[House Report 105-751]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 2d Session                                                     105-751
_______________________________________________________________________


 
 EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT THE UNITED 
    STATES HAS ENJOYED THE LOYALTY OF THE UNITED STATES CITIZENS OF 
    GUAM, AND THAT THE UNITED STATES RECOGNIZES THE CENTENNIAL 
    ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR AS AN OPPORTUNE TIME FOR 
    CONGRESS TO REAFFIRM ITS COMMITMENT TO INCREASE SELF-GOVERNMENT 
    CONSISTENT WITH SELF-DETERMINATION FOR THE PEOPLE OF GUAM

                                _______
                                

 September 28, 1998.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

_______________________________________________________________________


  Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 494]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the 
resolution (H. Res. 494) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that the United States has enjoyed the loyalty 
of the United States citizens of Guam, and that the United 
States recognizes the centennial anniversary of the Spanish-
American War as an opportune time for Congress to reaffirm its 
commitment to increase self-government consistent with self-
determination for the people of Guam, having considered the 
same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend 
that the resolution be agreed to.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H. Res. 494 is to express the sense of the 
House of Representatives that the United States has enjoyed the 
loyalty of the United States citizens of Guam, and that the 
United States recognizes the centennial anniversary of the 
Spanish-American War as an opportune time for Congress to 
reaffirm its commitment to increase self-government consistent 
with self-determination for the people of Guam.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    It has been 100 years since the United States raised the 
first American flag over Guam on July 21, 1898. The islands 
were transferred to the United States after the Spanish-
American War pursuant to the Treaty of Paris. Article IX of the 
Treaty states that, ``The civil rights and political status of 
the native inhabitants of the territories hereby ceded to the 
United States shall be determined by the Congress.''
    Guam was administered by the United States Navy until 
forced to surrender the island in 1941 to the invading forces 
of Japan. During the occupation from 1941 to 1944, the people 
of Guam remained staunchly loyal to the United States, risking 
torture and death, and subject to forced labor, ruthless 
executions, and other brutalities. The island was returned to 
U.S. Naval jurisdiction after the liberation of the people of 
Guam in 1944.
    As an unincorporated territory of the United States, Guam's 
relationship with the United States has been characterized by 
Guam's political development from an island administered by the 
U.S. Department of the Navy to one governed by the people of 
Guam under the Guam Organic Act approved by Congress in 1950 as 
Public Law 630. In that same Act, Congress extended U.S. 
citizenship to the people of Guam. Subsequently, Congress 
expanded Guam's self-governance by authorizing the direct 
election of the governor, representation in the House of 
Representatives by a delegate, and authorizing constitutional 
self-government. Today, the people of Guam continue their quest 
for increased self-government within the United States 
community. The resolution will serve as recognition of Guam's 
100 years of loyalty and service to the United States and calls 
on the House of Representatives to reaffirm its commitment to 
the people of Guam for increased self-government.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H. Res. 494 was introduced on June 24, 1998, by Delegate 
Robert Underwood (D-GU). The bill was referred to the Committee 
on Resources. Previously, on October 29, 1997, the Committee 
held a hearing on Guam's self-government (Committee on 
Resources Printing Hearing 105-78). Numerous witnesses from 
Guam testified in support of increased self-government for Guam 
within the U.S. community, often citing Guam's century-long 
record of loyalty and service to the Nation. On July 29, 1998, 
the Full Resources Committee met to consider H. Res. 494. No 
amendments were offered and the bill was ordered favorably 
reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    With respect to the requirements of clause 2(l)(3) of rule 
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and clause 
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee on Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                   CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    Article IV, section 3 of the Constitution of the United 
States grants Congress the authority to enact H. Res. 494.

                        COST OF THE LEGISLATION

    Clause 7(a) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the 
Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out 
H. Res. 494. However, clause 7(d) of that rule provides that 
this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included 
in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill 
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

                     COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XI

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(B) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, H. Res. 
494 does not contain any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(D) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee has received no report of oversight findings and 
recommendations from the Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight on the subject of H. Res. 494.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(C) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee has received the following cost estimate for H. Res. 
494 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.

               CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                Washington, DC, September 24, 1998.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Res. 494, a 
resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives 
that the United States has enjoyed the loyalty of the United 
States citizens of Guam, and that the United States recognizes 
the centennial anniversary of the Spanish-American War as an 
opportune time for Congress to reaffirm its commitment to 
increase self-government consistent with self-determination for 
the people of Guam.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is John R. 
Righter.
            Sincerely,
                                         June E. O'Neill, Director.
    Enclosure.

H. Res. 494--A Resolution expressing the sense of the House of 
        Representatives that the United States has enjoyed the loyalty 
        of the United States citizens of Guam

    H. Res. 494 would recognize the territory of Guam for 100 
years of loyalty and service to the United States. CBO 
estimates that passage of H. Res. 494 would have no budgetary 
impact. The resolution would not affect direct spending or 
receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply.
    The CBO staff contact is John R. Righter. This estimate was 
approved by Robert A. Sunshine, Deputy Assistant Director for 
Budget Analysis.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4

    H. Res. 494 contains no unfunded mandates.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    H. Res. 494 would make no changes in existing law.

                                
