IV
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. RES. 443
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with regard to the
centennial of the raising of the United States flag in American Samoa.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 16, 2000
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA (for himself, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. GEORGE MILLER
of California, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. JOHN, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. ORTIZ,
and Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO´) submitted the following resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on Resources
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with
regard to the centennial of the raising of the United
States flag in American Samoa.
Whereas the people of American Samoa have inhabited
Tutuila and the Manu’a Islands for at least 4,000 years
and developed a unique and autonomous seafaring and
agrarian culture, governing themselves through their own
form of government;
Whereas in 1722, Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen became
the first European to sight—but not land on—the shores
of the Samoan Islands, islands which remained isolated
for another 46 years because Roggeveen miscalculated
their location;
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Whereas in 1768, French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougain-
ville, the second European to sight the Samoan islands,
became so impressed with the sailing skills of the natives
he named the islands ‘‘L’Archipel des Navigateurs,’’ and
for generations thereafter the entire Samoan island group
was known to the Western World as the ‘‘Navigator Is-
lands’’;
Whereas in 1787, Frenchman Jean Francois La Perouse
landed on the shores of these islands and thus began the
‘‘opening’’ of Samoa to the West, with American whalers
as the principal group to engage the people of Samoa in
trade and commerce, followed from 1830 on by English
missionaries;
Whereas in 1839, as part of a congressionally authorized trip
to the Pacific, United States Navy commander Charles
Wilkes visited the island of Tutuila and later reported fa-
vorably in support of establishing a structured relation-
ship between the island and the United States;
Whereas on March 2, 1872, Richard Meade, commander of
the U.S.S. Narragansett, visited Pago Pago, and, on his
own responsibility, made an agreement with High Chief
Mauga entitled ‘‘Commercial Regulations, etc.,’’ which
was submitted to, but never ratified by, the Senate;
Whereas on February 13, 1878, a ‘‘treaty of friendship and
commerce with the people of Samoa’’ was proclaimed
ratified;
Whereas on May 21, 1890, a treaty between the United
States, Germany, and Great Britain, and assented to by
the Samoan Government, ‘‘to provide for the security of
the life, property and trade of the citizens and subjects
of their respective Governments residing in, or having
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commercial relations with the Islands of Samoa,’’ was
proclaimed ratified;
Whereas the treaties of 1878 and 1890 were annulled by a
treaty of December 2, 1899, between the United States,
Germany, and Great Britain;
Whereas on April 17, 1900, the traditional chiefs of the
South Pacific Islands of Tutuila and Aunu’u agreed to
become a part of the United States, and the United
States flag was raised on what is now known as the
United States Territory of American Samoa;
Whereas since that time, the residents of American Samoa
have been proud of their affiliation with this great Nation
and have demonstrated their loyalty and patriotism in
countless ways;
Whereas April 17 is known as Flag Day in American Samoa
and is the biggest holiday in the territory, and is cele-
brated not only in American Samoa, but throughout the
United States wherever there is a sizable Samoan com-
munity;
Whereas American Samoans in Hawaii, California, Nevada,
Utah, Alaska, Washington, and other parts of the United
States pause each year on this important date to cele-
brate this monumental occasion in American Samoa’s
history;
Whereas the per capita rate of enlistment in the Armed
Forces is as high for American Samoa as for any State
or territory, with hundreds of American Samoans enlist-
ing annually;
Whereas for decades American Samoa served as a Naval coal-
ing station for United States ships in the Pacific, pro-
viding the Nation with what is commonly referred to as