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…

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.

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 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.

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…

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.

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

If there is one thing that I admire most of our friends and leaders from Puerto Rico, it is your absolute passion for this issue now that has been with us for how many years.

I never forget what the former delegate from Guam had said, the Brigadier General retired Marine Corps former member of the House, our good friend, Congressman Ben Blaz, he said, we are equal in war but not in peace, and he could not have…

I do admire your consistency. You have never wavered once for the last 30 years or 40 years in being a strong advocate of statehood.

Congress would be more than happy to work out a relationship, if that is what the people of Puerto Rico want.

You cannot choose to be undemocratic. You cannot choose yourself out of self-determination.

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

There is nothing in the Constitution that mandates the Congress to say that it will accept statehood for Puerto Rico.

I will be glad to yield him a portion of my time for any other questions.

Wasn't one of the requirements of the Admissions Act that something had to be done for the Native Hawaiians?

To be a Native Hawaiian, you have to be 50 percent or more.