Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this year we celebrate the 75th birthday of Social Security.

Since Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act in 1935, Americans have known that they can rely on Social Security benefits when they retire.

Today, over 160,000 Hawaii seniors and millions of seniors in every other State receive monthly Social Security benefits, but Republican leaders in Congress have a new plan to privatize Social Security, balancing the budget on the backs of our seniors. Does this sound familiar?

George Bush and congressional Republicans fought to privatize Social Security in 2005. Seniors all across the country rose up in angry protest. If Republicans had succeeded then, seniors would have lost trillions in the stock market meltdown of the Bush recession.

Unbelievably, the Republicans still have not given up on their idea to privatize Social Security. You have to ask, what is it that makes them so deaf to what seniors in our country tell me loud and clear-- preserve Social Security.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Scott, for yielding me time.

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1470, which recognizes the life, achievements, and distinguished career of the late Bill Richardson, Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court.

William Shaw Richardson was born in Honolulu on December 22, 1919. Raised in Kaimuki and a graduate of a public school, Roosevelt High School, Bill worked in pineapple canneries to pay his way through the University of Hawaii. He then earned a law degree from the University of Cincinnati. Bill later enlisted in the Army and served as platoon leader with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment during World War II.

In 1956, Bill served as chairman of Hawaii's Democratic Party. He was elected to the office of Lieutenant Governor in 1962. In 1966, Governor John A. Burns appointed him as chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court. C.J. Richardson served on the court for 16 years.

C.J. Richardson was our Nation's first native Hawaiian Supreme Court chief justice. Working closely with his fellow justices, C.J. incorporated native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices into State law and expanded public rights. In perhaps his most famous case, in 1968, C.J. Richardson, in essence, asked, ``Why should Hawaii follow Anglo-American common law rather than its own ancient traditions regarding the use of property?'' C.J. recalled not being allowed on the beach in front of Waikiki's Royal Hawaiian and Moana hotels as a boy. The historic 4-to-1 ruling he wrote incorporated Hawaiian customs by preserving public access to the shoreline. No Hawaii beach could be considered a private beach like on the mainland.

Under his leadership, the court also established the water rights of people living downstream from privately owned property that surrounded rivers or streams. It awarded new land created by lava flows to the State instead of adjacent property owners, and it ruled that native Hawaiians could cross private property to gather traditional cultural resources, like particular plants used by hula dancers as part of their ceremonies.

Among C.J. Richardson's proudest achievements was the opening of Hawaii's only law school in 1973. He knew that those with the greatest stake in building a more just and equitable society were often denied the opportunity to attend law school because of the high cost. He fought a lengthy uphill battle to create and shape the law school that now proudly bears his name. Over the last years, C.J. had an office at the school, where he was a regular source of support and inspiration to students and faculty alike.

I would like to extend my deepest condolences to C.J. Richardson's son, William; his two daughters, Barbara Richardson-Phillips and Corinne Wolfe; his two sisters, Amy Kahoiwai and Pearl Nishimura; his six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Mahalo nui loa--Hawaiian for thank you very much--for sharing the great C.J. with all of us.

Mr. Speaker, by continuing to deny the extension of unemployment benefits, Republicans are perpetuating their heartlessness on the backs of the working people of this country. Last week in Hilo, I met a group of contractors who shared with me not only their struggles in today's difficult economy, but that of people they know who have lost their jobs. These hardworking people can't find jobs not for a lack of effort but for a lack of jobs.

Before the July 4 recess, the House passed a bill that would extend unemployment benefits through the end of November. This extension would save 6,000 residents in Hawaii from losing their benefits. Every month that Congress fails to act, another 2,150 people in Hawaii will lose their benefits. These benefits amount to an average of $415 a week, which helps families buy food and keep a roof over their heads until they can find a job. And for every $1 they spend, $1.60 is generated in economic growth for local businesses.

We cannot turn our backs on hardworking people by taking away their unemployment benefits. The time to act is now.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 709, a bill originally introduced by Representative Abercrombie of Hawaii, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1244) recognizing the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition for its now five-year effort to promote cyber security curriculum in institutions of higher learning, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1244 into the Record.

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

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1244, which recognizes the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition for their 5-year effort to promote cyber security curriculum at institutions of higher education. Their dedication and commitment to cyber security instruction serves an important purpose as computer and Internet software continue their vital role in our digital world.

In February of 2004, a group of educators, students, and government and industry representatives in cyber defense gathered in San Antonio, Texas, to address the growing need for cyber security education for post-secondary students. These individuals understood the growing importance of, and the world's increasing reliance, on computer and Internet software, as well as the national security interest in protecting this vital infrastructure. From the gathering in San Antonio, the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition was born.

The competition provides students the opportunity to improve their understanding and operational competency in protecting corporate network infrastructure and business information systems. For the past 5 years, the competition has offered computer security curriculum to students at institutions of higher education across the United States.

Many teams participated in this year's regional competition with winners including Towson University, DePaul University, Montana Tech, Northeastern University, University of Washington, Texas A&M University, University of Louisville, and California State Polytechnic University at Pomona. Students from these universities learned many skills and their education will help meet the rapidly growing demand for cyber security specialists in the public and private sectors.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Rodriguez for introducing this resolution.

Once again, I express my support for House Resolution 1244, which recognizes the importance of the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition and its contribution to our Nation's cyber security curriculum.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez).

Once again, I would like to encourage all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 1244, the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, and I congratulate all of the participants and the winners of this very important competition.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 284) recognizing the work and importance of special education teachers, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Concurrent Resolution 284 into the Record.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 284, which recognizes the work and importance of special education teachers in our public education system. They serve a unique role in our country's schools, and their hard work equips students with disabilities with high-quality instruction and important lifelong skills.

The historic ruling in Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia ruled that all students with disabilities must be offered a public education regardless of the cost, and it was critical in setting the stage for our current special education system. Today, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act upholds this legacy by working to ensure the education of all students with disabilities. It is important for us to continue working towards equal access to education for more than 6.6 million American students.

More than 370,000 dedicated, hardworking, and highly professional special education teachers currently serve our Nation's students. These teachers educate students with many different disabilities, helping those with learning disabilities, autism, combined deafness and blindness, traumatic brain injuries, hearing, visual, speech, language or orthopaedic impairments, and other types of health impairments. Through specific training and teaching practices, special educators can help these students learn regardless of their physical barriers.

Special educators have earned and rightfully deserve our recognition. They dedicate their time and professional careers to serving students who need specific and individual education plans not offered by a traditional education setting. Special education teachers also recognize that these students are no less deserving than any other students of a high-quality public education. For these reasons and many others, special education teachers are particularly special public servants.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Sessions for introducing this resolution.

Once again, I express support for House Concurrent Resolution 284, which will recognize the immense contributions of America's special education teachers. So I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, among the cadre of our educators all across our country who deserve our thanks and recognition, our special education teachers occupy a particularly special place.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon on his retirement. I know that I am not alone regretting that, due to Hawaii State law, he must retire from service on his 70th birthday this September. He will be missed.

C.J. Moon, as he is affectionately known, has served as Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court for seventeen years. C.J. Moon also has the distinction of being the first Korean-American to become Chief Justice of any Supreme Court in the United States of America.

As his time on the Hawaii Supreme Court bench comes to a close, it was interesting to learn that it was almost a fluke that C.J. Moon went into the field of law at all. He attended three different high schools in Hawaii and, apparently, took little interest in his studies. This attitude changed during his years at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It was there that he met a cousin who was attending law school. Meeting this cousin, combined with Ron's experiences of racial discrimination, piqued his interest in the law.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Sociology from Coe College. Ron then graduated from the University of Iowa School of Law in 1965 and returned to Honolulu to clerk for United States District Court Judge Martin Pence.

His diligence on the job was evident even then. During his clerkship with Judge Pence, he once climbed into a trash bin outside the federal court building to look for a lost jury verdict form. The search was unsuccessful. He later learned that Judge Pence had another copy of the form in his office the whole time.

In 1966, Ron joined the staff of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu, where he served as a deputy prosecutor until 1968. He left public service to become a partner in the law firm Libkuman, Ventura, Moon, and Ayabe, where he stayed until 1982.

It was from that firm that Hawaii Governor George Ariyoshi appointed Ron Moon to the Hawaii State Judiciary as a Circuit Court Judge. He would serve in that position for eight years, earning the respect of attorneys, including myself, who came before him. He was particularly persuasive in getting plaintiff and defense attorneys to resolve cases fairly before trial.

Governor John Waihee then elevated Ron to the office of Associate Justice of the Hawaii State Supreme Court in 1990. In 1993, he was elevated to the position of Chief Justice.

As his retirement looms near, the people of Hawaii have begun to pay tribute to the incredible service of C.J. Moon. The County of Hawaii recently recognized May 7, 2010, as Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon Day. The Hawaii State Legislature has also recommended that the new Kapolei Court Complex be named after C.J. Moon, who spearheaded the project. The Hawaii Chapter of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association will celebrate the career of C.J. Moon on June 23, 2010.

C.J. Moon has joked that he is ``looking forward to joining [his] fellow retired judges and other judiciary employees at [his] neighborhood McDonald's.'' It will be a retirement that has been well- earned.

Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much), C.J. Moon, for your many years of admirable stewardship of our system of courts and laws. I would also like to thank C.J. Moon's wife Stella and his family for sharing C.J. with us.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Lady Sea Warriors of Hawaii Pacific University for winning their first NCAA Division II Softball World Series title. On May 31, 2010, the Lady Sea Warriors scored four runs in the fifth inning and held off Valdosta State to win the title game by a score of 4-3.

I take great pride in extending my congratulations to players Chante Tesoro, Kozy Toriano, Erin Fujita, Melissa Awa, Malia Killam, Chelsea Luckey, Ashley Valine, Ciera Senas, Breanne Patton, Pomaikai Kalakau, Casey Sugihara, Maile Kim, Ashley Fernandez, Nicole Morrow, Sherise Musquiz, Laine Shikuma, Celina Garces, and Caira Pires, many of whom hail from Hawaii's second congressional district. The hard work, perseverance, and outstanding performance of these young women led to a 50-8 season, the most successful season in their program's history.

I would like to extend special congratulations to Ms. Musquiz, who pitched every inning of the NCAA Division II tournament and amassed a 4-0 record, earning her Most Outstanding Player honors.

I would also like to commend head coach Bryan Nakasone and assistant coaches Howard Okita, Roger Javillo, Jon Correles, and Richard Nomura for their superb leadership throughout the Lady Sea Warriors' historic season.

This has been a great year for Hawaii softball, and the Lady Sea Warriors' victory on a national stage has generated much pride back home. I congratulate the Lady Sea Warriors on their outstanding season and wish the program continued success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1330, a resolution recognizing June 8 as World Ocean Day. Hawaii is the only state in the nation that is surrounded entirely by ocean, giving us a unique appreciation for the vast resource that is the Pacific Ocean. Almost every household good in Hawaii was shipped over the ocean. Our state's economy relies on our harbors--large and small--and the beaches that draw visitors to Hawaii. The ocean provides recreational activities such as surfing, swimming, and fishing for our residents and visitors to enjoy. It would be difficult to find an aspect of life in Hawaii that is not somehow affected by the Pacific Ocean.

The Native Hawaiian culture is also deeply tied to the ocean. Polynesian explorers discovered Hawaii traveling tremendous distance in canoes, long before the so-called ``discovery'' of Hawaii by Captain Cook. The Kumulipo chant, known as the Hawaiian creation chant, places the origin of life in the oceans, beginning with the coral polyp.

Hawaii is home to the world's most ancient seal, the Hawaiian monk seal. My district includes the largest marine protected area in the United States, the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, as well as one of the most important breeding grounds for the endangered Humpback Whale.

The people of Hawaii have always relied on the ocean, but the situation in the Gulf Coast illustrates that the oceans belong to the world. Countries have political boundaries, but the ocean and its denizens do not. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has devastated that region and now threatens the entire East Coast because of the Loop Current, the Gulf Stream, and other ocean currents.

People in landlocked states also depend on the oceans, which absorb up to a quarter of the world's carbon dioxide. As humans have increased their carbon dioxide output in recent decades, the ocean has grown increasingly acidic. Over the last five years, we have learned that this acidification endangers coral, algae, shellfish, and other small organisms that support the base of the food chain.

What happens to the ocean happens to the world. Whether landlocked or surrounded by ocean, we all depend on the benefits of healthy oceans. Fish stocks, ocean currents, and carbon dioxide do not abide by political boundaries. We, too, must work across our borders to unite with other nations in order to be careful and conscientious stewards of the ocean. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution to recognize June 8 as World Ocean Day.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate `Iolani School's Economics Team for winning the 2010 National Economics Challenge.

More than 1,200 teams from across the country competed in this year's event sponsored by the Council for Economic Education. This year marked lolani's fourth national championship and 11th state championship. `Iolani has also won two second place national titles.

I would like to recognize team members Andrew Ellison, Jesse Franklin-Murdock, Sean Cockey, and Mark Grozen-Smith as well as coach Richard Rankin. In the fall, Andrew will be attending the University of Pennsylvania, Jesse will be attending the George Washington University, Sean will be attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Mark will be leading next year's team in defending `Iolani's title.

Our Nation's recent economic meltdown has demonstrated how essential economic understanding is for all of us. Continued federal support for the Council for Economic Education is critical as it works to empower students through economic and financial literacy programs to help future generations make informed and responsible choices throughout their lives as consumers, savers, investors, workers, citizens, and participants in our global economy. I joined a number of my colleagues to advocate for continued funding for the Council in fiscal year 2011.

Again, congratulations Andrew, Jesse, Sean, Mark, and Coach Rankin. Best wishes on your continued academic success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of Nolan Kamitaki, a young constituent from Hilo, Hawaii. I would also like to congratulate him on his graduation as valedictorian of Waiakea High School's Class of 2010.

From a young age, Nolan has been deeply fascinated with natural phenomenon and mathematics, and his passion for these pursuits is reflected in his many achievements. He led Waiakea High School's Math League, Math Bowl, and Science Bowl teams, and participated in Japan's International Micro Robot Maze Contest. Nolan's aptitude for science has been recognized at numerous competitions and symposiums including the 2010 International Engineering and Science Fair, where Nolan earned the first place grand award. Nolan has received prestigious recognition as a 2009 Davidson Fellow for his project, ``Programming a Network Approach to Contain the Spread of Epidemic.''

Nolan's outstanding achievements in academics and his exemplary leadership and community service have earned him distinction as one of two 2010 U.S. Presidential Scholars from Hawaii. He plans to pursue a career that merges biological processes and computer science.

Nolan is a rising star in the sciences and a proud product of the Hawaii public school system. I am inspired by his impressive accomplishments at such a young age, and I look forward to following the career of this future leader.

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 302, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act of 2010, which authorizes the expansion of this Refuge on the island of Hawaii to encompass adjacent parcels containing native forest habitat that supports some of the most endangered forest birds in the Nation and the world. Both the 2009 and 2010 U.S. State of the Birds reports call for particular attention to Hawaii, where more bird species are vulnerable to extinction than anywhere else in the United States.

The Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge consists of two major units: the 32,733-acre Hakalau Forest Unit on the windward, eastern, slopes of Mauna Kea volcano and the 2,604-acre Kona Forest Unit on the leeward, western, slopes of Mauna Loa volcano. The Refuge's purpose is to protect and manage endangered Hawaiian forest birds and their rain forest habitat.

Eight of the 14 native bird species occurring at Hakalau are endangered. Thirteen migratory bird species and twenty introduced species, including eight game birds, as well as the endangered `ope`ape`a, Hawaiian hoary bat, our only endemic terrestrial mammal, also frequent the Refuge. Twenty-nine rare plant species are found on the Refuge and adjacent lands. Twelve of these plants are currently listed as endangered. Two endangered lobelias have fewer than five plants known to exist in the wild.

The forested parcels authorized for inclusion in this bill include 13,129 acres for addition to the Hakalau Forest Unit and 2,604 acres for addition to the Kona Forest Unit. The proposed areas for addition contain some of Hawaii's and the world's rarest forest bird species, including the rare endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers such as the `akiapola`au, the `akepa, and the Hawai`i Creeper, as well as significant numbers of more numerous native

honeycreepers such as the `i`wi, `amakihi, and `apapane and a native flycatcher, the `elepaio. In addition, these lands are habitat for the endangered pueo, Hawaiian owl, and the `io, Hawaiian hawk. The proposed expansion areas also include large numbers of native trees, primarily koa and `ohia, some 31 endemic species of flowering plants, and 37 endemic ferns. Due to its geographic isolation--more than 2,000 miles from a major land mass--these bird species and plants only exist in the Hawaiian islands, and, in many cases, are restricted to this one island.

The current owners of the two parcels authorized for acquisition under this Act are willing sellers. Due to the ecological importance of these parcels, there is strong interest in the conservation community in Hawaii in assisting with bridge financing to secure the parcels for ultimate acquisition by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

As Members of Congress, it is our duty to help to preserve our precious natural heritage for future generations. Hawaii, much like the Galapagos, is a hotspot of species diversity and unique adaptations. And the Big Island of Hawaii, where this Refuge is located, is one of the world's great biological laboratories. This one island, comprised of 4,028 square miles, contains eleven of the world's 13 climatic zones. One of the most isolated relatively large land masses in the world, species arrived in our islands by chance and then evolved to take advantage of every ecological niche. And being an island, most of the animal species that arrived were birds and insects.

So much has been lost in our world and Nation due to extinction, but we also know that through our intervention much has been saved. The bald eagle has been taken off the Endangered Species List; I am hopeful that we can also see the recovery of Hawaii's magnificent forest birds through preservation and restoration of habitat. Opportunities like this--to secure such valuable habitat from willing sellers--doesn't come along often. I am committed to protecting our natural world's biological diversity. As the Member of Congress representing one of the most beautiful and ecologically important places in our world, I am determined to do what I can to help preserve Hawaii's unique animals and plants. I would be grateful for your support.

Mr. Speaker, I recently met a team from the University of Hawaii, one of 20 collegiate teams selected to build an energy efficient, solar-powered house as part of the Solar Decathlon, an international competition sponsored by the Department of Energy.

In the fall of 2011, the D.C. National Mall will transform into a zero-emission solar village built by the next generation of architects and engineers. These houses will be attractive and affordable, demonstrating an array of innovative, energy technologies.

Designed for a tropical climate, the Hawaii model will be built using a bio-based polymer and the house will be buoyant enough to float in the event of a flood. A new generation of leaders in the clean-energy economy will emerge from programs like these, and I look forward to walking through the solar village next year.

The Solar Decathlon is one example of harnessing American ingenuity to meet the energy challenges of the 21st century. Let us continue to support programs like these that empower a new generation of thinkers to engineer a clean-energy future.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Hawaii, the Honorable Charles Djou, be permitted to take the oath of office today.

His certificate of election has not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to his election.