[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E494-E495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 AMERICAN MEMORIAL PARK ANNEX IN TINIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                    of the northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 15, 2011

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, today I am re-introducing the American 
Memorial Park Annex in Tinian Act at the request of Senators Jude U. 
Hofschneider and Francisco Cruz, and many of the people of Tinian, one 
of the Northern Mariana Islands I represent.
  The bill, which I also introduced late in the last Congress, 
authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National 
Park Service, to establish an annex of the American Memorial Park, 
located on the island of Saipan, on the adjacent island of Tinian.
  Tinian is only 39 square miles in area. But the island played an 
outsize role in ending World War II.
  While a military lease of two-thirds of Tinian precludes any set-
aside of the historical land on Tinian, creating an annex of the 
American Memorial Park, a repository for artifacts to be displayed, and 
a locus for the interest of visitors to Tinian and locals alike, would 
be appropriate.
  I am submitting for the record the letter of request from Senators 
Hofschneider and Cruz. I am also submitting NMI Senate Resolution No. 
17-37 that supports the establishment of annex. The Resolution refers 
to H.R. 6380, the bill number from the 111th Congress. But the language 
of today's bill is essentially the same as H.R. 6380.
  I ask that my colleagues support the American Memorial Park Annex in 
Tinian Act.

                                                 Northern Marianas


                                     Commonwealth Legislature,

                                       Saipan, MP, March 14, 2011.
     Hon. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan,
     Delegate, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 
         Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman: I am writing to request your 
     reintroduction of legislation authorizing the Secretary of 
     the Interior to establish an annex of the American Memorial 
     Park in Saipan, on the Island of Tinian.
       The North Field on Tinian has been designated as one of the 
     most important World War II (WWII) sites in the Pacific. The 
     North Field was used as the launching point for the dropping 
     of two atomic bombs on Japan during WWII, in addition to the 
     strategic bombing of Japan. Many historians believe use of 
     the Atomic bomb ended America's war with the Japanese 
     expeditiously, saving the lives hundreds of thousands, if not 
     millions of lives had the U.S. naval and ground forces 
     invaded Japan.
       On June 18, 2009, I wrote you regarding adding Tinian's 
     North Field to the national park system. However, as I stated 
     in that letter, the U.S. military leases approximately two 
     thirds of Tinian, and their training needs preclude 
     inclusion. On December 23, 2009, the National Park Service 
     suggested several options to recognize the North Field such 
     as brochures, an interpretive film and providing interpretive 
     tours on Saipan. While these suggestions are a good start, 
     the people of Tinian feel a permanent memorial, the Tinian 
     Annex of the American Memorial Park, will appropriately 
     recognize the historic role of Tinian in WWII.
       The Tinian Delegation of the Commonwealth Legislature, 
     Senator Cruz and me, and the Mayor and Municipal Council of 
     Tinian and Aguiguan humbly encourage you to assist us with 
     this legislation to obtain the Tinian Annex to the American 
     Memorial Park. Such a memorial appropriately recognizes the 
     historic role of Tinian in WWII.
       Thank you for your consideration,
           Sincerely,
     Jude U. Hofschneider,
       Senator, CNMI Legislature.
     Francisco Q. Cruz,
       Senator, CNMI Legislature.
                                  ____


                      Senate Resolution No. 17-37

       Whereas, the people of Tinian agreed to sacrifice two-
     thirds of their island to the United States Department of 
     Defense in support of the creation of ``The Covenant to 
     Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in 
     Political Union with the United States of America''; and
       Whereas, this unique relationship is codified at 48 U.S.C. 
     Sec. 1801; and
       Whereas, Federal Public Law 94-241 (H.J. Res. 549) was 
     adopted on March 24, 1976 to approve ``The Covenant to 
     Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in 
     Political Union with the United States of America,'' and for 
     other purposes; and
       Whereas, Federal Public Law 95-348, passed on 18 August 
     1978 by the United States Congress, authorized and directed 
     the National Park Service ``to develop, maintain and 
     administer the American Memorial Park . . . for the primary 
     purpose of honoring the dead in the World War II Mariana 
     Islands campaign''; and
       Whereas, Federal Public Law 95-348 further stated that 
     ``[o]ther points in the Northern Mariana Islands relevant to 
     the park may be identified, established, and marked by the 
     Secretary in agreement with the Governor of Northern Mariana 
     Islands''; and
       Whereas, the Marianas Islands Range Complex Record of 
     Decision was signed on August 20, 2010; and
       Whereas, the Record of Decision noted that the North Field 
     National Historic Landmark will be closed to the public 
     during certain exercises; and
       Whereas, the North Field National Historic Landmark is 
     essential to the historic preservation and promotion of 
     Tinian as a tourist destination; and
       Whereas, on September 29, 2010, CNMI Delegate Gregorio 
     ``Kilili'' Sablan introduced into the United States Congress 
     H.R. 6380, a bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, 
     acting through the National Park Service, to establish an 
     annex in Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
     Islands, as an extension of the American Memorial Park 
     located in Saipan; and
       Whereas, H.R. 6380, the ``American Memorial Park Annex in 
     Tinian Act,'' directs that the annex be used to interpret 
     historical events related to the World War II Marianas 
     Campaign and for curatorial storage of World War II 
     artifacts; and
       Whereas, H.R. 6380 has been referred to the House Committee 
     on Natural Resources, for which Congressman Sablan has 
     requested a legislative hearing as soon as possible; and
       Whereas, the Tinian Leadership is working diligently with 
     CNMI Delegate Gregorio ``Kilili'' Sablan to increase National 
     Park Service activity on Tinian, through the establishment of 
     a center that would interpret historical events and impart 
     our cultural heritage: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, that the Senate of the Seventeenth Northern 
     Marianas Commonwealth Legislature supports the passage of 
     H.R. 6380 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
     establish an annex in Tinian as an extension

[[Page E495]]

     of the American Memorial Park located in Saipan; and be it 
     further
       Resolved, that the President of the Senate shall certify 
     and the Senate Legislative Secretary shall attest to the 
     adoption of this resolution, and thereafter the Senate Clerk 
     shall transmit a certified copy to the Honorable Nick J. 
     Rahall II, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, United 
     States House of Representatives; the Honorable Doc Hastings, 
     Ranking Republican Member, Committee on Natural Resources, 
     United States House of Representatives; the Honorable Raul M. 
     Grijalva, Chairman, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests 
     and Public Lands, United States House of Representatives; the 
     Honorable Rob Bishop, Ranking Republican Member, Subcommittee 
     on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, United States 
     House of Representatives; the Honorable Madeleine Z. 
     Bordallo, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans 
     and Wildlife, United States House of Representatives; and the 
     Honorable Benigno R. Fitial, Governor of the Commonwealth of 
     the Northern Mariana Islands.

                          ____________________