Political Quotes

“I am pleased to introduce legislation to strengthen the relationship between the United States and the Republic of Palau, one of our closest and most reliable allies. This legislation, if enacted, would implement the recommendations of the 15- year review called for under the Compact of Free Association between our two nations. The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will be holding a hearing on insular issues on Thursday, July 11, and it is my intention to add this bill to the agenda for that hearing. Palau is located in the western Pacific about 800 miles south of Guam and 500 miles east of the Philippines. The close ties between the U.S. and Palau date from World War II, when Japanese forces were defeated in the Battle of Peleliu with a loss of nearly 2,000 U.S. marines. In 1947, the islands became a District in the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The United States was appointed Administrating Authority of the Trust Territory with the responsibility to promote economic and political development. Because of the United States' strategic interest in this region, the Trust Territory was established as the only U.N. ``Strategic'' Trust under the authority of the U.N. Security Council, as opposed to the U.N. General Assembly. In 1982, Palau signed a 50-year Compact of Free Association that was approved by the U.S. in 1986, P.L. 99-658. The Compact went into effect on October 1, 1994, and the U.N.…”