Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 81) to amend the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to improve the conservation of sharks.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 81, the Shark Conservation Act of 2009. This bill, which I first introduced more than 3 years ago, reconfirms the original intent of Congress to prevent shark finning by prohibiting the removal of fins at sea, and the possession, transference, or landing of fins which are not naturally attached to the corresponding carcass. This critical conservation measure and enforcement mechanism will help to end the wasteful and abusive practice of shark finning and make us a world leader in shark conservation.

Yesterday, the Senate amended my bill to clarify that certain fish stocks in New England are considered to be managed under an international agreement for purposes of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The bill was also amended to make technical corrections to two international fishery implementation acts to allow proper participation by stakeholders on the respective advisory bodies. Amendments were also made to clarify that the Secretary of Commerce can issue regulations to allow for the replacement of corroding vessels in the non-pollock groundfish fishery.

In addition, the Senate inserted language to exempt one particular fishery from the new requirement to land sharks with their fins naturally attached. While I am not supportive of this particular exemption, I do think it is important to note that this fishery represents less than 1 percent of all the shark fishing in the United States, and that the restrictions on shark finning currently in the law will still apply to them.

Putting an end to shark finning is imperative to the conservation of these important and iconic species. With that, I ask Members on both sides to support its passage.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, in closing, I urge all Members to support this bill.

In our last business before the House for the Natural Resources Committee this year, I would like to thank the gentleman from Washington for his cooperation in this bill, and for all of the opportunities that we have had to work together in this Congress. Moreover, I wish him good luck as the new chairman of the committee next year, and look forward to working with him in the next capacity.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act.

The bill provides critical authorities for the Department of Defense to ensure that the military buildup on Guam is implemented successfully.

I especially thank Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member McKeon for ensuring that the most important parts of H.R. 44, the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act, were incorporated into this bill. This provision is so important to my constituents, and it is connected to the success for the military buildup.

Finally, I thank Chairman Skelton for his steadfast and unwavering support of Guam. We will miss his leadership on the committee and in this body, but it is a well-deserved honor to have this bill named after Chairman Skelton. I urge support of its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 6523, the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011.

The bill provides critical authorities for the Department of Defense over the coming year and also includes a provision, Title 17, that is compromise language to H.R. 44, the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act. This provision is important to my constituents as it resolves a longstanding injustice. Mr. Speaker, I thank the President and his administration, specifically Secretary Ken Salazar and Assistant Secretary Tony Babauta from the Department of the Interior, as well as Deputy Secretary of Defense Bill Lynn, Undersecretary of the Navy Robert Work, Assistant Secretary of Defense Chip Gregson, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Jackalynne Pfannenstiel, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Dorothy Robyn and Mr. Joe Ludovici of the Joint Guam Program Office who emphasized to the Congress the importance of this provision to our Nation, to the people of Guam, and for maintaining support within the community on Guam for the military build-up.

Although now before us is the compromise language insisted upon by the other body, the people of Guam have sought closure on this matter for many years. Today we have arrived at that critical juncture. It has been 6 years since the Federal Guam War Claims Review Commission fulfilled the mandate of Public Law 107-333 and recommended to Congress the enactment of legislation that takes the form in this Congress as H.R. 44. The military build-up is beginning construction, in earnest, in the next few months and it is important to my constituents that this issue be finally addressed. The compromise, now before us, is identical to the compromise tendered during conference on last year's defense bill. Last year, I was not able to accept the compromise because I needed to first hear from my constituents about their thoughts on its potential ramifications. While the House has overwhelming embraced H.R. 44, the full provision and passed it multiple times, and the President and his administration have urged its enactment, regrettably there continues to be objections in the Senate to certain elements of the provision, namely the category of claimants in which descendants of Chamorros who survived the occupation and suffered personal injury but who have since passed away would be compensated. Therefore, the basis and need for this compromise language.

The defense bill also continues to support the Defense Policy Review Initiative and the so-called Guam International Agreement that outline the realignment of military forces in the Western Pacific. The bill recognizes the strategic importance to the bilateral relationship between the United States and Japan of realigning forces within Okinawa, Japan with some realigning to Guam. Specifically, this bill continues our tradition of providing stringent oversight of the military build-up and ensuring accountability with this significant undertaking. One provision, in particular, helps to make sure the military build-up is done right and benefits our civilian community. Section 2822 authorizes the Department of the Navy to convey its water and wastewater system to the Guam Waterworks Authority. This permissive authority outlines Congress's intent for any such conveyance of the water and wastewater systems. Further, it recognizes the efficiency of scale that can be achieved by having one, single and integrated water and wastewater system on Guam. Of importance to some of my constituents, is that the resources of Fena Reservoir will once again benefit our civilian community.

The bill also reaffirms this Congress's commitment to our men and women in the National Guard. The legislation authorizes $700 million in the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account, totaling over $7.2 billion in funding for National Guard and Reserve equipment requirements. Of particular concern to the Guam National Guard is authorization for a long-awaited $19 million military construction project for a new Combined Support Maintenance Shop at the Barrigada Joint Force Headquarters complex on Guam. It also extends a critical authority to be able to recruit and retain quality Guardsmen and women from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana, CNMI, islands. Section 621, extends for 1 year, authority for eligible members of the National Guard and Reserves to be reimbursed for certain travel expenses in conjunction with inactive duty training. This authority is critical to ensure members of the Guam National Guard residing in the CNMI are able to train with their fellow Guardsmen on Guam and to maintain their readiness in the event they need to support local or federal requirements.

Finally, I extend my deepest thanks to Chairman Skelton for his steadfast and unwavering support of Guam and issues that are important to our people, He and Ranking Member McKeon remained firm in their support for H.R. 44, and have helped tremendously with ensuring plans for the military build-up reflected the needs and concerns of the people of Guam. We will miss Chairman Skelton' leadership on the Committee and in this body dearly. We join the Nation in saluting him for all that he has done for the men and women who have served and continue to serve and their families. We look forward to continuing to work under incoming Chairman McKeon's steady leadership, and with the legacy of Chairman Skelton that he and Congressman Smith and others will continue to uphold within the Committee. I urge my colleagues to support passage of the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for our Nation, our troops, and for the people of Guam.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3447, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010. I commend Chairman Ike Skelton of the House Armed Services Committee, Chairman John Spratt of the House Committee on the Budget, and Chairman Bob Filner of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs for their commitment, hard work and dedication to expanding education benefits for the men and women who have served our great nation in uniform since September 11, 2001. The work of committee leadership ensures that this Congress will make a meaningful positive impact on our Armed Forces.

The improvements to the bill will make it easier for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the military services to implement the program thereby speeding up the time it presently takes to use the benefits. Further the proposed legislation expands tile types of training which can be pursued to include vocational and technical schools, apprenticeships and on the job training that were not previously covered. Another important improvement to the Bill includes expanded financial assistance to active duty members to cover the cost of books and administrative fees and to broaden the opportunity to participate in distance learning programs.

Another critical component of the legislation is expanding eligibility to many men and women of the National Guard who serve under Title 32 authority. Men and women of the National Guard continue to be called upon to serve at home and abroad to protect our national interests. The distinction between different types of orders is often blurred due to archaic procedures and operational requirements. The legislation significantly enhances benefits for men and women of the National Guard by including active duty time spent for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the National Guard. It also includes time spent under section 502(f) of title 32 when authorized by the President or the Secretary of Defense for the purpose of responding to a national emergency declared by the President and supported by Federal funds.

This legislation continues our solemn commitment to veterans and servicemembers. The bill improves the processing of these benefits and ensures that we fulfill our commitment to all servicemembers and veterans. As such, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 3447.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the bill in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 5493, a bill to provide for the furnishing of a statue by each of the U.S. Territories and the District of Columbia for display in Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol. I would like to thank my colleagues Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington, DC, and Congressman Eni Faleomavaega of American Samoa for their work on this legislation. I would also like to thank Congressman Robert Brady, Chairman of the Committee on House Administration and Congressman Daniel Lungren, Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration for working with the Delegates from the territories and agreeing to amend the bill with substitute language that authorizes one statue for each of the U.S. territories.

For Americans across the country, one of the key highlights of a visit to the U.S. Capitol is locating and observing the statues representing their home states. It is an opportunity to see that their local history is represented and valued in our Nation's Capitol, and a chance to share that history with others from around the country. However, visitors from America's five territories and the District of Columbia are disappointed to find that they have no representation in this time-honored tradition.

H.R. 5493, as amended, would remedy this situation by permitting each of the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia to house one memorial statue in the U.S. Capitol Building. These statues would be placed among the existing 100 state statues and would show the historical ties the U.S. territories and states have shared. Like the 50 states, each territory has a unique and rich history, and each new statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection will allow the U.S. territories the opportunity to share that history with the millions of visitors who visit the U.S. Capitol Building each year. I urge my colleagues to grant the Americans who reside in the U.S. Territories and the District of Columbia this opportunity and vote in favor of H.R. 5493, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the exemplary service and leadership of Major General Donald J. Goldhorn, the Adjutant General of the Guam National Guard. Major General Goldhorn has been an outstanding leader of the men and women in the Guam National Guard and has been actively involved in our community on

Guam for many years. Major General Goldhorn is a member of the Rotary Club of Guam Sunrise and is an active supporter of local charities. He also supports community service projects for our civilian and military communities. Further, no has been a key resource to the Armed Forces Committee of the Guam Chamber of Commerce.

Before joining the U.S. Army, Major General Goldhorn, in 1966, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Huron College in South Dakota and, in 1967, a Master of Science Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. As an officer in the U.S. Army, he attended the Army Command and General Staff College in 1980 and in 1995, was a Resident at the Army War College.

Major General Goldhorn's military career began in 1969 when he was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Medical Service Corps. In January 1970, Lt. Goldhorn served as a Field Medical Assistant at the 91st Evacuation Hospital in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Later that year, he served as the Commander for the 51st Medical Company, then again as Commander of the Headquarters Detachment of the 67th Evacuation Hospital. In total, Major General Goldhorn held command positions for 11 months in Vietnam.

Following his service in Vietnam, he was named Assistant Adjutant for the Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in January 1971. Subsequently he held a number of other positions in the Army Reserves before joining the South Dakota National Guard. Major General Goldhorn has the unique distinction of serving in both the South Dakota and Guam National Guards. His unique experience has helped him be a successful and resourceful leader of the Guam National Guard.

Of particular note, on August 6, 1997, Major General Goldhorn was serving as Chief of Staff to the Guam Army National Guard when he earned the Guam Commendation Medal and Humanitarian Award for his efforts in the recovery of victims from Korean Airlines Flight 801 crash. The efforts of leaders like Major General Goldhorn after this crash ensured the survival of 26 people. After his time as Chief of Staff, Major General Goldhorn returned to the South Dakota National Guard serving as the Assistant Adjutant General. Major General Goldhorn returned to Guam on March 18, 2005, coming from the Retired Reserve, to serve as the Adjutant General for the Guam National Guard and Director of Guam Department of Military Affairs.

Major General Goldhorn took over leadership of the Guam National Guard at a critical time in the history of the National Guard. He has worked hard to successfully transition from a strategic reserve to an operational force. He has had to balance domestic mission resource requirements with the demands of multiple deployments for Guam National Guard units to the Horn of Africa, Afghanistan and Iraq. Further, he has worked to ensure that the men and women of the Guam National Guard remain ready to support our efforts at home and abroad. Major General Goldhorn has been a leader in working with National Guard Bureau leadership and Congress to ensure that the National Guard has adequate full-time manning. Full-time manning ensures that the National Guard maintains its highest levels of readiness and increases dwell time so that soldiers and airmen can spend more time at home with their families and at their jobs.

Further, Major General Goldhorn has worked to increase the end strength of the Guam National Guard and increase its mission requirements. He understood the potential benefits of the Army's restructuring on Guam. As such, Major General Goldhorn provided the leadership for the transformation of Guam National Guard missions and capabilities. His efforts successfully capture the ability of the Guam National Guard to recruit and retain quality soldiers and airmen. In addition, Major General Goldhorn continues to work with leaders in the U.S. Air Force Headquarters, Pacific Air Force, Andersen Air Force Base and Air Mobility Command to bring a flying mission to Guam. Major General Goldhorn recognizes the strategic importance of Guam and the importance of supporting the Air Force mission in the Western Pacific. He also understands the humanitarian aid and support role of the United States in the Western Pacific and it is these requirements that drive the necessity of having a permanent flying mission on Guam. While the ultimate goal of having aircraft in Guam will not be realized during his tenure he has laid the groundwork for his predecessor to achieve success on this critical capability for Guam and the Guam National Guard.

Building on our strategic location, Major General Goldhorn ensured that the Guam National Guard would participate in the National Guard's State Partnership Program. The National Guard State Partnership Program enhances a respective combatant commander's ability to build enduring civil-military relationships that improve long-term international security while building partnership capacity across all levels of society. The Guam National Guard partnership with the Philippines provides Filipino forces and civilian counterparts with capacity building exercises and trainings. This particular partnership recognizes the unique cultural and historic link between Guam and the people of the Philippines. In recognition of the partnership's success Major General Goldhorn, in October 2010, was awarded the Republic of the Philippines' Outstanding Achievement Medal by the country's Secretary of Defense for his efforts under the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program.

Above all else, Major General Goldhorn has the utmost care and respect for his soldiers and airmen in the Guam National Guard. He has travelled to the Horn of Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Philippines to visit with our men and women in uniform while they performed their missions. He has been a mentor to many of the men and women in the Guam National Guard. Under his leadership, the organization thrived during these difficult times of engagement in several conflicts while transforming the way it prepares, fights and deploys for conflicts. Major General Goldhorn is the reason that our Guam National Guard is respected and admired across the branches of the military and across our Nation.

It is on the occasion of Major General Goldhorn's retirement from the Guam Army National Guard that I join the people of Guam in acknowledging his leadership, service, and dedication to serving the community of Guam. I commend him on his prolific military career, thank him for his service to our island community and people, and wish him the best in his retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize my good friend, Chairman Ike Skelton of Missouri, for his many contributions and service to our country, the people of Missouri, my home district of Guam, and the United States House of Representatives.

Chairman Skelton has represented the fourth district of Missouri in this body for thirty-four years, and he has been a champion of our country's armed forces. It is safe to say that if it were not for Chairman Skelton, professional education in our military would be inadequate. Further, he has always been a champion of inter-service cooperation in our military and has worked to ensure successful implementation of the Goldwater-Nichols Act. He has been a member of the House Armed Services Committee since 1981 and consistently been an advocate for our men and women in uniform. He consistently worked in a bi-partisan fashion to use the annual defense authorization bill to take care of the pressing needs of our servicemembers.

In addition, Chairman Skelton has been a tremendous partner and advocate for the people of Guam. He has worked closely with me to ensure that the military build-up on Guam is done right and is a win- win for our military and local community. He supported me in efforts to ensure that we have a robust statutory framework that ensure proper implementation and oversight of this strategically important undertaking. Without his understanding of our strategic importance and for his love of the people of Guam this would not have been possible.

It has been one of the greatest pleasures of serving in Congress to work with a man of such intellect, honor and passion. On behalf of the people of Guam, I extend a heartfelt Un dangkulo na Si Yu'os Ma'ase for his personal friendship, support of the people of Guam, and service to our Nation.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Pedro Sypingco Castro, a son of Guam and veteran of the United States Navy, for his dedication and service to our community and country. Pedro passed away on September 26, 2010 at the age of 80. I commend him for his dedicated service to his community and our nation.

Pedro was born on June 29, 1930 to Jose Rosario Castro and Maria Sypingco Evangelista of Sinajana, Guam. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He served on the USS Proteus AS- 19, USS Crockett PG-88, USS Haverfield DER-393, USS Lucid MSO-458, and USS Goss DE-444. He attained the rank of Boatswain's Mate Chief Petty Officer, and his awards and medals include the American Spirit Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Good Conduct awards, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal.

Although Pedro may no longer be with us, he will be remembered by his loving wife Ana,

daughter Carmilita, three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many loved ones for many years to come. I offer my condolences, sympathies, and prayers to Pedro's family and loved ones and to all who knew him.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 99th anniversary of ``Ten Ten Day'' for the people of Taiwan. 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 and Taiwanese 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 99th 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.

Madam Speaker, today I introduced a bill, the Homeland Defense Operations Pay Equity Act, which aims to address an oversight in statute that does treat members of the National Guard or Reserves, who are also federal civil servants, with pay parity during periods of activation in support of domestic operations.

The Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-8) established Section 5538 of Title 5. The intent of this provision was to ensure that any member of the National Guard or Reserves who was called to active duty and who works as a federal civil servant does not incur a significant loss of income as a result of their activation to active duty service under Title 10. This was in direct response to the major activations for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Numbers of Guardsmen and Reservists who work for the federal government were suffering significant losses of income as a result of the activations to support Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. To address this disparity, Congress passed Section 5538 to ensure that the federal government, under specific regulations, pays the difference between their active duty pay and their federal salary.

However, Section 5538 does not cover a Coast Guard Reservist or National Guardsmen who was called to service in support of homeland defense operations under Title 32 or Title 14.

Since 9/11, our National Guardsmen and Reservists have answered the call to duty on numbers of domestic operations including Operation Noble Eagle, security at our airports, Hurricane Katrina operations, Operation Jump Start on the southwest border and most recently for BP oil spill clean-up. We should encourage, not penalize, our federal civil servants who perform domestic operations in the National Guard or Reserves. The Homeland Defense Operations Pay Equity Act would correct this oversight and ensure that Reservists and Guardsmen do not incur a significant loss of income in their service to our country.

I urge that this bill be passed, so that our dedicated Guardsmen, Reservists, and their families, do not face financial hardship while answering the call to service.

Madam Speaker, marine debris is a global problem degrading the environmental health of the world's oceans. Near my home island of Guam is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a huge area hundreds of miles wide within the North Pacific gyre. The Garbage Patch contains virtually tons of plastics and other non-degradable litter, especially discarded fishing gear, that was tossed, intentionally or unintentionally, into the ocean and now drifts indefinitely, harming both ocean wildlife, such as sea turtles and marine mammals, and impacting sensitive marine habitats, such as coral reefs.

Unfortunately, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch--while emblematic of the problem of marine debris--is no longer unique. As we learned earlier this year, a new garbage patch has emerged in the Atlantic Ocean in the region between the Island of Bermuda and the Azores Islands located in the Mid-Atlantic Ocean east of Portugal. Both areas pose a troubling, pernicious threat to not only ocean ecosystems, but also to navigational safety and coastal aesthetics.

Today, in recognition that we must continue to take purposeful action to address this challenging environmental threat, I have introduced legislation to reauthorize and amend the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act.

My legislation is straightforward and was developed in consultation with NOAA and numerous stakeholder organizations. The bill would clarify the scope and purposes of the program, maintain existing program activities initiated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Coast Guard, and also encourage greater and more effective cooperation, both domestically and abroad. Importantly, my legislation will help ensure that the program remains focused on delivering results without additional Federal spending.

Under this program NOAA has implemented a variety of projects in collaboration with state and local governments, NGOs, and industry to prevent and reduce marine debris from entering the marine environment and providing incentives for its removal once it appears. For example, Covanta Energy, a global innovator in ``energy from waste'' technologies, has worked collaboratively with NOAA to pioneer the use of marine debris to generate electric power.

In addition, the Northwest Straits Commission in the North Puget Sound region of Washington State, received funding made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and coordinated through the Marine Debris Program to remove derelict fishing gear from Puget Sound, vastly cutting down on ``ghost fishing'' and navigational hazards that negatively impact habitat as well as the local economy

Organizations that support my legislation, such as the Ocean Conservancy, the United Nations Environmental Program, and the Marine Conservation Biology Institute, remain hard at work to raise public awareness about this serious issue.

The 25th annual International Coastal Cleanup, first initiated in 1985 by the Center for Environmental Education, took place last Saturday. The Coastal Cleanup is the world's largest volunteer effort in support of ocean conservation; each year, the Coastal Cleanup mobilizes hundreds of thousands of people in over 100 countries to clean up our beaches, lakes, and rivers. In the past 25 years the Coastal Cleanup has engaged more than 8 million dedicated volunteers, who have removed more than 125 million pounds of trash around the world.

Last year, in Guam alone 3,006 volunteers picked up 17,776 pounds of trash along 22.5 miles of coastline. This trash included everything from 21,900 soda cans to 194 tires, and so much more debris in the form of plastic bottles, bags and nets. This effort is a great opportunity for citizens to make a hands-on difference in improving the ocean and coastal areas. I applaud the Ocean Conservancy for their efforts to coordinate this annual event for 25 years, and I urge my colleagues to do their part by supporting my legislation to reauthorize the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reauthorize this highly successful and effective legislation that addresses one of the most serious threats to our oceans today.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California.

I rise in support of H.R. 3940, which clarifies the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to extend assistance to Guam for the purpose of public education regarding political status options available to the territory of Guam. I introduced H.R. 3940 in October of last year, and the House passed this bill last year by voice vote. The Senate recently made some changes to the bill, given the administration's testimony on the bill before the Senate Energy and Commerce Committee on May 19 of this year.

H.R. 3940 represents an opportunity for Congress to fulfill its responsibility to Guam under the United States Constitution. The territorial clause in article IV of the United States Constitution vests with this body the power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territories of the United States. Guam has been part of the United States now for over 111 years as an unincorporated territory and at the moment remains listed by the United Nations as one of several non-self-governing territories. Ceded to the United States by Spain, along with our sister territory Puerto Rico at the end of the Spanish American War, the people of Guam are ready to exercise their aspirations toward self-determination of their political status.

This bill is not meant to favor any particular political status option, nor is it meant to assert direct congressional involvement in this process. Ultimately, it is the sole responsibility of Congress to respond to the desires of the people of Guam on the question of status.

The bill is supported by the Governor of Guam, the Speaker of the Guam legislature, and several indigenous rights organizations on Guam. Further, the administration supports the enactment of H.R. 3940. I would also add that section 2 of the bill before us would make an adjustment to the implementation of public law 110-28 to American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands. This adjustment comes based on the thorough analysis of the Government Accountability Office at the request of American Samoa and the Northern Marianas. The gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) has worked steadfastly on this matter to ensure an appropriate balance is struck. I, too, want to thank him for his diligence.

As chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans, and Wildlife, and on behalf of my constituents, I ask that my colleagues support this bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the accomplishments of Team Guam at the 7th Micronesian Games which took place in Koror, Palau in August of this year. The Micronesian Games are a quadrennial sporting event that unifies the islands of the central and western regions of the Pacific through friendly competition. The 2010 Micronesian Games featured more than 1,000 competitors from the Marshall Islands, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Kosrae, Yap, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and Guam. Athletes from across Micronesia competed in the sports of Athletics, Baseball, Basketball, Canoe (Va'a), Fast pitch Softball, Micro All Around, Spearfishing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.

At the end of the ten day competition, the 200-member Guam Team garnered a grand total of 66 medals, including 20 Gold, 25 Silver, and 21 Bronze medals. I commend the athletes of Team Guam for their performances at the Micronesian Games and for representing the island of Guam with great pride, promoting the values of sportsmanship and dedication to fitness. I would like to recognize the following individuals and teams who achieved Gold medals in their respective disciplines:

Amy Atkinson: Women's 1500m Run; Derek Mandell: Men's 800 Meter Run, 1500m Run, and 10,000m Run; Michael Gaitan: Men's 5000 Meter Run; Women's Basketball; Men's Basketball; Women's V6 15km Canoe; Susanna Schlub: Women's V1 10k Canoe; Men's 500m Canoe; Justin Dugan and Alea Dugan: Mixed Tennis Doubles; Justin Dugan and Wendell Roden: Men's Tennis Team; Justin Dugan and Wendell Roden: Men's Tennis Doubles; Jay Sternadel and Michael Todd Genereux: Spearfishing Team Event; Women's Volleyball; Men's Volleyball; Maria Dunn: Women's 63kg Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Light Weight Beach Wrestling, and Women's Overall Heavy Weight Beach Wrestling; and Raymond Tenorio Jr.: Greco Roman Wrestling 66kg.

The following individuals and teams achieved Silver medals:

Naomi Burke: Women's 100m Sprint; Naomi Blaz: Women's 200 Meter Sprint; Amy Atkinson: Women's 800 Meter Run; Nicole Layson: Women's 5000 Meter Run and Women's 10,000m Run; Gerardo Genie: Women's Shot Put; Naomi Blaz, Noreen Ericsson, Nicole Layson, and Amy Atkinson: Women's 4x400m Relay; Michael Herreros: Men's 110m Hurdles; Jeofry Limtiaco: Men's 1500m Run; Toby Castro: Men's 5000 Meter Run; Women's V1 500m Canoe; Women's 500m Canoe; Women's 1500m Canoe; Men 1500m Canoe; Women's Tennis Team Event; Ayuri Sugahara: Women's Tennis Singles; Alea Dugan and Terea Tapu: Women's Tennis Doubles; Women's Fast Pitch Softball; Men's Fast Pitch Softball; Mark Walters: Men's Triathlon Individual Event; Theodore Tamashiro: Men's 55kg Freestyle Wrestling and Greco Roman Wrestling 55kg; Raymond Tenorio Jr.: Men's 66kg Freestyle Wrestling; and Patrick Camacho: Men's 120kg Freestyle Wrestling and Greco Roman Wrestling 120kg.

The following individuals and teams earned Bronze medals:

Naomi Burke: Women's 200 Meter sprint; Naomi Blaz: Women's 400m Sprint and Women's Triple Jump; Nicole Layson: Women's 1500m; Women's Sheena Subido: 10,000m Run; Genie Gerardo: Women's Discus Throw; Noreen Ericsson: Women's Long Jump; Jeofry Limtiaco: Men's 400 Meter Hurdles; Michael Gaitan: Men's 800 Meter Run; Toby Castro: Men's 1500m and Men's10,000m Run; Albert Juan III: Men's Triple Jump; Derek Mandell, Michael Gaitan, Jeofry Limtiaco, and Keith Muna: Men's 4x400m Relay; Men's Baseball; Men's V1 500m Canoe; Edwin Adag and Arlene Taitague: Mixed Doubles Table Tennis; Edwin Cadag, Arman Burgos, and Prudencio Burgos: Men's Team Table Tennis; Edwin Cadag and Arman Burgos: Men's Double Table Tennis; Michael Todd Genereux: Men's Individual Spearfishing; Mark Avery Sasai: Men's 60kg Freestyle Wrestling; and Cliffourd Kusterbeck: Men's 74kg Freestyle Wrestling.

I join our community in congratulating the men and women of Team Guam for their accomplishments at the 7th Micronesian Games in Palau, and I look forward to Team Guam's continued success in international competitions.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the exemplary public service of Mr. Jeffrey P. Cruz, an emergency medical services (EMS) provider for Navy Fire and

Emergency Services on U.S. Naval Base Guam. Jeffrey has been named the 2010 Navy Fire and Emergency Services EMS Provider of the Year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Jeffrey was given this recognition at the Fire-Rescue International Convention: Department of Defense Fire & Emergency Services Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Cruz competed against thousands of EMS providers from the hundreds of Navy Fire and Emergency Services stations around the world for this recognition.

Jeffrey is a resident of Santa Rita, Guam and is the son of Jesus and Teresita Cruz. He is married to Francine Cruz and has four daughters, Bailey, Caitlyn, Eden, and Felicia. Following his family's tradition of service as firefighters, Jeffrey joined the Navy Fire and Emergency Services in 2004. Jeffrey was instrumental in establishing a Mutual Aid Agreement between the Navy Fire and Emergency Services and the Guam Fire Department, which ensures emergency service resources are available at all times. In addition, he has been active in coordinating the training and certification of 45 new emergency service responders, increasing service capabilities on Guam by 70 percent. Mr. Cruz maintains a level of excellence and professionalism while in the field, employing his training and skill to save lives and ensure the safety of our community.

I commend Jeffrey for his outstanding service as an EMS provider and an exemplary member of our community, and I congratulate him for being recognized as the 2010 Navy Fire and Emergency Services EMS Provider of the Year. I join our community in acknowledging his leadership, dedication, and public service contributions to the safety of our island.

Madam Speaker, today I have introduced a bill to require the Director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce to publish certain economic data regarding territories and freely associated States, and for other purposes. This bill is timely and important to the economic growth of our insular areas. I want to thank the ranking member of my subcommittee, Mr. Brown of South Carolina, for being an original co-sponsor. Additionally, I would like to thank my colleagues Mr. Faleomavaega of American Samoa, Mrs. Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mr. Pierluisi of Puerto Rico, Mr. Honda of California, Mr. Serrano of New York, Mr. Al Green of Texas, and Ms. Hirono of Hawaii have joined on as original co-sponsors.

The first section of this bill requires the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to publish annual reports on the gross domestic product (GDP) for the U.S. Territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), as well as for the three Freely Associated States (FAS) for which the United States has entered into a Compact of Free Association. The three FAS are the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau (ROP). The economic data that the BEA promulgates and publishes are important for states and our country. These statistics are used by federal, state, and local governments for budget development and projections; by the Federal Reserve for monetary policy; by the private sector for planning and investment; and by the American public to follow and understand the performance of the national economy.

Historically, the BEA has not encompassed the U.S. Territories in its Regional Economic Accounts or as part of its annual State GDP reports. Until last year, a formalized, uniform and federal framework for estimating the GDP in the U.S. Territories did not exist. In March 2009, the BEA and the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) at the U.S. Department of the Interior entered into a formal agreement to develop such a framework and federally assist the U.S. territories in developing and producing annual (GDP) statistics for their respective jurisdictions. The agreement established these efforts as the ``Statistical Improvement Program'' (SIP) and OIA financed it under its discretionary budget at $1.6 million over a period of 18 months (March 2009-September 2010). The results were unveiled this year, and the bill I have introduced today would direct BEA to permanently continue its efforts in estimating the GDP for these jurisdictions as part of its existing program and resources so that this important work continues.

The second section of this bill amends the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 (CNRA), Public Law 110-229, for the purpose of implementation of the new Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program and other provisions. The interim final rule issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security last year limited the full administration of the new Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver program and it did not fulfill the Congressional intent, established under the law. Secretary Napolitano used her discretionary parole authority to allow travel of certain visitors only to the CNMI. While this was an important action to preserve the CNMI economy, it did not fulfill the intent of a new joint visa waiver program.

Given that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is in the process of issuing a final rule regarding the joint Guam-Visa Waiver Program, this bill is timely and essential in preserving the regional economy of Guam and the CNMI. Most importantly the bill requires the Secretary of DHS to ``provide for an alternative procedure'' to achieve the benefits that formal inclusion of countries determined to have had significant economic benefit in the CNMI would otherwise bring under the Guam- Northern Mariana Islands Visa Waiver Program. The bill does not specify or give definition to a scope of possible ``alternative procedures;'' it leaves it to the discretion of the Secretary of DHS. This is important to the economy of the Western Pacific, as tourism remains our largest industry.

I look forward to working with my colleagues as this bill moves forward in the legislative process.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5850 the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 2011. The bill provides critical funding to our infrastructure across the United States and in the territories. In particular, the bill funds $400 million in a third round of TIGER grants for investment in significant ``National Infrastructure Investments.'' I appreciate the Committee's continued support of this effort and would continue to urge the U.S. Department of Transportation to obligate these funds towards truly innovative projects. I would also urge the Department of Transportation to more adequately fund port infrastructure projects with TIGER funds.

I also greatly appreciate the Committee's continued commitment to funding the NextGen modernization program at the Federal Aviation Administration. In particular, I appreciate the

Committee's increase of $10.1 million for the Ground-Based Augmentation System (GBAS). GBAS, also known as Local Area Augmentation-System (LAAS), is a critical component of the NextGen framework. GBAS provides very precise terminal arrival, approach and landing operations for aircraft that have available GPS systems. GBAS conforms to requirements identified in the FAA NextGen Implementation Plan, the National Airspace System (NAS) Enterprise Architecture and the Roadmap for Performance Based Navigation. In short, this system can reduce and improve landing approaches by our nation's airlines. This will reduce cost to consumers and reliance on fuel. Of particular importance to Guam is the portability of the GBAS system. In the event of a significant natural disaster, the system can be disassembled and reassembled in a relatively short time. This is important for Guam because during a typhoon the system can restore precision approach to the airport more quickly than a traditional instrument landing system (ILS) and thus allowing restoration of relief services faster than traditionally possible.

I have worked with the FAA to deploy a system to Guam as a measure of prudence and in an effort to improve the system's capabilities. The additional funds provided by the Committee will provide the FAA with the resources needed to begin the process of identifying additional locations for GBAS which I believe must include Guam. Again, I want to thank Chairman Olver for his leadership and support of this effort. I want to thank Ranking Member Latham and Congressman LaTourette for their support of this effort as well.