Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4395) to revise the boundaries of the Gettysburg National Military Park to include the Gettysburg Train Station, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, H.R. 4395, introduced by Representative Todd Platts of Pennsylvania, would authorize a boundary change at Gettysburg National Military Park to include the Gettysburg Train Station. Madam Speaker, it was here that President Lincoln arrived to honor the war dead on the field of battle and deliver the address that would forever define the Civil War as a battle for the freedom and the rights of all Americans.

Under the proposed legislation, the National Park Service would take over management of the train station from the Borough of Gettysburg, and community partners would staff it. The bill would also expand the park boundaries to include additional historic lands and would add protections for the resources of this hallowed site.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 4395 has broad bipartisan support, and we urge its adoption by the House today.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I again urge members to support the bill, and I wish to thank my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock), for managing the bill with me this afternoon.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce H.R. 4695, a bill to expand the Federal Impact Aid program to reimburse schools for the costs of educating students

from the Freely Associated States, FAS, residing in the United States, including the territories. Impact Aid was originally authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 1965 to compensate local school districts for the costs of educating federally connected children. Examples of these kinds of students include those whose parents live on military bases, live on Indian lands, or are the children of accredited foreign diplomats. However, the Impact Aid program does not compensate local schools for the costs incurred by educating students from the FAS.

The United States entered into the Compacts of Free Association with the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau and under the Compacts, citizens of these countries can enter the United States without a visa. Thus, children whose parents are citizens of the FAS are in schools in the States and territories under a special immigration category and are federally connected just as children of military families are similarly federally connected. This legislation would provide a means for the Federal Government to provide assistance to impacted local education authorities.

Madam Speaker, the economic downturn has forced many local school districts to cut education budgets. This is a longstanding issue for affected jurisdictions and they need this to be redressed now more than ever. I would like to thank Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Honda, Mr. Sablan, and Mr. Pierluisi for joining with me as original cosponsors. I will work with these cosponsors to pass this bill during the 111th Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2314, legislation that has been championed by the Senators from the State of Hawaii in the other body and our colleagues in the House of Representatives representing the Aloha State. Those of us who are privileged to serve on the Committee on Natural Resources with our colleague, the distinguished gentleman from Hawaii, Mr. Abercrombie, have witnessed his tireless efforts on behalf of preserving Native Hawaiian culture and in improving the federal relationship with the Native Hawaiian people. His passion and deep resolve on the issues important to his State and our country, as well as working class families, is revered and respected. It is fitting that the House take up this legislation during his final days of service in this Congress, and I want to emphasize on behalf of the people of Guam, who I represent, my support for its swift passage and enactment.

This is an indigenous peoples issue, and the indigenous peoples of the offshore territories are especially sensitive to the situation at- hand with regard to Native Hawaiians. Our governance system must be devised and shaped to respect their culture and to allow for their needs to be adequately addressed. I ask Members to recall the history of the annexation of their islands under the U.S. Flag and the overthrow of their Kingdom, for which Congress has previously recognized and extended an apology. There are unique historical circumstances which give rise to this debate and to this legislation. We have heard today the passionate and thoughtfully expressed appeals for our favorable action on the question of passage before us. We should be moved not only by the gravity of this debate, but also by the impartial review of the facts before us and because of what this means for our country and our obligations as legislators.

The native people of the Hawaiian Islands deserve no less than our resolve to accord them due legal rights and protections consistent with our national trust and obligation to native peoples of the lands for which the U.S. Flag now flies. Through passage of H.R. 2314 we will affirm a political relationship between our national Government directly with the native people of these beautiful islands. It is a relationship whose formation in the construct proposed by the legislation is entirely fitting and appropriate in the context of case law and precedent. It is merely because of historical circumstances that we are called to action now, 50 years after statehood. I support the substitute amendment, and the purpose of the underlying bill. I wish our colleague, Mr. Abercrombie, the best in all of his future endeavors and thank him for his service in this institution and commend him for his work on this important legislation. I urge passage of H.R. 2314.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3726) to establish the Castle Nugent National Historic Site at St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3726, sponsored by my good friend and colleague from the Virgin Islands, Donna Christensen, establishes the Castle Nugent National Historic Site as a new unit of the National Park System on the island of St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands.

The lands to be included in this new historic site represent the largest undeveloped natural area remaining on the island, and there is very strong local support for protecting it as parkland for future generations.

The new park, Mr. Speaker, encompasses about 11,500 acres, three- quarters of which are submerged lands containing one of the largest and healthiest coral reef systems in the region. The National Park Service has studied the site and testified that it meets their criteria for addition to the system.

Congresswoman Christensen is to be commended for her commitment to preserving the unique history and the culture of the beautiful island of St. Croix. So we urge our colleagues to support passage of H.R. 3726.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).

Mr. Speaker, I again urge the Members to support the bill, H.R. 3726, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3759) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to grant economy-related contract extensions of a certain timber contracts between the Secretary of the Interior and timber purchasers, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Nation's recent economic downturn has dramatically affected the forest products industry, especially those companies reliant on wood from Federal lands. Currently, the Forest Service has several options for helping timber companies amend the terms of timber contracts that are no longer economically viable. However, the Bureau of Land Management does not have the same authorities.

H.R. 3759, introduced by our distinguished colleague from Oregon, Representative DeFazio, would help rural economies and struggling timber companies by allowing the Secretary of the Interior to add 3 years to the expiration date of certain BLM timber contracts. This authority is similar to the Forest Service authority and would enable companies to wait for a better economic climate.

Mr. Speaker, we commend Representative DeFazio for his efforts to support rural communities by proposing this legislation. We support the passage of H.R. 3759 and urge its adoption by the House today.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 725) to protect Indian arts and crafts through the improvement of applicable criminal proceedings, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Natural Resources Committee chairman, Mr. Nick Rahall, and myself, I would like to commend the gentleman from Arizona, Representative Ed Pastor, for sponsoring the pending measure and for working with the committee to bring it before the full House.

The sale of misrepresented and counterfeit American Indian jewelry, pottery, baskets, rugs, and other items cheats the consumer, degrades the entire native market, and robs talented, hardworking native artisans of their living. This has been a growing problem that Mr. Pastor's legislation will effectively address.

H.R. 725 would amend the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 to authorize any Federal law enforcement officer to conduct an investigation of an offense involving the sale of any good that is represented as an Indian-produced good. The legislation also requires that the findings of an investigation of an alleged offense be submitted to a Federal or State prosecuting authority or to the Indian Arts and Crafts Board.

Again, I want to commend my colleague Mr. Pastor of Arizona for his hard work and dedication to this piece of legislation. He is addressing a longstanding problem with this bill, and I ask my colleagues to support its passage.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

In 1935, Congress enacted legislation to establish the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. The Indian Arts and Crafts Board, an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior, is responsible for promoting the development of American Indian and Alaska Native arts and crafts, improving the economic status of the members of the Indian tribes, and helping to develop and expand marketing opportunities for arts and crafts produced by the American Indians and Alaska Natives.

The 1935 legislation adopted criminal penalties for selling goods with the

misrepresentation that they were Indian produced. This provision, currently located in section 1159 of title 18, U.S. Code, set fines not to exceed $500 or imprisonment not to exceed 6 months or both. Although this law was in effect for many years, it provided no meaningful deterrent to those who misrepresented imitation arts and crafts as Indian produced. In addition, willful intent was required to be proved. Therefore, very little enforcement took place.

So H.R. 725 seeks to address this continuing problem by strengthening the penalties associated with misrepresentation of Indian-produced goods and by empowering Federal, tribal, and local authorities to undertake investigations and enforcement. A Senate companion bill, S. 151, passed the Senate on July 24, 2009.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we do not have any additional speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3538) to authorize the continued use of certain water diversions located on National Forest System land in the Frank Church- River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness in the State of Idaho, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, prior to the designation of the Frank Church-River of No Return and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness areas in Idaho, private landowners received permits to maintain and repair water diversions on national forest land now included in those wilderness areas. Many of those permits have since expired, leaving those who own the water diversions without options for mechanically maintaining their water systems.

The bill before us, H.R. 3538, would give the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to issue special use authorizations to owners of specific water storage, transport, or diversion facilities within these wilderness areas. The permits would only be issued if the owner can prove that the water facility meets certain criteria specified in the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, we support the passage of H.R. 3538, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop), for managing the bills this afternoon with me, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1008. This resolution honors the contributions that Catholic schools make to our communities and, in particular, recognizes the annual Catholic Schools Week, celebrated from January 31 to February 6 of this year. I thank Mr. Lipinski of Illinois for introducing H. Res 1008, for recognizing Catholic Schools Week, and for his ongoing support for Catholic schools nationwide.

Catholic Schools Week is an event co-sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The week honors the principals, teachers, coaches, and parents who educate more than 2.2 million children in Catholic Schools. This year, the Conference of Catholic Bishops selected ``Dividends for Life--Faith, Knowledge, Discipline, and Morals'' as the theme.

Guam's association with the Roman Catholic Church dates back to Ferdinand Magellan's arrival on our island in 1521. Guam became an important port-of-call along trade routes through the Pacific sailed by Spanish galleons. Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores, a Spanish Jesuit missionary, arrived in Guam in 1662 during his journey from Mexico to the Philippines. Padre San Vitores vowed to return to Guam upon leaving the island.

Three years later, through his close ties to the royal court, he persuaded King Philip IV of Spain and Queen Maria Ana of Austria to order the establishment of a Catholic mission in Guam. Padre San Vitores established a mission in the village of Agana, which later became the site of the island's first Catholic Church. It is now the seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agana, canonically erected in 1911 and elevated to a Diocese in 1965--300 years after Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores kept his promise to return to the island. The Diocese was further elevated in 1984 to a Metropolitan Diocese. Today it enjoys a congregation of 101,000 strong throughout Oceania.

The Roman Catholic faith grew strong on Guam over the years. This strength is represented in the quality of Catholic school education on the island. Our island has six elementary and middle schools, and four high schools that teach the Catholic faith along with strong academic curriculum.

The Catholic school tradition on Guam began with Bishop Appollinaris Baumgartner. He recognized our island's need for quality education inspired by the Catholic faith. In 1946, he invited three Sisters of Mercy from North Carolina to Guam. They established The Academy of Our Lady, the first all girls' Catholic high school on Guam. This school remains in operation today. Also, Bishop Baumgartner invited the School Sisters of Notre Dame of La Crosse, Wisconsin, to come to Guam in 1949. Soon after arriving on the island the Sisters founded Notre Dame High School, a Catholic co-educational high school. Notre Dame High School also remains open today. Father Duenas Memorial High School is the third Catholic high school on Guam. Its namesake, Father Jesus Baza Duenas, was executed on July 11, 1944, by the Japanese forces occupying Guam. Father Duenas was killed along with his nephew because he would not betray the location of an American sailor hiding on the island. Father Duenas Memorial High School continues his legacy of courage and integrity. Lastly in 2008, the Archdiocese of Agana opened St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School, to further educate Guam's students. The school is a co-educational high school offering a college preparatory academic program that challenges and develops its students to become moral and productive citizens with global perspectives firmly rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the teachings of the Catholic Church. All four schools offer rigorous curricula to prepare students for college while instilling strong moral values and an understanding of the Catholic faith.

Today, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agana remains committed to serving the people of Guam. Under the direction of the Most Reverend Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap, DD, Metropolitan Archbishop of Agana, Catholic educational institutions on Guam provide quality academic instruction to students. The contributions of the Catholic school system to the people of Guam are reflected in our local leaders in the clergy, government, and private-sector who are alumni of the Catholic schools.

I recognize and commend the Catholic schools in Guam for their commitment to a rigorous education, sound moral values, and respect and understanding for the Catholic faith. It is my hope that the tradition of Catholic schools education on Guam and around the United States will remain strong for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, this week, as world leaders convene in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the United Nations Climate Change Conference, the House of Representatives has taken an important, if incremental, step to improve our Nation's ability to strategically respond and adapt to an unpredictable climate by authorizing a study which advances the idea of creating a Federal National Climate Service.

H.R. 3288, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010, directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, to enter into a contract with the National Academy of Public Administration to investigate the effectiveness and efficiency of alternative organizational frameworks for the establishment of a National Climate Service within NOAA.

I would like to commend my colleague from Wisconsin and the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Congressman David Obey, and the rest of the conferees, for their recognition that the establishment of a National Climate Service within NOAA is absolutely critical at this time. The American public will need climate information, products and services in order to plan for and adapt to climate variability, and it is essential that the Federal Government have in place an organizational architecture that is science-based, reliable, and responsive to address this need.

Most important, this study will provide another opportunity to comparatively evaluate and assess the merits of a public-private approach for a National Climate Service. Last June, I introduced H.R. 2685, the Climate and Ocean Research and Coordination Act of 2009, to establish, in part, a National Climate Enterprise comprised of federal and non-federal partners which would have NOAA function as the operational lead. This framework, which would build from and strengthen existing Federal climate research and science capacities within NOAA, NASA, the U.S. Geological Survey, National Science Foundation, and other agencies, would also incorporate the significant contributions of non-Federal climate scientists, researchers and stakeholders to provide to end users on the ground climate information, products and services at variable scales that are credible, reliable and usable.

As NOAA and the National Academy of Public Administration consider alternative frameworks for a National Climate Service, I respectfully urge consideration of the public/private concepts within H.R. 2685, which have been enthusiastically endorsed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, UCAR, the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative, and the Coastal States Organization. All Americans, from the District of Columbia to my congressional district in Guam, should have at their disposal an effective and accessible National Climate Service, and I again commend Chairman Obey for advancing this idea.

Madam Speaker, yesterday and today I have been granted an official leave of absence by the House of Representatives and am in my district attending to official business. As such, I am unable to cast my votes in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union on amendments to H.R. 4173, the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009. If I was present for these votes, I would vote as follows and ask that the Record reflects these positions: ``yes'' on Mr. Frank's amendment (rollcall vote 953); Mr. Lynch's amendment (rollcall vote 955); Mr. Murphy's amendment (rollcall vote 956); Mr. Frank's amendment (rollcall vote 957); Mr. Stupak's amendment (rollcall vote 958); Mr. Stupak's amendment (rollcall vote 959); Mr. Kanjorski's amendment (rollcall vote 960); Mr. Peter's amendment (rollcall vote 962); Mr. Marshall's amendment (rollcall vote 963); Ms. Schakowsky's amendment (rollcall vote 964); and ``no'' on Mr. Session's amendment (rollcall vote 954); Mr. McCarthy's amendment (rollcall vote 961); Mr. Minnick's (rollcall vote 965); and Mr. Bachus's amendment (rollcall vote 966).

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 199) recognizing the 10th Anniversary of the activation of Echo Company of the 100th Battalion of the 442d Infantry, and the sacrifice of the soldiers and families in support of the United States, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of House Concurrent Resolution 199, introduced by my colleague, Congressman Sablan, from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

House Concurrent Resolution 199 recognizes the valuable contributions of

Company E, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment of the United States Army.

Not many know that the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment remains the only combat unit in the Army Reserve. In fact, Echo Company of the 100th Battalion was redesignated on February 16, 1999, on the islands of Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam.

As the representative from Guam, I appreciate the opportunity to recognize and commend these soldiers for their outstanding and important service to our Nation.

So today I join my colleague in recognizing the 10th anniversary of the activation of Echo Company and commend the men and women who serve in Echo Company and their families for their dedication and their sacrifice.

During the Second World War, the 100th Battalion, known as ``one- puka-puka'' was comprised principally of Japanese Americans from Hawaii. The battalion subsequently became a part of the 442nd Infantry Combat Regiment comprised of Japanese Americans who had parents, siblings, and relatives, and many who themselves had been forcibly removed from their homes and communities and sent to internment camps in the United States.

These highly decorated individuals distinguished themselves on the battlefields of Europe; and today those who volunteer to serve in Echo Company continue to serve with distinction on today's battlefields.

Echo Company has served two tours in Iraq in 2004 through 2006 and, again, in 2008 through this year. In fact, on my most recent trip to Iraq, I had the opportunity to meet with men and women of Echo Company who were performing security operations. I appreciated the opportunity to meet with these men and women in uniform and to recognize their service in the theater of operations.

Unfortunately, three members of Echo Company have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Nation: Staff Sergeant Wilgene T. Lieto, Specialist Derence W. Jack, and Sergeant Julian F. Manglona. Our hearts and prayers are with their families and loved ones and those who they left behind.

The motto of the 100th Battalion is ``Go for broke,'' which continues unabated. Today, we commend Echo Company on their 10th anniversary, and I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the service of these fine men and women who have volunteered to defend our Nation, and to support House Concurrent Resolution 199.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my friend and colleague and the sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan).

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 206) commending the soldiers and civilian personnel stationed at Fort Gordon and their families for their service and dedication to the United States and recognizing the contributions of Fort Gordon to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and its role as a pivotal communications training installation, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support House Concurrent Resolution 206, commending the dedication of soldiers, civilian personnel, and families stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and recognizing the 60th anniversary of Fort Gordon as the vital training center of the United States Army Signal Corps.

Fort Gordon has a long and storied history of preparing our soldiers to effectively utilize technological advances on the battlefield. Now, Fort Gordon is training our soldiers in the advanced communication technologies needed to execute missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

I also want to commend the civilian personnel at Fort Gordon who are key members of the United States Army Signal Corps team and whose hard work and dedication to the mission are critical to the United States Army's success. To be the best, we need soldiers and civilians working together.

And finally, I want to express my gratitude to the families stationed at Fort Gordon. While their loved ones train for long hours and deploy overseas for extended periods of time, the families remain supportive and steadfast, understanding the sacrifice that comes from keeping the United States safe and secure. I also commend the entire Augusta, Georgia, community who rally around the great men and women of Fort Gordon.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. Broun of the State of Georgia, for his work in bringing this resolution to the floor, and I ask all my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 206.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 940) recognizing and honoring the National Guard on the occasion of its 373rd anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of House Resolution 940, introduced by my colleague from Ohio (Mr. Latta), which recognizes the 373rd birthday of the Nation's military first responders, our National Guard.

On December 13, 2009, we will celebrate the enormous contributions that our Nation's citizen soldiers and airmen have contributed to our national defense for over 300 years. Our forefathers relied on its citizen soldiers to protect this young Nation, and today we continue to rely on our citizen soldiers to protect the values and the rights that Americans enjoy today.

Our men and women in the National Guard not only volunteer to serve overseas in our Nation's defense, they are also an integral part of our local communities, providing assistance, support, and protection to their neighbors and loved ones in cases of natural and man-made disasters within the United States.

The history of the National Guard began back during the early days of our Nation. The colonists adopted the English militia system which required all males between the ages of 16 and 60 to bear arms and contribute to the defense of their community. In those early years, the militia provided the first line of defense in our Nation, which continues to this very day.

Throughout our Nation's conflicts, the National Guard has been an integral part of our country's national defense. During World War I, the National Guard made up 40 percent of America's combat divisions. The National Defense Act of 1933 established the National Guard as a reserve component of the Army, and the National Defense Act of 1947 established the air component of the National Guard as a reserve component of the Air Force.

More than 300,000 members of the National Guard participated in World War II, over 180,000 members of the National Guard participated in the Korean War, and nearly 23,000 members of the National Guard deployed in support of the Vietnam War. More than 50,000 members of the National Guard were deployed to the Gulf States in support of Hurricane Katrina. Today, Mr. Speaker, almost a quarter of a million members of the National Guard have been mobilized in support of Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

So, today, we are here to express our appreciation to those who serve in the National Guard and their families, who are also making a contribution in defense of our Nation, and we are here to express our gratitude and respect to those of the National Guard who have given their lives in defense of our Nation. Our sympathy and our prayers are with their families and their loved ones, and their sacrifices will never be forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, as a former Lieutenant Governor of Guam, I came to rely on the National Guard to be always there, always ready to respond to local issues. On September 11, the National Guard immediately responded to the new and urgent national requirement to protect our airports. The National Guard is a critical component of our national defense. And I am also proud to represent the Guam National Guard, which has the most membership per capita of any other State National Guard in this country.

So I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 940 and join us as we wish America's National Guard a very happy birthday.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 845) recognizing the United States Air Force and Dyess Air Force Base for their success in achieving energy savings and developing energy-saving innovations during Energy Awareness Month, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support House Resolution 845, recognizing the United States Armed Forces and Dyess Air Force Base for their success in achieving energy savings and developing energy-saving innovations.

I would like to thank my colleague and former neighbor, Mr. Neugebauer, for his work in bringing this resolution to the floor.

The Air Force pledge to become more energy efficient has facilitated both resourceful engineering projects and simple solutions, such as the installation of new electronic dimming lights in hangars at Dyess Air Force Base.

While the projects at Dyess Air Force Base range in size and scope, the end result is a 16.5 percent reduction in energy usage at a savings of over $1 million in 2008. The diligence exhibited by the Air Force and leadership at Dyess Air Force Base serves as a good example of what can be achieved in energy savings, not only at other bases, but in government facilities, private businesses, and personal households.

The men and women at this base in Abilene, Texas, continue to display a commitment to conserve energy and remain faithful stewards of the taxpayers' money. They accomplished all of this without sacrificing their ultimate mission to ``Fly, Fight, Win.''

So Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the United States Air Force and Dyess Air Force Base for their successes in energy conservation by supporting House Resolution 845.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my colleague from Florida (Mr. Rooney) for managing the bills on the floor today. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1672) to reauthorize the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act to promote the protection of the resources of the Northwest Straits, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, for more than a decade, the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative has fostered innovative, citizen-driven restoration and conservation programs that protect critical marine, coastal and island resources in the Northwest Straits. Despite hugely successful programs, such as the Derelict Fishing Gear Removal Program, the initiative's original authorizing statute has lapsed.

H.R. 1672 would reauthorize the initiative and would codify aspects of the initiative's operating body, the Northwest Straits Commission.

I commend the bill's sponsor, Representative Rick Larsen of the State of Washington, for his leadership in reauthorizing the initiative and for enhancing the ability of the commission to produce locally driven, coordinated restoration projects with measurable results.

With that, I urge Members on both sides to support the passage of this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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