[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 16490-16491]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   ON MILITARY OPERATIONS IN VIEQUES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 16, 1999

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of thousands of 
residents in my district, who as Americans of Puerto Rican descent care 
deeply about what is happening to their many friends and relatives on 
the island of Vieques.
  One week ago, while on a visit to Puerto Rico, I visited Vieques, at 
which time I met with Vieques's Mayor Manuela Santiago at a town 
meeting she hosted, and attended a briefing by Rear Admiral Kevin 
Moran, Commander, Navy Region Southeast.
  On my flight to Vieques I observed an island that is naturally gifted 
and beautiful, with some of the most marvelous beaches in the Western 
Hemisphere. Its people love their island, are hardworking and 
industrious, as is evidenced by the fishermen I met. But Vieques' 
natural beauty is scarred and its tremendous economic potential is 
blocked by the presence and activities of the U.S. Navy.
  Let me say from the outset that I do not doubt the Navy's claim that 
the type of training the Navy conducts as Vieques is vital to its 
defense mission. It certainly is. What I strongly

[[Page 16491]]

disagree with is the Navy's position that there is nowhere else in the 
entire hemisphere where such training could take place. If God had not 
gifted us with Vieques, or if, God forbid, Vieques was subsumed by an 
earthquake, would the Navy tell us that it would be impossible for them 
to perform their defense mission for the United States? I think not.
  Might it be an inconvenience? Yes. Might it take some time? Yes. 
Might is cost money? Yes. But to take the firm position that the 
nation's defense rests solely on Vieques is simply not credible or 
acceptable.
  So why should the Navy permanently cease all live and inert 
ammunition exercises and, therefore, ultimately leave the island and 
return it to the people of Vieques and Puerto Rico? I think the answers 
can be found in the voices of the people of Vieques I met and in the 
sights I observed.
  From Mayor Santiago's presentation, one would conclude the Navy has 
in their actions been insensitive to the economic development needs of 
the island. This insensitivity has real, tragic, human consequences. 
Over 70% of the residents are below the poverty line, a rate 14% above 
the rest of Puerto Rico, and unemployment is exceedingly high.
  Carlos Ventura, a leader in the fishing community, vividly describes 
the very significant damage that the Navy's restrictions, operations, 
amphibious landings, mine sweeping, and live ammunition explosions have 
caused in the loss of fish, coral reef, and the destruction of natural 
fishing habitats--all of which has caused the deterioration of the 
fishing industry. For all these reasons, when you visit Vieques and 
talk of the Navy, you will hear voices of despair and distrust.
  The risk of developing cancer is greater in Vieques than in any other 
municipality in Puerto Rico. The infant mortality rate is among the 
highest of any municipality. So when Dr. Luis Rivera Castano speaks of 
the presence of explosive components like RDX and Tetryl in the potable 
water reserves of Vieques, or of chemical compounds in the actual 
charges of the projectiles themselves, his reasoned voice is one of 
concern and alarm.
  Then there were the passionate voices of the Alliance of Vieques 
Women, and of Alba Encarnacion, a school teacher, who spoke eloquently 
of their sleepless nights and of their anxiety and fear for their 
security, peace, and health. The voices of these mothers are the voices 
of Vieques children.
  From that town meeting, I went on a Navy helicopter to a briefing at 
the observation post where security guard David Sarnes Rodriguez was 
killed and four others injured. That briefing focused on the need the 
Navy has to perform such training, but it did little to convince me 
that the devastating sights I saw of the leveling of hills and coconut 
plantations, and the blasting off the face of the Earth of lagoons and 
cays, was not an environmental injustice. Nor was I convinced of the 
fairness and balance of the Navy, with its constant denial of virtually 
all of the concerns and complaints voiced by the citizens of Vieques.

  The lack of any real adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding of 
October 11, 1983, and the Navy's original denial of having fired 268 
rounds of uranium depleted bullets, added to all of the previously 
mentioned denials, clearly gives the Navy a major credibility problem 
with the people of Vieques, the people of Puerto Rico, and I would add 
a growing number of Members of Congress, including myself.
  While the report issued by the Navy yesterday continues to reaffirm 
its position, its recommendations begin to show that there is clearly 
some culpability and responsibility that even the Navy must admit.
  The 9,311 American citizens who call Vieques home--squeezed between 
the ammunitions warehousing area and the firing range area--have 
suffered harmful and detrimental effects on the quality of their lives, 
creating an economic and social condition which rates below the rest of 
Puerto Rico's population.
  If this were anywhere else, we would be talking about environmental 
racism.
  The incidents listed in the Government of Puerto Rico's Special 
Commission report from 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999, are all indicators of 
a greater tragedy waiting to happen.
  I can tell you as a seven-year member of the International Relations' 
Western Hemisphere subcommittee that Caribbean and Latin American 
countries are watching and talking about how we act in response to the 
abuses of the people in Vieques. We cannot be examples of democracy and 
human rights abroad unless we observe them at home.
  This is not a question of ill will toward the people of the United 
States. The people of Puerto Rico love America. They love it so much 
that thousands of their sons and daughters have worn the uniform of the 
U.S., served it voluntarily, and given their lives for its values since 
the first Puerto Rican battalion was created in 1900. We need to value 
them as U.S. citizens.
  Living in Vieques should not take an act of courage. These 9,311 
American citizens are entitled to go to their jobs and schools, attend 
church, and be able to achieve health and economic security, just like 
other American citizens can.
  In conclusion, I believe we should demilitarize the island, 
decontaminate it, and devolve it so that its citizens can develop its 
economic potential, and achieve in Vieques the peace and security they 
deserve as American citizens.

                          ____________________