[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 4, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         AMENDING ALEUTIAN AND PRIBILOF ISLANDS RESTITUTION ACT

  Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1457) to amend the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands 
Restitution Act to increase authorization for appropriation to 
compensate Aleut villages for church property lost, damaged, or 
destroyed during World War II, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1457

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. INCREASE IN AUTHORIZATIONS.

       (a) In General.--Section 205(d)(4) of the Aleutian and 
     Pribilof Islands Restitution Act (50 U.S.C. App. 1989c-
     4(d)(4)) is amended by striking ``$1,400,000'' and inserting 
     ``$4,700,000''.
       (b) Fund.--If the Fund referred to in section 205(a) of the 
     Aleutian and Pribilof Islands Restitution Act (50 U.S.C. App. 
     1989c-4(a)) has been terminated pursuant to section 203(d) of 
     such Act (50 U.S.C. App. 1989c-2(d)), upon the appropriation 
     of additional funds pursuant to this Act, the Fund shall be 
     reestablished.
       (c) Use of Funds.--The funds appropriated pursuant to this 
     Act shall be used solely for the renovation, replacement, and 
     restoration of Church property lost, damaged, or destroyed 
     during World War II.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas [Mr. Brooks] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania [Mr. Gekas] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Brooks].
  Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. BROOKS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1457, to amend the 
existing Aleutian and Pribilof Islands Restitution Act to increase--
from $1.4 million to $4.7 million--the authorization of appropriation 
to compensate Aleut villages for church property lost, damaged, or 
destroyed during World War II.
  The increase is based on the 1993 report by the Department of 
Interior--which was required by the act--providing an estimate for 
repair and restoration of the property.
  I'm pleased that both the Aleutian Church Restoration Society and the 
Aleutian/Pribilof Islands Association have provided letters that state: 
``Any increase in authorization under this bill will be spent solely 
for the restoration/renovation of Orthodox church property lost, 
damaged or destroyed during the war.
  I urge an aye vote for S. 1457.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I, too, strongly support the passage of this legislation. Many 
Americans are too quick to forget that while we all were disgraced by 
the internment of the Japanese during World War II, that the Aleutian 
Indians as well were victims of that grand injustice perpetrated during 
that time.
  If I wanted to speak more eloquently on the question, I would have to 
turn to the walking encyclopedia of matters Alaskan, to the resident 
expert, the gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young].
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Alaska [Mr. Young].
  (Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. Gekas] for yielding time to me. I want to thank the 
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Brooks] for bring this legislation to the 
floor.
  The Congress has in the past acted on legislation introduced by 
myself and other Members of this body to give restitution to the 
members that remain for the internment which occurred. This is one of 
the better pieces of legislation which we passed, and I suggest 
respectfully that this is just a follow-up.
  Again, the bill amends the Aleutian-Pribilof Restitution Act by 
increasing the authorization for appropriations to compensate Aleut 
villages in Alaska for church property damaged and destroyed during 
World War II. Some of the churches were destroyed in military 
operations as part of U.S. efforts to recapture Attu and Kiska. Other 
churches were looted and burned. Keep in mind, Alaska was the only 
State that was invaded during World War II.
  The Aleutian people themselves are the ones that suffered the most 
during this activity. This bill amends the existing authorization to 
allow full compensation of the Aleut people for the destruction of 
their churches. This also is the legislation of my senior Senator, 
Senator Ted Stevens. I suggest respectfully this is a sort of a tribute 
to his effort and interest in my constituents and his own constituents.
  I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Brooks] that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill, S. 1457, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. 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.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule 
I, and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this 
motion will be postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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