What Jill N. Tokuda said, and what was done

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th Anniversary of James B. Castle High School, a special place that has shaped generations of students, families, and our entire Windward community, myself included.”

“Mr. Chair, I strongly oppose this amendment, which would require the Department of Defense to develop plans to eliminate 200,000 civilian employees. I have news for you: This administration already did that, and I saw the consequences with my own eyes.”

“Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to this amendment. Mr. Chair, we all want the same thing for our military families. While our servicemembers carry out the mission to protect and defend our Nation, we have a duty to care for the loved ones whom they leave behind.”

“Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, I stood on a farm in Haleiwa for the blessing of the Pacific Gateway Center's new land. I looked out at the fields and at the farmers and families gathered there ready to work, grow food, and to build something of their own.”

“Mr. Speaker, last week the President said he doesn't think much about Americans' finances. Families in Hawaii do. They think about it every time they fill up the tank, every time they open their electric bill, and every time they stand in the grocery aisle deciding what they can afford.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Colleen Hanabusa, a proud daughter of Wai'anae, a tita at heart, and a former Member of the House who represented Hawaii's First Congressional District.”

“Mr. Chair, I think it is rich that the previous speaker insinuates that China may buy all our agricultural land when most of the land in Hawaii was stolen by the United States of America when it was illegally annexed by this country.”

“Mr. Chair, earlier today, we sat in the Armed Services Committee and heard a $1.5 trillion defense budget request. That is not including the $1 billion a day going to the Iran war.”

“Mr. Chairman, I continue to urge all Members to oppose this amendment. Again, while I understand the perspectives and the points of view of the majority, again, eliminating ourselves from the opportunity to engage in shared research to the benefit of the health and wellness and the lives of all American people, we cannot support this amendment.”

“Mr. Chair, I support promoting healthier diets and lifestyles for all Americans, but I have serious concerns with any policy that would make life more difficult for Americans who are already struggling to make ends meet.”

“Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment, which would send us backwards when it comes to animal disease tracing and herd management. Electronic ear tags for cattle and bison reduce human error and empower veterinarians and animal health experts from APHIS to traffic potential outbreaks.”

“On Saturday, I stood above Lahaina, and for a moment--the briefest of moments--in the darkness, the town almost looked normal. Immediately, you realize that something is missing: no warm glow from homes and businesses, no kids riding bikes, and no neighbors gathering in garages.”

“Madam Speaker, last week, two back-to-back storms brought the most catastrophic flooding Hawaii has seen in over 20 years: landslides, washed-out roads, emergency evacuations, and destruction in every single county.”

“Mr. Speaker, I was unable to be present for the vote series today, as I was dealing with the immediate aftermath of the Kona Low Storms, the most severe floods in more than 20 years, which caused extensive damage, displacement, and evacuations across the State of Hawai'i.”

“Mr. Speaker, on a hilltop in Santa Fe, New Mexico, there is an interpretive plaque on a boulder. It stands where the government locked up thousands of Japanese as so-called enemy aliens.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7148 because for rural communities like mine in Hawaii, this bill isn't abstract policy. It is about whether people can get care and whether caregivers can keep going.”

“Mr. Speaker, today marks the anniversary of Citizens United. This decision did not rewrite campaign finance law; it sold our democracy to the highest bidder. Before Citizens United, elections were about persuading voters.”

“Mr. Speaker, I chuckled when Ken mentioned pet peeves and names. We need to add quinoa and potatoes to that list. He definitely didn't like those. For the record, my nickname was Barracuda, so figure that one out.”

“Mr. Speaker, imagine being a farmer choosing between insurance and seed, a small business owner weighing a doctor's visit against payroll, families hoping nothing goes wrong because they are one ER visit away from being homeless.”

“Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life of Hawaii County Fire Chief Kazuo Todd. I was fortunate to spend time with Kazuo--visits to the firehouse and dispatch center, meetings and conferences, catching him around D.C. and Hawaii Island.”

“Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, just 24 years old, also exemplifies that same quiet dedication to country. A lineman in his civilian life and a force management airman in the West Virginia Air National Guard, he serves in a role that rarely makes headlines but is essential to the readiness and effectiveness of our Armed Forces.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary service of Dr. Judy Mohr Peterson, who has dedicated her career to strengthening Medicaid and expanding access to high-quality health care for the people of Hawaii.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today outraged at the ongoing assault on the rights and protections of the Federal workers who serve our Nation, over 48,000 of them in Hawaii alone.”

“Our Hawaii Government Employees Association calls the President's action a direct attack on working Americans. That is why I stand firmly with our union ``ohana'' ``family'' across the country in rejecting these union-busting efforts and urging passage of the Protect America's Workforce Act.”

“Mr. Speaker, 80 years ago, over 120,000 Japanese individuals were stripped of their rights and forced into barbed-wire camps because of the way they looked and the language they spoke.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Maui County councilmember Tasha Kama, a mother to all, a warm hand, a hug when you needed it most, a voice for the voiceless, and a champion for everyone she served.”

“Mr. Speaker, National Rural Health Day is a chance to honor the communities that keep this country moving: the farmers, teachers, ``seniors,'' ``kupuna,'' health workers, first responders, small business owners, and families who fuel our local economies and preserve our way of life.”

“Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. Let's be clear: The Exceptional Family Member Program does not pay for medical care. Its purpose is simple: to ensure that military families are stationed where the medical and educational services they need are available.”

“Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment striking funding for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative. Coming from Hawaii, on the front lines of the Indo-Pacific, I know firsthand how critically important it is to keep our ties in this region strong.”

“Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Georgia. Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Chair, they are waiting for supplies they have already paid for. This amendment sends the wrong signal at the worst time.”

“Madam Speaker, we have heard strong voices from both sides of the aisle that this is a bad, reckless, dangerous amendment. Every dollar and day we spend supporting Taiwan is another day we keep our servicemembers, our children, and our grandchildren out of war.”

“Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment, which would create broad exemptions from the Endangered Species Act on military and National Guard lands. In Hawaii, this would be akin to a taking.”

“Madam Speaker, when the Armed Services Committee reported out this year's NDAA, it was a bill I was proud to support after months of bipartisan work, careful oversight, and real provisions to strengthen our national defense.”

“Mr. Speaker, last week, I joined our Maui ``ohana''; ``family,'' law enforcement, and officials from across Hawaii as we bid farewell to Suzanne O, a beloved member of the Maui Police Department, who was killed in the line of duty, the first for our department in 26 years.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues and reinforce their warning and urgent call to action. Mr. Speaker, today, we stand at a crossroads. The world is once again drifting toward a future where nuclear weapons are not just tools of deterrence but urgent threats hanging over every human life.”

“Mr. Speaker, just days ago, a Hawaii veteran, Sae Joon Park, said goodbye to his family which included his elderly mother with dementia, his two adult children, and his home.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of national Women Veterans Day. Last week, I spoke with a combat veteran from Kaneohe, Hawaii, my hometown. She was among the first class of women to graduate from West Point.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the Trump administration's abrupt, unjustified attempt to close Job Corps centers nationwide. I have been to the Job Corps graduation on Maui.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a warning--no, a plea. Rural America is already in crisis. People there die younger. Mothers face greater risks when giving birth. Hospitals teeter on the edge of collapse.”

“Mr. Speaker, when I first met Atalina, she was on the front lines of the pandemic, keeping families housed and fed. When fires ravaged Maui, she was there for the victims.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to President Trump's unlawful and unjust deportations to El Salvador. Earlier this year, the administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th century wartime statute, to deport 137 Venezuelan men to a notorious prison abroad.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the workers and families of Maui, still recovering from the devastating wildfires of 2023. Displaced workers continue to drive Maui's recovery, rebuilding homes, clearing debris, restoring infrastructure, and supporting their communities.”

“Mr. Speaker, Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike, came together to pass the American Relief Act of 2025, securing $12 billion to rebuild communities devastated by disaster. We made a promise to North Carolina, Florida, Texas, and Maui.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the House Republican budget resolution, a blatant attempt to strip healthcare and food aid away from everyday Americans. With up to $2.5 trillion in Medicaid cuts and $230 billion slashed from SNAP, this budget plan would leave millions of families and seniors without essential support.”

“Mr. Speaker, last week, President Trump issued an illegal and unconstitutional order for the Federal Government to halt the flow of Federal funds. Shortly after, FEMA shut down its online portal used to distribute disaster assistance across the country.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solidarity and with much aloha for our Nation's Federal workers. As a member of the Labor Caucus, I am proud to stand with these essential employees who keep our government running every single day.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 375, the Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025. The ohia lehua tree forms the backbone of Hawaii's forest and watersheds making up 80 percent of our native forests.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my deep concern and disappointment with the passage of H.R. 28. As a mother of teenagers in public schools, I am appalled that instead of addressing urgent challenges, like the youth mental health crisis, gun violence in our schools, and the growing teacher shortage, this legislation diverts our attention to dangerous and divisive policies.”

“Transgender girls are girls. Transgender women are women. If we truly want to protect girls and women, we must stand for inclusion, dignity, and respect, not division and exclusion.”

“Mr. Speaker, over the past 10 days, our Nation has watched with horror and sadness the harrowing scenes coming out of southern California, as these fires tore through homes, neighborhoods, and communities.”