by


Guam - Following DOI assistant secretary for insular areas Esther P. Kia'aina's first official visit to Guam more than a  month ago, Vice Speaker Benjamin J.F. Cruz has begun pushing the US Department of Interior to request for an offset in the form of debt relief or the repurposing of $100 million in unused federal monies held by Compact states. During Kia 'Aina's trip she publicly acknowledged the inadequate Compact impact Guam is receiving. The vice speaker is also pushing for a DOI budget item that will fund the full reimbursement of costs associated with Compact migration incurred by Guam and other affected jurisdictions.