[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 26, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE TO THE SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS AND THE UNITED 
                     STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. GEORGE E. BROWN, JR.

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 26, 1999

  Mr. BROWN of California. Mr. Speaker, it is with a great sense of 
pride that I rise today to pay tribute to the San Manuel Band of 
Mission Indians and the U.S. Department of Commerce on the occasion of 
the opening of the newest associate office of the U.S. and Foreign 
Commercial Service on June 4th, 1999.
  This joint venture marks the first time that the Department of 
Commerce has opened an office of this nature on tribal lands. The San 
Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the Department of Commerce are 
forging a new path for future expansion of these types of programs to 
other tribes. It is my hope that more agencies will follow this path 
and work with all tribal governments to open new offices on tribal 
lands. Future expansion of United States government agencies on these 
lands not only helps tribal governments, but also benefits local 
communities, and can help foster more interaction between a tribe and 
the community around it.
  The purpose of the Foreign Commercial Service is to support U.S. 
commercial interests by increasing sales and market shares of domestic 
companies in overseas markets. The San Manuels, by bringing this agency 
to their tribal lands, have given all local businesses an advantage in 
increasing their sales and the local workforce, by increasing the 
avenues for locating new customers overseas.
  By locating the offices at the San Bernardino International Trade 
Center, which is located at the former Norton Air Force Base, I see an 
even greater opportunity for new local business. Not only can 
entrepreneurs get help in opening new ventures by working with the 
Small Business Incubator, which is already located on the grounds of 
the Trade Center, but now they will also have assistance from the 
Foreign Commercial Services office which can reach out to its 90 
domestic and 160 international offices that operate in the Foreign 
Commercial Service system.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating both 
the San Manuels and the Department of Commerce for this joint effort. 
At home in my district in California, we are proud of the contributions 
both these groups are making to the community. This joint venture is 
representative of the emerging international economic force that will 
make San Bernadino an international trade leader in California.

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