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Bordallo raises ship repair and realignment at Navy hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU) attended yesterday a posture hearing of the House Armed Services Committee to address the President’s budget proposal for the Department of the Navy for fiscal year 2015. Bordallo stressed the need to maintain a robust depot-level ship repair facility with dry dock capability in Guam to support readiness in the Asia-Pacific region. She also highlighted the importance of the signing of a landfill permit for a Futenma Replacement Facility and removing restrictions on Government of Japan funds for the buildup.
Adm. Jonathan Greenert, chief of Naval Operations, agreed with Bordallo on the need to maintain a ship repair facility with dry dock capability in Guam. Greenert committed to moving the ship repair contract along and ensuring that our skilled labor force remains on island.
Gen. James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps, testified that Congress should remove the restrictions placed on the Marine Corps’ ability to use funds already contributed by the Government of Japan for the realignment and contained in both the Marine Corps’ and Japan’s budgets. This funding is necessary to build the facilities the Marine Corps’ needs on Guam.
“Maintaining a ship repair facility with a dry dock capability on Guam is critical to supporting military readiness in the Western Pacific,” said Bordallo. “Over the years, Guam has recruited and trained a highly specialized workforce able to support a ship repair capability. I continue to work to preserve this skilled workforce and ensure they have job opportunities that best utilize their specialties. I appreciate Admiral Greenert’s commitment to maintaining this capability locally, and I look forward to working with him to get these employees back to work.
“I also look forward to working with General Amos as we begin consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2015 to remove the restrictions on using Government of Japan funds for the realignment. I hope to build on the progress made in last year’s defense bill that eased restrictions so that we can capitalize on funds already available for the buildup.” (PR)
