Political Quotes

“I rise in support of H.R. 2691, the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2004 and at this time I want to thank the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Interior Appropriations and the Ranking Member for bringing this bill to the floor. I also want to thank Chairman Bill Young and Ranking Member David Obey of the full committee for their leadership and support. H.R. 2691 appropriates funding for the Department of the Interior and other related agencies including the Office of Insular Affairs. The Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) was established on August 4, 1995 through Secretarial Order No. 3191. In part, the OIA was established to help the U.S. government fulfill its responsibilities to the four U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) and the three freely associated states (the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau). Territorial assistance provided by the OIA as appropriated through Congress provides substantial financial resources to these governments, including the government of American Samoa. Once again, I am pleased that my colleagues have supported my efforts to make sure that American Samoa's funding remains in place despite the budget cuts this country is facing and despite our nation's need to increase funding for the war on terrorism.”