Bordallo: more clarity needed from DoD

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Guam's Washington delegate responded to Senators Carl Levin, John McCain and Jim Webb's call for the re-examination of military basing plans, saying such is yet another opportunity by the Department of Defense to provide more clarity on their plans and the rationale behind them. Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo further stated, "Moving air assets from Kadena Air Force Base to Andersen Air Force base requires careful attention to the balance among forces on Guam so that additional air assets and associated personnel do not overload and unduly strain our infrastructure."

Bordallo also said that the proposal to senators' recommendation for a more transient presence of U.S. Marines may reduce the number of family housing units needed thereby also reducing the amount of Section 30 money that would come from permanently stationed troops on Guam. 

The congresswoman also referred to two provisions she sponsored in the House Defense Authorization Bill that was considered today that requires the Department of Defense to certify a national security requirement for such ranges and would give the DoD authority to transfer funds to support local infrastructure needs.