August 3, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1421 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PAIN-CAPABLE UNBORN CHILD PROTECTION ACT 

SPEECH OF

HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO OF GUAM

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, July 31, 2012 

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, as a society 

we must work to ensure that lives of those 

who are unable to protect themselves are 

safeguarded; however elected leaders also 

have an obligation to ensure that laws which 

are passed, especially at the national level, 

allow for public input by the people they affect. 

I strongly agree with the underlying intent of 

H.R. 3803, the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, to prevent 

the termination of lives of the most vulnerable 

in our society—that of unborn children. H.R. 

3803 would prohibit abortions after 20 weeks 

of pregnancy, except when an acute physical 

condition endangers the life of the mother. 

The bill further requires that any termination of 

pregnancy be done in a manner that provides 

the best conditions for the unborn child to survive. 

I am, however, concerned with the process 

used to develop and publicly debate the bill. 

Further, I am concerned about the impact it 

has on home rule for the District of Columbia. 

Congress has delegated much authority to the 

D.C. government to establish policies that reflect the needs of those who live here. But 

H.R. 3803, which only affects Washington, 

D.C., would implement this abortion ban without the input of D.C. residents and Congresswoman ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON who represents the people of the District of Columbia 

in the United States Congress. 

I believe that the United States should enact 

strong policies that recognize and protect the 

sanctity of human life. However if Congress 

wants to make meaningful progress to achieve 

this, legislation should consider the views of 

those impacted by the legislation and not ignore their points of view or concerns. 

f 

IRAN THREAT REDUCTION AND 

SYRIA HUMAN RIGHTS ACT OF 2012 

SPEECH OF

HON. EARL BLUMENAUER OF OREGON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 

Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, Today, a 

time of heightened tensions in U.S.-Iran relations, I voted for the Iran Threat Reduction 

and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, H.R. 

1905, a balanced and serious approach towards ensuring Iran will never have nuclear 

weapons. 

Throughout my time in Congress, I have 

firmly opposed the use of indiscriminate sanctions as a blunt tool of foreign policy, one 

often more successful as political fodder than 

as leverage to effect positive change. 

The timing of previous Iran sanctions legislation was damaging, undermining the administration in the midst of complex, delicate discussions with Iran. Today, the circumstances 

have changed. Negotiations are stalled, and 

this legislation has been focused and toneddown, making it an asset, not a liability, for the 

administration as it works to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. 

A coherent and unified U.S. policy towards 

Iran is the best way to strengthen diplomacy, 

which remains the best, some say the only, 

way to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear 

weapons. This revised legislation—based on 

input from a broad coalition, including the 

White House—brings coherence and focused 

pressure to the negotiating table. 

I commend Chairwoman ROS LEHTINEN and 

Ranking Member BERMAN of the House Foreign Affairs Committee for producing a bill that 

is based on policy, not politics. There were extreme voices pushing to include some very 

harsh language that, for example, would have 

made the few currently permitted humanitarian 

transactions with Iranian financial institutions 

illegal. To the benefit of the U.S. and innocent 

Iranian civilians, these provisions were left out. 

Another critical change to this legislation is 

language that clarifies in the Act is not an authorization of the use of force against Iran or 

Syria. 

The resolution would provide the administration with additional leverage for their broader 

diplomatic effort. Sanctions are effective when 

it is clear that if concessions are made, the 

other side has the ability to reciprocate by 

easing elements of the sanctions regime. This 

bill provides the administration with such flexibility. 

In the midst of negotiations yet to yield 

progress, focused sanctions that unite both 

Congress and the executive provides leverage 

that increases the likelihood of success, and 

an alternative to military action, which our nation can ill-afford and which I oppose. 

f 

PERSONAL EXPLANATION 

HON. DAN BENISHEK OF MICHIGAN

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker on rollcall No. 

539, on Tuesday, July 31, 2012, my plane 

was delayed in Detroit due to bad weather. As 

a result, I missed votes that evening, including 

a measure of personal importance, H.R. 3803, 

the District of Columbia Pain Capable Unborn 

Child Act. 

Had I been present, I would have voted 

‘‘yea.’’ 

f 

IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION TO 

ESTABLISH A NATIONAL GUARD 

UNIT IN AMERICAN SAMOA 

HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA OF AMERICAN SAMOA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise 

today to introduce legislation that will authorize 

the Secretary of the Department of Defense to 

establish a National Guard unit in American 

Samoa. 

Mr. Speaker, the National Guard has 

a long, proud history in the United 

States. As part of their federal duties, 

National Guard units have been mobilized to supplement regular armed 

forces during times of war or national 

emergencies. As State entities, National Guard units have been utilized 

in their respective States upon declaration of a State of Emergency. 

National Guard troops have been activated in response to emergencies as a 

result of snowstorms, droughts, flooding, earthquakes, and other natural 

hazards that require providing basic 

necessities to people across the country. Indeed, one is reminded that National Guard units played a major role 

in providing security and assisting recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, in September 2005. 

Mr. Speaker, today, there are 54 separate National Guard units—one for 

each of the 50 States and the District 

of Columbia, plus Puerto Rico, Guam, 

and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There is no 

National Guard unit in American 

Samoa. 

Mr. Speaker, on September 29, 2009, 

American Samoa was hit by a powerful 

earthquake which struck below the 

ocean about 140 miles southwest of 

Pago Pago, American Samoa, and 125 

miles south of Samoa. The earthquake, 

which registered 8.3 on the Richter 

scale, set off a massive tsunami that 

crashed into American Samoa. Entire 

villages were devastated creating a disaster of epic proportion in the Territory. 

Mr. Speaker, one of the lessons of the 

2009 Tsunami is the fact that American 

Samoa is prone to disasters and we 

must be prepared. Especially, with 

American Samoa being out there on its 

own in the midst of the vast South Pacific Ocean, it is very difficult to coordinate and organize first responders 

from the mainland. Having a National 

Guard unit is extremely helpful when 

there is a State emergency. 

In addition, American Samoa has a 

per capita enlistment rate in the U.S. 

military which is higher than any 

State or U.S. Territory. Our sons and 

daughters have served in record numbers in every U.S. military engagement 

from WWII to present operations in 

Iraq and Afghanistan. We have stood 

by the United States in good times and 

bad, and I believe this relationship 

would only be strengthened by establishing a National Guard unit in American Samoa. 

For these reasons, I am pleased to introduce legislation today to establish a 

National Guard unit in American 

Samoa. I understand that there are 

several other issues to consider in 

order to fulfill the objectives of this 

legislation. My hope is to work together with my colleagues to make improvements and adjustments as needed. 

I urge my colleagues to support this 

important piece of legislation. 

f 

CONGRATULATING JOHN 

ANNALORO ON HIS RETIREMENT 

HON. ADAM SMITH OF WASHINGTON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I 

rise to honor John Annaloro, the CEO of the 

Northwest Credit Union Association, on his retirement after nearly 30 years of working in the 

credit union industry. 

John’s passion for people and economics 

first brought him to the credit union industry in 


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