Skip to Content
Speeches & Testimony

Newsroom

Speeches & Testimony

NOAA Corp Amendment Act

| Posted in Speeches & Testimony

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this bipartisan, bicameral measure to treat the commissioned officers of one of our Nation's seven uniformed services, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, with the same basic statutory recruitment, advancement, retention, and benefit structure, and with the same respect, as is accorded to…

Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act

| Posted in Speeches & Testimony

Mr. Speaker, S. 914, the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act, would reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009, called IOOS for short. For over 10 years now, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, has implemented this data-driven national regional partnership to successfully improve safety, enhance the…

Remarks on S. 910, the National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2020

| Posted in Speeches & Testimony

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…

Celebrating the US-South Korean Alliance

| Posted in Speeches & Testimony

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and honor the longstanding friendship and continued alliance between two great nations: the United States and the Republic of Korea. Seventy years ago, American and Allied servicemembers and civilians bravely came to the defense of South Korea, fighting alongside so many brave Korean citizens against North Korean aggression. While three long…

Extension of Remarks on 75th Anniversary of the United Nations

| Posted in Speeches & Testimony

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…

Save Our Seas 2.0 Floor Remarks

| Posted in Speeches & Testimony

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…

Remarks in support of H.Res.908, Condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19

| Posted in Speeches & Testimony

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…

Statement on H.R. 4990, The Election Technology Research Act

| Posted in Speeches & Testimony

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…

Introducing the BLUE Pacific Act

| Posted in Speeches & Testimony

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…

Remarks to the House Appropriations Committee on FY 2021 Commerce, Science, Justice Funding Measure

| Posted in Speeches & Testimony

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…