Tulsi Gabbard

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, after graduating from Maui High in 1944 as class president and valedictorian, and attempting college with dreams of becoming a doctor, Patsy Mink had over a dozen medical schools slam the door shut simply because she was a woman. Rather than quit, she took action. She went to law school, becoming the first Japanese American female attorney in Hawaii, and was elected as the first Asian American woman ever to Congress in 1965. Through her 12 terms in the House of Representatives serving Hawaii's Second District, which I am honored to represent today, she was a true champion for equal rights and opportunity. In 1972, her landmark bill, Title IX, was signed into law, legislation that has since allowed young women all across the country the very same opportunities to jump high, run fast, hit hard, and go the extra mile, the same as their male counterparts. As we kick off Women's History Month, let us recognize and celebrate Patsy Mink and the countless other women throughout our Nation's history who have blazed trails before us and broken down barriers for a better future for our next generation.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, small-business owners make up over 90 percent of private sector employers in my home State of Hawaii, and they are the backbone of our economy both in Hawaii and across the country. In our close-knit community built on generations of small-business owners willing to lend a hand to a neighbor in need, this is one of the things that makes our State so special and that helps to bring the aloha spirit alive both for visitors and kama`aina alike. Last week I had the chance to spend some time planting kale and beets at the Palaka Moon Farm with Waimanalo small-business owners Malia Smith and Kevin Vaccarello. I then went and helped them open their Ai Love Nalo cafe, where they seek to improve the health and well-being of their community around them by feeding them delicious, locally grown food. It is the hard work of people like Malia and Kevin and the love that they put into their business and work that are at the heart of our economy in communities across the country and in Hawaii. As we recognize National Entrepreneurship Week this week, I want to say thank you to all of our small-business owners and entrepreneurs for their dedication and for what they do to strengthen and serve our communities every single day.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, in recognition of National Invasive Species Awareness Week, this is a great opportunity to call attention to the more than 4,300 invasive species that harm our domestic agriculture, local landowners, and communities throughout the United States. So, what are invasive species? In my home State of Hawaii, the coffee berry borer, coconut rhinoceros beetle, macadamia nut felted coccid, and others cost our local economy millions and threaten our unique ecosystem, our agriculture and waterways, as well as our food supply and public health. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to combat the thousands of noxious species that are present across the country. That is why I strongly encourage my colleagues to cosponsor and pass H.R. 3893, a bill I sponsored, the Areawide Integrated Pest Management Act, which would bring local stakeholders together with researchers and other key players in order to find sustainable, cost-effective, and comprehensive solutions that will better help all of us to manage and prevent the spread of these harmful pests and invasive species.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly urge my colleagues to support the President's emergency request of $1.8 billion to fight the spread of the Zika virus, a dangerous, mosquito-borne illness that has surfaced in my home State of Hawaii and in at least 12 other States across the country. The symptoms and effects of the Zika virus, which have prompted an international public health emergency from the World Health Organization, are not dissimilar to another mosquito-borne disease, Dengue fever. Dengue fever is spread through the very same Aedes aegypti mosquito as carries the Zika virus, as well as other mosquito variations. Like the Zika virus, Dengue fever symptoms include fevers, rashes, joint and muscle pains, severe headaches, and other painful symptoms. The CDC has reported the harmful symptoms and effects of both Zika and Dengue and the ability of both of these diseases to spread very rapidly through mosquitos present in many regions of the United States, including in my home district. So far, there have been around 50 cases of Zika virus confirmed in the United States. But in the past 16 weeks, there have been 252 known cases of Dengue fever on Hawaii Island alone. Now, Mayor Billy Kenoi, Hawaii County's mayor, on Monday announced a state of emergency for the county to deploy more resources to battle this Dengue fever outbreak. I have asked our Governor to declare a state of emergency in response to this outbreak so that the people of Hawaii can receive every resource available to protect themselves, to eradicate this mosquito and its breeding grounds, and stop the spread of Dengue fever, which has quickly become the largest outbreak in the State of Hawaii since the 1940s. The CDC has activated its emergency operations center to level 1 status. Now, to put this level 1 status in context, the CDC has only raised the emergency operations center to level 1 three times in the past: during the Ebola outbreak in 2014, during the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, and after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The President's leadership and emergency request on this urgent issue is warranted and necessary to respond aggressively to the Zika virus early on. He is treating this with the seriousness it deserves, recognizing this global public health threat, the impacts, and long- lasting effects of which still are not fully known. At the end of last year, Congress came together and passed a bipartisan omnibus spending bill that increased funding for public health preparedness and response by more than $52 million than the previous fiscal year, but this additional emergency funding request is necessary now in communities like mine on Hawaii Island and in different parts of the country to combat disease-transmitting mosquito viruses like Zika and Dengue fever. It is imperative that Congress, Federal agencies, local governments, and private sector partners partner together to take action now to deal with the outbreaks we already have and prevent something far worse from occurring. I look forward to working with my colleagues to push this critical public health funding forward.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In 2005, 5-year-old Talia Williams was beaten to death by her own father, who was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii at the time. Talia suffered through months and months of abuse from her father and her stepmother, which ultimately led to her death. Why didn't someone do something? Why was this allowed to occur? Why didn't someone take action to stop this horrific abuse that was visible to so many who knew Talia? There were multiple reports that were made to military officials, but when it came right down to it, nothing was done to take Talia out of harm's way. I am rising today to ask my colleagues to support my bill, H.R. 3894, Talia's Law, because more than 10 years after Talia's tragic death, the same gaps in the military's reporting requirements that failed to protect Talia remain unchanged. In fact, over the last decade, there have been 29,000 cases of child abuse and neglect in military homes. Now, outside of the military, in the civilian world, doctors, psychologists, social workers, teachers, or other professionals who work closely with children are required to report any suspected cases of child abuse and neglect directly to that State's Child Protective Services. But the military's reporting requirements do not require that direct reporting to State authorities. So reports of Talia's suspected abuse never reached the Hawaii Child Protective Services. Instead, they stayed within the Army's chain of command. Now, I know there were a lot of people around Talia who had good intentions and who were gravely concerned about the abuse that they were seeing, but the fact remains that Talia was never removed from this abusive environment. To close this gap and fix this problem, Talia's Law requires the same protections that exist for any other child, whether they are in a military household or not. This bill requires immediate and direct reporting to State Child Protective Services in cases of suspected abuse and neglect. I recently spoke to Talia's mother, Tarshia, who knows that this bill will not bring Talia back, it cannot right the wrongs that failed to protect Talia. But what she does know and what she does hope is that the passage of this bill will take an important step forward in helping to better protect the thousands of other children in military families who may be facing this same situation and get them the care and services that they deserve. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to honor Talia and all of our children in military families and support H.R. 3894. I would also like to thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Stefanik) for her very thoughtful remarks on this and for championing Talia's Law to be able to help these children who are facing numerous challenges and who deserve better than to have this kind of abuse. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Takai), my friend and colleague, the distinguished gentleman representing Hawaii's First Congressional District.

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, on January 26, 2016, the Aloha State lost the Honorable Gil Kahele, a U.S. Marine, a Hawaii State Senator, and a loving husband and father. His life was extraordinary from beginning to end, and he will be sorely missed. Hawai`i Island State Senator Gilbert Kahele was born to Peter and Rebecca Kahele, both of Hawaiian descent, in a grass shack by the sea on May 15, 1942 at Kalihi, just south of the Hawaiian fishing village of Miloli`i in South Kona. His parents valued education, so in 1947, they moved the family to Hilo, 90 miles away when Gil was five years old. It was a big change for the Kahele family because Hilo was a bustling town after recovering from World War II and the 1946 tsunami. It was full of commerce, cars, buildings, sporting events, and multiple nationalities, a far cry from the isolated fishing village of Miloli`i on the other side of the island. Gil attended Hilo High School and played on the Vikings football team--graduating with the class of 1960. After graduation, Gil began his long career of service to his country by joining the United States Marine Corps. Stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Twenty-Nine Palms and Camp Pendleton, California, Gil was part of the engineering troop responsible for refrigeration. As a young Hawaiian traveling through the South in the 1960's, Gil remembers riding a bus across the country and seeing the discrimination of African Americans on buses, in bus stations, and restrooms in the South. He saw segregation for the very first time. The black man was treated differently than the white man in this part of the country, something that was uncommon to him growing up in Hawai`i where everyone was treated with aloha. After four years serving as a Marine, Gil was honorably discharged and settled in California for a few years. His first son Gibson was born in October of 1963, and he attended Chapman and Laney Colleges in Northern California. After graduating with an Associate Degree in Science in 1967 from Laney College, Gil moved back to Hawai`i where he began a civil service career that would last 33 years. He got a job with the Federal Government at Naval Station Wahiawa as a refrigeration mechanic. He married United Airlines stewardess Linda Haggberg in October of 1971, and the couple lived in Wahiawa. In 1976, the couple moved to Hilo. They had two children, Kai and Noelani. For the next 25 years Gil drove from Hilo up the Saddle Road to his job at the Pohakuloa Training Area, where he would eventually retire in 2000 as the Director of Public Works. During the 1980s, Gil spent a lot of time in Miloli`i and made a name for himself as a successful community organizer in South Kona as a result of his ability to bring people together in the village to rally around a common cause or project. In 1986, Gil teamed up with Boone Morrison to produce a documentary, ``Song of South Kona''. Featuring Diana Aki, the film took a look at the history of the village and the songs that had been passed down through generations of musicians. Additionally, Gil, the president of Pa`a Pono Miloli`i at the time, successfully prevented the development of Kapua Bay and Kahuku by the Farms of Kapua and the Hawaiian Riviera Resort. Tragically, Gil's younger sister Mona died in a car accident along with her husband Eric, leaving their three young children without parents. To Gil and Linda, family was their priority, so they adopted the three children, Ihilani, Ilima and Imaika, and Gil began to spend more time in Hilo and less time in Miloli`i. In 2011, Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie selected Gil Kahele to fill a vacancy in the State Senate, where he would end up serving for the remainder of his life. Gil boasted an impressive record rather quickly because of his sincere desire to make a difference for the people of the Big Island and all of Hawai`i I recently saw Gil in Washington, DC, where as always, he was ready with a smile, a hug, a heart full of aloha. My heart is with the Kahele family (ohana), and all of Hawai`i Island. Gil, you are missed. Thank you (Mahalo nui loa) for dedicating your life to serving others and for demonstrating how much we can achieve when we work together in the spirit of aloha. God bless you (Ke Akua me ke Aloha).

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, today we are gathered and rising in memory of the 12 United States Marines stationed at the Kaneohe Marine Corps base in my district who were tragically lost the night of January 14 in a training accident. We must never forget the risks that our servicemembers take every single day, whether they are in training or in combat as they put their lives on the line for the security of our Nation. Major Shawn Campbell, College Station, Texas. Captain Brian Kennedy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Captain Kevin Rouche, St. Louis, Missouri. Captain Steven Torbert, Florence, Alabama. Sergeant Dillon Semolina, Chaska, Minnesota. Sergeant Adam Schoeller, Gardners, Pennsylvania. Sergeant Jeffrey Sempler, Woodruff, South Carolina. Sergeant William Turner, Florala, Alabama. Corporal Matthew Drown, Spring, Texas. Corporal Thomas Jardas, Fort Myers, Florida. Corporal Christopher Orlando, Hingham, Massachusetts. Lance Corporal Ty Hart, Aumsville, Oregon. May we offer them a moment of silence to honor their service, support their loved ones, and our entire U.S. Marines Corps in this tragic loss.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, this morning in Hawaii, in just a couple of hours, the people of the Aloha State are gathering at the Hawaii State Capitol to perform the Kanikau, a morning chant, as they bid farewell and celebrate the life of a great man and dedicated public servant who passed away suddenly last week. The Honorable Gilbert Kahele was born in a small fishing village in Milolii on May 15, 1942. He is a native Hawaiian, a very talented musician, and a community activist who selflessly served our country as a U.S. marine, served Hawaii as a State senator, and served his community of Hawaii as a fierce advocate. I saw Gil recently here in Washington, D.C., just a few months ago, where, as always, he was ready with a smile, a hug, and warm aloha. My heart is with the Kahele 'ohana and all of Hawaii island as today we celebrate Gil's life of service and the positive impact he made on countless lives. Gil, mahalo nui loa for dedicating your life to serving others and for demonstrating how much we can achieve when we work together in the spirit of aloha.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I am rising today in strong support of H.R. 757, the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act, which I am proud to be a cosponsor of. North Korea continues to pose a serious and dangerous threat to my constituents in Hawaii, the Pacific, and the West Coast of the United States. Our communities and our families lie within range of North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missiles. North Korea's nuclear tests just a week ago and their continued pursuit of developing more nuclear weapons and miniaturizing those weapons serve as a reminder of the threat that North Korea poses to our country, which my constituents in Hawaii know all too well. There are some necessary steps that the United States must take to deal with this threat: We need to increase the strength and capabilities of our Pacific fleet and forces. We need to stop the downward trend in investment of ballistic missile defense development and capabilities, and strengthen our ballistic missile defense capabilities, specifically in Hawaii and the Pacific, to counter this threat. We need to completely reexamine our strategy of so-called strategic patience with North Korea, recognizing that North Korea has continued to grow in their nuclear and missile capabilities, telling us that the status quo is not working. This bill, however, deals with another important area where we need to act, and that is sanctions. It gives us the tools to respond to North Korea's provocations. One provision would apply sanctions that prohibit the export of munitions to North Korea and severely restrict export licenses for controlled goods and technologies. It would prohibit financial transactions between U.S. persons and the Government of North Korea and sanction those who send or receive lethal military equipment to or from North Korea. The bill will also give us the tools to reapply some of the most effective sanctions that we have ever had against hard currency for those who do business with North Korea. We saw how these sanctions were effective before. Following U.S. action against the Banco Delta Asia based in Macao in 2005, the assets of North Korean banks and leaders were frozen and completely blocked from the international financial system. This directly affected the money being used to develop these nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, and the money also supported the regime's leadership and its elites and their lifestyle. This severely increased the pressure in North Korea, causing them to engage with the international community, coming to an agreement to lift the sanctions in 2007--prematurely, in my view--made in exchange for shutting down and sealing the Yongbyon nuclear facilities and discussing a list of its nuclear-related activities with the U.S. and other parties in the region. The agreement was violated by North Korea in 2009 when they tested a missile, and the sanctions on Banco Delta showed us earlier a way to impact North Korean leadership and business directly. Those sanctions should have been immediately reinstated upon North Korea breaking that agreement, but that is why we are here today--to act. While sanctions alone are not enough, this bill could provide some very important tools to countering North Korea's aggression and ultimately achieving our objective of a denuclearized North Korea. Lastly, this bill recognizes the terrible human rights abuses inflicted on the people of North Korea. For many years, State Department human rights reports, as well as private organizations' reports, have depicted a pattern of extreme human rights abuses by the tyrannical North Korean regime, including the denial of basic human freedoms: withheld access to food and deplorable prison camps where extrajudicial killings, enslavement, torture, and sexual abuse are widespread. I would like to thank our Chairman Royce and our Ranking Member Engel for their steadfast, bipartisan dedication and leadership to taking action on this global and domestic security issue. This bill provides a critical step forward.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, for 35 years, Maui Family Support Services has been helping to build strong, healthy families on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. Last year alone, the organization assisted over 5,000 people in need, which included: making 4,466 home visits; helping 136 people access mental health, substance abuse, or domestic violence services; and providing developmental screenings for 953 children. Additionally, thousands of people have gone through the organization's programs for early childhood development, teen substance abuse prevention, and fatherhood involvement, helping to build and strengthen local families and communities. One in eight children in Hawaii lives in poverty, and it is organizations like Maui Family Support Services that play a critical role in making sure that our keiki and local families get the support and services they need. Mr. Speaker, I want to say thank you to this great organization for the service that they have provided for over 35 years.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, in my home State of Hawaii, invasive species like the coffee berry borer, fruit flies, macadamia nut felted coccid, and others, have cost our local farmers and agriculture industry millions in lost revenue. Across the country, these pests, along with other invasive insects, diseases, and weeds, cause serious and harmful damage to our farmlands, agriculture production, food supply, environment, and public health. I have introduced the Areawide Integrated Pest Management Act of 2015 to continue supporting long-term and sustainable solutions to fighting these noxious and invasive species. In Hawaii, AIPMs have helped increase the number of commercial farms and have helped local farmers increase their crop diversity, decrease the use of harmful pesticides, and manage the pests in a sustainable and cost-effective way. This legislation will help farmers, ranchers, and land managers all across the country reduce the impact of these harmful invasive species.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, Talia Williams was just 5 years old when she was beaten to death by her own father after suffering months of abuse at home. Despite multiple reports to officials at the Army base in Hawaii where Talia and her father lived, the system failed to protect her. Talia's tragic story is just one of over 29,000 cases of child abuse and neglect in military homes over the last decade. This is a problem that demands better protections for our children in military families who are being abused and better support for military families facing the stresses of war, multiple deployments, and economic hardship. I have introduced Talia's Law today, joined by Representative Mark Takai, which requires military officials to immediately report suspected cases of abuse to State child protective services. We owe it to our servicemembers, their families, and thousands of children like Talia to disrupt the status quo and stop another decade of preventable child abuse.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Kauai Economic Opportunity, a nonprofit multiagency known as KEO. For half a century, this agency has been providing services to thousands of Kauai residents in need, to ease the pain of poverty, and to help them achieve self-sufficiency. As the only human services organization on that island, they have been a lifeline for low-income families and individuals who are looking for a second chance. In the past year alone, KEO has assisted over 5,000 individuals with housing, education, food, medical services, legal services, child care, transportation, disaster preparedness, employment opportunities, and so much more. I would like to say mahalo nui loa to CEO MaBel Ferreiro-Fujiuchi, Chair Brenda Viado, the board members, staff, volunteers, and everyone else who selflessly dedicated their time, attention, and aloha to ensure the people of Kauai always have a friend to help them in their time of need.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss and raise the dire situation of religious minorities in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a country in turmoil. There are many concerns about the stability of the country, particularly since flawed elections were held last year and the political violence that has ensued. I am particularly concerned over issues of religious freedom and, specifically, attacks against the minority Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, and others in Bangladesh. All too often perpetrators of crimes against minorities go unpunished. It is up to the Government of Bangladesh to take action to stop those who incite and commit violence and to protect the rights of these minorities. I am introducing a resolution today calling on the Government of Bangladesh to protect human rights of all its citizens, particularly its vulnerable minorities, strengthen democratic institutions and rule of law, and prevent the growth of extremist groups. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution to help protect the religious freedoms of all people in Bangladesh.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, this week, trade ministers from 12 TPP countries are gathering on Maui in my district in what is expected to be the final negotiations of a massive trade agreement impacting 40 percent of the world's economy. Not only were the American people shut out of this trade deal when Congress passed fast-track authority legislation, these negotiations continue, as we speak, in a shroud of secrecy, with the American people reliant on sites like WikiLeaks as they seek information about how this agreement will impact us. The people of Hawaii and all Americans are rightfully concerned about how this trade deal will impact our jobs, our families, our economy, our environment, and our Nation's sovereignty. We, the American people, deserve to know what is in this deal and to have a say in what happens. How can a genuine public debate occur on a deal as monumental as this when no one knows what is in it? It is hard to imagine a deal more demanding of transparency. People from Hawaii and around the world are gathering tomorrow on Maui to protest this secret deal. They are sick and tired of multinational corporations benefiting on the broken backs of working class Americans, and they will not stop until their voices are heard.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Chairman, I am rising today in strong opposition to H.R. 1599, which actually stands in direct contradiction to the wishes of almost 90 percent of Americans across the country. It is no wonder that this legislation has more commonly become known to people who are very concerned about this issue as the DARK Act, or the Deny Americans the Right to Know Act. And that is really what is at issue here. This legislation makes a mockery of transparency and leaves U.S. consumers in the dark. What are they so afraid of? Why deprive Americans of the ability to make educated choices about whether they want food with genetically modified ingredients? Why make the labeling of such food just voluntary? Why not require it as you require basic nutrition information on processed foods now? Why not join the 64 other countries, including the EU, Japan, Australia, Brazil, and China, in empowering our constituents with information, making mandatory labeling? My State of Hawaii is the number one State for experimental genetically engineered plant field trials, according to the USDA. Many of my constituents are very concerned about GE crop field testing because of the lack of information about these trials and the pesticides that are being applied to the fields. On the island of Kauai, in my district, residents organized and passed an ordinance requiring large agrochemical companies to disclose the pesticides they are spraying and observe buffer zones around schools, homes, and hospitals to prevent chemical spray drifts. The DARK Act could overrule the rights of these local communities to make such decisions to protect their health and safety and guide the growth of their agricultural industries. This legislation could overturn a ban on the cultivation of genetically engineered coffee passed by Hawaii Island constituents, potentially damaging the global reputation of Hawaii's famous and unique Kona coffee, the only domestic coffee industry in our country. It could negate a ban on the cultivation of genetically engineered taro, endangering a main staple and culturally significant plant for indigenous Native Hawaiians. This is why I am calling on my colleagues to adopt the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know-Act. I urge my colleagues today to vote against the DARK Act and support commonsense labeling as we move forward.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, a week ago, a man walked into a church in South Carolina and, in cold blood, gunned down nine worshippers. His actions were motivated by ignorance and hate. Throughout history and also in present day, unfortunately, there has been so much terror and suffering caused by ignorance and hate. Mr. Speaker, in order to truly transcend racism, we must do more than remove slurs from our national vocabulary. In Hawaii, my home State, that consciousness is known as the aloha spirit--the consciousness of love and respect for all others, regardless of differences such as race, religion, gender, or nationality. Understanding this truth is the path to peace. I would like to quote Mahatma Gandhi who said: There must be a recognition of the existence of the soul apart from the body, and of its permanent nature, and this recognition must amount to a living faith; and, in the last resort, nonviolence does not avail those who do not possess a living faith in the God of love.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing a resolution to commemorate the first ever International Yoga Day. This day is occurring on Sunday, June 21, and it was a day that was designated by the United Nations with over 177 countries in support. Over 24 million Americans and 250 million people around the world practice some form of yoga, and, on Sunday, people all around the world will be celebrating the benefits of living a yoga lifestyle. India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, addressed the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014, stating: Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action, restraint and fulfillment, harmony between man and nature, a holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not about exercise, but, rather, it is about discovering the sense of oneness within yourself, the world, and nature. As a longtime yoga practitioner myself, I have experienced firsthand the positive impact of yoga on my own life, and I am honored to be introducing this resolution today and sharing with others the true meaning of yoga.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, today, in my home State of Hawaii, we are celebrating King Kamehameha Day to honor the legacy of King Kamehameha I, who established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810. King Kamehameha knew that for a nation to be vibrant, its citizens must feel safe and secure. He proclaimed the Kanawai Mamalahoe, the Law of the Splintered Paddle, as the law of the land. This law, still enshrined in the Hawaii State Constitution today, protects the unalienable rights of all men and women to be safe and secure in their home. Kamehameha also knew that, to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of his people, it was imperative to create economic opportunities. He invested resources to maintain viable fish ponds and taro patches, protect freshwater streams, fertile soils, and forestlands; he built schools and trained an entire new generation of leaders. As we observe Kamehameha Day, it is a true day of aloha for the people of Hawaii. Those who are visiting the Capitol this week may have seen the many fragrant and beautiful flower leis draped on the statue of King Kamehameha in Emancipation Hall. All this week, in Hawaii, across the State, there will be further lei-draping ceremonies taking place to pay homage to the legacy of Hawaii's first King. As legislators, we are called upon to embody the servant leadership and the humility of leaders like King Kamehameha I.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. Con. Res. 3, a concurrent resolution authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for an event to be held on June 7, 2015, to celebrate the birthday of King Kamehameha I. This annual celebration honors King Kamehameha I who established a unified Kingdom of Hawai`i in 1810. King Kamehameha Day was celebrated first on June 11, 1872, and has been a Hawai`i State holiday since 1959. In 1970, the celebration of King Kamehameha's birthday in our nation's capital opened the rich history and culture of Hawai`i to more Americans. In 1758, with the birth of Kamehameha, a prophecy foretelling that a great leader would be born and unite the islands of Hawai`i was fulfilled. Born into royal families from the islands of Hawai`i and Maui, Kamehameha's mentoring started at a young age. He learned religion, oral history, culture, economics, governance, navigation, warfare, and other fields of knowledge necessary to build a nation. Kamehameha rose to power through political astuteness and superior forces. He was a visionary leader with a strategic mind, dominating presence, and persuasive personality. Kamehameha developed relationships with other royal families, built coalitions and sought the counsel of those steeped in modern warfare. By 1790, Kamehameha's modernized armed forces equipped with cannons and firearms and use of psychological warfare to undermine the spirits of opposing forces led to one successful military campaign after another. While uniting the islands of Hawai`i, Kamehameha contemplated on the future of the Kingdom of Hawai`i and reasoned that for a nation to be vibrant, its citizens must feel safe and secure. Kamehameha reflected on a military encounter with fishermen gathering food from the ocean for their families. As Kamehameha gave chase to the fishermen, his leg got caught among the shoreline rocks. One of the fishermen hit him on the head with a paddle that broke into splinters. The fisherman spared Kamehameha's life. Later, the fisherman was brought before Kamehameha. In his wisdom, Kamehameha ruled that the fisherman was innocent. The fisherman was protecting his family and land from an aggressor who could have done them harm. From that experience, Kamehameha embraced the inalienable rights of all men and women by proclaiming the Law of the Splintered Paddle (Kanawai Mamala Hoe), the law of the land. The law stated, ``Let every elderly person, woman, and child lie by the roadside in safety.'' The Law of the Splintered Paddle sets the moral tone to do no harm to fellow human beings, take personal responsibility and think before committing an act of violence. It is fitting that the words of the Law of the Splintered Paddle are enshrined in the Hawai`i State Constitution. Its values have become a model for human rights law regarding the treatment of civilians and other non-combatants. Kamehameha knew that in order to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of his people, it was imperative to create economic opportunities. Kamehameha invested resources to maintain viable fishponds and taro patches; protect fresh water streams, fertile soils, and forest lands; build schools and train a new generation of leaders. Kamehameha also bore witness to rapid unfolding events occurring since the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778. Kamehameha knew that it was the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Native Hawai`ian people, and he made wise decisions to prepare his people for the future. In closing, I would like to extend my appreciation to the staff of the Committee on House Administration, the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, and the Office of Sergeant at Arms who have helped make this annual birthday celebration for King Kamehameha I a success.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I am rising in strong support of H.R. 360 today. Since 1996, this legislation has been authorized twice, both times with broad bipartisan support in both Chambers of Congress. Since its enactment, this legislation has strengthened indigenous self- determination by empowering Native nations, by assisting with affordable housing needs. In my home State of Hawaii, it has increased home ownership among Native Hawaiians by more than 2 percent, bringing hope to many people who are living paycheck to paycheck. At the same time, we are seeing poverty and public assistance have decreased. Today more Native Hawaiians are likely to be employed in professional or managerial occupations than in the past, and life expectancy has increased by almost 3 years. This legislation makes a difference to real families. One of these families is Francis Paaluhi and her sisters who live in Nanakuli. They inherited a home from their parents, who passed away, which was built in the 1940s and was in dire need of repairs. There were large holes in the roof and floors; bedroom walls were buckling; broken windows covered with tarps. The Paaluhi sisters did not have the means to pay for the needed repairs, and they couldn't afford a new home. They also didn't qualify for an FHA loan or any other loan. The Department of Hawaiian Homelands made a grant available because of this legislation for $15,000. Just $15,000 gave this family the ability to make a down payment with assistance from a low-interest USDA construction loan. They were able to build a structurally safe and comfortable home for them and their children to live. This is just one example of the many families whose lives have been directly impacted and changed because of this legislation. It is an important step toward removing roadblocks to economic success, not only in Hawaii but in Native communities across the country, and it reaffirms the House's longstanding commitment to tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Like all those who spoke before me, I would like to thank my colleague Representative Pearce for introducing this bill, for his persistence and leadership continuously in bringing this about; Representative Moore for leading the charge courageously on our side of the aisle; Ranking Member Waters for continuing to move this bill forward; also, my long-time colleague and friend from Alaska, Representative Young; and my colleague Dan Kildee, all of whom worked very hard on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to join this bipartisan coalition in supporting the passage of H.R. 360.

Ms. GABBARD

Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to honor the life of Al Lewis, a selfless and larger-than-life community leader who truly embodied the aloha spirit of my home State of Hawaii. He was a husband, father, friend, organizer, mentor, and so much more to so many. If you knew Waimanalo, his hometown, you also knew ``Uncle Al.'' He found his passion helping those in need and led through servant leadership, never too busy or too preoccupied with himself to take action to better the lives of those around him. He helped our children--keiki--succeed by working with youth groups like the Waimanalo Teen Project. In founding the Friends of Waimanalo, he helped create a literary program, purchased uniforms for schoolchildren, and donated to Kailua High School. Every single year he brought the community together from all parts at the Waimanalo Community Carnival. A respected and loyal community advocate, Al Lewis, better known as Uncle Al, will be remembered and missed by his friends, family, and Hawaii.

Ms. GABBARD

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