Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend President Nursultan Nazarbayev for organizing the OSCE Astana Summit which will be held December 1-2, 2010.

In 2007, under the Bush administration, my colleagues and I spearheaded an effort in Congress calling upon the U.S. to support Kazakhstan's bid to chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Recognizing, as David Wilshire, Head of the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, noted, that ``building a democracy is a long and hard task,'' we felt that the U.S. could and should offer a gesture of goodwill by assisting Kazakhstan in its bid to chair the OSCE, considering that Kazakhstan voluntarily worked with the U.S. under the auspices of the Nunn-Lugar program to dismantle the world's fourth largest nuclear arsenal and shut down the world's second largest test site.

From 1949 to 1991, the Soviet Union conducted nearly 500 nuclear tests in Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan, and exposed more than 1.5 million Kazakhs to nuclear radiation. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, President Nursultan Nazarbayev was among the first to recognize and neutralize the dangerous threat posed by the nuclear arsenal Kazakhstan inherited and, as a result of his initiative, Kazakhstan in cooperation with the U.S. dismantled a nuclear arsenal which was larger than the combined nuclear arsenals of Great Britain, France and China.

President Nazarbayev's decision to dismantle changed the course of modern history, and I am pleased that the U.S. finally supported Kazakhstan's OSCE bid for 2010. While there will always be critics intent on setting Kazakhstan back in its attempt to move the OSCE forward, all 56 member States unanimously voted in favor of Kazakhstan's chairmanship.

I believe they did so in recognition of the bold steps President Nazarbayev has taken to bring Kazakhstan out from under the yoke of communism. Of course there is work left to do but, according to polling data from an independent firm hired by the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan during the Bush administration, 90 percent of the people of Kazakhstan support President Nazarbayev and are pleased with the work he is doing and more than 63 percent of the people of Kazakhstan have a favorable opinion of the United States.

Since 9/11 and regarding U.S. coalition operations in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan has allowed overflight and transshipment to assist U.S. efforts. U.S.-Kazakh accords were signed in 2002 on the emergency use of Kazakhstan's Almaty airport and on other military-to-military relations. The Kazakh legislature approved sending military engineers to Iraq in May 2003 and, in his April 2010 meeting with President Obama, President Nazarbayev agreed to facilitate U.S. military air flights along a new trans-polar route that transits Kazakhstan to Afghanistan.

Now Kazakhstan is the first post-Soviet, first predominantly Muslim, and the first Central Asian nation to serve in the top leadership role of the OSCE, an organization known for promoting democracy, human rights and the rule of law. As Chair of the OSCE, Kazakhstan will also host the Astana Summit. The Astana Summit, like Kazakhstan's Chairmanship of the OSCE, is historic. Earlier this year, my colleagues and I also spearheaded an effort calling upon the U.S. to stand with Kazakhstan in support of an OSCE Summit, and I express my thanks to the Obama administration, and especially to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake, who are expected to represent the U.S. at the Summit.

The Astana Summit has been organized at the initiative of President Nazarbayev and will be the first OSCE meeting of Heads of State to take place in more than a decade. It has been 11 years since the OSCE held a security summit and the world has changed drastically since then as a direct result of 9/11. While I have serious reservations about U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan aims to use the OSCE Chair and Summit to press for a resolution to the conflict in Afghanistan and for this reason I am pleased that the United States is supporting the Astana Summit.

Given the serious importance of the Summit to U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, it is my hope that President Obama will attend. His presence will send the right signal to our allies in Central Asia who are also putting their lives on the line for us.

Central Asian countries, and especially Kazakhstan, provide support for U.S. and NATO operations in Afghanistan and without their assistance we would have no hope for success. But I hope that our partnership will extend past the war in Afghanistan in both breadth and depth. For over 100 years, the people of Central Asia have lived without basic freedoms and, in my meetings with the people and leaders of these countries, they, like us, want to continue their march towards democracy and this is why I commend President Nazarbayev for providing the stability necessary to push freedom forward.

Once more, I commend Kazakhstan for hosting the Astana Summit and I applaud the 56 nations that will participate to demonstrate to the world that the OSCE is relevant, essential and committed to responding to common security threats.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership in drawing attention to Gujarat as a leading investment destination, and for promoting U.S.-India trade.

On September 15, 2010, it was my honor to welcome the Gujarat delegation to Washington, D.C. as prelude to the Vibrant Gujarat 2011 Summit scheduled to be held on January 12-13, 2011 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Many of my colleagues joined me for this event.

As I noted then, Gujarat is one of the most prominent States on the western coast of India and has contributed significantly to India's growth story with consistent double digit GDP growth for almost a decade and, since 2003, the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit has attracted investment agreements worth more than USD 370 billion.

The State is now gearing up for the 5th Vibrant Gujarat Summit and, while many of us were hopeful that we would be able to attend the Summit, the January 2011 schedule for the U.S. Congress will not permit Congressional participation. But, in recognition of the importance of the Gujarat Summit, I wanted to offer this statement as a show of support for this Summit.

Today, as a result of the Chief Minister's efforts, Gujarat is a replicable model of development with the highest GDP growth rate in India. Consequently, the potential for U.S. trade and investment in Gujarat is significant, and I stand with the Government of Gujarat as it seeks to improve the lives of its people and ours.

I have every confidence that our mutual cooperation will lead to more jobs in the U.S. and India, and I extend my best wishes to Chief Minister Modi for a successful Vibrant Gujarat 2011 Summit.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to the legendary rugby player La'auli Michael Niko Jones. On Monday, I had the privilege to welcome Mr. Jones, his wife Maliena and son Levi to the U.S. Capitol. Known to his fans around the world as Iceman because of the calm and confident manner in which he played the game, but also because of the number of icepacks he needed for injuries, Jones was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He first entered the rugby scene in 1986 as a 20-year old and scored three tries in his debut for the Auckland provincial side against South Canterbury. His breakthrough performance at such a young age was a strong indicator of what lay in Jones' future. Being of Samoan descent on his maternal side, Jones played for Manu Samoa in his first international debut instead against Wales. Since then, his rugby career took off, leading him to become one of the greatest rugby players of all time.

Jones first played for the New Zealand All Blacks in the inaugural World Cup in 1987 and scored the first try of the tournament. As an open side flanker, Jones was well known for powerfully running through the heart of the backline defense and then finding space to offload. With the ball in hand, he had the finesse and judgment of an inside or outside center. His bone crunching tackles on defense were feared by opponents. In a sport in which the individual must exhibit both defensive and offensive skills, Jones exemplified the complete rugby player.

Despite the many accolades he received as a result of his on-field feats, Jones was well known for holding true to his religious beliefs and values. As a devout Christian, and in line with a promise he made to his dying father, Jones never played on Sunday. Staying firm in these convictions, however, sometimes brought criticism from the media and often created problems for the New Zealand Rugby Union. His unwavering beliefs under pressure stand as a testament to his commitment and sacrifice.

Throughout his rugby career, Jones exemplified commitment, sacrifice, and love for education, religion, family and country both on and off the field. He holds a Bachelor of Planning (B. Plan), a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Master of Arts (M.A.) from the University of Auckland and in 1997 was honored by his university with a Distinguished Alumni Award. This past weekend, Jones was invited as a special guest to participate in the 14th Annual Ambassador's Shield Match Day, which features a rugby match pitting the New Zealand Ambassador's XV against a combined selection of professional U.S. rugby players in order to celebrate New Zealand culture and raise support for the rugby program at the Hyde Leadership Public Charter School in Washington, DC.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Right Reverend and Honorable Sir Paul Alfred Reeves, current Chancellor of Auckland University of Technology, AUT. It was my high honor and privilege to welcome this distinguished gentleman to Capitol Hill on Monday. Sir Paul came to Washington, D.C. in partnership with New Zealand's ambassador to the United States to support the 14th annual Ambassador's Shield Rugby Match.

Sir Paul, who has given a lifetime of esteemed public service, attended Victoria University of Wellington where he received his B.A. in 1955 and M.A. in 1956. He then began to pursue ordination in the Anglican Church at St. John's Theological College in Auckland, where he graduated with a Licentiate in Theology, L.Th., in 1958. After serving as a deacon in Tokoroa, New Zealand, he was ordained a priest in 1960 and served two curacies in England. During this time, Sir Paul enrolled in St. Peter's College at the University of Oxford where he received another M.A. as an Honorary Fellow. He returned to New Zealand to become the Vicar of Okato St. Paul, lecturer at St. John's College and an educational director for the Anglican Diocese of Auckland. In 1971, he was consecrated to the episcopate, becoming the Bishop of Waiapu.

From 1980-1985, Sir Paul served as Archbishop and Primate of New Zealand, with full oversight of the Church's affairs throughout the country. Queen Elizabeth II subsequently appointed him to be the Governor-General of New Zealand, a post which he held until 1990. As Governor-General, he acted as the Queen's representative in New Zealand and the de facto head of state. Sir Paul was the first and, to date, only person of Maori descent to hold this highly esteemed position.

Sir Paul was elected as Chancellor of AUT in 2005 and two years later he received his country's greatest honor when he was admitted to the Order of New Zealand.

Sir Paul's understated dignity, quiet demeanor and ability to carefully listen to others belie the highly distinguished political and ecclesiastical positions that he has held throughout his career. It is with great admiration that I submit this statement to pay tribute to Sir Paul Reeves and offer this good man my very best wishes as he continues his legacy of selfless public service.

Madam Speaker, Grand Master Jhoon Rhee is a man of rare character. An immigrant from South Korea who came to the United States in the 1950s, later to be known as the ``Father of American Taekwondo,'' he has become an American symbol of patriotism, service, and excellence.

Today, we celebrate Grand Master Rhee's 45 years of service sharing his wisdom, experience, and knowledge as a Taekwondo instructor with over 350 members of Congress. Yet beyond the contributions he has made to members of Congress for almost half a century, Grand Master Rhee has served this country through countless acts of service. Thought time does not permit me to share them all, please allow me to share some of the highlights today and give due honor to a man who truly makes me proud to be an American.

Born on January 7, 1932 in South Korea during the period of Japanese occupation, Mr. Rhee began training in the martial arts at the age of 13. Serving as an officer in the Korean War, Rhee fought alongside American soldiers, where he gained a deep appreciation for the country that he now calls home.

Rhee immigrated to the United States in 1956, introducing Taekwondo to the Nation. A World-renowned 10th Degree Black Belt, he has instructed and inspired students around the world. In addition to the over 350 members of Congress he has instructed over the past 45 years, Grand Master Rhee has also shared his wisdom and knowledge with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Jack Anderson, George Allen Sr., Bob Livingston, Tony Robbins, and Jack Valenti.

Yet his service does not end here. In 1983, Mr. Rhee--a symbol of patriotism--served as National Chairman of the July 4th, 1983 Nation's Birthday Celebration. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan appointed him to the National Council on Vocational Education, where he created National Teacher Appreciation Day--a day of honor for our Nation's educators which was signed by President Ronald Reagan on October 16, 1986, and continues today.

From 1988 to1991, he served as President George H.W. Bush's appointment as Special Advisor to the President's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports, and on March 17, 1992 he was selected as the President's 721st ``Daily Point of Light''--an award that honors individuals and volunteer groups around the country who are helping to meet critical needs in their communities.

In 1999, Rhee received the American Immigrants Achievement Award and the National Association of Professional Martial Arts, NAPMA, Life Time Achievement Award, and in 2000, he became the only Korean-American named by the National Immigrant Forum and the Immigration and Naturalization Services as one of the 203 most recognized immigrants in the country, along with Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell and 200 others. Rhee was also inducted into the Taekwondo Hall of Fame in 2007 as both the ``Pioneer of American Taekwondo'' and the ``Pioneer of Taekwon-Do in Russia.'' He currently has over 60 affiliated Tae Kwon Do studios in the U.S. and 65 in the former Soviet Union.

It takes but a moment in Grand Master Rhee's presence to sense his honor for this country and to see that he truly exemplifies the American spirit. He is a living reminder of the goodness of this nation to the U.S. and the world. I must echo my dear friend, Congressman Ike Skelton, who once said, ``I might say Master Jhoon Rhee has become a national treasure.''

But what better way to gain a deeper sense of this man's rare patriotism and love for America, than in his own words. In a recent statement shared with my office, Grand Master Rhee wrote, ``I fought the Korean War side by side with American soldiers, who came to defend a country they never heard of, people they never knew. This is why I wanted to do something for what America had done for my motherland, Korea, with what I can do the best, TKD [Taekwondo]. The sense of my gratitude for America gave me the energy to get up 5 AM, 3 mornings a week for the last 45 years to teach over 350 members of U.S. Congress, as my volunteer service; I will give 5 more years to make it five decades of my service.''

Reflecting on the strength of this nation, Grand Master Rhee stated, ``I became curious what made America so great. In my sincere search for the roots of America's strength, I found the noblest mission statement ever written by any country in history. American Founding Fathers wrote the 'Mission Statement of America' to place upon America the responsibility of serving as the vanguard nation for the moral and political Freedom of all mankind, not just for American people. No wonder, why Alexis De Tocqueville, a French Juror in 1831, wrote: `America is great because She is good; if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.' ''

Today I ask my fellow members of Congress to honor a man whose character, patriotism, and heart of service calls for our sincere respect and gratitude. Grand Master Rhee, today I celebrate and thank you for your 45 years of service to the members of this Chamber and the Senate. More importantly, I thank you for your example to the citizens of this Nation--for increasing the hope within each of us, for reminding us of the beauty and strength of our nation, and for inspiring individuals and groups of every walk of life to continually press towards the call to take it higher and make it better.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remember those who lost their lives last year on September 29 when American Samoa was hit by the most powerful earthquake of 2009 which struck below the ocean about 140 miles southwest of Pago Pago, American Samoa, and 125 miles south of Samoa.

The earthquake, which registered 8.3 on the Richter scale, set off a massive tsunami that

crashed into American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga, sweeping cars and people out to sea as survivors fled to high ground. In American Samoa, many children running for home unknowingly ran in the direction of the tsunami.

Entire villages in American Samoa and the neighboring islands of Samoa and Tonga were devastated by the disaster. In response, the United States answered with a generous and heartfelt outpouring of aid.

As we pause to remember the lives lost and the families impacted, I want to once more publicly thank President Obama for his leadership during this tragedy. The Obama Administration continues to stand with us and, on behalf of all Samoans, I thank the Administration for its swift response.

I also want to thank U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for her unwavering support. At my request and the request of Congresswoman Laura Richardson, Secretary Clinton authorized the immediate airlift of 92,000 pounds of emergency supplies collected by Samoan and non-Samoan communities in the Los Angeles, California area as well as by our Samoan and Tongan communities in Salt Lake City and St. George, Utah under the direction of Reverend Elder Liki Tiatia, Reverend Dr. John Mailo, Reverend Dr. Misipouena Tagaloa, High Chief Loa Pele Faletogo, and HC Papali'i Misiona Patane.

In American Samoa, a team of more than 300 responders from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the American Red Cross, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other Federal agencies coordinated relief and recovery operations.

The United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the Hawaii Air National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserve American Samoa provided critical transport of the life-saving and life-sustaining supplies and equipment to meet the immediate needs of the survivors, including more than 26,000 meals, 14,000 liters of water, 1,800 blankets, 800 tents, more than 800 cots, and 9 pallets of medical supplies and medical equipment in support of American Samoa's mass care operations.

The U.S. Department of Labor released over $24 million in National Emergency Grant (NEG) funds to assist clean-up and recovery efforts in American Samoa, although an average disaster NEG is only about $5 million.

FEMA has projected, or set aside, over $155 million for recovery efforts. So far, about $65 million has been obligated and about $45 million has been disbursed pending action from the applicant to define scopes of work or provide information necessary to clear environmental compliance.

Of this $155 million set-aside, FEMA has projected that about $77 million will be used for infrastructure. Of this $77 million, $15 million has been obligated, but only $7 million has been disbursed. According to FEMA, the program is based on reimbursement so FEMA cannot disburse until the American Samoa Government (ASG) requests a manual drawdown based on receipts submitted.

Regarding housing, FEMA initiated a pilot program and planned two phases of construction. Phase 1 required the construction of 8 homes and 10 additional site preparations. All of this work is completed and the 8 homes are occupied. Costs for Phase 1 are still being finalized.

A contract award for Phase 2 is expected to occur in early October with ground-breaking expected to take place in mid-to-late October. A local business is expected to be issued the contract award for Phase 2. 33 homes are expected to be constructed in Phase 2. Overall, the entire pilot program currently stands at 41 homes.

The U.S. Congress also set aside an additional $1.2 million to provide direct assistance to ASG for the disaster through the U.S. Department of the Interior.

In addition to more than $200 million federal dollars described above, Samoan students at the Wentworth Military Academy collected $32,000. They donated $15,000 in cash to the American Samoa Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (ASVOAD) and the remaining amount was given to their families in American Samoa, and also used to provide airfare for the students to visit their families during the time of the disaster. I am so proud of these students who showed true leadership and courage in the face of adversity.

Some of my dearest friends and acquaintances also came to our aid. Without being asked, they contacted my office immediately after the tragedy wanting to make donations and help in whatever way they could.

For historical purposes, I am listing their names below because no act of kindness should ever pass by without sincere acknowledgment to the persons, governments and organizations who gave so generously. They are:

Chairman Li Ka Shing (Li Ka Shing Foundation) (Presented to PM Tuilaepa on behalf of the people of American Samoa)--$100,000.

Chairman Li Ka Shing (Li Ka Shing Foundation) (Presented to Am. Samoa Disaster Relief and Recovery Program)--$150,000.

Chairman Seung-Youn Kim (Hanwha Group) (presented to American Samoa Red Cross: $62,985 for caskets of deceased in Am. Samoa; $37,015 remainder to Am. Samoa Red Cross)--$100,000.

President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Republic of Kazakhstan (Presented to Am. Samoa Disaster Relief and Recovery)--$50,000.

Government of Thailand (Presented to Am. Samoa Disaster Relief and Recovery Program)--$15,000.

Government of Taiwan (Presented to Am. Samoa Red Cross)--$10,000.

Mr. Raymond Calamaro, Esq. (D.C. Attorney) (Presented to Am. Samoa Red Cross)--$1,000.

Mr. Steven Kirchof (Florida Businessman) (Presented to Am. Samoa Red Cross)--$1,000.

Also, I again want to make special mention of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who really fought to make an airlift possible.

DC10 Charter flight (authorized by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for shipment of 92,000 pounds of aid to Apia, Samoa)--$300,000.

Total--$727,000.

While American Samoa is now on the road to recovery, there is still much work to be done. But with the faith and support and prayers of our people and with the additional funds ASG is receiving from the federal government as a result of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), we have every opportunity to forge ahead and become stronger than before, and I thank my colleagues for standing with American Samoa.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California, the distinguished chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, and I also want to thank my good friend, the distinguished ranking member of our Resources Subcommittee on the other side of the aisle for their management of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is of critical importance to the people of American Samoa. How ironic, Mr. Speaker, that last year, on this very day, September 29, American Samoa was hit by the most powerful earthquake, which struck below the ocean at about 140 miles south of the Samoa Islands. The earthquake, which registered 8.3 on the Richter scale, set off a massive tsunami that ended up with 20-foot waves and causing a lot of villages to be severely damaged. People died, sweeping cars out in the ocean. It was a terrible experience for the people.

Mr. Speaker, one day after this, one of our two major tuna processing companies closed its operations in American Samoa, displacing well over 2,000 workers whose jobs were outsourced basically to Thailand, where workers are paid seventy-five cents per hour or even less at that time.

Mr. Speaker, today I am asking my colleagues in the House to support this legislation. While I am fully aware that some of my friends on the other side of the aisle who represent rural communities have similar challenges, I am deeply appreciative of the support that I have received from the other side of the aisle, my Republican friends.

I also want to thank Majority Leader Reid and the Senator from Arizona, Senator McCain, Senator DeMint, and Senator Coburn for their support of this legislation on the other side, and especially my dear colleague from the territory of Guam and her chairmanship, and not only that but her sponsorship of this legislation, Congresswoman Bordallo.

I thank Majority Leader Hoyer, the chairman of our Education and Labor Committee, and Chairman Rahall. And I also want to say that I need the support of my colleagues on this legislation.

I want to say to my friend from the distinguished State of Washington that, again, I deeply, deeply appreciate his support and help in getting this legislation and making it for the consideration of the Members of this body.

With that, again, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6132, the Veterans Benefits and Economic Welfare Improvement Act of 2010. I want to thank the author, the gentleman from California and Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs (VA), Mr. Bob Filner, and also members of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for their support of our men and women who have served our country in the military.

Mr. Speaker, this bill incorporates language from H.R. 5549, the Rating and Processing Individuals' Disability Claims (RAPID) Act, which I have cosponsored. I thank Chairman Filner for including this language in H.R. 6132 and I thank the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Joe Donnelly, for his leadership on the RAPID provision, which adds more accountability and transparency to the process by which the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs (VA) reviews veterans' disability claims.

In addition to the language on disability claims, H.R. 6132 also directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training to carry out a joint training program to assist veterans in acquiring critical skills that are needed in the job market. At a time when opportunities are limited, the program provided for under this bill will help our veterans compete in the job market.

Veterans across the nation are facing many challenges as they assimilate back into a civilian lifestyle. Our most recent veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom have experienced greater frequency of deployment, increased mental health problem, and strains on their families that continue long after they return from war. Given these immense challenges, it is only fitting that Congress works towards helping these brave men and women who risked their lives for our freedom.

I urge my colleagues to support and pass the Veterans Benefits and Economic Welfare Improvement Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support and sympathy for U.S. parents who are not able to see their children, when those children are in the custody of other family members in another country. I am committed to doing everything I can to help these parents be reunited with their children. However, I believe strongly that if we adopt H. Res. 1326 today, we will undermine the progress that has been made by our Government and the Government of Japan on this extremely important matter.

On April 5, I cosigned a letter to Japan's Foreign Minister, a letter authored by our Committee's distinguished Chairman, Mr. Berman, requesting that the Government of Japan provide us a status report on its actions in this matter. Then, on May 12, I chose to cosponsor H. Res. 1326.

My intention was--by cosigning the Chairman's letter and co- sponsoring this resolution--to provide additional incentive to the Government of Japan to work with our government in trying to find ways to bring U.S. parents together with their children in Japan.

I am pleased to inform you that in the past four months--thanks in large part to the leadership and dedication of my colleagues and friends, Mr. Moran and Mr. Smith--significant progress has been made. In that time, the Government of Japan has taken serious steps to address this matter and to lay the groundwork for an ongoing process, in close cooperation with the Government of the United States.

On August 11, I received a copy of Japan's response to our letter. The response makes it clear that a great deal more remains to be done by both of our governments, but the response also shows Japan has certainly taken some significant first steps.

I seek unanimous consent to submit for the Record a copy of Japan's response describing those steps. The letter is detailed and specific. It reflects a willingness by the Government of Japan first to reorganize itself to deal more effectively with this matter and, even more importantly, a clear readiness to take concrete actions to prevent future cases where parents are unable to be with their children.

For these reasons, it is very clear that the Government of Japan is taking seriously the expressions of concern from Members of this body, and I believe those efforts should be recognized.

Embassy of Japan,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Eni F.H. Faleomavaega,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Faleomavaega: I am sending this letter under

the instruction of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan in

response to your letter dated April 5th, 2010.

The child custody issues are complex and each parent may

claim his/her own assertion. The Government of Japan is

making sincere efforts to deal with this issue, from the

standpoint that the welfare of the child should be of utmost

importance. We are well aware of and sympathetic to the

plight of children and families who have been affected by

unfortunate child custody disputes involving Japanese and

American citizens.

The officials at the political level in the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs are in close contact with their counterparts

in the Ministry of Justice to address this issue. As for the

Hague Convention, which you also raised in your letter, the

Government of Japan is seriously considering the possibility

of joining the Convention, and we are accelerating our

consideration process, which was initiated by Prime Minister

Hatoyama. Aside from the Convention, we are also discussing

possible ways for the consular officers of the U.S. in Japan

and parents who claim that their children were taken to Japan

to have better access to their children.

Please find attached an information sheet that responds to

other points referred in your letter. The Ministry will

continue to have close consultation with the State Department

on this issue. I would appreciate your kind understanding and

your support towards our continued efforts.

Identical letters will be sent to each member signatory of

your April 5, 2010 letter.

Sincerely,

Ichiro Fujisaki,

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to

the United States of America.

``We understand that your government established a new

Office of Child Custody within the Foreign Ministry. We would

like to learn more about the new office, including who and

how many staff are dedicated to this office; the mission of

the office and duties of its staff; and how this new office

intends to address the systemic challenges and resolve

existing cases of international parental child abduction.''

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs established the Division

for Issues related to Child Custody in December 2009. The

Division is to supervise various efforts regarding child

custody issues within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Division was established within the Foreign Policy

Bureau, which is the head bureau in the Ministry. The Senior

Foreign Policy Coordinator is assigned to be the Division's

director. Ten staff, including officials of the related

divisions, are assigned to the Division and a full time staff

was added in May 2010 to strengthen its function.

The Division is closely working with related divisions on

major issues related to international child custody. For

example, the Division is coordinating following endeavors in

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; considering the possibility

of joining the Convention; informing Japanese nationals

residing in foreign countries of local laws and regulations;

and considering possible measures to facilitate consular

visits and child visitations, etc. Also, the Division is

working on facilitating discussions with related ministries

like the Ministry of Justice, timely explaining developments

on international child custody issues to Diet members and

liaising with media, etc. The Division is also promoting

public awareness on this issue in Japan, and as a part of its

exercise, it is cooperating with the Japan Federation of Bar

Associations to hold a symposium on the Convention.

Besides the consideration process of the Hague Convention,

existing cases of cross-border removal of children have to be

addressed, including visitation issues. As a part of such an

effort, we established a US-Japan consultative group and

started the discussion.

Under the current Japanese legal system, the Japanese

government does not have the authority to order or instruct a

parent who is alleged to have taken away a child to permit

his or her child to meet with the child's other parent, or

U.S. consular officers. Meanwhile, regardless of their

nationalities, under Japanese law, parents who claim their

children were taken improperly may seek redress--including

possibly gaining custody of their children and their

children's return or asserting other rights regarding their

children, like visitations--by availing themselves of

established judicial proceedings (conciliation/determination)

based on the Domestic Relations Procedure Act. In instances

where a party violates an agreement relating to custody or

visitation obtained through such proceedings, or does not

comply with orders issued in such proceedings which relate to

custody, visitation, etc., the aggrieved party may request

the family courts to recommend the other parties to fulfill

their obligations. Also, although there

are some restrictions from the viewpoint of the child's best

interest, the parties may request the family court to force

direct compliance or order compulsory payment to enforce an

order on return of child, and request the court to order

compulsory payment to enforce court order on visitation,

depending on the facts of each case. There have been many

cases where return of children and visitation were

successfully implemented under the current system.

In addition, there have been cases where US embassy or

consular officials were unable to resolve child custody

matters but sought and received assistance from Ministry of

Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA). In these instances, MOFA

officials made diligent and even intensive efforts to convey

the US government's request to the Japanese parents in

question and/or their lawyers through all appropriate

measures, including making telephone calls and sending

letters. Because parents, children and their families usually

have very complicated feelings in such matters, the

Ministry's contacts are often rejected at first. However, the

MOFA officials make repeated efforts to contact them and to

hold sincere talks with them.

In the US-Japan consultative group, we would like to

exchange information about the current situation regarding

consular visits and child visitations and discuss effective

and appropriate means and methods and points to be improved

with regard to these systems.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend a warm welcome and friendship to His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa during his visit to the United States. His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa is the supreme head of the Drukpa Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and the founder of Live to Love International--a global non-profit organization.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this outstanding humanitarian and leader for his commitment to service. His projects embody the profound spirit of compassion and action expressed through the collective works of Live to Love. This week, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Awards Committee in conjunction with the United Nations Millennium Campaign and the United Nations Office for Partnerships recognized this remarkable spiritual leader and his work through Live to Love at the tenth anniversary of the Millennium Development Goals Awards Ceremony.

The mission of Live to Love is to blend traditional Himalayan philosophy with innovative contemporary solutions to provide concrete solutions to humanitarian problems. Live to Love focuses on five areas: (1) education, (2) medical services, (3) relief aid, (4) heritage preservation and (5) environmental sustainability. The organization is headquartered in Hong Kong with support chapters in Bhutan, France, Germany, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

In furthering the five goals of Live to Love, the organization builds the world's greenest schools and educates young girls in remote regions empowering them with leadership skills and confidence. Additionally, these schools teach a sustainable way of life. Live to Love also combines the best of Eastern and Western medicine to deliver vital health care to underserved groups. Live to Love builds and operates urgently needed medical clinics that serve poor rural areas at little or no cost. These clinics perform eye surgeries, distribute medicine, aid burn victims, as well as administer health and wellness programs. They also train local volunteers to assist resident medical specialists, helping them gain valuable skills that are in strong demand in the workplace and increases their employment prospects. Also, in an effort to preserve traditional Himalayan heritage, Live to Love provides educational services that celebrate indigenous cultures; helps conserve and restore ancient art, artifacts, and structures; and trains community leaders to protect their culture and history.

His Holiness teaches that in serving others, we nurture ourselves. The example and actions of His Holiness and Live to Love serve as a clarion that can rouse the best and highest within us. Indeed, his life and the organization's mission are an inspiration from which we can all draw as we endeavor to lift and strengthen others, and this is why I am pleased to recognize him on this occasion and bring his work and the work of his organization to the attention of the U.S. Congress.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. D.J. Pandian, Principal Secretary of Energy and Petrochemicals of the Government of Gujarat.

Mr. Pandian, who has 30 years of experience in public policy and administration, is leading a high-level business delegation from Gujarat, India to the U.S. to promote and strengthen U.S.-India trade. The Gujarat delegation is on a four-city visit to the U.S. to showcase investment opportunities.

In cooperation with the Alliance for U.S.-India Business, AUSIB, the Congressional Taskforce on U.S.-India Trade and Investment Relations welcomed the Gujarat delegation at a meeting held in the U.S. Capitol on September 15, 2010.

The taskforce and the Gujarat delegation discussed ways in which they could collaborate, particularly in the fields of healthcare, IT, renewable energy, and the oil and gas sectors. On behalf of the delegation, Mr. Pandian extended invitations to Members of Congress to attend the Vibrant Gujarat 2011 Summit to be held on January 12-13, 2011, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

The Gujarat delegation received an overwhelming response of support from Members of Congress and I want to personally thank Mr. Pandian for his leadership in bringing key stakeholders together and, once more, I commend Mr. Sanjay Puri, President of AUSIB, for highlighting the importance of this delegation's visit to Washington, D.C.

Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Pandian served as the Chief Executive Officer of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, GSPC, and its group companies for 8 years. During his tenure, he converted the minuscule GSPC into a giant oil and gas company with presence in the entire Value Chain of Hydro Carbon Sector.

He developed extensive gas grid networks for transmission and distribution of natural gas throughout Gujarat. Through his visionary policies and program implementation skills, he

also developed city gas distribution systems in most of the districts of Gujarat with active public and private participation.

He was also instrumental in setting up a modern university, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, to provide highly skilled technical manpower to the industries in the petroleum sector.

Mr. Pandian's work is unmatched and it is my honor to pay tribute to him.

Madam Speaker, yesterday, I welcomed to Washington, DC, 16 business leaders from Gujarat, India in a statement that I submitted for the Record. Today, I rise to recognize eight additional members of the delegation including S A Dula, Advisor, Industrial Extension Bureau; Kamalakara Rao Yechuri, CFO, GMR Group; Palak Sheth, OSD, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University; Hemang Jani, PriceWaterhouseCoopers Pvt. Ltd.; Jitendra Shah, Managing Director, Tip Sons Financial Services Pvt. Ltd.; Murli Ranganathan, Director, Torrent Power Ltd.; Vivek Rastogi, Associate VP, Abellon Energy; and Mr. Inderpreet Wadhwa.

As top business leaders, these individuals came to Washington to discuss key areas in which the U.S. and India can collaborate to strengthen bilateral economic relations. They and their colleagues have played an integral role in the growth of India and the State of Gujarat, and it is my privilege to recognize their contribution to strengthening the U.S.-India economic partnership.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to welcome the Gujarat, India delegation to Washington, D.C. Gujarat is one of the most prominent States on the western coast of India and has contributed significantly to India's growth story with consistent double digit GDP growth for almost a decade.

Since 2003, the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit has attracted investment agreements worth more than USD 370 billion. The State is now gearing up for the 5th Vibrant Gujarat Summit scheduled to be held on January 12-13, 2011 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

As prelude to the Summit, the Gujarat delegation will be visiting New York to highlight

Gujarat as a leading investment destination while identifying areas of Gujarat-U.S. collaboration.

The delegation will also visit Capitol Hill where members will be hosted by the Congressional Taskforce on U.S.-India Trade and Investment Relations in cooperation with the Alliance for U.S.-India Business (AUSIB), a leading non-profit trade association that offers a pathway to help businesses succeed in the United States and India.

Members of the Gujarat delegation include: Nitin Shukla, CEO, Hazira LNG Pvt. Ltd.; Nitin Sandesara, Chairman, Sterling Biotech Ltd.; Rajiv Modi, Chairman, Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd.; H K Chudgar, Chairman, Intas Pharma; Parimal Nathwani, Group President, Reliance Group; Ravi Sharma, CEO, Adani Group; Sudhir Mehta, Chairman, Torrent; Sunil Kakkad, Chairman, Sai Infosystem (India) Ltd.; Kriti Joshi, Sr. VP, Sai Infosystem (India) Ltd.; Sushil Handa, Chairman, Fifth Veda Entrepreneur/Abellon Energy; D Alok, Business Head, Suzlon Energy Ltd.; B K Goenka, Chairman, Welspun; R J Shah, CEO, Dahej SEZ Ltd.; Samir Patel, CMD, Amos Enterprises; Nirav Mahadevia, Managing Director, Technopolis; Bina Hermeith, Business Head, Abellon Energy.

I join with my colleagues in recognizing the importance of this delegation's visit to our Nation's capital, and I commend AUSIB's President, Mr. Sanjay Puri, for playing a pivotal role in advancing, promoting and strengthening the U.S.-India partnership.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of 15 years of U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic relations. On July 14, 2010, I joined former President Bill Clinton, Senator John Kerry and Senator John McCain in offering remarks at an event hosted by Ambassador of Vietnam Le Cong Phung and Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell in honor of this occasion.

While time will not permit me to elaborate about the competing interests of ridding the world of colonialism versus communism and America's decision to eventually intervene in Vietnam, the majority of the American people did not know of the complexities facing the countries of the Asia region.

Why, for example, did Ho Chi Minh and so many other Asian leaders become followers of socialist, Marxist, and communist ideologies? One obvious reason is that the worst examples of those who advocated freedom and democracy were those European countries that came and colonized so many of these Asian nations, including Vietnam.

For some 100 years, Vietnam was colonized and exploited by the French and, during President Dwight Eisenhower's Administration, the French government requested American military assistance to fight the Vietnamese who, under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh, were struggling for independence from French colonial rule. President Eisenhower refused to help the French in Vietnam for the simple reason that French exploitation and colonial policies in the region went against the ideals upon which America was built.

Subsequently, in 1954, long before American intervention in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh led his people to fight against French colonialism for which the famous battle of Dienbienphu was fought to liberate his country. While Ho Chi Minh's early intent was to get rid of 100 years of French colonialism and establish a better life for his own people, regrettably when the U.S. entered the fray in 1955 and by the time the Nixon administration withdrew U.S. troops forces in 1973, millions of U.S. troops had served in Vietnam, with more than 58,000 killed.

Three to four million Vietnamese were also killed, as were 1.5 to 2 million Laotians and Cambodians. For what, we ask? As a result of this horrific war, U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic and economic relations were virtually non-existent for more than 20 years following North Vietnam's victory in 1975--until President Bill Clinton announced the formal normalization of diplomatic relations with Vietnam on July 11, 1995.

Prior to this, President Clinton announced the end of the U.S. trade embargo in 1994 and, 2 months later, the U.S. Congress passed the Foreign Relations Authorization Act which contained a Sense of the Senate express the chamber's support for the normalization of relations with Vietnam.

In 1997, President Clinton appointed the first post-war ambassador to Vietnam and signed the landmark U.S.-Vietnam bilateral trade agreement, BTA, in 2000. Vietnam did its part, too, improving cooperation on POW/ MIA and refugee issues and moving forward on its ongoing reform efforts.

In November 2000, President Clinton visited Vietnam, the first trip by a U.S. President since Richard Nixon went to Saigon in 1969. Tonight, we applaud former President Clinton for his visionary leadership which has led to this moment. I also commend Ambassador Le Cong Phung for the tremendous service he has rendered to his country.

Today, economic ties are the most mature aspect of our bilateral relationship with trade flows exceeding $15 billion in 2009, more than ten times the level in 2001. But we can do better, and one area that must be addressed is our forgotten responsibility to the victims of Agent Orange because part of normalizing relations means coming to terms with our past.

As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment, I have held a series of hearing about Agent Orange and our need to clean up the mess we left behind.

From 1961 to 1971, the U.S. military sprayed more than 11 million gallons of Agent Orange in Vietnam. Agent Orange was manufactured under Department of Defense, DOD, contracts by several companies including Dow Chemical and Monsanto. Dioxin, a toxic contaminant known to be one of the deadliest chemicals made by man, was an unwanted byproduct and is thought to be responsible for most of the medical problems associated with exposure to Agent Orange.

According to Hatfield Consultants, the U.S. Department of Defense as well as Dow Chemical and Monsanto knew as early as 1967 of the potential long-term health risks, and sought to ``censor'' relevant news reports, ``fearing a negative backlash from government and the public.''

More than 30 years later, while research clearly shows that Agent Orange was much more hazardous than anyone would admit, U.S. and Vietnamese victims have not been adequately compensated, and Vietnam has not been cleaned-up. Ironically, Dow is now doing business in Vietnam but refuses to help the victims of Agent Orange, and this is not right.

In 2007, after 40 years, I, too, returned to Vietnam and, at a closing dinner hosted by the National Assembly of Ho Chi Minh City, I had long discussions with members of their Foreign Affairs Committee who had also served in the Vietnam War. Although we were once enemies, we embraced each other as friends who share the same hopes and dreams for our families and countries, and this is how it should be but full normalization will not be achieved until the Agent Orange issue is addressed. It is my sincere hope that we will come together and agree on a way to make this matter right.

Once more, I congratulate the government and people of Vietnam and applaud former President Bill Clinton, President George W. Bush, President George H.W. Bush, President Ronald Reagan, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for all they have done to get us where we are today.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Korean American Voters' Council for their continued commitment to the advancement of the Korean American community and to remind my colleagues about House Resolution 121, the ``comfort women'' resolution which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on July 30, 2007.

The Korean American Voters' Council was a strong advocate and key initiator in educating members of Congress on the ``comfort women'' issue three years ago when House Resolution 121 was passed. The Korean American Voters' Council is a grassroots non-profit organization built up of volunteers who work on constituency development, civic participation, voting rights advocacy, and community education within Korean American communities across the country.

Friday, July 30, 2010, will mark the third anniversary of the passing of House Resolution 121. House Resolution 121 calls upon the Government of Japan to make an official and unequivocal apology, taking responsibility for the Japanese Imperial Armed Force's role in enslaving over 200,000 girls and women of Asia as ``comfort women'' before and during World War II.

House Resolution 121 was sponsored by my distinguished colleague, Representative Michael M. Honda, and it was my privilege to serve as a co-sponsor of this bill and to hold the first hearing ever held in the U.S. Congress on this sensitive subject. The hearing was held before the House Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment on February 15, 2007 and paid tribute to those who suffered while acknowledging the past contributions of those Members of Congress like former Chairman Henry Hyde of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and also the late Congressman Lane Evans who also championed this cause.

It has been three years since passage and the resolution clearly expressed a need for a formal acknowledgement and apology by the Government of Japan, through the Prime Minister to the victims of this atrocity. The Government of Japan has had multiple changes in the Prime Minister position and not one has formally acknowledged and apologized for this human rights violation. The victims are running out of time for this apology, as most of them are elderly, and the time is now for the Government of Japan to formally apologize for their past mistake.

I strongly urge the Government of Japan to formally acknowledge and apologize in order to begin the reconciliation process and to create better relationships in the future. Japan cannot move forward by erasing the past and it is of the utmost importance that Japan follows through on House Resolution 121.