[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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