President Donald Trump has vetoed the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, which contains key provisions for Guam and the military buildup here.

In his veto message posted to the White House website, the president wrote, "My Administration recognizes the importance of the Act to our national security. Unfortunately, the Act fails to include critical national security measures, includes provisions that fail to respect our veterans and our military's history, and contradicts efforts by my Administration to put America first in our national security and foreign policy actions. It is a "gift" to China and Russia, the president wrote.

In response, Governor Leon Guerrero released a statement today saying, "Without this measure, we lose critical funding for a new regional Public Health lab, and the foreign labor exemption we need for civilian construction projects will disappear. Team Guam fought hard for these provisions and we can't lose them now."

She adds that, "Whatever the administration's differences with this version of the NDAA, it is fundamentally good for Guam-investing millions of federal dollars in our economy when we need it most, expanding our labor pool, and giving our service men and women the support they need."

Leon Guerrero says she'll be working with the National Governors Association and the Defense Department to demonstrate why passage of the bill is so vital.