Neil Abercrombie

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. I will take the first few seconds of it, Mr. Speaker, because I believe this will be the last discussion of both the amendments and of the bill prior to voting, to thank Mr. Flake for his friendship over these years and to say to him that I admire his independent spirit; I admire his devotion to this House; I admire his steadfast sense of responsibility in the various amendments that he offers. I wish I could support it on the basis of that friendship and in my admiration for him. Yet I would like to say in that context--and I hope I am stating the purpose of the amendment correctly--that Mr. Flake wants to require any native governing entity to comply with the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. If I had to summarize it in a sentence, that's the way I would put it. In the course of his remarks, he asked, Why not make sure? I think that's a perfectly reasonable request, but my contention would be, in asking that the amendment not be voted favorably upon, that precisely what he seeks to succeed in with his amendment is exactly what is in the bill, itself, which is in the amendment as a substitute. Mr. Flake's amendment then is duplicative of current Federal law. Only after a thoughtful and deliberate process did Congress impose most of the provisions on the Bill of Rights on tribes through the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968. The Equal Protection and Due Process provisions of the Bill of Rights were included verbatim in the Indian Civil Rights Act. The Indian Civil Rights Act specifically states, ``No Indian tribe in exercising the powers of self-government shall deny any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of its laws or deprive any person of liberty or property without due process of law.'' In section 1302, Constitutional Rights, again quoting, ``No Indian tribe in exercising powers of self-government shall: ``No. 8: deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of its laws or deprive any person of liberty or property without due process of law.'' The Flake amendment essentially then ignores the provision of H.R. 2314, as amended, should we pass the substitute. The bill applies the Indian Civil Rights Act to the entity, the Native Hawaiian entity, and it requires the Secretary of the Interior to certify that the Native Hawaiian governing entity is in compliance with Federal law and that its governing documents provide for the protection of the civil rights of the citizens of the Native Hawaiian governing entity as well. Thus, the Flake amendment, as I indicated, I believe, is a duplication, and would actually create a double standard for the Native Hawaiian governing entity, not treating them as other federally recognized tribal governments are today. Finally, I believe the amendment could be subject to broad interpretation, the scope of which is unclear. As a result, litigation would likely flourish in the Federal courts, which might take years to resolve as the courts would have to examine the U.S. Constitution, Federal law and numerous Federal court decisions upholding the current law, which already imposes the same equal protection guarantees on tribes that Mr. Flake's amendment seeks to impose. Therefore, I ask, in the context of my admiration and respect for Mr. Flake, that his amendment, however, be defeated. With that, Mr. Speaker, if I have time remaining, I would like to take the occasion then to thank Mr. Hastings, Mr. Flake and all of those on the Resources Committee--Republican and Democratic alike--who have been my colleagues and friends all these years. I think the Resources Committee is one of the most unappreciated committees, unappreciated in the sense of comprehension by, perhaps, even Members of Congress and by the public at large. No committee deals with as detailed and as difficult a set of circumstances as the Resources Committee does. My respect and admiration for all its members abides with me as I take leave of the House. Mr. Speaker, ``aloha'' to you. ``Aloha'' to the House of Representatives. ``Aloha'' to all Members here tonight.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I regret that I missed rollcall vote Nos. 1-5, 9-11, 15-16, and 20-25. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall votes 3-5, 9-10, 15-16, and 20-25. I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall votes 2, 11. I would have voted ``present'' on rollcall vote 1.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I regret that I missed rollcall vote No. 902-904 and vote No. 911-913. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on all rollcall votes.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I regret that I missed rollcall votes Nos. 832-841. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 832-837 and votes 839-841. On rollcall vote No. 838, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I regret that I missed rollcall vote Nos. 790, 798-818, and 823-825. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on votes 790, 798-800, 802-818, and 823-825. I would have voted ``nay'' on vote No. 801.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I regret that I missed rollcall votes nos. 772-774. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on all rollcall votes.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 816 in mourning the loss of life caused by the earthquakes and tsunamis that occurred on September 29, 2009, in American Samoa and Samoa. I want to express my sincere condolences to those that have lost family, friends and other important people in their lives. Despite this loss, the people of American Samoa and Samoa remain strong and resilient. They are continuing on, picking up the pieces of what can be salvaged, cleaning their homes and cities and helping each other through the struggles of trying to regain the life they once had. As thousands of people continue to struggle with this tragedy, I join my colleagues in our commitment to the relief efforts and offer support for the families of the many victims. I would like to commend Representative Eni Faleomavaega for his tireless efforts to help relive the suffering and devastation in American Samoa. I will do everything I can to assist my friend and colleague in speeding any additional federal assistance needed to the area. I am also proud of the rapid response by Major General Bob Lee and the Hawaii National Guard, which is a testament to their training and professionalism. I know FEMA, the Hawaii Red Cross and other relief organizations are on the ground, as well, aiding communities to cope with the devastation. There are many people in Hawaii with friends or family back in American Samoa and Samoa. They are our brothers and sisters of the Pacific and we will do all we can to help and support them. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and the people of American Samoa and Samoa.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 786 in commemorating the canonization of Father Damien de Veuster to sainthood. The canonization of Father Damien completes his ascension to sainthood and gives universal veneration to a life of extraordinary commitment, charity, and faith. It has been more than 120 years since his death on the Kalaupapa Peninsula on the island of Molokai, but Father Damien's life continues to illuminate for all humankind the pathway of service to the needy. Father Damien's mission in life and the journey he took to fulfill it were inspired by a simple yet profound compassion, to recognize the human rights and dignity of every individual, particularly those who were cast aside to Kalaupapa. He challenged the orthodoxies of his own church and the government to provide the needed resources to care for Hansen's disease patients who had been banished to Kalaupapa-- attracting worldwide attention to his demonstration of humanity. He lived, worked, and died in geographic isolation with the people he cared for, but his timeless teachings and inspiration have reached a vast congregation that reaches around the world without regard to time and place. Father Damien's hope and devotion continue to strengthen all of us today, and his sainthood affirms this for eternity. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and Father Damien's work and legacy, a timeless example of compassion and dedication. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 800 and extend my sympathies for the citizens of the Philippines dealing with Tropical Storm Ketsana and Typhoon Parma. With a large Filipino community in Hawaii, and the historical and cultural ties that bind our two countries, the impact of these natural disasters hits close to home. I want to express my sincere condolences to those who have experienced losses in their families and to the many thousands more who are displaced and still struggling with this tragedy. I join my colleagues in our commitment to the relief efforts in the Philippines and in our continued support to the families of the many victims. U.S. military forces and civilian agencies are supporting local Philippine efforts by distributing relief supplies and assisting in rescuing victims from inundated areas of Manila. As part of this effort, the U.S. Agency for International Development has so far allocated $1.8 million to respond to the disaster. Our Hawaiian ohana stands ready to further assist our friends in the Philippines. I urge my colleagues to rise in support of this legislation.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I regret that I missed rollcall vote Nos. 740-745. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall votes 740-741 and 743-745. I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall vote 742.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I regret that I missed rollcall vote No. 738. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.'' Stated against:

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I regret that I missed rollcall vote Nos. 710-719 and rollcall vote 730. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall votes 713-716, 718, and 719. I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall votes 710-712, 717, and 730.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I missed rollcall vote nos. 720-726. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on all rollcall votes.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, mahalo nui. Thank you very much. I thank Representative Clay very much for his gracious introduction to this resolution. Madam Speaker, I am filled with great emotion today. There are a lot of dates being celebrated. Representative Clay's birthday is today, and, of course, we want to wish him a very happy birthday. I introduced this resolution on my birthday, June 26. It was about that time 50 years ago that I understood that I would be able to go to Hawaii. Just before that I had been informed that I had received a teaching assistantship at the University of Hawaii and that I would be soon on my way at the end of the summer to begin what became 50 years in Hawaii. So I have that same anniversary. The statehood, of course, came August 21, and the first week in September, Neil Abercrombie arrived in Honolulu and knew almost immediately that I would never leave if given the opportunity to stay. It is also going to be the birthday, of course, in a week or so, of President Obama, born in Kapiolani Hospital, just down the road from where I lived. As I said, it is great emotion for me, a great time of nostalgia. I arrived in Hawaii at the same time as President Obama's father. We met those first days in our matriculation at the University of Hawaii. Of course, I could not possibly conceive at that time that the young man who was to be born out of the union of Ann Dunham and Barak, Sr., would become President of the United States. So there is a great confluence of history taking place over the next month or so with the entry of the 50th State, the last State of the Union. As Mr. Clay indicated, there are also some very, very interesting firsts, if you will. We were maybe the last State to come into the Union, but we had some very, very interesting firsts, and I want to congratulate Representative Bachmann on her superb pronunciation of Prince Kuhio's last name, Kalanianaole. You said it perfectly. Thank you very much indeed. I know you must have struggled with that, because I remember my first day in the classroom, the first Saturday, 8 o'clock in the morning, teaching the lab course in sociology, determined to say the Hawaiian names right, and I remember the first one was Samson Poomahealani, a center on the football team. He became my good friend, and we celebrated the 50th anniversary of our friendship just the past month when we got together. Samson went on to do great things with the labor movement in this country. It is that kind of occasion. You can see it on my face, you can hear it in my voice. This is a time of great joy for us. Yes, the first Asian American Senator, Republican Senator Hiram Fong, lived almost a century. He was the first Asian American, Chinese American, Senator. And, of course, Patsy Mink, our beloved Patsy Mink, whom we miss every day. And Danny Akaka, perhaps the best-loved person in the Congress, of whom never a bad word has been said. Don't we all wish the same could be said of us? And, of course, the Congressional Medal of Honor winner, the third longest-serving Senator in the United States, Daniel K. Inouye, serves now as the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, the first Japanese American to serve in the Senate. There are some other dates I think of interest to all of us; 1778, James Cook comes to Waimea Bay near Kauai. Then in 1795, Kamehameha I, whose statue is very prominent in the Visitors Center right now, establishing the Hawaiian monarchy. On February 24, 1954, Mr. Speaker, a 250-pound petition containing 120,000 signatures in favor of statehood was delivered to the Congress, and then in March of 1959, this House of Representatives passed the Hawaii statehood bill, 323-89. I am sure the 89 all had a chance to visit and regretted their votes against it. Of course, then President Eisenhower signed the proclamation, making us the 50th State on August 24. So, Mr. Speaker, I can say from the bottom of my heart that Hawaii has given everything to me. I never conceived, as I indicated earlier, that I would ever have a chance to represent Hawaii in Congress. It is more than an honor and a privilege to do so.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. So I now ask all then to join with us in this joyous occasion where we have the opportunity to celebrate friendships and relationships of decades' standing to celebrate the transition of Hawaii from the time of a pre-feudal kingdom, a kingdom, a shotgun republic, a territory, and now a State of the Union, the last State of the Union to this time. We are filled with a great sense of gratitude for that which has been given to us over these past 50 years, and, of course, pledge at this time that even though we were last to join the Union, we are first among those who appreciate, understand and take great pride in being a State of the United States of America.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

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

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chair, I rise today to oppose an amendment offered by Representative Flake to H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2010. This amendment would strike $3 million in funding from the Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research located in Georgia. I support this funding because of the amazing progress CPBR funded projects have been able to make. CPBR receives a small amount of funding annually and in turn has a competitive selection process to fund projects that further plant biotechnology that impacts the seed, agrochemical, forestry, food, energy, electric power, and other nonfood agriculture-based industries. On average, federal funds to CPBR are matched 130 percent with non- federal funds. Industry must provide at least 50 percent cash matching, this requirement is not required by federal grants and goes to prove the worthiness of these CPBR projects and expedites their path to the marketplace. It is noteworthy that 372 CPBR-funded research projects have resulted in 129 patents, 67 patent applications pending, 274 licenses, and 5 start-up companies. In fact, CPBR-funded projects average 2.5 patents/$1 million of federal funding. This is significantly higher than the university rate of 0.13 patents/one million federal dollars, that's 1900 percent higher. In Hawaii, CPBR funded a professor at the University of Hawaii who developed a process called ``flash carbonization'' which is now patented and has been licensed to several companies including Kingsford. This process uses a large cylindrical reactor to pressurize and heat tires, green waste and municipal solid waste to make a ``biochar'' or charcoal that can be used to enhance soil or burn as a fuel. This technology has spawned two energy companies that are building new environmentally friendly industries and creating high paying jobs in Hawaii. This progress started with a small research grant from CPBR. CPBR supports higher-risk, longer-term environmental research that is essential to innovation, research that companies cannot afford to do on their own. With these federal funds, innovative advancements in environmental and energy research are hastened to the marketplace where they can be implemented. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment offered by Representative Flake and vote against its passage.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I regret that I missed rollcall vote No. 297, 389, 392, 394 and 405. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on all rollcall votes No. 297, 392, and 394. I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall votes No. 389 and 405.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker and Members, I'm the chairman of the Air and Land Subcommittee. And I really feel very, very deeply that this recommit motion made right now really is not in order in the way we work. The phrase was used ``on the other side of the aisle.'' There are no ``sides of the aisle'' in the Air and Land Subcommittee. Every single member of that committee is recognized by this chairman as not only equal in terms of their input, but equal in terms of their commitment to the defense of this country. You folks know me here. This kind of thing does not take place in our subcommittee. There is no ``side of the aisle'' when it comes to the defense of this Nation. Let me just give a couple of quick examples. On the Stryker vehicle, we have $338 million in there on top of the $200 million plus that we put in the supplemental. We were never given any other number despite any opportunity anybody could have had to bring that number forward. On the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected all-terrain vehicles, $5.45 billion for 1,000 vehicles, upgrades, retrofits and operation and maintenance. If there is one thing that this chairman, Ike Skelton, has done in the committee, for both Republicans and Democrats who have the responsibility and obligation as members of the Armed Services Committee, is to see to it that readiness is first, foremost and fundamental in our deliberations. I ask you, I ask you as a fellow member of the Armed Services Committee, not as a Democrat or as a Republican, to reject this on the basis that our committee did its work the way it should do its work. We set a standard for bipartisanship, in fact nonpartisanship, when it comes to determining what is the interests of the fighting men and women of the United States of America.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2990, the Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009. This important legislation will finally address the issue of concurrent receipt, as well as other significant issues that plague public employees. One key issue affecting federal employees in Hawaii is the long-awaited transition from a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to locality pay, as is currently used on the mainland United States. Equitable retirement pay for federal employees outside the contiguous 48 states is a concern shared by the approximately 50,000 civil servants living in Alaska, Hawaii and the U.S. territories. The current cost of living adjustment (COLA) provided to federal employees outside the continental United States has created a retirement inequity between them and their mainland counterparts. If federal service in non- contiguous areas is seen as a detriment to future financial security, our government will have an increasingly difficult time attracting and retaining the very best personnel. Further, federal workers should not have to resort to completing their final years of service on the mainland just to earn adequate retirement pay. I think this bill is an important step in addressing the inequality between those serving in the continental United States and those in more remote locations, such as Alaska, Hawaii and the territories. Federal employees throughout the nation are making an equal contribution to the health, well-being and security of our nation. Regardless of where they live, they deserve equal treatment and should not be penalized in their retirement for choosing to contribute to the local communities outside the 48 contiguous states. I believe that all federal employees will be better off under this bill than under the COLA system because their entire pay will now be counted toward their retirement benefits. Moreover, with COLA rates scheduled to decrease for many locations this year, and territories such as American Samoa receiving none, now is the time to act. Please join me in supporting H.R. 2990 and ensuring retirement equity for all federal employees regardless of their location.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chair, I have the honor of serving as the Chairman of the Air and Land Forces Subcommittee of our Armed Services Committee. I would like to thank our Chairman, Ike Skelton, for his great leadership in bringing this outstanding bill to this point. I also welcome the new Ranking Member, Buck McKeon, and am confident that he and Chairman Skelton will make a great team. I would also like to thank Roscoe Bartlett, our subcommittee's ranking member, for all his support and advice in putting our bill together. This bill is about balancing the capabilities and readiness of our current military forces with desired future required military capabilities. Our military personnel are at risk each and every day. Our first priority is to make sure those men and women are properly supported by ensuring our military programs adequately support current military requirements. We are doing everything possible to provide our personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan the equipment they need as well as provide for the equipment needs of our National Guard units here at home, to meet crisis response and potential natural disaster requirements. The subcommittee's jurisdiction includes $82 billion in Department of Defense procurement and research and development in Titles I and II and another $20 billion in Title XV, for overseas contingency operations. We have made nearly $3 billion in reallocations within the Subcommittee, funding higher priority current requirements, using funds from programs with excessive unexpended balances, delayed execution, and excessive cost growth. Our Subcommittee increased the unfunded requirements of the Army and Air Force by over $1 billion by reallocating funding from these lower priority projects. The mark also provides an additional $603 million for procurement and research and development of the F136 competitive engine for the F-35 aircraft program. This is largely offset by rebalancing within the F-35 program, by reducing procurement from 32 to 30 aircraft. Nearly $2.7 billion is authorized for 176 Apache, Kiowa, Black Hawk, and Chinook helicopters and an additional $1.2 billion is provided for helicopter modifications. Our bill: Fully funds elements of the Future Combat Systems program that will continue in some form, at $2.55 billion; Provides $2.5 billion for new and upgraded Army ground combat vehicles; Provides $263 million for research and development of future Army ground combat vehicle upgrades and improvements; and Provides $600 million for National Guard and Reserve Equipment, above and beyond what is in the budget request. The change by the National Guard to an operational reserve status, coincident with a reorganization of the Army, has greatly increased the amount of equipment Guard and Reserve units are required to have. While the Department is making improvements and progress in providing improved funding to equip the National Guard and Reserve to enhance its role as an operational reserve, there are a significant number of units that do not have their required equipment. Given the operational reserve equipage model, a large percentage of nondeployed Army National Guard units are far below Army standards for equipment on hand. Without the right type and amounts of equipment, even the most dedicated and experienced soldier or airman cannot train for combat, or provide adequate assistance when there is a domestic emergency. The committee continues to work on improving intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, known as ISR capabilities, as well as improving counter improvised explosive device technology, vehicle armor, body armor, and helmet protection. Like many other mission areas in the Department of Defense, there is no apparent nexus for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance joint strategy, requirements coordination, acquisition or deployment focus, where a single lead organization is responsible. An example that can be cited is the unplanned and expensive proliferation of dissimilar ISR platforms all seeking to provide the same capability. Coalition forces control the skies in both theaters and has the world's best ISR technology, but does not use this advantage to full advantage. The Department still fails to provide joint ISR employment plans for both Iraq and Afghanistan. This bill directs the Department to assess the current use of ISR systems in Iraq and Afghanistan and make recommendations on how to more effectively coordinate and use all the systems we have deployed and plan to deploy. The committee has in the past directed the Department to define joint ISR requirements and develop a long-term strategic plan to make informed acquisition decisions to meet ISR goals. That continues to be a work in progress. body armor It is widely reported that our soldiers in Afghanistan routinely carry loads of 130 to 150 lbs for a 3-day mission. Personnel can only wear so much armor, beyond which their operational effectiveness is inhibited, which in turn increases their risk of being injured. Two provisions in our bill require the Secretary of Defense, beginning with the fiscal year 2011 budget request, to establish research and development program elements and procurement budget line items for the development and acquisition of body armor and personnel protection enhancements. The language also strongly encourages the Secretary of Defense to consider establishing a DOD-wide Task Force on par with the MRAP Vehicle Task Force to promote weight reduction initiatives for body armor. The bill fully funds the President's request of approximately $700 million for body armor. mine Resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles With regard to the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle program, over 16,000 vehicles have been produced in just over two years. Approximately 15,000 vehicles have been fielded and these vehicles continue to save lives daily. Almost $26.0 billion has been provided by Congress for this program. This bill fully funds the President's request of $5.45 billion for MRAP category vehicles. The request procures approximately 1,000 MRAP All-Terrain Vehicles, a lighter weight version of the current MRAP Vehicle, to be used in Afghanistan. The request also provides operation, maintenance, and sustainment funding as well as necessary funds to address home-station training requirements. tactical wheeled vehicles The bill provides $5.25 billion for light, medium, and heavy tactical wheeled vehicles or ``Humvees'' and ``trucks.'' This funding keeps the industrial base operating at high levels of production and will help address shortfalls in the Guard and Reserve components. In closing, I again want to thank my distinguished chairman and ranking member of the full committee and our subcommittee. H.R. 2647 is deserving of a ``yes'' vote from every Member of this body.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Brady, thank you for yielding. Mr. Speaker, Representative Hirono has given an excellent history of Kamehameha and the reasoning behind the celebration of his birthday as a State holiday in Hawaii. For the benefit of the Members and those who may not be familiar with the question of the statue itself and what it represents in the broader context, for those who may not be familiar with it, I would like to perhaps give a little bit of perspective, a little history on it. When people come from all over the world, not just the country itself, the Nation itself, to the Capitol, when they tour the Capitol, the most open capitol of any in the world, perhaps in the history of the world, we take pride, do we not, in the fact that this Capitol is open and available and accessible to all people, and we take some degree of pride, and rightfully so, that we are able to exhibit some of the history of this Nation for all to see and that each State has the opportunity to present for consideration of all of us two statues. One, of course, for us is Father Damien, who has just been named as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. He came from Belgium to the United States to then, of course, the territory of Hawaii and ministered to those who had Hansen's disease, leprosy, on the Island of Molokai on the peninsula of Kalaupapa. His ministrations to those who had been abandoned, those who literally had been exiled to Kalaupapa resulted in the consideration by the Roman Catholic Church of miracles having been taken place in his name as a result of his dedication. The other statue representative of what we feel Hawaii is all about, of course, is Kamehameha. He's a legendary figure. The things that Representative Hirono cited, of course, are part of history. But when we use the word ``legendary'' to describe someone, it genuinely fits Kamehameha the Great. In his youth as part of this legendary history, he was known as a courageous warrior. He was said to have overturned the Naha Stone in Hilo, Hawaii, which indicated his almost superhuman strength and foreshadowed his inevitable conquest of all of Hawaii. I suppose it is the equivalent or a parallel could be drawn to the seizure of the Excalibur sword from the ground by the legendary King Arthur. This is the stature of Kamehameha. He did, in fact, unify the islands. And when he passed away in 1819, the phrase that was used with his passing is that ``only the stars know his final resting place.'' So the legend became even more of a tale to be told not only throughout the islands but throughout the world. So when people see that statue, when they observe that statue, they're somewhat shocked. It's monumental. I recall very, very clearly that in the rather obscure corner in Statuary Hall where Kamehameha originally resided here in the Capitol, it was somewhat difficult to find. People were not quite sure why it was there. It was said that because of the great weight of the statue itself it had to go there in order to be supported by the flooring of the Capitol. So in that position, Mr. Speaker, the really triumphant power and grace of the statue was not necessarily fully available to those who came to Statuary Hall. As a result, the Architect of the Capitol said to me, when we were first discussing the question of the visitor center and what is now Emancipation Hall, that he wanted very much to have the statue of Kamehameha in a very prominent position when the new visitor center was opened. He was certain that it would occupy an enormous presence there. It does that today. And we are very, very grateful for the opportunity for all to come and to view it.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I regret that I missed rollcall vote No. 107 through 115. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall votes 107 and 109 through 115. I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote 108.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Madam Speaker, I regret that I missed rollcall vote no. 128, 129 and 130. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on all three votes.

Mr. ABERCROMBIE

Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support legislation that has been introduced by my colleague, Congresswoman Bordallo. H.R. 44, the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act, would honor the residents of Guam for their loyalty and compensate them for the atrocities they suffered during the long and violent Japanese occupation of Guam. During World War II, Guam was invaded, seized and occupied by Imperial Japanese forces for nearly three years. The war destroyed much of Guam, including housing, public buildings, utilities and infrastructure. In addition, the people of Guam suffered many deaths and an untold number of acts of brutality. This ruthless brutality has left a lasting impact on the survivors of the war and the descendants of victims. These sufferers wanted nothing more than survival and liberation under the U.S. flag. In 1947, the Secretary of the Navy commissioned a civilian committee on the Naval Administration of Guam and American Samoa to prepare a report with specific recommendations. The report became known as the Hopkins Report and was submitted to the Secretary of the Navy in 1947. Among other things, the report addressed deficiencies in the war claims process for Guam immediately after the war ended. In the cover letter submitted with the report, the committee stated, ``Only so can justice be done to a valiant group of Americans who at great cost to themselves remained steadfastly loyal during the war . . . in so special a case this government could well be very generous in method of distributing its relief as well as generous in amount awarded. It has been neither.'' Many decades later, the 107th Congress authorized the Guam War Claims Review Commission to determine if the people of Guam received parity in claims as compared to other Americans who experienced losses and damages during the war. In 2004, the Commission submitted their final report to Congress and found that Guam's residents were inequitably treated. There has been legislation to address this inequitable treatment in every Congress since 1985. Two hearings have been held, one in the 108th Congress and one on in the 109th Congress. In the 110th Congress, the House passed H.R. 1595 under a suspension of the rules but the Senate was not able to act on the measure before final adjournment. It is time to follow the recommendations made by both the Hopkins report and the Guam War Claims Review Commission by providing adequate reparations for the people of Guam. It is time to honor them for their sacrifices. Congresswoman Bordallo continues to call for a resolution to this open wound and has done a fantastic job over the years to create the most fair and equitable legislation that Congress can pass. I hope the people of Guam know that this issue is being addressed and the people have not been forgotten. I urge my colleagues to support the people of Guam and vote for final passage.