Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5293) to approve the settlement of the water rights claims of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation in Nevada, to require the Secretary of the Interior to carry out the settlement, 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.

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

(Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley Reservation Water Rights Settlement Act sponsored by our colleague from Nevada, Congressman Dean Heller, would ratify and finalize the tribes' water rights settlement agreement with the State of Nevada and with the United States. This bill has faced many obstacles, but through bipartisan work, it is here today.

In the last few weeks of July, representatives from the Department of the Interior--the tribes and the staff--engaged in last-minute negotiations about the administration's concerns on waiver language. In the future, it is our hope that these concerns are addressed during committee consideration of legislation and not after the bill has been reported from the committee. We will work with the minority on addressing the need for more consistent waiver language in the next Congress. So I ask my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 5293.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his views and for his diplomatic approach to this important issue.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Let me just note that the energy crisis must be addressed in a deliberative fashion, not by a bumper sticker's reading ``drill here; drill now'' approach that would have us drilling in the National Mall. We will have all of the bills but one that includes accountability and a bill that transitions us to a better future--we must wean ourselves from this addiction to oil.

So we will have a vote.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments. I will certainly be watching for transparency and accountability in this bill. And let us hope that this is included when we are debating on the floor. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill at hand.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1200) honoring the dedication and outstanding work of military support groups across the country for their steadfast support of the members of our Armed Forces and their families, 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.

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1200, honoring the dedication and the outstanding work of military support groups for their steadfast work on behalf of the members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Over 1.7 million military men and women have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since September of 2001, many of whom have been deployed more than once. These military men and women have left behind beloved parents, siblings and spouses. More than 782,000 children have had parents leave the confines of their home to serve the Nation nobly. These soldiers and their families face a daily struggle with constant and sustained deployments. Children are left to cope with the difficulties of a sustained deployment with one parent supporting the family, and some are even left with other family members.

Military men and women and their families make tremendous sacrifices every single day to serve and protect our country. These heroes deserve all the medical, the financial, the educational and moral support that our Nation can provide them. Military support groups, with that mission in mind, work diligently to provide essential support and services to the members of the Armed Forces and their families. They provide a compassionate community of supporters to military families, whether their loved ones are at home or abroad. Whether it's finding a job, replacing a broken oven in a home, or offering moral support by sending care packages to soldiers abroad, our American military support groups and their volunteers work tirelessly to serve the men and women who serve to protect our way of life.

The positive impact that military support groups have on our soldiers and their families is invaluable. As Secretary of Defense Robert Gates recognized, the families and community members who support America's troops are ``the power behind the power.'' You can go to the America Supports You Web site which lists the hundreds of military support groups across our country. The Web site also has many

stories of dedication, hope, kindness and generosity.

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1200 is our way, in Congress, of honoring the commitment and the outstanding work of military support groups and their volunteers across the country for their unwavering support of America's troops and their families. We honor their selfless service to American troops and their loved ones. As a cosponsor of House Resolution 1200, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this very important resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to my friend and colleague, the original sponsor of this important resolution, the gentlelady from Ohio (Ms. Sutton).

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

Mr. Speaker, I represent Guam, a small little island in the Pacific where we have today more active National Guardsmen reservists serving in Afghanistan and Iraq per capita than any other State in the Union.

Just last month I led a codel to Pakistan, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq and found 181 National Guardsmen and reservists from Guam deployed in Afghanistan serving in the most dangerous provinces in that country.

I want to speak to this bill because on Guam, because of the numerous soldiers deployed all over the world today, the support group is exceptional, made up of family and friends. I have visited their headquarters, and it's made up of housewives, families, and friends all supporting our soldiers. And I want to go on record to say that I applaud our soldiers and families on Guam for their dedicated support and loyalty, and I go on record as supporting this bill.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I have no further requests for time, and I am prepared to close after my colleague has yielded back his time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to go on record to thank the co- manager of the bill today, Mr. Cole, a good friend of mine whom I've traveled with on numerous occasions, and I truly appreciate the kind words that he has noted of Guam and, of course, his own State.

And as he said, each Member going on these congressional delegation trips is always meeting with their troops, and this is one of the great pleasures, shall we say, of the trip, not only to investigate and see how we are doing and how our troops are treated, but to meet with troops from our district.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1255) honoring Toby Keith's commitment to members of the Armed Forces.

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 in support of House Resolution 1255 to honor Toby Keith's commitment to strengthening the morale of our Armed Forces and working with the United Services Organizations, the USO, to accomplish this important task. I thank my colleague from Oklahoma, Mr. Tom Cole, for bringing this measure before the House.

Toby Keith has gone above and beyond his celebrity to bring members of our Armed Forces the joy and laughter of entertainment no matter where in the world they serve. From Cuba to Kosovo, Italy to Africa, and many more locations, both welcoming and dangerous, Mr. Keith has played for more than 135,000 men and women in uniform.

In April of this year, Mr. Keith performed in Kandahar, Afghanistan,

where the nervous sounds of mortar fire disrupted his concert. However, Mr. Keith continued to travel to remote and dangerous locations bringing a bit of the American spirit and character alive on stage. His travels are a testament to the importance of morale in the men and women who continue to serve our Nation abroad every day.

By working with the USO, Mr. Keith has helped bring together two very different worlds: the world of an average American who can work during the day and watch a concert at night, and the world of the military abroad who must keep constant guard both day and night.

Mr. Keith's performances and even the free meals he gives the military at his restaurants remind both Americans working at home and those serving abroad that we must keep each other in our minds and hearts and we must keep our morale high. Like Mr. Keith, we should all find something positive to contribute to each other as we face these dangerous times.

By passing this resolution, we are honoring a person who has used his talents to serve the men and women in uniform as they continue to serve our country. Toby Keith is just one of the hundreds of entertainers who have volunteered to entertain the troops with the support of the USO to generate a spirit and morale that is invaluable to this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 1255.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close after my colleague has yielded back his time. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) for co-managing the bills here. I've enjoyed it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 390) honoring the 28th Infantry Division for serving and protecting 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 may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 390, honoring the 28th Infantry Division. I join my colleagues in recognition of the brave men and women who have answered the call of duty and contributed in so many ways to our Nation's safety and security.

The history of the 28th Infantry Division is truly remarkable and a testament to the dedication and sacrifice of those who have served in the division. Officially established way back in 1879, the 28th Infantry Division is one of the oldest divisions in the Army. Its roots trace back to the Revolutionary War era to units in Benjamin Franklin's battalion of Associators in Philadelphia, as well as General George Washington's Continental Army.

In World War I, the 28th Infantry Division fought in six major campaigns: Champagne, Champagne-Marne, Oise-Marne, Lorraine, and Meuse- Argonne. They paid greatly for their efforts, losing over 14,000 men. Recognizing its tough and relentless fighting prowess,

General of the Armies John J. Pershing labeled the 28th Infantry Division the Iron Division.

During the Second World War, the division fought some of the fiercest battles in the European theater. Perhaps most notably during the Battle of the Bulge, the 28th Infantry Division held its ground against overwhelming German forces until Allied reinforcements arrived. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten, and the importance of their victory as a turning point in World War II remains etched in the history of this division.

Today, the 28th Infantry Division is an active National Guard division, with armories in towns and cities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Soldiers of the 28th Infantry Division have served and are currently serving abroad in Iraq and Afghanistan, and were also recently deployed in Bosnia and Kosovo as part of the NATO peacekeeping missions. Since September 11, over 10,000 soldiers of the division have deployed overseas.

The men and women of the 28th Infantry Division serve their community selflessly while balancing full-time careers and families. Through the years, their names and faces have changed, but the commitment and the dedication with which they serve our Nation remains the hallmark of the 28th Infantry Division.

So I am very proud to join my colleagues in honoring these men and women, past and present, and to express my sincere gratitude for their sacrifice to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Nation. And I urge my colleagues to vote for the adoption of this resolution that recognizes our citizen soldiers.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, again I would like to go on record to thank my co-manager of the bill, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole).

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the War in the Pacific National Historical Park on Guam on the occasion of its 30th anniversary. In August 1978, the War in the Pacific National Historical Park was established by Public Law 95-348 to commemorate the bravery and sacrifices of those involved in the Pacific Theater of World War II and to preserve the historic sites on Guam. As we join together for this celebration, let us also remember the Park's mission to preserve a unique story in American history that strives to honor not only the courage of our liberators, but the patriotism of the liberated.

For the past 30 years, the War in the Pacific National Historical Park has preserved seven units on Guam. These units include battlefields, trenches, gun emplacements, and historic structures throughout the island. Because of the diligent efforts made by the National Park Service to preserve the story of the occupation and liberation of Guam from December 8, 1941 to July 21, 1944, visitors are able to learn about the battle for Guam by visiting sites at the Asan Bay Overlook, Agat Beach Unit and Ga'an Point, Asan Beach Unit, Fonte Plateau Unit, Mt. Alifan Unit, Mt. Chachao/Mt. Tenjo Unit, and Piti Guns Unit.

During this 30th anniversary, we are especially honored to commend the National Park Service for the 2008 restoration project of the

Memorial Wall at the Asan Bay Overlook. Inscribed on the Memorial Wall are the names of the thousands of individuals, liberators who died in the battle for Guam, and the liberated who died or suffered injury, forced labor, forced march and internment during the occupation of Guam. Through this restoration project, the National Park Service has ensured that our island will have this lasting monument to honor and remember Guam's greatest generation.

We commend the National Park Service on the reopening of the T. Stell Newman Visitors Center. In 2002, the Visitors Center, formerly located in Piti, was destroyed by Supertyphoon Pongsona, but has since been restored for the public at its new location in Sumay. This restoration was made possible through a successful partnership between the National Park Service and the U.S. Navy.

The War in the Pacific National Historical Park is an extraordinary way for the people of Guam and our fellow Americans to recognize the history of Guam and the battles in the Pacific Theater. On behalf of the people of Guam, I congratulate the War in the Pacific National Historical Park for a successful 30 years of service to our island and our Nation and I wish them continued success in the decades to come.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Hospital Corpsman Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony M. Carbullido, United States Navy. He was assigned to the Naval Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, Illinois, where he volunteered for his second assignment as a combat medic in July 2007, stationed in Herat, Afghanistan. HM2, FMF, Carbullido died on August 8, in Sangatesh, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when his convoy vehicle hit an improvised explosive device.

Anthony Carbullido was born on August 25, 1982, and grew up in Agat, Guam. He attended Southern High School and graduated with the class of 2000. After graduation, Tony answered the call to duty and enlisted in the United States Navy on September 28. He reported to Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, on November 1, 2000, and afterwards he reported to the Naval Hospital Corps School where he completed training on June 8, 2001. HM2 Carbullido's first duty station was at the Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California. He received additional training at the Fleet Medical Service School at Camp Pendleton, California, and was later assigned to the 1st Marine Logistic Group, Marine Forces Pacific where he deployed with the Marines to Iraq on a 7-month tour. Upon earning his instructor qualification, he was assigned to Naval Hospital Corps School as an instructor at Great Lakes. It was during this tour at Great Lakes that HM2 Carbullido volunteered for a second deployment and was assigned to augment the United States Army at the Afghan Regional Security Integration Command West in Herat, Afghanistan. He provided training and medical assistance to United States and Afghan forces and was recognized by his comrades as a professional and compassionate corpsman. He received many awards and commendations, most notably the Bronze Star for Valor and the Purple Heart.

On behalf of the people of Guam, I offer my condolences to his wife Summer Chaney Carbullido, his daughter Lexie, his parents Anthony Jesus and Aurora Fejeran Carbullido, his siblings Austin Matthew and Ashley Maria, his grandmother Maria Sablan Fejeran, and to his extended family and friends. He will be missed dearly by his family, friends, and our island community. HM2 Anthony M. Carbullido died in the service of our Nation and we honor his patriotism and his dedication. He is a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We will always remember him and we will always be grateful for his service in the United States Navy.

God bless the Carbullido family, God bless our men and women in the Armed Forces, God bless Guam, and God bless our Nation, the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Mr. James Chen-Yu Chin, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Guam for his service and contributions to our island community. Mr. Chin has served as the Director General since 2003 and he has been a valuable member of our island community and an effective advocate for his constituents who reside on Guam.

Director General Chin has promoted cultural and economic exchanges between Taiwan and Guam, particularly through efforts to engage and inform both communities about the growth and opportunities available within each respective economic market.

During his tenure, Director General Chin hosted three successful visits for the President and Vice President of Taiwan, allowing the opportunity to showcase the many attributes of Guam's thriving business and tourism industries. His hospitality extended to other visiting groups over the span of 5 years, which included tourism promoters, performing groups, sports teams, and investors, all of which helped to build Guam's public visibility within the Taiwan community.

Director General Chin also assisted our community by expanding opportunities for cooperation. He assisted the Guam Police Department by sharing Taiwan's expertise and best practices in public security and forensic science. He also facilitated educational and academic exchanges between the University of Guam and the Micronesia Area Research Center with their academic counterparts from Taiwan's national universities. These opportunities included exchanges of experts in the fields of agriculture and marine science to the mutual benefit of both academic institutions.

Director General Chin's extensive background in foreign affairs contributed to enhancing the relationship between the people of Guam and Taiwan. His many contributions to our island community have been appreciated by the nonprofit organizations and the service organizations in which he has been an active participant. Whether it has been responding to regional disasters or assisting in local relief efforts, James and his wife, Grace, have been outstanding members of our island community and they have shown how much they love our island by their involvement.

Director General James Chen-Yu Chin has made a lasting impression on Guam and his leadership and community contributions have improved our island significantly. It is through his many accomplishments that we enjoy a warmer friendship with the people of Taiwan. May God bless James and Grace and their family as we bid them farewell with a heartfelt thank you and Si Yu'os Ma'ase.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5892, The Veterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization Act of 2008. This legislation will help to address difficulties that our veterans face in accessing needed health care records and medical compensation. I want to thank Chairman John Hall of New York for his leadership on the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs of the House Veterans Affairs Committee and for sponsoring this legislation.

I support the bill's intent to streamline the current VA claims process faced by our nation's 24,000,000 veterans. Studies show that the average processing time for veterans' claims has increased from 177 days to 183 days in one year alone. Moreover, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) predicts that the number of claims will surpass 1,000,000 by the end of fiscal year 2008. H.R. 5892 will provide incentives for the Veteran's Association to modernize their processing protocol by utilizing existing information technology in the processing of claims. These incentives will provide veterans with a more user- friendly means of filing claims and more importantly a faster response time with claims requests.

In particular, our veterans on Guam face the additional challenge of having to file their claims through the Regional Office in Honolulu, Hawaii. Over 20 percent of the backlogged cases in Honolulu are cases from Guam. Improved information technology systems will help facilitate the processing of claims on Guam. Moreover, I will continue to work with Chairman Hall and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enhance services provided by the VA Office on Guam. Improvements in the claims processing system along with a greater VA presence on Guam will greatly improve the current situation for our island's veterans.

H.R. 5892 will also address the Department of Veterans Affairs' standard for adjudicating a veterans level of disability. The VA currently employs the Department of Veterans Affairs Schedule for Rating Disabilities (VASRD), a schedule first commissioned during the First World War. The VASRD was last revised in 1945 and has yet to include contemporary medical practices and procedures. The legislation also requires improvement training and assessment of training for VA caseworkers. In total, this legislation takes a major step forward in ensuring better quality of care and treatment for our nation's veterans.

Our veterans have sacrificed in service to our country, and it is our duty to provide them with the adequate support and service commensurate to their dedication. I would like to thank my colleague Chairman Hall for authoring this bill and I urge passage of H.R. 5892.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of one of Guam's fallen sons, Army National Guardsman Sergeant Brian Steven Leon Guerrero. SGT Leon Guerrero, 34, from the village of Tamuning, was assigned to the 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 294th Infantry. He was killed in the line of duty on July 10, 2008 during a deployment in Babo Kehyl, Afghanistan when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device. SGT Leon Guerrero's passing marks the 27 death of a son from Micronesia fighting the War on Terror.

SGT Leon Guerrero was born on October 12, 1973. He was known as a committed family man, heading a household of 4 children and 2 step children. Fellow citizen soldiers will remember SGT Guerrero for his undying commitment to his country and to Guam. SGT Leon Guerrero was a proud member of the United States Army and the Guam National Guard. His dedication to our nation and our way of life was embodied by his desire to continue serving in the Army after 2 tours in the Horn of Africa. SGT Leon Guerrero was deployed to Afghanistan at the time of this passing. In the true spirit of a citizen soldier, SGT Leon Guerrero answered the repeated call to duty. During SGT Leon Guerrero's time serving our Nation, his fellow citizen soldiers recall his love of music and his expertise in playing the ukulele. He loved his family and friends and he will be remembered as a proud father and husband, and a dedicated soldier.

I offer my deepest sympathies and prayers to his wife, Emely, their children Karl, Brian, Karian, and Jude, his stepchildren Julian and Maely, his parents, Mr. Pedro DLG, Ms. Rosita Pangelinan and Mr. Gil Lujan, and to the many family and friends that have joined together to honor his life.

God bless the Leon Guerrero Family, God bless our uniformed men and women protecting our freedoms, God bless Guam, and God bless our country, the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the bravery and service of Army National Guardsman Sergeant Samson Augusto Mora. SGT Mora, from the village of Dededo, was assigned to the 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 294th Infantry, deployed to Babo Kehyl, Afghanistan. He was killed in action when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device on July 10, 2008. He

was twenty-eight. SGT Mora is Micronesia's twenty-eighth loss during the War on Terror.

SGT Mora, born August 13, 1979 to Abraham and Angelina Mora, lived a life of honor and respect. Known to his friends and family as ``Sam'' or ``Champion,'' SGT Mora is remembered for his devotion to those he loved, and for his dedication and commitment to his fellow soldiers. He also demonstrated exemplary bravery during a recent conflict in Afghanistan. During an ambush SGT Mora risked his life alongside others in the Company to bring an injured soldier back to safety while under enemy fire.

I join our community in mourning the loss of SGT Mora, and I offer my condolences to his parents, Abraham and Angelina; his brothers, Army Reserve Major Michael Mora and Air Force Reserve Master Sergeant Abraham Mora, Jr.; his sister, Katherine M. Aquino, and his fiancee Rosanna Castro. SGT Mora served with honor and distinction, like the many sons of Guam who served before him and gave their lives in defense of our country. He lost his life answering the call to duty of our nation, fighting in Afghanistan in order to help make the United States more secure. For his sacrifice on our behalf, we will always be eternally grateful.

God bless the family and friends of Sergeant Samson Augusto Mora, God bless our uniformed men and women protecting our freedoms, God bless Guam, and God bless our country, the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the lives and service of Major Christopher M. Cooper, aircraft commander; Major Brent D. Williams, navigator; Captain Michael K. Dodson, co-pilot; First Lieutenant Joshua D. Shepherd, navigator; First Lieutenant Robert Gerren, electronic warfare officer; and Colonel George Martin, flight surgeon, who were the crew of a B-52H Stratofortress that crashed off the coast of Guam on July 21, 2008. The crew was assigned to the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron based at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana and were deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam as part of the Air Force's continual bomber presence in the Pacific. Colonel Martin was the on-board flight surgeon and deputy commander of the 36th Medical Group at Andersen Air Force Base. The B-52 was preparing to fly over Guam's annual Liberation Day parade, commemorating the 64th Anniversary of the Liberation of Guam during World War II after thirty- two months of occupation by enemy forces.

This tragic event reminds us of the constant dangers that are faced by our men and women in uniform. The loss of this crew is felt by the Air Force family throughout the world and our island community of Guam. The people of Guam will always remember this crew on Liberation Day and their untimely passing gives us all the more reason to appreciate our freedom and the many sacrifices made by the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces defending our nation.

In their honor, I would like to recite the poem ``High Flight'' by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.:

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds--and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of--wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,

I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or even eagle flew--

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

The high untresspassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

I offer my deepest sympathies and prayers to all the families of these brave airmen who gave their lives in the service of their country.

God bless the families of these brave men, God bless the men and women defending our freedom, God bless Guam, and God bless our country, the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, today I have introduced a bill to reauthorize and amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, which was first enacted by the 92nd Congress as Title III of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-532).

The Nation's first national marine sanctuary was designated in 1975 off the Outer Banks of North Carolina to protect the wreck of a famous Civil War ironclad, the U.S.S. Monitor. Since then, 12 other national marine sanctuaries and one national marine monument have been designated. The various sites, ranging from Fagatele Bay in American Samoa to Thunder Bay in Lake Huron, protect deep ocean gardens, near shore coral reefs, whale migration corridors, deep sea canyons, and underwater archeological sites.

These marine sites are managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and activities like shipping, commercial and recreational fishing, boating, scuba diving, and marine tourism are allowed within such sites where determined to be compatible with resource protection. However, drilling, mining, dredging, dumping waste and removing artifacts are generally prohibited in the sanctuaries and considered to be activities inconsistent with the purposes of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.

Congress last reauthorized the National Marine Sanctuaries Act in 2000 with the passage of the National Marine Sanctuaries Amendments Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-513). The overall purpose of the legislation enacted in 2000 was to reauthorize the National Marine Sanctuaries Act through fiscal year 2005 and to make substantive changes to the management of existing sanctuaries and the designation of additional marine sanctuaries.

The Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans has held two oversight hearings to date in this Congress to receive testimony from stakeholders regarding reauthorization of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. The Subcommittee first convened for this purpose at a field hearing in Santa Barbara, California on November 3, 2007, and more recently in Washington, DC on June 18, 2008. It is generally agreed that the national marine sanctuaries are fulfilling statutory set missions to protect nationally significant areas of the marine environment and are collectively serving as a useful model demonstrating ecosystem-based management. However, since Congress last reauthorized the Act several concerns have emerged and have been raised by stakeholders and the Administration. These issues have been examined by the Subcommittee during both of its oversight hearings. The legislation I have introduced today attempts to address many of these issues.

First, over the past decade the science and theory behind the concept of marine protected areas and marine reserves (MPAs) has developed, and the use of MPAs as a management tool is much more prevalent today than it was at the time the National Marine Sanctuaries Act was last reauthorized. Supporters of the concept consider the existing statutory limitation on new sanctuary designations at odds with current thinking and practice, as well as contrary to the purposes of the Act. The bill I have introduced today, the Sanctuary Enhancement Act of 2008, would repeal the limitation on new sanctuary designations and require the Secretary of Commerce to develop a site selection report for potential new sanctuaries.

Second, despite NOAA's best intentions, the agency has been unable to complete management plan reviews for all sanctuaries within the statutorily-required 5-year period, resulting in a virtually never- ending planning cycle. Furthermore, critics question whether the statutory established timeframe allows adequate time for NOAA to properly evaluate the effectiveness of management plans. In order to allow adequate time for quality reviews, under the Sanctuary Enhancement Act the first management plan review timeframe would be expanded from 5 years to 7 years, and the period for subsequent reviews would be expanded to 10 years.

Another area of focus has been on regulating fishing within marine sanctuaries. Section 304(a)(5) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act formally incorporates Regional Fisheries Management Councils into the process for developing fishing regulations within marine sanctuaries. Various interests believe there continues to be a lack of clarity with respect to such authorities and such lack of clarity has created tensions within some sectors of the fishing community. In an effort to reduce some of that tension, the Sanctuary Enhancement Act would authorize the Secretary to include fishing regulations in the designation documents if the regulations are compatible with the purposes of the sanctuary, the mission of the entire system of sanctuaries and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. The Sanctuary Enhancement Act also clarifies the role and actions of the Secretary in approving or disapproving draft fishing regulations requested from Regional Fishery Management Councils.

Finally, critics contend that the text of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act is misinterpreted and that NOAA's implementation of the Act as a ``multiple-use'' authority is misguided. Such critics advocate that the Act be amended to prioritize the protective missions of the sanctuaries and to strengthen the Act in comparison to other laws that authorize activities in the marine environment. To resolve this problem, the Sanctuary Enhancement Act would formally establish a National Marine Sanctuary System and insert a mission statement for the System to ``protect, conserve, preserve, restore and recover the biodiversity, ecological integrity, and cultural legacy of the living and nonliving resources within the system for the benefit of present and future generations.''

I believe the bill I have introduced today enhances the network of sanctuaries by establishing a unified structure and system for their management and by amending the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to address a variety of concerns raised by stakeholders since its last reauthorization. I am joined today in introducing this bill by Ms. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a co-chair of the National Marine Sanctuaries Caucus, and ten other colleagues, including Mr. Kildee, Mr. Faleomavaega, and Mr. Abercrombie of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans. I invite all of my colleagues to join us in the effort to reauthorize and strengthen this essential marine conservation law. Working together we can strive to leave our children and grandchildren a sanctuary system that can grow as a vibrant, healthy and sound system of marine environments.

Mr. Chairman, I was delayed in arriving to the Chamber this afternoon and the vote on the first amendment offered by Mr. Hoekstra of Michigan to H.R. 5959, the Intelligence Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2009, closed before I could cast my vote. Had I been able to cast my vote on this amendment, rollcall No. 499, I would have voted ``aye.''

Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Hoekstra

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5618) to reauthorize and amend the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. 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.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5618, the National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2008, is legislation that I introduced this past March. The bill reauthorizes the National Sea Grant College Program Act to improve marine resource conservation, management and utilization.

Sea Grant Colleges sponsor a wide range of applied and basic marine science research, education, training and technical assistance programs promoting the understanding, the assessment, the development, the utilization and the conservation of ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources. The reauthorization bill affords the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the ability and the flexibility to strengthen the current network of Sea Grant Colleges and their collaborating institutions through fiscal year 2014. It does so based on the sensible recommendation of the Sea Grant Association, the Sea Grant Review Panel, the National Sea Grant Program Office, and other stakeholders.

By reauthorizing this program, the opportunity for enlisting more partnering institutions and increasing the overall number of designated Sea Grant Colleges remains. Capacity building for eventual Sea Grant College designation is ongoing at several institutions. And I note that in reauthorizing the program, H.R. 5618 keeps intact in current law the authority for NOAA to provide administrative, technical and financial assistance to institutions preparing and aiming for eventual Sea Grant College designation. The current eligibility criteria have ensured ultimate success with the entire program.

The University of Guam, in my district, Mr. Speaker, continues to plan for eventual designation. I support NOAA's efforts to assist with capacity building at the University of Guam and at other institutions in the Western Pacific region and across the United States that are working to develop the expertise and resources necessary to be designated a Sea Grant Institution.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I note that in reauthorizing the overall program, we also renewed the authority for the continuation of the highly successful Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship program. Several of us here serving in Congress have had the extraordinary opportunity to host a legislative Sea Grant Fellow in our office. The skill and the competency of the Sea Grant fellows are a testament to the strength and the depth of the Sea Grant College program. The contributions of Sea Grant fellows in both the executive and the legislative branches have helped ensure policy is both crafted and implemented with an invaluable science perspective.

In reauthorizing the National Sea Grant College Program, Congress reaffirms its national value to protecting our human and our environmental health to the design and the utilization of sustainable development practices, and to the overall advancement of important research and extensive activities in the Marine Sciences.

With our support, the network of Sea Grant Colleges is positioned to continue collaborative ground-breaking research and engagement in the Marine Sciences with stakeholders in communities all across the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I therefore ask Members on both sides to support passage of this noncontroversial bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this particular piece of legislation. I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, for his supportive remarks.

I yield back the balance of my time.