[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E608-E609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF JUAN NEKAI BABAUTA AND HIS WORK WITH THE CLOSE UP 
                               FOUNDATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2001

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity today to 
recognize my friend Juan Nekai Babauta, the Resident Representative to 
the United States from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 
(CNMI), for his efforts on behalf of the Close Up Foundation. I 
particularly commend Mr. Babauta for his continued commitment to the 
issue of civic education for young people and especially for his 
diligent work with the Close Up Foundation, the nation's largest 
nonprofit, nonpartisan citizenship education organization.
  Mr. Speaker, as many of my colleagues know, the CNMI became a 
territory of the United States and an American commonwealth in 1976. 
Since then the citizens of the CNMI, with whom my constituency, the 
people of Guam, share indigenous identity and Chamorro heritage, have 
elected a Resident Representative to serve them in the Nation's 
capital. To date the CNMI is the only American jurisdiction that has 
not been afforded representation in Congress, thus I often feel 
compelled to offer remarks here in the House for Guam's Pacific 
neighbors.
  As you know, Mr. Speaker, many of the islands of Oceania face 
daunting challenges in the area of economic stability and growth. Their 
relatively limited size, small population and extended distance from 
major markets, makes building a strong and sustainable economy among 
the most difficult tasks facing contemporary government. With the 
competing needs of various sectors of society, the government is forced 
to make tough choices. Roads must be maintained and airports must be 
modernized, hospitals must be improved and schools must be expanded and 
repaired, health care must be available to all and social safety nets 
must be in place for the neediest citizens. Pressing demands on an 
island's resources must be balanced with an eye towards meeting the 
needs of the day, while not ignoring future needs. Public servants like 
Juan Nekai Babauta make invaluable contributions to the extremely 
difficult balancing act

[[Page E609]]

between available resources and societal needs.
  All of the islands of the Pacific are also confronting numerous 
problems when it comes to their youth. In CNMI, as is also the case in 
Guam, the government must find ways to combat apathy and cynicism among 
their young people. There is a constant concern with ensuring that 
young people will enter adulthood committed to being active, 
contributing citizens of their communities. For public servants like 
Juan Nekai Babauta, there is a recognition that preparing the next 
generation of leaders is a priority for the future welfare of the 
islands. Throughout his years of service, Mr. Babauta has been a 
champion for education and a strong advocate for young people. As the 
Resident Representative for CNMI, he has aggressively and successfully 
lobbied this Congress to provide $3 million in federal funds for an 
endowment at the Northern Marianas College. He also achieved success in 
his attempt to open admission to our U.S. service academies to CNMI 
students. These and other pursuits demonstrate Mr. Babauta's 
effectiveness and his work on behalf of his constituency.
  Throughout his career, Mr. Babauta has recognized that preparing the 
next generation of leaders must include preparation through a focus on 
civic education. His commitment to this end is evidenced through his 
unwavering support of the Close Up Foundation's program in the Pacific 
Islands.
  Mr. Speaker, as you and my other colleagues in the House know well, 
the Close Up Foundation operates one of the most successful and 
innovative civic education programs in the country. Most of us have had 
the privilege of meeting students who are in Washington for an 
intensive course of study about the federal government. Annually, I 
personally meet with students and teachers from Guam who are 
participants in Close Up's civic education program that is specially 
designed for Pacific Islands students and educators. As an educator by 
profession, I have been personally impressed with Close Up's Island-
based activities, including their development of island-specific 
curricular materials, teacher training seminars and programs related to 
teaching young people about the merits of community service.
  Mr. Babauta, when back home in Rota and Saipan has encouraged 
students and teachers to participate in the program. He has used his 
position and contacts to assist educators and schools to raise funds 
that would allow students to participate in the Close Up program, 
including taking advantage of local media outlets to promote the 
program. Mr. Babauta even assists students and teachers with the 
process for obtaining passports and other travel documents that will 
allow them to travel to Washington for the Close Up program. All of 
these activities speak to his deep belief in the importance of civic 
education to CNMI students, including the need for them to explore the 
historic ties between the United States and the Pacific Islands. 
Equally important, Mr. Babauta's support for the Close Up program 
signals his conviction that for the CNMI and other Pacific Islands to 
secure a future of engaged citizenry committed to democratic 
government, it is important that they be educated in how democracy is 
reliant upon the involvement and input of the people.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank Mr. Babauta for his work 
with Close Up Pacific Islands program. His efforts over the years 
demonstrate his commitment to the welfare of the young people of the 
Pacific, and his conviction that educating young people about 
democracy, the importance of community service, and the rights and 
responsibilities of citizenship is indispensable for the future of the 
CNMI and other Pacific Islands.

                          ____________________