Political Quotes

“Due to its strategic location in the Pacific, my home of Hawaii has long been at the forefront of our Nation's conflicts. We have more than 100 Formerly Used Defense Sites just as a result of a defensive buildup pre-World War I and, later, in the massive rush to mobilize in World War II. These sites, often also referred to as FUDS, can be littered with dangerous unexploded bombs and shells, in addition to harmful chemicals. As in Hawaii, Formerly Used Sites across the country--in every State and congressional district--can serve as housing developments, schools, parks, and playgrounds, areas that can be used productively. The Army Corps of Engineers has been working diligently to clean up unexploded ordnance from many sites in Hawaii, many of which I visited myself, including 135,000-acre Waikoloa Maneuver Area on the Big Island of Hawaii. During World War II, this area was home to some 50,000 U.S. servicemembers who trained and prepared for many of the historic battles that were fought in the Pacific. One of the places that I visited and met with many elementary and middle school students was Waimea Middle School, where unexploded ordnance has been found within the last few years by these students themselves. You are talking about 9-, 10-, 11-, 12-year-old students who have to be trained in this day and age to identify what an unexploded ordnance looks like and how to report it. This is not something that we should be facing in our society today.…”