[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 59 (Thursday, May 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    ``RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE END TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN U.S. 
                              TERRITORY''

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 8, 1997

  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have received 
a copy of a resolution passed by the Federation of Asian People of Guam 
in support of H.R. 1450, the Insular Fair Wage and Human Rights Act. 
This legislation is urgently needed to stop the inexcusable pattern of 
labor and human rights abuses in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands [CNMI].
  Over 35 Members of the House, as well as prominent human rights and 
religious groups, and national labor organizations are unified in their 
support of this legislation. This bill would mandate needed reforms in 
the CNMI's minimum wage and immigration policies that have allowed the 
recruitment of a disenfranchised, low paid foreign workforce that now 
outnumbers the local, indigenous population. These workers are treated 
as commodities, with little individual value, and are regularly denied 
the labor, health and safety protections guaranteed by U.S. law. We 
must send a strong message to the CNMI government that these continued 
abuses will not be tolerated on U.S. soil.
  The resolution that follows was adopted by the Federation of Asian 
People on Guam, an umbrella organization of several Asian-American 
interest groups on Guam. The resolution states, in part, the CNMI can 
no longer conceal the evidence of ongoing labor and immigration abuses 
and these same problems were pointed out to Gov. Froilan Tenorio and 
local and Federal officials in the FADG Resolution 94-1 3 years ago. 
The resolution further states that H.R. 1450 will hopefully stem the 
corruption which consumes everyone including the innocent in the CNMI.
  I thank the Federation of Asian People for their strong support on 
this most important issue and ask that the Resolution 97-1 be printed 
here in full.

       Federation of Asian People on Guam (FAPG) Resolution No. 
     97-1
       Relative to commending and supporting Representative George 
     Miller on his legislation to strip CNMI of many of its 
     immigration and labor powers.
       Be It Resolved By The Board of Directors of the Federation 
     of Asian People of Guam:
       Whereas, the Honorable George Miller, a Senior U.S. 
     Congressman, Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives 
     Committee on Resources who has the jurisdiction over 
     Territorial Issues, aims to introduce a legislation to remove 
     the power of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas 
     Islands on Immigration and Labor Control; and
       Whereas, according to continuing reports, the CNMI can no 
     longer conceal the evidence of ongoing labor and immigration 
     abuses; that the CNMI is accused of using that local control 
     to import and abuse thousands of low-paid Asian workers; that 
     these same problems were pointed out to Governor Froilan 
     Tenorio and to local and federal officials in the FAPG 
     Resolution 94.1 three years ago; and
       Whereas the CNMI were branded ``Hell Holes'' for foreign 
     workers during the announcement of new legislation aimed at 
     the Commonwealth, according to a statement read on behalf of 
     John Sweeney, President of the American Federation of Labor 
     and Congress of Industrial Organizations; and
       Whereas, ``this continued pattern of abuse and indifference 
     to human exploitation demands a rapid and bipartisan response 
     from the Congress and the Clinton Administration'', to quote 
     Representative George Miller while announcing the new 
     initiative which declares to one and all that these sordid 
     conditions not be tolerated on U.S. soil, and
       Whereas, we pray that the first Twenty Five stout-hearted 
     Congressmen sponsors of the bill to remove CNMI's local 
     authority to set minimum wage rates, enforce U.S. immigration 
     law and limit use of ``Made in the USA'' labels to garment 
     factories that abide by U.S. labor standards be joined by 
     others to restore the integrity of the CNMI Government; and
       Whereas, this legislation will hopefully stem the malignant 
     growth of CNMI's social cancer which consumers everyone 
     including the innocent, brought about by illegal drugs, 
     public corruption, victimization of guest workers through 
     violations of their human rights, abuse, neglect and 
     discrimination, forced prostitution, exploitation of minors, 
     and other depravities crying for vengeance in heaven; and 
     therefore be it
       Resolved, the Federation of Asian People on Guam commends, 
     expresses gratitude to the sponsors of the bill entitled 
     Insular Fair Wage and Human Rights Act of 1997, and extends 
     strong support and full endorsement of Congressman George 
     Miller's endeavors to preserve Universal Human Rights and the 
     U.S. brand of Justice; and be it further
       Resolved, that the FAPG President certify to and the 
     Federation's Secretary attest the adoption hereof, and that 
     copies of the same be thereafter transmitted to Honorable 
     George Miller; to the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives, Newt Gingrich; to Jaime Cardinal Sin, 
     Archdiocese of manila, Philippines; to Archbishop Anthony S. 
     Apuron, of Agana Basilica; to Bishop Thomas Camacho of Chalan 
     Kanoa, Saipan; to the supporters of this bill representing 
     groups and agencies in California, Hawaii, Alaska, Florida, 
     Guam, CNMI, all of U.S.A., the Philippines & other Pacific 
     Basin/Rim jurisdictions; to members of the electronic and 
     printed media; to the U.S. Departments of Interior, Labor, 
     Justice and Commerce and to his Excellency, Bill Clinton, 
     President of the United States of America.
       Robert Kao, President FAPG, Former President, United 
     Chinese Association; Irene Cheng, Secretary, FAPG; Roger 
     Ruelos, President, Filipino, Community of Guam; John Vega, 
     Public Relations Officer, FAPG, Former President, FAPG & FCG; 
     Charles Lee, Vice President, FAPG, President, Korean 
     Association of Guam; Calvin Lai, Treasurer, FAPG, President, 
     Vietnamese-Chinese Association; Pete Hemlani, President, 
     Indian, Community of Guam; Resty Albeza, Board Member, FAPG; 
     Eddie del Rosario, Chartered Member, FAPG, Former President, 
     Filipino Community of Guam.

     

                          ____________________