Madeleine Bordallo

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support House Resolution 845, recognizing the United States Armed Forces and Dyess Air Force Base for their success in achieving energy savings and developing energy-saving innovations. I would like to thank my colleague and former neighbor, Mr. Neugebauer, for his work in bringing this resolution to the floor. The Air Force pledge to become more energy efficient has facilitated both resourceful engineering projects and simple solutions, such as the installation of new electronic dimming lights in hangars at Dyess Air Force Base. While the projects at Dyess Air Force Base range in size and scope, the end result is a 16.5 percent reduction in energy usage at a savings of over $1 million in 2008. The diligence exhibited by the Air Force and leadership at Dyess Air Force Base serves as a good example of what can be achieved in energy savings, not only at other bases, but in government facilities, private businesses, and personal households. The men and women at this base in Abilene, Texas, continue to display a commitment to conserve energy and remain faithful stewards of the taxpayers' money. They accomplished all of this without sacrificing their ultimate mission to ``Fly, Fight, Win.'' So Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating the United States Air Force and Dyess Air Force Base for their successes in energy conservation by supporting House Resolution 845. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3940) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to extend grants and other assistance to facilitate a political status public education program for the people of Guam, as amended.

Ms. BORDALLO. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3940 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to assist the Governments of Guam, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands in developing and implementing political status public education programs. Such programs would aid the people of these territories in understanding the various and viable political status options available to them. With such information, they could, in turn, express informed opinions about their future in any political status plebiscite or convention. Today, Guam, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands are the three United States territories recognized by the international community as nonself-governing. The Federal Government is obligated to advance their self-government, taking into account the political aspirations of their peoples. The Secretary of the Interior is responsible for these efforts under U.S. law, and the resolution of status for these territories is a matter for Congress to ultimately resolve under article IV of the United States Constitution. Although efforts have been made in the past in each territory toward improving its status consistent with the right of self-determination, status remains ultimately unresolved for them. In Guam, a local law has authorized a plebiscite to be held that is to involve a public education program. In American Samoa, the work of a locally established commission to assess status options, the third such commission in the history of the territory, was recently concluded. A plebiscite on status was also held previously in the Virgin Islands. Each circumstance, however, demonstrates the importance of a public education program for resolving status in each territory and for preparing for future plebiscites or other processes by which their people can collectively express their political aspirations. This bill, Mr. Speaker, simply clarifies in law that the Secretary of the Interior can exercise existing authority to provide general technical assistance to these territories for the purpose of facilitating political status public education. So I ask my colleagues to support the passage of this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, this bill has been authored by my colleague and my friend Mr. Brown of South Carolina. The Multinational Species Conservation Funds support conservation activities in a wide range of countries to protect, recover, or restore threatened and endangered species, specifically, tigers, rhinoceroses, African elephants, Asian elephants, great apes and sea turtles. H.R. 1454 would require the U.S. Postal Service to issue a Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp to generate additional funding to support the wildlife grant programs under these funds. Considering the high demand for grants under these programs and the fact that they commonly leverage three or four times as much funding from non-Federal contributions, this additional funding, Mr. Speaker, will be put to good use to protect these keystone species. With that, I ask Members on both sides to support the bill's passage. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2062 would amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to establish new penalties and fines for instances when migratory birds are deliberately killed or wounded in an aggravated manner. In 2007, a 14-month, multi-State undercover investigation initiated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service revealed that thousands of protected species of hawks and falcons had been killed illegally. Worse, despite the fact that those who had done the killing had used horrific methods, including trapping, poisoning, suffocating, clubbing, and baiting birds with pigeons rigged with fishing hooks, many of the defendants who pleaded guilty to the only applicable charge under the MBTA, a class B misdemeanor, escaped with minor fines or were merely granted probation. These events confirm that the Congress should amend the MBTA to authorize new felony penalties to deter future offenses and to allow the Fish and Wildlife Service to recommend charges appropriate for the brutal nature of these actions when they do occur. I commend our colleague from Oregon, Representative Peter DeFazio, for his leadership in developing this narrowly tailored legislation that does not diminish in any way the MBTA's existing ``strict liability'' standard. So, Mr. Speaker, I urge Members on both sides to support the passage of this important bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support House Concurrent Resolution 206, commending the dedication of soldiers, civilian personnel, and families stationed at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and recognizing the 60th anniversary of Fort Gordon as the vital training center of the United States Army Signal Corps. Fort Gordon has a long and storied history of preparing our soldiers to effectively utilize technological advances on the battlefield. Now, Fort Gordon is training our soldiers in the advanced communication technologies needed to execute missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. I also want to commend the civilian personnel at Fort Gordon who are key members of the United States Army Signal Corps team and whose hard work and dedication to the mission are critical to the United States Army's success. To be the best, we need soldiers and civilians working together. And finally, I want to express my gratitude to the families stationed at Fort Gordon. While their loved ones train for long hours and deploy overseas for extended periods of time, the families remain supportive and steadfast, understanding the sacrifice that comes from keeping the United States safe and secure. I also commend the entire Augusta, Georgia, community who rally around the great men and women of Fort Gordon. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Mr. Broun of the State of Georgia, for his work in bringing this resolution to the floor, and I ask all my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 206. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, at this time I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

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

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 206) commending the soldiers and civilian personnel stationed at Fort Gordon and their families for their service and dedication to the United States and recognizing the contributions of Fort Gordon to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and its role as a pivotal communications training installation, as amended.

Ms. BORDALLO

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

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my friend and colleague and the sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan).

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 940) recognizing and honoring the National Guard on the occasion of its 373rd anniversary.

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

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

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend Shirley Lai for her lifetime of community service to the people of Guam. Shirley passed away on November 28, 2009. Shirley was born in a small village in Canton, China on September 5, 1931 and later moved with her parents and four siblings to Hong Kong. Shirley and her husband, Kwong Choy Lai, and her eight young children, moved to Guam in the late 1970s. Shirley started the Estimewa Restaurant, one of Guam's first restaurants specializing in Chinese cuisine. In 1983, after renting a vacant barbershop in an old hotel in Hagatna, the capital of Guam, she opened her first coffee shop with only two employees. Shirley blended flavors of American, Chinese, Filipino and local Chamorro cuisine, and a short time later Shirley's Coffee Shop quickly grew from a nine table coffee shop into a chain of six restaurants, four in Guam and two in Saipan. Throughout her life, Shirley continually gave back to her community. Just as she contributed much to the community of Guam, she taught her children to be generous and that success is best measured by the community's reciprocity in trust and respect. She and her family provided assistance to the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Make-a-Wish Foundation as well as several sports leagues for children. She also assisted in disaster relief efforts during times of recovery in our region. Like many who knew her as a close friend and community leader, I will miss Shirley. My thoughts and prayers are with her sons and their families; her daughter and husband; her fifteen grandchildren; and her great granddaughter.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Stupak- Ellsworth-Pitts-Smith-Kaptur-Dahlkemper Amendment to H.R. 3962 the ``Affordable Health Care for America Act.'' This amendment, supported by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, is important because it ensures that current federal law on abortion funding will apply to the public health care option created by H.R. 3962. This amendment codifies the Hyde Amendment in H.R. 3962. It will prevent public funds from being used to pay for or subsidize elective abortions, either through the public option or heath care affordability tax credits, except in the case of rape, incest, physical injury or physical illness to the women. The Hyde Amendment is already in place in current federal health programs like Medicaid and Medicare and this amendment will make sure that H.R. 3962 is governed in a consistent manner. I have received numerous letters from my constituents expressing both support for health care reform, but also grave concerns that federal funds would be used to pay for elective abortion under the new law. I am very supportive of the overall goals of H.R. 3962 and particularly its provisions that address the health disparity issues in the territories. The addition of the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Smith-Kaptur- Dahlkemper amendment will further strengthen this legislation and ensure that no one will need to choose between their conscientious objections to abortion and their desire to work toward more affordable quality health care in America. I commend Congressman Stupak for his leadership on this important issue and urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3548, the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009. The bill contains an important provision extending and expanding the successful First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit to homes purchased through April 30, 2010. Under current law, the tax credit would expire on December 1, 2009, and would not apply to homes closed on or after that date. The extension allows for homebuyers to claim the credit if they enter into a binding contract before May 1, 2010 and close within 60 days of that date. In addition to the extension of the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit worth up to $8,000, the legislation expands the credit to homebuyers who have been in their current residence for at least the past five years. The expanded credit is worth up to $6,500. There is strong evidence that suggests this program has greatly aided in stabilizing our nation's housing market, and it has also helped to improve Guam's housing market. The extension of the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit will allow this program to complete its designed purpose and provide a longer term stimulus to the recovering, but still lagging housing market. This legislation further expands the tax credit to current homeowners who have been in their homes for at least five years but wish to move to a new residence. This expansion will provide an additional incentive for responsible homeowners to participate in this program. The tax credit will further stimulate the housing market to a point where more potential buyers will enter the market, in turn helping to stabilize and eventually increase housing prices. The passage of this legislation marks an important step toward the full recovery of our nation's housing market and our economy overall.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res 780, legislation introduced by my colleague, Congressman Bob Filner of California. H. Res 780 recognizes the celebration of Filipino-American History Month and the important contributions made by the Filipino- American community throughout our Nation's history. Filipino-Americans have contributed to all facets of American society and have enriched our Nation with their lives and achievements. Guam is home to a large population of Filipino-Americans who are active in all sectors of our community. Filipino-Americans have contributed to the economic, cultural and social success of Guam and have long played a part in the development of our island. The Philippines are culturally and historically linked to our community on Guam. I would like to recognize the Filipino Community of Guam, an umbrella organization representing over fifty groups, working together for the benefit of our island. I also commend the Filipino Community of Guam for mobilizing and organizing relief efforts for the Filipino flood victims affected by this past year's natural disasters. Numerous members of the Guam Filipino community maintain close ties to their relatives in the Philippines and were eager to help those in need. As a member of the U.S.-Philippines Friendship Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus I join my colleagues in urging a ``yes'' vote on H. Res 780.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. I rise today in support of the passage of H.R. 3632, The Federal Judiciary Administrative Improvements Act of 2009. The passage of this bill in the House marks an important step towards addressing administrative disparities between federal judges serving under the authority of Article IV of the Constitution and Article III federal judges. Specifically, section 4 of H.R. 3632 addresses disparities in disability retirement and cost of living adjustments of annuities for territorial judges. While this bill takes a positive step in addressing these disparities, there is still work to be done on this issue. The House has previously passed this important legislation and I hope the Senate will take up this bill to improve the administration of our nation's federal court system. I support legislation that addresses these disparities and have introduced legislation that calls for more equal treatment of territorial federal judges. H.R. 910 addresses one of the disparities in treatment of federal judges regarding the specific case of Judge John S. Unpingco, who served as Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court of Guam but due to the ten year term limit of Article IV judges, did not fulfill the service requirement to receive a full annuity. Article III judges serve for life. I commend Congressman Hank Johnson, as well as Chairman Conyers and Ranking Member Smith for their work and leadership on improving our nation's federal judiciary and I look forward to working with them in the future to further address the issue of disparities of territorial federal judges.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, today I have introduced a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to award grants and extend assistance to the Government of Guam for the purpose of helping to facilitate a political status public education program for the people of Guam. This bill is introduced in recognition of the Secretary of the Interior's administrative responsibility for the economic, social and political development of the territory of Guam. Executive Order 10077 signed in 1949 transferred the administration of Guam from the Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary of the Interior, and Congress has provided certain levels of self-government for the people of Guam since the enactment of the Organic Act of Guam in 1950. However, the political status of the territory of Guam remains unresolved. The Guam Legislature has passed local laws authorizing the holding of a political status plebiscite. Any plebiscite requires a public education program to inform the people of Guam of various political status options. This bill specifically authorizes federal assistance for such a public education program. Federal funding for political status public education programs is not without precedent. U.S. Public Law 101-45 provided $3,500,000 to the Territory of Puerto Rico to ``participate in the legislative process involving the future political status of Puerto Rico.'' Additionally, the now independent Republic of Palau was appropriated by U.S. Public Law 101-219, ``such sums as may be necessary for a further referendum on approval of the Compact, if one is required, or other appropriate costs associated with the approval process in Palau.'' The people of Guam have expressed their desire for a new political status in the past, however, such political status aspirations were not realized, despite past efforts by Guam's representatives, the administration and Congress. As a result, a commission of the Government of Guam has been established to prepare for a new plebiscite. I look forward to working with my colleagues to review this bill.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1471) to expand the boundary of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in the State of Georgia, to redesignate the unit as a National Historical Park, and for other purposes, as amended.