Kaiali'I Kahele

Madam Speaker, it is with deep sadness that I stand before you to share the passing of one of Hawaii's most beloved individuals, my friend and mentor, Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli.

Uncle Emmett, as many affectionately called him, dedicated his life to the health and well-being of Native Hawaiians.

He graduated from the University of Hawaii and later opened and practiced at Molokai Family Health Center and Clinic. He helped draft the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act that was signed into law in 1988 to improve the health status of Native Hawaiians and cofounded Na Pu'uwai, the Native Hawaiian Health Care System that serves the island of Molokai.

Dr. Aluli also served as a member of the Second Congressional District's Native Hawaiian Health Task Force, helping set Federal policies to advance Native Hawaiian healthcare.

Uncle Emmett leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of the people of Hawaii, and his contributions will be felt for generations. He will be greatly missed by his family and his beloved people of Molokai.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to continue to honor September as Hawaiian History Month in my home State of Hawaii.

Today, in ``olelo Hawaii'', ``Hawaiian language'', I will honor Joseph Kaho'oluhi Nawahi.

Joseph Kaho`oluhi Nawahiokalani`opu`u was born on January 13, 1842 in Kaimu, Puna on the Island of Hawai`i.

Keaweolalo was his true mother. Nawahiokalani`opu`u was his true father. Joseph Pa`akaula was his foster father. Joseph Pa`akaula was a teacher at Ke Kula `Aiakala.

Nawahi attended 4 schools, Ke Kula`Aiakala, Ke Kula Hanai O Hilo, Ke Kulanui O Lahainaluna and ke Kula Ali`i O Kahehuna.

Ua hanau `ia `o Iosepa Kaho`oluhi Nawahiokalani`opu`u ma ka la `umikumuakolu o Ianuali makahiki `umikamawalu kanahakumalua ma Kaimu, Puna, Moku o Keawe.

`O Keaweolalo kona luau`i makuahine. `O Nawahiokalani`opu`u kona luau`i makua kane. `O Iosepa Pa`akaula kona makua hanai. He kumu `o Iosepa Pa`akaula ma ke Kula `Aiakala.

`Eha kula a Nawahi i komo ai. `O Ke Kula `Aiakala, Ke Kula Hanai O Hilo. Ke Kulanui O Lahainaluna a me Kula Ali`i O Kahehuna.

Mr. Speaker, these words that I just shared are a simple recitation of biographical facts regarding Joseph Kaho'oluhi Nawahiokalani'opu'u, who was a Native Hawaiian nationalist leader, legislator, lawyer, newspaper publisher, and painter.

This speech has been memorized by hundreds of elementary school students--my own keiki included--who attend the Hawaiian language immersion school, Ke Kula `o Nawahiokalani'opu'u. These keiki not only honor these Native Hawaiian heroes but ensure that their names are heard, and their work lives on through them for generations to come. ``E ola kou inoa e Nawahi.''

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7321) to amend title 49, United States Code, to require certain air carriers to provide reports with respect to maintenance, preventive maintenance, or alterations, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7321, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7321, the Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act, introduced by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair, Peter DeFazio.

One level of safety. For over a decade, that has been the single- minded goal of Congress and the Federal Aviation Administration in setting aviation policy. But until domestic and FAA-certificated foreign repair stations are subject to the same oversight and safety standards, there is no hope we can achieve one level of safety.

In fact, existing safety rules make clear that there is not truly one level of safety. Under current FAA regulations, domestic repair station workers are subject to mandatory drug and alcohol testing. Workers at foreign repair stations are not. Domestic repair station workers are subject to comprehensive background investigations; foreign repair station workers are not.

Unfortunately, more and more maintenance work for U.S. air carriers is being sent overseas. The number of these facilities has grown by nearly 40 percent in the past 6 years. The global pandemic has only exacerbated this trend, as more than 8,200 aircraft maintenance jobs left the United States in just the past few years.

The Department of Transportation inspector general has also been ringing the alarm bell in five audit reports containing 41 recommendations since 2002 to improve the FAA's dangerously weak oversight of repair stations overseas.

How many more inspector general reports will it take for the FAA to be brave enough to take a leadership role in the international community and apply strong standards to foreign repair stations?

This bill will require the FAA to take a number of specific and decisive steps to improve oversight of foreign repair stations. These include, among other things: requiring all foreign repair stations to be subject to at least one unannounced inspection each year; requiring supervisors and individuals who authorize aircraft for return to service to meet minimum requirements and hold FAA mechanic or repairman certificates; and requiring the FAA to, one, comply with the 2016 mandate for a final rule on drug and alcohol testing of employees at foreign repair stations, and, two, initiate a rulemaking mandating background checks of such employees.

I thank the stakeholders for their support and the tireless efforts in working toward an agreeable solution as well as Ranking Member Graves and his staff.

Madam Speaker, this bill is a giant step in the right direction, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.