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Week of March 3-7, 2008

Mon, March 3, 2008

Aloha!  This is shaping up to be another busy week here in Washington D.C.

On the Senate floor, we are debating a consumer product safety bill to protect our keiki from toxic toys.  While more and more-complex products flood the market, the Bush Administration has slashed Consumer Product Safety Commission's budget and staff.  This bipartisan bill will give the Commission the resources, authority and oversight it needs to protect our children from lead, dangerous toys and other unsafe products.  The CPSC estimates that products under its jurisdiction are related to 28,200 deaths and 33.6 million injuries each year - and costs more than $800 billion annually.  This is an important debate for our keiki and all Americans. 

As Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I will be teaming up with my counterparts in the House for a series of joint hearings to get recommendations from veterans advocacy groups.  Tuesday morning we will be hearing from The Veterans of Foreign Wars, then in the afternoon, The Disabled American Veterans.  Thursday, another joint hearing to receive legislative presentations from Paralyzed American Veterans and other veterans service organizations. 

On Thursday, I am looking forward to receiving an update on the Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument and the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary from Allen Tom, the Pacific Islands Regional Director of our National Marine Sanctuary Program.

On Friday, I will be meeting with Lieutenant General H Steven Blum, Chief of the National Guard Bureau to discuss the personnel and equipment reset issues related to the readiness of our National Guard forces.  This is very important to me as thousands of members of our Hawaii Army National Guard 29th Brigade Combat Team are preparing to deploy to Kuwait later this year, and citizen soldiers across the country are making similar sacrifices. 

Finally, as a former teacher and principal, I am looking forward to discussing education with leaders from Punahou and my alma matter, Kamehameha schools.

I would love for you to visit our ohana here in Washington D.C. someday.  We would be happy to arrange a tour of the U.S. Capitol and visits to see the proceedings of the Senate, and you are welcome to attend any of these hearings.  Please click here to find out more. 

Aloha, a hui hou kakou.

Constituent Services

  • Washington D.C. Office
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United States Senate

141 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

Telephone: (202) 224-6361

Fax: (202) 224-2126

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Honolulu Office

300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm. 3-106

Box 50144

Honolulu, HI 96850

Telephone: (808) 522-8970

Fax: (808) 545-4683

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Hilo Office

101 Aupuni Street, Suite 213

Hilo, HI 96720

Telephone: (808) 935-1114

Fax: (808) 935-9064