Bordallo addresses Guam issues at subcommittee hearings

Bordallo

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo addressed issues important to Guam during hearings of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Native Affairs and the Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans. The hearings focused on the President’s fiscal year 2017 budget for agencies within the U.S. Department of the Interior.

During the hearing of the Subcommittee on Indian, Insular, and Alaska Native Affairs, Bordallo expressed her desire for the Office of Insular Affairs to continue to prioritize Compact impact. She highlighted H.R. 4370, the Compact Impact Relief Act, which she introduced in January to address key areas in health care, education, and housing that are impacted by Compact impact. She also urged the Administration to work cooperatively with Congress to renew the Palau Compact and to identify an offset that reflected a shared responsibility among the Departments of State, Defense, and the Interior.

Additionally, Bordallo discussed the importance of combating invasive species and putting more resources towards preventative sciences. She highlighted the damage invasive species, like coconut rhinoceros beetle, have had on Guam’s ecosystem and noted that they have spread to other Pacific jurisdictions, including Hawaii.

“I appreciate that the Obama Administration has prioritized efforts to address Compact impact, invasive species, and coral conservation in its FY17 OIA budget request. These policy areas have significant implications on Guam and our community, and we should provide resources towards solving these challenges. I continue to advocate for additional funding for Compact impact, but we have to recognize that fiscal conservatives will not support a direct appropriation for Guam, Hawaii, and the other affected jurisdictions. Leaders must find innovative solutions, like I have done with the Compact Impact Relief Act, that will reduce the burden on local governments and provide accountability by the federal government for these costs. I appreciate that Secretary Kia’aina committed to continue working with me and my colleagues in Congress to address this important issue.”

“I am also concerned by the spread of invasive species in Guam and other Pacific island jurisdictions. Invasive species cause significant harm to island habitats and ecosystems, which are critical to Guam’s tourism economy and are a foundation for many Pacific island cultures and subsistence. I appreciate that OIA requests funding to combat the spread of invasive species on non-federal lands. A more comprehensive approach to combating invasive species as well as funding for better research is absolutely needed to address this issue. I hope that OIA will work collaboratively with other agencies and community partners to dedicate additional resources for preventative sciences. I believe that over the long-term, this would help keep invasive species at bay before they become a significant problem, which ultimately will save taxpayer money. While we must continue to work to stop the spread of invasive species, we must also ensure that we are investing in preventing new threats to our islands.” (PR)