Speeches & Testimony

"Chairman Yarmuth, Ranking Member Womack, and Members of the Committee, Thank you for this opportunity to testify today in support of a fiscally responsible budget for FY20. Such a budget would focus our core functions and discretionary priorities within our means. It would require whole-budget, long-term approach with bipartisan solutions to one of the most challenging issues… Read more »

I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 9, which would recognize the importance of the oceans to our global climate system and the international efforts under way to include our oceans in nationally determined contributions, or NDCs, under the Paris Agreement. When we talk about the impacts of manmade climate change, we focus on  the worlds of our lands and air, but we tend… Read more »

Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Thornberry, distinguished Members of the Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to testify today on this year’s NDAA. The National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy affirmed the reemergence of long-term strategic competition with other great powers as the central challenge to our national security. No country poses as significant a… Read more »

Mr. Speaker,  Most of our fellow Americans just want us to assure them that the necessities of life are available and affordable: food, shelter, education, safety. Are they available and affordable? Most of our fellow Americans would add to that available and affordable to all Americans, because the promise, opportunities and responsibilities of citizenship are shared, and are… Read more »

Chairwoman Lowey, Ranking Member Rogers, distinguished Members of the Committee:   Thank you for this opportunity to testify today in support of priorities important to Hawai‘i and the Indo-Pacific region. Since the end of the Second World War, the United States has helped to build a free and open order in the Indo-Pacific region that guaranteed security, enhanced trade and… Read more »

I rise today to speak in favor of H.R. 268, the Emergency Disaster Appropriations bill. This bill would appropriate funds for programs supporting communities rebuilding after suffering through numerous natural disasters throughout 2018. My home State of Hawai'i is in particular need of assistance. It was hit hard by multiple devastating storms over the islands and by the sustained… Read more »

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1, the For the People Act, of which I am a very proud cosponsor. H.R. 1 is a critical step toward reversing the accelerating deterioration in our Nation's most cherished democratic foundation--the consent of the governed--and taking back our government for all citizens. It would fight voter suppression; simplify voting;… Read more »