Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Father Duenas Memorial School on its 65th anniversary as Guam's premier Catholic all-male college-preparatory high school.

Father Duenas Memorial School was established on October 1, 1948, four years after the school's namesake, Father Jesus Baza Duenas, a Chamorro priest with unwavering loyalty to his faith, parishioners, and country, was martyred during the Japanese occupation of Guam. Father Duenas was born in the village of Hagtna on March 19, 1911, and ordained a Catholic priest in 1938.

As enemy forces began the occupation of Guam in 1942, American priests were taken as prisoners of war, leaving Father Duenas and the late Father Oscar Calvo to tend to the spiritual needs of more than 22,000 Catholics who remained on the island. Father Duenas was appointed Pro-Vicar of the Vicariate on Guam, putting him in charge of all Church affairs during World War II. Throughout the occupation, Father Duenas inspired many Chamorros to remain hopeful that Guam would be liberated from enemy occupation.

Four years following the Liberation of Guam by American forces, Bishop Apolinaris W. Baumgartner established Father Duenas Memorial School as a minor seminary for young men preparing to become clerics and a college preparatory education for others. FDMS opened on October 1, 1949 near the site where Father Duenas was executed.

Throughout its history, FDMS has educated many of Guam's young men who have made numerous contributions to our community. These young men continue a strong tradition of excellence and their work has contributed to Guam's growth in the Asia-Pacific region. Many FDMS alumni have succeeded in their chosen careers. Today, many of Guam's church and government leaders, business and medical professionals, military officers, and leaders of charitable organizations are graduates of FDMS. The school promotes in its students a strong sense of public service and commitment to improving the communities they live in. A key characteristic shared among FDMS alumni is their dedication to improving the quality of life for our people and our community.

Again, I join the FDMS community in celebrating its 65th anniversary. I wish FDMS continued success, and I am confident that this institution of faith and learning will continue its commitment to providing a high-quality education to the young men of Guam. May they always remain ``Strong in the Faith.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Annie Quichocho on the occasion of her retirement from the U.S. Department of the Navy after more than 42 years of federal civilian service.

Ms. Quichocho was born and raised on Guam, and graduated from George Washington Senior High School in 1969. In 1971, she began working as a clerk at Naval Station Guam. Her career as a federal civilian employee took her from Guam to Millington, Tenn., Whidbey Island, Wash., Beeville, Texas, Norfolk, Va., and finally to Patuxent River, Md., where she has lived with her family for more than 30 years.

Most recently, Ms. Quichocho worked as financial management analyst at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in the Budget Formulation, Justification and Execution Department. During this time, she served as the Lead Financial Management Analyst for seven financial analysts and two administrative personnel. She provided advice, financial support, guidance, and services for the Funds Management Division, and trained brand new employees and interns on the overview and details of the funding process in the Budget Office. She also received, reviewed, processed, and established incoming funding documents from various customers.

Additionally, Ms. Quichocho is an active member and a former secretary of the Guam Society of America, an organization that brings together former residents of Guam living in Washington, D.C. and the suburbs of Virginia and Maryland. She also is a member of the Internal Communication Workgroup, Business Financial Management Community, the American Society of Military Comptrollers, and is a member, usher and teacher's aide at St. Nicholas Chapel in Patuxent River.

On behalf of the people of Guam and a grateful nation, I commend Ms. Annie Quichocho for her many years of dedicated service to our country. I wish the very best to Ms. Quichocho, her husband, Larry, their daughter, Lori, their son-in-law, David, and her three grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the recent launch of the Guam Women's Chamber of Commerce, which was formally established on Sept. 4, 2013. Their mission is to promote the sustainable economic growth and development of women and to help them integrate into leadership positions; to create community awareness of the importance of women in the island's economic, social and cultural platform; to influence legislative policies on issues facing women; and to provide a business environment that pays competitive wages and benefits for women.

This Chamber's board members include some of the most successful business leaders and entrepreneurs in our community, such as its President, Lou A. Leon Guerrero, President and CEO of the Bank of Guam; Vice President Anita Borja Enriquez, D.B.A., Interim Senior Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at the University of Guam; Treasurer Antoinette Sanford, President and co-founder of Sanford Technology Group, LLC (STG); and Secretary Denise Mendiola-Hertslet, the Program Coordinator for the Bank of Guam Women in Business Program and the Microcredit Training Program. Its founding members also include; Siska S. Hutapea, MAI, MRE; Vanessa Williams Ji, Esq.; Jackie Marati; Doyon Ahn Morato; and Dr. Mary Okada, the first woman President and CEO of the Guam Community College.

These women are leading the charge to strengthen our local economy by creating one driven and influenced by the equal participation of women in business, commerce and trade.

I commend President Lou Leon Guerrero and Vice President Anita Borja Enriquez for their leadership of this exciting new organization, and I look forward to working with the Guam Women's Chamber of Commerce in the coming years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Lieutenant General Douglas H. Owens on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Air Force after more than 33 years of faithful service. Lieutenant General Owens will retire on October 1, 2013, concluding his duty as the Vice Commander of Air Education and Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.

General Owens is a command pilot with more than 3,100 hours in various aircraft, including the T-37, T-38, T-41, T-6 and A/OA-10. He flew combat missions in the first A-10 squadron deployed to operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels, and served in a variety of operational and staff positions. These include assignments in the Headquarters U.S. Air Force Checkmate Division and Operations Directorate on the Joint Staff, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and other operations worldwide. He has also served as a numbered air force vice commander and as deputy commander of a joint task force for Pacific Command. General Owens has served five tours in the Pacific, including an assignment as the Vice Commander of Pacific Air Forces supporting combat readiness, theater security cooperation, enhanced force posture and presence throughout the theater.

General Owens is a 1980 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, and obtained his Masters Degree from the University of Phoenix in 1988. He is a graduate of Squadron Officer School, Air Command and Staff College, and National War College where he earned a second Masters degree in 1998. General and Mrs. Owens have two adult children: John and Michael, and four grandchildren. Both John and Michael have continued the family tradition of service and are also currently serving as officers in the Air Force.

Among his many military duties that spanned his career and included 18 Permanent Change of Station moves, General Owens served as the 36th Wing Commander at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. It is during this assignment that I had the opportunity to get to know both General Owens and his wife Teresa. During his tenure as the Wing Commander he was responsible for the conduct of the Pacific Command's Continuous Bomber Presence, Theater Security Packages, numerous exercises supporting the region, and contingency response operations from Andersen Air Force Base. General Owens was responsible for the well-being of more than 8,000 military and civilian personnel on Andersen AFB and also was tasked to ensure the successful employment, deployment, integration, and enabling of air and space forces from the most forward sovereign U.S. Air Force base in the Pacific. His leadership was critical during the stand-up of Joint Region Marianas and during the planning phases for the realignment of Marines from Okinawa to Guam. He also continued to ensure successful implementation of certain portions of the current Pacific Airpower Resiliency strategy. Additionally, his support of the local community on Guam was extraordinary, and I am very thankful for the lasting relationships he built between the military and civilian community which remain strong today.

I again congratulate Lieutenant General Owens on the occasion of his retirement. I join the people of Guam in commending him for his exceptional service to our great nation and thanking him for his contributions to our community. Although General Owens and Teresa will be greatly missed, I wish them both all the best as they transition to the next stage of their life and enjoy a long and happy retirement together.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of James Holland Underwood, who served five consecutive terms as a member of the Guam Legislature from 1975 to 1984. He passed away on July 24, 2013, at the age of 67.

Jim was born on May 4, 1946, to former Senator Raymond Ferdinand Underwood and Ana Eclavea Torres Underwood, owners of Mariana Sales and Tendan Nene in Hagatna.

As a senator, Jim authored legislation that led to the development of the Guam Environmental Protection Agency and the Port Authority of Guam. He also worked on the capital financing project with Duty Free Shoppers for the construction and expansion of the Guam International Airport Authority. In 1977, Jim also served as a delegate to Guam's Constitutional Convention.

Additionally, Jim held many leadership positions in several Government of Guam agencies. He served as the Executive Director of the Commission on Decolonization; General Manager of the Guam Mass Transit Authority; Director of the Guam Departments of Labor, Public Works, Public Health and Social Services, and Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities. He also was a Director for the Guam Telephone Authority.

Beyond his clear passion for public service, Jim made significant contributions to the local community, where he spearheaded numerous projects such as the Guam-Karuizawa Student Exchange and construction of crosses atop Mt. Jumulong Manglo. He also was an active member of the Young Men's League of Guam and Past-President of the Rotary Club of Guam.

Together with his family, Jim was a devout Catholic and an active parishioner of the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatna, where he served as a lector and commentator for the December 8 procession in honor of Santa Marian Kamalen. For many years, Jim and his family were also responsible for erecting the ``Lanchon Kotpus'' on the Feast of Corpos Christi.

My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Alma, his son James III, his stepdaughters Lisa and Theresa, grandchildren, friends and loved ones. I join the people of Guam in remembering Jim's leadership and contributions to our community. He will be dearly missed.

Madam Chair, today I rise in support for amendment #127 offered by Congressman Jim Bridenstine of Oklahoma; Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina and myself to H.R. 2397, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2014. Our amendment would provide an additional $10 million to the National Guard State Partnership Program. It would be offset by a reduction of $11 million to the Defense Media Activity in the Defense-wide operations and maintenance account.

The amendment builds on the progress made in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 that strengthened and expanded the National Guard State Partnership Program. The National Guard provides unique capacity building capabilities to Combatant Commanders and U.S. Ambassadors via 65 comprehensive partnerships between National Guard units across the United States and partner nations. The State Partnership Program directly supports the broad national interests and security cooperation goals of the United States by engaging partner nations via military, socio-political, and economic conduits at the local; state, and national levels and these additional funds will further strengthen existing relationships as well as foster new partnerships. In particular, as we rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region the State Partnership Program offers a very visible and tangible component of that rebalance that meets both our military and diplomatic objectives in the region.

Several Combatant Commanders have testified before Congress about the importance of the State Partnership Program to meeting their strategic objectives. The program has developed from assistance and partnership with primarily Eastern European nations to a program that supports all the non-CONUS combatant commanders. Again, I believe the SPP brings unique capabilities to U.S. Pacific Command in expanding and strengthening bilateral relations with many Asian and Pacific nations. The program can help to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to the region and our allies.

The amendment provides critical resources to this cost effective and beneficial program. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1797, the Pain-Capable Child Protection Act. This bill takes important steps to protecting the most vulnerable in our society--unborn children--by placing a federal ban on abortions after 20 weeks from conception. This ban would be an important first step in restoring respect for life in our nation.

I believe that H.R. 1797 strikes the right balance as it allows for exceptions in cases of child-incest, rape, or when a mother's life is in danger, but it also requires that mothers report any instances of abuse to law enforcement prior to seeking an abortion. While many would argue that this provision is too narrowly written, I believe that it is better than the present unrestricted and unaccountable legal system that makes it far too easy to get an abortion.

I support H.R. 1797 and its intent in ensuring that the most vulnerable in our society are protected and given the opportunity for life. I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Mr. Chairman, I want to say at the onset that I've enjoyed very much working in a bipartisan manner with the chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee, Mr. Rob Wittman, also the chair of the full committee, Mr. McKeon, and the ranking member of the full committee, Mr. Adam Smith. I want to thank also the committee and professional staff for the many long hours that they've put into getting this bill ready.

I rise in strong support of H.R. 1960. This bill works to ensure that our men and women in uniform are well trained and equipped to defend our Nation and its allies.

Although this bill represents the hard work and efforts of both the majority and the minority, I want to highlight the need to resolve sequestration. I hope that this Congress undertakes serious efforts to finally fix sequestration with a comprehensive solution. We can avoid this problem.

I would like to highlight a few important readiness issues.

The bill provides a 1-year extension of authority for certain pay and benefits to civilian personnel who are forward deployed, performing critical operations overseas and in combat zones. We are also requiring GAO to look into how the furloughs of civilian employees are being implemented by the Department of Defense to ensure they are implemented in a fair and equitable manner and to understand the impact on mission execution.

The bill addresses sustainment issues for two important procurement programs: the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the LCS. We must understand the costs associated with the sustainment of these programs over the long term to make informed decisions about the future of these programs. The bill also contains a provision that will close loopholes that allow MSC and Navy to repair an increasing number of ships overseas.

I am especially pleased to note that this bill puts real resources into the rebalance of our military toward the Asia-Pacific region. The bill takes a commonsense approach and rolls back restrictive language that hampers the obligation and the expenditure of Government of Japan funds, which is positive for our bilateral relationship with the Government of Japan. The bill continues the House's consistent position of support of the realignment of forces in this region.

We also provide funding for the LCS, continued development of the next generation long-range strike bomber, and robust procurement of Virginia class submarines, which are all assets that are important to our rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region.

However, I am concerned about section 233 in the underlying bill. I appreciate the intent of this provision. We do need to ensure the defense of our allies in East Asia. Yet this provision unduly restricts our combatant commanders from providing support to emerging threats or supporting other allies in other areas. The provision is unnecessary, and it negatively impacts our military's readiness. I hope that the Rules Committee will make my amendment in order to improve the provision.

Again, I thank my colleagues, and I urge all my colleagues to support this vitally important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the bravery and service of Guam Army National Guardsman Specialist Dwayne Westfall Flores from the village of Sinajana, Guam. Specialist Flores was one of the 600 Guam Army National Guard soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion--294th Infantry Regiment that were recently deployed to Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. On May 16, 2013 Specialist Flores was killed during a suicide car bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. He was 22 years old.

Specialist Flores was born on February 26, 1991 to Leonardo Arriola Flores and Eva Westfall Flores. Specialist Flores devoted every Sunday as an altar server at the 5:45 a.m. mass at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral Basilica in Haga. In his civilian employment, Specialist Flores worked as a body repairman for LamLam Tours, a tour bus operations company.

After graduating from George Washington High School, Specialist Flores enlisted in the Guam Army National Guard on May 19, 2008 and served as a Human Resources Specialist and was assigned to Echo Company, 1st Battalion, 294th Infantry Regiment. This was his first deployment.

For his service and performance, Specialist Flores received numerous awards and achievements, including the Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Guam Cross of Valor and Overseas Service Bar.

I join our community in mourning the loss of Specialist Flores, and I extend my deepest condolences to his parents, Leonardo and Eva; his siblings, Stephanie Westfall Flores Taitano and Steven Westfall Flores; and his extended family, close friends, and loved ones.

Specialist Flores served with honor and distinction, and like the many sons and daughter of Guam who served before him, he gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country. Our nation will be eternally grateful for his service.

May God bless the family and friends of Specialist Dwayne Westfall Flores and may God bless the men and women of our United States Armed Forces and keep them safe.

Mr. Speaker, today I have reintroduced a resolution to honor the memory of 3,542 Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders we have lost to AIDS, and to recognize the 9,317 whom are still living with HIV/AIDS the United States. It supports the goals and ideals of National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, its observance, and, draws attention to the stigma and disparities that hinder proper treatment and prevention within these communities.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders comprise more than 40 different ethnic subgroups, speaking more than 100 languages and dialects. This resolution recognizes the importance of providing access to culturally- and linguistically- competent services, especially HIV testing. According to an analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were the only racial/ethnic groups with a statistically significant increase in new HIV diagnoses. The CDC estimates that 37 percent of the HIV diagnoses among these communities progress to AIDS in less than 12 months. Additionally, the CDC estimates that 1 in 3 Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders living with HIV/AIDS are unaware they are infected.

Yet, with increasing rates of infection, they continue to have the lowest rates of access to HIV-testing services. Although there are a number of factors that contribute to increasing rates of infections, stigma and discrimination associated with an HIV/AIDS has proved to be a leading factor in low testing rates and increased risk-taking behaviors.

The observance of National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was established by the Banyan Tree Project, and began as a national campaign to raise awareness of the impact of the HIV/AIDS- related stigma and how it contributes to lower testing rates and greater risk-taking behaviors. Additionally, the work continues with the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum who have worked nationally for more than 20 years, including in my home district of Guam, in helping to strengthen community-based organizations and programs responding to HIV/AIDS among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in addressing this need and advancing the larger cause of reducing HIV/AIDS-related stigmas and disparities in access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment. I would like to thank my colleagues, Congressman Bera, Congresswoman Christensen, Congresswoman Chu, Congressman Faleomavaega, Congressman Grijalva, Congressman Himes, Congresswoman Lee, Congressman Lowenthal, Congresswoman McCollum, Congressman Scott Peters, Congressman Pierluisi, Congressman Rangel, Congressman Sablan, Congressman Adam Smith, Congresswoman Speier, and Congressman Takano, for their support as original co-sponsors of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF) Joseph Santos on being named U.S. Pacific Fleet's 2012 Sea Sailor of the Year.

Petty Officer Santos was nominated by his commander, and was chosen from a pool of 13,000 other sailors in the Pacific Fleet. He will be meritoriously promoted to the rank of chief petty officer.

Petty Officer Santos, a native to Saipan and youngest of nine children, moved to Dededo, Guam, with his family when he was just an infant. In 1999, after graduating from John F. Kennedy High School, he joined the United States Navy. Upon completion of basic training, he reported to Naval Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, Illinois, where he graduated with distinction. He also trained at Field Medical Service School (FMSS) at Camp Pendleton, California.

Petty Officer Santos craved adventure. He wanted to help people and save lives, and he knew the job of a Navy hospital corpsman would help him fulfill these goals.

He has served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. In 2004, while deployed in Fallujah, he earned a Purple Heart. On September 6, 2004, a large convoy in Fallujah was hit by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and there was a mass casualty.

He was the only corpsman on the scene for the first ten minutes of the attack. Although he was able to help many Marines, there were many others that lost their lives that day.

Furthermore, when several Marines in his unit showed signs of suicidal thoughts, he worked to help them get through it and allowed them to bunk above him during their last days in Afghanistan to ensure their return home was as peaceful as possible. He remains committed to his Marines and makes himself available around-the-clock to discuss these issues.

Petty Officer Santos has received numerous awards and recognition for his exemplary service, including the Purple Heart, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, and a Combat Action Ribbon.

He is married to Easton Santos; together they have a 10-year-old daughter, Keana, and are currently expecting another child.

I congratulate Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF) Joseph Santos on being named U.S. Pacific Fleet's 2012 Sailor of the Year. I join the people of Guam in thanking him for his bravery and selfless service to our nation, and for making our island proud.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a member of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Republic of Azerbaijan as it celebrates its 95th Republic Day on May 28, 2013. Later this year, Azerbaijan will also celebrate the 22nd anniversary of its freedom from the Soviet Union and the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States.

Azerbaijan's initial independence was short-lived, and was overtaken by the Bolshevik Revolution and the force of Soviet Russia. Many Azerbaijanis lost their lives in 1920, trying to retain their independence. After decades of living under Soviet rule, in 1991, Azerbaijan once again regained its independence after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Over the last two decades Azerbaijan has become an increasingly important partner to the US, with Russia as a neighbor on its' northern border and an extensive border with Iran in the south, Azerbaijan is located in a geopolitically dynamic region between Europe and Asia. It is a predominately Muslim secular democracy noted for religious tolerance that is also home to Christian and Jewish communities.

As highlighted by former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Azerbaijan plays a key role in supporting the Northern Distribution Network, which provides passage for Coalition supplies bound for Afghanistan. In addition to supporting U.S. security interests in the region, Azerbaijan serves a paramount role in supplying world markets with oil and gas. It is the only secular Muslim country that maintains close ties with Israel, supplying roughly forty percent of Israel's energy needs.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the Republic of Azerbaijan on the occasion of its 95th Republic Day. I also encourage my colleagues to join the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus to show support for the important partnership between the United States and Azerbaijan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Benjamin J.F. Cruz, the Vice Speaker of the Guam Legislature, on being awarded the Judiciary of Guam's 2013 Hustisia Award.

The Hustisia Award is awarded annually to recognize a person or organization that has contributed to improving the administration of justice and good government.

Vice Speaker Cruz has committed his life to promoting justice in Guam as an attorney, jurist, and current senator. This award recognizes his 40 years of service in advocating for justice and equality and for promoting and strengthening respect for the rule of law. Throughout this career, he fostered building public support for the judiciary, promoted understanding of the judicial system, and encouraged civic responsibility and service.

Born to Antonia C. Franquez and the late Juan Quenga Cruz, former Commissioner of Piti, Vice Speaker Cruz received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics from Claremont Men's College in 1972. In 1975, he received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Santa Clara Law School.

Vice Speaker Cruz returned home and became an attorney and member of the Guam Bar Association. Throughout his career, Vice Speaker Cruz has worked for all three branches of government. From 1975 to 1979, he served as Legal Counsel to my late husband, Governor Ricardo J. Bordallo. A few years later, in 1983, he served one year as Director of the Guam Liaison Office in Washington, D.C.

His work in the judicial branch of government began in 1984 when he was appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Guam. He was elevated to the Supreme Court of Guam and served as an associate justice from 1997 to 1999. In 1999, his colleagues elected him Chief Justice of Guam and served in this capacity until his retirement from the bench in 2001.

In December 2003, he was federally appointed as Commissioner of the Guam War Claims Review Commission. He served in this post until June 2004.

He is currently serving his second term as Vice Speaker of the 32nd Guam Legislature; he has served as a senator in the 31st, 30th and 28th Legislatures. He was also the Minority Legal Counsel for the 15th, 16th, and 29th Guam Legislatures.

Additionally, Vice Speaker Cruz remains an active member of our island community. He has been involved in numerous community and civic organizations, and has spearheaded several non-profit corporations focused on social justice issues, cultural preservation, and youth services.

I congratulate Vice Speaker Benjamin J.F. Cruz on receiving the Judiciary of Guam's 2013 Hustisia Award. I join the people of Guam in commending him for his award and thanking him for his many contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Frances Marie Calvo Monge on being named the 2013 First Hawaiian Bank and Guam Business Magazine Businesswoman of the Year. Marie is the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Producer of Pacific Telestations Inc.'s KUAM and has been in the media industry for 16 years.

Born and raised on Guam, Marie attended Academy of Our Lady of Guam and graduated from Castilleja School in Palo Alto, Calif., in the spring of 1992. Her first job was a production assistant at a local public access television station in Palo Alto.

In May 1996, Marie graduated Magna Cum Laude from Emerson College in Boston with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication/Film.

Following graduation, Marie moved to Los Angeles, where she worked as a Development Assistant for Flower Films from January 1996 to September 1996. She worked with the producing team for actress Drew Barrymore to identify script projects that were to be developed into major motion pictures. She also assisted with film pre-production, which included location scouting, casting, and character wardrobe.

In January 1997, Marie began serving as Executive Producer of KUAM, where she oversaw all local productions, directed live productions, and developed local content and programming for the stations of KUAM.

In 2001, Marie co-founded a community service initiative of the stations of KUAM known as the KUAM Careforce. Through this Careforce, KUAM has highlighted many Guam organizations, raising awareness for issues of importance to our island community.

Marie also is the president of The Edward M. Calvo Cancer Foundation, a member of the Guam Chamber of Commerce, and a Board Member of The Rigalu Foundation, Sanctuary, Inc., and Hurao, Inc. She is also a member of the largest media professional group in the United States, Radio Television Digital News Association.

She is married to Eli Monge and together they have two daughters, Noelle Veronica, 14 years old and Reese Frances, 11 years old.

I congratulate Frances Marie Calvo Monge on receiving the 2013 First Hawaiian Bank and Guam Business Magazine Businesswoman of the Year. I join the people of Guam in commending her for her award and thanking her for her contributions to our community as a woman leader in business.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Petty Officer 1st Class (FMF) Benny Mendiola Flores Jr., a hospital corpsman serving with the Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, on receiving a Silver Star, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action with combat operations against the enemy while serving as Field Medical Service Technician, I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), on 28 April 2012, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was presented with the Silver Star, the military's third-highest award for valor, at a ceremony at Camp Pendleton, Calif., on May 3, 2013.

Petty Officer Flores, a native of Guam, graduated from Southern High School in 2001, and, shortly thereafter, enlisted in the United States Navy. He always wanted to be a corpsman, and, in his remarks at the award ceremony, demonstrated his humility and gratitude for the opportunity to serve our country. He is currently serving his third deployment to the Middle East.

During his deployment to Afghanistan last year, Petty Officer Flores was providing medical coverage for a three-day, Afghan-led mission to Zaranj, Afghanistan near Iran's border. He was riding in the back of a pickup in Nimruz province's Zaranj district returning to camp after a trip to the Iranian border when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle as a result of a suicide bomber. Despite suffering shrapnel wounds to his arms and back, he immediately began helping the wounded. He risked his life four times, running through enemy gunfire to help save the Marines and Afghan Uniform Police officer who were injured in the blast.

Petty Officer Flores stayed focused administering combat lifesaving skills. Although he

worked hard to make sure everyone was secure, another passenger in his vehicle, Master Sergeant Scott Pruitt, died from injuries sustained in the attack.

Petty Officer Flores has received numerous awards and decorations for his service, including a Purple Heart, a Joint Service Commendation Medal and a Joint Service Achievement Medal.

He is currently pursuing a college degree and furthering his passion for medicine by studying sports management at American Military University. He is the son of Benny Flores Sr. and Josepha K. Lizama. He lives at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in California with his wife, Jerrianne, and their daughter, Jaena.

I commend Petty Officer 1st Class Benny Flores on receiving this high honor for his heroic actions in combat. I join the people of Guam in thanking him for his bravery and selfless service to our nation, and for making our island proud.