Mazie Hirono

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. I thank the gentlelady from Florida for her leadership on issues important to our young people, and for yielding some time to me. I know that you mentioned mothers and fathers. Well, grandparents, too, because I'm a step-grandparent and I have a wonderful step- daughter who has two young children. So these are issues near and dear to all of us. As we commemorate the Week of the Young Child, I rise today in strong support of quality early childhood education, and tonight, in particular, for increased funding for Head Start and the Child Care and Development block grants, two Federal programs supporting our youngest children. Congress got it right when it created Head Start 43 years ago. This is an example of a government program that families depend on every day and that really works, thanks largely to the many talented and dedicated teachers throughout our Nation. I want to take a moment to commemorate the life of one such teacher, Mrs. Leona Stevens, who served as the lead teacher at several Maui Head Start centers for over 15 years. She passed away unexpectedly recently and will be deeply missed by all of us. Mrs. Stevens was known for valuing students' creativity and continually asked them, ``why do you think that'' and ``what do you think will happen?'' She was equally passionate about improving the quality of Head Start by training new early education teachers and furthering her own education. She went back to school to get her associates degree in early childhood education and spent 7 years working in partnership with Maui Community College to train new Head Start teachers. Last year, while Leona was mentoring new young teachers, Congress worked hard to pass the Head Start Reauthorization bill, which was signed into law. The bill made many improvements to this program, but the single most important thing we did was to increase the amount of money authorized for Head Start. Of course we all know the difference between authorized levels and appropriated levels. This year, we must put our money where our mouth is. The fact is, only half of all eligible children are served by Head Start, and a measly 3 percent of eligible infants and toddlers are served by early Head Start. This means hundreds of thousands of low- income families are without access to high-quality early education opportunities for their children. Speaker Pelosi hosted a summit for America's children last year in which we heard from neuroscientists, police chiefs, business leaders, all of whom told us in unequivocal language that it pays to invest in children before they turn six. I chaired a hearing on early education in the full Education and Labor Committee earlier this year, and we heard the same message from State level advocates and policy makers. I talk to parents, Kindergarten teachers and business leaders in Hawaii every time I go home, and they tell me that we must increase access to high-quality early education and child care opportunities. Why? Because that is the best investment that we can make in our young children and in our country's future. Certainly this year, like every other year, Congress will face many difficult spending decisions. We will fund our veterans and troops, fund health and alternative energy research, fund our public schools. I will support increases in all of these things, but this is not a zero sum game and we cannot afford to let our youngest children slip through the cracks. We should increase funding for Head Start by at least $1 billion and increase funding for CCDBG by $874 million. It is a matter of fairness. Every child deserves a shot at success. We know, however, that many children from low-income families start Kindergarten with half the vocabulary of their wealthier peers. High-quality preschool can do much to close this gap. It is a matter, also, of economic prosperity. Our small business community, our science and technology community all need educated workers. Low-income children who go to a high-quality preschool are more likely to graduate from high school than their peers that did not go to preschool. Finally, it is a smart investment of Federal dollars. Research shows that every dollar invested in high-quality early education programs returns somewhere between $2 and $17. Even at the very low end of that spectrum, it is a worthwhile investment. Parents, police officers, business owners and teachers across Hawaii and the rest of the country are asking us to make children a priority. I know that Maui's beloved Mrs. Stevens would join them. I urge my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to provide real increases to these vital programs. And I close by saying that the working people of Hawaii, we have a much higher percentage of working parents, working single parents than probably any other State in the country, and that is because the cost of living is very high in Hawaii. I've talked to the many mothers and fathers and grandparents who take care of their grandchildren now of how important it is for their kids and their grandchildren to have a good start in life. And certainly one of the best ways for them to get a good start in life is to make sure that we continue to support Head Start and the other grant programs that will give them this chance. I yield back to my colleague from Florida and thank her for her continuing leadership on these and so many other issues.

Ms. HIRONO. Same here. Thank you very much.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 148, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate National Peace Corps Week, February 25-March 3, and recognize the 47 years of compassion, hard work, and dedication of our Nation's Peace Corps volunteers. Following a passionate call to service by President John F. Kennedy, more than 190,000 Americans have volunteered their time, labor, and personal expertise to the aid of 139 developing nations. Today, more than 8,000 Peace Corp volunteers serve in 68 posts in 74 countries. Ranging from positions in agriculture, business development, information technology, education, health and HIV/AIDS, youth, and to the environment, volunteers promote global progress while building lifelong friendships in their host countries. I would like to thank the following Peace Corps volunteers from my own district for sacrificing their time in the promotion of our Nation's values: Kristel Balbarino, serving Nicaragua; Kevin Kalhoefer, serving in Cambodia; Elyse Petersen, serving in Niger; Kevin Schmitz, serving in the Dominican Republic; Theodore Yams, serving in Guatemala; and Lisa Wasilewski, serving in Namibia. 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 for answering the call for peace in all nations of the world.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5351, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill, which promotes renewable energy by providing more than $8 billion in long-term tax incentives for electricity produced from renewable sources and encourages greater energy efficiency improvements to homes and commercial buildings. H.R. 5351 also repeals $18 billion in tax subsidies and loopholes that have for too long benefited the big multi-national oil and gas companies, even as they continue to reap record-breaking profits. While Exxon Mobil raked in $40 billion in earnings last year, American families paid skyrocketing gas prices. In my home State of Hawai'i, where about 90 percent of our energy comes from imported petroleum, residents pay among the Nation's highest prices for electricity and fuel, an average of $3.54 per gallon at the pump. In some parts of the State, the cost for a gallon of regular gas has risen to nearly $4.00. Consumers in Hawaii and across the Nation should not be burdened by excessively high energy costs while also facing a growing credit and housing crisis. We cannot continue to rely upon Big Oil and offshore oil producers to supply our energy needs at the expense of consumers and the environment. This bill contains long-term tax incentives to achieve energy independence by expanding production of renewable homegrown fuels and electricity in addition to extending tax credits for solar energy, fuel cell investment, and residential energy efficient property. I believe that H.R. 5351 will do much to put us on a path toward energy independence, create new jobs as we invest in renewable energy production, and help tight global warming. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 972, Supporting the Goals and Ideals of American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day. February is American Heart month, and today, I join women across the country by wearing red to increase the awareness of heart disease as the leading killer among women and men. Minorities are disproportionately affected by cardiac disease. In a diverse State like Hawaii, this is an especially important issue. As a Congresswoman, I support funding for medical research and improved treatment. And I will continue to advocate for affordable, accessible health care for all. However, fighting heart disease is not only a public policy issue. Americans can help prevent and reduce heart disease and decrease the deaths it causes through education and lifestyle changes. Adults should learn the signs of heart attack and stroke, because quick recognition will increase the chance of survival. And we should all make a point to live healthier. Eating better, exercising more, and refraining from smoking are common sense lifestyle choices that could save our lives. I know how hard it is to make time to eat right and get to the gym--but it is worth it. As we celebrate Valentine's Day and affairs of the heart, let us commit ourselves to making that effort for improved heart health.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate February 19, the National Day of Remembrance for Japanese American internment. During World War II, fear and mistrust clouded judgment and allowed brazen racism to take hold. Sixty-six years ago next week, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which sent 120,000 American citizens and legal residents of Japanese descent into internment camps, forcing them to lose their homes, jobs and possessions. Some of these families were held in internment even while their sons showed great patriotism by serving in the Army. In my home State of Hawaii, 10,000 individuals were investigated and an estimated 1,250 Japanese Americans were detained in our islands. During trying times such as our Nation once again faces, we must not allow prejudice against people based on race, creed or national origin to shape public policy. Fear tests our moral fortitude, and this National Day of Remembrance reminds us to reflect on our past actions in order to make just decisions which uphold our Constitution.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 3332. Kalaupapa is a 2\1/4\-mile-wide shelf of land jutting out beneath sea cliff ranging from 1,600 to 3,000 feet in height on the island of Molokai. It is an incredibly beautiful and isolated area with a unique history. This bill authorizes the establishment of a memorial at Kalaupapa National Historical Park in the memory of those who were forcibly relocated there because they suffered from or were suspected of having Hansen's disease, or leprosy. Once sent to Kalaupapa, most never saw their homes or their families again. Kahauliko, Loe, Liilii, Puha, Kini, Lono, Waipio, Kainana, Kaumoana, Nahuina, Lakapu, and Kepihe. These are the names of the first 12 people who were exiled to Kalaupapa on January 6, 1886, 142 years ago. This poster is a copy of the Kingdom of Hawaii's register, now at the Hawaii State Archives, of those sent to Kalaupapa Peninsula. These first 12 were all Native Hawaiians, nine men and three women. From that day forward until 1969, approximately 8,000 people living in the Hawaii Islands were taken from their families and isolated on Kalaupapa Peninsula, first in Kalawao, and later in the town of Kalaupapa. Because of society's fear of leprosy, which we now call Hansen's disease, food was scarce, and shelter and health care were minimal for the new arrivals. The mortality rate for exiles in the first 5 years was 46 percent due to the poor conditions. ``An Act to Prevent the Spread of Leprosy'' was first signed into law in 1865 by Lot Kamehameha, the King of Hawaii. The act essentially criminalized the disease. Children, mothers, and fathers were forcibly separated. Children born to parents at Kalaupapa were taken away from their mothers and sent to live in orphanages or with other family members outside of Kalaupapa. The policy was continued in the Republic of Hawaii after Hawaii was annexed by the United States and into statehood. Hawaii's isolation laws for people with Hansen's disease were not repealed until 1969, 10 years after statehood, even though medications to control the disease have been available since the late 1950s. Nearly 6,700 of the approximately 8,000 people who have died at Kalaupapa, more than 75 percent, lie in unmarked or unidentifiable graves. Their names are known only in the official records, which are not easily accessible. A memorial listing the names of those who were exiled to Kalaupapa and died there is a fitting tribute and is consistent with the purpose of the park, to preserve and interpret the Kalaupapa settlement for the education and inspiration of present and future generations. Many have heard of the sacrifices of Father Damien, who is represented by one of Hawaii's two statues in this Capitol, as well as those of Mother Marianne Cope and Brother Dutton, who each gave decades of their lives to care for the patients at Kalaupapa. Fewer know, however, of the courage and sacrifices of the exiles who were torn from their families and all they knew to make a life in this isolated area. It is important that their lives be remembered. The Kalaupapa memorial will bring these people back to their rightful places in their family genealogy and history. Many families have gone to Kalaupapa to search for the graves of their ancestors; but with only 1,300 marked graves, most are disappointed. In a letter of support for the memorial, David and Chris Mahelona explained why they, as Native Hawaiians, feel an urgent need for a monument that would list the names of everyone sent to Kalaupapa. I quote: ``The naming process and the giving of a Hawaiian name is an important and sacred component of traditional Hawaiian culture. It is said that names carry significant mana, spiritual power, and they are actually a part of the person, just like an arm or leg. In ancient Hawaii, a person's name was one of the most precious possessions unique to that individual, and most times related to an event, an ancestor, or a personality trait. In every case, the kapuna (elders) are always consulted. It was the responsibility of the bearer of the name to carry its weight. Therefore, it is important to remember these people by their names at their final resting place.'' I would also like to read the testimony that Kuulei Bell, president of Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa, submitted to Congress. Kuulei, who contracted Hansen's disease at age 6, is now 74. And I recently visited her at Queens Hospital in Honolulu. Kuulei testified: ``We need to remember the people who have dedicated their lives and came to Kalaupapa. Father Damien, who we love so much, came to take care of all those in Kalaupapa in the 1800s, and he became one of us, contracted the disease, and so we know how this is. ``And also we know that Mother Marianne gave her aloha and love with all the nuns to come and take care of the patients. They need to be remembered. ``These things are so important, and the monument is a big part of our history and our lives. ``So please consider what we are asking for is our history and for our children to know what happened to many of our patients. How sad it was for my mother, who had to wait for me to go and she could not even touch me because of the disease. And I could not even touch my children. These are the things that we should consider, how important it is. These are the memories. So please consider these things. I say these things from my heart and I hope that you hear it.'' Kuulei ended her testimony thus: ``Thank you for listening to this. Aloha and much aloha; much, much mahalo.'' Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa, a nonprofit organization consisting of patient residents at Kalaupapa National Historical Park and their family members and friends, was established in 2003 to promote the value and dignity of the exiles of Kalaupapa and to make certain that the lives of these individuals are honored and remembered through establishment of a memorial or memorials within the boundaries of the park at Kalawao or Kalaupapa. I want to thank House Natural Resources Committee Chair Nick Rahall and Parks Subcommittee Chair Raul Grijalva for helping to move this important bill to the floor, and I also want to thank my cosponsor, Congressman Neil Abercrombie, for his strong support and assistance. Most of all, I send my heartfelt aloha and mahalo to all the members of Ka 'Ohana O Kalaupapa, to all the Kalaupapa patients and their families, and most especially to Kuulei on this momentous day. I ask all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3332.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in honoring the legacy of human rights champion Lantos Tamas Peter and expressing great sympathy on the passing of this great American. As a member of the freshman class of the 110th Congress, Tom Lantos was certainly a colleague that I admired and looked toward for guidance. I am especially glad that under our new majority he was able to serve as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, a post that he held with distinction. There was an air about him, of European old- worldliness and charm, that I will never forget. It was a great honor to have served with a man of such character and integrity. Tom is famously quoted as saying that he was an ``American by choice.'' And how only in this country, could ``a penniless survivor of the Holocaust and a fighter in the anti-Nazi underground . . . have received an education, raised a family and had the privilege of serving the last three decades of his life as a member of Congress.'' As a naturalized U.S. citizen myself, I hope to give back to this Nation as much as Tom did in his many years of public service. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Tom's beloved wife, Annette Tillemann Lantos, his daughters Annette Tillemann-Dick and Katrina Swett, his 18 grandchildren, and his 2 great-grandchildren. Thank you for sharing Tom with us and with the world. His example of courage and integrity will continue to inspire us.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 943, a resolution that remembers the space shuttle Challenger disaster and honors its crew members on the 22nd anniversary of their tragic flight. On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle disintegrated shortly after takeoff, killing seven crew members. One of those astronauts, Ellison Onizuka, was born and raised in my State of Hawaii and served as Hawaii's first astronaut. Mr. Onizuka was very enthusiastic about our space program and never hesitated to share his knowledge and experience with the people of Hawaii. He recognized the importance of education and encouraged students to pursue an interest in space and science-related fields. Four major space programs and centers in Hawaii carry on the legacy of this inspiring explorer: the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center, Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Science Day, the Hawaii Space Grant Consortium, and Challenger Center Hawaii. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 943, which honors Mr. Onizuka's contributions and celebrates the courage and bravery of the Challenger crew.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the players and coaches of Leilehua High School's varsity football team for their hard work and dedication as they rose to victory to become Hawaii High School Athletic Association, HHSAA, Division 1 Champions. More than 15,000 fans witnessed the Leilehua Mules' upset of the Saint Louis Crusaders, 20-16 in the HHSAA State Football Championship game held at Aloha Stadium on November 30. The Mules were led by sophomore quarterback Andrew Manley, who threw the dramatic game winning touchdown pass with only 36 seconds left in the game. The Leilehua Mules of today carry on the proud traditions of past Leilehua football teams. Many still remember that in 1984, Leilehua was the last public high school to defeat an Interscholastic League of Honolulu team in the Hawaii Prep Bowl, the predecessor to the HHSAA State Football Championship. More recently, the Mules were runners-up in the 2004 State Championship. I would like to thank the following players for giving their all this season and for playing each game with heart: Cheves Aberilla-Ramento, Chase Acohido, Haani Aitaoto, Maunaloa Aitaoto, Kamana Akagi, Tavana Alailima, Chris Atualevao, Marcus Breakfield, Noel Cabato, Raymond Cartwright Kon, Christian Collado, Alex Cruz, Josh Cruz, Micah Cruz, Jaydon Cuesta, Allan DeGuzman-Pacheco, Kaumu Delos Santos, Kaipo DeRego, Peter DeSaulniers, Ryan DeSaulniers, Edieson Dumlao, Blaine Edra, Kalua Ellis, Kawika Fuga, Garrison Garma, Nate Hall, Bradley laulualo, Jordan Jenks, Rick Jones, Hoku Kama, Kaipo Kea, Sean Kenington, Art Laurel, Ire Macapagal, Zaire Macapagal, Allan Macam. Brendan Mahuka, Garett Maki, Elijah Maraca, Andrew Manley, Melchor Moises, Rico Newman, Kyle Ontiveros, Gerald O'Reilly, Keala Pascua, Bronson Pausa, Genesis Ponce, Josh Quinn, Charles Robinson, Joe Ruane, Alex Ruiz, Stanford Salavea, Sione Sami, Ronald Santos, Jermaine Schuster, Nate Schuster, Seth Shannon, Robert Siavii, Bronson Smithe, Jeremy Suguitan, Joedee Taua, Greg Tialavea, Jiniki Timoteo, Charlie Tuaau, and Alii Tuitoelau. I would also like to recognize Head Coach Nolan Tokuda and Assistant Coaches Jon Acohido, Tui Alailima, Antonio Brown, Ed Kama, Jake Kawamata, Esmond Kilaulani, Mark Kurisu, Darrin Matsumiya, Jon Morikawa, Len Nakasone, Pat San Nicolas, Burt Souza, Richard Townsend, Al Viloria, and Joe Watts. Aloha and mahalo for making Wahiawa proud this season and throughout the year.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Fair Funding for Schools Act, which reauthorizes and improves an important education program called Impact Aid. Impact Aid benefits millions of American students attending elementary and secondary schools in every State in the country. Through this program, the Federal Government does the right thing by reimbursing local school districts for lost tax revenue due to its actions. The majority of public school funding in America comes from local property taxes. Unfortunately, this vital funding stream is drastically reduced for school districts where the Federal Government takes control of part of the land. For instance, the many U.S. military bases located in Hawai`i take up a vast amount of space and house large populations, but these bases do not generate local property taxes. In other States large national parks, Federal prisons, and Indian lands all similarly decrease local property tax revenue. Left uncorrected, this loss of revenue would leave the children living in these areas with a second class education, funded by substantially fewer dollars than their peers living in areas with no federally impacted land. In 1950, Congress recognized the need to address this inequity and created Impact Aid, a program by which we provide additional Federal dollars to school districts feeling this kind of financial strain. Impact Aid is one of the most effective programs run by the Department of Education because it sends money directly to local school districts with very few strings attached. Just like the property tax revenue it replaces, Impact Aid dollars can be used to fund the most essential needs identified by the school district--textbooks, computers, utilities, and salaries, for instance. Many districts rely heavily on this money, and without it their students would be shortchanged. Therefore, we must reauthorize the program. Even great programs need to be tweaked every so often, and this Fair Funding for Schools Act makes necessary changes in Impact Aid. It addresses the military realities of base realignment and troop redeployment by allowing Impact Aid payments to be calculated using current student counts instead of prior year data. This change will allow districts receiving an influx of new military families to receive their Impact Aid dollars in a timely manner. The Impact Aid law also has become overly complicated during its 57- year history. This bill simplifies the law by eliminating some outdated provisions that were adding unnecessary complications. It also maintains the program's traditional focus on need, whereby payments to school districts are calculated based on the percentage of the budget lost due to Federal actions and on the number of federally connected children. Madam Speaker, this is a vitally important bill for Hawai`i and for many school districts across the country. The students most impacted are often from families serving in our military. Given the sacrifices we ask of military families, they deserve nothing less than the best education for their children. This bill will take us in that direction, and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 264, honoring the University of Hawai`i for its 100 years of dedication to public higher education. The 10 campuses of the University of Hawai`i offer more than 620 nationally and internationally recognized academic programs, everything from culinary arts to tropical agriculture. It is the only place in the Nation where students can earn a master's degree in indigenous language studies and has the top 25 programs for environmental law, eastern philosophy, international business, and second-language studies. The 50,000 students who attend the university include many of Hawaii's best and brightest. The sizable Native Hawaiian, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, and Pacific Islander populations on our campuses reflect the great diversity of our State. Their years at the University of Hawai`i will prepare them to be the business, community, and political leaders of tomorrow. I am proud to be among the 250,000 University of Hawai`i alumni who now reside in every State in the Union and in at least 80 countries around the world. This extended community brings the aloha spirit to the world at large. Just last week I was here on the floor of the House with my two green and white footballs in honor of the university Warriors' perfect 2007 football season. The Warriors are the only college team in the country to go undefeated, but they are just one of the UH sports teams we cheer on across the islands. From volleyball to basketball, our athletes draw nearly 700,000 fans to games every year. This is a special year for higher education in Hawaii. Not only is it University of Hawai`i's centennial, but it is also the 35th anniversary of the passage of title IX, now known as the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act. Patsy was a friend and continues to be an inspiration to me. This year the University of Hawai`i joined me and Congress in honoring Patsy and her trailblazing work to open the doors of higher education to women across the country. I want to take a moment to thank the people who make the University of Hawai`i what it is today. David McClain, the current president of the university, and the 17 presidents who have come before him have all been leaders, dedicated to excellence in public higher education. The phenomenal team of faculty and staff has truly made a positive difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of students, past and present. Those students, in turn, are making enormous contributions to our towns, our State, and our country. My years at the University of Hawai`i in the late '60s were a time of awakening and questioning for me. Attending the university made a profound difference in my life. In fact, all four members of Hawaii's current congressional delegation have degrees from the University of Hawai`i. I am proud to work closely with the University of Hawai`i as a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor. As we come to the end of the 100th year in the university's history, congratulations to all involved. Here's to the next 100 successful years. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Louisiana for his very complete and kind remarks in support of this measure, and I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from American Samoa, Hawaii's friend, and my friend, Eni Faleomavaega. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. HIRONO. I thank my colleague from Louisiana for your warm, what we call, ``Aloha'' welcome to your State. Expect thousands and thousands of rabid Rainbow Warrior fans to descend upon your State to spend money but mainly to cheer on our undefeated team, the Warriors. I would like to add also, Mr. Speaker, that my colleague Neil Abercrombie, who is even as we speak on a plane coming back to Washington, DC, is, of course, very much in support of this resolution. As I mentioned, all four Members of our congressional delegation have one degree or another from the University of Hawai`i. In Neil's case, it is a Ph.D., and he also had taught at the University of Hawai`i. I'm looking forward to also working with Mr. Miller on reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which has helped the University of Hawai`i so much over the years, and it's an honor for me to be on the Higher Education Committee, because the University of Hawai`i, unlike many other States, is the institution of higher learning in Hawaii. It is the public institution of higher learning in Hawaii, which is why literally hundreds of thousands of us have matriculated at the university, and we have a lot to be thankful for for the kind of quality education that the University of Hawai`i has offered to us and continues to do so for the 50,000 or so students who are on campuses all across the State. And as we are moving forward to celebrate our 100th anniversary, we even now prepare to move forward to create further campuses on Oahu and the neighbor islands to afford more educational opportunities, particularly in the rural areas of our State for students in those areas. So with that, Mr. Speaker, thank you very much, and my colleague from Louisiana, once again, ``Mahalo nui loa,'' to each one of you in support of this resolution. Mr. ABERCROMBIE: Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 264, honoring the University of Hawaii for 100 years of educating and serving the people of the state of Hawaii. I'd like to thank Congresswoman Hirono and Chairman Miller for their support of this legislation. I'd like to recognize President David McClain and the administration and faculty of UH for all their hard work and dedication. UH holds a distinguished record of achievement in academics, community service and athletics. As a proud alumni and former faculty member of the University of Hawaii, I know personally the impact of the school on those who work and learn there. Yet, that is not the full extent of the University's reach; it touches in some capacity nearly every person in the state. In 1907, the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in Honolulu was established by the Hawaii Territorial Legislature with 10 students and 13 faculty members. Today, the University of Hawaii system is spread across the state with 10 campuses, 3 degree-granting universities: Manoa, the flagship campus, Hilo, and West Oahu; and 7 community colleges: Hawaii, Honolulu, Kapiolani, Kauai, Leeward, Maui, and Windward. The system includes the John A. Burns School of Medicine, the William S. Richardson School of Law, the Shidler College of Business, the College of Pharmacy, and the Congressionally-established East-West Center. There are currently over 50,000 students and 624 academic programs. Across the system, UH's students and faculty have won countless awards, and been recognized for agriculture, anthropology, computer programming, diversity, education and curriculum research, international business, medical research, oceanographic science, public service, and myriad other fields of study. The University values aloha, the Hawaiian concept that embraces respect for the history, traditions and culture of Hawaii's indigenous people. It reflects compassion for all people and commitment to the well-being of these islands. To practice this value UH employs nearly 15,000 Hawaii residents who serve the University and the State of Hawaii by educating its citizens, contributing to the economy, supporting workforce development and engaging the community in addressing societal issues and the challenges faced by underserved populations. The University has also produced more than 250,000 alumni, now residing in all 50 states and more than 80 countries around the world, who are proud to call the University of Hawaii their alma mater. The educational programs at the University have shaped these individuals into global citizens who contribute to the well-being of a world-wide society, with a commitment to integrity, diversity, and service wherever they may be. Alumni who live abroad and on the U.S. mainland take the aloha spirit with them across the nation and world to enrich the lives of others. Among these alumni are all four current and two former members of the Hawaii congressional delegation; former Surgeon General of the United States Kenneth Moritsugu; Time Warner Chairman and CEO Richard Parsons; Miss America 2001 Angela Perez Baraquio Grey; 53 members of the Hawaii State Legislature; numerous professional athletes; and many other academic, art, athletic, business and political leaders. As a reflection of the state of Hawaii, UH is a rainbow of ethnicities, cultures, nationalities, languages and ideas. The University maintains that society is best served by representing populations equitably throughout UH, and that diverse perspectives help root out prejudice and injustice. This dedication is captured succinctly in the motto of the University, ``Ma luna ae o na lahui a pau ke ola o ke kanaka,'' or ``Above all nations is humanity.'' The value of diversity is also shown through the student body: UH is one of the most diverse universities in the nation, with no dominant ethnic group and over 2,500 international students. A further source of pride for the University of Hawaii is the Warriors and Wahine. The athletes, coaches, and support staff are some of the most accomplished and dedicated members of the UH ohana, or family. There are no professional sports teams in Hawaii and the student-athletes of the University carry much expectation and affection from the state. The UH women's volleyball team is among the most esteemed programs in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), winning three NCAA national championships and one Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW, the predecessor to the NCAA for women's sports) national championship, and are consistently in the hunt for a national championship year after year. The Wahine have produced 23 All-Americans, and three National Players of the Year. The Warrior football team is also an immense source of pride to the state. This year the Warriors were the only NCAA Division I school to go undefeated during the regular season and will be playing on New Year's Day in the Sugar Bowl. The current and former starting quarterbacks; Heisman Trophy finalist Colt Brennan and Timmy Chang, hold numerous NCAA records. The entire state will be cheering on the Warriors and, win or lose, will show aloha to this team. The women's volleyball and football team are two of the 21 programs at the University, all of which bring pride and joy to the people of Hawaii. On this 100th anniversary of the University of Hawaii, I am honored to be able to extend my aloha and mahalo to UH for all it has afforded me personally, and to the state of Hawaii, which is truly enriched because of the efforts of the University.

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

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert material relevant to House Concurrent Resolution 264 into the Record.

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 264) honoring the University of Hawaii for its 100 years of commitment to public higher education.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act of 2007. This legislation will help address America's pilot shortage and improve airline safety, by enabling experienced pilots to continue flying instead of being forced into retirement. Every week, 50 of our most experienced pilots are forced to retire as they reach the current mandatory retirement age of 60. The Fair Treatment of Experienced Pilots Act would raise the retirement age to 65, in recognition that pilots who are 60 are still fully capable of flying. In fact, their experience often makes them better and safer pilots. This commonsense legislation includes requirements for pilots' health, training and evaluation. Tourism is Hawai`i's major industry, and millions of visitors come to Hawai`i by air every year. We recognize the importance of the airline industry to our visitors as well as our residents who travel often for business, to visit family and friends and go on vacations. Clearly, having experienced pilots on our nation's airlines is important to Hawai`i and America. Many of our older pilots are also veterans who served our country in the military. So we are not only talking about the fair treatment of pilots, but also the fair treatment of veterans. Fairness requires us to allow experienced, highly capable pilots to continue flying--and not to be forced into retirement once they turn 60. This legislation has bipartisan support because it is good policy. This legislation helps airlines and the flying public by improving safety and mitigating the pilot shortage. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Subcommittee on Aviation, I want to acknowledge the leadership of Chairman Oberstar, the sponsor this bill. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of the Fair Treatment for Experienced Pilots Act of 2007.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the University of Hawaii, my alma mater, and to congratulate its football team for an undefeated season. Coach June Jones and the entire team deserve recognition for all that they have accomplished this season. Their perfect record of 12 wins and no losses is the best in the school's history, and they are the champions of the Western Athletic Conference. UH is the only unbeaten team in the Nation; and, as a result, the Warriors have qualified for a BCS bowl game. The team has been led by star quarterback Colt Brennan, who is my candidate for the Heisman Trophy. I'm holding footballs signed by Coach June Jones and Colt Brennan, and I keep them prominently displayed in my office in D.C. as reminders of the Warriors' success. I join the rest of the Aloha State in cheering on the University of Hawaii and wish the team good luck in the Sugar Bowl.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3996, the Temporary Tax Relief Act. This bill will provide 23 million American middle-class families-- including more than 90,000 families in Hawai`i--with tax relief totaling $50 billion. Without this legislation, these families will end up paying higher taxes under the alternative minimum tax, AMT. Our middle-class families are struggling with higher health care costs, higher college costs, higher energy costs and higher housing costs and, basically, have not been helped by the 7 years of the Bush administration. Passing this bill will provide some welcome relief for our middle class. This legislation is important in promoting fairness and justice in the tax system. Why should the richest of the rich avoid among us paying their fair share in taxes? Today with this bill we are saying that individuals who earn millions of dollars on Wall Street should pay their fair share in taxes so that hard-working middle-class Americans including teachers, police officers and firefighters, won't have to pay more than their fair share. The bottom line is, without this bill, 23 million families will have a tax increase. With this bill, they will be spared from paying more under the AMT. I am proud that the Democratic majority is supporting our middle- class families with this tax relief, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the centennial of the historic Wailuku Courthouse on the island of Maui. I would also like to congratulate the many people and companies in history who helped build and occupy the Courthouse. Angus P. McDonald began construction on the Wailuku Courthouse on October 18, 1907. His work was completed in late 1908 and the building opened in February 1909. The Wailuku Courthouse was occupied by the Honorable Judge Aluwae Noa Kepoikai, from 1892 to 1894 and again from 1904 to 1909; the Honorable Judge Seldon B. Kindgsbury from 1909 to 1913; the Honorable Judge William S. Edings from 1914 to 1918; the Honorable Judge Leslie L. Burr from 1918 through 1922; the Honorable Judge Daniel H. Case from 1922 to 1943; the Honorable Judge Cable A. Wirtz from 1944 through 1951 and in 1956 to 1959; the Honorable Wendell F. Crockett from 1959 to 1961; the Honorable Judge Takashi Kitaoka from 1962 to 1968; the Honorable Judge George Fukuoka from 1968 through 1982; the Honorable Judge Kase Higa from 1977 to 1985; and the Honorable Judge Arthur Ueoka from 1982 to 1983. As the population of Maui County grew and the demands on county services increased, the Wailuku Courthouse was eventually vacated by the Court in 1988. In October 1992, the GW Murphy Construction Company began renovating and restoring the Wailuku Courthouse to allow for its continued use by the County of Maui. In October 1993, the offices of the Maui County Department of the Prosecuting Attorney were moved into the Wailuku Courthouse and the Department continues to occupy the building to this day. The Wailuku Courthouse has since been home to the following Prosecuting Attorneys: Larry L. Butrick from October 1993 through July 1995; Richard T. Bissen Jr. from August 1995 through January 2003; Davelynn M. Tengan from January 2003 through January 2007; and currently Benjamin M. Acob, who was appointed on January 2, 2007. I extend a sincere mahalo (thank you) to all of the past and current residents of the Wailuku Courthouse. The building stands as a symbol of your shared commitment to justice and equality for all the residents of Maui. Congratulations on this historic centennial.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Madam Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 3865, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 (ENDA), as well as in support of the amendment to the bill offered by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin. I would like to thank the chief sponsor .of the bill, Congressman Barney Frank, and George Miller, Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, for their leadership. This is truly a historic moment, which was largely made possible by their commitment to the democratic ideals of equality and fairness. As an original cosponsor of the original ENDA, H.R. 2015, I am glad to be able to have this opportunity to debate the Baldwin amendment to include anti-discrimination protections for transgender individuals. It is unfortunate that political realities made it difficult to bring an inclusive ENDA to the floor today in the first place. However, I stand with Congresswoman Baldwin in her courageous fight to provide for the inclusion of a group that is probably the most in need of workplace protections. I look forward to continuing to work with her and our likeminded colleagues in any effort to build upon the momentum of H.R. 3865 and provide employment protections for gender identity through future educational and legislative initiatives. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited employment discrimination based on race and gender. The scope of protections has expanded since then to also bar employment discrimination based on religion, color, and national origin. And while versions of H.R. 3865 have been introduced in each Congress since 1975, this is the first time it will be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 3865 provides us with a historic opportunity to be able to respond to the prejudice and discrimination that face millions of Americans in our workforce. It is at moments like these, this ability to provide for civil rights progress, that I am truly proud to be a member of the Democratic majority making freshmen class. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 3865 and working toward the inclusion of gender identity in future legislation. Mahalo (thank you).

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, Filipino veterans are those who answered the call of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and served alongside our Armed Forces during World War II. They fought shoulder-to-shoulder with American servicemen, and we promised to provide full veterans benefits to them. While we have made some progress toward that goal, 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, which, in essence, makes good on the promise that our government made to these brave men over 60 years ago. Our Filipino veterans are in the twilight of their lives. Of the 250,000 soldiers that fought with us, only 18,000 survive today. Of that number, 2,000 reside in my State of Hawaii. As we honor our veterans all across the country this Veterans Day, let us include those Filipino veterans who still await a promise unfulfilled.

Ms. HIRONO

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3867, the Small Business Contracting Program Improvements Act. This bill expands procurement opportunities for small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans, women entrepreneurs, and socially disadvantaged business owners. These firms remain under-represented in the Federal contracting marketplace and have yet to receive their fair share of Federal Government contracts. H.R. 3867 assists small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans by requiring agencies to award sole-source contracts to these firms if they are identified as being capable of performing the contracts. These businesses currently receive less than one percent of Federal Government contracting dollars. Authorizing agencies to enter into sole-source contracts with service-disabled veteran-owned firms will raise the likelihood of these firms obtaining Federal contracts. Moreover, H.R. 3867 provides an inflationary adjustment to the limitation on contracts by increasing the size of available contracts awarded without competition to $5.1 million. This bill directs the Small Business Administration, SBA, to comply with an Executive Order requiring the SBA to provide service-disabled veteran-owned companies with information and assistance on Federal contracting as well as assist other agencies in their strategies to expand contracting opportunities for them. Passage of this bill is also important for our women-owned businesses. In 2000, Congress enacted the Women's Procurement Program to expand opportunities for Federal contracts to women business owners within industries in which they have been significantly under- represented. On behalf of women-owned businesses, the U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce sued the SBA over the delay in implementing the program and won their lawsuit in 2005. Seven years after the Women's Procurement Program was enacted into law, however, the SBA has yet to establish regulations that would implement this vital program. I share Chairwoman Velazquez's frustration with this delay and her admonishment to the SBA to remedy the situation. H.R. 3867 requires the SBA to implement the Women's Procurement Program immediately. The bill makes economically disadvantaged women entrepreneurs eligible for restricted competition contracts and gives the SBA the authority to waive this requirement in industries that are substantially under-represented by women-owned businesses. Today, women-owned small businesses capture only about 3 percent of Federal small-business contracting dollars. We need this legislation to encourage women entrepreneurs to participate in the Federal contract marketplace. H.R. 3867 expands and modernizes the 8(a) Business Development Program, which has not been amended since 1988. The 8(a) program currently assists over 9,000 small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, including about 200 firms in my State of Hawaii. H.R. 3867 makes two main improvements to this program: it provides for an inflationary increase in net worth limitations to a maximum of $550,000 for program participants and extends the duration of program participation from 9 to 10 years. Increasing the net worth ceiling will bring stronger firms into the 8(a) program. Finally, I support this bill because it addresses contracting problems and increases oversight over unqualified businesses by setting standards that protect the integrity and consistency in application of contract assistance programs. H.R. 3867 mandates government-wide goals for procurement contracts awarded to small businesses. In addition, it requires the SBA to perform the necessary checks on program applicants and participants to confirm their business integrity and qualifications. This is important given recent findings by the SBA Inspector General of fraud and abuse in the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program. Chairwoman Velazquez has noted that the Federal Government failed to meet its small and minority business goals for a 6th year in a row, costing entrepreneurs $4.5 billion in lost opportunities. H.R. 3867 is another step in the right direction to help our small businesses, and I thank Chairwoman Velazquez for her commitment and strong leadership in sponsoring this important legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this measure.