Guam - Hoping to extend preferred benefit status to homegrown and Guam based businesses taking part in the military buildup, Senator Judi Guthertz is asking Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo to include language in the 2012 National Defense Authorization act that will do just that.

Guthertz asked Bordallo to insert language that affords preferred benefit statuses or at minimum, equal benefits provided to the most favored category relative to federal government contracting preferences and special rules. The military buildup committee chair states the island is often flabbergasted when large DOD contracts are awarded to unfamiliar firms that have little to no connection with the island.

She states, "I find it disheartening that our people are in effect being penalized because they do not qualify or are listed as second tier as a result of not being afforded as part of the most favored category; i.e., native tribe, minority owned or disabled businesses."