[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H3621-H3622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PEACE RETURNS TO VIEQUES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Acevedo-Vila) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA. Mr. Speaker, a couple of years ago, I met a young 
girl from Vieques by the name of Marakiani Olivencia. She came up to me 
with a small container of sand in her hand and shared with me her 
desire to return that sand to Vieques with me after the Navy bombing 
practices ended.
  With passion and sincerity this girl represented what so many had 
felt for so long. I told her that sooner or later such a day would 
come, and we would return that sand to Vieques together.

                              {time}  1600

  Indeed, such a day is upon us. As of today, Vieques is no longer a 
Navy bombing range, and has become the newest addition to the National 
Wildlife Refuge System. I have with me a copy of the letter and 
memorandum of agreement signed between the Navy and the Fish and 
Wildlife Service making official that land transfer and ask that it be 
made part of the Record.
  For the first time in over 60 years, Viequeses awoke this morning, 
their island not having been bombed last night, the island not to be 
bombed today, and knowing for certain that the island shall never be 
bombed again. Now the shore of Vieques will be dominated only by the 
sound of the surf, the birds, and the wind. The thousands of Puerto 
Ricans living in Vieques achieved their long-sought peace. Today ``Pas 
para Vieques'' is a reality.
  For generations, the Viequeses have not known life without bombing. 
Thousands of families have lived their whole life with the concussion 
of bombs and shells upon their island at night, during the day, in the 
coastal waters.
  Vieques became a bombing and training range for the Navy in the 1940s 
during World War II. Without a doubt, much has been changed since then. 
While the bombing has continued, awareness about the island of Vieques 
has grown. Viequeses and Puerto Ricans reached out, and shared with 
people what was happening to their island. Well, over a hundred Members 
of Congress actively supported bringing an end to the bombing. I must 
note a few of them, particularly the members of the Congressional 
Hispanic Caucus and my colleagues, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Gutierrez), the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) and the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano). I must also thank the gentleman 
from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), ranking member of the Committee on Armed 
Services, the Congressional Black Caucus, activists, and many common 
citizens of the United States and elsewhere who became involved in the 
effort to return peace and to end bombing of the island of Vieques.
  Puerto Ricans also enjoyed strong leadership on this issue by 
President Bill Clinton and President Bush, who both realized that this 
was an issue of human rights and the citizens of Puerto Rico have 
suffered for too long. Having worked with the White House and both 
Commanders-in-Chief on this issue, I know that our national security 
and the well-being of thousands of citizens in Vieques were taken into 
consideration when making this determination.
  On behalf of Puerto Rico, I thank President Clinton and President 
Bush for ending the bombing of Vieques. Puerto Rico will never forget 
your resolute commitment. Today is a day of discovery, wonderment and 
joy.
  Unfortunately, last night a small group of people rushed the fence of 
the range and recklessly overturned vehicles, set fires and destroyed 
government property. It is unfortunate that some have undermined the 
peaceful protest of the past. Prayers of thanks, fireworks, parades and 
excitement will accompany the joy of today. I strongly condemn those 
few who have shown disrespect to the United States, Puerto Rico and 
Vieques. All must know that the overwhelming majority of Puerto Ricans 
are proud of their bond with the United States, and our support for the 
common defense is resolute.
  While we celebrate the end of the bombing, much work remains. Over 60 
years of explosions, bombings, waste disposal and burning have left 
much of the Vieques range littered with a deadly combination of 
unexploded ordnance and toxic chemicals. I am confident that in 
cooperation with EPA, Fish and Wildlife, the Pentagon, the Puerto Rican 
government and Vieques, we will be able to reclaim this land.
  So to Markiani, the young girl who brought me the sand from Vieques, 
I

[[Page H3622]]

say our day is upon us and we may return to the free shores of Vieques 
and take with us the sand to fulfill the dream you shared with me. But 
Markiani, you cannot yet play safely on all of the beaches until the 
cleanup is completed. Your ultimate dream is that the lands be returned 
finally to the people of Vieques. One day all of Vieques will be 
reclaimed, safe for the people to fully enjoy without fears of bombing 
or the residue of Naval training. As one era ends and another begins, 
we celebrate the long-awaited peace for Vieques.
  The aforementioned letter is as follows:

                                           Department of the Navy,


                                      Office of the Secretary,

                                   Washington, DC, April 30, 2003.
     Hon. Craig Manson,
     Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife and 
         Parks, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Manson: Public Law 106-398, as amended by Public 
     Law 107-107, directs that upon termination of Navy and Marine 
     Corps operations on the Island of Vieques, the Secretary of 
     the Navy shall transfer to the Secretary of the Interior, 
     without reimbursement, approximately 14,572.791 acres located 
     on the eastern end of Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. A 
     description of the property is attached. Note that this 
     transfer excludes the approximately 96-acre parcel known as 
     Parcel C, which was acquired on April 29, 2003 by the 
     Department of the Interior.
       As agreed to by Mr. Sam Hamilton, Southeast Regional 
     Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, all Navy and Marine 
     Corps operations on the Island of Vieques will terminate at 
     noon, April 30, 2003, and the Department of the Navy hereby 
     transfers its interests in and jurisdiction over the 
     approximately 14,572.791 acres of East Vieques to the 
     Department of the Interior at that time.
       The Commander, Atlantic Division, Naval Facilities 
     Engineering Command is responsible for implementing this 
     transfer on behalf of the Department of the Navy. He may be 
     reached at the following address and phone number: Rear 
     Admiral Michael K. Loose, CEC, USN, Commander, Atlantic 
     Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 1510 Gilbert 
     Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23511-2699, 757-322-8000.
       I request that you acknowledge the Department of the 
     Interior's acceptance of jurisdiction, custody, and control 
     for this property by signing and returning a copy of this 
     letter. Please do not hesitate to contact my staff or me with 
     any questions on this transfer.
           Sincerely,
                                              Hansford T. Johnson,
                                     Secretary of the Navy Acting.
       Attachment.


                               attachment

       Acknowledgement of the Acceptance of transfer for 
     Jurisdiction over, Custody of, and Control for approximately 
     14,572.791 acres located on the eastern end of Vieques 
     Island, Puerto Rico. This transfer shall be effective at 
     11:59 A.M., EDT April 30, 2003.

                                                 Craig Manson,

                                        Assistant Secretary of the
     Interior for Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

                          ____________________