Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 816) mourning the loss of life caused by the earthquakes and tsunamis that occurred on September 29, 2009, in American Samoa and Samoa, as amended.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution mourning the loss of life caused by the earthquakes and tsunamis that occurred on September 29, 2009, in American Samoa, in the independent state of Samoa and in Tonga.

On September 29, 2009, a powerful earthquake, which registered 8.3 on the Richter scale and is recognized as the world's largest earthquake of 2009, struck below the ocean about 140 miles southwest of Pago Pago and 125 miles south of Apia, in the state of Samoa, creating a massive tsunami, or tidal wave, that crashed into American Samoa, the Independent State of Samoa, and the Kingdom of Tonga, sweeping cars and people out to sea as survivors fled to high ground. The tsunami, or tidal wave, with towering waves that reached up to 20 feet in height and penetrated 1 mile inland, caused death and destruction on a nearly unprecedented scale.

The human cost of this disaster transcends mere statistics and has resulted in deeply personal tragedies for numerous families and communities in the region and throughout the world.

In the U.S. territory of American Samoa, children running for home unknowingly ran in the direction of the tsunami. The villages of Fagamalo, Poloa, Amanave, Failolo, Afao, Asili, Amaluia, Leone, Fagasa, Fagatogo, Pago Pago, Aua, Afono, Vatia, Lauli'i, Faga'itua, Masefau, Alao, Tula, and Aoa in American Samoa were devastated by the disaster. Villages were also wiped out in the independent state of Samoa.

In response to this tragedy, President Barack Obama speedily deployed the tools necessary for a full, swift and aggressive response by FEMA.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also offered her full support and authorized the airlift of emergency supplies to the independent state of Samoa.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi issued a special statement on behalf of the entire Congress, promising to quickly address the needs of American Samoa and the Americans who live there.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Chairman John F. Kerry of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Chairman Howard L. Berman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Chairman Nick Rahall of the House Committee on Natural Resources, as well as many other Members of Congress also offered expressions of support in these trying times.

I especially want to thank my colleague and dear friend, Congresswoman Laura Richardson, for her working side by side with my office in support of our Samoan communities living in her district and in Samoa, as well as in American Samoa. Congresswoman Richardson has stood by us every step of the way and has earned her rightful place in our hearts for leaving no stone unturned in relief efforts.

I also want to thank our Samoan communities and congregations-- churches from Hawaii, Washington, Utah, and California--which collected critical supplies that will now be airlifted or transported by surface transportation to Samoa and, hopefully, also to American Samoa.

I want to also thank the Reverend Liki Tiatia, the Reverend John Mailo, the Reverend Misipauena Tagaloa, and High Chief Loa Pele Faletogo, who have been instrumental in gathering emergency supplies for our families abroad.

With so many people in need of basic supplies, words cannot express how grateful I am to all of my fellow Americans and to our friends from around the world who have responded to this disaster and to our call for assistance with a generous and heartfelt outpouring of aid. More than 300 responders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, the U.S. Corps of Engineers, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other Federal agencies are on the ground in American Samoa, coordinating relief and recovery operations.

Organizations including the Li Ka Shing Foundation, the Hanwha Group, Save the Children, Habitat for Humanity, Latter-Day Saint charities, Catholic Charities, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, tuna canneries like StarKist, Bumble Bee, even the Polynesian professional football players with the National Football League and the coalition of various Samoan organizations like the Office of Samoan Affairs and many others that are providing assistance.

The United States Navy, the Coast Guard, the Hawaii International Guard and the U.S. Army Reserves in American Samoa provided critical transport of the life-saving and life-sustaining supplies and equipment to meet the immediate needs of the survivors.

On behalf of the people of America Samoa, I express my gratitude for all of those who have stood by us when we have needed you most.

I also join with Governor Togiola Tulafono and First Lady Maryanne Togiola Tulafono of American Samoa conveying my deepest condolences to the families of the many earthquake and tsunami victims, and to the Head of State, his Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi of Samoa, as well as to His Majesty King George Tupou V and Prime Minister Feleti Vaka'uta Sevele of Tonga.

As we begin the long and difficult process of rebuilding, we thank God for the prayers you have offered on our behalf and express appreciation to all persons and relief organizations who continue to alleviate our suffering.

In memory of those who are no longer with us, I urge my colleagues to support passage of House Resolution 816, mourning the loss of life caused by the earthquakes and tsunamis that occurred on September 29, 2009, in American Samoa, Independent State of Samoa and the Kingdom of Tonga.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and gentleman from Washington for his support and endorsement as well as the chairman of our Committee on Natural Resources, Nick Rahall, for his support.

At this time I would like to yield 2 minutes to my distinguished friend and colleague, the gentlelady from the State of Hawaii (Ms. Hirono).

I thank the gentlelady for her kind remarks from the State of Hawaii.

At this time, I would like to yield 4 minutes to my good friend from California, Congresswoman Laura Richardson.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute to again express my sincere appreciation to the comments by my dear friend and colleague, Congresswoman Laura Richardson.

Just to give my colleagues a sense of what took place, as I said earlier in my remarks, it was an earthquake right on the fringe of the Tonga Trench. The Tonga Trench is one of the two deepest trenches in the world, second only to the Marianas Trench. And when the earthquake struck at almost 7 in the morning, it caused tremors in the Samoan Islands for about 3 minutes, but the shock wave was traveling at about 500 miles an hour. So there was no way that anybody could possibly prepare for this disaster to occur because in a manner of minutes--I've seen tidal waves before, and what happens is that the water is totally sucked out from the shoreline from the reefs so pretty much you can prepare yourself to anticipate the coming of the tidal wave.

What made this disaster so different is the fact that the tremors occurred for about 3 or 5 minutes, then 5 minutes later, the tidal wave was up there 20 feet in height coming to the many people who were so surprised and shocked that early morning at 7 o'clock when the tidal wave came in.

So we're looking at two disasters: an earthquake that caused a lot of problems and then the tsunami. So the two disasters occurred at the same time.

I wanted to share that with my colleague that this is what made a very unusual disaster was because there was no way that anybody could properly prepare for what was coming when this earthquake occurred.

At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to my colleague from the Virgin Islands, Donna Christensen.

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my good friend, the senior ranking member of our House Foreign Affairs Committee, for her kind comments, mentioning also about the military participation of the sons and daughters of American Samoa.

According to the recent reports of USA Today newspaper, American Samoans have the highest percentage per annum in the whole United States in terms of those who sacrificed their lives in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, with about 136 percent above all States and territories. I do want to thank the gentlelady for reminding us of that.

Mr. Speaker, if I could ask how much more time do we have?

I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from California, my dear friend, Ms. Chu.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my good friend from the Northern Mariana Islands, Congressman Sablan.

Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my

good friend from Texas (Mr. Al Green).

Mr. Speaker, I again want to thank my good friend from Washington for his assistance and partnering with me in putting this resolution before our colleagues.

I also have a proverbial expression, going along with what my good friend from Texas has said, that, yes, there truly is only one race, and that's the human race. That's what makes this country so great.

I also believe that this country is but a microcosm of the whole world in itself, and the fact that it seeks no race or creed or boundaries to the extent that we are all fellow human beings, and whenever there is a need, it's our moral responsibility to do all that we can to give assistance.

There is also a saying among the Chinese people that says there are many acquaintances but very view friends.

I will say, Mr. Speaker, to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude to my colleagues who truly are my friends, when I am in need, just from the fact that many of our colleagues have had occasions of having to appear before the floor and expressing and asking for assistance when disasters occur in their States and their territories, this is what the Congress is all about. This is what democracy is all about in this great country.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I cannot say enough words to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude for the offered help from the administration, from our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, from everybody in the Congress, knowing of the difficulties that we are going through. I am going to say, our people are in good spirits. The prayer services, all that has been offered has been tremendous. I just want to say again, thank you to my colleagues.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise in strong support of H.R. 816, to mourn the loss of the lives and all of the tragedy that we had with the earthquake and the subsequent tsunami that devastated American Samoa and the independent State of Samoa.

May I first of all take a moment to really commend Congressman Eni Faleomavaega from American Samoa. There is no tougher time as a Member that we have when a disaster hits our community to respond where he has been working over the last week visiting all of the territories, all of the areas to assess and to understand how we can help best.

You might ask how I got involved. Why would an 8.3 magnitude earthquake 120 miles away, that caused a tsunami, that caused death throughout many of our communities, why would I be engaged? Well, in the United States we have over 80,000 Samoans who live here, over 52,000 who live in California, and almost 30,000 of those actually live in my district. So this is beyond an issue of just a concern of a community that had a disaster. It's actually family and friends and people that I've worked with for a long time who are looking for help and assistance.

So when we stand today, I want to stand in full support with Congressman Eni Faleomavaega to really look at the tragedy that has happened but also how we can move forward. The Congressman has been successful in working with the Secretary to be able to send aid this very week that's going to go to western Samoa which the chairman has been a chairman over for many years on the committee. But we need to continue to work so when disasters like this occur, we can get help and assistance quickly, and time should not be with delay

I also want to thank Secretary Clinton publicly for her assistance. We appreciate the initial efforts that had been done in American Samoa, but much more needs to be done, and we will work in concert to ensure that that continual work supplies things that many people care desperately for actually get to the people.

As I conclude my comments, I want to say that as Members, as we stand together to deal with this tragedy, people should know that there are over 60 organizations in my district who have now donated over 200,000 pounds of various supplies: water, food, clothing, things that people desperately need. But what they really need is they need to also know from us as leaders that they're not there alone, that we are watching what's happening, we are watching the response of FEMA and the other aspects of our government, and we are committed to them not only today but we're committed as they're going to have to rebuild which will take for many months to come.

I commend you, Congressman, for all your efforts. You passionately lead the people in your community. We're fortunate to have you here. And I will work with you and other members of our caucus to ensure not only this support, but all of the support that you need that you have us right there standing side by side.

I thank you for yielding, and I want to rise also in strong support of H.R. 816, mourning the loss of life caused by the earthquake and tsunami that occurred on September 29, 2009, in American Samoa and Samoa, and to extend my thoughts and prayers and that of the people of the Virgin Islands to the victims of that 8.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that devastated our brothers and sisters in the U.S. territory of American Samoa and the Nation of Western Samoa and to offer our condolences to those that lost loved ones as a result of that tragedy.

Like my colleague from California, I've been to American Samoa several times with the Congressman. We were there in early August and visited his own village of Leone--which we heard so much about in the wake of the earthquake and the tsunami because they were so hard hit-- and I remember how the people came out and welcomed us. They fed us. We had a joyous time with them. That evening they showered us with so many gifts, and we just hope that we can return those gifts to them in their time of greatest need.

As I speak to you, there is a young girl--and I wish I had her name with

me--who has started a drive at home for the people of American Samoa and Western Samoa. When I go back home on Saturday, I will join her at one of our shopping centers to continue to raise supplies and funds to help our neighbors.

I know as a Congresswoman from the U.S. Virgin Island, a community of islands that is also vulnerable to tropical disasters, I am very aware of the toll it can take on the people, infrastructure, and our time and resources. I know how hard it has been on our colleague, Mr. Faleomavaega to be home. I called him one morning, forgetting that it was 5 o'clock in the morning in American Samoa, but he was already up and preparing to go and visit just another area that had been devastated.

The people of my district, the U.S. Virgin Islands, have asked me to express their solidarity with the people of American Samoa at this time of their distress, and to extend our support to our colleague, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, as they make and we make with them the necessary arrangements to mobilize and deploy urgently needed emergency assistance and to assure them that all of the American people, but especially those on the other off-shore territories, are ready to assist them.

In visiting American Samoa you cannot help but be struck by the strong community spirit that exists there and the strong faith, and I know that will bear them up through this difficult time, but they still need our support, and we're here for them.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 816 and to express my condolences and deepest sympathies to the people of American Samoa and Independent Samoa for the loss of life that was caused by the earthquakes and tsunamis that hit these islands on September 29, 2009.

Struck by towering waves that reached up to 20 feet in height, the people of American Samoa, Independent Samoa and Tonga are today confronting staggering losses of life and property as they watched helplessly as the in-rushing sea swallowed up coastal towns and villages.

As of last week it is estimated that 32 American Samoans and 135 residents of Independent Samoa lost their lives. And today, many families in the affected areas still lack basic necessities resulting in the risk of additional deaths because of scarce clean water, shelter, food and basic health care.

I was pleased to have had the opportunity to visit American Samoa earlier this year with my good friend and colleague, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, the author of the resolution we are debating today. Among the places we visited while we were there was the Village of Leone; one of the areas on American Samoa that was severely impacted. I want to express my profound condolences to the people of Leone for their suffering as well as to thank them once again for the warm welcome and hospitality they offered us.

I want to also commend Congressman Faleomavaega for his efforts in marshalling the response of the federal government in responding to the disaster in his home island. Eni and his staff labored around the clock to coordinate the efforts of FEMA, the Red Cross, Army Corps and the other federal agencies tasked by President Obama to speedily deploy all the resources and tools necessary for a full, swift and aggressive response.

Mr. Speaker, American Samoans in the Pacific and in the mainland United States are an integral part of our country's history and of our American social fabric. They are our brothers who fight valiantly in our wars and contribute immensely to the prosperity of our country. Today, I send my thoughts and prayers to the victims and their family members in this moment of grief and tragic loss. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and pray for their speedy recovery.

I thank the gentleman for the time.

Mr. Speaker, I was honored to join my good friend, Mr. Faleomavaega, in serving as an original cosponsor of this critical resolution. This resolution offers the condolences in a heartfelt way of the Congress to those who endured suffering and loss in American Samoa and Samoa and neighboring Tonga during the tragic events of September 29 and the aftermath. We join with the people of American Samoa, Samoa and the entire Samoan community here in the United States in mourning those who have died in this terrible disaster.

The previous tragic events of 2004 made us all keenly aware of the devastation which can be wrought by a tsunami after an earthquake takes place in ocean waters.

Waves from this tsunami in American Samoa were reportedly 20 feet high and rushed 1 mile inland, causing unprecedented death and destruction. The latest death toll reported is 32 dead in American Samoa and 135 dead in Samoa. Children mistakenly running in the direction of the tsunami were among the victims.

The Governor of American Samoa was quoted as saying that the quake and subsequent tsunami ranked right up there with some of the worst disasters to hit the area. Survivors are in urgent need of necessities, including water, adequate shelter, food, sanitation, and health care. Three hundred emergency responders have reportedly been dispatched by FEMA. The Red Cross, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Department of Health and Human Services are coordinating relief and recovery operations.

The U.S. military, under the direction of the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii, is providing emergency assistance, including food, water, tents, blankets, and medical supplies. In this regard, military personnel are helping their friends and colleagues, as the young people of American Samoa are well known for their patriotic spirit of service in the United States military, including in both Iraq and Afghanistan. We appreciate and honor that service.

I urge my colleagues to give their strong support to this resolution.