[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 19, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H948-H949]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL PARK OF AMERICAN SAMOA BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT ACT
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1712) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make
minor adjustments to the boundary of the National Park of American
Samoa to include certain portions of the islands of Ofu and Olosega
within the park, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1712
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT OF THE NATIONAL PARK OF
AMERICAN SAMOA.
Section 2(b) of the Act entitled ``An Act to establish the
National Park of American Samoa'' (16 U.S.C. 410qq-1(b)),
approved October 31, 1988, is amended--
(1) by striking ``(1)'', ``(2)'', and ``(3)'' and inserting
``(A)'', ``(B)'', and ``(C)'', respectively;
(2) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``Included.--''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) The Secretary may make adjustments to the boundary of
the park to include within the park certain portions of the
islands of Ofu and Olosega, as depicted on the map entitled
`National Park of American Samoa, Proposed Boundary
Adjustment', numbered 82,035 and dated February 2002,
pursuant to an agreement with the Governor of American Samoa
and contingent upon the lease to the Secretary of the newly
added lands. As soon as practicable after a boundary
adjustment under this paragraph, the Secretary shall modify
the maps referred to in paragraph (1) accordingly.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr.
Faleomavaega) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth).
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 1712, introduced by our committee colleague, the gentleman from
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), would authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to make adjustments to the boundary of the national park of
American Samoa to include certain portions of the islands of Ofu and
Olosega within the park.
Created in 1988, the national park of American Samoa preserves the
tropical forests and archeological and cultural resources of American
Samoa and its associated coral reefs. In fact, Mr. Speaker, the
national park of American Samoa preserves the only paleotropical rain
forest in the United States.
Mr. Speaker, expanding the park's boundaries to include land and
water on the islands of Ofu and Olosega would protect additional coral
communities that harbor great diversity of species, including the
endangered hawsbill, preserve high concentrations of medicinal plans,
and offer increased scuba diving and hiking opportunities, while at the
same time preserve subsistence fishing, which is protected by the
park's enabling legislation.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, unlike all other units in our national park
system, the National Park Service would lease, rather than purchase,
the additional lands. Currently, the park service manages 9,000 acres
of land and water on the islands of American Samoa through a 50-year
lease. The additional lands and waters would also be leased by the park
service.
[[Page H949]]
Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1712, as
amended.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to certainly thank the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) for his eloquent statement in
support of this legislation. I also want to thank the Republican and
Democratic House leadership, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) and
the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), our full committee
leaders, and the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) and the
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), with the
Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands, for their
support in bringing this bill to the floor today. H.R. 1712 will make
adjustments to the boundary of the national park of American Samoa.
Mr. Speaker, the U.S. territory of American Samoa is located
approximately 2,400 miles directly south of Hawaii. The national park
in American Samoa is located on three separate islands: Tutuila, Ofu
and Ta'u. The islands of Ofu and Olosega, portions of which would be
added to the park under this legislation, are small islands which lie
adjacent to each other and are connected by a short bridge.
In 1998, I received a request from the village chiefs of Sili and
Olosega, on the island of Olosega, to include portions of their village
lands within the national park. The chiefs noted the important role the
park plays in preserving the natural and cultural resources of the
territory, and indicated that the village councils believed there are
significant cultural resources on village lands which warrant
consideration for addition to the park.
About 2 years ago I had asked the National Park Service to conduct
studies to determine if there were cultural and natural resources on
the island which warranted inclusion in the park. The park service
completed reconnaissance surveys on the islands of Olosega and a
portion of the island of Ofu and reported on both.
The National Park Service concluded in part: the archaeological
significance of Olosega Island cannot be understated. Sites on the
ridgeline and terraces may offer an important opportunity for the study
and interpretation of ancient Samoa. The number and density of star
mounds (31), the great number of modified terraces, about 46 sites, and
homesites of about 14, the subsistence system, and the artifacts
available are all important findings. This is particularly significant
in that they were recorded in only 3 days of visual surveys on only a
portion of the island.
The National Park Service researchers also discovered that on top of
this particular island of Olosega, were several acres of medicinal
plants that are found nowhere else in the Samoan islands. This leads me
to my next point, Mr. Speaker, about the importance of this unique
national park.
One of the world's most renowned ethnobotanists, Dr. Paul Cox, who is
currently the director of the National Tropical Botanical Garden on the
island of Kauai in the State of Hawaii, conducted a series of research
and study of several of the ancient Samoan medicinal plants. From one
of these plants a substance called protrastin has now been discovered.
It has been found that protrastin may have beneficial properties for
the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
About two weeks ago, my district was privileged to host one of the
world's most renown marine ocean scientists, Dr. Sylvia Earle. Believe
it or not, Dr. Earle continues to explore the ocean as a scuba diver,
and in doing so, found that one of the rarest giant clams in the world
can only be found in the Samoan islands.
Mr. Speaker, the national park of American Samoa is continuing to
develop. Established in 1988 by Public Law 100-571, the park took
several years to become operational. Today, however, tourists are
visiting and schoolteachers are using the park as an educational
resource to help the students learn more about Samoan history and
ancient culture, the environment and ecological conservation. The park
is preserving the area within its boundaries; but as the population
grows, from about 22 percent, considerable pressure has been placed on
these undeveloped areas.
The additions proposed by this legislation will preserve important
sections of the remaining natural and cultural resources of the
territory.
Again, because of the historical significance of this park, I
respectfully request and ask my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I appreciate the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega)
going into more detail about this unique national park and exactly the
treasures there, the opportunities there and things that are worth
saving there within the confines of that park and why it is necessary
to move forward in this legislation. I would join him in earnest
bipartisan support for this because I think it is a scientific treasure
for us and one that, as he has pointed out, with the medicinal value of
plants and other things there, things that may hold the key to medical
miracles and marvels yet to come.
It is in that spirit that I would urge passage of the legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) for his eloquence and his remarks.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1712, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote, and pending
that, I make the point of order that a quorum is not present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX, and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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