Eni Faleomavaega

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 541, recognizing and honoring the restoration and renovation of the Bishop Museum's Historic Hawaiian Hall, the Nation's premier showcase for Hawaiian culture and history, on the occasion of the Museum's 120th anniversary. I thank the gentleman from the State of Hawaii, my good friend, Mr. Abercrombie, for his leadership on this important issue. I also want to thank Chairman Rahall of the Natural Resources Committee for bringing this resolution for House floor consideration. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 541 conveys our sincerest appreciation to the Bishop Museum for its service and devotion. Founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop in memory of his beloved wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the great granddaughter of Kamehameha I, the Bishop Museum is essential to study, preserve and tell the stories of the cultures and natural history of Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean. Collectively, the Museum houses the largest Hawaii and Pacific area collection in the world, including 1,200,000 cultural objects representing Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islands, and Hawaii immigrant life, more than 125,000 historical publications including many in the Hawaiian language, 1,000,000 historical photographs, films, works of art, audio recordings, and manuscripts and over 22,000,000 plant and animal specimens. This cultural collection creates a significantly important public resource for academic studies and for public information. Not only that, the Bishop Museum is also very significant because of the fact that it houses the Hawaiian Hall, the Nation's only showcase of its size, proportions, design, and historical context that is devoted to the magnificent legacy of Hawaii's kings and queens, and the legacies of its Native Hawaiian people of all walks of life and ages. Over the years lead paint and termite damage rendered the building unable to meet modern standards and requirements for any museum until in 2005, the restoration and renovation of the Hawaiian Hall commenced. Multiple parties came together to collaborate in this effort. The museum was redefined conceptually as well as given physical reconstruction. The end product stands as testament to the efforts of all those involved. The new exhibit incorporates Native Hawaiian artwork depicting traditional stories, legends, and practices, and contemporary Native Hawaiian voices interpreting the practices and traditions through multiple video presentations. In addition, the new exhibit is conceptually organized to represent three traditional realms or wao of the Hawaiian world including: Kai Akea--the expansive sea from which gods and people came; Wao Kanaka--the realm of people; and Wao Lani-- the realm of gods and the alii or chiefs, who descended from them. The new exhibit even includes a large 40-panel mural which celebrates the strength, glory, and achievements of Native Hawaiians. Mr. Speaker, the Bishop Museum is very important to the Native Hawaiians, especially in their efforts to revive their culture and their Hawaiian traditions. I congratulate the Bishop Museum on its 120th anniversary and for its service and devotion, and I urge my colleagues to vote in support of H. Res. 541.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 535) commending the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions for calling upon all nations to live in peace and mutual understanding.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 535, commending the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions for calling upon all nations to live in peace and mutual understanding. The Congress was organized in 2003 in recognition of the growing importance of world religions in responding to emerging threats and global epidemics. The Congress is held every 3 years and seeks to foster greater dialogue and cooperation among world religions to address the serious challenge we are facing like terrorism, poverty, war, extremism, and the global collapse of financial markets. This year I had the privilege of attending the third Congress. Approximately 77 delegations from 35 countries participated, including leading clerics and scholars representing Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and other religious traditions. The delegation from the Vatican was led by Cardinal Jean-Louis Turan. Israel's President, Shimon Peres delivered the keynote address, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was also represented for the first time. Because religious leaders can be a decisive factor in maintaining peace and security in the world, I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of House Resolution 535. This resolution supports freedom of religion and conscience throughout the world as a fundamental right and as a source of stability for all countries and commends the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions for the work it is doing to advance tolerance and understanding. Again, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I yield such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I want to commend the distinguished chairman of our Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, and I would like to commend his ranking member, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), not only for their leadership but for their tremendous commitment and efforts in trying to help establish programs that are helpful to the citizens of Africa. There are approximately 500 million people who live in Africa. Recognizing the children of Africa and recognizing the tremendous health problems that they're confronted with, I think, is certainly something that our government has a moral responsibility to do, and we must do what we can to be of assistance. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I do want to again commend my good friend from New Jersey for his most eloquent statement and for his commitment in helping our people in Africa, and I would like to commend the senior ranking member of our House Foreign Affairs Committee for her support of this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. I certainly want to thank our senior ranking member of our House Foreign Affairs Committee, my good friend, the gentlelady from Florida, Ms. Ros- Lehtinen, for her support of this legislation, as well as the chairman of our Foreign Affairs Committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman). Madam Speaker, the Day of the African Child has been celebrated on June 16 each year since 1991 when it was first initiated by the Organization of African Unity, the precursor of the African Union. According to the United Nations Children's Fund, or UNICEF, sub-Saharan Africa remains the most difficult place in the world for a child to survive. Every year in sub-Saharan Africa, 1.2 million babies die in the first month of life. Roughly 1 in every 6 children fail to reach their fifth birthday. Despite significant overall progress in decreasing mortality rates for children under age 5, each year an estimated 9.2 million newborns and children die from preventable and treatable causes. The top five killers of children under five include neonatal causes such as respiratory infections, pneumonia, malaria, diarrhea and HIV/ AIDS. According to African Union Ministers of Health, the high level of maternal and child mortality and morbidity in Africa are attributed to weak health systems, a low level of skilled attendance at birth, poor health infrastructure, and inadequate financial resources. Progress in reducing maternal newborn and child deaths can be achieved through increased coverage of proven solutions. Over the past three decades, U.S. international child survival and maternal health programs have helped save millions of lives in Africa and elsewhere. We join in solidarity with national leaders across Africa, UNICEF and many other humanitarian groups in marking the Day of the African Child with a continued commitment to boost child survival. I strongly support this resolution and urge my colleagues to support this measure. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 550) recognizing the ``Day of the African Child'' on June 16, 2009, devoted to the theme of child survival and to emphasize the importance of reducing maternal, newborn, and child deaths in Africa.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam 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.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 496) recognizing the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, as amended.

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I first want to commend the senior ranking member of our House Foreign Affairs Committee and the chairman of our committee, Congressman Berman, for their support of this legislation, and I commend my good friend, the gentleman from Texas, as the chief sponsor of this legislation. I rise in strong support of this resolution that recognizes the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Twenty-two years ago, in June 1987, President Ronald Reagan spoke at the Brandenburg Gate and issued the now legendary call: ``Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.'' Just over 2 years later, the wall was torn down, chipped away by euphoric citizens from both sides of a divided country following months of peaceful protests by brave men and women across East Germany. Unforgettable to us are all of the pictures which were broadcast around the world of East and West Berliners dancing together atop a wall that, for over a quarter century, symbolized the tension and divisiveness of the cold war. The fall of Berlin Wall contributed to a democratic domino effect across the Warsaw Pact region. Over the next 2 years, revolution swept through Eastern Europe as Communist governments were defeated in popular elections and while exuberant citizens reclaimed their freedom and democratic liberties. On November 9, the people of Germany will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with a Festival of Freedom. The United States will happily join with the German people in remembering the moving events of that autumn and of the democratic era they heralded. As President Obama recently noted during his speech in Moscow, ``The arc of history shows that governments which serve their own people survive and thrive; governments which serve only their own power do not.'' This momentous occasion should not be used as a time for triumphalism. Rather, it provides an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable progress that has been made in achieving a Europe that is whole, free and at peace. Indeed, the changes that have occurred in only two decades are stunning. East and West Germany have reunified into a single, strong and prosperous state. Ten countries that previously laid behind the Iron Curtain have joined the European Union and NATO, and democratic progress is slowly being achieved across the rest of the former Soviet region. I support this resolution, and I welcome the opportunity to recognize this significant date in European history to reaffirm the strong ties between the United States and Germany and to celebrate the enduring power of democratic freedom of institutions that relate to a free people. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, that's just the way it is. I commend my good friend from Texas for his most eloquent statement and am in support of his resolution. I have no additional speakers at this time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, again I do commend the gentlewoman from Florida for her leadership, for her commitment, and for not only introducing this legislation from years past, but she has never let down in her efforts to make sure we take corrective action to address the serious needs of the people of Darfur. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 159) recognizing the fifth anniversary of the declaration by the United States Congress of genocide in Darfur, Sudan.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam 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.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to thank again my good friend the gentlewoman from Florida for introducing this important resolution commemorating the historic declaration by Congress of genocide in Darfur. On this day we remember reports from Sudan of aerial bombardments of civilians; of the arming of proxy forces; of the razing of villages; of the destruction of irrigation systems and the poisoning of wells; of looting and murder and rape. Madam Speaker, 5 years later much progress has been made, but there are miles yet to go. The United States is engaged in rigorous and comprehensive efforts to bring peace to Sudan. It is imperative that we not lose sight of the importance of supporting a Comprehensive Peace Agreement; that we do everything we can to support the national census and the upcoming elections; and that we help the displaced to return when possible. I join my colleagues in anxious anticipation of the administration's forthcoming comprehensive strategy for Sudan and look forward to speaking this week with the President's Special Envoy to Sudan, General Scott Gration, about steps we can take to ensure that Sudan can break what has been a tragic cycle of violence in this part of the world. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I also yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Again, I want to commend my good friend, the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Price, as co-Chair with our good friend and colleague, Mr. Dreier from California in this House Democracy Assistance Commission, and I do want to commend him for the tremendous job they are doing in promoting democratic principles throughout the world among countries that we give our support to. This resolution condemns the two terrorist bombings in Indonesia on July 17, 2009, and expresses condolences to the people of Indonesia and other countries who were killed and injured by the attacks. I want to thank my friend, Mr. Price, for sponsoring this important resolution that allows the House to show its strong support for Indonesia and its people after these horrific terrorist attacks in Jakarta. Shortly before 8 a.m. in the morning on July 17, a bomb ripped through the lobby of the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta. Minutes later, a second bomb exploded in the nearby Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The twin bombings killed nine people, including the two suicide bombers and wounded over 50 others. I would like to certainly express my condolences and sympathies to both the families who lost their loved ones in the attacks that morning and to those who were injured. I would also like to condemn in the strongest terms possible the senseless act of violence committed against innocent people by vicious suicide terrorists. The majority of the victims were Indonesian citizens, although citizens from a number of other countries also suffered casualties. The two bombings serves as a stark reminder to all of us that the threat of terrorism remains very real. It also reminds us that the world must continue to work together to confront violent extremists who will kill innocent people. The United States will continue to work with Indonesia and other countries to combat terrorism and to promote a common vision for a more peaceful and prosperous future for all of the world's citizens. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I also want to commend the recent presidential election in Indonesia that was held and that the President was elected by a margin of over 60 percent of the voters. Indonesia with 225 million people, the largest, most populous Muslim nation in the world has demonstrated to the world that democracy can function quite well even in a Muslim country. And certainly we want to commend the good people of Indonesia and their leaders in achieving this degree of democracy and how they've developed their government from times past. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Again, I thank my good friend, the gentlelady from Florida. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. At this time, I would yield as much time as he could consume to the gentleman, my good friend, the chief sponsor of this resolution, to now address the Chamber, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price).

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