Madeleine Bordallo

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 to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker. I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 603) to require the conveyance of certain public land within the boundaries of Camp Williams, Utah, to support the training and readiness of the Utah National Guard.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 603 was introduced by the ranking member on the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee, Representative Rob Bishop. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management to the State of Utah for use by the Utah National Guard. The land would revert to the United States should it ever cease being used by the Guard. This legislation was approved by the House during the 110th Congress but was not considered in the other body. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend our colleague Representative Bishop for his leadership in this matter and for his willingness to work with the committee to resolve issues raised during the earlier consideration of this legislation. We have no objection to the passage of H.R. 603. 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. 601) to provide for the conveyance of parcels of land to Mantua, Box Elder County, Utah.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time and would inquire of the minority whether they have any additional speakers.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega). (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to note that the chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe is observing our proceedings today, and so it is very fitting that the House supports the passage of House Resolution 132 in honor of the life of Geronimo.

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, I would therefore like to yield 2 minutes to Mr. Blumenauer.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire as to how much time we have left.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, again, I say this is a timely, important piece of legislation, and I urge my fellow colleagues to support bill number H.R. 80. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record the following exchange of letters between the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Natural Resources concerning certain jurisdictional matters on H.R. 80. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, February 23, 2009. Hon. Nick Rahall, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Rahall: In recognition of the desire to expedite consideration of H.R. 80, the Captive Primate Safety Act, the Committee on the Judiciary agrees to waive formal consideration of the bill as to provisions that fall within its rule X jurisdiction. Specifically, the bill adds a new criminal prohibition for trafficking in nonhuman primates, with felony penalties, including up to 5 years in prison. The Committee takes this action with the understanding that by forgoing consideration of H.R. 80 at this time, it does not waive any jurisdiction over subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and with the understanding that our Committee will be appropriately consulted as the bill or similar legislation moves forward. The Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation, and requests your support for any such request. I would appreciate your including this letter in the Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the House floor. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and for the cooperative working relationship between our two committees. Sincerely, John Conyers, Jr., Chairman.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. I would like to yield the balance of our time to our next speaker, who is the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Pedro Pierluisi).

Ms. BORDALLO. In the billions.

Ms. BORDALLO. It's priceless.

Ms. BORDALLO. The value?

Ms. BORDALLO. Yes.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and achievements of Joseph C. Murphy, who passed away on February 5, 2009. Joe will be remembered as a former editor of the Pacific Daily News and as a sharp-witted columnist. Joe was born on February 23, 1927, in Appleton, Wisconsin. At the age of 17 he joined the United States Navy and spent a year in combat during World War II. He returned home to finish high school and later obtained a degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. After graduation, Joe worked as a reporter, editor and columnist in Wisconsin, Oregon, and California before moving to Guam in 1965. Joe was the editor of the Guam Daily News, the precursor to the Pacific Daily News, a Gannett newspaper. He wrote an insightful column called ``Pipe Dreams'' which made us laugh, think and debate. His writings were observations and musing on island life, our unique community, and local politics. Over the years he developed the concept of ``OOG'', ``Only On Guam'', a phrase that became synonymous with island life and oddities about our community. His humorous OOG anecdotes were later consolidated into two publications, Guam Is a Four Letter Word and Son of a Four Letter Word. Joe loved Guam and his columns often urged our community and our leaders to tackle the challenges of a developing island. He often wrote retrospective pieces where he observed the progress and changes that our island has undergone since his arrival forty four years ago. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Marion, their children, Colleen, Maureen, Shannon, Kerry, Tim, Erin, Megan, and Joey and their extended family and friends. We honor his life's work as a journalist and his contributions to our community. Most of all, he will be remembered by many as a gifted writer who had an enormous impact in our island community. We are grateful for his contributions and we will miss him dearly.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the life and service of Monique Portusach-Cepeda, a dedicated community leader who continually gave back to the people of Guam. Monique passed away on January 3, 2009 after a battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband, Nathaniel Fejeran Ulloa, her mother Frances Portusach Hudgens, and her father Anthony Calvo Cepeda. Monique graduated from George Washington High School as valedictorian in 1996. Monique enrolled in Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and in 2001 graduated with a degree in American Civilization and Bio-Medical Community Health. While at Brown University, Monique was awarded the President Harry S. Truman Fellowship before continuing her education at Harvard University. In 2002, Monique graduated from Harvard University with a Master's Degree in Public Policy. Monique was also selected as a Presidential Management Fellow, a program for individuals dedicated to promoting sound policy and programming in government agencies. Monique worked with the Social Security Administration on Guam as a Federal Disability Examiner where she helped residents of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa through the disability claims process. She continued to give back to her community through participation in organizations such as Youth for Youth, Democrats for a Better America, and Young Government Leaders. Monique was also a representative for the San Diego area to the Pacific Asian Advisory Council. My prayers are with Monique's family and friends whose hearts she so deeply touched. Her contributions towards our island community will be remembered and honored always.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Alfred San Nicolas Flores, a former Guam Senator who passed away on February 6, 2009 at the age of 93. Alfred, known as ``Davy Crockett'' to family and friends, was devoted to his community and will be remembered for his public service and his love of farming. Born on June 20, 1916 to Jose Duenas Flores and Rafaela San Nicolas, Alfred was raised by his step-mother Margarita Flores in the village of Inarajan. He became a Lancheru, or ``rancher,'' farming his family's land and raising cattle. He later established the Flores Poultry Farm which became a major supplier of fresh eggs to Guam's civilian and military communities. Alfred entered public service, first as an Assemblyman in the Guam Congress, and later as a six term Senator in the Guam Legislature. He promoted agriculture by establishing a special water rate for farmers and establishing a crop insurance program. He also authored legislation to create low and moderate income housing subdivisions. In 1976 he was elected to the office of Commissioner (Mayor) of Inarajan. Senator Flores was a founding member of the Democratic Party of Guam and he was known for his fiery campaign speeches. Alfred Flores served on the Selective Service Board, the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority Board of Directors, the Guam Farmers Cooperative Association, and the Soil and Water Conservation District. He was active in his village church, St. Joseph's Parish in Inarajan. He also mentored young men by volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America. Senator Alfred Flores was a dedicated public servant who made many lasting contributions to our community. He was recognized later in life as a Master Lancheru for his contributions to preserving traditional farming. My heartfelt condolences are with his wife Ester, their children Lucille, May, Fred, and Roy and his extended family and friends. He will be dearly missed.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, today I have introduced a bill to strengthen enforcement mechanisms to stop illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The difficulties of managing fish stocks that migrate across political boundaries are exacerbated by the increased fishing power now available as a result of modern technology. While the United States is recognized for its commitment to domestic fisheries conservation and as an international voice in science-based ocean conservation, the failure of other nations to adopt similar approaches has both economic and conservation implications for U.S. industry and management. Additional action is needed from Congress if we are to be successful in combating IUU fishing and the depletion of fish stocks worldwide. Recent reports have documented that IUU fishing accounts for between 11 and 19 percent of the reported global fish catch, or $10-25 billion in gross revenues each year (MRAG, 2005, Sumaila et al., 2006 and Agnew et al., 2008). This undermines the United States' conservation focused approach to fisheries management and the efforts of its fishermen, and has implications for sustainable international fisheries that benefit the world's marine ecosystems. Unsustainable fishing practices by foreign fishing fleets adversely affect stocks that migrate between the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the high seas. This problem can be particularly acute in places like Guam, where the EEZ is vast, and where the United States Coast Guard, despite its best efforts, will never have sufficient resources to patrol all of our waters. There are many ways to address the issue of IUU fishing, including depriving fishers of the economic benefits of illegal fishing, increasing leverage on nations to effectively monitor and control their fishing vessels, and building capacity for enforcement and good governance in developing countries, all of which were addressed with the 2006 reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The January 13th release of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) biennial report to Congress of identified IUU nations was a positive first step in addressing IUU fishing. Notwithstanding these and other efforts by NOAA, the Department of State, and the United States Coast Guard, further enforcement authorities could enhance the ability of these agencies to address IUU fishing. The ``Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2009'', which I have introduced today, will further enhance the enforcement authority of NOAA and the United States Coast Guard to regulate IUU fishing. This bill would amend the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (HSDFMPA) and other international and regional fishery management organization (RFMO) agreements to incorporate in them the civil penalties, permit sanctions, criminal offenses, civil forfeitures and enforcement sections of the MSA. It would also strengthen the enforcement authority of NOAA and the United States Coast Guard to inspect conveyances, facilities, and records involving the storage, processing, transport and trade of fish and fish products, and to detain fish and fish products for up to five days while an investigation is ongoing. In addition, this bill makes technical adjustments to allow NOAA to more effectively carry out current IUU identification mandates, including extending the duration of time of identification of violators from the preceding two years to the preceding three years. This bill also broadens data sharing authority to enable NOAA to share information with foreign governments and to clarify that all information it collects may be shared with international organizations and foreign governments, particularly for the purposes of conducting enforcement. These amendments promote the conservation and sound management of fish stocks internationally and in a manner that is consistent with the expectations placed on U.S. fishermen. Finally, this bill would establish an international cooperation and assistance program to provide funding and technical expertise to other nations to help them address IUU fishing. It authorizes $5 million annually from 2010 to 2015 to carry out this program oriented towards establishing a coordinated and effective global system to combat IUU fishing. IUU fishermen are ``free riders'' who benefit unfairly from the sacrifices made by U.S. fishermen and others for the sake of proper fisheries conservation and management. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance this important bill through the legislative process.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Juan Lujan Pangelinan, who passed away on January 23, 2009. Juan was a dedicated public servant who served as a Commissioner of Agana Heights, an elected position now called Mayor. Juan was born on May 18, 1922 to Francisco Borja and Natividad Lujan Pangelinan in Anigua, a district of Hagatna, Guam's capitol. Experience he gained working with his family businesses in Sumay, the pre-war economic center of Guam, paved the way for his entrepreneurial spirit and establishment of his own commercial ventures after World War II. He co-founded Kotla's Store, and as one of the island's first village retail stores, Kotla's Store prospered for over forty years as a community corner store and laundromat. He established the ``Villa Kotla'' where many of his family members reside today. He was known for using his personal resources to help families in his village during their time of need. For his commitment to his village, the community of Agana Heights elected Juan as Guam's first write-in village commissioner in 1952 and re-elected him to four consecutive four-year terms. As the elected leader of his village, Juan avidly involved himself in various community organizations. He founded the Agana Heights Drum and Bugle Corps, Majorettes and Armed Drill Team to provide the youth of the village the spirit and pride of community. In the aftermath of the devastation of Super typhoon Karen in 1962 Juan helped in finding shelters for families whose homes were destroyed. Juan's community spirit extended beyond his village as a member of the Helping Hands of Guam, the Young Men's League of Guam, the Agana Heights Holy Name Society, and the Agana Heights Association. Juan retired after thirty years of dedicated public service to our island community. With a passion for family genealogy, Juan published two books, Familian Kotla and Familian Haniu and began working on Familian Lujan and Familian Untalan. Today, these genealogies provide accurate histories, not only of the families of which Juan Pangelinan was a part of, but also of the communities of Agana, Agana Heights, Anigua, Sumay and other villages on Guam. My thoughts and prayers are with his surviving siblings Sister Mary Alma, RSM, and Luisa and Antonio, his children, Frank, Toni, Tita, Loling, John, Gerianne, and Joseph and his grand children and great grand children. We honor his life's work as a civic leader and his contributions to our community. Most of all, he will be remembered by many as a generous and giving man. We are grateful for his public service and we will miss him dearly.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, today I have reintroduced a bill to amend and reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. In the 110th Congress, I joined my colleague, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega of American Samoa, in introducing H.R. 1205, the ``Coral Reef Conservation Amendments Act of 2007'', which the House of Representatives passed by voice vote on October 22, 2007. The bill I have introduced today, with Congressman Faleomavaega and 15 other colleagues, strengthens H.R. 1205 without changing its original intent. Conservation of coral reef ecosystems is essential to protect public health, promote environmental sustainability, and ensure long-term economic progress for the jurisdictions we represent in Congress. The sovereign waters of the United States off the coast of Guam, and in the Pacific region as a whole, contain a majority of the shallow-water coral reefs in the United States, as well as some of the world's greatest coral reef biodiversity. These reefs, and reefs around the world, protect us from storm waves, provide habitat and shelter for fisheries, provide food and recreation for our residents, and are the basis for marine tourism industries. Today, however, various pressures on the world's reefs threaten to destroy them and the numerous ecosystem services that they provide. Unless the United States acts in conjunction with the global community to support focused, prolonged action on coral reef education, research, and management, the condition of our coral reefs will continue to degrade. Since its enactment in 2000, the Coral Reef Conservation Act has stimulated a greater commitment to protect, conserve, and restore coral reef resources within jurisdictional waters of the United States. As a result, we now have a much better grasp of the condition of our coral reefs, and more focused management capability than at any time in our history. The Coral Reef Conservation Act Reauthorization and Enhancement Amendments of 2009 would further strengthen the original legislation by establishing a new community-based planning grants program, by promoting international cooperation, and by recognizing the important contributions of the U.S. Department of the Interior in coral reef management and conservation efforts. This bill would also codify the United States Coral Reef Task Force established in 1998 by President Clinton through Executive Order 13089. The work of the Task Force and its mission to coordinate the efforts of the United States in promoting conservation and the sustainable use of coral reefs internationally is vital to our interests. Since 1998, the Task Force has acted to facilitate and support better management and conservation of coral reef resources at the local level. Many beneficial efforts, such as the development and implementation of local action strategies to address threats to our reefs, are underway thanks to the work of the Task Force and its member agencies. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance this legislation to enhance our capacity for the conservation and restoration of healthy and diverse coral reef ecosystems, our ``Rainforests of the Sea''.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, today I have introduced a private relief bill to grant full annuity set forth in 28 U.S.C. 373 to the Honorable John S. Unpingco of Piti, Guam, former Judge of the United States District Court of Guam. Prior to his confirmation on October 8, 1992, by the United States Senate as Judge of the District Court of Guam, Judge Unpingco served a combined total of 27 years as an officer in the United States Air Force, the United States Air Force Reserve, and as a federal civilian employee in the Department of the Air Force. However, despite his long and distinguished career as a public servant, upon attaining the age of 65 Judge Unpingco will not qualify for a full .annuity from the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO), from the United States Air Force, or from the Federal Government for his civilian service. Under current law, upon attaining the age of 65, Judge Unpingco can only receive an annuity prorated to his service on the federal bench and valued at approximately 12/15th of the salary he earned at the time he stepped down from the bench. The issue of retirement inequity is one unique to Judges appointed to serve on the bench for the District Courts of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. Each of these Courts was established pursuant to an Act of Congress enacted in under the authority of Congress to govern territories granted by Section 3 in Article IV of the Constitution. Article IV judges are appointed for fixed-length terms pursuant to statute. Article III judges, however, their counterparts serving on the bench in District Courts in the 50 States and in the District of Columbia, are appointed for life in accordance with the Constitution. In the 109th Congress, I wrote with my colleague from the Virgin Islands, Mrs. Christensen, to the Judicial Conference of the United States, to request their review of draft legislation to amend 28 U.S.C. 373 to allow for the retirement of Article IV judges under terms more equal to those provided under current law for judges of Article III Courts and the United States Tax Court. The Committee on the Judicial Branch of the Judicial Conference of the United States carefully examined our legislative proposals on this issue and responded in writing on January 5, 2006, indicating that this is a matter more appropriately addressed at this time through a private relief bill. To date, Congress has confirmed the appointments of 16 Judges to the Article IV Courts for the Districts of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. Length of terms has varied over time and across the three courts. There are unique circumstances surrounding Judge Unpingco's executive and judicial service. He separated from the civil service to fulfill a judicial responsibility on behalf of his country, and served on the federal bench in good faith. It is at the suggestion of the Committee on the Judicial Branch of the Judicial Conference of the United States and in accordance with precedent that I have introduced this private relief bill. I do so in the hopes that a distinguished public servant will collect the full and fair annuity that he selflessly worked toward over the course of his 27 year career in public service. While I intend to introduce legislation at a later time to establish the District Court of Guam as an Article III Court, I remain concerned about current inequity in the law affecting Article IV Judges. Thirty-seven private bills have been enacted into law by the previous five Congresses. Congress has previously considered private relief bills pertaining to annuities payable to federal Judges, including for example for a Judge in a territory of the United States. The most recent example being S. 115 for the relief of Judge Louis LeBaron, who was a Justice of the Territorial Supreme Court of Hawaii and which was introduced in the 1st Session of the 99th Congress on January 3, 1985. I look forward to working with the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary to address the underlying inequity in retirement benefits for Article IV Judges and in this particular case to bring relief to Judge Unpingco through the enactment of the bill I have introduced today. I hereby enter for print in the Congressional Record to accompany the introduction of this bill and to supplement these remarks, the correspondence I exchanged with the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) and the Judicial Conference of the United States and its enclosures on this matter. Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, February 4, 2005. Mr. Leonidas Ralph Mecham, Director, The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, One Columbus Circle, NE, One Columbus Circle, NE, Washington,

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, today I have reintroduced a bill to protect the United States from harm caused by invasive species. In the 110th Congress, I introduced H.R. 6311, the Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act, in response to the increasing economic, environmental, and human health threats posed by invasive wildlife species. I am reintroducing this legislation as a proactive approach to combating invasive wildlife species by prohibiting their importation. Nonnative plants and animals are known by scientists to have been introduced into ecosystems in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the territories. Invasive, nonnative species can harm the economy, environment, other animal species' health and human health. Such harm ranges, for example, from depreciating farmland property values and loss of irrigation water to increasing spread of disease. Additionally, collapse of buildings, competition with native animals, sport, game, and endangered species losses, habitat alteration, and other ecosystem disturbances, have all resulted from the introduction of certain invasive species. Scientists and economists generally estimate the cost of damages caused by invasive species in the United States to amount to over $123 billion annually. The risks associated with the introduction and establishment of invasive species, and the costs of mitigation, will continue to rise concomitantly with the expansion of trade and increased speed and frequency of travel around the world and within the United States. The volume of cargo shipped and exchanged worldwide continues to increase and many communities across the United States are experiencing growth in tourism. These factors are reason alone to develop protocols and a system for assessing the risk of all nonnative wildlife species that could be imported or introduced into the United States. Preventing the introduction of invasive species is a significant challenge and priority for many communities across the country, including my district, Guam. Invasive species, for example, threaten the biodiversity and the ecology of the Florida Everglades, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and the Great Lakes, among other national environmental treasures. On Guam, the brown tree snake has caused the extirpation of many endemic forest birds and lizards. The coqui tree frog and the coconut rhinoceros beetle are the latest species to have entered Guam. Although these species were 1 accidentally introduced, intentional introduction of invasive species is something that can and should be controlled. The bill reintroduced today would protect citizens, the economy, and the environment from imported wildlife species that have the known potential to and that would likely harm our interests in the United States. Absent a comprehensive federal law addressing the importation of nonnative species, the only protection is provided by the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981. This law authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to designate wildlife species considered ``injurious'' to humans and prohibits importation of such species into the country. The process, however, to designate a species as injurious can take up to four years, at which point harm has already been done. The Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act authorizes the establishment by regulation of a risk assessment process to control the importation of wildlife species. The bill adopts a preventative approach by requiring the Secretary of the Interior to develop with public notice and public input a ``green list'' of species allowed to be imported and a ``black list'' preventing invasive species from entering the country. Prior to approving a species to be imported, the Secretary must evaluate its potential risk to human, other animal species, and environmental health. Any imports of species, which are not on the ``green list,'' will be subject to penalties under the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981. The Secretary, however, may permit importation of an animal of such other prohibited species for educational, scientific research, or accredited zoological or aquarium display purposes. Finally, import fees will be collected to cover the costs of the risk assessment process. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance this legislation and to strengthen the abilities of the federal government to more effectively manage and prevent the introduction and establishment of nonnative wildlife species.