[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12746-12752]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               REMEMBERING THE LATE HONORABLE MARK TAKAI

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 6, 2015, the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Gabbard) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.


                             General Leave

  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include 
extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, we are holding this Special Order today to 
honor our colleague and friend, Mark Takai. Many of our colleagues are 
here to share their own memories and remembrances of our friend.
  In Hawaii, the word ``aloha'' holds a very special place in our 
hearts. It is a word that we use every day to say hello and good-bye, 
but, in saying that word, we are actually conveying a much deeper 
meaning. In the deepest and truest sense of the word, aloha means I 
come to you with an open heart and offer you my deepest respect, love, 
and care. It is a word that describes a way of life. Living aloha 
brings people together regardless of their unique backgrounds or things 
like age, race, religion, or social class.
  This open heart, this spirit of aloha, is what I think of when I 
think of my colleague, my fellow soldier, and my friend, Mark Takai, 
because he carried this aloha spirit with him wherever he

[[Page 12747]]

went. He shared it with everyone that he came into contact with.
  During a celebration of Mark's life held in his hometown of Pearl 
City on Oahu just a few weeks ago--this is the community that he served 
for over 20 years as a State legislator--I heard from one of Mark's 
high school teachers named Mike, who shared her amazement that not only 
was Mark a great student, not only was he an all-American swimmer, but 
he would spend his free time doing things like organizing voter 
registration drives and get-out-the-vote parades in his neighborhood, 
encouraging his community to make sure that their voice was heard.
  As a student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Mark was a leader 
among his peers, one of whom is here today, our colleague, 
Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth. He served as president of the Associated 
Students of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, was a champion on the 
varsity team for 4 years, and was editor in chief of the campus 
newspaper, Ka Leo O Hawaii.
  I recently had an intern in my district office who is a part of ASUH, 
and he told me about how the University of Hawaii student government 
members today tell stories of the legends of Mark Takai's courage and 
leadership as student president, taking on difficult issues like sexual 
harassment and assault, resulting in his being sued by the University 
of Hawaii professors union. But no matter the challenge, the 
difficulty, or the obstacle, the legends are true; Mark Takai never 
backed down.
  At age 27, he was elected to the Hawaii State House of 
Representatives, representing his hometown of Pearl City and 
neighboring Aiea from 1994 to 2014. In 2002, I was elected to the State 
House where I first got to know him, learning of his commitment and 
passion for the University of Hawaii, and his and Sami's love for all 
things Disney, showing me the memorabilia they brought home from the 
Disney parks they visited around the world, and sharing copies of the 
cookbook he distributed throughout his Pearl City district, always 
making time, always ready with a helpful tip and a helping hand.
  In 2014, after a hard-fought campaign, Mark came here and joined us 
in Congress, representing the First Congressional District of Hawaii. 
While here, he served on the Committee on Armed Services, as well as 
the Committee on Small Business, working hard always, putting first and 
foremost his constituents. Even after he was diagnosed and going 
through treatment, he was always there attending his committee 
hearings, doing things that no one really expected he would do.
  I was amazed, during our annual NDAA marathon markup session that 
often lasts over 16 straight hours, Mark was there in the wee hours of 
the morning passing out the Hawaii-made chocolate macadamia nuts to our 
colleagues.
  For 17 years, while simultaneously fulfilling his responsibilities as 
an elected official, Mark also served as a citizen soldier in the 
Hawaii Army National Guard, where he earned the rank of lieutenant 
colonel, deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 
served as president of the Hawaii Army National Guard Association. 
Because Mark had a master's degree in public health, he came into the 
National Guard as a direct commissioned officer. What this meant in 
practical terms was he didn't have to go through basic combat training 
or OCS.

                              {time}  1100

  When I came back to Hawaii from my basic training in South Carolina, 
I was assigned to our medical command, the same unit as Mark. He was a 
first lieutenant. I was a private first class. As I was rendering him a 
salute, he would joke around, asking me to teach him how to render a 
proper salute and how to march in a formation because he never got to 
learn those through basic training.
  Mark was incredibly proud to wear the uniform. He was deeply 
committed to the National Guard, extremely active with the National 
Guard Association both in Hawaii and here in Washington, always looking 
to find ways to support the institution and its service to our soldiers 
and airmen in Hawaii and across the country.
  I have heard from so many of Mark's soldiers and peers in the Hawaii 
Guard who express disbelief that he is actually gone and how much they 
truly valued the time they spent with him and served with him.
  Mark's service to Hawaii and our Nation spans nearly a quarter 
century. His legacy of aloha and his commitment to service touched the 
lives of so many people along the way.
  All of the stories and remembrances we will hear today I think 
capture the essence of Mark, his heart for service, his spirit of 
aloha, his love for God, his love for his family, and caring and 
sharing aloha with everyone.
  To our colleagues here today to share their memories of Mark, thank 
you for opening your hearts as we honor and remember and say aloha to 
our dear friend.
  To Mark's staff, thank you for being strong, for serving Mark and our 
State of Hawaii, and continuing to serve the people of Hawaii through 
this difficult time.
  Finally, I would like to recognize Mark's family, who have just 
arrived here in the gallery. I would like to recognize Mark's wife, 
Sami; his children, Matthew and Kaila; his parents, Erik and Naomi; and 
his siblings, Nadine, Nikki, and Ross, all of whom have been incredibly 
generous in sharing their time and opening their family to all of us, 
to people across the State of Hawaii, and yesterday during the 
beautiful and historic service that was held in Mark's honor.
  I want you to know that you were always with him wherever he went. He 
was always speaking about you proudly. You were the light of his life.
  Mahalo, Mark, for the lasting impact that you had on all of us, for 
sharing your aloha with us, and for dedicating your life to the service 
of others.
  I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Graham).
  Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for loaning me her 
lei and hosting this Special Order in honor of our colleague and 
friend, the late Congressman Mark Takai of Hawaii.
  I was fortunate to develop a very close friendship with Mark, as we 
were part of the same freshman class elected in 2014, and sat next to 
each other on the House Armed Services Committee.
  In the panhandle of Florida, the area I represent, we have an 
attitude toward life we call ``The North Florida Way.'' It means we 
care about public service, we take care of our neighbors, and we do 
what is right. And even though the panhandle is about 5,000 miles from 
Hawaii, The North Florida Way is a lot like the aloha spirit.
  As we have learned here today, Congressman Takai embodies the aloha 
spirit. As a public servant, he stands as a role model for all of us. 
He first ran for public office at 27 years old, and served 10 years in 
the Hawaii House of Representatives before coming to Congress. At the 
same time, he was also serving in the Hawaii National Guard, where, 
over 17 years, he earned the rank of lieutenant colonel and served in 
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  Mark cared about his neighbors, representing the people of his State 
with distinction, and always cared about those around him, as a father, 
a husband, a friend, and a colleague. Sitting next to him in committee, 
he would always greet me with a smile and a warm aloha. He cared about 
doing what was right, especially for his fellow servicemembers in the 
military.
  As we remember Congressman Takai today, I hope we all continue to 
honor his memory and aloha spirit throughout the end of our own 
service. Let's all honor him by practicing a little more of the aloha 
spirit every day.
  Let's remember to represent our constituents, to care about each 
other, and to do what is right. That is what Mark always did, and that 
is what he would want us to do.
  Mark was a role model for us all, in and out of Congress. Our 
thoughts, prayers, and love are with his family.
  Ms. GABBARD. I yield to the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo).
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and celebrate the life of 
my

[[Page 12748]]

good friend, Congressman Mark Takai of Hawaii.
  Mark was a fierce advocate for the people of Hawaii and was a 
champion of issues important to the AAPI community. Prior to his two 
decades as a representative in the Hawaii State House, Mark briefly 
lived in Guam, my home, and attended school there, which helped to 
inform his perspectives on the unique challenges affecting the 
territories.
  Here in Congress, Mark was an embodiment of the aloha spirit. I 
worked with him on a number of issues impacting Guam, Hawaii, and the 
Pacific region. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I 
truly appreciated his insights and views, especially his experiences as 
lieutenant colonel in the Hawaii Army National Guard.
  Mark's passing creates a void in Congress that cannot be replaced, 
but his life and his legacy will forever live on in all of us who knew 
him and in the many public policies that he helped to enact to make 
life for all Americans better.
  On behalf of the people of Guam, I extend my condolences to his wife, 
Sami; his children, Matthew and Kaila; and the entire Takai family.
  Mark, you will be deeply missed. As we say in Guam: Un Dangkulo na Si 
Yu'os Ma'ase, Mark.
  Ms. GABBARD. I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Ted Lieu).
  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak about my 
friend, Mark Takai.
  We came in last year in the freshman class together. Through various 
orientation events, my wife, Betty, and our children had the honor of 
getting to know Mark's family, Sami, Matthew, and Kaila. Having gone to 
his beautiful memorial ceremonies in Hawaii and here, we had the honor 
of meeting Mark's extended family. The grace and dignity with which 
they have handled this has been tremendous.
  I want to talk a little bit about Mark. He was a joy to be around. He 
was warm, he was happy, he was energetic, and he exemplifies the best 
of America. Having served in our Armed Forces, serving the State 
legislature and here in Congress, he always tried his best to represent 
Americans and do what he thought was best.
  I know we all dearly miss Mark. I know that when he said he is going 
to be fine and is going to be in heaven, a smile comes to my face when 
I think about Mark looking down at all of us and how happy he would be 
to see us here today. We all miss him dearly.
  Ms. GABBARD. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), our 
esteemed minority whip.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for taking this 
Special Order hour.
  We are all sad and lament the fact that an extraordinary human being 
was taken from us far too early. I tell my colleagues, this picture 
says it all: that wonderful, warm, accepting, engaging aloha smile that 
is represented in this picture of our colleague, Mark Takai.
  I join my colleagues in celebrating and remembering a life well 
lived. Though he only served alongside us in this House for a short 
time, he made a big impact on us all with his kindness, his sincerity, 
and his intellect. All of us admired the steadfastness with which he 
fought for his constituents and the courage with which he fought his 
illness. All of us saw Mark on this floor, determined to serve his 
constituents for as long as his health allowed him to do so.
  As was said yesterday, Mark did not greet us with any self-pity or 
any wringing of hands, but with a positive attitude to the end. I 
wasn't with him at the very end, but my, how we were blessed to be with 
him for the short time that we had him. What an example he set for all 
of us to overcome adversity and welcome opportunities rather than 
focusing on that which he could not do.
  Not only was Mark an outstanding Member of Congress, he was, as has 
been said by his fellow officer, a warrior willing to serve, to risk, 
and to save this great country, its democracy, and its people.
  As a lieutenant colonel in the Hawaii Army National Guard, he 
deployed on Active Duty to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. He earned the Army's Meritorious Service Medal for his 
achievements there.
  We all are standing here to speak of the meritorious service he gave 
right here. Yes, on the battlefield; yes, at the point of the spear; 
but right here as well. He drew on his experience in the Army as a 
veteran when he served as chairman of the House Committee on Veterans, 
Military, and International Affairs in the Hawaii legislature, and 
later as a member of the House Committee on Armed Services here in 
Congress.
  A proud native of Hawaii, Mark dedicated his life and career to the 
people of his beloved State. He was elected to the Hawaii House of 
Representatives at the age of 27. I can empathize with that because I 
was elected to the Maryland State Senate at the age of 27. We talked 
about that. Some have entered earlier, but that was pretty early. It 
gave us a great opportunity to serve.
  Mark believed strongly that every child deserves a chance to learn in 
a safe and nurturing environment. In my own State, there are 52 Judy 
Centers named after my late wife, who died almost 20 years ago, that 
serve 3- and 4-year-old children.
  Mark had that same kind of compassion and concern and focus on making 
sure that young people received all that we could give them early in 
life so that they could succeed later in life, as Mark Takai did so 
extraordinarily.
  I have other words that I will submit for the Record because there 
are so many of my colleagues who want to speak about Mark and their 
relationship to him, their respect for him, their love for him, and his 
love for us.
  I thank Congresswoman Gabbard for taking this hour, and I thank her 
for being such an example. Both of you define aloha.
  God bless.
  Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in remembering the life of 
our friend, Representative Mark Takai, who lost his battle against 
cancer in July.
  Though he only served alongside us in this House for a short time, he 
made a big impact on us all with his kindness, his sincerity, and his 
intellect.
  All of us admired the steadfastness with which he fought for his 
constituents and the courage with which he fought his illness.
  Not only was Mark an outstanding member of Congress, he also served 
our nation in uniform.
  As a lieutenant colonel in the Hawaii Army National Guard, he 
deployed on active duty to Kuwait in support of operation Iraqi 
Freedom, and he earned the Army's Meritorious Service Medal for his 
achievements there.
  He drew on his experiences in the Army and as a veteran when he 
served as chairman of the House Committee on Veterans, Military, and 
International Affairs in the Hawaii Legislature and later as a member 
of the House Committee on Armed Services here in Congress.
  A proud native of Hawaii, Mark dedicated his life and career to the 
people of his beloved state.
  Elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives at the age of twenty-
seven, he spent two decades working hard to improve lives, strengthen 
communities, and bring jobs and opportunity to Hawaii. He championed 
education and fought for better schools.
  Mark believed strongly that every child deserves a chance to learn in 
a safe and nurturing environment.
  He stood up for Hawaii's veterans and worked to combat homelessness 
among those who were coming home from war.
  Concerned about the dangers of climate change and rising sea levels, 
Mark did more than just support green energy through tax credits; he 
outfitted his own house with solar panels and drove an electric vehicle 
to show others how easy it is to live sustainably.
  When Mark ran for Congress in 2014 and won, all of us believed he 
would be making a difference here in Washington for many, many years 
ahead.
  He was one of those who loved being a legislator, who had the 
experience and talent to get things done in Congress.
  All of us are deeply saddened that our country lost Mark at such a 
young age, with surely many great achievements ahead.
  Losing a colleague is always difficult, but with Mark Takai it was 
more than that--we lost someone who had quickly become our friend, 
someone as warm as he was dependable, as jovial as he was wise.

[[Page 12749]]

  My thoughts continue to be with Mark's wife Sami and their two 
children, Matthew and Kaila.
  My heart goes out to them and to the people of Hawaii's first 
District he served so ably.
  I also offer my condolences again to Senators Schatz and Hirono and 
Representative Tulsi Gabbard, Mark's colleagues in the Hawaii 
Congressional delegation, who worked closely with him every day.
  We will miss him dearly in the halls of Congress, and I thank 
Representative Gabbard for leading the effort to pay tribute to him in 
the United States House of Representatives today.

                              {time}  1115

  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Takano).
  Mr. TAKANO. Mahalo to my colleague from Hawaii, Congresswoman 
Gabbard, for the time.
  Mr. Speaker, on July 20, the world lost a kind man, this Congress 
lost a great leader, and many of us here lost a very dear friend.
  I didn't expect to have this welling of emotion.
  Mark Takai represented everything America wants in a public servant. 
He was selfless, he was humble, and he was passionate about 
strengthening his community and protecting his country.
  He served 17 years in the Hawaii National Guard, including a 
deployment to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. When he 
came home, he fought for the middle class and for the people of Hawaii.
  He will be remembered by me and many of us here for his incredible 
spirit, which he bravely maintained through his illness. He will be 
remembered for his easy laugh, which brought joy to all those who knew 
him. And he spent a lifetime working to give a voice to those who 
struggled to be heard.
  If I may depart from my prepared remarks for a moment, I remember 
going to Hawaii for his unofficial swearing-in in Honolulu with Leader 
Pelosi, and just seeing the outpouring of support from the people who 
elected him and the great hope in such a new young leader from the 
State of Hawaii, which has been going through great changes.
  Getting to know him here and watching him, the losses that I feel are 
just that he was so full of potential. He loved Congress. He loved 
serving. He loved the potential to change this institution into a 
better place. He reached out to Republicans, not a mean bone in his 
body.
  I hesitate to say this last part because I can't say the name of the 
restaurant that we both went to in Southeast, in that part of town, but 
it serves double-fried Korean chicken wings, and he thanked me very 
much that we could share it. He loved food.
  I feel very lucky to have called him a friend. I will miss him very 
much.
  Thank you. Mahalo to you, Mark Takai, for having been my friend.
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Aguilar).
  Mr. AGUILAR. Mahalo, Ms. Gabbard. I appreciate the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii yielding to me to talk about my colleague and my friend Mark 
Takai.
  As I stand here in aloha attire, I am sure my colleague would admire 
my dress, yet shake his head at my tie. We do love our rules here in 
Congress, but even the Speaker acknowledged yesterday that Mark 
continually talked with him about the need to embrace the aloha spirit 
and to maybe, just maybe, relax our rules occasionally.
  Like many in our class, I met Mark during freshman orientation in 
December of 2014, when we were both elected. Instantly, all of us 
gravitated to him. He was easy to love.
  As I reflect on the impact that he had on me, I am struck by four key 
things that you will continue to hear my colleagues share in their 
stories.
  First was his pleasant attitude, demeanor, smile, and his full-
hearted laugh. He had a deep concern for his colleagues, even as he 
battled his illness. I can't tell you the number of times he would sit 
right up here and we would talk about the bills and the issues of the 
day, and I would try to say something to make him laugh, and he would 
give that big smile and that full-throated laugh. He took a lot of 
pride in that. I am not sure there is anyone in this Chamber who didn't 
enjoy spending time with Mark. He was just that special.
  Second was his pride in Hawaii and of his service in the military. 
Mark's eyes never got bigger than when I told him that my wife, Alisha, 
and I were going to attend the 70th anniversary ceremony in Hawaii 
aboard the USS Missouri, with a bipartisan delegation led by Mr. 
Forbes. He was so happy that I would get an opportunity to meet Admiral 
Harris, but also to see Oahu and to enjoy its beauty.
  He was the best mayor Oahu never had is the reality of the situation. 
Whether it was restaurants, beaches, hiking trails, military 
installations, he always had a suggestion of something you should see 
and do.
  We have to go--again, we can't say the restaurant names. You have to 
go to ``blank,'' and he would tell you the restaurant's name that 
started with a Z and he said was the President's favorite. And that 
turned into: Let's go there right now. And so Sami and Alisha and I, we 
went to this restaurant that is unique to Hawaii that Mark said was the 
President's favorite. When you walked in with Mark, you were bound to 
be recognized because he knew everybody; and you were going to eat 
whatever he said, as well.
  Third was how driven and competitive he was. Don't take that smile 
and that laugh to mean that he was a pushover. He was absolutely driven 
to represent his region and to do his job effectively. He would quiz me 
on the politics of my district, asking me questions about my race and 
giving me advice. He would talk about his own race and races in the 
past, and it was clear that he wasn't a pushover when it came to 
politics and fighting for his communities.
  But he always had a plan, and that wasn't ever more evident than when 
he stayed on the floor just about the entire day, State of the Union 
Day 2015, to get a prime seat for the State of the Union. I still have 
the photo--I looked at it last night--of him directly behind Leader 
Pelosi. She was next to Whip Hoyer, and he is beside John Lewis. Mark 
was a freshman, sitting right there within camera-shot, wearing his 
lei, and he wanted everyone back home to know he had arrived. It was 
brilliant.
  The last point was about his family. He truly loved his family and 
his faith. As fathers spending a significant amount of time away from 
our two kids, we talked about them often, how proud we were of them, 
how much we missed them, and how we used technology to try to fill the 
void in communication. Attending weekend sporting events for swimming 
and soccer for Matthew and Kaila, even if it meant traveling and being 
home for only 30 hours, he wanted to do it. He wanted to be there. He 
wanted to be present.
  Your dad loved you so, so much, and he talked about you so, so often.
  Sami, I don't know how you do it. But he would comment on that. He 
would look at me, and we would be huddled in the back back there, and 
he would say: We wouldn't be able to do anything without our wives. And 
I said: Yeah, of course. We know that. He says: No, no, no. I mean you 
should know that. You should send a text message or something to Alisha 
right now.
  We spent a relatively short amount of time with him here in 
Washington, D.C., but he touched our lives and was a source of strength 
and humor. I will always remember his spirit, his faith, and his 
commitment to his community.
  Aloha, friend.
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Pelosi), our leader.
  Ms. PELOSI. What a beautiful picture of Mark.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Gabbard for bringing us together 
in this Special Order to salute a very special person, our colleague, 
Mark Takai.
  It is a solemn privilege for all of us today to give voice to the 
sorrow of the U.S. Congress at the passing of our colleague and dear 
friend. We have lost someone truly special, a person who held the 
respect and friendship of colleagues on both sides of the aisle, on

[[Page 12750]]

both sides of the Capitol, up and down Pennsylvania Avenue.
  In fact, the President himself paid tribute to Mark when he died. He 
said: ``Michelle and I were saddened to learn of the passing of 
Representative Mark Takai.
  ``Mark was always a fighter,'' the President said. ``It's the spirit 
he brought to more than two decades of public service on behalf of the 
people of Hawaii.
  ``He stood up for America's most vulnerable. He championed our troops 
and veterans, and proudly wore our Nation's uniform. And his relentless 
push for cancer research inspired countless Americans fighting the same 
battle as him.
  ``Simply put, our country is better off,'' the President said, ``our 
country is better off because of Mark's contributions. He leaves a 
legacy of courage, of service, and of hope.''
  Michelle and he said: ``Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark's 
wife, Sami, their two children, and many friends and family.''
  Many of the friends and family are here today: Sami, of course; 
Matthew and Kaila; his parents, Mark's parents, Erik and Naomi; his 
sister, Nadine; her husband, Ronnie, and daughter Nelani; his sister, 
Nikki; his brother, Ross; his father-in-law, Gary Kai; and all of the 
people of Hawaii who may be watching this, certainly all of our 
colleagues.
  He was effective from the start, I think, because he was such an 
experienced legislator, 20 years in the Hawaii Legislature, and that 
made him, with his energy and as our colleague, Mr. Aguilar said, his 
competitiveness.
  Who but a competitive soul, and an imaginative one, would be bringing 
leis--I guess it is lei, singular is plural--to Selma to match what 
happened in the sixties, when Martin Luther King and our colleague John 
Lewis wore leis in the march. And who but he would, only a few weeks in 
Congress, decide that all these hundreds of lei would be sent from 
Hawaii for people to wear on the 50th anniversary of Selma.
  As I said yesterday in Statuary Hall, many of the Members were 
thinking, ``Why didn't I think of that?'' but that is how Mark was. I 
don't want to say competitive, but nonetheless.
  As far as his seating here, Mr. Aguilar, I was privileged to appoint 
him as a part of the escort committee. Because of the President's 
origins in Hawaii, I wanted Hawaii to be represented on the escort 
committee; but as you said, he exploited the opportunity, and we were 
glad that he did.
  I really wish that he were here, but I wish that everyone could have 
seen him on our codel to Asia. Congresswoman Matsui did, and others. We 
were in Burma, Cambodia, Korea, Japan, Vietnam. We began in California, 
came to Hawaii to be briefed at the Pacific Command, to go on to Asia 
and then come back through Alaska.
  Now, here he was, a relatively new Member of Congress. This was like 
April of last year. He was in Congress maybe 3, 4 months, but he was on 
the Armed Services Committee, so he spoke with great authority because 
this was a security trip as well as a values, human rights trip and our 
economic interests trip.
  So I said to him--getting back to Mr. Aguilar--I said to him: We are 
going to begin in California with some briefings, and then we will go 
to Hawaii, and then you will preside as we meet with the Pacific 
Command. So would you like to join us in California?
  He said: Would I like to join you in California? I could be home with 
Sami. I could have a night with Sami or I could be with all of you in 
California. I will meet you in Hawaii.
  It was very clear that any chance he got he wanted to be with his 
family.
  Certainly he, again, was part of the delegation. Only a few months in 
Congress, with such dignity, we forgot that he was a new Member of 
Congress. With great knowledge of our national security, with great 
diplomacy in how he conveyed his thoughts, and every place he went, he 
was beautifully received. I wish all of you could have seen how, 
especially in Japan, where they took special interest to embrace him as 
a Japanese American Member of Congress.

                              {time}  1130

  Everything he did, he did with excellence. He died as he had lived: 
loved and surrounded by family and friends, with great dignity and 
great courage. He used his time well--used his time well--and, again, 
understood what the opportunity of serving in Congress was, and he made 
an honorable contribution. His service here brought luster to the 
Congress.
  It is a privilege to call him colleague for all of us, and an even 
bigger privilege to call him friend. In the Hawaiian way of family, he 
has bound us together. We are all family. I hope that the Takai family 
knows that they have family always in the Congress of the United 
States.
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from American 
Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen).
  Mrs. RADEWAGEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of a 
truly good and humble man.
  In the time I had the pleasure of knowing Mark, I was able to call 
him not only a colleague, but also, proudly, a friend.
  Mark and I came to Congress in the same class almost 2 short years 
ago. Upon meeting Mark, I instantly knew that I had a new colleague 
that I could talk openly to, and I knew that he would always listen 
with an open mind. We also shared a mutual love and desire to serve our 
constituents who also have so much in common, including a shared 
heritage.
  Mark's heart was that of a public servant. Always willing to do 
whatever it took to best serve the people of Hawaii, Mark set an 
example for us all on how to put our communities above ourselves and 
serve for the betterment of everyone. This includes his service in the 
United States Army National Guard, during which time he served as a 
medical officer in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  I want to express my deepest condolences to Mark's wife, Sami, his 
two children, Matthew and Kaila, and wish for them comfort during this 
difficult time. I know that they can take solace in the fact that Mark 
was a great man who will always be respected and revered not for what 
he did for himself, but what he did for others.
  I am grateful for the opportunity to talk about my friend, Mark. He 
will be dearly missed.
  I thank Representative Gabbard. God bless Mark, his family, and the 
United States.
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Brendan F. Boyle).
  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank my 
colleague, Ms. Gabbard, for her very eloquent words yesterday. All the 
speakers did a remarkable job in a ceremony that was sad and poignant 
that really captured the spirit of who Mark was.
  In the Hawaiian Islands, there is a word for family. Forgive my 
pronunciation--being from Pennsylvania--if I botch this, but I believe 
it is pronounced ohana. Ask anyone who lived or grew up there and they 
will tell you it is more than a word. It refers to not only your 
immediate family, but to extended family and beyond, even to strangers 
that you may not know. It is a very unique and strong bond amongst the 
Hawaiian people who live there.
  I experienced that ohana firsthand when I met Mark and his family 
during our congressional orientation. Sami and my wife, Jenny, 
immediately bonded, as did Mark and I, and the way Matthew and Kaila 
played with our daughter, Abby.
  I have many memories of that orientation and I actually was looking 
at a number of the pictures last night reflecting on Mark, reflecting 
on the ceremony yesterday, and preparing for today.
  As Leader Pelosi pointed out, this picture of Mark really captures 
his warmth, his spirit, and the way he approached life. It inspires me, 
and I think all of us, to approach each and every day with a smile on 
our face no matter the difficulties of the moment or the seeming 
difficulties that in the larger scheme of things might not quite be as 
difficult or as important as we take them to be.

[[Page 12751]]

  In this political crucible that we call Congress, Mark brought his 
personal sense of ohana to our body politic: his sense of understanding 
and willingness to find compromise where there often seemed to be none, 
his sense of seeing you as a friend with differences to work out and 
not as an adversary or an enemy, and his commitment to making sure we 
all found the common ground that so often eludes us.
  He was here a brief period of time, but he left his mark. Any of us 
may serve 2 years or 20 years or beyond. I don't think each of us, 
though, will be able to say that we have actually left our mark. I hope 
we will be able to. It can be said about Mark Takai in his short period 
here that he touched every single person who knew him.
  I love you, Mark, and I miss you. I love his beautiful family.
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Lowenthal).
  Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Gabbard for giving 
us this opportunity to say a few words about somebody whom we cared 
about and respected so much and who brought so much joy and positivity 
to this Congress.
  To his family--to Sami, to Matthew, and to Kaila, thank you for 
sharing him with us. It meant a lot to us.
  The Hawaiian word ``pono'' means righteousness. It is the idea that 
moral character leads to happiness. It means doing what is morally 
right and selfless. It is the word that so captures my feelings about 
Mark Takai, and that is what we see here in this picture.
  Too often our society takes the notion of public service for granted. 
Mark was the embodiment of the idea of public service, an idea that he 
was so proud to take part in--first, in the military and, at the same 
time, also continuing on in government.
  As I mentioned before in this House, Mark was a force of positivity. 
He was a leader who did not lead by force of will, but he led by being 
humble. He listened, he was effective at what he did, and he always 
brought us great warmth.
  He was the embodiment of bravery first in his service to his Nation--
our Nation--and then in his battle against cancer. His passing is a 
great loss to his family, to Hawaii, for this Chamber, and our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, we have truly lost one of the good guys.
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Beyer).
  Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Gabbard for scheduling 
this Special Order.
  Mr. Speaker, Mark was a special presence in the freshman class of the 
114th Congress. He brought his Hawaiian cheer to every room he entered, 
and I got to enjoy this perhaps more than most because he was my 
fourth-floor Cannon hallmate.
  Early on, Mark decided that as hallmates, our staffs should get 
together and break bread. A Hawaiian pizza party was born, and Mark 
burst in with a hearty aloha and bearing gifts of chocolate-covered 
Macadamia nuts and Hawaiian coffee. He regaled the staff with a few 
good stories, and it always seems that he led with his island shirt, a 
lei, and an enormous smile wherever he went.
  Our hearts are with Sami and the children. Mark will be sorely 
missed.
  After Mark was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he was resolute, 
brave, and determined to do all possible to battle a very difficult 
disease. But months later, when it was clear that Mark was dying, he 
seemed different to me. He grieved for his children, for Sami, for his 
myriad friends, and perhaps especially for all that he wanted to 
accomplish here in the people's House.
  We never know when our time will come, and Mark's life and death 
teaches us that we must make the most of each and every day. Mark Takai 
was a superlative role model and a beloved friend.
  God bless you, Mark, and all your generations to come.
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois 
(Ms. Duckworth).
  Ms. DUCKWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman.
  Twenty-eight years--1988--that is how long I have known Mark. As long 
as I have known him, he always was the champion for the most 
vulnerable. We met at the University of Hawaii. He was the serious 
one--if you can imagine that--and focused.
  At the Ka Leo O Hawaii student newspaper where he was editor, he 
investigated sexual harassment at a time when victims were routinely 
blamed and disbelieved. Perhaps that is not too hard to believe because 
even today that is happening, but almost 30 years ago, he stood up for 
the victims.
  We were there watching him as he stood up and was sued by the very 
same union that later on became some of his biggest supporters for his 
stance on education. In fact, he brought millions back to Hawaii for 
education--work that took not months or years, but sometimes a decade 
of steady work.
  He was worried about the education of our military children who must 
follow their servicemember parents from base to base. He wanted to make 
sure that they got good, continuous education and did not lose out 
because their parents were serving our Nation.
  Mark had so many aspects to him. Some of it was funny, some of it was 
annoying, and some of it was so unique to him. But it was all part of 
what a great person--a great human being--he was.
  I remember the months of emails and conversations we would have long 
distance--I was in Illinois and he was in Hawaii--when he was about to 
get his first Nissan LEAF. He was so proud he would get the very first 
one on the islands, and then his annoyance when the commanding general 
of the Hawaii National Guard got the first one and he got the second. I 
told him he was being ridiculous, that it didn't matter, and that what 
he was doing was going to be good for the environment and the world 
regardless. I had no idea that I was opening the door for years and 
years of conversations with Mark where he would detail exactly how much 
wattage he had sold back to Hawaii Electric from the solar panels on 
his roof or how long he had been able to go without having to recharge 
his electric vehicle.
  He was there when my husband convinced me that we should ourselves 
buy an electric vehicle and the conversations the two of them would 
have about how important it was. It tried even this progressive 
Democrat's patience.
  But he was always also there for others. I think one of the greatest 
skills that Mark had was to get others to join him in his cause, 
whatever that was; to get others to come and help share the load, 
whatever the load needed to be. Every time I went to Hawaii, whether it 
was on a family vacation or just to visit my mom who, by the way, lived 
in Pearl City, his Hawaii district, he would say: ``Tammy, I need you 
to do this. I need you to go to this middle school and talk to these 
kids. Tammy, I need you to come do this. I need you to go to the 
University of Hawaii. I want you to go to the memorial. We need to talk 
and be there for the family of this fallen servicemember. Do you 
remember your friend from the Hawaii Guard?'' It was always: ``Tammy, 
we have got something to do.''

                              {time}  1145

  And do you know what? He made it so much fun that you always did 
anyway. You went, and you were better for it, Hawaii was better for it, 
and the constituency got the service of a man who was never, ever on 
vacation, who never stopped.
  One of the things that I think you have heard from other folks here 
was just the pure joy of living that Mark had--all the meals that we 
would eat. He would show up, and you might just want to go get a 
sandwich someplace, but you were always off for an adventure for a new 
restaurant or a better place to eat.
  It was actually at one of those unforgettable meals when he mentioned 
to me that he was interested in running for Congress. The minute he 
said it, I knew that I was on board because he was perfect for this 
House. He was perfect to be here to work on behalf of not

[[Page 12752]]

just the people of Hawaii but for the people of the United States. He 
was audacious but gentle. He was crusading and firm. I couldn't think 
of anyone who belonged here more. He had planned to serve for years, 
decades, gaining seniority to serve Hawaii.
  I miss him every day. He would sit in that seat over there next to me 
in my wheelchair. I don't sit there now. I stopped when he could no 
longer be here. It was too much to try to sit next to the empty seat 
where Mark would sit. I would only go back when he was back here to 
vote.
  Before his illness, we had planned to reserve adjacent military 
morale welfare recreation cabins at Barking Sands missile range for a 
joint family vacation. As he took a turn for the worse, he actually 
came up to me on this floor and said he was sorry, he was sorry that he 
couldn't keep our date with our families. The man was dying, and he was 
apologizing to me. That was Mark.
  Even as he was fighting for his life, as he was working to secure the 
future for his two beloved children and the love of his life, he was 
concerned for others. He sat through the entire NDAA until 3:00 in the 
morning. When we were exhausted and tired and didn't think we could 
make it, there was Mark, fighting cancer, a big smile on his face, 
flashing a shaka to everyone.
  I will treasure always one of our final trips together to Israel 
where we visited an Iron Dome battery together. Even as he was fighting 
for his life, he was concerned and working to ensure that the security 
of our Nation and our ally Israel was secure.
  I am so glad he made it here and that he served. I am so glad that he 
made such a big difference in so many lives here. But that was Mark. 
From the time he was a young man to the day that he left us, he was 
about service to others. Thank you very much--mahalo nui loa--Mark, for 
being my friend, for showing me how to be a better person, and for 
showing me a better way to serve. I miss you. I will never forget you. 
Until we meet again--a hui kaua.
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California 
(Mrs. Torres).
  Mrs. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Gabbard.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and the legacy of my 
colleague, Mark Takai. I first met Mark when we were elected together. 
We were freshmen, and we were going through orientation. All of us were 
competing for staff office space and competing on who could get to 
class the quickest and who could find their way from point A to point B 
the quickest. We had a lot of fun together, and we got to know each 
other through those brief few days.
  After we returned to Washington, we were sworn in as Members of 
Congress. I have a clear memory of how deeply Mark cared about his home 
State and his family. Congress is a tough place, and Mark was even 
tougher. Mark and I were competing for a subcommittee assignment on the 
Natural Resources Committee. He and I both wanted to serve on the 
Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska 
Native Affairs that oversaw the territories' natural resources of 
Hawaii and Alaska native affairs. I got the spot, and Mark came 
marching into my office with chocolate in his hand. He didn't make an 
appointment, by the way, and he had no staff with him. We were going to 
have a conversation, more of a spar over this committee assignment. And 
over chocolate, Mark made me promise that his beautiful home State of 
Hawaii would always be my priority, and I did.
  Mark created so many opportunities for us to visit and get to know 
his home State, the beauty that it offers with its natural resources. 
He actually created a long list of people that I should meet in order 
to fully understand the needs of the island. I am sorry, Mark, that I 
didn't get to join you in Hawaii, but thank you for the opportunity to 
know you.
  Sami, thank you for sharing such a wonderful man with not only the 
freshmen class, but with the entire membership of Congress and the 
Senate. We love Mark, we love you, and your family, and we are here for 
you.
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. MENG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great sadness to honor a 
colleague and a friend, Congressman Mark Takai.
  Even though I only had two short years to work with Mark, that's all 
I needed to gain a sense of his overwhelming passion for public 
service. He served Hawaii as a state representative for 20 years, and 
defended our freedoms as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Hawaii Army 
National Guard. Mark honorably represented his constituents in the 
House of Representatives, and was a model to those who put service to 
others before themselves.
  He always talked about his wife Sami, and kids, Matthew and Kaila. He 
beamed with excitement when they were coming to visit or when he was 
going back home.
  Mark was very humble--when he was curious about something he didn't 
hesitate to ask questions. He was a fierce advocate for Hawaii, small 
businesses, and veterans, and was always thinking of ways to help. We 
are all better for having known him, and he will be missed.
  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and remember a 
friend and dear colleague who was taken from us far too soon.
  Congressman Mark Takai was a true statesman, public servant and an 
inspiration to each and every person who had the honor of knowing him. 
All of us in this Chamber are heartbroken by this loss.
  Throughout his life--as a National Guardsmen, a leader in the Hawaii 
state legislature, and as a Member of Congress, Mark epitomized what it 
means to serve.
  He fought tenaciously to better the lives of his constituents, and 
showed courage and strength in the face of adversity.
  Mark loved his family--his wife Sami and his children Matthew and 
Kaila. He wanted to make this country better for them and for everyone 
who calls it home.
  Mark was an example of what Congress should be, and his legacy will 
live on through his vision and unyielding commitment to bettering the 
lives of others.
  My sincerest thoughts and prayers continue to be with Mark's family. 
I can only imagine the sense of loss they feel, because I lost a friend 
and there is a hole in my heart.
  We thank them for sharing Mark with us. May they find comfort in 
knowing that his impact on the American people and the people of Hawaii 
is indelible and will not be forgotten.

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