Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 51, a resolution to honor the contributions of Catholic schools. This timely resolution comes before us during the annual commemoration of Catholic Schools Week, and just days before the National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools on Wednesday, January 24, 2007. This year's theme, ``Catholic Schools: The Good News in Education'' accurately describes the positive contribution Catholic schools have made to providing children with quality education within the United States and throughout the world.

The work of the National Catholic Educational Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops toward coordinating Catholic Schools Week and toward raising general awareness of the contributions Catholic schools have made to our communities is commendable. Together, their efforts have ensured that Catholic Schools Week has remained a success since its inception in 1974.

Catholic schools have fulfilled an important role in this country. The advent of Catholic schools in this country can be traced back as far as 1606, when the priests from the Franciscan order opened a school in Florida. Today, Catholic schools offer comprehensive programs and educational, spiritual, and moral guidance to approximately 2,400,000 students at nearly 8,000 schools across the United States.

The number of racial and ethnic minority students enrolled in Catholic schools in the United States has more than doubled in the past 30 years. Racial and ethnic minority students now comprise 27 percent of the student population at Catholic schools. These statistics are evidence of the commitment to diversity fostered by Catholic schools in the United States. Catholic schools are also known for their academic excellence. Catholic secondary schools in the United States graduate 99 percent of their students, 97 percent of which go on to attend college.

I represent Guam. The Roman Catholic Church has long been an intrinsic part of Guam's culture. In fact, Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores, a Spanish Jesuit missionary, established a mission in the village of Agania in 1665. Guam's population is approximately 85 percent Roman Catholic. The positive influence of the Roman Catholic Church on Guam is evidenced as a result its service to the needy, its dedication to the community, and its education of our youth.

In 1946, Bishop Appollinaris Baumgartner, recognizing the need for quality education on Guam, invited the Sisters of Mercy from North Carolina to Guam. The Sisters of Mercy established The Academy of Our Lady. The Academy of Our Lady became the first all girls' Catholic high school on Guam and continues to educate young women today. Three years later, Bishop Baumgartner invited the School Sisters of Notre Dame to Guam. The School Sisters of Notre Dame founded Notre Dame High School, which continues today to provide high-quality Catholic education to young men and women on Guam. Father Duenas Memorial High School is named in honor of the courageous Father Jesus Baza Duenas, who was executed by the Imperial Japanese forces occupying Guam during the Second World War for refusing to betray the location of an American sailor hiding on our island. Father Duenas Memorial High School continues his legacy of courage and integrity. All three of these Catholic high schools offer rigorous curricula to prepare students for college while instilling strong moral values and an understanding of the Catholic faith.

Archbishop Felixberto Camacho Flores, Guam's first Chamorro Bishop, continued Bishop Baumgartner's legacy of shaping the character of Guam's faithful by promoting Catholic education opportunities on our island. Under Archbishop Flores's leadership, the number of Catholic schools serving the people of Guam increased, education programs expanded, and school facilities were modernized. In addition to these three Catholic high schools, Guam is home to four nursery schools, six elementary schools, and six middle schools that teach the Catholic faith in addition to other academic curriculum. Our community knows well the contributions that Catholic schools make toward providing a quality educating to our children.

Catholic schools on Guam and around the country excel in their mission of providing quality and character education to children. Their influence has helped form socially responsible and morally upright graduates who possess the skills, character traits and compassion that help produce good citizens and effective community leaders. On this occasion of the 33rd annual Catholic Schools Week, I recognize and commend the Catholic schools on Guam and throughout the country for their commitment to instilling the principles of academic excellence, strong moral values, and a dedication to and fulfillment of Catholic ideals in our children's daily lives. In particular I recognize in a very special way all of the administrators, the faculty, the staff, the students, the parents, and their families of the greater Catholic School community on Guam. Their work is a testament to the strength of Catholic education on Guam. I also recognize the unfailing leadership of Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap., D.D., the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Agana, and Ms. Cynthia S. Agbulos, the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Agana.

Madam Speaker, it is commonly said that public service is not the path to financial wealth. Perhaps that is true, but, as we know, it is an enriching experience in more valuable ways. The rewards for helping people can be found in successfully meeting challenges and in the gratitude of the people helped. Staying true to the demands of public service and remaining committed to the tasks at hand require a strong sense of duty and responsibility.

On January 19, 2007, a faithful public servant with such virtues will leave his post after 35 years. Mr. John Vanderburgh, the Social Security Administration's Disability Programs coordinator for the Guam Federal Disability Office, will retire. The decision to do so was not easy to make. ``My job is wonderful,'' he says. ``I get to work directly with the public in a most personal and meaningful way. I also have the privilege of working and negotiating with professional and high-level private and public agencies, and the medical community in general, to try to provide a level of service comparable to that found anywhere stateside.''

After serving his country in the U.S. Army, Mr. Vanderburgh launched his public service career with the Social Security Administration in 1974, starting as a claims representative in San Francisco and rising through the ranks to operations supervisor and district manager, with a stint in between as staff assistant for the Civic Center. In 1988, John moved to the San Francisco Regional Office's Disability Quality Branch, to focus on the disability program. In 1995, John came to Guam to head the Federal Disability Office.

The Guam Federal Disability Office, FDO, serves the Pacific territories--from Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas to American Samoa, an expansive and culturally and linguistically diversified area. Yet, during his tenure, John has maintained the FDO as a full-service Federal disability determination center, processing some 1,000 disability claims annually.

Although John will be missed, we join his staff in wishing him well. And on behalf of the people of Guam, we commend him for his service to our community, we congratulate him on his retirement, and we thank him for a job well done.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5, the College Student Relief Act of 2007, a bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reduce interest rates for student borrowers. This bill would provide a fifty percent reduction in the interest rates applied to loans provided through the Federal Family Education Loan and Direct Loan programs to undergraduate students over the next five years. These interest rates would be reduced to the 3.4 percent by the year 2011.

Tuition costs and fees for four-year-colleges and universities in the United States have risen 41 percent after inflation since 2001. The Congressional Advisory Commission on Student Financial Assistance reports that nearly 4.4 million high school students will not be able to afford to attend a four-year public college over the next 10 years. If we do not act today, Madam Speaker, 12 million fewer college- educated workers will be among America's workforce by the year 2020.

The interest rate cuts proposed by H.R. 5 are significant, and will help stem this potential crisis. For example, a student with a $13,800 loan will save nearly $4,400 over the life of their loan. This will serve to mitigate the rise in college tuition, and will allow nearly 5.5 million students in the United States and the territories-- especially those in the middle- and low-income brackets--to pursue and attain a quality higher education. Increasing the numbers of American workers who earned a college degree will help ensure the strength and vibrancy of America's economy into the next generation. The realities of the global marketplace place a high premium on workers with advanced education and training. We must do all that we can to make such education and training accessible to as many of our children as possible.

I represent the territory of Guam. This legislation is of great value to my constituents who plan to seek higher education. It is my hope that enactment of the provision of this bill into law will those among my constituency who previously believed higher education to be unaffordable to reconsider and pursue college degrees. This legislation will significantly lower the overall financial burden of higher education for Americans.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5, the College Student Relief Act of 2007.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 104th anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States, which is this Saturday, January 13, 2007. This date also marks the annual celebration of Korean American Day as designated by the Centennial Committees of Korean Immigration and Korean Americans.

Korean Americans have thrived in the United States since their arrival in the Hawaiian Islands in 1903. The contributions of Korean Americans to our society are found in nearly every community across our country and span the fields of arts and entertainment, economics, medicine, science and religion, among many others. Many Korean immigrants have established successful new businesses, have risen to assume important civic leadership roles within their communities, and have developed pioneering, lifesaving medical procedures.

In the early 1950s, thousands of Koreans, fleeing from war, poverty and desolation, came to the United States. The trend of Koreans immigrating to the United States continued in the years to come. In the 1960s, President John F. Kennedy lifted the United States security clearance requirement which restricted travel to and from Guam. The lifting of this security clearance requirement enabled immigration to and international investment on Guam from Korea and other countries in Asia.

Koreans began to establish residence on Guam as early as the 1970s, and in the 1980s many new Korean families arrived on island to establish a new beginning in America. Today, Korean Americans are an integral part of our island family. On this day, we celebrate the richness of their culture, their traditions, their achievements, and their contributions to our community. To that end, I also want to recognize the Korean Association of Guam. The Association serves as an important support group for new immigrants from Korea, and through its efforts, the professional and civic interests of the Korean American community on Guam are preserved and advanced.

The contributions of Korean Americans are found not only in Guam, but also in every community across the United States. Korean Americans are key contributors in the economic, medical, academic and religious fields. Notably, at least 4,000 Korean Americans serve in the United States Armed Forces. Many of these servicemembers have completed tours of duty in the Global War on Terrorism or are deployed in Iraq. Whether they are serving as leaders in their communities or fighting alongside their fellow Americans in defense of our country, Korean Americans have demonstrated their significant presence in and contributions to the United States.

I wish to express my heartfelt support for the greater Korean American community on the occasion of the 104th anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States. In doing so, I also take the opportunity to recognize the growth and contributions of the Korean Association of Guam, which was established to advance the professional and civic interests of Korean Americans in our community. Today, the Korean Association of Guam serves as an important welcoming support group for new immigrants from

Korea. Through the continued efforts and contributions of Korean Americans, the ties of United States with Korea will be strengthened in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4, the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007. Currently, the federal government is prohibited from directly negotiating with pharmaceutical companies for lower prescription drug prices for individuals enrolled in the Medicare program. This legislation will repeal this prohibition. In doing so, it will require that the Secretary of Health and Human Services negotiate for lower prescription drug prices for the millions of senior citizens who are Medicare beneficiaries.

Today, senior citizens enrolled in Medicare Part D are paying higher prices for prescription drugs that are negotiated solely by market forces and pharmaceutical companies. Many senior citizens are also left without Medicare assistance once their annual prescription drug costs reach the threshold amount placing them in the coverage gap known as the ``doughnut hole.'' The Secretary of Health and Human Services has the leverage and the bargaining power of millions of Medicare beneficiaries with which to negotiate prescription drug price discounts. We should agree to H.R. 4 in order to empower the Secretary to use this leverage and bargaining strength for the benefit of Medicare beneficiaries.

I fully support the innovated research and development conducted by the pharmaceutical industry. Advancements made as a result of these research and development processes have eradicated diseases and alleviated suffering for countless individuals around the world. The decreased revenue from the lower drug prices should not necessarily nor directly lead to a decrease in investment toward research and development by pharmaceutical companies. I acknowledge the many contributions made by the pharmaceutical industry toward developing medicines that have improved the lives of so many. In no way do I believe that this legislation will impede the industry's ability to continue to provide great medical advancements for the American people and others.

I represent the territory of Guam. Three prescription drug plans from a single insurance company are offered today to Guam's Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in Medicare Part D. Opponents of H.R. 4 argue that the private sector can and will adequately negotiate for lower prescription drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries lest the seniors transfer to a different, less expensive plan. Unfortunately, in my district, where only one insurance company currently provides plans under Medicare Part D, there is no private competition and limited choice among plans. Medicare beneficiaries deserve to have access to the lowest prescription drug prices possible. I therefore urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 4 and in favor of providing affordable prescription drugs for our senior citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in general support of H.R. 3, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007. This bill would authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to support the expansion of research involving stem cells regardless of the date on which the stem cells are derived and under the principal condition that such research conforms to certain ethical standards that would be set forth by the bill.

I have joined over 200 of my colleagues in cosponsoring this legislation to demonstrate my general support for ethically responsible, expanded, federally funded scientific research that stands to yield advances toward discovering treatments and cures for many terminal, debilitating diseases and physical impairments.

It is true that research on the lifesaving qualities of stem cells predominantly remains in preliminary stages. But the potential for easing the suffering of individuals, curtailing illnesses, and protecting the general health and welfare of future generations that is offered by continuing and expanding this research is too great to ignore. Authorizing Federal support for the continuation and expansion of this research under strict ethical guidelines is an investment worth making today. We should pass legislation to enhance the abilities of and authorize funding for the scientific community to attain the most advanced scientific achievements possible that modern technology can bring and that we, as a society, can morally afford.

I believe that this legislation provides for the ethical safeguards needed to ensure that government funding is not used to compromise the integrity and morality of the American people in exchange for supporting research that could lead to cures for many illnesses. I support H.R. 3 because it provides appropriate safeguards while promoting the lifesaving research that will make a profound difference in many lives in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, which proposes to increase the national minimum wage by a modest, but significant $2.10 over the course of roughly 2 years. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation for three basic and important reasons.

Madam Speaker, since the birth of our great Nation, there have been true patriots--men and women--always willing and always able to answer the call to arms. Although they realized the risks, their love for home and family and loyalty to the Nation overrode their fears. In the on-going war against terrorism, my island home has lost yet another son, SGT Jesse Castro, U.S. Army, of Chalan Pago. With a heavy but proud heart, I extend heartfelt condolences and profound sympathy to Jesse's family on behalf of the People of Guam and a grateful Nation. Jesse was a caring son, a loving husband, a devoted father, and a proud American patriot.

Jesse will be remembered by so many people, but he will especially be remembered by his fellow athletes who shared his enthusiasm for sport and adventure. Jesse was a member of Guam's Junior National Baseball team, as well as the Tamuning Eagles and Pepsi Giants football teams. His passion for the mixed martial arts was remarkable and only equaled by his skill and success in the sport, all of which will forever be remembered by his fellow fighters, but especially by those who faced him in the ring. His intensity, dedication and competitive spirit were felt by and known to those who practiced with him for athletic competition and later by the Soldiers who trained with him to protect peace and freedom in the United States Army. Jesse also enjoyed the thrill of off-roading and motorcycling on his Harley-Davidson, passions that further reflected his love of adventure and his free spirit.

But perhaps above all else, Jesse's desire to learn and to serve his people marked him. He was clearly a young and mature community leader, the kind of young man every community hopes to produce and forever embraces. Driven by his sense of duty and public service, he completed the Guam Community College's Basic Law Enforcement Academy. Determined to put his new skills to use and to act on his sense of duty, Jesse would not, however, wait for a vacancy on the police force. He quickly enlisted in the United States Army and set out to serve his country and the cause of freedom.

Ultimately, Jesse's life was a celebration of living life to its fullest. His love for his family, his devotion to his island, and his dedication to his country will forever serve as an inspiration to all who know or hear of Jesse Castro. It is said that there is no greater love than that a man lay down his life for another. Jesse gave his life so that others might some day know the joys of freedom and liberty. Jesse's beautiful wife, Therese, his young infant son, Jesse Jr. and mother, Doring, will forever know that their Jesse lived a life worth living, one marked by dignity, excellence, service, integrity, adventure and love. And while we will all forever miss him, we will all forever celebrate him. I honor him and his family. God Bless Jesse and the Castro family, God Bless Guam and God Bless America.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize CSM George Q. Crisostomo on the occasion of his retirement from the United States Army after 28 years of service.

Command Sergeant Major Crisostomo has served our country with distinction both in peacetime and wartime. His exemplary service includes assignments as a Drill Sergeant at Fort Benning, Georgia, and as a Senior ROTC Instructor in Puerto Rico. He served his first combat tour in support of Operation Desert Storm as a Platoon Sergeant while assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 17th Infantry (RAKASSAN), 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Most recently, Command Sergeant Major Crisostomo served a combat tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Command Sergeant Major with the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Throughout his Army career, Command Sergeant Major Crisostomo distinguished himself as a leader, serving in positions where soldiers relied upon him for guidance, experience, and knowledge. In addition to his leadership assignments in combat and service as an instructor, Command Sergeant Major Crisostomo has served as a Scout Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Company First Sergeant, and Battalion Command Sergeant Major. He was a ``soldier's soldier.''

Command Sergeant Major Crisostomo's exemplary service earned him numerous awards and military decorations including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Meritorious Service Medal. He also earned the Expert and Combat Infantryman badges. Command Sergeant Major Crisostomo received the Korea National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

I wish to recognize the sacrifices and support of Command Sereant Major Crisostomo's family, especially his wife, Claire. I also recognize the positive influence that he has had in preparing his children for their futures. His daughter, Jenna Lynn, is now a senior at the University of Arizona, and his son, SGT Joshua D. Crisostomo, is following in his footsteps and is currently serving in Iraq with the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York.

On behalf of the people of Guam and a grateful Nation, we congratulate Command Sergeant Major Crisostomo and his family as he retires from the United States Army, and we wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the short life of Jeromy Paul Castro Newby who passed away on January 5, 2007, but whose life inspired many people on our island of Guam. To all who knew him, Jeromy was a cheerful young man whose smile and warmth brightened those around him. He was active in school and village activities and his service to our community is an enduring example for young people on Guam.

A tenth-grader at Southern High School in Guam, Jeromy was an excellent student who earned the appreciation of his teachers and classmates. Jeromy was a competitive athlete, who was respected for both his skill and sportsmanship on the basketball court and baseball diamond. Jeromy was also a performer with the Inetnon Gef Pago, a cultural performance group dedicated to promoting the Chamorro culture through song and dance. Jeromy's love of our island and the Chamorro culture was evidenced by the activities he participated in and the relationships he formed.

Jeromy's memory will be cherished by those whose lives he touched. I join our community in extending heartfelt condolences to his parents, Johnny Reyes and Lynette Castro Newby, his brothers Johnny Lee, Joe Michael, and Jesse Noel, and his sisters Jenny Lynn and Jenny Lou for their loss.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 843, the Combating Autism Act of 2006. This bill authorizes funding important for the continuation of research of pervasive development disabilities, the coordination and dissemination of the research findings from institutions throughout the country, and the promotion of early screening of pervasive development disabilities among high-risk children. This bill goes far towards making the combating of autism a national priority. This bill, notably, includes provisions that recognize the importance of providing culturally competent information to individuals and communities. These provisions are important to minority communities.

Pervasive development disabilities are indiscriminate, afflicting children of all socioeconomic backgrounds and all races. My district, Guam, alone is home to approximately 110 individuals with autism spectrum disorders. According to the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, one out of every 166 children may be affected by some form of autism spectrum disorder.

While there remains varying viewpoints over the causes of autism, research has shown that early diagnosis and intervention have been the most effective means of addressing pervasive development disabilities. The Combating Autism Act's multifaceted approach to this important issue allows for the funding of research, public education, and early detection efforts. This multi-faceted approach will assist the families and children who are afflicted with autism spectrum disorders today, while striving to continue the progress toward finding comprehensive treatments for autism spectrum disorders.

I commend my colleagues in the House of Representatives and in the Senate for moving this important legislation forward. It is my hope that this legislation will ease the emotional and psychological pressures experienced by families caring for individuals with autism; and that it will eventually bring about greater understanding of and improved treatment for autism spectrum disorders.

I urge my colleagues' support for S. 843.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4997, the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act. This bill will permanently authorize the J-1 visa waiver program, allowing foreign physicians certain visa waivers in exchange for their service in medically underserved areas within the United States including the territories. A recent study conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) attributed the J-1 visa waivers as a major means through which communities have successfully placed physicians in underserved areas.

The J-1 visa waiver program, since its inception in 1994, has brought physicians from areas around the world to the United States to improve access to primary medical care for individuals in underserved communities. Every year, nearly 1,000 requests for J-1 visa waivers are submitted, which is a testament to this program's popularity and effectiveness among U.S. medical schools and medically underserved communities.

As the representative from Guam, I know first-hand the challenges rural and medically underserved areas face. For instance, there is no oncologist on the island of Guam today. Cancer patients must travel to Hawaii to receive treatment. Because of the J-1 visa waiver program, however, the Government of Guam was able to apply for J-1 visa waivers for two physicians in 2005.

The Physicians for Underserved Areas Act, by making this program permanent, will go far toward helping medically underserved areas like the one I represent. Healthcare is a national priority, and as legislators, we are tasked with doing all that we can at the federal level to ensure that adequate medical care is available to all and that medical professionals can be recruited to serve medically underserved communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Josefa Cruz Certeza, known affectionately to her family and friends as Tan Pai, on the occasion of her 90th birthday, which she celebrates today, Monday, November 27, 2006.

Tan Pai was born and raised in the village of Piti, Guam, and currently resides in the village of Agat. Her parents are Enrique Santos and Josefa Perez Cruz. She was married to the late Delfin Quenga Certeza and has six children, 21 grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren.

On this special occasion we recognize Tan Pai's many contributions and her selfless service to our community over the past 60 years. Tan Pai is a strong Chamorro woman, and she is respected by our community as one of the eldest and few surviving Suruhanas (Traditional Healer) on our island today.

Tan Pai's life and vocation as a Suruhana began when her youngest son fell ill, and when she went to seek help for him from a Suruhana in a nearby village. That Suruhana was too busy and told Tan Pai to come back

the next day. Tan Pai felt that it would be too late for her son to wait, so she decided to find a cure herself.

Tan Pai learned the techniques of massage and herbal (the Chamorro) medicine from her mother, Josefa Perez Cruz, and from her husband's grandmother, Vicenta Quidachay Quenga.

Mrs. Vicenta Quidachay Quenga had learned the practices of a Suruhana herself firsthand from her mother. Mrs. Quenga was a gifted teacher who divulged the recipes to Tan Pai. There were many known Suruhanas at that time of Tan Pai's youth, but Tan Pai did not pay close attention to their practices and gifts until the incident befell her son and her strong interest in the tradition took root.

Raised in the Chamorro and Catholic traditions, Tan Pai is strong in her faith and believes that God has granted her a special gift, the power to cure, and that she should use this gift to help others in need. Since the age of 30, Tan Pai's specialty as Suruhana was in treatment of those illnesses which were considered ailments of children (chetnot famagu'on) and she has cured (Guiya uma amte) children of many illnesses which were traditionally treated by a Suruhana, and those of which modern medicine has no remedy. She uses massage, making medicines (using ``lommock''), massage with applications of medicine, and massage with consumption of medicine.

Tan Pai was one of the Suruhanas mentioned in a manuscript, entitled, ``I CheE'Cho Suruhana Yan Suruhanu (The Use of Traditional Medicine and Healers on Guam).'' It was written, for review only, by three students working on a documentary at the University of Guam. The manuscript represents work over 10 years of research which began in 1981 as a student project. This project has evolved to include indigenous participation in cultural preservation and education, and has become a scholarly and scientific endeavor for the benefit of our island community.

Tan Pai has been featured as one of ``The Last of the Suruhanas'' in the Guahan Magazine and has received, on various occasions, local exposure from KUAM news and Guam Cable Television for her traditional Suruhana methods.

On behalf of a grateful island community, I join her children, Abeline, Bertha, Adelbert, Galo, Joseph, and Franklin, her family and friends, and all of the people of Guam, in extending a heartfelt ``Dangkulo na Si Yu'os Ma'ase'' to Mrs. Josefa Cruz Certeza for all of the good work she has done for our people, and for her continued selfless service to our community.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague, the chairman of the Armed Forces Committee, Mr. Hunter of California, and the cosponsors of this resolution for introducing it.

I rise this morning in support of this resolution. It has been said that we often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude, and there is little doubt in our country today that the men and women who are serving our Nation in uniform deserve our deepest gratitude.

I support this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do the same, because at its heart is the principle that when our veterans return from performing their duty, we in turn owe a duty to them to assist them in their transition from citizen soldier to life as a civilian.

For many veterans, Mr. Speaker, especially those who return wounded, the transition to civilian life can be rocky and challenging. This Congress has committed to provide every tool necessary to our warfighters so that they can overcome any obstacle that they face in combat.

This resolution in a specific employment sense seeks to encourage the application of the same vigor in supporting our wounded veterans in their efforts to overcome obstacles involved in returning to civilian life and securing civilian employment. But as in all things, there is no silver bullet to facilitate the transition from wounded hero to employed civilian.

This resolution reflects the importance of supporting the hurdle of finding employment. But before our war-wounded can even consider employment, our commitment must be to world-class medical treatment that returns the wounded to the greatest health possible before they can enter the workforce.

Similarly, while some wounds may heal quickly, many others endure. So we must work to ensure that a veterans health care system with the capability, the capacity and the care to provide continuing treatment to our veterans is always, always available.

Further, while many military skills are invaluable in the workplace, a commitment to education and training funding for veterans can be critical to providing any opportunity, not just at employment, but at achieving continued advancement and new levels of financial and professional success.

I am proud of the record my colleagues have on championing these and so many related issues, and I know I speak for my colleagues in the upcoming Democratic majority in saying that we look forward to continuing and expanding our commitment to this full spectrum of care that our veterans deserve.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, we are reminded of the ethical mandates of service as Members of Congress, and I am reminded that I was sent to this great legislative body not to just use my position to influence others, but to legislate. So while I strongly support this resolution which encourages Members to use their personal influence to encourage employers to hire wounded veterans, the most important action for our Members will be continued and renewed vigor in our legislative efforts to support our veterans across the broad spectrum of support that they have earned.

I am proud, Mr. Speaker, of the record that employers in my home district, Guam, have established in supporting all veterans, but especially wounded veterans. My partnership with the Guam Chamber of Commerce has proved valuable to promoting such hiring practices, and I encourage all Members to so reach out on behalf of wounded veterans in their community

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise also to support H. Res. 1087.

I join my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, in recognizing the distinguished service of our retiring colleague, Mr. Hyde of Illinois. It has been a privilege to serve with him in this body. He has established himself as an effective and dedicated public servant over the course of nearly 40 years in public service and 16 terms in Congress.

He is a gifted public speaker and one of the House's skilled orators. His leadership as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and the House International Relations Committee has evidenced his skills as a legislator and his commitment to strengthen the principles of our great country, the United States of America. We will miss him, but we will recall the ideals and the principles for which he stands and his graciousness.

So, Mr. Speaker, I find it very fitting that we designate a room in the Capitol in his honor. This room will remind us of his work and his service in this institution.