[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16029]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




ENDING MILITARY USE OF VIEQUES AND RETURNING IT TO THE PEOPLE OF PUERTO 
                                  RICO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 14, 1999

  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the hard work of the 
Special Commission on the Situation of Vieques, which recently 
delivered its final report to the Governor of the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico. I would especially like to recognize the Honorable Anibal 
Acevedo Vila, who very ably served on this commission representing the 
Popular Democratic Party, for this tireless efforts on behalf of the 
people of Vieques as well as the general population of Puerto Rico.
  The conclusion reached by the Special Commission is that the U.S. 
Navy must cease its activities on the island of Vieques and return the 
occupied territory to the people of Vieques as soon as possible. I am 
pleased to note that the Governor of Puerto Rico agreed with the 
report's findings and recommendations and adopted them as 
Administration policy.
  I have reviewed the report and was very impressed by the Commission's 
extensive research and findings. I have the report available for 
Members of Congress and urge all to call me for copies, and if not for 
the page limit, I would publish it at this point in the Congressional 
Record.
  Again, my congratulations to the Special Commission on the Situation 
of Vieques for their fine work in investigating U.S. Naval operations 
on the island.

                          ____________________