Speeches & Testimony

The state is considered to have become the endangered species and extinction capital of the world due to invasive species. Read more »

Madam Speaker, today I am re-introducing my Safe and Quiet Skies Act from the 116th Congress to ensure that commercial air tour flights are adequately regulated to ensure in-air and on-ground safety and address widespread and accelerating community disruption. I extend a special thanks to my colleagues, Congressmembers Nadler, Neguse, Norton, Sherman and Sires, for co-introducing this necessary me... Read more »

Madam Speaker, today I introduce three bills to end a century of monopolistic closed market domestic cargo shipping to and from my isolated home state of Hawai‘i as well as the other island and separated jurisdictions of our country not part of the continental United States. In doing so, we will break the stranglehold on the peoples and economies of these exposed communities and their resulting sk... Read more »

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 910, the National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2020. For decades, the Sea Grant College Program has provided essential oceans-focused research and support for our communities nation-wide and especially now as we face the impacts of climate change on coastal communities. The bill before us today would authorize an increase in fundin... Read more »

Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the upcoming 75th anniversary of the United Nations and recognize the continued importance of multilateral action as we pursue a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. On October 24, 1945, less than two months after the world emerged from the deadliest conflict in human history, the United Nations Charter entered into force, formally creating the United Nati... Read more »

Mr. Speaker, the air, land and oceans of our Earth are in mortal danger and must be saved. But it is our oceans that are the most vast and unknown of these with the most complex and extensive risk, from climate change, to pollution, extraction and marine debris. Debris is especially acute in my own Pacific and its epicenter, the 1,500 mile Hawaiian Islands chain, which acts as a giant comb for all... Read more »

Madam Speaker: As the proud Representative of the district with the highest percentage of Asian Americans in the country, I rise today in strong support of H.Res.908 to condemn any and all forms of anti-Asian discrimination during and beyond this COVID-19 pandemic. Our country confronts not only the novel coronavirus but also a virus of racism and hate. We cannot allow the one to feed off the othe... Read more »

Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for H.R. 4990, the Election Technology Research Act, of which I am a proud cosponsor. My return to Congress in 2019 was prompted in part by my membership in Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus, a nonpartisan group of more than 200 former Members of Congress, governors, ambassadors and cabinet members. This committed Caucus, whose slogan is “fix democ... Read more »

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7797, the Boosting Long-term U.S. Engagement in the Pacific Act, also known as the BLUE Pacific Act. I am proud to have introduced this bill together with my colleagues Congressmen Ami Bera, Ted Yoho, Brad Sherman and Don Young, as well as other members of our Congressional Pacific Islands Caucus. Scattered across the vast waters of the Pacific from H... Read more »

Thank you, Madam Chair and my Subcommittee Chair, Mr. Serrano, as well as Ranking Members Granger and Aderholt, for bringing this Fiscal Year 2021 Commerce, Justice, Science bill before the Committee today. It has been a privilege to serve with both the Full Committee and Subcommittee Chairs during my first term on the Appropriations Committee. The wise and gracious leadership you have both provid... Read more »