Madeleine Bordallo

Ms. BORDALLO

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

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4003) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to evaluate resources in the Hudson River Valley in the State of New York to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing the site as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Boswell) such time as he may consume. And before he begins, I would like to mention that he is a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2788) to designate a Distinguished Flying Cross National Memorial at the March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce H.R. 4695, a bill to expand the Federal Impact Aid program to reimburse schools for the costs of educating students from the Freely Associated States, FAS, residing in the United States, including the territories. Impact Aid was originally authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in 1965 to compensate local school districts for the costs of educating federally connected children. Examples of these kinds of students include those whose parents live on military bases, live on Indian lands, or are the children of accredited foreign diplomats. However, the Impact Aid program does not compensate local schools for the costs incurred by educating students from the FAS. The United States entered into the Compacts of Free Association with the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau and under the Compacts, citizens of these countries can enter the United States without a visa. Thus, children whose parents are citizens of the FAS are in schools in the States and territories under a special immigration category and are federally connected just as children of military families are similarly federally connected. This legislation would provide a means for the Federal Government to provide assistance to impacted local education authorities. Madam Speaker, the economic downturn has forced many local school districts to cut education budgets. This is a longstanding issue for affected jurisdictions and they need this to be redressed now more than ever. I would like to thank Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Honda, Mr. Sablan, and Mr. Pierluisi for joining with me as original cosponsors. I will work with these cosponsors to pass this bill during the 111th Congress.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2314, legislation that has been championed by the Senators from the State of Hawaii in the other body and our colleagues in the House of Representatives representing the Aloha State. Those of us who are privileged to serve on the Committee on Natural Resources with our colleague, the distinguished gentleman from Hawaii, Mr. Abercrombie, have witnessed his tireless efforts on behalf of preserving Native Hawaiian culture and in improving the federal relationship with the Native Hawaiian people. His passion and deep resolve on the issues important to his State and our country, as well as working class families, is revered and respected. It is fitting that the House take up this legislation during his final days of service in this Congress, and I want to emphasize on behalf of the people of Guam, who I represent, my support for its swift passage and enactment. This is an indigenous peoples issue, and the indigenous peoples of the offshore territories are especially sensitive to the situation at- hand with regard to Native Hawaiians. Our governance system must be devised and shaped to respect their culture and to allow for their needs to be adequately addressed. I ask Members to recall the history of the annexation of their islands under the U.S. Flag and the overthrow of their Kingdom, for which Congress has previously recognized and extended an apology. There are unique historical circumstances which give rise to this debate and to this legislation. We have heard today the passionate and thoughtfully expressed appeals for our favorable action on the question of passage before us. We should be moved not only by the gravity of this debate, but also by the impartial review of the facts before us and because of what this means for our country and our obligations as legislators. The native people of the Hawaiian Islands deserve no less than our resolve to accord them due legal rights and protections consistent with our national trust and obligation to native peoples of the lands for which the U.S. Flag now flies. Through passage of H.R. 2314 we will affirm a political relationship between our national Government directly with the native people of these beautiful islands. It is a relationship whose formation in the construct proposed by the legislation is entirely fitting and appropriate in the context of case law and precedent. It is merely because of historical circumstances that we are called to action now, 50 years after statehood. I support the substitute amendment, and the purpose of the underlying bill. I wish our colleague, Mr. Abercrombie, the best in all of his future endeavors and thank him for his service in this institution and commend him for his work on this important legislation. I urge passage of H.R. 2314.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, the Nation's recent economic downturn has dramatically affected the forest products industry, especially those companies reliant on wood from Federal lands. Currently, the Forest Service has several options for helping timber companies amend the terms of timber contracts that are no longer economically viable. However, the Bureau of Land Management does not have the same authorities. H.R. 3759, introduced by our distinguished colleague from Oregon, Representative DeFazio, would help rural economies and struggling timber companies by allowing the Secretary of the Interior to add 3 years to the expiration date of certain BLM timber contracts. This authority is similar to the Forest Service authority and would enable companies to wait for a better economic climate. Mr. Speaker, we commend Representative DeFazio for his efforts to support rural communities by proposing this legislation. We support the passage of H.R. 3759 and urge its adoption by the House today. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3759) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to grant economy-related contract extensions of a certain timber contracts between the Secretary of the Interior and timber purchasers, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 725) to protect Indian arts and crafts through the improvement of applicable criminal proceedings, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Natural Resources Committee chairman, Mr. Nick Rahall, and myself, I would like to commend the gentleman from Arizona, Representative Ed Pastor, for sponsoring the pending measure and for working with the committee to bring it before the full House. The sale of misrepresented and counterfeit American Indian jewelry, pottery, baskets, rugs, and other items cheats the consumer, degrades the entire native market, and robs talented, hardworking native artisans of their living. This has been a growing problem that Mr. Pastor's legislation will effectively address. H.R. 725 would amend the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 to authorize any Federal law enforcement officer to conduct an investigation of an offense involving the sale of any good that is represented as an Indian-produced good. The legislation also requires that the findings of an investigation of an alleged offense be submitted to a Federal or State prosecuting authority or to the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. Again, I want to commend my colleague Mr. Pastor of Arizona for his hard work and dedication to this piece of legislation. He is addressing a longstanding problem with this bill, and I ask my colleagues to support its passage. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In 1935, Congress enacted legislation to establish the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. The Indian Arts and Crafts Board, an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior, is responsible for promoting the development of American Indian and Alaska Native arts and crafts, improving the economic status of the members of the Indian tribes, and helping to develop and expand marketing opportunities for arts and crafts produced by the American Indians and Alaska Natives. The 1935 legislation adopted criminal penalties for selling goods with the misrepresentation that they were Indian produced. This provision, currently located in section 1159 of title 18, U.S. Code, set fines not to exceed $500 or imprisonment not to exceed 6 months or both. Although this law was in effect for many years, it provided no meaningful deterrent to those who misrepresented imitation arts and crafts as Indian produced. In addition, willful intent was required to be proved. Therefore, very little enforcement took place. So H.R. 725 seeks to address this continuing problem by strengthening the penalties associated with misrepresentation of Indian-produced goods and by empowering Federal, tribal, and local authorities to undertake investigations and enforcement. A Senate companion bill, S. 151, passed the Senate on July 24, 2009. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, we do not have any additional speakers.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3726, sponsored by my good friend and colleague from the Virgin Islands, Donna Christensen, establishes the Castle Nugent National Historic Site as a new unit of the National Park System on the island of St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. The lands to be included in this new historic site represent the largest undeveloped natural area remaining on the island, and there is very strong local support for protecting it as parkland for future generations. The new park, Mr. Speaker, encompasses about 11,500 acres, three- quarters of which are submerged lands containing one of the largest and healthiest coral reef systems in the region. The National Park Service has studied the site and testified that it meets their criteria for addition to the system. Congresswoman Christensen is to be commended for her commitment to preserving the unique history and the culture of the beautiful island of St. Croix. So we urge our colleagues to support passage of H.R. 3726. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3726) to establish the Castle Nugent National Historic Site at St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge the Members to support the bill, H.R. 3726, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop), for managing the bills this afternoon with me, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1008. This resolution honors the contributions that Catholic schools make to our communities and, in particular, recognizes the annual Catholic Schools Week, celebrated from January 31 to February 6 of this year. I thank Mr. Lipinski of Illinois for introducing H. Res 1008, for recognizing Catholic Schools Week, and for his ongoing support for Catholic schools nationwide. Catholic Schools Week is an event co-sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The week honors the principals, teachers, coaches, and parents who educate more than 2.2 million children in Catholic Schools. This year, the Conference of Catholic Bishops selected ``Dividends for Life--Faith, Knowledge, Discipline, and Morals'' as the theme. Guam's association with the Roman Catholic Church dates back to Ferdinand Magellan's arrival on our island in 1521. Guam became an important port-of-call along trade routes through the Pacific sailed by Spanish galleons. Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores, a Spanish Jesuit missionary, arrived in Guam in 1662 during his journey from Mexico to the Philippines. Padre San Vitores vowed to return to Guam upon leaving the island. Three years later, through his close ties to the royal court, he persuaded King Philip IV of Spain and Queen Maria Ana of Austria to order the establishment of a Catholic mission in Guam. Padre San Vitores established a mission in the village of Agana, which later became the site of the island's first Catholic Church. It is now the seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Agana, canonically erected in 1911 and elevated to a Diocese in 1965--300 years after Padre Diego Luis de San Vitores kept his promise to return to the island. The Diocese was further elevated in 1984 to a Metropolitan Diocese. Today it enjoys a congregation of 101,000 strong throughout Oceania. The Roman Catholic faith grew strong on Guam over the years. This strength is represented in the quality of Catholic school education on the island. Our island has six elementary and middle schools, and four high schools that teach the Catholic faith along with strong academic curriculum. The Catholic school tradition on Guam began with Bishop Appollinaris Baumgartner. He recognized our island's need for quality education inspired by the Catholic faith. In 1946, he invited three Sisters of Mercy from North Carolina to Guam. They established The Academy of Our Lady, the first all girls' Catholic high school on Guam. This school remains in operation today. Also, Bishop Baumgartner invited the School Sisters of Notre Dame of La Crosse, Wisconsin, to come to Guam in 1949. Soon after arriving on the island the Sisters founded Notre Dame High School, a Catholic co-educational high school. Notre Dame High School also remains open today. Father Duenas Memorial High School is the third Catholic high school on Guam. Its namesake, Father Jesus Baza Duenas, was executed on July 11, 1944, by the Japanese forces occupying Guam. Father Duenas was killed along with his nephew because he would not betray the location of an American sailor hiding on the island. Father Duenas Memorial High School continues his legacy of courage and integrity. Lastly in 2008, the Archdiocese of Agana opened St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic High School, to further educate Guam's students. The school is a co-educational high school offering a college preparatory academic program that challenges and develops its students to become moral and productive citizens with global perspectives firmly rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the teachings of the Catholic Church. All four schools offer rigorous curricula to prepare students for college while instilling strong moral values and an understanding of the Catholic faith. Today, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agana remains committed to serving the people of Guam. Under the direction of the Most Reverend Anthony Sablan Apuron, OFM Cap, DD, Metropolitan Archbishop of Agana, Catholic educational institutions on Guam provide quality academic instruction to students. The contributions of the Catholic school system to the people of Guam are reflected in our local leaders in the clergy, government, and private-sector who are alumni of the Catholic schools. I recognize and commend the Catholic schools in Guam for their commitment to a rigorous education, sound moral values, and respect and understanding for the Catholic faith. It is my hope that the tradition of Catholic schools education on Guam and around the United States will remain strong for generations to come.