[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 141 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PALAU NEEDS U.S. ASSISTANCE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 3, 1996

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, September 17, the bridge 
connecting the islands of Koror and Babeldaob in the Republic of Palau 
collapsed into the ocean during rush-hour traffic. Two men died in the 
incident--four others were injured. While the leaders of Palau are 
thankful that more injuries or deaths did not result it was and is a 
devastating accident. I rise today to call upon the Federal Government 
to act quickly in assisting the Republic of Palau.
  The Koror-Babeldaob bridge was not just a means of efficient 
transportation between Palau's two major islands; islands which have no 
other connection--natural or man-made. The 267-yard structure also 
brought power and water to Babeldaob, the island with Palau's largest 
population and industrial base. In addition, the collapsed bridge 
connected Palau's airport and hospital to many of its villages. Because 
of this, the impact of the bridge collapsing is far greater than it 
would have been if it was simply a means of transportation.
  One Pacific Daily news report characterized the bridge as the 
``backbone'' of Palau's economy. The analogy is a poignant and accurate 
one. Many of Palau's residents are still without water or power and it 
is uncertain when these utilities will function again.
  The Government of Palau has organized boats and barges to move people 
and vehicles across the channel and I applaud those private boat owners 
and others who acted quickly to help in any way they could. I would 
also like to commend the people of Guam who have offered their 
assistance in Palau's time of need including the members of the Guam 
National Guard.
  Assistance from the Federal Government, however, is necessary and 
must go beyond initial emergency assistance and an assessment of the 
cause of the collapse. The Federal Government must also help Palau 
restore power and water supplies to its citizens and assist Palau in 
its effort to build another, more reliable bridge.
  As many of you know, the Republic of Palau commemorated its second 
year of independence just yesterday. Prior to its independence, the 
Republic of Palau was part of the United States Trust Territory of the 
Pacific. Palau, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, and 
the Federated States of Micronesia, entered into negotiations with the 
Federal Government in 1968.
  In 1994, Palau became an independent nation in free association with 
the United States. This is a special relationship that Palau and the 
United States entered into over the long term. This relationship has 
also helped build a strong relationship along with a special cultural 
bond between the People of Guam and the People of Palau.
  The Federal Government has an obligation and a duty to assist Palau 
in this time of crisis. I urge the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other appropriate Government 
agencies to assist Palau in meeting its immediate health and safety 
needs as well as the long term infrastructure needs resulting from this 
disaster.

                          ____________________