Mazie Hirono

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 781, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania, the Honorable Chaka Fattah. (Mr. FATTAH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of the speakers who supported this resolution. As a woman, of course, it has special meaning to me as well as to all of the other women in the House.

Ms. HIRONO. I yield back the remainder of my time.

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on H.R. 1700.

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1700) to authorize the Administrator of General Services to convey a parcel of real property in the District of Columbia to provide for the establishment of a National Women's History Museum, as amended.

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, D.C.

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support H.R. 1700, as amended, as bill which directs the Administrator of General Services to sell at fair market value property in Southwest Washington, DC to the National Women's History Museum, Inc., a District of Columbia non-profit corporation for the purpose of establishing a museum dedicated to women's history. This bill was introduced by Mrs. Maloney and co-sponsored by many members including Subcommittee Chair Norton, Ranking Member Mr. Diaz- Balart and myself. The National Women's History Museum was founded in 1996, and has been seeking a permanent physical location in the Nation's capital since its inception. According to museum officials, the museum intends to build a ``green'' building that will cost between $250 and $350 million. The costs will include designs, plans, construction, and two years of operation. The permanent museum is expected to be a focal point that will have permanent and temporary exhibits, special events, and education materials that highlight women's social, political, and intellectual contributions to history. According to the museum, this facility will house the first permanent and comprehensive record of women's history. The National Women's History Museum will have five years to raise funds to construct the museum. If, after five years, the fundraising has not been successful, the property will revert back to the Federal government, thus the government's interests are protected. In general the museum will bear the costs of the sale, including the appraisal. This bill has bipartisan support and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1700 as amended. I yield such time as she may consume to the author of this legislation, Mrs. Maloney.

Ms. HIRONO. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia, the Honorable Jim Moran.

Ms. HIRONO. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California, the Honorable Lynn Woolsey.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2423) to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 1300 Victoria Street in Laredo, Texas, as the ``George P. Kazen Federal Building and United States Courthouse'', and to designate the jury room in that Federal building and United States courthouse as the ``Marcel C. Notzon II Jury Room'', as amended.

Ms. HIRONO

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

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

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2423, as amended, is a bill to designate the federal building and United States courthouse located at 1300 Victoria St. in Laredo, Texas as the George P. Kazen Federal Building and United States Courthouse. Congressman Cuellar introduced this bill, which has bipartisan support. Judge Kazen has served the people of the southern judicial district of Texas with great distinction and dedication since 1979. He is a graduate of the University of Texas, and the University of Texas Law School. After serving in private practice in Laredo, Texas he was nominated to the federal bench by President Jimmy Carter in 1979. He served in the southern district of Texas and served as Chief Judge in that district from 1996 until 2003. Judge Kazen was also very active in his community, serving as a member in the U.S. Air Force, founding the Laredo Legal Aid Society, and serving in numerous capacities in civic organizations in South Texas. Judge Kazen served as President of the Laredo Civic Music Association, the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of Laredo, the St. Augustine- Ursuline School Board, and as a member of the Laredo Community College Board of Trustees. It is both fitting and proper to honor Judge Kazen's distinguished public career with this designation. I support H.R. 2423 as amended and urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the author of the bill, Mr. Cuellar of Texas.

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 2423.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 800, which expresses the sympathy of the Congress to citizens of the Philippines after Tropical Storm Ketsana and Typhoon Parma. I would like to thank Congresswoman Jackie Speier for her work on this resolution. She has painted a picture of the devastation that is very hard to remove from our minds. My heart is with those who are lost. It is with their loved ones, and with the tens of thousands of survivors who are struggling in the aftermath of these cataclysmic events. The Filipino community in Hawaii, one of the largest outside of the Philippines, has come together out of a sense of damayan, or empathy, to help support relief efforts. Since the storms, many families have sent balikbayan boxes, or care packages, carrying everything from canned food to clothing to their families and friends in the Philippines. While not an exhaustive list, I would like to recognize the work of the following community organizations in Hawaii: the United Filipino Council of Hawaii, the Oahu Filipino Community Council, the Filipino Community Center, Inc., the Filipino Chamber of Commerce, the Honolulu Filipino Jaycees, the Hawaiian Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, and the Kasama Filipino studies club at Leeward Community College. The Filipino community, as well as all others in the State of Hawaii, have come together to provide what supportive relief we can, and we will continue to do so. Maraming salamat po. Thank you.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. I hope that you will have the opportunity to visit Kalaupapa at some point in your lives. I know that you will be deeply moved, as I was, by the example of this man, this saint, as well as by the courage and perseverance of the people he dedicated his life to serving.

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my friends, the gentleman from American Samoa and the gentlelady from Florida, for their kind remarks in support of this resolution. I rise today in support of my resolution commemorating the canonization of Father Damien, a member of the congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, to sainthood this past Sunday, October 11, 2009. We can all celebrate the life of St. Damien, a man who put his faith and principles into action in the service of a group of people who suffered not only the physical effects of leprosy, now known as Hansen's disease, but also from the terrible stigma associated with the disease. Father Damien is recognized for his 16 years of selfless service to the people who were forcibly isolated on the peninsula of Kalaupapa, on the island of Molokai, Hawaii, because they were diagnosed with Hansen's disease. Living among the people of Kalaupapa from 1873 to 1889, he eventually contracted the disease, ultimately died from its effects, and was buried on Molokai. The policy of exiling persons with the disease that was then known as leprosy began under the Kingdom of Hawaii and continued under the governments of the Republic of Hawaii, the Territory of Hawaii and the State of Hawaii. Children, mothers and fathers were forcibly separated and sent to Kalaupapa, which for most of its history could only be accessed by water or via a steep mule trail. Children born to parents at Kalaupapa were taken away from their mothers and sent to orphanages or to other family members outside Kalaupapa. Hawaii's isolation laws for people with Hansen's disease were not repealed until 1969, even though medications to control the disease have been available since the late 1940s. I believe that all people, regardless of their religious beliefs, can recognize truly extraordinary persons who give of themselves without reserve for the betterment of their fellow human beings. Father Damien was surely such a person. No sickness was as feared as leprosy in the late 1800s, but he volunteered to serve at Kalaupapa and requested to stay there in order to serve those who were most shunned. He recognized the human rights and inherent dignity of all people, especially those he lived alongside at Kalaupapa. Father Damien worked with the people of Kalaupapa to improve their living conditions. A skilled carpenter, he led in the building of houses and hospitals, six chapels, a home for boys and a home for girls. At the same time, he ministered to the spiritual and physical needs of his parishioners and helped to bury the hundreds who died during his years there. It is noteworthy that shortly after Hawaii became a State, Father Damien was the first selection of the State legislature to be memorialized in a statue as part of the National Statuary Hall in Washington, DC. Despite the fact that he was not born in Hawaii and lived so long ago, Hawaii's people recognize that his life embodied the true spirit of aloha, which means, love, compassion, mercy, grace, and malama, which means to care for. Last week in Louvain, Belgium, prior to the canonization, some 400 Hawaii residents, including 11 former Hansen's disease patients from Kalaupapa, attended a mass with the King and Queen of Belgium near St. Damien's birthplace. Addressing those who came all the way from Hawaii, Cardinal Danneels, a native of Belgium said, ``We gave life to Father Damien. You gave him back as a saint. We thank you.'' I have visited Father Damien's grave at Kalawao on the Kalaupapa peninsula, and as you can see by this photo that was taken when I visited Kalaupapa, it seems almost unreal. It is a beautiful place where tremendous suffering took place, but also a place imbued with great spiritual feeling. Father Damien's grave site is marked on this photo in the far left.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 810. I would like to thank Congressman Dan Burton for his work on this resolution. In February 2008, I visited Indonesia as a member of the House Democracy Partnership. While our focus was meeting with members of the Indonesian House of Representatives, we made it a point to also visit Banda Aceh on the island of Sumatra. As you may recall, in December 2004, Banda Aceh was the closest major city to the epicenter of an Indian Ocean earthquake and suffered further damage by a tsunami that struck shortly afterwards. That earthquake measured 9.3 on the Richter scale. The awesome power of the tsunami was brought home to us as leaders of Banda Aceh showed us how the whole area had literally been leveled and ships from port were swept inland by the water's force. Of course, the human tragedy was incalculable. Children became orphans instantly. Mothers, fathers and families were devastated. The recovery efforts in which the United States played a major role were extraordinary. What I was most impressed with, however, was the remarkable resiliency and spirit of the people of Banda Aceh. It is that same resiliency that I am sure will rise again out of the tragedies of the earthquakes and aftershocks of September 2009. My thoughts are with those who were lost, their loved ones, and the tens of thousands of survivors who are struggling in the aftermath. I stand with President Obama in his offer of assistance that will help alleviate the suffering and provide relief in this region.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 816 which expresses the condolences of the Congress to the Samoans following the natural disasters in the South Pacific. I cannot stress how much these terrifying events were so deeply felt throughout the State of Hawaii because of our close familial, historical, cultural, and geographical ties to these islands. I would like to extend a heartfelt ``mahalo''--my thanks--to Hawaii's Army Air and Army Guard Medical Communication and search and rescue specialists who assisted in the recovery efforts. It is worth noting that this was the first time the Hawaii National Guard had deployed such a sizable tax force outside our State in support of a Pacific partner. I would also like to thank the 15 Red Cross volunteers from Hawaii who focused on outreaching to the families who lost loved ones in the disasters and served meals that included local favorites like spam and saimin. I would also like to thank the many Hawaii businesses who made monetary or in-kind donations. The outpouring of support for relief efforts from Hawaii's Samoan community has been tremendous. I know that much of their strength in the wake of these disasters is derived from their personal faith for which I have long had great admiration. I want to close by letting my dear friend and colleague, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, know that I stand ready along with other Members of Congress to continue to support his efforts to help the people of American Samoa and Samoa in any way that we can. Mahalo.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution commemorating the canonization of Father Damien de Veuster, a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, to sainthood on October 11, 2009. Some 600 people from Hawaii are traveling to the Vatican to witness his elevation. As many of you know, Father Damien is recognized for his 16 years of selfless service to the people who were forcibly isolated on the peninsula of Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai, Hawaii, because they were diagnosed with leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease. Living among the people of Kalaupapa from 1873 to 1889, he eventually contracted Hansen's disease and ultimately died and was buried on Molokai. The policy of exiling persons with the disease that was then known as leprosy began under the Kingdom of Hawaii and continued under the governments of the Republic of Hawaii, the Territory of Hawaii, and the State of Hawaii. Children, mothers, and fathers were forcibly separated and sent to the isolated peninsula of Kalaupapa, which for most of its history could only be accessed by water or via a steep mule trail. Children born to parents at Kalaupapa were taken away from their mothers and sent to orphanages or to other family members outside of Kalaupapa. Hawaii's isolation laws for people with Hansen's disease were not repealed until 1969, even though medications to control the disease had been available since the late 1940s. I believe that all people, regardless of their religious beliefs, can recognize truly extraordinary persons who give of themselves without reserve for the betterment of their fellow human beings. Father Damien was surely such a person. No disease was as feared as leprosy in the late 1800s, but he volunteered to serve at Kalaupapa and requested to stay there in order to serve those who most shunned. He recognized the human rights and inherent dignity of all people, especially those he lived alongside at Kalaupapa. Father Damien worked with those who were isolated at Kalaupapa to improve living conditions. A skilled carpenter, he led in the building of houses and hospitals, six chapels, a home for boys, and a home for girls. At the same time, he ministered to the spiritual and physical needs of his parishioners and helped to bury the hundreds who died during his years there. It is noteworthy that, shortly after Hawaii became a State, Father Damien was the first selection of the State legislature to be memorialized in a statue as part of the National Statuary Hall Collection. Despite the fact that he was not born in Hawaii and lived so long ago, Hawaii's people recognized that his life embodied the true spirit of aloha (love, compassion, mercy, grace) and malama (to care for). I have visited Father Damien's church and grave at Kalawao on the Kalaupapa peninsula. I hope that some of you will have the opportunity to visit Kalaupapa at some point in your lives. I know that you will be deeply moved, as I was, by the example of this man, soon to be recognized as a saint, as well as by the courage and perseverance of the people he dedicated his life to serving.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, the Education and Labor Committee is holding a hearing later this morning on teacher equity and ensuring that all children have access to effective teachers. The most important resource in every classroom is a caring, qualified, and competent teacher; yet highly effective teachers tend to be more concentrated in affluent communities. Children of the highest poverty and highest minority schools across the country are often taught by less experienced, less qualified teachers. These children are being shortchanged. Closing this ``teacher quality gap'' is a critical step in closing the achievement gap for these students. We can do more here in Congress to support the important work teachers do and to help teachers access the professional development and support they need. We can do more to ensure that effective teachers are placed, and encouraged to stay, in the classrooms where they are most needed. By building on the work of this Congress, for example, we required States to provide assurance that they will take steps to address disparities in teacher equity as a condition of receiving Recovery Act funds.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H.R. 455 into the Record.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 491) encouraging each institution of higher education in the country to seek membership in the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC) Consortium.