Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 180, which expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to the South Pacific. I want to commend the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Asia-Pacific, the Honorable Gary Ackerman, for his leadership and foresight in arranging the recent meeting between the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Ambassadors from the South Pacific nations. Out of that extremely productive gathering came the framework for the excellent resolution introduced by Chairman Ackerman, House Concurrent Resolution 180, which comprehensively expresses our thoughts on U.S. policy toward the South Pacific region. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this measure which reflects the deep and enduring ties that historically have bound the United States with her allies in the South Pacific. The resolution further underscores that our Nation today has substantial interests in the South Pacific--whether that be in the fields of investment and trade, strategic security, Democratic government, human rights or environmental protection--and that U.S. interests often dovetail with the concerns of the countries of the region. The resolution, in short, urges that the United States remain actively engaged in the South Pacific.”