[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 157 (Tuesday, October 27, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2644]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ASSISTANCE FOR POLITICAL STATUS EDUCATION 
                            PROGRAM FOR GUAM

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 27, 2009

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, today I have introduced a bill to 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to award grants and extend 
assistance to the Government of Guam for the purpose of helping to 
facilitate a political status public education program for the people 
of Guam.
  This bill is introduced in recognition of the Secretary of the 
Interior's administrative responsibility for the economic, social and 
political development of the territory of Guam. Executive Order 10077 
signed in 1949 transferred the administration of Guam from the 
Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary of the Interior, and Congress 
has provided certain levels of self-government for the people of Guam 
since the enactment of the Organic Act of Guam in 1950.
  However, the political status of the territory of Guam remains 
unresolved. The Guam Legislature has passed local laws authorizing the 
holding of a political status plebiscite. Any plebiscite requires a 
public education program to inform the people of Guam of various 
political status options.
  This bill specifically authorizes federal assistance for such a 
public education program. Federal funding for political status public 
education programs is not without precedent. U.S. Public Law 101-45 
provided $3,500,000 to the Territory of Puerto Rico to ``participate in 
the legislative process involving the future political status of Puerto 
Rico.'' Additionally, the now independent Republic of Palau was 
appropriated by U.S. Public Law 101-219, ``such sums as may be 
necessary for a further referendum on approval of the Compact, if one 
is required, or other appropriate costs associated with the approval 
process in Palau.''
  The people of Guam have expressed their desire for a new political 
status in the past, however, such political status aspirations were not 
realized, despite past efforts by Guam's representatives, the 
administration and Congress. As a result, a commission of the 
Government of Guam has been established to prepare for a new 
plebiscite.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to review this bill.