Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Utah and the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands for their management of this important legislation. I certainly want to pay a special tribute to my good friend, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), for his authorship of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this resolution to amend the Senate amendment to H.R. 588, the Vietnam Veterans Donor Acknowledgement Act of 2013.

I want to thank my good friend again, Congressman Don Young from Alaska, for his leadership on this very important issue. He has always been a strong supporter of our military servicemembers and veterans and has been instrumental in moving forward to building the Education Center at the Wall that will educate the millions of visitors to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial about its history and purpose.

Mr. Speaker, last month the House, with overwhelming support, passed H.R. 588, the Vietnam Veterans Donor Acknowledgement Act of 2013. As we all know, H.R. 588 is supported by all the major veterans' organizations throughout the country. Unfortunately, during its consideration, the Senate significantly amended the bill, which has drastically altered the original intent of the bill. Much of the additions to H.R. 588 have not been evaluated or considered by way of markup, by either the Senate or the House, which is critical in considering any legislation. For this reason, my colleague today offers this resolution to reinstate the original bipartisan language.

Mr. Speaker, as a Vietnam veteran myself, I strongly believe that my fellow soldiers and I have waited long enough for the construction of this important educational center. It will benefit the many tourists that visit our Nation's capital and educate and inform many of those who question why the thousands of names are engraved on such an extraordinary memorial.

Mr. Speaker, it is so beautiful to see that our veterans coming from the Gulf War are being praised by the American public, which is great. Unfortunately, those of us who were part of the Vietnam legacy of the war that occurred at that time did not have a very sweet welcoming home I can say, Mr. Speaker, being called ``baby killers'' and ``warmongers'' and all of this. To this day I'm still very bitter in terms of the treatment of our soldiers and veterans who come from that terrible war that our country was involved in.

This education center is so critical to educate the American people-- to educate America for that matter--so that they will understand and better appreciate the sacrifices and the contributions that our veterans and those who wore the armed services uniform made in protection of this country.

Again, I thank my dear friend, Mr. Young from Alaska, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 253, the Y Mountain Access Enhancement Act. This legislation would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture to sell approximately 80 acres to the U.S. Forest Service land known for years by the residents of the city of Provo, Utah, as ``Y Mountain'' to Brigham Young University.

Located directly east of the BYU campus, the Y Mountain includes a trail that leads 1.2 miles from the mountain's base up to a large white concrete ``Y'' on the mountain's hillside, which was built over 100 years ago. The ``Y,'' which is 380 feet high by 130 feet wide, is even larger than the ``Hollywood'' sign in Hollywood, California, and serves as an insignia for Brigham Young University.

As an alumnus of BYU, I, too, have come to know the ``Y'' as a symbol of campus pride for the students, the alumni, and members of the greater Provo community. Some of my colleagues are probably wondering why did an island boy like me want to go to a place like Utah? I wanted to experience what snow was like; and guess what, you can have all the snow you want because I'm going back to the islands.

But I will say, Mr. Speaker, the ``Y'' is illuminated five times a year, including freshman orientation, homecoming, graduations in April and August, as well as ``Y Days,'' which celebrate BYU's week of service activities. As a nationally recognized symbol of BYU, the Y Mountain is also a featured shot in almost every BYU game broadcast on national television.

BYU currently manages the U.S. Forest Service portion of the trail. H.R. 253, however, proposes that the Federal Government sell Y Mountain at fair market value to Brigham Young University. The bill also guarantees that public access to the ``Y'' and the Y Mountain Trail be maintained following the sale.

Mr. Speaker, it is my strong belief that permitting BYU to purchase this property would result in better maintenance of the trail and mountain. Given the immense source of pride in Y Mountain, BYU ownership of the property would only result in improved maintenance, cleanliness, safety, and access for the public. The transfer of ownership would also allow Brigham Young University to preserve a significant monument for future generations of students and members of the community.

I want to especially thank my colleague, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz), for his sponsorship of the bill, who also happens to be an alumnus of BYU, for introducing this legislation, and I do urge my colleagues to vote in support of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, this is getting to be an island occasion or something. But at any rate, I do thank the gentleman from Utah and the gentleman from the Northern Marianas for allowing me to comment on this proposed legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 674, the Rota Cultural and Natural Resources Act.

First, I want to thank the gentleman from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, my dear friend Mr. Sablan, for his authorship of this important piece of legislation that will authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating prehistoric, historic, and limestone forest sites on Rota, the southernmost island of CNMI, as a unit of the National Park System.

This legislation is critical to CNMI and will enable the preservation of village sites of the ancient Chamorro people and Rota's native limestone forests that provide a habitat for locally and federally endangered listed bird species, including the Mariana crow and the Rota bridled white-eye birds.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation previously passed the House in the last Congress, but, unfortunately, the Senate did not have time in its agenda to address the legislation prior to the end

of the Congress. Leaders of Rota unanimously support this legislation. Additionally, the National Park Service, after completing a preliminary resources assessment of Rota in 2005, concluded that designating Rota as part of the National Park System appeared to be the best way to ensure the long-term protection of Rota's prehistoric and historic natural and man-made habitat structures.

Mr. Speaker, again, I commend Mr. Sablan for his leadership. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

I want to also share with my colleagues a little bit of history.

Twenty miles away from the island of Rota is the island called Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands. This is where the Enola Gay was launched and delivered the two atomic bombs that were dropped in the war in Japan, which brought about the closing of World War II, especially against Japan.

So in terms of historical perspectives, Rota, Tinian, the Northern Mariana Islands, I think you've made a tremendous contribution for the betterment of our country.

And, again, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to decry the disparaging name of the National Football League's Washington, D.C., franchise, the Redskins, which I will refer to as the ``R-word.'' For decades, Native American leaders and organizations have advocated for an end to the use of the ``R-word'' as the Washington franchise's ``brand'' because it is derogatory, it is demeaning, and patently offensive.

Recently, 10 of our colleagues explained the violent history and disparaging nature of the ``R-word'' in a letter to Mr. Roger Goodell, commissioner of the NFL. In what can only be deemed as an insensitive and ignorant response, Mr. Goodell justifies the Washington franchise's name by claiming that neither the intent nor the use of the name was ever meant to denigrate American Indians. Then, in a dismissive manner, Mr. Goodell further declares that the ``R-word'' has a positive meaning and represents many positive attributes.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague, the gentlewoman from Minnesota, a cochair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, Congresswoman Betty McCollum, who states that Mr. Goodell's letter ``is another attempt to justify a racial slur on behalf of Mr. Dan Snyder,'' owner of the Washington franchise, ``and other NFL owners who appear to be only concerned with earning ever-larger profits, even if it means exploiting a racist stereotype of Native Americans. For the head of a multibillion-dollar sports league to embrace the twisted logic that `Redskin' actually stands for strength, courage, pride and respect is a statement of absurdity,'' and a total lack of appreciation of the culture of the Native American community.

I also join, Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the gentleman from Oklahoma, the cochair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, my dear friend and colleague, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, Congressman Tom Cole, when he says:

This is the 21st century. This is the capital of political

correctness on the planet. It is very, very, very offensive.

This isn't like warriors or chiefs. It's not a term of

respect, and it's needlessly offensive to a large part of our

population. They just don't happen to live around Washington,

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the service of my friend, His Excellency Ilhom Nematov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United States.

Since 2010, His Excellency Nematov has served his country as Uzbekistan's Ambassador to the United States. Prior to his assignment to the United States, His Excellency Nematov served as Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the Russian Federation. From 1997-

1999, he served as Uzbekistan's Ambassador to India.

Other posts held by His Excellency Nematov include Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Coordinator at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Senior Consultant to the Office of the President.

During his tenure in Washington, D.C., it has been my privilege to work closely with Ambassador Nematov in advancing U.S.-Uzbekistan relations. Uzbekistan is a key partner in supporting international efforts in Afghanistan but our relationship with Uzbekistan extends beyond security. Uzbekistan and the United States also cooperate on economic relations and civil and political issues.

We recognize Uzbekistan's sovereignty, and I am proud of the progress Uzbekistan had made on its march to democracy since gaining independence in 1992. I commend His Excellency Islam Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, for his leadership, and I thank Ambassador Nematov for strengthening relations between our two countries by serving with remarkable distinction.

His Excellency Nematov graduated from Fergana Polytechnic Institute in 1973 and holds a Ph.D. degree in Economics. He is married with four children, and speaks English and German.

I extend to Ambassador Nematov my highest regards and wish him the very best as he returns home to serve his country for and on behalf of President Karimov and the people of Uzbekistan.

Mr. Speaker, as millions of Mexican Americans across the country commemorate the 5th of May, or ``El Cinco de Mayo,'' I would like to pay particular homage to the indigenous visionary leader and friend to the U.S., Benito Juarez, whose historic actions lead to this celebrated occasion. Born the son of Zapotec Indian peasants, Juarez rose above racial, economic, and political challenges to become one of Mexico's most renowned presidents.

Juarez became a lawyer in 1834, a judge in 1841, Governor of the state of Oaxaca in 1847, President of the Supreme Court of Justice in 1857, interim President of Mexico in 1858, and finally President elect in 1861.

Juarez served his country at a time of tremendous political discord. Inspired by the idea of a modern civil society and free market principles prevalent in its neighboring country to the north, Juarez dedicated himself to ridding his country of its historically corrupt military rule. Juarez also successfully ousted British, Spanish, and French opposition forces while serving as head of state in exile. It was at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862, that Mexican forces won a victory against the French. Although significantly outnumbered, the Mexicans defeated a much better-equipped French army of more than double their size in numbers. The French army had not been defeated in almost 50 years. On May 9, 1862, Juarez declared that the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla would be a national holiday regarded as ``Battle of Puebla Day'' or ``Battle of Cinco de Mayo.''

I note that Juarez maintained a special relationship with President Abraham Lincoln. During Juarez' exile, President Lincoln sent him a message expressing hope ``for the liberty of . . . [his] government and its people.'' Later while Juarez fought against the French, General Ulysses S. Grant, under President Lincoln's direction, issued an order to ``concentrate in all available points in the States an army strong enough to move against the invaders of Mexico.'' President Lincoln also supplied arms and munitions to Juarez, sending as many as 30,000 muskets to reinforce the Mexican line.

In turn, Juarez stood strong against Confederacy efforts to topple the Union armies. When the South sent a delegation under John T. Pickett to Mexico to win over the juaristas, Picket was thrown into a Mexico City jail for 30 days and thereafter expelled from the country.

Upon receiving news of President Lincoln's assassination, Juarez ordered flags at all public buildings and military stations in Mexico to fly at half-mast. In a letter to the Secretary of the Mexican Legation and his charge d'affaires in Washington, D.C., Juarez wrote: ``[This] great misfortune has profoundly impressed me, as Mr. Lincoln, who worked with so much earnestness and abnegation for the cause of nationality and freedom, was worthy of a better fate than the poniard of a coward assassin.''

Today, Juarez is remembered as being a progressive reformer dedicated to democracy, equal rights for his nation's indigenous peoples, and the defense of national sovereignty. Let us honor him on this day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 10, a resolution that would authorize the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for an event to celebrate the birthday of King Kamehameha in the annual Kamehameha Day Lei Draping Ceremony. I thank Senator Mazie Hirono for sponsoring this resolution, and I thank my fellow members of Congress who join me in support of this important resolution.

Kamehameha the Great was one of the greatest Polynesian warrior-kings who ever lived. As a young man, Kamehameha was trained by one of the greatest warrior chiefs of his time, Kekuhaupi'o. He was knowledgeable of military tactics and was fearless in armed combat, and he was determined to bring all of the Hawaiian Islands under his rule, a monumental task that took him about ten years to achieve.

Kamehameha, also seen as a great leader by his Pacific neighbors-- including the Samoan islands--developed political alliances to maintain Hawaiian independence under his rule.

Along with being a bold leader and skilled warrior, Kamehameha was a humanitarian with a heart for the people of Hawai'i. He is also remembered for the Kanawai Mamalahoe, the ``Law of Splintered Paddle'', which ensured that during times of battle, every man, woman, and child would be able to travel freely and in peace, with the right ``to lie down to sleep by the roadside without fear of harm. . .'' This law, which was later preserved in Hawai'i's State Constitution, has become a model of human rights law.

Since 1872, every June 11th in Hawai'i is honored as Kamehameha Day. It is tradition that the three statues of King Kamehameha placed at Ali`iolani Hale in downtown Honolulu, at King Kamehameha's home island, the Big Island of Hawai`i, and lastly at the United States Capitol in the Capitol Visitor Center, are draped with long strands of flower garlands, or leis, every Kamehameha Day in his honor.

This year, the Capitol Visitor Center will welcome guests from across the nation as we gather once again to celebrate the life and accomplishments of a revered leader and today I urge my colleagues to support this resolution to honor Kamehameha the Great.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Republic of Kazakhstan on the 10th anniversary of President Nursultan Nazarbayev's initiative in establishing the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

In the 111th Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H. Res. 535, a Resolution I introduced to commend the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions for calling upon all nations to live in peace and mutual understanding.

The Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions has always been based on the premise that religion can be an important arbiter for resolving political differences and conflicts, and I am pleased that The Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions has created a platform for building bridges of mutual understanding. The Congress has become an effective forum for leaders of world religions to promote a united approach to the critical issue of interreligious dialogue.

The Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions also has become a full-fledged platform for multi-track-discussions on the most pressing issues of international religious affairs. Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, has hosted four high-profile gatherings of senior clerics from Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Taoism and other faiths. It was my privilege to attend a gathering of the Congress which included participation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Christian denomination of which I am a member.

A symbol of tolerance, Astana was a center for interreligious discussions during Kazakhstan's 2010 OSCE Chairmanship and the subsequent Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ministerial Chairmanship in 2011-2012. As a secular state with a predominantly Muslim population, Kazakhstan has been working to promote tolerance and interreligious dialogue since the first days of its independence. As the world was recovering from the aftermath of 9/11, Kazakhstan responded to international grievances by convening a Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.

President Nazarbayev also has met with Pope Benedict XVI and other high-ranking representatives of the Vatican, focusing discussions on the necessity for further development of interreligious dialogue. The visit of John Paul Pope II in Kazakhstan in 2001 as well as a visit to the Vatican by President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2009 indicates that an active bilateral cooperation exists.

In February 2013, the Chairman of Kazakhstan's Senate and Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions Kairat Mami also met with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican and expressed gratitude to the Holy See for support of the Congress.

During these meetings, Pope Benedict XVI praised the efforts of President Nazarbayev in preserving intercultural understanding and accord, and wished success, especially in the strengthening of peace.

At the Vatican, Kazakhstan's Chairman of the Agency for Religious Affairs Kairat Lama Sharif and the Cardinals of the Holy See also discussed the prospects of the Congress of Astana and the deepening of interreligious relations. As Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals of the Holy See, stated, ``I think that the idea of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev to hold the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions is very important. This is a great contribution to the development of interreligious dialogue. And very big work has been conducted for the past 10 years. This year the diplomatic relations between Kazakhstan and the Vatican is 21. During all this time the mutual aspiration for interreligious and intercultural concord only has strengthened.''

An organized photo exhibition at the Vatican was devoted to the 10th anniversary of the Congress, and the photo exhibition will now be displayed in the U.S. Capitol during a reception to be held on May 7, 2013. I am honored to participate in this worthy cause.

Once more, I commend President Nazarbayev for his visionary leadership. President Nazarbayev is a man committed to peace, and I stand with him as he spares no effort to advance understanding. For historical purposes, I thank him for establishing the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, and for promoting religious dialogue between people of all faiths.

Mr. Speaker, I submit for introduction this legislation to amend

the Expedited Funds Availability Act, more commonly known as Regulation CC, to clarify the application of Regulation CC to American Samoa. Enacted in 1987, Regulation CC standardized hold periods on deposits made to commercial banks. It also excluded American Samoa from the definitions of ``State'' and ``United States.'' Banks in American Samoa were deemed ``Pacific Island banks,'' and checks drawn on Pacific Island banks were thereafter called ``Pacific Island checks.''

A crucial distinction between State banks and checks and Pacific Island banks and checks lies in the ``hold time'' permitted by Regulation CC. For example, State banks must release funds from deposited checks immediately for in-state checks, and shortly thereafter for out-of-state checks. Pacific Island banks, however, can hold checks for an undetermined amount of time before releasing funds for access or use. Another distinction permits a delay in the return of Pacific Island checks that are overdrawn. However, State checks that are overdrawn must be returned ``in an expeditious manner.''

Due to these distinctions, the people of American Samoa are subject to excessive hold times on funds that should be available in short order. This places a significant financial burden on my constituents. The legislation I have introduced today will amend Regulation CC to include American Samoa within the definition of ``State'' and ``United States.'' As a result, banks in my district will be required to treat local patrons with the same level of services offered in the rest of the states and other territories.

In anticipation that this bill will be referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, I look forward to working closely with Chairman Jeb Hensarling and Ranking Member Maxine Waters to ensure that American Samoa is included within the provisions of Regulation CC.

Mr. Speaker, I want to share with my colleagues and with the American people a particular issue that has been a source of humiliation for our Native American people--the use of the word ``redskin,'' which I will refer to as the ``R-word.'' This derogatory and racist term is rooted in state-sponsored genocide efforts when colonies paid individuals for the skins of dead Indians. The Native American community has never accepted the ``R-word'' as anything more than a hurtful, disparaging label that is a reminder of the maltreatment they have endured.

Some may argue that the ``R-word'' is no longer disparaging towards Native Americans. However, over the course of my tenure as a Congressman, as a member of the Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs, and as a member of the Congressional Native American Caucus, I have received an increasing flow of calls and letters from Native American individuals, tribes, and organizations who abhor this denigrating term. It is their opinion that the ``R-word'' is a racial stereotype that causes harm to the collective self-esteem of the American Indian people.

Mr. Speaker, this term has no place in our modern American society. It is akin to the ``N-word'' which reflects the history of prejudice and persecution that our African American brothers and sisters endured. Can you imagine the public outcry that would result if a Pro-Football team was named the ``N-word?''

In 1933, the District of Columbia's professional football team adopted the ``R-word'' as its name and mascot. In 1967, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, PTO, granted the team a federally registered trademark for the ``R-word.'' This action is contrary to the mandates of the Trademark Act of 1946 (Lanham Act) which requires the PTO to

refuse to register any trademark that ``[c]onsists of or comprises . . . matter which may disparage . . . persons, living or dead . . . or bring them into contempt, or disrepute.'' 15 U.S.C. 1502(a). The PTO has denied registration of trademarks using the ``R-word'' on four separate occasions on grounds of disparagement--three times in 1996 and once in 2002.

In 1992, seven prominent Native American leaders petitioned the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, TTAB, to cancel the federal registrations over six trademarks using the ``R-word.'' The TTAB in 1999 ruled that the ``R-word'' may, in fact, disparage American Indians, and cancelled the registrations. On appeal, a federal court reversed the TTAB's decision, holding that the petitioners waited too long after coming of age to file their petition. A new group of young Native Americans petitioned the TTAB to cancel the registrations of the offending trademarks in 2006. The TTAB held a hearing on March 7, 2013. A final decision is pending.

Mr. Speaker, despite the indigenous community's efforts before administrative agencies and the courts, the ``R-word'' remains protected as a federally registered trademark. Since the federal government made the mistake in registering the disparaging trademark, it is now up to Congress to correct that mistake. Now is the time to end this injustice.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I introduced H.R. 1278, the ``Non- Disparagement of Native American Persons or Peoples in Trademark Registration Act of 2013.'' I want to thank the following members for their support as original cosponsors of this historic legislation: Tom Cole (R-OK), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Karen Bass (D-CA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), John Lewis (D- GA), Michael Honda (D-CA), and Donna Christensen (D-VI).

H.R. 1278 is also endorsed by the following organizations: National Congress of American Indians, NCAI, Morning Star Institute, International Indian Treaty Council, Native American Rights Fund, American Indian Movement--West, American Indian Higher Education Consortium, Americans for Indian Opportunity, Capitol Area Indian Resources, Inc., American Indian Studies--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property--American University, Alianza Indigena Sin Fronteras (Indigenous Alliance Without Borders), National Indian Education Association, Native American Finance Officers Association, and Tulsa Indian Coalition Against Racism. These organizations have indicated in letters of support for H.R. 1278 that the ``R-word'' continues to have damaging effects in the Native American community.

H.R. 1278 would cancel existing federal registrations for trademarks using the ``R-word.'' It would also deny registration for new trademarks incorporating the ``R-word.'' As in the decision made by TTAB in 1999, it ruled, in fact, that the ``R-word'' was a disparaging term.

As an avid sports fan, I applaud the excellence in athleticism and leadership demonstrated by our professional athletes both on and off the field. I am also very proud of the many Samoans and Pacific Islanders who have had much success in sports, particularly in the NFL. While I acknowledge the D.C. professional football team's many achievements, I have grave reservations concerning their name.

Mr. Speaker, I want to be clear that H.R. 1278 is not an attempt to censor or remove the freedom of the D.C. professional football team to use the ``R-word'' in its franchise. Rather, this legislation seeks to reinforce governing law that prohibits federal registration for disparaging terms, like the ``R-word.'' It is unfortunate that the federal government, which has a special trust relationship with Native Americans, continues to protect this racial slur.

It is my hope that H.R. 1278 will advance the dialogue regarding the ``R-word'' among our legislators. I also invite those with a vested interest in this issue, including the owner of the D.C. professional football team, to bring their concerns to the table.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize the 92nd birthday last week on March 5th of Rita Foley Halpin of Glenview, Illinois. Rita is one of the few surviving Americans who can say that her grandfather fought

in the Civil War. Captain Patrick Foley, an immigrant from County Kerry, Ireland, served in the 23rd Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry (``the Irish Brigade''), fought under General Philip Sheridan in the last major Civil War battle, the siege of Petersburg, and was present at Appomattox Court House for the final surrender.

Rita's father, Dr. Thomas P. Foley, was a past President of the Chicago Medical Society. Following in the footsteps of her mother, Elizabeth Hannon Foley, Rita graduated from Chicago Teachers College in 1943 and started her career as a kindergarten teacher in Chicago public schools.

Rita's husband, the late Thomas J. Halpin, to whom she was married for over sixty-two years, was a captain serving with the 88th Infantry during the liberation of Rome in World War II. Her grandson, Sean R. Halpin, continues the family tradition of military service as a first lieutenant in United States Forces/Korea.

Rita raised four children and then returned to teaching where she was an elementary school teacher at St. Paul of the Cross School in Park Ridge, Illinois for almost two decades. She is still fondly remembered by her many pupils.

For historical purposes, I submit this statement to be made part of the Congressional Record in honor of Rita Foley Halpin and the contributions that she and her family have made to this country.

I thank the gentleman for yielding, Mr. Speaker, and I especially want to thank my good friend, the chairman of the House Judiciary committee, Mr. Goodlatte, and Mr. John Conyers, the senior ranking member, for their support of this proposed bill. I would especially also like to thank Jim Sensenbrenner, the chairman of the subcommittee, and the gentleman from Virginia, my good friend, for their support in the subcommittee. I also want to acknowledge Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Cantor, and our Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, for their support.

Mr. Speaker, my district faces a serious problem with tobacco smuggling. According to a recent study, in 2010 alone, as many as 5.8 million cigarettes were smuggled into the territory. The study found that tobacco smuggling resulted in the loss of about $725,000 in revenues to the territory. If continued undeterred, tobacco smuggling in the territory will lead to heavier losses in local tax revenues, especially if the cigarette excise tax rate were to be increased. Mr. Speaker, securing and sustaining stable sources of local revenue stream is essential and must be encouraged for the territories, as it has already done for the States.

It was for this reason I began to look into this important issue. I was disappointed, however, to find that under the current law prohibiting cigarette smuggling, not all the territories were included. Under the Contraband Cigarette Trafficking Act that Congress passed in 1978, it is illegal to ship, sell, transport, or possess more than 10,000 cigarettes per month not bearing the tax stamp of the jurisdiction in which they are found. Violation is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and seizure of the contraband cigarettes and/or both.

The Contraband Cigarette Trafficking Act currently, however, does not apply to American Samoa, the territory of Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Historically, when Congress considered the bill in 1978, the Senate version defined ``State'' to include the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a territory or possession of the United States; however, the House provision excluded the smaller territories. For some reason unbeknownst to me, the conference substitute adopted the House provision. The conference report describes the House provision as ``more accurately delineating the practical scope of the legislation.''

Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today will correct this oversight under the current law. This important piece of legislation will amend the Contraband Cigarette Trafficking Act to include these territories.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 47, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill which aims to protect all Americans from domestic and sexual abuse.

I thank Speaker Boehner for bringing S. 47 to the House floor for a vote. This bill passed in the Senate earlier this month by a vote of 78-22. Altogether, 23 Republican senators voted for this bill, including every Republican woman senator. Madam Speaker, this bill, introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, and Senator Mike Crapo, a Republican, is not only bipartisan, but it is also a comprehensive and inclusive solution to the domestic and sexual violence plaguing American society.

While I fully support reauthorization of this law which, since 1994, has been an essential tool to protect victims of domestic and sexual violence, I do, however, have major concerns with the GOP substitute to this bill. Unlike S. 47, the substitute offers a lesser form of protection for Indian women abused on tribal land.

The House version requires that Native American tribes seek certification from the U.S. Department of Justice before they are able to prosecute non-Indian offenders on tribal land. Madam Speaker, this doesn't make any sense. A sovereign tribe should not have to willingly hand over part of their sovereignty to prosecute these offenders. Ultimately, the House version falls short of protecting Native American women.

However, today the House has an opportunity to pass S. 47 which is supported by those it aims to protect, including the Native American community. S. 47 offers comprehensive protection for all of our people, not just some.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, domestic and sexual crimes have been on the rise in the U.S., including my district of American Samoa. And like many cases in the States, almost always, the perpetrator is a family member or close neighbor.

Furthermore, these crimes often go unreported due to fear of authorities or shame. It is the fear to come forward that allows abusers to continue their abuse. But when laws are in place to offer full support and protection for victims, we can ensure that more and more of these victims will come forth and their abusers are brought to justice.

Through this inclusive legislation, S. 47, we take one step forward to reinforce support even for the most marginalized communities. Today the House has the opportunity to pass this bill to protect all people, whether they are from the inner city or a tribal reservation, whether they are immigrants who would otherwise be afraid to come forward, or whether they are part of the LGBT community.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote no on the House amendment and to pass S. 47, a bill to protect all people, because that, Madam Speaker, is what America is all about.

Mr. Speaker, President-elect Park Geun-hye will be inaugurated as the eleventh President of the Republic of Korea on Monday, February 25, 2013. Madam Park will then become the first freely elected woman leader among the nations of Northeast Asia and the first woman President of the Republic of Korea

Madam Park has shattered the glass ceiling for Korean women by attaining the highest elected office in the land, achieving this remarkable feat before the United States has elected a woman to lead our Nation.

In the traditional Land of the Morning Calm where the slogan ``men first, women behind'' was the watchword only a generation ago, Park Geun-hye's election is historic. President-elect Park will serve as a role model for women--young and old--not only in Asia but around the world as they seek to achieve their full potential unfettered by the gender limitations of the past.

Madam Park also raises the possibility of a new beginning in the complex and often hostile relationship that has evolved between the two Koreas since the tragic division of the Korean peninsula at the end of the Second World War. A daughter of a mother slain by a North Korean agent in 1974, Madam Park chose to put this painful family tragedy aside and travel to North Korea in 2002 and meet the very man, Kim Jong-il, who was likely responsible for the murder of her mother. She did this for the good of her country, for those numerous divided Korean families who have not seen nor heard from their loved ones in sixty years, and for a people with a common culture and heritage suddenly torn asunder by Cold War politics.

The Korean people have an old saying that ``when whales fight, shrimp get broken'' recognizing the victimization of a small but proud nation surrounded by colossal and often hostile neighbors. The healing process after sixty years of this externally imposed division symbolized by the stark frontier of the DMZ will not be easy. But, as was once said in reference to the unfreezing of Sino-American relations, that ``only Nixon could go to China,'' so it may one day be said that ``only Park Geun-hye, the daughter of an anti-communist general and a martyred mother, could reconcile the two Koreas.''

This coming summer, on July 27th, we will commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the signing of an Armistice which silenced the guns but brought no permanent peace on the Korean peninsula. Our aging Korean War era veterans, who include four Members of the U.S. House of Representatives including the Honorable Charles Rangel, the Honorable John Conyers Jr., the Honorable Howard Coble, and the Honorable Sam Johnson, often speak of our steadfast friendship with the people of South Korea as being one which was forged in the crucible of war.

The Korean War Memorial, located not far from this House, serves to remind us all of the brave men and women of our country ``who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.'' The election of Park Geun-hye symbolizes the achievement of those democratic values for which these veterans fought and died.

I am also certain that America's almost two million strong Korean- American community who have contributed so much to their adopted country are justifiably proud of the democratic and economic miracle of their ancestral homeland. The alliance between their old and new countries, strengthened by the recent adoption of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, will only be further invigorated under Madam Park's presidency.

For historical purposes, I submit this statement to be made part of the Congressional Record in tribute to the service, often at great personal sacrifice, that President-elect Park Geun-hye has rendered for and on behalf of the people of the Republic of Korea. I join my colleagues in looking forward to welcoming Madam Park when she makes her first official visit to Washington, DC later this year.

Mr. Speaker, in one of my first acts of the 113th Congress as the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific which has broad jurisdiction for U.S. policy affecting the region, including India, I rise today to congratulate Shri Narendra Modi on his reelection as Chief Minister of India's Gujarat state.

Shri Modi's new term as Chief Minister will be his fourth--an historic achievement for the Honorable Narendra Modi and his some 60 million constituents, as no other CM has served Gujarat for as many terms. Shri Modi became the longest-serving CM of Gujarat in 2007.

Since 2001, CM Modi has led a decade of unprecedented growth and development in Gujarat. Because of his extraordinary leadership, Gujarat is now an economic powerhouse with companies like Ford and General Motors also setting up factories in a move that promises to strengthen U.S.-India trade and investment.

I thank Mr. Sanjay Puri, founder and President of the Alliance for U.S.-India Business (AUSIB), for the outstanding work he has done and continues to do in the U.S. Congress to promote U.S.-Gujarat trade and the Vibrant Gujarat initiative which has become an example of CM Modi's visionary approach for inclusive development.

CM Modi's philosophy of bringing development to ``the doorstep of every poor person, every farmer, every worker'' is a philosophy that resonates beyond the boundaries of Gujarat because it is a philosophy that transcends caste, culture, regional and religious differences.

I believe CM Modi's approach to empowerment is why Gujarat is now the global gateway to India. His philosophy of inclusiveness is the reason why delegates from more than 121 countries attended the Vibrant Gujarat 2013 Summit to explore business opportunities and forge strategic partnerships. It is the reason why voters support Shri Modi time and again.

Shri Modi's vision is rare. His leadership is remarkable. But his connection to Mahatma Gandhi is what strikes me most. Gujarat is Gandhi's land. By providence or otherwise, it is also the land where Shri Modi serves. As such, it is little wonder that Gujarat State, having historically given leadership to the entire Nation and now ranked first in economic freedom in India, continues to brighten the hopes and dreams of so many.

With such accomplishment, it is my sincere hope that the United States will take a new look at Gujarat and support more openly and fully the ideas of CM Modi as he works for the betterment of the world's economy by creating jobs at home and abroad for purposes of improving the lives of people across the globe.