[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 150 (Wednesday, November 28, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H6496-H6500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      DELEGATES' PLEA FOR JUSTICE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Woodall). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 5, 2011, the Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) for 30 minutes.
  Ms. NORTON. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
  I come to the floor with other Delegates to make a plea for respect 
that we are pleased to say that the House has already honored. Mr. 
Speaker, this House has seen many disagreements on many issues, and 
that's what the American people expect. We believe and the House has 
shown that it believes that some matters, however, are beyond dispute. 
There are some matters where unity is to be expected. These matters go 
to basic respect for our members of the armed services.
  The House, to its great credit, has already demonstrated that 
respect, and I want first to thank the Delegate whose provision, whose 
amendment, was chiefly responsible, Delegate Gregorio Sablan from the 
Mariana Islands, whose amendment has, I believe, twice been put in the 
House defense authorization bill that requires that when the flags of 
the 50 States are raised or honored by our Armed Forces that the flags 
of the Territories and of the District of Columbia also are honored.
  I want to also thank House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck 
McKeon and Ranking Member Adam Smith for putting this provision in the 
defense authorization bill that is now pending. This bill will be 
considered, I suppose, in conference by the House and the Senate. It is 
in the House bill. We regret that it is not in the Senate bill, and so 
the Delegates and I have come to the floor to ask that the Senate 
follow the lead of the House on this matter of common courtesy and 
respect.
  Delegate Sablan's provision in the House-passed bill simply requires 
that the flags of the Territories and of the District of Columbia be 
respected when the armed services choose to honor the flags of the 50 
States. I have, in addition, written a letter to the President asking 
for a Presidential memorandum directing all Federal agencies including 
the Armed Services to do the same. I regret to report that the Army 
alone recognizes the D.C. flag and the flags of the Territories as a 
matter of policy. I

[[Page H6497]]

want to give one example that I think will make the House understand 
why this is so important to us. A mother wrote me of having attended 
the graduation of her son from the Naval Station Great Lakes. She had 
wanted this boy to go to college. He had gotten admitted to college. He 
wanted to go to the Navy and so they said, to the Navy you will go. As 
graduation day came at the Naval Station Great Lakes and they called 
the names of the graduates one by one and they got to one name, 
Jonathan Rucker, and they called his name, the flag of every other 
graduate had been raised when the name of the graduate was called, but 
this young man, graduating from boot camp induction into the Navy, had 
his name called but his flag was not raised, the flag of the District 
of Columbia.
  His parents were heartbroken, as you might imagine, and as the mother 
wrote me. It was from that example that I understood how very important 
this was and understood how important my fellow Delegate's bill, now 
adopted by the House, is. It was personal disrespect for the young man 
as he became a member of the United States Navy. It was disrespect for 
the District of Columbia flag. It was disrespect for the residents of 
this city who have served and died in every war that our country has 
ever fought, including the war that created the United States of 
America.
  To let you know how much this means to those of us who have no vote 
but whose constituents pay taxes the same as the rest who are Members 
of this House and go to war, you now see the huge disproportion, at 
least in my own district. You will find this disproportion in the 
districts of the other Delegates as well.
  World War I, 635 casualties, more than three States.
  World War II, 3,575 casualties, more than four States.
  Korea, 547 casualties, more than eight States.
  These are all District of Columbia residents.
  And from the Vietnam war, 243 D.C. casualties, more than 10 States.
  We are calling on our Senate colleagues to follow the example of the 
House and include the language requiring the Armed Forces to fly the 
D.C. flag and the flag of the Territories whenever the flags of the 50 
States are raised.
  Mr. Speaker, we think that is far from too much to ask in light of 
the young men and women we represent who are in the Armed Forces today 
and those who have given their lives for the United States of America.
  It is my privilege to ask the sponsor of the successful amendment, 
Delegate Sablan from the Northern Mariana Islands, if he would speak at 
this time.

                              {time}  1620

  Mr. SABLAN. Thank you very much, Congresswoman Norton, the 
distinguished representative of the District of Columbia. She 
represents me whenever I am not at home, and has done an exceptional 
job. And I thank you for sponsoring today's Special Order.
  Mr. Speaker, just imagine returning home to the United States after 
many months of life-threatening combat. Imagine the relief you feel to 
be safe and the joyfulness of the welcome you expect to receive. Then, 
imagine as you enter that welcoming ceremony you see displayed the 
flags of every State, but the flag of your own home is missing. This is 
a sad experience for some 36,000 servicemen and -women whose home is 
the District of Columbia or one of the United States territories--
American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, 
and my own district, the Northern Mariana Islands.
  The flags of our home jurisdictions are often missing from the flag 
displays at military installations during welcome-back ceremonies, 
deployment ceremonies, and graduations. A constituent alerted me to 
this problem about 2 years ago. This individual had noticed the absence 
of the Northern Marianas flag from a display of U.S. State and 
territorial flags at Fort Drum, New York. She reported how troubling it 
was to her as a member of our armed services from the Northern 
Marianas, returning from combat duty, looking up to see her own flag 
missing from the ranks of flags there at Fort Drum.
  Let me read what she said:

       It's been 9 months, still no CNMI flag displayed at Fort 
     Drum, New York, military base. No CNMI flag displayed at a 
     field where deployment ceremony being held, and no CNMI flag 
     displayed where welcoming ceremony being held welcoming back 
     our soldiers from deployment. I wonder what is going on to 
     our CNMI elected leaders. There are Micronesian and Guam 
     flags, no CNMI flag. Very sad.
       I remember coming back from the first Gulf War and seeing 
     the rest of my unit being greeted by family and friends. As a 
     single soldier back then I did not have family waiting for my 
     return. However, the Guamanian family that I frequented while 
     in Fort Lewis was there to greet me with hugs, mwar-mwars, 
     and leis. What made them stand out and is forever etched in 
     my mind is our CNMI flag being wielded by these friends of 
     mine. The pride of seeing our flag waving at that concourse 
     was overwhelming and gave me--an NMI native--the sense of 
     belonging to these United States. As a veteran, and more so 
     as a proud NMI Chamolinian, I hope the lack of representation 
     in Fort Drum is corrected.

  This was not an isolated incident. Last year, I visited a soldier who 
was receiving treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center 
in Bethesda. A grand display of the flags of the 50 States lined the 
lobby of the main facility. Unfortunately, the flag of that young 
soldier, who was lying upstairs in a bed, painfully recovering from his 
wounds, was missing from the grand display downstairs. None of the 
territory flags nor the flag of the District of Columbia were present 
at Walter Reed.
  I also received a report of the same situation at Fort Jackson in 
South Carolina. A family there to see their nephew graduate from basic 
training saw the flags of all 50 States and every territory on 
display--all except the flag of the Northern Marianas.
  Let me read what they said in that email:

       Congressman Kilili, my nephew graduated from basic training 
     in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, yesterday. My niece and my 
     sister-in-law were looking for the CNMI flag to take pictures 
     with the graduate. Seems they could not find the CNMI flag so 
     they had to settle with the Guam flag to have their picture 
     taken. Please look into this--why the CNMI flag was not 
     displayed during basic training graduation.

  On another occasion, several of my constituents attended a basic 
combat training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The venue where the 
ceremony took place was adorned with flags from all the 50 States and 
every territory--except the Northern Mariana Islands. Those soldiers 
shared their deep disappointment with me. They felt that their command 
and their country did not recognize their contributions or their home.
  Another constituent informed me that the Northern Marianas flag was 
not flying with the State flags at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in 
San Diego, where her husband worked.
  Here's what she wrote:

       Good morning, sir. I happened to stumble upon an article 
     regarding our flag being raised in all U.S. Army 
     installations during ceremonies. Well, my husband works on 
     the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, and I am tiring 
     of him complaining about not seeing our flag during 
     graduations here. Could you please extend this to other armed 
     services as well? Thank you, sir. Respectfully, Julie S. 
     Tebuteb.

  Over 20,000 Marine recruits pass through there every year. So not 
only are our own soldiers feeling forgotten but recruits from other 
areas are being sent a message that the District of Columbia and the 
five U.S. territories are not really a part of the Nation those marines 
will be defending.
  Of course, I brought all these cases to the attention of the 
Pentagon. The Secretary of the Army responded with an assurance that 
our flag would be flown at Army installations whenever the flags of the 
States are on display. And many of the individual installations I 
mentioned took corrective action when I contacted them. But despite 
this response, I continue to receive reports of situations where 
territorial flags are forgotten.
  The problem is there is no uniform regulation governing the inclusion 
of the flags of the District of Columbia and the territories. Though 
the Army Secretary took action, it is the policy of the Air Force, 
Coast Guard, the Marines, and the Navy to let local commanders have the 
discretion to display State flags with or without the flags of the 
territories on their installations. I have requested that all the 
services modify their regulations to include our flags, but no action 
has been taken. And I believe it should not be at the

[[Page H6498]]

discretion of individual base commanders to decide to exclude any part 
of the United States--or the fighting men and women from any part of 
the United States--from recognition. It is a point of pride for all of 
our brave members of our armed services from the District of Columbia 
or the Northern Mariana Islands or any of the U.S. territories to see 
their home flag on display. That flag confirms that the sacrifices and 
risks these men and women take are recognized and appreciated. That 
flag demonstrates that their territory is a part of this great Nation 
of ours.
  That's why I included a provision in this year's National Defense 
Authorization Act requiring the flag of all the States and all U.S. 
territories and the District of Columbia whenever and wherever the 
official flags of all 50 States are flown on U.S. military 
installations. That's why we're here this afternoon. Speaking on behalf 
of those 36,000 servicemembers from our districts, we are asking the 
other body, the Senate, to include the same provision in their bill. 
This provision ensures recognition for all our country's servicemembers 
no matter what part of the United States they call home.
  I just celebrated Veterans Day in the Northern Mariana Islands at the 
American Memorial Park. There is in this park a court of honor for 
those soldiers who died there during World War II. And guess what, Mr. 
Speaker? All the flags--the territories and the 50 States--were 
displayed there in recognition of our great Nation, the United States 
of America. Not one State was left out. Not one territory was left out. 
They're all displayed there.
  So let us all spare our soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen, coast 
guardsmen, and our veterans the disappointment of not seeing their 
flags together with the flags of the U.S. States whenever they fly.
  I thank you for sharing your time with me. Congresswoman Norton, 
thank you for your leadership and for taking a leading position on this 
issue.
  Ms. NORTON. I thank you, Delegate Sablan, because you are the leader 
on this issue with your provision that you succeeded in getting 
included in the House Defense authorization bill.
  May I inquire of the Speaker how much time we have remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlelady has 14 minutes remaining.
  Ms. NORTON. I thank you very much.
  I did want to mention that Delegate Sablan indicated he had received 
these complaints from his constituents. That's how we know about this 
issue. The veterans, the members of the Armed Forces bring it to our 
attention. And he also mentioned that some commanders had the 
discretion as to whether or not to fly our flags. I note that Under 
Secretary of Defense Erin Conaton has indeed issued a memorandum to all 
parts of the armed services, and her word was that she ``encouraged'' 
but left to the ``discretion''--``encourage'' is her word, 
``discretion'' are her words--of commanders whether to display the 
flags of the territories and the District of Columbia when the flags of 
the 50 States are displayed.

                                            Defense, Pentagon,

                                  Washington, DC, August 28, 2012.


         memorandum for secretaries of the military departments

     Subject: Display of District of Columbia and United States 
         Territorial Flags during Official Ceremonies

       Our Nation's Armed Forces are more diverse than ever, and 
     brave men and women from all our states and territories 
     continue to answer the Nation's call to duty. On these 
     occasions where you intend to display the flags of all 50 
     states, I am urging you also to display the flags of the 
     District of Columbia and United States (U.S.) territories. I 
     especially encourage this practice as our soldiers, sailors, 
     airmen, and marines graduate from entry level training.
       This memorandum is not intended to affect the authority or 
     discretion of commanders. Rather, it encourages the 
     appropriate recognition of residents of the District of 
     Columbia and U.S. territories at official ceremonies.

                                              Erin C. Conaton.

                                    Under Secretary of Defense for
                                          Personnel and Readiness.

                              {time}  1630

  Now, I would ask the Undersecretary of Defense, I would ask the 
President of the United States, I would ask the Secretary of Defense 
whether there would ever be discretion left to a commander whether to 
fly the flags of Virginia or Utah or North Carolina or Florida. That 
would be considered an insult to those States; we consider it no less.
  I'm pleased to yield time as well to the delegate from the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, Congresswoman Christensen.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Congresswoman Norton, for holding this 
Special Order. And thank you, Congressman Sablan, for your steadfast 
leadership on this issue of significant importance to our constituents, 
but particularly to the military men, women, and families from the 
District of Columbia and the U.S. territories.
  Last year, Congressman Sablan successfully worked to include his 
provision in the House National Defense Authorization Act, and it was 
opposed by the Senate due to cost. How much could six extra flags cost? 
It could not even be a fraction of a blip in the defense or the 
military budget. But I'm proud to stand here with my other 
distinguished and hardworking colleagues in strong support of our 
veterans, our active military, National Guard, and Reservists and to 
ask for respect for our flags.
  We are here to call on our colleagues in the other body to follow the 
example of the House and include language requiring all branches of the 
Armed Forces to fly the flags of the District of Columbia and the five 
territories of the United States whenever the flags of the 50 States 
are displayed.
  All national flags are potent patriotic symbols. As proud Americans 
who have sacrificed for our Nation in every conflict, it should 
naturally follow that wherever and whenever all flags from the 50 
States are represented, we also see the flags of the District of 
Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands right 
alongside--just as our men and women serve bravely alongside other 
Americans on the battlefield.
  As we said earlier, the Senate reasoned that if flying the D.C. and 
the territories' flags at each military installation where there are 
now State flags were to be legislatively mandated, these bases would 
need to tap into their budgets to pay for those six flags. In my 
estimation, this is but a miniscule repayment of the debt we owe to the 
men and women of the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia--who 
serve in the military in higher per capita numbers than many States--
for their service and ultimate price that many have paid to protect our 
country.
  A major goal of the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act is to 
rebuild our military after a decade of war. Part of that rebuilding 
process should be respecting all who have served and are serving and 
ensuring that they receive the recognition they deserve with their 
fellow Americans from the 50 States.
  The U.S. territories and the District of Columbia have long and 
distinguished military histories. In our case, the Virgin Islanders 
have fought in every war and conflict, including the American 
Revolution. Not only did we serve, but the then-Danish West Indies 
played a role in keeping the Revolutionary Army supplied with 
gunpowder, and the story is told that our rum helped to keep 
Washington's troops warm in cold, wintery conditions.
  Alexander Hamilton, who grew up on my home island of St. Croix, 
served in the Revolutionary War. At the start of the war, he organized 
an artillery company and was chosen as its captain. He later became 
senior aide-de-camp and confidant to General George Washington.
  A Virgin Islander designed one of the first offerings for a flag for 
the 13 Colonies, and it's reported that we were the first to salute the 
Stars and the Stripes in one of our beautiful harbors.
  As of last year, the U.S. Virgin Islands had a total of 1,807 men and 
women armed service personnel serving in the Air Force, Army, Coast 
Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, and Navy. We have 734 enlisted men and women 
and 108 offices proudly serving in our National Guard and Air Guard. 
And sadly, we too lost soldiers; we lost eight in the Afghan and Iraq 
wars.
  Presently, as we've heard, the decision on which flags fly and are 
displayed on military installations rests with the individual base 
commander.

[[Page H6499]]

The display of flags of the territories and the District on U.S. 
military installations, both at home and abroad, varies. The Department 
of the Army is the only branch of the military that has taken steps to 
ensure a servicewide policy requiring display of all 56 flags.
  I stand today with my five delegate colleagues to again call on the 
Senate to adopt the House bill that includes language requiring all 
branches of the Armed Forces to fly the flags of the District of 
Columbia, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, 
Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands whenever the flags of 
the 50 States are displayed. We are tired of being overlooked in 
programs and initiatives, but today we draw the line at disrespecting 
our soldiers and, by extension, my constituents and those of my fellow 
delegates. We are part of the United States, and flying our flag with 
all of the others is the least that our military men, women, and their 
families deserve.
  The following is my statement in its entirety:
  Thank you, Congresswoman Norton for holding this Special Order and 
Congressman Sablan for your steadfast leadership on this issue of 
significant importance to our constituents, but particularly to the 
military men, women and families from the District of Columbia and the 
U.S. territories. This is the second consecutive year in which 
Congressman Sablan has successfully worked to include this provision in 
the House National Defense Authorization Act. Last year, the measure 
was added to the FY 12 Act but was opposed by the Senate because of the 
``cost.''
  Cost??? How much could 6 extra flags cost? It would not even be a 
fraction of a blip in the defense or military budget.
  It is a shame that we have to come to the floor on this issue, but 
here we are and I am proud to stand with my other distinguished and 
hard working colleagues in strong support of our veterans, active 
military, national guard and reservists and to demand respect for our 
flags. We are here to call on our colleagues in the other body to 
follow the example of the House and include language requiring all 
branches of the armed forces to fly the flags of the District of 
Columbia and the five territories of the United States whenever the 
flags of the 50 States are displayed.
  All national flags are potent patriotic symbols. Like all 50 States, 
each U.S. territory has its own flag which we hold in high honor just 
as we do the stars and stripes of our Nation. As proud Americans who 
have sacrificed for our Nation in every conflict, it should naturally 
follow that wherever and whenever all flags from all 50 States are 
represented, we also see the flags of the District of Columbia, Guam, 
American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico and 
the U.S. Virgin Islands right alongside--just as our men and women 
serve bravely alongside other Americans on the battlefield. If they are 
flown at non-military places--and they are--then surely we should see 
them at all military installations.
  As we said earlier, the Senate reasoned that, if flying the DC and 
the territories' flags at each military installation where there are 
now State flags were to be legislatively mandated, these bases would 
need to tap into their budgets to pay for those six flags. In my 
estimation, this is but a minuscule repayment of the debt we owe to the 
men and women of the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia who 
serve in the military in higher per capita numbers than many States, 
for their service and the ultimate price many have paid to protect our 
country.
  A major goal of the FY 13 National Defense Authorization Act is to 
rebuild our military after a decade of war. Part of that rebuilding 
process should be respecting ALL who have served and are serving and 
ensuring that they receive the recognition they deserve with their 
fellow Americans from the 50 States.
  The U.S. territories and the District of Columbia have long and 
distinguished military histories.
  In our case, Virgin Islanders have fought in every war and conflict 
including the American Revolution. Not only did we serve but the then 
Danish West Indies played a role in keeping the revolutionary army 
supplied with gunpowder and the story is told that our rum helped to 
keep Washington's troops warm in cold wintery conditions.
  Alexander Hamilton, who grew up on my home island of St. Croix, 
served in the Revolutionary war. At the start of the war, he organized 
an artillery company and was chosen as its captain. He later became 
senior aid-de-camp and confidant to General George Washington.
  Beyond his military service, one cannot overstate his contributions 
to our Nation as a Founding Father, economist, political philosopher 
and strategist, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the 
first United States Secretary of the Treasury.
  A Virgin Islander designed one of the first offerings for a flag for 
the 13 colonies and it is reported that we were the first to salute the 
stars and stripes in one of our beautiful harbors.
  As of last year, the U.S. Virgin Islands had a total of 1,807 men and 
women Armed Service Personnel serving in the Air Force, Army, Coast 
Guard, U.S. Marine Corps and Navy. We have 734 enlisted men and women 
and 108 officers proudly serving in the National Guard and Air Guard. 
Sadly, we lost 8 soldiers in the Afghan-Iraq war.
  Presently, the decision on which flags display and fly on military 
installations rests with the individual base commander. The display of 
the flags of the territories and the District on U.S. military 
installations, both at home and abroad, varies. The Department of the 
Army is the only branch of the military that has taken steps to ensure 
a service-wide policy requiring the display of all 56 flags. I stand 
today with my 5 Delegate colleagues to again call on the Senate to 
adopt the House bill that includes language requiring all branches of 
the armed forces to fly the flags of the District of Columbia, American 
Samoa, The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Guam, Puerto Rico and 
the U.S. Virgin islands whenever the flags of the 50 States are 
displayed.
  We are tired of being overlooked in programs and initiatives, but we 
today draw the line at disrespecting our soldiers and by extension my 
constituents and those of my fellow Delegates.
  We are a part of the United States and flying our flag with all of 
the others is the least that our military men, women and families 
deserve.
  Ms. NORTON. I thank the delegate for those very important remarks and 
certainly join her in those remarks.
  We have another delegate who has come to the floor. I am pleased to 
invite Congressman Faleomavaega of American Samoa to step forward at 
this time.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I thank the gentlelady from the District of 
Columbia for giving me this opportunity to speak today.
  As negotiations begin on the final fiscal year 2013 Defense 
Authorization bill, I rise today with my fellow delegates to urge the 
Senate to adopt the House provision in the FY13 National Defense 
Authorization Act. This provision would require in statute the 
integration and display of the flags of each of the U.S. territories at 
U.S. military installations when and where the flags of the 50 States 
are flown or displayed.
  Mr. Speaker, the lack of a unified Armed Forces policy requiring the 
display of the flags of our U.S. territories is indeed a serious 
oversight. It is an oversight on the District of Columbia and the U.S. 
territories who are part of the American family and who have unique 
histories with our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, in our Nation's history, soldiers have fought valiantly 
in battle, but at times with little recognition--from the hundreds of 
thousands of African Americans who fought for our Nation since the time 
of the Revolutionary War, to some 200,000-plus soldiers who made up 10 
percent of the entire Union Army in the Civil War, to the tens of 
thousands of Japanese American soldiers who fought alongside their 
fellow Americans in Europe during World War II.
  Servicemembers and veterans of the District of Columbia and the U.S. 
territories are marginalized by this oversight, despite our significant 
contributions to our Nation. As a matter of fact, the U.S. territories 
were, in large part, acquired for the very purpose of our national 
defense and important strategic and military interests.
  A noted Navy admiral, Alfred Mahan, was one of those who advocated 
the theory during the late 19th century that a nation who controls the 
oceans would rule the world. At a time in the world when words like 
``colonialism'' and ``imperialism'' and ``manifest destiny'' were 
accepted norms of foreign policies of various nations, Admiral Mahan's 
theory was proven correct when a little island nation known today as 
the United Kingdom, or Great Britain, or England, established one of 
the most powerful nations ever in the world. It was due primarily to 
the fact that Great Britain had the most powerful navy in the world.
  During World War II, the Samoan islands were a major staging location 
for some 40,000 marines and soldiers before they were transferred to 
Guadalcanal,

[[Page H6500]]

Tarawa, Iwo Jima, and other destinations in the war against Japan 
during World War II.
  For years, the U.S. naval officials pleaded earnestly for the United 
States to show presence in the South Pacific, and the suggestion was 
the harbor in Pago Pago on Tutuila island in the Samoan islands would 
be an ideal place to build a coaling station and a naval facility to 
allow U.S. naval ships and commercial vessels to utilize especially 
during the hurricane season.
  In 1899, in Washington, D.C.--not known to the Samoans--the United 
States, Great Britain, and Germany held a conference whereby a 
tripartite treaty was agreed upon so that Germany and Great Britain 
would continue their colonial policies of figuring out how to control 
the two largest islands--Savai`i and Upolu--and the U.S. was free to 
deal with the traditional leaders and chiefs of the islands of Tutuila, 
Aunu`u, and Manu`a. And by consent of these chiefs, they ceded these 
islands to the United States in 1900 and 1904. These proposed treaties 
were never approved by the United States Congress until 1929.

                              {time}  1640

  Some ask today, Is a territory like American Samoa still relevant to 
our Nation? And to that I would argue, absolutely--especially given the 
U.S. pivot of focus on the Asia Pacific region, from our continuous 
involvements for over 10 years now in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  Mr. Speaker, I would ask the question, What would happen if the 
leaders of Samoa or perhaps Fiji or Vanuatu or the Solomon Islands or 
Tuvalu or Kiribati would agree to have, let's say, China perhaps build 
a submarine base on these islands? I would be curious if our Department 
of Defense or the Pentagon or even the Congress might indicate some 
concern in this region of the world.
  Mr. Speaker, as a Vietnam veteran and as a representative of a 
district with high rates of military enlistment, I respectfully urge 
the Senate to adopt the House provision that would give due honor to 
all of our servicemembers from the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 
Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana 
Islands.
  I thank my colleagues who have gathered here today. And with one 
voice today, we say, Do the right thing and honor the ultimate 
sacrifices of the tens of thousands of our men and women who proudly 
served the armed services of our Nation who are from our U.S. 
territories and the District of Columbia.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to note for the record that I know that our 
colleague, the gentlelady from Guam who is also a senior member of the 
House Armed Services Committee, would have been here. But because of 
other commitments, she was unable to join us in this Special Order.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I am reminded again of a statement made by a 
retired U.S. Marine brigadier general and a dear Republican friend of 
mine, a native Chamorro from Guam, a graduate of the University of 
Notre Dame and a very dear Republican friend, as I said, and former 
colleague of ours in Congress. He was a former Member of this House. He 
observed that in our relationship between our Nation and the 
Territories, he said, We are equal in war but not in peace.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I sincerely hope that our colleagues in the 
Senate, Chairman Carl Levin; the distinguished Republican Senator, the 
senior ranking member and dear friend as well, John McCain; and all the 
members of the Senate Armed Services Committee will support this 
provision.
  And to the gentlelady from the District of Columbia, I cannot help 
but to say more. There are 600,000 U.S. citizens living in her 
district. They pay Federal income taxes, and yet she is denied the 
right to vote on the floor. I think this is something that is 
unbecoming of what we call ``democracy,'' if I will.
  Ms. NORTON. You have heard movingly from three of my colleagues. I 
hope the Senate has been as moved as I was by hearing from them.
  I want only to say now, Mr. Speaker, you've heard from all of us who 
are American citizens who represent American citizens and American 
citizens who fight and have fought for their country, who were pleased 
and continue to volunteer in disproportionate numbers into the Armed 
Forces, who are among the less than 1 percent, who carry all of us, who 
carry all of us on their shoulders. That's what the volunteer Army is 
all about today.
  We've asked the Senate to do what we congratulate and commend and 
thank the House for having already done. Thank you, House of 
Representatives, for respecting our flags and for respecting us as 
representatives of the American people and of American veterans.
  And I yield back the balance of my time.

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