Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo today issued the following statement in response to the Obama Administration’s Statement of Administration Policy regarding S. 3254, the Senate version of National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13 NDAA). The bill is being considered on the Senate floor this week, and Conference Committee will commence if the Senate bill passes. 

 

The statement includes strong support for the military realignment of U.S. Marines on Guam and objects to a provision of the Senate bill, Section 2208, which places limits on the ability of the Department of Defense to obligate and execute U.S. and Government of Japan funding for the relocation of Marines from Okinawa to Guam. The House-passed FY13 NDAA, H.R. 4310, contains language that would repeal some of these onerous provisions.

 

“This statement from the Obama Administration reinforces what I have long said—that it is in the best interests of our national security and our bilateral relations with Japan to restart, in earnest, the military realignment of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam,” said Congresswoman Bordallo. “We are at a critical time in the buildup, and further obstructions in obligating and executing these funds send the wrong message to our allies in the region and to Japan, which has already made a significant investment in the relocation of U.S. Marines. Moreover, while the Navy’s recent announcement in awarding a task order for a realignment-related project was a positive step, there are still a number of concerns in the Senate regarding overall costs. I appreciate the Administration’s support, and I hope that the Senate will take this into consideration as they consider the defense bill this week and as we move into Conference Committee. Further delays mean higher costs over the long term and greater risk to our security interests in the Asia-Pacific region.”