[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 24, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E81]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NORTHERN MARIANAS DELEGATE ACT

                                 ______


                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 24, 1996

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, today I have introduced the Northern 
Marianas Delegate Act, to provide for a nonvoting Delegate to the House 
of Representatives to represent the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands.
  The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands became the newest 
territory of the United States and an American commonwealth in 1976. 
This commonwealth is comprised of the northern islands in the Mariana 
Island chain, the principal islands being Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. 
Guam is also a part of the Mariana Island chain, and it is fitting that 
the people of Guam have the honor today to share in the introduction of 
this bill for our Pacific neighbors, and for our brothers and sisters 
of Chamorro heritage in the Northern Marianas who share Guam's 
indigenous identity.
  It is important that the Northern Marianas be accorded representation 
in Congress, not just for fair and just representation of an American 
community whose interests are affected by the actions of Congress, but 
more importantly for what the people of Northern Marianas can 
contribute to the Nation through their Delegate.
  The American relationship with the Northern Marianas began just over 
50 years ago when American forces fought on the beaches of Saipan and 
Tinian, and at great human cost expelled a colonial power that had 
acquired these islands as part of a Pacific empire. The Americans, in 
the years to come, established the seeds of democracy that have 
resulted in this new American commonwealth. This commonwealth, whose 
roots to America are traced to a violent military encounter in World 
War II, is the first American soil acquired by conquest in this 
century. That the people of the Northern Marianas have freely chosen to 
become a part of the American family is a great credit to the United 
States; that they do not enjoy full participation in the political 
process as citizens should be a matter of great concern to all of us.
  Today the American citizens who live in the Northern Marianas 
contribute to the Nation and participate in the life of our Nation in 
all the same ways that every other American citizen does in his own 
community. They pay taxes, serve in the military and work hard for the 
progress of their communities. They are part of the fabric of our great 
Nation.
  Participation in this American democracy is not based on a particular 
citizen's tax contribution to the Treasury and it is not based on a 
preordained size of a community. It is based on a community's 
commitment to our democratic form of government and our Nation. Our 
American citizenship has as its foundation a promise of fair and equal 
treatment by our Government and that promise extends to Congress where 
fair and equal treatment demands that the Northern Marianas be 
represented by a Delegate.
  The bill that I have introduced today mirrors the legislation which 
granted Guam and the United States Virgin Islands representation in 
1972 and the legislation which granted American Samoa representation in 
1980. The Northern Marianas will join the ranks of Delegates 
representing these islands, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, 
and the Northern Marianas will add its voice to those who represent 
American citizens who do not reside in the 50 states, but who do reside 
in a diverse group of American communities on American soil.
  In introducing this bill today I commend the work of the Resident 
Representative of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Mr. 
Juan N. Babauta, and his staff. I also commend the unity of purpose in 
the leadership of the Northern Marianas expressed by Senate Joint 
Resolution No. 9-6 of the Ninth Northern Marianas Commonwealth 
Legislature, the Majors of Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and the Northern 
Islands, and the Municipal Councils of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota in the 
adoption of resolutions requesting the United States Congress to grant 
Delegate status to the Resident Representative to the United States. I 
further commend the leadership of the Honorable Diego T. Benavente, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Honorable Jesus R. 
Sablan, President of the Senate of the 10th Commonwealth Legislature, 
as well as the Honorable Crispin I. Deleon Guerrero, in their support 
of this bill. I hope that the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. 
Senate will act on this legislation in this session, and I urge my 
colleagues to cosponsor the Northern Marianas Delegate Act.

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