Feds meet about defense spending

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - Nancy Sutley, who leads the White House Council on Environmental Quality, along with the delegation of federal officials visit to Guam comes on the heels of a hearing in the nation's capitol by the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness on the Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Budget Request for Military Construction, Family Housing, Base Closure, Facilities Operations and Maintenance. The issue of the Guam military buildup was discussed at great length during that process.

The Readiness Subcommittee is chaired by Senator Solomon Ortiz of Texas, who during his opening statement said its becoming obvious that there are many aspects of the marines relocation plan that need to be improved.

"First and foremost is the inability of this administration to pull together a comprehensive federal response that links the Department of Defense with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Interior, the EPA and other federal agencies. In the end, I believe our ability to relocate these marines forces will be negatively affect due to the lack of an interagency response.  I think its time for the department of defense to take a leadership role and possibly a fiscal role in ensuring that this realignment is done correctly," he said.

Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo who also sits on the subcommittee, was at the hearing. On extra tonight we'll show you her in action as she questions the panel of DoD officials on this lack of leadership as well as lack of financial commitment on the federal government's part to fund the relocation. We should note the FY2011 National Defense Authorization budget request for military construction, family housing, base closure, facilities operation and maintenance requests $452 million to design and construct facilities in support of the marines relocation.