[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11407-11411]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING AND WELCOMING THE LEADERS OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 355) recognizing and welcoming the leaders 
of the Pacific Islands to Washington, D.C., and commending the East-
West Center for hosting the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 355

       Whereas the United States is a Pacific nation;
       Whereas the East-West Center, as established by the United 
     States Congress in 1960, contributes to a peaceful, 
     prosperous, and just Asia Pacific community by conducting 
     cooperative research, education, and dialogue programs on 
     critical issues of common concern to the Asia Pacific region 
     and the United States;
       Whereas the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders was 
     created in 1980 at the East-West Center, which sponsors and 
     supports this regional institution through its Pacific 
     Islands Development Program;
       Whereas the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders is the 
     most broadly-based regional cooperation institution in the 
     Pacific, including 20 leaders from both independent Pacific 
     island nations and other Pacific governments;
       Whereas for the first the time in its history, through the 
     cooperation of the East-West Center, the Department of State, 
     and Congress, the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders is 
     convening May 7, 2007, through May 9, 2007, in Washington, 
     D.C.;
       Whereas the United States has maintained deep and enduring 
     relations with the peoples of the Pacific islands during 
     times of peace and war and is linked to the Pacific not only 
     through geography but also through common interest and 
     values;
       Whereas the governments of the Pacific Islands Region are 
     key partners with the United States in combating terrorism in 
     all its forms;
       Whereas the United States and the Pacific island nations 
     can enhance their cooperation in many other areas, including 
     mutually beneficial trade and economic relationships, 
     tourism, environmental protection, maintenance of fisheries, 
     and other maritime resources, addressing climate change, 
     democracy and good governance, and combating the spread of 
     infectious diseases; and
       Whereas there are increasing numbers of Americans of 
     Pacific islander ancestry making myriad contributions to 
     America's dynamism and diversity: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes and welcomes the leaders of the Pacific 
     Islands to Washington, D.C.; and
       (2) commends the East-West Center for hosting the Pacific 
     Islands Conference of Leaders.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Poe) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from American Samoa.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from American Samoa?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution.
  I would like to thank my good friend, the gentleman from Texas, for 
his assistance in managing this important legislation now before our 
colleagues.
  I would also like to thank our distinguished chairman of the House 
Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Tom Lantos, for his support of this 
resolution which recognizes and welcomes the leaders of the Pacific 
Island nations to Washington, D.C., and certainly commends the East-
West Center for hosting the Pacific Island Conference of Leaders.
  The Pacific Island Conference of Leaders represents some 14 island 
nations, three French territories and three U.S. territories, including 
American Samoa. Each year these leaders meet at the East-West Center in 
Honolulu; but for the first time this year, this conference is being 
held here in our Nation's Capital.
  Because this is a significant occasion, I want to thank our 
distinguished senior ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs 
Committee, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, as well as the ranking minority member of 
the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific and the 
Global Environment, my good friend Mr. Manzullo, for their support of 
this resolution.
  I also thank the 24 Members, our distinguished colleagues, who joined 
us in cosponsoring this historic resolution, including Congresswoman 
Madeleine Bordallo of Guam. I also commend members of the Hawaii 
congressional delegation, Senator Daniel Inouye, Senator Daniel Akaka, 
Congressman Neil Abercrombie and Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, for their 
leadership in support of this legislation and other events and 
activities that will make the visit of our Pacific Island Leaders

[[Page 11408]]

to Washington more meaningful and productive.
  I especially want to thank also Governor Linda Lingle of the State of 
Hawaii for her support and for her co-hosting one of the important 
events that have been featured here while the guests are here in 
Washington.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to commend Dr. Charles Morrison, 
president of the East-West Center and members of his staff, Dr. 
Sitiveni Halapua, and Dr. Gerard Finin for their hard work in arranging 
meetings that are being held right now, as I speak, with officials of 
the U.S. Department of State and other agencies of the Federal 
Government.
  I want to especially thank our Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, 
for taking the time from her busy schedule to meet with our guests from 
the Pacific, and also Assistant Secretary of State, Chris Hill, and 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Glyn Davies, and their staffs for 
arranging appropriate meetings with other officials representing the 
various agencies of the administration.
  Mr. Speaker, this is truly a historical day in our Nation's Capital. 
With the exception of Australia and New Zealand, this is the first time 
in our country's history that this number of leaders representing the 
Pacific region are here as a group to meet with us and to discuss 
issues that are mutually important to them, as well as to us.
  It was only in the last half century that our Nation was engaged in 
one of the bloodiest wars ever fought in the Pacific. World War II was 
fought in two fronts, one in Europe and the other in the Pacific. In 
the islands of the Solomons, where Guadalcanal, as some of you may have 
heard, is located in the Pacific, so are the Marshall Islands, the 
islands of Samoa, the Philippines, Papua, New Guinea, Palau, Guam, 
Saipan, Tinian, Rota, Tarawa, Midway, Borneo, Okinawa, Iwo Jima and 
several others. People of the Pacific played critical roles in U.S. 
efforts to fight Japanese military forces in response to the attack on 
Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
  After World War II, with the exception of Guam, the United States 
unilaterally declared the rest of Micronesia as a strategic trust, 
which meant that these islands were placed under the jurisdiction and 
protection of the United States.
  But a national debate also began as a result of the devastation and 
the loss of some 200,000 lives when we dropped two atom bombs by our 
military that conducted this arrangement, where two atom bombs were 
dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
  While the atom bombs brought an immediate end to World War II in the 
Pacific, scientists and political leaders in our country debated 
whether or not nuclear energy was to be used for military or peaceful 
purposes.

                              {time}  1415

  Although the military won its bid to conduct a nuclear testing 
program, the question was, where are we going to conduct the testing? 
Since it was obviously too dangerous to explode atomic bombs in any of 
the States in the continental United States, it was determined that a 
place far and away was needed, and thus the U.S. military command chose 
the Marshall Islands as the place to conduct our nuclear testing 
program.
  I submit, Mr. Speaker, that I am not sure if my colleagues are aware 
of the fact that the U.S. exploded some 67 nuclear bombs in the 
Marshall Islands. This also included the explosion of the first 
hydrogen bomb ever in the history of the world. In layman's terms, you 
must first explode an atomic bomb as a trigger to explode a hydrogen 
bomb. The hydrogen bomb that the U.S. exploded in the Marshall Islands 
in 1954 was known as the Bravo Shot, and it was measured as a 15-
megaton nuclear device, a thousand times more powerful than the atom 
bombs we dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
  I submit to my colleagues in the House, at the height of the Cold 
War, the people of the Marshall Islands made tremendous sacrifices of 
their properties and, above all, of themselves after being exposed to 
nuclear radiation. To this day, our government, Mr. Speaker, with all 
its honor and glory, has not made good our promises to properly 
compensate these people for the loss of their properties and to provide 
adequate medical care, especially to those who were directly exposed to 
nuclear radiation as a result of our nuclear testing program.
  In the near future, I will be proposing a bill that will address the 
needs of the people of the Marshall Islands as a result of our nuclear 
testing program, and I am hopeful that my colleagues will support me in 
this effort.
  Some of my colleagues have asked me, why should the United States 
take an interest in these small islands out there in the middle of the 
Pacific? I need not repeat myself on the importance of these islands 
during World War II, and I have just shared with my colleagues the 
tremendous sacrifices the leaders and the people of the Marshall 
Islands made for the success of our nuclear testing program. I have 
also pointed out the shameful neglect on the part of our Nation to 
properly address the property rights and health care needs of these 
people who were exposed. All of them were exposed to nuclear radiation.
  Having said this, I want to reemphasize the Pacific Islands were 
valuable to our Nation during World War II, and, believe me, these 
nations will be valuable to us again in the future. We fool ourselves 
if we believe we do not need allies in a volatile region that covers 
one-third of the world's surface.
  We need the Pacific Island nations as they need us. The people of the 
Pacific nations do not want handouts, but they want equal treatment, 
respect, and economic assistance will be beneficial to them as well as 
to us. The seabed minerals within the exclusive economic zones of these 
island nations are worth hundreds of billions of dollars, but their 
potential use is priceless if together we can find ways to harness 
these resources. The same can be said of their fisheries and marine 
resources, which will continue to be an inestimable worth as the world 
struggles to feed a growing population.
  There are many other areas in which we can work together if we can 
begin to establish even a USAID program in the Pacific region. As 
chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific 
and the Global Environment, I look forward to working with my 
colleagues to bring about needed and necessary changes in our current 
relations with our Pacific Island neighbors.
  On this historic occasion, Mr. Speaker, I also welcome these leaders 
to our Nation's Capital, and I urge my colleagues to support this 
proposed legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from American Samoa for 
sponsorship of this resolution and Mr. Lantos, the chairman, and the 
ranking member from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
  Today I rise to offer my endorsement of a resolution that recognizes 
the enduring ties of the United States and the Pacific Island nations. 
Our Nation's links with the Pacific Islands extend back to the earliest 
days of the American Republic, when New England whalers, symbolized by 
Captain Ahab, sailed in the South Pacific. In those early days, clipper 
ships also set sail from American ports across the Pacific in pursuit 
of the China trade. American missionaries soon followed, journeying to 
the Pacific Islands to deepen the cultural and religious ties between 
our two peoples.
  Our bonds to our Pacific neighbors have been further enhanced by 
their ethnic and historic links to our 50th State, Hawaii, America's 
gateway to the Pacific.
  When war came to the Pacific at Pearl Harbor on that day of infamy, 
December 7, 1941, the peoples of the Pacific joined the United States 
in turning back the threat of the invader. It was two Solomon Islanders 
who bravely carried a coconut hidden in a canoe through enemy lines 
with the immortal words: ``Commander . . . native knows position . . . 
he can pilot . . . 11 alive . . . need small boat . . . Kennedy.''

[[Page 11409]]

  The rescue of the crew of PT-109, including a future President of the 
United States, John F. Kennedy, is remembered as one of the great epic 
stories of the war in the Pacific.
  In the six decades since the end of that war, our diplomatic, 
commercial and cultural ties have grown steadily with our Pacific 
neighbors. One legacy of the American President rescued by the Pacific 
Islanders has been the Peace Corps, which has sent volunteers to work 
together with the peoples of the Pacific for the past 40 years.
  The East-West Center in Hawaii, established by the United States 
Congress in 1960, has been a vital source for cultural and academic 
exchange and for a dialogue on critical issues of mutual concern. The 
center has played a pivotal role in cementing the ties between the 
peoples of the United States and the peoples of the Pacific Islands. I 
commend the center for hosting the Pacific Island Conference of Leaders 
here in Washington, D.C. Therefore, I welcome the opportunity to offer 
my strong and enthusiastic support for House Resolution 355, welcoming 
America's good friends, the leaders of the Pacific Islands, to 
Washington, D.C.
  I offer them and the people of the Pacific a warm welcome of 
``aloha.''
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I want to thank and commend my good friend, the gentleman from Texas, 
for a most eloquent statement and observations in terms of our 
relationship with these Pacific Island nations.
  I recall years ago we took a congressional delegation. At that time, 
the chairman of our Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee of the Foreign 
Affairs Committee, Congressman Steve Solarz from New York; Congressman 
Bob Dornan from California; and myself. And we visited the various 
island nations and found out that we have become somewhat of a nation 
totally neglectful of our efforts to establish good relations with 
these island nations.
  I recall we visited the Solomon Islands and specifically the 
Guadalcanal that most Americans have heard in the news of World War II, 
which was where some of the bloodiest battles were fought there by the 
Marines against Japanese forces. And in our efforts in trying to find 
out what can we do on behalf of our country in terms of how we can 
express a sense of token appreciation to the people of the Solomon 
Islands for the support they gave us during the famous battles that we 
had to endure during the war there in Guadalcanal. And in doing so, we 
came back and submitted to the Congress a proposal that what would be a 
good gesture on behalf of the people of America would be to build a 
parliamentary building for the Solomon Islands government. And in doing 
so, we provided the funding, and I was privileged and honored to 
accompany the good Senator from Rhode Island, Senator Chafee. And we 
went over to the Solomon Islands to dedicate this new parliamentary 
building and found out that Senator Chafee was a 19-year-old Marine 
fighting enemy forces in Guadalcanal, and it was quite a statement and 
a very moving experience that I had in noticing one of our national 
leaders, the great Senator from Rhode Island, revisited Guadalcanal 
where this battle was fought. And he was there as a 19-year-old Marine. 
And we did this, and the people of the Solomon Islands were very 
grateful that we were able to build this new parliamentary building as 
a token, as a gift, from the people of the United States to commemorate 
and to remember the tremendous sacrifices not only that our soldiers 
and our Marines made on these islands but also the support that the 
people of the Solomon Islands provided us in the war effort.
  I also want to commend the Congress. I don't know if our colleagues 
are aware of the fact that, in 1960, Congress enacted special 
legislation to establish the East-West Center. And it was a tremendous 
effort to see what we could do to establish good relations between the 
East and the Asian countries and that of our own country. And that was 
the very purpose. To establish exchanges and to establish forums and 
symposiums to allow the leaders of the nations of Asia and the Pacific 
region to meet together with our leaders and to see if we could resolve 
some of the issues and problems confronting the region as well as our 
own Nation.
  So with that, I wanted to just share those two points with our 
colleagues in the House.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to my good friend, the gentlewoman 
from the Territory of Guam (Ms. Bordallo).
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Resolution 355, a resolution recognizing and welcoming the leaders of 
the Pacific Islands to Washington, D.C., and commending the East-West 
Center for hosting the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders.
  I am encouraged by the strong support that Congress continues to 
display toward promoting closer political, economic and cultural ties 
among the islands and the countries of the Pacific region. This 
resolution is evidence of the East-West Center's excellent work toward 
facilitating the achievement of those goals.
  We have the unique honor this week of hosting a State visit by the 
Queen of England. She and her husband, Prince Phillip, began their 6-
day trip to the United States in Virginia last week. Notably, the Queen 
addressed the State's General Assembly and visited Jamestown, which is 
observing the 400th anniversary of the founding of the first permanent 
English settlement in the Americas.
  Indeed, Great Britain and the United States enjoy close, special 
relations established in revolution, forged in world wars and tempered 
by peace and economic growth. This is a relationship to cherish. But 
let us not forget that the United States is fortunate to have formed 
special relationships elsewhere in the world. Those relationships are 
similarly important, especially those that we share with the islands of 
the Pacific region.
  Like with Great Britain, the United States shares an ocean with its 
friends in the Pacific. But we also share common histories, culture 
and, among other things, a great desire for peace and economic security 
and prosperity that forge indelible bonds between our peoples. House 
Resolution 355 recognizes this. The resolution notes the United States 
is a Pacific nation, and I could not agree more wholeheartedly and 
firmly. The gaze of the United States must be west. The Pacific Century 
is undoubtedly upon us, and we are fortunate to have such strong 
friendships and alliances established there.
  The eighth meeting of the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders, 
which will occur this week in Washington, D.C., is evidence of the 
strong relationship that exists between the United States and the 
islands of the Pacific. The Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders, 
hosted by the East-West Center with the support of the Department of 
State, is comprised of 20 heads of government from the Pacific Islands 
region and meets once every 3 years. The conference members include: 
American Samoa, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, 
Fiji Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Kiribati, the Marshall 
Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, the Northern Mariana Islands, 
Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, 
Vanuatu. Notably, this is the first time the Pacific Islands Conference 
of Leaders has been held in Washington, and that the commitment of the 
United States to the conference could not be stronger or broader is 
encouraging. Very encouraging.

                              {time}  1430

  Interagency delegations to the conference this week will include 
representatives from the Department of State, the Department of 
Defense, the United States Agency for International Development, the 
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, the United States Coast Guard, the Peace 
Corps and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. These representatives' 
participation during the

[[Page 11410]]

conference will further enhance the already excellent work on the part 
of their departments and agencies within the region.
  Mr. Speaker, we owe special thanks to the East-West Center for its 
efforts to organize this event. The East-West Center is an education 
and research organization established by the United States Congress in 
1960 in order to strengthen relations and understandings achieved 
between the United States and the peoples and the countries of Asia and 
the Pacific.
  As noted in House Resolution 355, the center successfully contributes 
to a peaceful, a prosperous and a just Asia-Pacific community by 
serving as a vigorous hub for cooperative research, education and 
dialogue on critical issues of common concern to the Asia-Pacific 
region and the United States.
  The East-West Center has established for itself a strong reputation 
as an ideal forum for emerging leaders and regional specialists to 
discuss issues and strengthen relations with their colleagues, and I 
strongly support their ongoing efforts in this regard.
  Representing Guam at the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders will 
be the Honorable Felix Camacho, the Governor of Guam, and accompanying 
him will be his wife, our first lady of Guam, Joann Camacho. I welcome 
them to our Nation's capital and wish them the best during their 
discussions with their colleagues from the region.
  Guam, both the United States territory and a Pacific Island, is a 
leader in the region economically, politically and in terms of regional 
security. Guam, and the perspective of its people, will continue to 
have a unique and influential role in the region in the years to come 
as a result of the changing posture of the United States military in 
the Asia-Pacific region and the increased economic activity that is 
planned for the island in the coming years. I sincerely hope that the 
relationship that Guam shares with its Pacific Island partners will 
grow stronger during this period.
  And, finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank and recognize our 
distinguished colleague from American Samoa, Mr. Faleomavaega, for his 
leadership as chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, and 
the Global Environment. We are all indebted to him for his command of 
the issues of concern to our allies in the Pacific and for his 
leadership in strengthening United States foreign defense and economic 
policy.
  I urge adoption of House Resolution 355.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to once again commend the gentleman from American 
Samoa for not only bringing forth this resolution, but his work in 
educating the American public on the Pacific Islands and the need for 
cooperation with the United States and the Pacific Islands.
  He mentioned the Solomon Islands during World War II. The Solomon 
Islands, among many other island nations in the Pacific, helped the 
United States combat imperialism. And when the American troops left 
those islands, many of those nations had to suffer continuously for the 
destruction that occurred on their islands. And of course there are 
still Americans who are volunteering from American Samoa and Guam 
fighting in our American forces overseas. And some Americans sometimes 
forget that these two areas of our country help in the great war on 
terror. So I want to commend him for bringing this resolution, and I 
support the adoption of House Resolution 355.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I 
have remaining.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman has 2 minutes remaining.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I just wanted to add, as a matter of history here, 
it was during the 1970s, then-chairman of the House Subcommittee on 
Territories, the late Congressman Phillip Burton from San Francisco, 
who initiated the move in terms of finding out how the East-West Center 
was doing as far as the Pacific Islands were concerned. And as a result 
of the assistance also from then former Congresswoman Yvonne Brathwaite 
Burke, who served as a member of the Appropriations Committee, there 
was greater attention given to the needs of the Pacific Island nations. 
And I want to commend certainly the former Governor of the State of 
Hawaii, Governor George Ariyoshi, and the late Prime Minister of Fiji, 
Sir Ratu Kamisese Mara, for the outstanding leadership that they 
displayed and demonstrated in establishing this special program now 
allotting to the needs of our Pacific Island nations. Certainly 
Governor John Waihee and also Governor Linda Lingle were also very 
supportive of this effort.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank again my colleague from Texas for his 
compliments and the remarks concerning this resolution. And, again, I 
urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 355, a 
resolution recognizing and welcoming the leaders of the Pacific Islands 
to Washington, D.C., and commending the East-West Center for hosting 
the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders.
  The United States has always had a unique relationship to the Pacific 
Islands. Not only do they help play a key role in the fight against 
terrorism, but these governments also aid the U.S. in its overall 
security. Furthermore, both the U.S. and the Pacific Islands rely on 
the vast resources of the Pacific basin; these resources while enormous 
are not unlimited, and management requires cooperation across all of 
our governments. These islands also work closely with the U.S. on an 
important environmental and security concern, global climate change, 
which has the potential to drastically affect all who depend on the 
Pacific for their livelihood. Furthermore, trade, tourism, and other 
economic ties further reveal the interdependence between the Pacific 
Islands and the U.S. The resolution before us recognizes these factors.
  As we mark Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage month, we would also 
be remiss to not point out that Americans of Pacific Island decent are 
a rapidly growing ethnic group within the U.S. They add strength to our 
communities with their diversity and values, and they make important 
contributions to the U.S. as a whole. The resolution also mentions this 
important fact.
  Furthermore, the resolution discusses the importance of the East-West 
Center, which runs the Conference of Leaders. Congress established the 
East-West Center, which is based in my district, in 1960. The East-West 
Center seeks to establish a dialogue between the peoples and nations of 
Asia, the Pacific, and the U.S. The East-West Center provides a home 
for academics who perform vital research that helps all parties better 
understand each other's history and culture. The Center's Education and 
Outreach sphere helps disseminate what researchers learn to the broader 
public and to policymakers. Finally, the Center provides important 
dialogue programs. Under the effective leadership of Dr. Charles 
Morrison, the East-West Center continues to address the challenges of 
the Asian-Pacific 21st Century.
  Established in 1980 the East-West Center's Pacific Islands Conference 
of Leaders grows out of these dialogue programs. It seeks to bring 
together leaders from the region to discuss many of the issues I 
mentioned earlier. In the era of growing interdependence between the 
U.S. and Pacific Island governments, both the work of the Center and 
the Conference of Leaders becomes more important.
  I urge my colleagues to support both this resolution, and provide 
continued support to the East-West Center.
  Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Resolution 355 welcoming the Leaders from the Pacific Island nations to 
the Eighth Pacific Island Conference being held in Washington. I 
commend my distinguished friend and colleague, Chairman Faleomavaega, 
for introducing this resolution.
  The United States and the Pacific Island nations share strong 
economic and cultural ties that have endured the test of time. The 
triennial meeting of the Pacific Island Conference is an important 
event that allows the U.S. to reaffirm its friendship and ties with the 
20 nations participating in the Conference. This year's meeting will 
take place in Washington, DC, for the first time.
  Our friends in the Pacific Island nations have stood by us 
steadfastly during the darkest moments of this Nation's history. A 
great number of the sons and daughters from the Marshall Islands, 
Micronesia, and Palau currently serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. They

[[Page 11411]]

stand side by side with volunteers from American Samoa, the Northern 
Marianas, Guam, Hawaii, and other states to protect our freedom.
  America's ties with the countries in the South Pacific date back 
centuries from the early days when American whalers sought safety in 
Fiji and Tonga and continuing through to the Pacific campaign during 
World War II. To this day, Pacific Island nations represent some of 
America's strongest allies at the United Nations.
  I applaud the Administration and the East West Center for elevating 
the importance of this year's Pacific Island Conference to the highest 
level by holding it in our nation's capitol. I look forward to meeting 
with the Leaders during their visit to Congress.
  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join my colleagues in 
honoring the rich heritage and important contributions made to our 
Nation by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
  I thank Congressman Honda and the Congressional Asian Pacific 
American Caucus for organizing this evening's special order.
  Born and raised in the diverse city of Los Angeles, California, I 
have been blessed with friendships and experiences that have given me a 
deep respect and appreciation of the unique cultures and customs of our 
AAPI communities.
  That respect and appreciation has grown even greater as a member of 
Congress honored to represent many of these communities, including 
Little Tokyo, Chinatown, and historic Filipinotown.
  The American dream for Asian American Pacific Islanders is the same 
as for all Americans: Freedom, justice, respect and the opportunity for 
a better life.
  This year's commemoration theme--``Meeting the Challenges for Asian 
Pacific Americans in 2007''--unfortunately highlights the sad reality 
that, while generations of Asian American and Pacific Islanders have a 
long history of fighting to protect our country in time of war, 
contributing to the strength our Nation's economy and enriching our 
lives with the beauty of their culture and customs, like too many other 
communities in our country, they continue to face the obstacles of 
discrimination and racism in pursuit of their American dream.
  Eliminating these barriers and honoring the contributions of the AAPI 
communities is a top priority for me, my colleagues and our new 
Democratic majority.
  We will continue to work to successfully: Pass a comprehensive 
immigration reform bill that is fair and just; eliminate health 
disparities by expanding health care coverage and removing linguistic 
and cultural barriers to quality care; honor our veterans by adequately 
funding veterans programs and restoring the benefits denied to so many 
veterans, including the thousands of Filipinos who bravely fought in 
the U.S. Military during World War II; Provide small business with the 
tools needed to encourage entrepreneurial innovation, which will help 
the AAPI and other vulnerable communities develop new business ventures 
that will create jobs and economic prosperity; and work to make higher 
education a reality for all America's students by increasing the 
maximum Pell grant award and cutting the interest rates on student 
loans.
  Mr. Speaker, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is also a 
wonderful opportunity for our country to honor hard-working and 
dedicated organizations that help our AAPI communities meet the many 
challenges of today.
  I particularly want to recognize some of the organizations in my 34th 
Congressional District and thank their staffs and volunteers for the 
many valuable services they provide to the community: The Asian Pacific 
American Legal Center, is one of our Nation's largest public service 
organizations that provides legal services and education to create a 
more equitable society; the Chinatown Service Center's Family Health 
Clinic provides comprehensive, affordable health care to thousands of 
low-income families; the Little Tokyo Service Center's Community 
Economic Development programs have developed more than $100 million in 
community-serving nonprofit real estate; the Filipino American Service 
Group, Inc., provides services to seniors, veterans, and homeless 
adults in and around Historic Filipinotown; and the Japanese American 
National Museum and its affiliate, the National Center for the 
Preservation of Democracy, educates the public about the importance of 
remembering Japanese American history to help guard against prejudice 
in our society.
  These are just a few of the many organizations devoted to improving 
the quality of life in the 34th Congressional district and throughout 
the Los Angeles region, and I salute them for their services.
  In closing, I thank the Asian American and Pacific Islander community 
and especially my constituents for continuing to enrich my life, the 
lives of Angelenos, and our Nation as a whole.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 355.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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