US House considers Guam war claims bill

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Resources held hearings Wednesday last week on H.R. 1595, a bill to compensate residents of Guam for their suffering during World War II, when the island was invaded and occupied by Japan before being retaken by the United States during a fierce battle in 1944.

“Although American Samoa hosted U.S. armed forces during the War,” said Aumua Amata, “we were lucky to serve only as a staging area, not as part of the combat zone. Guam was in the middle of the action.”

Because Guamanians were U.S. nationals, not citizens, during the war and until 1950, they were not eligible for compensation in general legislation passed by Congress in the immediate post-war period.

“Since 1945 Guamanians have sought to obtain fair compensation for their suffering,” explained Amata, who attended the hearing, “and I wanted to make sure that American Samoa was demonstrating its moral support by being visible at the hearing.”

“There are so few hearings every year that directly affect the territories, it is important that all the territories support each other,” added Amata, “and I am pleased that the delegate from the U.S. Virgin Islands and the new Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico were there to support Guam Del. Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU).”

Northern Marianas Resident Rep. Pete A. Tenorio, who was out of town, was represented by staff.

Puerto Rico’s Luis Fortuno is the first Republican elected from Puerto Rico in 100 years. “His participation in the hearing was particularly important,” said Amata, “because as vice president of the class of 2004, he also has a seat at the table of the House Majority Leadership.”

Fortuno and Amata also are colleagues on the Republican National Committee, a seat he has decided to retain while serving in Congress.

The hearing was chaired by Resources Committee Richard Pombo (R-CA), who visited the islands last year. Other Republicans were Reps. John Duncan (R-TN), Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Thelma Drake (R-VA), while Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Dale Kildee (D-MI) and Donna Christiansen (D-VI) backed up Bordallo on the Democratic side of the aisle.

“It was also great to see old friends like retired Guam delegates Ben Blaz (R-GU) and Robert Underwood (D-GU), who testified in favor of the bill,” said Amata, “as well as a distinguished delegation that flew in from Guam that included senators B.J. Cruz (D) and Tony Unpingco (R), and Lt. Gov. Kaleo Moylan (R).

Prospects for the bill remain cloudy because of a hefty price tag in a time of severe budgetary constraints but I have offered to help the Guamanians any way I can. It’s only right,” Amata added.

During a recent hearing of the House Resources Committee, on which Fortuno sits, the freshman delegate made it a point to commit to Guamanian witnesses testifying on a war claims bill to working closely with them because “the territories need to stick together.” He invited Amata, who attended the hearing and is his colleague on the Republican National Committee, to bring the Guam delegation to his office for a courtesy call after the hearing, which she did.

“As vice president of the freshman class, Fortuno has a seat at the leadership table and already has been consulted by the White House on judgeships and other federal appointments affecting Puerto Rico. In fact, his campaign manager now is on the White House staff and has responsibility for liaison with the territories,” said Amata.

Amata also expressed her pleasure that Fortuno has decided to keep his seat on the Republican National Committee, to which he was elected to a new four-year term last summer in New York. Amata, who is ranked number five in seniority on the RNC, also was sworn in to a new term with Fortuno at the same time.

“His Republican National Committee service reinforces his political credentials and gives him extra clout in Washington, just as Guam Del. Madeleine Bordallo enjoyed for many years with her service on the Democratic National Committee.”

Moreover, the 15 national committee members from the five island territories have formed an Islands Caucus within the RNC and, with Luis’s membership in the caucus, says Amata, “we now have a direct voice into the House Leadership through him, which will get us even more attention for territorial issues.”

“No one is against bipartisanship,” said Amata, “but the truth is the ones who scream bipartisanship the loudest are the ones who have no choice because they have no power. Speaker Hastert formed a bipartisan delegation for Rome and that is only as it should be but when it comes to the business of the House, if the Majority does not want it, it is not going to happen.”