Eni Faleomavaega

How soon can we get a response to this bill?

I appreciate your comments, but it just doesn't simply add up to what we have had to endure for the last 2 years from the Administration.

But why are you objecting to this inflationary index?

Why are we treating Palau differently from the other two free states?

Not to speculate, let me just give you a little sense of history here.

The question that we have now that we have to answer, is Palau relevant to our overall strategic and military interest right now in the Pacific?

I am utterly disappointed, the fact that for 2 years we have been dragging this issue.

Primarily our number one priority is to make sure that our strategic and military interests are protected.

I have been very, very disappointed, both Democratic and Republican Administrations have never really taken the Pacific Island countries of this region of the world seriously.

I just wish the rhetoric would match the substance in terms of how we really have been treating these island countries of this region.

I would like unanimous consent to have the full text of my statement be made part of the record.

Because in exchange for this agreement we have--our relationship with Palau is significant in terms of the United States national security interest in the Pacific.

(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

I want to commend my good friend, the chairwoman of our Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as our ranking member, Mr. Berman, for bringing this legislation. And I am in full support, and I do associate myself with the comments and the…

I could not help but listen with tremendous interest, and also to commend my good friend from Oklahoma, who also is the cochairman of our Native American Congressional Caucus. I fully associate myself with the eloquent remarks that he has…

I just want to thank both of our colleagues for their most eloquent statements, Mr. Cooper and Mr. Broun.

Why do we have to import $9 billion to $10 billion worth of fish from foreign countries? Why? Because we don't produce enough fish domestically.

I think all our commercial fishing industry is asking for, as Mr. Markey had alluded to earlier, a seat on the table, or else you are going to be on the menu.

This policy, the National Ocean Policy, was developed... from President George W. Bush

We need more doctors here in the Congress, because your great mission in this life is to heal

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for calling this important hearing. I think it is most appropriate. But this issue did not just come about yesterday. This issue has been around for years.

All I can say is the Vietnam I fought against is not the Vietnam I know today.

Long after the Vietnam War, the United States is now about the business of coordinating a multi country diplomatic pushback against Chinese encroachment.

He is an expert who left his mark, and he was also, you know, on his other committee a great staunch believer in affordable education.

He was a very hard working person, worked tenaciously for peace and reconciliation, especially on Sudan.