Eni Faleomavaega

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to again urge my colleagues to support this proposed bill. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall).

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my commendation to the gentleman from Arizona for his sponsorship of this proposed bill; and, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2696 directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish three university-based institutes to conduct and promote research to assist Federal land managers in the complicated process of reducing risks of wildfires and improving forest health in the interior West. The bill specifically designates two universities to house institutes, Northern Arizona University in Arizona and Highlands University in New Mexico. The Secretary shall also designate a third institute to be located in the State of Colorado. The bill authorizes $15 million annually for these institutes, subject to appropriations. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the bill's sponsor, again the gentleman from Arizona. I also want to recognize the contributions of the Members on this side of the aisle, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Udall) and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall). I thank them for their help, their sponsorship and their support of this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio).

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to again commend the gentleman from Arizona for his management of this proposed bill, and also thank my good friend, the gentleman from Oregon, for his insights and understanding of the bill and what it will do to benefit the people of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I gladly yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall), one of the cosponsors of this legislation. (Mr. UDALL of New Mexico asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. Mr. Speaker, my district has 200 inches of rainwater a year, and I would be more than glad to share some of my water with my colleagues. Unfortunately, they would have to go many miles to get these 200 inches of water that we would be more than glad to share with our friends here in the continental United States. Mr. Speaker, I think the spirit of bipartisanship has been demonstrated this afternoon as we debate and discuss this issue; and, again, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I again want to compliment the remarks made by my good friend the gentleman from Florida. I certainly appreciate his insight and understanding of this important environmental issue. There are some 900 million people that live on this continent of Africa, Mr. Speaker. There is a tremendous diversity in cultures of the peoples, even governments. Some governments may not be necessarily stable but the fact of the matter is there is no question that whatever happens in Africa does have very serious implications to our world community. I sincerely hope that our colleagues will support this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support the bill. I again thank my good friend from New Mexico for his leadership and support in providing all the necessary understanding to my colleagues of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) for his management of this legislation. I also want to convey my thanks to the chairman of the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) the ranking member, for their efforts in bringing this legislation to the floor. As the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) alluded to earlier, this is a bipartisan effort on the part of himself, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall), the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Turner), and the leadership of our committee. Mr. Speaker, the Congo River and its tributaries make up the most extensive network of navigable waterways in Africa, and carry a volume of water second only to the Amazon River. In addition to being a major ecological region in Africa, it is the home to some of the world's poorest people. Throughout Central Africa, poverty rates are among the highest in the world. The actual prevalence of HIV-AIDS is unknown, but we know that poverty and war are the breeding ground for the rapid spread of diseases. Mr. Speaker, this legislation represents a unique opportunity to help the people of Central Africa to turn their biggest asset, the natural resources of the Congo River Basin, into a viable economic base. Conservation programs will help preserve natural areas and create jobs. The stewardship of the Congo Basin is the joint responsibility of Central African countries and the international community, including our Nation. Together we must end the deforestation and wildlife depletion, and support the appropriate use of the Congo River Basin forest resources. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall), one of our Nation's leading advocates of conservation and the environment. (Mr. UDALL of New Mexico asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I know the distinguished minority leader would have loved to be here this morning to express her views on this very important issue, but she is necessarily otherwise obligated and will submit a statement for the record on this resolution. Mr. Speaker, again I commend my good friend from California (Mr. Royce) for his comments. Over the years, both of us, as members of the Committee on International Relations, know that the issue of Tibet has always been one of those issues that we want to address forthrightly, but then there is always this idea or the response from the Chinese Government saying, well, this is really an internal affair kind of thing and, therefore, it is not any other country's business. I wonder if my good friend from California agrees with this statement being the response of our Chinese friends.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I thank my good friend for his edification and certainly providing a better understanding for our colleagues on this important issue. I also want to thank my good friend, the gentleman from New Mexico, not only for his initiative but for his leadership in bringing this resolution for the Members to discuss. And I certainly would like to emphasize again that we need to support and to pass this legislation to send a clear message to the Chinese Government that this is not acceptable and we should do this at all costs.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I yield to the gentleman from California.

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my good friend, the gentleman from California, for being the manager of this legislation on the majority side. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I would first like to commend my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall), for his leadership on this Tibet issue and for his introduction of this important resolution. I would also like to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the chairman of the House Committee on International Relations, for allowing this resolution to move to the floor and also the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), our senior Democratic ranking member, for his support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, this is a bipartisan piece of legislation. The resolution before the House is not the first expression of Congress' great concern regarding the treatment of Tibetans by the Chinese Government. Two years ago, Congress overwhelmingly approved the Tibet Policy Act, and we have also considered several resolutions regarding the lack of political and religious freedom in Tibet, but as Congress debated these larger policy matters, it was easy to lose sight of the impact of Chinese repression on individual Tibetans. To understand the brutality of Chinese rule in Tibet, we need to put a human face on it. The Udall resolution accomplishes this important task by calling attention to the case of Phuntsog Nyidron, a Tibetan nun who is the longest surviving female political prisoner in Tibet. What was Phuntsog Nyidron's crime? Three days after learning that His Holiness the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, she led five other nuns in a protest in downtown Lhasa against the Chinese occupation of Tibet. Instead of ignoring these peaceful protests, Chinese authorities arrested the nuns and subjected them to horrific torture. Phuntsog Nyidron and her fellow nuns were kicked, beaten, and given electric shocks all over their bodies. They were strung up by their hands and beaten with an iron rod, all this because they were unhappy with the Chinese occupation of Tibet and dared to speak their minds. Mr. Speaker, even torture would not silence Phuntsog Nyidron. In 1993 Phuntsog Nyidron and 13 other imprisoned nuns secretly recorded songs about Tibetan independence and smuggled their recordings out of prison. In one song, the nun thanked, ``all of you outside who have done all that you can for us in prison. We will never forget you.'' In another song, the nuns sang of being ``beaten and treated brutally, but this will never change the Tibetan people's perseverance.'' Mr. Speaker, when the Chinese Government found out about these songs, they extended the sentence of Phuntsog Nyidron to 17 years because she was ``spreading counterrevolutionary propaganda.'' Mr. Speaker, sentencing a Tibetan nun to 17 years in prison for peacefully protesting the treatment of Tibetans and making a musical tape to expose prison conditions is absolutely outrageous, in my humble opinion, and a violation of every international human rights treaty to which China is a party. Today, Mr. Speaker, we in the House are sending a signal to Phuntsog Nyidron that we have not forgotten her, her fellow nuns, and China's other fellow prisoners of conscience. We are signaling to the Chinese Government that it is time to release Phuntsog Nyidron and other prisoners of conscience as a humanitarian gesture, particularly as China celebrates the Lunar New Year. Today, we are celebrating the perseverance of the Tibetan people who have suffered enormous repression and deprivation over the last 50 years. The Tibetan people will one day regain their freedom, and those who languish in Chinese prisons for opposing Chinese rule in Tibet will be celebrated as heroes. Mr. Speaker, years ago it was my privilege to accompany our former chairman of the House Committee on International Relations, my good friend and the gentleman from New York, Mr. Ben Gilman, also an outstanding leader of our Nation who was a great advocate of human rights throughout the world. We traveled to the town of Dharmsala in India, where the Dalai Lama and his Tibetan followers live since they were driven out of Tibet by Chinese authorities. To this day, I will never forget the privilege of meeting with the Dalai Lama and the good people of Tibet who are currently living in this town of Dharmsala in India. The situation between the people of Tibet and China is not an easy matter to resolve, but we certainly should express our grave concerns with the way the people of Tibet are treated by the Chinese Government. At this time I will not get into the debate as to whether the Tibetans are of Chinese ancestry and if at one time or another Tibet was part of the Chinese empire centuries ago. Of paramount importance is our concern for the inhumane treatment of our fellow human beings anywhere on this planet, the very reason why this resolution is important to note the will of this body before our Nation and to the world. Mr. Speaker, the great people of Tibet truly appreciate and know the meaning of freedom because they are not free, and so I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 157. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to extend my appreciation and commendation to the managers of this important legislation, commending the 1-year anniversary of this tragic event that occurred to these seven astronauts that represented our Nation. I was privileged to be a member of the congressional delegation that personally visited Texas last year when we conducted a very special service on behalf of these great Americans. I think if there is anything that I can remember well on this special service that was held last year was the fact of the diversity of these distinguished Americans. I recall one whose ancestry was from the country of India, and we had a gentleman also who was a former pilot representing the State of Israel, showing the idea that this is not just an American project. I think what this sacrifice extends in my understanding, and certainly my belief, is how much humanity that there was in the efforts and the sacrifices that these great people made and certainly I would like to extend my condolences and appreciation to the families of these seven astronauts who paid the ultimate price, giving of their lives for the betterment of this troubled world that we live in.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2584, a bill I introduced to assist our friends from Utrok Atoll as they continue efforts to resettle and rehabilitate their islands as a result of the effects of the United States nuclear testing in the Marshal Islands. I would like to express my gratitude to Chairman Richard Pombo and Ranking Member Nick Rahall of the Resources Committee for their continued support of Pacific Island issues. I would also like to thank my distinguished colleagues and co-sonsors--Congressmen Anibal Acevedo- Vila (PR), Dan Burton (IN), John Doolittle (CA), Elton Gallegly (CA), Jeff Flake (AZ) and Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (Guam). The purpose of this proposed legislation is simply to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to convey a decommissioned, operable NOAA vessel to the Government of Utrok. The vessel would be used to provide support for radiological monitoring, rehabilitation and resettlement of Utrok, an atoll that is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. As you know, many of the Marshall Islands atolls were devastated by the effects of the U.S. Nuclear Testing activities during the 1940's and 50's. Utrok was one of four atolls acknowledged by the U.S. Government and suffering unsafe radiologicval exposure and its residents were forced to evacuate 72 hours after the miscalculated Bravo shot. Two months later, the people of Utrok were assured it was safe to return home. We know now that this was a grave mistake because Utrok residents have since suffered increased radiological illnesses and birth defects. Today, the people of Utrok are seeking to rehabilitate their home island so that it is a safe place to live. Last year a comprehensive scientific report recommended a potassium fertilizer treatment to accompany the ongoing resettlement process on Utrok, a treatment which would suppress the remaining radioactive Cesium-137 in the soil and prevent its further uptake in the food supply. In addition, the U.S. Department of Energy concluded a MOU with Utrok that committed the DOE to build a Whole body Counting (WBC) facility in order to monitor radioactivity levels in the people of Utrok. This new facility is located about 265 miles away in Majuro and will be used to ensure that the potassium fertilizer regime is effective and the administration of the fertilizer treatment is done properly. However, Utrok residents are responsible for their own transportation to Majuro. Transportation by plane is expensive and available only once per week, and is unreliable, as the Utrok runway is in disrepair and the airline often declines to land. Travel by commercial ships, although less expensive, is infrequent and unfeasible. One solution to help facilitate transportation between Utrok and Majuro is to transfer a decommissioned NOAA vessel to the Utrok Atoll Local Government. In addition to transport of Utrok residents to the WBC facility, the vessel will be used for moving several tons of potassium fertilizer, transporting equipment and materials for radiological remediation, and transporting USDA food supplies. Because of the Cesium-137 contamination is locally grown food, at least 50% of the diet of Utrok residents must be imported to limit the risk of radiological poisoning. The Utrok Atoll Local Government also fully supports this measure and adopted are solution (022-03) on July 4th 2003 stating that the NOAA vessel transfer would be ``one of the crucial needs that will fully support our future goals to develop, rehabilitate and resettle the atoll after the aftermath of the `Bravo' fallout''. The Utrok Government also expects the ship to be available for use by other atolls for their respective communities, who will help pay for the ongoing maintenance of the vessel. Mr. Speaker, I am hopeful that this bill will remind the Congress of our ongoing responsibility to the people of RMI for the mistakes the United States made regarding its nuclear testing activities in the Asia Pacific region. Once again, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation and I thank my colleagues for their support.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my gratitude to Chairman Hyde and Ranking Member Lantos of the International Relations Committee, Chairman Pombo and Ranking Member Rahall of the Resources Committee and my good friend, Chairman Jim Leach of the International Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific for working so diligently these past several months to address some of the very important concerns raised by the RMI and FSM as it relates to the Compact of Free Association. The Compacts of Free Association commenced in 1986 between the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the United States. In brief, the United States agrees to provide federal funding to the FSM and RMI and in turn both agree to provide the U.S. with certain defense rights now including use of eleven defense sites on Kwajalein Atoll where the U.S. Department of Defense has established a multi-billion dollar anti-ballistic missile testing facility. In October 2001, portions of the Compact expired and representatives from the FSM, RMI and the Department of the Interior began negotiating an extension of these provisions. Earlier this year, DOI sent Congress the negotiated product to be considered as the re-authorization of the Compacts of Free Association. However, key provisions, including funding for Pell Grants and FEMA assistance were excluded from the agreement and, over the last several months, my colleagues and I have been working closely with representatives from both the FSM and RMI to address these concerns. Mr. Chairman, the good people of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands are in need of and, indeed, deserve U.S. support and assistance in building local capacity. As you know, education is invaluable to building self-sufficiency and local capacity and ultimately will contribute to bolstering the economy of these developing nations. This is why I am pleased that the bill before us today now provides the Freely Associated States with Pell Grants assistance and also recognizes the importance of FEMA assistance to these islands. The truth is, the Freely Associated States have made many sacrifices and contributions on behalf of the United States. In fact, the U.S. used the Marshall Islands as a nuclear testing ground and detonated more than 67 nuclear bombs, including the first hydrogen bomb which was 1,000 times more powerful than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. The results were and continue to be devastating. As a Pacific Islander, I am pleased that H.J. Res 63 acknowledges the contributions and sacrifices made by the FAS and also addresses the needs and concerns of the people of the FSM and RMI. I am also pleased that my colleagues have worked closely with me to make sure that American Samoa's tuna industry was protected in the process of these negotiations. The outcome of H.J. Res 63 will determine our relationship with the FSM and RMI for the next twenty years and will also affect American Samoa's tuna industry for generations to come. I urge my colleagues to honor our pledge to the people of the FAS to assist them in maintaining a democratic government and supporting the principles that contribute to economic development and self- sufficiency. I also urge my colleagues to support American Samoa's interests by voting yes for H.J. Res 63.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 1189, a bill to assist our insular territories by waiving matching requirements at a certain Federal level for Federal grant programs. I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Chairman Pombo) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) of the Committee on Resources for their continued support regarding the needs of our island territories and for their help in bringing this legislation to the floor today. I would also be mindful in expressing my appreciation to the support and cosponsorship of the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) and my good friend, the Resident Commissioner, the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Acevedo-Vila) for their support. H.R. 1189 is a bill that would increase the waiver requirement for certain local matching requirements for grants provided for the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Mr. Speaker, Congress first enacted a matching waiver requirement for the territories in 1980, recognizing the difficulty of territorial governments to access Federal grant money that required matching as the basis of a funding. At that time the waiver was set at $100,000 for American Samoa and the CNMI. And later in 1983 and 1984 the law was amended to increase the requirements to $200,000 and was simultaneously added to the territories of the Guam and Virgin Islands for eligibility. It has now been 20 years since the law has been revisited, and the current waiver of $200,000 has been proven to be inadequate to meet the needs of these insular areas. Mr. Speaker, our territorial governments continue to be challenged with rising unemployment, decreased government revenues, and impediments to attracting new capital for diversification. The insular areas simply do not have the financial resources to meet the matching fund requirements required by Federal law. Consequently, we are often unable to apply for the Federal grants that we need to address critical issues like health, education, and economic development. H.R. 1189 would alleviate these difficulties by increasing the waiver requirement to $500,000. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1189 the would also direct the Secretary of the Interior to complete and to submit to the House Committee on Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources the results of a study of the implementation to the changes to the matching requirement made through this legislation. While it is clear that more comprehensive legislation is needed to bring about sustainable economic growth and relief for the insular areas, I believe this legislation will alleviate some of the economic difficulties we are facing. Again, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues, the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo), the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Acevedo-Vila) for expressing their support. Again, I express my appreciation to the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder). I want to let the gentleman from Indiana know that I did not forget that trip that we took to the Middle East. Yes, in fact, just about every military installation that we visited with the then chairman of the International Security Subcommittee of the Committee on Government Reform, the gentleman from Illinois, whose name was Mr. Hastert, who is now the Honorable Speaker of the House, from which I really enjoyed meeting not only with our soldiers and our troops in that opportunity that we had. Again, Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) for his assistance in managing this proposed bill. I urge my colleagues to support this proposed legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this proposed legislation. Mr. Speaker, Senate bill 254 would expand the boundary of the Kaloko- Honokohau National Historic Park on the eastern shore of the island of Hawaii. It is our understanding that the National Park Service currently rents space in a building near the park for use as a visitors center and administrative offices. Apparently, there is a much larger space for sale in another part of the same structure. This proposed legislation will alter the boundary of the park to include this building so that the Park Service might acquire the new space for park use. This will improve park operations as well as the visitor experience, while also resulting in a long-term cost savings for the National Park Service. Our colleague and my good friend, the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case), introduced companion legislation here in the House, and he is to be commended for his very diligent work in moving that legislation through the Committee on Resources and for his efforts to get this legislation to the House floor. I also want to commend at this time the good Senator from the State of Hawaii, Senator Daniel Akaka, for his sponsorship of this bill in the other body. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case), my good friend and colleague.