I want to say that I fully support the gentleman's substitute amendment, and I want to ask if we could do a little colloquy in the process. I note with interest there has been several references made by our friends on the opposite side…

It is my great honor and pleasure to welcome Rev. Samuel Tialavea to the Chamber today. Rev. Tialavea, or ``Sam'' as he is popularly known in our Samoan community, is from my home district in American Samoa. Rev. Tialavea is currently the…

I'm very much aware of the fact that yes, we do have a lot of federal funds that come here in the territory. And I make no excuses, this is American taxpayer's money, the public is entitled to know how this money should have been spent or…

If a local administering authority is not in compliance with the federal requirements on how that grant is supposed to be spent, then by all means they should be noted and grants should not be given.

I'm very much aware of the fact that, yes, we do have a lot of federal funds that come here in the territory. And I'm -- I make no excuses. This is the American taxpayers' money. The public is entitled to know how this money should have…

Yes, why is it that France depends on nuclear power for its electricity; Japan, 60 percent; and here we have not built a nuclear reactor in the last 20 or 30 years or something like that.

If it is possible for Australia and Kazakhstan to extract uranium with the best technology available, why is it that our country cannot do the same?

If you are not at the table, you are going to be on the menu.

I certainly admire the experience that you have, sir, in dealing with uranium mining operations, and I go back to what I said earlier about what we did to the Indian Navajo Reservation, and their lands that contain uranium is disgraceful…

how ironic it is, Mr. Chairman, that here we are, we want to go to Mars, and we do not even know what is contained in our marine resources in the oceans.

I do want to thank you for your leadership and initiative in introducing this legislation which I feel very strongly if I sense exactly the basis of the heart and soul of this bill is to establish not only less dependence of our country to…

I just want to know--I know my time is up, Mr. Chairman, but just a quick note that I was recently invited by the government of Kazakhstan to go there.

We need a coherent regional policy toward the Pacific.

The United States can no longer afford to abdicate its responsibilities.

Our over-reliance on Australia and New Zealand is proving increasingly counterproductive to our interests.

Most Pacific nations also have democratically-elected governments, they cast 12 votes in the U.N. General Assembly.

I do recommend, Madam Chair, that we do go to Puerto Rico and hold more hearings on this very important issue.

The people of Puerto Rico must make this decision independently, not from any pressures.