Jill Tokuda

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, last week I joined thousands of people, ``kama'aina'' ``locals'' and ``malihini'' ``guests'' alike in walking from ``mauka'' ``inland'' to ``makai'' ``the ocean'' in Lahaina in a celebration of unity and healing. We lost so much in the fires--loved ones, homes, and businesses. The Lele Aloha Ho'ulu Lahaina Unity March reminded us that despite all we lost, we still have each other. Under a sea of flags representing the countries of both victims and survivors, we walked for everything we lost. With each step we took, we came closer together with shared hopes for Lahaina's future. That day, we walked 4\1/2\ miles, but the road to recovery stretches much longer, and we will keep walking together no matter how long it takes. As ``pule'' ``prayers'' were spoken and ``ho'okupu'' ``offerings'' offered by visiting canoes, we stood and walked side by side, equals in the pride we feel and hope we have for Lahaina. Next week marks the 6-month anniversary of the Maui fires. While it will be a solemn occasion, the miles that we have walked together remind us that though we have been tested, aloha will always win.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, for so many of our Maui `` 'ohana,'' ``family,'' stable housing for their families and the ability to manage mortgages for lost homes keep them up at night. Earlier this month, the State of Hawaii, Maui County, FEMA, and various philanthropic organizations announced a $500 million interim housing plan to move thousands of families still living in hotels into stable, long-term housing by July 1 of this year. $250 million of this critical funding is coming directly from FEMA. Of all the ways that this plan will seek to provide some stability for ``keikis,'' ``children,'' and ``kupuna,'' ``elders,'' who lost everything, the most critical and urgent are the investments that will be made in more permanent developments. We need shovels in the ground now, and I strongly encourage FEMA to lean into their plans to build modular homes that will house up to 500 households. In talking with constituents and Maui Mayor Bissen, we must also focus immediately on identifying options to help survivors with their mortgages. Absent options, our people will feel they have no choice but to leave Lahaina. As I have said before, Lahaina is not Lahaina without her people.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, among the cherished symbols of our Lahaina community burned and lost last August was the former King Kamehameha III Elementary School. If the historic banyan tree represents the proud roots and history of this community, then King Kamehameha III, right next to it, represents its future. Since the 1880s, generations of Lahaina residents went to school here. Our commitment and promise to Lahaina keiki are that they and their children will one day go to King Kamehameha III Elementary again. Last month, while many of us took off for the holidays, I visited construction crews on Maui working around the clock to build a temporary school that will give some stability to the 600 students and staff displaced by the fires. This project is personal for every single person involved. Some went to school there. Others have family currently enrolled. Each person on the build site has a strong sense of ``kuleana,'' ``responsibility'' to get this done right. So committed to their mission, crews worked even on Christmas and New Year's Day to keep on track. To the Army Corps and the crew of Pono Aina Management who worked so hard over the holidays and continue to do so, mahalo, and I cannot wait to walk through the new school again.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, for my final Maui minute this year, I rise on behalf of my constituents to offer a heartfelt ``mahalo,'' ``thank you,'' to everyone who has played a role in our recovery so far: To the first responders on that dreadful day who fought the fires and brought people to safety; To the countless Federal workers, disaster personnel and volunteers, and everyday citizens who have worked tirelessly each day since August 8 to ensure our people get the help they need and deserve; To the people of Hawaii and from all 50 States and over 100 countries for their outpouring of support and aloha, including raising hundreds of millions of dollars for our Maui community; To my colleagues here, who have joined me on the ground and reached out since, mahalo. For too many Maui survivors, this holiday season will be the first without a loved one, without a home they have known their whole lives, and with an uncertain future. The road ahead to recovery will continue to be long and tough, but we will be there. From the depths of my heart, mahalo.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, Hawaii has a proud immigrant tradition, with many of us able to trace our roots across the globe. Few places in Hawaii exemplify our diversity more than Lahaina, where nearly a third of the residents are foreign-born. They came from the Philippines, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and more. They are the backbone of Maui's economy, working in hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and golf courses. They clean homes and are caregivers for ``keiki,'' ``children,'' and ``kupuna,'' ``elders,'' alike. On a day when fire did not discriminate what it took, Lahaina's immigrant community bore more than its fair share of loss. A quarter of the deceased had ties to the Philippines. Too many lost documents and lifesavings. Now, immigrants in Lahaina face impossible decisions. They are too scared to seek out the help that they need, and they are afraid to travel or relocate due to their legal status. They need our help, and we have to meet them where they are through trusted partners so they can focus on healing and rebuilding. Four generations ago, my family immigrated to Hawaii with the same hopes and dreams many in our Lahaina ``ohana,'' ``family,'' have. We can't forget our roots, and we must meet this moment with the aloha that they would have wanted.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, even before the fires destroyed over 2,000 homes on Maui, our entire State faced a dire housing crisis. Three months later, over 6,500 people find themselves living temporarily in hotels. While many have had to move multiple times, these hotels have served as respite from an uncertain future. Yet, hundreds of survivors will be moved again today as some hotels opt against renewing their contracts. In the coming months, hundreds more will be moved, too. At the same time, efforts to secure long-term housing through existing short-term rentals on Maui have stalled. In both cases, the underlying motivation is the same--to accommodate the return of tourists to Maui. This isn't ``pono,'' ``right.'' This also isn't about choosing one over the other. Rather, it is a challenge to us to prioritize what is the most important: taking care of our people. That includes giving them stability and security when it comes to having roofs over their heads. For everyone in our Maui ``'ohana,'' ``family,'' this is a time of shared sacrifice, but it is also a call to live aloha. For too many, August 7 will be the day they lost their house to fire. Let's work together to make sure they know that they still have a place to call home.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material for the Record.

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to rise today as co-chair of the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus to commence hosting the Special Order hour in celebration of National Rural Health Month. Every year, National Rural Health Month is a time for us all to bring attention to the unique healthcare needs in rural America and honor the incredible efforts of rural healthcare providers, organizations, and other stakeholders. It has been more than a decade since Congress last had a bipartisan coalition focused on promoting and advancing healthcare solutions for our Nation's rural and remote communities. Sadly, during that time, the prognosis and progress has only gotten worse for those who live in rural America. The health and wellness of our people has not improved. Especially given the divisions in our country and in Congress today, we need to find more ways that we can come together around common issues and common ground and develop solutions that ensure rural Americans do not get left behind. That is one of the reasons why earlier this year, I re-launched the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus with my distinguished colleague from the great State of Tennessee, Diana Harshbarger. Earlier this year, we came together with a shared desire for Congress to play a more active role in improving and promoting life and access to healthcare in rural America. Today, nearly 50 Members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats, have joined the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, representing rural areas across the country from Guam to West Virginia to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan down to central Texas. Whether political, demographic, or geographic, the diversity of our caucus is our strength because rural America is America. I yield to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Harshbarger), my distinguished co-chair.

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, mahalo to my co-chair, Representative Harshbarger, for providing leadership and insight for many, many years in this particular area and serving on the front line as a pharmacist in her own community. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Kilmer).

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, I say mahalo to Representative LaMalfa, and I will extend a great deal of gratitude for helping to guide us through a crisis that is hitting rural America far too often, natural disasters, as we are seeing it. I look forward to also now working with you to make sure that when a disaster strikes, our healthcare system will be able to support them every step of the way. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson), who often says ``food is medicine.'' I appreciate his guidance and wisdom on this particular issue.

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, as you can see, we have strong leadership across this great country that is making sure that the health and wellness of rural America is taken care of. I am so appreciative of all the members of our caucus that have stepped forward and stepped up, not just now but in so many years past and will definitely be part of that leadership going forward. Mr. Speaker, it looks like it is a great day for the great State of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Wild).

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the sad reality is that if you are living in rural America, you are more likely to experience lower health expectations, lower health quality, and lower life expectancy simply because of your ability to access healthcare that you need. I have sat with constituents in my community of Wainiha who have asked me if it was fair that people that live right down the road in urban Honolulu live 10 years longer than they do. While at times it may seem that they may require more medical attention and care, rural Americans often have more access to healthcare because of such things as you have heard of today: physician shortages, lack of reliable and affordable transportation options, insufficient health insurance coverage, and an increased exposure to environmental and occupational hazards. As a Representative in Congress for one of the most rural and remote districts in the country, I know that many of my constituents are often just one diagnosis away from a serious illness and the difficult financial and family decisions that often come with this. Across the country, more than 60 million Americans, about one in five Americans live in rural areas. While they make up just 18 percent of the total U.S. population, they are scattered, as we have heard, across 97 percent of our country's land area. Rural Americans face numerous health disparities as compared with their urban counterparts. Rural Americans are more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke, as compared to their urban counterparts. Unintentional injury or death. You heard Representative Thompson talk a little about this and the ``golden hour.'' They are more likely, by 50 percent higher rates, to die in rural areas as compared to urban areas often because of their ability to access emergency care when involved in a motor vehicle crash or opioid overdose. There are so many steps that we can continue to address, but I would have us hear from another part of our great country and a rural caucus, that of the great State of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Davis), another distinguished member of our Rural Health Caucus.

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, as you heard, across our country, we have strong leadership on rural health, much action to be taken, and many opportunities that we need to make sure that we seize. We have talked a lot about rural America, from California to Pennsylvania to North Carolina. I would like to bring us back to Hawaii now. It is the most isolated archipelago in the world, with the nearest landmass over 2,300 miles away. I can tell you, it is a long distance, given that I travel it pretty much every weekend, crossing that great, beautiful, blue Pacific Ocean. My district represents all the islands in Hawaii. On our neighboring islands, patients often have to fly to Oahu, our main island with Honolulu, to get emergency or even routine medical, dental, or mental health care. Many Oahu-based providers often spend their weekends, if they can even reach the availability of air transportation, traveling back and forth between our islands just to try to make sure our patients get the medication and services they need to survive. I know a lot of people are thinking we have telehealth now, so that should be no problem. Again, consider the remoteness of our islands and the remoteness of so many of our rural communities. Broadband speed and access are not equal everywhere across this great country and our territories. Oftentimes, people are just asking folks to pick up a phone to be able to triage and immediately start to provide care and scrips, which, in many cases, people need because they are living in isolated and remote parts of rural America. As in many other parts of this country, in Hawaii, we are seeing providers, hospitals, and clinics struggle to keep their doors open because of high operating costs and insufficient reimbursement rates. As was alluded to earlier in this discussion, since 2010, 155 rural hospitals have closed their doors, making the difficult decision to leave their patients behind. Often these patients aren't just patients. These are family members, neighbors, and friends. With limited healthcare options and access, we know that for many of these individuals, those hospitals, those providers closing their doors, it is a life sentence. You would think, after these last 15 or so years, that we are out of the woods. Well, think again. Over 40 percent of all rural hospitals are operating with negative margins and are vulnerable to closure. This is on top of the fact that rural communities often have fewer healthcare providers. Over 50 percent of rural communities and counties have no access to hospital-based maternal care. That means just being able to go somewhere to be able to have your child safely. Seventy percent are lacking even a single psychiatrist in their county. Looking at the stats, when we think about it, just basic physicians, general internists, and doctors in rural communities, you have 13.1 physicians per 10,000 people as compared to 31.2 in urban areas, less than half the amount that urban America is able to enjoy. When we are talking about specialist care, think of our own situations and how often you would need that specialist or a loved one has needed a specialist to provide lifesaving care for them. Rural America has 30 specialists per 100,000 individuals as compared to 263 specialists per 100,000 people. We can see the disparity, and sadly, we can see the great need that exists in rural America right now. High costs have also proven to be a significant barrier. Whether it is providing housing for recruiting and retaining healthcare workers in our State, covering medical transport via medevac airplane or helicopter, considering even the wages of professionals, these are all things, as you have heard today, that we have legislative bills we are trying to focus on, making sure that these barriers no longer exist and reducing the challenges to accessing healthcare in rural America. Mr. Speaker, we will soon hear from another great State in this country, so let me at this particular time take this back to my home State of Hawaii. As I mentioned earlier when Mr. LaMalfa came up, we have seen such devastation in my district with the Maui fires. The response in the wake of this disaster has really highlighted to us the importance of making sure we have a strong and robust healthcare system. From critical access care personnel and medical countermeasures and supplies, you have to have them ready and onsite because in so many cases in our rural communities, whether you live on islands or there are hundreds of thousands of miles that separate you from the nearest access point, help can often be days away. At the onset of our fires, I remember our chief of police telling us that we have often been told--sadly, now we see it--that if we are in a crisis, we are 72 hours away from help. We have to make sure, especially when it comes to critical access care and healthcare, that we have the supplies and personnel in all of our communities to be able to help respond to disaster once she strikes. My district also has one of the most racially and ethnically unique populations in the country, and these communities often experience, sadly, some of the highest healthcare costs and suffer from some of the highest health disparities that we see across the country. Mr. Speaker, again, one of the wonderful aspects of this caucus is that it is both bipartisan and represents all of America. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bergman).

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, you have heard today so many tales of tragedy and disparity across our country in rural America, but also through the legislation, bills, and advocacy that we have seen from our Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus members, so many opportunities for us to do good by rural America. As I close today, I appreciate all of our Members who have come forward to share their stories from across this great country. Let me highlight an article that was recently run in The Washington Post that focused on the fact that more people in Puerto Rico are dying at higher rates because of these healthcare disparities and lack of access to a health system. As we take a look at the numbers, as we know, Puerto Rico has been devastated by natural disasters, compounded by COVID-19 already stressing a very strained healthcare system. They are lacking professionals in the community to be able to serve their residents. The fact is that they only have one working ambulance for 25,000 people in a town. Too often, by the time the call is made and the ambulance shows up at the home, those people have already passed away. The fact is that they had 35,400 deaths last year in 2022 for a population of 3.3 million, thousands more than researchers could ever have expected, historical highs that they are seeing compounded as a result of a strained healthcare system that is unable to take care of its people. There are stories and examples of veterans who have served and fought under our flag that you stand before right there not being able to access the critical care or even the basic care that they need, deserve, and fought for. Too many people are dying as a result of a lack of access to healthcare. When we take a look at the numbers, there are disparities in terms of increases in Alzheimer's, substance abuse, mental health conditions, and chronic health conditions like blood pressure, diabetes, kidney failure, respiratory failure--all of these things. To me, when I read this article and all the problems they cite--lack of facilities, lack of professionals, too many of the young ones leaving their community to go to work in the United States or take on other professions--this was a cautionary tale to all of rural and remote America that if we don't get our act together soon in our States and our territories to make sure that no matter where you live in this great country, especially in rural and remote America that makes up over 97 percent of this great country's land mass, we will continue to see people die. The stakes could not be higher when it comes to making sure that the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus continues to stay together and fight for those most basic things for every single one of our constituents. No matter where you live, no matter what district, each one has a touch of rural. We need to make sure that the healthcare access and mental health services they need will be there for them when they need it. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for allowing us this critically important Special Order hour to highlight rural health in our country. I look forward to working very closely with all of my colleagues to make sure that rural America has the healthcare that they need and deserve. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Darlene Kehaulani Butts, known by many as Auntie Kehau. Born and raised in Wahiawa, Oahu, and a proud graduate of Leilehua High School, Auntie Kehau dedicated her life to serving her community, advocating for Native Hawaiians, and perpetuating the traditions and values of Hawaii in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area. In 1998, Auntie Kehau started a catering company in Stafford, Virginia, to share iconic Hawaiian foods with local residents and Hawaii expats, myself included. In 2004, she helped found and became the inaugural president of Ke Alii Makaainana Hawaiian Civic Club. For decades, she also served as chair of the annual King Kamehameha Day Lei Draping Ceremony, working closely with the Hawaiian congressional delegation, local leaders, Native Hawaiian organizations, and other stakeholders to honor Hawaii's greatest king and Saint Damien with lei, Hawaiian music, and hula here in the United States Capitol. In all that she did, Auntie Kehau was never short of aloha. She helped former Hawaiian residents find homes in the DMV area and welcomed so many others to take part in preserving Hawaiian culture. Auntie Kehau's tireless efforts will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come. Mahalo.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, today, for my Maui minute, I rise to recognize and extend a heartfelt mahalo to the brave first responders and disaster workers who rushed in to evacuate and support our people and communities since the devastating wildfires on Maui. From police and firefighters to paramedics and 911 operators, these heroes play an essential role every day across our country, providing physical and emotional support to those who have been hit hard by disasters. While they never cease in their important work in times of crisis, first responders often face their own barriers with seeking help and accessing the mental health services they need as they deal with their own trauma as a result of what they see and experience. On Maui, many first responders and disaster workers were also victims and survivors themselves, losing loved ones and homes. Despite this, as the fires raged, they continued to serve and protect. That is why, this week, I have introduced the Crisis Assistance and Resources in Emergencies for First Responders Act, or CARE for First Responders Act, to increase access to mental health care services specific to the unique needs and experiences of those on the front lines of disaster. These brave men and women have answered the call each time we have needed them most. Now, it is our turn to do the same.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 3-month anniversary of the Maui wildfires that destroyed Lahaina and took its somber place in history as the deadliest wildfire in the United States in over a century. As the sole Representative of the people for Maui in the United States House of Representatives, I have traveled there every week since the fires first broke, sometimes three or four times a week, to connect people with the services and support that they need, to advocate for Federal assistance, and to receive and listen to their stories. These are stories of loved ones lost, homes burned, businesses in limbo, victims and first responders alike dealing with grief and anguish, but these are also the stories of hope, the aloha, the gratitude, and the ability of a community coming together to find the strength to heal. This is the story of Maui. Today and every week, I will come to the House floor to uplift their voices, the voices of her people, so that you know what help is still very much needed and understand the important role each Member of Congress can play in rebuilding this beautiful place that we love.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of one of my favorite Republicans, my former colleague, my friend, the late Hawaii State Senator, Sam Slom. For 20 years, Sam represented East Honolulu's 9th Senatorial District. and for almost half that time, he was the sole Republican member of the Hawaii Senate earning him the self-imposed nickname. ``The Lone Ranger.'' As one of a handful. or the only, member of the minority party, Sam read every bill, every resolution, and defied time and space to try and get to every committee and vote. I had the honor and privilege of serving many years side by side Sam. Yes. we disagreed on many things, but more than not, we saw eye to eye, especially on our commitment to lowering the cost of living for middle class working families and being good fiscal stewards with taxpayer dollars. Prior to his service in the State Senate. Sam served as the chief economist for the Bank of Hawaii, and for over 30 years he was the President and Executive Director of Small Business Hawaii. There is much that could be said about the boy from Allentown, Pennsylvania, who found his way to Hawaii in the sixties and made Hawaii his home. What I can personally share is that he was often the member I could count on to be there. When I needed his vote, even if he disagreed, he'd help me get it to the floor and was open and honest with me on why he disagreed. He was a statesman till the very end, and given the partisan times we find ourselves in, I truly miss my friend. Mahalo to Sam for blessing us with his wisdom, his advocacy. and his friendship. There are more Hawaiian hoary bats in our islands because of him and we will forever remember him as the lone ranger who challenged our minds and won our hearts.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of one of my favorite Republicans and former colleague, the late Hawaii State Senator Sam Slom. There is much to be said about the boy from Allentown, Pennsylvania, who found his way to Hawaii in the sixties and made our islands his home. For 20 years Sam represented East Honolulu's ninth senatorial district, and for almost one-half of that time, he was the sole Republican member of the Hawaii Senate. He read every bill and every resolution, and he defied time and space to try to attend every committee meeting and vote, earning the self- imposed nickname ``the Lone Ranger.'' I had the honor and privilege of serving alongside Sam. Yes, we disagreed on many things, but more often than not, we saw eye to eye, especially when it came to lowering costs for working families and being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Sam was a statesman to the very end, and given the partisan times we find ourselves in, I truly miss my friend. Mahalo, Sam, for your service and your friendship. As the Lone Ranger, you challenged our minds and won our hearts.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, at this time I invite all of my colleagues who have ties to Maui, who have been to Maui, or who stand by our community to join me here in the well of the Chamber. Louise Abigail was 97 and an active grandmother that lived in the Hale Mahaolu Eono independent living complex. Tony Takafua was just 7 years old and was with his mother and grandparents. They are the youngest and the oldest victims of the wildfires; the difference in their ages spanning almost a century, yet connected by one cruel fate. On August 8, Maui and Hawaii Island were ablaze with 11 separate fires. Spurred by 80-mile-per-hour winds, fire ripped through our town of Lahaina in just 17 minutes, tragically taking the lives of 115 people with dozens more still unaccounted for and thousands displaced and grieving. It would be easy enough to speak of our pain and our grief; the hands I have held, the stories I have heard. I have come to know all too well what death and destruction smells and feels like and how the sadness continues to cling with you long after. Instead, I will focus on something just as important: Hope. When I first went back to Lahaina, the absence of color, of structure, of anything familiar is what hit me. As I returned there, including with the Speaker and other Members of the House, whom I want to thank for the support made clear by their presence, I noticed something amidst the rubble: Life. Sprinkled throughout the burn zone, I saw one plant in particular that has survived: banana trees. They are one of the original canoe plants brought to Hawaii from Polynesia because of their ability to feed and to heal people. How fitting to see these trees come to life as we prepare for the most arduous journey ahead of us. Our people are strong and resilient. They have a gracious grit that has both inspired me and moved me to tears in the face of this unthinkable tragedy. They also feel justifiable anger and frustration that they are even in this situation, and we feel an overwhelming sense of urgency to provide the help, the support, and yes, the answers that they so desperately need. This is a national disaster that will require a national whole-of- government response. Our strong support of our Maui ohana will send a clear message to every American: No matter where you live in this great country, you will not be left behind. Mr. Speaker, we will need all of our colleagues as we set sail for what must be a better future for our people, determined by our people. The asks we will make will not be insignificant, and the support we need will span generations, but today, I simply ask for your humanity. Hawaii has so often shared its aloha, its people, whatever we can give, with the world. Now our people need your kokua, your help. We have been tested, but we are not broken. We will rise again, and we will be stronger than before. I have said this once, and I will say this again: If there is anything you can always count on, it is that aloha always wins. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Congressman Case and myself, I humbly ask for a moment of silence so that we may lift up in honor our Maui ohana as they grieve, as they recover, and as they rebuild. Mahalo.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and honor Specialist Rene J. Rodriguez of El Paso, Texas, for his courage and heroism while stationed with the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks in my district. Earlier this month, Specialist Rodriguez was awarded the Soldier's Medal, the highest individual decoration the United States Army can give for an act of valor in a noncombat event. He received that award for defending a local woman who was being violently assaulted outside of a coffee shop in Wahiawa last October. With disregard for his own safety, Specialist Rodriguez put himself in the middle and took the brunt of the attack, giving the woman space and time to get to safety in his vehicle. Specialist Rodriguez' actions that day represent the very best of our soldiers and the highest values of courage and sacrifice in the United States Army. We are so very proud of him and so grateful for his service and commitment to our Hawaii community.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, I am definitely out of breath. I ran here from my other hearing because this was just such an important hour that we participate in. Patsy Takemoto Mink is the mother of Title IX. She had a vision and a dream for her daughter and for all of our children, to live a life free from the kind of discrimination she suffered as a woman of color. Her groundbreaking advocacy and reforms have since paved the way to allow all of our children to fully participate and engage in their education, in sports, and in all other forms of learning as their true, authentic selves. Removing discrimination and inequity on the basis of sex was personal for Congresswoman Mink. Throughout her pursuit of higher education, she faced racial discrimination, segregation, and limited opportunities simply because she was a woman. Many of us serving here in Congress on both sides of the aisle are here because of Patsy's perseverance and courage, and I am humbled to serve in the seat that she held with such grit and such grace. Like Patsy, I see every action or inaction we take here in Congress through the lens of a mother. While we cowardly delay action on gun legislation, I leave home each week terrified that one day an active shooter drill at my sons' school might not be a drill at all. As we fight book bans and the perverse culture wars of the far right, I wonder how my boys will feel when they see less and less of themselves in what is represented as history, and in the books that are on the library shelves. While we watch as bullies in Congress try to push our loved ones back into the closet through guilt and shame, I hug my babies, now teenagers, every single chance I get, and I remind them, as I have since they were little, of my unconditional love for them and my only wish for them to be whomever they seek to be. As we fight in this Chamber, kicking and screaming against what is nothing less than a movement to use our children as a means to institutionalize racism, legitimize discrimination, and oppress marginalized people and communities of color around our country, I often sit and ask myself: What would Patsy say? What would Patsy do? I cannot speak for this great tower of a woman, but I know in my heart that she would not stand for this kind of politicization of our children. She would stand shoulder to shoulder with all of us and say: Hell, no, not today. Not today.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, since my first day in Congress, access to quality, affordable healthcare and mental health services has been among my top priorities. I represent one of the most rural and remote districts in the country. I have seen and heard firsthand the devastating consequences of inadequate access to care. On Molokai, a constituent shared with me the weight and pain she felt over the loss of her daughter. The treatment and end-of-life care her daughter needed wasn't available on island, so she was forced to leave her children and family behind and tragically passed away without them by her side. On Lana'i, a kupuna sat me down and said: ``I love living here . . . but it is a difficult place to be born and to die.'' If you need obstetric care, assisted living, or end-of-life care, you have to board a plane, most often alone. In Wai'anae, a close friend and community leader held up a CDC report in his hand and expressed his anger and frustration that the life expectancy of residents living on the rural west side of O'ahu was a decade less than those living in downtown Honolulu. In the small, close-knit community of Kauai, too many people have a family member or friend who took their own life. With limited access to mental health professionals and services, our Garden Isle has historically struggled with high rates of suicide and suicide attempts. In Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii, a woman cried as she told me that her sister died because she couldn't get the emergency care she needed in time. She then asked me if I knew what the golden hour was, that critical window of time between emergency medical care and a medical trauma happening. I told her I did. My mother missed hers. She was in a car accident, and the hospital in our community didn't have the appropriate trauma services to deal with her injuries, so she was taken to the next town, where she passed away shortly after getting to the ER. For many of my constituents, they are just one diagnosis away from a major illness and the impossible financial and family decisions that will come with it. Yet, they live in geographically isolated areas-- their homes, where they continue to be denied their right to healthcare. While Hawaii's geography and demographic makeup are, in fact, unique, these barriers to healthcare are similarly felt elsewhere across the country. More than 60 million Americans, one-fifth of the United States population, live in rural areas. Compared with their urban counterparts, rural Americans are generally older and have less resources and poorer healthcare conditions. While they may require more medical attention and care, rural Americans often have more limited access to care as a result of physician shortages, lack of reliable transportation options, insufficient health insurance coverage, and increased exposure to environmental and occupational hazards. These disparities in healthcare access highlight the need for greater attention and resources aimed at improving healthcare and outcomes in rural and remote communities. That is why I am proud to co-lead the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus. Together with the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Harshbarger), we have revived this bipartisan coalition to ensure every American, no matter their ZIP Code or circumstances, has access to the care that could literally save their lives. When it comes to my hope for rural healthcare, it comes down to the four As. Accessibility: The distance a patient must travel by car, plane, or ferry to receive medical services; Affordability: The cost for a patient to get the care they need; Acceptability: The extent to which a patient receives culturally and linguistically appropriate services in healthcare; and Availability: The extent to which providers have the requisite resources, such as personnel and technology, to meet the individual needs of patients. In a time of such deep divisions in our country and Congress, we must find ways to come together to recognize the urgent needs of our constituents and do better for all of our people. The Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus will look beyond the partisan gridlock of Washington to tackle the rural healthcare crisis in the United States. From the pristine, sandy beaches of Hawaii to the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, rural Americans are asking Congress to step up and take meaningful action to save their hospitals and clinics, address health inequities, strengthen their healthcare workforce pipeline, ensure fair and adequate reimbursement for providers, and reduce healthcare costs. For the health and well-being of all of our people, I invite my colleagues to join us in this movement to enhance access and delivery of healthcare and mental health services for rural and remote communities throughout our country.

Ms. TOKUDA

Ms. TOKUDA. Mr. Speaker, for 140 years, Hawaiian Telcom has been keeping the people of Hawaii connected. Since the days of the Hawaiian Kingdom, when Archibald Scott Cleghorn, father of Princess Ka'iulani, chartered the Mutual Phone Company, loved ones and lifelines have been just a phone call away. As an island State, the ocean often seems far too wide for me. Like the iconic commercial we all remember--which still bring tears to my eyes--of a college student getting a call from her mom, Hawaiian Telcom continues to keep us connected with our ohana, now with high-speed internet and modern communication services for the digital age. Hawaiian Telcom and its generations of employees, past and present, have made it their mission to provide the people of Hawaii with the connectivity and digital equity they deserve. Whether it is accessing educational or workforce opportunities, stimulating our economy, promoting telehealth services, or simply connecting with family and friends, innovative communication technologies play a critical role in the rural and remote communities we live in. To all who have contributed to Hawaiian Telcom's 140-year legacy of service to our islands, I extend my sincerest congratulations and thanks. Mahalo for all they do to keep us connected, and I look forward to our next 140 years of service together.