[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 125 (Monday, September 24, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H5932-H5933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GUAM STANDS READY
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 3, 2001, the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood) is recognized
during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, it is in this time of national crisis and
in this time of national need that I am proud to stand here in the
House to reflect upon it and also to report that Guam stands ready to
do its part. In fact, it is doing so as we speak and as we deliberate.
Guam's strategic location on the other side of the international date
line, its very extensive military infrastructure, means that American
resources and personnel, some of our strongest assets, are moving
through Guam as we speak, through that part of America, on their way to
South Asia and on their way to eventual victory.
The people of Guam have had a long experience with the military and,
in fact, are very closely aligned with the military not only
economically but socially and also politically. We have
[[Page H5933]]
over 2,000 people in uniform, on active duty, which amounts to about
three times the national average. The people of Guam are in every
branch and in every special operations unit and in every corner of the
world today.
{time} 1245
The people of Guam extend their condolences and their support to all
of our fellow Americans, and have done so through resolution by the
Guam legislature, Resolution Number 125, which I include for the
Record.
Resolution No. 125 (LS)
Relative to expressing the shock, repugnance and horror of
the People of Guam at the hijacking of American commercial
passenger airliners, the terrorist attacks upon the World
Trade Center and Pentagon, and extending the condolences,
sympathy and prayers of the People of Guam to those injured
and the families of those who did not survive these acts of
cowardice and inhumanity.
Be it resolved by I LIHESLATURAN GUAHAN:
Whereas, I Mina'Bente Sais Na Liheslaturan Guahan (the
Twenty-Sixth Guam Legislature) on behalf of the People of
Guam, having experienced the horrors of war during the
bombing of their island on December 8, 1941 and having
experienced the horrors, cruelty and human suffering of war,
understand, comprehend and relate to the frightening terror
resulting from the murderous attacks upon the World Trade
Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.;
and
Whereas, the People of Guam, though situated more than
10,000 miles from New York and Washington, D.C., through
advances in modern communications technology, watched, in
horror and disbelief, the events beginning with the first
aircraft attack upon the World Trade Center, and have
continuously followed all news reports on these tragedies;
and
Whereas, the People of Guam, being extremely loyal and
patriotic Americans, agree, and are in consonance, with the
words of President George W. Bush that these acts have
inflamed ``a yielding anger'' in all Americans; have created
a firm resolve that America ``will not rest until justice has
been achieved''; that ``there will be no differentiation
between those who committed these acts of inhumanity and
those who harbor them'' and when identified and captured,
justice will be served; and
Whereas, the People of Guam, staunch defenders of liberty,
freedom and democracy, do and continue to support the United
States of America's policy and philosophy of promoting
principles of liberty, freedom and democracy throughout the
World for all people; now therefore, be it
Resolved, That I Mina'Bente Sais Na Liheslaturan Guahan
does hereby, on behalf of the People of Guam, condemn the
hijacking of American commercial passenger airliners by
terrorist forces and the attack and bombing of the New York
City World Trade Center Twin Towers and the Pentagon as
cowardly acts of war perpetrated upon the United States of
America and its People; and be it further
Resolved, That I Mina'Bente Sais Na Liheslaturan Guahan
does hereby, on behalf of the People of Guam, wholeheartedly
and resolutely support the promise and determination of
President George W. Bush to ``hunt down and bring to
justice'' those who plan and perpetrate such acts of war
against any freedom loving people and nation, as well as,
identification and prosecution of those who harbor or provide
refuge to such perpetrators and mass murderers; and be it
further
Resolved, That I Mina'Bente Sais Na Liheslaturan Guahan
does hereby, on behalf of the People of Guam, wholeheartedly
support President George W. Bush's stern intent and resolve
to capture, arrest and prosecute all involved in this breach
of peace and violation of human rights, and his declaration
of and resolution that the search, capture and prosecution of
these mass murderers is a top priority of the United States
government and its law enforcement agencies; and be it
further
Resolved, That I Mina'Bente Sais Na Liheslaturan Guahan
does hereby, on behalf of the People of Guam, extend to the
Honorable George Pataki, Governor of New York; the Honorable
Rudolph Giuliani, Mayor of New York City; the People of New
York City, especially the families of those who were injured
or who perished as a result of the cowardly attacks upon the
World Trade Center Twin Towers; the People of Washington,
D.C., especially the families of those who were injured or
who perished as a result of the cowardly attacks upon the
Pentagon; and the crash of the hijacked plane in Somerset
County, Pennsylvania the sympathy, condolences and prayers of
all the People of Guam; and be it further
Resolved, That the Speaker certify and Legislative
Secretary attest to the adoption hereof and that copies of
the same be transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush,
President of the United States of America; to the Honorable
Richard B. Cheney, Vice President of the United States of
America and President of the U.S. Senate; to the Honorable J.
Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives;
to the Honorable George Pataki, Governor of New York; to the
Honorable Rudolph Giuliani, Mayor of New York City; to the
Honorable Tom Ridge, Governor of Pennsylvania; to Mr. Jim
Goodwin, President and Chief Executive Officer of United
Airlines, Ltd.; to Mr. Donald J. Carty, President and Chief
Executive Officer of American Airlines; to the Honorable
Robert A. Underwood, Guam's Delegate to the U.S. House of
Representatives; and to the Honorable Carl T. Gutierrez, I
Maga'lahen Guahan (Governor of Guam).
But at the same time that we stand in solidarity with the rest of
America, my home island is also facing the greatest economic challenge
that it has faced since World War II when Guam was devastated as the
only American territory occupied by an enemy during the entire 20th
Century.
Guam's economy is fueled primarily by tourism, most of it from Japan.
Even prior to this attack, Guam was experiencing a 15 percent
unemployment rate, because our economy is tied so much to Japan's,
which was three times the national average. Guam was experiencing a $40
million shortfall in revenues for the Government of Guam, roughly 10
percent of its entire budget, and for months my office, along with
other political leaders on Guam and business leaders, have since tried
to figure out various economic strategies of recovery.
But since the attack, the results have even been worse. The economic
picture that we face is even worse. Because of international
uncertainty and safety concerns, and perhaps a little bit out of
deference to a Nation in mourning, many international tourists have
canceled their plans to come to Guam. This is devastating to my home
island.
Continental Micronesia, which is the major airline of Guam, has laid
off hundreds of workers. Hotels, restaurants and shops are empty;
hundreds have been sent home or had their hours cut back dramatically.
The ripple effect on ancillary economic activity and on Government of
Guam revenues is immediate and dramatic. 25,000 Japanese tourists have
canceled their plans to visit Guam this month, and it estimated that
there will be a 25 to 30 percent decline in the coming months in the
number of tourists from Japan.
The people of Guam are no strangers to tough economic times. Time and
time again, the people of Guam have weathered the storm and persevered
during economic hardship. Whether it was rebuilding the economy after a
Supertyphoon, like Omar in 1992 and Paka in 1997, or an earthquake,
like the 8.1 on the Richter scale we experienced in 1993, or following
World War II, or the Gulf War, the people of Guam have always fought
back, remained patient but determined, and eventually overcame the
economic difficulty.
Recovery from the Asian financial crisis, the downsizing of the
military following the Cold War, and now the recent terrorist attacks,
presents an enormous challenge, in this hour of national crisis, Guam
will do its part, as it has done in the past. We support the national
effort and lend our assistance and support to all military activities
in Guam.
Economic recovery is perhaps the best way to show that this Nation is
back to normal. Economic assistance for communities and workers
suffering from the decimation of entire industries is one of the best
ways, although not the best way, to demonstrate that this Nation's
political leadership understands the meaning of the attack nearly 2
weeks ago.
In the coming days and weeks, I will vigorously pursue an economic
stimulus plan for Guam and the insular areas. There has been some
progress on this, but much work needs to be done. I ask that the U.S.
territories not be forgotten as we contemplate economic relief
proposals for the entire Nation in the coming weeks and the coming
months.
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