Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the people of Taiwan on the celebration of the 100th anniversary of ``Ten Ten Day.'' Ten Ten Day traces its roots to the Wuchang Uprising that occurred on October 10, 1911, and that signaled the end of the Qing Dynasty and the start of a democratic movement that we continue to celebrate today. Ten Ten Day is a celebration of the end of tyranny for the Chinese people and the birth of democracy. It is significant to all freedom loving people throughout the world.

I want to especially recognize the people of Taiwan on this most important occasion. Taiwan has much to celebrate and it is a thriving economic force in Asia, due to its visionary leadership. I met with President Ma Ying-jeou and I commend his efforts to promote trade and improve relations between Taiwan and China. Guam is home to many people of Chinese ancestry and our island continues to benefit from their cultural contributions to our community and the promotion of trade and economic opportunities.

I congratulate the people of Taiwan on the 100th anniversary of Ten Ten Day. We celebrate this historic occasion with them and we

honor their friendship with the American people. We wish them many years of future prosperity and we thank them for their friendship.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Venancia R. Colet, for her exemplary volunteer work with the Guam Senior Medicare Patrol Project (Guam SMP), an outreach program which educates Medicare recipients about the complexities of the Medicare program. Mrs. Colet was recently named one of ten SMP volunteers, nationwide, to receive the Outstanding Senior Volunteer Award. This national award from the U.S. Administration on Aging recognizes the commitment of volunteers to fight against health care fraud and abuse.

Mrs. Colet worked as a counselor with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (DMHSA) from 1976 to 1997. After her retirement, she continued to serve the community of Guam by training and supervising DMHSA counselors in responding to crises, and she has worked with local programs that address the needs of emotionally disturbed children and youth in Guam.

In 2008, Mrs. Colet began volunteering for the Guam SMP program, and since then she has conducted numerous counseling sessions with homebound Medicare recipients. She was the first and is currently the only SMP volunteer with proficiency in both the Tagalog and Ilocano languages of the Philippines, a skill that has helped the program reach many Medicare beneficiaries on Guam.

Mrs. Colet was born in the province of Vigan, Ilocos, in the Philippines and moved to Guam in 1974. She currently resides in the northern village of Dededo, Guam. She has been married to Rodolfo Colet for the past 35 years, and they have two children. In addition to her contributions to Guam SMP, Mrs. Colet is an active volunteer for the American Red Cross and has provided voluntary services following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on our Nation.

I congratulate Mrs. Colet on being named an Outstanding Senior Volunteer for the Senior Medical Patrol Project. On behalf of the people of Guam, I extend to her a sincere un dangkulo nab Si Yu 'os Ma'ase for dedication and commitment to our community.

Mr. Speaker, today I have introduced the ``Territories Economic Development Opportunity Act,'' a bill which would amend Title 23 of United States Code, to provide for the participation of the territories in Federal-aid highway discretionary programs. The bill provides a statutory fix to redress an inequity in transportation funding options for Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

I thank my colleagues, Congresswoman Donna Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands; Congressman Eni Faleomavaega of American Samoa; and Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, for their cosponsorship of this important legislation. The ``Territories Economic Development Opportunity Act'' ensures that our jurisdictions are able to compete for discretionary programs administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Currently, the jurisdictions of Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are not eligible to compete for funding under the National Bridge Program or the Ferry Boats and Ferry Terminal Facilities program. This legislation would make the territories eligible to compete under these discretionary funding accounts.

Economic development and facilitation of commerce in each of these jurisdictions is important. On Guam, a safe and comprehensive road network is important to facilitating improvements in our tourism industry. It is also important for the transport of military equipment and personnel from Andersen Air Force Base to Navy Base Guam. Without a well developed and maintained road network, these industries on Guam would be difficult to sustain. Therefore, a stronger infrastructure network is important to maintaining and expanding these economic lynchpins of Guam's economy.

However, in an era of declining budgets and given the current planned reductions in discretionary spending (according to the current deficit that will be voted on today by the House of Representatives), it is prudent and responsible to ensure that the territories have the same opportunity as any other jurisdiction to compete for discretionary funding to improve their infrastructure systems. Each of our territories has a unique economic situation but we all recognize the importance of having a robust infrastructure system to facilitate commerce and economic opportunities in each of our jurisdictions. For example, on Guam, as the realignment of military forces begins implementation, it may be necessary to develop a ferry system so that civilians and military alike can go between Guam and ports within the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. In any of the 50 states, the development of a ferry system could be aided, in part, by federal funding through the Ferry Boats and Ferry Terminal Facilities Program. However, this would not be possible on Guam or any of the other smaller territories.

Further, major bridge projects on Guam like the Ylig Bridge Replacement or the Route 4 Bridge repairs are not eligible for competitive funding under the National Bridge Program. Instead, such projects must solely be funded through the Territorial Highway Program. Given the scope and cost of many of these projects, other road projects are deferred or go unfunded. Thus, it is important to give the small territories the same opportunity to compete for this critical funding as any one of the 50 states.

Mr. Speaker, this bill allows us to begin a discussion about the treatment of the territories in any forthcoming development of a surface transportation reauthorization bill. In an era of tight budgets, it is only fair and right to allow Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands to compete for critical infrastructure funding that will help to develop economic opportunities and facilitate commerce in each of our respective jurisdictions.

Mr. Speaker, today I have introduced a bill to amend Title 37, United States Code, to ensure that Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) or Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) in effect for a member of the National Guard is not reduced when the member transitions between Active Duty and Full Time National Guard duty without a break in active service. I thank my good friend and colleague, Congressman Dave Loebsack of Iowa for working with me on this measure and for his continued commitment to our country's National Guard.

The bill would close an apparent loophole in the application of BAH and OHA pay to certain members of the National Guard. Specifically, this legislation ensures that a member of the National Guard, who is coming home from a deployment and into a Full Time National Guard duty assignment, would not lose BAH or OHA payments to which they are entitled. This fix is needed now because of a recent Per Diem Travel and Transportation Advisory Committee (PDTTAC) legal interpretation that states a member of the National Guard who is on Active Duty on Title 10 orders who then moves into a Full Time National Guard duty position under Title 32 orders must be paid the BAH or OHA based on their home of record and not their permanent duty assignment station. This decision could drastically reduce the amount of BAH or OHA that a servicemember is entitled to when transitioning assignments.

The rationale, or legal basis for this interpretation from the PDTTAC, is unclear; however, this legislation would rectify the situation. Our men and women of the National Guard have deployed in great numbers in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, now Operation New Dawn; Operation Enduring Freedom and other contingencies. The National Guard, despite these unprecedented deployments abroad, were still able to meet mission requirements at home whether responding to tornado outbreaks, floods, ice storms, and even Hurricane Katrina. Yet, this recent decision by the PDTTAC seeks to treat our men and women in the National Guard without any parity. The PDTTAC effectively assumes that all National Guard duty is part-time whereas Full Time National Guard duty remains in support of the federal mission of the National Guard.

I ask my colleagues to support this measure and clarify, in statute, fair and equitable treatment for members of the National Guard who are on Full Time duty status under Title 32. Again, I thank my colleague Mr. Loebsack for his support and leadership with this matter.

I thank the chairman and the ranking member.

I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1843, a bill that honors the life and the service of John Vincent Pangelinan Gerber. This bill would rename the ``Guam Main Post Office Facility'' to be the ``John Pangelinan Gerber Post Office Building'' as a tribute to his tireless work of advocating for veterans on Guam and for educating the public of Guam's importance during World War II and of the role of the United States Marine Corps in liberating our island. John, himself a proud marine and lifetime resident of the village of Ordot, Guam, died on May 4, 2010, at the age of 58.

John was a patriotic American who took pride in his island and his Chamorro heritage. After graduating from high school, he quickly enlisted in the Marine Corps and completed basic training at the Marine Corps Depot in San Diego. He was subsequently deployed to Vietnam where he served with the Fleet Logistics Command in support of the 1st and 3rd Marine Divisions. When he completed his tour in Vietnam, John was assigned to the Bravo Company at Marine Barracks Guam, where he remained until he was honorably discharged as a corporal on June 3, 1975.

Following his service in the Marine Corps, John worked as a radio disc jockey. His show, ``Wireless Rock,'' was the most popular of its time on Guam. He opened the Wireless Rock Music Box, a record store in Guam's capital city of Hagatna, and later established a charter boat tour company. He led tourists through the island's best fishing and dive spots, making him one of the pioneers of what is now recognized as ``culture-based eco-tourism'' on Guam. John then attended the University of Guam where he received a degree in public administration. The marines, however, were never, ever far from his mind.

In 1992, John joined the Guam Chapter of the 3rd Marine Division Association, and devoted his time to helping his fellow marines and veterans. He strove to promote and preserve the story of the 3rd Marine Division to memorialize its role in the War in the Pacific and particularly with regard to the Liberation of Guam during World War II.

John extended this generosity to active duty marines and servicemembers who visited Guam on temporary duty or other deployments. With help from the Guam Chamber of Commerce's Armed Services Committee and other veteran organizations on the island, John hosted numerous fiestas at his home in Ordot, welcoming more than 20,000 marines, sailors, soldiers, airmen, and guests to partake in the Chamorro culture and hospitality.

His home, which became known as Gerber's Ranch, contained his collection of World War II vehicles, weapons, uniforms, and artifacts. These items would later be transferred to the Pacific War Museum, which John established to educate the public about the Marine Corps' role in the Liberation of Guam. John opened the museum to the public on July 21, 2008, for the 64th anniversary of the Liberation of Guam.

In 2004, John led the effort to rename Guam's main thoroughfare, Route 1, from ``Marine Drive'' to ``Marine Corps Drive'' in order to ensure that the sacrifices of the marines who liberated

Guam are never forgotten. He saw this opportunity to honor the 1,548 marines who lost their lives and the 6,000 marines who were wounded during the Liberation of Guam from enemy forces during World War II. The defining moment in this effort came when he pulled a handcart with a billboard--demanding action--the entire 27 miles from Andersen Air Force Base to Naval Base Guam. In doing so, he rallied support for his issue and spurred many Guam residents to advocate for recognizing those who fought and died for Guam.

On the day after his march, Route 1 was officially named Marine Corps Drive.

A year after this victory in 2005, the Department of Defense announced that the marines from the 3rd Expeditionary Force would be relocating from Okinawa, Japan, to Guam. So John, along with many others on Guam, viewed this relocation as a homecoming, and he was the first to defend the Marine Corps and the strategic importance of this realignment.

Although John will not be able to greet these marines as he had done for so many servicemembers who had visited Guam, his legacy will continue through his work with our community and in the Pacific War Museum.

These efforts were recognized this year when the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation bestowed on John the Colonel John H. Magruder Award for his excellence in depicting and perpetuating Marine Corps history.

Mr. Speaker, John Gerber was an extraordinary man whose greatest dream was to ensure that our veterans, those who made the greatest sacrifices for our country, would not be forgotten. Renaming the Guam main post office facility will serve as a permanent tribute to his legacy. I urge my colleagues to cast their vote to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Nerissa Bretania-Underwood, PhD., for her extensive years of educational leadership on Guam. Dr. Bretania-Underwood is retiring from her career as the Superintendent for the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) after over 30 years of service to our island's education system.

Dr. Underwood was raised in the southern villages of Agat and Santa Rita, Guam. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education, with a double major in Elementary and Special Education, from the University of Guam in 1981. After gaining teaching experience as a special education teacher at Harry S. Truman Elementary School, she became a consulting resource teacher for the GDOE's Division of Special Education. In 1985, she earned a Master of Science in Education, from the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, specializing in the implications of special education placement in Guam. Shortly thereafter, in 1989, the University of Oregon conferred a Doctor of Philosophy in Education degree on Dr. Nerissa Underwood.

Dr. Underwood returned to Guam in 1990 to become an assistant professor at the University of Guam and the program evaluator for GDOE's Division of Special Education. In 1993, she was named Administrator for GDOE's Research, Planning and Evaluation Division, which provides data on the condition of Guam's education system to local educators and policy makers. In 2003, Dr. Bretania-Underwood served as Interim Superintendent for GDOE, and in 2007, she was named the Assistant Superintendent of Special Education. In 2008, Dr. Bretania-Underwood assumed the position of Superintendent of Guam's public education system. As the superintendent of Guam's public school system, Dr. Underwood worked to address structural management issues facing GDOE. She made significant progress to improve financial accountability within the school system, and I recognize her efforts to utilize Recovery Act Funds to improve the quality of education and school facilities on Guam.

Dr. Nerissa Underwood is married to Dr. Robert A. Underwood, the President of the University of Guam and former Guam Congressman. She is blessed with three children: Christopher, Gerecka, and Mike; and nine grandchildren. Throughout the years, Dr. Underwood has been active in many community and non-profit organizations, such as the Filipino Community of Guam, Iloilo Association of Guam, the American Red Cross, the Guam Humanities Council, the St. Paul Christian School Board, and the Guam Women's Club. She has contributed and devoted much of her knowledge and talents toward improving the quality of life for everyone who calls Guam home.

Today, I join the people of Guam in extending a sincere Un dangkulo Na Si Yu'os Ma'ase to Dr. Nerissa Bretania-Underwood for her over 30 years of dedicated service to our island's children and public school system.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Arlene Reyes Unpingco, for her years of support to the education system on Guam. Mrs. Unpingco is retiring as Deputy Superintendent of Educational Support and Community Learning for the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) after 25 years of service to the people of Guam.

Mrs. Unpingco began her career ar GDOE immediately after receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education, majoring in Elementary and Special Education, from the University of Guam in 1986. In 2000, Mrs. Unpingco received her Master's Degree in Education, with specialization in Administration & Supervision, again from the University of Guam. Mrs. Unpingco began her career as an elementary and middle school teacher on Guam. She later was promoted to serve as an Assistant Principal, and eventually, School Principal in several local schools. In 2008, Mrs. Unpingco's contributions to the classroom and through education administration were recognized as she was appointed to the role of Deputy Superintendent of Educational Support and Community Learning. In her years of service, her commitment to our students and leadership in administration has helped to strengthen our island's education system in many far reaching ways.

Mrs. Unpingco was born and raised in the central village of Tamuning, Guam, on September 15, 1956. She is married to the Honorable Steven Sablan Unpingco, retired Superior Court Judge and resides, with her family, on the shores of beautiful Pago Bay, Chalan Pago. She is blessed with five children: Jan, Jason, Jossalyn, Steven, and Michael; and four grandchildren: Brandon, Jaylene, Jenna, and Kailani.

It is on the occasion of Mrs. Unpingco's retirement from the Government of Guam's Department of Education that I join the people of Guam in acknowledging her service and dedication to our island's public schools and the education of Guam's children. I wish her the best in her retirement and in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, today I have reintroduced legislation to amend the Public Health Service Act for the purposes of providing the resources necessary for the Department of Health and Human Services to survey the health of Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, NHOPI. Specifically, the bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and implement an ongoing national strategy for evaluating the health status and needs of NHOPI populations living in the continental U.S., Hawaii, American Samoa, the CNMI, Guam, and the Freely Associated States. The Secretary would conduct a health survey to determine the major regions in which NHOPI people reside and include data helpful in determining the health care needs of the respective NHOPI communities. In developing both the national strategy and survey, the Secretary would work in consultation with community groups and non- governmental organizations to develop the best methods and practices. Additionally, the legislation would update the work of the 1998 Institutes of Medicine report: ``Pacific Partnerships for the Health: Charting a New Course for the 21st Century.'' The report would include the data regarding the status and performance of health care systems in the insular areas, and determine the effectiveness of donor aid in addressing the insular areas' needs.

In 1997, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) revised federal data collection standards to recognize the significant demographic, historical, cultural, and ethnic differences that exist between Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans. These important distinctions are not simply cultural or historical, but also encompass unique health and socio-economic challenges among the different populations. The standard requires that Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander data be collected, disaggregated and reported separately from Asian American data by all federal agencies no later than January 1, 2003.

However, not all federal agencies are in full compliance with OMB Revised Directive 15. In the places where limited agency data do exist, they are not made publicly available or it takes years to release. On a national level, the sample size of the NHOPI population in studies and reports is not represented because of a lack of data--resulting in meaningful information and statistics being unavailable to health organizations, federal, state, territorial and local agencies and policymakers.

Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders are ready to move forward with efforts to improve public health in their communities. This scientific survey would establish baseline health information to inform health policy and interventions so that individual and community health can be properly tracked and evaluated. Additionally, it would provide critical information for both NHOPI communities' health care providers and organizations that work with these communities to develop appropriate health care strategies for public health education and resources.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in addressing this need and the larger cause of eliminating health disparities. I would like to thank Chairman Daniel Inouye for his leadership introducing companion legislation in the Senate. I would also like to thank my fellow cosponsors in the House for their support: Congresswoman Judy Chu, Congressman Mike Honda, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, Congresswoman Donna Christensen, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, and Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Filipino Ladies Association of Guam (FLAG) for their years of exemplary service to our community. Founded in 1962, FLAG has worked to foster unity and friendship amongst Filipinas throughout Guam by promoting the traditions and values of the Filipino culture. The organization has also worked to address the needs of our island community through volunteer services.

For 50 years, FLAG has been instrumental in contributing to our local community through volunteer efforts, educational assistance, and fundraising projects for local charities. FLAG has contributed to national charities such as the American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Salvation Army, and local non-profit organizations such as Erica's House Family Visitation Center, Alee Shelter, Sanctuary Incorporated, Carmelite Sisters, the University of Guam, and our local hospital. FLAG's efforts have been an asset our community, especially for our island's women and children.

I congratulation the Filipino Ladies Association of Guam on their 50th Anniversary, and I commend them for their years of humanitarian service and efforts in helping Guam's community. I also commend the efforts of the Board of Trustees, executive officers, members, and volunteers who have dedicated and contributed their time in promoting Filipino culture and values over the last five decades. I look forward to many more years of service as we commemorate the hard work and contributions of the Filipino Ladies Association of Guam.

Mr. Speaker, I hope that someday my Republican counterparts will be clear about why my amendment was not made in order, and I also hope that they will provide greater explanation as to why we were promised an open rule this year but have anything but that today.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, my friend, Mr. Bishop, voted for this amendment in the last Congress, and I want to thank him, but I can't imagine how he could have had such a change of heart in such a short time.

I rise in strong opposition to this rule. This rule does not afford the people of Guam with an opportunity to make their case about the matter of Guam war claims before this House. All I want, and all we want, is a vote, Mr. Speaker. In fact, I do not understand why my Republican colleagues are so concerned about allowing my amendment for a vote on the floor, as is regular order.

Guam war claims have passed this House five times--I have to repeat that, five times--and each time with overwhelming bipartisan support. The resolution of Guam war claims is so critical to maintaining support for the military buildup on Guam. The people of Guam are going to bear the brunt of the significant impacts because of this realignment of military forces, and it is only right to bring war claims to a conclusion. This is what I hear from my constituents every day.

We reached a compromise with the Senate on this matter last year, having both Chairman Levin and Ranking Member McCain supporting the provision. However, because of the time we had last Congress, it was struck from the bill due to the objection by a small minority of Senators, and we were forced to agree to the defense bill by unanimous consent here in the House.

Let history note that I did not object to the unanimous consent request last year based on the commitments of my friends across the aisle. In fact, Chairman McKeon committed to including war claims in this year's defense bill, and I do appreciate his support.

But the Republican leadership would not allow him to honor his commitment to me. This is wrong, Mr. Speaker, and a true disservice to the people of Guam.

I would like to ask unanimous consent to include the text of my amendment, No. 99, to be included for consideration in this rule.

I rise today in support of H.R. 1540, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.

This bill works to ensure our men and women in uniform are well trained and equipped. I am proud that the House Armed Services Committee, through this bill, continues to close the readiness gaps that have been created in our Armed Forces by a decade of continuous deployments.

This bill authorizes $23 billion for the training of all active duty and reserve forces to increase readiness as troops experience longer periods at home following the Iraq drawdown, including $1 billion to support the Army's planned return to full-spectrum training, also funding for the Navy ship and aircraft depot-level maintenance, and for the upkeep of the Department of Defense facilities. We fully fund the President's budget request for the reset of Army and Marine Corps equipment and for the sustainment of Air Force weapons systems. We provide additional funding to meet the full requirement for the upkeep of our military facilities, increased funding to operate Army bases, and authorize $14.7 billion in military construction.

I am pleased that this bill includes a number of initiatives that focus on reducing operational and installation energy consumption while improving military capabilities.

It also reflects the priorities in the area of energy conservation of our colleague, Gabrielle Giffords, who has been a champion of these issues through the Readiness Subcommittee.

The bill supports environmental leadership while putting defense capabilities and missions first. I also note we have included a provision that extends the SIKES Act coverage to state-owned National Guard facilities and enables development and implementation of integrated natural resources management plans for state-owned National Guard installations.

The bill continues our committee's tradition of providing stringent and comprehensive oversight of the military buildup on Guam. The committee remains committed to understanding the importance of the realignment of military forces in the Pacific demonstrated through a full authorization

of military construction funding. And further, this bill continues to demonstrate its keen understanding of the strategic importance of Guam in responding to the growth of traditional threats in the Pacific region and the freedom of movement Guam provides our military forces in responding to regional nontraditional threats.

Mr. Chairman, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our chairman, Mr. McKeon, and our ranking member, Mr. Smith, of the Armed Services Committee, and also to the chairman of my subcommittee, Mr. Randy Forbes, for conducting the meetings in a very bipartisan manner.

I ask my colleagues to support this very important measure.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 103rd birthday of the United States Navy Nurse Corps, and their centennial anniversary of service on Guam. The Navy Nurse Corps has a long history in Guam and continues to be instrumental in supporting Guam's health care system by training local nurses and modernizing health care practices on the island. I would like to recognize and commend the Navy Nurse Corps's outstanding contributions and service to the United States Navy, our nation, and the people of Guam.

Upon their arrival in 1911, three Navy nurses established the U.S. Naval Hospital School for Native Nurses on Guam. This school provided important nursing education and training to local nurses who cared for patients in acute care hospitals, public health village dispensaries, and in people's homes. By

1941, 89 local, Navy-trained nurses had graduated from the school.

The Navy Nurse Corps on Guam has also proved to be a critical part of the Navy's humanitarian response efforts in the region. In 1975, Navy Nurses played an important role in ``Operation New Life,'' which brought over 100,000 refugees from South Vietnam to Guam. In 1991, following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, Guam Navy Nurses supported ``Operation Fiery Vigil,'' which conducted the largest peacetime U.S. military evacuation in history, affecting more than 20,000 military personnel and their families. Guam Navy Nurses also provided immediate, critical care as part of the medical teams that responded to Korean Airline Flight 801, which crashed in Nimitz Hill on Guam in 1997.

Today, with more than 100 Navy Nurses on Guam, the Navy Nurse Corps continues to serve our local community by caring for our active duty service members, retirees, veterans, and their families at the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam, the Branch Clinic, and the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic. They remain active in the civilian community, serving on various committees and projects, including the Guam Nurses Association, Guam Association of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, the Guam Diabetes Association, the Guam Lions Club, the American Cancer Society, and the Guam Memorial Hospital Volunteers Association.

On behalf of the people of Guam, I express a sincere un dangluko na si Yu'os ma'ase to the men and women of the Navy Nurse Corps for 100 years of exceptional service to our island and community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill to rename the U.S. Post Office Building in Barrigada, Guam, the John Pangelinan Gerber Post Office Building. John Gerber, a former Marine and lifetime resident of the village of Ordot, Guam, passed away on May 4, 2010, at the age of 58.

John Vincent Pangelinan Gerber was born in Guam on May 31, 1951. The eldest son of Martin and Dolores Gerber, John attended Barrigada Junior High School, Father Duenas Memorial School and George Washington High School. On June 4, 1969, immediately after graduating from high school, John enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Upon completion of basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, John was deployed to Vietnam where he served with the Fleet Logistics Command in support of the 1st and 3rd Marine Divisions. After completing his tour in Vietnam, John was assigned to Marine Barracks Guam where he would remain until he was honorably discharged as a Corporal from the Marine Corps on June 3, 1975.

Following his service in the Marine Corps, John returned to Guam and became a radio disc jockey with his signature ``Wireless Rock'' program. He had the most popular radio show on Guam at the time, and he was a local celebrity. As his program's popularity soared, John showed his business acumen by opening a record store called the Wireless Rock Music Box. John was an entrepreneur and he combined his love of our island and our ocean with a business venture, establishing a charter boat tour company that offered visitors a tour of Guam's best diving and fishing spots and Chamorro fiesta food on board. He promoted the Chamorro culture in his tours and was one of the pioneers of what is now recognized as culture-based eco-tourism.

In 1992, John joined the Guam Chapter of the 3rd Marine Division Association. As a member of this organization, John devoted his time and energy to helping fellow Marines and veterans. He was active in promoting and preserving the history of the 3rd Marine Division and its role in the War in the Pacific and the Liberation of Guam during World War II. He was a history buff and he immersed himself in collecting memorabilia and military equipment from the World War II era.

John also promoted the idea of welcoming active duty Marines and other servicemembers who visited Guam on temporary duty or deployments. He teamed up with the Guam Chamber of Commerce's Armed Forces Committee and veterans organizations to host fiestas for visiting Marines, World War II veterans, and military units deployed to Guam. He hosted numerous fiestas each year and it is estimated that his hospitality was appreciated by nearly 20,000 servicemembers who visited his home in Ordot called ``Gerber's Ranch.'' Gerber's Ranch was a mini-complex of outdoor pavilions, cooking facilities, and a mini-museum of his collection of World War II memorabilia. John collected and restored many World War II armored vehicles, weapons and uniforms and artifacts. His collection

was known worldwide among Marines and his mini-museum was visited by many of the Marine Corps' senior leadership, including the Commandant.

John worked tirelessly to educate the public about Guam's significance during World War II and the Marine Corps' role in liberating the island. On July 21, 2008, the 64th anniversary of Liberation of Guam, John opened the Pacific War Museum, transferring his collection to a site more accommodating to the public. This facility, located below a bluff named after U.S. Navy Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, served as an appropriate display venue for John's collection of World War II-era memorabilia and military equipment.

In 2004, John was instrumental in an effort to rename Route 1 on Guam from Marine Drive to Marine Corps Drive to clarify that this highway honors the 1,548 Marines who lost their lives and the 6,000 Marines that were wounded during the Liberation of Guam, and that it is not named Marine Drive because it parallels Guam's western shoreline as many tourists believe. When the bill stalled in the Guam Legislature, John called attention to this issue by walking the entire 27 miles from Andersen Air Force Base to Naval Base Guam pulling a handcart with a billboard that demanded action. His walk, which occurred during the morning rush hour, captured the public's admiration and support for this audacious stunt. John went to this extreme to ensure that our community will always remember the heroism of the Marines who liberated Guam, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. The following day, Route 1 was officially renamed Marine Corps Drive by an Executive Order of the Governor, overcoming the objections of the Legislature.

John was elated when the Department of Defense announced in 2005 that Marines from the 3rd Expeditionary Force would be transferred from Okinawa, Japan to Guam. He viewed the relocation of the 3rd Expeditionary Force as a homecoming for the Marine Corps and was always the first to defend the Marine Corps when members of the community made negative comments about ``his'' Marines.

After his passing, community leaders, family, friends, and John's fellow servicemembers spoke fondly of John's service and his dedication to honoring his fellow Marines and veterans. On April 16, 2011, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation posthumously awarded John Gerber the prestigious Colonel John H. Magruder Award in Quantico, Virginia. This national award recognizes an individual or organization for their excellence in depicting and perpetuating Marine Corps history.

Mr. Speaker, John Gerber was a proud son of Guam who dedicated his life to honoring his beloved Marines, veterans, and the people of Guam. Renaming the Guam Main Post Office Facility will serve as a permanent honor to the legacy and memory of John Pangelinan Gerber, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, today I have introduced a resolution to honor the memory of 3,408 Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders we have lost to AIDS, and to recognize the 9,000 whom are still living with HIV/AIDS in 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 sub-groups, 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 recent 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% 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 HIV/AIDS has proved to be a leading factor in low testing rates and increased risk-taking behaviors.

The observance of National Asian & 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.

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, Representative Honda, Representative Faleomavaego, Representative Wu, Representative Pierluisi, Representative Maloney, Representative Connolly, Representative Christensen, Representative Lee, Representative Grijalva, Representative Al Green, Representative Robert Scott, Representative Sablan, and Representative McDermott for their support as original cosponsors to this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R 3, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, sponsored by Congressman Christopher H. Smith. This bill, supported by the United Conference of Catholic Bishops, would reinforce the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funds to cover abortion services; the bill would also prohibit federal funding for health insurance that includes abortion coverage.

H.R. 3 would prevent public funds from being used to pay for, or subsidize, abortions, either through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or health care affordability tax credits. The bill includes a provision to provide for exceptions in the case of rape, incest, physical injury or physical illness to the women. The Hyde Amendment is already in place in current federal health programs like Medicaid and Medicare, and this bill would ensure it is governed in a consistent manner.

I have received numerous letters from my constituents whom have expressed serious concerns that federal funds would be used to pay for elective abortion procedures. I am very supportive of the overall goals of H.R. 3, which would effectively codify the Hyde-Weldon clause to support existing federal conscience protections for health care providers.

I commend Congressman Smith for his leadership on this important issue, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.