E354 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 21, 2017

HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY the extraordinary life of Eni Fa’aua’a Hunkin I’m Congressman PAUL GOSAR and I rep- OF REP. ENI FALEOMAVAEGA OF Faleomavaega, Jr., who passed away last resent Arizona’s Fourth Congressional District. month at the age of 73. Eni Faleomavaega I am also Chairman of the Congressional was not only my colleague, he was my friend. Western Caucus, Chairman of the House HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO Eni was the senior delegate and, therefore, Committee on Natural Resources Sub- OF GUAM the dean of the delegates. We became friends committee on Energy and Mineral Resources, from the time I was elected in 1990. Eni was IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and Vice-Chairman of the House Committee as affable as he was serious and dedicated to on Oversight and Government Reform. Tuesday, March 21, 2017 his constituents in American Samoa. He was I would like to start by thanking Congress- Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to the first person of Asian-Pacific descent to woman AMATA for her great leadership in the honor the life and legacy of my good friend chair the House Subcommittee on Asia, the House of Representatives and for organizing and our former colleague from American Pacific, and the Global Environment, later this bipartisan special order today to pay trib- Samoa, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, serving as ranking member. ute to our colleague Eni. who passed away on February 22, 2017. Eni was fully prepared for his leadership On February 22, 2017, a Member of the Throughout his 26 years here in the House of roles in the Congress. He served his country House who served the Congress and rep- Representatives, Eni was a tireless champion for three years during the Vietnam War. Eni resented the people of American Samoa for for the people of American Samoa, an advo- put his education at 26 years, passed away out West while at his cate for the U.S. territories, and leader on and the University of Houston Law Center to home in . issues affecting the Asian American and Pa- a lifetime of public service. He served the peo- Eni was a patriot who honorably served this cific Islander community. He was also a leader ple of American Samoa in critical positions. great nation in uniform in the U.S. Army. Un- Eni Faleomavaega was deputy attorney gen- on the House Foreign Affairs Committee on fortunately, he was exposed to Agent Orange eral and, later, lieutenant governor of Amer- issues important to the Asia-Pacific region. during one of his tours, something that nega- ican Samoa. Eni was the administrative assist- More importantly, he got leaders in Congress tively impacted his health for the rest of his ant to American Samoa Delegate A.U. and in administration after administration to life. Fuimaono before he was elected to that posi- Eni did not let this incident hold him back focus on the importance of the Pacific Islands. tion himself in 1988. We are often overlooked in grand Asia strat- Even though the District of Columbia pays though and went on to serve our great country egy but he got policymakers to understand our federal taxes (highest per capita in the U.S.), for nearly three decades as the Delegate for importance to the world community. the delegates have much in common and al- American Samoa. He also served the territory I am proud to have worked with Eni on a ways worked together. When I discovered that as its Lieutenant Governor. number of issues that impact the Asia-Pacific the D.C. flag was not carried by D.C. troops I got to know Eni through our work together region and the 4.5 million Americans living in as state troops do, further investigation on the House Committee on Natural Re- the territories. For much of my time here in showed that the troops of the territories also sources. Eni was a passionate and effective Congress, Eni was the longest serving rep- did not carry their flags. Yet, the territories and member on issues impacting the Pacific. resentative from a U.S. territory, so he was the District have served their country in nota- Eni was a devoted husband and father of the Dean of what we refer to as our Territorial bly-disproportionate numbers. All of us signed five children. Eni and his wife were active Caucus. I leaned on his advice and appre- a letter to House and Senate Armed Services members of their church. ciated his insightful perspectives that were committees. Working together, we got this fail- Family, friends and colleagues were sad- grounded in not only his almost three decades ure to acknowledge all our troops corrected by dened to learn of his passing last month. This as a Member of Congress, but also his work the Congress. demonstrates just how much he will be in public service as American Samoa’s Lieu- I was particularly appreciative of Eni’s initia- missed. I am confident there will be a large tenant Governor and Deputy Attorney General, tives. For example, he introduced the bill to turnout next Saturday the 25th at his memorial as a staffer here on Capitol Hill, and service cancel the trademark using the disparaging service and subsequent reception that follows in the U.S. Army. He, like many Members in word ‘‘Redskins,’’ the name of the District of to celebrate his life. this body, fought hard to secure much needed Columbia’s football team. That challenge has Again, I would like to thank Congresswoman federal funding for American Samoa. Eni had been vindicated, but is now on appeal. AMATA for organizing this most worthy tribute a broad vision but never forgot his constitu- Delegates have always supported one an- to our colleague Eni. Eni left big shoes to fill, ents. He never forgot the people that gave him other on issues unique to their districts. I ap- but Congresswoman AMATA has stepped up, the privilege to serve in this esteemed body. preciate that all the Democratic delegates are continued the excellent representation the His depth of knowledge and compassion for original cosponsors of my bill to make the Dis- people of American Samoa have come to ex- the less fortunate were evident to everyone he trict of Columbia the 51st state. In the same pect, and become an effective leader that is met, and I will look back fondly on the work way, we supported Eni’s work against nuclear respected throughout the country. that we did together in Congress. testing in the South Pacific. Eni led in the I know Eni would be proud of the Congress- Eni’s passing is a great loss for the people Congress on this critical issue, even boy- woman and the great work she has done for of American Samoa and all Americans, and cotting then-French president Jacques American Samoa. we are all better for having known him. I ex- Chirac’s address before a joint session of f tend my sincere condolences to his family, Congress. Only days before that speech, ENI FALEOMAVAEGA loved ones, and the people of American France was conducting a series of nuclear Samoa, and I join them in celebrating his tests in the South Pacific, despite protests. Eni led the Congress on issues important to memory. I thank my colleague from American HON. STEVE CHABOT American Samoa and to our country. He set a Samoa, Congresswoman RADEWAGEN for or- OF OHIO high standard for representation. Eni ganizing this Special Order, so that this body IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Faleomavaega was kind and generous, and can appropriately honor and pay tribute to he was intelligent, able, dedicated, and hard- Tuesday, March 21, 2017 Congressman Faleomavaega for his years of working. I miss my friend. So does the Con- dedicated service to his constituents and to Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I had the honor gress. our nation. He is deeply missed, but he will of serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee forever be remembered by all who he served. f with Congressman Eni Faleomavaega for 16 years. We got to know each other well in f HONORING THE LIFE AND MEM- ORY OF REPRESENTATIVE ENI 2001, when President Bush nominated the two ENI FA’AUA’A HUNKIN FALEOMAVAEGA of us to be the bipartisan Congressional Dele- FALEOMAVAEGA, JR. gates to the United Nations, and we would travel to New York together to meet with our HON. PAUL A. GOSAR Ambassador and his diplomatic team. HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON OF ARIZONA During Eni’s last term in Congress, I chaired OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the Asia Pacific Subcommittee. Eni was the Tuesday, March 21, 2017 subcommittee’s Ranking Member. I can tell Tuesday, March 21, 2017 Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to you that during that period, we disagreed from Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of a true states- time to time on policy matters, but never were ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing man, Congressman Eni Faleomavaega. we disagreeable. Eni was the consummate

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