Madeleine Bordallo

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4997, the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act. This bill will permanently authorize the J-1 visa waiver program, allowing foreign physicians certain visa waivers in exchange for their service in medically underserved areas within the United States including the territories. A recent study conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) attributed the J-1 visa waivers as a major means through which communities have successfully placed physicians in underserved areas. The J-1 visa waiver program, since its inception in 1994, has brought physicians from areas around the world to the United States to improve access to primary medical care for individuals in underserved communities. Every year, nearly 1,000 requests for J-1 visa waivers are submitted, which is a testament to this program's popularity and effectiveness among U.S. medical schools and medically underserved communities. As the representative from Guam, I know first-hand the challenges rural and medically underserved areas face. For instance, there is no oncologist on the island of Guam today. Cancer patients must travel to Hawaii to receive treatment. Because of the J-1 visa waiver program, however, the Government of Guam was able to apply for J-1 visa waivers for two physicians in 2005. The Physicians for Underserved Areas Act, by making this program permanent, will go far toward helping medically underserved areas like the one I represent. Healthcare is a national priority, and as legislators, we are tasked with doing all that we can at the federal level to ensure that adequate medical care is available to all and that medical professionals can be recruited to serve medically underserved communities.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 843, the Combating Autism Act of 2006. This bill authorizes funding important for the continuation of research of pervasive development disabilities, the coordination and dissemination of the research findings from institutions throughout the country, and the promotion of early screening of pervasive development disabilities among high-risk children. This bill goes far towards making the combating of autism a national priority. This bill, notably, includes provisions that recognize the importance of providing culturally competent information to individuals and communities. These provisions are important to minority communities. Pervasive development disabilities are indiscriminate, afflicting children of all socioeconomic backgrounds and all races. My district, Guam, alone is home to approximately 110 individuals with autism spectrum disorders. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every 166 children may be affected by some form of autism spectrum disorder. While there remains varying viewpoints over the causes of autism, research has shown that early diagnosis and intervention have been the most effective means of addressing pervasive development disabilities. The Combating Autism Act's multifaceted approach to this important issue allows for the funding of research, public education, and early detection efforts. This multi-faceted approach will assist the families and children who are afflicted with autism spectrum disorders today, while striving to continue the progress toward finding comprehensive treatments for autism spectrum disorders. I commend my colleagues in the House of Representatives and in the Senate for moving this important legislation forward. It is my hope that this legislation will ease the emotional and psychological pressures experienced by families caring for individuals with autism; and that it will eventually bring about greater understanding of and improved treatment for autism spectrum disorders. I urge my colleagues' support for S. 843.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mrs. Josefa Cruz Certeza, known affectionately to her family and friends as Tan Pai, on the occasion of her 90th birthday, which she celebrates today, Monday, November 27, 2006. Tan Pai was born and raised in the village of Piti, Guam, and currently resides in the village of Agat. Her parents are Enrique Santos and Josefa Perez Cruz. She was married to the late Delfin Quenga Certeza and has six children, 21 grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren. On this special occasion we recognize Tan Pai's many contributions and her selfless service to our community over the past 60 years. Tan Pai is a strong Chamorro woman, and she is respected by our community as one of the eldest and few surviving Suruhanas (Traditional Healer) on our island today. Tan Pai's life and vocation as a Suruhana began when her youngest son fell ill, and when she went to seek help for him from a Suruhana in a nearby village. That Suruhana was too busy and told Tan Pai to come back the next day. Tan Pai felt that it would be too late for her son to wait, so she decided to find a cure herself. Tan Pai learned the techniques of massage and herbal (the Chamorro) medicine from her mother, Josefa Perez Cruz, and from her husband's grandmother, Vicenta Quidachay Quenga. Mrs. Vicenta Quidachay Quenga had learned the practices of a Suruhana herself firsthand from her mother. Mrs. Quenga was a gifted teacher who divulged the recipes to Tan Pai. There were many known Suruhanas at that time of Tan Pai's youth, but Tan Pai did not pay close attention to their practices and gifts until the incident befell her son and her strong interest in the tradition took root. Raised in the Chamorro and Catholic traditions, Tan Pai is strong in her faith and believes that God has granted her a special gift, the power to cure, and that she should use this gift to help others in need. Since the age of 30, Tan Pai's specialty as Suruhana was in treatment of those illnesses which were considered ailments of children (chetnot famagu'on) and she has cured (Guiya uma amte) children of many illnesses which were traditionally treated by a Suruhana, and those of which modern medicine has no remedy. She uses massage, making medicines (using ``lommock''), massage with applications of medicine, and massage with consumption of medicine. Tan Pai was one of the Suruhanas mentioned in a manuscript, entitled, ``I CheE'Cho Suruhana Yan Suruhanu (The Use of Traditional Medicine and Healers on Guam).'' It was written, for review only, by three students working on a documentary at the University of Guam. The manuscript represents work over 10 years of research which began in 1981 as a student project. This project has evolved to include indigenous participation in cultural preservation and education, and has become a scholarly and scientific endeavor for the benefit of our island community. Tan Pai has been featured as one of ``The Last of the Suruhanas'' in the Guahan Magazine and has received, on various occasions, local exposure from KUAM news and Guam Cable Television for her traditional Suruhana methods. On behalf of a grateful island community, I join her children, Abeline, Bertha, Adelbert, Galo, Joseph, and Franklin, her family and friends, and all of the people of Guam, in extending a heartfelt ``Dangkulo na Si Yu'os Ma'ase'' to Mrs. Josefa Cruz Certeza for all of the good work she has done for our people, and for her continued selfless service to our community.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Mr. Meehan from the great State of Massachusetts for his diligent work on this piece of legislation Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my colleague from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan).

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, the majority has already explained the purpose of H.R. 395, which was introduced by my colleague from Massachusetts, Representative Marty Meehan. This is really a housekeeping measure. The five parcels to be added to the park total less than 1 acre. Yes, that is correct, less than 1 acre. The gentleman from Massachusetts, Representative Meehan, is to be commended for his efforts on behalf of the Lowell National Historical Park. He has worked diligently to advance the preservation and the interpretation of the historic resources located at this historical park, and the addition of these parcels will help further that goal. So, Mr. Speaker, we support H.R. 395, and I urge adoption of the legislation by the House today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time. Again I want to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Udall, who is a water expert who has done a great deal of work on this particular piece of legislation.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall). (Mr. UDALL of Colorado asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, this legislation, introduced by my colleague on the Resources Committee, Mr. Mark Udall, presents an exciting opportunity to solve critical water problems in locations with producing oil and gas wells. Water is almost always brought to the surface along with oil and gas production, and most of the time the water is a very poor quality. For the oil and gas industry, this water is usually a waste product, something to be disposed of. Mr. Udall has recognized this problem of so-called produced water as a unique opportunity to solve critical water problems, and, as my colleagues are aware, this is especially important in the arid western States. This legislation will authorize a study and a limited number of demonstration projects to validate the concept that contaminated water produced from oil and gas wells can in fact be treated and put to beneficial use. We are appreciative of the hard work Mr. Udall has done to move this legislation through the Resources Committee. Mr. Speaker, we strongly support the adoption of H.R. 5110. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

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

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, this trail proposal has been thoroughly studied and is widely supported. Our former House colleague and now- retiring Senator from Maryland, Paul Sarbanes, is to be commended for his sponsorship of the Senate companion measure and for his work on behalf of this proposal. We have no objection to H.R. 5466. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I want to again acknowledge all of the Members of both Chambers who have worked hard on this legislation: Congressman Thomas, Congressman Honda, Congressman Matsui, Senator Inouye, Senator Akaka, and the leadership of both the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Resources Committee. It has been a privilege of mine to serve with Chairman Pombo and Congressman Rahall. We are going to miss working with Chairman Thomas and Chairman Pombo. We appreciate their support of this legislation, and we look forward to continuing to work under the leadership of Congressman Rahall. I thank my friend from California (Mr. Radanovich) for managing these bills with me today Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, it is now my distinct privilege to yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), our colleague from Sacramento, who has worked diligently on this legislation and who understands firsthand the importance of preserving the internment sites, as she was born at the Poston internment camp in Arizona. (Ms. MATSUI asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, the changes made to this legislation by the Senate have improved the bill, and we continue to support the passage of H.R. 1492. Representatives Doris Matsui and Mike Honda are to be commended for their tireless efforts on behalf of this proposal. We also recognize the senior Senator from the State of Hawaii in the other body, and that is the Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, for his distinguished work in advancing this important legislation. Within 3 months of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Executive Order 9066 authorized the removal of over 100,000 Japanese Americans from their homes and their relocation to isolated internment camps in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. Decades later, our Nation came to understand and regret the grave mistakes of the past and the unacceptable premise that American citizens could lose their constitutional rights in the name of security. The internment camps stand as a stark testimonial to the underlying error of that premise. As we mentioned when the House first approved this measure on November 15, 2005, the injustice of internment is not some distant, historical artifact. Rather, for former Members of this body, such as former Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, or our late colleague, Representative Robert Matsui, internment was a painful reality. Today, this bill is a testament to the legacy of these loyal Americans and honors the memory of their struggles. This legislation is not only a tribute to those who suffered the injustice of internment but also to the triumphs of our distinguished former colleagues. We urge support for H.R. 1492 in their names and in the names of all those who have faced, or continue to face, injustice. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he wishes to consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Honda), my good friend, the chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus who spent time in an internment camp as an infant. (Mr. HONDA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO

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

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is the companion to H.R. 2978, a bill that passed the House of Representatives this past May. S. 1219 offers a sensible and a cooperative solution to a water supply problem in eastern Montana. Too often in this body we are witness to conflicts over resources, especially when it comes to water problems in our western States. This bill is a welcome departure from that. Mr. Speaker, we strongly support the adoption of the Senate bill 1219.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. BORDALLO

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, this legislation simply allows landowners to pay off their financial obligations for the Bureau of Reclamation's Minidoka Project. We believe that this legislation is appropriate and, in fact, may provide a slight financial benefit to the United States. Mr. Speaker, we have no objection to the enactment of H.R. 5666. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)