[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 443 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 443

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with regard to the 
 centennial of the raising of the United States flag in American Samoa.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 16, 2000

 Mr. Faleomavaega (for himself, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. George Miller 
of California, Mr. Doolittle, Mr. John, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Ortiz, and 
   Mr. Romero-Barcelo) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                 referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with regard to the 
 centennial of the raising of the United States flag in American Samoa.

Whereas the people of American Samoa have inhabited Tutuila and the Manu'a 
        Islands for at least 4,000 years and developed a unique and autonomous 
        seafaring and agrarian culture, governing themselves through their own 
        form of government;
Whereas in 1722, Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen became the first European to 
        sight--but not land on--the shores of the Samoan Islands, islands which 
        remained isolated for another 46 years because Roggeveen miscalculated 
        their location;
Whereas in 1768, French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville, the second 
        European to sight the Samoan islands, became so impressed with the 
        sailing skills of the natives he named the islands ``L'Archipel des 
        Navigateurs,'' and for generations thereafter the entire Samoan island 
        group was known to the Western World as the ``Navigator Islands'';
Whereas in 1787, Frenchman Jean Francois La Perouse landed on the shores of 
        these islands and thus began the ``opening'' of Samoa to the West, with 
        American whalers as the principal group to engage the people of Samoa in 
        trade and commerce, followed from 1830 on by English missionaries;
Whereas in 1839, as part of a congressionally authorized trip to the Pacific, 
        United States Navy commander Charles Wilkes visited the island of 
        Tutuila and later reported favorably in support of establishing a 
        structured relationship between the island and the United States;
Whereas on March 2, 1872, Richard Meade, commander of the U.S.S. Narragansett, 
        visited Pago Pago, and, on his own responsibility, made an agreement 
        with High Chief Mauga entitled ``Commercial Regulations, etc.,'' which 
        was submitted to, but never ratified by, the Senate;
Whereas on February 13, 1878, a ``treaty of friendship and commerce with the 
        people of Samoa'' was proclaimed ratified;
Whereas on May 21, 1890, a treaty between the United States, Germany, and Great 
        Britain, and assented to by the Samoan Government, ``to provide for the 
        security of the life, property and trade of the citizens and subjects of 
        their respective Governments residing in, or having commercial relations 
        with the Islands of Samoa,'' was proclaimed ratified;
Whereas the treaties of 1878 and 1890 were annulled by a treaty of December 2, 
        1899, between the United States, Germany, and Great Britain;
Whereas on April 17, 1900, the traditional chiefs of the South Pacific Islands 
        of Tutuila and Aunu'u agreed to become a part of the United States, and 
        the United States flag was raised on what is now known as the United 
        States Territory of American Samoa;
Whereas since that time, the residents of American Samoa have been proud of 
        their affiliation with this great Nation and have demonstrated their 
        loyalty and patriotism in countless ways;
Whereas April 17 is known as Flag Day in American Samoa and is the biggest 
        holiday in the territory, and is celebrated not only in American Samoa, 
        but throughout the United States wherever there is a sizable Samoan 
        community;
Whereas American Samoans in Hawaii, California, Nevada, Utah, Alaska, 
        Washington, and other parts of the United States pause each year on this 
        important date to celebrate this monumental occasion in American Samoa's 
        history;
Whereas the per capita rate of enlistment in the Armed Forces is as high for 
        American Samoa as for any State or territory, with hundreds of American 
        Samoans enlisting annually;
Whereas for decades American Samoa served as a Naval coaling station for United 
        States ships in the Pacific, providing the Nation with what is commonly 
        referred to as the best deep-water harbor in the entire Pacific--a 
        harbor where American ships are protected from severe and sudden 
        tropical storms by natural, high, sloping mountains--a harbor which, in 
        the Nation's youth, served as a critical and crucial refueling and 
        replenishing port for military and commercial interests, enabling the 
        United States to pursue its foreign and commercial policies, 
        logistically unrestrained, throughout the Asian Pacific region;
Whereas during World War II, American Samoa was the staging point for 30,000 
        United States Marines involved in the Pacific theater, with American 
        Samoans serving both as hosts and as fellow soldiers to these Marines 
        via the revered Fita Fita Guard;
Whereas American Samoa was the first land astronauts from numerous Apollo 
        missions came to upon returning to Earth--including astronauts from 
        Apollo 10, Apollo 12, Apollo 13, Apollo 14, and Apollo 17;
Whereas American Samoa produces more National Football League players per capita 
        than any other State or territory of the United States, with 
        approximately 18 Samoans currently playing professionally;
Whereas April 17, 2000, will mark the 100th anniversary of American Samoa 
        joining in political, military, and economic union with the United 
        States;
Whereas local government leaders in American Samoa have been preparing for this 
        centennial celebration for the last three years; and
Whereas although 100 years have elapsed since the formation of this mutually 
        beneficial relationship, American Samoans today--as did their forebears 
        in 1900--remain deeply thankful and appreciative of the benefits they 
        have received and continue to receive as a result of the unique 
        relationship American Samoa shares with this great Republic, and they 
        are proud that in return for the benefits received under this 
        relationship, they actively contribute economically, militarily, and 
        culturally to the health and well-being of this great Nation: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the historical significance of the 
        centennial of the raising of the American flag over the United 
        States Territory of American Samoa;
            (2) acknowledges 100 years of American Samoa's loyalty and 
        service to the United States; and
            (3) reaffirms its commitment to the United States citizens 
        and nationals of American Samoa for improved self-governance, 
        economic development, and the expansion of domestic commerce, 
        consistent with the desires of the people of American Samoa.
                                 <all>