Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1337) to provide for a feasibility study of alternatives to augment the water supplies of the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District and cities served by the District, 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, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The purpose of H.R. 1337, introduced by our colleague, Congressman Tom Cole of Oklahoma, is to direct the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct a feasibility study on alternatives to augment the water supplies of the Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District and cities served by that district.

This legislation was previously considered by the House, and we have no objection to this noncontroversial bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Texas (Mr. Gohmert) for his support on this noncontroversial bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 813) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Prado Basin Natural Treatment System Project, to authorize the Secretary to carry out a program to assist agencies in projects to construct regional brine lines in California, to authorize the Secretary to participate in the Lower Chino Dairy Area desalination demonstration and reclamation project, 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, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of H.R. 813, as amended, is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in several important projects to improve water supplies in Southern California. In consultation with the minority, the legislation has been amended to eliminate the authorization and funding for a technology center. Similar legislation passed the House in the 109th Congress.

So, Mr. Speaker, we support this noncontroversial bill.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1803) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study to design and construct a four reservoir intertie system for the purposes of improving the water storage opportunities, water supply reliability, and water yield of San Vicente, El Capitan, Murray, and Loveland Reservoirs in San Diego County, California in consultation and cooperation with the City of San Diego and the Sweetwater Authority, and for other purposes.

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, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 1803, introduced by Congressman Duncan Hunter, would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study to design and construct a four-reservoir intertie system. This intertie system will improve the water storage opportunities and water supply reliability for the City of San Diego and the Sweetwater Authority, the third largest water retailer in San Diego County. Similar legislation was passed by the House in the 109th Congress.

We have no objection to this noncontroversial bill.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1855) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Madera Irrigation District for purposes of supporting the Madera Water Supply Enhancement Project, 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, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The purpose of H.R. 1855, as amended, is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide support for the design and the construction of the Madera Water Supply and Enhancement Project in California's Central Valley.

Similar legislation was introduced by Congressman Radanovich in the 109th Congress and passed by the House. With the concurrence of the minority, H.R. 1855 has been amended to simplify the legislation and to ensure there is no doubt that this project should be promptly funded and constructed without further studies of its feasibility.

We have no objection to this noncontroversial bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure to work with my friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert), in managing these noncontroversial bills this afternoon, and I want to thank him very much. I hope we have the opportunity again.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to underline the importance of territories in Homeland Security operations. I commend the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recognizing the importance of United States territories to the defense of the homeland and including Guam as the first U.S. territory to actively partake in the Top Officials or TOPOFF exercise being held this year in Arizona, Oregon, and Guam from October 15th to the 24th.

The 106th Congress directed that TOPOFF exercises be conducted biennially. Originally the TOPOFF exercise was to be conducted by the Department of Justice but was transferred to the DHS on March 1, 2003 along with the Office for Domestic Preparedness. These operations are designed to improve the Nation's capacity to manage complex and extreme terrorist events.

TOPOFF exercises began in 2000 and took place in Denver, Colorado and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In focused on two different attacks one in each operational area including a bioterrorist attack and a chemical attack. TOPOFF 2 and 3 each incorporated lessons learned from the previous exercises and simulated different manmade and natural disaster events. Most recently, during TOPOFF 3 local, Federal and private sector organizations began to interface with international actors--a facet that is once again included in TOPOFF 4. Moreover, DHS has refined each subsequent exercise to reflect a more realistic scenario for local and Federal first responders.

TOPOFF 4 which begins today, October 15th, will be a 10-day exercise and will focus on five objective areas: prevention, intelligence and investigation, incident management, public information, and evaluation. The simulation will involve a series of radiological detonation devices, better known as ``dirty bombs'', being simultaneously detonated in the participating regions and will involve the interaction of Federal, State, and Territorial officials along with international regional partners and private sector participants. The scenario though plausible is entirely fictional and is based on no specific military or government intelligence and has been tailored to ensure participants' specific training objectives are met.

I am encouraged that Guam will be included in TOPOFF 4 exercises. The inclusion of Guam in TOPOFF 4 adds a new layer of difficulty for national disaster planning and cooperation because it involves dealing with a massive event not in the continental United States. It also shows an underlying commitment by the U.S. government to the territories and their importance to maintain security for the entire Nation. Guam's participation in TOPOFF 4 exercises continues to demonstrate its strategic importance to overall U.S. security posture.

TOPOFF 4 will highlight the ability of Guam's local first responders to respond to a lethal radiological attack on Guam. I know that Guam's emergency first responders have been working closely with the Guam National Guard's 94th Civil Support Team in preparing how to handle radiological release from a ``dirty bomb''. It is this type of coordination at the local level that makes this exercise important and useful. The delayed Federal response following Hurricane Katrina reminds us that our local first responders must be ready and capable of responding to a variety of dangerous scenarios. The TOPOFF exercise is critical to helping our local first responders be prepared for events that are similar if not larger in scale to what happened during Hurricane Katrina so that we may be able to avoid the mistakes of the past and be more successful, as a nation and region, to responding to such catastrophes.

I commend the Department of Homeland Security in its choice to include Guam in the TOPOFF 4 exercise. The knowledge and experience gained from this experience will ultimately strengthen our national security. I also commend the Government of Guam and Federal officials on Guam who have worked very hard over the past several months in preparing for these exercises.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the work of Soroptimist International of the Marianas and Soroptimist International of Guam, for their service to our community and thank them for various projects to assist and improve the lives of women and children in Guam and the Northern Marianas.

Soroptimist International of Guam, which was chartered on March 8, 1978, produces a weekly hour-long show, ``Women Making a Difference,'' on Guam's public radio station, KPRG. The show addresses issues of importance to women. SIG also sponsors health fairs and, in conjunction with the Superior Court of Guam, the annual Silent Witness program, which focuses public attention on domestic violence, as well as an annual women's art show, ``A Mosaic of Culture, Uniting Women and Girls Through Art, Friendship and Service.''

Soroptimist International of the Marianas, chartered on February 9, 1986, sponsors a scholarship program to the University of Guam and Guam Community College, as well as Grandparent's Day at St. Dominic's Senior Care Home, Mother's Day with Alee Shelter, the Women in Business Conference, the University of Guam Sigma Club, and the John F. Kennedy High School S Club; and in 1997, Soroptimist International of the Marianas and Soroptimist International of Guam co-founded and adopted as their long term project ``Erica's House--A Family Visitation Center,'' a support service for parents and children in need of visitation and exchange services. Both chapters also jointly participate in the Women's Opportunity Awards, the Violet Richardson Awards, and Women of Distinction project, as well as in the activities and projects of the Guam Council of Women's Clubs, Women United Against Cancer and the Relay for Life.

Soroptimist International is the world's largest volunteer service organization for women in business, management, and in various professions. On October 27 and 28, 2007, SIM and SIG will jointly host the Soroptimist International of the Americas Founder Region District VI Annual Meeting on Guam with the theme, ``Share the Passion, Share the Magic.'' And on behalf of all the women of Guam and the Marianas, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome SIA Regional Governor Sue Finch; Governor-elect Amelia Benko; Secretary Linda Sue Hansen; Fellowship President Dion C. Weaver, and District VI Director Judy Lee, and to offer my best wishes for a fruitful and productive meeting.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce legislation that will require rate integration for wireless interstate toll charges. Specifically, this legislation, H.R. 3565, would amend Section 254(g) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, to provide for rate integration of wireless long distance service within the United States, including the territories. This legislation, if enacted, would require uniformity in rates charged by cellular phone and other wireless service providers for calls and communications to and from Guam within the United States.

Section 254(g) directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ``to adopt rules to require that the rates charged by providers of interexchange telecommunication services to subscribers in rural and high cost areas shall be no higher than the rates charged by each such provider to its subscribers in urban areas.''

Pursuant to Section 254(g), the FCC promulgated a regulation (FCC Order 98-347) to cover Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS) as an interexchange service. CMRS includes Personal Communications Service (PCS) and cellular services. In defense of their Order, the FCC noted that ``if Congress had intended to exempt CMRS providers, it presumably would have done so expressly as it had done in other sections of the [1996 Telecommunications] Act.''

The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, however, subsequently vacated FCC Order 98-347, by ruling that interexchange telecommunication services do not encompass CMRS. In its ruling, the Court cited the phrase ``interexchange telecommunications service'' contained in Section 254(g). Since wireless telecommunications

technically do not use exchanges, the Court held that ``it is by no means obvious that the Congress, when it used a phrase in which the word `interexchange' is an essential term, was referring to CMRS.''

It is, therefore, unclear from the language of the statute whether section 254 applies to wireless services. Section 254 does not include specific language regarding its applicability to wireless services. Nor does it specifically exclude such services. Moreover, the legislative history of Section 254(g) is not instructive as to Congress' intent regarding the applicability of the rate integration requirement to wireless services.

Ambiguity in the law therefore exists. As a result, cellular customers are subject to varying rates for calls made within the United States. This is particularly evident with respect to rates assessed to calls made to Guam and to the other U.S. territories under service plans offered to cellular customers within the 48 contiguous states of the United States. Again, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires rate integration for noncellular, landline communication services. The legislation that I have reintroduced today would simply extend this same requirement to wireless communications.

Rate integration for wireless interstate toll charges is important to businesses and individuals located on the U.S. mainland who engage in regular and reoccurring voice communication with other businesses and contacts located in the offshore territories. Family members and friends are among the customers who are assessed higher and different rates for cellular calls made to Guam or to the other territories. These differences in wireless rates exist despite the fact that the U.S. territories are included in the North American Numbering Plan, the numbering plan for the Public Switched Telephone Network of the United States.

This legislation would bring the uniformity and fairness in rates desired by those consumers located on Guam who aim to keep in regular contact with relatives, friends, and associates who reside in other parts of the United States through the latest technology. Additionally, as technology in telecommunication advances, laws should be updated and developed to keep pace. This legislation would update existing law to take into account advances in and the popularity of wireless telecommunications since enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The legislation would do so in a manner consistent with both a previous, but vacated, FCC Order and with rate integration requirements applied to other more traditional telecommunication technology.

I look forward to addressing the issue of rate integration for wireless services as part of any legislative effort to reauthorize the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3096, the Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2007. H.R. 3096 makes important contributions to the ongoing dialogue with our ally the Socialist Republic of Vietnam regarding the importance of the protection of human rights in Vietnam.

Vietnam, to further it role as a responsible member of the international community, must release individuals imprisoned for political and religious beliefs. The government, though its policies and actions, must display a greater respect for religious freedoms and the rights of minorities. Essential to achieving this goal is for Vietnam to allow individuals who seek such protections full access to U.S. sponsored refugee programs. Further, Vietnam must end any and all support its government officials provide for trafficking of humans. H.R. 3096 makes future non-humanitarian U.S. assistance to Vietnam conditional upon the President of the United States certifying to Congress progress made by the government of Vietnam on these important matters.

I am concerned by reports the government of Vietnam blocks the Radio Free Asia programming. I fully support the provision in H.R. 3096 to authorize appropriate efforts be made to overcome such interference. I also fully support provisions in H.R. 3096 supporting the educational and cultural exchange programs with Vietnam to promote progress toward freedom and democracy.

The protection of the human rights in Vietnam is particularly important to me and the people of Guam. The fall of the Republic of Vietnam in 1975 displaced approximately three million Vietnamese. My late husband Ricardo J. Bordallo, then Governor of Guam, welcomed the 150,000 Vietnamese refugees who landed on Guam's shores in April 1975. I vividly remember how the Guam community came together in solidarity with the Vietnamese people and worked hard to help comfort these brave individuals who had left all their worldly possessions behind in the name of freedom.

The people of Guam empathized with the Vietnamese refugees, and we opened our hearts as well as our island to them. As First Lady, I organized care for the hundreds of orphan babies who arrived as a result of Operation Baby Lift. A poignant experience, this effort remains as one of my fondest memories of my husband's first term as Governor of Guam.

Vietnam today is a country that seeks peace with its neighbors, prosperity at home, and friendly relations with the United States. The provisions contained in H.R. 3096 will help towards achieving those ends.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 326, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Comprised of the Wall of names, the three Servicemen Statue and Flagpole, and the Vietnam Women's Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors the 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces who lost their lives in service to the United States in the Vietnam War and recognizes all those individuals who served during that time.

The Memorial is a national treasure. When seen from a distance, the smooth angular blackness of the Wall of names cuts into a gently rising knoll of green grass on the National Mall, symbolizing the collective sacrifice made by the tens of thousands of American youth who, in the prime of their lives, fought and perished in distant fields of battle in Southeast Asia to defend democratic government under siege. Standing at arm's length the sacrifice honored by the Wall comes into clearer focus. The white letters etched in black stone reveal the names of soldiers lost forever to their country, to their military service and, tragically, to their families and loved ones. Closer still, the image of our reflection seen in the Wall's mirror-like stone reminds us each name recorded there represents a person--an individual no different than us. The act of reading their names keeps alive our cherished memories of them. The act of the reading their names also helps keep them alive and well in our hearts.

On the occasion of the anniversary of the opening of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial we recall all of those individuals involved in its authorization, design, construction, and dedication. Most especially, we acknowledge the work of Maya Ying Lin, and we recognize the vision, sentiment, and artistry she has shared with the world through this project. We also recognize the work that is being undertaken today pursuant to an Act of the 108th Congress to construct the visitor center at the site, which will contribute to visitors' understanding and appreciation for the Memorial and what it signifies.

Mr. Speaker, etched and engraved on that Memorial Wall are the names of 70 sons of Guam. Our community suffered the highest casualty rate per capita of any State or Territory in the Nation during the Vietnam Era. Today, we recall the members of our own community, in addition to their fellow soldiers, who were the uniform and served in the Vietnam era.

To visit the Wall of names, the three Servicemen Statue and Flagpole, and the Vietnam Women's Memorial is to pay respect to those Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors and to renew our commitment that their mission, their sacrifice, and their lives will never be forgotten. This resolution commemorating the Memorial on its 25th anniversary also helps accomplish those goals.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay grateful tribute to the life of MAJ Henry San Nicolas Ofeciar who recently made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan for our Nation. MAJ Henry Ofeciar, 37, lost his life in the cause of freedom in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, as a result of an attack on August 27, 2007. The people of Guam suffer the loss of outstanding soldiers like Major Ofeciar with profound sadness. But it is Henry's loved ones and friends who bear the greatest burden and for whom we send our messages of support and gratitude.

MAJ Henry Ofeciar graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in 1988. He joined the University of Guam Reserve Officers Training Corps, ROTC, where he excelled as a leader and as a soldier. Henry Ofeciar graduated from the University of Guam in 1993, and received his commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army in 1994, beginning a distinguished career of service to our country. He earned a master of arts degree in business administration and public administration from Syracuse University in 2005, continuing his development as a professional soldier.

MAJ Henry Ofeciar was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS. Major Ofeciar, like the many sons of Guam who served before him and gave their lives in defense of our country, served with honor and distinction. 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.

We offer our thoughts and prayers to Henry's wife Angali, who he married in January 2007. We offer our deepest sympathies to his parents, Agnes S.N. and Leonard Rillera of Talofofo, Guam, and Pedro and Lougene Ofeciar of El Paso, TX. We also extend our sympathies to his sisters and brothers, Orlene Ofeciar Arriola, Pete, Doreen, Chris, April, and Patrick San Nicolas Ofeciar. On behalf of a grateful country and the people of Guam, we share their loss and we offer our prayers for their comfort.

Henry Ofeciar had a favorite quote from the Greek philosopher Epictetus, which epitomizes his personal commitment to duty, ``First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.'' Today we honor MAJ Henry Ofeciar, a hero who did what he set out to do, and for whom we will be forever in his debt. His family, his people, and his fellow soldiers take pride in knowing that we will all remember him for many years for what he did for us. God bless MAJ Henry Ofeciar, God bless Guam, and God bless the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 257, supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month aims to help educate communities across our country about pancreatic cancer and the need for research funding, early detection methods, effective treatments, and prevention programs. These are important goals and ones that I support fully.

It is appalling that only 5 percent of persons diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year will reach the five year survival mark. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), founded in 1999, is dedicated to improving survival rates. The Network's sponsors innovative and highly acclaimed programs intended to meet the informational needs of the panereatic cancer community. The PanCAN founders, directors, staff, donors, affiliated health care professionals, partners and volunteers are to be commended for their work and the successes they have achieved.

The instances of panceatic cancer in Americans--indeed instances of all cancers in Americans--must be reduced and survivability rates increased. I am committed to helping achieving those goals. But achieving them is not an easy task.

For instance, as the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus' Health Task Force, I am acutely aware of the high rates of cancer infections present in the Asian and Pacific Islander American communities. I am also all too aware of the disparities that exist for and the challenges that must be overcome by individuals-- especially women--from minority communities in order for them to gain access to screening and diagnostic services for all types of cancer. Moreover, I remain very concerned about the scarcity of oncology services in rural or isolated areas in the United States, such as Guam.

I am encouraged by the focus the Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month brings on the need to and importance of educating communities across our country about pancreatic cancer and the need for research funding, early detection methods, effective treatments, and prevention programs. I urge the leaders of the Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and PanCAN to work to ensure that minority communities and individuals who reside in rural and insular areas across our country benefit from these outreach efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the eve of the 6th anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States of America that occurred on September 11, 2001, in support of House Resolution 643, and to join my colleagues in mourning the victims of those attacks and to commend all of those who displayed courage and heroism in the face of such a catastrophe that day and in the days that followed.

Residents of New York City, Arlington, Virginia, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, awoke six years ago to a day marked by cloudless, blue skies and fair, late-summer weather. Within hours, Americans--joined by citizens of virtually all of the world's countries--witnessed the senseless killing of over 3,000 innocent victims in the most horrific terrorist attack in modern history.

Today, we remember those who perished on September 11, 2001. In doing so, we offer our continued support and heartfelt prayers to their families and loved ones. We also offer our deepest compassion and understanding to those individuals who bear the physical, mental, and emotional scars of having survived the attacks. We remember the victims, the survivors, the first responders, and the families touched by these tragedies. We remember, and we resolve to always carry the lessons of 9/11 as we work to prevent another attack and to bring justice to all who are responsible for perpetrating this act of terrorism.

The people of Guam join our fellow citizens across the country in recognizing tomorrow as a Day of Remembrance.

God Bless the United States. God Bless Guam.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3062, the South Pacific Economic and Educational Development Act of 2007, and take this opportunity to highlight its value for the strengthening of United States diplomacy in Oceania.

I have the distinct privilege and honor of representing the people of Guam in this House. My constituents remain keenly aware and are especially appreciative of the United States foreign policy programs most relevant and important to our neighboring islands in the greater Pacific Basin. Indeed, the provision of United States technical and financial assistance to Pacific Island states is cause for associated growth and development in, and international recognition of, the neighboring Pacific Island territories of the United States.

Our island territories, including Guam, the Northern Marianas, an American Samoa, together with the State of Hawaii, serve as logical bridges and links to our friends and allies in the greater Pacific Basin. Commerce, trade, communication, and transportation flow between and through our Pacific Island territories and the Pacific Island nation-states. Heads of state and government officials frequently convene in the Pacific Island territories for meetings and summits on issues of relevance and interest to the region and to the United States. H.R. 3062 is predicated in the historic relationship and responsibility the United States has developed with the Pacific Island nation-states.

The introduction and consideration of H.R. 3062 is timely in that it follows the eighth meeting of the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders, an organization that was founded in 1980 with the support of the East-West Center. The eighth meeting convened in Washington, D.C., this past May, and marked the first high-level gathering of Pacific Island political leaders in the Nation's capital in the Conference's history. Twenty separate heads of states and leaders from Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia, participated in that meeting, at which partnerships between the islands and the United States were renewed. A commitment to re-engage in the shared needs and interests of our countries was forged at this recent meeting.

H.R. 3062 would help fulfill a part of the United States commitment to re-engage in the Pacific Region. The bill would authorize the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide technical and other assistance to Pacific Island nation-states. The bill would also require the Department of State to take certain steps to ensure the participation of students from the Pacific Island nation- states in the distinguished and highly-recognized J. Fulbright Educational Exchange Program.

I am confident that the provision of such assistance and the participation of Pacific Island students in the Fulbright Program will serve to strengthen United States-Pacific Island relations. H.R. 3062 would also serve to support the advancement of efforts to strengthen regional cooperation, especially in the areas of trade, tourism, the environment, education, and defense and security.

I commend our colleague from American Samoa, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of its Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment, for sponsoring this legislation and for his leadership in buttressing United States assistance in the greater Pacific Basin. I urge my colleagues' support for H.R. 3062.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the House Resolution 508, recognizing the strong security alliance between the Government of Japan and the United States and expressing appreciation to Japan for its role in enhancing stability in the Asia-Pacific Region and its efforts in the global war against terrorism.

The Government of Japan, crucial to stabilizing the Asia-Pacific Region, has for decades served as a cornerstone for U.S. national security posture worldwide. I expect our governments to remain strong allies long into the future. The Government of Japan's efforts in support of the global war against terrorism are commendable and serve as a superb model for other governments to emulate.

The people of Guam, who I represent in Congress, enjoy a robust relationship with the Japanese people. Many residents on Guam are of Japanese descent. Also, Guam hosts over a million Japanese tourists each year and we welcome more. Japanese companies make significant investments in Guam's telecommunications infrastructure and in our tourism and hospitality industry. Moreover, Guam's relationship with the Japanese people and their government will grow stronger in the years to come. The Government of Japan will, in large part, finance the planned re-Iocation of elements of the III Marine Expeditionary Force from Okinawa to Guam. What is more, the future military training exercises on and in the waters around Guam will include greater numbers of Japanese Self-Defense Force personnel.

I welcome all efforts that strengthen the security relationship that exists between the United States and the Japan. I strongly support this resolution recognizing the valuable security alliance between the Government of Japan and the United States and expressing appreciation to Japan for its role in enhancing stability in the Asia-Pacific Region and its efforts in the global war against terrorism. I urge my colleagues' support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 181 which recognizes and commends all volunteers and other persons who provide support to the families and children of members of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserve personnel, who are deployed in defense of the United States. I appreciate the work of my dear friend and our colleague, Congressman Solomon Ortiz, in bringing this resolution to the floor today and commend him for his leadership on issues affecting military families. Congressman Ortiz is Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee. I think it is important to highlight that family readiness is first and foremost a readiness issue for our Armed Forces.

Never was this more apparent than on Congressman Ortiz' recent Congressional Delegation to Guam in April 2007. The Congressional Delegation had the opportunity to meet with families and servicemembers of the Guam National Guard and Army Reserve. The Congressional Delegation heard firsthand accounts about the difficulties and challenges that are faced by military families during mobilization. The Congressional Delegation also heard how the families view their role in support of the soldier and reviewed the services that are available to them when a loved one is deployed. The testimonials of these families proved that our Nation is better served when families of deployed servicemembers are provided the best support and assistance at all times and from a variety of sources.

The Congressional Delegation also had the opportunity to meet with volunteers who help support families of Guard personnel and Reservists. It is volunteers that make the National Guard and Reserve family readiness programs a success. Volunteers in these readiness groups act as an extension of the unit by providing accurate command information. Most of the volunteers are the spouses of company commanders. The close ties of volunteers to company leadership also help foster a greater sense of community with shared benefits and help families navigate various issues at any time, but especially when a loved one is deployed. Without the support of thousands of volunteers across the country, many family readiness groups would not be able to provide the support that is needed for servicemembers families. It is important for these volunteers and the Congress to recognize the important role they fulfill in the readiness of our Armed Forces.

On Guam our families have recently endured many long deployments of their loved ones to the Horn of Africa and to other areas of the world associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Volunteers have been crucial to the success of these family readiness efforts. In particular, in 2002 the Department of Defense recognized the family readiness group of Charlie Company, 411th Engineer Battalion of the Army Reserve for their instrumental service in

improving many facets of unit readiness, including a 99 percent retention rate and 90 percent attendance rate for drill. The family readiness group engaged in many community activities and each member attended special events of importance to the other families. It was these initiatives and community activities that helped bring the families of the deployed soldiers together and made enduring the long deployment more bearable.

The recognition awarded to the Charlie Company emphasizes the critical importance of providing the best family support possible during deployments. When families of the deployed soldiers are taken care of it relieves our soldiers of worrying about their daily tasks at home and helps them to focus on the mission at hand. Indeed, the readiness of our men and women in uniform goes beyond providing the best equipment or training that is available. It is required that we provide a strong sense of community for their families at all times. Family readiness must be viewed as a continuum of support that continues beyond a servicemember's mobilization. Without volunteers who donate countless hours to this effort, family assistance would not be as effective and the readiness of our Armed Forces would not be as strong as they are today. House Concurrent Resolution 181 raises appropriate awareness of the readiness of our Armed Forces and the value of military families. I hope that all of us will recognize the important ways in which families and family readiness groups contribute to the strength of our Nation's Armed Forces.