Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Peleliu and the end of Imperial Japanese control of Palau during World War II and urging the Secretary of the Interior to work to protect the historic sites of the Peleliu Battlefield National Historic Landmark and to establish commemorative programs honoring the Americans who fought there.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and I thank the gentleman from American Samoa for speaking so eloquently on this bill. I appreciate the opportunity to offer this bill today, and I want to thank Chairman Pombo for including it on our floor action. The Battle of Peleliu, as mentioned by the gentleman from American Samoa, was one of the bloodiest in the Pacific theater in World War II. It lasted more than 2 months during which the United States suffered over 10,000 casualties, including an estimated 1,250 Marines and 540 soldiers killed in action in an attempt to capture a vital airfield from the Imperial Japanese.

In honor of that historic battle, myself, the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) introduced this bill to recognize the service and sacrifice of the brave men who fought to end Imperial Japanese control over the Palau islands chain and all American servicemen who fought in the Pacific theater. It is important to note that one of those present at the battle was President George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st President of the United States, who served as a torpedo bomber pilot in the Navy at that time. During the battle, then Navy Lieutenant Bush sank an armed Japanese trawler during operations to weaken Japanese defenses on Peleliu before United States Marines invaded the island. In addition, former Secretary of State George P. Shultz served as an officer in the Marine Corps detached to the 81st Infantry Division during the battle and participated in the seizure, occupation and defense of Angaur Island in the Palau islands chain.

In recognition of the battle's importance during the war, the Secretary of the Interior officially designated the Peleliu battlefield as the Peleliu Battlefield National Historic Landmark on February 4, 1985. The battlefield today has considerable evidence of the battle, including cave sites occupied by the defending Japanese troops as well as pillboxes, casemates and large military equipment.

This resolution urges the Secretary of the Interior to recognize the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Peleliu and work to protect the important sites of that battlefield. It is important to note that the battlefield is located in what is today the Republic of Palau. The Republic of Palau today is an independent, democratic nation with a strong ally in the United States. This is due in part to the sacrifices of the members of the United States Armed Forces who participated in the Battle of Peleliu 60 years ago. We honor them today.

Madam Speaker, I certainly would like to commend the gentlemen from California and the gentleman from Arizona for their management of this proposed legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 102 as offered by my good friend from Arizona (Mr. Flake) in recognition of the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Peleliu and the end of Japanese control of the Pacific islands of Palau.

The Battle of Peleliu was one of the bloodiest in the Pacific theater in World War II, lasting more than 2 months, during which the United States suffered over 10,000 casualties. As a result of this momentous battle, Japanese control of Palau was ended. Today, Palau is an independent, democratic country and a strong ally of our Nation.

As we are all well aware, Madam Speaker, freedom is not free. The price of freedom was paid in blood, and we owe a great debt of gratitude to the American forces who sacrificed their lives at the Battle of Peleliu so that Palau can enjoy freedom today. By this resolution, we in Congress will acknowledge the bravery and courage shown by the members of the United States Armed Forces in the Battle of Peleliu and work to ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten.

Over the years, it was my privilege, along with my colleagues in the House, to personally visit and meet with the leaders of the Republic of Palau. Although small in numbers as far as population goes, the Republic of Palau along with the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia are a strategically important region for our national security and defense.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and, again, commend my good friend from Arizona (Mr. Flake) for sponsoring this proposed legislation.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 102) recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Peleliu and the end of Imperial Japanese control of Palau during World War II and urging the Secretary of the Interior to work to protect the historic sites of the Peleliu Battlefield National Historic Landmark and to establish commemorative programs honoring the Americans who fought there.

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

My colleague from Arizona (Mr. Flake) has introduced legislation that seeks to honor an important anniversary marking a battle that took place in the Pacific theater during World War II. His resolution, H.J. Res. 102, commemorates the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Peleliu in the Palau island chain.

In particular, H.J. Res. 102 will recognize the admirable bravery and courage that thousands of United States Armed Forces members displayed during this battle. The actual formal date of the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Peleliu was on September 15, 2004, which makes the movement of this legislation even more timely. The unique history our country has with this freely associated state is one that should not be forgotten and continues strongly to this day. I am thus hopeful that the House can support the gentleman from Arizona's bill so that we may show our support of the many U.S. Armed Forces veterans and families who help us to remember this important time in history.

I urge the adoption of this joint resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake).

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 752, H.R. 3954, H.R. 4066, H.R. 4469, H.R. 4579, H.R. 4596, H.R. 4683, H.R. 4808, S. 643, S. 1687, S. 2052, H.R. 3247, H.R. 4617, H.R. 4827, H.R. 4838, S. 1537, S. 1778, S. 2180, H.R. 3210, H.R. 3597, H.R. 4606, H.R. 5009, H.R. 5016, S. 2508, H.J. Res. 102, H. Res. 737, H.R. 2941, and H.R. 3479.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.J. Res. 102, which is at the desk.

This Senator recognizes a good friend of mine from Billings, MT who was involved in Peleliu with the U.S. Marine Corps.

I ask unanimous consent that the joint resolution be read the third time and passed, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements related thereto be printed in the Record.