Eni Faleomavaega

I sincerely hope that in the course of our hearings in the coming weeks that my good friend from Washington might have a change of heart.

I think it would be a travesty in justice and fairness to our whole system if this bill is not passed.

This is not a new issue as if it was made up a couple of years ago before the Supreme Court decision.

It was racism at its best, and it was not until 1954 that another Supreme Court decision came about.

The Bush Administration for some eight years has always been against supporting this bill based on some of the Court cases that have come before the Supreme Court as it relates to the rights of Native Hawaiians.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

It is crucial that we address the historical injustices faced by Native Hawaiians.

I sincerely hope that the flagpole goes up to Secretary Salazar and to the White House that the same consideration ought to be given to what has happened to the six tribes from Virginia.

Congress punted. In its primary responsibility to give recognition to the tribes, by implied consent, it never bothered to do anything.

If these Indian tribes in Virginia had to go through the seven criteria of the Federal acknowledgement process they would have failed miserably.

Tremendous injustice has been done against the Lumbee Indians. I think 110 years is long enough for any tribe to live in maligned, even streaks of racism, and the history that they have tried earnestly to seek recognition.

I do want to associate myself with the statements that have been made earlier by Governor Kaine and our colleague, Congressman Moran, in full support of the proposed legislation to recognize the tribes from the State of Virginia.

If you want to talk about history, the 1956 Act definitely did recognize the Lumbee Indians as a Federally recognized tribe, but guess the reason why Congress did not give full recognition?

If that is not the most racist statute that I have ever heard.

Don't even recognize them and their given character and ethnic recognition, so assimilation was the next national policy that we had in mind.

Then the next national policy that we tried to propound or even promote, assimilate the Indians.

I think our first national policy was to kill the Indians, get rid of them.

I want to honor especially in particular the thousands of our Asian Pacific Americans who served in the Armed Forces of our Nation. In fact, this weekend it will be my privilege and a personal honor for me to visit Fort Bragg which has a…

I visited Taiwan twice in the past year, and most recently in November I met with their President and Premier and even their presidential candidates. I can assure my colleagues that elections are in full swing in Taiwan with no…

I just want to note to my colleagues as part of our efforts in preserving the coral reefs is the announcement by President Bush in the last year of the largest marine monument of the world, which is known as the Papahanaumokuakea National…

It saddens me because of the times and the periods that I have had the opportunity of meeting with several delegations that have represented Vietnam for the past couple of years. As my good friend from New Jersey has stated earlier, they…

I would like to have as much time as I may consume to again compliment and to commend my good friend, the gentleman from New Jersey, for his insight. And certainly as a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, no one knows better the…

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 121 seeks to express the sense of the U.S. House of Representatives that the Government of Japan should formally acknowledge, apologize and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner for its…

Quoting also from the words of Confucius, there are many acquaintances but very few friends, and I believe we are one of the few friends Taiwan has, and we should continue that relationship.

Senator Dole, to her credit, when she was elected, the first bill Senator Dole dropped as a U.S. Senator was to recognize this tribe, because she realized this bill had been held up for those 32 years over in the Senate, even though the…