To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act related to a segment of the Lower Merced River in California, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to include, for historical purposes, information on the timeline regarding the federal minimum wage issue affecting American Samoa as debated and discussed in the U.S. Congress.

When the Democratic Party took control of both houses of

Congress following the 2006 elections, it promised to

increase the federal minimum wage to $7.25 per hour in its

``first 100 hours'' on the floor. On January 10, 2007, the

House passes H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, by a

vote of 315-116. CNMI was included in the bill and subject to

annual increases until the Territory reached a rate of $7.25

per hour. American Samoa was excluded from the bill, meaning

Special Industry Committees would continue to determine

increases in American Samoa. False media reports begin to

circulate suggesting Speaker Pelosi excluded American Samoa

from H.R. 2 because Congressman Eni Faleomavaega (EF) is a

Democrat, and because Del Monte is contributing to the

Speaker's campaign. The media also implies that the Fair

Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not apply to American Samoa.

A campaign begins to make American Samoa subject to the $7.25

federal minimum wage standard.

On January 16, EF responds by informing the press and

Members of Congress that the FLSA has applied to American

Samoa since 1938 and that since 1956, under Section 5 and 8

of the FLSA, Special Industry Committees administered by the

Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor have

determined wage rates in American Samoa. EF asks for Special

Industry Committees to continue and for CNMI to be brought

under the Special Industry umbrella. EF also writes to

Senator Daniel Inouye, Senator Daniel Akaka and the following

Senators from the Senate Committee on Health, Education,

Labor and Pensions (HELP): Senator Lamar Alexander, Senator

Wayne Allard, Senator Jeff Bingaman, Senator Sherrod Brown,

Senator Richard Burr, Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Tom

Coburn, Senator Chris Dodd, Senator Michael B. Enzi (Ranking

Member), Senator Judd Gregg, Senator Tom Harkin, Senator

Orrin Hatch, Senator Johnny Isakson, Senator Edward M.

Kennedy (Chairman), Senator Barbara Mikulski, Senator Lisa

Murkowski, Senator Patty Murray, Senator Barack Obama,

Senator Jack Reed, Senator Pat Roberts, and Senator Bernie

Sanders. EF also writes to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,

Rep. George Miller, Chairman, House Committee of Education

and the Workforce, Rep. Howard Buck McKeon, Ranking Member,

House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Speaker

Pelosi. On January 18 and January 19, EF speaks out on the

House floor. On January 22, EF and Senator Inouye write

Senator Kennedy, Chairman of the Senate Committee on HELP, in

support of using Special Industry Committees to determine

wage rates for American Samoa and CNMI. On January 24, in an

attempt to make a stink about Democrats' minimum-wage and

territorial voting proposals, House Republicans take to the

Floor wearing white stickers of Charlie the Tuna with a

caption stating ``Something's Fishy!'' EF writes to Secretary

of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. StarKist and Chicken of the

Sea write to EF. On January 30, the Senate passes wage bill.

On February 5, EF writes to conferees in support of

strengthening Special Industry Committees, including Chairman

Kennedy and Ranking Member Enzi of the Senate HELP Committee,

and Ranking Member Howard ``Buck'' McKeon and Chairman Miller

of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. On

March 12, EF writes to Chairman Miller. On March 15, minimum

wage bill is attached to Emergency Iraq War Supplemental

bill. Republican Mark Kirk also offers an amendment to extend

federal minimum wage rates to American Samoa by $0.50 cents

per hour every year until the Territory reaches the mainland

rate of $7.25 per hour. Amendment is accepted by House

Appropriations Committee. On March 15, EF writes to Rep.

David Obey, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations

in opposition to the Kirk amendment. Obey promises that the

issue will be resolved during conference.

On May 11, EF writes to Chairman Miller offering compromise

amendment to the Kirk proposal in which workers would be

provided a one-time increase of $0.50 cents per hour and the

U.S. Department of Labor would be empowered to determine

future increases, though Special Industry Committees would be

abolished. EF writes to Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority

Leader Harry Reid, Senator Inouye, Senator Akaka, and Senator

Bingaman, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and

Natural Resources. EF also writes to Del Monte CEO Richard

Wolford, forwarding copy of letter and amendment to House and

Senate. EF writes to Chicken of the Sea CEO John Signorino

and Del Monte CEO Richard Wolford to set the record straight

about comments made by Del Monte's Executive Vice President

regarding EF's position on minimum wage. On May 18, EF,

Senator Inouye, Senator Bingaman, Senator Akaka and Rep.

Donna Christensen write to Chairman David Obey and Ranking

Member Jerry Lewis of the House Committee on Appropriations

and Chairman Robert Byrd and Ranking Member Thad Cochran of

the Senate Committee on Appropriations urging support of EF's

amendment but with an initial increase of $0.35 cents per

hour. On May 21, Del Monte CEO Richard Wolford writes to EF

in support of his EF's efforts in Congress to resolve the

challenges regarding the impact of increased wages on tuna

cannery operations in American Samoa. On May 25, conferees do

not accept the proposal but do agree to include EF language

calling upon the U.S. Department of Labor to conduct a study

to determine impact of future increases. Wage hike with

automatic escalator clauses is included in the Iraq War

supplemental spending bill and President George W. Bush signs

it into law on May 25. The first wage increase occurs on June

24.

On June 6, EF writes to Rep. Christensen, Chair of the

House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Insular Affairs

requesting an oversight hearing on the impact of the federal

minimum wage legislation. EF copies his letter to Governor

and Legislature. On June 11, Chicken of the Sea President

John Signorino writes to EF, enclosing copy of letter COS

Senior Vice President Jim Davet wrote to Del Monte and copied

to Governor Togiola. On June 21, EF writes to Thai Union

President Thiraphong Chansiri and copies his letter to

Senator Inouye, Governor Togiola, Lieutenant Governor Sunia,

ASG Legislature, COS President John Signorino, and COS Vice

President of Operations Jim Davet. EF responds to Davet's

comments and requests meeting with Thai Union President

Chansiri. Mr. Chansiri agrees to meet. The same day, EF

writes to COS President John Signorino and sets the record

straight about Mr. Davet's comments. EF encloses a copy of

his letter to Chairwoman Christensen as well as his letter to

Thai Union President Thiraphong Chansiri. EF also writes to

Del Monte CEO Richard Wolford and encloses a copy of his

letter to Rep. Christensen requesting a hearing as soon as

possible. EF writes to Governor Togiola informing him that he

will meet be meeting with StarKist, Chicken of the Sea, Del

Monte, Thai Union and boat owners in San Diego, California

regarding the impact of federal minimum wage law. EF also

informs Governor that he will be meeting with Thai Union

President Thiraphong Chansiri on July 1. EF copies his letter

to Senator Inouye, Lieutenant Governor, and the American

Samoa Legislature.

On July 1, EF meets with Thai Union President Thiraphong

Chansiri in Bangkok, Thailand. On July 24, EF meets with U.S.

Department of Labor officials, including Dr. Ronald Baird,

Chief Economist from the Office of the Assistant Secretary

for Policy, who is tasked to undertake the study mandated by

Congress to determine impact of minimum wage increases. On

July 25, EF writes to Secretary of the Interior Dirk

Kempthorne regarding his meeting with the U.S. Department of

Labor and requesting

support in assisting ASG and CNMI officials in how to collect

the necessary data needed to make determinations about both

economies.

On January 25, 2008, U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

releases it report. On January 29, EF introduces H.R. 5154 to

condition further increases in minimum wage on a

determination by the Secretary of Labor. EF writes to

Governor Togiola and provides him with a copy of the DOL

report and informs him that he has introduced H.R. 5154. EF

copies Senator Inouye, U.S. Secretary of the Interior,

Lieutenant Governor, ASG Legislature. On February 12, EF

writes to Paramount Chief Mauga regarding field hearing to be

held in American Samoa regarding impact of minimum wage

increases. On February 14, EF writes to Chairman Miller

regarding H.R. 5154 and thanking him for sending 2

professional staff members to field hearing scheduled to

be held in American Samoa on February 22. On February 22,

Rep. Christensen, Chair of the House Natural Resources

Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, holds field hearing in

American Samoa at EF's request regarding impact of federal

minimum wage increases on American Samoa's economy. EF

testifies before the House Resources Subcommittee on

Insular Affairs. On February 28, EF testifies before the

Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources regarding

the Impact of the Recently Increased Minimum Wage in

American Samoa.

On March 14, Chairman Miller writes to EF and raises

concerns about DOL. The same day, EF, Senator Inouye, Senator

Akaka, Senator Bingaman write to Chairman Robert C. Byrd and

Ranking Member Thad Cochran of the Senate Committee on

Appropriations requesting delays in minimum wage. On March

31, Secretary of the Interior to Dirk Kempthorne writes to EF

offering support. On April 3, EF writes to Senator Inouye

thanking him for agreeing to offer an amendment based on H.R.

5154 to delay minimum wage increases and to review further

increases. EF also writes to Senator Bingaman and Senator

Akaka. On April 18, EF writes to Senate Majority Leader Harry

Reid. On April 20, EF writes to Senator Orrin Hatch. On April

22, EF and Governor Fitial write to Senator Kennedy, Senator

Inouye, Senator Bingaman, and Senator Akaka. EF and Governor

Fitial also write to Chairman Miller. On April 24, EF and

Governor Fitial write to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

On May 13, EF and CAPAC members Rep. Mike Honda, Rep. Joseph

Crowley, Rep. Christensen, Rep. Albio Sires, Rep. Solomon

Ortiz, Rep. Nydia Velazquez, Rep. Bennie Thompson, Rep. Neil

Abercrombie, Rep. Al Green, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Rep. Joe

Baca, Rep. Mazie Hirono, and Rep. Hank Johnson write to

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Speaker Nancy Pelosi,

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Chairman David Obey of the

House Appropriations Committee, Chairman Norm Dicks of the

Interior Appropriations Committee, Chairman Miller of the

Education and Workforce Committee, Chairman Kennedy of the

Senate HELP Committee, Senator Inouye, Senator Akaka, and

Chairman Bingaman of the Senate Committee on Energy and

Natural Resources requesting support for delays. On May 21,

Senate passes language in the Emergency Supplemental to

conduct new GAO study. On May 30, the 2nd minimum wage

increase goes into effect. On July 31, EF, Chairman Rahall of

the House Committee on Natural Resources and Rep. Christensen

write to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne

requesting technical assistance funds to conduct

comprehensive economic study of American Samoa. On November

25, EF writes to StarKist regarding announcement to lay off

workers and copies Senator Inouye, Governor Togiola and

Chairman Kim Jae-Chul of the Dongwon Group.

On January 28, 2009, EF writes to Chairman Miller

requesting delays in further increases. On January 30, EF

meets with Senator Inouye and thanks him for agreeing to

include language in H.R. 1, the American Reinvestment and

Recovery Act (ARRA) that would require the GAO to conduct a

new study by April 15, 2010. On February 17, H.R. 1 is signed

into law with 3rd wage increase to go forward and a mandate

for a new GAO report to be released by April 2010. On

February 19, EF writes to Governor Togiola, President of the

Senate Gaoteote, Speaker Savali and asks them to join him in

sending a letter to Chairman Miller requesting a deferment of

the 3rd increase until GAO has time to complete its study. On

February 23, EF holds meeting in his DC office with Governor

Togiola and Governor Fitial for purposes of drafting a letter

and sending a unified message to Congress and the

Administration regarding the need to delay minimum wage. On

February 24, EF, Governor Togiola and Governor Fitial deliver

their letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar

during meeting of Interagency Group on Insular Affairs

(IGIA). On May 7, EF writes to Governor Togiola regarding COS

closure and copies letter to American Samoa Legislature. On

May 30, the 3rd minimum wage increase goes into effect. On

July 24, EF responds to ASG petition to President Obama. On

December 14, House and Senate agree to EF's request to

postpone 4th increase from May 2010 to September 2010 to give

Congress time to act on the GAO study.

On April 8, 2010, GAO releases new study on the impact of

minimum wage hikes in American Samoa and CNMI. On April 30,

EF thanks Chairman Miller for agreeing to his request to

modify minimum wage law based on findings of GAO and copies

Senator Inouye, Chairman Nick Rahall of the House Committee

on Natural Resources, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken

Salazar, Governor Togiola, and the American Samoa

Legislature. On May 5, EF forwards Senator Inouye copy of

letter to Chairman Miller. On May 12, Senator Inouye thanks

EF for copy and assures him of support in Senate. On June 12,

EF and Rep. Sablan of CNMI write to Senator Inouye, Chairman

of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and include language

approved by Chairman Miller that would halt minimum wage

increases in American Samoa for 2010 and 2011 and for CNMI

for 2011 based on GAO report, and asking for inclusion in any

legislative vehicle that might be moving. EF and Rep. Sablan

also write to Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate HELP

Committee, Senator Bingaman, Chairman of Senate Committee on

Energy and Natural Resources, and Chairman David Obey of the

House Committee on Appropriations. On July 27, Senator

Bingaman and Senator Murkowski agree to include EF and Sablan

language in H.R. 934, a CNMI bill already passed by the

House, which is hotlined for Unanimous Consent (UC) in the

Senate. Bill clears Democratic hotline. Republican hold

placed on CNMI provision relating to submerged lands. Rep.

Sablan would not agree to take out his submerged lands

provision. In response, Senator Bingaman and Senator

Murkowski agree to include EF and Sablan minimum wage

language in H.R. 3940, a Guam bill already passed by the

House, which is hotlined for Unanimous Consent in the Senate.

On August 3, EF writes to Senator Bingaman thanking him for

agreeing to include minimum wage language in H.R. 3940. EF

writes to Senator Murkowski thanking her for support. On

August 6, EF provides updates informing public that H.R. 3940

has cleared Democratic holds but Republicans did not have

time enough to review before August recess.

On September 14, House returns from District work period.

UC process begins again. Senator Bingaman and Senator

Murkowski's committee staff inform EF and Sablan that

Democrats have cleared H.R. 3940 for UC. On September 16, at

4 pm, Republican cloakroom informs Democrats that 2 holds

have been placed including one by Senator DeMint (R-SC).

Senate ends business for the day and does not go in Session

on Friday. On September 18, Saturday night, Senator Bingaman

and Senator Murkowski's staff inform EF and Sablan that there

is nothing they can do to overcome Senator DeMint's hold. On

September 20, EF's office contacts Senator DeMint's Chief of

Staff at 10:29 am. At 11:52 am, Senator DeMint's Chief of

Staff responds stating he has forwarded EF information and

comments to policy staff for review. On September 21, at

11:28 am, Senator DeMint's staff informs EF office that

Senator DeMint will agree to let minimum wage section pass,

but expresses concerns about Guam provision. EF office

informs Rep. Bordallo's office of concerns raised about Guam.

Rep. Bordallo's office begins process of working out

compromise regarding Guam provisions. On September 27, at

4:36 pm, Rep. Bordallo's office and Sen DeMint's office reach

agreement on new language regarding Guam provision. On

September 28, at 9:45 am, Senator DeMint's office informs

Republican cloakroom that he has released his hold on H.R.

3940 pending the change in language regarding the Guam

provision. Change is made and H.R. 3940 is hot-lined again.

At 1:36 pm, Democrats begin hotline process. At 3:48 pm,

Democratic staff informs EF and Sablan that Senator Coburn is

raising questions but Senator Murkowski's staff is trying to

resolve his concerns. At 4:13 pm, EF speaks with Senator

Majority Leader Harry Reid asking that bill be placed on

floor for DC once it clears the Democratic and Republican

cloakrooms. However, Senator Murkowski's staff is unable to

clear Senator Coburn's hold. At 4:42 pm, EF office contacts

Senator McCain's office asking for help to release Senator

Coburn's hold. Senator McCain's office agrees. At 5:17 pm, EF

office phones Senator Coburn's office. At 6:03 pm, Senator

Coburn's office informs EF's office that Senator Coburn has

agreed to release his hold. At 6:09 pm, Senator McCain's

office also informs EF office that Senator Coburn has agreed

to release his hold. Senate passes H.R. 3940 by DC. At 10:28

pm, EF sends letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi,

House Majority leader Steny Hoyer, Chairman Miller of the

House and Committee on Education and Labor, Leader and

Chairman Nick Rahall of the House Committee on Natural

Resources requesting that H.R. 3940 be brought to the House

floor for immediate passage.

On September 29, at 8:05 am, EF office phones House

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's Chief of Staff again requesting

that H.R. 3940 be brought to Floor for passage. ML Hoyer's

office states that Republican Leadership must be on board. At

10:33 am, EF office contacts Republican Leader John Boehner's

Chief of Staff, Republican Whip Eric Cantor's Chief of Staff,

Republican Staff Director for Ranking Member John Kline of

the House Committee on Education and Labor, and Republican

Staff Director for Ranking Member Doc Hastings of the House

Committee on Natural Resources, providing copy of EF letter

to Republican leadership. At 10:38 am, EF office contacts

Rep. Flake (R-AZ), member of the Resources Committee and LDS

Member of Church, requesting help in getting support from

Republicans, including Ranking Member Doc Hastings of the

Natural Resources Committee. At 10:39 am, Rep. Flake's office

informs EF office that message will be forwarded to Rep.

Flake. At 12:08 pm, Rep. Flake sends message saying he will

speak to Ranking Member Doc Hastings of Natural Resources

Committee. At 12:31 pm, Republican Leader John Boehner's

Chief of Staff responds thanking EF office for bringing this

to his attention and stating that they will respond

appropriately base on conversations with their two Ranking

Members. At 12:30 pm, EF speaks to Ranking Member Doc

Hastings on House floor, and also Rep. Flake who has also

spoken to Ranking Member Hastings. Ranking Member Hastings

and Ranking Member John Kline of the Education and Labor

Committee agree to let bill go to the Floor by suspension. At

12:38 pm, EF office informs Majority Leader Hoyer's office

that Republicans will agree to let the bill be brought to the

House floor by suspension instead of UC, meaning a voice vote

will be requested and that the measure must win by a vote of

290. At 5:18 pm, ML Hoyer's office agrees to put bill on

House floor. ML Hoyer calls EF. At 8:52 pm, EF office begins

providing Samoa News with regular updates.

On September 30, at 12:19 am, EF office informs Samoa News

that vote is taking place. At 12:27 am, EF issues press

release stating bill passes House by a vote of 386 to 5. At

12:31 am, EF office emails White House requesting assistance

to get bill on President's desk for signature. At 8:00 am,

White House emails EF office thanking EF for flagging the

bill for signature. At 8:36 am, EF office contacts Majority

Leader Hoyer's Chief of Staff requesting assistance to get

the bill from the House to the White House. At 8:40 am, ML

Hoyer's COS states he is working it. At 10:58 am, Majority

Leader Hoyer's Chief of Staff informs EF office that he has

taken the bill to the Clerk's office and that it is at the

Parliamentarian's office awaiting clearance, then it goes to

Speaker Pelosi, then to the Senate, then to the President of

the United States for signature. At 5:06 pm, White House

informs EF that President has signed H.R. 3940. At 5:09 pm,

EF office informs Samoa News bill has been signed. Samoa News

issues breaking news flash. At 5:38 pm, EF issues press

release announcing that bill has been signed into law.

Mr. President, as we start Black History Month, I rise today to discuss a national hero that I have spoken about many times on the Senate floor. 2013 is a particularly remarkable year for Harriet Ross Tubman in that March 13, 2013 will mark the 100th anniversary of her death. This noteworthy anniversary makes it all the more appropriate for me to talk about Maryland's Harriet Ross Tubman and her dedication to justice, equality and service to this country. It is also why it is important for Congress to take action this year on The Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park Act that I am reintroducing today.

In my career, I have spoken on the Senate Floor, at events in Maryland, in meetings with constituents and with my colleagues about Harriet Tubman's legacy. While I hope each opportunity I have taken to discuss the life of this remarkable woman helps raise awareness about her importance to the history of our great Nation, my ultimate goal is to properly commemorate her life and her work by establishing the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and, in working with my colleagues from New York, also establish the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, NY.

For the last 5 years I have championed the legislation I am reintroducing today. I appreciate the active support and work my cosponsors of this bill, Senators Mikulski, Schumer and Gillibrand have put into advancing this bill through the Senate. We all share a deep appreciation for how important establishing these parks is to preserving the legacy of this remarkable historical figure in American History but also to how important these parks will be to the communities where they will be located.

I also greatly appreciate the support this legislation has received in the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee. In the last Congress, the bill was reported out of committee with bi-partisan support including the support of Chairman Bingaman and Ranking Member Murkowski. I look forward to working with the Committee's new Chairman, the Senior Senator from Oregon in reporting this bill quickly for the full Senate's consideration.

The establishment of the Harriet Tubman Historical Parks has been years in the making and is long overdue. The mission of the National Park Service has evolved over time from not only preserving natural wonders across the U.S. for recreational purposes but also commemorating unique places of significance to historical events and extraordinary Americans that have shaped our nation.

The woman, who is known to us as Harriet Tubman, was born in approximately 1822 in Dorchester County, MD and given the name Araminta, Minty, Ross. She spent nearly 30 years of her life in slavery on Maryland's Eastern Shore. She worked on a number of different plantations on Maryland's Eastern Shore and as a teenager was trained to be a seamstress. As an adult she took the first name Harriet, and when she was 25 years-old married John Tubman.

In her late twenties, Harriet Tubman escaped from slavery in 1849. She fled in the dead of night, navigating the maze of tidal streams and wetlands that, to this day, comprise the Eastern Shore's landscape. She did so alone, demonstrating courage, strength and fortitude that became her hallmarks. Not satisfied with attaining her own freedom, she returned repeatedly for more than 10 years to the places of her enslavement in Dorchester and Caroline counties where, under the most adverse conditions, she led away many family members and other slaves to freedom in the Northeastern United States. She helped develop a complex network of safe houses and recruited abolitionist sympathizers residing along secret routes connecting the Southern slave states and Northern Free States. No one knows exactly how many people she led to freedom or the number of trips between the North and South she led, but the legend of her work was an inspiration to the multitude of slaves seeking freedom and to abolitionists fighting to end slavery. Tubman became known as ``the Moses of her people'' by African-Americans and white abolitionists alike. Tubman once proudly told Frederick Douglass that in all of her journeys she ``never lost a single passenger.'' She was so effective that in 1856 there was a $40,000 reward offered for her capture in the South. She is the most famous and most important conductor of the network of resistance known as the Underground Railroad.

During the Civil War, Tubman served the Union forces as a spy, a scout and a nurse. She served in Virginia, Florida and South Carolina. She is credited with leading slaves from those slave states to freedom during those years as well.

Following the Civil War, and the emancipation of all black slaves, Tubman settled in Auburn, NY. There she was active in the women's suffrage movement, and she also established one of the first incorporated African-American homes for aged to care for the elderly. In 1903 she bequeathed the Tubman Home to the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Auburn where it stands to this day. Harriet Tubman died in Auburn in 1913 and she is buried in the Fort Hill Cemetery. Fortunately many of the structures and landmarks in New York remain intact and in relatively good condition.

Only recently has the Park Service begun establishing units dedicated to the lives of African-Americans. Places like Booker T. Washington National

Monument on the campus the Tuskegee University in Alabama, the George Washington Carver National Monument in Missouri, The Buffalo Soldiers at Guadalupe Mountains National Park, the National Historical Trail commemorating the March for Voting Rights from Selma to Montgomery Alabama, and most recently the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial on the National Mall are all important monuments and places of historical significance that help tell the story of the African-American experience.

As the National Park Service continues its important work to recognize and preserve African-American history by providing greater public access and information about the places and people that have shaped the African-American experience, there are very few units dedicated to the lives of African-American women, and there are no National Historical Parks commemorating African-American women.

I cannot think of a more fitting hero than Harriet Tubman to be the first African-American woman to be memorialized with National Historical Parks that tell both her personal story and her lifelong fight for justice and freedom starting with her fight against the cruel institution of slavery and work of the Underground Railroad she led to her work in the women's suffrage movement.

I hope that my colleagues will support my effort to honor Harriet Tubman and support passage of my bill to authorize the creation of the Tubman National Historical Parks in New York and Maryland. These parks will hopefully pave the way for the Park Service to develop more National Historical Park commemorating the lives of many other important African-American women in our history.

The vision for the Tubman National Historical Parks is to preserve the places significant to the life of Harriet Tubman and tell her story through interpretative activities and continue to discover aspects of her life and the experience of passage along the Underground Railroad through archaeological research and discovery.

The buildings and structures in Maryland have mostly disappeared. Slaves were forced to live in primitive buildings even though many slaves were skilled tradesmen who constructed the substantial homes of their owners. Not surprisingly, few of the structures associated with the early years of Tubman's life remain standing today. The landscape of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, however, is still evocative of the time that Tubman lived there. Farm fields and loblolly pine forests dot the lowland landscape, which is also notable for its extensive network of tidal rivers and wetlands that Tubman, and the people she guided to freedom, under the cover of night. In particular, a number of properties including the homestead of Ben Ross, her father, Stewart's Canal, where he worked, the Brodess Farm, where she worked as a slave, and others are within the master plan boundaries of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Similarly, Poplar Neck, the plantation from which she escaped to freedom, is still largely intact in Caroline County. The properties in Talbot County, immediately across the Choptank River from the plantation, are currently protected by various conservation easements. Were she alive today, Tubman would recognize much of the landscape that she knew intimately as she secretly led black men, women and children to freedom.

There has never been any doubt that Tubman led an extraordinary life. Her contributions to American history are surpassed by few. Determining the most appropriate way to recognize that life and her contributions, however, has been exceedingly difficult. The National Park Service determined that designating a Historical Park that would include two geographically separate units would be an appropriate tribute to the life of this extraordinary American. The New York unit would include the tightly clustered Tubman buildings in the town of Auburn. The Maryland portion would include large sections of landscapes that are evocative of Tubman's time and are historically relevant.

Harriet Tubman was a true American patriot. She was someone for whom liberty and freedom were not just concepts but values she fought tirelessly for. She lived those principles and so selflessly helped hundreds of other people attain freedom. In doing so, she has earned a nation's respect and honor.

Harriet Tubman is one of many great Americans that we honor and celebrate every February during Black History Month. In schools across the country, American History curriculums teach our children about Tubman's courage, conviction, her fight for freedom and her contributions to the greatness of our Nation during a contentious time in U.S. history. Now it is time to add to Tubman's legacy by preserving and commemorating the places evocative of Harriet Tubman's extraordinary life.

Every year, millions of school children, as well as millions of adults, visit our National Historical Parks gain experiences and knowledge about our Nation's history that simply cannot be found in history books or on the Internet. Our Nation's strength and character comes from the actions of the Americans who came before us and the significant events that shaped our Nation. The National Park Service is engaged in the important work of preserving the places where American history was made and providing a tangible experience for current and future generations to experience and understand. It is one thing to learn about Harriet Tubman from a book, and it is yet a completely different and fulfilling experience to explore, see, listen to and feel the places where she worked as a slave, where she escaped from and where she lived out her life as a free American.

The National Park Service is uniquely suited to honor and preserve these places of historical significance and I urge my colleagues to join me in preserving and growing the legacy of Harriet Tubman by establishing the Harriet Tubman National Historical Parks in her honor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce the No Firearms for Foreign Felons Act of 2013. This bill would close a loophole in current law, by ensuring that people convicted of foreign felonies and crimes involving domestic violence cannot possess firearms. We must close this gap in our laws before it is exploited by terrorists, drug gangs, and other dangerous criminals who threaten our communities.

Under current Federal law, people who are convicted in the United Sates of violent felonies like rape, murder, and terrorism are prohibited from possessing firearms. But, shockingly, Federal law does not bar criminals convicted of these same violent crimes in foreign courts from possessing guns. This outrageous loophole for foreign convicts is the result of a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Small v. United States.

In that case, the Court analyzed the 1968 Gun Control Act, which states that anyone who has been convicted of a felony ``in any court'' cannot possess firearms. The Court concluded that the phrase only applied to American courts, despite the fact that the Gun Control Act had been applied to foreign felonies since 1968, the year it took effect.

At the time, the Supreme Court was very much aware that its ruling could have serious consequences. As Justice Clarence Thomas noted in his dissent, ``the majority's interpretation permits those convicted overseas of murder, rape, assault, kidnapping, terrorism, and other dangerous crimes to possess firearms freely in the United States.'' But whatever one may think of the Court's ruling, it is now the law of the land.

We must make every effort to close this dangerous loophole and the bill I am introducing today would do just that.

Under this bill, section 921 of Title 18 would be amended to state that ``[the term `any court' includes any Federal, State, or foreign court.'' Similar changes would be made in other sections of the Gun Control Act. Where there are references to ``state offenses'' or ``offenses under state law,'' the bill would expand these terms to include convictions of offenses under foreign law.

In other words, the bill would make it clear that if someone was convicted in a foreign court of an offense that would have disqualified him from possessing a gun in the U.S., then they will be disqualified from gun possession under U.S. law. The only exception will be if there is reason to think the conviction entered by the foreign jurisdiction is somehow invalid.

Under the bill, a foreign conviction will not constitute a ``conviction'' under the Gun Control Act, if either: the foreign conviction resulted from a denial of fundamental fairness that would violate due process if committed in the United States, or the conduct on which the foreign conviction was based would be legal if committed in the United States.

I expect that these circumstances will be fairly rare, but the bill does take them into account and will provide a complete defense to anyone with an invalid foreign conviction. In any event, it is clear that we should not keep in place a dangerous policy which essentially treats every foreign conviction as invalid.

Ensuring that foreign convictions count as convictions under U.S. law is important for a second reason. When someone with a felony conviction is arrested for another crime, the government may charge that person with being a felon in possession of a firearm or may seek a sentence enhancement. However, if a foreign conviction is not treated as a conviction under our law, then the defendant may receive a significantly lower sentence than is appropriate given the number of convictions on his record.

Particularly in these times, America cannot continue to give foreign- convicted murderers, rapists, and even terrorists the right to buy firearms in the United States.

With each passing day, we run a risk that foreign felons are exploiting this loophole in our law. This is unacceptable.

Criminals convicted in foreign courts should not be able to have guns when U.S. law forbids those convicted of the same crimes on U.S. soil from possessing guns. We should not wait for lives to be lost before we act to close this loophole.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. President, today I am pleased to introduce, with my colleague Lisa Murkowski, the Ranking Member on the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and at the request of the Delegate from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island, CNMI, Gregorio ``Kilili'' Sablan, legislation to amend Public Law 93-435, the Territorial Submerged Lands Act. This legislation would convey to the CNMI the same rights to offshore waters and submerged lands that were conveyed to the territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa nearly 40 years ago.

This bill is non-controversial. In 2005, it was first introduced by then-Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Pete Domenici. A companion measure was introduced in

the House of Representatives by then-Congressman Jeff Flake. In the 111th Congress, this bill passed the House as H.R. 934 on a 416-0 vote, and it was reported by the Senate Committee. In the 112th Congress, it again passed the House unanimously, on a 297-0 vote, and a hearing was held in the Senate on its companion measure, S. 590. I sincerely hope that this will be the year this bill is signed into law and the people of the CNMI will begin to enjoy the economic benefits that will result from gaining ownership of the waters and submerged lands adjacent to their shores, just as those benefits are enjoyed by every other State and territory of the Nation.

The CNMI faces huge economic challenges that began with the phase-out of World Trade Organization garment quotas in 2005 and resulted in the departure of garment manufacturing. Gaining ownership of the waters and submerged lands adjacent to the 14 islands of the CNMI would help to stimulate the CNMI's struggling economy by allowing the use and management of these areas for near-shore infrastructure development, the extraction of minerals, energy development, aquaculture and other activities. Currently, under Federal ownership, there are no such activities in these areas because the Federal Government has no history of such near-shore jurisdiction and there is no Federal agency with responsibility for their management.

Congress granted the States ownership of the waters and submerged lands out to three miles under the Submerged Lands Act of 1953. In 1974, Congress granted ownership of these areas to the territories. However, the Covenant which established the political union between the U.S. and the CNMI in 1976 was ambiguous on this matter of seaward ownership. Eventually, in 2005, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the submerged lands and waters off the CNMI's coasts fell under Federal ownership. Importantly, the Court also recognized that Congress had the power to convey these waters and lands to the CNMI. That is what this legislation would do.

The CNMI is the only territory or State that does not have ownership of its adjacent waters and lands out to at least 39les. I urge my colleagues to support prompt passage of this bill to correct this disparity and to assist the CNMI in meeting its economic challenges. I'm not aware of any policy objections to this bill's enactment.

I refer those interested in additional information to Senate Report 111-197. Included in that report is a CBO estimate stating that enactment of H.R. 934, the bill on which the legislation being introduced today is based, would not affect direct spending or revenues.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill and a letter of support be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of our Nation's disabled veterans to once again discuss an end to an unjust and outdated policy known as ``concurrent receipt.'' For the past 122 years, this practice has prevented veterans from receiving the full benefits earned through years of service and personal injury in defense of our Nation. The law requires that a retired disabled veteran reduce their retirement pay dollar-for-dollar by the amount of any disability compensation received, in many cases wiping out retirement pay altogether. This is simply wrong.

I have worked over the past decade to fight to change this outdated policy and commend the progress Congress has made on behalf of our Nation's veterans. In 2002, I was pleased that Congress passed a measure known as combat-related special compensation, or CSRC, allowing for disabled retired veterans to receive payments that are the financial equivalent of concurrent receipt. In 2003 I was pleased that Congress enacted a 10-year phase-in of concurrent receipt for military retirees whose disability is 50 percent or greater, and in 2004, Congress eliminated the 10-year waiting period for those veterans with 100 percent service-related disability. Moreover, in 2008, concurrent receipt eligibility was expanded to include those who are 100 percent disabled due to un-employability and extended equivalent financial payments to those who are medically retired or have retired prematurely due to force reduction programs. Most recently, in 2012, I was pleased to offer an amendment to the fiscal year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act ensuring that our combat-disabled military retirees receive proper combat-related disability and retirement benefits by eliminating the ``glitch'' in the CRSC formula that can actually cause a reduction in their compensation amount when the VA increases their disability rating. While I am proud that the 10-year phase-in period for veterans who are rated 50-90 percent will finally come to fruition this year, I still believe that Congress has fallen short of meeting the commitment of providing full concurrent receipt to all of our Nation's heroes. This is unacceptable and that is why we have to take care of the hundreds of thousands of disabled veterans who still need our help.

For me, this is a simple matter of fairness. No other Federal retiree is forced to forfeit their retirement--only our disabled military retirees. Veterans' disability compensation is recompense for pain, suffering, and lost future earning power caused by a service-connected illness or injury. Few retirees can afford to live on their retired pay alone, and a severe disability only makes the problem worse by limiting or denying any post-service working life. There is no reason to deny veterans who have served their country honorably the right to the full value of their retirement pay simply because their service also led to disability.

Today I reintroduce the Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2013 in order to eliminate all restrictions to concurrent receipt. I hope my Senate colleagues will join me in supporting this bill. We must take action now and support the veterans who have given so much to our grateful Nation. This is the right thing to do.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.