[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E125-E126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RAPHAEL UNDERWOOD'S REFLECTIONS ON THE 106TH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 3, 1999

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I took my son to the floor to witness the 
swearing in of his father. He submitted this report to his eighth grade 
civics class at Hayfield Secondary School:

       My current events is not really an article, but based on a 
     real life experience. On January 6, 1999, the first meeting 
     of the 106th Congress took place. This was a day of finding a 
     new Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Members 
     to take an oath of office. Of the 427 Members present, 220 
     voted for Representative Hastert and 205 voted for 
     Representative Gephardt, with Representatives Gephardt and 
     Hastert voting ``present.'' Speaker Hastert then swore in the 
     Members to the 106th Congress.
       I thought today was supposed to be one of joy for Members 
     more than anyone else. What I found out was that today was 
     not very pleasing. I knew that all U.S. Territories were 
     represented by non-voting Delegates. By this I thought they 
     could vote but it would not count. Today after the Roll, 
     where each Member stated their vote for the Speaker's race, 
     all five territories: District of Columbia, American Samoa, 
     Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Guam were not allowed to show 
     their support--not even called during roll call. This is when 
     the Delegate from Puerto Rico stood up in protest, demanding 
     that the Territories be heard. The Republicans answered with 
     remarks such as ``regular order'' and ``reread the 
     Constitution.'' I think it was wrong for the Republican Party 
     to act in this manner.
       The clerk then spoke, ``Only representatives-elect are able 
     to vote.'' The Congressman then took his seat. I did not 
     understand. The Delegates were elected the same way every 
     Member on that floor. By voting for the Speaker you elect 
     another voice, but a voice for all of the Representatives. To 
     know that the Delegates don't get a chance to elect the 
     Speaker, just as the people of their district elected them, 
     does not fully fulfill the meaning of true representation.
       I felt angry knowing that my father, who represents the 
     United States Territory of Guam, who does the same work as 
     any other Member on the floor is still denied his right to 
     vote. Just because you live on the mainland it does not mean 
     you are more American than an American living from far away 
     lands.
       Just because I was born on an island far away from the 
     mainland does not make me more or less of an American born in 
     New York, Florida, Virginia or Ohio. I may be considered a 
     foreigner to some, but we were all foreigners at one time. We 
     all pledge allegiance to the same flag, have the same 
     government and share a President, yet are still denied to 
     speak our voice--the voice of an American citizen.


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