Political Quotes

“I rise today to honor Joel Kawahara, a 70-year-old commercial fisherman who represented the very best of our maritime community. In August, Joel was lost at sea while doing what he loved the most, which was fishing for salmon in the Pacific. Joel wasn't just a fisherman. He was the 2009 National Fisherman's Highliner of the Year, known up and down the West Coast for the exceptional quality of his catch. What truly set Joel apart was his unwavering commitment to conservation. For over 30 years, he served on the Save Our Wild Salmon coalition. He would cut his own fishing trips short to attend policy meetings. The last time I saw him, while walking through the boatyard in Port Townsend, he stopped working on the Karolee to talk to me about NOAA and how important it was to protect. Friends remember his infectious laugh at beach parties and his generous spirit. He put his family's 80-acre property in a conservation easement. He understood that caring for the land means caring for the fish and caring for the fish means caring for future generations of fishermen. Mr. Speaker, Joel showed us that a well-lived life is one spent fighting for what we believe in while lifting up our community along the way. We honor Joel's memory and his legacy of service to our waters and our way of life.”