Madeleine Bordallo

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. I thank the gentleman.

Ms. BORDALLO

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

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

Ms. BORDALLO. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) for this important resolution, and I thank him for managing the resolutions this afternoon on the floor. Again, I urge my colleagues to support this very important resolution.

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor).

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 795) honoring the people of Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and the Flight 93 Ambassadors for their efforts in creating the Flight 93 temporary memorial and encouraging the completion of the National Park Service Flight 93 National Memorial by the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001.

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam 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 resolution under consideration.

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, House Resolution 795, introduced last week by my colleague Representative Bill Shuster, honors the people of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Eight years ago, the town of Shanksville entered the history books in a tragic way. But since that dreadful day, the community, working with the Flight 93 ambassadors, has protected the temporary Flight 93 Memorial and pressed to establish a permanent national memorial to that plane's heroic passengers. House Resolution 795, Madam Speaker, recognizes those valiant efforts and encourages the Secretary of the Interior and the National Park Service to complete the Flight 93 National Memorial by the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Madam Speaker, we support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam 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 resolution under consideration.

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, one of the largest remaining freshwater tidal marshes in the greater Washington, D.C. area. Established in 1959 under the leadership of Representatives Dingell, Saylor, and Reuss, this preserve provides habitat for more than 6,500 species of plants and animals along the Potomac River. Freshwater tidal marshes are rare ecosystems providing ecological services and serving as an outdoor laboratory for scientists, educators, students, artists, birdwatchers, and many others to enjoy this unique and valuable environment. I commend Congressman Jim Moran of Virginia for introducing this resolution, and I urge its passage. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this resolution, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 701) to recognize the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve as a unique and precious ecosystem.

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

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 710) supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Estuaries Day''.

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam 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 resolution under consideration.

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, National Estuaries Day was established in 1988 and is an annual celebration highlighting the need to protect our Nation's estuaries. Estuaries provide vital habitat for countless fish and wildlife species and contribute significantly to our economy through commerce and recreation. National Estuaries Day was celebrated on September 26 with numerous activities nationwide, from canoe trips in Washington to photography contests in Florida. This annual public awareness campaign informs our citizens about their connection to these critical places and why these ecosystems need to be preserved, protected, and restored. I commend Congresswoman Castor from Florida for introducing this resolution, and I urge its passage. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, having no further speakers, again, I urge Members to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, thank you very much, and I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio for giving me some time to discuss the very serious disaster that just happened in one of the U.S. territories in the Pacific. I come to the House floor this evening in the wake of a tsunami that struck yesterday on the shores of the Samoan Islands, resulting from an earthquake centered in the Tonga Trench of the Pacific Ocean. The epicenter of this earthquake is estimated to have been about 120 miles south of the islands of Independent or Western Samoa and from American Samoa, which is represented in this body by our distinguished colleague Mr. Faleomavaega. The strength of this earthquake was measured by the United States Geological Survey at 8.0 magnitude on the Richter scale. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the tsunami triggered by this earthquake brought four back-to-back series of waves, ranging from 15 to 20 feet in height, to the shores of American Samoa and that these powerful waves penetrated up to a mile inland upon impact. Given the gravity of the situation at hand, I convey on behalf of my constituents, the people of Guam, our deepest condolences and sympathies to the Governor and the first lady of American Samoa, to our colleague Mr. Faleomavaega, and to their entire community on this tragedy. Our hearts and our prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones or who have been injured as a result of the disaster. Mr. Speaker, our island communities in the Pacific stand in solidarity with the people of Samoa, as do our fellow Americans from all across our country. When disaster strikes, we pull together as Americans and as a country, and in the Pacific, we do so as fellow islanders. The people of American Samoa are no strangers to the course of nature and to the forces of the sea. The Samoan culture has survived over centuries. Living in harmony with the sea is rooted deep in their culture and way of life. They are a great seafaring and resilient people with a strong sense of family and community. We know that they are pulling together at this time to comfort and to console each other and to begin to rebuild and recover. Their spirit has not been diminished or dampened. Rather, it is being tested, and they are answering the call tremendously. The fatality rate for this disaster continues to rise, as does the number reported to have been injured, and we grieve with our fellow Americans. The President this morning issued a major disaster declaration for American Samoa, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, under the leadership of its administrator, Mr. Craig Fugate, is marshaling and coordinating the relief resources as we speak. An AC-130 aircraft and a U.S. Navy frigate have been dispatched to deliver the first line of Federal relief. The arrival in American Samoa of other assets will follow in the coming hours, bringing critical food, water, medicine, medical supplies, and personnel. All branches of our military, including the National Guard, are organizing their contribution to this humanitarian mission as we speak. Our allies and friends in the region have already reached out, extending invaluable diplomatic lines of support and important messages of encouragement. Governor Tulafono, Congressman Faleomavaega, and other island leaders have been in around-the-clock communications with Federal officials and leaders of neighboring islands as to the situation on the ground and the status of recovery efforts. Mr. Faleomavaega, we know, would be with us today as we continue our legislative duties here in Congress, but recognizably is on his way home. I know several of my other colleagues intended to join me tonight in commenting on this tragedy and in sending words of condolence and encouragement to Mr. Faleomavaega's constituency. I am facilitating this Special Order as the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife. The chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, Mr. Rahall of West Virginia, is unable to join us in person tonight, but his remarks will be entered into the Record, and he has asked me to speak to this matter. Before yielding, however, I want to also emphasize the importance that this tragedy has underscored for the network of Federal disaster and natural hazard resources and partnerships spanning the Pacific region. The United States Geological Survey of the Department of the Interior has provided real-time data on the earthquake. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service issued the watches, the warnings and the advisories for the region with respect to the tsunami and continues to stand watch. The National Ocean Service and other components of NOAA have been working in the region and with local officials in recent years to improve natural hazard planning and to map the coastal areas for their vulnerabilities. FEMA's National Response Coordination Center and the Regional Response Coordination Center for Region IX have been critical to these early response efforts, as has the incident management assistant team and the planning and response team that they have deployed to provide direct support in American Samoa. The Coast Guard and other components of the Department of Homeland Security have also set in motion important services supporting these recovery efforts. Every branch of the armed services under the Pacific Command is also to be recognized for the humanitarian missions that they have put underway for the people of American Samoa, Western Samoa, and the Kingdom of Tonga. Personnel at the Office of Insular Affairs at the Department of the Interior and the Department of State are also initiating response efforts within their respective agencies and with the governments of the affected islands. And most importantly are the first responders and the civilian defensive authorities and personnel of the Government of American Samoa, including those working at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center, caring for the many, many injured. They are to be commended for the outstanding job that they are performing in this time of urgent need. Ultimately, after recovery, we will review and examine the sequence of steps leading up to and immediately following this natural disaster. We will do so for the purpose of further bolstering our defense and to improve our capability to prepare for and respond to such disasters. I know Mr. Faleomavaega has long been a leader in Congress for strengthening FEMA and NOAA's capabilities in the Pacific region, and I have joined him in working to protect such disaster assistance and weather forecasting services for the freely associated States under the terms of the compact. We have also worked to build these resources in the territories. Four years ago, in the aftermath of the devastating tsunami which hit Indonesia and affected more than 12 other countries in Southeast Asia, Mr. Faleomavaega introduced legislation to specifically provide for the establishment of a tsunami hazard mitigation program for all the United States insular areas. Mr. Faleomavaega's legislation was ultimately incorporated into an act of the 109th Congress, Public Law 109-424, which improved tsunami detection, forecasting, warnings, notification, preparedness, and mitigation for the entire United States, and is a basis for the United States leadership toward the development of a global integrated tsunami warning and education system. Mr. Speaker, we will have challenges before us in terms of preparing our island and coastal communities for tsunamis and other natural disasters, but we have come a long way, especially since the Federal Government established the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii in 1948. On Guam, we have weathered many, many supertyphoons and earthquakes, among other natural disasters. We recognize the tremendous lift that is provided to a community when our brothers and our sisters reach out to lend a helping hand and words of encouragement. When backup resources are sent and leaders work together in time of need, we pull together and we recover. This is the American way. But it is also deeply rooted in the values of the indigenous people of the Pacific, including our Samoan friends. Again, I know Mr. Faleomavaega, his constituents, and Governor Tulafono have the support of this body with respect to recovery from this disaster. We look forward to working with them in the coming days and weeks to ensure the lines of relief are there for their community. I want to again, Mr. Speaker, thank Mr. Ryan of Ohio for his indulgence in allowing me to utilize some of his time tonight. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues for keeping the people of American Samoa, Western Samoa, and the Kingdom of Tonga who have been impacted by this tragedy in their thoughts and in their prayers.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember those who have lost their lives as result of the recent tsunami in American Samoa and the region and to also offer my condolences on behalf of the people of Guam. I ask that this Congress support our colleague, Congressman Faleomavaega, to ensure that all of the appropriate assets from the Federal Government are brought to bear to help the Samoan people recover from this disaster. I also rise today to remember the 246 Filipino citizens who have lost their lives as a result of flooding caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana. This destructive storm rampaged through the northern Philippines, leaving tens of thousands of people displaced. Many of my constituents have family members who were affected by this storm. I commend the Filipino community of Guam, who were the first to mobilize our larger Guam community to quickly come together to collect relief items and provide monetary contributions to those affected by this natural disaster. I commend the efforts of those who are helping to meet the needs of the people of American Samoa, Samoa, Tonga, and the Philippines as they work toward a full recovery from these disasters.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

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

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2442) to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to expand the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program, 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. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I inquire if the minority has any additional speakers.