[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 77 (Thursday, May 8, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2827-S2828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I rise in recognition of educators in 
Hawaii as well as across the Nation who are dedicating--have 
dedicated--their lives to the benefit of the children of our country.
  This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. And as this administration 
attacks education and educators, it is more important than ever that we 
recognize our educators and thank them for all that they do on behalf 
of our children.
  I have spoken before on the floor of this body on the fundamental 
importance of public education in my own life, having come here as an 
immigrant speaking no English from very humble beginnings.
  I thank my teachers at Kaahumanu Elementary School, Koko Head 
Elementary School, and especially the librarian at Koko Head Elementary 
School who awakened my love of reading. They helped me to learn English 
and helped set me on a course that ultimately led to the U.S. Senate.
  Today, teachers like Chayanee Brooks, an English teacher at Ka'u High 
School and Pahala Elementary on Hawaii Island, continue to educate and 
inspire Hawaii's youth. Chayanee, a Thai immigrant, is a nationally 
board-certified teacher. And, believe me, to become a nationally board-
certified teacher, one must go through a lot of steps. But this 
certification indicates what an exceptional teacher she is.
  She has been recognized as her complex area's Teacher of the Year, as 
Hawaii State teacher fellow, and as a Pulitzer Center teacher fellow. 
Just last month, she was recognized by the Hawaii State Teachers 
Association for her work to engage with and uplift the work of the 
voices of her students in her rural community.
  Chayanee has said that her philosophy as an educator is simple:

       Empower students to connect with their community and their 
     own potential through storytelling.

  Chayanee has created a welcoming space for her students to express 
themselves and share their stories through creative avenues like 
journalism and documentary storytelling, where they highlight topics 
such as family separation and mental health. You know that these are 
areas that the students not only care about but have experienced in 
their own lives.
  In addition to supporting her own students, Chayanee helps train 
other teachers to use storytelling as a tool to engage students in 
their own classrooms.
  She is just one of the many teachers in our country who go above and 
beyond for their students and their communities. Teachers like Chayanee 
do more than educate students. They are role models and mentors, 
providing a safe, nurturing space for our children to learn and to 
grow. That is why it is so important that we support teachers and the 
vital--often underappreciated work--that they do.
  We all remember during the COVID times that suddenly all our kids 
were at home. Believe me, there were a lot of people appreciating 
teachers particularly during that time. But it shouldn't just be at a 
time such as COVID. It should be all the time that we appreciate the 
exceptional work and commitment that so many of our teachers have to 
our students' education.
  But Trump and his administration are hell-bent on doing everything 
they can to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and undermine 
public education in our country. He and his Republican buddies want to 
take away Federal support for local schools, hundreds of millions of 
dollars--in fact, billions of dollars--money that provides services for 
students and parents, supports students with disabilities, and helps 
keep our children fed.
  Trump is also threatening to cut funding from schools that won't 
comply with his draconian Executive orders--his obsession to stamp out 
diversity, equity, and inclusion in our public schools; Executive 
orders that direct our schools to stop teaching entire chapters of our 
Nation's history like the Civil War, African-American history, and the 
history of immigrants in our country.
  That is just a part of the obsession that this administration has to 
stamp out diversity, equity, and inclusion in every arena.
  We heard from teachers, parents, and students in Hawaii and across 
the country about the consequences of Trump's actions--the firing of 
people, what they are trying to get our schools to not teach--and they 
have told us in two words: ``It's chaos.'' Much like everything else 
Trump touches and does, chaos follows.
  Just this week, Homeland Security agents terrorized a group of 
teachers from the Philippines living and working on Maui. They were 
invited to come to Maui to teach in our schools for a period of time. 
And despite these teachers being here legally in our country, the 
teachers were detained by Homeland Security and targeted before being 
allowed to go about their business. That is called terrorizing people, 
plain and simple. So instead of supporting teachers, Trump is making it 
even harder for them to do their jobs, and our children will be the 
ones stuck paying the price.

  A strong education system is fundamental to building a strong 
democracy, a strong economy, and a strong middle class. At the heart of 
our education system is, of course, our educators. That is why I and my 
Democratic colleagues are committed to supporting our educators, 
strengthening our schools, and ensuring every child--every child--has 
the opportunity to

[[Page S2828]]

learn and grow regardless of where they come from, their income, their 
disability--whatever their background. Every child should have that 
opportunity to grow and, you know, really seek their dreams.
  Teachers can make a lasting impression in the lives of their 
students. In fact, I just had lunch with some of my interns in my 
office, and one of them said that she will never forget the 
encouragement from one of her college professors when she expressed 
some doubts about her success at her school, which happened to be 
Berkeley. This teacher said: You have a lot of years ahead of you. You 
know, believe in yourself. You can take risks, but go forward. She had 
a lot of years ahead of her to determine what she wanted to do with her 
life. So this intern in my office found this to be very encouraging.
  That is what I mean about teachers having a profound impact on the 
life choices that their students make and how they think about 
themselves in this world. So I extend my gratitude to every teacher in 
Hawaii and across the country who continues to provide the kind of 
teaching experience that enables our students to have faith in 
themselves, to learn, and to understand that, you know, life has a lot 
in store for them.
  I hope that a lot of these students will become teachers themselves, 
will become educators, and will be the kinds of teachers who will 
provide the kind of support that every student needs and deserves.
  So ``mahalo'' to all of our educators across our country for all that 
you do both in and out of your classrooms and for the commitment that 
you have to our Nation's children, our families, and our communities.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Connecticut.

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