Madeleine Z. Bordallo

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in appreciation of the people of Guam for their trust, support, and respect and for allowing me the honor of representing Guam and their interests here in the Congress of the United States for eight terms.

I also rise this final time in appreciation to my colleagues in this wonderful institution, the U.S. House of Representatives, for their support over the years as we have worked on many impactful issues for the betterment of our constituents and our Nation.

It has been my honor to serve in Congress for the last 16 years, and I leave here proud of what we have accomplished not just for Guam, but for our

Nation and our allies in the Asia-Pacific region.

As the nonvoting delegate for 168,000 Americans who live on the westernmost territory of the United States of America, I worked with my congressional colleagues to support policies, programs, and legislation that have benefited the people of Guam. I have also secured billions of dollars in Federal investment in Guam and our people.

With the support of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we saw the passage of landmark legislation for Guam, including passing war reparations to recognize the survivors of the occupation of Guam during World War II, enshrining the independence of Guam's judiciary as a coequal branch of government, enhancing regional security with the relocation of marines to Guam, holding the military accountable to its responsibilities to Guam's civilian population, promoting Guam's Chamorro culture, protecting our environment, and improving healthcare for veterans and all Guam residents.

In just this last year, I have worked with entrepreneurs to jump- start the process for Guam to eventually become a commercial spaceport. I have also engaged leaders in the renewable energy industry and sponsored legislation passed unanimously by the House to develop offshore wind energy that will benefit Guam's electricity needs for decades to come.

We have strengthened relations with our neighbors in the Asia-Pacific and enhanced tourism, Guam's largest nonmilitary industry and employer.

Finally, through engagement and cooperation with our regional allies, we have enhanced the security of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and our national interests, countering growing threats and safeguarding against rogue countries. These are just some of our successes.

My colleagues would often tease me by saying: ``Here comes Miss Guam. What does she want now?'' While this was often said jokingly, and I have always accepted this as good-natured humor, I hope that it speaks to the dedication that I brought to effectively representing my constituents as the first woman to serve as Guam's elected Delegate to the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, Guam residents have no other voice or voting representation in their Federal Government to champion their interests and causes. Despite the successes we have had during my tenure, I cannot leave without commenting on the disparity between the Representatives from the 50 States and the Delegates who represent 4 million fellow Americans residing in the U.S. territories.

It is unfortunate, Mr. Speaker, that our country continues to disenfranchise Americans in the territories merely because of where we live. My constituents lack full voting representation in the House, have no representation in the Senate, and are denied the right to vote for the President of the United States; and yet we serve and sacrifice at the highest rates in our military.

When I was first elected to Congress in 2002, one of my predecessors, the late Congressman Ben Blaz, commented to me that, as Guam's Delegate, I would be a Member of Congress but not one of its true Members. I hope that we will continue to see our Nation strive for that goal, and that includes giving full representation and voting rights to our fellow Americans living in the territories and the District of Columbia.

Mr. Speaker, while I am saddened for my congressional tenure to come to a close, I leave proud of my work to advance Guam's interests and thankful for the support and friendship of the colleagues with whom I have served for these past 16 years. I am also eternally grateful to the nearly 200 staffers and interns who have aided me throughout the years in the congressional office.

I am especially appreciative for the staff who were with me during this last year in Congress. In my D.C. office: Adam Carbullido, Rosanne Mantanona, Howard Pangelinan, Edgar Yanger, Brandon Westling, Iain Hart, and Katherine Lee. In my Guam district office: Jon Junior Calvo, Kaye Lea Custodio, Amanda Shelton, Robert San Agustin, Audria-Marie Lizama, and Diosdado Razon.

I would not have been successful without their dedication and tireless support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in appreciation of the people of Guam for their trust, support, and respect and for allowing me the honor of representing Guam and their interests here in the Congress of the United States for eight terms.

I also rise, this final time, in appreciation to my colleagues in this wonderful institution--the U.S. House of Representatives--for their comradery, support, and collegiality over the years as we worked on many impactful issues for the betterment of our constituents and our nation.

It has been my honor to serve in Congress for the last 16 years, and I leave here proud of what we have accomplished, not just for Guam, but for our nation and our allies in the Asia-Pacific region.

These 16 years I have led, supported, or participated in the national debates, discussions, and policy developments that have improved global and national security, enhanced our economic and political wellbeing, conserved our precious natural resources, and improved quality of life for all Americans.

As the non-voting delegate for 168,000 Americans who live on the western-most sovereign territory of the United States of America, I worked with my Congressional colleagues to support policies, programs and legislation that have benefitted the people of Guam. I have also secured billions of dollars in federal investment in Guam and our people.

With the support of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, we saw the passage of landmark legislation for Guam, including passing war reparations to recognize the survivors of the Occupation of Guam during World War II; enshrining the independence of Guam's judiciary as a co- equal branch of Government, enhancing regional security with the relocation of Marines to Guam; holding the military accountable to its responsibilities to Guam's civilian population, promoting Guam's Chamorro culture, protecting our environment, and improving healthcare for veterans and all Guam residents.

Some of our most exciting achievements are yet to be realized with the groundwork we have undertaken to further the development of new opportunities for economic development and self-sufficiency for Guam, our national interests, and the region.

In just this last year, I have worked with entrepreneurs to jump start the process for Guam to eventually become a commercial spaceport.

I have also engaged leaders in the renewable energy industry and sponsored legislation passed unanimously by the House to develop offshore wind energy that will benefit Guam's self-sufficiency, sustainability, and electricity needs for decades to come.

We have strengthened relations with our neighbors in the Asia-Pacific and enhanced tourism, Guam's largest non-military industry and employer.

Finally, through engagement and cooperation with our regional allies, we have enhanced the security of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and our national interests, countering growing threats and safeguarding against rogue countries.

These are just some of our successes. My colleagues would often tease me by saying, ``Here comes Miss Guam.''

While this was often said jokingly, and I have always accepted this as good-natured humor, I hope that it speaks to the dedication and tenacity that I brought to effectively representing my constituents, as the first woman to serve as Guam's elected Delegate to the U.S. Congress.

Guam residents have no other voice or voting representation in their Federal government, to champion their interests and causes.

Despite the successes we have had during my tenure, I cannot leave without commenting on the disparity between the Representatives from the 50 states, and the Delegates who represent 4 million fellow Americans residing in the U.S. territories.

It is unfortunate, Mr. Speaker, that our country continues to disenfranchise Americans in the territories merely because of where we live.

My constituents lack full voting representation in the House, have no representation in the Senate, and are denied the right to vote for the President of the United States; and yet, we serve and sacrifice at the highest rates in our military.

When I was first elected to Congress in 2002, one of my predecessors, the late Congressman Ben Blaz, commented to me that as Guam's Delegate, I would be a Member of Congress, but not one of its Members.

I have been proud to stand alongside my colleagues--both Democrat and Republican--all patriotic citizens doing their level best to reach what our Constitution calls a more perfect union.

I hope that we will continue to see our nation strive for that goal, and that includes giving full representation and voting rights to our fellow Americans living in the territories and the District of Columbia.

Mr. Speaker, while I am saddened for my Congressional tenure to come to a close, I leave proud of my work to advance Guam's interests and thankful for the support and friendship of the colleagues with whom I have serves of these past 16 years.

I am also eternally grateful to the nearly 200 staffers and interns who have aided me throughout the years in the Congressional office.

I am especially appreciative for the staff who were with me during this last year in Congress. In my D.C. office: Adam Carbullido, Rosanne Mantanona, Howard Pangelinan, Edgar Yanger, Brandon Westling, lain Hart, and Katherine Lee.

And in my Guam District Office: Jon Junior Calvo, Kaye Lea Custodio, Amanda Shelton, Robert San Agustin, Audria Lizama, and Disodado Razon.

I would not have been successful without their dedication and tireless support, and I ask that the full list of all my congressional staff be included in the Record.

Rep. Madeleine Z. Bordallo--Full Staff List 2003-2018

Name and title:

Carbullido, Adam, Chief of Staff; Mantanona, Rosanne Meno,

Executive Assistant; Pangelinan, Howard, Legislative

Correspondent; Hart, Iain, Senior Legislative Assistant; Lee,

Katherine, Legislative Assistant; Yanger, Ed, Military

Legislative Assistant; Westling, Brandon, Air Force

Legislative Fellow; Calvo, Jon Junior, District Chief of

Staff; Custodio, Kaye Lea, Constituent Services Coordinator;

Shelton, Amanda, Press Secretary; San Agustin, Rob,

Constituent Services Representative; -Lizama, Audria-Marie,

Receptionist; Razon, Diosdado, Field Deputy.

Ackerman, Randall (Randy), Air Force Legislative Fellow;

Agustin, Krystal A., Press Secretary; Alexander-Ozinskas,

Marselle, Sea Grant Fellow; Anciano, Cody B., Intern;

Ardiente, Ashley N., Intern; Atalig, Tamieko M., Intern.

Baik, Susan J., Intern; Baldevia, Ria, Intern; Behr,

Tiffany, Air Force Legislative Fellow; Bettis, Leland P.,

Intern; Bhojwani, Chirag M., Intern; Blas, Cecilia G.,

Scheduler; Blas, Joelle M., Intern; Blas, Jonathan M.,

Intern; Blas, Kyra J., Intern; Blaz, Josh J., Intern; Blaz,

Rachael P., Intern; Blaz, Vicente T. (Vince), Intern;

Blickstein, Adam R., Staff Assistant; Bonanno, Ashley D.,

Intern; Bordallo, Stephanie M., Intern; Borja, Krystina J.,

Intern; Borja, Mary C., Policy Advisor; Bullock, Jed R.,

Legislative Director; Butler, Charles, Intern.

Caluag, Stephanie M., Intern; Camacho, Adam A., Intern;

Camacho, Felix, Intern; Camacho, Iwalani R., Intern; Catahay,

Marc A., Intern; Cepeda, Julie Marie K., Intern; Chan, Gloria

Si-Chun, CAPAC Executive Director; Chon, Alicia, Legislative

Assistant; Cowan, Sydney L., Intern; Cruz, Amanda R., Intern;

Cruz, Marie L., District Scheduler; Cruz, Mikaele, Intern;

Cruz, Nicole G., Intern.

D'Arduini, Timothy, Intern; De Oro, Moneka, Intern; Diaz,

Frances R., Legislative Assistant; Dimla, Mariana P., Intern;

Djalali, Alex J., Intern; Doucette, Cameron M., Intern;

Duenas, Joseph E., Press Secretary; Duke, Richard A.,

Legislative Assistant; Dunbar, Forrest A., Staff Assistant;

Dydasco, Bonita Y., Intern.

Eusebio, Christian, Intern; Fang, Vincent, Intern; Felix,

Dominique Rose, Intern; Fitzpatrick, Sara R., Intern;

Foertsch, Sean T., Defense Fellow; Fram, Bryan J., Air Force

Legislative Fellow; Fry Robert C., Intern.

Gatewood, Daniel P., Intern; Gatewood, Stephen R., Intern;

Gault, Catherine S., Press Secretary; Gladieux, Raquel, Navy

Legislative Fellow; Gonzalvo, Patrick Vincent I., Intern;

Grillo, Christopher Charles, Legislative Assistant; Guerrero,

Helana E., Intern; Guiao, John Michael D. (John Michael),

Intern; Gumataotao, Kailani A., Intern; Gutierrez, Darren

William, Intern.

Haddal, Nicolai A., Intern; Hammond, Sho J., Intern;

Hedgepeth, Ryan Keith, Chief of Staff; Hedger, Stephen C.

(Steve), Legislative Assistant; Herrmann, Matthew (Matt),

Chief of Staff; Hill, Derick E., Intern; Houska, David S.,

Legislative Assistant; Hudson, Jean Borja, Press Assistant.

Ilao, Gemilie G., Intern; Ilao, Geneveive G., Intern;

Jablonski-Diehl, Rebecca, Sea Grant Fellow; James, Joy L.,

Staff Assistant; Jernigan, Andrew T., Intern; Joseph, D.

Tenorio, Intern; Kaai, Krystal C. (Krystal Ka'ai), CAPAC

Executive Director; Kerr, Alexandra I., Intern; Kim, Gene

F., CAPAC Executive Director, Knudson, Scott Evan, Intern.

Lacson, Jaime S., Intern; Lai, Alisha G., Intern; Lai,

Andrea G., Intern; Lai, Breanna G., Press Secretary; Lai,

Samantha, Intern; Lai, Shaneika G., Intern; Lai, Shavonne G.,

Intern; Lai, Stephanie G., Intern; Lam, Hannah B., Intern;

Lee, Regine Biscoe, Policy Advisor; Leon Guerrero, Frank,

Constituent Services Representative; Leon Guerrero, Nathan

S., Intern; Lim, Diana, Intern; Lotz, Jonathan D., Intern.

Mandell, Derek, Press Secretary; Marati, Jessica, Intern;

Mateo, Matthew C., Legislative Assistant; McDaniel, Daniel,

Intern; McFerran, Jennifer Grace, Intern; McMahon, Jason C.,

Legislative Director; Meno, Mary Bridget P. (Bridget),

Receptionist; Mercer, Shannon T., Intern; Mickevicius, Alexis

M., Intern; Miranda, Kainan H., Intern; Miranda, McKenna L.,

Intern; Moore, John G., Staff Assistant; Mufnas, Joleen P.,

Intern.

Naddaf, Z.F., Intern; Nadler, Ashley N., Intern; Nakamura,

Robert T., Intern; Nelson, Isabella L., Intern; Nery, Tristan

C., Press Secretary; Nichols, Adam, Air Force Legislative

Fellow; Nussbaum, David Y., Intern; Nussbaum, Matthew Y.

Intern.

Palmer, Richard (Rick), Air Force Legislative Fellow;

Pangelinan, Edward D., Intern; Pangelinan, Felix, Intern;

Pangelinan, James E. III, Intern; Park, Lynn, Intern; Pena,

Ricco A., -Intern; Perez, Brandon J., Intern; Perez, Stephan

F., Intern; Pontemayor, Paulo, Legislative Assistant; Pothen,

Selina, -Intern; Prandle, Adrian, Intern; Protacio, Mark P.,

-Legislative Assistant.

Quinata, Marybelle R., Intern; Quinata, Nicole Michelle M.,

-Intern; Rebanal, Edna Reonal, Staff Assistant; Reyes,

Vincent P., Intern; Rivera, Annie A., Constituent Services

Representative; Rousseau, Jean Michel G.M., Intern.

Sablan, James G., District Director; Sablan, Teresa M.,

Intern; Saluta, Gabrielle, Sea Grant Fellow; San Gil, Amanda

D., Intern; Sander, Michael J., Air Force Legislative Fellow;

Santos, Carla G., Intern ; Saxon, Ethan A., Military

Legislative Assistant; Siegal, Daniel, Intern; Skates,

Jonathan D., Intern.

Taitano, Audreya, Press Assistant; Tavangar, Nahal, Intern;

Tenorio, Andrew, District Director; Tenorio, Christian E.,

Intern; Tenorio, Mae C., Office Manager; Terlaje, Carmen V.,

Intern; Thackaberry, Christopher (Chris), Air Force

Legislative Fellow; Tiples, Liezel V., Intern; Toves, Kelly

M., -Press Secretary; Towes, Phillip Mathew, Intern; Tung,

Victoria (Vicky), -CAPAC Policy Advisor; Turow, Andrew T.,

Intern.

Underwood, Naomi Tacuyan, Senior Legislative Assistant;

Untalan, Katrina A., Intern; Vasquez, Melissa, Intern;

Veltri, David, Intern; Walls, Daniel B., Legislative

Assistant; Wang, Alton, CAPAC Policy Advisor; Watkins,

Marshall T., Intern.

Weare, Neil, Press Secretary; Wehner, John, Intern;

Wheeler, Brendan M., Military Legislative Assistant; Whitt,

John Joseph, Chief of Staff; Wolf, Aaron, Legislative

Assistant; Woolwine, Patrick R., Intern; Wu, Vera, Intern;

Yanger, Dominic D.,Intern; Yanger, Samantha, Intern; Zabala,

R.P., Constituent Services Representative.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of an outstanding Soldier and a very dear friend, retired Command Sergeant Major Benjamin C. Palacios who passed away on November 9, 2018.

Affectionately known as Ben, Command Sergeant Major Palacios was born on November 11, 1950 on the island of Saipan in the Northern Marianas. He later moved to Guam where he graduated from George Washington High School and was drafted into the United States Army in 1969.

Ben spent the next thirty-four years in exemplary service in the Army as an armor Soldier. His duties have included diverse assignments ranging from Tank Commander to Command Sergeant Major of some of the premier organizations in the United States military. He served as the Operations Sergeant in several Armor Battalions including an assignment as a Senior Enlisted Advisor for the 50th Armored Division, New Jersey Army National Guard in 1988. In 1991, Ben deployed to Saudi Arabia in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm as the 3-69 Armor Battalion Command Sergeant Major. In 1994, Ben served as the Brigade Command Sergeant Major for the 2nd Vanguard Brigade in the 24th Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, and in 1996 he was selected to be the 24th Infantry Division Command Sergeant Major. Following this assignment Ben served as the Command Sergeant Major for the Third Mobile Armored Corps at Fort Hood in Texas and was subsequently selected to serve as the United States Army Forces Command's Command Sergeant Major in July 1998. Ben's illustrious Army career culminated in one of the most prestigious assignments as the command sergeant major of the United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, United States Forces Korea and 8th United States Army in the Republic of South Korea.

On his retirement in 2003, the Republic of South Korea awarded Command Sergeant Major Palacios the Order of National Security Merit Gwanbok Medal on behalf of the President of South Korea. Ben was the first enlisted soldier to receive this prestigious medal since the end of the Korean War.

Ben's most prestigious awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Republic of Korea Order of National Security (Gwangbok) Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal. Some of these he was awarded more than once.

Since 2003 Ben has remained engaged in Guam and the Pacific region working for companies associated with improving the United States security posture and contributing to the local community. One of his most devoted efforts was as a member of my Veterans Advisory Council which I founded to assist my advocacy on behalf of veterans residing in Guam. His dedication and personal efforts at improving services, support, and benefits for the U.S. military veterans living on Guam was greatly appreciated and a welcome improvement to the quality of life of all veterans.

I appreciated his warm, welcoming and inclusive approach to serving our veterans and everyone he engages.

I will miss Ben and his ever-optimistic attitude. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife of 45 years Estella Kosaka Palacios, and his sons; Benjamin, Bryan, Bradley, Brent, and their families.

Rest in peace my friend.

Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the Human Trafficking and IUU Fishing Act. I thank my colleagues, Congressman Grijalva (D-AZ) and Congresswomen Radewagen (R-AS) and Bonamici (D-OR), for their support as original cosponsors.

Increasingly, we are seeing foreign fishing fleets forcing vulnerable people--migrant workers taken or smuggled out of their home countries and coerced into taking illegal narcotics as stimulants--to fish around the clock without rest, out of fear for their very lives.

Human trafficking and forced labor in the global seafood industry is, very simply, a form of modern slavery.

The United Nations' International Labor Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Organization for Migration all recognize human trafficking, forced labor, and related transnational organized crime in the seafood industry to be pressing global problems.

In June 2018, the U.S. State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report identified more than 40 countries with substantial human trafficking and forced labor across their seafood industries and supply chains.

This is especially true in southeast Asia and the south Pacific, where IUU fishing dominates much of the seafood industry.

Right now, trafficked persons who were forced into the IUU fishing industry remain marooned on sparse islands in the South China Sea, waiting to be rescued.

Seafood products harvested with slave labor are largely untraceable and could end up in our grocery store aisles, on the menu at our restaurants, or on our family dinner tables.

Last year, the United States imported some $21.5 billion in seafood products from abroad.

Congress and the Executive Branch have a responsibility to ensure that the United States does not import any seafood associated with human trafficking, forced labor, or other human rights abuses.

To address this problem, our Human Trafficking and IUU Fishing Act would add the Secretary of Commerce (NOAA Fisheries) to the President's existing Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, chaired by the Secretary of State.

Human trafficking and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing rank among the top global crimes.

These criminal activities generate billions in illicit profits each year for transnational criminal organizations and other groups responsible for human rights abuses.

Since 2016, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has detained 15 shipments of seafood processed illegally in mainland China by North Korean workers under forced labor.

With poor traceability and a lack of accountability in the global seafood supply chain, we simply do not know where our seafood products come from or the conditions under which they are harvested and processed.

We must ensure that American fishermen are never expected to compete against foreign seafood imports harvested with slave labor.

Our bipartisan bill builds upon the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-386), sponsored by Congressman Smith (R-NJ) from New Jersey.

I urge all my colleagues to join us in cosponsoring the Human Trafficking and IUU Fishing Act.