[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 145 (Tuesday, October 13, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H10689-H10691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SENSE OF THE HOUSE REGARDING GUAM

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 494) expressing the sense of the House 
of Representatives that the United States has enjoyed the loyalty of 
the United States citizens of Guam, and that the United States 
recognizes the centennial anniversary of the Spanish-American war as an 
opportune time for Congress to reaffirm its commitment to increase 
self-government, consistent with self-determination, for the people of 
Guam.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 494

       Whereas the Chamorro people have inhabited Guam and the 
     Mariana Islands for at least 4,000 years and developed a 
     unique and autonomous seafaring agrarian culture, governing 
     themselves through their own form of district government;
       Whereas in 1565 the Kingdom of Spain claimed the islands of 
     the Chamorro people, which were named the Ladrones by 
     Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 and renamed the Marianas by the 
     Jesuit missionary Diego Luis de San Vitores in 1668, to 
     secure the trans-Pacific route of the Manila-Acapulco Galleon 
     Trade, then, upon San Vitores's death in 1672, the islands 
     were placed under military governance;
       Whereas in 1898 the United States defeated the Kingdom of 
     Spain in the Spanish-American War and acquired Guam, Puerto 
     Rico, and the Philippines by virtue of the Treaty of Paris;
       Whereas, in signing the treaty, the United States 
     Government accepted responsibility for its new possessions 
     and agreed that Congress would determine the civil rights and 
     political status of the native inhabitants, as stated 
     specifically in Article IX;
       Whereas President William McKinley, by Executive Order 108-
     A on December 23, 1898, placed the island of Guam under the 
     administration of the United States Navy, which administered 
     and governed the island, initially as a coaling station, then 
     as a major supply depot at the end of World War II;
       Whereas a series of rulings popularly known as the 
     ``Insular Cases'', issued by the United States Supreme Court 
     from 1901 to 1922, defined Guam as an ``unincorporated 
     territory'' in which the United States Constitution was not 
     fully applicable;
       Whereas the United States Naval Government of Guam was 
     forced to surrender the island of Guam to the invading forces 
     of the Japanese Imperial Army on December 10, 1941, after 
     which Japanese occupation and control of Guam lasted until 
     the United States Forces recaptured the island in 1944;
       Whereas Guam is the only remaining United States territory 
     to have been occupied by Japanese forces during World War II, 
     the occupation lasting for 32 months from 1941 to 1944;
       Whereas the people of Guam remained loyal to the United 
     States throughout the Japanese occupation, risked torture and 
     death to help clothe and feed American soldiers hiding from 
     enemy forces, and were subjected to forced labor, ruthless 
     executions, and other brutalities for their support of the 
     United States;
       Whereas, upon liberation of the people of Guam, the island 
     was returned to United States Navy governance, which, like 
     its prewar predecessor, limited the civil and political 
     rights of the people, despite numerous appeals and petitions 
     to higher authorities and Congress for the granting of United 
     States citizenship and relief from military rule;
       Whereas in 1945, upon establishment of the United Nations, 
     the United States voluntarily listed Guam as a nonself-
     governing territory, pursuant to Article 73 of the United 
     Nations Charter, and today Guam continues to be included in 
     this list;
       Whereas on March 6, 1949, the House of Assembly, the lower 
     house of the popularly elected 9th Guam Congress, which was 
     merely an advisory body to the Naval Governor of Guam, 
     adjourned in protest over the limitation of its legislative 
     rights granted to it by the United States Department of the 
     Navy in 1947 and refused to reconvene until the United States 
     Congress enacted an organic act for Guam;
       Whereas the Organic Act of Guam (64 Stat. 384) passed by 
     Congress and signed by President Truman on August 1, 1950, 
     statutorily decreed Guam's status as an ``unincorporated 
     territory'', established a three-branched civilian government 
     patterned after the Federal model, and conferred United 
     States citizenship upon the people of Guam;
       Whereas, since the granting of American citizenship, the 
     people of Guam have greater participation in the American 
     democratic processes and some measure of self-government;
       Whereas the people of Guam, who strongly adhere to the 
     belief that a government should derive power and right from 
     the governed, successfully gathered enough support to push 
     for the passage of the Elective Governor Act (Public Law 90-
     497) on September 11, 1968, and in which Congress granted the 
     people of Guam the right to elect their own governor and 
     lieutenant governor;
       Whereas the Congress enacted the Guam-Virgin Islands 
     Delegate bill on April 10, 1972, allowing for Guam to have a 
     nonvoting delegate in the United States House of 
     Representatives, and although the delegate is not accorded a 
     vote on the floor of the House of Representatives, it is 
     still one of the benchmarks in Guam's political evolution and 
     heightens Guam's visibility in the national arena;
       Whereas, although Congress authorized in Public Law 94-584, 
     the formation of a locally drafted constitution, the 
     subsequent Guam Constitution, it was not ratified by Guam's 
     electorate through a referendum on August 4, 1979;
       Whereas concerns regarding Guam's political status led the 
     Twelfth Guam Legislature to create the first political status 
     commission in 1973, known as the Status Commission, the 
     Thirteenth Guam Legislature in 1975 created another 
     commission, known as the Second Political Status Commission, 
     to address Guam's political status issue and explore 
     alternative status options, and in 1980, the existing Guam 
     Commission on Self-Determination (CSD) was created to 
     identify and pursue the status choice of the people of Guam, 
     and in 1996 the Twenty-Fourth Guam Legislature created the 
     Commission on Decolonization to continue pursuing Guam's 
     political status;
       Whereas the CSD, after conducting studies on 5 Guam 
     political status options, proceeded to conduct a public 
     education campaign, which was followed by a status referendum 
     on January 12, 1982 in which 49 percent of the people of Guam 
     voted for Commonwealth, 26 percent for Statehood, 10 percent 
     for Status Quo, 5 percent for Incorporated Status, 4 percent 
     for Free Association, 4 percent Independence, and 2 percent 
     for other options;
       Whereas on September 4, 1982, a runoff was held between 
     commonwealth and statehood, the top options from the January 
     referendum, with the outcome of the runoff resulting in 27 
     percent voting for statehood and 73 percent of Guam's 
     electorate casting their votes in favor of a close 
     relationship with the United States through a Commonwealth of 
     Guam structure for local self-government;
       Whereas in 1988 the people of Guam first presented the Guam 
     Commonwealth Act to Congress to meet the various aspirations 
     of the people of Guam, which bill has been reintroduced by 
     Guam's Congressional delegates since 1988 until the present;
       Whereas Congress has continued to enact other measures to 
     address the various aspirations of the people of Guam, while 
     considering legislative approaches to advance self-government 
     without precluding Guam's further right of self-
     determination, consistent with the national political climate 
     that emphasizes decentralization of the decision making 
     process from Washington to the local governments and a 
     relationship with the Federal Government that is based on 
     mutual respect and consent of the governed; and
       Whereas the people of Guam are loyal citizens of the United 
     States and have repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to 
     the American ideals of democracy and civil rights, as well as 
     to American leadership in times of peace as well as war, 
     prosperity as well as want: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes 100 years of Guam's loyalty and service to 
     the United States; and
       (2) will use the centennial anniversary of the 1898 
     Spanish-American War to reaffirm its commitment to the United 
     States citizens of Guam for increased self-government, 
     consistent with self-determination for the people of Guam.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Miller) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution on the 
centennial of the Spanish-American War to recognize the loyalty of the 
United States citizens of Guam who have become part of this Nation due 
to that conflict.
  This resolution serves as recognition of Guam's 100 years of loyalty 
and service to the United States, and calls on the House of 
Representatives to reaffirm its commitment to the people of Guam for 
increased self-government.

[[Page H10690]]

  Mr. Speaker, it has been one hundred years since the United States 
raised the first American flag over Guam on July 21, 1898. The islands 
were transferred to the United States after the Spanish-American War 
pursuant to the Treaty of Paris, signed December 10, 1898, and raitifed 
and proclaimed on April 11, 1899. Article IX of the Treaty states that 
``The civil rights and political status of the native inhabitants of 
the territories hereby ceded to the United States shall be determined 
by the Congress.''
  Guam was administered by the United States Navy until forced to 
surrender the island in 1941 to the invading forces of Japan. During 
the occupation from 1941 to 1944, the people of Guam remained staunchly 
loyal to the United States, risking torture and death, and subject to 
forced labor, ruthless executions, and other brutalities. The island 
was returned to U.S. Naval jurisdiction after the liberation of the 
people of Guam in 1944.
  As an unincorporated territory of the United States, Guam's 
relationship with the United States has been characterized by Guam's 
political development from an island administered by the U.S. 
Department of the Navy to one governed by the people of Guam under the 
Guam Organic Act approved by Congress in 1950 in Public Law 630. In the 
same Act, Congress extended U.S. citizenship to the people of Guam. 
Congress subsequently authorized expanded self-governance by permitting 
the people of Guam to elect their own government and a delegate to 
represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives. In addition, in 
1976 Congress committed to a major advance in self-government for Guam 
by authorizing a constitution, which Guam has yet to complete.
  Today, while the people of Guam continue their quest for increased 
self-government within the United States community, they can be assured 
that the adoption of a constitution as authorized by Congress will not 
prejudice or preclude their right of self-determination and the 
fundamental right to seek a change in their political status in the 
future. This resolution serves as recognition of Guam's 100 years of 
loyalty and service to the United States and calls on the House of 
Representatives to reaffirm its commitment to the people of Guam for 
increased self-government.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, at the request of my distinguished colleague, the 
gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood) who is traveling to his district on 
official business, I urge this body to support House Resolution 494, 
the Guam centennial resolution.
  This resolution recognizes Guam's 100-year relationship with the 
United States, but more importantly, it reaffirms this body's 
commitment to Guam's request to address the issue of status.
  One hundred years ago the United States acquired Guam, along with the 
Philippines and Puerto Rico, after the Spanish-American war. Guam's 
relationship with the United States since 1898 has been characterized 
by Guam's strategic location in the Asian Pacific region.
  Soon after its acquisition, Guam was primarily acquired as a coaling 
station by American ships. Since then Guam has expanded its role to 
become America's bridge to the Asian-Pacific region. It boasts the only 
$10 billion military infrastructure west of the international dateline, 
as well as a $3 billion civilian economy.
  Mr. Speaker, Guam's unique relationship with the United States not 
only stems from its strategic value, but in part can be explained 
through the understanding of Guam's history with the United States. 
Guam is the only American territory today which was occupied by enemy 
forces during World War II.
  The people of Guam endured forced marches and beheadings for doggedly 
assisting American soldiers during the occupation. Through the Organic 
Act of 1950, the people of Guam became American citizens, an event 
which allowed them a greater opportunity to participate in the American 
political system.
  Guam's press for increased self-government was made evident soon 
after American governance. However, it was not until 1973 that concerns 
about Guam's political status officially materialized in the form of 
the first Political Status Commission.
  As testament to Guam's commitment to the political future and faith 
in the American system of government, the Guam Commonwealth Act was 
introduced in the 101st Congress and in each successive Congress since 
that time. Through the passage of this resolution, we are commemorating 
our historic ties with America's westernmost Pacific territory, and we 
are reaffirming our commitment to address their concerns.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Guam centennial resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the RECORD the statement of the gentleman 
from Guam (Mr. Underwood) regarding this very important resolution.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues on 
both sides of the aisle who have demonstrated their utmost support for 
the people of Guam by cosponsoring the Guam Centennial Resolution. I 
would also like to thank my colleague and Chairman of the Resources 
Committee, Mr. Young, for his leadership in moving this legislation.
  It has been one hundred years since the United States first set foot 
on Guam's shores; and it has been one hundred years since Guam 
officially came under the American flag. As a consequence of the 
Spanish-American War, Spain ceded Guam, Puerto Rico, and the 
Philippines over to the United States. This centennial anniversary 
carries varied significance for the people of Guam. On the one hand, we 
are commemorating Guam's one hundred year old relationship with the 
United States. On the other hand, we have an opportunity to examine 
this very same relationship, specifically Guam's political status under 
the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, the resolution we have before us today, the Guam 
Centennial Resolution, specifically addresses these concerns. I 
introduced this resolution not only to commemorate Guam's unique 
relationship with the United States, but also to remind this body that 
the United States must address Guam's political status as decreed in 
the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Spanish-American War. To this 
date, Guam is still under the United Nations' list of Non Self-
Governing Territories.
  Guam was first used as a coaling station by American ships sailing in 
the region, its strategic Pacific location made it an attractive base 
for America's Armed Forces and was actually commanded by the American 
Navy in the early years. During World War II, Guam remained loyal to 
the American flag despite the brutal three-year occupation by Japanese 
forces. It was not until 1950 that the people of Guam because American 
citizens.
  It is important to note that even as early as 1901, only three years 
after American rule over our island, there was already a campaign for 
basic civil rights. H. Res. 494, or the Guam Centennial Resolution, is 
another avenue for such political expression. It expressly calls on 
this body to reaffirm its commitment to the people of Guam in our quest 
for increased self government. Since the 101st Congress to the present 
time, Guam's delegates to Congress have introduced the Guam 
Commonwealth Act, legislation which would not only alter Guam's 
relationship with the United States, but also lend greater local rule 
for Guam. Just last year, Guam's leaders had the historic opportunity 
to testifying before the Resources Committee regarding Guam's quest for 
Commonwealth. As long as it remains the political will of the people, I 
will continue to vigorously advocate for Guam's Commonwealth status.
  On this occasion of the centennial anniversary of Guam's relationship 
with the United States, let us remember our commitment to the people of 
Guam and support the passage of H. Res. 494.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the Gentleman from Guam 
for introducing and crafting this resolution. It is important that the 
full House has the opportunity to express its support for this 
important resolution.
  H. Res. 494 expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the United States has enjoyed the loyalty of the United States citizens 
of Guam, and that the United States recognizes the centennial 
anniversary of the Spanish American War as an opportune time for 
Congress to reaffirm its commitment to increase self-government 
consistent with self-determination for the people of Guam.
  Our nation has a long history of friendship with Guam and many of the 
small island nations in the South Pacific. Guam played a key role in 
projecting U.S. firepower during World War II, during Vietnam and 
during later conflicts.
  Guam's strategic access and the many sacrifices of its people have 
not gone unnoticed by the Congress. The citizens of Guam deserve a 
greater say in their affairs and it should be up to them to decide what 
sort of relationship they want with the United States.
  Accordingly, I support the gentleman's resolution and urge my 
colleagues to support H. Res. 494.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
House Resolution 494, the Guam Centennial Resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, as other speakers have already noted, this year marks 
the 100th anniversary of the first flying of the American flag

[[Page H10691]]

over the island of Guam. Over the past 100 years, a lot of things have 
changed, but Guam's loyalty to the United States has remained 
steadfast.
  To the best of my knowledge, Guam remains the only populated U.S. 
territory to have been captured and occupied by enemy forces during 
World War II. Despite the repressive tactics of the Japanese during 
their three-year occupation of the Island of Guam, the people of Guam 
remained loyal to the United States, and lost many lives and suffered 
inhumane treatment simply because they retained this strong loyalty.
  The citizens of Guam have in the past and continue to support our 
military services with high enlistment rates and the loss of local land 
given up for military based in support of their island and the rest of 
our nation. Even today, Guam hosts significant naval and air force 
bases which frequently are the staging point for national military 
operations in the Pacific. As foreign countries have dictated the 
removal of our operational stations in the western Pacific, Guam's 
location in the central Pacific has increased in importance, and today 
is considered to be of strategic importance.
  Despite the support of the U.S. citizens in Guam of the United States 
over the past century, their desire for increased autonomy has met with 
resistance in Washington, D.C. I wish to commend Congressman Underwood 
for his efforts to fight for increased automy for the people of Guam 
and for his efforts to move this legislation to the floor today.
  I also want to recognize Congressman Don Young, Chairman of the 
Committee on Resources, and Congressman George Miller, Senior Democrat 
on the Committee for their support of today's legislation and their 
continued support of the U.S. insular areas in general.
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 494.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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