Eni Faleomavaega

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I also want to note to the gentlelady that Konishiki and I had prepared one of our relatives who was about 18 years old, is only about 6'10'', and he weighed 450 pounds. For one whole year, we tried to get him into sumo wrestling; and unfortunately, the Sumo Federation refused to allow more Polynesians to participate in this ancient sport of wrestling. With that, Mr. Speaker, I also want to again thank my good friend for her sponsorship and the many sponsors of this important resolution. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of this resolution, recognizing the contributions of Takamiyama Daigoro to the sport of sumo wrestling, the most ancient sport in Japan, and to the U.S.-Japan relationship. Mr. Speaker, June 15, 2009, marks the day before Takamiyama's 65th birthday, when those in sumo must retire. Over the course of this exceptional 45-year career, Takamiyama Daigoro not only achieved great success as a sportsman but also built enduring bridges between the United States and the people and the Government of Japan. Jesse Kuhaulua, that is his real Hawaiian name, known professionally in Japan as Takamiyama Daigoro, was a trailblazer in the sport of sumo wrestling in every sense of the word. He was born in the great State of Hawaii and became the first U.S.- born wrestler to enter the sport of sumo in Japan. When he came to Japan to enter the dohyo, the sumo wrestling ring, he was new to Japan; and despite having no prior experience in Japan with sumo wrestling, he quickly mastered the sport's physical and unique traditions. He also mastered the Japanese language and the nuances of the Japanese culture. Takamiyama competed in over 1,400 matches, winning 12 kinboshi or gold stars, and 11 sansho, or special prizes. In 1972 he became the first foreigner to win the Emperor's Cup, the top division championship in the sport of sumo wrestling. After that victory, U.S. Ambassador Ingersoll read a congratulatory message from President Nixon, marking the first time English words were ever spoken at a sumo tournament. Takamiyama Daigoro to this day is the first and only foreigner to open his own training stable for sumo wrestlers. I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield all the time that she may want to consume to the chief sponsor of this bill, my good friend, the gentlelady from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono).

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank my good friend, the gentleman from Florida, for his comments in support of this legislation. And I do also want to thank the gentlelady, the good Senator from Maine, Senator Collins, for her authorship to this bill. Thirty-two billion dollars is no pennies certainly to be given some sense of responsibility in knowing where the American taxpayers' money has gone in terms of the appropriations and the funding that we've given to Afghanistan and as well as to any other country, for that matter. So again, I really commend the gentlelady, the good Senator from Maine, Senator Collins, for her authorship of this bill, and I thank my good friend from Florida also in helping us manage this bill on the floor.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of Senate bill 615, legislation that provides critical personnel authority for the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan, known as SIGAR. Since 2001, the United States has devoted $32 billion in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan. In an effort to combat waste, fraud and abuse with regard to the expenditure of these funds, Congress created the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, commonly known as SIGAR, in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008. That legislation empowers SIGAR to conduct audits, inspections, and investigations of all U.S. assistance programs in Afghanistan. Congress intended that SIGAR would exercise its authority swiftly. It came into existence in July of 2008 with an authorization to hire 18 auditors, 13 inspectors and 3 investigators; but from the beginning, SIGAR has been hindered by certain limitations contained in standard Federal Government personnel authorities and by the difficulty of attracting qualified candidates to work in the difficult security environment of Afghanistan. A year after its creation, SIGAR has conducted only one independent audit and has only hired nine auditors, five inspectors and three investigators. This resolution would help resolve this problem by granting SIGAR a special hiring authority under 5 U.S.C., section 3161. Section 3161 would allow SIGAR a more flexible, excepted service authority and would empower the office to select, appoint, and employ the necessary staff to fulfill its duties. In particular, section 3161 would grant return rights to Federal employees, provide interagency detail authority and permit the setting of pay rates above the caps established by GS-15, step 10, under which SIGAR is currently required to operate. This has proven to be a vital asset for SIGAR's counterpart in Iraq, SIGIR, which has long relied upon this enhanced hiring authority to attract its dedicated core of professional staff. After conducting an in-depth review, the Department of Defense and the Office of Personnel Management have concluded that the proposed legislation is necessary to allow SIGAR to meet its responsibilities. This bill represents a vital step in allowing SIGAR to fulfill its critical duties of the oversight of U.S. assistance programs in Afghanistan. I support the bill and urge my colleagues to support it as well. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I yield my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 615) to provide additional personnel authorities for the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. 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 bill under consideration.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 430) expressing condolences to the citizens of Italy and support for the Government of Italy in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck the Abruzzo region of central Italy, as amended.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution which expresses condolences to the citizens and the Government of Italy in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in the Abruzzo region. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my good friend and my colleague, Mr. Pascrell from the great State of New Jersey, for introducing this important resolution that allows the House to add its voice to the international outpouring of sympathy for the Italian people in the wake of this natural disaster. On April 6, the Abruzzo region of central Italy was struck by a 6.3 magnitude on the Richter scale earthquake. Nearly 300 people were killed while tens of thousands were left homeless. In addition to the terrible loss of life and livelihood, the earthquake damaged nearly 15,000 buildings, including hundreds of churches, castles, and heritage sites. The U.S. Embassy in Rome immediately provided $50,000 in emergency relief funding while President Obama expressed his condolences and offered additional American assistance. Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, the host of the next G-8 meeting, has relocated the July summit to the town of L'Aquila that was at the center of the devastation. As he explained, ``The G-8 in L'Aquila represents the message of hope for the entire region struck by the earthquake.'' It is appropriate that the House pauses today, Mr. Speaker, as Prime Minister Berlusconi is in Washington, DC, to express its deepest condolences to the families killed and injured in the earthquake. We also reaffirm the deep ties shared between our people and two countries. I strongly support this resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to do likewise. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, how much time do we have remaining?

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I thank the chairman for yielding me time to speak on this important issue. Mr. Speaker, I have tremendous respect for the gentlewoman from Florida, my dear friend. But on her proposal for this substitute, however, I must respectfully disagree with her on this issue. I rise in opposition to the substitute version. While like the underlying bill, the substitute provides $1.5 billion in nonmilitary assistance to Pakistan for fiscal year 2010, regrettably the substitute requires no oversight, no accountability, and no meaningful role for Congress to play. Like my colleagues, I'm appreciative that Pakistan has provided some support for the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition, and I believe Pakistan should be commended for assisting the U.S. in its efforts to hunt down al Qaeda and Taliban insurgents and for allowing the U.S. military to use bases within its country. However, I do not believe we should provide billions in aid to Pakistan without some sort of accountability. H.R. 1886 includes robust monitoring, evaluations, and auditing provisions to ensure that assistance is actually reaching the Pakistani people and that U.S. taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I urge my colleagues to oppose the substitute. Unfortunately, the previous Administration spent the past 8 years writing blank checks to Pakistan and turned a blind eye, while A.Q. Khan transferred nuclear technology to rogue nations and while General Musharraf failed to keep good on his promises to hold free, fair and transparent elections. By contrast, this Administration is committed to making Pakistan a success while holding Pakistan accountable. H.R. 1886 as offered by Chairman Berman is the way forward to making sure U.S. security assistance is spent in a manner consistent with our national security objectives. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the Republican substitute and to vote ``yes'' for H.R. 1886, the Pakistan Enduring Assistance and Cooperation Act of 2009.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I want to thank Chairman Rahall and our ranking member, Doc Hastings, and the members of the committee for bringing this important resolution to the floor. I also want to commend both gentlemen, Congressman Klein and Congressman Pence, as co-Chairs of our Caucus on anti-Semitism. Of course, the memory of Tom Lantos evokes all of the understanding that we have and appreciation for this important issue. Mr. Speaker, I want to personally express my deepest condolences and sympathies to the family and friends of Officer Johns, who was killed unexpectedly yesterday as a result of a shooting by a man who harbored so much hatred against members of our Jewish community. Officer Johns, for some 6 years, served faithfully as a security officer there at the museum. He was doing his job. He made the ultimate sacrifice, and we are here to honor him and his life. He gave his life in order to save the lives of others. Mr. Speaker, I hope that every person who visits our Nation's Capital makes it a point--a must--to visit the Holocaust Memorial Museum. This revered museum is a symbol of our Nation to the world that racism, bigotry, ignorance, and hatred have no place in our country. This museum reminds the world of the suffering of some 6 million Jews, and we should never forget that, if it happened to them, it could also happen to us.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the bill, H.R. 2410, and thank the gentleman from California, our distinguished chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for his leadership and for his ability to bring this bill before the floor. Although there are several portions of the bill that my subcommittee had a part in introducing, I am especially appreciative for the inclusion of one of the provisions to rename the South Pacific Scholarship Program in honor of one of our distinguished late Members of this institution, the late Congressman Phil Burton, who was chairman of the Subcommittee on Territories and Insular Affairs. He was a voice for Pacific Island nations and territories. Beyond American Samoa, the late Congressman Phil Burton, who served as a U.S. Congressman from 1964 to 1983, worked every day of his life to ensure social justice and human dignity for all of the people, and the people of the Pacific are especially grateful for his services. Unbeknown to many of our colleagues, Chairman Burton was also the driving force in recognizing the importance of certain items in the Pacific region which our country declared as a strategic trust immediately after World War II, and this was done before the United Nations. Formally known as the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Chairman Burton, in consultations with the Department of Defense, the State Department and Interior and several other Federal agencies and key officials of the administration, he played a pivotal role whereby as a result of these consultations resulted in the Congress approving certain compacts of free association for the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and a coveted relationship between the United States and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. I might note also that the President of Palau has consented in helping us in terms of dealing with the Uyghur people that hopefully that this might be resolved and worked out.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Congressman Burton was also instrumental in helping establish the Pacific Island Development Program that is now an integral part of the East-West Center. Mr. Chair, I rise today to commend the gentleman from California, the Honorable Howard Berman, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, for his leadership in offering H.R. 2410, the State Department Authorization bill, and I thank the gentleman for including a number of my provisions in the base text. I am especially appreciative for the inclusion of my provision to rename the United States-South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP) in honor of my mentor, the late Congressman Phillip Burton who, as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Territories and Insular Affairs, was a voice for Pacific Island populations, and made it possible for American Samoa's Governor and Lieutenant Governor to be popularly elected rather than appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. In 1951, President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 10264 which transferred administrative responsibility for the islands of American Samoa from the Secretary of the Navy to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. The Secretary of the Interior, in turn, appointed our Governors. In 1960, the people of American Samoa adopted a Constitution. The Constitution was revised in 1966 and was approved by the Secretary of the Interior on June 2, 1967. In 1967, the Revised Constitution of American Samoa provided for an elected Legislature, or Fono, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. However, it did not provide our people with the right to elect our own Governor and Lieutenant Governor and, at the time, American Samoa was the only remaining offshore area of the United States which did not have a popularly elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor. On June 10, 1976, Congressman Phil Burton took notice of American Samoa's situation and introduced a bill to make it possible for our Governor and Lieutenant Governor to be popularly elected rather than appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. As staff counsel the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Congressman Burton instructed me to draft this legislation which the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed by a landslide vote of 377 to 1. Instead of sending his bill to the Senate, Congressman Burton decided to consult further with the Secretary of the Interior, Rogers C.B. Morton, about American Samoa's unique political status as an unincorporated and unorganized territory which was and is unlike the organized territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands. As a result of their consultations, the two agreed that Secretary Morton would issue a Secretarial Order (No. 3009) authorizing the American Samoa Government to pass enabling legislation to provide for an elected Governor and the Lieutenant Governor. Secretary's Order No. 3009 amended American Samoa's Constitution to specifically provide for an elected rather than an appointed Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Secretary's Order 3009 was also in keeping with the will of the majority of voters in American Samoa who voted in favor of electing their own Governor and Lieutenant Governor in a plebiscite that was held on August 31, 1976. Furthermore, Congressman Phil Burton introduced legislation on August 2, 1978 to provide that the Territory of American Samoa be represented by a nonvoting Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. I also was tasked with drafting this legislation which became Public Law 95- 556 and was made effective October 31, 1978. Beyond American Samoa, the late Congressman Phillip Burton, who served in the U.S. Congress from 1964 to 1983, worked every day of his life to ensure social justice and human dignity for all people, and the people of the Pacific are especially grateful for what he has done for us. Congressman Burton's service as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Territories and Insular Affairs indirectly impacted U.S. foreign policy in the South Pacific region, and it is only fitting that the USSP, which Congress established at my request in 1994, will now be renamed some 15 years later in honor of my mentor, if the Senate also agrees to acknowledge and honor the late Congressman Burtons' service. I also thank Chairman Berman for accepting my request to recognize Kazakhstan's commitment to nonproliferation and for offering to host a nuclear fuel bank. My office also worked closely the Foreign Affairs Committee to establish a Central Asia Scholarship program for public policy internships, and to establish scholarships for indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central and South America. I also appreciate the Committee's support of my efforts on behalf of Pacific Island States. Diabetes, a seriously debilitating disease, has reached epidemic proportions in the Pacific Islands States including the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. While recognizing that simple, relatively low-cost means already exist to reduce the incidence of diabetes significantly through appropriate prevention and treatment programs, these programs have not as yet reached the Pacific Islands so as to effect a major reduction in the incidence of diabetes. In order to contribute to the improvement of health conditions, the authorization I requested will provide assistance for health services designed to prevent and treat diabetes in the Pacific Islands, and also for safe water and sanitation. I also thank the Committee for including language which I offered regarding West Papua. I continue to believe it is necessary for the Secretary of State to report on the 1969 Act of `Free' Choice, the current political status of West Papua, and the extent to which the Government of Indonesia has implemented and included the leadership and the people of West Papua in the development and administration of Special Autonomy. I also believe it is necessary for the Administration to report to the appropriate Congressional committees the extent to which the Government of Indonesia has certified that it has halted human rights abuses in West Papua. However, in consideration of Indonesia's presidential elections scheduled for July 8, 2009, I asked Chairman Berman to pull the West Papua language from the bill so as not to influence the outcome of the elections. I thank Chairman Berman for agreeing to my request to remove this language, and I am hopeful that once elections are finalized that Indonesia will renew its commitment to implementing Special Autonomy. Again, I thank Chairman Berman for his leadership and support in moving this legislation forward, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 2410.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I rise in support of House Resolution 453 which recognizes the significant accomplishments of the AmeriCorps and encourages all citizens to join in a national effort to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni, and raise awareness about the importance of national and community service. I want to commend my good friend from the 5th district of California, Ms. Doris Matsui, for introducing this important resolution. I also want to recognize the cosponsors for their strong support of House Resolution 453. Ever since its creation in 1993 by President Clinton, AmeriCorps has honorably served our nation's communities. I am also encouraged by the recent decision by the Obama Administration to increase the total number of volunteers in AmeriCorps to 250,000 by the year 2012, which further demonstrates that AmeriCorps is fulfilling its mission and honorably serving its purpose. Today, this legislation honors the thousands of volunteers who have selflessly served communities in areas such as education, public safety, health, and the environment. As a result of all their hard work and service, communities across the nation have benefitted tremendously. For example, AmeriCorps has provided mentoring programs to children of incarcerated parents. The program recruits and provides knowledgeable and caring mentors for these children with parents in prison. In 2007, statistics show the program provided mentoring to 93,400 children of incarcerated parents, more than double its target goal of 36,000 children. In addition, AmeriCorps has also been endorsed by a growing number of higher education institutions. In the 2007 fiscal year, 76 institutions matched the AmeriCorps Education Award, an award that provides up to 5,000 dollars a year to volunteers who demonstrate outstanding service in the AmeriCorps programs. This goes to show the support the AmeriCorps is getting from higher-education institutions around the country. Back in 2003, I co-sponsored House Resolution 2125, introduced by my friend, Ms. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the Rite of Passage Community Service Act, which created a national network of service programs that allowed for young people who were part of community-based, after- school, and summer service corps programs to work with older AmeriCorps members who could organize service projects and act as mentors to new AmeriCorps members. In the midst of this economic downturn millions of Americans are without jobs and AmeriCorps can provide opportunities for many to become involved in their communities and benefit our nation. I recognize that there are still some areas that need improvements, but the overall purpose of AmeriCorps programs has been a success. The program has become the number one catalyst for service and voluntary work, in the country. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, in 1992, Congress passed a joint Congressional Resolution to designate the month of May to give special recognition of the contributions of our Asian-Pacific American community to our nation. Originally, Congress in 1978 designated the first week of May to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants and the completion of the transcontinental railroad that was built by the Chinese laborers. Every year since then, the President would issue an Executive proclamation from the White House to honor this month and direct all federal agencies and military installations throughout the country to conduct special events and ceremonies to honor our Asian-Pacific American communities throughout our country. This year's theme is, ``Leadership To Meet The Challenges Of A Changing World,'' and I will try and elaborate on the achievements and success of Asian-Pacific Americans in both the public and private sector but, more importantly, to demonstrate to the world that the greatness of our nation lies in its diversity and ability of our country to accept peoples from all over world, as they pledge themselves to become as fellow citizens of this great nation. Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, nearly 16 million strong, are among the fastest growing demographic groups in the United States today, even though they make up only 5 percent of our nation's population. In recent years, the Asian-Pacific Americans have more than doubled and this rapid growth is expected to continue in the years to come. Time will not permit me to share with you the names and contributions of many of our prominent Asian-Pacific American leaders in the fields of law, business, finance, and too many to mention. One only needs to read today's newspaper or a magazine to document the fact that Asian- Pacific American students--both in secondary schools and universities-- are among the brightest minds our nation offers to the world. I fully expect that these students, now and in the future, will contribute their talents and expertise to solve major issues and problems now confronting our nation and the world today. Many of our prominent business leaders and entrepreneurs are of Asian-Pacific American descent. In fact, many of the popular brands and icons that we know today were created by the brilliant minds of people in our Asian-Pacific American community. For example, the Bose Corporation specializing in audio equipment, can be found or is used by historical venues and facilities, such as the Sistine Chapel, the Space Shuttle, and the Olympic stadiums, is currently headed by its founder, Amar Bose--an Indian American. Steve Chen, a Chinese American, and Jawed Karim, a Bangladeshi American, were the co-creators of the popular video sharing website, ``YouTube.'' Vera Wang, a Chinese American fashion designer and mogul, established herself as an icon by dressing celebrities and creating one of the most fashionable clothing lines for women in the world. In the world of sports, Asian-Pacific Americans have come to the forefront. In the recent 2008 Beijing Olympics, Kevin Tan, a Chinese American, was selected as captain of the U.S. men's gymnastics team and earned a bronze medal in team competition. Natasha Kai, an American of Hawaiian, Cambodian, and Chinese descent, won a gold medal with the U.S. women's soccer team. Natasha happens to be alumni of Kahuku High School in Hawaii, where I also graduated from many years ago. Asian-Pacific Americans are more prevalent in American sports now more than ever before. We have Yao Ming, a Chinese basketball player, playing for the Houston Rockets; Daisuke Matsuzaka, a Japanese baseball player, playing for the Boston Red Sox; Yutaka Fukufuji, the first Japanese to play for the National Hockey League, played for the Los Angeles Kings. And everyone has heard of the Professional Boxer Manny Pacquaio from the Philippines, a world champion in numerous boxing divisions who handily beat Oscar De La Hoya in December and Ricky Hatton two weeks ago in Las Vegas. I have to mention the accomplishments our young Asian-Pacific Americans in the NFL. In the 2009 NFL draft, nine young men, five Tongans and four Samoans, were selected by six different teams across the nation. These young men are ambassadors of goodwill and represent the Asian-Pacific American members who were once and still apart of the National Football League. From pioneers such as Al Lolotai who played for the Washington Redskins in 1945, Charles Ane and Rockne Freitas of Detroit Lions, to the likes of Junior Seau of the New England Patriots and Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the field of martial arts, the late Chinese-American kung-fu martial arts expert Bruce Lee captivated the movie audiences all over the world by destroying the common stereotype of the passive, quiet Asian-Pacific American male, and the tradition continues today with Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Now, another sports and movie icon is moving his way through the movie industry--believed to be the heir apparent to Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger--none other than the former World Wrestling Entertainment champion wrestler, Dwayne Johnson, or commonly known as the Rock. The Rock was featured in movies such as the Scorpion King, Rundown, Get Smart, Grid Iron Gang and recently Race to Witch Mountain. The thing unique about Dwayne Johnson is that while his father is of African and Native American descent, his mother is Samoan. Now, just about every Samoan alive claims to be related to the Rock, including myself. Last summer I had the privilege of presenting the Congressional Horizon Award to Chief Seiuli Dwayne ``The Rock'' Johnson for his contributions and volunteer work in educating, empowering, and enriching the lives of children worldwide. Dwayne Johnson has made numerous contributions not only through The Rock Foundation but also directly to our Asian-Pacific American youth. Michelle Kwan, a Chinese American figure skater, is another example of a prominent Asian-Pacific American who has transformed her skills in one area to contribute further to our nation. Kwan has won nine U.S. championships, five world championships and two Olympic medals, earning her the title of the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history. Her accomplishments don't end there. In 2006, Secretary Condoleezza Rice named Kwan the first U.S. public diplomacy ambassador, where she has worked at improving America's image abroad. As ambassador, Michelle has been promoting cross-cultural dialogue with international youth. As Americans, and especially our youth, become more engaged in politics and government, I must bring your attention to the growing role and impact that Asian-Pacific Americans are playing in civic engagement. Our fellow colleague and good friend, Congressman Anh ``Joseph'' Cao became the first American of Vietnamese descent to be elected to the House of Representatives. A former Congressman, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, became the first Indian American ever elected as governor in U.S. history, and is currently the youngest amongst all governors in the U.S. In the recent 2008 national and state elections, the Asian-Pacific American communities played a vital role. An estimated whopping 62% of the voting Asian-Pacific Americans cast their ballot for then Senator Barack Obama, helping him secure his presidential win. And with the President's appointments in the administration, there are an unprecedented number of Asian-Pacific Americans in top government positions, and these leaders were not appointed to their positions because of their race and heritage but because they bring vast knowledge, experience and different viewpoints that their Asian- Pacific American backgrounds have contributed to. For example, President Obama appointed Steven Chu, a Chinese American, to be the Secretary of Energy. Secretary Chu's extensive work in physics and molecular biology has earned him accolades and achievements throughout the world--most notably he won a Nobel Prize for his physics works in ``development of methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light.'' Chu's dedication to physics led him to the academic side of research, as a teacher of physics and molecular and cellular biology at Stanford and UC Berkley. Concerning global warming, Secretary Chu has been a leading advocate for the research of finding alternative sources of energy, and steering away our dependence on fossil fuels. Secretary Chu is the first person ever appointed to the Cabinet after receiving a Nobel Prize. Our newest Secretary of Veteran Affairs, my good friend General Eric Shinseki is a Japanese American born in Hawaii and is a decorated veteran who fought in two combat tours in Vietnam. Secretary Shinseki, wounded from his last tour in Vietnam, understands from personal experience the plight of veterans and the support those veterans and their families need. General Shinseki is also the only Japanese American and Asian American to be promoted to the Army's top position, and was the first four-star general of Asian descent in the history of our U.S. military. The most recently confirmed cabinet member into Obama's Administration has exemplified that with hard work the American Dream can come true. Former Governor of the State of Washington, Gary Locke, a Chinese American, grew up in public housing and put himself through Yale University with loans, scholarships and the money he earned working part-time jobs. After earning his law degree from Boston University, Secretary Locke broke many glass ceilings afflicting our Asian-Pacific community. In 1993, Locke became the first Chinese American to be elected as his county's County Executive, and in 1996, Locke became the first Chinese American to be governor of a state in U.S. history, serving the maximum of two terms. Secretary Locke's family history is an important one to emphasize, as it is one of many hardships that our Asian-Pacific American communities have faced. In an interview, Locke mentioned that his grandfather might have claimed he was born in the U.S. and the documents were destroyed. Some of you may know this, and others may not, but in 1882 our government institutionalized racial discrimination against Chinese immigrants where they were banned from entering the United States. The Chinese people living in the U.S. at the time were excluded from becoming American citizens. And because of the restrictions of this law, it was nearly impossible for Chinese families to reunite. This Exclusion Act was repealed only 66 years ago. Locke's grandfather could have been one of the few Chinese immigrants who managed to get into the United States through ruses of lost documentation, while the immigration of people from all over Europe were unlimited. As a Vietnam veteran, it would be absurd of me not to say something to honor and respect the hundreds of thousands of Asian-Pacific Americans who served then and now in all branches of the armed services of our nation. As a former member of the U.S. Army's Reserve unit, known today as the 100th Battalion and 442nd Infantry Combat group, I would be remiss if I did not share with you the contributions of the tens of thousands of Japanese-American soldiers who volunteered to fight our nation's enemies in Europe during World War II. So you probably know, after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, by the Imperial Armed Services of Japan--there was such an outrage and cry for an all out war against Japan and days afterwards our President and the Congress formally declared war. Out of this retaliation against Japan, hundreds of thousands of Americans were caught in the crossfire. These Americans just happened to be of Japanese ancestry. Our national government immediately implemented a policy whereby over 100,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry were forced to live in what were called relocation camps, but were actually more like prison or concentration camps. Their lands, homes and properties were confiscated by the military without due process of law. My former colleague and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Norman Mineta, and the late Congressman Bob Matsui from Sacramento spent the early years of their lives in these prison camps. Secretary Mineta shared one of the interesting features of these prison camps where there were many machine gun nests posted all around the camps. Everyone in the camps was told that these machine guns were necessary to protect them against rioters or others who wanted to harm them. But then Secretary Mineta observed, ``if these machine guns are posted to guard and protect us, why is it that they are all directed and aimed inside the prison camp compound and not outside?'' It was a time in our nation's history when there was so much hatred, bigotry and racism placed against our Japanese-American community. Despite all this, the White House, at the time, accepted the request of tens of thousands of the Japanese Americans to volunteer to join the Army, thus leaving their wives, parents, brothers and sisters behind barbed wire fences. As a result of such volunteerism, two combat units were organized. The 100th Battalion and the 442nd Infantry Combat Group were created and immediately were sent to fight in Europe. In my humble opinion, history speaks for itself in documenting that none have shed their blood more valiantly for our nation than the Japanese American soldiers who served in these two combat units while fighting enemy forces in Europe during World War II. The military records of the 100th Battalion and 442nd Infantry are without equal suffering. These Japanese American units suffered an unprecedented casualty rate of 314%, and received over 18,000 individual decorations, many awarded posthumously, for bravery and courage in the field of battle. For your information, 53 Distinguished Service Crosses, (the second highest HELV. medal given for heroism in combat), 560 Silver Stars (third highest medal), and 9,486 Purple Hearts, and 7 Presidential Unit Citations, the nation's top award for combat units, were awarded to the Japanese American soldiers of the 100th Battalion and 442nd Infantry Group. I find it unusual, however, that only one Medal of Honor was awarded at the time. Nonetheless, the 442nd Combat Group emerged as the most decorated combat unit of its size in the history of the United States Army. President Truman was so moved by their bravery in the field of battle, as well as that of African American soldiers during World War II, that he issued an Executive Order to finally desegregate all branches of the Armed Services. I am proud to say that we must recognize Senator Daniel K. Inouye and the late, highly-respected Senator Spark Matsunaga of Hawaii, who distinguished themselves in battle as soldiers with the 100th Battalion and 442nd Infantry. It was while fighting in Europe that Senator Inouye lost his arm while engaged in his personal battle against two German machine gun posts. For his heroism, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. As a result of a Congressional mandate that was passed in 1999 to review the military records of these two combat units, President Clinton presented 19 Congressional Medals of Honor to the Japanese Americans who were members of these two combat groups. Senator Inouye was one those recipients of the Medal of Honor and I was privileged to witness this historical moment at a White House ceremony. On May 14, 2009, the House unanimously passed H.R. 347 thus granting the Congressional gold medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II. The wholesale and arbitrary abolishment of the constitutional rights of these loyal Japanese Americans should forever serve as a reminder and testament that this must never be allowed to occur again. When this miscarriage of justice unfolded during World War II, Americans of German and Italian ancestry were not similarly jailed en masse. Some declare the incident as an example of outright racism and bigotry in its ugliest form. I sincerely hope that these forms of legal racial discrimination never again darken the history of our great nation. To those that say, well, that occurred decades ago, I say we must continue to be vigilant in guarding against such evil today. President Obama's recent election is a consequence of such vigilance in electing him as the first ever President of color. I know that history speaks that he is the first black President, but personally, he represents all races, genders, and ethnicities in becoming the Commander-in-Chief and leader of this great country. Now and more than ever, am I so proud to be called an American. We have elected a person who is literally an African-American, in the sense, where his father is a Kenyan and mother is a girl from Kansas. I jokingly say that this is the first President to know where the Pacific Ocean is on the map. President Obama was born in Hawaii so he's a ``local boy'' and for your information, he can still throw a good ``shaka'' sign. We in the Congress look forward to the next four years, and maybe 8, in working together with President Obama in restoring American leadership in the world. As Americans, we emphasize the importance of our ideals and values that guarantee and protect ones freedoms and is reinforced and supported by the greatest volunteer military force in the world. We should never become complacent with the hand that is dealt to you, with the discrimination that you may see or experience. When I envision America, I don't see a melting pot designed to reduce and remove racial differences. The America I see is a brilliant rainbow, a rainbow of ethnicities, cultures, religions and languages with each person proudly contributing in their own distinctive and unique way for a better America. Asian-Pacific Americans wish to find a just and equitable place in our society that will allow them--like all Americans--to grow, to succeed, to achieve and to contribute to the advancement of this great nation. I would like to close my remarks by asking my colleagues--what is America all about? I can say that through our leadership and sense of volunteerism we can meet the challenges of a fast changing world. Either through personal service, education, civics, or charity, we have a responsibility to each other and must continue to exploit the freedoms that we proudly have today. Everyday the world is shrinking and it is important, as our forefathers have done so, to continue our leadership and become an example of how we admit to our faults and correct them immediately. I think it could not have been said better than on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in the summer of 1963 when an African American minister by the name of Martin Luther King, Jr., poured out his heart and soul to every American who could hear his voice, when he uttered these words: ``I have a dream. My dream is that one day my children will be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.'' We have reaped what he has sewed by celebrating the contributions of Asian-Pacific Americans this month and having the first ever President of color in our great history. That is what I believe America is all about.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of the Bordallo Amendment (#25) that would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress on a review to be conducted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for preferred and alternative methods of having commercial airports in the territories comply with TSA security regulations. I thank my colleague from Guam for her leadership and continuing to look out for the interest of all the territories. This amendment is pretty straight forward. It requires TSA to report on options for improving security airports in the U.S. territories with particular attention to the commingling of passengers that are connecting from international flights. Moreover, this amendment recognizes the importance of the Territories to the national security of the United States. Commercial airports in the U.S. territories, especially the Guam International Airport, are subject to fluctuations in the tourism market, and making substantial security improvements is a costly endeavor for them to finance. Consequently, the amendment asks also that the TSA report would address the cost differences and financing opportunities for the territories to fully comply with the TSA regulations. This amendment is especially important in light of the military buildup in Guam and I thank my good friend Ms. Bordallo for bringing this amendment that would strengthen airport security not only in Guam but also in the other territories. I strongly urge members to support this amendment.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Chairman, I do want to thank the distinguished chairman of our committee, Mr. Rahall, and our ranking member, Mr. Hastings, even though he may have some reservations concerning this bill but especially also to thank my colleague Mr. Moran as the chief author of this important bill. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1385, legislation to extend Federal recognition of the Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, under the current Federal recognition process for recognizing Indian tribes, the six Virginia tribes considered under this bill may not be able to meet the strict qualifying requirements under the Federal recognition process. This is despite the wealth of documentation that exists for each of these tribes. While references exist from the 1600s until the present showing the existence of these Indian tribes in the Virginia area, much of the documentation that is needed to meet the criteria in the Federal recognition process has been tampered with or destroyed. Mr. Chairman, this is another perfect example of a recognition process that has not worked and that any group of people who don't make a paper trail to prove their existence aren't worthy of Federal recognition. Congress has the authority to correct this grave injustice to these tribes. After some 400 years, Mr. Chairman, it is long overdue. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 31, the proposed bill to provide for the recognition of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. First, I want to commend the gentleman and my dear friend, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre) for his leadership and tremendous work that he has done to move this bill through committee that is now before us. I also want to commend Chairman Rahall and our ranking member, Mr. Hastings, and my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee for their agreement to bringing this bill to the floor. Madam Speaker, it has been more than 120 years since the Lumbees first attempted Federal recognition since 1888. More than a century has passed since they first started this labyrinth known as Federal recognition process. Since then, the Lumbee themselves have been subjected to such demeaning vetting process, including having the size of their teeth measured and their blood tested to see how much Indian they were. Since 1888, the Lumbees have submitted all documentation they have to prove their existence. After more than 100 years' worth of documentation and witness testimony, the Lumbees have fully exhausted the Federal recognition process but to no avail. Madam Speaker, it is also important to note that the policy of the United States has been terribly inconsistent with regard to the original inhabitants of this land, the first Americans. Our first policy was to do battle with them, kill them. The prevailing opinion at the time was epitomized by General Philip Sheridan in 1869 when he said: ``The only good Indians I ever saw were dead.'' Our next policy was that of assimilation. During this period, the United States tried to make Indians part of American mainstream. And then in the 1950s and the early 1960s, this country's policy was termination, termination meaning Indian tribes were no longer in existence. Then there was the policy of reinstatement. Since 1978, the tribes now have to seek recognition from the Federal Government, and doing so by a series of administrative regulations that have caused tremendous hardship for the tribes seeking to be recognized by the Federal Government. Throughout this entire period, the Lumbees were seeking recognition. While Congress recognized the Lumbee Indians in the 1956 Act, the Lumbees were still deprived of critical services and benefits that were available to other Indian tribes. Since then, the Lumbees have felt like they were second-class citizens. And I agree. Madam Speaker, it is public record that the Interior Department has found the Lumbee petition for recognition wanting. Apparently, the Lumbees didn't keep sufficient written records of their existence for the period supposedly encompassing roughly from 1760 to 1850 to convince the Department of the Interior. I guess the Department thinks that any group of people who don't have a paper trail to prove their existence aren't worthy of Federal recognition. While I know it's true that the Bureau of Indian Affairs exists only to create a paper trail, I cannot help but think the Lumbee case is a perfect example of a bureaucratic process run amok. Madam Speaker, there comes a time when the process for process' sake loses its value. While it might be procedurally nice for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of the Interior to provide a timely review of each group that seeks recognition, sometimes justice requires otherwise. The cost of continuing the acknowledgment process in the case of the Lumbees, for me at least, is just simply too high. And I believe that this is one of the principal roles that Congress has to play. The time has come for this institution to take action. By our own inaction, Congress will continue to defer to a Federal recognition process that, in the case of the Lumbees, has failed miserably, a Federal recognition process that is also in greater need of reform. And I have introduced legislation to have Congress change the process. Today, we are considering H.R. 31, a bill to grant Lumbees Federal recognition. After reviewing this bill, there's nothing in here that threatens the economic stream of other federally recognized tribes. Indeed, H.R. 31 contains prohibition of gaming activities. Madam Speaker, further inaction would lead to more time lost for the Lumbees. For over 100 years, the Lumbees are still seeking recognition. And just prior to the introduction of this bill, we have had to recognize six tribes from Virginia after they waited for 400 years. Does this suggest that the poor Lumbees are to wait for another 300 years, Madam Speaker? I say not. The time has come to give the Lumbees Federal recognition. I urge my colleagues and Members of this House, do pass H.R. 31 and give the Lumbee Indians at last the recognition they so dearly deserve.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I just want to note for the record, as much as I respect my dear friend, the gentleman from Washington, I remember distinctly we had a hearing on this very issue, and the gentleman who wrote the regulations, the seven criteria that were outlined in terms of what these poor tribes had to go through, admitted before this committee, our committee, even he would not have been able to seek recognition if this is the way the bureaucratic maze had to be conducted on how to recognize an Indian tribe. So I say this to my good friend from the State of Washington, we are setting precedent here to the effect that we have already recognized all other tribes, the six that we just recognized 30 minutes ago. There was no requirement they had to go back to one of the separate criteria in order to be recognized. This is the prerogative of the Congress. The Congress can pass this legislation to give recognition to this tribe. And I say this with all due respect to my good friend from Washington.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Joint Resolution 40, which honors the achievements and contributions of Native Americans to the United States, and for other purposes. I want to commend the sponsor of this resolution, my good friend from California, Mr. Joe Baca, for introducing such an important piece of legislation designating a day to honor and celebrate the rich traditions and cultures of our Native American heritage. I also want to thank and recognize my fellow colleagues and supporters of this joint resolution. Today, this legislation honors the distinct and notable contributions the Native Americans have made to the United States and the rest of the world. They have achieved significant accomplishments and have made many contributions to the many fields of agriculture, medicine, music, language, and art. These First Americans who were here prior to the arrival of Europeans have been and always will be an integral part of our U.S. history. This resolution recognizes the contributions they have made through politics, economics, and, importantly, enriching the cultural fabric of our country. Our Native American brothers and sisters have always volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces since the time of the Revolutionary War and they continue to serve with valor in our military today. We must also acknowledge the contributions and impact the Native Americans had on the creation of the fundamental principles that make our great country. Either through inspiring the Founding Fathers of the separation of governmental powers or providing for and the protection of freedom of speech, the Native American tribal governments are instrumental in the creation of our United States Constitution. This day, Native American Heritage Day, will provide for the nationwide recognition of all our Native Americans who are estimated to number almost 2.5 million. It will help the American public celebrate and understand the culture and history of the many 562 federally recognized tribes as well as the other hundreds of tribes who have yet or are in the process being recognized by the states and the federal government. By way of programs, ceremonies, or activities to celebrate Native American Heritage Day or the enhancement of classroom instruction, we will better appreciate and understand the richness of the Native Americans. In today's world, our country is more diverse than ever and it is important that we honor the Native Americans. It is imperative that we celebrate and recognize the rich cultural legacy of our first brothers and sisters. For these reasons, I strongly urge my fellow colleagues to support this resolution honoring the First Americans.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I do want to thank my good friend, the gentleman from North Carolina, for giving me time to speak, and especially also to commend my good friend from California (Mr. Schiff) for his sponsorship of this important bill. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 347, to grant the Congressional Gold Medal collectively to the 100th Infantry Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II. I want to also thank my colleagues from the State of Hawaii. I am sure they will be here later hopefully, my good friends and colleagues, Congressman Abercrombie and Ms. Hirono. As a former member of the 100th Battalion 442nd Infantry Group, Madam Speaker, I would like to share with you the contributions of tens of thousands of Japanese American soldiers who volunteered to fight our Nation's enemies in Europe during World War II. After the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, by the Imperial Armed Forces of Japan, there was such an outrage and public outcry for an all-out war against Japan. Days after we were attacked, President Roosevelt and the Congress immediately formally declared war against Japan. Out of this retaliation against Japan, hundreds and thousands of Americans were caught in this crossfire. These Americans just happened to be of Japanese ancestry. Our national government immediately implemented a policy, whereby over 100,000 Japanese Americans were forced to live in what were then called relocation camps but were actually more like prisoner concentration camps. Their lands, their homes and their properties were confiscated by the military without any due process of law. One of our former colleagues and former Secretary of Transportation, Congressman Norm Mineta, and the late Congressman Bob Matsui from Sacramento spent the early years of their lives in these concentration camps. Secretary Mineta shared one of the interesting features of these concentration camps, where there were many machine gun nests posted all over the camps. Everyone in the camp was told that these machine guns were necessary to protect them against rioters or others who wanted to harm them. But then Secretary Mineta observed, if these machine guns were to posted to guard us and to protect us, why is it that they are all directed, aimed inside the prison camp and not outside? It was a time in our Nation's history when there was so much hatred and bigotry and racism displayed against our Japanese American community. Despite all this, the White House at the time reluctantly accepted the request of tens of thousands of Japanese Americans to volunteer to join the Army, thus leaving their wives, their parents, their brothers and sisters behind barbed fences at these concentration camps. As a result of such volunteerism, two combat units were organized. The 100th Battalion and the 442nd Infantry Combat Group were created and immediately were sent to Europe to fight our enemies there. Madam Speaker, in my humble opinion, history speaks for itself in documenting that none have shed their blood more valiantly for our Nation than these Japanese American soldiers who served in these two units while fighting enemy forces in Europe and World War II. The military records of the 100th Battalion and 442nd Infantry are without equal. These Japanese American soldiers suffered an unprecedented casualty rate of 314 percent and received over 18,000 individual decorations, many awarded posthumously for bravery and courage in the field of battle. For your information, these units collectively received 53 Distinguished Service Crosses, the second highest medal given for heroism in combat, 560 Silver Stars, the third highest in combat, 9,486 Purple Hearts, and 7 Presidential Unit Citations, the Nation's top award for combat units, were all awarded to these Japanese American units. I find it unusual, however, at the time that only one Medal of Honor was awarded. Nonetheless, the 442nd Combat Group emerged as the most decorated combat unit of its size in the history of the United States Army. A sad commentary, Madam Speaker, when these Japanese soldiers, full of decorations, coming back wounded couldn't even get a haircut in San Francisco simply because they were Japanese Americans. President Truman was so moved by their bravery in the field of battle as well as the sacrifices of our African American soldiers during World War II that he issued an Executive Order to finally, finally desegregate all the branches of the armed services in our Nation. I am proud to say that we must recognize Senator Daniel Inouye and the late highly respected Senator Spark Matsunaga, both from Hawaii, who distinguished themselves in battle as soldiers of the 100th Battalion and 442nd Infantry. It was while fighting in Europe that Senator Inouye lost his arm while engaged in personal combat with two German machine gun posts. For his heroism, he was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross. As a result of a congressional mandate that was passed in 1999 to review again the military records of these two combat units, President Clinton then presented 19 additional Congressional Medals of Honor to these Japanese American soldiers who were numbered in those two combat units. Senator Inouye was also one of those recipients of a Medal of Honor, and I was privileged to witness this historical event at a White House ceremony. It is only proper, Madam Speaker, that we honor these soldiers and their families for their patriotism and courage by awarding them with the Congressional Gold Medal. I find encouraging that even at times when these Japanese Americans were segregated and isolated because of their ethnicity or racial background they managed to find the greatest courage to volunteer and fight for our country. And for many other volunteers, they gave the ultimate sacrifice to fight for something they strongly and truly believed in, and thus truly, the Go For Broke spirit. The Go For Broke slogan, Madam Speaker, was a pidgin English phrase the boys from Hawaii used meaning, ``give it all you got,'' ``don't give up,'' ``give 'em hell,'' and ``no retreat, no matter what.'' I urge my colleagues to support this important bill. Again, I thank the gentleman from California for sponsoring this important legislation.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of myself and my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Christopher Smith, as we have introduced a resolution condemning the transport of certain types of nuclear waste, commonly known as mixed oxide fuel, containing plutonium and uranium, through international waters. And we urge the countries that produce the waste to keep such nuclear waste within their borders. Madam Speaker, last month two British-flagged vessels left France with 1.8 tons of plutonium bound for Japan. They are scheduled to arrive in port at some point this month. From what has been made public, the shipment is to travel via the Cape of Good Hope, across the southern Indian Ocean, then through the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, and then through the southwest Pacific Ocean, and finally to Japan. The plutonium itself is contained within what is commonly known as MOX fuel, a toxic mixture of plutonium and uranium oxide. The MOX will be used by Japanese electric utilities to power their nuclear energy plants. Madam Speaker, mixed oxide fuel containing plutonium and uranium is legal. The release of even a small amount of it during transport over thousands of miles of open sea, whether as a result of accidents or malicious intent, would cause serious health and environmental harm to surrounding areas. That has always been made clear. But MOX poses a far more ominous threat. With the right technology, it can be reprocessed into weapons-grade material. And according to reputable estimates, enough plutonium is contained in the MOX currently headed towards Japan to produce more than 200 nuclear bombs. Every Member of this Chamber, Madam Speaker, knows that al Qaeda and its networks would like nothing better than to get their hands on enough fissile material to build a nuclear explosive device or a radiological bomb, however crude, and to detonate it where it can do the most harm. We and our allies around the world have committed our best intelligence, military and civilian officials, to work around the clock to eliminate the possibility of that ever happening. And yet by permitting the transport of MOX over open seas, obviously we are providing terrorists one more avenue of attack for getting access to the nuclear materials they have so long coveted. Indeed, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency said that the risk of hijacking a ship carrying nuclear materials, while small, could not be ruled out. Madam Speaker, piracy has become an obvious problem around the globe. So far this year just in the waters of Somalia alone, pirates have attacked 61 ships. More than a dozen of those vessels remain in the pirates' hands to this very day. One of them, a Ukrainian cargo ship, actually contained military equipment--33 battle tanks. Madam Speaker, I have no doubt that everyone here remembers the recent hijacking of the Maersk Alabama off the Somali coast, and the heroic actions of Captain Richard Philips and his crew of 21 members. The ship was captured by four Somali pirates on April 8 last month. The captain surrendered himself to ensure the safety of his crew, only to end up in a lifeboat with the pirates for 4 days while the FBI attempted to negotiate his release. Thankfully, Captain Richard Philips was rescued on April 12, but our Navy SEALs, justifiably, had to kill three of the hostage-takers. In the aftermath of that event, Somali pirates have issued threats to specifically target American interests in this region. We know that it doesn't cost much to hire a band of Somali pirates and that they are not fussy about their clientele. While the ships in question may not sail over Somali waters, they will likely pass through the Straits of Malacca, the vital link between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. But make no mistake, those straits are plied by their own bands of pirates. Indeed, according to the International Maritime Bureau, these and nearby waters have been ranked the world's most dangerous sea routes. In the year 2004, 40 percent of all pirate attacks in the world took place in the Straits of Malacca and nearby Indonesian waters. Of course, terrorists need not hire pirates to do their dirty work. In the year 2002, al Qaeda operatives rammed a boat rigged with explosives into a French oil tanker off the coast of Yemen. The two particular vessels transporting the MOX from France to Japan, the Pacific Pintail and the Pacific Heron, are not without protection. They are armed with five 30 millimeter Naval cannons. In addition, a group of armed police officers from the United Kingdom Office of Civil Nuclear Security is on board. However, a study done by the U.S. Department of Energy concludes that due to the risk of attack on nuclear shipments, there is a need to provide ``continuous backup support for the vessel by military security assets.'' In 1992, a shipment of 1.7 tons of MOX nuclear material from France to Japan was escorted by a Japanese Coast Guard vessel. This time, the public does not know what sort of a dedicated Naval vessel or vessels are escorting the ships. The Pentagon concluded in its own assessment of sea shipments of plutonium that ``even if the most careful precautions are observed, no one could guarantee the safety of the cargo from a security incident, such as an attack on the vessel by small, fast craft, especially armed with modern anti-ship missiles.'' Madam Speaker, thus the transport of this nuclear waste poses not only the environmental hazard we have long been concerned about, but also a nontrivial terrorist or even nuclear danger as well. I ask my colleagues, is the practice of transporting these lethal nuclear waste materials across international waters worth the risk? I say absolutely not. It's time for the countries of the world that produce nuclear waste to keep it within their own borders. That will be a first step. Madam Speaker, make no mistake, transport of nuclear materials even within a country's borders poses serious risks. Nuclear fuel is dangerous stuff. According to the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, ``A person standing 3 feet from unshielded irradiated fuel would receive a lethal radiation dose in 10 seconds.'' Moreover, the shipping containers in which radioactive waste are transported over land typically are designed to withstand, at most, a 30-mile per hour crash into an immovable object. I am certain that every Member of this Chamber studiously obeys the speed limits, but I am not aware of too many highways with a speed limit of 30 miles an hour. What I find particularly disconcerting is that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has not tested these shipping casks. Instead, the commission depends on the reliability of computer simulations. A Nuclear Information and Resource Service fact sheet also states, ``The more severe an accident, the more likely that radioactive material would be released into the environment.'' A low- speed accident could unseat a valve or damage a seal, releasing radioactive particulates into the environment. The same event could crack the brittle metal tubing around the fuel.'' In response to a 2001 Baltimore rail accident involving dangerous chemicals, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said, ``Everyone needs to recognize that transporting dangerous materials is very difficult. The leaking hydrochloric acid in Baltimore is nothing compared to the high-level radioactive waste proposed for the Yucca Mountain site 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas. A speck the size of a pinpoint would kill a person. What we should do with nuclear waste is leave it where it is.'' Madam Speaker, even just within our own domestic borders, we have become a deeply divided nation concerning the storage of nuclear waste materials within our own country. Years ago in its so-called infinite wisdom, Congress decided to build a multibillion-dollar storage facility at Yucca Mountain in the State of Nevada. Were the people or the residents of Nevada ever given an opportunity to have a say in the process, despite strong objections from its congressional delegation and State government officials? If I were a resident of Nevada, I would certainly object to the whole idea of other States shipping their nuclear waste and materials into my backyard. The question that comes to mind, Madam Speaker, what town, what city, what rural farm areas are going to be used or designated for shipments by truck, by train, by car, by airplanes? What guarantees are there that these shipments are not going to be subjected to terrorist attacks or even by accident? Remember the oil spill of Valdez in Alaska, Madam Speaker? Everybody said it was absolutely safe to conduct such shipments of oil. Well, it happened, and the same thing can also be said if nuclear waste materials were shipped from other States to Yucca Mountain in the State of Nevada. Madam Speaker, I could not agree more with our majority leader, Senator Harry Reid, expressing his concerns. I urge my colleagues to join me and Congressman Smith in calling for an end to this even more dangerous and in my opinion needless practice of shipping MOX nuclear waste materials over the open oceans. I ask my colleagues to support House Resolution 402.