Monday, May 20, 2013

VIDEO: D.C. Report - Bordallo "Slams" NDAA, Build-Up Freeze on House Floor

Guam News - Guam News

Guam - Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo told colleagues on the House floor Wednesday, the Congress has ‘blinked’ on security needs in the Pacific by freezing the Guam build-up for at least a year.

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SEE Congresswoman Bordallo's remarks on the House Floor opposing the NDAA HERE

HEAR matt Kaye's report HERE>>>12-15 bordallofloorndaa.mp3

An emotional Bordallo told fellow lawmakers, if she was able to vote on the final House-Senate compromise on the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, “I would vote against this bill”

 "The bill completely ignores the important efforts this administration has taken, to better posture our military forces in the Pacific. Furthermore, we undercut efforts, significant efforts, by Prime Minister Noda, in japan, in trying to achieve progress with the development of the Futenma replacement facility.”

Bordallo angrily criticized those in the house who talk a big talk about Pacific security threats from China and North Korea.

“Yet, when this country and this administration ask the congress to act in our best national interests, to realign forces in the pacific, we blink.” :11

Bordallo told lawmakers—as the defense bill neared final action on the House floor late Wednesday “We are all talk and no action on this very important issue.”

The Congresswoman acknowledged budget arguments by Senate Armed Services Chair Carl Levin and ranking Republican John McCain, but countered without “hard choices and investments now,” force changes will cost more in the long run.

Bordallo encouraged Japan’s Noda to continue efforts to replace Futenma in Okinawa and offered this to those in Congress who stand in the way of the Guam Military Build-Up:

“The cuts to infrastructure funding on Guam are simply punitive and they fly in the face of unified action by both the House and Senate appropriators. This Congress has uniformly stated that infrastructure improvements are needed on Guam, to sustain any type of additional military presence. Yet, once again, our rhetoric does not match our words.”

Bordallo said pointedly, she’d continue to push for funding for critical infrastructure improvements, frozen by the defense bill, pending a DoD Master Plan, tangible progress on Futenma, and a report on Guam infrastructure needs.


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