[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2383-E2384]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                KATRINA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 1997

  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, when I reviewed the remarks in the 
September 29, 1997, Congressional Record regarding a lady named 
``Katrina,'' I immediately felt that Congressman Abercrombie had relied 
on an erroneous and misleading article published by the Reader's Digest 
some months ago. I have so advised him and he has certainly agreed to 
look at all the facts.
  The Katrina described by a report from Robert B. Dunlap II, attorney 
general of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands [CNMI], is 
one that I hope Congressman Abercrombie will examine. I have high 
professional, political, and personal admiration for Neil Abercrombie--
and I want him to have the full facts at his disposal.
  The gentleman from Hawaii, Mr. Abercrombie, described a situation 
which was reported in the Reader's Digest article this past summer. In 
the report by CNMI Attorney General Dunlap in response to the 
allegations asserted by that article, General Dunlap writes, ``the 
article specifically stated that she was forced to dance in the nude. 
It is extremely important to note that the complainant had been dancing 
in the nude in a Manila nightclub for several years before she came to 
Saipan. Her entry to the Northern Marianas was a fraud as her passport 
and birth certificate were doctored.''
  The CNMI Attorney General further asserted: ``The complainant filed a 
case with the CNMI Department of Labor. Since the CNMI does not have 
the authority or jurisdiction to prosecute violations of federal child 
labor laws, the CNMI Department of Labor addressed only her wage and 
hour complaints.'' Furthermore, the article alleges that she was forced 
to perform lewd sex acts with customers before a video camera. The 
attorney general's report further states ``In fact, the said tape was 
produced during her interview for the position--it was learned that the 
said tape was

[[Page E2384]]

produced in the Philippines when she was applying for the said job in 
Saipan. During the interview with Katrina it was in fact learned that 
she wanted to do nude dancing, and her mother encouraged her to do so 
to support her family.''
  The CNMI official report also stated: ``The allegation that one of 
the club owners worked for the CNMI government is untrue. It should be 
noted that all the club employees and its owners are Philippine 
citizens. The Northern Marianas could have filed charges against the 
owner, as well as have both owners and complainant charged with 
immigration fraud. The CNMI DoL did not take further action after 
having been informed by U.S. Government officials that they themselves 
would prosecute the owners under further child labor law.'' I am told 
that the CNMI government will file charges after the Federal case is 
completed depending on its outcome.
  I intend to seek further information on matters as reported by the 
Reader's Digest author--and I would hope that a fair minded person like 
Congressman Abercrombie would accompany me early next year if, and 
when, we can both work a visit into our schedule--a visit that would 
not involve the expenditure of any American tax dollars. He has 
indicated that he will check his schedule and be open to full 
information.
  I have high regard for the CNMI officials. Saipan, and the rest of 
the CNMI, are very important to the United States, and are very loyal 
to the United States and very strategic to the United States. We should 
support their entire leadership, and help them to address the problems 
set out in the Reader's Digest article. They are entitled to accurate 
and verified reporting--and a chance to correct any such tragedies as 
reflected by the ``Katrina'' story--true or untrue.

                          ____________________