Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, today I commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Leadership Alliance. The Leadership Alliance, established in 1992, is a national academic consortium of leading research universities and minority serving institutions with the mission to develop underrepresented students into outstanding leaders and role models in academia, business, and the public sector.

Through an organized program of research, networking and mentorship at various critical transitions alont the entire academic training pathway, the Leadership Alliance prepares young scientists and scholars from underrepresented and underserved populations for

graduate training and professional apprenticeships. Leadership Alliance faculty mentors provide high quality, cutting-edge research experiences in all academic disciplines at the nation's most competitive graduate training institutions and share insights into the nature of academic careers.

Chaminade University, located in Honolulu, Oahu, has been a member institution of the Leadership Alliance since 2007. In the past five years, 16 students have participated in the Summer Research Early Identification Program--performing research at Brown, Harvard, Tufts, Yale, and other universities.

Nearly 70 percent of Leadership Alliance early identification students enroll into a graduate level program and, of that 70 percent, 25 percent enroll into PhD programs. Chaminade students have had transformative summer research experiences, encouraging their pursuit of graduate degrees, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

One Chaminade student, Natasha Flores, was able to do research at Yale University. Since graduating, she has conducted cancer research at the National Cancer Institute and has just completed her second year in a Cancer Biology Ph.D. Program at Stanford University. Joseph Tillotson, a 2011 Chaminade graduate, completed two summers of research through the Leadership Alliance and will be beginning Ph.D. studies in Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Arizona this fall.

Leadership Alliance Doctoral Scholars are diversifying the academy at research-intensive institutions and are engaging in career positions in government and industry.

Congratulations to the Leadership Alliance on two decades of committed service to supporting a diverse and competitive research and scholarly workforce in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that transparency in the activities of government is extremely important and that we should endeavor to let in more sunlight, not less. Therefore, I am proud to support H.R. 459, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act.

The financial crisis of 2007-2008 cost nearly $6.5 trillion in household wealth. That's home equity and savings for retirement and college that millions of people will likely never get back. Between December 2007 and early 2010 8.7 million jobs were lost--Including a record-breaking 779,000 in January of 2009 alone.

I raise these frightening numbers to illustrate a point--the impact of the financial crisis was disastrous, widespread, and occurred very quickly.

As a result, unprecedented steps were taken to halt the disastrous decline in our economy. These included the Federal Reserve (the Fed) stretching its emergency lending authority farther than it ever had to before. This, along with the legislative actions of Congress and the efforts of the Bush and Obama Administrations, helped to prevent the ``Great Recession'' from instead becoming ``The Great Depression Redux.''

The Obama Administration and Congress have worked to rebuild our economy. Over 4.4 million jobs have been created over the past 28 consecutive months. The American automobile industry has been saved and is prospering. Communities across the nation benefitted from investments in transportation, energy, and other vital areas from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Fed has also contributed to this effort by keeping interest rates low and other measures.

But progress has not been fast enough. We are all frustrated by the current state of affairs. We are also rightly frustrated at the conduct of banks and bankers--private sector bankers and central bankers alike.

I recognize that the actions of the Fed are subject to Congressional oversight and audits by the Government Accountability Office. I was proud to support the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which included needed reforms of the Fed's emergency lending authority, and required that the Government Accountability Office conduct an audit of the Fed's emergency lending programs.

These are much needed steps. While I don't share the view that we should abolish the Fed, or that the Fed's activities are necessarily malicious, I do believe that the American people have a right to know how decisions about interest rates and other policies that impact their day-to-day lives are made.

The recent revelations that major international banks colluded to set the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR), which is an influential global interest rate, indicate that it is in the public interest to more closely scrutinize the activities of both financial market players as well as those that are supposed to be the unbiased referees like the Fed.

Today's bill is a positive step toward doing that and I am proud to support H.R. 459.

Mr. Chair, I support passage of H.R. 5856, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2013, which supports our servicemembers and makes important investments in our national security and in the health, well-being, and readiness of our Armed Forces.

Our country owes a debt of gratitude to our military and their families for their service and selfless sacrifices. We in Hawaii are proud of the men and women in our military that have served and are currently serving in Afghanistan. Above all, we must also never forget those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Supporting our servicemembers and their families, whether it's during deployment or as they transition back into civilian life, is a solemn commitment we must keep.

Many of our men and women in uniform are suffering from serious wounds from their service, both visible and invisible. That's why I'm pleased to see increases in traumatic brain injury and psychological health funding as well as suicide prevention and outreach. The bill also boosts resources for peer-reviewed research on Gulf War Illness, Lou Gehrig's disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, vision and spinal cord conditions, and many other medical research initiatives.

This legislation will further protect access to health coverage for Hawaii's military retirees, who have dedicated their careers in service to our country. Through the adoption of an amendment offered by Representative Stearns, no funds could be used to implement a fee to enroll in TRICARE for Life.

Hawaii has a strong military presence and is home to thousands of military families. As a strong advocate for Impact Aid, I welcome the increased amount of this funding, which helps ensure the federal government does its part to support our nation's local school districts and military families and educate military-connected children.

By providing support for the operation, maintenance and procurement for our military's installations in Hawaii, including Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Schofield Barracks, and Kaneohe Marine Corps Base, H.R. 5856 protects jobs and advances President Obama's strategic refocusing on the Asia-Pacific region. The measure also affirms the critical role of our citizen soldiers and airmen in the defense of our nation in providing for critical Army equipment needs and rejecting force structure reductions and aircraft retirements proposals that would have negatively affected Air Guard and Reserve units across the country.

With turmoil continuing in the Middle East, now more than ever we must stand strong with our friend and ally Israel. This measure includes additional funding for joint U.S.-Israeli defense cooperation, and continued support for Iron Dome system, which has protected and saved lives from the daily threat of rockets aimed at towns and cities in a country surrounded by hostility and instability.

While H.R. 5856 supports our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines in Hawaii and around the world, this defense appropriations bill contains provisions that raise serious concerns. For example, this bill slows down the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan; it is over the President's budget request and over the Budget Control Act passed last year. H.R. 5856 excludes funds requested by the President for the production of domestic biofuel for our military, an important initiative our military leadership supports. Furthermore, the bill places a significant amount of our nation's resources in certain weapons systems the Defense Department neither requested nor needed.

It is my hope that Senate will address these serious issues and that we can pass a final bill that is fiscally responsible, reaffirms the American people's commitment to our servicemembers and protects our national security.

Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 464, the Markey amendment, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Young of Alaska

Mr. Chair, I intended to vote ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 465, the amendment offered by my friend Congressman Young of Alaska.

Amendment No. 7 Offered by Mr. Grijalva

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of restoring funding for Native Hawaiian housing programs.

The bill before us zeroes out funding for Native Hawaiian housing programs.

This is disappointing for the Native Hawaiian community and the families that need assistance from these programs.

It is also disappointing because Congress has a long history of bipartisan support for Native Hawaiian housing--and a responsibility to continue this legacy.

It has been nearly a century since the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. Congress passed this Act in 1921 at the urging of Hawaii's Delegate to Congress, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana`ole. That legislation set aside some 200,000 acres of land to provide homesteads specifically for Native Hawaiians.

With the enactment of the Statehood Act of 1959, the control and administration of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act was transferred from the federal government to the new State of Hawaii. A year later in 1960, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, DHHL, was created to administer the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act.

Then in 2000, Congress passed the American Homeownership and Economic Opportunity Act.

This legislation established two programs to help provide housing to Native Hawaiians: The Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant, NHHBG, Program and the Section 184A loan guarantee program.

Hawaii has some of the most expensive real estate prices in the country. At the same time, more than 33,200 Native Hawaiian households are considered low-income. So without support from the NHHBG and 184A programs, many Native Hawaiians would not have access to quality, affordable housing. The grant funds are used primarily to develop infrastructure on Hawaiian Home Lands, which tend to be in the most isolated parts of our islands, typically in rural areas, and some with terrain that is difficult and costly to develop.

Not only are these programs necessary but they are effective.

For example, in FY2011 Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant funds were used to build 55 new homes, acquire 12 homes, and rehabilitate 12 homes. In addition, the Section 184A program has supported 255 home loans totaling $64.4 million. This program also has a strong track record, with a foreclosure rate elow 1 percent.

That's 79 new units of housing and 255 opportunities for Native Hawaiians to access financing for their own homes that would not have existed absent the NHHBG and 184A programs. These are real people in real homes--They are not statistics.

The bottom line is that these programs don't just provide housing-- they expand opportunities for homeownership.

Owning a home has long been a pillar of the American dream. This is a dream that people do not forget, and do not give up on.

In fact, over 26,000 eligible families are currently on waiting lists for an opportunity to live on their home lands.

There are many stories of Native Hawaiians who have been on waiting lists for decades. In fact, some have died waiting to see this dream fulfilled.

Eliminating these funds--Which total $14 million for the two programs--won't solve our budget woes. All it will accomplish is closing off opportunities for a community that utilizes federal funds effectively.

This is the type of program that makes a difference in the lives of people by supporting strong communities and expanding opportunity.

There is a continued need for Native Hawaiian housing programs and I urge my colleagues to carry on Congress's bipartisan support for making the American dream of homeownership possible.

I hope that this matter will be resolved as the House and Senate negotiate a final Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2013.

Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Richard A. Crowe of Hilo, Hawaii--an extraordinary man whose loss is deeply felt. For the past few decades, Dr. Crowe's leadership in the fields of astronomy and physics and his profound love of teaching has influenced generations of islanders throughout East Hawaii and our island state.

Dr. Crowe was a vital part of the University of Hawaii at Hilo: the co-founder of the astronomy program and the Astronomer-In-Residence at the Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii, which is affiliated with the university. A beloved professor, Dr. Crowe inspired many to follow in his footsteps and pursue careers in astronomy.

Dr. Crowe also shared his passion for astronomy with Hawaii Island's younger students. His portable planetarium could be found in public school classrooms throughout Hilo, helping Dr. Crowe to get students excited about astronomy.

He was committed to community and public service--participating in the Hawaii County Band, the Kanilehua Chorale, and the local rotary club.

We remember and honor Dr. Crowe, and I join with his family, friends, colleagues, and students in giving thanks for his life of service and inspiration.

His greatest legacy continues to be the many who have discovered their own love for the stars and galaxies above us through his influence. Dr. Crowe and his teachings will never be forgotten.

Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much).

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No.: 371, ``no;'' 372, ``no;'' 373, ``no;'' 374, ``no;'' 375, ``no;'' 376, ``yes;'' 377, ``yes;'' 378, ``no.'' Had I been present, I would have voted as indicated.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 388, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Hirono-Chu-Matsui- Lee-Carnahan amendment. This amendment will increase the resources for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, or ARPA-E.

In 2006, the National Academy of Sciences released a report titled, ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm.'' That report called for the establishment of an Agency focused on energy. That Agency would be modeled after the famous Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA. Congress created ARPA-E in the 2007 America COMPETES Act. That legislation passed the House and Senate with strong bipartisan support.

ARPA-E's purpose is to support research that helps Americans lead a 21st-century clean-energy revolution. This is about generating new ideas and innovations that lead to new jobs, industries, and opportunities. Ideas and innovations are the hallmarks of America's economic success. Names like Benjamin Franklin, the Wright brothers, Thomas Edison, Akio Morita, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and others are familiar to us all. They are familiar names across the globe. That's because their ideas led to cutting-edge technologies that were widely adopted and put to use, changing our lives and society for the better.

Some of these bold innovations were far ahead of their time and often succeeded with government support. For example, few know that, without government contracts for airmail, our commercial aviation industry would not have become so successful. It was research supported by both U.S. Government labs and the private sector that gave us the Internet. Most famously, who can forget President John F. Kennedy's call to put a man on the Moon. While this effort was successful from a technological perspective, it

also captivated a generation of Americans, inspiring them to think big and think bold.

It is vital to our Nation's future success that we reinvigorate the spirit of innovation. If we do, we can harness the talent of our Nation's people as we continue rebuilding our economy. That's why supporting ARPA-E is so important. ARPA-E awardees are developing the kinds of breakthroughs that will help us break free from the grip of foreign oil and fossil fuels. In the past year alone, ARPA-E has supported research into high-tech electric car batteries. ARPA-E has supported potential breakthroughs in energy-grid technology and algae- based biofuels. These are ideas that could change how the U.S. produces, uses, and transmits energy.

Unfortunately, the bill before us takes a different tack. It actually cuts funding for the research and innovation sponsored by ARPA-E. Instead, it gives even more resources for research into mature energy sources. Last year, fossil fuel R&D received $346 million. The bill before us provides $554 million for fossil fuel R&D. That is a $207 million increase. ARPA-E, on the other hand, gets a $75 million cut in this bill.

My friend Warren Bollmeier, who is the head of the Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, once told me:

The path we need to take to energy independence is one

where we level the playing field for clean energy.

We all agree that energy independence is a critical national priority. I think we can also agree that we need to take a broad-based approach to getting there. Responsible fossil fuel development must be part of this mix, but so should clean energy, which is what this amendment does.

To increase the resources for ARPA-E, my amendment transfers some funds from the Fossil Fuel Research and Development programs. My amendment does not eliminate fossil fuel R&D. It would merely bring the funding level for this research to the amount requested by the administration. That number was nearly $420 million, and that's still an increase of $73 million from last year.

We know that innovation equals job creation. In fact, in States across the country, we are seeing the advantages of investing in clean- energy research, development, and deployment. We need to keep this forward momentum. In Hawaii, our clean-energy economy is growing. Private sector clean-energy jobs in Hawaii have grown to over 11,000 jobs with double-digit growth expected in the coming year. These firms generate $1.2 billion for our State economy. These are jobs that keep money in our State and can't be outsourced.

At this time of tight budgets, we need to balance our priorities and lay the groundwork for the future. My amendment moves us in that direction. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Chair, I move to strike the last word.

Madam Chair, I rise to support the Tonko-Bishop-Hirono- Welch amendment. This amendment would increase the funding for the State Energy Program and the Weatherization Assistance Program.

The bill before us slices the State Energy Program in half, from $50 million to $25 million. I'm not sure what the justification for this is. This program is effective and we should continue to support it. In fact, each dollar invested through the State Energy Program translates into $7.23 of savings on energy costs. It also helps to leverage State and local funds for bigger impacts.

Hawaii has utilized this funding for a variety of beneficial activities. It has been used to support expanded clean vehicle infrastructure, more energy-efficient buildings, and other purposes.

This amendment also invests in the Weatherization Assistance Program. This program helps the elderly, disabled, and low-income families benefit from energy efficiency upgrades.

Most folks think of helping weatherize homes against cold weather, and certainly that's one of the key benefits of this program. In warm Hawaii, which has the highest energy costs in the country, we also use in program. We help our families weatherize by installing money-saving things like energy-efficient water heaters or insulating existing water heaters. Since 2009, at least 800 homes in Hawaii have been able to improve energy efficiency through this program. A modest beginning, but more, of course, needs to be done. This has helped to create jobs and give families the benefit of increased energy efficiency.

I recognize the hard decisions that are made in this bill, but these programs that we just talked about may seem small but represent big savings for families all across our country, and, in fact, it will save our country money over the long term.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 294--``yes''; 295--``yes''; and 296--``yes.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on all.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the bipartisan Grimm Amendment on Project Labor Agreements, or PLAs.

In construction, contractors often do not have a permanent workforce.

This makes it hard to predict the length and cost of a project.

On large projects with many employers, a labor dispute with just one can delay the entire project.

PLAs are short-term agreements for the length of a project that can reduce a project's length and cost.

PLAs lead to higher-quality work by spelling out the work requirements, pay, benefits, and dispute resolution in advance.

PLAs prevent worker strikes and reduce turnover.

In 2009, President Obama issued an Executive Order on PLAs.

The Executive Order encouraged Federal agencies to consider requiring PLAs for large Federal construction projects of $25 million or more.

In Hawaii, last week Governor Neil Abercrombie announced a PLA plan for five large state construction projects.

This can help save taxpayer money and create Hawaii jobs, while minimizing project uncertainty.

While PLAs are regarded as cost efficient, sadly, this Majority in Congress has tried again and again to undermine the use of Project Labor Agreements.

Today's FY 2013 MilCon-VA bill forbids military construction contracts from requiring PLAs.

The bipartisan Grimm Amendment would remove this prohibition to allow Federal contractors a choice on PLAs.

Today's amendment vote feels like deja vu.

Congress has had vote after vote on this issue.

Last year at this time we debated the FY 2012 MilCon-VA bill.

I supported at that time a similar bipartisan amendment to preserve PLAs.

That amendment by Mr. LaTourette, Republican of Ohio, passed 204 to 203, with over two dozen Republican votes.

This issue shouldn't be about Democrats and Republicans. It's about supporting flexibility, common sense, and job creation.

We need to put our differences aside and do the right thing.

In Hawaii we call this laulima--cooperation.

I'm proud to stand with Republican Congressman Michael Grimm and Republican Congressman Steve LaTourette on this issue.

I urge all my colleagues to support the Grimm Amendment today as well.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in commemoration of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.

This month recognizes that our country's strength comes from the diverse talents, cultures, and ideas of its people. In Hawaii, it is this very diversity that helps drive our State forward and is the basis of our rich local culture.

We honor the indigenous people of Hawaii and the Pacific islands and the Asian immigrants who have come to America seeking opportunity and freedom. Key anniversaries in the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders occur in May, including the arrival to the U.S. of the first Japanese immigrants in 1843.

As an immigrant myself, I know firsthand the challenges--and the opportunities--that so many faced when they came to America.

My mother, brothers, and I arrived with little more than the clothes on our back and my mother's determination to build a better life for her children.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have found success in all walks of life. In government alone, we recognize Senator Inouye, president pro tempore, who chairs the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations; Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first woman of color in Congress, whose Title IX legislation ensured education equity for women and girls; and Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniane`ole, whose leadership led to the creation of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands with the passage of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920.

These distinguished leaders aren't just a source of pride for the AAPI community, they also inspire a Nation. I am proud to celebrate the accomplishments of all Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and look forward to seeing the trailblazers of the future.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4970, the House Majority's version of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2012, which eliminates important protections for women that have been supported on a bipartisan basis for many years.

The tragedy of domestic violence is a reality for many families in our country and around the world. Unfortunately, it likely touches someone we know. Domestic violence affects people at all income levels, ethnicities, and ages.

Since its enactment in 1994, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has been improved with each renewal in 2000 and 2005.

It has been done on a bipartisan basis. The Senate's 2012 VAWA reauthorization bill passed by a 68 31 margin.

The same cannot be said for this bill, which barely passed the House Judiciary Committee by a 17 15 vote along mostly partisan lines. Rather than addressing serious gaps in protection and services, H.R. 4970 rolls back critical safeguards that have long been part of this law and repeals current law requiring abuser-submitted evidence to be corroborated before it can be used against a victim. These safeguards were included as part of previous reauthorizations and are included in S. 1925, the Senate's 2012 bipartisan reauthorization bill. With these provisions stripped, H.R. 4970 leaves countless women, including LGBT, immigrant, and American Indian victims at risk.

The bill puts abused immigrant women at increased risk by imposing new, burdensome procedural hurdles that would delay or deny protections and put victims in a more vulnerable position than they would be under current law. Law enforcement groups, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs' Association, the National District Attorneys Association, and National Association of Attorneys General support provisions in current law and in the Senate bill that protect immigrant women and help police and prosecutors pursue cases against dangerous perpetrators.

The House Majority's VAWA reauthorization would abolish significant enhancements contained in the bipartisan Senate bill. For LGBT victims of domestic violence, H.R. 4970 fails to prohibit discrimination and ensure equal access to services. This bill would do away with provisions designed to provide justice to American Indian women by eliminating provisions empowering tribes with jurisdiction to prosecute non-Indian perpetrators on their lands.

Our Nation's most vulnerable victims of violence stand to lose from this reauthorization should it become law. I am dismayed to see that some could actually support legislation that provides protections for abusers rather than the abused. I urge my colleagues to reject H.R. 4970.

Mr. Chair, I rise in reluctant opposition to H.R. 5326, the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations bill for FY2013.

This spending bill provides funding for essential agencies, including the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, Census Bureau, Economic Development Administration, FBI, Drug Enforcement agency, U.S. Attorneys and Marshalls, NASA, and the National Science Foundation.

I recognize that Chairman Wolf had a difficult task because of the sharply reduced allocations included in the Ryan Budget, which I opposed. The bipartisan agreement represented by the Budget Control Act of 2011 already made sharp cuts to spending levels. The decision by this Republican-led Congress to break that agreement to make even deeper cuts on the programs Americans rely on will make it very difficult to come up with a final spending agreement with the Senate. The Obama Administration has issued a Statement of Administration Policy expressing strong opposition to H.R. 5326.

This bill underfunds programs that are critical to Hawaii, including programs that support fisheries and ocean stewardship programs. It includes a $20 million cut to the Legal Services Corporation, denying legal aid to tens of thousands in underserved communities, as well as many military families. Funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services, COPS, program in the bill is well below the administration's request. Fortunately, we were successful in passing an amendment to increase funding for COPS by $126 million (equivalent to the FY 2012 level), but many other amendments to this bill have made it even worse. For instance, amendments were adopted that would: Prevent use of Department of Justice funds in the legal defense of the Affordable Care Act; Prohibit funding to implement the National Ocean Policy; Eliminate funding for science-based climate change education efforts that will help prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; Prohibit funding of Census Bureau collection of detailed housing, economic, and demographic statistics.

I expect this bill will pass today. I only hope that it can be improved in conference with the Senate so I can vote for the final spending agreement.