[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 15 (Tuesday, February 22, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         SENSE OF CONGRESS WITH RESPECT TO SOUTH PACIFIC REGION

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 180) expressing the sense of 
the Congress with respect to the South Pacific region, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 180

       Whereas the United States has strong and enduring economic, 
     political, and strategic ties with the South Pacific region, 
     which are integral to the achievement of a New Pacific 
     Community;
       Whereas the countries of the region play a constructive 
     international role, were supportive of the United States 
     throughout the Cold War and continue to support its role in 
     ensuring regional stability and security, and share a 
     commitment to democratic values, free-markets, and human 
     rights;
       Whereas the United States is geographically and 
     historically a member of the Pacific community and has 
     unique relationships with, and responsibilities to, its 
     Pacific Island territories, freely associated states, and 
     former territories;
       Whereas the United States has significant and expanding 
     commercial interests in the South Pacific and enjoys a 
     substantial trade surplus with countries of the region, and 
     the promotion of commercial links between the United States 
     and countries of the region is welcomed as providing a 
     necessary foundation for future economic well-being;
       Whereas the region's fisheries resources are of vital 
     importance to the economic well-being of Pacific Island 
     countries and have provided lucrative commercial 
     opportunities for the United States fishing industry, and the 
     effective management of these resources and the continued 
     functioning of the South Pacific Fisheries Treaty are 
     essential;
       Whereas the United States has been welcomed as a member of 
     South Pacific regional organizations, including the South 
     Pacific Commission and the South Pacific Regional 
     Environmental Program, and as a dialogue partner of the South 
     Pacific Forum;
       Whereas environmental issues can bear directly on the 
     economic and physical security of countries in the South 
     Pacific region, have the potential to effect the well-being 
     of United States citizens in the Pacific region, and can only 
     be dealt with effectively at the regional and global level;
       Whereas peoples of the South Pacific have actively 
     contributed to the development of a peaceful international 
     community through their constructive participation in 
     international forums, including the United Nations and its 
     peacekeeping operations, and through support for the South 
     Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, the Treaty on the Non-
     Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and the Chemical Weapons 
     Convention;
       Whereas United States leadership in extending its nuclear 
     testing moratorium is warmly welcomed by countries of the 
     South Pacific, and countries of the South Pacific have shown 
     understanding for United States efforts to dispose of its 
     chemical weapons stockpile while emphasizing the importance 
     of the United States commitment to close the Johnston Atoll 
     Chemical Agent Destruction System when the current program of 
     chemical weapons and agent destruction is completed;
       Whereas there has been only one Heads-of-Government summit 
     involving the President of the United States and Pacific 
     Island leaders, and there is considerable value in dialogue 
     at a senior political level with all countries of the region;
       Whereas the United States has reduced its diplomatic 
     presence in the South Pacific to a minimum, the Agency for 
     International Development is closing posts in the region, and 
     the current very modest program of United States foreign 
     assistance to Pacific Island countries may be reduced; and
       Whereas the United States has an opportunity to bolster its 
     links with the Pacific Island countries through the 
     negotiation of a Joint Declaration of Cooperation: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) it is in the national interest for the United States to 
     remain actively engaged in the South Pacific region as a 
     means of supporting the important United States commercial 
     and strategic interests, and to encourage the consolidation 
     of democratic values;
       (2) the United States should encourage economic, trade, and 
     investment relationships with the countries of the South 
     Pacific, in particular through the Joint Commercial 
     Commission and its working group, and through other Asia/
     Pacific regional forums;
       (3) the United States should seek to maintain its 
     diplomatic presence in the South Pacific region;
       (4) notwithstanding current fiscal constraints, the 
     executive branch, particularly the Department of State, 
     should work actively with the Congress to continue the very 
     modest levels of foreign assistance provided to the region 
     and to encourage the active participation in the region of 
     other international donors;
       (5) the United States has interests in preserving the 
     natural resources and biodiversity of the South Pacific 
     region, and is uniquely positioned to promote sustainable 
     development through active participation in the South Pacific 
     Regional Environmental Program and the United Nations Global 
     Conference for the Sustainable Development of Small Island 
     States and through implementation of the Biodiversity and 
     Climate Conventions;
       (6) the United States should cooperate closely with 
     regional governments to strengthen sustainable management 
     principles and practices as they apply to the region's 
     fisheries resources;
       (7) the United States should avail itself of the 
     opportunity for contact with leaders of all South Pacific 
     countries through regular Ministerial/Cabinet level meetings, 
     including at the South Pacific Forum dialogue, to ensure that 
     the views of regional governments are given consideration in 
     policy deliberations; and
       (8) the United States should take an active interest in the 
     proposed Joint Declaration of Cooperation between the United 
     States and certain Pacific Island governments as an 
     opportunity for the United States to renew its commitment to 
     the region.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
American Samoa [Mr. Faleomavaega] will be recognized for 20 minutes, 
and the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from American Samoa [Mr. 
Faleomavaega].
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 180, which expresses the sense of the Congress with respect 
to the South Pacific.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the chairman of the House Foreign 
Affairs Subcommittee on the Asia-Pacific, the Honorable Gary Ackerman, 
for his leadership and foresight in arranging the recent meeting 
between the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Ambassadors from the 
South Pacific nations. Out of that extremely productive gathering came 
the framework for the excellent resolution introduced by Chairman 
Ackerman, House Concurrent Resolution 180, which comprehensively 
expresses our thoughts on U.S. policy toward the South Pacific region.
  I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this measure which reflects 
the deep and enduring ties that historically have bound the United 
States with her allies in the South Pacific.
  The resolution further underscores that our Nation today has 
substantial interests in the South Pacific--whether that be in the 
fields of investment and trade, strategic security, Democratic 
government, human rights or environmental protection--and that U.S. 
interests often dovetail with the concerns of the countries of the 
region. The resolution, in short, urges that the United States remain 
actively engaged in the South Pacific.
  Mr. Speaker, the three amendments that I am offering, which were 
adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee, strike references to AID 
maintaining its missions in the South Pacific since the decision to 
close those missions has already been made. Additionally, the 
amendments recognize the reality of an ever-shrinking international 
affairs budget by asking that AID continue at least a modest level of 
assistance to the region.
  Mr. Speaker, while we all support moves to increase efficiency, I 
believe that it is important for AID to support reasonable funding of a 
closeout program for the AID missions in the South Pacific. Funding for 
a closeout program will ensure that the investment already made by U.S. 
taxpayers will not be wasted on half-finished projects and programs.
  In addition, I also believe that the United States should continue to 
provide foreign assistance to the South Pacific. Such assistance could 
come from global allocations, particularly in the areas of the 
environment, population, and private sector development.
  Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us persuasively makes the case 
that the United States must remain firmly engaged in the affairs of the 
South Pacific, both for our national interests as well as the needs of 
the region. It further underscores the commitments made by the Clinton 
and Bush administrations to forge close ties with the South Pacific 
countries that will make possible the achievement of a new Pacific 
community.
  I strongly support the measure and urge my colleagues to adopt the 
amendments and the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I further want to commend the gentleman from New York, 
the distinguished ranking minority member of the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs, the Honorable Ben Gilman, for his support and assistance on 
the resolution. I also want to commend the gentleman from Iowa, the 
ranking minority member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on 
the Asia-Pacific, the Honorable Jim Leach, for his invaluable support 
and assistance on this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs of the House Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Ackerman] and the 
ranking minority member, the gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Leach] as well as 
the gentleman from America Samoa [Mr. Faleomavaega] for guiding this 
legislation through our Committee on Foreign Affairs and bringing it to 
the House floor today.
  House Concurrent Resolution 180 was the result of a very productive 
meeting members of this committee had with representatives from almost 
all the South Pacific Island nations. Our delegate from American Samoa 
[Mr. Faleomavaega] was instrumental is arranging that discussion. He 
and his energetic staff have been very helpful in educating all of us 
and stressing the importance of the South Pacific region.
  As we continue our policy of foreign aid retrenchment around the 
world, we should make certain that the United States remains actively 
engaged in the South Pacific region through continued membership and 
financial support for key regional organizations.
  These include the South Pacific Regional Environmental Programs and 
the U.N. Global Conference for the Development of Small Island States.
  I would also point out to my colleagues that we share many cultural 
values with the people in the South Pacific region and that we continue 
to have many strategic political and economic interests at stake in 
that part of the world.
  Accordingly, I am pleased to support House Concurrent Resolution 180 
and urge my colleagues to do so as well.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 180, which expresses the sense of Congress that 
the United States must maintain its presence in and assistance for the 
South Pacific region.
  Like my colleague, Mr. Faleomavaega, I represent a U.S. Territory in 
the South Pacific. As Americans, we advocate a strong U.S. presence in 
the region to ensure that this Nation's economic, trade, and investment 
interests are protected and expanded in the Pacific, gateway to Asia.
  As Pacific Islanders, we are part of the greater Pacific community. 
We feel solidarity with our neighbors and believe that they should 
receive current modest aid levels provided by the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, when it comes to international affairs, this Nation is 
fighting the tendency to bury our head in the sand and ignore world 
events. While international aid budgets must come down, such cuts 
should not come at the expense of effective programs. The American 
dollar goes a long way when spent on aid to the Pacific Basin. We are 
not talking about waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer money. We are 
talking about maintaining a viable presence.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from American Samoa [Mr. Faleomavaega] that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House Concurrent 
Resolution 180, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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