With reluctance, I rise today in opposition to H. Res. 20, calling on the State Department to list the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as a ``Country of Particular Concern'' with respect to religious freedom. While I fully understand the…

Mr. Speaker, having personally experienced what it means to go through an earthquake and a tsunami, I rise in strong support of this proposed legislation for the Hoh Indian Tribe Safe Homelands Act, a bill that transfers certain Federal…

Again, I want to thank the distinguished gentleman from West Virginia, the chairman of our committee, and my good friend from Utah on the other side of the aisle for their management and support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I want to…

I deeply, deeply appreciate his support and help in getting this legislation and making it for the consideration of the Members of this body. With that, again, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation is of critical importance to the people of American Samoa. How ironic, Mr. Speaker, that last year, on this very day, September 29, American Samoa was hit by the most powerful earthquake, which struck below…

I do want to thank my good friend and colleague from Texas as well as our friend from the State of Hawaii for managing this important resolution. Madam Speaker, it is ironic that we just got through considering a resolution which…

I would like to certainly compliment and thank our distinguished veterans of the Korean War, now Members, our colleagues here in this institution, for not only sharing with us their experiences, but the fact that this close relationship…

I might also note, Madam Speaker, that out of some 15 million Asian Pacific Americans, we have well over 2 million Korean Americans as part of the fiber of our great democracy that have made tremendous contributions to our country.

I thank my fellow members of Congress who join us today in honoring Asian Pacific Heritage Month and I thank the gentleman from California, Mr. Honda, for sponsoring this resolution to recognize and honor the contributions of our Asian…

I just want to note also that over the years it has been my privilege in dealing and working with the good people and the leaders of South Korea, and I, for one, over the years have always said that the principles underlying the Sunshine…

I do want to compliment my good friend from California for his most eloquent statement, most insightful. And I could not agree better with the gentleman's suggestion that we should take this matter directly to the Security Council of the…

I just want to again offer my commendation to the gentleman for his tireless service and also for his leadership in moving so very many important issues affecting the needs of our Asian Pacific American community in the course of the…

I thank my fellow Members of Congress who join us today in honoring Asia Pacific Heritage Month. I especially want to thank the gentleman from California, my colleague, Mr. Honda, for his leadership as chairman of the Congressional Asian…

This bill embodies such responsibility.

I cannot countenance that result. I ask that Congress not do so either, while also allowing us the ability to determine our own political fate.

Is it any wonder we have had such a difficult time locating Osama bin Laden? He has been moving between Pakistan and Afghanistan for all of these years. Madam Speaker, I do not believe invoking the 1973 War Powers Act to require the U.S…

I remain skeptical that adding 30,000 U.S. troops and that focusing more on local and provincial levels of government will bring lasting stability and success in Afghanistan. I do, of course, want our new strategy to succeed, and I know…

There's also been a reference made, I ask my colleague, that the idea of comparing Native Hawaiians to American Indians is somewhat absurd. I would like to ask the gentleman if such a description, as our friends on the other side have…

The underlying issue in this piece of legislation is not about the existence of Native Hawaiians. That much has been already determined. This bill is to establish a process giving the indigenous Native Hawaiians the same status that we…

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act of 2009. This important piece of legislation is to reaffirm the special political and legal relationship between the United States and the…

I have the utmost respect for my good friend, Mr. Hastings, for proposing his amendment, but I do have some very serious concerns about the amendment. In the first place, when we talk about the event that took place in 1959, it was a…

I also want to ask my good friend, as you had indicated and our friends have indicated Governor Lingle's opposition to the proposed substitute, am I to perceive that certainly Governor Lingle, with all due respect, is entitled to her…

I want to say that I fully support the gentleman's substitute amendment, and I want to ask if we could do a little colloquy in the process. I note with interest there has been several references made by our friends on the opposite side…

I just want to say 565 tribes are recognized by the Federal Government. Does it stand a chance to suggest that Native Hawaiians cannot be recognized in the same way giving some sense of self-esteem and dignity to the people who are Native…

It is my great honor and pleasure to welcome Rev. Samuel Tialavea to the Chamber today. Rev. Tialavea, or ``Sam'' as he is popularly known in our Samoan community, is from my home district in American Samoa. Rev. Tialavea is currently the…