Eni Faleomavaega

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 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 yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, my good friend, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder), had alluded earlier in his observations about the nature of the way we have been passing legislation. And I just want to second, and certainly support, his comments to the fact that this is probably one of the things that as Members of the sense of comity among our colleagues in the House, especially when the bill is proposed by a Member whose district is directly affected, that by and large whether you are a Republican or Democrat, but at least give the courtesy to that Member, the benefit of doubt that he knows what he is talking about. For passage of this proposed legislation affecting each Member's district, just as my good friend, the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case), has just done here, I think speaks well of the spirit of comity that should exist. And I would think that my good friend, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder), had mentioned earlier about how we should go about passing legislation. The gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case) had made a comment about this Big Island of Hawaii. The Volcano National Park of Hawaii is the most visited national park in the State of Hawaii with over 4 million visitors just last year. And also by way of information to my colleagues of the House, if you visit Statutory Hall, that huge Hawaiian king who was about six foot eight when he was at the height of his power as a warrior king named Kamehameha, with warriors amounting to about 16,000 warriors and with about 900 war canoes came from that Big Island and managed to conquer all of the islands coming under his rulership. Something that is tremendous history. Some times there is tremendous misunderstanding of my colleagues when you say a Hawaiian, you think that it is the same as being called a Californian or a Texan. I think we need to understand there is a sense of culture in the State of Hawaii. When you are a Hawaiian, there are people who are called native Hawaiians, indigenous people of the State of Hawaii, which I am so proud to be a part of. And as a fellow Polynesian, I commend my good friend, the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case), for bringing out some of these pronunciations that I realize sometimes it sounds like Greek to some of the Members here in the Chamber. A tremendous opportunity for education of my colleagues, I must say, Mr. Speaker. Again, I thank my good friend, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) for his leadership and management of these proposed bills. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, again on a bipartisan basis, I want to commend the gentleman from Arizona for his sponsorship of this proposed bill. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2907 would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to consummate a complicated land exchange in northern Arizona. The United States would receive approximately 35,000 acres of inholdings on the Prescott National Forest. In exchange, the United States would transfer title to the Yavapai Ranch Limited Partnership various parcels on the Coconino, Prescott, and the Kaibab National Forests. All lands would be appraised in accordance with Federal appraisal standards. Their values would be equalized as required in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act. This bill was also passed in the House last year, and we certainly have no objection to this. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my good friend, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth), for his kind words. It is true it was my privilege very recently, in fact, about a week and a half ago, that I had the privilege of visiting the great State of Arizona, finding out that several thousand of my people live in Arizona. I guess they missed the 200 inches of rainfall that we have every year, and they thought maybe by going to Arizona would give them tremendous experience in learning how to live with 3 inches of rainfall every year in that great State. I do want to commend him for his words and, as the cochairman of the Native American Caucus, I do commend him also for the tremendous work that he does with our Native American community. Again, I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder), my good friend, for his leadership in managing this proposed bill; and 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 have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 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 the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich), who authored this proposed bill. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1651 would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to consummate a land exchange on the Sierra National Forest in California. In exchange for the United States Forest Service receiving approximately 80 acres and a payment of $50,000 from a private party, the Secretary of Agriculture would convey to the private party 160 acres, including two lakefront parcels. The private party plans to reconvey the 160 acres to the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts of America for use as a summer camp. Mr. Speaker, we do not object to this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my sense of appreciation to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Renzi) and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) who are both managing several pieces of legislation this afternoon. I thank them for their assistance and leadership in doing so. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the gentleman from California (Chairman Pombo) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), the ranking member, for the Committee on Resources; and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the ranking member from the Committee on the Judiciary, for their continued support regarding the needs of the territory of American Samoa and for their efforts to bring H.R. 982 to the floor this afternoon. H.R. 982 would amend the U.S. Code to allow interest earned from American Samoa bonds to be exempt from both State and local taxation. Mr. Speaker, under current Federal law, Congress has expressly provided for the exemption of State and local taxes for bonds issued for or by the territories of Guam, the Virgin Islands and the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands. While American Samoa can issue bonds similar to the other territories, the interest earned from American Samoa bonds is subject to taxation by several States, Washington, D.C. and other territories. This proposed legislation would simply provide equity and parity to the territory of American Samoa. It has been a slight oversight over the years, that is the reason I am having to propose this legislation. H.R. 982 would also make American Samoa bonds more attractive to investors and will save the local government between $20,000 to $50,000 in interest alone on municipal bonds it may issue. This legislation will lower the interest costs of the prospective sales and will also enable the government to address deficiencies in its current infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is identical to H.R. 1448, which I introduced in the 107th Congress, which was adopted by both the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Resources, and finally agreed to by voice vote on September 24, 2002. Unfortunately, the other body was unable to consider this legislation before the 107th Congress adjourned. However, the Committee on Resources and the Committee on the Judiciary have unanimously passed H.R. 982, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. In doing so, I want to thank committee staff, Tony Babauta, and my office staff, Judy Leilani and Lisa Williams, for their efforts in making the proper preparations and assisting tremendously in bringing this legislation to the floor for consideration.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I also want to note to the benefit of our colleagues that just this last weekend our President visited the State of Hawaii and he had an opportunity to meet with the leaders of these island nations at the East-West Center and the concerns expressed collectively by these leaders regarding homeland security. The security issues now of terrorism and issues of this nature are vitally important to this region of the world; and, again, this is all in concert with the efforts that we are making to make sure that we continue to establish good relations with our friends from Micronesia. I again thank my good friend, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), for his tremendous support and leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor, again, sincerely hoping our colleagues will support this legislation.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as I do not have any further speakers, I would like to express a few sentiments. It is very easy for those of us managing pieces of legislation and somewhat proclaiming our own sense of expertise by commenting or making speeches. As my good friend, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), had given an indication earlier, there has been tremendous support from members of the professional staff of the two committees who have done an outstanding job in helping putting this piece of legislation together. Again, I would be remiss if I do not express my sense of appreciation to Mr. Doug Anderson and also Mr. Jamie McCormick on the majority side on the Committee on International Relations, as well as Mr. Peter Yeo and Dr. Lisa Williams, and also Dr. Bob King. Also on the Committee on Resources we have Mr. Tony Babauta and Mr. Chris Fluhr of the Committee on Resources, and also Mr. Chris Foster from the gentleman from California's (Mr. Pombo) office, and the outstanding contributions they have made as professional members of both committees in putting this legislation and certainly giving us positive advice now that we find ourselves agreeing to some of the important elements of this bill that is now before us. We sincerely hope that our colleagues will lend their support to this important legislation. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam 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. Madam Speaker, I would like to extend my gratitude to the chairman of the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), and the senior ranking member of the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), my good friend, the chairman of the Committee on Resources, the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), and our senior ranking member of the Committee on Resources, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), and the chairman of Committee on International Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), my good friend, for working so diligently these past several months to address some of the very important concerns raised by the leaders of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia as it relates to the proposed Compact of Free Association or H.J. Res. 63. Madam Speaker, 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 the RMI and, in turn, both agree to provide the United States with certain defense rights, now including use of 11 defense sites on Kwajalein Atoll, where the U.S. Department of Defense has established a multibillion dollar antiballistic missile testing facility. In October 2001, portions of the Compact expired and representatives from the FSM, the RMI, and the Department of the Interior began negotiating an extension of these provisions, including also the Department of State. Earlier this year, the Department of the Interior sent Congress a negotiated product to be considered as a reauthorization of the Compact of Free Association. However, key provisions, including the funding of the 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. Madam Speaker, 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 in assistance in building local capacity. As my colleagues 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 Grant assistance, hopefully, and also to recognize the importance of FEMA assistance to these islands. The truth is, Madam Speaker, 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 one thousand times more powerful than the bombs dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. The results were, and continue to be, devastating to the residents of the Marshall Islands. As a Pacific Islander, I am pleased that H.J. Res. 63 acknowledges the contributions and sacrifices made by the Federated Associated States and also addresses the needs and concerns of the people of Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. 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 20 years and will also affect American Samoa's tuna industry for generations to come. With the approval of these Compacts, the United States will further solidify our relationship with these Western Pacific nations, both of which are close allies, and make an ongoing contribution to America's national defense. To understand the importance of renewing the Compacts we must remember our Nation's history in the region. During World War II, American soldiers liberated the Pacific island by island in brutal and bloody battles. After the war, the United States administered Micronesia, and we have maintained a vitally important military installation on Kwajalein Atoll. In the 1940s and 1950s, the United States conducted both underwater and atmospheric nuclear tests in the Marshalls. And as I indicated earlier, some 67 nuclear detonations were held during that period. I remember distinctly, in 1954, when we detonated the first hydrogen bomb, I indicated earlier that that nuclear detonation was a thousand times more powerful than the nuclear bombs that we dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. One of the serious issues that we still have not properly addressed, and, hopefully, in the coming months, that we will address seriously, the needs of some several hundred Marshallese men, women, and children who were directly exposed to nuclear contamination at the time of detonation of this hydrogen bomb in the 1950s. Madam Speaker, since the independence of the Marshalls and Micronesia in 1986, the ties between our nations have grown even stronger. When Congress approved the Compact of Free Association in 1986, we received a good bargain. Funds would flow to the island nations in return for a ``strategic denial'' and a ``defense veto.'' The Kwajalein Army Base is vitally important to America's missile tests and as a listening post to the world. Hundreds of Marshallese and Micronesians are currently defending American interests even in Iraq. I believe approximately 1,000 of our fellow Micronesians are in the military. Several have sacrificed their lives in the war in Iraq, even at this point in time as I speak. Just the other day Mr. Hilario Bermanis, a Micronesian, became an American citizen after losing a left arm and both legs while serving in the Army in Iraq. While we undoubtedly furthered our national security interests with approval of the Compact, the United States insufficiently monitored expenditure of funds and did little to promote economic development in the islands. The Compacts before the House today ensure that funds will be better spent in the future, will promote sound economic development and will focus on education and health care. They also establish trust funds for both nations to ensure that they can become self-sufficient in 20 years. Madam Speaker, H.J. Res. 63 promotes our Nation's national security interests and furthers our relationship with the Marshalls and Micronesia. This is a bipartisan effort. And, again, I extend my gratitude and appreciation to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), my good friend, for his tremendous support and leadership in bringing this piece of legislation to the floor. Madam Speaker, I yield such time she might consume to the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo), my good friend. (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me the time. I want to thank the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley), my good friend, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), my good friend, as chief sponsors of this legislation, and I also want to thank my colleague and good friend the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), the chairman of our the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the Committee on International Relations. Madam Speaker, I rise to lend my support to the provisions of H. Res. 409 to repudiate the comments made recently by Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad of the Republic of Malaysia. The prime minister's speech was given on October 16, about 2 weeks ago, at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Nations. The conference was held in Malaysia and was attended by heads of states and government leaders and other political leaders from some 57 nations whose majority populations are followers of Islam. Madam Speaker, Prime Minister Mohamad claimed that his speech was taken out of context. So I thought perhaps, in fairness to him, I would read his speech in its entirety, which I did, but I thought perhaps we also needed to examine the Prime Minister's prior statements, this very issue of anti-Semitic, this hatred of the people who are of Jewish ancestry. What I found out was a consistent pattern of anti-Semitic statements. There was a great article in the Boston Globe written recently by Mr. Jeff Jacoby, who did some research on Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's utterances as a political leader of Malaysia. Thirty years ago, Prime Minister Mohamad wrote, ``The Jews are not merely hook-nosed, but understand money instinctively.'' The same Prime Minister, Madam Speaker, described the Jewish people as monsters. In 1994, this same Prime Minister issued a ban in Malaysia not to show the movie Schindler's List because it showed too much favoritism towards the Jewish people, and in 1997, the same Prime Minister also accused an American businessman, an investor by the name of Mr. George Soros, as the cause of Malaysia's economic instability and currency collapse, specifically citing Mr. Soros as the ``Jew who triggered the currency plunge'' and coincidentally citing that he is Jewish. Madam Speaker, this is not the first time Prime Minister Mohamad has made hateful and bigoted statements against the Jewish people. How convenient it is for a Muslim political leader like Prime Minister Mohamad to always blame the Jewish people for the failures of Muslim political leaders to solve the many socioeconomic problems that concurrently confront the needs of some 1.3 billion people who are associated with Islam or the Muslim religion. Prime Minister Mahathir claims that the Jews rule this world by proxy. I say, in response to such an outrageous statement by the Prime Minister, the contributions over the years by those of the Jewish ancestry have been truly a blessing to our world community. In the fields of medicine, of law and of physics, literature, and social sciences, I need only to mention the name of Dr. Jonas Salk, who discovered the cure for the dreaded disease of polio, the names of Dr. Albert Einstein, Dr. Teller, and Dr. Oppenheimer as the founding fathers of modern nuclear physics and the theory of relativity. Time will not allow me to elaborate further the many positive contributions made for the benefit of mankind by those in the Jewish community given generously to the world community. Suffice it to say to political leaders like Prime Minister Mahathir, if it was your intention to tell your fellow Muslims that the sacred writings contained in the Koran have been misinterpreted by your own Muslim scholars, and partly the reason why there is so much divisiveness among your own adherers to Islam, then say so; but do not blame the Jewish community for your own failures. Madam Speaker, I sincerely hope as we contemplate the beginning of this sacred month called Ramadan among the adherents of Islam as a period of fasting and prayer and for greater patience and greater love towards all mankind, which in my humble opinion is the essence and the heart and soul of the religion of Islam as taught by the prophet Mohammed some 400 years ago, I do not believe, Madam Speaker, that Prime Minister Mahathir's statement reflects the real meaning and teachings of Islam. This resolution will announce to the world that this institution, the Congress of the United States of America, will not tolerate and does not support the Prime Minister's statement. And I also reflect upon statements made earlier by my colleague, that I too remember what was said by Martin Luther King, Jr., years ago: ``At the end, we will not remember the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.''

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, again, to make the point in the course of our hearings, with due respect to the members of the administration that testified before our hearing that was held, they are making every sincere effort to get other countries and members of the convention to comply, but how long have we been doing this? This is for the past 10 years, from previous administrations. We are still making every sincere effort, but it seems with no real substantive results. I ask my good friend, the gentleman from New Jersey, what else can we do? As I suggested earlier, we need to put teeth on the substance of this convention, or else we are just going to be spinning our wheels for another 10-year period, and still with no results. Here is the problem: We now have fishing vessels from the Atlantic fishing in the Pacific. Why? Because some of these fish have been overfished. There are moratoriums placed on them. We have serious problems, even in the Pacific. Fifty-four percent of the tuna now caught in the world is from the Pacific Ocean, and this is just tuna. The fact is that if we are not taking seriously the substantial of the problems of conservation of various species of fish, we definitely are going to have some very serious problems. I thank the gentleman for his expressing the concerns about the fishing, but I ask my good friend, we have been spinning our wheels for the last 10 years, are we going to be doing the same thing for the next 10 years?

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, if the gentleman would again yield, and I thank him for yielding, and I sincerely hope that perhaps, even after expressing the sense of the Congress in our resolution, that maybe the next phase is to put in teeth by saying by statute that we do this. Because again, despite all of the good efforts that perhaps the administration may be making on this issue, it is not just from this administration, but even from previous administrations, I think we are tired of the rhetoric. It is time to now put teeth in this issue and make sure that if we are going to be the only Nation complying with the substance of the convention while the others can still do what they want, I think there is a tremendous inequity in this effort. Again, I thank the gentleman for bringing this point to the attention of our colleagues.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time. Madam Speaker, certainly I would like to express my appreciation for the outstanding leadership of our colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton), as the chief sponsor of this legislation, not only as the former chairman of our Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans, but always a chief spokesman for the needs of the fisheries programs of our Nation. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 268, a resolution expressing the sense of congress regarding the imposition of trade sanctions against countries who undermine the effectiveness of the International Convention on the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. The International Commission was established in 1969 and is responsible for the conservation of some 30 species of tuna, swordfish and many other times of highly-migratory fish. Thirty-six years ago, the United States demonstrated its leadership in marine conservation by being the first to sign the international convention. Later that year, we were joined by two other countries, Japan and South Africa. Today, the number of contracting and cooperating parties has grown to 39 nations from across the world, signifying a global recognition of the importance of a large-scale collective effort to protect and carefully manage our international fisheries. Madam Speaker, the ICCAT Commission is charged with the lofty responsibility of undertaking scientific research, compiling statistics and monitoring a large number of highly-migratory species that inhabit the vast Atlantic Ocean. The types of species under the Commission's purview of diverse, having varying biological characteristics, migration patterns and exploitation pressures from different countries, which makes effective management very complicated. The Commission directs much effort in devising plans and providing recommendations that establish acceptable fishing levels aimed at ensuring maximum sustainable catches for all. Since their establishment some 33 years ago, the Commission has been working hard to provide accurate information and management advice to fishing countries of the world, with the number of recommendations growing exponentially each year. Despite the Commission's considerable efforts, however, several Atlantic highly-migratory species are still in jeopardy. The Atlantic white marlin, a major sport fishery for the United States, is nearly at an endangered status, and not from U.S. sports fishermen. An estimated 95 percent of the Atlantic marlin catches come from other nations, both from targeted fishing, and, sadly, as bycatch. I have always had very strong feelings about the issue of bycatch. It is inconceivable, Madam Speaker, to me, that some find it acceptable to simply throw out these fish, just because there is no perceived market value for them. Perhaps my point of view on this stems from my heritage as an islander, whose way of life, means of nourishment and culture centers almost exclusively on the resources from the ocean, considers the discard of any fish as a despicable waste. Madam Speaker, illegal, unreported and unregulated, which is known as IUU, fishing, is also of great concern to me. Countries who engage in such fishing significantly compromise the ability to monitor fish stocks accurately, making it very difficult for the Commission to advise on setting catch limits. IUU fishing is a serious concern to the Atlantic species, as well as to the fisheries of the great Pacific Ocean. The most unfortunate fact, in my opinion, Madam Speaker, is that even some of the contracting member countries have continually violated the convention to which they themselves have signed. Brazil, China, Cote D'Ivore and Spain continue to overfish Atlantic white marlin, and even the European Union refuses to accept the recommendations by the Commission for Atlantic blue tuna catch limits. These practices are unfair to the rest of the participating nations who fully cooperate and value the Convention and actively support international conservation efforts. They are unfair to and disrespectful to the internationally- recognized ICCAT Commission, and they are unfair to our future generations that will continue to rely on our ocean resources for food. Madam Speaker, I fully support the imposition of trade sanctions on these countries that violate and undermine the convention. Repeatedly, we have seen laws, rules, and regulations ignored because there is no means to effectively enforce them. Perhaps sanctions are the ``teeth'' the U.S. can give the convention so that violating countries will begin to take marine conservation seriously. I am a proud cosponsor of this resolution and may even propose a similar resolution for the Pacific fisheries at the appropriate time, as we have many similar issues there as well. I thank my good friends and colleagues on the Committee on Resources, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), and the chairman of our subcommittee, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest) for their leadership on this issue, and I urge Members to support this resolution. I even suggested, Madam Speaker, that we ought to extend our EE zone from 200 to 1,000 miles, to make a point of the fact that our country is the only country that is sincerely making every effort to see that when we say conservation, we mean it sincerely, and not just a lot of rhetoric. Madam Speaker, I do want to thank my staff, Dr. Malia Rivera, a Sea Grant fellow in my office, for the outstanding job she has done in advising me on issues pertaining to fisheries, and again I thank my good friend from New Jersey, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment which would reimburse air fare costs incurred by members of the United States Armed Forces in connection with travel within the United States while on leave from deployment overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. This amendment is the same as what has been offered and passed by the U.S. Senate but specifically defines United States to include each territory and commonwealth of the United States. As a Vietnam veteran, I am fully supportive of the military's Rest and Relaxation program which allows soldiers who have served 12 straight months to qualify for R&R and allows them to return home and see their families. However, at present this program only provides travel to hubs such as BWI and requires soldiers to make their own way home. Oftentimes, airfare costs are prohibitive and leave soldiers stranded far from home. Thankfully, the Senate passed an amendment to its supplemental appropriations bill which would extend the R&R program to include domestic travel and I believe it is time for the House to now demonstrate its commitment to our soldiers. Our soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan should not be burdened with the costs of travel to return to their home of residence to briefly reunite with family, friends, and loved ones. Moreover, soldiers whose home of residence is American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands should not be excluded from any R&R program that may be offered. Although other amendments may be offered in support of R&R for our soldiers, it is unclear as to whether language proposed by other members for this same type of funding would extend to soldiers whose home of residence is American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands. While I am confident that it is not the intent of Congress to exclude soldiers from the Insular Areas from the benefits of a reimbursement program, I want to make sure that soldiers serving from American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are afforded the same rights and privileges as every other man and woman serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Again, as a Vietnam veteran, I am painfully aware of the sacrifices that our soldiers are making in defense of this nation. Only last month, one of American Samoa's young sons was killed in Iraq and I accompanied his body home to American Samoa. Like others before him, like more to come, he gave his life so that you and I may live in freedom. While we can never repay the sacrifices being made in our behalf, I do believe we can agree to do right by our soldiers. We can begin by reimbursing service members for the cost of their airfare home to be reunited with their families under the terms of the R&R program. We can also make sure that travel reimbursements are made available to all members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including those from the insular areas. I would like to point out that American Samoans have a long and proud history of supporting the United States. Tutuila's harbor is the deepest in the South Pacific and the port village of Pago Pago was used as a coaling station for U.S. naval ships in the early part of the century and as a support base for U.S. soldiers during WWII. To this day, American Samoa serves as a refueling point for U.S. naval ships and military aircraft. American Samoa also has a per capita enlistment rate in the U.S. military which is as high as any State or U.S. Territory. Our sons and daughters have served in record numbers in every U.S. military engagement from WWII to present operations in our war against terrorists. We have stood by the United States in good times and bad and it is time for the U.S. Congress to now stand with us. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.