Madeleine Bordallo

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition of Mr. Gallegly's Amendment #15 to H.R. 4310, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. The Fish and Wildlife Service and the Navy have a long track record of working together on otter conservation through the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan. The Navy activities have not lead to the harassment of otters off the coast of California, so the provisions to continue Naval exemptions from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) should be preserved in H.R. 4043. This amendment takes the necessary step of extending the Navy's exemption allowing ongoing military operations. However, I do not believe that we should be using our Nation's military readiness as a cover for establishing regulations that only benefits a special interest group. I have serious concerns with the broad exemptions for fishermen included in this amendment. Fishermen working south of Point Conception, California would be given incidental take exemptions from the ESA and MMPA indefinitely. This would remove any ability of the Fish and Wildlife Service or any other agency to address problems that may arise with otter recovery as a result of interaction with fisheries. ESA and MMPA exemptions for specific industries undermine the principles of management based on sound science under these statutes and set a dangerous precedent of Congressional micromanagement for political reasons. The Navy has agreed to continue the management of the sea otters on these installations, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior. Mr. Schregardus, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Navy on Environment, testifying before the Fisheries and Oceans Subcommittee, specified that the further provisions have no relevancy to military readiness operations in the region. None of the witnesses present at the hearing could identify how the management actions specified in subsection (g) had any impact on military readiness. Additionally, we have heard testimony from scientists that indicate the concerns for the ongoing viability of the California shellfish industry do not rest on the shoulders of sea otters. Commercial over-harvest and withering disease are the primary culprits to the decline of endangered abalone species. The presence of sea otters and related improvement to the nearshore kelp forest ecosystems can actually benefit abalone. Southern sea otters are recovering from the devastating fur trade in the 18th and 19th centuries, which almost eliminated them completely. The nearly 2,800 otters that live in the region today have grown from just over 40 individuals that remained on the California coast in the 1930s. While the population is growing, the recovery of this species is extremely slow. It is very important that our legislative actions do not reverse past conservation successes that have developed as a result of collaboration between the Navy, the Fish and Wildlife Service and other scientists and stakeholders. I urge adoption of only the naval provisions in this amendment, which would address the national security needs of the nation without compromising the recovery of the southern sea otter.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition.

Ms. BORDALLO. I yield myself 2 minutes. As the ranking member on Readiness, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment, Mr. Chairman. The amendment flies in the face of the total force management provisions adopted by Congress on a bipartisan basis in last year's defense bill and supported by the sponsor of this amendment. Defense Secretary Panetta has stated he is committed to promoting and facilitating improved total force management that is requirements-based and delivers the appropriate mix of civilian, military, and contracted support. The amendment does not simply lift the A 76 moratorium, as the author suggests. I would note that our committee, on a bipartisan basis, rejected an amendment to lift the moratorium by a bipartisan 25 36 vote. This amendment simply guts how the Department of Defense manages its personnel and reduces oversight of many contracted functions. The amendment is contrary to the bipartisan consensus that this Congress has forged in how DOD should and can manage its personnel. So I'm asking, do not vote on lifting the A 76 moratorium. Say ``no'' to this amendment. And I urge my colleagues to oppose it. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hanabusa).

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Chairman, I can speak from firsthand experience. The A 76 program was a pilot program in the territory of Guam a few years ago. I served as Lieutenant Governor at the time, and I will say this for the record that this program was a dismal failure, and that's what we experienced. The Department of Defense has found in-sourcing to be very effective. It's an effective tool for the Department to rebalance the workforce, to realign inherently governmental and other critical work to government performance from contract support and, in many instances, to generate resource efficiencies. So, again, we should vote ``no'' on this amendment. Lifting the A 76 moratorium would be a sad mistake on our part. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment.

Ms. BORDALLO. I yield myself such time as I may consume. While I appreciate the gentleman's support for direct-solar energy, this provision helps a specific technology to gain greater business opportunities. Unfortunately, their technology--direct solar--does not generate electricity or energy. It simply dispenses sunlight from skylights. If this amendment were to pass, the Department of Defense could meet all of their renewable-energy goals simply by accounting for light through windows, and this is not wise. By adopting this amendment, we head down a slippery slope whereby we begin to highlight specific technologies in statute. And given the evolving nature of these technologies, that is not wise. The Department of Energy is the lead Department for defining energy standards and definitions, and this amendment undermines that expertise. Again, this seemingly innocuous amendment has some significant unintended consequences. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Chairman, I yield the gentleman from Washington 30 seconds.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Chairman, by allowing direct solar to be used to meet the DOD goal of producing or procuring 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2025 would also permit sunlight from windows to be counted toward meeting that goal. Unlike a heat pump that converts the renewable geothermal source into electricity, direct solar does not convert the renewable solar source into electricity. It disperses light into a room similar to a skylight. The underlying law that this amendment seeks to modify states that ``renewable energy source'' means energy generated from renewable sources. Direct solar does not generate energy, and the sponsor's Dear Colleague actually states that. Direct solar is important to our efforts to reduce our dependence of fossil fuel as an energy-efficient technology, and we address this in our House report accompanying this bill. However, if deemed renewable, it would undermine congressional intent for how DOD will meet its goals for renewable sources that generate energy. The Department of Defense opposes this amendment, and I strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' against this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and to recognize the many contributions that Asian and Pacific Americans make to our great Nation. I commend Congresswoman Judy Chu, who is the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and also Congressman Mike Honda, the caucus' chair emeritus, for their leadership and for their efforts on behalf of our communities. Our caucus represents a very large and a diverse community. The cultures that are represented in our caucus highlight many, many unique traditions, languages, and histories. Despite our diverse backgrounds, Asian Pacific Americans are committed to improving our country every single day. Today, more than 18.5 million Asians and Pacific Islanders call America their home--18.5 million. We have become the fastest growing minority community in the United States, having increased by more than 40 percent in the last 10 years. Asian Pacific Americans contribute to every aspect of our lives, from business to education, health care to public relations, sports and recreation to the arts, government, and the Armed Services. Our businesses employ more than 2.8 million workers, who generate more than $512 billion in annual revenues to our economy. Two Cabinet Secretaries, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, are of APA descent, and APAs currently represent 13 congressional districts and serve in 15 State legislatures. Further, in the last 3 years, the number of judges serving in the Federal judiciary has more than doubled, its highest level in our country's entire history. From the very beginning, the Asian Pacific American community has sought better opportunities or to escape persecution in their homeland. These can be seen with each particular group: in the experiences of the first Chinese laborers who came to build the transcontinental railroads, the first Japanese workers who worked on plantations in Hawaii, and the first Vietnamese refugees who arrived because of war, and countless APA groups with similar stories. Asian Pacific American history is the larger American story of valuing freedom, continuously working to make our Nation great and giving our children a better future than the ones we have. I represent the people of Guam. I represent the U.S. Territory of Guam. The people are an important part of our Asian Pacific American community and are extremely loyal and proud of their citizenship. Case in point, this year will mark the 68th anniversary of the liberation of Guam from a brutal enemy occupation during World War II and the return of freedom to the island as part of the American family. Guam has one of the highest per capita casualties in the more than a decade that our country has been at war, yet our people continue to enter military service as a calling to serve their country. And our island is being called upon to sustain one of the most complex and important force posture realignments in the history of the United States. Today, per capita, we also are number one when it comes to people who serve in the National Guard. Guam is number one per capita. This May, we once again celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Despite the many successes that the APA community has experienced, there is still so very much to be done. APA Heritage Month is a celebration of our diversity, a recognition of the sacrifices and the contributions that Asian Pacific Americans make to our Nation, and an opportunity to educate all Americans of the unique role that our community plays in our country. I thank you, Mr. Speaker, or as we say in Guam, Si Yu'os Ma'ase-- thank you, and God be with you.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4970, the so-called Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. I believe that all Americans are entitled to feel safe, and we must strengthen current laws to continue to protect women and children across our country. This bill, however, does not achieve that goal. Immigrants, native tribes, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender groups are some of our most vulnerable communities, and the bill rolls back years of progress improving Federal efforts against domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The bill eliminates important confidentiality protections for self- petitions and would put immigrant women at greater risk for repeat abuses by undermining the intent of U visas. This bill discourages crime victims from cooperating with law enforcement and eliminates any attempt at a stable life by terminating their eligibility for permanent residence. Women in this country, regardless of their background, should never have to feel trapped or helpless.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Again, Mr. Chairman, along these lines, I believe the bill takes important steps to protect the Air National Guard from unwarranted cuts in mission realignments. I appreciate that the bill does not increase most TRICARE fees and copays and that it prohibits the department from implementing new fees. I want to thank Chairman Forbes for his strong partnership on the Readiness Subcommittee and also to thank members of the staff. Again, I support the bill, and I urge my colleagues to support the measure as well.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the defense authorization bill for FY13. The underlying legislation continues to make sure that our men and women in uniform are provided with the resources to be well trained and equipped. Although the war in Iraq is over and we begin a drawdown of the surge forces in Afghanistan, we continue to face challenges with our readiness. The bill supports the Department's reset efforts, which are important to addressing readiness challenges in our global commands, particularly in the U.S. Pacific Command. The bill provides authorization for more than $11 billion in funding for military construction projects, including family housing. And our bill does not authorize an unwarranted round of base closures and realignments. The bill also continues this committee's support for the realignment of military forces in the Pacific, including the military buildup on Guam. As we refocus on the Asia-Pacific region, our bill makes efforts to remove restrictions that are impeding the DOD's ability to move forward with the realignment. The revised agreement between the United States and Japan is a step in the right direction, and our bill helps move that effort forward. I'm greatly concerned by amendments that were adopted at Full Committee markup that roll back efforts by DOD to invest in biofuels. This investment is needed for our long-term security needs, both operationally and at military installations across the world. The cost of traditional fields has skyrocketed, and those increased costs are eating away at readiness requirements. We need to make the investment in alternative fuels now, in order to free the Department from the shackle of foreign fossil fuels in the future. I strongly support the bill's prohibition on the retirement of the Global Hawk aircraft. The Global Hawk is a critical ISR asset, and the Air Force rationale for wanting to retire this aircraft and continue flying on aging aircraft for the foreseeable future was lacking. As we refocus to the Asia-Pacific region, commanders in the AOR need more ISR assets, not less. I'm glad we keep the Global Hawk Block 30 aircraft flying.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlelady from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz).

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of this bill, and I thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Kline) for bringing this measure to the floor. I also appreciate his continued leadership on pre- and post-deployment issues for the National Guard. The bill will correct an injustice for our National Guardsmen and reservists who have been putting their lives on the line to defend our Nation. The fiscal year 2013 Defense authorization bill includes a provision that also addresses this problem; but, regardless, this sends a clear message to the Department of Defense that we want to fix this problem, and quickly. The bill gives DOD the clear authority they need to make the necessary changes and to do so before the Defense authorization bill is likely to be completed. The bill is widely supported by outside groups, including the Military Officers Association of America, the National Guard Association of the United States, and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, to name just a few. However, while I support the bill, I must raise the concern that this bill bypassed the normal committee process, and the minority was not included in the decision to bring this measure to the floor, which violates our tradition of bipartisanship. Still, in the interest of protecting our men and women in uniform, I stand in support of the bill, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it as well. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. I thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz), especially for his assistance with the Reserve Component Caucus. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Chairman, coral reefs are some of the most important ecosystems in the United States, providing environmental and economic benefits to our communities. Coral reefs provide almost $2 billion in local income and over 70,000 jobs for neighboring communities. Coral reefs provide ecosystem services valued at over $8 billion. These vital natural resources, however, are facing a multitude of threats, the impacts of which are little understood. NOAA works in partnership with external partners across the United States to provide the opportunity for scientists from academic institutions to work in collaboration with NOAA and other partners to address a wide variety of threats. Now, these partnerships allow for better understanding of local impacts, leading to local management decisions that account for unique socioeconomic and cultural priorities. I do appreciate the committee's support for $24 million in funding for coral reef programs in NOAA, and I ask that you work with the Senate to maintain funding for NOAA's important coral reef programs, including coral research. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia for the purpose of continuing this colloquy.

Ms. BORDALLO. I thank the gentleman. Reclaiming my time, again, I thank the gentleman for deciding that he will work with the Senate to ensure that funding for these important programs will be sufficiently maintained. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. Amendment No. 38 Offered by Mr. Duncan of South Carolina

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Mrs. Diana Z. Ysrael on being awarded the 2012 Guam Businesswoman of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award. Diana Ysrael is the owner of Diana's Specialty Shops, which opened in 1960, and she is an advisor for Tanota Partners, a family-owned real estate business that was established in 1970. Diana was born in Graceville, Minnesota on November 9, 1935 and attended George Washington High School in Mangilao, Guam. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing Education from St. Theresa's College in Winona, Minnesota and went on to work as a registered nurse for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and the Guam Memorial Hospital. In 1960, Diana decided to start her own business and opened Diana's, Guam's first children's specialty shop. Over the years, Diana expanded her business to five locations with over 50 employees. She also provides guidance and consultative work to her family businesses, Tanota Partners and Dizzy Inc. clothing stores. In addition to being a local entrepreneur for over 50 years, Diana is an active member of Guam's community. She has dedicated her time to volunteering for Strides for the Cure, a local non-profit organization that raises awareness of cancer and seeks to reduce cancer rates on Guam. Diana also frequently contributes to the American Red Cross and provides financial support to St. John's School athletic program and scholarship fund. Further, through Tanota Partners, Diana has helped provide funding to repair the Agana Pool. Diana has dedicated her career to building a successful self-owned business, and she serves as a positive role model for businesswomen on Guam. I join the people of Guam in thanking her for her many contributions to our community, and I wish her continued success in the years to come.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Mrs. Tove E. Estabrook on being awarded the 2012 Guam Businesswoman of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award. Tove Estabrook is the proprietor of Tove's Flower Shop. Ms. Estabrook was born in Haderslev, Denmark on August 28, 1935, and she moved to Guam in with her late husband, Fred Estabrook. For 44 years, Tove has dedicated her career to providing Guam residents with unique and creative floral designs, and for more than 30 years she has been a business owner as the chief executive officer and proprietor of Tove's Flower Shop. Her business has become a mainstay for floral arrangements and event consultation on Guam, and she continues to grow and expand the services and product offering she provides. Tove also uses her talents to help various community organizations by making monetary and in-kind floral contributions to their causes. She also delivers weekly floral donations to the Carmelite Sisters' Chapel, San Vicente and San Roque Catholic Church, Our Lady of the Waters Church, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedra-Basilica, and the Bayview Baptist Church. Tove Estabrook has dedicated her career to building a successful self-owned business, and she serves as a positive role model for businesswomen on Guam. I join the people of Guam in thanking her for her many contributions to our community, and I wish her continued success in the years to come.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Salvation Army Guam Corps for their 20 years of community service to the island of Guam. Since their establishment on Guam in 1992, the Salvation Army has built a strong network of services to individuals and groups in need of assistance in our island community. The Salvation Army is an international non-profit organization that provides non-discriminatory humanitarian support throughout the world. In 1992, the Salvation Army Guam Corps was started by Lieutenants Ted and Debby Horwood. Since then, several Corps Officers have assumed the leadership of this organization on Guam. From July 1995 to June 2006, Captains Dave and Linda Harmon were instrumental in expanding the Salvation Army's size and services. After the Harmons relocated from Guam in June 2006, Captains Brian and Leticia Saunders served as Corps Officers for Guam until June 2007, and were succeeded by the current Corps Officers, Captains Thomas and Christina Taylor. The Salvation Army has offered a variety of humanitarian services to the people of Guam. Its Family Services Center provides emergency assistance to families in need of food, clothing, rent or utilities, and donates toys to more than 1,500 children on Guam during the Christmas season. The Salvation Army also runs the Lighthouse Recovery Center, which began as a 16-bed residence for substance abuse recovery in 1998 and has since expanded to a state of the art facility with a bed capacity of 30. The Lighthouse Recovery Center facility is also utilized for after school activities, day camp, summer camp, youth councils, and the annual Community Thanksgiving Feast, which feeds more than 1,100 people in need. The Salvation Army also actively participates in the Guam Homeless Coalition's annual island-wide Homeless Count and Passport to Services programs, which assists our island's homeless community as well as those at risk of becoming homeless. Further, the Salvation Army Thrift Store offers clothing, furniture, and other household goods to the community at a low price. Over the last 20 years, the Salvation Army has coordinated with federal and local officials in providing disaster recovery and relief assistance through its Emergency Disaster Services Team. This team has assisted Guam residents whose homes and belongings were destroyed as a result of natural disasters, by donating thousands of dollars of food, clothing, and supplies. Further, the Salvation Army provided humanitarian services to Kurdish refugees who were evacuated from Iraq to Guam as part of Operation Pacific Haven in 1996, and also supported Burmese refugees who were seeking political asylum in 2000. The Salvation Army has worked with many local community organizations and businesses in their charitable efforts, including the Guam Symphony Society, the Rotary Club of Tumon Bay, the Guam Women's Club, the Guam Council of Women's Club, the Soroptimist International of Guam, the Guam Naval Officers' Spouse Connection, the Andersen Officers Souses Club, Chinese Ladies Association, Korean Women's Association of Guam, KUAM Care Force, Chinese Chamber of Commerce Guam, Marine Corps Toys for Tots, the Guam Homeless Coalition and the Council on Homelessness, Bank of Hawaii, Citibank, First Hawaiian Bank, and Wells Fargo Financial. I congratulate the Salvation Army Guam Corps on their 20th anniversary, and I commend them for their years of providing humanitarian services to the people of Guam and the Micronesia region. I also commend the efforts of the Corps Officers, Advisory Board Members, and all volunteers, for their commitment to the mission and vision of the Salvation Army. I look forward to the continued growth and expansion of this organization for many years to come.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Mr. Peter R. Sgro on being awarded the 2012 U.S. Small Business Administration's Entrepreneurial Success Award for Guam. Mr. Sgro is the President and Chairman of the Board of International Group, Inc., the President and Chairman of the Board of Pacific Rim Brokers, Inc., and the Principal Broker of International Realty. As the President and Chairman of the Board of International Group, Inc., a consulting firm that provides business development services for clients in the financial services, real estate, energy, and information technology industries, Mr. Sgro has built important relationships between Guam businesses and organizations throughout the United States and the Philippines. Under his leadership, International Group has assisted clients in securing more than $20 million in business development loans. Mr. Sgro also serves as the President and Chairman of the Board for Pacific Rim Brokers, Inc., a wholesale food distribution company that provides more than 200 product lines to local businesses on Guam. Since his election to this position in January of 2011, Pacific Rim Brokers has increased sales by 12 percent and hired 35 percent more employees, despite difficult economic environments. In 2006, Peter Sgro established the Guam Hospital Development Forum, which was comprised of cross-section of local experts and stakeholders, to develop a business plan to construct a privately owned and managed hospital on Guam. One year later, in 2007, Mr. Sgro and his wife Kathy, founded the Guam Healthcare and Development Foundation to implement this business plan. As the Foundation's President and Chairman, Mr. Sgro has secured full funding from national and international investors, and a ground breaking ceremony on this private hospital was held in February of 2012. This new, state of the art facility will provide more than 300 hospital beds for local patients and is expected to open in 2014. Mr. Sgro is also an active member in our community. He has served on the University of Guam Board of Regents, the Guam Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the Guam Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. During his tenure as the Chairman of the Guam Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Mr. Sgro established the Guam Business Hall of Fame to recognize local business leaders who have made outstanding contributions to their profession and to Guam's community. This recognition ceremony continues to be an annual tradition of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Sgro is married to Katherine Calvo Sgro and they have four children: Christopher, Matthew, Katarina, and Maria. He is a 1981 graduate of the University of Portland, where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in management and marketing. In 1984, Mr. Sgro received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Notre Dame. He is also a licensed real estate broker on Guam. I congratulate Peter R. Sgro, Jr. on receiving the 2012 U.S. Small Business Administration's Entrepreneurial Success Award for Guam. I join the people of Guam in commending him for his award and thanking him for his contributions to our community.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Ruth Gurusamy for receiving the U.S. Small Business Administration's 2012 Women in Business Champion of the Year award. Ruth is the owner of Gurusamy, Inc., or Health Services of the Pacific (HSP), and has many years of outstanding business leadership and community involvement on Guam. With more than 20 years of experience working as a nurse, Ruth founded HSP in 2004 to provide home healthcare services to patients on Guam. HSP quickly earned accreditation from the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. HSP also received Medicare's home healthcare certification and became a certified Hospice Agency in 2007. With her leadership, HSP has expanded the amount of critically- needed services it provides and has grown its staff to more than 80 employees. Further, as a former faculty member of the University of Guam School of Nursing, Ruth formed a partnership with the University to help train nursing students in various projects with HSP. Ruth is also actively involved in a variety of community organizations on Guam. She has participated in numerous health conferences and workshops, and has sponsored events with the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services. Ruth has held leadership roles on various committees and boards, including the Guam Legal Counsel for the Elderly advisory board, the UOG Union Board, the Guam Community College Nursing Advisory Board for the Licensed Practical Nurse program, and the Guam Hospital Healthcare Development Foundation board. In addition, she was part of the transition team for Governor Calvo, serving a board member for his Taskforce on Healthcare. I commend Ms. Ruth Gurusamy for her work in improving the delivery of healthcare services on Guam, and for being named the SBA's Women in Business Champion of the Year for 2012. I join the people of Guam in thanking her for her many contributions, and I wish her continued success.