Floor Statements

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

(Mr. SABLAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4484 provides for the conveyance of approximately 80 acres of Forest Service lands to Brigham Young University. We do not object to this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) as much time as he may consume.

(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

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

(Mr. SABLAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

H.R. 5958 renames the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Contact Station to the James L. Buckley Visitor Contact Station. We do not object to this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. If the gentleman has no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

(Mr. SABLAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

This legislation authorizes the National Park Service to study roughly 86 miles of rivers in Connecticut and Rhode Island for possible designation as Wild and Scenic Rivers.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers program currently protects the free- flowing condition of more than 12,000 miles of rivers in 38 States. Unfortunately, this is less than 1 quarter of 1 percent of the rivers in the United States. In contrast, more than 75,000 large dams restrict the flow of roughly 600,000 miles of river. This is about 17 percent of the river miles in this country.

Mr. Langevin is to be commended for his hard work on behalf of his constituents and the natural resources within his State.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone).

Mr. Speaker, at this time, may I inquire of the time remaining?

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from American Samoa, a member of the committee.

(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to inquire as to the time remaining.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlelady from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes).

I yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield the remainder of my time to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Boren).

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to inquire if the other side has any additional speakers.

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

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

(Mr. SABLAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2467 would transfer two parcels of Federal land into trust for the exclusive benefit of the Bridgeport Indian Colony, a Federally recognized Indian tribe located in rural Mono County, California.

The tribe seeks to expand its reservation in order to address its additional housing and community development needs, as well as to address its need for a local community health services clinic that will service Indian and non-Indians in the area.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2467, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, may I ask if there are additional speakers on the other side?

Mr. Speaker, we also urge the support and passage of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, S. 2009 is primarily concerned with U.S. responsibilities to the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the other Freely Associated States in Micronesia, and with a pause in the implementation of federal minimum wage in American Samoa.

I certainly support continuing U.S. oversight of the effects of nuclear testing in the Marshalls.

And I defer to my colleague from American Samoa with respect to economic policy in his district.

In one respect, though, S. 2009 does impact my district, the Northern Marianas Islands.

The bill moves a Government Accountability Office report on the effect of minimum wage increases in the Northern Marianas and American Samoa from every two years to every three years.

These GAO reports are important. They provide a credible analysis of a complex policy, namely the annual 50 cents increase in the minimum wage in the Marianas.

Yet this decision to delay the next GAO report and stretch out the period of time between reports is being made without benefit of a hearing in this House.

Neither businesses nor workers, who are impacted by the minimum wage increases in my district, have had a chance to be heard from.

Last year, in part based on the GAO's findings, I supported a one- year break in the wage increase.

Looking ahead to next year, I had hoped to have another GAO report to guide any decision about--perhaps--skipping another year.

But S. 2009 will leave us without benefit of the GAO's advice.

And I believe this House needs that guidance.

I will not object to passage of S. 2009, but I do regret that this House did not follow its regular order before bringing the measure to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing legislation that will amend the National and Community Service Act, as amended by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, to make the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands eligible for the Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants under that Act.

The Nonprofit Capacity Building Grant Program awards intermediary nonprofit organizations with funding to provide development training to small and mid-sized nonprofits on best practices, financial planning, grant writing, and compliance with applicable tax laws.

In my district, we have hard working nonprofit organizations and advocates who commit themselves to truly noble causes. Whether it is the protection of families from domestic violence or raising funds to find a cure for cancer, nonprofits work tirelessly for the greater good of all members of our community. The technical correction I offer here today would allow organizations in the Northern Marianas and other U.S. territories an equal opportunity to apply for federal funds to increase the effectiveness of nonprofits and to expand their impact within their communities.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill and allow the U.S. territories an equal opportunity to compete for this program.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

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

Mr. Chairman, let me say at the outset that my amendment requires absolutely no Federal spending, nor is it in any way a precursor to future Federal spending. All I am proposing is that private businesses that may want to invest in the Northern Marianas and offer ship repair services to the United States military not be barred from that investment by Federal law.

We often hear it said that the Federal Government should not pick winners and losers. Yet under current law, naval vessels with a home port in the U.S. are prohibited from being overhauled, repaired, or maintained in a shipyard in the Northern Mariana Islands. My amendment fixes that inequity. It proposes to include the Northern Marianas as a U.S. jurisdiction where our military vessels may be serviced. It opens the opportunity for private businesses to do this work in the Marianas.

Businesses may not take advantage of the opportunity, we do not know, but there is no reason for our laws to foreclose this investment if it is feasible from a business point of view.

We also do not know whether the Navy will ever need repair capacity in the Northern Marianas, but we do know that the Department of Defense is realigning our forces to focus on Asia and the Pacific. We know that one area of impending buildup of military assets is the Marianas. So although there are sufficient repair facilities now, it would make good strategic sense for the Navy to have the option at least to repair its vessels in any U.S. jurisdiction in the Pacific region if that ever becomes necessary.

I can say for the record that the Navy has told me it has no opposition to my amendment. Governor Calvo, the Republican Governor of Guam, and the management of Guam's shipyard, who might be concerned about competition, instead actively support my proposal. They recognize that repair facilities in the Northern Marianas could at some point complement, not compete, with Guam and build the regional economy.

Governor Fitial, Republican Governor of the Northern Marianas, also supports changing the Federal law. The Marianas have been hit hard by recession. Lifting the existing prohibition on business investment could help our economy and help create jobs.

I urge my colleagues to support this no-cost, commonsense amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Office of the Governor of Guam,

Adelup, Guam, May 17, 2012.

Hon. Howard ``Buck'' McKeon,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Adam Smith,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC

Dear Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Smith: In 2008,

Congress passed PL 110 229, the Consolidated Natural

Resources Act of 2008. This legislation was designed to

alleviate the economic disadvantages created by the changes

in visa requirements for our northern neighbor, the

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), thus

ensuring that the CNMI would be on equal footing with the

rest of the United States in regard to economic development

opportunities.

In order to avoid adverse economic impact on the CNMI PL

110 229 emphasized the economic synergies that could be

generated from a regional economic approach which included

Guam and the CNMI, as evidenced by PL 110 229's creation of

the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program.

Another area of economic opportunity for the CNMI that I

believe could be generated through the regional economic

approach is the amendment to 10 USC Sec. 7310 to allow U.S.

Navy and U.S. flagged vessels to be repaired in the CNMI, as

well as in the United States and Guam. The law was amended in

2006 to include Guam, and it would economically benefit the

CNMI if it was further amended to include the CNMI. Already,

I understand that several companies have expressed interest

in establishing a ship repair facility in the CNMI, and I

believe that such an economic opportunity would be consistent

with regional economic intent of PL 11 229.

In order to expedite the elimination of this current

barrier to the CNMI's development, Representative Sablan of

the CNMI has submitted H.R. 4338. Respectfully, I request

your positive consideration and support of H.R. 4338. I

believe H.R. 4338 would ensure that our region is able to

both benefit from the incredible changes which are taking

place in our communities, as well as to allow us to support

the vital needs of the United States in the future to the

maximum extent of which we are capable. Thank you for your

consideration of my request.

Sincerely,

Eddie Baza Calvo.

Guam Shipyard,

Naval Activities Branch,

Santa Rita, Guam, May 18, 2012.

Hon. Madeleine Z. Bordallo,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congresswoman Bordallo: I write in support of

legislation to expand domestic ship repair locations covered

by Section 7310 of Title 10 to include the Commonwealth of

the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

Currently, Section 7310 requires that vessels under the

jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Navy, with a homeport in

the United States or Guam, be overhauled, repaired and

maintained in the United States or Guam, except in the case

of voyage repairs. In March 2012 Congressman Sablan of the

CNMI introduced H.R. 4338 which would amend Subsection (a) of

Section 7310 10 by striking ``the United States, or Guam'' in

each place where it appears, and replacing it with ``the

United States, Guam, or the Commonwealth of the Northern

Mariana Islands''. More recently, Congressman Sablan offered

an amendment to H.R. 4310, the National Defense Authorization

Act for FY 13, which would have the same effect.

At present, there is no shipyard in CNMI capable of

overhaul, repair and maintenance of Navy ships. However, Guam

Shipyard is in discussions with Governor Fitial, about

leasing land at the Seaport to set up a small ship repair

facility in Saipan. We believe there is a market there for

fishing and other small vessels, and perhaps even small Navy

vessels. However, the water depth and other physical

constraints of the harbor at Saipan would not permit its use

to overhaul, repair and maintain the large Navy ships which

form the bulk of the work at Guam Shipyard. Thus, the

shipyard we contemplate opening in Saipan would not compete

with Guam Shipyard for the work it currently performs for the

Navy.

As always, we greatly appreciate the leadership and long-

standing support you have provided on behalf of domestic

repair of Navy vessels, and especially ship repair in Guam.

Your dedicated engagement in Washington on behalf of Guam

Shipyard, has been instrumental in ensuring it remains a

shipyard facility, ready and able to meet Navy ship repair

requirements in the Western Pacific, now and in the future.

Sincerely,

Mathews Pothen,

President and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Chairman, I agree with my good friend and colleague from Hawaii that there is no need for large vessel repairs. Those are being presently performed in Honolulu, Hawaii, or on Guam. Actually, the letter to Ms. Bordallo from Guam shipyard actually says this. It says the water depth and other physical constraints of the harbor of Saipan would not permit its use to overhaul, repair, and maintain large Navy ships, which form the bulk of work at Guam shipyard. So there is no disagreement with my good friend from Hawaii on this.

Thus, the shipyard we contemplate opening in Saipan would not compete with Guam shipyard for the work it currently performs for the Navy.

We're not asking for anything here. We're just asking for the authorization. It may not happen. But then again, it may. And we're not asking for money here. We're asking for authorization so that private businesses who want to do it, who find some capacity to do it, can come in and establish a shipyard or a small repair yard on Saipan in the Northern Marianas and do the work and compete for the business. And that's what we need to do here.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I have no more speakers. I just urge my colleagues to join me in support of the amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to pay tribute to a great American success story. Today marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the United States Department of Agriculture.

President Abraham Lincoln founded USDA, as it's commonly called, and directed its focus to advancing America's agriculture industry through science and engineering. Today, our country's advanced system of production agriculture is evidence of how successful we are by being the world leader in food production, conservation innovations, in the development and use of agricultural biotechnology that helps produce biofuels, as well as helping farmers export their products that contribute to our positive balance of agricultural trade.

And so, Mr. Speaker, I pay tribute and extend my personal best wishes to USDA on its 150th anniversary. I also congratulate Secretary Vilsack and all the fine men and women who work or have worked in the Department, and I wish them another 150 years of success.

Mr. Speaker, this year, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution. Since We the People began in 1987, more than thirty million high school students and ninety thousand teachers have participated in this valuable program that promotes a deeper understanding of the constitutional principles that shape and guide our nation, and instills a sense of civic responsibility in young people.

We the People is an instructional program that enhances students' understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy. Through the program, students discover the relevance of the Constitution and Bill of Rights in present day terms. The We the People program is directed by the Center for Civic Education and funded by Congress through the Education for Democracy Act. This is a program Congress should continue to support.

Teams qualify for the National Finals by prevailing in their regional or state competitions. The national competition is held through a series of simulated congressional hearings, during which students testify as constitutional experts before panels of judges acting as congressional committees. The program enjoys the active participation of members of Congress, as well as support from educational, professional, business, and community organizations across the nation.

This year, more than fourteen hundred students from every part of our country will take part in the National Finals here in Washington. The competition will test students' knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, showcasing their intelligence, determination, and teamwork.

I want to recognize the 24 exceptionally talented and hard working students from Saipan Southern High School in the Northern Mariana Islands, who return to the Finals as repeat regional champions. They have spent many long hours studying and preparing for the competition. Working together and striving for excellence are defining traits of this team. I congratulate them and their teachers and coaches, and wish them all success in this year's We the People competition.

Let me acknowledge each student by name: Ms. Maria Louise Babriela Atrero; 1Mr. Rufino Aquino, Jr.; Ms. Angelica Awa-Ao; Ms. Akioni Nadine Babauta; Ms. Chelsea Marie Bartolo; Ms. Vanessa Rome Bartolo; Ms. Yunika Mae Biado; Ms. Rachel Nadine Borja; Mr. Don Marshall Davis Cabrera; Ms. Yoon Jae Chung; Ms. Teri-Sue Corpuz; Mr. Derick Dela Cruz; Ms. Jinky Marie Kintaro; Ms. Ji Won Lee; Ms. Allysha Hillary Lloren; Mr. Edward John Manibusan; Ms. Momoko Belle Nishikido; Mr. David Kido Paek; Ms. Rina Park; Mr. Seong Jin Park; Ms. Christine Maebelle Roque; Ms. Christina Marie Sablan; Mr. Mike Aries Vargas; Mr. Keisuke Yoshida.

I would also like to acknowledge the remarkable work and guidance by the team's coordinator Mr. Andrew Golden, coaches Justice John A. Manglona, Deanna Manibusan Manglona, and Charlotte Sanders, student coach Carmen Borja, and Public School System representative Stephen Smith.

Mr. Speaker, this year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution. Since We the People began in 1987, more than 30 million high school students and 90,000 teachers have participated in this valuable program that promotes the understanding of the constitutional principles that shape and guide our Nation and instills a sense of civic responsibility in young people.

This year, more than 1,000 students from every part of our country will take part in the National Finals here in Washington. The competition will test students' knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, showcasing their intelligence, determination, and teamwork.

I want to recognize 24 exceptionally talented and hardworking students from Saipan Southern High School in the Northern Mariana Islands who return to the Finals as repeat regional champions. Working together and striving for excellence are defining traits of this time. I congratulate them and their teachers and coaches, and wish them all success in this year's We the People competition.

Mr. Speaker, I am introducing a bill that will allow the Northern Mariana Islands to be eligible for Employment Service Programs by amending the Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933, as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.

The Employment Service Programs provide funds to establish a nationwide system of public employment offices and One-Stop Career Centers across the United States. These centers have successfully connected millions of job seekers with employers throughout the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. The legislation I am introducing today, in remedying the statutory absence of the Northern Mariana Islands from the definition of ``State,'' will allow for the expansion of the federal Employment Service network to the NMI, thereby contributing to both the local and National economy by supporting the development of an experienced, motivated, and most importantly, employed American workforce.

Should the Commonwealth government choose to apply for this grant, the funds could be used to stand up One-Stop Centers in the NMI that would help those searching for work find jobs and help local employers find qualified workers. These Centers provide services that have a proven record of success in hundreds of locales throughout the United States.

Our national economy is still pulling itself out of the deepest recession since the 1930s. The economy in the NMI is in even worse condition, however, with declines in GDP every single year since 2004. This bill provides for the possible extension of a federal program that is helping address unemployment around our Nation to the one place, perhaps, that needs help the most, the Northern Marianas.

The employment services the Wagner-Peyser programs provide have proven effective in facilitating the connection between the employers' demand for employees and the labor market's abundant supply of a willing workforce. That is why I ask my colleagues to support this bill.

We have to do more in this Congress for U.S. workers. This is not a new program. This is not a fundamental amendment to the intent of the Act. This bill merely offers equal treatment to the Northern Marianas in giving them the chance to access funding to support our local businesses and workers in need.

Mr. Speaker, forty years ago, on March 16, 1972, a local couple in the Northern Mariana Islands, Abed E. Younis and Maria Paz Castro Younis, wrote, edited, printed, and distributed the first issue of the Marianas Variety News & Views. So began the life of what is now the oldest local newspaper in our islands--on a table-top printer in a small commercial space they called Younis Art Studio.

The Variety, as the paper is now more succinctly known, still provides its readers with extensive local news and views. It also carries reports of the region, the United States and the world, as well as interesting and in-depth feature stories. The Variety includes a thought-provoking opinion section, where the public can air its views, and where the Variety itself regularly takes an editorial stand on the issues of current political, social, and economic import in the islands. Always, though, the Variety is a publication independent at heart without ties to business or political interests. The mission it serves is to deliver the latest news to our community in a fair and even-handed manner.

These days, the ``community'' served by the Variety has expanded beyond the shores of the Northern Marianas. The paper is published and circulated each Monday through Friday in the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia. There are print subscribers far and wide: in the South Pacific, the Philippines, Hawaii, Japan, and the mainland U.S. And the Variety's widely-viewed website, www.mvariety.com, reaches an even more extensive audience and allows its readers to content with comments about the published stories and issues of concern and to interact with one another and share ideas in a forum that is constantly expanding.

The Variety is a member of the Associated Press, Reuters, and the Pacific Island News Association and has received a number of notable awards including ``Best Newspaper,'' ``Best Editorial Writing ,'' and ``Best News Photography'' from the Society of Professional Journalists--NMI Chapter, an NMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism, Best Online Edition of a Pacific Island Newspaper, and an Environmental Achievement Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Over the years, the Variety has been a strong community partner, donating to and assisting numerous non-profit organizations, events, and activities, as well as creating community projects such as its own School Newspaper Program, through which elementary and high school students learn about the news trade by publishing their own school newspapers. The Variety also offers great on-the-job training opportunities, including annual internships for individuals interested in journalism, graphic arts, marketing and sales, web press technique, and other aspects of publishing.

As the newspaper has expanded physically and geographically, so too has the Younis family's involvement in day-to-day operations. All six of Abed and Paz's children--Banny, Laila, Farah, Amier, Suaad, and Salam--grew up around and matured with the Variety. Today, three of those children have followed their parents' footsteps into the newspaper business. Laila Younis Boyer is now the president of the local corporation, while her brother Amier serves as the publisher of the newspaper's sister edition on Guam and their brother Salam is the operations manager of the Saipan office.

Please join me in congratulating Abed and Paz Younis, their family, and all of their past and current employees and colleagues at the Marianas Variety News & Views for the newspaper's forty years as an important provider of local, regional, and international news, a strong community partner, and a successful member of the business community in the Northern Mariana Islands.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, 40 years ago, on March 16, 1972, a young couple in the Northern Mariana Islands, Abed E. Younis and Maria Paz Castro Younis, wrote, edited, printed, and distributed the very first issue of the Marianas Variety News & Views, now the oldest local newspaper on our islands.

The Variety provides its readers with extensive local news and views. It also carries reports of the region, the United States, the world, as well as interesting and in-depth feature stories and a thought- provoking opinion section.

These days, the community served by the Variety has expanded beyond the shores of the Northern Marianas. The paper is published and circulated locally, regionally, nationally, internationally, and online. For its journalistic excellence, the Variety is the winner of numerous awards.

The Variety is also a strong community partner, contributing to numerous nonprofit organizations, events and activities, and encouraging those interested in the business and craft of journalism and publishing.

Please join me in congratulating Abed and Paz Younis, their family, and all of their past and current employees and colleagues at the Marianas Variety News & Views for the newspaper's 40 years of service to our community.