I appreciate the Committee's oversight on the implementation of this funding and, specifically, the billions of dollars in funding for port infrastructure upgrades, the Army Corps' massive backlog of authorized projects, and waterways that…

First and foremost, get our own house in order.

As an island state located fully 2,500 miles off the coast of California, Hawai`i is uniquely challenged by its geographic isolation which makes our state heavily reliant on air transportation.

The Chinese government has undertaken a widespread and systematic campaign of stealing American intellectual property to advance the Chinese economy.

We must message this to them. We must give them tools.

I think we really need to talk about how IP affects GDP.

Going after professors on shoddy evidence will hurt, not help, American innovation by sending the best minds elsewhere.

So would you support such a science program?

I do expect for the demand to increase in the future.

Our IP system has long been the engine that drives American leadership and innovation, and we must ensure that our system encourages American innovation and does not allow bad actors to stifle or steal it.

I only ask that our witnesses here today consider a whole-of-government approach as we define and strengthen our relationship with both Okinawa and Hawaii.

I hope this committee will join me in applauding his courage and his service to his country.

Current FAA infrastructure is insufficient to handle our nation's aviation needs, and this compounds for a fully reliant location such as Hawai`i.

This legacy of neglect needs to stop now.

as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and as chair of the Readiness Subcommittee, I rise today deeply opposed to the dangerous posturing of my colleague from Alabama in playing with our national security. That is what it is…

we are going to be working on the NDAA, and I suggest to my colleague to go ahead and put an amendment--or whatever he wants--in the NDAA. Then let's take a vote on whether or not this policy should stand. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the…

This has to be fixed.

I also can't keep hearing from Native communities that they are being kept away from grant funding.