[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 24, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H810-H811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
INTRODUCTION OF THE NORTHERN MARIANAS DELEGATE ACT
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hutchinson). Under a previous order of
the House, the gentleman from Guam [Mr. Underwood] is recognized for 5
minutes.
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 any participation in the national
political process as citizens discredits our commitment to democratic
principles.
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 introduced today mirrors the legislation which
granted Guam and the U.S. 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
[[Page H811]]
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, Rota in the adoption of resolutions requesting the U.S.
Congress to grant delegate status to the resident Representative to the
United States. I further commend the leadership of the Hon. Jesus R.
Sablan, president of the Senate of the 10th Commonwealth Legislature
and the Hon. Crispin I. Deleon Guerrero in their support of this bill.
I hope that the House of Representatives and the Senate will act on
this legislation in this session, and I urge my colleagues to cosponsor
the Northern Marianas Delegate Act.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. UNDERWOOD. I yield to the gentleman from American Samoa.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from
Guam for being the chief sponsor of this important legislation. I think
it is not only long overdue but, as the ranking member of the
Subcommittee on Native Americans and Insular Affairs, I think it is
most needful that the Congress should address this very important issue
of true representation by our fellow American citizens that live in the
Northern Marianas. I would like to ask the gentleman for just a couple
of responses to one question that I have.
I think it is needful that the American people need to know how
important these islands were in World War II, even at this point in
time. The fact that this covenant that was signed between the leaders
and the people of the Northern Marianas and the United States
Government still to this day holds a very important strategic
importance to our security interests in that part of the world. I would
ask the gentleman if this is still true.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Absolutely. As a matter of fact, Saipan, which is the
principal island, is most identified to the people of this Nation as a
battleground but, of course, their importance continued dramatically
even after World War II, serving as a CIA base and providing military
support for a number of years.
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