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Statement of Congresswoman Madeleine
Z. Bordallo Hafa Adai Commissioner Benjamin Cruz, Commissioner Antonio Unpingco, Commissioner Robert Lagomarsino, Commissioner Mauricio Tamargo and Commissioner Ruth Van Cleve: Congratulations on your appointments to the Guam War Claims Review Commission. It is my distinct honor to welcome you to Washington for this historic first meeting of the Commission. Your appointments from Secretary Gale Norton in accordance with Public Law 107-333 mark a milestone in the struggle of the People of Guam to have an issue of great importance to our people addressed. We owe a debt of gratitude to the work of my predecessors in Congress, former Congressman Ben Blaz and former Congressman Robert Underwood, for their tireless work over the years to bring this issue to the attention of Congress. In particular, I want to congratulate Congressman Robert Underwood for passing the Guam War Claims Review Commission Act in the 107th Congress. The work that begins today is the start of a process that we hope will finally bring closure to the issue of war reparations for the People of Guam. You have been entrusted by the President, the Congress, and the American people with the task of reviewing the record of Guam's occupation under enemy forces during World War II and the handling both in law and in practice of the effort to address war reparations for the American nationals in Guam in comparison to the handling of war claims and reparations for other Americans in similar situations. May I say quite frankly that you have your work cut out for you. The People of Guam view the issue of Guam war claims as a matter of grave injustice not as a matter of financial gain. I am confident that you will understand what I mean if you give this work your best effort and your sincere empathy. We know today from headlines and news stories the meaning of the words brutal regime, occupation, war, and atrocity. The People of Guam have lived this history and they have a chilling story to tell. I urge you to hold a field hearing on Guam so that the records you review will have context and meaning as a living history of people who are still alive to tell the story firsthand. I believe that a visit to Guam and a site visit to Manengon, Fena, Tinta, and other historic sites where Chamorros experienced atrocities would help in your understanding. I also request that you make an exhaustive search of historical documents and records that exist on Guam and within the federal government so that a comprehensive assessment of how war claims were handled could be established. You will have the cooperation of the Government of Guam and you will have the support of Congress in this endeavor. You have an enormous task but you also have the authority to accomplish this task. If you encounter difficulty and you need assistance in this task, I will help you clear any obstacles that may arise. I also request that you use the authority entrusted to you to make concrete recommendations to the President and the Congress so that a clearly defined road map for closure on this issue can be undertaken. The President and Congress will be well served to know what your findings are and what appropriate steps may need to be taken to resolve your conclusions. This is a most important day for Guam and for our nation. I would like to again congratulate you and to extend to you the best wishes of the People of Guam for your work. We appreciate your willingness to undertake this task and for that we are extremely grateful. We trust in your fairness and we have great confidence in your ability - Secretary Norton has appointed a distinguished Commission for this important task. Si Yu'os Ma'ase.
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