[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 45 (Monday, March 16, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING THE WORK OF DOLORIS COULTER COGAN

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                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 16, 2009

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work of 
Doloris Coulter Cogan and the publication of her book, We Fought the 
Navy and Won: Guam's Quest for Democracy. Ms. Cogan is a 1946 graduate 
of the Columbia University School of Journalism in New York. We Fought 
the Navy and Won is a personal recollection of Guam's transition from a 
Naval Administration to a civilian government after World War II. Ms. 
Cogan at the time was editor of the Guam Echo under the Institute of 
Ethnic Affairs, and her writings chronicle the stories of Guam's 
leaders, their allies in Washington, D.C., and their efforts in 
bringing a civilian government to Guam.
  From 1898 to 1950, Guam was administered under the Secretary of the 
Navy, and while legislation for Guam's self-governance had been 
introduced before this Congress none were reported out of committee. It 
was not until the signing of the Guam Organic Act of 1950 by President 
Harry S. Truman, that Guam was allowed to govern itself with a civilian 
government. The Guam Organic Act transferred administration of Guam 
from the Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary of the Interior and 
established executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government 
on Guam. Since that time, Congress has passed legislation that changed 
the Governor of Guam from a Presidential appointment position to a 
locally elected position. Further, Congress passed legislation granting 
Guam a non-voting Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives.
  As Guam's representative to the U.S. Congress, I commend Ms. Cogan 
for her work as editor of the Guam Echo and for the publishing of I 
Fought the Navy and Won: Guam's Quest for Democracy. Through her 
writings we are to reflect and appreciate the efforts undertaken to 
bring self-governance to Guam and we can have a deeper appreciation of 
the historical roots of the Organic Act of Guam.

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