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“CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2055, CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2012” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E2317 on Dec. 19, 2011.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2055, CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2012
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speech of
HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO
of guam
in the house of representatives
Friday, December 16, 2011
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2055, the Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2012. While this bill is not perfect, it makes critical investments in education, military construction and civilian infrastructure requirements on Guam, Wall Street reform, and clean energy, and it ensures that our government remains funded through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2012. I thank Chairman Hal Rogers and Ranking Member Norm Dicks, and all my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee, for maintaining critical funding that supports our Armed Forces and ensures that Guam and the U.S. Territories receive necessary support from the Federal Government.
If passed, H.R. 2055 would appropriate $33 million for civilian infrastructure improvements on Guam through the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment in response to the realignment of U.S. Marine Corps forces to Guam. The bill would provide the necessary appropriation and sufficient authorization for the Secretary of Defense to utilize these funds specifically to address the need for vehicles and supplies for civilian student transportation, the construction of a cultural repository for cultural artifacts unearthed during current and future military construction, and the construction of a mental health and substance abuse facility in Guam. The funding for this infrastructure was done through a validated process and in accordance with the Economic Adjustment Committee criteria. These infrastructure improvements are critical to ensuring that Guam is able to sustain the additional military presence anticipated from the build-up, and the funds fulfill an agreement made between the Administration and the Government of Guam.
I am, however, very concerned with cuts that were made to the Department of the Navy for military construction projects directly relating to the U.S.-Japan Roadmap for Realignment Implementation. The bill removes approximately $155 million in military construction projects that support the Marine Corps requirements for the realignment of forces from Okinawa to Guam. The removal of these funds ignores the Administration's efforts to improve our military posture in Asia, and it further delays inevitable investments that will be necessary to support the realignment. Further, I am concerned that cutting funds for increment 2 of the North Ramp Utilities project wastes nearly $20 million in previously appropriated funds. However, I do appreciate the support for the Guam Strike requirements at Andersen Air Force Base. Guam Strike is an important program that helps to provide necessary ISR and Strike capabilities at Andersen Air Force Base. I appreciate the Committee's continued support of this program.
This bill also includes much needed support for Guam, and the U.S. Territories. Specifically, it provides more than a million dollars for infrastructure on Guam to support sustainable energy projects. The people of Guam currently face some of the highest energy costs in the Nation, and funding will help alleviate those costs and reduce our dependence on imported oil. The bill also increases funding for the Assistance to Territories program by nearly $5 million above the President's Budget request. However, I am concerned about the reduction in funds to the Empowering Insular Communities fund. This new account would strengthen the foundations of economic development in the territories by addressing challenges preventing reliable delivery of critical services needed to attract investment. I hope that the additional funds in the Assistance to Territories fund can be used to meet this new program's needs.
In addition, once passed, this bill will significantly improve the implementation of the Compacts of Free Association. The Compacts are an important national security arrangement for our Nation; however, the impacts of Compact migration have placed a significant financial strain on the Government of Guam and similarly affected jurisdictions, in the form of education and health care costs, and other social services.
This bill funds a new position within the Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs (OIA) dedicated to working on Compact impact issues. It will direct the Department to work with the Freely Associated States to develop a comprehensive plan to mitigate the costs of Compact migration. The plan seeks to better inform potential Compact migrants of the original intent of the migration provision of the Compacts, which is to provide educational and employment opportunities to FAS citizens and to avoid reliance on social services. The plan also seeks to improve access to health care, specifically dialysis treatment in the FAS. Over time, OIA's improved coordination with the FAS will reduce the need for FAS migrants to seek medical treatment in Guam or other jurisdictions. Finally, the plan would improve screening procedures for potential migrants with communicable diseases, or a criminal history.
Earlier this year, I cosigned a letter to the Department of the Interior requesting it begin working with the FAS on these issues. I commend the Committee for including these provisions in this legislation. I expect these policies will significantly improve the implementation of the Compacts, and ease the financial burdens currently placed on the local governments in affected jurisdictions.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2055 sets critical spending priorities for the Federal Government and fulfills Congress' most fundamental duty to provide the resources necessary to keep our government running. Given the difficult budget environment, the bill makes difficult choices in a responsible manner. Moreover, the bill ultimately provides critical support for Guam and the U.S. territories, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
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