Daniel K. Akaka 

U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII 

TRIBUTES 

IN THE CONGRESS OF 

THE UNITED STATES 

UNUM

E PLURIBUS


congress.#15
Daniel K. Akaka 

Courtesy U.S. Senate Historical Office 


81101.eps
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 2014

S. DOC. 113–3 

Tributes 

Delivered in Congress 

Daniel K. Akaka 

United States Congressman 

1977–1990 

United States Senator 

1990–2013 

÷ 

Compiled under the direction 

of the 

Joint Committee on Printing 

[ iii ] 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Biography .................................................................................................. v 

Farewell Address ...................................................................................... xi 

Proceedings in the Senate: 

Tributes by Senators: 

Blunt, Roy, of Missouri .............................................................. 17 

Cardin, Benjamin L., of Maryland ............................................ 18 

Collins, Susan M., of Maine ...................................................... 11 

Conrad, Kent, of North Dakota ................................................. 6 

Durbin, Richard J., of Illinois ................................................... 5 

Harkin, Tom, of Iowa ................................................................. 7 

Inouye, Daniel K., of Hawaii ..................................................... 5 

Leahy, Patrick J., of Vermont ................................................... 17 

Levin, Carl, of Michigan ............................................................ 9, 15 

Mikulski, Barbara A., of Maryland .......................................... 6 

Murkowski, Lisa, of Alaska ....................................................... 12 

Reed, Jack, of Rhode Island ...................................................... 10 

Reid, Harry, of Nevada ........................................................... 3, 16, 20 

Proceedings in the House of Representatives: 

Tributes by Representatives: 

Norton, Eleanor Holmes, of District of Columbia .................... 21 

[ v ] 

BIOGRAPHY 

Senator AKAKA was born in Honolulu, HI, on September 

11, 1924. He attended public grade school in Hawaii and 

graduated from the Kamehameha School for Boys (high 

school) in 1942. Like many of his generation, Senator 

AKAKA’s youth was interrupted by World War II. Upon graduation from high school, he served as a civilian worker in the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1943 to 1945, and served 

in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947. Following the war, Senator AKAKA returned to school enrolling in the University of 

Hawaii. He received a bachelor of education degree from the 

University of Hawaii in 1952. 

Senator AKAKA taught at various schools in Hawaii from 

1953 to 1960, and during this time went on to earn a professional certificate in secondary education in 1953, a professional certificate in school administration in 1961, and a 

master of education degree in 1966. 

He was a vice principal from 1960 to 1963 and principal 

from 1963 to 1968. He also served as Chief Program Planner 

for the Hawaii Department of Education (1969–71), Director 

of the Hawaii Office of Economic Opportunity (1971–74), 

Special Assistant for Human Resources in the Office of the 

Governor (1975–76), and Director of the Progressive Neighborhoods Program (1975–76). 

He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 

1976 and served from January 3, 1977 to May 16, 1990. He 

was appointed to the U.S. Senate on May 16, 1990, to fill the 

vacancy caused by the death of U.S. Senator Spark 

Masayuki Matsunaga, subsequently winning a special election to the office in November 1990. He was reelected in 

1994, 2000, and 2006, and served in the U.S. Senate until 

January 3, 2013. Senator AKAKA was the first U.S. Senator 

of Native Hawaiian ancestry and the only Chinese American 

Member of the U.S. Senate. 

In the U.S. Senate, Senator AKAKA served on the Armed 

Services; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Homeland 

Security and Governmental Affairs; Veterans’ Affairs; Energy and Natural Resources; Indian Affairs; and Ethics Committees. He was vice chair of the Democratic Steering ComVerDate Aug 31 2005 16:21 Apr 17, 2014 Jkt 081101 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE12\81101.TXT KAYNE
[ vi ] 

mittee. He also served as chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs 

Committee; Indian Affairs Committee; Homeland Security 

and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of 

Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the 

District of Columbia; Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness; and Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on 

National Parks. 

During his tenure as the chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs 

Committee, Senator AKAKA secured significant increases in 

health care funding for servicemembers returning home from 

the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was also instrumental 

in reorganizing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to 

ensure it expeditiously handles ‘‘invisible wounds of war’’ 

such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic 

brain injury (TBI). Senator AKAKA played a key role in getting the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Pentagon to share information and work more cooperatively to 

assist with the care of U.S. troops as they transition to civilian life. He, together with U.S. Senator Jim Webb, passed a 

new GI bill that provided expanded education benefits for 

veterans. Senator AKAKA strongly believed that the U.S. 

Government must provide our veterans with the care and 

benefits that they earned and deserved for their service to 

our country. 

Senator AKAKA introduced legislation that enabled military intelligence, Asian American and Pacific Islander veterans to receive military awards which were unjustly withheld. As a result, in 2000, 22 Asian Pacific American World 

War II veterans, including Senator Daniel Inouye, received 

the Medal of Honor, the Nation’s highest award for valor. 

Under Senator AKAKA’s chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight 

of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the 

District of Columbia, Federal workers and retirees had a 

staunch advocate. Senator AKAKA worked to ensure an effective, efficient, and responsive Federal Government through 

activities that support strong recruitment, retention, motivation, and training initiatives for Federal employees. He was 

a leader on civil service issues and was a key protector of the 

rights of Federal employees. Senator AKAKA also worked to 

ensure that (1) the Federal Government has the right people, 

with the right skills, in the right place; (2) Federal employees have adequate rights and protections to feel secure in 

their jobs; (3) Federal employees are secure in the knowledge 

that they can report government waste, fraud, and abuse 

[ vii ] 

without facing retaliation; and (4) that Federal managers 

have the flexibility required to recruit and retain the best 

people. He included language in the FY 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Act to ensure that Federal employees receive 

pay raises equal to the uniformed services and parity in the 

pay for General Schedule and Federal Wage Schedule employees. The Akaka language continues to be used as a 

model. 

Senator AKAKA worked with his colleagues to successfully 

achieve enactment of the Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance Act which transitions employees in Hawaii, 

Alaska, and the U.S. territories from non-foreign COLA to locality pay; the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 

2012 to strengthen protections for Federal employees who 

disclose government waste, fraud, and abuse; the Hatch 

Modernization Act of 2012 to give State or local government 

employees greater ability to run for partisan elective office 

and allow flexibility in penalizing violations of the law; the 

Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 to expand the use of 

telework across the Federal Government; the Civilian Service Recognition Act of 2011 to recognize Federal employees 

who died in service to their country; the Federal Long Term 

Care Insurance Act to provide long term care insurance to 

Federal employees; the Plain Writing Act of 2009 to improve 

the clarity and understanding of Federal documents issued 

to the public; and legislation allowing unused sick leave to 

count toward an employee’s retirement, employees to begin 

or alter their Thrift Savings at any time, part-time reemployment of annuitants, and employees to purchase supplemental dental and vision insurance. 

His efforts to advance legislation increasing the training of 

Federal supervisors, improving the Federal hiring process, 

increasing diversity and inclusion among the Federal workforce, increasing the number of language proficient individuals in Federal service; providing equal benefits to Federal 

employees and their domestic partners, and reforming the 

security clearance process led the administration in implementing reforms in each of these areas. Senator AKAKA also 

served as a cochair of the Congressional Public Service Caucus. 

As chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, Senator 

AKAKA was adamant about ensuring that the United States 

fulfilled its trust responsibility to its first peoples—American 

Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. As he observed first hand the problems Native communities faced, 

[ viii ] 

Senator AKAKA was intent on finding solutions and strengthening the futures of America’s Native peoples. Senator 

AKAKA worked tirelessly to bring parity in the U.S. treatment of Native Hawaiians. He introduced The Apology Resolution (passed in 1993), which acknowledges U.S. participation in the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, and officially apologizes to Native Hawaiians on behalf of the United 

States and commits the United States to a process of reconciliation. He also introduced The Stand Against Violence 

and Empower (SAVE) Native Women Act (passed in 2012 as 

part of the Violence Against Women Act) that would restore 

Indian Country with jurisdiction over non-Indians who commit crimes on Indian lands, provide Native Hawaiian victims 

with access to the sexual assault coalition grants, and provide additional tools to tribal and Federal prosecutors to address domestic violence. 

As a senior member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban 

Affairs Committee, Senator AKAKA played a key role in 

crafting the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 

Protection Act, legislation which contains several of his consumer and protection provisions, including: the establishment of the Office of Financial Education within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, grant programs to encourage increased consumer education and access to services 

provided by banks and credit union accounts, and alternatives to predatory financial products like payday and refund anticipation loans in an effort to empower consumers 

and provide them with alternatives that are safe and reliable. 

Senator AKAKA was a strong advocate for financial literacy 

throughout his career as an educator, administrator, and 

Member of Congress. He was the sponsor of the Excellence 

in Economic Education Act (Triple-E Act), which was enacted 

as part of the No Child Left Behind Act. Since 2004, the Triple-E Act has funded a range of activities such as teacher 

training, research and evaluation, and school-based activities 

to further economic principles. Senator AKAKA’s Credit Card 

Minimum Payment Warning Act was included in the Credit 

Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act. All 

credit card statements must now include simple disclosures 

about minimum payments for every consumer. This information can be found in a box (referred to as the Akaka box) on 

all credit card statements which informs the consumers 

about the amount of total interest they would have to pay if 

they made the minimum payment and how much they would 

[ ix ] 

have to pay if they wanted to pay off their balance in 3 

years. 

Senator AKAKA was also a leader in renewable energy research and development, national parks and wildlife issues, 

tropical agriculture and coral reef research, ocean resource 

conservation and preservation, and environmental protection. He introduced legislation in 2005 to expand and reauthorize hydrogen research and development to encourage the 

development of renewable and other source materials for hydrogen production to help find sustainable solutions for Hawaii’s energy needs. In 1992, his Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Act was enacted into law to expand facilities at the 

Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry and at tropical forests in 

Hawaii, and to require a tropical forestry plan. He sponsored 

and cosponsored legislation to ensure that our oceans and 

reefs are protected and that resources are managed in a sustainable way. 

Senator AKAKA was raised in a deeply religious family and 

is a member of the historic Kawaiaha’o Church where he 

served as choir director for 17 years. He and his wife Millie 

are the parents of 4 sons and a daughter, who have blessed 

them with 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. 

[ xi ] 

Farewell to the Senate 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 

Mr. AKAKA. Madam President, I rise to give my remarks 

and my aloha to the U.S. Senate. 

Before I begin, I would like to take a moment to wish my 

good friend, my colleague of 36 years, my brother, Dan 

Inouye, Hawaii’s senior Senator, a speedy recovery and return to the Senate. 

I rise today to say aloha to this institution. I have been 

honored to be a Member of the U.S. Senate for 22 years. It 

has been an incredible journey that I never imagined. 

As a senior in high school going to Kamehameha School 

for Boys, which was noted as a military school, my life was 

changed forever when I saw Japanese fighter planes attacking Pearl Harbor. Like most men in my generation, I joined 

the war effort. My path was forever altered. 

When the war ended, I believe I was suffering from PTSD. 

It was an act of Congress that allowed me, and the veterans 

of my generation, to build a successful new life. Congress 

passed the GI bill, and I say with certainty that I would not 

be standing before you today without the opportunity the GI 

bill gave me, not only to get an education but to have structure and a path forward—and the feeling that there was a 

way for me to help people. This proved to me that when Congress acts responsibly, it can build a better America. 

That is why, when I was blessed with the opportunity to 

lead the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I dedicated 

myself to helping our servicemembers and veterans and their 

families, and worked with my colleagues to expand VA services and pass a new 21st century GI bill. 

So I want to take this moment to urge all of my colleagues 

and all of the incoming Senators and Representatives to do 

everything they can for our veterans and their families because we ask them to sacrifice so much for us. They put 

their lives on the line while their wives and husbands watch 

over their families. Caring for them is one of our most sacred 

obligations as a nation. 

[ xii ] 

Not everyone on the frontlines making our Nation stronger 

wears a uniform. In many critical fields the Federal Government struggles to compete with the private sector to recruit 

and retain the skilled people our Nation needs: experts in 

cybersecurity and intelligence analysis, doctors and nurses to 

care for our wounded warriors, and accountants to protect 

taxpayers during billion-dollar defense acquisitions. These 

are just a few examples. After I leave the Senate, it is my 

hope other Members will continue to focus on making the 

Federal Government an employer of choice. We need the best 

and brightest working for our Nation. 

The work of the Congress will never end, but careers come 

to a close. Like the great men whose names are etched in 

this desk, I am humbled to know I have left my mark on this 

institution. I am proud to be the first Native Hawaiian ever 

to serve in the Senate, just as I am so proud to be one of 

the three U.S. Army World War II veterans who remain in 

the Senate today. 

The United States is a great country. One of the things 

that makes us so great is that though we have made mistakes, we change, we correct them, we right past wrongs. It 

is our responsibility as a nation to do right by America’s Native people, those who exercised sovereignty on lands that 

later became part of the United States. While we can never 

change the past, we have the power to change the future. 

Throughout my career I have worked to ensure that my 

colleagues understand the Federal relationship with Native 

peoples and its origins in the Constitution. The U.S. policy 

of supporting self-determination and self-governance for indigenous peoples leads to Native self-sufficiency, resulting in 

our continued ability to be productive and to contribute to 

the well-being of our families, our communities, and our 

great Nation. That is why I worked to secure parity in Federal policy for my people—the Native Hawaiians. 

The United States has recognized hundreds of Alaskan 

Native and American Indian communities. It is long past 

time for the Native Hawaiian people to have the same rights, 

same privileges, and same opportunities as every other federally recognized Native people. 

For more than 12 years now, I have worked with the Native Hawaiian community and many others to develop the 

Native Hawaiian Reauthorization Act, which has the strong 

support of Hawaii’s Legislature and Governor as the best 

path forward toward reconciliation. 

[ xiii ] 

My bill has encountered many challenges, but it is pono— 

it is right—and it is long overdue. Although I will not be the 

bill’s sponsor in the 113th Congress, it will forever bear my 

highest aspirations and heartfelt commitment to the Native 

Hawaiian people, the State of Hawaii, and the United States 

of America. 

I know I am just one in a long line working to ensure that 

our language, our culture, and our people continue to thrive 

for generations to come. I believe Hawaii has so much to 

teach the world and this institution. In Congress and in our 

Nation, we are truly all together, in the same canoe. If we 

paddle together in unison, we can travel great distances. If 

the two sides of the canoe paddle in opposite directions, we 

will only go in circles. 

I urge my colleagues to take this traditional Hawaiian 

symbol to heart and put the American people first—by working together. 

I want to say mahalo nui loa—thank you very much—to 

my incredible staff. After 36 years there are far too many individuals to name, so I will just thank all of my current and 

former staff members in my Senate and House offices and on 

my committees, including Indian Affairs, Veterans’ Affairs, 

and the Subcommittees on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia. 

I want to thank the hundreds of employees who work for 

the Architect of the Capitol and the Sergeant-at-Arms. Without the hard work they do every day, we could not do what 

we do in the Senate. Mahalo. Thank you to the floor and 

leadership staff as well. 

I also want to thank Senate Chaplain Barry Black, who 

has provided me so much guidance and strength and has 

done more to bring the two sides of the Chamber together 

and find common ground than just about anyone. I want to 

thank our colleagues who join together every week for the 

Prayer Breakfast and Bible study as well. All of these have 

helped to shape me and the things I do here. 

There is no one I owe more to than my lovely wife of 65 

years, Millie. She is literally there for me whenever I need 

her. Nearly every day that I have served in the Senate for 

the past 22 years, Millie has come to the office with me. She 

helps me greet constituents, she makes me lunch, she keeps 

me focused, and she makes sure I know what is happening 

back home. She means the world to me. Every honor I have 

received belongs to her and to my family, my children, my 

[ xiv ] 

grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. This speech is their 

farewell speech too. So mahalo, Millie and my ohana, my 

family. 

In life there are seasons. While leaving Congress is bittersweet, I am looking forward to spending more time with our 

5 children and getting to know our 15 great-grandchildren, 

and—can you believe this—we are expecting our 16th greatgrandchild next year, and I will be home to see it. 

I am looking forward to speaking with students and mentoring up-and-coming leaders and visiting places in Hawaii 

that I have worked for over my career. My goal was to bring 

the spirit of aloha to our Nation’s Capital in everything I do. 

In Hawaii, we look out for one another, we work together, 

and we treat each other with respect. I hope I succeeded in 

sharing a little bit of Hawaii with all of you. 

As I come to the end of 22 years in this Chamber, and a 

total of 36 years serving in Congress, I offer my profound 

gratitude and humble thanks to the people of Hawaii for giving me the opportunity to serve them for so many years. It 

truly was an experience of a lifetime. All I ever wanted was 

to be able to help people, and you gave me that opportunity. 

So mahalo nui loa. Thank you very much. 

In Hawaii, when we part, we don’t say goodbye. Instead, 

we say a hui hou, which means until we meet again. 

Although I am retiring, I see this as the start of a new 

chapter, a new season. And I am blessed to have made 

friendships and partnerships that will last forever. 

God bless Hawaii, and God bless the United States of 

America with the spirit of aloha. A hui hou. 

Madam President, I yield the floor. 

TRIBUTES 

TO 

DANIEL K. AKAKA 

[ 3 ] 

Proceedings in the Senate 

TUESDAY, December 11, 2012 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I want to spend a little time 

today talking about the junior Senator from Hawaii, DANIEL

AKAKA, as he retires from a life dedicated to his community 

and this country. 

Senator AKAKA’s service to this Nation began during wartime, when he was a teenager. He graduated from high 

school and the war was ongoing. Of course, people were 

watching Hawaii very closely because they had such a huge 

Asian population—a huge Japanese-American population. So 

it was watched very closely, and for reasons that weren’t 

valid, but that is what we did then. 

DAN AKAKA spent 2 years as a civilian worker with the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and 2 years on active duty in 

the U.S. Army. His duties with the Army, as I recall, having 

talked to Dan AKAKA, were to protect the water in Honolulu. 

After the war, DAN attended the University of Hawaii, 

using the original GI bill. Years later, he would receive his 

master’s degree from the University of Hawaii as well as his 

bachelor’s degree. Senator AKAKA believes he would never 

have become a U.S. Senator if not for the GI benefits he received through his service in the military. That is why, as a 

member and past chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, he has worked to make important improvements to 

the 21st century GI bill. Today’s GI bill is modeled after the 

work done by Jim Webb, after the educational opportunity 

program that DAN took advantage of when he was a young 

boy. 

Senator AKAKA was chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs 

Committee from 2007 to 2010, as thousands and thousands 

of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans were coming home from 

combat. As Democrats collectively worked to bring our troops 

home from Iraq, DAN AKAKA labored with the Veterans Administration to meet the needs and challenges of a new generation of veterans. The 21st century GI bill ensures those 

veterans get the educational opportunities they deserve. 

[ 4 ] 

DAN so valued his own education that he went on to serve 

his community as a teacher after he graduated from college. 

He became a principal, worked for the Department of 

Health, Education, and Welfare, and the Hawaii Office of 

Economic Opportunity. He served 14 years in the House of 

Representatives before he was appointed to the Senate in 

1990. He won election to the Senate later that year. 

As chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, DAN has 

been a strong voice and tireless advocate for Native Americans. He has taught us all about history—the history of Hawaii and its Native communities, as well as the issues facing 

indigenous Hawaiians today. 

Senator AKAKA is a descendant of Native Hawaiians. He is 

75-percent Hawaiian and he has Hawaiians on both sides of 

his family. He is very proud of his heritage. DAN was the 

first Native Hawaiian in the Senate. 

He is also a deeply religious man who comes from a strong 

faith tradition. His devout mother taught her children a custom of charity. His mother was really a soft touch. If anyone 

came by with a sad story, she would invite them in. Sometimes her hospitality only allowed her—because she had 

nothing else—to give them something to drink. His family 

was very poor when he was young. But DAN was able to 

work through this. Even if his mother had spent the grocery 

money for the month, strangers were always welcome at her 

table. 

A friend of DAN’s brother came to Hawaii from Chicago for 

a very brief period of time, and his mother took him in. He 

never left. He basically was raised in the Akaka home. Anthony became such a part of that family that, before he died, 

he wanted to make sure he was buried in Hawaii. He wanted 

to be buried with DAN’s siblings and family in Hawaii. And 

he was. 

Senator AKAKA served as choir director of the Hawaii 

Christian Mother Church, where his brother was minister 

there for some 17 years. Senator AKAKA is still a member of 

that church. 

He is blessed with a wonderful family as well as a rewarding career. He and his wife Millie have 5 children, 15 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. 

Senator AKAKA has served his constituents well and with 

distinction. He has served not only his constituents and the 

State of Hawaii but our country with distinction. He has enjoyed a long and productive career and his presence in the 

Senate will be missed. 

[ 5 ] 

I offer congratulations to Senator AKAKA on his dedicated 

military and public service and wish him and Millie happiness in their retirement. 

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I add my comments in chorus 

to what the majority leader said about Senator DAN AKAKA

of Hawaii. 

I came to know him—and I have spoken about this on the 

floor—and Millie who are the perfect Senate family. They 

have devoted a major part of their lives to serving Hawaii 

and serving in the national interest. 

The legacy Senator AKAKA leaves behind is substantial 

when it comes to legislation, particularly in helping veterans 

and agricultural issues. But, more important, what DAN

AKAKA leaves behind is the feeling of kinship and camaraderie that he has with so many Members of the Senate. He 

is a stalwart at the Senate Prayer Breakfast, leading the 

singing every Wednesday morning, and it is heartfelt and 

very genuine. 

As Senator Reid mentioned earlier, his family background 

of Hawaii—which he shared with us one afternoon at a 

lunch—is a tradition of giving and hospitality, which we find 

built in to DANNY AKAKA. We are going to miss him. 

WEDNESDAY, December 12, 2012 

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, today I would like to honor 

the legacy and service of my colleague and dear friend, Senator DANIEL K. AKAKA. 

My brother, Senator DANIEL AKAKA, has been my friend 

and partner in Washington for 36 years. 

During that time, he has fought hard for Native Hawaiians, veterans, and the needs of Hawaii. 

I am sad at the thought of the Senate without him and I 

am sorry I am unable to join him on the floor today. 

DAN AKAKA is the spirit of aloha. 

I have always relied on his even keel and hard work to 

help me represent the people of Hawaii. I have never, ever 

heard him utter a harsh word or do anything to harm another person. 

There are few words to describe a kind man of his stature, 

but I assure you, Hawaii and this Nation are better because 

of his work. 

[ 6 ] 

On behalf of the people of Hawaii, thank you DANNY. 

There will never be another like you. 

Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute 

and recognize the accomplishments of a colleague and dear 

friend who will be retiring from the U.S. Senate at the end 

of the term. Senator AKAKA has represented the State of Hawaii with distinction for 36 years. He has been a firm advocate for his constituents, especially for Native Hawaiians. 

I have had the honor and privilege to work alongside Senator AKAKA on the Indian Affairs Committee. During this 

time and throughout his tenure as chairman, I have witnessed his commitment to improving the overall well-being 

of Native Hawaiians as well as all indigenous people. He has 

been a tireless advocate for their rights, and, with his leadership and bipartisan dedication, he has brought many issues 

they confront to the forefront. For more than a decade, Senator AKAKA has championed the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, which establishes a process for Native Hawaiians to gain Federal recognition. He has also been 

the driving force in advancing the Native Hawaiian language 

movement. His dedication and leadership has ensured survival of the language. 

As part of the Greatest Generation and a veteran, Senator 

AKAKA also used his time as chairman of the Committee on 

Veterans’ Affairs to champion laws to improve health care 

and benefits for countless veterans, servicemembers, and 

their families. 

Known for breaking down barriers and building relationships, Senator AKAKA has served the people of Hawaii with 

integrity and humility. He is a true statesman, gentleman, 

and patriot, and our country is better for his service. He 

leaves a distinguished legacy and will be greatly missed by 

us all. I thank Senator AKAKA for his friendship and service 

to our Nation, and I wish him and his wife Millie all the best 

for the future. 

Ms. MIKULSKI. Madam President, I rise to comment 

about some wonderful men in the Senate who are retiring on 

both sides of the aisle. Earlier today I spoke about my deep 

affection and sorry-to-see-go friends Olympia Snowe and Kay 

Bailey Hutchison, but I want to rise as the dean of the 

women in the Senate to say some very special words about 

very special men on both sides of the aisle. Because when I 

came to the Senate, it was only Nancy Kassebaum and me, 

and yet we worked on so many issues together. There are 

[ 7 ] 

really wonderful men here who supported me, supported our 

issues, but really stood up for those States and their communities. 

I want to say goodbye, aloha, to my very good friend 

DANNY AKAKA, a wonderful man with whom I have served 

in both the House and the Senate. He has been a real advocate not only for the people of Hawaii but, wow, I salute the 

way he stood up for the Federal workforce, the civil servants 

who do such a great job, and the outstanding job he has done 

on the Veterans’ Committee. 

Lives are better off, particularly for our veterans. I want 

to say a wonderful goodbye and give a hug to him because 

he demonstrates that you do not have to be loud to be powerful. . . . 

I wanted to be sure that the day would not end without 

me acknowledging these wonderful people who have given a 

big part of their lives to making this country a better place. 

I want to, in the most heartfelt way—I am so sorry we did 

not have a bipartisan dinner or party to be able to express 

this. I would have liked to have been in the same room, 

breaking bread with them, in order to be able to tell them 

how much we appreciate them, across party lines, across 

those lines that ordinarily divide us. They came from different parts of the country, they arrived in the Senate with 

different objectives, they will leave under different circumstances. I want to again let them know that each and 

every one of them had a positive impact on me and I think 

a wonderful impact on the future of this country. So I wish 

them well. God bless and Godspeed. 

THURSDAY, December 13, 2012 

Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, we are bidding farewell to 

one of our most respected and beloved Members, Senator 

DANIEL AKAKA of Hawaii or, as we all know him, ‘‘DANNY.’’ 

With his retirement, our friend is bringing to a close a remarkable and distinguished career in public service spanning nearly seven decades. Having witnessed, as a 17-yearold boy, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he took a civilian job with the Army Corps of Engineers before joining the 

U.S. Army in 1945. We honor him, along with his senior colleague from Hawaii, Senator Inouye, and Senator Lautenberg, as the only veterans of World War II still serving in 

the Senate. 

[ 8 ] 

Not surprisingly, Senator AKAKA has been a leader on veterans issues. He served as chairman of the Committee on 

Veterans’ Affairs in the 110th and 111th Congresses, and he 

remained active on that committee despite relinquishing his 

chairmanship in the current Congress in order to chair the 

Committee on Indian Affairs. 

We will not soon forget Senator AKAKA’s retort when another Senator was holding up a package of veterans benefits, 

demanding that the costs of the veterans benefits be offset. 

Senator AKAKA calmly, very deliberately argued that the 

costs did not need to be offset, stating, ‘‘The price has already been paid, many times over, by the service of the 

brave men and women who wore our Nation’s uniform.’’ 

Needless to say, Senator AKAKA carried the day. 

Senator AKAKA has played a leading role in demanding improvements in the handling of post-traumatic stress disorder 

and traumatic brain injuries sustained by service men and 

women. In 2009, he joined with Senator Inouye in securing 

compensation for Filipino veterans of World War II who 

fought for the United States. 

Senator AKAKA is the only ethnic, Native Hawaiian to 

serve in this body. Throughout his congressional career, including 4 years in the House and 22 years in the Senate, he 

has been a determined and impassioned advocate for the 

people of his State of Hawaii. He has fought for legislation 

that would grant Federal recognition to ethnic Native Hawaiians, the same recognition we have granted to American 

Indians and Native Alaskans. 

In 1993, President Clinton signed a resolution sponsored 

by Senator AKAKA officially apologizing on behalf of the U.S. 

Government for overthrowing Hawaii’s last monarch a century earlier. 

In so many ways, Senator AKAKA represents the Senate at 

its very best—the Senate the way it used to be in less partisan times. He works tirelessly behind the scenes, and he 

shuns the media limelight. He prides himself on reaching 

across the aisle and forging honorable compromises. He is 

the ultimate gentleman, and his word is his bond. 

Across these many years DANNY AKAKA has been a wonderful friend and colleague. Of course, that friendship will 

continue, and I will miss him in the Senate. 

I join with the entire Senate family in wishing DANNY and 

Millie all the best in the years ahead. 

[ 9 ] 

WEDNESDAY, December 19, 2012 

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, for the last 22 years, DANIEL

AKAKA has represented the people of Hawaii in this body. 

They have been the better for his service, and I have greatly 

appreciated the wisdom, humility, and passion with which 

he has served here. 

One issue on which we have been able to work closely as 

fellow members of the Homeland Security and Governmental 

Affairs Committee is oversight of the Federal workforce, a 

key issue for his State and for taxpayers everywhere. Senator AKAKA’s passion for Federal workforce issues comes 

from his passion for public service and for effective government. Just in this Congress, I was an original cosponsor of 

his Federal Whistleblower Protection Act to strengthen the 

law protecting Federal employees who bring to light fraud, 

waste, and abuse in Federal programs. That AKAKA bill is 

expected to be signed into law before the end of the year. 

Also this Congress, I was proud to cosponsor his Hatch Act 

Modernization Act to allow hard-working employees of State 

and local governments, who are covered by the Hatch Act, to 

serve as elected officials in their communities. 

In addition to his focus on Federal workforce issues, Senator AKAKA has long been a valued member of the Armed 

Services Committee. We have worked together on legislation 

to reform Defense Department business and financial management systems; strengthen oversight and accountability of 

wartime contracting; and strengthen the Defense Department’s management of the substantial funds it spends to acquire property and services. 

In 2002 Senator AKAKA joined with Senator Inhofe to form 

the Senate Army Caucus, and through this bipartisan group 

they have focused welcome attention on the programs and 

needs of our Army. Senator AKAKA, himself an Army veteran, has been an important source of insight into the challenges facing our soldiers and their families. 

Of course, as the former chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs 

Committee, Senator AKAKA has long demonstrated an intense dedication to those who have helped defend our Nation. His steadfast advocacy for veterans health programs, 

education benefits, and other important programs has made 

a significant and lasting impact on the lives of veterans and 

their families. 

When people describe DANIEL AKAKA, one of the first 

words used to describe him is ‘‘humble.’’ He is indeed that. 

[ 10 ] 

He has been a dedicated and principled servant of the people 

of Hawaii and our Nation, an unfailing ally of our veterans 

and their families, and a valued colleague and friend. I will 

miss him, and I will always remember how he taught us that 

gentleness and effectiveness are not mutually exclusive characteristics. 

THURSDAY, December 20, 2012 

Mr. REED. Madam President, at this time, I wish to take 

a few minutes to salute my colleagues who are retiring at 

the end of this year with the conclusion of the 112th Congress: DANIEL AKAKA of Hawaii, Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Kent Conrad of North 

Dakota, Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Kay Bailey 

Hutchison of Texas, Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, Jon Kyl of Arizona, Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, Richard Lugar of Indiana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Olympia Snowe of Maine, 

and Jim Webb of Virginia. They have all worked ceaselessly 

to give their constituents the best representation and give 

the country the benefit of their views, their wisdom, and 

their experience. They are men and women who are committed to the Nation, and they have every day in different 

ways contributed to this Senate and to our great country. 

I wish to thank them personally for their service, and, in 

so many cases, their personal kindness to me; for listening 

to my points and for, together, hopefully, serving this Senate 

and this Nation in a more positive and progressive way. 

In particular, let me say a few words about some of the 

Members with whom I have had the privilege to work more 

closely. 

Senator DANIEL AKAKA, like his colleague, the late and revered Senator Daniel Inouye, proudly served our Nation during World War II. I am stepping into the huge shoes of 

DANNY AKAKA as the cochair of the Army Caucus. From one 

soldier to another, I salute him. 

He has also been an extraordinarily forceful advocate not 

just for active-duty personnel but for veterans and, of course, 

for the men and women of his beloved Hawaii. . . . 

I could go on with all of my colleagues, just thanking them 

for their friendship, for their camaraderie, and for their commitment to the Nation and the Senate. As they depart, they 

have left an extraordinary legacy. Now it is our responsibility to carry on in so many different ways, and I hope we 

[ 11 ] 

measure up to what they have done. If we do, then we can 

go forward confidently. 

With that, I yield the floor. 

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, in his farewell message to 

the people of Hawaii, Senator DANIEL AKAKA wrote that his 

dream was always to work in a job in which he could help 

people. In his 36 years in Congress—14 in the House of Representatives and 22 here in the Senate—DANNY AKAKA has 

done that job exceedingly well. 

He has done it with statesmanship and perseverance. As 

just one example, just a few weeks ago, President Obama 

signed into law landmark legislation to better protect Federal employees who come forward to disclose government 

waste, fraud, abuse, and other wrongdoing. The AkakaCollins Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act would 

not have passed without DANNY’s determination to help both 

our dedicated Federal workers and the citizens they serve. 

Serving with DANNY on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I appreciate the priority he always placed on making the Federal Government more efficient and transparent, and on advancing policies to attract, 

recruit, and retain the skilled workforce needed to meet today’s challenges. From safeguarding our Nation against terrorist attacks to supporting the first responders in our communities, DANNY has been a great ally and a true leader. 

It also has been an honor to work with DANNY on the 

Armed Services Committee. As a World War II veteran, he 

brought to the committee a deep and personal understanding 

of the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform, 

and by their families. He is a champion of efforts to ensure 

that our Active National Guard and Reserve personnel have 

the equipment and training to remain the best fighting force 

in the world, and he is dedicated to providing our veterans 

with the services they earned and deserve. 

DANNY AKAKA has been described as the ‘‘Aloha Senator.’’ 

To most of us, that multipurpose word can mean anything 

from ‘‘hello’’ to ‘‘goodbye.’’ To the Hawaiian people, it is a 

word of deep spirituality and profound meaning. 

The late Reverend Abraham Akaka, DANNY’s oldest brother and one of Hawaii’s most beloved clergymen, defined the 

‘‘aloha spirit’’ this way: ‘‘God first, others second, yourself 

last.’’ As a patriot and statesman, Senator DANIEL AKAKA

embodies that spirit through his desire to promote the true 

good of others and to help people. Aloha pumehana, Senator 

AKAKA, farewell with my deepest regards and affection. 

[ 12 ] 

Thank you for your friendship and for your service to our 

country. 

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I was watching my 

friend and colleague Senator AKAKA as he was delivering his 

comments earlier about Senator Inouye and the legislation 

that both he and our dear friend and former colleague have 

worked so hard on over the years, and I wanted to come to 

the floor this evening and tell my friend that I am deeply appreciative of the words he has delivered as the chairman of 

the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. I would certainly 

hope the Senate would respect the thinking the Senator has 

outlined as it relates to the Native Hawaiian Government 

Reorganization Act. . . . 

Senator Inouye and Senator AKAKA have worked valiantly 

to create programs for Native Hawaiians that parallel those 

available to American Indians and Alaska Natives, but this 

is not enough. Justice demands that the Native people of Hawaii earn the Federal recognition that is rightfully theirs. . . . 

We began our morning paying tribute to our friend and 

former colleague Senator Inouye. As we think about Hawaii 

and its peoples, and as we remember the contributions of 

Senator Inouye, and as we recognize Senator AKAKA as he 

departs from this body after years of honorable service, I 

would hope that within this body we would not forget the efforts they have worked on so valiantly. 

I will commit to my friend, Senator AKAKA, that the cause 

the Senator has taken up, that he has worked on so hard 

with Senator Inouye, will not die until justice for the Native 

people of Hawaii is achieved. I thank the Senator for his 

leadership. 

Mr. President, I was going to yield the floor, but I would 

like to take a moment to provide my remarks regarding Senator AKAKA and his contribution here, if I may. 

Mr. President, I rise to speak on behalf of my friend, my 

colleague, Senator DANIEL AKAKA, who is set to retire after 

22 years of dedicated service in the Senate. He has been a 

personal friend to me, he has been a personal friend to my 

family, and to my parents. He and his wife Millie, a wonderful, beautiful woman, have been leaders on behalf of the people of Hawaii and have long been friends and partners to the 

people of Alaska. 

Senator AKAKA has served our Nation and the great State 

of Hawaii honorably for nearly 70 years. That is an incredible contribution. His service began in 1943, immediately following his graduation from the Kamehameha School for Boys 

[ 13 ] 

in Honolulu. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor had 

taken place a year earlier, only 5 miles from his dormitory 

steps. In the hours immediately following that attack, Senator AKAKA, who was a 17-year-old ROTC cadet, helped his 

classmates search for paratroopers in the fields above his 

school grounds. Like so many others of his generation, Senator AKAKA answered the call of duty, joined the U.S. Army, 

first with the Corps of Engineers as a mechanic and a welder, and later as a noncommissioned officer. 

In 1952, Senator AKAKA used the GI bill to earn his degree 

in education from the University of Hawaii and began his 

lifelong dedication to our Nation’s students, first as a teacher, then as a principal at a high school in Honolulu, and 

later with the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. 

Senator AKAKA was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976 and then went on to win six more elections. It was clearly evident the people of Hawaii within that 

Second Congressional District valued his passion and his 

dedication for the office. In 1990, after the death of Senator 

Spark Matsunaga, Senator AKAKA was appointed and then 

subsequently elected to the seat in the Senate that he has 

held for 22 years now. 

Senator AKAKA’s fortitude and his determination have not 

waned in these 70 years. As the first Native Hawaiian ever 

to serve in the Senate, and the only indigenous person currently serving in the Senate, he is a proven champion for 

American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. It 

was just in October of this year that Senator AKAKA came to 

Alaska and was honored by the Alaska Federation of Natives 

with the Denali Award. This award is presented to an individual who is not an Alaska Native for their contributions to 

the growth and development of the Alaska Native community’s culture, economy, and health. Senator AKAKA has done 

that repeatedly over the years. 

The efforts he has worked on, whether it was bigger initiatives or whether to ensure the people in King Cove had access to an airport so their lives weren’t threatened in a medical emergency and they could get out, Senator AKAKA has 

stepped up to ensure the people of Alaska are cared for. 

It has truly been a pleasure to work with Senator AKAKA

over these past 10 years on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. The chairmanship he has administered has been admired and appreciated by all of us who are on that committee. 

[ 14 ] 

Senator AKAKA’s leadership, wisdom, and grasp of issues 

has helped us work together toward many visions and goals 

that we shared. The Save Native Women Act—a bill to help 

protect Native women and children across our 565 federally 

recognized tribes—was largely incorporated into the Senate 

version of the 2012 Violence Against Women Act. We need 

to make sure that legislation passes. Again, as we think 

about the statistics that so many of our Native peoples face, 

we need to make certain we are making appropriate gains 

and strides to help address them, and Chairman AKAKA has 

worked with us on that. We fought to ensure the preservation of Native languages not only in our communities but 

within our classrooms. 

As I mentioned, I have long supported the concept that 

Senator Inouye and Senator AKAKA have championed with 

regard to Federal recognition of Native Hawaiians. 

Senator AKAKA is also special to two other constituencies— 

our Federal employees and our veterans. He is one of this 

body’s leading experts on some of the more arcane laws that 

apply to Federal civil service. Alaska’s Federal employees 

clearly appreciate his leadership on the Non-Foreign AREA 

Act, which made them eligible for locality pay that counts toward retirement. This is an issue in my State that took some 

time to negotiate and to move through, but the Federal employees in Alaska—as they are seeing the benefits of that locality pay—owe thanks and gratitude to the work of Senator 

AKAKA. And he knows well the laws that govern the U.S. 

Postal Service probably as well as anyone in this body. 

During Senator AKAKA’s tenure as chairman of the Senate 

Veterans’ Affairs Committee, this body has made great 

progress in ensuring that the VA had a budget commensurate with its needs. His contributions to ensuring that post9/11 veterans had access to critically needed health and education resources will endure. 

As neighbors in the Pacific, Alaska and Hawaii have always shared a very special bond, not only because of our geography and our time differences. Every time I endure a 12- 

hour flight across the country to go home—and home is four 

time zones away—I am reminded that it takes Senator 

AKAKA a couple hours more and one time zone more to get 

home. It is not only our geography that binds us; we have 

many other similarities: our indigenous peoples, the relative 

youth of our States, our unique landscapes, and for years our 

delegations have worked together across the aisle for the 

good of our people. 

[ 15 ] 

Senator AKAKA’s bipartisan approach, his willingness to 

work toward success, will be missed by me and so many of 

our colleagues. Of course, I don’t think Senator AKAKA would 

call it bipartisanship. He would call it aloha. We work in the 

aloha spirit. 

With that, I wish to tell my friend and my colleague, 

mahalo. From the bottom of my heart, mahalo. I am going 

to miss you, Senator AKAKA. I am going to miss your wife 

Millie and your entire extended family. As you return home 

to your beloved Hawaii, know that you have left an impression on so many. 

With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield the floor, and I suggest 

the absence of a quorum. 

FRIDAY, December 21, 2012 

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, now that the 112th Congress 

will soon be coming to a close, the Senate will be able to take 

a moment to acknowledge and express our appreciation to 

those Members who will be retiring when the gavel brings 

an end to the current session. One Member who has had a 

great impact on so many of us on a personal basis is DANIEL

AKAKA. 

DANNY, as I have come to know him, has been one of the 

strongest and most loyal parts of our Senate Prayer Breakfast. That regular gathering that many of us attend gives us 

an opportunity to come together to share our faith and discuss the difference it has made in our daily lives. 

No one has played a more important role in those weekly 

meetings than DANNY. His faith has brought him through 

some very difficult situations in his life and it has also 

helped him to pursue policies and programs that have made 

a difference in more lives than we will ever know. 

When DANNY was in the House he was the song leader. 

His understanding of the importance of music helped him to 

better express his faith. He led our singing of the hymns by 

providing us with the history of each song as he explained 

the meaning of the words that were used to bring its message to life. His faith also showed itself with his work on a 

sailing ship that helped to bring missionaries around the Pacific to share their faith with those who might otherwise 

have never heard such stories. 

DANNY is a veteran of World War II. His experience during 

the war gave him an understanding of the sacrifices our vetVerDate Aug 31 2005 16:21 Apr 17, 2014 Jkt 081101 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 H:\DOCS\BYEBYE\BYEBYE12\81101.TXT KAYNE
[ 16 ] 

erans made during their service and the importance of ensuring that we as a nation take good care of them and address their medical needs. 

That is why one of DANNY’s great accomplishments here in 

the Senate has been his efforts on behalf of his fellow veterans. Whenever an important bill was taken up and passed, 

DANNY immediately got to work, trying to determine the impact each bill would have on our veterans and how any negative impacts could be addressed and reversed. Just as we 

owe our veterans a great debt of gratitude for their service, 

veterans everywhere have a special place in their hearts for 

everything DANNY has done over the years to protect and 

preserve the benefits they have earned with their service. 

In addition to his great faith and his concern for our Nation’s veterans, DANNY also brought to the Senate his love of 

Hawaii and its great culture and history. It was a gift he 

shared with us over the years that increased our awareness 

of Hawaii’s past and the great traditions of his home State. 

Through the years DANNY has made a reputation for himself here in the Senate as a careful, thoughtful legislator who 

works quietly but effectively. The good work he has done on 

a number of issues has had an impact that will continue to 

be felt for many years to come. 

Thank you, DANNY, for your service both here in the Senate and in our Armed Forces. You can be very proud of all 

you have achieved. You have represented your State very 

well. Thank you most of all for your friendship and for sharing your faith and the impact it has had on your life. You 

will be missed and not just by those of us in the Senate who 

have enjoyed having a chance to come to know you. You have 

been a great friend to our Nation’s veterans, too, and they 

will always remember your commitment to them. 

THURSDAY, December 27, 2012 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, before my friend from Hawaii 

leaves the floor, we have all come and given speeches—a lot 

of us, at least—about Senator AKAKA, but we have not had 

a lot of people on the floor when we have done that. 

The presentation just now is typical for DAN AKAKA: never 

a word about himself, always about somebody else. If the 

new Senator has Senator AKAKA’s qualities—the kindest, 

gentlest person I have ever served in this body with—it is 

something for which he should strive. The shoes he has to 

[ 17 ] 

fill, we all know—AKAKA and Inouye—are significant to fill, 

but he can do that. 

For you, Senator AKAKA—with these people on the floor— 

we are going to miss you so much. You are a wonderful 

human being and have been a great Senator. 

Mr. BLUNT. I would also like to say I was here when the 

new Member from Hawaii was sworn in and listened to Mr. 

AKAKA’s comments. I have great respect for him and the 

quiet dignity he brings to everything he does—from weekly 

demonstrations of his personal faith, which I share with him, 

to his name being mentioned first in all these quorum calls 

that have gone on now for, I assume, all the time he has 

been in the Senate, going back to 1990. . . . 

Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, the great State of Hawaii has 

been represented in the U.S. Senate by two of the longest 

serving Senators, and they happen to have shared the name 

Daniel. This year, Senator AKAKA—with more than three 

decades of service in Congress—now the senior Senator from 

Hawaii, will return to his native State and enjoy retirement. 

Senator AKAKA has represented the people of Hawaii in a 

variety of ways. Most recently, as chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs, he has worked tirelessly to support 

vital programs that provided education, health care, housing, 

and other basic services for tribes across the country. Having 

attended college on the GI bill, he has been an advocate for 

improving education for all students. He also has been a 

strong supporter of veterans and a proponent of protections 

for whistleblowers seeking to expose waste, fraud, and abuse 

in government. 

On a personal note, I have always appreciated Senator 

AKAKA’s strong support for the National Guard, and in particular the Hawaii Guard. His military roots go back to his 

own distinguished service in World War II. He was one of 

the earliest and most senior adopters of the Guard empowerment legislation when I teamed with Senator Bond, Senator 

Graham, and so many others to enact. Senator AKAKA stood 

with the men and women of the National Guard in demanding representation among the Nation’s most senior military 

advisory body. This stand was not an easy one to take. He 

was, in fact, the most senior Democrat on the Senate Armed 

Services Committee to cosponsor the Leahy-Graham bill, and 

his support sent a powerful statement that some of our most 

knowledgeable Senators with the specific responsibility of 

overseeing our armed services recognized that it was time to 

[ 18 ] 

give the Guard a stronger voice. Among his many other 

achievements, Senator AKAKA will be remembered for his 

strong support of and friendship with the Guard. 

Senator AKAKA has brought a calm and insightful presence 

to his work and the people of Hawaii are fortunate to have 

had such a great representative in both the House and the 

Senate. I wish Senator AKAKA and his family the best in his 

retirement from Congress. 

FRIDAY, December 28, 2012 

Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I would like to pay tribute to 

the Senators who will not be returning when the 113th Congress commences next month. I have already spoken about 

Senator KYL and about Senator Inouye, one of the truly 

great Americans and giants of this institution. At the time 

of his death, Senator Inouye was just a few weeks short of 

celebrating 50 years of Senate service. Only Senator Byrd 

served in this institution longer. 

Turnover is a natural occurrence, but it’s important to acknowledge that the Senators who are departing have served 

in the Senate for a combined total of 237 years, or nearly 20 

years per Senator, on average. Add Senator Inouye, and the 

total is close to 300 years. That service represents an enormous amount of expertise on issues ranging from national 

defense and foreign affairs to the Federal budget to energy 

policy. The departing Senators will also take with them vast 

institutional knowledge and bipartisan friendships and working relationships that will leave a void we will need to fill. 

Mr. President, DANIEL AKAKA was born on September 11, 

1924, just 4 days after Senator Inouye and, like Senator 

Inouye, he overcame the prejudice and hostility directed at 

Asian Americans following the attack on Pearl Harbor to 

serve with distinction in the U.S. Army during World War 

II. Senator AKAKA was a civilian worker in the U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers from 1943 to 1945. Then, he was on active duty in the Army from 1945 to 1947. 

After Senator AKAKA finished his military service, he devoted his career to education, first as a teacher and then as 

a principal and later as an official in the State of Hawaii Department of Education. He was first elected to the House of 

Representatives in 1976 and then appointed to the Senate in 

1990 upon the death of former Senator Spark Matsunaga. 

He won an election that November with nearly 54 percent of 

[ 19 ] 

the vote, and was reelected to the Senate in 1994, 2000, and 

2006, twice receiving over 70 percent of the popular vote and 

never dropping below 61 percent. 

Senator AKAKA is America’s first Senator of Native Hawaiian ancestry, and the only Chinese American Member of the 

Senate. He chairs the Indian Affairs Committee and, like 

Senator Inouye, he has been a stalwart supporter of Native 

Americans, Native Alaskans, Pacific Islanders, Asian Americans, and Native Hawaiians. One of his highest priorities 

has been to secure passage of the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act, S. 675. That bill was just placed on 

the legislative calendar and hotlined. We need to get it 

across the finish line in the waning days of the 112th Congress. It’s the right thing to do. 

I have been privileged to work with Senator AKAKA on efforts to protect the Federal workforce. Federal employees 

have no greater champion than Senator AKAKA, who has 

chaired the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management. 

Senator AKAKA is committed to making the Federal Government an employer of choice capable of attracting and retaining the best and the brightest. In 2009 he introduced the 

Telework Enhancement Act, which became law in 2010 and 

expands telework opportunities at executive agencies. Senator AKAKA has also fought to create a culture of transparency and fairness in the Federal Government, authoring 

the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, which I was 

proud to cosponsor. President Obama signed that bill into 

law last month. Senator AKAKA has been a civil rights champion, partnering with Senators Lieberman, Collins, me, and 

others to support domestic partner benefits. 

I also appreciate Senator AKAKA’s determined advocacy for 

financial literacy and consumer protections. His Credit Card 

Minimum Payment Warning Act was included in the 2009 

Credit CARD Act. Now, thanks to Senator AKAKA, credit 

card bills must include a disclosure box to show consumers 

how long it will take to repay their entire balance if they 

only make minimum monthly payments. The so-called 

‘‘Akaka Box’’ also lets consumers know how much it will cost 

to pay off their outstanding balance within 36 months, which 

is a typical length of a debt management plan. Senator 

AKAKA was also an author of portions of the Dodd-Frank Act 

addressing financial literacy (establishing the Office of Financial Education within the Consumer Financial Protection 

Bureau) and investor protections. 

[ 20 ] 

Throughout Senator AKAKA’s long and distinguished career 

in Congress, he has also been an ardent environmentalist. As 

a former chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, 

legislation he authored has created, expanded, or otherwise 

improved each of Hawaii’s national parks. His Hawaii Tropical Forest Recovery Act established the Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest in order to promote the recovery of 

tropical forests in Hawaii and undertake needed research to 

better protect tropical forests around the world. 

A hallmark of Senator AKAKA, like Senator Inouye, is his 

soft-spoken and courteous manner. The Senators from Hawaii have always treated the rest of us with respect and graciousness. They have reached across the aisle to foster bipartisan cooperation. They have exhibited a rare and calming 

serenity when partisan tempers have boiled over. I will miss 

the warm and gentle and friendly personalities of Senators 

AKAKA and Inouye, their wise counsel, and their service here 

in the U.S. Senate on behalf of Hawaiians and all Americans. . . . 

Mr. President, these men and women who will be leaving 

the Senate soon have made extraordinary sacrifices to serve 

our Nation. We are fortunate that they have chosen to spend 

significant parts of their lives in public service. All Americans owe them a debt of gratitude. Those of us who will be 

in the Senate next month when the 113th Congress convenes 

can best honor the legacy of our departing colleagues by 

reaching across the aisle as they have done so many times 

to forge bipartisan consensus and solutions to our Nation’s 

most vexing problems. The men and women who will be leaving the Senate at the end of this Congress understand that 

compromise isn’t a dirty word; it is the genius at the heart 

of our political system. We will miss them. 

THURSDAY, February 7, 2013 

ORDER FOR PRINTING OF TRIBUTES 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 

there be printed as a Senate document a compilation of materials from the Congressional Record in tribute to the retiring Members of the 112th Congress. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. 

[ 21 ] 

Proceedings in the 

House of Representatives 

THURSDAY, December 13, 2013 

Ms. NORTON. I rise today in strong support of the D.C. 

Courts and Public Defender Service Act of 2011. I would like 

to thank Senator Joe Lieberman, the chair of the Senate 

Homeland Security Committee, which has jurisdiction over 

the District of Columbia, and particularly Senator DANIEL

AKAKA, the chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Oversight 

and Government Management and the Senate sponsor of the 

bill, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia for 

ushering the bill through subcommittee and committee and 

getting it passed by voice vote. 

Both Senators Lieberman and AKAKA are retiring this 

year. They each will leave rich legacies of accomplishment to 

the Nation, and both Senator Lieberman and Senator AKAKA

have always been good friends of the District of Columbia. 

They will be very much missed in both Chambers by all of 

us, I know, but particularly by the residents of the District 

of Columbia. . . . 

Æ