by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - When the House Armed Services Committee passed the Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act earlier this week, the measure did not include war reparations for Guam. Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo will introduce an amendment she hopes will be included in the NDAA when it's considered on the floor of the House of Representatives next week.

Bordallo announced today she will introduce the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act as an amendment to the NDAA. According to the congresswoman's office, the amendment approach is "similar to the strategy the congresswoman followed with H.R. 44 in last fiscal year's defense spending bill". War reparations was excluded from the Fiscal Year 2010 NDAA after concerns were raised by senators Tom Leevin and John McCain, who thought it would set the precedent for other groups to try to have their claims included in future defense spending acts.

Bordallo told KUAM News that she received assurances from the two senators that war reparations would be included in this year's NDAA. Bordallo adding that Chairman Ike Skelton and Ranking Member Buck McKeon support the inclusion of her amendment in the bill again this year. The congresswoman added that H.R. 44 remains her top legislative priority and she is confident "this strategy is the most effective means of advancing war claims legislation."