-mission Coast Guard initiative across Oceania to bolster ties with Pacific Island nations and communities. The mission also contributes to broader U.S. efforts to monitor regional security developments and counter malign influence in the Pacific.

My home state of Hawaii relies heavily on and has benefited greatly from the presence of the Coast Guard. We fully appreciate the Coast Guard's direct support of Hawaii residents, both generally and through its District Oceania headquarters in Honolulu, by performing its statutory missions like search and rescue and maritime environmental protection. But I would like to especially highlight the Coast Guard's indispensable role beyond Hawaii throughout the broader Pacific.

The Pacific Islands region has long held critical importance to our country on several fronts. As an island state, Hawaii understands better than most the importance of strong relationships, reliable maritime infrastructure, and a sustained commitment to the communities that call the Pacific home.

The success of Operation Blue Pacific reflects the many ways in which Coast Guard personnel contribute to these goals every day. Through their technical expertise and commitment to service, the crew of the Hollyhock supported maritime communities in the U.S. territories of Midway and American Samoa while strengthening partnerships with Tonga, Kiribati, and the broader Oceania region. Their versatility and professionalism supported the Coast Guard's interest in maritime safety and advanced the shared interests of the United States and our Pacific neighbors.

These accomplishments are particularly noteworthy because they represent the type of work that often occurs outside the public spotlight. The crew's efforts required long days at sea, adaptability in the face of changing conditions, and a willingness to serve far from family and home. Their dedication helped ensure that critical missions were carried out effectively and that longstanding relationships throughout Oceania continued to grow stronger.

At a time when the Pacific region faces evolving challenges and opportunities, the service of the Hollyhock's crew demonstrates the enduring value of American engagement and partnership. Their work reflects the Coast Guard's proud tradition of readiness, cooperation and service to others.

I strongly support the Coast Guard and the resources necessary to carry out its broad and demanding missions. The accomplishments of the Hollyhock crew serve as a reminder of the remarkable men and women who make those missions possible through their skill and dedication.

I extend my sincere congratulations to Commander Jessica McCollum and every member of the Hollyhock crew on the successful completion of this patrol. On behalf of the people of Hawaii, I offer mahalo for their service and for representing our state and our Nation with distinction throughout the Pacific.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act, introduced by my colleague, Representative Sharice Davids of Kansas, and co-sponsored by me.

The Small Business Administration's Office of Native American Affairs works with Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations to provide entrepreneurial development, contracting and capital access and to support the establishment and expansion of small businesses owned or controlled by our Nation's indigenous peoples, including Native Hawaiians. It helps our Nation remain focused on our Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities and their vital contributions to our national and local economies.

This bill will provide formal, statutory authority for the office so it can continue its efforts. Statutorily authorizing the Office of Native American Affairs will ensure continued access to federal programs and services that support entrepreneurs from our indigenous peoples across the country and help them launch and grow small businesses, and in turn, promote economic development in their communities.

This bill will especially help businesses in my home state of Hawaii. Small businesses are the lifeblood of Hawaii, and it is essential to equip Native Hawaiian-owned small businesses with the tools and resources they need to start, grow and thrive in our communities.

I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this bill and supporting small businesses owned by our Nation's indigenous peoples.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my legislation, the Transit Oriented Development Act, and urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan effort to expand affordable housing opportunities in communities across our country.

The affordable housing shortage remains one of the most significant drivers of the rising cost of living facing millions of Americans. In my home state of Hawai`i, the crisis is particularly acute. Housing costs consume an outsized share of household income, forcing working families to make impossible choices between rent, groceries and health care. Far too many of our children (keik), and locals (kama`aina) find themselves priced out of the communities they call home.

To truly address affordability, we must not only increase the supply of housing but do so in ways that reflect the unique economic realities of our communities and lower overall living costs for families. That means building housing that is attainable, well-located, and connected to jobs and services.

One of the most important federal tools we have to do that is the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which has long been one of our Nation's most successful programs for financing affordable rental housing. Yet the current allocation structure does not always reflect the significant differences in housing costs and development challenges that exist across the country. Because allocations are based principally on population, communities facing exceptionally high housing costs--including Hawai`i and other noncontiguous jurisdictions--often face greater difficulty producing affordable housing despite having substantial need.

Our Transit Oriented Development Act takes a targeted approach to addressing that challenge. The bill provides an enhanced Low-Income Housing Tax Credit incentive for affordable housing developments located within designated transit-oriented development areas. This includes places that are already served by rail, bus, harbor or waterway transportation and are zoned for higher-density development. By encouraging affordable housing near existing transportation infrastructure, we can help reduce transportation costs for residents, improve access to jobs and essential services and support more efficient and sustainable community growth.

The legislation also recognizes the unique circumstances facing Hawaii, Alaska, and the United States territories by providing a modest additional basis boost for developments in those jurisdictions. This adjustment reflects the higher costs and unique constraints associated with affordable housing development in non-contiguous areas while helping ensure that the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit can more effectively serve the communities it was designed to assist.

Finally, this bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to study how geographic differences in housing costs and transit accessibility might be better reflected in future tax credit allocations. That analysis will help inform future policy discussions and ensure that federal housing resources are distributed in a manner that more accurately reflects real-world conditions.

Mr. Speaker, affordable housing and accessible transportation are both essential components of strong, resilient communities. This legislation advances both goals through a practical, bipartisan approach that builds on an existing and proven housing program. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support the Transit Oriented Development Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Legislative Branch Agencies Clarification Act, which was introduced by my colleague, Representative Griffith.

As the independence of the legislative branch continues to be challenged and eroded, we must take the necessary steps to ensure our ability to function as an unimpeded co-equal branch of government. This important legislation is part of an overall effort to strengthen and protect Congressional independence.

Similar to my bill, the Legislative Branch Independence Act (H.R. 6517), the House is seeking in this legislation to provide the necessary clarity regarding the governance of agencies that uniquely serve the Legislative Branch and reaffirm Congress' constitutional authority over its own institutions.

By shifting the appointment authority away from the executive branch for the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Government Publishing Office, both bills further align the responsibilities of these agencies to the Legislative Branch.

While my bill differs in its addition of the Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office, the shared effort to retain Congressional control over the appointment process for key legislative branch officials reflects our common intent to strengthen and protect the structure of these institutions that serve us.

I urge my colleagues to join me in working to secure the enactment of these bills to empower Congress to control all aspects of key legislative branch agencies.

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.

Our legislation addresses a growing criminal enterprise that 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.

Investigations have repeatedly shown that traffickers frequently 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.

These dangers are especially acute in Hawaii, where illegal aerial 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.

This legislation would strengthen law enforcement's ability to combat 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.

I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense measure to strengthen public safety, combat organized criminal activity and help prevent future tragedies in Hawaii and across the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, during the consideration of the Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, the House was scheduled to vote on an amendment to eliminate the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund. I opposed the proposal, and even though it was ultimately not offered, we must oppose any similar effort to do so in the future.

In 1941, more than 250,000 Filipino soldiers responded to President Roosevelt's call-to-arms in the Philippines and elsewhere and fought bravely for the U.S. and our allies during World War II. They endured the horrors of the Bataan Death March and wartime prison camps. They waged a relentless guerrilla campaign and eventually rejoined American forces that eventually returned to the Philippines. Filipino soldiers ultimately paved the way for the liberation of the Pacific and the end of the Second World War.

After sacrificing for our country, many returned home from the war only to be denied the benefits promised for their service. Because of the Rescission Acts of 1946, most Filipino World War II Veterans did not receive compensation on par with United States veterans for their service.

To help right this wrong, in 2019 Congress passed and the President signed into law legislation that created the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund. It set up one-time payments to eligible Filipino veterans who aided American troops during World War II. Filipino veterans who were United States citizens were eligible for a one-time payment of $15,000, and veterans who are non-citizens were eligible for a one-time payment of $9,000.

Despite efforts to make a payment to every possible beneficiary, many Filipinos struggled to obtain the documentation needed to prove their eligibility given the many decades that passed since World War II. The federal government has held onto these funds to allow these veterans who fought for our Nation every chance possible to prove their service and receive a payment in the final years of their lives, to ease any hardships they may have and to pay off a small part of the debt owed to them for the benefits they earned, yet were taken away from them.

Rather than close this program, we should redouble our efforts to help those who struggled to obtain the document to prove their service. We must help and not again abandon these Filipino veterans, most of whom are now in their late 90s or over 100 years old.

I strongly urge all my colleagues to oppose this misguided effort.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to Amendment No. 43 offered by Mr. Roy, to eliminate the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

In 1941, more than 250,000 Filipino soldiers responded to President Roosevelt's call-to-arms in the Philippines and elsewhere and fought bravely for the U.S. and our allies during World War II. They endured the horrors of the Bataan Death March and wartime prison camps. They waged a relentless guerrilla campaign and eventually rejoined American forces that eventually returned to the Philippines. Filipino soldiers ultimately paved the way for the liberation of the Pacific and the end of the Second World War.

After sacrificing for our country, many returned home from the war only to be denied the benefits promised for their service. Because of the Rescission Acts of 1946, most Filipino World War II Veterans did not receive compensation on par with United States veterans for their service.

To help right this wrong, in 2019 Congress passed and the President signed into law legislation that created the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund. It set up one-time payments to eligible Filipino veterans who aided American troops during World War II, Filipino veterans who were United States citizens were eligible for a one-time payment of $15,000, and veterans who are non-citizens were eligible for a one-time payment of $9,000.

Despite efforts to make a payment to every possible beneficiary, many Filipinos struggled to obtain the documentation needed to prove their eligibility given the many decades that passed since World War II. The federal government has held onto these funds to allow these veterans who fought for our Nation every chance possible to prove their service and receive a payment in the final years of their lives to ease any hardships they may have and to pay off a small part of the debt owed to them for the benefits they earned yet were taken away from them.

Rather than close this program, we should redouble our efforts to help those who struggled to obtain the document to prove their service. We must help and not again abandon these Filipino veterans, most of whom are now in their late 90s or over 100 years old.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the critical need to address seriously aging and increasingly failing physical infrastructure in Hawaii across all services. This can no longer be chalked up or explained away as deferred maintenance; it requires Congressional action considering the Department's negligent administration and budgeting to address clear risks to personnel safety, mission readiness, and ultimately our ability to deter and prevail in the Indo-Pacific.

Hawaii has served as a linchpin of our Nation's presence in the Indo- Pacific since 1875, when King Kalakaua granted the United States the right to enter Pearl Harbor and establish a coaling and repair station. Today, Hawaii is the Indo-Pacific home to every service--the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Space Force--along with a significant presence of our Nation's intelligence community. It is our Nation's Indo-Pacific headquarters, hosting U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Army Pacific, Marine Corps Forces Pacific, Special Operations Command Pacific, Space Force Indo- Pacific and the National Security Agency Hawaii. It also has many key military installations including Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Schofield Barracks, Fort Shafter, the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Pohakuloa Training Area, and various other locations. These installations support key operating forces based in Hawaii, including nuclear attack submarines, surface combatants, an Army infantry division, F-22s, MV-22s, C-17s, fuel tankers, Apaches, a Marine Corp regiment, and approximately 60,000 Department of Defense (DoD) personnel plus families.

This presence requires significant physical infrastructure investments that are sometimes difficult to maintain. Hawaii's geographic isolation makes everything from fuel to concrete significantly more expensive because they must be transported across thousands of miles of oceans. Our tropical location with buildings on or close to the ocean is also incredibly stressful on infrastructure. We face constant exposure to salt-laden air and high humidity, that can quickly cause metal to rust and lead to shorter lifespans than identical structures built on the mainland.

Despite generosity from the House Armed Services and Appropriations Committees in recent years, we must face the hard truth that the Department is not prioritizing critical repair and maintenance on its own. A 2023 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) study found that Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam alone requires almost $5 billion to properly renovate and modernize--twice that of the next closest Navy base needing major upgrades. A 2022 CBO study found that U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii and Fort Bragg essentially tied with a $1.5 billion deferred maintenance backlog, and a 2024 CBO report noted that Marine Corps Base Hawaii was among the ``top'' three Marine Corps bases with the worst backlog of deferred maintenance. Failing to perform such maintenance will accelerate the degradation of real property and increase the cost of future renovations and repairs.

The effects of avoiding infrastructure investments for years are now having real world consequences in Hawaii. For example, our aging waste water treatment systems at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Marine Corps Base Hawaii have repeatedly spilled raw and insufficiently treated sewage into our oceans, and power outages and water main breaks have become all too real occurrences with potentially major impacts on service members' safety, especially when it affects Tripler Army Medical Center--the military's largest medical facility in the Indo- Pacific.

For far too long we have also ignored the need for major new construction. The Marine Corps' three-star command headquarters for the Indo-Pacific operates in the 1940s era `Aiea Heights Naval Hospital that lacks sufficient classified spaces and secure connections. Special Operations Command Pacific, which serves as the functional component for all special operations missions throughout the Indo-Pacific, has personnel spread across 19 locations in O`ahu due to facility space limitations at its primary headquarters at Camp H. M. Smith. Space Forces Indo-Pacific is operating out of temporary buildings, which are little more than trailers. The 25th Infantry Division's Headquarters lacks sufficient Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility spaces and a modern headquarters facility. Failing to invest in these headquarters units now will make command and control more difficult in a time of war.

Further, the modern equipment used by our troops is in desperate need of new modern buildings to house them. The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment does not have a magazine for the new weapons it needs, lacks sufficient climate-controlled facilities for its modern equipment, and has insufficient classified workspaces. Army helicopters operate out of World War II era hangers without modern climate control that often lead to spare parts being rusted and unusable. The Air Force's runways

and taxiways at Hickam Field have gotten so bad that waivers are requested for all routine landings, and aircraft stationed in Hawaii have longer depot periods because there is not even an adequate aircraft wash facility. Piers throughout Pearl Harbor should have been fully replaced years ago as many cannot support the cranes needed to maintain our vessels, and most piers and wharves cannot be used to refuel our vessels.

Finally, housing remains a major concern for too many. The barracks at U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii and Marine Corps Base Hawaii do not meet modern standards, and there is a strong desire from both the military and State of Hawaii to move more service members back onto base to alleviate high stress on the civilian housing supply, yet military housing is essentially full and many older buildings face ongoing maintenance issues, especially related to air conditioning that leads to dangerous mold when left unaddressed.

Mr. Speaker, the failure to address these infrastructure issues is placing our Nation's presence and mission in the Indo-Pacific at risk, and I ask for your help to address it. Given the depth of the problem, it will likely take many years and actions to address the challenge, but some of our first steps can include:

Investing in Critical Conflict-Related Infrastructure. The FY 2026 NDAA conference report mandated a study on the infrastructure investments required to support potential conflict-related needs in Hawaii. Congress must carefully review this forthcoming report and act on recommendations that can prepare Hawaii for any future contingency.

Funding Facilities Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization (FSRM). Congress has wisely required the military to no longer short- change FSRM accounts. We must ensure this happens over multiple years and prevent further backsliding.

Support Unfunded Priorities. Far too often the military has been reluctant to fund projects in Hawaii because they are expensive. However, many projects make the unfunded priorities list, a sign that the military needs Congressional help to address critical shortfalls. When justified and executable, we must authorize these projects.

Reforming Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI). Despite the need for investments to support U.S. military power in the Indo-Pacific, rarely do Hawaii construction projects carry a PDI ``label.'' The Government Accountability Office reviewed the DoD's PDI budget and concluded that the PDI does not consistently reflect department-wide priorities or requirements and generally presents an inconsistent mix of programs and funding. We need to reform the PDI budget presentation rules so readiness projects critical to the Indo-Pacific are properly considered and funded.

Creating Infrastructure ``Tiger Teams.'' Given workforce shortages in key public works departments, we need small, specialized, and cross- functional group of high-level experts assembled temporarily to investigate and develop actionable plans to address our infrastructure woes in Hawaii. These teams bypass standard slow-moving hierarchies and create plans for action.

Resolving Joint Infrastructure Issues. Much of the military's infrastructure in Hawaii has a joint element especially since the services need to share installations given the limited land available in our islands. For example, Pohakuloa Training Area is used by all the services and could use improvement to its airfield and temporary barracks. However, there are often disagreements over how to move forward in a joint manner as illustrated by ongoing disagreements over how to prioritize and fund Air Force infrastructure needs at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam that have remained unresolved for years. Given the joint nature of Hawaii's military infrastructure, it needs leadership from a joint perspective to ensure all interests are considered and supported.

We must face the hard truth that the status quo for military infrastructure in Hawaii is unsustainable. We can no longer expect our service members to project 21st-century power from 20th-century infrastructure. The fiscal and operational costs of continued neglect far outweigh the investment required to modernize these aging facilities. The steps I have proposed today represent a roadmap to restoring our regional readiness, but I stand ready to work with my colleagues to ensure the FY 2027 NDAA and appropriations bills provides the necessary resources to rebuild and protect our Nation's most critical Indo-Pacific location.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my steadfast support for the Peace Corps as we celebrate the 65th anniversary of its founding this month.

On March 1st, we marked 65 years since President John F. Kennedy issued his historic call to service at the University of Michigan. That call inspired a generation of Americans to serve beyond our shores. From its first group of volunteers in 1961, the Peace Corps has grown into a global network of more than 240,000 Americans who have served in over 140 countries. For six and a half decades, it has remained a singular instrument of American people-to-people diplomacy, advancing world peace and friendship through service.

Today, the Peace Corps continues to connect American volunteers to opportunity internationally, providing technical assistance and fostering social and economic development abroad. Its services span various fields, including agriculture, economic development, education, environment, health and youth development.

As a Member of Congress from Hawaii, representing our Pacific Island communities and the deep ties that bind us across Oceania, I am especially proud of the Peace Corps' enduring legacy in the Indo- Pacific. The Peace Corps first established its presence in the Pacific Islands in 1966. It partnered with what are now the Freely Associated States--the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Since then, more than 13,000 volunteers have served in 12 Pacific Island nations. They have taught in classrooms, strengthened public health systems, supported youth leadership and worked alongside communities to build climate resilience and promote sustainable development.

Service flourished in the region until 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the evacuation of thousands of volunteers. This marked the first global suspension of Peace Corps operations in its history. But today, we celebrate not only an anniversary, but a new beginning.

Peace Corps volunteers have returned to Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. Plans are underway to resume service in Palau, and Congressional support exists to expand to the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. In January 2023, Samoa became the first Pacific Island nation to welcome volunteers back after the pandemic. Americans are once again serving as educators, librarians, health partners and community development advisors. They are working on disaster preparedness, environmental education and youth empowerment.

Public support for the Peace Corps remains strong. The ratio of annual applications to available volunteer positions exceeds 4 to 1. Thousands of Americans are ready and eager to serve. Retired General Stanley McChrystal described the gap between applicants and available opportunities as ``democratic energy wasted and a generation of patriotism needlessly squandered.'' With sufficient funding, the agency can expand into strategically important regions, including additional Pacific Island nations that are eager to welcome volunteers.

Today, I continue to see the impact of the Peace Corps in my own district. I see it in the enthusiastic students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa who are preparing to become the next generation of Peace Corps volunteers. I also see it in the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Hawaii, more than 300 members strong, including many elders (kupuna) and veterans, who after completing their service chose to carry forward the Peace Corps mission here at home and across our Nation.

At a time when the world faces complex geopolitical, economic, humanitarian, public health and climate challenges, this is not the moment to reduce our commitment. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I strongly support the Peace Corps and its mission. I will continue working to protect and strengthen its funding so it can meet the growing demand for service.

On this 65th anniversary, let us reflect on President Kennedy's vision. He recognized that the talents cultivated across our Nation could serve the common good. He understood that national security and compassionate diplomacy are linked. That vision lives on through the work of thousands of volunteers today. It is our responsibility to carry that legacy forward.

I honor the Peace Corps family (`ohana) around the world, past, present and future, and want them to know that their steadfast commitment to service is deeply appreciated and profoundly valued. Especially in challenging times, their dedication to a broader purpose reflects the very best of our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this as a member of the Appropriations Committee, as well as of our Subcommittees on Defense and Homeland Security.

Madam Speaker, I join the vast majority of Americans in condemning the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. There is brutality and death in our streets, so-called leaders trashing victims and their grieving families, warrantless searches, and fear in our own citizens. I had a State senator in my own district tell me this last week that she was fearful of going out to talk to her constituents in her district without her passport.

This is unacceptable. This is un-American, and ICE must be reformed. Until it is, neither it, nor its parent entity, the Department of Homeland Security, should be fully funded.

The best way for us to reform ICE is to keep laser focused on ICE reform, and this measure does exactly that. It gives this administration and my majority colleagues 10 days to work with us all to do the right thing. Unless the right thing is done, we should not fund the Department of Homeland Security

This measure also funds 70 percent of our Federal Government, rather than shut it down again. I will focus on just a few areas where this is critical. Let's start with defense, half of our total budget.

It is a time when it is critical to our national security that our Defense Department be fully operating, be fully focused, be nimble, be quick, and have the ability to adjust. Yet, we have kept our Defense Department essentially crippled for 16 months now since the last time that we funded it in regular order and gave it direction through funding and oversight. That was fiscal year 2024.

They have been operating on a continuing resolution for 16 months now, and that cripples national security. That is a national security risk. No new programs are possible, and procurement is excessively expensive because it cannot function over multiple years without effective system-wide modernization. Any military leader will say that the worst thing going for it right now, at a time when it has to adjust to the PRC and Russia across a variety of focuses, is that it now needs full flexibility.

In Financial Services and General Government, this bill funds the Federal courts. Can we envision a time in our history when it was not more important that the Federal courts be fully staffed and funded? I don't think so.

This bill funds Social Security. It enables Social Security to continue to function for the millions of Americans who depend on it at a time when Social Security is being crippled by staff cuts.

In Foreign Affairs, this bill provides continued security assistance to our friends and allies throughout the world. It maintains some effective projection of presence out there into the world. It funds the Countering PRC Influence Fund that is so important to us.

In transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration, it funds the FAA so that our air transportation system can continue to function.

For Federal workers overall, who have borne the brunt of our failure to appropriate in regular order, it will help millions throughout our country by assuring them that they can continue without great doubt.

We must pass this measure now.

Madam Speaker, it must not be, need not be, and will not be at the expense of ICE reform.

We sacrifice none of that mandate to reform ICE by passing this bill today.

Finally, I say to our Department of Homeland Security employees out there who have served us so well through so much difficulty, to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, Transportation Security Administration, they do critical work for us, and we apologize to them that we must create uncertainty to them for the foreseeable future, but we ask them to understand that reforming ICE is critical not just to those who are suffering at the hands of ICE, but it is critical to our country.

They will be paid. They will be paid because this continues their pay. But because of the uncertainty that they must live with until we get this resolved, we appreciate their cooperation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to build a new national cemetery in Hawaii. I am joined by my Hawaii colleagues, Congresswoman Jill Tokuda, and Senator Mazie Hirono, who is introducing the companion bill in the Senate.

Our Nation has a special responsibility to our veterans. They served with selfless service, courage and sacrifice to defend our Nation. As a fitting measure of respect for their service, our federal government provides a burial benefit for veterans who meet certain criteria. This benefit is a solemn national recognition of our veterans' service and a dignified final tribute.

Veterans who qualify for burial benefits have a choice about their final resting place, including burial in a national cemetery. The national cemetery in Hawaii is the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, often referred to as ``Punchbowl.''

Few national cemeteries can compete with the natural beauty and calm of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, which is nestled in a quiet 100,000-year-old volcanic crater at the foot of the Koolau Mountains. It's lush green lawns and sprawling banyan and monkeypod trees offering a serene and natural amphitheater that creates a peaceful place for solemn remembrance.

With a rich history linking the site to the Native Hawaiian people and the defense of Honolulu during the Second World War, the cemetery opened to the public on July 19, 1949, with services for five who lost their lives in service to our Nation: an unknown serviceman, two Marines, an Army lieutenant and one civilian--noted war correspondent Ernie Pyle. Since then, it has become the final resting place for an estimated 53,000 veterans from World War I, the Second World War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the War on Terror.

Sadly, we have begun to run out of room to bury our Nation's heroes at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. It became essentially closed to casketed burials in 1991 and will stop accepting cremated remains by 2036. This is a serious concern for the roughly 115,000 veterans living in Hawaii, some 11% of the state's population.

To maintain equitable access to burial benefits in a national cemetery for veterans residing in Hawaii, where the next closest national cemetery is over 2,500 miles way, our Nation must begin the construction of a new cemetery. The work should start immediately, as developing a new national cemetery involves many phases, including community consultation, which can take more than eight years to complete.

I urge my colleagues to support me in this effort to ensure we can assure a fitting last resting place in a national cemetery for our Nation's veterans in Hawaii.