Press Releases
February 25, 2010
Congresswoman Bordallo Addresses Military Build-up with Economic Adjustment Committee
Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo today addressed the Department of Defense Economic Adjustment Committee (EAC) in regards to the military build-up on Guam. The meeting was held in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. The Economic Adjustment Committee was established by President George H.W. Bush on January 15, 1992 under Presidential Executive Order 12788. The EAC assists communities impacted by Department of Defense program changes by coordinating the involvement of federal agencies.
During the meeting Congresswoman Bordallo recommended that the EAC take five concrete steps to address Guam's infrastructure needs. The recommendations were as follows;
1. Develop civilian infrastructure funding strategy and present to the Government of Guam and Congress by May 1st;
2. Continue to hold EAC meetings under the Department of Defense's lead to address Guam's needs;
3. EAC should identify statutory changes for any agencies that are needed to ensure funding commitments for Guam by March 10th;
4. Direct OMB to review existing infrastructure funding and authority under Recovery Act, Jobs Bill and TARP and other appropriate legislation with remaining funds;
5. Develop a Memorandum of Understanding between Secretary of Defense and Governor of Guam with commitments for federal funding.
“A meeting with the Economic Adjustment Committee has been long overdue,” Congresswoman Bordallo stated. “I called for a meeting of the EAC over a year ago and this was based off recommendations by the Government Accountability Office in several reports to Congress. The lack of federal coordination to Guam's needs is unacceptable. Today, I took time to reiterate my concerns regarding the federal response to Guam’s civilian infrastructure needs. I recommended that the EAC should continue to act as a coordinating agency between all federal agencies as planning for the military build-up continues. The federal response to our civilian infrastructure needs has been glacial and more work is needed to get the build-up done right.”