September 24, 2009

Madame Speaker Won Pat, Minority Leader Calvo, and Members of the Thirtieth Guam Legislature, thank you for your invitation to speak today.  As a son of Guam, I stand before you humbled and honored to return home, to this island we all love.  Guam is my first travel destination in my new capacity as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas.  I welcome this opportunity to speak with you and people of Guam.

I begin by saying dangkulu na si Yu'os ma'ase and thank you to the scores of kind people who had expressed their support for me: first on the announcement of my nomination by President Barak Obama and then throughout the Senate's consideration of my appointment. Your congratulatory messages to my family and me have touched us deeply.  It is great comfort to know that my Babauta, Marion, Charfauros, Santos, and Benavente families, along with many friends, here in Guam and in other parts of our country, wish me well.  For this I am sincerely and eternally grateful.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Congresswoman, Madeleine Bordallo, for her leadership and constant support as she encouraged President Obama to reestablish the position of Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas, after more than fifteen years of absence.  She is a stalwart champion of Guam in Washington D.C., and a respected Member of Congress.  Her voice, along with her colleagues Donna Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Kilili Sablan of the CNMI, Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico, Eni Faleomavaega of American Samoa, Natural Resources Chairman Nick Rahall, and Education and Labor Chairman George Miller, suggested to President Obama and Secretary of the Interior Salazar that Americans living in U.S. territories are just as important as those living in the fifty states.

Once the Assistant Secretariat was to be established, President Obama and his new Administration sought out candidates for the position.  After college, some of you may remember that I was staffer with this august body, the Legislature of Guam.   I then moved to Washington D.C, where for eleven years I worked with the Congress.  I was first hired by former Congressman Robert Underwood.  Later, I was on the professional staff the House Committee on Natural Resources and then Staff Director of the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs.  Each time my portfolio was broadened.  First dealing mainly with Guam issues, and subsequently branching out to take on issues involving not only Guam, but the other United States territories of American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico, plus the freely associated states of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau.  This broadening of my experience, made me more qualified for the position of Assistant Secretary when it became available.
I have reviewed this personal history for the young people of Guam as they now mature into young adulthood.  Seek more knowledge and ever-broadening horizons.  Whether you are in skilled work, government, or business, your study, hard work, and accumulation of knowledge will open doors for you.   

But once doors are opened, you cannot sit on your laurels.  In my case, there are great expectations, not only from me, but from all of you and the people of Guam.  I can make this commitment: as the first Pacific Islander and resident of a United States territory to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas - you will have a strong force for change.  This is change that will engage the Federal bureaucracy, the Congress, and our own island leaders as we strive to improve the quality of island life.

I've worked on many Guam issues.  Some have resulted in the enactment of legislation, such as the unification of the Guam judiciary.  Others, like Guam War Claims, require work.  But a positive end is in sight.  Still others appear intractable, like Compact impact aid which is a contribution to Guam for costs associated with the migration of freely associated state citizens to Guam. On the issues of self-governance and political self-determination, preserving our indigenous insular cultures must be given great weight.

I have had the privilege to work with many of you over the years on these and other issues.  I am confident that we can work collaboratively for positive solutions to the issues we face.  The great privilege I now enjoy is working at the seat of the Federal Government, so that together, with Guam and other island leaders, we might begin working to advance the well-being of the people and further promote the prosperity of our islands. There are a number of critical issues to which we must attend.

First, as we begin to exit the current recession, we must do so by expanding business opportunities.  Fortunately, we have two vital economic engines helping to propel Guam forward: tourism and the military build-up.  We must promote business in order to create new jobs and provide the funds needed for the ambitious projects of the local government.  We look for a turn around in tourism with airliners more full and hotel bookings up.  The signs are positive.  Near where I am staying, I notice new hotel construction.

Fortunately for economic development on Guam, the proposed military build-up will bring additional prosperity in the near future.  It was good to have recently met Rear Admiral Douglass Biesel and Brigadier General Philip Ruhlman.  I look forward to working with them and other DOD officials as the military build-up unfolds.  The build-up effort has been given a boost with the direct involvement of Cecila Munoz, who is Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House.  We also appreciate the support of other White House officials.

The prosperity that we foresee, however, will come with challenges that must be overcome.  Guam’s infrastructure today is not sufficient to accommodate the full impact of the build-up.  Improvements must be made that will require strenuous efforts to secure financing, like that for improving the Port of Guam.

Additionally, with regard to economic development, the Obama Administration has, to date, announced $182 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act or ARRA funds for Guam as part of the President’s stimulus package.

I also believe that the businesses that are here on Guam must ascribe to good corporate social responsibility. In addition to profit, the objective must be to help in improving the quality of life, proactively promoting the public interest. We need businesses that not only are going to invest here on Guam but that are concurrently encouraging community growth and development. We need entrepreneurs who understand both the positive and adverse implications their business operations have on our environment, consumers, employees, communities and all members of the public sphere. At the end of the day, we know that investors expect profit but they must also consider the bigger picture: the community in which they have invested. It has to be about social responsibility and sustainability.

Additionally, we must be vigilant in protecting the environment.   The insular areas are home to some of the world’s most unique, scenic, untapped, and historic landscapes and natural resources; the beauty of our islands is immeasurable. We are the inheritors of a deeply-rooted and rich culture, where community building, respect for Mother Earth and one another has always been at the center of our concern. Because this point is so endemic to our society and our traditional way of life, I believe strongly that our Federal policies must reflect a very similar conscience.

Here on Guam, National Wildlife Refuge personnel are already hard at work protecting and recovering endangered species and natural habitats, and safeguarding some of our most important cultural resources.  The War in the Pacific National  Historical Park honors the bravery and sacrifice of those in the World War II Pacific Theater and the brave residents of Guam.  This refuge and park are two very special entities, right here on Guam, that can and must play an integral role in the types of recreational programs we establish for our children. As parents, we must take a proactive approach by encouraging our children to enjoy the outdoors so that they learn our history and the cultural significance of our island. I believe in fortifying both the Guam National Wildlife Refuge and the National Park memorial.  In fact, yesterday, the Obama Administration supported the passage of Congresswoman Bordallo’s Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act.  This strong endorsement, expressed to the Congress, helps pave the way for enactment of the bill.

Whether we are working to expand business opportunities or building partnerships to bolster tourism and spur economic development, we must do so in a way that maintains the integrity of our land. My vision is to see an increase in the number of business licenses and contracts issued in the insular areas. I want partnerships forged with the various chambers of commerce, non-governmental organizations and the private sector entities.  In doing so, we must remember that we are first the stewards of our homeland and any and every action we take must be to preserve our inheritance for those who will one day follow. This is not simply the right thing to do, it’s the smart way to ensure economic viability.

Related to Guam’s economic well-being is energy.  Guam pays millions of dollars to not-so-friendly countries for fossil fuels that contribute to global warming and the rise of oceans, of which the Pacific is of particular concern.

We must search for viable renewable energy alternatives as advocated by President Obama and Secretary Salazar. Today, more than ever, it is imperative that we begin directing our efforts and resources to finding and supporting initiatives that generate alternative forms of efficient and renewable energy while simultaneously reducing our consumption of fossil fuels and energy costs. We cannot continue talking about renewable energy without providing solutions and a concrete plan of action that is accompanied by a sound pledge of shared-responsibility and commitment to carry out these initiatives. It is essential that we expand business partnerships that advance a comprehensive and balanced technology portfolio that addresses our nation’s two most important energy challenges -- significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions and ending our dependence on imported oil. We must act now, invest now and empower our communities to realize their stake in securing clean, dependable and affordable energy for Guam and our other insular areas.

My office, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Virgin Islands are embarking on the EDIN project, which is short for Energy Development in Island Nations.  The goal is to tailor a plan for energy efficiency and alternative energy development, taking into account the Virgin Island’s individual energy capabilities and needs.  In Hawaii, a similar approach has yielded a goal of reducing the state’s dependence on fossil fuels by 70 percent by the year 2030.  All stakeholders, public and private, have endorsed the Hawaii plan.  Next month, I anticipate that the Virgin Islands EDIN agreement will be signed.  This action will propel the Virgin Islands towards a new and clean energy future.  EDIN is expected to yield a work product that is transferrable to other territories and island nations.  I would like to see all other U.S. territories walk down this same path.

Also of interest, and closer to home, the CNMI is assessing geothermal potential.  Should hopes be realized, Guam could benefit from the transmission of energy from the CNMI or benefit from knowledge gained that could result in the development of possible geothermal resources here on Guam.

As we look to the future on energy, we also need now, more than ever, to look to the future of our young people. This is where investment can yield guaranteed high returns. This is very fundamental to me. As an islander, I was fortunate enough to have incredible mentors.  There are so many to name, starting with my beloved parents and the priests and lay teachers at Father Duenas Memorial School, and in particular, my first boss on Capitol Hill, Doctor Underwood, the Third Member of Congress from Guam and the Tenth President of the University of Guam.

In my new position, I want to carry on this tradition. I would like to use my influence to institute a fellowship program for college students across the insular areas. My vision is to increase opportunities by encouraging our youth to become civically active and fully engaged at the various local and Federal decision-making levels. We must offer our youth access to educational and leadership development programs, services, and activities that promote the growth of effective professionals and strong leaders. Our youth deserve nothing less than the opportunity to explore new areas of leadership development, whether it is in the private or public sector. I believe firmly that we have a responsibility to equip our future generations with the necessary tools that will allow them to excel in today’s rapidly and ever-changing government and business environments.

We face a world filled with many uncertainties; we must not be daunted by the hardships and anxieties that are the result of the current economic crisis.  I am sure that we both see these difficulties, but I also see great opportunities for us and our communities.  If we all go forward together with an unwavering faith, high courage and quiet hearts, we shall be able to make of this ancient island, which we all love so dearly, an even better home for our children and their children.

To accomplish this goal, we must give nothing less than the whole of ourselves. For my part, I declare before you and the people of Guam, that my tenure in office shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great, extended American political family, to which we all belong.  But I shall not have the strength to carry out this resolution alone unless you join in it with me.  Change began with President Obama.  We can continue this great work in progress if we pursue it together.  In spite of the differences that we may have as we move forward, our collective desire for change is greater than the obstacles ahead.  We can make the change and it can be done on our watch.  God bless all of you.  God bless the people of Guam. God bless the United States of America.