Mark Takai

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to address the House to say Happy Birthday to a selfless public servant, Senator Daniel K. Akaka. As we celebrate his 91st birthday, let us look back on a few of his numerous accomplishments as a Soldier, teacher and as a Member of Congress. Born on September 11, 1924 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Senator Akaka has worked ever since as a dedicated civil servant to Hawaii and the United States. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. After his military service, he earned his bachelor's degree in education at the University of Hawaii. As a school teacher and principal, he encouraged the use of the Native Hawaiian language and culture in schools and worked tirelessly to create some of the first Head Start programs in the State. The education of children, especially the Native Hawaiian children, was extremely important to him because he knew that increasing access to opportunity would improve educational outcomes among children. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976, he served there for 14 years until he was elected to the Senate, where he served until he retired in January 2013. Senator Akaka fought endlessly to advocate on behalf of Hawaii, particularly Native Hawaiians, and his work on the Veteran's Affairs Committee combating PTSD and unemployment among Soldiers has had a profound impact on our country. His commitment to a lifetime of public service in the military, as a teacher and as a United States Senator should be an inspiration and motivation to us all. We wish Senator Akaka the best for the coming year. Happy Birthday (Hau`oli la hanau), Senator Akaka.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the lives of two trailblazers for the Asian American community, Ben Kuroki and Susumu ``Sus'' Ito. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Kuroki and his brother were one of the first Japanese Americans to enlist in the United States Air Force during World War II at a time when over 100,000 other Japanese Americans were forced into incarceration camps without due process under the law. The need for aerial gunners was high; so, Kuroki applied for the job, was approved, and was sent to a 2-week course in Britain. Kuroki received on-the-job training. His maiden flight was on December 13, 1942. During this time of heavy discrimination against Japanese Americans, Kuroki's flight crew was instrumental in protecting him from the sneers and abuse by his fellow soldiers. Kuroki received three Distinguished Flying Cross medals for volunteering to fly 25 combat missions against Germany and 28 missions in the Pacific. He was the only Japanese American to serve as an aerial gunner in the Asia-Pacific theater during World War II. The son of Japanese immigrant farmers, Kuroki was born on May 16, 1917, in Gaithersburg, Nebraska. After his many missions in Europe, Kuroki visited other Japanese Americans behind barbed wire to promote the military and asked other Japanese Americans to join what would soon become the 442nd Regimental Combat Team of the 100th Infantry Battalion. Ben Kuroki exemplified the embodiment of patriotism and service above self. He often said, ``I had to fight for the right to fight for my own country, and now I feel vindication.'' Today I rise to share Ben Kuroki's tremendous accomplishments and dedicated public service with the House of Representatives. Ben Kuroki was the definition of an American hero. I would also like to take this time to recognize another extraordinary trailblazer for the Japanese American community, Susumu ``Sus'' Ito. Ito, the oldest and only son of Japanese immigrants, was drafted into the military in 1940. After Pearl Harbor, his parents and his sister were sent to the incarceration camp in Rohwer, Arkansas. During this time, he volunteered to become a forward observer for the 442nd Infantry Battalion, one of the most dangerous positions in the battalion. Known as mischievous, he brought with him to Europe an Agfa Memo, a contraband 35-millimeter camera that fit right in the palm of his hand. Ito spent his deployment in Europe, starting in 1944 until the war ended, taking pictures of his surroundings. From playing chess during downtime to posing with the Colosseum during their trek into Rome, he spent the war revealing the daily lives of this little known mostly Japanese American unit. However, many of Ito's pictures also accurately depicted the brazenness of war. The 442nd was one of the first battalions to reach the Dachau Concentration Camp, and Ito took pictures of dazed prisoners leaving the camp for the very first time. He also captured the despair of his fellow soldiers as they rescued the Lost Battalion. After World War II and through the GI Bill, he started an extraordinary career as a cellular biologist and became a researcher and professor at Harvard Medical School, where he worked for over 50 years. Ito donated his vast collection, thousands of images, to the Japanese American Museum in Los Angeles, as part of their Before They Were Heroes: Sus Ito's World War II Images collection. In August, I had the opportunity to tour this exhibit. The images he captured constantly reminded me of the courage of our Japanese American GIs who fought valiantly for our country while their families remained behind barbed wire. Today I rise to share Sus Ito's tremendous accomplishments and dedicated public service with the House of Representatives.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, located in Waikiki, Hawaii. I want to extend my congratulations to the Center on reaching this important milestone. For the last 20 years, the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies has made significant strides in educating, connecting, and empowering security practitioners. I would like to thank the Center for their leadership. I am pleased to see the APCSS renamed as the Daniel K. Inouye Center, honoring the legacy of the late Senator who advocated strongly for peace and stability around the world. As the United States shifts its focus to the Asia-Pacific region, the Daniel K. Inouye Center will be uniquely situated to play a critical role in driving our Nation's security policy. The U.S. rebalance to Asia will rely heavily on Hawaii's location and relationship with our partner nations in the region. I can think of no better venue than the Inouye Center for bringing together representatives from different countries to discuss joint cooperation on important issues. As I have witnessed firsthand, the Center is focused on producing results. This will be crucial as we continue to move forward with the rebalance and begin to tackle some of the most pressing security- related issues. Once again, I want to extend my congratulations on 20 years of service and my warmest thanks--mahalo--for the tremendous work being done there.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an issue of great importance, the need to pass a budget bill and prevent a government shutdown. I think many of us here on Capitol Hill heard all the buzz when former Daily Show host Jon Stewart came into town, but what I hope is not lost in all the excitement was his reason for coming. He came to deliver a message to Congress to pass the reauthorization of the James Zadroga 9/11 First Responders Act, of which I am a proud cosponsor. It expires at the end of this month. Instead of working to subsidize the health care of our courageous first responders, Congress is fixated on creating another manufactured crisis. Instead of providing a firefighter burned so badly while saving a victim of the attack of the Twin Towers or a police officer suffering from lung cancer because of exposure to toxic chemicals free health care and really thanking them for their heroic sacrifices, Congress again took no action. I truly hope my colleagues recognize the gravity of the situation and come together to get back to conducting the business of this Nation.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the need to come together, put aside partisan politics, and pass a budget. More than 7 in 10 Americans are saying they would prefer a budget agreement to prevent the government from shutting down. I was elected to Congress and came here promising my constituents no more government shutdowns, no more Federal furloughs, and no more sequestration. I ask for the leadership of both parties to put forward a bipartisan, long-term budget solution to help prevent a government shutdown. We need to focus on what matters: growing our economy, upgrading our aging infrastructure, and helping to ensure that our citizens are able to obtain the American Dream. We cannot waste any more time on political gridlock, and it is not fair to hijack our Nation's budget bill. Let's come together. Let's get to work. Let's answer the call of our constituents, and let's pass a budget.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank Chairman Chabot and Ranking Member Velazquez for this opportunity. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, the 7(a) program reached its loan guarantee program limit for the year. As a result, the Small Business Administration was forced to suspend its 7(a) small business lending until the start of the new fiscal year or until such time as the 7(a) program is reauthorized or increased by Congress. Over 20 of my colleagues joined me in sending a letter to Speaker Boehner asking to bring this legislation to the floor to raise this limit before Congress goes on its August work period break. While I am thankful that we are finally doing this, it only speaks to the pattern of inaction that has plagued us here in Congress. Right now, because of this inaction, small businesses across the country are facing the uncertainty of where their next loan will come from. Lenders use the 7(a) program to fund working capital and other critical needs to small businesses, and the SBA provides a backstop by guaranteeing this loan in case the borrower defaults. Due to restrictive marketing conditions, SBA programs like the 7(a) loan program have seen an increase in usage by small businesses, making it more imperative that the lending limit be increased for this program. As you know, Mr. Speaker, over 90 percent of the American businesses are considered small and make up the backbone of our Nation's economy. It is critical to note that the 7(a) program is funded entirely by guarantee fees paid by the program beneficiaries, not taxpayer dollars. Increasing this loan limit will not increase our national debt or deficit, but it will mean that small businesses can get access to the credit they need to expand and create jobs in our communities. Without SBA loan options, millions of small businesses will have to resort to practices not in their best interest. I came to Congress assuring my constituents that we would break this pattern of crisis and do our jobs. This shouldn't be a last-minute issue. Let's be sure our small businesses have the resources they need to continue being the engine of our economy.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a very good friend of Hawaii and a very good friend of mine, Consul General Toyoei Shigeeda. Consul General Shigeeda has been a tireless advocate for Japan and has been the glue that has held together a solid bond between Hawaii and Japan. I have known Consul General Shigeeda and his wife, Michiko, since they arrived in October of 2012. I have enjoyed many occasions with the consul general and Michiko at the numerous bon dances throughout Oahu. I recall inviting Consul General Shigeeda to the Aiea Hongwanji bon dance 2 years ago. We had a great time. More importantly, Consul General Shigeeda and I enjoyed spending many Friday and Saturday nights last year going to bon dances. He and Michiko are really great bon dancers. I also wanted to commend the consul general on his efforts to bridge the Pacific Ocean and bring together the leaders of Japan's Diet with the members of the Hawaii State Legislature. This Japan-Hawaii Friendship Association will continue for many years and will continue to foster the great relationship between Hawaii and Japan. I also wanted to thank Michiko. She has developed strong bonds with many Japanese organizations and has always been a great advocate for Japan. I wish them well, Mr. Speaker, for their service in Hawaii, and I wish them the very best in their future endeavors.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would first like to thank the chairman and the ranking member for this opportunity. Mr. Chairman, I offer this amendment with Mr. Jones of North Carolina. Our bipartisan amendment would increase DOD's supplemental impact aid to $55 million, $25 million more than appropriated in the bill currently. This would benefit schools in almost every school district that hold a military installation. Schools that had 20 percent average daily attendance of military-dependent students in the preceding year as counted on their Federal impact aid application are eligible to receive funding on an annual basis. Congress has recognized the needs faced by many school districts educating a large number of military children and has consistently provided increases in this aid; yet last year, in fiscal year 2015, this funding was dropped from $45 million to $25 million. This is not enough. With the stress put on military kids throughout the past years, this aid should be increasing, not decreasing. The education of a military child is a military readiness issue. The men and women serving in the military today have to rely on local school districts to provide quality education and counseling programs for their students and children. Earlier this year, a letter signed by many Members of this Congress and endorsed by multiple organizations asking for this critical program to be fully supported at $50 million for DOD impact aid, with $5 million for children of military families with severe disabilities, was sent to the House Committee on Appropriations. As we know, we have to offset any funding increase for one program with another if we play by the rules, and I have done so with this amendment. Our amendment is fully offset by using funding from an Office of the Secretary of Defense servicewide administration account, O&M defensewide. The children are our future, and many that grow up in our military families today will be the military leaders of our future. I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. My amendment is simple and would help to address cyber vulnerabilities for stored government information at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. As the bill is currently written, section 206 would require the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to come up with a 5-year plan on technology acquisition. My amendment would add reporting requirements to Congress on plans of actions and milestones for any known information security vulnerability. My amendment would include a detailed timeline with specific deadlines for addressing the known threats to make sure we get any threat dealt with and solved in a reasonable amount of time. Mr. Chairman, we have seen recently that cybersecurity is a serious threat to our security, where just last week the personal information of over 4 million Federal employees was compromised. This was one of the largest known cyber attacks on Federal networks in our history and only further underscores the necessity of this amendment. As we know, this threat is very real. Networks are being attacked constantly by a variety of different actors and for different reasons. For example, there is evidence that our financial institutions have been targeted, and other actors are out to steal one of the best drivers that we have of our economic growth: intellectual property. Cybersecurity is a problem that the entire government needs to address. The CFTC will be storing very sensitive information, and they should have a plan to place privacy safeguards on this information when storing government data. If we are going to discuss budgeting for technology acquisition, we should also be discussing looking at information security vulnerabilities, a plan to address them, and have reporting requirements along the way. This amendment is common sense, and I urge my colleagues to support its adoption. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, June 1, 2015, I was absent from the House to attend my daughter Kaila's 6th grade graduation from Waimalu Elementary School in Hawaii. Due to my absence, I am not recorded on any legislative measures for the day. I would like to reflect how I would have voted had I been present for legislative business. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on Roll Call 264, Roll Call 265, and Roll Call 266. On Roll Call 267, and final passage of H.R. 1335, I would have voted ``no''.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Chairman, this bipartisan amendment will help men and women in the armed services that gain experience in maritime trades during their military career to transition into careers in the U.S. merchant marine so they can continue to serve our country. This program will provide access to training opportunities necessary to meet the requirements for licenses and certificates of registry. The program established by my amendment will help build on past successes, allowing the tens of thousands of currently serving military servicemembers in the maritime trades to leave the military fully licensed to serve in the U.S. merchant marine. We can fix this now and, in doing so, not only allow already qualified servicemembers a better opportunity to find a job, but a chance to continue to ensure our national security. A strong, domestic maritime industry is a critical component of our national security strategy. We must ensure that an adequate supply of mariners is available to support this industry. This not only preserves American security, but it preserves American jobs. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, April is the month when pools, beaches, streams, and lakes across the United States open up for the spring and summer months. As a former collegiate swimmer, I feel compelled to ensure that everyone is safe in the water during the upcoming months. I am proud to introduce bipartisan H. Res. 205 with another former college swimmer, Representative Jim Bridenstine, on behalf of USA Masters Swimming Association and their president, Nadine Day, to declare April as National Learn to Swim Month. Last year, 3,335 Americans unintentionally drowned. The number of American adults and children that are unable to swim can be reduced, and we are in a position to speak out and prevent this. Swimming proficiency is a problem that we can solve together, and with the help of State governments we can highlight this so that we are able to make water activities safe for everyone. Please join me, Mr. Speaker, in declaring April as National Learn to Swim Month.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, today, I stand in support of H.R. 360, the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2015. This legislation reaffirms the United States trust responsibility to American Indian and Alaska Native nations and provides necessary tools to the native people of our country for sustainable solutions to poverty that often plague their communities. I would also like to thank Chairman Pearce; Ranking Member Waters; Mr. Young; Ms. Moore; Mr. Kildee; the senior Member from Hawaii, Ms. Gabbard; and the numerous other congressional Members who have fought for years to reauthorize NAHASDA, and thank them for also including support to Native Hawaiian housing organizations, which provide adequate housing to descendants of Hawaii's indigenous people. NAHASDA's reauthorization does not merely provide funding for adequate housing programs, it also provides vital resources to foster the indigenous cultures of our great Nation, which faced near extinction during the atrocities committed to expand our Nation and the Federal assimilation policies of the 20th century. For some indigenous people, living on their aboriginal lands is a vital part of preserving and living their culture. Unfortunately, Hawaii has one of the highest costs of living in the Nation, so support through NAHASDA is essential to Native Hawaiian families who wish to remain on their ancestral lands but face the ever growing price of homes, land, utilities, and food. So many families who have lived in Hawaii for generations upon generations are now moving out of our State because of the cost of living. I hope my colleagues understand not only the vital importance of adequate housing for the less fortunate among Native communities, but also its vital importance for fostering the indigenous cultures of our democracy. This diversity of culture is what makes our Nation great. So, please join me in supporting this measure.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. TAKAI. I am opposed.

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, this is the final amendment to the bill, which will not kill the bill or send it back to committee. If adopted, the bill would immediately proceed to final passage, as amended. Mr. Speaker, this amendment is simple. It would prohibit the EPA from relying on advice from any scientist whose primary source of research funding comes from corporations or individuals convicted of major environmental crimes. The Democratic motion to recommit would help ensure the integrity and the independence of the EPA's scientific review process by prohibiting the reliance on advice from those who are funded by the biggest abusers of our environment. H.R. 1030, the Secret Science Reform Act, would impose arbitrary, unnecessary, and expensive requirements that would seriously impede the EPA's ability to use science to protect public health and the environment, as required under an array of environmental laws, while increasing uncertainty for businesses and States. This bill would stack the cards in favor of industry-backed data studies rather than the most reliable studies. In doing so, it will prevent the EPA from using the best data possible to make decisions. Think about 50 years of tobacco-backed studies that lied about the effects of cigarette smoking in order to avoid labeling, regulation, and fines. That is the type of data that this bill wants the EPA to rely on to make decisions about our environment--industry-backed data that shifts the favor to polluters, climate deniers, and those who do not have the best interests of public health and our environment in mind. This amendment would make sure that this data does not come from corporations or individuals who show disregard for our environmental laws, which is the main reason the EPA exists in the first place. Consequences of H.R. 1030 could include the public release of industry-funded studies and data intended to bias the body of scientific evidence that the EPA is allowed to consider towards a particular industry position. For example, research that shows arsenic, mercury, or benzene is not bad for you could be in the majority of studies the EPA is allowed to base its recommendations and regulations on. Unfortunately, Republicans will claim that this bill increases the EPA's transparency and accountability by ensuring that its regulations are based on public data that can be verified and reproduced. In reality, this bill would prevent the EPA from functioning effectively and from using the most relevant scientific data, including data that is legally protected from public disclosure. An effort to limit the scope of science that can be considered by the EPA does not strengthen scientific integrity but undermines it. The EPA relies on peer reviewed scientific research from our universities as the backbone of its mission to protect public health and our environment. This amendment ensures that this data does not come from sources that routinely break our environmental laws. Because clinicians and researchers are legally prohibited from making the data publicly available, if this bill becomes law, the EPA would be forced to ignore this valuable research when protecting the public. At no point does this bill make the public safer, which is the fundamental function of government. The Secret Science Reform Act would only reduce the science available to the EPA on some of the most important decisions it makes. Mr. Speaker, over 30 of the most respected groups that are dedicated to scientific and health research have opposed this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. However, before doing so, I urge my colleagues to vote for this commonsense amendment to this bill. Again, all this amendment does is prohibit the EPA from relying on advice from any scientist whose primary source of research funding comes from corporations or individuals convicted of major environmental crimes. This ensures the integrity and independence of the EPA's scientific review process by prohibiting advice from those who are funded by the biggest abusers of our environment. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Democratic motion to recommit, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, today I honor the career of a man who was instrumental in education policy, Mr. John Forkenbrock. I have had the pleasure of working with John for the past 20 years, and he visited my home State of Hawaii twice during his time with the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, or NAFIS. From 1988 to the present, John has served as executive director of NAFIS, an association representing over 1,400 public school districts. In that position, John oversaw major changes in the Impact Aid Program that were included in the 1994 ESEA Improving America's Schools Act, and again in 2000 and 2001 with the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act. Mr. Speaker, we are all indebted to John's leadership. Millions of children in school districts across this Nation have benefited from his hard work. Though he will be sorely missed at NAFIS, I wish John and Patty Forkenbrock the best in their retirement.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the 50th anniversary of the Selma voting rights movement and of the Selma to Montgomery marches that led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. Nothing so far has moved me more as a freshman Member of this august body than to sit down and talk with our colleague, John Lewis, who years ago was the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. I have had many occasions since the beginning of this Congress to speak with Congressman John Lewis about the events of 50 years ago. He is the only living ``Big Six'' leader of the American civil rights movement still with us. It will forever be my honor to have sat next to Mr. Lewis when President Obama gave his State of the Union Address earlier this year. It was not lost on me that I was sitting and listening to President Obama while sitting next to a man whose actions 50 years ago helped pave the way for Barack Obama, a Black kid from Hawaii, to become President of the United States. Mr. Speaker, the freedom marches mark a significant turning point in America's history. As an ethnic minority myself, I am thankful for those that paved the way for the freedoms and the liberties that all of us as Americans enjoy. They suffered insults and physical harm, yet their spirit remained unbroken. The right of our citizens to vote is one that runs through the foundation of our country. To prevent or inhibit the vote of a citizen is an action that I feel contradicts the very principles on which this country was established. Even in our current society, there are efforts being undertaken to limit citizens of our country from casting their vote. This is a despicable practice and highlights to me the importance of the Voting Rights Act and the need to remain vigilant against those who seek to reverse the great strides made by this country towards equal rights for all. The brave actions taken by the civil rights marchers 50 years ago still resonate with our society today. That is why I am proud to join the 50th anniversary of the freedom march. Looking through the photos of the original Selma protest, I was struck by photos of Dr. Martin Luther King, Congressman John Lewis, and others leading the 54-mile third march, arms linked together in solidarity, wearing what looked like white double carnation Hawaiian lei. Looking into the matter further, I learned, in fact, that they were wearing lei. Why were they wearing lei? I found an answer that drove home for me the importance of standing together for civil rights for all. Mr. Speaker, many of you may not know this, but Dr. Martin Luther King actually came to speak at the University of Hawaii in 1964. He came for a civil rights symposium being held at the university. It was during this time in Hawaii that he began a deep friendship with the Reverend Abraham Kahikina Akaka, former pastor of Kawaiahao Church in Oahu and the first chairman of the Hawaii Advisory Committee of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. In the spirit of aloha, which means compassion, peace, and love, the reverend sent to Selma lei for the leaders of the protests to wear. I will be marching this weekend, Mr. Speaker; and to honor the tradition and the bond established many years ago between Hawaii and the Alabama civil rights leaders, Senator Mazie Hirono and I will be presenting lei to Congressman John Lewis and all of our congressional colleagues. These lei are a tribute to the Selma marchers 50 years ago and the knowledge that their efforts reverberated through our Nation and to Hawaii, a State that was only 6 years old. As we travel across the 54-mile historic trail and cross the famous Edmund Pettus Bridge on Saturday, we will remember those whose lives were lost fighting for our civil rights, remember those who paved the way, celebrate the hard fought victories, and remind ourselves that the fight is not yet over. I look forward to participating in this historic weekend, and I thank the Faith & Politics Institute for coordinating our congressional pilgrimage to Alabama.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, there is a letter from me sitting on your desk today asking you to pass a clean funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security. All Democrats in the House have introduced and cosponsored a clean bill, and the Republican-controlled Senate has passed one as well. Mr. Speaker, clause 2 of House rule XXI prohibits inclusion of language ``changing existing law,'' commonly referred to as the prohibition on legislating on appropriations bills; yet that is why the House comes in today facing another deadline that puts our national security and DHS workforce at risk--because we are trying to legislate through appropriations. I am completely in favor of the deliberative process by which this body is supposed to conduct itself, and, while I support the President's executive action on immigration reform, I would also support a robust debate on it in this House. However, you know as well as I do that forcing this debate through holding hostage the funding of a critical component of our Nation's security is not the proper way to go about having this debate. At the beginning of the 114th Congress, you wrote an op-ed with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell entitled ``Now We Can Get Congress Going.'' That is what I wrote to you and urged you to do today, Mr. Speaker. Let's pass a clean DHS funding bill and get going with the tough legislative choices that we have to make this year.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Mr. Speaker, today marks 4 days until the Department of Homeland Security runs out of money. We all had the opportunity for the first time this session to go back home last week for our district workweek, and I had an opportunity to speak about this particular issue at the Honolulu International Airport, where many of our DHS officials and employees are very concerned about this lapse of funding. Although some DHS employees would continue to work in the event of a shutdown, they would be forced to do so without pay, creating a significant distraction and dealing a significant blow to morale. Every single House Democrat has cosponsored clean legislation to fund DHS, and it is clear that there are a sufficient amount of votes to pass this bill now. Keeping America's families safe is the first responsibility and priority of this Congress. We need to put aside the political gridlock that has plagued this House for too long and fund DHS now. An impasse in funding would close down the bulk of DHS' management and support of Homeland Security infrastructure that was built following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Essential funding for the Department of Homeland Security is no place for grandstanding against immigration reform that strengthens our economy and our country. Let's remember: it was the inability of this House to act on the Senate's comprehensive immigration reform bill that forced the President to take executive action on immigration in the first place. I came to Congress telling my constituents that I do not support government shutdowns, Federal furloughs, or sequestration, and now some in this body think they can fix this with further inaction, with further furloughs and further government shutdowns. I think not. Let's pass a clean bill.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Aloha, Mr. Speaker. On February 27, the Department of Homeland Security will run out of money--17 more days. If this is not resolved, at best case, approximately 200,000 workers will stay on the job without pay or be furloughed or, at worst, not work. Mr. Speaker, I was elected to Congress and came here promising my constituents no more government shutdowns, no more Federal furloughs, and no more sequestration; yet here we are, on the verge of letting funding for Homeland Security run out and partially shutting down government. This impasse needs to end, and it needs to end now. I say the bottom line--to paraphrase DHS Secretary Johnson's point-- is security for our Nation is not free. Our homeland security cannot be hijacked by political games. We must get past this political stalemate and work out a clean bill for funding Homeland Security. If we don't, significant portions of the Department of Homeland Security could be crippled, and hundreds of thousands of critical Federal personnel--our constituents--could be affected. Let's remember that we are talking about some of the most critical security personnel who are working to keep Americans safe--shuttering the DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, which would no longer alert and coordinate with local law enforcement agencies, and withholding the Securing the Cities grants that pay for critical nuclear detection capacities in cities across the country; halting research and development work on countermeasures to devastating biological threats, on nuclear detection equipment, and on cargo and passenger screening technologies; crippling FEMA's preparations for future disasters, furloughing nearly 22 percent of FEMA personnel; and ending FEMA's training activities with local law enforcement for weapons of mass destruction events. Although some DHS employees would continue to work in the event of a shutdown, they would be forced to work without pay, creating a significant distraction and dealing a direct blow to morale. Among those who would be affected and expected to protect Americans without getting paid would be more than 40,000 Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Protection agents; more than 50,000 TSA aviation security screeners; more than 13,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement law enforcement agents and officers; more than 40,000 Active-Duty Coast Guard military members; and more than 4,000 Secret Service law enforcement agents and officers. Holding hostage funding of DHS for the purpose of overturning the President's executive actions on immigration is wrong. President Obama was forced to take action because of the inaction of this House to consider a bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform bill that the Senate passed last year. Here we are again, yet with more inaction. We cannot waste any more time here with political bickering, and it is not fair to try to hijack Homeland Security funding with an anti- immigration agenda. The security of our Nation and our people hang in the balance. Again, no more government shutdowns, no more Federal furloughs, no more sequestration--let's get to work, come together, answer the call of our constituents, and just pass a clean bill for DHS funding.

Mr. TAKAI

Mr. TAKAI. Aloha, Mr. Speaker. As a fourth-generation Japanese American, it is with special pride today that I announce a historic moment, the first time a play about the World War II internment of Japanese Americans has made it to Broadway. Music and lyrics are by Jay Kuo, with a book by Marc Acito. The musical is called ``Allegiance,'' and actor George Takei and all of the artists, producers, and supporters of ``Allegiance'' deserve congratulations. They are getting this still little-known story about the internment of Japanese Americans told in a high profile and exciting way. ``Allegiance'' is inspired by Mr. Takei's experiences when he and his family were interned during World War II. The play is a tribute to his parents, as well as the more than 110,000 other people of Japanese ancestry who were subjected to forced relocation and incarceration. Mr. Speaker, I urge everyone to see and support ``Allegiance.'' This production will raise awareness of injustices of that time, and it is a reminder of how much work remains to ensure equal rights and treatment for all.