Gregorio Sablan

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 493 into the Record.

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 493) recognizing the significant contributions of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life to college campus communities in the United States and around the world.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 109. Many, many families across the United States have had their lives irrevocably changed because of a diagnosis of breast cancer. Many of these families have lost a loved one, a mother or sister or daughter, or even a father, brother, or son, to this devastating disease. The statistics surrounding breast cancer are sobering. One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Though there are 2.5 million survivors in the United States today, many more lives could be saved with the benefit of better, earlier detection and more effective treatment. The problem is just as serious in other nations around the world. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed of all cancers worldwide, with more than 1.3 million diagnoses each year. It is also the leading cause of death among women around the world, with over 465,000 deaths each year. Imagine that for a moment--465,000 children without mothers, fathers without daughters, sisters and brothers without their siblings. And these are people from every walk of life, of every age, and in every corner of the globe. Fortunately for all of us, there are many organizations whose mission is to improve research and education surrounding this devastating disease. Through their efforts, groundbreaking treatments have raised the 5-year survival rate for women with localized breast cancer from 80 percent in the 1950s to 98 percent in 2008. Among these organizations is the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Komen's fundraisers, including the Race for the Cure and the Breast Cancer Three-Day, have raised tens of millions of dollars that will help people around the world improve detection, treatment, and education-- since its inception, Komen alone has invested more than $1.3 billion in such programs. Komen's annual National Race for the Cure will take place this weekend in Washington, D.C.--the 20th such race. More than 50,000 participants, including survivors of breast cancer, family members of patients, and others, will help medical research move forward and benefit many more men and women in the future. Last year, my district even fielded its own team to participate in the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk in Seattle. The ``Saipan Sweet Feet'' team included Bobbi Grizzard, Marian Aldan Pierce, Clarie Kosak, Pam Brown, Rhoda Smith, Roberta Guerrero, Kazuyo Tojo, and Corrine Loprinzi. I hope others will participate in these wonderful events this year. I wish, along with my colleagues, to congratulate the participants in this race and thank them for dedicating their time and money to such a cause, to express my admiration for the strength and courage of breast cancer survivors, to honor the Susan G. Komen foundation for its work, and to offer my heartfelt condolences to those who have lost friends and family members to this disease.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the remarkable men from the Northern Mariana Islands who are presently serving their country in Kuwait. These 78 heroic Army Reservists are members of Echo Company, 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment. The 442nd is well known for bravery under tough conditions, and that attitude is embodied in its motto: ``Go for broke.'' Echo Company is operating under tough conditions. This is the second deployment for this detachment since the U.S. went to war in the Middle East. The company was first sent into combat from August 2004 to February 2006 for 19 months. The current deployment began last August and will end sometime in September after another 14 months. These are tough conditions. These soldiers must leave families behind, and their spouses must do their best on their own while praying for the safe return of their loved ones. And some do not return home. The Northern Marianas has already lost 11 individuals in the combat zone just in this war alone. I have a special connection to Echo Company. I was one of the first volunteers for the 442nd when it was first established in the early 1980s in the Northern Marianas. More so, I know most of these men on a personal basis as family, friend or neighbor. I stand before this body today with the utmost respect and gratitude to individuals from the Northern Marianas and from everywhere in America who bravely serve our Nation and its people. To Echo Company, I say Godspeed and Si Yu'us Ma'a'se.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Thank you. Let me put it this way; I have been told, actually, in my seventh week here in Congress, that, look, you can't catch up 33 years of absence in 7 weeks' time. We are a small island. We have very little resources. I have always said that education is the number one resource we have, and as a member of the Committee on Education and Labor, I continue to forward that agenda for our islands and for our future. But obviously, because we have not had a Member in Congress since we became a United States Commonwealth, we have had a lack of resources. Our island, for example, we just don't have 24-hour water. And not just that, but if you're lucky enough to get 2 to 3 hours of water a day, you can't drink that water anyway, so you use it to wash your clothes and bathe and those kinds of things. Our number one problem is we have major parts of one island in Saipan and the other two islands have absolutely no sewer system. So, yes, we are trying to bring to the attention of Congress and the Federal Government the needs of these islands. We have a set of 14 islands in the Northern Mariana Islands that right now three are inhabited. At one time, seven islands were inhabited, but because of the lack of infrastructure in those islands, the absence of schools, public health and running water and utilities, those people actually uprooted and moved into Saipan. So we have the situation where we are so far removed--as you know, we are 15 time zones away from Washington, D.C. We are so far away, it is now 10 o'clock in the morning tomorrow, and so the time difference is amazing. I would like to also admit that when I came here in January, since then I have been very welcomed by the Members of this Congress and by you, Mr. Chairman. I am so grateful for the hospitality, the courteousness that I was given, the decency and respect with which I am addressed. That just makes me much more convinced that America is truly a Nation of great people and generous people. Thank you.

Mr. SABLAN. Thank you very much. I am very happy to join the chairman of our caucus here before you, Madam Speaker, as part of the celebration of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. On May 1, 2009, President Obama proclaimed May 2009 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands celebrate our heritage and praise those who pass on our history to our children. The people of the Northern Mariana Islands have much to celebrate: our strength and our relationship with the United States. We have two distinct but related people: the Chamorros and the Carolinians. Our culture and language are witness to the evolution and strength of our people. From the over 300-year occupation of the Spanish beginning in the early 1500s, to the purchase of the islands by the Germans in 1899, to the annexation of the islands by Japan before World War II, to becoming a trust territory for 30 years under the United States after the war, the Chamorro and the Carolinian people remain proud of who they were and who they are today. The strength is seen in the eyes of our elders and passed on to generations thereafter. Despite the tragedies that have fallen on our elders and their elders before, our people are very hospitable. We have embraced people from all over the world, not just into our islands, but into our own homes. For instance, we have cultural exchanges between our schoolchildren and other children from other nations who come to the Northern Marianas. Families host and have barbecues for visiting military personnel during their R&R visits, and we have several yearly festivals showcasing the many beautiful faces and cultures of the Marianas. We celebrate the independence of our people as part of our heritage. The people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided the fate of their future after World War II. We chose, as an act of political self- determination, to be a governing commonwealth within the American political system. Just last month on March 24, we celebrated 33 years of our relationship with the United States. Covenant Day is the recognition of the agreement made between the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States and which granted the Northern Mariana Islanders United States citizenship. Where else but in America can an individual who has only been a citizen for 22 years be allowed to be a Member of Congress? While Covenant Day celebrates the union between the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrates the very people who are part of this union. Pacific Islanders contribute much to the United States landscape, including teachers, service in the military, caring for those in need of medical assistance, defending and prosecution under our legal system, and volunteerism in so many ways. And after 33 years, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands can contribute even more now that they have a voice in Congress. The people can become involved in policies that are beneficial to all, including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. A voice in Congress is evidence of independence, but at the same time resonates with a theme of working together, which is exactly who we are. For example, health care reform impacts not only Pacific Islanders on a local level, but affects all people on a national level. Our voice in Congress will seek to protect the people of the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as other people across our Nation. Lastly, our cultural legacy is only as strong as we remember our past. There are not enough pages for me to list each and every person who has contributed to the preservation of our culture and language. In general, I would like to thank the people who have written books about the Northern Mariana Islands, who have taught our history to our children in classrooms, to the organizations that have sponsored debates, contests, and conversations, and the librarians who archive our important documents for future generations. While May has been formally recognized as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, our people celebrate our heritage every day by speaking our native tongue, by reading books of our past, by visiting and paying respect to our elders, by learning from them, and by performing our cultural dances and singing our local music. Madam Speaker, I recommend the following literature about the Northern Mariana Islands for those who are interested: ``Tiempon I Manmofo'na: Ancient Chamorro Culture and History of the Northern Mariana Islands''; ``We Drank Our Tears: Memories of the Battles for Saipan and Tinian as Told by Our Elders''; ``Estreyas Marianas: Chamorro''; Ancient Chamorro Society''; ``An Honorable Accord: The Covenant Between the Northern Mariana Islands and the United States''; ``History of the Northern Mariana Islands''; ``A Tidy Universe of Islands''; and ``Tiempon Aleman: A Look Back at the German Rule of the Northern Mariana Islands, 1899-1914.'' I would like to say in our native tongue, Si Yu'us Ma'ase, Ghilisow, and thank you.

Mr. SABLAN. Thank you for having me.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 338, supporting the goals and ideals of National Community College Month. Community colleges play a vital role in the education of our citizens, and as a member of the Congressional Community College Caucus, I am delighted to have this opportunity to recognize the fine work done by our community colleges. We can all agree on the increasing importance of a college education in today's knowledge-based economy. But many Americans do not have the opportunity to attend a 4-year university. These reasons can be many, and range from cost--an extremely important consideration in the current recession--to academics, family commitments, or distance from home. Often, these individuals turn to community colleges instead, and there they can receive workplace training, a GED, or an associate's degree, or to begin a bachelor's degree. Community colleges often have lower, more affordable tuition costs, locations convenient to many homes, and day as well as evening classes on an extremely broad range of subjects from physics to literature to cuisine. These benefits attract an extremely diverse body of students who can also learn from the life experience of their classmates in a way that is not always possible in higher education. Community colleges also teach important skills which not only allow students to earn a living, but also to contribute to the community at large. Law enforcement officers, fire fighters, nurses, and health care professionals are all educated at our nation's community colleges. Even the high-tech professionals who help shape the future of our technology and our world economy are products of community colleges. In my own district, Northern Marianas College has undertaken the challenge of educating our young people. Over nine hundred students are enrolled at the college, located on a fourteen-acre campus on the island of Saipan. The college offers instruction in Business, Human Performance and Athletics, Languages and Humanities, Nursing, Education, Sciences, Mathematics, Social Sciences, and Fine Arts. I know that Northern Marianas College serves a very important function for its students in helping them achieve the goal of a college education and I believe career and vocational education like that provided at NMC is extremely valuable. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I am proud to celebrate the goals of National Community College Month and encourage Americans to recognize their local community colleges as the important institutions they are.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, last week President Obama signed into law the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which encourages Americans to engage in public service and volunteerism. I was proud to cosponsor the Serve America Act. But I am even prouder to recognize today two nonprofit corporate organizations in the Northern Mariana Islands that already exemplify the spirit of cooperation and community service the act will encourage. These organizations are Beautify CNMI! and The Friends of the Monument. Beautify CNMI! is a coalition of concerned citizens, private groups and government entities united to enhance the natural beauty of the Northern Mariana Islands and to foster pride of place in residents and visitors alike. In their own words, Beautify CNMI! figured the only way to get people to take ownership in our islands was if the government, the private sector, and the community worked together and pooled our resources. Created in 2006, Beautify CNMI! has spent the last 3 years picking up litter, planting trees and painting over graffiti in our communities. They have also restored historic areas such as a World War II-era jail and a lighthouse built at the turn of the last century. Beautify CNMI! also honors individuals and groups who are considered environmental leaders. And the organization supports other community initiatives, such as promoting responsible pet care and working with at-risk youth groups. The Friday before Earth Day this year, Beautify CNMI! coordinated an island-wide cleanup on the island of Saipan with the participation of over 4,100 volunteers, the largest cleanup endeavor ever in the Northern Mariana Islands. I had the pleasure of joining this cleanup during my last work period. The second group I would like to recognize is The Friends of the Monument. The Friends of the Monument was formed to help promote the ideal of creating a national marine monument in the waters surrounding the three northernmost islands of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Mariana Trench, the deepest known place in the world's known oceans, and they were successful. President Bush designated the area as a national marine monument on January 6 of this year. The monument designation was controversial in the Northern Mariana Islands, but whatever one's stance in the controversy, there is no argument that The Friends of the Monument is the model for what a dedicated group of volunteers can accomplish. The Friends of the Monument engaged in countless hours of outreach and education activities to teach the community about the idea of the monument. They created and distributed leaflets, held meetings and conducted classroom presentations. These activities gave the public an opportunity to learn about the proposed monument, to ask questions and to express concerns. Ultimately, The Friends of the Monument were successful in their efforts. These efforts are commendable, no matter what one's view of the monument itself, because they demonstrate what can be done by dedicated members of the public and encourage others in the community to participate in issues that affect them. The Friends of the Monument were featured on NBC Nightly News during green week. They also were recently recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency with an environmental award. I am glad to highlight their efforts here today, and I am very proud to acknowledge their accomplishments.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).

Mr. SABLAN. Does the gentleman from Wisconsin have any other speakers?

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I also yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 337) supporting the observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and for other purposes.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 344) commending the University of Connecticut Huskies for their historic win in the 2009 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Women's Basketball Tournament.

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise, extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 344 into the Record.

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise today to congratulate the University of Connecticut's women's basketball team for their victory in the 2009 NCAA Division I tournament. On April 7, women's basketball fans were treated to an exceptional game as the University of Connecticut defeated the University of Louisville. UConn battled through six ties and seven lead changes on their way to a comfortable 76-54 victory over third-seed Louisville, capping an undefeated 39-0 season for the Huskies. The 22-point victory was the second largest in an NCAA women's basketball championship game, and solidified the Huskies as the only women's team in the NCAA Division I history, men's or women's, to win every game of the season by 10 points or more. Louisville, finishing second to UConn in the Big East Conference Tournament, and regular season as well, had a remarkable season of its own. The Cardinals finished the season 34-5, ranked as the number two team in the Nation. The Cardinals knocked off two number one seeds in their notable run to the NCAA championship game and spent much of the season ranked in the top 10. I want to extend my congratulations to Head Coach Geno Auriemma, who led the Huskies to their sixth national championship during his tenure and was named the Naismith Coach of the Year for the sixth time. Since arriving at UConn in 1985, Coach Auriemma has led the Huskies to 13 seasons with 30 or more wins. Associate Head Coach Chris Dailey and Assistant Coaches Jamelle Elliott and Shea Ralph round out the coaching team. Congratulations are also noted for Tina Charles of Jamaica, New York, and Renee Montgomery of St. Albans, West Virginia. Charles, who scored 25 points and pulled down 19 rebounds in the championship game, was named the most outstanding player of the Final Four. Montgomery received the Honda Award, which designates the Nation's top female athlete in basketball. This remarkable season adds another victory to UConn's storied history in NCAA women's basketball. The University of Connecticut women's basketball program is known for excellence. Almost annually the Huskies are expected to and do serve as legitimate basketball championship contenders. I would like to thank my fellow committee member, Joe Courtney, for bringing this resolution to the floor. Once again, I congratulate the University of Connecticut for their success, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the good gentleman from Wisconsin for supporting House Resolution 344. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I also encourage all my colleagues to support House Resolution 335. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 335) supporting the goals and ideals of National Volunteer Week.

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise, extend and insert extraneous materials on House Resolution 335 into the Record.

Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 335, which supports the ideals and goals of National Volunteer Week. People who volunteer and engage in community service play a vital role in neighborhoods across the country. National Volunteer Week invites all Americans to give back to the community in some form of service. Last week, President Obama signed into law the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. The law recognizes the necessary role volunteerism and service play in our country and creates 175,000 new service opportunities over the next several years. Through four new service corps, the Serve America Act will engage volunteers to work in their communities in the areas of health, education, green work and programs to support veterans and their families. Today, more than 400,000 individuals have volunteered through AmeriCorps, one of the largest national service programs working in local communities across the Nation. Whether it's tutoring children in after-school programs, cleaning up parks or serving food to the homeless, volunteers answer unmet needs by partnering with nonprofit organizations, schools, faith-based and community agencies to volunteer their services in local communities. Amazingly, seniors working as part of the Senior Corps have generated more than 1 billion volunteer service hours. Schools are also working to increase service opportunities in the communities. More than 1 million high school students participate in service-learning programs in their schools. On a national level, volunteers have helped America alleviate some of its most pressing problems. During 9/11, millions of volunteers responded in our country's time of need through their churches, schools and oftentimes as individuals wanting to help their neighbor. More recently, over 80,000 volunteers traveled to Fargo, North Dakota, to fill sandbags, strengthen levees and help flood victims evacuate their homes. When the call is sounded, this Nation's citizens rally together to begin the rebuilding that is needed. National Volunteer Week recognizes the critical role volunteers play in their communities. This week honors their hard work and contributions. I want to thank Congressman Platts for bringing this resolution forward and reminding us of the importance of volunteerism. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SABLAN

Mr. SABLAN. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to acknowledge an accomplished, dedicated group of students from my district. They are from Mount Carmel School on the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, and they're here in Washington participating in the 22nd We the People: The Citizens and the Constitution National Finals. The program is funded by Congress through the Education for Democracy Act and administered by the Center For Civic Education, based in Los Angeles and in Washington. Each year high school students around the Nation take part in a rigorous course of study to prepare themselves for We the People. One thousand one hundred of them earned the right to come to Washington for the finals, which began over the weekend, by competing against other schools in their congressional districts and States. Today the top 10 groups compete in the championship round right here in the Cannon House Office Building. In the competition, students serve as expert witnesses, testifying on constitutional issues as if in a congressional hearing. They are scored on their opening statements and on their answers to follow-up questions. Yesterday I heard these students speak with knowledge and insight about our Constitution and Bill of Rights. They were impressively well versed in the historical and philosophical antecedents of these profound documents, and they were able to field the most complex questions on these issues from panels of State Supreme Court justices, university scholars, attorneys and journalists. The Mount Carmel students earned the right to represent the Northern Mariana Islands by competing against other schools in my congressional district. They succeeded because they worked together and because each one of them gave their individual best for their team. I'd like to recognize them by name. Alfred Acosta, Kevin Bautista, Jalayne Benavente, Keolester Buenpacifico, Armalen Cabreros, Lourence Camacho, Cedie Chan, Augustine Chang, Hazel Doctor, Chiaki Hirosawa, Kevin Kim, Su Yoon Lee, Daniel Macario, Ryan Ortizo, Vanessa Sablan, Keno San Pablo, Jonathan Sanchez, Louise Villagomez, Rita Villagomez, A. Ram Yoo. I'd also like to acknowledge their teacher, Mr. Rosiky Camacho, their attorney coaches Joaqin Deleon Guerrero Torres, Judy Deleon Guerrero Torres, Vince Deleon Guerrero Torres and their coordinator Mr. Alfred Ada. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge an accomplished and dedicated group of students from my district. They are from Mount Carmel School on the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands; and they are here in Washington participating in the 22nd We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution National Finals. The program is funded by Congress through the Education for Democracy Act and administered by the Center for Civic Education, based in Los Angeles and Washington. Each year high school students around the Nation take part in a rigorous course of study to prepare themselves for We the People. 1,100 of them earn the right to come to Washington for the finals, which began over the weekend, by competing against other schools in their congressional district and States. Today, the top 10 groups compete in the Championship Round right here in the Cannon House Office Building. At the closing banquet this evening Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy will be honored with the 2009 Dale E. Kildee Civitas Award for his contributions to the field of civic education. In the competition students serve as expert witnesses testifying on constitutional issues as if at a Congressional hearing. They are scored on their opening statements and on their answers to follow-up questions. Yesterday, I heard these Mt. Carmel students speak with knowledge and insight about our Constitution and Bill of Rights. They were impressively well-versed in the historical and philosophical antecedents of these profound documents. And they were able to field the most complex questions on these issues from panels of State Supreme Court Justices, university scholars, attorneys, and journalists. The Mt. Carmel students earned the right to represent the Northern Mariana Islands by competing against other schools in my congressional district on February 14. They succeeded because they worked together and because each of them gave their individual best for their team. I'd like to recognize them by name: Alfred Acosta Kevin Bautista Jalayne Benavente Keolester Buenpacifico Armalen Cabreros Lourence Camacho Cedie Chan Augustine Chang Hazel Doctor Chiaki Hirosawa Kevin Kim Su Yoon (Karen) Lee Daniel Macario Ryan Ortizo Vanessa Sablan Keno San Pablo Jonathan Sanchez Louise Villagomez Rita Villagomez A. Ram Yoo I'd also like to acknowledge their teacher Mr. Rosiky Camacho; their attorney-coaches Joaquin Dlg. Torres, Judy Dlg. Torres, and Vince Dlg. Torres; and their coordinator Mr. Alfred Ada.