On the recordFebruary 23, 2010
Let me just make reference to the 1959 vote. The vote was not whether you accept statehood--because if they had voted no, they could not have been a State--the question is whether they wanted statehood. Over 94 percent said yes, they want statehood. So that is a little bit of semantics there, but it is very important. This issue to me is equally as important because the vote there said we want to become part of the United States as a unified State. This action that we are debating here today could divide the State of Hawaii. They ought to have the opportunity to vote. So I urge my colleagues to vote for the Hastings amendment. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
