Mazie Hirono

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce with Congressman Abercrombie a bill that would convert the fourth temporary judgeship for the District of Hawaii to permanent judgeship status. The fourth temporary judgeship for the District of Hawaii was created in 1990 by Public Law 101-650. Although the judges appointed to temporary judgeships have lifetime appointments, legislation creating temporary judgeships usually specifies that the first vacancy in the district cannot be filled after a certain date. In the 1990 bill, this time frame was determined to be ten years after each temporary judgeship was filled. That meant that Hawaii could not fill a temporary vacancy occurring after October 2004. Currently, the District of Hawaii has four active judges. However, if any of these judges become inactive, by taking senior status or otherwise, the district will not be able to replace that judge because of the ten-year limitation, which has long passed. This would place a great burden on not only the three remaining active judges, but also on the litigants themselves, especially civil litigants. Due to the right to speedy trial, felony cases regularly bump civil trials off the calendar, leading to long delays to get to court for civil litigants. Civil cases include disputes involving personal injury, civil rights, the environment, business, and other non-criminal matters. The Judicial Conference of the United States has previously recommended that Hawaii's fourth temporary judgeship be converted to permanent status. The conversion was included in the 2007 Judicial Conference Judgeship Biennial Recommendation. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this and other initiatives that will address our need for additional federal judgeships across the country.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate National Peace Corps Week (February 23-March 2) and recognize the 48 years of commitment to peace made by our nation's Peace Corps volunteers. Following a call to service by President John F. Kennedy, more than 195,000 Americans have served our country in the cause of peace by living and working in 139 developing nations. Currently, 7,876 Peace Corp volunteers are making significant and lasting contributions to improve the lives of individuals and communities in 76 countries. This selfless group includes the following volunteers from Hawaii: Claire Albrecht in Zambia; Kristel Balbarino and Holly Horcajo in Nicaragua; Jack Chow and Noa Thomas in Vanuatu, Theresa Duddy in Madagascar; Rachel Grossman in Ukraine; Ashley Jones in Micronesia; Kevin Kalhoefer in Cambodia; Serette Kaminski in Niger; Nicole Nakama in Botswana; Kevin Schmitz in Dominican Republic; Mai Shintani in Gambia; and Theodore Varns in Guatemala. I also want to recognize and thank the many Peace Corps alumni who reside in Hawaii. I have many friends who are former Peace Corps members. To a person, each has told me that their time of service had a major impact on their lives. Aloha and mahalo to all Peace Crops volunteers past and present for your work in strengthening the ties of friendship and understanding between the people of the United States and others around the world.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 80, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 77, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the Shingles Prevention Act. I would like to thank Neil Abercrombie, Tammy Baldwin, Donna Edwards, Barney Frank, Al Green, Raul Grijalva, Maurice Hinchey, Jim McDermott, Jan Schakowsky, Louise Slaughter, and Gene Taylor for joining me as original cosponsors of this bill. Many of us have had shingles or know of others, especially over the age of 60, who have. In 2006 a new vaccine was created that prevents occurrence of shingles or dramatically reduces the symptoms and pain of shingles. Experts agree that adults over the age of 60 should receive this immunization. Half of us will experience shingles by the time we are 80. Shingles is a painful skin rash often accompanied by fever, headache, chills, and upset stomach. What is more pressing is that one in five shingles patients will endure post-herpetic neuralgia--severe pain lasting much longer than the rash itself. The pain can be so intolerable that patients are housebound, and there have been cases of suicide from the disease. Shingles is most common among seniors because the immune system wanes with age, making Medicare beneficiaries the best candidates for the vaccine. Since its development in 2006, the shingles vaccine has been recommended for adults 60 years or older by the Centers for Disease Control. However, current Medicare Part D coverage of the vaccine is insufficient. Not all beneficiaries are enrolled in Part D or another drug prescription plan. More important, seniors are facing high out-of- pocket costs due to a lack of coordination among doctors, pharmacies, and Part D plans. For example, there is no established direct billing method between doctors and plans for Part D vaccines. Because of this, beneficiaries typically must pay the full price up front, which results in out-of-pocket costs that limit access to those that need the vaccine the most--our seniors. The billing problem, the resulting low utilization of the vaccine, and costly storage requirements are enough to keep many doctors from stocking the vaccine. When doctors do not stock, beneficiaries' only alternative is to obtain the vaccine from pharmacists. But many states do not allow pharmacies to administer Part D vaccines, so the beneficiary has to take the vial from the pharmacy back to the physician's office. Thus, a senior who is thinking about getting vaccinated would have to go first to the doctor's office for a consult, then to the pharmacist, then back to the doctor for the shot. Not surprisingly, many seniors are not getting immunized against shingles. This low utilization rate contributes to the half a billion dollars of treatment costs per year and, for hundreds of thousands of seniors, many weeks spent suffering from a disease that could have been prevented. The Shingles Prevention Act will move shingles vaccine coverage to Part B--thus treating it in the same manner as the flu vaccine under Medicare, simplifying the process for physicians and beneficiaries, and lessening the cost burden for our seniors. This is a common sense and cost effective way to increase access to high quality health care for our seniors, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure its passage.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act. Our nation must show true compassion for the most vulnerable among us, and CHIP helps millions of low-income children receive healthcare. The last time we had a floor debate on H.R. 2, there were references made by those in opposition to the bill to a program in my state called Keiki Care. It was suggested by those individuals that the Keiki Care program was cancelled due to perceived crowd-out, where parents drop their children's private insurance in order to enroll into a free government program. That claim was entirely false, and I join Congressman Abercrombie in correcting the misstatements made by the opposition. The Keiki Care program did not have an issue with crowd-out. It was intentionally designed so that those who wish to enroll in the program must be continuously uninsured for six months. There was also no spike in program enrollment that even suggests that parents were indeed dropping their private insurance to join. I would like to insert into the Record a fact sheet on Keiki Care published by the group Hawaii Covering Kids. In Hawaiian, ``keiki'' means ``child'' or taken literally ``little one.'' H.R. 2 is a bill that provides for the health and well-being of the keiki most in need of our help. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in support of H.R. 2 today. Keiki Care Goal All children and youths living in Hawai`i are enrolled in health insurance. Children's Health Compelling national health care statistics drive Hawai`i Covering Kids' goal: Children who are uninsured are twice as likely not to receive any medical care; Only 45% of uninsured children had one or more well-child visits in the past year compared with more than 70% of insured children; More than one in three uninsured children do not have a personal physician; and Uninsured children are less likely to receive proper medical care for common childhood illnesses such as sore throats, earaches, and asthma. Background Information Approximately five percent of Hawai`i's children and youths are uninsured statewide which means over 16,000 kids do not have health insurance. Hawai`i Covering Kids sponsored meetings in October 2006 and January 2007 to determine the ``gap groups'' and possible solutions. We concluded these children and youths are most likely uninsured: Eligible for QUEST or Medicaid Fee-for-Service in households between 251-300% FPL but parents cannot afford monthly premium payments; In families with incomes above 300% FPL and parents cannot afford private health insurance; Have temporary visas (V, H, K, etc.); Undocumented immigrants; and Student dependents (F2 visa) whose parents cannot afford university health insurance plans. 2007 Initiative The Hawai`i State Legislature introduced HB1008, now Act 236, to help uninsured children and youths in the gap groups. It included paying QUEST and Medicaid Fee-for-Service monthly premiums for children between 251-300% FPL and establishing a free Keiki Care plan for children ages 31 days to 19 years old who are ineligible for public health insurance. The Keiki Care plan is modeled after the low-cost HMSA Children's Plan with limited benefits and some out-of-pocket expenses. It requires the child live in Hawai`i and be continuously uninsured for six months. Exceptions to the six-month uninsured provision include: (1) children who ``income out'' of QUEST or Medicaid Fee-for-Service, (2) children enrolled in a managed care children's plan on the effective date (one-time only exemption), (3) newborns uninsured since birth, and (4) children in families affected by Aloha Airline's bankruptcy. Timeline 3 May 2007--HB1008 HD2 SD2 CD1 Passed by the Legislature; 30 June 2007--Signed by the Governor as Act 236; 1 March 2008--Enrollment Commenced; 1 April 2008--Keiki Care Effective Date. Enrollment 1 April 2008--1,827; 1 November 2008--2,021. Crowd-Out Hawai`i has never experienced problems with parents dropping their children's private health insurance to enroll them in public-financed programs. Keiki Care specifically discourages this tactic (called ``crowd-out'') through an eligibility requirement that each child must be uninsured continuously for six months, limited benefit package, and some out-of-pocket expenses. The fact enrollment in November 2008 isn't significantly greater than when Keiki Care began illustrates crowd-out prevention is working. Outreach Hawai`i Covering Kids has conducted intensive outreach through broadcast emails to state and community partners, mailouts to statewide outreach workers, web site information, 211 hotline referrals, and natural points of contact including community health centers, hospitals, public health nurses, Head Start, WIC, and schools. Economic Impact The modest investment in Keiki Care pays off in several significant ways. It supports healthier children, confident parents, and reliable payments to health care providers while preserving precious charity care and limited uninsured funds for those who are uninsurable. Keiki Care empowers parents by connecting their children to a pediatrician and regular preventive health care. Should a sudden illness or injury occur, the children are also insured for emergency care which averts personal and institutional financial crises. In fact, as the number of insured kids has increased in Hawai`i, hospital emergency department data for 2000-2006 show that visits by uninsured children and youths have declined from 5.25% to 3.79%.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 384, the Troubled Assets Relief Program, TARP, Reform and Accountability Act. Since this capital purchase program, TARP, was implemented, billions of dollars in taxpayer money have been disbursed to institutions with little to no accountability or oversight over these funds. A congressional oversight panel for TARP funding recently concluded that the Treasury Department essentially does not know how TARP fund recipients are utilizing these funds, and a report released last month by the U.S. Government Accountability Office urged TARP administrators to improve the program's internal controls to better monitor how the funds are being spent. H.R. 384 amends the TARP provisions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 to strengthen accountability, close loopholes, and increase transparency of the administration of this program. This bill requires any existing or future institution that receives TARP funding to provide quarterly public reporting on its use of the funding and stipulates that the Treasury Department administer a public database that includes the reporting, data collection, and analysis of use of TARP funds. Last week the House voted unanimously to require our committees to hold periodic hearings on waste, fraud, and abuse in Government programs. As a cosponsor of this bill, H. Res. 40, I believe that Congress has an obligation to restore accountability and oversight to government. H.R. 384, the TARP Reform and Accountability Act, is also critical to restoring the American people's faith in our Government and takes us one step closer to getting our country back on track. Importantly, H.R. 384 requires that a certain amount of TARP funding be committed to foreclosure mitigation and stipulates that the Treasury Secretary develop a comprehensive plan to prevent and mitigate foreclosures on residential mortgages. This legislation also establishes a program to stimulate demand for home purchases and clear inventory of properties so that qualified home buyers can purchase homes at affordable mortgage rates. We cannot move quickly enough to provide assistance to homeowners across the country. I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 384.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2009. I believe our Nation must show true compassion for the most vulnerable among us, and CHIP is a program that helps millions of low- income American children to receive health care so they can grow up in good health. Since its creation in 1997, CHIP has been successful in providing vital health care coverage for children in families who cannot afford private insurance yet earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. There are now 6.6 million children enrolled in the program, which includes 20,000 keiki (children) from my home State of Hawaii. Regrettably twice in 110th Congress, President George W. Bush vetoed bipartisan bills that would have reauthorized and improved CHIP in order to provide secure health coverage for millions of uninsured children in working families. These vetoes were made despite the fact that the bills had passed in both the House and Senate with strong bipartisan majorities. As a result of these vetoes, Congress was only able to provide a short-term extension of CHIP, through March of 2009, but was not able to enact program improvements to help States reach additional uninsured children. The bill before us today is based on the two previously vetoed bipartisan bills. It also offers the 111th Congress the opportunity to right the wrongs of the out-going administration. President-elect Obama has previously expressed strong support for CHIP because it provides a much-needed down-payment on children's health. By extending health coverage to millions more children, this legislation is an important first step in stemming the rising tide of the uninsured. I urge my colleagues to join me and vote in support of this bill and of the health and well-being of children most in need of our help.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 11, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. And I want to thank Chairman George Miller for his continuing leadership and dedication in bringing this bill to the floor. H.R. 11 is needed because the U.S. Supreme Court, in 2007, ruled in Ledbetter v. Goodyear that did not take into consideration the reality that discovering discriminatory pay at the outset is difficult for employees. The Court's imposition of 180 days to file a discrimination claim is totally unrealistic and unfair. When Lilly Ledbetter came to testify before the Education and Labor Committee in 2007, I was moved by her story of justice denied. Ms. Ledbetter was deprived of lost wages compensation because she did not know she was being paid less than her male colleagues until many years had passed since her employers made the initial decision to discriminate. This bill restores fairness to any employee who has been paid less than their coworkers. I urge my colleagues to support the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, as well as the Paycheck Fairness Act also being debated this morning.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill to authorize establishment of a memorial at Kalaupapa National Historical Park on the island of Molokai, Hawaii, to honor the memory and sacrifices of the some 8,000 Hansen's disease patients who were forcibly relocated to the Kalaupapa peninsula between 1866 and 1969. I want to thank my friend and colleague Congressman Neil Abercrombie for cosponsoring this legislation. I had hoped to see this bill become law last year. The 110th Congress version of the bill (H.R. 3332) passed the House in February 2008. It was approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in June 2008. Unfortunately, despite heroic efforts by Senators Akaka, Inouye, and Bingaman, the bill did not come before the full Senate for a vote. 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. While most of us know about the sacrifices of Father Damien, who dedicated his life to care for those exiled to Kalaupapa, fewer know of the courage and sacrifices of the patients who were torn from their families and left to make a life in this isolated area. It is important that their lives be remembered. Of the some 8,000 former patients buried in Kalaupapa, only some 1,300 have marked graves. A memorial listing the names of those who were exiled to Kalaupapa and died there is a fitting tribute and is consistent with the primary purpose of the park, which is ``to preserve and interpret the Kalaupapa settlement for the education and inspiration of present and future generations.'' Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa, a non-profit organization consisting of patient residents at Kalaupapa National Historical Park and their family members and friends, was established in August 2003 to promote the value and dignity of the more than 8,000 persons--some 90 percent of whom were native Hawaiian--who were forcibly relocated to the Kalaupapa peninsula. A central goal of Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa is to make certain that the lives of these individuals are honored and remembered through the establishment of a memorial or memorials within the boundaries of the park at Kalawao or Kalaupapa. Ka `Ohana O Kalaupapa has made a commitment to raise the funds needed to design and build the memorial and will work with the National Park Service on design and location of the memorial. I have met with the elderly residents of Kalaupapa; many have expressed a strong desire to know that the memorial will be built before they die. I also read the heartfelt and compelling testimony submitted by current patients and family members of former patients who want to make sure not only that the story of Kalaupapa is told but that the patients are recognized as individuals by having the names of each of those exiled to Kalaupapa and buried there recorded for posterity. Families that have visited Kalaupapa and Kalawao searching in vain for the graves of their family members will find comfort in seeing those names recorded on a memorial. The National Park Service is supportive of this legislation. I am hopeful that the Senate will soon pass an omnibus bill including the text of this legislation and other public lands bills. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 12, the Paycheck Fairness Act of 2009. As a member of the Education and Labor Committee and an original cosponsor, I am glad to have the opportunity to speak in support of this important bill today. While women have made tremendous strides in the workplace since the passage of the Equal Pay Act 43 years ago, their earnings have not kept pace with that of their male coworkers. In the United States, the average full-time working woman earns just 77 cents to every dollar earned by her male colleagues. This discrepancy in earnings throughout a woman's career may cost her hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars in lost income and retirement savings. I urge my colleagues to protect the rights of women against pay discrimination and ensure that women are treated fairly in the workplace. Please support equal pay for equal work and vote yes on the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your leadership on this very important issue. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6867, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008. We heard this morning that the national unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in September and 9.5 million Americans are out of work, 2.2 million more unemployed workers than just 1 year ago. The unemployment rate in Hawaii has gone up from 2.7 percent in August 2007, one of the lowest in the country, to 4.2 percent in August of 2008. That increase amounted to 10,800 more people out of work in my State in just 1 year. The 28,100 unemployed men and women in Hawaii are struggling to pay their mortgages, health premiums and energy costs while they continue to look for work in the middle of an economic downturn. Many Hawaii businesses have closed their doors or laid off workers in the last year, including Aloha Airlines, ATA, Maui Land and Pine, and Norwegian Cruise Line. The Hawaii economy is struggling. Tourism, agriculture and retail are all down, making it harder for people in our State to find new jobs. Congress must act now to provide help for the 9.5 million Americans who are out of work. Nearly 800,000 of these workers are projected to exhaust their extended unemployment benefits this month. Over the next 3 months, over 2,400 unemployed workers in Hawaii will exhaust their benefits, leaving thousands of Hawaii families out of work and out of money. We have before us an important bill that would extend these benefits for 7 weeks for the thousands of unemployed in Hawaii and across our country. I urge a yes vote on this measure.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, the emergency financial rescue package I am supporting today, while far from perfect, contains noticeable improvements on the Paulson Plan we considered on Monday. This package is much more balanced in favor of helping everyday people, middle-class families, and small businesses. The bailout package we considered on Monday was simply too geared toward Wall Street and the corporations whose irresponsible practices helped create this crisis in the first place. This new financial rescue package raises the cap on FDIC-insured bank accounts from $100,000 to $250,000, which will assist families and small businesses while restoring Americans' confidence that their savings are secure. The new package provides tax relief for middle-class families and tax incentives designed to create new jobs and economic opportunities in Hawaii, where people have been hit hard by the economic downturn that preceded this financial crisis. The majority of the tax relief, tax credits, and tax extenders added to the package will provide direct relief and economic assistance to middle-class families and working people--such as the Alternative Minimum Tax, AMT, relief provision and tax credits to speed research, development, and use of renewable energy sources like wind and solar. The AMT fix, for example, will prevent some 40,000 constituents in my second district of Hawaii from having to pay higher taxes that were originally intended only to affect wealthy taxpayers. The renewable energy tax credits are critical to encourage investment in the alternative energy projects Hawaii needs to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. In addition, the bill reauthorizes for 2 years the Qualified Zone Academy Bonds, QZAB, program, which helps school districts with low- income populations save on interest costs associated with financing school renovations and repairs. Hawaii received about $1.3 million in QZAB allocations in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Another significant provision of this bill requires insurance mental health parity legislation that advocates in Congress have been trying to pass for the past 10 years. I am an original cosponsor of this legislation. These provisions, included in the financial rescue package, will make sure that families struggling with mental illness do not have that challenge compounded by inadequate coverage of mental health care costs. I have voted for these energy, business, and middle-class tax relief measures earlier in the House. These provisions will help 30 million homeowners, create 500,000 American green jobs, and provide tax relief for well over 25 million middle-class families. Including those tax relief proposals as part of the financial rescue package has made the overall proposal more balanced, and more likely to help everyday people get through these difficult economic times. The economic downturn we are facing, resulting in loss of jobs, foreclosures, and families having difficulty paying for life's necessities, will not be fixed by this relief bill. The economic provisions added to the bill will help. But we need a broader economic stimulus package to get our economy going in the right direction again. I am disappointed that it appears the Senate is not taking up the economic stimulus package (H.R. 7110) recently passed in the House, which will create jobs, extend unemployment benefits, help States with Medicaid reimbursements, and support our Food Stamp program. This bill represented some $222 million for Hawaii. I did talk to Senator Obama about his perspective and my concerns about this bill. We both know that much more work remains to be done to address the underlying economic and regulatory problems that won't be fixed with this bill. We agree that new Federal investments are needed in transportation and clean water infrastructure as well as in education to enhance our Nation's competitiveness and to put people to work. Senator Obama also shares my concern that the cost of this rescue plan will not ultimately fall on the taxpayers, and he reassured me of his commitment to impose financial service fees to make taxpayers whole. With the right leadership in the White House, I am confident that we can make the changes needed in future legislation to protect homeowners and taxpayers and to reform our financial markets.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. I rise in support of H.R. 2786, the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act, NAHASDA. Reauthorization of NAHASDA through FY2012 will ensure that safe, decent, and affordable housing is available to low-income American Indian and Alaska Native families. At the same time, I am very troubled by the obstructionist tactics of certain Republicans in the Senate that resulted in stripping reauthorization of the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant and Loan Guarantee Program from the final version of this bill. Native Hawaiians, like other indigenous peoples of the United States, are members of traditionally underserved communities and deserve equitable participation in federal programs with American Indians and Alaska Natives. Legislation will be reintroduced next year that will reauthorize funding for the Native Hawaiian housing program to ensure that the affordable housing needs of Native Hawaiians are addressed. Since the inception of the Native Hawaiian housing program in FY2002, $37 million has been awarded to Hawaii to support much-needed affordable housing activities for low-income Native Hawaiians who are eligible to reside on Hawaiian home lands. I believe in the importance of Native Hawaiian programs, and I will continue to champion these programs. I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 2786, and I ask for your support to correct this unfair exclusion of Native Hawaiians.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1436, Congratulating the Waipio Little League baseball team for winning the 2008 Little League World Championship. These young men from Hawaii won the World Series on August 24, after defeating Team Mexico with an impressive score of 12- 3. As a member of the Hawaii Congressional Delegation and as an island resident I am delighted to distinguish these young men. Waipio became only the second team in Little League World Series Championship game history to score in every inning. It was the second time in four years that a team from Oahu won the world title in what is arguably the biggest event in youth sports. The Waipio Players have demonstrated skills in leadership, athleticism, and above all, team work. Through their example we can all recognize that with cooperation and hard work much can be achieved. I join their family and friends in applauding them on this outstanding achievement. I would like to acknowledge all the coaches and players' families who make this program such a success. For the commitment, time, and expense it took to get the team from their home field in Waipio all the way to the World Series in Williamsport, PA. As was evidenced by the hundreds of Hawaii residents that lined Kalakaua Avenue during the ``Parade of Champions'' earlier this month-- Waipio Little League, you make Hawaii proud.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I am shocked that some in our community have implied that minorities are somehow responsible for the financial debacle our country is facing now. Apparently, the argument is that minorities are getting loans through the Community Reinvestment Act on the basis of race, and often little else. I don't know what evidence there is for such a sentiment, but I do know that the vast majority of subprime market loans were financed by Wall Street, not by the commercial banks regulated under the Community Reinvestment Act. Trying to shift the focus from the lack of oversight by this administration of our financial markets and the irresponsible behavior of so many brokerage firms by scapegoating minority families who are trying to realize the American Dream of homeownership is not only insensitive, but insulting.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 630, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in expressing great sympathy on the sudden passing of Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a pioneer her entire professional career: She was the first African-American and the first female prosecutor in Cuyahoga County, Ohio; the first African-American woman to sit on the Common Pleas bench in Ohio; the first African-American woman to be elected to Congress from Ohio; and the first African-American woman to serve on the House Ways and Means Committee. As a first term member of Congress, my service with Stephanie was too short, but I will fondly remember her bright smile and vibrant personality. Her leadership and passion will be sorely missed. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Stephanie's son, Mervyn Leroy Jones II, and her sister, Barbara Walker.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 560, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.'' Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. King of Iowa

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of amendment number 22, offered by Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner, which would provide a one time payment to the courageous Filipino veterans of World War II. Filipino veterans are those that honorably answered the call of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and served alongside our armed forces during World War II. They fought shoulder to shoulder with American servicemen; they sacrificed for the same just cause. We made a promise to provide full veterans' benefits to those who served with our troops. And while we have made appreciable progress toward fulfilling that promise, we have not yet achieved the full equity that the Filipino veterans deserve. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 760, The Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007, which was introduced by the Chairman to provide the necessary reclassification of the service of Filipino veterans to make them eligible for all the veterans' benefits programs administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs. In essence, H.R. 760 makes good on the promise our government made to these brave men over sixty years ago. Today, out of the 250,000 Filipino World War II veterans, only 18,000 are left. Of that number some 2,000 reside in my home state of Hawaii. As Filipino veterans are entering the sunset years of their lives, Congress is running out of time to fulfill our obligations to them. While there is no question in my mind that the appropriate action for Congress is to provide full veterans' benefits to the Filipino World War II veterans, this one time payment of $15,000 to those veterans who are now American citizens and a $9,000 payment to those veterans that remain Philippine nationals is a gesture that is a step forward in the little time we have left to thank and respect the promises made to these brave soldiers for their service to our country.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1338, the Paycheck Fairness Act. This legislation is needed to strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963. I thank Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro for sponsoring this bill and fighting for its passage year after year and Chairman George Miller for championing this bill through the committee and on the House floor. The Paycheck Fairness Act has garnered tremendous support from 230 cosponsors and over 200 national, state, and Iocal organizations. While the Equal Pay Act was intended to prevent pay discrimination in the workplace, 45 years after it was signed by President Kennedy, women, and especially women of color, continue to take home significantly less pay than men for the same work. Single women and female heads of households fare the worst in the current system. These women earn less than their male colleagues during their careers, which in turn adversely affects their ability to save and accrue retirement benefits. As a representative of the second Congressional district of Hawaii, I have the great honor and responsibility of continuing the important work of my predecessor, Patsy Takemoto Mink. Congresswoman Mink's personal struggles as a woman in a culture dominated by men inspired her to work tirelessly for equal rights for women and girls. She faced obstacles in pursuing her education and career, but she was not deterred--instead, she broke down barriers, becoming the first Japanese-American woman admitted to the bar in Hawaii and the first woman of color elected to national office in this country when she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1964. Today, women continue to break down barriers in the workplace, but they still receive only a fraction of the pay men receive for the same work. Although the Equal Pay Act of 1963 was passed to prevent pay discrimination based on sex, the law clearly has not had the intended result, even after 45 years. Women still make only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men for equal work. This bill will strengthen enforcement of the law, thereby fulfilling its intended purpose. I strongly urge my colleagues to stand up for the right of women to receive equal pay and support the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4137, the Higher Education Opportunity Act. I want to thank my colleagues on the Education and Labor Committee and in the Senate for their commitment to this important piece of legislation. While this reauthorization is long overdue, I believe this compromise bill will provide millions of our nation's students with increased access to higher education. This bipartisan bill will help provide families with critical information about the cost of college and student financial aid programs. By helping families better understand the true financial costs of higher education and how they can apply for student aid, families will be better able to make informed choices about their student's education. The Higher Education Opportunity Act truly an investment in education at all levels. To provide all of our children with a high quality education that will better prepare them for success in school and in life we must ensure that there is a qualified, caring, competent teacher in every classroom, particularly in the early years. This bill makes great progress toward this goal by expanding student loan forgiveness and professional development programs that will help recruit, prepare, and retain teachers in the field of early education. This bill will also provide more low-income and minority students with support to prepare for and successfully attend college. I am particularly pleased to see provisions in this reauthorization that provide much-needed resources to Native Hawaiian-serving institutions for programs to help Native Hawaiians meet the demands of careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Again, I want to thank my colleagues from both chambers for their tireless efforts in advancing this significant legislation. In particular, I would like to recognize Senator Ted Kennedy for his leadership and for his years of dedication to improving access to high quality education for all of our students. I strongly urge my colleagues to support the Higher Education Opportunity Act.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I missed three votes today due to an emergency dental procedure. Had I been present, I would have voted as follows: Rollcall vote 524: ``yes'' on motion on ordering the previous question on the rule providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules (H. Res. 1367). Rollcall vote 525: ``yes'' on H. Res. 1367, the rule providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules. Rollcall vote 526: ``yes'' on motion on ordering the previous question on the rule for H.R. 5501--Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 (H. Res. 1362).

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1139, a resolution that recognizes the men and women of Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for their service to our military on the 100th anniversary of its opening. Established by the United States Navy in 1908, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard has a distinguished history of serving our country. Attacked on December 7, 1941, the workers of Pearl Harbor quickly recovered, returning fifteen of eighteen damaged ships to combat within half a year. On June 1, 1942, an extensively damaged USS Yorktown arrived in Pearl Harbor needing repairs that would normally take an estimated four months to complete. Shipyard workers performed these repairs in only 72 hours and returned the Yorktown to sea, where it played a decisive role in the Battle of Midway, the pivotal naval battle in the Pacific during World War II. The Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard currently serves as the home port for seventeen Los Angeles-class submarines and twelve other naval ships. Workers at this shipyard have repaired ships successfully in every war from World War II to the present and are now preparing for the Navy's Virginia-class submarines that are scheduled to begin arriving in 2009. It is time for us to recognize this longstanding commitment to our country and celebrate the tireless contributions of the men and women of Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1202, a resolution that supports the goals and ideals of a National Guard Youth Challenge Day. This measure celebrates the success of the National Guard Youth Challenge Program. Implemented by the National Guard in participating states, the program aims to address the growing national epidemic of high school dropouts by improving the education, life skills, and employment potential for ``at risk'' youth through military-based training and supervised work experience. The program is fundamental in giving young people a second chance to obtain their high school diplomas and to become productive citizens within their communities. The National Guard Youth Challenge Program is results-driven and cost-effective. Since its inception in 1993, nearly 80,000 students have graduated from the program, and more than 90 percent of its graduates earn their high school diploma or GED, go to college, enter the military, or join the workforce. When I served as Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii, I met with program participants and staff on numerous occasions and was impressed by the achievements of its graduates. The National Guard Youth Challenge Program has made a lasting impact on young people and communities not only in Hawaii but across the Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.