[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 175 (Tuesday, November 13, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H13535-H13538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          COMPACTS OF FREE ASSOCIATION AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2007

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 2705) to amend the Compact of Free Association 
Amendments Act of 2003, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2705

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Compacts of Free Association 
     Amendments Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. APPROVAL OF AGREEMENTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 101 of the Compact of Free 
     Association Amendments Act of 2003 (48 U.S.C. 1921) is 
     amended--
       (1) in the first sentence of subsection (a), by inserting 
     before the period at the end the following: ``, including 
     Article X of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement 
     Between the Government of the United States and the 
     Government of the Federated States of Micronesia, as amended 
     under the Agreement to Amend Article X that was signed by 
     those two Governments on June 30, 2004, which shall serve as 
     the authority to implement the provisions thereof''; and
       (2) in the first sentence of subsection (b), by inserting 
     before the period at the end the following: ``, including 
     Article X of the Federal Programs and Services Agreement 
     Between the Government of the United States and the 
     Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, as 
     amended under the Agreement to Amend Article X that was 
     signed by those two Governments on June 18, 2004, which shall 
     serve as the authority to implement the provisions thereof''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall be effective as of April 30, 2008.

     SEC. 3. FUNDS TO FACILITATE FEDERAL ACTIVITIES.

       Unobligated amounts appropriated before the date of the 
     enactment of this Act pursuant to section 105(f)(1)(A)(ii) of 
     the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 shall 
     be available to both the United States Agency for 
     International Development and the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency to facilitate each agency's activities 
     under the Federal Programs and Services Agreements.

     SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

       (a) In General.--Section 105(f)(1)(A) of the Compact of 
     Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (48 U.S.C. 
     1921d(f)(1)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(A) Emergency and disaster assistance.--
       ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), section 
     221(a)(6) of the U.S.-FSM Compact and section 221(a)(5) of 
     the U.S.-RMI Compact shall each be construed and applied in 
     accordance with the two Agreements to Amend Article X of the 
     Federal Programs and Service Agreements signed on June 30, 
     2004, and on June 18, 2004, respectively, provided that all 
     activities carried out by the United States Agency for 
     International Development and the Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency under Article X of the Federal Programs and 
     Services Agreements may be carried out notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law. In the sections referred to in this 
     clause, the term `United States Agency for International 
     Development, Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance' shall be 
     construed to mean `the United States Agency for International 
     Development'.
       ``(ii) Definition of will provide funding.--In the second 
     sentence of paragraph 12 of each of the Agreements described 
     in clause (i), the term `will provide funding' means will 
     provide funding through a transfer of funds using Standard 
     Form 1151 or a similar document or through an interagency, 
     reimbursable agreement.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall be effective as of April 30, 2008.

     SEC. 5. CLARIFICATIONS REGARDING PALAU.

       Section 105(f)(1)(B) of the Compact of Free Association 
     Amendments Act of 2003 (48 U.S.C. 1921d(f)(1)(B)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in clause (ii)(II), by striking ``and its territories'' 
     and inserting ``, its territories, and the Republic of 
     Palau'';
       (2) in clause (iii)(II), by striking ``, or the Republic of 
     the Marshall Islands'' and inserting ``, the Republic of the 
     Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau''; and
       (3) in clause (ix)--
       (A) by striking ``Republic'' both places it appears and 
     inserting ``government, institutions, and people'';
       (B) by striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2009''; and
       (C) by striking ``was'' and inserting ``were''.

     SEC. 6. AVAILABILITY OF LEGAL SERVICES.

       Section 105(f)(1)(C) of the Compact of Free Association 
     Amendments Act of 2003 (48 U.S.C. 1921d(f)(1)(C)) is amended 
     by inserting before the period at the end the following: ``, 
     which shall also continue to be available to the citizens of 
     the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, 
     and the Republic of the Marshall Islands who legally reside 
     in the United States (including territories and 
     possessions)''.

     SEC. 7. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

       (a) Title I.--
       (1) Section 177 agreement.--Section 103(c)(1) of the 
     Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (48 U.S.C. 
     1921b(c)(1)) is amended by striking ``section 177'' and 
     inserting ``Section 177''.
       (2) Interpretation and united states policy.--Section 104 
     of the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (48 
     U.S.C. 1921c) is amended--
       (A) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``the'' before 
     ``U.S.-RMI Compact,'';
       (B) in subsection (e)--
       (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of paragraph 
     (8), by striking ``to include'' and inserting ``and 
     include'';
       (ii) in paragraph (9)(A), by inserting a comma after 
     ``may''; and
       (iii) in paragraph (10), by striking ``related to service'' 
     and inserting ``related to such services''; and
       (C) in the first sentence of subsection (j), by inserting 
     ``the'' before ``Interior''.
       (3) Supplemental provisions.--Section 105(b)(1) of the 
     Compact of Free Association

[[Page H13536]]

     Amendments Act of 2003 (48 U.S.C. 1921d(b)(1)) is amended by 
     striking ``Trust Fund'' and inserting ``Trust Funds''.
       (b) Title II.--
       (1) U.S.-FSM compact.--The Compact of Free Association, as 
     amended, between the Government of the United States of 
     America and the Government of the Federated States of 
     Micronesia (as provided in section 201(a) of the Compact of 
     Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 2757)) is 
     amended--
       (A) in section 174--
       (i) in subsection (a), by striking ``courts'' and inserting 
     ``court''; and
       (ii) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``the'' before 
     ``November'';
       (B) in section 177(a), by striking ``, or Palau'' and 
     inserting ``(or Palau)'';
       (C) in section 179(b), by striking ``amended Compact'' and 
     inserting ``Compact, as amended,'';
       (D) in section 211--
       (i) in the fourth sentence of subsection (a), by striking 
     ``Compact, as Amended, of Free Association'' and inserting 
     ``Compact of Free Association, as amended'';
       (ii) in the fifth sentence of subsection (a), by striking 
     ``Trust Fund Agreement,'' and inserting ``Agreement Between 
     the Government of the United States of America and the 
     Government of the Federated States of Micronesia Implementing 
     Section 215 and Section 216 of the Compact, as Amended, 
     Regarding a Trust Fund (Trust Fund Agreement),'';
       (iii) in subsection (b)--

       (I) in the first sentence, by striking ``Government of 
     the'' before ``Federated''; and
       (II) in the second sentence, by striking ``Sections 321 and 
     323 of the Compact of Free Association, as Amended'' and 
     inserting ``Sections 211(b), 321, and 323 of the Compact of 
     Free Association, as amended,''; and

       (iv) in the last sentence of subsection (d), by inserting 
     before the period at the end the following: ``and the Federal 
     Programs and Services Agreement referred to in section 231'';
       (E) in the first sentence of section 215(b), by striking 
     ``subsection(a)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)'';
       (F) in section 221--
       (i) in subsection (a)(6), by inserting ``(Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency)'' after ``Homeland Security''; and
       (ii) in the first sentence of subsection (c), by striking 
     ``agreements'' and inserting ``agreement'';
       (G) in the second sentence of section 222, by inserting 
     ``in'' after ``referred to'';
       (H) in the second sentence of section 232, by striking 
     ``sections 102 (c)'' and all that follows through ``January 
     14, 1986)'' and inserting ``section 102(b) of Public Law 108-
     188, 117 Stat. 2726, December 17, 2003'';
       (I) in the second sentence of section 252, by inserting ``, 
     as amended,'' after ``Compact'';
       (J) in the first sentence of the first undesignated 
     paragraph of section 341, by striking ``Section 141'' and 
     inserting ``section 141'';
       (K) in section 342--
       (i) in subsection (a), by striking ``14 U.S.C. 195'' and 
     inserting ``section 195 of title 14, United States Code''; 
     and
       (ii) in subsection (b)--

       (I) by striking ``46 U.S.C. 1295(b)(6)'' and inserting 
     ``section 1303(b)(6) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 
     U.S.C. 1295b(b)(6))''; and
       (II) by striking ``46 U.S.C. 1295b(b)(6)(C)'' and inserting 
     ``section 1303(b)(6)(C) of that Act'';

       (L) in the third sentence of section 354(a), by striking 
     ``section 442 and 452'' and inserting ``sections 442 and 
     452'';
       (M) in section 461(h), by striking ``Telecommunications'' 
     and inserting ``Telecommunication'';
       (N) in section 462(b)(4), by striking ``of Free 
     Association'' the second place it appears; and
       (O) in section 463(b), by striking ``Articles IV'' and 
     inserting ``Article IV''.
       (2) U.S.-RMI compact.--The Compact of Free Association, as 
     amended, between the Government of the United States of 
     America and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall 
     Islands (as provided in section 201(b) of the Compact of Free 
     Association Amendments Act of 2003 (117 Stat. 2795)) is 
     amended--
       (A) in section 174(a), by striking ``court'' and inserting 
     ``courts'';
       (B) in section 177(a), by striking the comma before ``(or 
     Palau)'';
       (C) in section 179(b), by striking ``amended Compact,'' and 
     inserting ``Compact, as amended,'';
       (D) in section 211--
       (i) in the fourth sentence of subsection (a), by striking 
     ``Compact, as Amended, of Free Association'' and inserting 
     ``Compact of Free Association, as amended'';
       (ii) in the first sentence of subsection (b), by striking 
     ``Agreement between the Government of the United States and 
     the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands 
     Regarding Miliary Use and Operating Rights'' and inserting 
     ``Agreement Regarding the Military Use and Operating Rights 
     of the Government of the United States in the Republic of the 
     Marshall Islands concluded Pursuant to Sections 321 and 323 
     of the Compact of Free Association, as Amended (Agreement 
     between the Government of the United States and the 
     Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands Regarding 
     Military Use and Operating Rights)''; and
       (iii) in the last sentence of subsection (e), by inserting 
     before the period at the end the following: ``and the Federal 
     Programs and Services Agreement referred to in section 231'';
       (E) in section 221(a)--
       (i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``Section 231'' and inserting ``section 231''; and
       (ii) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``(Federal Emergency 
     Management Agency)'' after ``Homeland Security'';
       (F) in the second sentence of section 232, by striking 
     ``sections 103(m)'' and all that follows through ``(January 
     14, 1986)'' and inserting ``section 103(k) of Public Law 108-
     188, 117 Stat. 2734, December 17, 2003'';
       (G) in the first sentence of section 341, by striking 
     ``Section 141'' and inserting ``section 141'';
       (H) in section 342--
       (i) in subsection (a), by striking ``14 U.S.C. 195'' and 
     inserting ``section 195 of title 14, United States Code''; 
     and
       (ii) in subsection (b)--

       (I) by striking ``46 U.S.C. 1295(b)(6)'' and inserting 
     ``section 1303(b)(6) of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 (46 
     U.S.C. 1295b(b)(6))''; and
       (II) by striking ``46 U.S.C. 1295b(b)(6)(C)'' and inserting 
     ``section 1303(b)(6)(C) of that Act'';

       (I) in the third sentence of section 354(a), by striking 
     ``section 442 and 452'' and inserting ``sections 442 and 
     452'';
       (J) in the first sentence of section 443, by inserting ``, 
     as amended.'' after ``the Compact'';
       (K) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of section 
     461(h)--
       (i) by striking ``1978'' and inserting ``1998''; and
       (ii) by striking ``Telecommunications'' and inserting 
     ``Telecommunication Union''; and
       (L) in section 463(b), by striking ``Article'' and 
     inserting ``Articles''.

     SEC. 8. TRANSMISSION OF VIDEOTAPE PROGRAMMING.

       Section 111(e)(2) of title 17, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``or the Trust Territory of the Pacific 
     Islands'' and inserting ``the Federated States of Micronesia, 
     the Republic of Palau, or the Republic of the Marshall 
     Islands''.

     SEC. 9. PALAU ROAD MAINTENANCE.

       The Government of the Republic of Palau may deposit the 
     payment otherwise payable to the Government of the United 
     States under section 111 of Public Law 101-219 (48 U.S.C. 
     1960) into a trust fund if--
       (1) the earnings of the trust fund are expended solely for 
     maintenance of the road system constructed pursuant to 
     section 212 of the Compact of Free Association between the 
     Government of the United States of America and the Government 
     of Palau (48 U.S.C. 1931 note); and
       (2) the trust fund is established and operated pursuant to 
     an agreement entered into between the Government of the 
     United States and the Government of the Republic of Palau.

     SEC. 10. CLARIFICATION OF TAX-FREE STATUS OF TRUST FUNDS.

       In the U.S.-RMI Compact, the U.S.-FSM Compact, and their 
     respective trust fund subsidiary agreements, for the purposes 
     of taxation by the United States or its subsidiary 
     jurisdictions, the term ``State'' means ``State, territory, 
     or the District of Columbia''.

     SEC. 11. TRANSFER OF NAVAL VESSELS TO CERTAIN FOREIGN 
                   RECIPIENTS.

       (a) Transfers by Grant.--The President is authorized to 
     transfer vessels to foreign countries on a grant basis under 
     section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
     2321j), as follows:
       (1) Turkey.--To the Government of Turkey--
       (A) the OLIVER HAZARD PERRY class guided missile frigates 
     GEORGE PHILIP (FFG-12) and SIDES (FFG-14); and
       (B) the OSPREY class minehunter coastal ship BLACKHAWK 
     (MHC-58).
       (2) Lithuania.--To the Government of Lithuania, the OSPREY 
     class minehunter coastal ships CORMORANT (MHC-57) and 
     KINGFISHER (MHC-56).
       (b) Transfers by Sale.--The President is authorized to 
     transfer vessels to foreign recipients on a sale basis under 
     section 21 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2761), 
     as follows:
       (1) Taiwan.--To the Taipei Economic and Cultural 
     Representative Office in the United States (which is the 
     Taiwan instrumentality designated pursuant to section 10(a) 
     of the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3309(a))), the OSPREY 
     class minehunter coastal ships ORIOLE (MHC-55) and FALCON 
     (MHC-59).
       (2) Turkey.--To the Government of Turkey, the OSPREY class 
     minehunter coastal ship SHRIKE (MHC-62).
       (c) Grants Not Counted in Annual Total of Transferred 
     Excess Defense Articles.--The value of a vessel transferred 
     to a recipient on a grant basis pursuant to authority 
     provided by subsection (a) shall not be counted against the 
     aggregate value of excess defense articles transferred in any 
     fiscal year under section 516(g) of the Foreign Assistance 
     Act of 1961.
       (d) Costs of Transfers.--Any expense incurred by the United 
     States in connection with a transfer authorized by this 
     section shall be charged to the recipient.
       (e) Repair and Refurbishment in United States Shipyards.--
     To the maximum extent practicable, the President shall 
     require, as a condition of the transfer of a vessel under 
     this section, that the recipient to which the vessel is 
     transferred have such repair or refurbishment of the vessel 
     as is needed before the vessel joins the naval forces of the 
     recipient performed at a shipyard located in the United 
     States, including a United States Navy shipyard.

[[Page H13537]]

       (f) Expiration of Authority.--The authority to transfer a 
     vessel under this section shall expire at the end of the 2-
     year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Bilirakis) 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 rise in strong support of this 
resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would first like to recognize a distinguished colleague and dear 
friend of mine, the gentlelady who currently chairs the Subcommittee on 
International Affairs, the gentlelady from the Virgin Islands, Mrs. 
Donna Christensen, for introducing this legislation.
  This bill makes conforming, clarifying, and technical amendments to 
the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003, which are 
important to ensuring that we maintain our obligations under the act to 
our friends in Micronesia.
  This bill also approves agreements made pursuant to the act which 
determines how disaster relief will be handled for the Federated States 
of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
  In addition, Mr. Speaker, through amending the Compact of Free 
Association, this legislation before us today transfers excess military 
equipment to friendly foreign governments for their legitimate defense 
needs. It is a strong statement of trust and cooperation from the 
United States when we transfer excess U.S. military naval vessels.
  While excess to our own needs, these refurbished vessels conserve 
significant and deeply appreciated roles in the navies of the recipient 
nations.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill also authorizes the transfer of excess U.S. 
naval vessels to three of our most important friends and allies, 
Turkey, Lithuania and Taiwan.
  As my colleagues well know, Turkey is one of our most valued NATO 
members, and is one of the United States' closest allies. Turkey serves 
as one of the most important conduits for the transit of supplies to 
our forces in Iraq. The transfer of these missiles, two guided missile 
frigates and two minesweepers, will again reinforce our close 
relationship with Istanbul and our common commitments to each other's 
security needs.
  Lithuania has been a staunch U.S. ally in the global war on terror. 
It makes an outside contribution to global security, contributing 
troops to military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the leading 
provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan.
  The two minesweeper vessels in this bill will allow Vilnius to clear 
leftover sea mines from the two world wars in the Baltic Sea and 
supports Lithuania's commitment to NATO's Mine Counter-Measures Forces 
North mission.
  Taiwan is a thriving and energetic democracy. Our two nations share a 
complex web of economic, political, and strategic ties that only 
deepens over time. Taiwan is a bulwark of democracy in the Asia-Pacific 
region, and we must do all we can to further strengthen our political, 
security and economic ties. This bill authorizes the sale of two 
minesweepers to Taiwan.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2705, the Compacts of Free 
Association Amendments Act of 2007.
  The United States shares a uniquely close history and friendship with 
the Pacific Island nations of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and 
Palau.
  In the aftermath of World War II, the United States administered 
those islands as Trust Territories until they became independent, 
sovereign nations in the 1980s and the 1990s. Our relations with those 
countries are governed by compacts of free association which guarantees 
certain forms of U.S. assistance and cooperation in exchange for 
defense rights and obligations that are unique in the world.
  Those Pacific nations remain stalwart friends of the United States 
and dependable partisans in the United Nations General Assembly. Some 
of their citizens continue to serve with great distinction and personal 
sacrifice in the United States Armed Forces, including Iraq and 
Afghanistan.
  The 108th Congress extended and significantly restructured the 
compacts of free association with Micronesia and the Marshall Islands 
in the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003. This bill 
makes technical corrections, updates, and minor changes to that act, as 
well as to the Palau Compact. Most importantly, it improves the 
disaster assistance agreements required by section 105 of the act, 
which were subsequently negotiated between the parties and presented to 
Congress.
  I want to thank the author, the gentlelady from the U.S. Virgin 
Islands (Mrs. Christensen) for providing us this opportunity to 
reaffirm our friendship with the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the 
Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
  The measure before us today has also been modified to include the 
text of H.R. 3912, the Naval Vessel Transfer Act of 2007, which was 
requested by the Department of Defense and introduced by the gentleman 
from California, our great chairman, Tom Lantos.
  According to the Secretary of the Navy, authority to transfer surplus 
vessels is an important aspect of our ship disposition strategy. It 
enables the Navy to manage its inventory while strengthening the ties 
with our allies by transferring the ships that enhance their defense 
capabilities.
  This bill authorizes the transfer of eight decommissioned naval 
vessels to certain friends and allies of the United States, 
specifically Lithuania and Turkey and Taiwan. Five ships will be 
transferred on a grant basis, as excess defense articles, and three 
will be transferred through foreign military sales under section 21 of 
the Arms Export Control Act.
  Importantly, the legislation also requires that any expense incurred 
by the United States in connection with a transfer authorized by this 
bill shall be charged to the recipient. Likewise, it states that, to 
the maximum extent feasible, repair and refurbishment of these vessels 
shall take place in U.S. shipyards.
  I urge support of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1300

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 10 minutes 
to the distinguished gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen).
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you for your generosity with time. I will not 
use anywhere near that much.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2705, the Compacts of Free 
Association Amendments Act, as amended by the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs.
  This legislation I sponsored is important to usher in a new regime of 
how disaster assistance is provided to the Republic of the Marshall 
Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. In addition, it 
clarifies access to educational programs for the Republic of Palau. 
Lastly, the legislation makes technical corrections to Compacts of Free 
Association with the RMI and the FSM as was suggested by the 
administration.
  I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues on the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs for their attention to this legislation. 
Especially I would like to thank the chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment, the gentleman from 
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega); and the subcommittee's ranking 
member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo). I would also like 
to thank Chairman Lantos and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for their 
leadership in moving this legislation forward.
  I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 2705.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H13538]]

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I want first to compliment my good friend the gentleman from Florida 
on the other side of the aisle for part of our management of this 
proposed legislation.
  I want to note for the record how important these islands in 
Micronesia were so critical in our Nation's history, and I might want 
to note as a matter of record that it was from Micronesia that the 
famous aircraft, the Enola Gay, took the two atom bombs to Nagasaki and 
Hiroshima which eventually ended the war against Japanese military 
forces. It was also in Micronesia that we initiated and conducted tests 
of some 67 nuclear devices that were exploded in the Marshall Islands. 
I think sometimes we don't seem to give a sense of appreciation of the 
fact that the whole Marshall archipelago, the whole Marshall Islands, 
were totally exposed to nuclear radiation as a result of our nuclear 
testing program, some 67 nuclear bombs, including the first hydrogen 
bomb that was exploded in the Marshall Islands, 1,000 times more 
powerful than the bombs that we exploded in Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
  I am saddened to say, Mr. Speaker, that our government has not made a 
definite commitment to help, to meet the medical needs of the several 
hundred of the Marshallese people who were exposed to nuclear 
radiation. To this day we still have not done enough to help the 
Marshallese people in this regard. We have also not helped the 
Marshallese people to compensate them properly for the loss of their 
property when we conducted these tests in Micronesia.
  I just want to note that for the record, Mr. Speaker. I hope that in 
the coming months that appropriate legislation will be introduced to 
address these very serious issues. I think we owe it to the Marshallese 
people. Our government surely should be grateful for the sacrifices 
that the Marshallese people have had to make as a result of conducting 
our nuclear testing program in this area of the world.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, again I thank my good friend from Florida.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pastor). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) that 
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2705, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________