Eni Faleomavaega

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 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 want to commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, for bringing this legislation to the floor. I do want to state that the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the ranking Democrat of the committee, is necessarily not here with us because of transportation problems from his home district. Mr. Speaker, this bill marks the first time in 19 years that the Committee on the Judiciary has sought to reauthorize the Department of Justice. In putting this legislation together, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and I principally relied on the recommendations of the Department of Justice. It was a rare opportunity for bipartisan participation, and the bill was voted on out of committee by voice vote. The responsibilities of the Department of Justice are wide-ranging and the department, by and large, has done a good job in enforcing laws to protect American citizens. Not only does the department have the responsibilities of apprehending, prosecuting, and incarcerating criminal offenders, it must also uphold the civil rights of all Americans, enforce the laws to protect the environment, ensure competition of business in the private sector by fighting potential monopolies, fight against fraud, terrorism, and drug trafficking, and enforce the immigration and naturalization laws. Mr. Speaker, the department has been extremely successful in reducing the incidence of violent crime, particularly in the area of hate crimes, in reducing juvenile violence, and enforcing our laws at the border to prevent migrant trafficking. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is an important piece of legislation, and certainly deserves the full support of the Members of this House. Again, I thank the chairman, the gentleman from Illinois, for his leadership on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3303. Mr. Speaker, yield 6 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).

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 am proud to support, H.R. 3069, the Advisory Council on California Indian Policy Extension Act of 1977. This bill, introduced by George Miller, the Senior Democrat on the Resources Committee, extends the life of the Advisory Council for an additional two years. The Advisory Council was created by legislation sponsored by Congressman Miller in the 102nd Congress. The Council was created to specifically provide Congress with a report setting forth recommendations for remedial measures to address the special problems facing California Indians and Indian tribes. California Indians have long suffered the effects of broken treaties and the ill-conceived policy of termination and are struggling to find ways to improve education, health care, economic development, and housing needs. Many of these problems are not solvable overnight. They will require cooperation and understanding from the federal government, the state, and between the tribes themselves. To this end, Congress created the Advisory Council in 1992 to help Congress sort through the complex web of problems unique to California Indians. The Council fulfilled its task in 1997 and provided us with its report and recommendations. These recommendations deal with land consolidation, restoration of tribes, provision of health, education, and social services, and responsibility to urban Indians. Because the Council has acquired considerable expertise on these issues in the past four years, the bill extends its existence an additional two years so that the Council will be able to guide Congress in the implementation of the report's recommendations. This makes good sense. We should avail ourselves of the Council's great knowledge that it has accumulated over the past six years. Their expertise should prove of invaluable assistance in helping us draft legislation to carry forward the recommendations contained in their report. They have lived up to their end of the bargain. Now it's time for us to live up to ours. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not give special recognition to our Democratic committee staff for their hard work and professionalism in the development of this legislation as it was authored by our senior ranking Democrat, the gentleman from California Mr. Miller. I want to thank our minority staff counsel Mr. Chris Stearns for the excellent work he has done on this bill, and also Ms. Jessica Rae Alcorn. Both native Americans. Mr. Stearns is a member of the Navajo Nation and a graduate of Cornell University Law School; Ms. Alcorn is a member of the Assiniboime Sioux Nation, a graduate of Brigham Young University Campus in Hawaii and plans to attend law school this fall. Mr. Speaker, as I have always said to my colleagues in the years past and even now--the salvation of Native American tribes throughout American lies in education. Mr. Stearns and Ms. Alcorn are the finest examples of the young and upcoming generation of the Native Americans who I am confident will contribute significantly to the needs of Native Americans throughout America, and to the needs of our nation. Again I thank the gentleman from California for his leadership and foresight for activation of this Advisory Council that is sorely needed to address the needs of some 100 native American tribes that reside in California. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Miller).

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, I rise in support of the legislation sponsored by the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Smith), my good friend. The bill would authorize the U.S. Forest Service to sell its headquarters in Medford, Oregon, and dedicate the proceeds to expansion of offices currently occupied by the Bureau of Land Management. The expanded offices will provide a new home for the Forest Service. Mr. Speaker, given the land management challenges facing both of these agencies, it makes sense to encourage coordination by having them located in joint offices. The Forest Service has requested the authority set in this bill and supports its enactment. Mr. Speaker, I thank the good gentleman from Oregon for his sponsorship of this bill and for bringing this matter to the attention of the House. My good friend also serves as the chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and as a senior member of this committee as well. I also want to thank the ranking member of our subcommittee, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey), for his assistance in development of this bill; and our professional staff counsel, Mr. Jeff Petrich, for his professional contributions in the development of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I too am honored to speak on H.R. 3156 which authorizes the presentation a Congressional Gold Medal to the President of South Africa, President Nelson Mandela. Mr. Speaker, I recall once watching the movie Dances With Wolves, and Kevin Costner was this young army lieutenant who learned to live with the Sioux Nation. In this one particular scene the Indian medicine man was walking along the river when this Indian chief turned to Mr. Costner and said that his whole life's ambition was to become a true human being. To my colleagues and friends, Nelson Mandela truly fits the description of this Indian chief's life ambition. He was a true human being. After being tortured and imprisoned for some 30 years, this man holds no sense of bitterness or malice against his enemies. Here is a man, Mr. Speaker, and he truly deserves this award.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, on that, I demand the yeas and nays.

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters).

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I thank the gentleman.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my good friend, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) if I could indulge in his acceptance of my request for 2 additional minutes from his time.

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from the U.S. Virgin Islands (Ms. Christian-Green).

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I certainly want to compliment the gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon) for his deep understanding of the relationship existing between our country and Taiwan, and certainly like to say for the record I think the Clinton administration took appropriate action in showing our friends in China that two naval embattled carrier groups was sufficient to show that we also meant business. So I think along those lines, Mr. Speaker, I think the administration did the appropriate thing. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), a distinguished member of the Committee on International Relations.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 270, which acknowledges Taiwan's desire to play a positive role in the Asian financial crisis and affirms American support for peace and stability on the Taiwan Strait and security for Taiwan's democracy. I commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) the author of the resolution and the chairman of the Committee on International Relations, also the gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon) the chairman of the Committee on Rules, and other colleagues that have worked toward adoption of this important measure. I am proud to join our colleagues in support of this legislation. Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to also commend the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific for his leadership and support of this measure. Mr. Speaker, the people of Taiwan should be congratulated for the outstanding accomplishments of this thriving and prosperous democracy of 22 million people. Taiwan is one of the world's most compelling economic success stories, rising from the destruction of World War II to become a global trading power with foreign exchange reserves today second only to Japan. Despite the financial crisis that has crippled many countries in Asia, Taiwan has shown great resilience. While South Korea, Indonesia, Japan and other neighbors have stagnant economies, Taiwan's gross domestic product is projected to increase by 6 percent in 1998. This maintains the momentum of the past three decades, where Taiwan's GDP growth averaged 9 percent. Taiwan's stock market has also survived very well with market capitalization of some $300 billion. Taiwan's stock market has surpassed Hong Kong's to rank second only to Japan's stock market in Asia. Mr. Speaker, in light of Taiwan's relative prosperity, her offer to extend financial assistance to her Asian neighbors undergoing financial turmoil is welcome and highly commendable. Whether Taiwan's assistance be provided through APEC or another forum, the United States should recognize and support Taiwan's significant efforts to promote economic stability in the Asian Pacific region. Taiwan must also be commended its significant progress towards democratization with free and fair elections being held at the local and national levels. This movement came to full bloom in 1996 with Taiwan's first Presidential elections. The historic elections were conducted democratically and peacefully despite the threats and provocations issued by the People's Republic of China. In the spring of 1996, I supported the actions taken by the Clinton administration in sending the Nimitz and the Independence carrier groups to the Taiwan Strait to maintain peace. China's missile tests and threatened use of force contravened China's commitment under the 1979 and 1982 joint communiques to resolve Taiwan's status by peaceful means. The joint communiques along with the Taiwan's Relations Act are the foundation of our One China policy which fundamentally stresses that force should not be used in resolution of the Taiwan question. Clearly it is in the interests of the United States and all parties that the obligation be honored. Mr. Speaker, in light of our understanding of the One China policy and its support of the peaceful resolution of the Taiwan Strait issue, I will join our colleagues in urging that the President raise this matter in his summit meeting with Chinese President Jiang Zemin. I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to support it and to adopt it. 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. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, Senate bill 423 is a noncontroversial measure, passed by the Senate last year, that would extend for 3 years the legislative authority for the Board of Regents of Gunston Hall to establish a memorial to George Mason. Public law 101-358 authorized the Board of Regents of Gunston Hall to establish a memorial to George Mason, who is widely recognized for his role in events surrounding the drafting of the U.S. Constitution and its first 10 amendments known as the Bill of Rights. Plans for the memorial provide for its location on Federal land in the district of Columbia, near the 14th Street Bridge, which was previously named in his honor. A 3-year extension of the memorial authorization is necessary in order to allow planning and fund-raising to be brought to a successful conclusion. Senate bill 423 was favorably reported from the committee on Resources last October, without amendment. The bill does have the support of the administration. I ask my colleagues to support this legislation. 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.)