[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 124 (Friday, September 21, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMONWEALTH OF THE MARIANA ISLANDS STANDS STRONG FOR U.S. NATIONAL 
                                SECURITY

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 21, 2001

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the citizens of the 
Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands (CNMI) for their support of the 
United States Armed Forces. In particular, I want to thank the members 
of the House of Representatives of the CNMI and their Speaker, Ben 
Fitial. Recently, that body passed a resolution, authored by Speaker 
Fitial, calling for the U.S. Navy's continued use of Farallon de 
Medinilla Island for essential training exercises.
  Of all the targets in the Western Pacific available to forward 
deployed U.S. units, only Farallon de Medinilla offers the target 
fidelity, access and maneuver space required to maintain the Navy's 
war-fighting capabilities. Rear Admiral Tom S. Fellin of the U.S. Navy 
has said that ``Farallonde Medinilla . . . plays a special and unique 
role in national defense. Its location provides access frequency that 
supports established training requirements. In addition, the air and 
sea space in the Farallon provides sufficient room for the many 
different attack profiles necessary to replicate training opportunities 
in the CNMI.''
  The men and women in our military need places like Farallon de 
Medinilla in order to keep our forces the most effective in the world. 
Shutting them down will cost lives. But Puerto Rico's highly publicized 
and successful effort to end Navy training on its Vieques Island has 
inspired activists elsewhere to press for an end to military training 
in their backyard. Small groups of military extremists are now 
agitating for removal of U.S. military operations at Farallon de 
Medinilla Island and in Okinawa. Not only am I concerned about the 
implications of those efforts for our military readiness, but I am 
concerned that if successful, these efforts will ultimately encourage 
domestic pressure for removal of military operations which in any way 
inconvenience nearby residents. At this time of national crisis, we 
simply cannot afford to lose our most critical military training sites.
  Unlike the situation in Puerto Rico, though, the overwhelming 
majority of residents and indeed the leaders of CNMI have not jumped on 
the political bandwagon to force the U.S. out. They are standing up to 
those fringe elements, because they recognize that freedom isn't free, 
and that with the benefits of being part of the U.S. territories come 
some responsibilities.
  The tragic terrorist events in New York and Washington, D.C., show us 
once again, that we cannot just turn our military on like a light 
switch. To ensure peace, our military must always be prepared for the 
horrible reality of war. They must always maintain the people, the 
equipment and most important, the training to ensure that they prevail 
when a challenge arises. We thank Speaker Fitial for taking the 
initiative in confirming the commitment of the CNMI people to our 
fighting forces and all the citizens of the United States. As we enter 
the battle against terrorism around the world, it is heartening to have 
the CNMI people standing by our side. They have been there in times of 
peace, and they will be with us in the new war against terrorism.

                          ____________________