Colleen Hanabusa

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 83, authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor's Center for the lei draping ceremony on June 8, 2014 to celebrate the birthday of King Kamehameha the Great. For more than forty years, the Hawai`i Congressional delegation and the Hawai`i State Society have hosted a lei draping ceremony which coincides with the celebration of King Kamehameha Day in the State of Hawai`i on June 11th. King Kamehameha the Great, also known as King Kamehameha the first, was born in North Kohala on the island of Hawai`i and grew to become one of the most powerful figures in Hawaiian history. He was a superior warrior and was the only man in the history of the Hawaiian people to unite the Islands after nearly a decade of warfare. According to Hawaiian legend, on the day King Kamehameha was born, a new star appeared in the heavens, signaling the birth of a great chief. At the time of his birth, the Hawaiian Islands were in a state of chaos, with rival chiefs constantly at odds with each other. King Kamehameha utilized western advisors and technology, such as muskets and cannons, to aid him in combat during his quest to unify the Hawaiian Islands. In 1810, King Kamehameha fulfilled his goal of uniting the Kingdom with the surrender of the Chief from Kauai. With his forward thinking and vision for Hawai`i, Kamehameha ensured that the newly united Hawaiian Kingdom would not crumble after his death by establishing a uniform legal system and promoting a fruitful trade with Western powers. He is noted for Kanawai Mamalahoe, or the Law of the Splintered Paddle. It is said that when King Kamehameha led a raid, his foot got caught in between two rocks. A couple of local fishermen, who were fearful of the warrior, not realizing that it was the great king, hit Kamehameha with a paddle on the head, so hard that it splintered into thousand pieces. King Kamehameha survived the incident and those same fishermen were brought to him for punishment. However, to their surprise, the King did not seek revenge for the incident but rather blamed himself and declared that every innocent, unarmed man, woman and child would be protected during wartime. The Law of the Splintered Paddle has become the basis for a number of humanitarian laws of war and was the first written law in the Kingdom of Hawai`i. This reflects King Kamehameha's devotion to protecting the weak during times of war and his belief that every human life was precious beyond comprehension. King Kamehameha was also steadfast in preserving the traditional Hawaiian cultural beliefs and practices. He was a strong follower of the Hawaiian religion and deeply valued the long standing kapu system, the laws and regulations of ancient Hawai`i. Without King Kamehameha and the unification of the Hawaiian Islands, Hawai`i would have been torn apart by competing western interests. The Kingdom of Hawai`i, with a united front, was able to resist western colonialism until the overthrow in 1893. For the people of Hawai`i, the reign of King Kamehameha, celebrated on June 11th, represents a time of great prosperity and peace in Hawaiian history. It serves a reminder of the greatness in the Hawaiian people and the everlasting respect for the King who united Hawai`i while remaining true to the traditions and beliefs that have guided the people for hundreds of years and many more to come.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, the failure of the majority to bring the extension of unemployment insurance benefits up for a vote by December 28 of last year has left many without a lifeline. Let's review these figures. On December 28, 1.3 million were immediately cut with no benefits; 1.9 million will be added by the end of the first 6 months of 2014. Let's look at it another way. It means 72,000 every week. It also means one person every eight seconds in this country, the greatest country in this world. 200,000 of them are veterans. The loss of this benefit also means that our economy lost $5 billion in the first 3 months of 2014. Mr. Speaker, two-thirds of America's people support the extension of unemployment benefits. The Democrats have signed a discharge petition. Please bring the extension to the floor. Remember, they are unemployed through no fault of their own. That is why they are entitled to these benefits.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Madam Speaker, the bottom line is we need bold visions to achieve full employment. We know only too well that we have had unprecedented periods of high unemployment. We know that we have about 50 million people, 13 million who are children, living below poverty in the greatest country in the world. We know we must expand economic opportunity to have a strong middle class, who are the backbone of this great country. We know that getting every American working will add to not only our tax base, but also reduce the deficit and debt and eliminate poverty. So the question is, Madam Speaker, why aren't we doing it? Where are the visionaries? Where is the President's American Jobs Act of 2013 or the 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act? Where are they? Madam Speaker, let's bring them to the floor.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4495, the Asia-Pacific Region Priority Act. Introduced by Congressman Forbes of Virginia and myself, this was filed last night. The timing of this bill is when the President left his last stop on the trip to the pivot of the Asia Pacific. Also, this is the result of 5 months of hearings, roundtables, and meetings that Congressman Forbes and I conducted. This is truly a bipartisan effort in that it is in line with the President's commitment to my part of the world. The pivot to Asia Pacific is not just for security, but also for prosperity and economic growth, along with what is very important: relationships. The President has said that the 21st century will be defined by Asia Pacific--whether we live in cooperation or in conflict. I believe it will be in cooperation. I ask my colleagues to support our efforts on this truly bipartisan measure for the definition of the 21st century.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of Equal Pay Day. Fifty-one years ago, the Equal Pay Act was signed into law. Still, women in my home State of Hawaii, where women have traditionally been part of the workforce--like my two grandmothers who worked in the sugarcane fields--still earn 82 cents to the dollar earned by a man. Equal pay is not just a woman's issue. It is a family and a community issue. Women are one-half of the paid workforce. Two-thirds of the women are either primary or cobreadwinners for their families, but women are two-thirds of the workforce who are earning minimum wage. Closing the wage gap cuts poverty in half, and women and their families then benefit. Nearly half a trillion dollars is then added to our economy. Remember, the President said, when women succeed, America succeeds. Please bring H.R. 377, the Paycheck Fairness Act, to the floor.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, February of this year marked the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. Since becoming law, it is credited with stopping more than 2.1 million gun sales to prohibited purchasers, including convicted felons, domestic abusers, and fugitives. The recent tragedy of 2 days ago at Fort Hood brings to light again the issues of PTSD, mental illness, and what our men and women in uniform have suffered throughout all of our wars, and I mean all of our wars. We cannot continue to ignore Virginia Tech; Fort Hood; what our colleagues Gabby Gifford and Ron Barber endured; Aurora, Colorado; Sandy Hook; Washington Navy Yard; Littleton; and Fort Hood again, just to name a few. These incidents--the families, communities, the friends--cry for action. Mr. Speaker, let us act by at least bringing H.R. 1565, the King- Thompson bill, to this floor.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, today, the United States Supreme Court, just down the street, heard the arguments for Hobby Lobby, Inc., a for- profit corporation, which is refusing some or all contraceptive services in health plans offered to their employees. The issue here is whether the religious beliefs of a shareholder, the owner, can dictate what type of contraceptive services a health plan will offer. Note, this is not a religious institution or an employer like a church or a religious institution of any kind. It is a for-profit corporation. The issue here is also whether an employer can pick and choose what type of services female employees can avail themselves of; and remember--remember--women in childbearing age actually pay 68 percent more for their medical coverage now--68 percent more. That is just not fair. I hope the Supreme Court will reverse the Hobby Lobby decision and say that the Constitution and the laws of this great Nation support women.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 92nd anniversary of Leser v. Garnett, where the Supreme Court upheld the 19th Amendment, which protects a woman's right to vote. Our Nation's suffragettes stood up to the injustice. They fought for their rights. Without their perseverance and fearlessness, I and many of my colleagues would not be standing here today. These suffragettes represent a long line of women who said no to the status quo, inspiring future leaders, like our very own former Congresswoman Patsy Mink from Hawaii, who authored title IX, a historic milestone for equality in women's sports. Today, we honor the sacrifices of these suffragettes, and we commit ourselves to further equality, whether it means breaking the glass ceiling or lifting the floor beneath their feet. Note that women make up two-thirds of the minimum wage workers. Increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 is critical for our Nation's hardworking women struggling to pull their families out of poverty. It is time for my colleagues to recognize this. In the legacy of the suffragettes, we will continue to fight for what women deserve: equality.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, my home State of Hawaii is fortunate to have some of the most abundant renewable energy resources in the world, and yet we still spend $4.5 billion every year to import fossil fuels to power our State. This is not sustainable, and that is why Hawaii is aggressively working towards a goal of being 70 percent alternative energy source by the year 2030. But in order to succeed, we need strong, responsible policies that support and invest in clean energy development; and all alternative energy options are necessary. We must renew the production tax credit for wind energy. Due to the PTC, the U.S. now leads the world in wind energy production, and the industry supports more than 80,000 domestic jobs. It is in the best interest of our environment, our economy, and future generations that we renew the PTC to ensure that our Nation continues to be a world leader in clean energy.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Madam Speaker, February 14 is Valentine's Day, a great commercial event. But what is it that women really want for Valentine's? It may differ for each of us, but I believe we can all agree on one thing: we want equality. Women want equal pay for equal work. Women want equal access to health care, not paying more for our health care premiums, not having pregnancy defined as a preexisting condition, and not having decisions as to our body made for us by the denial of contraceptive services. Women want to be treated as political equals, recognized for the work we do, what we have contributed, not looked upon as second-class citizens, not deemed less, somehow, because our right to vote is less than 100 years old and our great country will be celebrating its 238th birthday. We want what we have earned: equality.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, long-term unemployment has not been this high in this great country since World War II. It is time to look back in our history and see what the leaders did then. We can always learn from the past. In 1944, the President was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. His vision was to expand economic opportunity, jobs. To build the middle class, we must rebuild, and help them thrive, and fight inequality. Mr. Speaker, how about beginning with women? Today, we have more than 50 million people--13 million of them are children--living below poverty in this country. We have the greatest economy in the world. This is absolutely shameful. We must adopt and be committed to the concept of full employment. Take up the President's American Jobs Act of 2013. Rebuild this country's infrastructure, invest in education, in our first responders, and in medical researchers. It is time to put America first and Make It In America.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Madam Speaker, happy Lunar New Year, or as we say in Hawaii, Kung Hee Fat Choy. This is the ``Year of the Horse,'' which has as one of its characteristics decisive action. It is said that it is not the year to procrastinate, and the lack of procrastination will bring success. Remember President Obama said in his State of the Union, this year we are in the year of action. The people of this great Nation have been waiting for us to show action. Some have just given up hope on us, and you can't blame them. Let us show them that we are capable of doing the job that they sent us here to do by at least addressing critical legislation like creating jobs, restoring unemployment benefits, addressing the minimum wage, reforming the immigration system, and, of course, avoiding the default. Let's show them, Madam Speaker, that we are able to do this because we can.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Madam Speaker, many who are unemployed through no fault of their own remember December 28. That was when the unemployment insurance was not extended and Congress failed them. 1.3 million Americans were without any support as of that day. In 6 months, that number will grow to 1.9 million--72,000 a week, or one person every 8 seconds. The real problem that we face is really the lack of job opportunities. Madam Speaker, we must bring the President's proposal for job creation to the floor. Remember, you have to be actively seeking work before you can receive unemployment insurance. Do you see the problem? There are no efforts to create jobs, and there is no bill there to protect those who are unemployed through no fault of their own. This is the highest long-term unemployment this country has seen since World War II. People need government to recognize this problem, and we have failed. We need to go back and know why unemployment insurance was created in the first place. We need to be that compassionate country again.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, just today, for the first time, Israel named a military facility after a non-Israeli. Named after Daniel K. Inouye is an Arrow anti-missile defense facility. As we know, the U.S. and Israel have successfully developed the Arrow anti-missile system through joint cooperation. A steadfast symbol of cooperation is perhaps the most appropriate way to remember him, as our Senator played an integral role in transforming the relationship between our two countries, and I am pleased that our allies around the world continue to honor him and carry on his legacy. When former colleagues recall Senator Inouye, they insist that, without him, there would be no U.S. aid to Israel as we know it today. The Senator's interest in Israel stemmed from learning of the fate of the Jews in Europe after his own military experience in Italy in the 442nd, a legendary unit of Japanese Americans, which earned him the highest military honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. This honor is another example of how Senator Inouye's influence and hard work have deeply impacted not only Hawaii, but also our Nation and the world. This time, he was recognized some 8,664-plus-or-minus miles from his beloved Hawaii.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bipartisan legislation. The NDAA has been approved with bipartisan support for 51 consecutive years, so I am pleased our committee was able to reach an agreement. The bill includes over $400 million in important funding for military construction in the State of Hawaii that will solidify our position in support of the Asia-Pacific rebalance. As you know, Hawaii is America's gateway to the Asia-Pacific. I would like to thank the chair and ranking member for working with me to include critical provisions for Hawaii, and thank my bipartisan colleagues on the committee for helping me authorize new money for the Maritime Guaranteed Loan Program, which will be used to preserve national security and ensure the long-term viability of the American maritime industry. I am pleased that the bill includes language that will help further critical research objectives in Hawaii for the Office of Naval Research for organizations like the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research. This will allow Hawaii to thrive into the future. Thank you, everyone, for your hard work on this year's bill, and I call upon my colleagues to vote for this important legislation.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, December 13 is 9 days away. This is part of that side agreement when the CR was agreed to and when the debt ceiling was suspended. The budget is a statement of the House's and Senate's values and priorities, and that is what is to be agreed to by December 13. One of the things we must say, Mr. Speaker, at the very minimum, is that sequestration has to go. The CBO says it will cost up to 1.6 million jobs if it is allowed to stand. Conversely, it will add 900,000 new jobs if it is gotten rid of. Sequestration has affected programs like Head Start, SNAP, programs of the National Institutes of Health, mental health issues--just to name a few--as well as our defense industry. There is no longer any room in these budgets to accommodate all of these expenses just to pay what we need to pay to keep these programs going. That is why we have to say that sequestration has got to go. That is why, in the next 9 days, you will hear more and more speak about sequestration and the fact that we must act on it.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow will mark the 50th anniversary of the executive order of President Kennedy which established the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Five hundred exceptional individuals have received the award in these 50 years. Tomorrow, 16 will be honored, including President Bill Clinton. For us in Hawaii, it is noteworthy that the Hawaii-born President will be honoring Senator Daniel K. Inouye. In his press release, the President recognized the Senator for his lifelong public service, including the highly decorated 442nd Regiment in World War II, for which he was awarded the highest military honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. It is, however, most noteworthy that when asked how the Senator wanted to be remembered, Senator Inouye said: Very simply, that I represented the people of Hawaii honestly and to the best of my abilities. I think I did okay. He was a true American, a humble man, and truly deserving of the highest civilian honor of this great country.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is nearly identical to one I proposed last Congress to a similar Natural Resources bill numbered H.R. 4480, which was agreed to by a voice vote. This amendment simply adds to title II, the Planning for America Energy Act of 2013, a subsection (h), which essentially mirrors the language found in a prior subsection addressing Native American tribal lands. This particular amendment requires the inclusion of Hawaiian Homes Commission Act lands. As you know, Hawaii is in a unique situation in that, in 1920, this Congress created the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act; and there is a special body of approximately 203,000 acres of land which is under the control of Congress. Congress approves whether or not things can be amended in the act. Even upon statehood, that right was retained. This amendment seeks to have those Hawaiian Home lands that the State agency or department responsible for the administration of these lands has selected to be used for the very development of geothermal, solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources included in the Quadrennial Federal Onshore Energy Production Strategy. It has no implications other than the fact that these lands could be used for renewable energy development and that these lands have somehow become forgotten, but do necessarily fall under Federal jurisdiction.

Ms. HANABUSA. I yield to the gentleman.

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues from California, Guam, and CNMI in expressing our support for those devastated by superstorm Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan. We do know that the United States has already committed $20 million and that PACOM has mobilized. The U.N. has estimated that it may probably cost $300-plus million to send aid to the Philippines. We know that our military has shown that its humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities are bar none, and they showed that on March 11, 2011, when the Tohoku earthquake hit Japan. Mr. Speaker, Members of Congress must stand ready to support the efforts to aid the people in the Philippines. Hawaii's Filipino community is the largest minority that we have, and many have relatives from the area. Typhoon Haiyan ripped through the Visayan area, which is where our first immigrants came from. We need to show the world, Mr. Speaker, that the United States is again the great Nation that it is because it does not turn its back on people in need.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, I rise today to recognize the 1-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy and remember those who tragically lost their lives, as well as those continuing to rebuild from that destruction. In the year since Superstorm Sandy ravaged the east coast, communities across the Nation have suffered through new extreme droughts, storms, wildfires, and flooding. My home State of Hawaii is incredibly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. As you can imagine, a sea level rise is a real threat and concern for us. Earlier this year, Honolulu joined more than 70 other U.S. communities asking for the President to cut greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change and increasing Hawaii's risk of extreme weather events and sea level rise. When I was in the Hawaii Legislature, I am proud to say that we passed a bill, and were one of the first States, to address the greenhouse gas emissions. As we reflect on this somber anniversary, I remain committed to ensuring the people of Hawaii have the resources to prepare, respond, and recover from devastation. We must all remember it is climate change.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, Day 16 of the shutdown; 1 day to the debt limit deadline. The question is: Are we close to a resolution? We have to stay the course. On October 5, by a unanimous vote of 407- 0 in this House, we passed retroactive pay for all Federal workers. On October 8, by a unanimous vote of 420-0 in this House, we passed pay for the essential workers. The Federal workers will be paid, so the people cannot be forced to suffer anymore. That is just common sense. Mr. Speaker, we must keep our course on the resolution, on the default. An example in Hawaii: 217,678 seniors and disabled workers rely on Medicare. What would happen to them if a default were to occur? We must stay our course, Mr. Speaker. We must have a resolution. We must vote for the people of this great Nation.

Ms. HANABUSA

Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, it is very disturbing that we are here on day 12 of the Republican government shutdown, but it is even more disturbing when we heard the point of order that was made just a little while ago, the point of order on October 1, about a special rule that was passed. What has happened by that vote--the vote, again, by the majority party--says that only the majority leader or his designee can bring the matter of calling up by motion the ability to rule, the ability to ask people to vote on the continuing resolution as amended by the Senate. In this process of not only shutting down government, what we have also done is shut down the people's right to have a representative form of government. So, out of all of us--435, who are mandated by law to be the Members of the House of Representatives--only one or his designee has the right to bring forth this critical, critical issue on which the people throughout this Nation are asking for a resolution. Only one can do it. Yes, it passed by the majority of the Republican votes in this House. Now, not only have we shut down government, not only have we made things unbearable for the people, but we have deprived them of their representative form of government. That, Mr. Speaker, is something that the people should be absolutely outraged about. I would like to begin this Special Order by first yielding to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).