Kimberlyn King-Hinds · TranslatePolitics.com

House of Representatives

Honoring Grand Master Navigator Sesario Sewralur

2026-09-02

“I want to honor the Guam-CNMI ESGR. They help military members and employers. ESGR helps people balance work and military duties. This is important in the Northern Mariana Islands. Many people there serve in the military. The Guam-CNMI ESGR won awards for three years in a row. Major General Benny Paulino won an award in 2024. Dave Sablan won in 2025. Don Clark won in 2026. I thank the Guam-CNMI ESGR for their work. They help people who serve our country. This makes our community stronger. Thank you.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Guam-CNMI Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve State Committee for its steadfast support for our servicemembers, their families, and the employers who support them. ESGR helps our citizen-warriors balance military and civilian responsibilities through outreach, education, recognition, and assistance with employment protections under USERRA. This mission is especially meaningful in the Northern Mariana Islands, where military service is deeply rooted in our community. The Guam-CNMI ESGR has earned national recognition for three consecutive years. In 2024, Major General Benny Paulino received the James M. Roche Spirit of Volunteerism National Award. In 2025, Dave Sablan received national ESGR recognition, and in 2026 Don Clark was named National Employer Outreach Volunteer of the Year. These honors reflect the dedication of the entire committee and its volunteers. On behalf of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands, I thank the Guam-CNMI ESGR for supporting those who serve our nation and strengthening the communities they call home. ``Thank you''; ``Si Yu'us ma'ase.'' ``Thank you''; ``ghilisow.''

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“I am here to honor Sesario Sewralur. He is a navigator and teacher. He sailed many voyages without modern tools. He learned from his father Mau Piailug. Sesario is from Micronesia. He helps us remember this wayfinding knowledge. I thank him and his family.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Grand Master Navigator Sesario Sewralur, captain of the Alingano Maisu, a cultural teacher, steward, and guardian of ancestral wayfinding knowledge. A son of Satawal in the Federated States of Micronesia and the son of legendary master navigator Mau Piailug, Sesario began sailing with his father at just 5 years old. He went on to lead 20 voyages across the Marianas, Palau, Yap, Taiwan, and Japan, helping preserve the ancient art of navigating the Pacific without modern instruments. Sesario carried forward his father's legacy and helped ensure traditional navigation remained a living heritage, one that connects the peoples and islands of Oceana across our vast Pacific. On behalf of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands, I extend my deepest gratitude to Captain Sesario; his wife, Florentina; his children; grandchildren; family; and friends. His teachings will endure for generations, and his spirit will live on in the stars, skies, and seas. ``A very big thank you''; ``Un dangkulu na Si Yu'us ma'ase yan, kinisou.''

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House of Representatives

Honoring Association of Pacific Ports

2026-07-23

“I want to cheer for a group I used to be president of. I think they help our economy. They will have a conference. I ask my colleagues to cheer for them too.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Association of Pacific Ports and its more than a century of advancing maritime commerce, cooperation, and security across the Pacific. For Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, our ports are lifelines. They connect our islands to the world and ensure our communities receive the food, fuel, medicine, and supplies we depend on every day. Before coming to Congress, I had the privilege of serving as the chairperson of the Commonwealth Ports Authority and later as the president of the Association of Pacific Ports. I saw firsthand how collaboration among Pacific ports strengthens our economies, improves resilience, and supports our shared future. As our Nation increases its focus on the Indo-Pacific, Pacific ports play an increasingly vital role in both economic prosperity and national security. This August, the association will hold its 112th conference in Guam under the theme Inafa'maolek: Strengthening our Shared Pacific, reflecting the enduring value of partnership and mutual respect. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Association of Pacific Ports for its outstanding service and to congratulate its members and this important milestone.

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House of Representatives

Take Care of America's Veterans Act

2026-07-16

“I want this bill to pass. It will spend money on many things for veterans. Two of my bills are in it. They will spend money on doctors traveling to territories and on telehealth for some island countries. I want more spending on veterans. I want the government to say it is helping veterans.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I rise before you today to lend my voice in strong support of H.R. 9237, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act. This comprehensive package is designed to address the critical needs of our Nation's veterans. The legislation represents a meaningful step forward closing resource gaps that have persisted for far too long. Among its provisions are vital improvements for veterans affected by traumatic brain injuries, expanded survivor benefits, and increased access to medical care in the U.S. territories and the Freely Associated States. I am proud to note that two bills I authored are included in this package. First is the Territorial Response and Access to Veterans' Essential Lifecare, or TRAVEL Act. This provision, which already passed in the House, establishes a VA program enabling physicians to travel to the U.S. territories and deliver essential medical care directly to veterans. The second bill, the U.S. Vets of the Freely Associated States Act, empowers the VA to provide telehealth services and mail prescriptions to veterans residing in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau. These Pacific Island countries are among our closest allies whose citizens serve in our military at exceptionally high rates, yet they lack access to basic care and benefits. This legislation will help remedy that inequity. The Take Care of America's Veterans Act is not just important. It is urgent. Our veterans deserve the best we can offer, and this package delivers on that promise. I thank Chairman Bost for his leadership and dedication to veterans everywhere. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of H.R. 9237.

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