Gregorio Sablan: “Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to express my deepest condolences to the people of Hawaii for their loss…”

“Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to express my deepest condolences to the people of Hawaii for their loss of a great Senator and a great American. I would not be here today standing in the well of the House if not for Senator Daniel K. Inouye. This beloved leader did so much for many Americans, for so many people of the Pacific, as we are hearing tonight. He touched the lives of so many individuals, including my own life. In 1986, Senator Inouye gave me the opportunity to work as a Fellow in his office here at the Capitol. Senator Inouye had established a program to bring young men and women from the Pacific Islands to Washington to learn about Congress and the United States Government. We came from American Samoa and from the Northern Mariana Islands, my home. What an opportunity Senator Inouye gave us. What an eye-opening experience to see Congress at work. What an education to watch up close this distinguished man of the Senate, by turns dignified, gracious, good humored, principled, quiet and when called to defend the forgotten, fierce, fierce and formidable. I was inspired. {time} 1830 Seeing what an elected official could be, what he could do to bring justice to this world, I dared to dream of one day doing the same. The Northern Mariana Islands did not even have a seat in Congress in 1986. That did not happen until 23 years later.…”