[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 55 (Thursday, March 29, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E691]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 A BILL TO DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO ENSURE THAT CERTAIN 
  QUESTIONS ARE PLACED ON THE BALLOT OF THE 2008 GENERAL ELECTION IN 
                             AMERICAN SAMOA

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                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2007

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I am honored today to introduce 
legislation directing the Secretary of the Interior to ensure that 
certain questions related to American Samoa's political status, 
democratic process, and Federal relationship are to be placed on the 
ballot of our 2008 general election.
  Specifically, this legislation mandates that the following three 
questions are to be addressed on the ballot in American Samoa:
  1. Whether individuals who are born in American Samoa should become 
citizens of the United States.
  2. Whether the Senators of the American Samoa Fono should be elected 
by the qualified electors from the respective counties that the 
Senators are to represent.
  3. Whether American Samoa should have its own Federal district court 
with limited jurisdiction.
  I believe that placing these questions on the ballot would provide 
our people an opportunity to have a voice in the shaping of American 
Samoa's political future. Moreover, the answers to these questions will 
assist our local political leaders in the shaping of our territory's 
policies and legislation.
  I firmly believe that the people of American Samoa deserve the right 
to be heard on these fundamental issues. I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation that would give American Samoa's voting public 
this right.

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