Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and celebrate the life of my good friend, Congressman Mark Takai of Hawaii. Mark was a fierce advocate for the people of Hawaii and was a champion of issues important to the AAPI community. Prior to his two decades as a representative in the Hawaii State House, Mark briefly lived in Guam, my home, and attended school there, which helped to inform his perspectives on the unique challenges affecting the territories. Here in Congress, Mark was an embodiment of the aloha spirit. I worked with him on a number of issues impacting Guam, Hawaii, and the Pacific region. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I truly appreciated his insights and views, especially his experiences as lieutenant colonel in the Hawaii Army National Guard. Mark's passing creates a void in Congress that cannot be replaced, but his life and his legacy will forever live on in all of us who knew him and in the many public policies that he helped to enact to make life for all Americans better. On behalf of the people of Guam, I extend my condolences to his wife, Sami; his children, Matthew and Kaila; and the entire Takai family. Mark, you will be deeply missed. As we say in Guam: Un Dangkulo na Si Yu'os Ma'ase, Mark.”