[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 93 (Monday, June 11, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H6194-H6198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING AND WELCOMING THE DELEGATION OF PRESIDENTS, PRIME 
 MINISTERS, AND FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM THE CARIBBEAN TO WASHINGTON, DC

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree

[[Page H6195]]

to the resolution (H. Res. 418) recognizing and welcoming the 
delegation of Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Foreign Ministers from 
the Caribbean to Washington, DC, and commending the Caribbean Community 
(CARICOM) for holding the Conference on the Caribbean.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 418

       Whereas Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Foreign Ministers 
     from Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, 
     Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and 
     Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 
     Suriname, Trinidad, and Tobago will travel to Washington, DC, 
     to attend the Conference on the Caribbean and meet with 
     Members of Congress;
       Whereas for the first time in its history, through the 
     cooperation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the 
     Department of State, and Congress, the Conference on the 
     Caribbean is convening June 19, 2007, through June 21, 2007, 
     in Washington, DC;
       Whereas CARICOM was created through the Treaty of 
     Chaguaramas in 1973 at Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago;
       Whereas CARICOM was established in order to improve labor 
     standards, production, and sustained economic development, 
     expand foreign trade and economic relations, increase 
     economic leverage and effectiveness of Member States in 
     dealing with third-party states, enhance the coordination of 
     Member States' foreign policies and trade relations, and 
     promote the tradition of democracy in the region;
       Whereas CARICOM is developing stronger trade, economic 
     relations, and overall cooperation with the United States 
     Government;
       Whereas the Conference on the Caribbean is a unique 
     dialogue between leaders of the United States and Caribbean 
     countries to develop regional strategies for economic 
     development and better relations with Caribbean countries;
       Whereas the United States has maintained deep and enduring 
     relations with the peoples of Caribbean countries and is 
     linked to the Caribbean not only through geography but also 
     through common interests and values;
       Whereas the United States and Caribbean countries can 
     enhance their cooperation in many areas, including mutually 
     beneficial trade and economic relationships, countering the 
     transnational scourges of crime, drugs, and terrorism, 
     combating the spread of infectious disease, protecting the 
     environment and encouraging tourism, maintaining fisheries 
     and other maritime resources, addressing climate change, 
     energy security and renewable energy sources, and promoting 
     democracy and good governance; and
       Whereas there are increasing numbers of Americans of 
     Caribbean heritage making myriad contributions to America's 
     rich cultural fabric and diversity: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the deep and historic ties between the 
     peoples of the United States and the Caribbean;
       (2) expresses the hope that relations between the United 
     States and the Caribbean will continue to grow closer in the 
     future;
       (3) commends the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for holding 
     the Conference of the Caribbean; and
       (4) recognizes and welcomes the delegation of Presidents, 
     Prime Ministers, and Foreign Ministers from Caribbean 
     countries to Washington, DC.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. 
Boozman) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from American Samoa.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from American Samoa?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution.
  Let me first commend my distinguished friend and colleague, also a 
senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the gentleman from New 
York, Mr. Eliot Engel, chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western 
Hemisphere, for introducing this important resolution, which welcomes 
an impressive delegation of Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Foreign 
Ministers from the Caribbean to Washington, DC for the Conference on 
the Caribbean.
  Mr. Speaker, the Caribbean nations are as varied and stunningly 
exquisite as anywhere in the world. We are pleased to have a strong 
relationship with the Caribbean Community, also known as CARICOM, the 
free trade association that unifies these states.
  For the first time in its history, through the coordination of the 
Caribbean Community, the State Department and Congress, the Conference 
of the Caribbean is convening in Washington. The Foreign Affairs 
Committee is pleased to be meeting with the members of this delegation 
when they convene here on June 19 through June 21. They will also be 
meeting with President Bush as well as members of the House Ways and 
Means Committee and the Congressional Black Caucus.
  This is to be a historic meeting that ushers in a new era of 
cooperation between the United States and the nations of the Caribbean, 
an area of the world often neglected.
  The United States and the countries of the Caribbean can enhance 
collaboration in several important areas, including mutually beneficial 
trade and economic relationships; battling crime, drugs, and terrorism; 
and combating the spread of diseases including HIV/AIDS. This will also 
be a golden opportunity for the Caribbean nations and the United States 
to cooperate on new and clean energy production technologies.
  Our relations with the Caribbean also hit very close to home as there 
are increasing numbers of Americans of Caribbean heritage making 
significant contributions to our culture here in America. I need only 
to cite a few that come to mind, and one of the gentlemen I had the 
privilege of meeting years ago was none other that Mr. Harry Belafonte, 
whose roots are also from the Caribbean. What about the late and former 
Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to run 
for President of the United States, and she certainly distinguished 
herself in representing her constituents from New York.

                              {time}  1515

  Also, at the meeting, I had the privilege of meeting with a gentleman 
by the name of Sidney Poitier from the Caribbean, of Caribbean 
heritage. And of course none other than former Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, and also former Secretary of State, Mr. Colin Powell, 
whose heritage is also from the Caribbean.
  We need to continue to work on ways to strengthen the open markets 
and economic ties that have brought prosperity to many Caribbean 
nations that promise to lift up those in need. We all look forward to 
seeing some real tangible results coming out of this upcoming 
conference.
  I urge my colleagues to give this resolution its fullest support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 418 that welcomes 
the delegations of presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers 
from the Caribbean to Washington to meet with the U.S. Congress. This 
delegation brings the President of Suriname, the prime ministers of 
Barbados, Belize, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, 
and Trinidad and Tobago, foreign ministers from the CARICOM countries, 
and the Assistant Secretary General of the Caribbean Community.
  These unprecedented meetings are part of the CARICOM Conference on 
the Caribbean that will take place from June 19-21.
  The Caribbean Community, or CARICOM, was established in 1973 to unify 
member countries on foreign policies and trade relations with outside 
states, and to improve the economic conditions of the region.
  Fourteen member states will be represented at the meeting, which will 
focus on trade relations with the United States, energy cooperation, 
and security concerns, including small arms trafficking and 
counternarcotics efforts, immigration and the reintegration of the 
Portuguese in the region, and the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
  There is always room to improve U.S. relations with our southern 
neighbors. Other such areas to be addressed during the discussions 
include encouraging tourism, protecting the environment, addressing 
energy security and renewable resources, combating the spread of 
infectious disease, and promoting democracy and good governance. This 
bill

[[Page H6196]]

recognizes the deep and historic ties between the people of the United 
States and the Caribbean, and it commends the Caribbean Community for 
the establishment of the first-ever conference of this kind.
  I applaud this important step, and look forward to working with 
CARICOM to improve the overall relations between the U.S. Congress and 
our Caribbean allies.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend and 
colleague from Arkansas for his support of this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I forgot to mention as part of my commenting on this, 
the tremendous number of world-renowned athletes also coming from the 
Caribbean. I can only think of Bob Clemente from Puerto Rico. I know of 
one other, but I am going to get back to you on them, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time it is my privilege to yield such time as he 
may need to the chief sponsor and author of this proposed legislation, 
my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel).
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my good friend from 
American Samoa, my classmate, we came to Congress together in 1989, for 
yielding me this time. I would like to thank Chairman Lantos for 
marking up this resolution, and for the support of many members of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee.
  I would also like to thank my colleagues. This is the first speech I 
am making on the House floor since the passing of my dear mother, and I 
want to thank my colleagues for their support and for their strength 
and caring for me and my family.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution welcomes a delegation of presidents, 
prime ministers and foreign ministers from 14 Caribbean nations to 
Washington, D.C., for the Conference on the Caribbean, which will be 
held next week.
  I am the chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the House 
Foreign Affairs Committee, and I can tell you that the relationship 
that the United States has with the Caribbean nations is of paramount 
importance. In fact, in many of the trips that we have gone on, people 
have said to us they want the United States to be involved. They have a 
sense, many times, that we have looked elsewhere, and they don't 
understand why.
  So I think it is important for our subcommittee to be involved, our 
committee to be involved and for the U.S. Congress to be involved in 
helping to foster good ties with the Caribbean nations; and of course 
this resolution lays the groundwork, and the interaction with the 
delegations from the Caribbean that will be here this week is very, 
very important.
  As Mr. Faleomavaega said, the Caribbean nations are as culturally 
varied and physically beautiful as anywhere in the world. It is 
important to expand our strong relationship with the Caribbean 
Community, also known as CARICOM. This is an historic conference. For 
the first time in its history, through the coordination of the 
Caribbean Community, the State Department, the Congress, the Conference 
on the Caribbean is convening in Washington. I cannot state how 
important that is and how significant that is and what kind of 
important role the United States Congress can play.
  I am honored to be the chairman of the Western Hemisphere 
Subcommittee, and I will do everything in my power to help facilitate 
relations between the United States, United States Congress and the 
nations of the Caribbean.
  The Foreign Affairs Committee is pleased to be meeting with the 
members of this delegation on June 20 at 2:30 p.m., and I encourage all 
our colleagues, both on our committee and on our subcommittee, and even 
people that are not on our committee, to attend this meeting.
  The delegation will also be meeting with President Bush, as well as 
members of the Ways and Means Committee and the Congressional Black 
Caucus, and as well as, of course, our Foreign Affairs Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I visited four Caribbean countries in the last 6 months 
and have learned much from our friends in the south. In Haiti, leaders 
are very appreciative for the support of the United States and for the 
recent passage of the HOPE legislation, but want to make sure we 
coordinate closely with the government on our assistance plan.
  Further to the south, leaders of the many small island nations feel 
neglected by the United States and are looking for closer cooperation 
on energy, security, crime, education, health and other issues. 
Countries like China are stepping in and filling the vacuum left by the 
United States in these small, but strategically important countries. 
This is our hemisphere, the Western Hemisphere, and we simply must be 
more engaged. We cannot stand back and think that other countries are 
not going to move into the vacuum. You know, we used to go to school 
when we were kids and learn about the policy of ``hands off the 
Americas,'' but that's not true anymore. Other countries, like China 
and like Iran and other places, will step in if we neglect these 
countries.
  Our friends in the Caribbean have offered their support for U.S. 
efforts to combat global terrorism. With the recent revelation that the 
suspects from Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana were involved in the plot 
to blow up JFK Airport in New York City, we need more than ever to work 
closely with our allies in the Caribbean to defeat terrorism.
  I was just in Trinidad with a delegation. We met with the leader of 
Trinidad, and he told us in emphatic terms how closely he wanted to 
work with the United States to combat terrorism. They're willing, 
they're able, they want to work with us. We just need to show that we 
want to work with them.
  Terrorism is not just a single region issue, it impacts all areas of 
the world. When we have friends reaching out to us in our hemisphere as 
allies on the war on terror, we must closely engage with them.
  I am looking forward to this historic meeting that ushers in a new 
era of cooperation between the United States and the Caribbean, an area 
of the world to which, again, I don't believe we have been paying 
adequate attention.
  The United States and the countries of the Caribbean can enhance 
collaboration in several important areas, including mutually beneficial 
trade and economic relationships, battling crime, drugs and terrorism, 
and combating the spread of diseases, including HIV/AIDS. There is also 
a golden opportunity for the Caribbean nations and the U.S. to 
cooperate on new and clean energy production technologies. And, again, 
when we were in Trinidad, we visited some of those technologies, 
Trinidad being a major supplier of natural gas to the United States of 
America.
  Our relations with the Caribbean also are very important as there are 
large numbers of Americans of Caribbean heritage, as the gentleman from 
American Samoa pointed out, making significant contributions to our 
culture in America. I represent the New York City area district. In New 
York City and in the suburbs, and in my district alone in New York, 
there are very, very large numbers of Caribbean residents, including 
Jamaicans, Haitians, Dominicans, and many, many others. The Dominican 
Republic is a country that wants to work closely with us, a very 
important country. Haiti needs our attention. Grenada, where the United 
States invaded when Ronald Reagan was President, now we seem to be 
neglecting them. We visited there as well. So these are countries that 
we need to watch, to work with.
  The gentleman on the other side of the aisle mentioned St. Vincent 
and the Grenadines. It's just coincidental that the foreign minister of 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who will be here, went to college with 
me some 40 years ago in New York City. And we have maintained our 
friendship through all those years, never knowing that I would 
eventually go to Congress and he would become the foreign minister of 
St. Vincent in the Grenadines. And so I hope to work with him on these 
issues. His name is Louis Straker. These are important relationships, 
and we need to continue to foster them.
  And finally, we must continue to work on ways of strengthening the 
relationships that have brought prosperity to many Caribbean nations 
and that promise to lift up those in need. It

[[Page H6197]]

is my hope that our friends in the Caribbean can see some real concrete 
results coming out of this important Caribbean Conference in 
Washington.
  Let me just conclude by saying the time for rhetoric is over. It is 
now time for action and a real enhancement of our relations with the 
Caribbean.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues for their 
support of this legislation. I thank the chairman. I thank the 
gentleman from the American Samoa, the gentleman from Arkansas. We all 
need to work together. This should be bipartisan. This is good for 
America. We need to strengthen our ties with the Caribbean.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the subcommittee chairman 
for his hard work. Also, I want to thank the chairman of the full 
committee, Mr. Lantos, and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for bringing this forward 
along with our staff.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague and 
chairman of our Subcommittee of the Western Hemisphere. Not only am I 
an original cosponsor of this important resolution, but also, as a 
member of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, it has been my privilege 
over the years to also visit some of our countries here in the 
Caribbean area. And as my friend from New York has said, sometimes we 
neglect these so-called small states.
  A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of hosting several 
presidents and prime ministers from the South Pacific, from the Pacific 
region. Currently, in the United Nations they have what is known as a 
small states association, which is comprised primarily of states or 
countries from the Caribbean, and also from the Pacific region. And 
they number about a little over 42 members in the United Nations.
  The point I wanted to make, Mr. Speaker, is these are sovereign, 
independent nations, and we are not to look at them as just because 
they're small, that they are not important as far as our national needs 
are concerned. We ought to be very sensitive to the needs of small 
states, no matter where they are.
  I also want to note with a sense of irony that right in the middle of 
the Caribbean we have 4 million U.S. citizens living in the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. I failed to mention that with my love and 
passion for the sport of golf, it was my privilege to meet a couple of 
years ago the great golfer from Puerto Rico, Chi Chi Rodriguez. I 
stated earlier Sammy Sosa. We have so many names here, Mr. Speaker, I 
just wanted to share with my colleagues and my good friend from 
Arkansas, tremendous contributions of talent coming from the Caribbean 
region. I don't need to say them in terms of the wealth of talent 
coming from the Caribbean as far as the sport of baseball is concerned. 
I just want to share that note with my colleagues.
  And again, I want to commend my good friend, the chairman of our 
Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. We look forward 
to meeting with these presidents and prime ministers coming from the 
Caribbean region.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, as a daughter of the Caribbean and the 
only member of the House from the English-speaking Caribbean, I rise in 
strong support of H. Res. 418, which recognizes and welcomes the 
delegation of Presidents, Prime Ministers, and Foreign Ministers from 
the Caribbean to Washington, DC, and commends the Caribbean Community, 
CARICOM, for holding their Conference on the Caribbean.
  It is with great pride that I join my colleagues in applauding the 
heads of Government of the CARICOM Caribbean Community of nations for 
convening their conference on the Caribbean--A 20/20 Vision--here in 
Washington. The theme of the conference is: CARICOM DEVELOPMENT IN THE 
21st Century: Economic Growth with Social Equity.
  I want to thank and commend my colleague and friend the chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Representative Engel for 
introducing H. Res. 418 and for shepherding it on to the floor of the 
House today.
  Mr. Speaker, the nations of the Caribbean, some of the longest and 
most stable democracies in the region, have long been among our closest 
friends and staunchest allies. In recent years, the region was 
described as America's ``third border'' because events there have a 
direct impact on the security of the United States. However, while we 
have made statements about bolstering political and economic stability 
in the region, the reality is that our friends to the south have been 
suffering from our benign neglect.
  Whether it has been our position on Caribbean bananas at the WTO, or 
our insistence that our Caribbean neighbors make costly upgrades to 
their air and seaports to comply with our post-September 11th security 
concerns, to the recently instituted Western Hemisphere Initiative, our 
Caribbean neighbors have been taking it on the chin economically as a 
result of policy decisions we have made to address our domestic and 
foreign policy agendas.
  I also hope that the recently uncovered plot to blow up a fuel supply 
line at the JFK Airport in NY, allegedly involving four men from Guyana 
and Trinidad and Tobago will not lead to the belief that the Caribbean 
is becoming a ``hotbed of terrorism''.
  In holding their conference in Washington, our Caribbean neighbors 
hope to strengthen the relationship between the United States and 
CARICOM by addressing priority areas for future Caribbean growth and 
development, including issues related to trade, competitiveness and 
investment, in mutually beneficial and reinforcing ways.
  They also hope to deepen and broaden the dialogue between the 
Governments and people of CARICOM and the Government and people of the 
United States of America that should result in the renewed appreciation 
of the Caribbean.
  We--the Congress and the Bush Administration--owe it to these small 
and vulnerable friends to seriously consider the issues they will raise 
with us during the conference. These include, trade and 
competitiveness, immigration, cooperation on security issues including 
the return of criminal deportees, disaster preparedness and mitigation 
and health-care including HIV/AIDS.
  The Caribbean and its peoples have deep and historic ties with the 
United States and its peoples. It is my fervent hope that through this 
conference and the meetings that will take place with President Bush 
and the Members of Congress, including the Congressional Black Caucus, 
that relations between the United States and the Caribbean will 
continue to grow closer in the future.
  I urge my colleagues to support adoption of this resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
418, recognizing and welcoming the delegation of Presidents, Prime 
Ministers, and Foreign Ministers from the Caribbean to Washington, DC, 
and commending the Caribbean Community, CARICOM, for holding the 
Conference on the Caribbean.
  I will first begin by thanking my colleague on the Foreign Affairs 
committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, 
Representative Eliot Engel, for introducing such an important key 
resolution, which welcomes to Washington, DC, Presidents, Prime 
Ministers, and Foreign Ministers from all nations of the Caribbean. 
Through cooperation between CARICOM, the Department of State and the 
United States Congress, delegates will meet for the first time in 
history for a three day--June 19-June 21, 2007--Conference on the 
Caribbean.
  As a member of the United States House of Representatives, I 
recognize the deep and historic ties between our American people and 
those of the Caribbean. I would like to take this opportunity to 
commend the Caribbean community, CARICOM, for holding this conference, 
as well as to recognize and welcome all delegates to the United States. 
I look forward to working with the Caribbean community in maintaining 
and strengthening the relations between both countries.
  CARICOM was created through the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973 to aid 
in developing stronger trade and economic relations, improving labor 
relations, and sustaining economic development and overall cooperation 
when dealing with third-party states. It will be the hope of all 
delegates convened to usher in a new era of cooperation between the 
U.S. and the Caribbean; an area of the world that is often neglected.
  As a strong supporter of the notion of a global marketplace of ideas, 
I strongly believe that this meeting can serve as a landmark toward 
creating mutually beneficial relationships, as well as enhancing 
collaboration in several areas such as trade and economic 
relationships, crimes, drugs and terrorism, while also combating the 
spread of diseases, including HIV/AIDS. The Conference on the Caribbean 
also allows the two countries to cooperate on new and clean energy-
production technologies.
  As a leader in one of the most diverse metropolitan districts in the 
nation, as well as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee here on 
Capitol Hill, I strongly cherish the bond that our two nations share. I 
can attest to the significant contributions that Americans of Caribbean 
heritage are making in America. Houston

[[Page H6198]]

is a multicultural city with a large and even advancing international 
community; for that reason, I strongly support and value a cultural 
outreach effort.
  I thank you once again, Mr. Engel, for your efforts in introducing 
this piece of legislation. I am looking forward to witnessing the 
results of this upcoming conference.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
resolution.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. 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 American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 418.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

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