Political Quotes

“I would like to take a moment to recognize the life and achievements of Dan Akaka, a veteran, educator, U.S. Senator, and most importantly, a dear friend of mine. Dan passed away recently after 93 years of life imbued with the aloha spirit, and I have been reflecting on his legacy of quiet but effective work in the Senate. Dan Akaka was a tireless advocate for indigenous people. As I was working on the 2013 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, his cooperation and persistence as chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee helped include important provisions to protect Native- American women from violence. He also worked hard to support vital programs that provided education, healthcare, housing, and other basic services for Tribes across the country. A World War II veteran himself, Dan was a strong supporter of the National Guard. He was one the first cosponsors to support my National Guard Empowerment Act and give the Guard the representation that it deserved. He will also be remembered for fighting to have the valor and sacrifice of Asian-American soldiers in World War II recognized, sponsoring legislation that awarded long overdue Medals of Honor to those who had been discriminated against because of their race. Hawaiians were lucky to have him as a champion in the Senate, and I was lucky to have him as a friend.…”