Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H.R. 6523, the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. The bill provides critical authorities for the Department of Defense over the coming year and also includes a provision, Title 17, that is compromise language to H.R. 44, the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act. This provision is important to my constituents as it resolves a longstanding injustice. Mr. Speaker, I thank the President and his administration, specifically Secretary Ken Salazar and Assistant Secretary Tony Babauta from the Department of the Interior, as well as Deputy Secretary of Defense Bill Lynn, Undersecretary of the Navy Robert Work, Assistant Secretary of Defense Chip Gregson, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Jackalynne Pfannenstiel, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Dorothy Robyn and Mr. Joe Ludovici of the Joint Guam Program Office who emphasized to the Congress the importance of this provision to our Nation, to the people of Guam, and for maintaining support within the community on Guam for the military build-up. Although now before us is the compromise language insisted upon by the other body, the people of Guam have sought closure on this matter for many years. Today we have arrived at that critical juncture. It has been 6 years since the Federal Guam War Claims Review Commission fulfilled the mandate of Public Law 107-333 and recommended to Congress the enactment of legislation that takes the form in this Congress as H.R. 44.…”