Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 299.

American Samoa is home to a great many veterans, especially on a per capita basis, as our people enlist at high rates in the U.S. Armed Forces. On their behalf, I am pleased to support the bipartisan Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, recognizing the realities faced by those veterans who served in the region's waters.

On a personal note, my older brother served in the U.S. Navy in the Gulf of Tonkin and other area waters during Vietnam. This legislation recognizes the nature of the service of these veterans who did their duty in wartime. This bill honors their mission and helps keep the commitments we owe our veterans.

Mr. Speaker, many decades ago, a missionary named John Williams made the long and difficult journey in the 1800s to bring Christianity to the people of the Pacific islands, including American Samoa.

He and the others in his footsteps in those early years probably surpassed their fondest hopes. Today, faith and church provide a strong foundation to a very large percentage of our population. I think he and Billy Graham would have understood each other very well, though their ministries are separated by more than a century.

Billy Graham's influence went around the world rapidly and powerfully, and seemed divinely timed to coincide with the rise of the communications and travel of the 20th century.

As he lies in honor this week at the U.S. Capitol, it is a new opportunity for a younger generation to learn more of his exceptional life and hear his message once more--that God loves each of us, and when times seem troubled around us, there is someone greater to depend on.

As Scripture says: ``How shall they hear without a preacher?''

Billy Graham answered that call.

He described himself simply: a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That life's purpose defined him, and what a life it was.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Billy Graham.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in care and concern for my people in American Samoa in a time of need. I am humbled to represent them to you now.

Over this Thanksgiving, 2,000 of our families are being put out of work and small businesses will lose commerce as American Samoa's only large employer closes for a period of 6 weeks.

The Department of Justice Starkist Consent Decree requires payment of $6.3 million. Unfortunately, this money comes to Washington, D.C. The workers and their families lose their paychecks. The small businesses around them absorb losses. That is wrong. These funds should stay on the island to help them through this time.

In fact, a case won by Attorney General Talauega establishes the unique economic responsibility the U.S. has to American Samoa through the Deed of Cession.

American Samoa has high unemployment and low incomes. I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the burden our Federal Government is placing on American Samoa this Thanksgiving.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of the remarkable lives of the Honorable Anton ``Tony'' deBrum and the Honorable Mattlan Zachras, both of whom led exemplary careers of public service in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and both attained high posts of trust in their country.

They were known and respected far beyond their own nation, and are remembered with fondness throughout the Pacific Island nations. I am proud and privileged to have known them and called them friends, and remember with appreciation that they were longstanding friends of my home, American Samoa. In particular, my brothers and I have known Tony like he was family since childhood when we spent some time living in the Marshall Islands.

Tony deBrum was an effective political leader for decades and a historic advocate of the national independence of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and his memory will rightly be cherished in his country as a national hero. In his illustrious government career in the Marshall Islands, he served as Minister and finally as Climate Ambassador, and he also served at different times in both the Cabinet and Nitijela (Parliament).

Likewise, Mattlan Zachras left us recently and far too soon at the age of 47. He represented Namdrik Atoll in Nitijela since 2004, worked for grassroots community development, and through his role as Minister in Assistance to President Hilda Heine was an outspoken leader at international climate meetings.

I also include in the Record the stirring words of President Heine as expressed in the August 25 publication of the Marshall Islands Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I offer my heartfelt condolences to President Heine and the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and I ask the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the lifelong dedication exemplified by Tony deBrum and Mattlan Zachras, and honor these dedicated men of public service and the many national values that our countries share.

It is with great sadness and a very heavy heart that I

announce that the Marshall Islands lost a national hero

Tuesday with the passing of our Climate Ambassador and former

Minister Tony deBrum.

Tony passed away peacefully in Majuro, surrounded by his

proud father, as well as his wife and partner in life,

Rosalie, and their three children, ten grandchildren and five

great-grandchildren--including newly born Cei'Ena. My

thoughts and prayers, as well as those of the government and

the people of the Marshall Islands, are with them.

Tony's legacy goes beyond our islands, and will go beyond

those of us that call the Marshall Islands home. He fought

for our independence, he fought against the tyranny of

nuclear weapons and for nuclear justice for our people, and

he led the international fight against climate change. The

very existence of the Paris Agreement owes a lot to Tony

deBrum. He was a giant of history, a legend in every meaning

of the word, and a custodian of our shared future.

Born on February 26, 1945 in Tuvalu, Tony grew up in the

Marshall Islands during the twelve-year period of US nuclear

testing and, as a young boy out fishing with his grandfather,

witnessed the horrors of the Bravo Shot, the largest US

nuclear test--more than 1,000 times more powerful than

Hiroshima. After becoming one of the first Marshallese to

attend university, he returned to our island home to play a

leading role in the negotiations that secured the Compact of

Free Association with the United States, and ultimately our

membership in the United Nations. Tony remained consistently

and deeply committed to the cause of nuclear justice and

global disarmament, and in 2012 was awarded the Nuclear Age

Peace Foundation's Distinguished Peace Leader Award. In 2015

the Right Livelihood Foundation awarded him the Nuclear-Free

Future Award and the `Alternative Nobel'. In 2016 he was

voted the Arms Control Person of the Year and nominated for

the Nobel Peace Prize.

Tony found himself fighting for our country once again in

the global battle against climate change. Tony's vision was

captured in the Majuro Declaration for Climate Leadership in

2013, and in 2015 he contributed to the formation of the High

Ambition Coalition. His tireless efforts on the world stage

were instrumental in securing the Paris Agreement.

On this day that Tony passed, we also held our final

traditional funeral ceremony for Minister Mattlan Zachras who

passed away less than two weeks ago. I am certain that Tony

will join Mattlan in looking over the Marshall Islands. While

our nation may have lost two of our finest men, and the Earth

two of its fiercest champions, the best thing we can all do

to honor their legacies is to keep up the battle for our

future--to which they dedicated their lives. We now carry

their torch.

Tony made our island home and the rest of the world safer

and more peaceful. And for that a grateful nation and planet

says kommol tata. May he rest in the peace that he fought so

hard for.--Hilda Heine, President

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my appreciation and that of the Samoan people for the April 23 visit of Vice President Mike Pence, who was accompanied by the Second Lady and their daughters to my home district, the United States Territory of American Samoa, upon the conclusion of his historic 10-day visit to strategic Asian and Pacific partners. Upon his arrival to Pago Pago, the Vice President remarked that he was glad to be back on American soil.

This historic visit to American Samoa marks only the third time a sitting Vice President has graced our shores and follows in the footsteps of past visits from Vice Presidents Quayle in 1989 and Biden in 2016. Previous visits to our beautiful islands from White House dignitaries include First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1943, President Lyndon Johnson in 1966, and President Jimmy Carter's son, Jeffrey, who represented his father at the inauguration of our first elected Governor in 1977, who happens to be my father, Peter Tali Coleman.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to legislation I introduced in February, which was enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Trump on May 31, the Vice President came to American Samoa at my humble request to dedicate our veterans clinic to the memory of the late former representative of American Samoa, Congressman Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, with whom the Vice President served the entirety of his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2013.

While in American Samoa, the Vice President also reviewed the troops comprised of Reserve companies who are part of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry of the U.S. Army based in Hawaii. Headquartered at Ft. Shafter in Honolulu, the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry is the only infantry unit in the entire United States Army Reserve. Samoan soldiers who are part of the battalion have fought and served bravely in conflicts from Desert Storm to Afghanistan and Iraq, and others, since the companies were relocated to American Samoa in 1980.

Madam Speaker, American Samoa takes particular pride that Vice President Pence was able to celebrate with us the 109th anniversary of the establishment of the United States Army Reserves, which just happened to line up perfectly with his visit.

While the Vice President's journey was well covered by international and domestic media, most outlets outside of the Pacific failed to report a significant statement he made, which I have called the Pago Pago Declaration. This important statement made on our soil was well noted and well received in the Pacific Islands.

Specifically, the Vice President spoke of the challenges the U.S. faces in Asia and the Pacific and confirmed to the audience assembled that, as quoted by Radio New Zealand International and broadcast region-wide: ``We're here to stay, we're here for peace, we're here for the prosperity of all of our people, and we are proud the American flag flies in American Samoa.''

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record this Radio New Zealand International story.

[From Radio New Zealand, Apr. 25, 2017]

American Samoans Told US Is Committed to Regional Peace

The United States Vice President has told American Samoans

that his country is committed to peace and stability in the

Asia-Pacific region.

Mike Pence made a brief stopover in the US territory

yesterday where he was greeted by Governor Lobo Matalasi

Moliga his wife, the Lieutenant-Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga,

Chief Justice Michael Kruse, House Speaker Savali Talavou

Ale'a and congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen.

Secret Service agents restricted access and only a few

leaders were allowed to shake hands with the Vice-President.

Governor Lobo apologised to traditional leaders who weren't

able to conduct a traditional ava ceremony because of

security restrictions. Mr Pence, who was with his wife Karen,

thanked American Samoans for their support and prayers.

He said it was an important time for the Asia-Pacific

region.

Mr Pence said he was in the territory on behalf of

President Donald Trump to symbolise the US commitment to the

area.

``We're here to stay, we're here for peace, we're here for

the prosperity of all of our people and we are proud the

American flag flies in American Samoa,'' he said.

The People's Republic of China and other external powers are gaining visibility and influence in the region, including the neighboring Independent State of Samoa. Due to the new influence of foreign interests in the region, members of American Samoa's territorial legislature, the Fono, just days prior to the Vice President's arrival, expressed to me, during my appearance before a special joint session, their concern about the rise of foreign influences in the region. I am certain the Pago Pago Declaration will help to allay their concerns and will be welcome in capitals across the Pacific from Port Moresby to Papeete, Tahiti.

Moreover, Madam Speaker, I anticipate that the Pago Pago Declaration will be a component of the evolving Trump doctrine that is under development by the administration, which I expect will be fully articulated when the U.S. participates in the Port Moresby APEC summit in November of next year.

Madam Speaker, we, in American Samoa, recognize the strategic importance of our location in the center of the Pacific Ocean and are proud of the contributions we make to our Nation's security.

As always, we stand ready to do our part to advance the spirit of the Vice President's Pago Pago Declaration, which I expect will have a long lasting and positive effect on the region.

I want to, once again, thank the Vice President and the administration for their attention to the Pacific territories, a region that too often goes unnoticed in Washington.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lieutenant Colonel Stephanie A. Sido of the United States Army for her extraordinary dedication to duty and service to our nation.

Colonel Sido will soon transition from her current assignment as an Army Congressional Liaison in the House of Representatives to serve as the Troop Commander at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Her new unit is the largest U.S. hospital outside the United States, and serves as the sole military medical center for Europe, Middle East and Africa to our Service Members, their families, and coalition and allies troops.

A native of Grafton, Ohio, Stephanie began her military career when she was commissioned in 1999 through the University of Akron's Army ROTC Program as a Medical Service Corps Officer. Since that time she has served at all leadership levels from platoon leader to company commander. Stephanie also honorably served in multiple staff positions in combat, including two deployments to Afghanistan. She is married to Edward, a U.S. Army veteran and the proud mother to their son Patrick.

In 2016, Colonel Sido was selected to serve as Legislative Liaison to the Army House Liaison Office. In her role as a legislative liaison, Colonel Sido served as the primary liaison between Members of the 114th and 115th Congresses, their Staffs, Legislative Committees, and the U.S. Army. In this role, she planned, coordinated, and accompanied Congressional and Staff Delegations on numerous worldwide fact-finding and investigative missions, and strengthened the relationships and trust needed to continue the longstanding confidence the U.S. Congress has in the U.S. Army.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize the selfless service of Lieutenant Colonel Stephanie A. Sido and her family as they proceed to the next chapter in her remarkable career and continue to serve our great nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the swearing in of the first woman to serve in Congress, Jeannette Rankin of Montana.

As the first woman to represent American Samoa, I could not be more honored and humbled to be here today to salute this great woman who paved the way for each and every one of us serving in Congress today.

Imagine the difficulties she had to deal with as the first woman in Congress--in 1917, no less--a woman who stood by her convictions no matter the cost. It must have been extremely harrowing for her at times, but she soldiered on as one would expect from the first female in what was at the time, and in many ways still is, a male-dominated world.

The Congresswoman was a woman of rock-solid principles which she absolutely would not budge from, as evidenced by her being the only Member of Congress to vote against involvement in both world wars, a position that was very unpopular at the time. But she stood by her beliefs and could not be swayed, an example for all of us.

While Congresswoman Rankin served only two terms in Congress, her legacy lives on in all of the women who have served since and those who will in the future. She famously once said, and we have all said it several times because it is worth saying and repeating:

``I may be the first woman Member of Congress, but I won't be the last.''

She was absolutely correct, and I am grateful for her determination to ensure that the women of this great Nation have a voice in Washington.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to rise and join me in saluting this remarkable woman and the lasting legacy she has left behind as an example to all women.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend and former Member of Congress Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin who served honorably as the representative for American Samoa for 26 years.

I want to thank everyone for being here and particularly want to acknowledge my friend Hinanui Hunkin, who came all the way from Utah with her children to be at this service. Because he spent over 30 years of his career in the nation's capital, it is only fitting to have a memorial service for Eni here. He would be gratified to see how he touched so many people who would come out to pay tribute to him.

Congressman Faleomavaega was a soldier and a statesman who dedicated his entire life to serving the United States and the people of American Samoa. Indeed, his entire career was devoted to public service and social justice. He was a champion of Native Americans, Native Hawaiians and the Melanesian natives of West Papua. His causes were many. He strenuously fought against nuclear weaponry, from confronting France in French Polynesia over nuclear testing to pressing for nuclear cleanup in Central Asia. He took up the cause of Korean comfort women, expressed concern about disputes in the South China Sea and even helped solve land disputes in Rapa Nui. Even as his health began to deteriorate, he refused to cut back his workload or give up any of his important causes.

Although we had our political differences, it never affected our personal friendship or devotion to the people of American Samoa. There was very little on which we disagreed when it came to the territory and, in fact, when I came into office, I picked up right where he left off in a lawsuit before the U.S. Supreme Court involving Samoan citizenship and voting rights. We both believed American Samoa's political should not be decided in a federal courtroom thousands of miles away; most importantly, it should be decided by our own people at a time of own choosing. Our approaches to issues were different and that often put us at odds with one another, but it was always with the utmost respect and grace, which allowed us to form the bond that we would come to share . . . One I am very thankful for, and will never forget. Ours was a true friendship that demonstrated that, despite our differences in political party, we can all come together for the good of those we serve. Partisan differences on national issues never interfered with our relationship because we were very much of one mind when it came to federal policy and funding for American Samoa.

As a veteran, whose long-term health suffered due to his service in Vietnam, Eni dedicated his life to improving the conditions for our veterans in American Samoa, and took great pride in securing funds to build the local VA Clinic, which has served our veterans well. Although I myself am not a veteran, I come from a family with a strong military tradition. My grandfather, father, several brothers and three nephews are, so I appreciate the needs of our veterans and am as devoted to them as Eni was.

As a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, I was in a position to offer legislation to name our local VA clinic in his honor. He was primarily responsible for the establishment of this clinic, so I could think of no more appropriate way to permanently honor his memory and legacy than by dedicating the clinic to him. Because of his long service in the House, he is remembered by many Members on both sides of the aisle who helped smooth the path for this tribute. As much as people complain about the slowness of the legislative process, my bill passed the House in less than a week, the Senate passed it a week later and in short order it was on the president's desk for signature.

After enactment of this legislation, I made arrangements for Members to speak of their colleague Eni on the floor of the House and am pleased to say that those tributes were delivered for the record, in addition to press statements made and remarks by several members on the Floor when we debated the VA clinic bill. In most of the stories written about Eni's passing, he was described as the longest serving Member of Congress in American Samoa's history. That is a title I expect will be his alone for many, many years to come, perhaps forever.

Goodbye My friend. Farewell and Godspeed.

(The Samoan version is as follows):

E muamua ona ou Fa'atulou Le Pa'ia o le Maota Namu Asi, i le Paia O le lagi, ma le lagi, ma le lagi tulou, tulouna ia, tulouna lava. O Paia o le aufaigaluega totofi a le Atua i ona Tafa'i Va'aia, ou to fa'atulou atu.

E le vaea fo'i le fala fofola loa o Samoa mai Saua e o'o atu i Salafai nu'unu'u atu fa'atini o tausala. O lo'o mamalu fo'i le aofia i le Afio Mai O Le Kovana Sili o le malo o Amerika Samoa, le tofa i le to'oto'o ia Lolo Moliga ma le Masiofo ia Cynthia, le afio i le Lutena Kovana ma le kapeneta, le paia o maota e lua i le afio o le Peresetene ma le senate, le Fofogafetalai ma le Maota o Sui, o le mamalu lava lea o le afio o le fa'amasino sili ma le vaega o fa'amasinoga tulou, tulou lava.

E le fa'agaloina le tapuaiga i uso i sisifo i le afio i le ao o le malo tuto'atasi, le Palemia ma le Palemene o Samoa, ma le usoga ia Tumua ma Pule.

Ua tu mai nei Lagi le laga'ali a Tamafaiga, a ua tagita'amilo le Manuali'i ina ua ta'ape papa, ae tafea le tau'ofe i le Afioga a Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin sa tu i le tofi o lo'o o'u tauaveina nei i Uosigitone.

O le lagia lava lea o le Tafatolu o lau faigamalo Amerika Samoa, tulou, tulou, tulou, tulouna lava.

Taluai o lea ua ou tula'i mai i le tofi Faipule i le Konekeresi i le Laumua i Uosigitone, o lea ou te fa'apea atu ai i le Faletua ia Hinanui ma le nofo a Alo loto fa'avauvau aemaise le tagi mai ala o le paia i Aiga ma Paolo ma Gafa sili i lagi tainane le Malo o Amerika Samoa ma le tapuaiga I le Malo Tuto'atasi i le Usoga Tumua ma Pule:

``Amuia e fa'anoanoa, aua e fa'amafanafanaina i latou.''

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1362) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community- based outpatient clinic in Pago Pago, American Samoa, the Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin VA Clinic.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and add extraneous materials.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1362, a bill to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Pago Pago, American Samoa, the Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin VA Clinic.

I have sponsored this bill in order to honor my predecessor and a true public servant, the Honorable Faleomavaega Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin.

Born on August 15, 1943, in Vailoatai Village, American Samoa, Mr. Faleomavaega graduated from Brigham Young University in 1966 and subsequently joined the United States Army and served in Vietnam.

However, his career in the Army was just the beginning of his public service. Mr. Faleomavaega served as a staff member to A.U. Fuimaono, American Samoa's first Delegate at-large to Washington, D.C., from 1973 to 1975.

Having earned his law degree from the University of Houston, he next served as staff counsel to the Committee on the Interior and Insular Affairs.

In 1981, Mr. Faleomavaega returned to American Samoa to serve as our deputy attorney general until 1984, then as our lieutenant governor until 1989. During this period, Mr. Faleomavaega reentered military service in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1982 to 1989.

In 1989, Mr. Faleomavaega began his tenure as the congressional Delegate from American Samoa. He went on to win 13 consecutive terms, making him the longest serving Delegate to date from American Samoa.

While in Congress, he diligently served the interests of his constituents as a member of both the House Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Natural Resources.

Sadly, my friend Eni Faleomavaega passed away on February 22. He is survived by his wife, 5 children, and 10 grandchildren.

I would now like to say a few personal words about the man whom I came to call a true friend.

Given that I challenged him for his seat from 1994 until 2014, when I won my first term, Eni and I had a long and complicated relationship. Though we were often at odds politically, we always treated one another with the utmost respect and grace, allowing us to form a shared bond that I am very thankful for and will never forget.

Ours was a true friendship that demonstrated that, despite whatever political differences we may have, we can all come together for the good of those we serve. While we may have had disagreements on national issues, we were very much in sync when it came to Federal policy and funding for American Samoa.

As a veteran whose long-term health suffered due to his service in Vietnam, Eni dedicated his life to improving conditions for veterans in American Samoa and took great pride in securing funds to build the local VA clinic which has served our veterans well.

Therefore, I can think of no better way to memorialize his dedication to the people of American Samoa and his service to our country in uniform than having the local VA clinic in Pago Pago, which he worked so hard for, named in his honor.

I want to encourage my colleagues in the House and Senate to salute my predecessor by supporting this measure so that we may honor this good man for his lifelong service and dedication to the people of American Samoa and to veterans everywhere.

This legislation satisfies all of the committee's naming criteria and is supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post Number 3391.

Once again, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time until all Members have had an opportunity to speak on each side.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers at this time. Once again, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to thank Chairman Shuster, Subcommittee Chairman LoBiondo, Ranking Members DeFazio and Larsen, and their staff for the effort and work they put in to quickly see this measure through this committee. They do an excellent job, and it is always encouraging to work with such bright people. I also want to thank Leader McCarthy and his staff for their assistance in getting this measure to the floor. I look forward to working under their leadership to bring prosperity to the American people, including those in the territories.

Mr. Speaker, the people of American Samoa desperately need improvement to their access to reliable transportation between the islands of Tutuila and Manu'a. The remote Manu'a islands are losing residents at an alarming pace, mostly due to the lack of reliable transportation; and it is causing a great hardship on the families and businesses who reside on these islands which lie 60 miles from the main island of Tutuila.

Also, the lack of reliable transportation poses a severe health risk to those who need emergency medical care, as the only hospital in American Samoa is in Tutuila.

My bill, H.R. 276, will help alleviate this issue by easing some of the burdensome red tape causing the issue, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law by the President.

Madam Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 527, the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act.

Madam Chair, for too long, small businesses have had to conform to a ``one size fits all'' approach. The intent of the original law, which was passed in 1980, was to lessen the burden on small businesses when conforming to regulatory issues.

Since that time Federal Agencies have abused certain loopholes in the codes, to enforce often arbitrary costs to those businesses. These additional expenditures are far too often the difference between a small business thriving or going under.

I know that in the Territory of American Samoa, our local economy is absolutely dependent upon small businesses and their success. This legislation will enable those who own small businesses across the nation and the territories to have a greater degree of certainty when planning for the future of their business, by allowing for input into the regulatory process from the business owners themselves. This legislation will also require those rule making agencies to regularly review the regulations that are already on the books and what impact they are having small businesses.

Madam Chair, I want to thank Chairman Chabot and the Small Business Committee staff for their hard work in bringing this bill to the floor, and I firmly voice my support for H.R. 527, the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act and urge my colleagues in the House to also support this important measure.