Luis G. Fortuno

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I submit this statement for the record in support of H.R. 4289, which will name the Veterans' Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Ponce, Puerto Rico after Captain Euripides Rubio. Captain Rubio was an officer in the United States Army who fought and, at age 28, died in combat in the jungles of South Vietnam. For the actions that led to his death, Captain Rubio was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, one of four residents of Puerto Rico to have earned this supreme honor. By naming the veterans' clinic after Captain Rubio, Congress pays tribute to his courage and, by extension, honors the hundreds of thousands of sons and daughters of Puerto Rico who have served in the armed forces of this great Nation. I thank the Congress, and particularly the Veterans' Affairs Committee, for helping to preserve the memory of an extraordinary American.

It is fitting that Ponce, where Captain Rubio was born in 1938, is known as ``the City of Lions.'' Captain Rubio truly had the qualities of a lion--strength, courage, and fidelity. Those who served alongside him in the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry remember him as an inspirational leader and as a model soldier completely committed to his country and to his comrades.

It is impossible to read Captain Rubio's Medal of Honor citation without shaking one's head and wondering how the world produces men of such caliber. On the day of his death--November 8, 1966--enemy forces launched an attack against the battalion's defensive position in the Tay Ninh province. Machine gun fire, mortar rounds and rifle-launched grenades exploded within the defense perimeter. Captain Rubio chose to leave the relative safety of his post and ``braved the withering fire to go to the area of most intense action where he distributed ammunition, re-established positions and rendered aid to the wounded.'' In the process, Captain Rubio was wounded twice.

Moments later, when a rifle company commander was medically evacuated, Captain Rubio assumed command. He received a third wound as he ``selflessly exposed himself to the devastating enemy fire to move among his men to encourage them to fight with renewed effort.''

While helping to evacuate wounded comrades, Captain Rubio observed that a smoke grenade, intended to mark the Viet Cong position for U.S. air strikes, had fallen perilously close to friendly lines. Captain Rubio ran to reposition the grenade but was immediately brought to his knees by enemy fire. Despite his many wounds, Captain Rubio picked up the grenade, ran through the deadly hail of fire to within 20 meters of the enemy position, and threw the grenade into the midst of the enemy before he fell for the final time. Because of Captain Rubio's actions, U.S. aircraft were able to identify and destroy the hostile positions.

The Medal of Honor citation ends with these simple and powerful words: ``Captain Rubio's singularly heroic act turned the tide of battle, and his extraordinary leadership and valor were a magnificent inspiration to his men. His remarkable bravery and selfless concern for his men are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on Captain Rubio and the U.S. Army.''

There are many important ways in which this Congress and this country can honor our Nation's warriors. We can--and should--work to ensure they have the proper equipment they need to fight. We can--and should-- work to ensure that their families are taken care of during long deployments. We can--and should--work to ensure that, having left the service, our veterans receive the best educational opportunities and medical care available. Simply put, we should fight and sacrifice on behalf of those who have fought and sacrificed for us.

There is something else we can do, too. Something we as a country do not do enough of. And that is to publicly honor the most remarkable instances of bravery on the battlefield displayed by our men and women in uniform. In the last two years, six Americans have won the Medal of Honor for their actions in Afghanistan and Iraq. And yet one must struggle--often in vain--to find stories in the mainstream press about these present-day Euripides Rubios. Had they lived, these heroes would likely have been reluctant to talk about themselves. Such is the nature of soldiers. It is our obligation--and it should be our privilege--to publicly honor their achievements. And H.R. 4289 does precisely that.

Thanks to Congress's actions today, I know that many children in Puerto Rico, looking upon the clinic that bears his name, will ask their parents or grandparents who Euripides Rubio was. It is my fervent hope that, from the answer given, they will learn about this Lion of Ponce, who died far too young, but whose short life was filled with greatness.

Madam Speaker, I am tremendously proud to be a co- sponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 2, which expresses the sense of this Congress that schools in the United States should honor the contributions of individuals from the U.S. territories by including such contributions in the teaching of American history. This Resolution will encourage schools to teach--and students to learn--about the rich history and vibrant cultures of the U.S. territories and the many achievements of individuals born there. I want to commend Congresswoman Christensen for introducing H. Con. Res 2.

In the case of Puerto Rico, the impact that our native sons and daughters have had on every aspect of American society cannot be overstated. Can you imagine preparing a history of Major League baseball without devoting at least a chapter to Roberto Clemente and the hundreds of Puerto Rican players who have followed in his wake? Likewise, consider how much the film industry owes to great actors like Jose Ferrer, Raul Julia and Benicio del Toro--to name just a few. Beyond athletics and the arts, many Puerto Ricans have made important contributions in the fields of politics, business and law. With respect to national service, students and teachers may not be aware--but should be--that residents of Puerto Rico and the other U.S. territories serve in the U.S. military. They ought to know that Puerto Rico sends a higher percentage of its residents to the armed forces that all but one other U.S. jurisdiction and that four Puerto Ricans have won the Medal of Honor. H. Con. Res 2 will help ensure that students in our Nation's schools learn basic but largely unknown facts about the U.S. territories--how they were acquired, what political and civil rights residents of the territories have and do not have when compared to their fellow citizens in the states, and the prospects for change.

Unsurprisingly, there are still many people in our great Nation-- children and adults--who do not know the names of the U.S. territories or their location on a map. It is my hope that, by teaching students about the history of the territories and the individual accomplishments of their residents, we can foster better understanding of and greater appreciation for the many contributions that the territories have made to American life.

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

I thank my colleague.

I want to begin by thanking Chairman Berman for ushering H.R. 3658 through the committee process. In his short time as chairman, Mr. Berman has shown intelligence, generosity and strong bipartisan spirit, the same leadership qualities displayed by his predecessor, the irreplaceable Tom Lantos.

I want to thank my good friend, Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, as well. I continue to marvel at her devotion to her constituents in south Florida and at her tireless efforts to help light the lantern of freedom in dark places around the world.

I also want to thank the representatives from the other U.S. territories, all of whom are original cosponsors of H.R. 3658. And I want to thank you, Ms. Watson, and you, Judge Poe, for your support for this bill. I note that Ms. Watson served as a U.S. Ambassador to Micronesia and therefore brings a special expertise to this subject.

Mr. Speaker, the specific purpose of H.R. 3658 is to permit Foreign Servicemembers to take rest and recuperation travel, known as R&R, in the five U.S. territories. The broader objective of the bill is to ensure that Federal employees from the U.S. territories enjoy the same rights and privileges as their fellow citizens from the 50 States.

I am pleased that the American Foreign Service Association supports H.R. 3658, and that the State Department does not oppose its passage.

Mr. Speaker, the Foreign Service Act lists the instances in which the State Department may pay the travel-related costs of Foreign Servicemembers. One section of the FSA states that the Department may pay the travel costs incurred by Foreign Service personnel for what is known as home leave. The purpose of the home leave is to ensure that Foreign Servicemembers who have been sent abroad undergo a period of reorientation to the United States. The FSA provides that home leave may be taken in the 50 States and the U.S. territories.

Another section of the FSA states that the Department may pay the costs incurred by Foreign Servicemembers for R&R travel. Unlike home leave, which is granted to all Foreign Servicemembers who serve abroad, R&R is granted only to those stationed at hardship posts. Under the current FSA, R&R may only be taken in locations in the United States. State Department regulations have interpreted this phrase to exclude U.S. territories.

Mr. Speaker, there is no principled basis for allowing Foreign Servicemembers to take home leave but not R&R in the U.S. territories, and H.R. 3658 amends the FSA to eliminate the distinction. Just as they proudly serve in our Nation's Armed Forces, residents of the U.S. territories also represent this great country abroad as diplomats. These men and women from the territories take the same risks and endure the same long absences from their families as their colleagues from the States. Making certain that our laws treat these public servants on equal terms is the only right thing to do.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to consider the case of Mr. Ramon Negron. Mr. Negron is a U.S. citizen born and raised in Puerto Rico, a graduate of West Point, and a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve. Mr. Negron currently serves as a political economic officer at the U.S. Interests section in Havana, Cuba, which is a hardship post. Mr. Negron's next posting, to begin this summer, is as the Embassy Office Director in Basra, Iraq. It is neither sensible, nor fair, that under current law the State Department will not cover the cost of airfare so this U.S. citizen, U.S. soldier and U.S. diplomat can travel home to Puerto Rico to be with his family before leaving for the Middle East. H.R. 3658 will correct this disparity.