Floor Statements

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

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

Mr. Speaker, this legislation simply allows landowners to pay off their financial obligations for the Bureau of Reclamation's Minidoka Project. We believe that this legislation is appropriate and, in fact, may provide a slight financial benefit to the United States. Mr. Speaker, we have no objection to the enactment of H.R. 5666.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, this trail proposal has been thoroughly studied and is widely supported. Our former House colleague and now- retiring Senator from Maryland, Paul Sarbanes, is to be commended for his sponsorship of the Senate companion measure and for his work on behalf of this proposal. We have no objection to H.R. 5466.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is the companion to H.R. 2978, a bill that passed the House of Representatives this past May. S. 1219 offers a sensible and a cooperative solution to a water supply problem in eastern Montana. Too often in this body we are witness to conflicts over resources, especially when it comes to water problems in our western States. This bill is a welcome departure from that.

Mr. Speaker, we strongly support the adoption of the Senate bill 1219.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, this legislation, introduced by my colleague on the Resources Committee, Mr. Mark Udall, presents an exciting opportunity to solve critical water problems in locations with producing oil and gas wells.

Water is almost always brought to the surface along with oil and gas production, and most of the time the water is a very poor quality. For the oil and gas industry, this water is usually a waste product, something to be disposed of.

Mr. Udall has recognized this problem of so-called produced water as a unique opportunity to solve critical water problems, and, as my colleagues are aware, this is especially important in the arid western States. This legislation will authorize a study and a limited number of demonstration projects to validate the concept that contaminated water produced from oil and gas wells can in fact be treated and put to beneficial use.

We are appreciative of the hard work Mr. Udall has done to move this legislation through the Resources Committee.

Mr. Speaker, we strongly support the adoption of H.R. 5110.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall).

(Mr. UDALL of Colorado asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time. Again I want to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Udall, who is a water expert who has done a great deal of work on this particular piece of legislation.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, the majority has already explained the purpose of H.R. 395, which was introduced by my colleague from Massachusetts, Representative Marty Meehan.

This is really a housekeeping measure. The five parcels to be added to the park total less than 1 acre. Yes, that is correct, less than 1 acre. The gentleman from Massachusetts, Representative Meehan, is to be commended for his efforts on behalf of the Lowell National Historical Park. He has worked diligently to advance the preservation and the interpretation of the historic

resources located at this historical park, and the addition of these parcels will help further that goal.

So, Mr. Speaker, we support H.R. 395, and I urge adoption of the legislation by the House today.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my colleague from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan).

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Mr. Meehan from the great State of Massachusetts for his diligent work on this piece of legislation

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, the changes made to this legislation by the Senate have improved the bill, and we continue to support the passage of H.R. 1492. Representatives Doris Matsui and Mike Honda are to be commended for their tireless efforts on behalf of this proposal. We also recognize the senior Senator from the State of Hawaii in the other body, and that is the Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, for his distinguished work in advancing this important legislation.

Within 3 months of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Executive Order 9066 authorized the removal of over 100,000 Japanese Americans from their homes and their relocation to isolated internment camps in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. Decades later, our Nation came to understand and regret the grave mistakes of the past and the unacceptable premise that American citizens could lose their constitutional rights in the name of security. The internment camps stand as a stark testimonial to the underlying error of that premise.

As we mentioned when the House first approved this measure on November 15, 2005, the injustice of internment is not some distant, historical artifact. Rather, for former Members of this body, such as former Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, or our late colleague, Representative Robert Matsui, internment was a painful reality.

Today, this bill is a testament to the legacy of these loyal Americans and honors the memory of their struggles. This legislation is not only a tribute to those who suffered the injustice of internment but also to the triumphs of our distinguished former colleagues. We urge support for H.R. 1492 in their names and in the names of all those who have faced, or continue to face, injustice.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he wishes to consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda), my good friend, the chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus who spent time in an internment camp as an infant.

(Mr. HONDA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, it is now my distinct privilege to yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), our colleague from Sacramento, who has worked diligently on this legislation and who understands firsthand the importance of preserving the internment sites, as she was born at the Poston internment camp in Arizona.

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

Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I want to again acknowledge all of the Members of both Chambers who have worked hard on this legislation: Congressman Thomas, Congressman Honda, Congressman Matsui,

Senator Inouye, Senator Akaka, and the leadership of both the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Resources Committee. It has been a privilege of mine to serve with Chairman Pombo and Congressman Rahall. We are going to miss working with Chairman Thomas and Chairman Pombo. We appreciate their support of this legislation, and we look forward to continuing to work under the leadership of Congressman Rahall. I thank my friend from California (Mr. Radanovich) for managing these bills with me today

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1245, a bill to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out a national campaign to increase the awareness and knowledge of women with respect to gynecologic cancers.

Two months ago marked the seventh annual Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. I expressed my strong belief that raising public awareness, detecting gynecological cancers early, and educating women to the risk of reproductive tract cancers are powerful methods with which to combat this disease in my September 29, 2006, statement in honor of Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month. Today, we continue the important work to raise public awareness of gynecologic cancers through passage of this bill. We also reaffirm that detecting gynecological cancer early and educating women to the risk of reproductive tract cancers are key methods with which to combat this disease by passing this legislation.

It is important to recognize that H.R. 1245 enjoys the support of 257 members

of this body. The bill has been named in honor of Johanna Silver Gordon, who lost her life to a battle with ovarian cancer which was not diagnosed until it had reached an advanced stage. Today we honor her life and her fight against cancer. We also renew our commitment to legislation to be known as Johanna's Law once enacted that will help save the lives of others who are at risk of gynecologic cancers.

A poll recently released by the Gynecological Cancer Foundation revealed that 45 percent of American women could not name a single symptom common to gynecological cancers. This fact alone suggests more must be done in terms increasing awareness. Education and outreach on gynecological cancers deserves to be a national priority and an ongoing effort of the Department of Health and Human Services.

I urge that this House adopt H.R. 1245, and I urge my colleagues' support for additional and continued action towards increasing research funds and treatment options for those individuals who have been diagnosed with forms of gynecologic cancer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 864, the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act. If enacted, this legislation would require Federal, State, local and tribal authorities to adopt a comprehensive and coordinated approach toward mitigating and countering underage consumption of alcoholic beverages. I fully support a multifaceted strategy toward addressing this public health issue. Preventing underage drinking requires strict enforcement of existing laws, comprehensive education to prevent binge drinking, and continued research of the effects of alcohol on the health of adolescents. Combating the problem of underage drinking also requires committed efforts by community leaders, parents, teachers, mentors, policy makers, and others to work to instill an increased sense of responsibility and respect for the law in young people.

I firmly believe that investing in research of the effects alcohol has on minors and raising public awareness among at-risk demographic groups, parents, and educators are two important ways to mitigating and countering underage drinking. As leaders, it is our duty to help improve the health and well-being of the next generation. Doing so will ensure that they have the utmost opportunity to lead productive and prosperous lives. By countering underage drinking, we are allowing young adults to recognize their full potential. Enactment of this legislation would go far toward achieving these goals.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Honorable Frances Marie Tydingco-Gatewood, who was nominated by the President and sworn in on October 30, 2006 to serve as a United States District Court Chief Judge for the District of Guam. One of our island's finest jurists, Judge Tydingco-Gatewood has a distinguished career of service to our island in the judicial system.

Born on January 21, 1958 on the island of Oahu, Hawaii to Daniel J. and Francesca S.

Tydingco, she returned with her family to her island of Guam as a young child and grew up in the village of Mongmong-Toto-Maite. She attended Yigo Elementary School, Barrigada Junior High, Dededo Junior High and graduated from George Washington High School in Mangilao in 1976.

Proving that hard work leads to success, Judge Tydingco-Gatewood earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University in 1980 and in 1983 achieved a personal milestone as she earned her law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. After graduating from law school, Judge Tydingco-Gatewood began her career as a law clerk for the Presiding Judge of the Jackson County Circuit Courts in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1984, she returned home to Guam and became the first Chamorro woman to be appointed as an Assistant Attorney General. She served as an Assistant Prosecutor in Jackson County, Missouri from 1988 to 1990, and upon returning to Guam with her new experience, became Guam's first Chamorro woman appointed as Chief Prosecutor.

As Chief Prosecutor, Frances Tydingco-Gatewood exhibited the professionalism and leadership skills that would earn the respect of her peers and later appointment to the bench. She gained a reputation as a tough prosecutor and a savvy lawyer. In 1994 Governor Joseph F. Ada appointed her as a Judge in the Superior Court of Guam and in 2001 she was appointed by Governor Carl T. C. Gutierrez as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of Guam.

She was appointed by Chief Justice F. Philip Carbullido to chair seven Guam Supreme Court subcommittees. She served as co-chairperson of the Family Violence Task Force where she has been a community leader in raising awareness about domestic violence. Justice Tydingco-Gatewood serves as co-chairperson for the Pacific Judicial Council Education Committee, which is dedicated to improving the education of all Justices, Judges and Courts staff for Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, American Samoa, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

It is Judge Tydingco-Gatewood's character and her distinguished career that led me to confidently recommend her for the federal bench at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on July 11, 2006. She is a leader, a role model for our young citizens, and a strong Chamorro woman who embodies the integrity and pride of the Chamorro people. On behalf of the people of Guam, it is my privilege to recognize Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood and her achievements which are an inspiration to women in Guam and throughout our nation.

As she stands alongside her husband of 25 years, Dr. Robert Gatewood and their three sons, Daniel, Michael and Stephen, she has the support of our community and the confidence of the President and the Congress. We all share her joy with her family and friends and we wish her every success as she undertakes the greatest challenge of her remarkable legal career.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements of Sanctuary, Incorporated on the occasion of the organization's 35th Anniversary. Sanctuary is a community-based nonprofit organization in Guam dedicated to facilitating and supporting conflict resolution activities aimed to reconcile differences between family members and reunite estranged families.

Sanctuary was incorporated under the law of Territory of Guam in 1971. Originally the organization sought to provide counseling teenage runaways on the island. Sanctuary's primary purpose was to provide these youths with a temporary residential shelter while offering family counseling services. Sanctuary has grown over the last 35 years and it has expanded its services to accommodate the diverse needs and complex issues of today's youth.

Sanctuary began expanding its mission in the late 1980s. For instance, the organization opened its Transitional Living Program, TLP, to assist older youth who were aging out of the foster care system but who were unable to return to their families. The TLP program helped prepare these youths for adulthood by teaching them the fundamentals of independent living. Sanctuary also established a community-based Drug Prevention program in the 1990s. What is more, the organization developed the parental assistance program Ayuda Para I Manaina, APIM. Lastly, it created programs to provide for the emotional and physical needs of teens and young adults victimized by domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault or other crimes. These programs have made and continue to make important contributions to strengthening our community on Guam.

Sanctuary has led other initiatives as well. The organization recently received federal funding to create theatrical productions to prevent teenage tobacco use in Guam. With those funds, the organization produced a music album and video in 2003 featuring young musicians and aspiring actors and actresses from Guam. The project advocated a tobacco-free lifestyle and was distributed to Guam's middle and high schools for use as a classroom instructional resource. Most recently, Sanctuary opened Guam's first and only substance abuse treatment program for adolescents, Sagan Na' Homlo (Para I Manhoben). Sagan Na' Homlo provides two cycles of services and counseling to youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who struggle with drugs and alcohol. This two cycle approach is taken to ensure these at-risk youths receive the maximum benefits of the service and counseling available to them through this program. Today, Sanctuary also operates a Co-Ed Emergency Shelter that has the capacity to care for 18 youths. The shelter is designed as a safe alternative for abused, runaway, homeless and troubled youth to turn to when they are experiencing challenges.

For the 35 years, Sanctuary, Incorporated has been the leader in increasing public awareness of at-risk youth situations and providing those youths, their families, and the community of Guam with resources, counseling and support services. With the steadfast commitment, dedication, and leadership of Sanctuary's current Executive Director, Sarah Thomas-Nededog, and Sanctuary's staff, faculty, Board of Directors and volunteers, the organization has become a true force for good on Guam, helping countless youths coping with the physical and emotional abuse to become valuable, functional and contributing members of society.

On behalf of all the people of Guam, I extend a most Dangkolo' Na Si Yu'os Ma'ase, Maraming Salamat Po, and Congratulations to Sanctuary, Incorporated on the occasion of its 35th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 473, a resolution recognizing September as the seventh annual Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month. I and 74 of my colleagues have co-sponsored this resolution. We firmly believe that raising public awareness, detecting gynecological cancers early, and educating women to the risk of reproductive tract cancers are powerful methods with which to combat this disease.

The Gynecological Cancer Foundation (GCF) seeks to promote these important goals by leading the Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month events and through the Foundation's work year-round. I commend the GCF for it efforts and accomplishments to date. I congratulate the GCF on the occasion of its 15th anniversary.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 27,000 of 71,000 women diagnosed with gynecological cancers succumbed to their diseases during 2002. Uterine cancer is the most common among women today. Ovarian cancer is the most deadly. Cervical cancer, for instance, was a leading cause of death for American women. But medical advances and early detection efforts during the last 40 years have significantly increased a woman's chances of surviving it. But a revealing 2005 GCF poll showed that 45 percent of American women could not name a single symptom common to gynecological cancers. Clearly, more must be done here.

Through awareness, early detection, education and better treatment we can make more progress toward increasing survival rates for women at risk for or diagnosed with gynecological cancers. The passage of H. Con. Res. 437 will help improve the rate of early detection of these cancers. The passage of H. Con. Res. 437 will also help to save lives. Lastly, the adoption of H. Con. Res. 473 will help bolster gynecological cancers education and research. Taken together, these actions will help researchers and physicians discover better treatments and ultimately a cure for these debilitating cancers.

Raising awareness and early detection coupled with better education and treatment programs for women who suffer from gynecological cancers is of particular concern to my constituents. Guam does not have an oncologist. Most oncology services are thousands of miles away in Hawaii or on the mainland. Adequate care and information regarding gynecological cancers are similarly inaccessible for women from other isolated or rural communities across America. They are at particular risk. We must do more to help them.

I was among thousands of people who stood at the Reflecting Pool on the West front of the U.S. Capitol to honor cancer survivors and mourn the loss of those who succumbed to the disease last week. Attendees were invited to light a candle in memory of survivors and victims of cancer. Each candle represented a person's battle, a family's grief, and a community's struggle. I memorialized Guam's cancer survivors and victims in this way. This Ceremony of Hope was an emotional display of strength and optimism. But the sight of a sea of candles flickering before us was also a disturbing testimony to the loss and heartbreak associated with this dreadful disease.

I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 473. I would also like to take this opportunity to urge the House Energy and Commerce Committee to report H.R. 1245, the Cancer Education and Awareness Act. H.R. 1245 enjoys the support of 256 members of this body. The bill is colloquially known as Johanna's Law, named in memory of Johanna Silver Gordon, who lost her life to a battle with ovarian cancer which was not diagnosed until it had reached an advanced stage. Johanna's Law would make education and outreach on gynecological cancers an ongoing effort and a national priority. The House should have an opportunity to vote on this bill. Together, H. Con. Res. 473 and H.R. 1245 would do much to raise awareness and improve early detection of gynecological cancers while facilitating better education and treatment programs for women who suffer from gynecological cancers.

Mr. Speaker. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2231, the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2005. I, along with 254 of my colleagues, have co-sponsored this important legislation since it was introduced in March of 2005. Support for this legislation will help ensure funding sources for further research and study of the environmental factors which contribute to the occurrence of breast cancer in both women and men remain available. It is as a result of this research that the causes of breast cancer will be determined. It is as a result of this research and other efforts that a cure will be found.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among American women. Sadly, one in every eight American women--an estimated 200,000 women this year alone--will be diagnosed with breast cancer according to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The American Cancer Society reports in ``Breast Cancer Facts and Figures 2005-2006'' that 40,410 women lost their fights with breast cancer last year. More must be done to understand the causes of breast cancer. More must be done to find a cure.

On Guam, we have a disturbing shortage of oncology-related services. There is no radiology treatment center on Guam. Our only oncologist recently left our island. Cancer prevention and research are an even higher priority for the people of Guam in light of the challenges we face each day toward gaining better access to cancer diagnosis for those who may be at risk, better treatment for those battling the disease, and better long-term care for those who are survivors.

A multi-faceted research approach based on a broad spectrum of causes ranging from genetics to environmental factors relating to breast cancer is needed. We will neglect a major aspect of treatment and possible future prevention if we do not support more funding for research on the impact of the environment on breast cancer.

We have an opportunity to further raise awareness for this disease next month by scheduling a vote on this bill. October 2006 will mark the 21st anniversary of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) has done excellent, life-saving work over the years educating women about early breast cancer detection, diagnosis and treatment. NBCAM continues its mission to reach out to women with several key messages. Most notably, NBCAM advocates for the importance of early detection through annual mammography screening for women over 40, or earlier for women at increased risk. I commend and fully support their efforts.

I am committed to help facilitate a better understanding of what causes breast cancer. I am committed to help find a cure. Passage of H.R. 2231, the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act of 2005 will help achieve these goals. I urge my colleagues to support floor consideration for H.R. 2231.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the conference agreement on H.R. 5122, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007. I am pleased that we have completed this Act before the onset of the new fiscal year because it contains provisions vital to the operation of our Department of Defense and to the men and women of our armed forces who are fighting the war against terrorism around the world today.

Several provisions within this Act are particularly important to my district and the people of Guam. Among these provisions is Section 1014, which closes a legal loophole that had previously been utilized by the Department of the Navy to permit repair of U.S. Navy vessels in foreign shipyards at the expense of U.S. shipyards, including the shipyard on Guam. By making clear that Guam, and in particular Guam's Apra Harbor, is a U.S. location, Section 1014 of this Act make clears to the Navy that its reliance on legal minutia to enable foreign repair of ships that are homeported on Guam or that make a port call on Guam is both unacceptable and now illegal. Congress expects the Navy to adhere both to the written word of 10 U.S.C. Section 7310, as amended by this Act, and to Congress's clear intent that Navy vessels will be repaired in U.S. shipyards except when those vessels are homeported overseas, when voyage repairs are necessary or where operational demands dictate. The Navy should not and cannot use excessively liberal definitions of voyage repairs or an overseas homeport to enable foreign repair.

Further, many vessels operating in the Pacific frequently make port calls on Guam. Section 1014 of this Act, when read in concert with related instructions from the Commander, Military Sealift Command and in particular the instruction identified as COMSCINST 4700.14A, also makes clear that vessels that make such port calls on Guam should no longer be considered eligible for repair in foreign shipyards such as the shipyard in Singapore. Paragraph 6(b)(5) of COMSCINST 4700.15A states, ``If an overseas homeported ship returns to the United States at any time during its overseas assignment, the policy governing U.S. homeported ships will apply, and the homeport status will be reevaluated.'' Ships that visit Guam regularly should not be included on the Assistant Secretary of the Navy's annual memorandum designating ships as homeported overseas and therefore made eligible for overseas repair. Ships that visit Guam must be returned to Guam, Hawaii or another U.S. location for repair, thereby being worked on by U.S. industry and our domestic skilled ship repair workforce.

Adherence to this refined and reemphasized policy is important to the vitality of the U.S. ship repair industrial base which is critical to our national security. Further, strict adherence to this policy will ensure that U.S. Navy vessels are repaired in safe harbors by U.S. citizens, thereby protecting our fleet and Navy personnel from risks such as attack, subterfuge, espionage or otherwise hostile actions. Section 1014 is a reaffirmation of Congressional intent on ``repair American'' policies applicable to the U.S. Navy. Section 1014 is an expression of this Congress's strong intent to safeguard the vital U.S. ship repair workforce and industry, one that faces significant workload reductions in coming years but one that must be maintained, even at greater cost, in order to maintain a ship repair industrial base capable of meeting any potential war time demand in the future. Congress will apply foresight if the Navy will not through the exercise of our oversight responsibilities.

It should be noted that the Section 1014 of the H.R. 5122 as passed by the House has been significantly streamlined. As a result of negotiations with the Senate and with the U.S. Navy, it was determined that Section 1014 did not need to be as robustly written as initially passed by the House. It should, however, also be noted that the Armed Services Committees will evaluate Navy compliance in light of the current revision to U.S. law and Congress's concern with the Navy's growing practice of sending U.S. Navy vessels to foreign shipyards for repair.

In addition to the revisions made to 10 U.S.C. 7310 is a provision agreed to by the conference committee, Section 1015, which provides for a comprehensive report on the operation of the Guam Shipyard and the Navy's intent for future utilization of the facility. It would be shortsighted of Congress to require greater utilization of such a facility without providing for appropriate study of the facility's current capabilities and of future needs for the facility in light of expected increased military utilization of the bases on Guam. I note that Guam will soon be home to 8,000 U.S. Marines who will be relocating from Okinawa and who will have points of embarkation in Apra Harbor. Guam will also soon become home to a third fast-attack nuclear- powered submarine and is expected to host an almost continuous presence of SSGN submarines. Further, military development plans call for the homeporting of three Littoral Combat Ships in Apra Harbor as well as significantly increased utilization of Apra Harbor by Navy aircraft carrIers.

The Navy must evaluate what capability it desires from the Guam Shipyard and begin preparations for an increase in the shipyard's utilization so that the shipyard can handle the anticipated additional repair requirements. The invaluable forward and strategic location of the Guam Shipyard cannot and should not be taken for granted and preparations must begin for growing its capability and capacity because it is clear that the yard will play an increased role in Navy ship repair in the Pacific as well as provide a vital capability to the U.S. Navy in the U.S.'s most strategic location in the Pacific. Training and growing a skilled U.S. ship repair workforce is not easy work. The Navy should begin enabling steady growth at the Guam Shipyard now so that the yard is prepared for future missions.

I would like to extend my thanks to Chairman Joel Hefley and Ranking Member Solomon Ortiz of the Readiness Subcommittee and to Chairman Duncan Hunter and Ranking Member Ike Skelton of the full committee for their steadfast subpart in adresses these ship repair and workforce issues. I would like to particularly thank the efforts of their respective staffs, especially the efforts of House Armed Services Committee Professional Staff Members Joe Fengler and Paul Arcangeli. Mr. Fengler has recently left the committee staff but I would like to acknowledge his professionalism, expertise and work ethic in representing his Chairman and in facilitating robust oversight by the House Armed Services Committee and its Members. I know that Mr. Fengler will have a bright future and I thank him for his dedication and service to Chairman Hunter, to the committee and to our country.

This Act also includes a provision, Section 2810, to repeal Section 2864 of Title 10 in the United States Code which prohibits H2-B skilled foreign laborers, or nonimmigrant aliens, from working on military construction (MILCON) projects on Guam. Many community and industry stakeholders recognized that the restriction on labor contracts for military construction projects on Guam does not apply to other military construction projects elsewhere. Stakeholders felt that the Guam specific restrictions could negatively impact the ability to execute the planned military growth on Guam in the required timeframe. Because completing the movement of Marines from Okinawa to Guam in a timely manner is a major component of an international agreement, it was considered important to enable the Department of Defense to complete military construction projects associated with this move without undue obstacles and in accordance with the timeframe set out by the governments of Japan and the United States. At my urging, all parties agreed that the priority for hiring labor for military construction projects on Guam will continue to go to the local workforce. Many observed, however, that the amount of work expected on Guam will likely exceed local capacity and require additional labor, as have other large construction booms in Guam's past. Nonetheless, a principal part of my focus in representing the people of Guam remains preparing and training the local Guam workforce so that Guam's workers can receive maximum benefit from the military buildup. This provision ultimately enables Guam to prepare to meet the demands of future construction while also enabling the United States Government to meet its international obligations and thereby maintain its credibility and reputation with important allies.

I am pleased that this Act also authorizes a major increase in military construction funding for Guam. The military construction funding for Guam is a continued reflection of the Department of Defense's renewed interest in utilizing Guam's first-class and strategically located bases. Guam provides a capability to our Nation to project stability into the Pacific and, if ever necessary, to project force to protect our Nation, our allies and our values. I note that the Senate had previously marked against two military construction projects scheduled for Guam. I commend the Senate Armed Services Committee leadership for working with me and with my House colleagues to retain one of these two projects. Authorizing the first phase of construction at Andersen Air Force Base's Northwest Field is a critical step to completing the already begun relocation of the Air Force's Red Horse School from Osan, Korea to Guam. This relocation is an important part of

the Air Force's realignment of forces in the Pacific and its increased utilization of Andersen Air Force Base on Guam. While I am disappointed the Senate did not recede to the House authorization for the new commercial gate at Andersen Air Force Base, I join the Senate in expressing my strong intent to evaluate military construction projects scheduled for Guam to ensure that they fit within the overall plans for growth on the island and are consistent with the needs not just of the military but of the civilian community on Guam. While I believe the commercial gate already fit well within the plans for overall development on Guam, the concerns expressed by the Senate are shared in general and I look forward to working with my House and Senate colleagues to provide robust oversight of military development on Guam to ensure it is properly executed in the interests of all parties.

The $193.446 million in military construction funding for projects on Guam authorized this year represents continued growth in military activity on the island and provides assistance to Guam in preparing incrementally for the periods of military construction on the island which will soon be far more robust.

It is unfortunate that the conferees did not include in the conference agreement Section 632 of the House passed authorization bill. This provision would have authorized servicemembers assigned to and from non-foreign overseas locations to ship a second personally owned vehicle at government expense to the new assigned duty station consistent with the authorization for assignments within the continental United States. This change in law is still needed. This is an important quality of life issue for servicemen and women and their families who receive orders to serve on bases located outside the 48 contiguous States. Supported by The Military Coalition and by the Congressional delegations from Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and Guam, it is my hope that the committee will once again consider this provision next year and that its passage will ultimately be won. Our men and women in uniform deserve the enactment of this provision.

Finally, I am pleased that conferees retained language in this Act requiring the Department of Defense to study reestablishing a Military Entrance Processing Center on Guam. This study authorization is contained in Section 582 of the Act. The great number of patriotic men and women who enlist in our Armed Services from Guam and from the region deserve and need an entrance processing center on Guam. I encourage the Department of Defense to expeditiously undertake and complete this study. I trust it will find that the value of establishing a center on Guam is high and that such establishment will yield important results for recruitment goals. I look forward to the establishment of such a center and stand prepared to assist the Department in any way necessary to facilitate such an endeavor.

The decision by conferees to include numerous provisions important to our Nation's veterans is also to be commended. In particular, I fully support the provision which places a one-year moratorium on any increases in retail pharmaceutical prices under the TRICARE system. I join my colleagues in reiterating the principle that we must fulfill our promises to the veterans who have served our Nation. Increasing pharmaceutical fees under the TRICARE system is simply unacceptable. I also fully support the many other provisions in this Act related to protecting our veterans, our active duty personnel and our reserve personnel. I note particular support for the provision to curb predatory lending activity around military bases and the provisions to improve health care services for servicemembers suffering from post traumatic stress disorder or other combat related injuries. Our Nation remains committed to caring for those who fight and have fought to protect our way of life and our values.

This Act also contains language directing the Department of Defense to study cases of reported off shore disposal of munitions by the Department of Defense. I encourage the Department to study any cases of potential off shore disposal in the waters off of Guam. Should the Department determine that any dumping of munitions took place in the waters off of Guam, I urge the Department to take action to remedy any potential harm of such dumping. I further urge the Department to be not just comprehensive but transparent in its conduct of these studies and its findings. It is vital that the communities connected to any past disposal actions be kept fully informed as to Department findings and actions.

I also support provisions in this Act that direct the Secretary of Defense to prepare a plan that would enable the Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) to assist local educational agencies that are affected by force structure changes in their communities. I plan to continue to work closely with the Department of Defense regarding the impacts that the movement of 8,000 Marines to Guam will have on Guam's local education system. The 8,000 Marines are expected to be accompanied by 9,000 dependents and perhaps several thousand civilian employees. While the dependents of the Marines are expected to attend DODEA schools, it is not unreasonable to believe that some Marine children as well as the children of civilian employees will enter the Guam Public School System. We must begin planning now to prepare Guam for any such impact.

I am a strong supporter of our Nation's National Guard and especially of the National Guard and Reserve servicemembers who reside on Guam. I remain a strong supporter of H.R. 5200, the National Guard Empowerment Act. I believe that the time has come to change the way we think about our Guard and Reserve because in this war on terror we have changed the way we use them. No longer can the Guard and Reserve come second in funding, equipping or anything else.

So while I am pleased that H.R. 5122 substantially increases authorized funding for Guard and Reserve equipment, I believe this bill should have also included the provisions of H.R. 5200 to ensure that the Guard would receive a Chief with a fourth star that sits on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and could advocate for and protect Guard interests. I also believe it is time to give the Guard independent budget authority from the parent services because history has told us that the parent services care for themselves first and the reserve component second. In an era when the Guard is completing the same mission as its active duty counterparts, it should have the same leadership and authorities as its active duty counterparts. I will continue to advocate for reform and increased empowerment of the Guard and Reserve. I look forward to the study of H.R. 5200 by the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves and trust that the Commission will recommend adoption of many of the provisions contained within the legislation. I also note that conferees removed authority included in the House passed authorization bill that would have enabled the President to mobilize Guard members without the consent of a state or territorial governor in the event of a natural disaster. Granting such an authority would remove a fundamental and constitutional control granted to state governors regarding their state militias. I am pleased that the provision has been stricken from the bill.

Finally, I am encouraged that the conferees retained in the final bill language proposed by the Senate that requires the President to appoint a senior presidential coordinator of U.S. policy on North Korea and to submit to Congress a semi-annual report on the nuclear and missile programs of North Korea (Section 1211). While I remain a strong supporter of the Six-Party Talks, North Korea's testing of a Taepodong II missile earlier this year indicates that current policy toward North Korea is not proving a sufficiently effective deterrent against the unstable regime currently in Pyongyang. More must be done to secure our country and to assure allies in the Pacific of their safety from a North Korean regime that appears determined to develop additional nuclear weapons and to develop the means to deliver them. I also support the $10.4 billion in funding authorized in this Act for missile defense including the increase of $100 million for the ship based Aegis ballistic missile defense system, a system vital to protecting islands in the Pacific, including Guam, from any North Korean threat.

Mr. Speaker, I have addressed only a few of the many provisions within this Act. I commend my colleagues for their work in finalizing the defense authorization bill. The legislation provides for measures ranging from a well deserved pay raise for our uniformed servicemembers to construction funding for ships vital to our Navy's future. I am in support of this legislation and urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 5122.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 3728, the North Korea Non-Proliferation Act of 2006. This legislation would amend the Iran and Syria Nonproliferation Act to extend the provisions of the Act to North Korea. Enactment of this legislation would impose sanctions on persons who transfer such weapons and related goods and technology to and from North Korea. This legislation would authorize sanctions that are equivalent to those required under current law for persons who are found to transfer such items to and from Iran and Syria. S. 3728 also calls on the international community to act in accordance with the provisions of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1695 (UNSCR 1695), which prevents member states from conducting missile and related transfers to or from North Korea in reaction to the tests. This bill is timely and important. It deserves steadfast support from this body.

North Korea's nuclear ambitions are destabilizing. Its recent missile tests on July 5, 2006, were conducted against the urging of the international community. Ultimately, this recent missile test was a failure. But that act, taken together with its previous tests and North Korea's intransigent behavior during international talks on this matter, is indicative of the recalcitrant nature of the North Korean regime. North Korea is in fact continuing to pursue its nuclear and ballistic missiles programs in spite of diplomatic efforts by the international community and in contradiction with North Korea's previous commitments. North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles technology and capabilities is an emerging danger to the national security of the United States.

North Korea's recent missile test also disappointed the international community. On July 16, 2006, the United Nations Security Council adopted UNSCR 1695 in order to prevent United Nations member states from conducting missile and related technology transfers to North Korea in reaction to the tests. UNSCR 1695 also requires North Korea to suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program and return to the negotiating table. Enactment of S. 3728 would strengthen U.S. laws, authorizing the U.S. government to investigate, sanction, and prevent proliferation efforts made by or on behalf of the North Korean regime by government or private entities.

But sanctions alone will not ultimately solve this problem. Robust and constant diplomatic pressure on the North Korean regime must continue to be applied by the United States in coordination with the United Nations and other countries. North Korea and its pursuit of nuclear weapons and delivery vehicles is not only the United States' problem. I am encouraged by the fact that China, Japan, South Korea, and Russia remain desirous of a peaceful resolution to this problem. The Six Party Talks involving these countries and North Korea should continue.

More progress should be made toward constraining North Korea's ability to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missile technology and capabilities while we continue diplomatic efforts to encourage that government to abandon its nuclear ambitions. S. 3728, the North Korea Non-Proliferation Act of 2006, will help to achieve those goals.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4766, the Esther Martinez Native American Languages Preservation Act of 2006. This is important legislation which seeks to protect, preserve, and promote indigenous languages across the United States. Among the estimated 175 indigenous languages spoken by citizens of the United States today is the Chamorro language, the indigenous language of the Chamorro people of Guam.

Ethnographers and linguists recognize the Chamorro language as belonging to the western group of the Austronesian language family. The Chamorro language has been spoken by the Chamorro people for more than 5000 years. It is a beautiful language that has survived outside influences and westernization.

Chamorro and English are the official languages of Guam. I am proud to support H.R. 4766 because it proposes to increase federal resources for Native American language immersion programs. The version of H.R. 4766 that has been brought to the House floor this evening also would amend the Native American Programs Act to authorize the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) in the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to organizations and colleges dedicated to Native American language preservation. The bill specifically authorizes grants to establish site-based educational programs for children and their families, ``survivor schools,'' and restoration programs.

The preservation of the Chamorro language and culture is within the current authorized mission of the ANA-administered grant programs that H.R. 4766 seeks to expand and for which it seeks to reauthorize funding. The Native American Programs Act, which H.R. 4766 seeks to amend, contains a definition for ``Native American Pacific Islander'' that includes the Chamorro people and our indigenous language. This definition is codified in 42 U.S.C. 2992c and should guide the ANA in administering future grant programs in accordance with this legislation should it be enacted.

Mr. Speaker, I also note for the record that H.R. 4766 has received the support of the 28th Guam Legislature. The inclusion of the Chamorro language as among the Native American languages sought to be preserved by this legislation is an important element. I urge support for H.R. 4766. I thank the sponsor of this bill, my colleague from New Mexico, Mrs. Wilson, and the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Education and Workforce Committee, for advancing this legislation and for ensuring Guam and the Pacific Territories were included in the legislation.