Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentlelady from Missouri for her sponsorship and authorship of this important legislation.

I do want to say that the names of Mickey Leland, Bill Emerson, Tony Hall, I think, stand out in terms of what we did years ago, Mr. Speaker; that perhaps maybe this Congress needs to reestablish a select committee on hunger like we did years ago when it was chaired by Mr. Mickey Leland from Texas and also the gentleman from Missouri, Mr. Bill Emerson, and also the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Tony Hall.

I believe that as a member of the committee at that time we were very, very much into the concerns that were expressed quite eloquently by my good friend, the gentleman from Massachusetts, the problems that we're dealing with and the subject of hunger.

I think we are moving in the right direction, and I just wanted to note, Mr. Speaker, that this issue of hunger really needs to be addressed seriously. And I want to commend the gentlelady from Missouri for her efforts, not only in continuing the legacy of her husband but the fact that this is a very serious issue, and I wish that perhaps my colleagues and the leadership of the House will reestablish that select committee on hunger like we did years ago so that we will not forget. We're moving in the right direction. We need to do more for the needy and for the poor.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend and thank the gentleman from New York for his sponsorship of this important legislation. I also want to commend my good friend, the ranking member of our Asia, Pacific Subcommittee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo) for allowing bipartisanship of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 4286, a bill to award Ms. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi the Congressional Gold Medal for her dedication, her service, and unwavering commitment and courage to stand up against the forces of military rule on the people of Burma. For over 10 years now, Ms. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been placed under house arrest by the military regime of Burma.

Mr. Speaker, I will submit that there are a lot of complications here on the situation with Burma. Burma continues to exist under very difficult conditions whereby seven to eight ethnic factions are constantly competing for the control of that country. In fact, it was even so bad that even the British could not control them under their colonial rule. As such, the military organization now claims, and continues to claim, that it is the only group or organization that is keeping the country together and, without the military, Burma would be in a state of civil war.

Mr. Speaker, I want to say that that is the very heart and problem that we face with Burma today; the fact that there are about seven to eight different ethnic groups within the country that could never be controlled by one group. And I want to say that, as the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, Ms. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi continues to make every effort to work with the military regime to see the possibility of democracy ever to return to Burma.

It is my sincere hope that, in the coming weeks and months, Ms. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her military counterparts will work out a compromise solution, hopefully, to establish a democratic form of government for the people of Burma.

Mr. Speaker, I want to again commend my good friend, the gentleman from New York, for his authorship of this bill and, most appropriately, to honor this great leader Ms. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with the Congressional Gold Medal. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, again I want to thank my good friend from New York for yielding me such time to say a few words in honoring this gentleman.

As I'm sure that I did not want to miss this opportunity to stand here on the floor and to express my feelings of this great American, as I'm sure there may have been a Special Order already taken where Members could speak and giving their sense of tribute to Congressman Henry Hyde.

I thank the gentleman from Illinois for his sponsorship of this bill, and want to thank the members of the Illinois delegation for their sponsorship of this legislation to honor my good friend and dear colleague, the late Congressman Henry J. Hyde, whom I've had the distinct privilege of serving with him when he served as chairman of the House Committee on International Relations.

Mr. Speaker, Chairman Hyde and I did not always agree on the issues and bills that were brought before our committee, but one thing that I valued tremendously concerning the character of this great leader, and that is he respected the opinions of others, even though they may differ from his.

Chairman Hyde was a great leader, a man of principle, and a true patriot

and a statesman. And above all, Mr. Speaker, he was my friend.

I'm reminded of a Chinese proverb, Mr. Speaker, and the proverb states, ``There are many acquaintances but very few friends.''

Congressman Henry Hyde was my friend. Have a good journey, Henry.

I want to thank the gentlelady from the Virgin Islands, our distinguished chairman of our Insular Affairs Subcommittee, Mrs. Christensen, for allowing me to speak concerning this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of H.R. 3079, and I want to commend the chairman of our committee, Mr. Nick Rahall, and also the chairlady of our Insular Affairs Subcommittee, Mrs. Donna Christensen, for their leadership and service, and above all, their commitment and willingness to go through some of the provisions in the bill which I have concerns with.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank the gentleman, former chairman of the Natural Resources Committee and now chairman of our Education and Labor Committee, the gentleman from California, my good friend, Mr. Miller, not only for his leadership, but throughout the years that he has been very diligent in bringing attention to our colleagues and our Nation about the serious problems involving the situation there in the Northern Mariana Islands.

I recall distinctly that because of the violations of Federal labor laws, the garment factories that were instituted by this one gentleman that was fined by some $9 million, just to show without even questioning or even taking the matter to court some of the problems that we had faced within the CNMI.

Mr. Speaker, I support the concerns of the administration and House Members supporting the bill, but we should also be mindful that there is a GAO study currently under way in reviewing CNMI's immigration problems that hopefully will shed more light on the current situation in CNMI. It is my sincere hope that the GAO study will give us more information on CNMI's overall economic and political development, and the bill we're about to pass will complement the findings of the GAO report that will be completed in the near future.

Mr. Speaker, we ought not to put the blame on the current administration, Governor Ben Fitial, for the failures and misdeeds of his predecessors. Since becoming Governor of CNMI, Governor Fitial has addressed several concerns that had plagued previous administrations. For example, with the closures of most of the government factories in CNMI, the number of alien guest workers has declined from its peak of about 30,000 now to about 20,000 by the end of this year. This will further decrease to about 15,000 by next year.

Governor Fitial has instituted an effective and fair system for handling complaints by alien guest workers. The new system implemented by the Governor has eliminated a backlog of some 3,400 pending labor cases carried over from previous administrations.

Under Governor Fitial's administration, the CNMI Government has implemented a new computerized system for tracking arrivals and departures of alien guest workers, leading to a more effective control of CNMI's immigration problems.

I am especially pleased, Mr. Speaker, for the removal of a certain provision that would have legalized the status of illegal overstayers in CNMI. I want to thank Chairman Rahall, Chairwoman Christensen and Ranking Member Don Young for the spirit of bipartisanship that has authorized CNMI to also have a delegate in the U.S. Congress, as stated in the bill. I cannot stress enough the importance of the unique political relationship between the United States and CNMI, especially in the interest of our national security. The significance of this political relationship has elevated since the closures of the Clarke Air Force Base and our Naval Base in Subic Bay in the Philippines.

I cannot help but mention the name of the late Congressman Phil Burton, Mr. Speaker, who played a most critical role in the development of this unique political relationship between CNMI and the United States. Furthermore, the pending transfer of some 9,000 U.S. marines and their families from Okinawa to Guam, and likely also to CNMI, has made this relationship even more critical and important to our strategic and military interests in this region of the world.

Overall, we have a very important military interest in these islands, and our Nation is grateful that Guam and CNMI are members of our American family.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady from the great State of Hawaii.

Mr. Speaker, again I thank the gentlelady from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and also the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) for their sponsorship of this legislation which honors the 100th anniversary of one of our Nation's great public institutions of learning, the University of Hawai`i, along with her 10 campuses established all over the State and some 620 certificate, degree, and postgraduate programs for some 50,000 students also currently attending the university.

Mr. Speaker, I echo the sentiments expressed earlier by my colleague from Hawaii. This also exemplifies the caliber of the leadership coming from this great State of Hawaii.

I think also of Mrs. Patsy Takomoto Mink for the 35th year now in celebrating the piece of legislation that she championed while a Member of this great institution, and that of course is title IX, which has given authorization to promote and enhance our women's athletic programs, which currently now are taking place all over the country.

I also want to pay special commendation to the head coach of the University of Hawai`i Warriors, June Jones, for doing something that is very special to our island community: they are going to the Sugar Bowl. And having a perfect record, I am disappointed that Colt Brennan did not become the Heisman Trophy winner this year. But be that as it may, I do want to thank Coach June Jones for personally coming to my little territory, American Samoa, to recruit some of our football players who now make up in large part members of the University of Hawai`i Warrior team.

I'm also reminded that some of the great leaders of our country are alumnae of the University of Hawai`i. As a former member of 100th Battalion 442nd Infantry Reserve Battalion, I can only think of Senator Inouye and the late Senator Spark Matsunaga, both graduates of the University of Hawai`i. I need not share with my colleagues the prominence and the tremendous leadership that these gentlemen have also exemplified while serving the great State of Hawaii.

Mr. Speaker, over the years, the University of Hawai`i has been the center of higher education for many of our Pacific Island leaders from Oceania, namely from Micronesia, Polynesia, and even Melanesia.

The University of Hawai`i also played a critical role in coordinating and facilitating the academic programs instituted through the congressionally mandated institute currently known as the East-West Center. The East-West Center, since its inception in 1963, is a unique institution which, over the years, has brought scholars and leaders from all over the world to meet and discuss issues that are especially important to our Nation's economic, political, social and especially strategic and military interests with countries of the Asian Pacific region; and the University of Hawai`i, to this day, still is part of the East-West Center's current activities and programs.

Mr. Speaker, I am especially proud that just a few days ago, an alumnus of the University of Hawai`i, who happens to be a relative also, Mr. Ken Niumatalolo, whose parents, Simi and La Niumatalolo, from the little village of La'ie, Hawaii, is now the newly appointed head coach of the football team of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis.

As far as I'm aware, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Niumatalolo is the first of Samoan and Polynesian ancestry to coach an NCAA Division I university team, again a credit also to the University of Hawai`i for giving Mr. Niumatalolo a chance not only to play as a quarterback for the UH Warriors, but to enroll as a student and to obtain a good education.

Mr. Speaker, again, my congratulations not only to my distinguished friend and dear colleague Ms. Hirono for introducing this legislation, but to honor this great institution, the University of Hawai`i.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2705) to amend the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would first like to recognize a distinguished colleague and dear friend of mine, the gentlelady who currently chairs the Subcommittee on International Affairs, the gentlelady from the Virgin Islands, Mrs. Donna Christensen, for introducing this legislation.

This bill makes conforming, clarifying, and technical amendments to the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003, which are important to ensuring that we maintain our obligations under the act to our friends in Micronesia.

This bill also approves agreements made pursuant to the act which determines how disaster relief will be handled for the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, through amending the Compact of Free Association, this legislation before us today transfers excess military equipment to friendly foreign governments for their legitimate defense needs. It is a strong statement of trust and cooperation from the United States when we transfer excess U.S. military naval vessels.

While excess to our own needs, these refurbished vessels conserve significant and deeply appreciated roles in the navies of the recipient nations.

Mr. Speaker, this bill also authorizes the transfer of excess U.S. naval vessels to three of our most important friends and allies, Turkey, Lithuania and Taiwan.

As my colleagues well know, Turkey is one of our most valued NATO members, and is one of the United States' closest allies. Turkey serves as one of the most important conduits for the transit of supplies to our forces in Iraq. The transfer of these missiles, two guided missile frigates and two minesweepers, will again reinforce our close relationship with Istanbul and our common commitments to each other's security needs.

Lithuania has been a staunch U.S. ally in the global war on terror. It makes an outside contribution to global security, contributing troops to military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the leading provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan.

The two minesweeper vessels in this bill will allow Vilnius to clear leftover sea mines from the two world wars in the Baltic Sea and supports Lithuania's commitment to NATO's Mine Counter-Measures Forces North mission.

Taiwan is a thriving and energetic democracy. Our two nations share a complex web of economic, political, and strategic ties that only deepens over time. Taiwan is a bulwark of democracy in the Asia-Pacific region, and we must do all we can to further strengthen our political, security and economic ties. This bill authorizes the sale of two minesweepers to Taiwan.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 10 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).

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

I want first to compliment my good friend the gentleman from Florida on the other side of the aisle for part of our management of this proposed legislation.

I want to note for the record how important these islands in Micronesia were so critical in our Nation's history, and I might want to note as a matter of record that it was from Micronesia that the famous aircraft, the Enola Gay, took the two atom bombs to Nagasaki and Hiroshima which eventually ended the war against Japanese military forces. It was also in Micronesia that we initiated and conducted tests of some 67 nuclear devices that were exploded in the Marshall Islands. I think sometimes we don't seem to give a sense of appreciation of the fact that the whole Marshall archipelago, the whole Marshall Islands, were totally exposed to nuclear radiation as a result of our nuclear testing program, some 67 nuclear bombs, including the first hydrogen bomb that was exploded in the Marshall Islands, 1,000 times more powerful than the bombs that we exploded in Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

I am saddened to say, Mr. Speaker, that our government has not made a definite commitment to help, to meet the medical needs of the several hundred of the Marshallese people who were exposed to nuclear radiation. To this day we still have not done enough to help the Marshallese people in this regard. We have also not helped the Marshallese people to compensate them properly for the loss of their property when we conducted these tests in Micronesia.

I just want to note that for the record, Mr. Speaker. I hope that in the coming months that appropriate legislation will be introduced to address these very serious issues. I think we owe it to the Marshallese people. Our government surely should be grateful for the sacrifices that the Marshallese people have had to make as a result of conducting our nuclear testing program in this area of the world.

With that, Mr. Speaker, again I thank my good friend from Florida.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 812) expressing the sympathy and pledging the urgent support of the House of Representatives and the people of the United States for the victims of the devastating flooding in southern Mexico, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I want to first thank my colleague and dear friend, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez), and also the chairman of our House Foreign Affairs Committee and the distinguished senior ranking member, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for their support and leadership; and again especially my good friend, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, for her authorship of this resolution. This is very, very critical, Mr. Speaker. We cannot support Mexico enough during one of the worst natural disasters in their history.

A series of storms have brought torrential rainfall to southern Mexico, especially the States of Tabasco and Chiapas, causing the Grijalva, Carrizal, and Puxcatan Rivers to overflow their banks. The homes of an estimated half a million people have been damaged or destroyed, and at least that many more people have been affected by severed utilities and transportation corridors.

Mr. Speaker, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has called it ``one of the worst natural disasters in the history of our country. Not only because of the size of the area affected but because of the number of people affected.''

The Governor of the State of Tabasco, Andres Granier, stated that 100 percent of the State's crops were lost and that 80 percent of the State of Tabasco is underwater. Over a million Tabascans, half the State's population, have been directly affected, with at least half a million losing their homes and even more losing all of their material possessions. The capital of Tabasco, Villahermosa, has been particularly devastated, being compared to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Mr. Speaker, an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 people were being housed in shelters, Interior Minister Francisco Ramirez Acuna said recently in a television interview. He estimated that some 400,000 people in Tabasco would need some kind of government aid to get back on their feet. The floodwaters' descent could lead to outbreaks of diseases like malaria, dengue fever and cholera.

Mr. Speaker, we must commend President Calderon, who has led Mexico's rapid response to its worst flooding in recent history and who has personally played a major role in averting a catastrophe on the level of Katrina. Amid heavy rains, President Calderon ordered in thousands of soldiers, marines, pilots and federal police on October 29, 2 days before the most damaging flooding hit. When the riverbanks finally burst, inundating some 70 percent

of the city of Villahermosa on October 31, there were more than 60 helicopters ready to carry out nonstop rescue and relief missions. President Calderon and half his cabinet were on the ground, giving televised updates on everything from how to use satellite phones in shelters to the drop points of millions of bottles of water. The President's reaction is most impressive, and I take this opportunity here on the House floor to applaud this leader's efforts.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution expresses the empathy of the United States House of Representatives during this time and pledges our continued assistance. We applaud the prompt humanitarian response of the Mexican government, international organizations, and relief bodies. We must continue to support these efforts as long as they are necessary.

In this resolution, it is resolved that the House of Representatives urge the U.S. Government to immediately make available all possible assistance to Mexican authorities and reaffirms its commitment to provide relief aid to the victims as the effects of the flooding continue to unfold.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 10 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Linda T. Sanchez).

Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentlewoman for her most eloquent remarks before the floor of this House and, again, I want to urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass

the bill (H.R. 3320) to provide assistance for the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, Poland.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill and yield myself such time as I may consume.

First of all, I would like to commend and thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), my good friend and my colleague, for his sponsorship of this important legislation, and I also want to thank the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the gentlewoman from Florida, our senior ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, for their support of this legislation.

This bill that was introduced by my good friend, the gentleman from New Jersey, is a bill that seeks to preserve the cultural heritage of Poland's Jewish population. Mr. Speaker, the history of the Jewish people in Poland dates back over a millennium, when the country initially provided one of Europe's most tolerant homes for the Jewish people and housed one of the world's most vibrant Jewish communities. This tolerance waned from the 17th century onwards, as incidents of political and personal anti-Semitism began to increase.

However, when Poland regained its independence in the early 20th century, its Jewish population remained one of the largest in the world. Indeed, in 1939, over 3 million of the Jewish people lived in Poland, comprising the largest Jewish population of any country in Europe. Mr. Speaker, this situation changed radically when the Nazis occupied Poland, as over 90 percent of Poland's Jewish population was brutally killed or murdered and tortured during the Holocaust. Of the few who survived, around 200,000 people, most emigrated from Poland. Many came to the United States, while others fled to Israel and South America.

Mr. Speaker, estimates of Poland's Jewish population range from 3,500 to 15,000, out of a total population of over 38 million. This dramatically reduced post-war Jewish population has led to some false claims that there were no Jews in Poland. Given the long history of Poland's Jews, combined with the tragic decline of their population during the Holocaust, it is singularly important that steps are taken to preserve and protect their cultural heritage. Indeed, the nearly 9 million Americans who claim Polish lineage will benefit from visible reminders of their forebearers.

Mr. Speaker, for almost over 10 years now, a team of international experts has worked tirelessly to establish a Museum of the History of the Polish Jews for this very purpose. This museum aims to preserve the history and culture of Jewish people in Poland over the last 1,000 years, beginning with their 11th century emigration from Western Europe to escape persecution in their vibrant community between the world wars.

Mr. Speaker, the City of Warsaw and the Polish Government have been active supporters and contributors to this project. In 1997, the city donated the land near the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Memorial on which to construct this new museum. This area is located in Warsaw's former Jewish quarter, which previously housed a thriving community of about 400,000 Jewish people.

Mr. Speaker, in 2005, two years ago, the city and the government donated 40 million zlotys, currently worth about $14.5 million, for the museum's construction. In the year 2005, again, two years ago, a Finnish architectural firm was selected to design the project. In June of this year, Polish authorities broke ground at the site. Construction is expected to take two years, enabling the museum to open by the year 2010.

This bill authorizes U.S. funding to assist in the development of the permanent collection of the museum. This money will ensure the protection of artifacts documenting the heritage of the Jewish Polish people and many of their descendants who currently live in the United States.

Museum organizers have already asked the people of Poland to donate memorabilia to the project, collecting photographs, documents, and other remaining items. One such object includes a penknife provided by a woman whose father, a forced laborer in a Nazi arms factory, obtained from a fellow prisoner who had received it as a bar mitzvah gift. American funding will help these efforts.

I strongly support this bill and ask my colleagues to join me in ensuring the preservation of such a rich cultural legacy.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to compliment and commend my good friend from New Jersey for a most eloquent statement. Whenever he speaks, I listen; not only as a great advocate and champion of human rights throughout the world, but I cannot think of a more appropriate piece of legislation where his mark is made to the fact that the persecutions that took place among the Jewish people during World War II. Again, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for his efforts in bringing this piece of legislation to the floor for consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 811) condemning the November 6, 2007, terrorist bombing in Afghanistan and expressing condolences to the people of Afghanistan and the members of the Wolesi Jirga.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this proposed legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to recognize the chief sponsor and author of this important legislation, my good friend, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price) and I also want to thank the chairman of our Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Lantos, and our ranking member, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, for their support and leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, last week the United States was reminded once again that amongst the weekly sacrifices of Americans in Iraq, the continuing concern of Iran and the recent developments in Pakistan, there still exists in the geographic center of the Middle East and South Asia a country that faces a growing insurgency that directly threatens its stability and the national security and interests of the United States and its allies.

On November 6, a suicide bomber targeted a delegation of members of the Afghanistan National Assembly, or the Wolesi Jirga, killing at least 50 Afghans, including school children, ordinary citizens and half a dozen elected members. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly condemn this attack and to echo again our unified commitment to the stabilization and development of Afghanistan.

This House shares a special bond with the Wolesi Jirga, which participates in a partnership in our House Democracy Assistance Commission, and it is indeed a tragedy to see our fellow legislators or parliamentarians be murdered in such a way.

A few months ago, this House passed on an overwhelming and bipartisan basis the Afghanistan Freedom Support and Security Act of 2007. This act reaffirmed our long-term commitment to the security and development of Afghanistan by reauthorizing a comprehensive package of assistance to a country in dire need of the international community's support.

Mr. Speaker, if there is any lesson to be taken from the tragic events like these, it is that now is the time to act. Poppy cultivation is up multifold, suicide attacks have increased dramatically in the past year, and Afghanistan still suffers as being one of the poorest countries in the world. In that regard, I urge my colleagues in the Senate, the other body, to take up an Afghanistan reauthorization bill as early as possible so that we may help that country drive out the forces of extremism and intolerance and bring the forces of moderation and progress in.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price), the author of this proposed bill.

Mr. Speaker, I deeply appreciate the remarks of my good friend and colleague from California and also the author of this legislation. Truly, I echo his sentiments. This is bipartisan proposed legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Does my colleague from Florida have any further speakers?

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

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

Mr. Speaker, given that American Samoa's private- sector economy is more than 80 percent open dependent either directly or indirectly on the U.S. tuna processing and fishing industries, I rise in support of H.R. 3996 which includes a provision to extend IRS 30A tax credits to American Samoa.

While I asked for a 10-year extension of our tax credits, I understand that all tax extenders included in this bill received the same extension of 1-year only. Chairman Rangel has also promised to continuing to work with me on a more permanent solution for American Samoa once our local canneries agree on what incentives work best for them.

It is unfortunate that StarKist and Chicken of the Sea could not reach agreement in a timely manner regarding whether or not 30A is the best option for them to remain and invest in American Samoa. Earlier this year, both canneries agreed that 30A was the way forward. By mid- year, our canneries were at odds.

Our canneries have also been unable to provide Chairman Rangel with a clear indication of whether or not they will stay in American Samoa if they are provided with tax credits. During last Congress, our canneries also failed to provide Chairman Thomas of the Ways and Means Committee with assurances of their commitment to American Samoa.

Regardless, I still support 30A tax credits for American Samoa, and especially for our tuna fishing and processing industries. I also support opening up 30A for new investors, too, and I will continue to work with Chairman Rangel to make this, or a similar initiative happen.

In the interim, I appreciate Chairman Rangel's support in extending tax credits for American Samoa for an additional year while our canneries go back to the drawing board in an effort to reach agreement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 505.

First, I want to commend the author of this bill, my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Hawaii, for his leadership and tireless efforts in bringing this legislation to the floor for consideration. I also want to commend my good friend the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) for her coauthorship of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall); and the senior ranking member, Mr. Young, for their support of this legislation.

This bill is important for many reasons but none more critical than to address the serious needs of the indigenous Native Hawaiians who are the indigenous and aboriginal people who not only inhabited these islands way before Europeans ever arrived, but they are still there, I submit, Mr. Speaker.

In 1893 a great injustice took place. The government of the sovereign nation of Hawaii, then ruled by its Queen Liliokalani, was overthrown by U.S. military forces, which later the President of the United States stated that this overthrow of the Queen's government was done without authorization neither from the President nor from the Congress of the United States. It was not until 1993 that Congress passed a joint resolution to acknowledge and apologize on behalf of the United States on the illegal and unlawful overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 and for the deprivation of the rights of Native Hawaiians to self- determination.

This is not the first time Congress has shown deference towards the status of the indigenous Native Hawaiians. In the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921, Congress expressed and reaffirmed the ``special'' and ``trust'' relationship between the United States and the Native Hawaiians. Moreover, Congress, in passing the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1921, also recognized Native Hawaiians as ``a distinct and unique indigenous people.''

This bill sets the institutional framework for the establishment of a relationship between the United States and the indigenous Native Hawaiians just as Congress has done for the indigenous American Indians and the indigenous Native Alaskans.

At this point I want to personally commend the gentleman from Oklahoma for his support of this legislation, not only as the cochair of our Native American Congressional Caucus but certainly as a proud member of the Chickasaw Nation from Oklahoma. I cannot think of a better person who understands and appreciates more the plight and sufferings of his own indigenous people, almost an exact replica of the fate of the indigenous people of Hawaii, the Native Hawaiians. I hope my colleagues in their officers have had a chance to listen to Mr. Cole's eloquent statement that he just shared with us.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to note the particularly strong support of this bill from the senior ranking member of our committee, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young). In my opinion, the gentleman from Alaska is probably the most recognized expert in this Chamber who understands historically how Congress has also accepted Native Alaskans as a ``trust responsibility'' in the same way that American Indians are treated under the U.S. Constitution.

Mr. Speaker, I submit to my colleagues that this should not be a partisan issue. If there are doubts among our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, I would strongly suggest consultations with the gentlemen from Oklahoma and Alaska.

Mr. Speaker, after 114 years our national government, especially this body, the Congress of the United States, which has plenary authority under the Constitution to deal with issues affecting the rights and general welfare of the indigenous population of our Nation, this bill seeks to correct that remaining group, the indigenous people who inhabited the Hawaiian Islands and later established a sovereign nation and later established treaty relations with other countries, even with our own country.

After the unlawful and illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom, the status of the indigenous people of the Hawaiian Kingdom was never properly addressed by the Congress of the United States. Mr. Speaker, Congress has properly determined that American Indians of the lower 48 States are an indigenous people. We have also declared Native Alaskans as an indigenous people. The only remaining group to be recognized are the indigenous people of the State of Hawaii, some 400,000 Native Hawaiians.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is not based upon race. It is a bill to establish a reconciliation process by giving the indigenous Native Hawaiians the same status as we have done for the indigenous American Indians and the indigenous Native Alaskans.

I respectfully urge my colleagues to support this bill.

I do want to commend the distinguished gentlelady who serves as Chair of our Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee in the Natural Resources Committee, and I want to associate myself with the comments made earlier by our colleague from the other side of the aisle, the gentleman from Texas. This is not a Republican or Democratic issue. This is something that really is important that serves the best interests of our Nation.

I know my good friend, the gentleman from Wisconsin, would have been here on the floor, but I am sure he probably had some transportation problems coming here today. I want to commend him especially for his leadership and for the tremendous service that he has rendered in promoting the interests of wildlife and refuge conservation measures, also as a distinguished member of the subcommittee; but I also want to note that I know he would have spoken, and not only in support of a bill that he has sponsored, but certainly for his knowledge and his commitment in dealing with the issues and conservation and wildlife refuges.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1205, to reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000.

First and foremost, I certainly want to commend the chairman of our Natural Resources Committee, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), for his support and commitment to this important legislation.

I also would like to acknowledge the leadership and the tremendous support that we have received from my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Alaska, our senior ranking member, Mr. Young, for his spirit of cooperation and certainly for his support of the bill.

Last but not least, I want to recognize especially my good friend, the chairwoman of our Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife, the gentlelady from Guam (Ms. Bordallo).

And I want to also commend the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert) for his support and management of the bill on the other side of the aisle.

I want to thank my good friend, the gentleman and former chairman of the Fisheries and Wildlife Subcommittee, my good friend from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest). I can't think of a better person that knows more about wildlife than the gentleman from Maryland in the years that I've served with him as a member of the Fisheries Subcommittee.

I also want to thank my good friend, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Klein), for his support of this legislation.

I also want to note for my colleagues that the gentlelady from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) is also a cosponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1205, the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2007, is an important piece of legislation because it recognizes that we need to do more now to protect the health of our Nation's coral reefs. We have coral reefs running along the coasts on both sides of the United States, continental United States, especially completely surrounding our U.S. territories.

Coral reefs are critically important, not only here in the United States, but around the world, and we should take the lead in protecting such a vital resource.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1205 has carried over key provisions from legislation that I introduced in the previous Congress which had very strong bipartisan support. This legislation will authorize funding for management assistance grants, enhance research and monitoring, implement local action strategies, and also codify the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, which was established by an executive order issued by President Clinton in 1998.

More importantly, we have included recommendations from our experts in the current administration as well as from other Members of Congress, and also certainly to enhance the passage of this legislation. This has been a work of some 7 months in consultations. Not only did we have hearings in our subcommittee, we had a markup, also a markup in the full committee for which we received unanimous support.

Mr. Speaker, a United Nations report estimates that 60 percent of the world's coral reefs will die off by the year 2030. And with the drastic change to climate as well as the escalation of global warming, our coral reefs are in peril.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1205 affords us an opportunity to take immediate action in conserving and protecting our coral reefs. It is not only critical for our coastal States and territories but, more importantly, for the rest of the world.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. And I would be remiss if I did not recognize the senior staffs of the committee on both sides of the aisle, Ms. Lori Sonken, Mr. Dave Jansen, and my good friend Mr. Dave Whaley for their support and for their work in putting this legislation in such a way that now has the bipartisan support of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

Again, this is not a Democratic or Republican bill; it is a bill that will serve the best interests of our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. Speaker, I just want to note to my colleagues as part of our efforts in preserving the coral reefs is the announcement by President Bush in the last year of the largest marine monument of the world, which is known as the Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument, north of the Hawaiian Islands. It is about 140,000 square miles, a little less than the size of Montana, but about the same size as Germany. It also supports some 7,000 species of animal and marine life, which is so important. I think we need to understand that this is also part of what this legislation proposes.

And I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentlelady from Florida, our senior Ranking Member of this Committee for her authorship of H. Res. 676, just as I commend Chairman Lantos also and other Members of this Committee who are supporting this Resolution. Having said this, my question is, is it necessary?

I have serious concerns about H. Res. 676 which declares that is should continue to be the policy of the United States, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, to make available to Taiwan such defense articles and services as may be necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.

The Taiwan Relations Act of 1978 has always been the basis of how our country has defined its relationship with Taiwan, and there has been no change in the provisions of this Act. The Act allows for the sale of arms to assist Taiwan with its defense capabilities against its enemies which it considers to be the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Why then is H. Res. 676 necessary? I also question H. Res. 676 being put forward at a time when all of us know that the situation between Taiwan and China has been extremely tense for weeks and months. While I respect my colleagues' view on H. Res. 676, I disagree with this course of action. We all know that H. Res. 676 is a nonbinding resolution that does not oblige our Government to act but only serves to add fuel to the fire, or exacerbate already tense relations between Taiwan and Beijing. Again, I ask, is this Resolution necessary?

Some 15 times now, Taiwan has sought and failed to be formally recognized by the United Nations, and this has caused a heated exchange of responses even among Members of this body. I just returned from Taiwan where I met with Taiwan's President, and the opposition party. I also recently visited China where I met with the Vice President, and other government officials. When I say that relations are tense, I mean it. From both sides, the situation between Taiwan and Beijing is quickly becoming a confrontation which may lead to an outcome none of us wants.

I am certain that all of us are committed to a course of action which will avert a crisis, and bring about a peaceful solution in the Taiwan Straits. But I do not believe H. Res. 676 gets us where we want to go. H. Res. 676 is just a reminder that an arms deal is still pending and it is pending because the Administration is having difficulties persuading Taiwan not to seek membership with the UN. Obviously, Taiwan is not listening and does not care what this may mean for the United States and our important, strategic relationship with Beijing.

The fact is there is a difference of opinion among the people and leaders of Taiwan about what position Taiwan should take towards Beijing. One of the two major parties advocates peaceful coexistence with the PRC. The other major party and its leaders keep pushing the envelope to the point of forcing Beijing's hand which led to President Clinton having to send two naval battle groups to the Taiwan Straits and almost led to a nuclear confrontation with Beijing. I wonder if my colleagues want to go through this again.

Last time, Beijing backed off. But will Beijing back off again? With implications as serious as this, I am hopeful that we will not move forward with this resolution until we have had time to consider a more thoughtful approach, and until Taiwan has time to hold its elections next March.

For now, H. Res. 626 can potentially influence the outcome of those elections, as could the sell of F-16s. I suspect this is probably one of the reasons the Administration has been reluctant to proceed with the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan because the Administration also recognizes we should give the people of Taiwan time to determine their future status before acting in ways that could set off a chain reaction in this volatile region of the world.

All of us, including Taiwan, know that our United States foreign policy has always been to accept the One-China concept whereby Beijing and Taiwan are to work out their political differences through peaceful means. This said, Taiwan has made significant progress towards a pluralistic and democratic form of government. Taiwan enjoys a free market system and economy that ranks among the top fifteen economies in the world. Taiwan also enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world.

Currently, Taiwan conducts over $100 billion in unofficial trade with Beijing. Over the years, millions of Taiwanese have also been able to freely travel to Beijing to be reunited with their families and friends.

Beijing is also moving towards a more free market system. China has become one of the

top five economies in the world, despite its Socialist Marxist ideology that puts a limitation on greater freedom for its citizens and transparency in government. Beijing is doing its best to feed more than 1 billion people, and we must also credit Beijing for bringing North Korea to the negotiating table, thwarting North Korea's efforts to produce nuclear weapons of mass destruction.

Mr. Speaker, do we want to build on the positive? Do we want to avert a crisis? Or, do we want to add fuel to the fire? I submit that H. Res. 626 tilts favorably towards Taiwan, and I suggest to my colleagues that we ought not to pursue this course of action anymore than we should adopt legislation or resolutions that favor China over Taiwan.

Having said this, I will not oppose this resolution but I will again ask if it is necessary and, in closing, I will suggest that it is not. I will also suggest that it is in our interest to work collectively and bilaterally with both Taiwan and China to prevent another standoff in the Taiwan Straits.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3527) to extend for two months the authorities of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3527.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

This House recently approved legislation that would reauthorize the Overseas Private Investment Corporation for an additional 4 years. The bill would ensure that OPIC continues its critical mission of supporting private investment to accomplish important public sector goals in the developing world, while, at the same time, enhancing OPIC's transparency and accountability.

The Senate is considering similar legislation, Mr. Speaker, and the Foreign Affairs Committee looks forward to working with that body so that we can send the bill to the President for his signature.

While the Senate considers this legislation, OPIC's current authority expires at the end of this month. In order to provide the Senate with additional time to take up this legislation and ensure that the corporation continues its critical work, my friend and colleague, the good chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Sherman from California, has crafted this proposed bill that provides OPIC with the authority to operate for an additional 2 months beyond September 30, 2007.

I do want to commend our distinguished chairman of the committee, Mr. Lantos; and our senior ranking member, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for their support and leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor. I recommend this legislation for passage, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.