H4334 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 24, 1997 education situation unless we have a why can we not have $5 billion over a 5- relations in America. I have no prob- critical mass. We need enough. One of year period for school repair, renova- lem adding a multiracial category to the versions of charter schools is sup- tion and construction? If the Speaker the census. I do not know how it is posed to be that they will give com- agrees and if he has on his list of 10 going to improve race relations, be- petition to the traditional public things that need to be done to promote cause in the history of America, they schools. race relations, to provide opportunities have always insisted that anybody who What is the difference between char- for individuals, then why can we not had one drop of black blood was Afri- ter schools and traditional public have an agreement to put back into the can-American. If you had one drop of schools? It is not the funding base, be- budget the $5 billion initiative for black blood, you were deemed African- cause they both are supposed to be school construction? American. So these race classifications funded by taxpayers’ money, fully Another point, and I want to finish seem to me to be no solution. funded. Charter schools are to receive a the Speaker’s points and do justice to In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I applaud per capita amount, which is the same his points. Small business. Set a goal Speaker GINGRICH for his rapid re- as the local education agency pays for for tripling the number of minority- sponse to the President’s challenge. We their children. The only difference be- owned small businesses. I agree, Mr. need more discussion on race relations. tween charter schools and the local Speaker, let us triple the number of We certainly need powerful people like education agency’s traditional schools minority-owned small businesses. He Speaker GINGRICH to make proposals as would be in the governance and man- wants to bring successful small busi- to what it is we should do, what we agement. They would have to abide by ness leaders together to identify and should do concretely. There are people all the rules and terms of any State re- then eliminate the government im- out there who are dying because we are quirements, requirements for integra- posed barriers to entrepreneurship. not acting fast enough. The death of tion, requirements for curriculum, ev- That is what he says is the cause of the Marsha Motipersad is just one example erything would still be there for the paucity of small businesses in the mi- of how there is needless suffering be- charter schools. It is a matter of how nority community. I agree with the cause we have rushed into public poli- they are governed and who is in charge goal. We need to triple the number of cies and programs that are harmful to of the management and what kind of minority-owned small businesses. I do people. It is more than race relations. things can you do if you are out from not agree with his concern about gov- It is human relations, it is human under the local bureaucracy and how ernment-imposed barriers. I live in a rights, it is concern for human welfare. much freedom for innovation will lead community where small businessmen All this goes together. to real improvements, real change, and struggle all the time. I do not get any I want to end on a positive note. how much your freedom to govern as complaints about government barriers. Overall, I applaud the Speaker. I hope you see fit and manage as you see fit The government does more to help he will continue the dialogue and he can allow you to do the things that than anything else. The complaint is will go and meet with the Commission have to be done to improve the schools against the private sector capital. the President has set up and I will without the burden of having to get ap- They cannot get capital. Or they have come right behind him. I think that provals from people in the hierarchy on to pass scrutiny that other businesses there are many areas that we agree on top of you. The great challenge is gov- do not have to pass. All kinds of prob- and that the President’s initiative has ernance and management. Let us go on lems I hear about, I do not hear that shown that it has paid off already. The at the Federal level to create some in- the government has imposed barriers. dialogue has begun. centives. Let us have a piece of legisla- That is an ideological blind spot that f tion which provides incentives for the Speaker is off into. It is not a mi- charter schools. If the Speaker wants nority business problem that we have IN HONOR OF THE PRESIDENT OF to do something about creating better too much regulation or government THE REPUBLIC OF THE MAR- opportunities for all children to learn, barriers. I have heard the speeches a SHALL ISLANDS, HIS EXCEL- there is one area which there is agree- thousand times about what is wrong LENCY IMATA KABUA, AND THE ment, charter schools, why do we not with America. That has nothing to do MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, do something about it. with what is really impeding small HIS EXCELLENCY PHILLIP Opportunities to learn also involve, business development in the minority MULLER of course, children having a decent community. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. place to study. It is most unfortunate In summary, I think I have covered PEASE). Under the Speaker’s an- that the Speaker is concerned about all the Speaker’s points. His 10 propos- nounced policy of January 7, 1997, the creating better opportunities to learn als to improve race relations are to gentleman from American Samoa [Mr. for children and yet in the budget create better opportunities for all chil- FALEOMAVAEGA] is recognized for 60 agreement that was made with the dren to learn, to develop more minor- minutes. President at the White House, the ini- ity businesses, to create 100 renewal Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, tiative for construction of new schools communities, to clear the existing I rise today on behalf of our colleagues and renovation of unsafe schools was backlog of discrimination cases at the in the Congress to extend a warm and taken out. $5 billion over a 5-year pe- Equal Employment Opportunity Com- heartfelt welcome to the President of riod. That is all they proposed. $5 bil- mission. He wants to make America a the Republic of the Marshall Islands, lion over a 5-year period to help to ren- country, and I missed this one, he His Excellency Imata Kabua, and the ovate and repair and actually con- wants to make America a country with Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, struct new schools. It would make a equal opportunity for all and special His Excellency Phillip Muller. Mr. big difference in terms of opportunity privileges for none by taking away all Speaker, President Kabua and Foreign to learn for all children. Because across preferences, set-asides, and govern- Minister Muller have been in Washing- America, according to the General Ac- ment contracts. We disagree on that ton for meetings with the administra- counting Office, the GAO, $120 billion is one. That is clearly one we disagree on. tion and our colleagues here in the needed for school construction in the I do not have time to explain why. The Congress, representing the interests of next 10 years, to rebuild the infrastruc- background of the history of the de- the good people of the Marshall Is- ture of public schools. We are not talk- scendants of African-American slaves lands. ing about colleges and universities. has to be considered when we talk His Excellency Imata Kabua was Just elementary and secondary about set-asides and special govern- elected President of the Marshall Is- schools. ment programs for minorities. Racial lands in January of this year. In his Why can we not have in a situation classification is another he added here long distinguished career of public where we are adding billions to the de- which I find very strange in this set of service, he has served as Senator in the fense budget, and yesterday we voted proposals. Racial classification. A first Parliament or the Nitijela from 1979 to to continue the B–2 bomber, while we step should be taken to add a multira- 1996, when he was appointed Minister refused to reduce the budget for the cial category to the census. He thinks representing the Ralik Chain of the CIA even though the cold war is over, that is very important to improve race Marshall Islands. President Kabua June 24, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4335 presently occupies the rotating chair- b 2230 the tribunal has already exhausted its manship of the South Pacific Forum of Between the years 1946 and 1958 our funds and projects valid personal in- Nations, the preeminent political orga- Nation tested approximately 66 atomic jury claims for cancer and radiation- nization for the nations of the South and hydrogen nuclear bombs at Bikini related illnesses to a total of over $100 Pacific. and Enewetak Atolls in the Marshall million. And not yet considered by the His Excellency Phillip Muller was Islands. In their destructive capacity Tribunal are the claims to losses of elected in 1984 and has likewise been a the nuclear blasts literally vaporized properties and lands for our nuclear long-standing member of the Par- six islands in the Marshalls. testing program. liament or Nitijela in the Marshall Is- Mr. Speaker, the most devastating lands. He served as Minister and assist- Mr. Speaker, in response to this, I test was the 15 megaton Bravo shot would submit that Section 177 of the ant to the President from 1984 to 1986, which is approximately over 1,300 times and 8 years as Minister of Education, Marshalls’ Compact of Free Associa- more destructive than the bombs our tion may need to be invoked. Section until his assumption of duties as For- Nation dropped on Japan and Hiro- eign Minister for the Marshall Islands 177 provides that the United States shima and Nagasaki in 1945. This single may consider additional nuclear test in 1994. nuclear detonation on March 1, 1954, Mr. Speaker, on this occasion of their compensation in the face of changed exceeded the combined strength of all visit, I am extremely honored to salute circumstances from the information weapons ever fired in the history of these distinguished statesmen and available to compact negotiators in the mankind. On the morning of the test leaders from the Republic of the Mar- 1980’s. Certainly, the Department of the wind was blowing in the direction shall Islands, one of our most cherished Energy’s announced declassification of of two inhabited atolls, Rongelap and friends and sister democracies in the documents relating to our nuclear test- Utrik. Yet despite this knowledge the Pacific region. The people of the Mar- ing program in the Marshalls has shed Pentagon chose not to delay the test. shall Islands and the United States new light on these issues. Moreover, re- It is reprehensible, Mr. Speaker, that share a close relationship that extends cent scientific studies show that 15 for days after the blast the men, back over a half century. Our bonds atolls and islands in the Marshalls women, and the children of the atolls were forged from World War II, when were exposed to significant amounts of of Rongelap and Utrik were not imme- after heavy fighting in the Pacific, the nuclear test fallout, not just the origi- diately evacuated but were forced to United States liberated the nal four atolls considered during the bathe unknowingly in the radioactive Marshallese people from Japanese oc- compact negotiations. fallout. It is a sad and tragic chapter in cupation. And I might also, Mr. Speaker, it For the next 4 decades through a our Nation’s history what we did to these simple and innocent human does not even relate to the fact that United Nations strategic trust terri- thousands of our own soldiers and sail- tory, the United States, as appointed beings. The legacy of the United States nu- ors were also exposed directly to nu- trustee, provided for the administra- clear testing program has resulted in a clear contamination during our period tion of the Marshall Islands and Micro- nightmare of health problems for the of testing at this time in the Mar- nesia. Under the United Nations trust shalls. agreement, it was the obligation of the Marshallese people, including the ele- United States to ‘‘promote the develop- vated rates of thyroid cancer. Cervical Mr. Speaker, the people in the Mar- ment of the inhabitants of the trust cancer mortality rates are 60 times the shall Islands have made great contribu- territory toward self-government or U.S. rate; breast cancer mortality tions and sacrifices befitting the people independence, as may be appropriate to rates, 5 times greater than in the Unit- of the United States and the free world. the particular circumstances of the ed States, and reproductive complica- We will never be able to fully com- trust territory and its peoples of the tions involving high rates of mis- pensate them, as we cannot give them freely expressed wishes of the peoples carriage and deformed stillborn babies. back their health or their lives of their concerned.’’ Mr. Speaker, it is no wonder that unborn children or return to their tra- Pursuing a desire for self-determina- half a century later the chain of is- ditional culture. Nevertheless the Unit- tion, the people of the Marshall Islands lands is still considered one of the most ed States owes a moral duty and a seri- entered into a compact, a free associa- contaminated places in the world. The ous obligation to the people of the Mar- tion with the United States in 1986, residents of the Marshalls who inhab- shall Islands. ited Bikini Atoll still await a cleanup emerging from the trust territory as In recognition of this duty, the of the nuclear testsite before they can the independent Republic of the Mar- Chairman of the House International return to their homes. The residents of shall Islands. Under the compact of Relations Committee, the gentleman Rongelap Island who were forced to free association, the relationship be- from New York, [Mr. GILMAN], my good abandon their homes since 1954 due to tween the Marshalls and the United friend, introduced House Concurrent radioactive contamination likewise States is different from that we have Resolution 92 of which I am a proud co- await cleanup efforts before returning with other governments. The United sponsor along with the gentleman from to their island, and the people of States agreed to provide development Alaska [Mr. YOUNG], the chairman of Enewetak who have been forced to live funding to the Marshalls for 15 years, the Committee on Resources in the in the southern portion of their island and to provide for its defense and secu- House of Representatives to recognize await resettlement of the north, which rity. In exchange, the Marshalls prom- the tremendous sacrifices that the is still radioactive. Although the Unit- ised the U.S. exclusive access to its is- Marshallese people made during World ed States has allotted over $300 million lands for military purposes. War II and for the 12 years that they in cleanup and resettlement efforts for As a democratic government, the were subjected, not of their own choice, the atolls, the funds are substantially Marshall Islands has maintained excel- to nuclear contamination during our lent relationships with our country. In less than what is needed to complete nation’s nuclear testing program in Mi- the international arena such as the the process. cronesia. United Nations, the Marshalls has Mr. Speaker, much of the attention worked closely with the United States was focused on the residents of Bikini, Mr. Speaker, this resolution empha- and supported us on most important Enewetak, Rongelap, and Utrik Atolls. sizes the value of continuing friendly votes, including the Comprehensive The radioactive fallout from the U.S. relations between the United States Test Ban Treaty and the Nuclear Non- nuclear testing affected people and the Republic of the Marshall Is- proliferation Treaty. throughout the rest of the Marshall Is- lands, and the Congress intends to Mr. Speaker, during the 5 decades of lands. maintain a long term military alliance this extraordinary relationship, the The Nuclear Claims Tribunal was and strategic partnership between our people of the Marshall Islands bore a created in 1991 to address these radi- nations. The resolution further recog- tremendously high burden of the costs ation victims. The allocated $45 mil- nizes the importance of addressing nu- of the Cold War to provide for Ameri- lion the Nuclear Claims Tribunal has clear testing damages under Section ca’s defense and our policy on nuclear rejected over 4,000 claims while con- 177 of the Compact of Free Association, deterrence. firming only 1,000 claims. In so doing, the Congress. In reviewing the compact H4336 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 24, 1997 renegotiations should exercise vigi- from liberation and military occupation at tional authority regarding negotiation and lance in preserving the strategic inter- the end of World War II to United States ad- approval of bilateral agreements with re- ests of the United States in maintain- ministration under the United Nations trust- spect to those provisions of the Compact of ing friendship with the Marshall Is- eeship from 1947 to 1986 and which is now Free Association which expire in 2001, in ex- maintained on a government-to-government ercise vigilance in preserving the strategic lands. basis under the Compact of Free Association; interests of the United States in ensuring Mr. Speaker, I would urge that our Whereas this relationship was forged that the friendship between the United colleagues support this worthy meas- through a process of self-determination and States and the Republic of the Marshall Is- ure that underscores the importance of democratization which reflects the common lands is sustained as mutually agreed pursu- our deep and enduring relationship values and cross-cultural respect that the ant to their respective constitutional proc- with the good people of the Marshall people of the Marshall Islands and the people esses. of the United States have developed since Islands, and, Mr. Speaker, it is my sin- the middle of the last century when Amer- cere hope that in the coming weeks and ican missionaries first came to the Marshall BIOGRAPHICAL DATA FOR HIS EXCELLENCY months I will provide for my colleagues Islands; IMATA KABUA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC and the American people a series of Whereas the people of the United States OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS floor statements to fully explain what and its allies paid a high price, including His Excellency Iroijlaplap Imata Kabua took place in that 12-year period of nu- great loss of life and injuries in the heroic was elected President of the Republic of the clear testing of our nuclear testing pro- battles for Kwajalein and Roi-Namur, to lib- Marshall Islands on January 13, 1997 follow- erate the Marshall Islands during World War gram in the Marshall Islands and the ing the sudden passing of his cousin, the late II and again made sacrifices as a result of Iroijlaplap President Amata Kabua, in De- need for the Congress to do more to the Cold War nuclear arms race; cember 1996. President Imata Kabua is both properly compensate the Marshallese Whereas the people of the Marshall Islands Head of Government and Head of State. people for the harm and suffering that suffered great injury and hardship due to the President Imata Kabua is the current serv- we brought to them. exposure of individuals to nuclear test radi- ing chairman of the South Pacific Forum. Mr. Speaker, again I would issue my ation and the radiological contamination of the Marshall Islands; Born on May 20, 1943 on Enmat, Kwajalein warmest greetings and best wishes to Whereas, in recognition of the unique role Atoll in the Marshall Islands, Mr. Kabua President Imata Kabua and Foreign of the Republic of the Marshall Islands in first attended the Ebeye Public Elementary Minister Phillip Muller on their visit supporting the United States during the Cold School in Kwajalein and later went to Mar- to Washington and other members of War, the 104th Congress provided additional shall Christian Elementary and Laura Inter- their official delegations, and, Mr. assistance, pursuant to the Compact of Free mediate School, Majuro. Mr Kabua attended Association Act of 1985, to meet the special the Kauai Technical School, Honolulu Chris- Speaker, I would like to offer for the tian College and later Ventura College, Cali- record additional materials to be sub- need of the people of the Marshall Islands arising from the nuclear testing program, in- fornia, USA. mitted and be made part of the cluding funding for radiological monitoring, President Kabua began his public service RECORD: island rehabilitation, and community reset- career as principal of the Ebeye Christian El- H. CON. RES. 92 tlement programs; ementary School. Later, he served as Post- Whereas on November 3, 1986, President Whereas within the framework of the set- master of Ebeye Post Office. Reagan issued Proclamation 5564, imple- tlement of all legal claims under section 177 Mr. Kabua’s political career began when he menting a Compact of Free Association be- of the Compact of Free Association Act of first served in 1976 as senator to the Nitijela tween the United States and the newly 1985, the Congress continues to monitor and under the US Trusteeship, followed by his formed governments of Pacific island areas evaluate measures being taken to implement consecutive election as delegate to the first which had been administered by the United programs authorized under Federal law to and second Marshall Islands Constitutional States since 1947 under a United Nations promote the recovery, resettlement, health, Conventions (MICC) in 1978 and 1990 respec- trusteeship; and safety of individuals and communities tively. In 1994, he was elected to the third Whereas the Compact of Free Association affected by the nuclear testing program in MICC as delegate Iroij from Ralik. He then was approved by the United States Congress the Marshall Islands; served as senator to the Nitijela under the with overwhelming bipartisan support on Whereas the special relationship between Constitutional Government in 1979, until 1996 January 14, 1986, under the terms set forth in our nations and our peoples is a bond that when he was appointed as Minister without the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 has grown strong as a result of our shared Portfolio for the Ralik Chain. history and common struggle and sacrifices (P.L. 99–239); As Iroijlaplap, Mr. Kabua is an active lead- in the cause, not of conquest, but to promote Whereas, in addition to providing the mul- er in cultural affairs. He is presently one of international peace and security and secure tilateral framework for friendly political re- the four major Iroijlaplaps from the Ralik liberty for future generations; and lations with the new Pacific island nations, Whereas, just as the extraordinary de- Chain in the Marshall Islands. the Compact of Free Association established, mands of world leadership fell on the United President Kabua continues to lead and on a bilateral basis, a long-term military al- States in this century, among this Nation’s guide the development work on his constitu- liance and permanent strategic partnership allies the Marshall Islands bore an im- ent island atoll, Kwajalein, where in the past between the United States and the Republic mensely disproportionate share of the bur- he served in a range of key positions includ- of the Marshall Islands; den of the Cold War, and this remote island ing as president of the Kwajalein Atoll Cor- Whereas for 50 years the Marshall Islands nation continues to play an important stra- poration (KAC), chairman for Kwajalein has played a unique and indispensable role in tegic role in the preservation of global peace Atoll Development Authority (KADA), and maintaining international peace and secu- as well as in the military and scientific pro- chairman for Kwajalein Atoll Joint Utility rity through activities of the United States grams which promote the United States, the Resource (KAJUR). in the Marshall Islands which were essential Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the President Kabua’s hobbies include tennis, to the feasibility and ultimate success of the other people of the world: Now, therefore, be chess, table tennis, checkers and fishing. In United States-led strategy of nuclear deter- it 1969, Mr. Kabua was awarded a gold medal rence during the Cold War era, as well as the Resolved by the House of Representatives (the each for volleyball and table tennis at the United States Strategic Defense Initiative Senate concurring), That Congress—— 1969 Micronesian Olympic Games in Saipan. which contributed significantly to the end of (1) recognizes the value of continued President Kabua is married to the First the nuclear arms race; friendly relations between the United States Lady Hiromi Konou Kabua. They have 8 chil- Whereas, the Republic of the Marshall Is- and the Republic of the Marshall Islands; dren. lands includes Bikini Atoll and Enewetak (2) intends to maintain, through appro- President Kabua is a member of the Atoll, which were the nuclear weapons prov- priate mutually agreed political and eco- Protestant Church. ing grounds for Operation Crossroads from nomic measures, the long-term military alli- 1946 to 1958, as well as Kwajalein Atoll, which ance and strategic partnership defined by the was the site of the mid-Pacific missile test- Compact of Free Association as a primary f ing range for intercontinental ballistic mis- element of bilateral relations between the siles fired from the Vandenberg facility, a United States and the Republic of the Mar- RECESS vital installation of the United States shall Island in the future; Army’s ballistic missile systems command (3) recognizes the importance of ongoing The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. and a key support facility for the National measures to address, in accordance with the PEASE). Pursuant to clause 12 of rule I, Aeronautics and Space Administration and legal settlement set forth in section 177 of the Chair declares the House in recess other programs critical to the promotion of the Compact of Free Association of 1985, the subject to the call of the Chair. vital national interests; impact on the Marshall Islands of the nu- Whereas the people of the Marshall Islands clear testing program; and Accordingly (at 10 o’clock and 37 and the United States have a close and mu- (4) intends, through its oversight respon- minutes p.m.), the House stood in re- tually beneficial relationship which evolved sibilities and the exercise of its Constitu- cess subject to the call of the Chair.