Recognizing the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and recognizing the Marshall Islands as a staunch ally of the United States, committed to principles of democracy and freedom for the Pacific region and throughout the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 410, to recognize the 25th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and that the Marshall Islands is a staunch ally of the United States. I want to begin by commending my friend, the Gentleman from Arizona Mr. Flake, for his leadership in introducing this worthwhile resolution of which I am an original cosponsor.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands suffered for 400 years under the colonial regimes of Spain and Germany. In the 20th century, under the League of Nations system for governance of territories, Japan governed the Marshall Islands. During World War II, the Marshall Islands were liberated from Japanese rule through the cooperation between the Marshallese people and the Armed Forces of the United States.

In a 1947 agreement between Congress and the United Nations Security Council, the United States assumed trusteeship of the Marshall Islands. During the period from 1947 to 1979, the United States promoted democratic self-government and self-determination in the Marshall Islands. In 1979, the Marshall Islands adopted their own constitution and declared themselves the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Since that time, the Republic of the Marshall Islands has proved itself a staunch ally of the United States and a model for transition from a non-self-governing territory ravaged by war to a stable and democratic example of institution building for the Pacific region and the rest of the world.

On June 17, 2004, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kessai Note wrote to U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka expressing his continued concern for the people of Ailuk Atoll near which the United States tested the thermonuclear weapon Bravo in 1954. The people of Ailuk and others still suffer from the fallout of those tests. I support President Note in his desire to have the people of Ailuk receive the support and assistance they badly need.

Mr. Speaker, this is worthy resolution, which is deserving of all our support and I urge all my colleagues to support its passage. And I look forward to the continued friendship of the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Mr. Burton of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and to pay tribute to a staunch ally of the United States and a people committed to the principles of democracy and freedom for all people of the Pacific region and the world.

It is perhaps fitting that on May 29, 2004, America dedicated the National World War II Memorial in recognition of the duty, sacrifices, and valor of the members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served in World War II. The beginnings of our Nation's close relationship with the people of the Marshall Islands are deeply rooted in that titanic struggle. In 1944, risking their lives to aid the Armed Forces of the United States and our Allies, the Marshallese people joined with the U.S. to liberate the Marshall Islands from Japanese military rule. Some of the most horrific battles of World War II occurred on the Marshall Islands before the Japanese military occupation was finally put to an end. The momentous events brought together the people of these two great lands in a common bond that has resulted in more than five decades of friendship and strategic solidarity between the Marshall Islands and the U.S. That relationship is as strong today as it ever was.

Comprising 30 atolls and 1,152 islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands represents a total land mass that is almost equivalent in size to Washington, D.C., but covers roughly 770,000 square miles of the western Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, due to the vastness of the world's largest ocean, and the distance between us, the culture, history, and people of the Marshall Islands are largely unknown to most Americans, except perhaps as the place where the United States tested more than 67 nuclear weapons during the development of our Nation's strategic arsenal. Although that testing left a legacy that we continue to address to this day, it would prove critical to the success of our country during the Cold War.

The United States nuclear testing program put the people of these remote islands on the front line in the Cold War struggle to preserve international peace, promote nuclear disarmament, support nuclear nonproliferation, and provide facilities critical to the development of a deployable missile defense system. The hardships and suffering endured by Marshall Island citizens during the testing program directly contributed to the positive and peaceful end to the Cold War. Their importance to the emergence of democracy across the globe cannot be understated. The people of the United States, and indeed the entire Free World, owe the people of the Marshall Islands an enormous debt of gratitude for their sacrifices.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands has an unmatched record of working in conjunction with the United States in the pursuit of international peace and security, the rights and well-being of the peoples of the world, and in the War on Terror. I have been fortunate to have many great friends who hail from the Marshall Islands, and I will never forget the openness and kindness with which I was received. I congratulate the people of the Marshall Islands on the 25th Anniversary of their Constitution; and I commend them for the undying commitment to democracy and freedom. The United States is fortunate to have such a loyal friend and ally in the Pacific region. I look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship between our two great Nations for many more years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 410) recognizing the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and recognizing the Marshall Islands as a staunch ally of the United States, committed to principles of democracy and freedom for the Pacific region and throughout the world, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the United States and the Marshall Islands share deep bonds of history and friendship. We have enjoyed the uniquely close alliance over the past half century. The ties between us stretch back to World War II when we struggled together to liberate the Marshall Islands from Japanese occupation.

During the intervening decades, these bonds of blood have grown into an abiding alliance. The Congress reaffirmed that alliance late last year when we approved the amended Compact of Free Association between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which extended the strategic and economic ties between our two countries.

When the Marshallese people adopted their Constitution in 1979, they formed a democratic government, committed to the rule of law and individual liberty. It was a critical development in their transition from the U.S.-administered trust territory into a sovereign independent nation.

The people of the United States saw our shared ideals of freedom and democracy take root among our friends in the Pacific; and when full sovereignty followed in 1986, we gained a stalwart ally in the community of nations.

I commend this effort to commemorate that event and our continuing alliance with the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which deserves our unanimous support.

Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity a couple of times now to visit the Marshall Islands, once years ago and again this January, and to be able to visit with President Note and other members of the Parliament and other ministers as well and to visit a couple of the islands and to witness the friendship firsthand with the Marshallese people.

It is significant to note that nearly a hundred Marshallese citizens have actually been serving with our Armed Forces in Iraq and other theatres of war. They have been a very staunch ally of ours, and I think it is also significant to note that in the United Nations, the United States has no better friend and ally than the Marshallese. The Marshall Islands votes with the United States 99 percent of the time. That is something that is not shared with any other country or nation. So we owe a debt of gratitude to the Marshallese people; and to recognize them for the adoption of their Constitution 25 years ago, I think, is a significant step. It means a lot to them, and it should mean a lot to us.

There is also another reason that it is important that we recognize the Marshall Islands for what they do and have done for us in the past. Our nuclear testing dates back to the 1950s when we did Operation Bravo and in other operations where we tested nuclear devices, and the Marshallese people have cooperated and helped us in that regard for over a half century; and for that we owe a debt of gratitude.

From the military base at Kwajalein, I was able to see our base there and see what we are currently doing today; and it is a great operation there, and we have the full cooperation of the Marshallese, which makes it much easier to accomplish what we need to.

They have been a stable democracy in the Pacific for over 25 years, and this is due in part to the fact that the United States during the U.N. trusteeship period fulfilled its commitment to promote democratic self-government and self-determination for the Marshall Islands. These efforts led to the establishment of local self-government, and this culminated in a constitutional convention in which delegates representing the people of the Marshall Islands proposed that they be constituted as a self-governing nation.

This happened, and in 1979 the people of the Marshall Islands adopted their own Constitution and declared themselves a republic. This Constitution established a parliamentary governmental system with separation of powers and a bill of rights guaranteeing democracy, freedom, and limited government for the Marshallese people.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's comments and just to say again that we had the opportunity, myself and the gentleman from California (Chairman Pombo) of the Committee on Resources, to travel with Secretary Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior, to the Marshall Islands earlier this year, and were able to meet with the President and others. I know they appreciate this gesture, and we have no greater friend than the Marshall Islands.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 410, which recognizes the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and expresses our nation's gratitude for our shared commitment to the principles of democracy and freedom.

Over the past 25 years and since attaining their independence as a sovereign nation, the RMI has emerged to become one of the greatest and most reliable democratic allies of the United States. Our special relationship with the RMI, embodied in the Compact of Free Association renewed last year, has helped fulfill the two principal U.S. objectives in the Western Pacific of forging strategic alliances and establishing democratic systems of government. The RMI was the first of the three former entities of the United Nations administered Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, to adopt their own Constitution and gain their independence. Their example and influence helped stabilize the Pacific Region and win the cold war.

For over 400 years, the people of the Marshall Islands were subjected to foreign and colonial control. The Spanish, the Germans, the Japanese, and the Americans all took control of the islands, named for English explorer John Marshall who visited the islands in 1799, at one time or another. Today, the people of the Marshall Islands strive to retain and preserve their identity and traditions. In many respects, they have been amazingly successful, even as they have faced and embraced the forces of Westernization and globalization. In January, I had the good fortune of visiting their beautiful country as a member of the Congressional Delegation led by Mr. Pombo, the Chairman of the House Resources Committee. While in Majuro, we met with President Kessai Note, as well as elected officials from Bikini, Enewetak, Rongelap and Utrok. We also visited the U.S. Army's Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Test Site on Kwajalein Atoll, which is a testament to the strength and dependability of U.S.-RMI relations. With 40 years of cooperation, the Missile Test Site has provided a critical role in development and success of our nation's missile defense and space programs.

On Sunday, July 4th, this nation celebrated our freedom and democratic progress. It has now been 228 years since our founding fathers declared our nation's independence and our democratic form of government. As we reflect upon our democratic experiment and the values we cherish as Americans, it is also fitting that we recognize those who embrace these same values and freedoms. The United States has a proven and trusting friend in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. As we continue to build our relationship, let us work to resolve the remaining issues that the nuclear testing era brought for the benefit of our strategic partnership and special relationship.

I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Flake, and my good friend from American Samoa, Mr. Faleomavaega, for their leadership in introducing this resolution and for their firm commitment to sustaining and strengthening the friendship between the people of the United States and the people of the Marshall Islands. Lastly, I want to recognize and congratulate the Marshalls' Ambassador to the United States for his efforts in strengthening the relationship between our governments, the Honorable Banny de Brum. Si Yu'os Ma'ase and Komol tata.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution and would first like to commend my colleague, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake), for introducing this important measure as well as the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde), and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for their strong support for this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 410 recognizes the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Given the extremely close bilateral relationship between our two nations and the important role played by the people of the Marshall Islands in our Nation's victory in World War II, it is appropriate that we commemorate this important day in the history of the Marshall Islands.

The United States has no greater friend in the Western Pacific than the government of the Marshall Islands. The United States maintains an important military facility at Kwajalein Atoll, and young Marshallese men and women serve in the United States Armed Forces. The Marshall Islands has been a strong supporter of American policy at the United Nations and a good friend to an embattled ally of the United States, the State of Israel.

The Marshall Islands is also a strong and flourishing democracy, having recently completed free and fair elections in 2003 for its legislature. In fact, Members of Congress welcomed Marshallese President Kessai Note to Washington, D.C. a few weeks ago. President Note discussed the future of relations between the United States and the Marshall Islands and the need for the U.S. Congress to carefully examine the Changed Circumstances Petition submitted by the Marshall Islands.

In short, Mr. Speaker, the Marshall Islands is a strong, democratic ally of the United States and a strategically important position. We must do all we can to further solidify relations between our two nations.

I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 410.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the following statement appear in the appropriate place in the Congressional Record behind the votes for Wednesday, July 7, 2004: unfortunately, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present for the recorded Roll Call votes number 326 through number 335, I would have voted in the following way:

No. 326--H. Con. Res. 410--Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended Recognizing the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. I would have voted ``yes.''

No. 327--H. Con. Res. 257--Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree Expressing the sense of Congress that the President should posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Harry W. Colmery. I would have voted ``yes.''

No. 328--On agreeing to the Manzullo, Velazquez, Serrano amendment to provide $79.1 million for the Small Business 7(a) loan program, the amount provided last year, to finance more than $13 billion in small business loans. I would have voted in favor of the amendment.

No. 329--On agreeing to the Flake (Arizona) Amendment prohibiting use of funds to implement new restrictions on gift parcels and other items allowed for travellers to Cuba. I would have voted ``yes.''

No. 330--On agreeing to the Weiner Amendment increasing COPS funding by $107 million and offsets that funding by cutting funding for the Census. I would have voted ``yes.''

No. 331--On agreeing to the Hefley Amendment eliminating funding for the re-engineering design process for the 2010 short-form only Census. I would have voted ``no.''

No. 332--On agreeing to the Kucinich amendment on funding for the Commerce Department to expand the membership of the President's ``Manufacturing Council.'' I would have voted ``yes.''

No. 333--On agreeing to the Paul of Texas amendment No. 9. I would have voted ``no.''

No. 334--On agreeing to the Farr of California amendment prohibiting funds from being used to prevent states from implementing state lays authorizing the use of medical marijuana. I would have voted ``yes.''

No. 335--On agreeing to the Paul of Texas amendment No. 10. I would have voted ``no.''