Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California. I rise in support of H.R. 3940, which clarifies the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to extend assistance to Guam for the purpose of public education regarding political status options available to the territory of Guam. I introduced H.R. 3940 in October of last year, and the House passed this bill last year by voice vote. The Senate recently made some changes to the bill, given the administration's testimony on the bill before the Senate Energy and Commerce Committee on May 19 of this year. H.R. 3940 represents an opportunity for Congress to fulfill its responsibility to Guam under the United States Constitution. The territorial clause in article IV of the United States Constitution vests with this body the power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territories of the United States. Guam has been part of the United States now for over 111 years as an unincorporated territory and at the moment remains listed by the United Nations as one of several non-self-governing territories. Ceded to the United States by Spain, along with our sister territory Puerto Rico at the end of the Spanish American War, the people of Guam are ready to exercise their aspirations toward self-determination of their political status. This bill is not meant to favor any particular political status option, nor is it meant to assert direct congressional involvement in this process.…”