Funding frozen for buildup
In the nation's capitol, the Senate Armed Services Committee once again is freezing funding for the military buildup on Guam.
By KUAM NewsGuam - In the nation's capitol, the Senate Armed Services Committee once again is freezing funding for the military buildup on Guam. Emerging from their closed-door sessions to markup their version of the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, as expected it wasn't good news for funding for the military buildup on Guam as a freeze in funding will remain in place committee chairperson Carl Levin.
Levin said, "I think we continued the provision related to limiting additional construction until we get these reports." Reports such as an independent assessment of the U.S. force posture in the Asia Pacific Region, which was mandated in the 2012 NDAA. Like Senator Levin, Senator John McCain has been a staunch opponent of allowing any funding to be spent on the Marines' relocation from Okinawa to Guam unless the study is completed.
Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo said, "According to law we had we demanded a study be made, the Pentagon now admits that they made a terrible mistake by waiting three months before they even let a contract. We expect that assessment sometime next month. And then I think we may be able to make the appropriate decisions associated with what the Administration's plan is and what the independent assessment says."
Although there was funding included in the Senate's version of the 2013 NDAA for a fuel pipeline project from Andersen Air Force Base to Big Navy - that too was contingent upon whether the independent assessment is submitted to Congress. Although disappointed, Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo recognizes the numerous hurdles in moving the buildup forward on Guam, adding it's critical for the defense department to meet the requirements of the 2012 NDAA as soon as possible.
She is hoping the senate requested independent assessment will endorse the laydown proposed in the revised Realignment Agreement between the U.S. and Japan so that we can finally get this buildup back on track. The FY13 NDAA now heads to the full senate for further consideration.