Gregorio Sablan

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3689) to provide for an extension of the legislative authority of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. to establish a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Visitor Center, and for other purposes.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, again I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 822. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 822, which recognizes the important role Christopher Columbus played in the history of the United States. The resolution also underlines the overall importance of learning about our history. On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus and his 90 crew members arrived in the Americas aboard his famous three-ship fleet. The voyage, which lasted nearly 10 weeks, began in Spain and ended on the Bahamian island of Guanahani. Credited with discovering the new world, Columbus is a controversial figure whose quest to find new trade routes to Asia brought him to our shores. Americans first celebrated Columbus Day on October 12, 1792, to commemorate the 300th anniversary of his landing. The first official Columbus Day holiday, however, was not celebrated until after the 400th anniversary, when President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation in 1892. Today, tributes and memorial celebrations in honor of Christopher Columbus take place across the Nation. This resolution stresses the importance of understanding the importance of Christopher Columbus' voyage, our broader history, and a call for students to learn about our Nation's heritage. The importance of an educated and active citizenship cannot be overstated. Without a basic civic education, it is less likely that today's students will vote or engage in active citizenship as adults. Civic education raises awareness and responsibility in our students. Learning about our history is important not only for its academic aspects, but also for the way in which it improves our democracy. I want to express my support for this resolution and encourage young people to learn about how history affects their everyday lives. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I thank Representative Thompson for bringing it to the floor. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 822 into the Record.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 822) expressing support for students to learn about Christopher Columbus.

Mr. SABLAN

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

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 768, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize at this time the author of the resolution, the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy) for as much time as she may consume.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 768, which expresses support for National Work and Family Month. Currently, most people work, and balancing work and family is particularly challenging for these workers. This is particularly true for working women who comprise over one half of the workforce and are more likely than men to be primary caregivers of children or other family members. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women spend about 6.3 hours a day caring for children under the age of 13, while men spend 4.1 hours. In addition, women feel more societal pressure than men to stay home with a child or elderly parent who requires care. There is substantial evidence that family-friendly policies help parents balance work and family, improve employers' bottom line, and have beneficial effects on children. A 2008 report by the Families and Work Institute found that workers who are able to balance work and family are more highly engaged in their work and less likely to look for a new job in the next year. They also enjoy better overall health, better mental health and lower levels of stress. In fact, family-friendly policies might be the keys to this country's prosperity. The Government Accountability Office has published a study on the practices of other countries and found that policies such as paid leave help workers, especially women, enter and remain in the workforce. Finding a good balance between work and family is important to most people. A 2009 survey of students found that two-thirds of respondents cited a healthy work-life balance was an important career goal. In addition, research by the Radcliff Public Policy Center found that women in their 20s, 30s and 40s and men in their 20s and 30s identified the most important job characteristic to be a job schedule that allows them to spend time with their families. A majority of workers age 53 and older attribute their success as an employee to job flexibility, which contributes to an overall higher quality of life. By the same token, lack of job flexibility for parents negatively affects child health because they are taken to their doctor less often and do not receive adequate early care. Studies have found that family rituals such as sitting down to dinner together and sharing activities and holidays positively influence children, children's health and development. Due to the aging of the baby boomers, the Department of Health and Human Services estimates that the number of unpaid caregivers will reach 37 million by 2050, up 85 percent from 2000. I encourage my colleagues to support designating October as National Work and Family Month in order to shine a light on the beneficial effects of balancing work and family. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 768 into the Record.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1035, the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Amendments Act of 2009, as amended. Specifically Title II, which consists of the full text of S-1023, the Travel Promotion Act of 2009. Tourism is the main driver of the economy of the Northern Mariana Islands and for the other U.S. Territories. S- 1023 would establish the Corporation for Travel Promotion (Corporation) and the Travel Promotion Fund, both of which I support, and recognizes the need for the United States government to have an active role in promoting tourism to the U.S. In addition, it allows the collection of an entry fee through 2014 for foreign visitors to the U.S., including the Territories. However, S-1023 as currently written does not recognize the Territories, even though the majority of our visitors are foreign visitors and will be paying the assessed fee. Like a taxpayer who pays into a system, you should expect to get some benefit, and this is no different. I appreciate the gentlelady from Guam and Representative Delahunt for their colloquy in ensuring that the intent of this Congress in S-1023 is to include the Territories and ensure they receive the full benefits of the activities of the Corporation under this important legislation. Tourism is one of the major industries in our country and in the Northern Mariana and the Territories, it is our economic lifeline and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, remaining mindful of the heritage and tradition inherited from past generations is important to my people. Equally important is that we pass on these traditions to the generations that come after. For that reason, I rise today in recognition of Marianas Cultural Heritage Month from September 16 to October 12, 2009. During this period, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands are actively demonstrating such local traditions as respect for our elders, indigenous methods for healing, the preparation of local foods, the wearing of traditional attire, the practice of sharing goods among neighbors and, of course, the remarkable navigational skills of our people, epitomized by Chief Aghurubw. By demonstrating these traditions, we impart our knowledge of the legends and lore of our forefathers to future generations so they, in turn, will be able to transmit the unique culture and heritage of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands. I encourage my colleagues to learn about us and to appreciate the differences that make us unique and the commonalities that bind us.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. I would like to thank the gentleman from Ohio for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, people in the Pacific Islands may be separated by thousands of miles, but we all feel that we are part of one family. The tragedy that is unfolding now in American Samoa is not remote to us in the Northern Mariana Islands. We feel the horror and the pain, as if it were happening to us. I am not speaking metaphorically. Some in my own family have relatives from American Samoa and our islands are home to many American Samoans. They are school principals. They are program administrators. They are utility engineers. They are neighbors. They are friends. They are family. And they fill a vital and much-appreciated role in the life of the Northern Mariana Islands. So today we are terribly, terribly saddened by the loss of life in American Samoa, by the images of homes washed away, by the knowledge that it will not be days or months but truly years before the people and life of American Samoa can be said to be recovered. I come to the floor today hoping to raise the awareness of this House to the challenges our fellow Pacific Islanders and fellow Americans now face in American Samoa, and I hope that this House and the Federal Government as a whole will respond as Americans traditionally respond when community in our Nation is struck by natural disaster, with every possible aid and assistance to help American Samoans rebuild. I placed a call late yesterday afternoon to our colleague and friend, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, just when this tragedy was taking place. He and his staff were already on the phone calling Federal and territorial offices to respond to this horrible tragedy. He is now on his way to American Samoa to do what he has to do for his people and the islands. I want to commend President Obama, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, and the new Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs, Anthony Babauta, who have already responded with the appropriate speed. Even as the earthquake struck yesterday and the series of tidal waves began to sweep across the heavily populated coastal areas of American Samoa, the Interior Department was keeping the Speaker's Office and the rest of this House informed of events. The President has promptly issued a disaster declaration, and the Federal Emergency Management Administration is taking all appropriate response actions. The Coast Guard is on hand, and other elements of the U.S. military are assisting in bringing personnel and supplies as quickly as they can to American Samoa. But the distances to cover are vast. The logistical difficulties are very great. A disaster of this magnitude only serves to highlight the particular vulnerability of islands to natural disasters and, indeed, to any disruption to the normal day-to-day life. Island communities, because of their isolation, do not have the same resilience that communities on the continent take for granted. The people of American Samoa cannot drive away from the devastation to seek shelter with friends and families in other parts of the United States. There are but a few air flights a week in and out of Pago Pago, and the cost is prohibitive for a community with income levels way below the national average. FEMA cannot drive in with trailers to provide emergency housing, or tarps and tents to provide temporary shelter. There are no highways across the ocean. Power plants are stand-alone, not connected to some continental network. Fuel supplies are not replenished by pipeline but depend on long-distance tankers. Food stocks on-island are limited. Few people can afford to keep much in reserve. And now the thin line of supply for food is also no doubt disrupted. Mr. Speaker, I hope I have made the point. Americans in American Samoa need the help of the rest of America. In the days of sorrow ahead for American Samoa, throughout the long days of recovery American Samoa now faces, I urge my colleagues to open their hearts and support every effort to give comfort and aid to a people who are truly in need.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 163, which designates September 23, 2009, as ``National Job Corps Day.'' Across the nation, thousands of youth are participating in programs that bring positive change to their communities, to their peers, and to themselves. Job Corps volunteers earn money to support themselves and their families, work towards high school diplomas, improve their own literacy, learn valuable new job skills, and secure employment or military commissions. But volunteers like the young people in Job Corps can affect members of their community in ways that can last a lifetime. When I was growing up in the Northern Mariana Islands, I strengthened my English skills by talking with and learning from Peace Corps volunteers. One of those Corps members gave me my first book of English Literature. These dedicated young volunteers, like the young people in Job Corps, make an enormous difference in the lives of so many. Even in places like the Northern Marianas, eight thousand miles away from Washington, their help is needed, and where they have been, their presence is still remembered and deeply appreciated. I congratulate the Job Corps program on its 45th anniversary, and wish it many more to come. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I have been explaining the issue of health care reform in the United States territories. Here is the problem: Reform is sorely needed for the American citizens living in the territories, but the bills currently before this House deny us that reform. Under these bills, we will be required to purchase health insurance, but we will not be eligible for the affordability credits that help pay for it, even though more than 40 percent of those in the Northern Mariana Islands live below the poverty level. CHIP programs will be brought to an end, but without an exchange or public option in the territories, thousands of children will lose coverage. Our Medicaid program will remain criminally underfunded. Madam Speaker, for health insurance reform to exclude some Americans simply because of geography is wrong. It is discriminatory. And until it is remedied, my colleagues should know this ``reform'' leaves behind many of those who need it the very most.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1080, the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2009. This act provides much-needed, new tools to law enforcement to protect our fisheries and other marine resources and increases the penalties for environmental crimes. Unfortunately, we continue to see illegal fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around the Mariana Islands. Just last month NOAA and the coast guard apprehended a Taiwanese vessel illegally fishing in the EEZ of the Mariana Islands with ten tons of shark on board. The owner was fined $500,000 dollars, but only had to pay $200,000 now. After three years, if the owner can show an inability to pay the remaining $300,000, NOAA may waive the fine. More amazing, the owner was allowed to keep the illegal catch. This is neither a punishment nor a deterrent. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairwoman Bordallo for her extraordinary leadership on this legislation and ensuring our fisheries and marine resources are protected. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1080. Let's send a strong message to high seas criminals that their actions will have real consequences. And let's help our enforcement personnel with the tools they need to do their jobs.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. I wish to thank Chairman Miller for his leadership on this bill, and express my thanks to the staff as well. Madam Chair, the financial resources of local governments and college and university scholarship funds are quickly dwindling. I am encouraged that this Congress is working to ensure access to student grants and loans at a time when many families, including those in my district in the Northern Mariana Islands, are struggling to make ends meet. The changes made by H.R. 3221 will mean that even more students will get the opportunity to pursue higher education. This legislation will raise the annual maximum Pell grant to unprecedented levels and ensure that these grants will continue to increase with the cost of tuition. It will open up an additional $4 million for Pell grants in the Northern Marianas alone. It will make investments in financial aid that will benefit students from every district, no matter where they go to college. Increased funding to minority-serving institutions, including those with large populations of Pacific Islanders, will ensure that our students from the Northern Marianas are cared for and supported, both socially and academically, when they are so far away from their home. Three quarters of a million dollars will be available in the Northern Marianas for programs that encourage students to stay in school and make sure they succeed. And money will also be dedicated to community colleges, like Northern Marianas College, to help them finance new projects and cover existing needs. Higher education is truly the investment of a lifetime--it creates opportunities and opens doors that will benefit our students and families far into the future. I applaud this legislation.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, last time I spoke, I pointed out that the health care reform bills currently being debated in the House and Senate do not include the United States territories. Today, I would like to discuss why these reforms are needed just as much, or more, in my district as in any other part of the United States. There are only 80,000 people in my district in the Northern Mariana Islands, but the health care infrastructure there is struggling. There is only one surgeon for all three of the populated islands. Common equipment that is used to save lives every day across the Nation, like a hyperbaric chamber or a heart catheterization lab, is not available. Funding at the Commonwealth Health Center, the only hospital, is so strained that upfront payment is required before patients even see a doctor. My constituents are proud Americans who honor and serve their country, so how can I explain to them that these sweeping reforms they have heard so much about will only leave them behind?

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to again express my support for this resolution, and I ask my colleagues to vote in favor of the bill.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the sponsor of this bill, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre), for 5 minutes. (Mr. McINTYRE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 6, which recognizes the immeasurable contributions coaches make in the lives of children who participate in organized sports. This week, our Nation will honor adults who volunteer their time to coach our Nation's young with National Coaches Appreciation Week. Approximately 42 million American children participate in organized sports each year. Youth sports, along with coaches, help fight childhood obesity, increase player self-esteem, develop leadership skills, and create opportunities for children to explore their passion. Participation in sports also develops discipline and fosters positive peer bonding, which helps keep students engaged in school. Because of their involvement with sports, many young athletes develop a lifelong commitment to exercise and well-being. The benefits of sports participation cannot be overstated. High school students who participate in athletics are more likely to have a healthy mind and body. Specifically, girls who play sports have better grades and are more likely to graduate compared to girls who do not participate in athletic activities. The risk of breast cancer, osteoporosis and obesity are also reduced with as few as 4 hours of exercise a week. In addition to the many physical benefits of youth sports, coaches help athletes overcome personal challenges. The presence of a coach helps keep students engaged and provides alterative support systems that can help children stay away from mischief. To acknowledge some of the dedication and hard work our youth sports coaches offer to children, the National Alliance for Youth Sports created a Coach of the Year award. This is a very prestigious national award that is given to an individual who is committed to the development of children. Last year's winner, Clarence McQueen, demonstrated his commitment to children by coaching basketball, baseball and flag football while teaching the benefits of teamwork, trust and hard work. Today, more than 20 million children in the United States lack the opportunity to participate in organized sports due, in part, to the lack of available coaches. We must continue to encourage adults to volunteer and commit time to youth sports, as this resolution suggests. Mr. Speaker, once again I want to express my support for this resolution, and I thank Representative McIntyre for bringing this bill forward. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 6 into the Record.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 737, which encourages the establishment of the week of September 20 as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week. Hispanic-Serving Institutions are degree-granting institutions with full-time equivalent enrollment that are at least 25 percent Hispanic. In 1990, there were only 137 recognized Hispanic- Serving Institutions. Today, there are 268 such institutions, educating more than half of all Hispanic college and university students in the Nation. Hispanic Americans face multiple obstacles in access and completion of higher education. While Hispanic high-school graduates are more likely than their white peers to go on to college, they are less likely to complete their bachelor's degrees because of issues linked to poverty, immigration, and enrollment status. Hispanic-Serving Institutions play a crucial role in addressing these issues and obstacles while remaining committed to educating underserved students across the country. Working to increase enrollment and retention, Hispanic-Serving Institutions have created many innovative programs. At El Camino College in California, their ``First Year Experience'' class has rates 10 to 30 percent higher than the rest of the student body. The program provides a learning community through linked classes and a team of instructors and counselors who work together to increase student success. At the University of Texas, El Paso, deep relationships with the surrounding K-12 community schools have helped bridge a path for students to obtain a higher education and be prepared for college-level work. Hispanic-Serving Institutions continue to produce extremely accomplished members of our society. Their alumni include Members of Congress and some of the President's closest advisors in his Cabinet. Lastly, it is important to note that September is Hispanic Heritage Month. This month celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of Hispanics in the United States while honoring the Hispanic culture in our country. It is appropriate that we include Hispanic-Serving Institutions in this honor. I thank Representative Grijalva for his leadership in bringing this important resolution forward. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this important resolution and join me in my commendation of our country's Hispanic-Serving Institutions. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 737 into the record.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 737) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week should be established.