Leaders respond to Bordallo's address
Posted: Feb 17, 2010 3:17 PM
Updated: Feb 17, 2010 7:06 PM
by Sabrina Salas Matanane
Guam - The reviews are out for Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo's annual congressional address delivered last night in Hagatna, and from even her toughest critics her address seems to have been a big hit. Escorted into session hall by local attorney Mike Phillips, Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo's address Tuesday night covered an array of issues, including a pledge to help the Department of Education Superintendent Dr Nerissa Underwood, who said, "When she found out we were really in a tight spot, she actually made a lot of effort in ensuring that USDOE knows that she is on top of it, so I appreciate it."
Bordallo also pledged to work to get an increase in Compact impact funding and to continue her relentless efforts to get war reparations, but the bulk of her speech last night dealt with the military buildup and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Bordallo listed off six areas of concern regarding the buildup, ranging from land issues which she opposed the use of condemnation, even so far as challenging the military use land within their existing footprint.
She also said the Department of Defense must seriously consider and find ways to fund the infrastructure improvements needed outside the fence to support the buildup. Governor Felix Camacho, who delivered his address just the day before, said it was a "excellent speech" and that he will continue to work with the congresswoman, especially as he heads to the nation's capital in the coming weeks.
"There are series of meetings with federal officials that will be had regarding the buildup in other matters related to Guam, and I look forward to working on many of these issues," he noted.
Committee Chair on the Guam Military Buildup Senator Judi Guthertz, who has not shied away in expressing her disdain with the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, was pleased with Bordallo's speech, calling it "terrific". She said, "It's clear to me now that the Legislature, our congresswoman and our governor are all thinking the same way on the Draft EIS, so we have a commonality speaking with one voice now on the Draft EIS.
"I'm hopeful now that our military friends and Washington leadership will pay attention to the concerns that have been brought forth by our congresswoman, legislature and by our governor and to redo the Draft EIS and address the issues that need to be addressed."
Speaking of military, 36th Wing Commander at Andersen Air Force Base Brigadier General Phil Rhulman attended Monday's night's address. He said, "It was an excellent speech a good speech by Congresswoman Bordallo and the best thing about it was emphasizing the fact that we're all work together with this military buildup."
It's this coming together, so to speak, that District Court of Guam Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood liked most about Bordallo's address, saying, "I just think the most important thing I felt being here as a federal public official as well as a judge is just the positive outlook she has and the call she has for everyone to come together, I think that was really the important thing for me."
What was important for Ted Nelson was to hear Bordallo's position on land and her clearly stating that she was not in support of eminent domain. He was also happy to hear that she plans to propose to the navy to either use property in Naval Magazine or Tinian as an alternative for the Marines training ranges, instead of his property in the eastern part of Guam. He said, "We are very pleased that she has recognized our rights and that she will go beyond work with the Navy, military and everybody else to ensure that no land will be taken or be condemned, so we thank her, God bless Guam and Madeleine Bordallo."
Meanwhile, surprisingly Vice-Speaker B.J. Cruz, who as of late has been critical of the congresswoman on the military buildup, was satisfied for the most part with her address. He said, "My only disappointment is that she didn't expand on the medical and mental health needs, but otherwise the rest of the speech addressed most everything that I was concerned about. The condemnation issue, the dredging, it wasn't as strong as I wanted but at least now she recognizes this just cannot happen.
"I was very proud of the speech that she gave last night, I was very happy.
Showing posts with label Compact Impact. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Compact Impact. Show all posts
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Bordallo addresses people of Guam
Bordallo addresses people of Guam
Posted: Feb 16, 2010 7:27 PM
Updated: Feb 17, 2010 9:05 AM
by Sabrina Salas Matanane
*Madeleine Bordallo's Congressional Address
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/gu00_bordallo/congressional_address.html
Guam - Serving her fourth term in office, Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo delivered her annual Congressional Report on issues she has been working on over the last year as well as projects she is currently working on or will work on in the future. Here is a summary of the issues she touched on in her address before the Guam Legislature Tuesday evening:
* Bordallo discussed the issue of War Reparations and how she is pushing for its inclusion in this year's National Defense Bill.
* She plans to request increase funding for Compact Impact
* She will assist DOE in getting help from USDOE to resolve its funding crisis
The biggest chunk of her address was dedicated to the military buildup and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Bordallo listed off six areas of concern:
1. The Navy's Plans to acquire more land for the buildup: Bordallo said she will challenge the Navy to conduct the buildup within its existing footprint
2. Proposed Firing Ranges in Pagat and Sasayan: Bordallo said she is opposed to eminent domain and will ask the navy to re-evaluate the use of Naval Magazine as well as training ranges in Tinian as an alternative.
3. Air Craft Carrier Berthing: Bordallo plans to challenge the Navy to identify other alternatives that will minimize coral damage and take advantage are Kilo or Delta Wharves.
4. Lack of Financial Commitment from the Federal Government to fund civilian infrastructure projects: Bordallo is calling on the Navy to address this issue in a serious manner.
5. Lack of comprehensive housing for guest workers and providing healthcare needs in a manner that does not further overwhelm the island's infrastructure and healthcare system.
6. Socio-Economic Impact: Bordallo said the DEIS portion must be completely re-written in order to truly address the socio-economic impacts of the buildup.
The Congresswoman, meanwhile, said she supports the Governor's efforts to extend the construction timeline for the buildup. She said that in her comments she will submit on the Draft EIS she will request the Navy to provide a more realistic timeline and adjust the EIS analysis to reflect a realistic construction phase of eight to ten years.
In closing Bordallo mentioned President Barack Obama's upcoming visit next month which will give him an opportunity to hear the island's concerns. She ended by thanking the people of Guam and also recognized the men and women from Guam who are currently serving in harm's way in the Middle East.
Posted: Feb 16, 2010 7:27 PM
Updated: Feb 17, 2010 9:05 AM
by Sabrina Salas Matanane
*Madeleine Bordallo's Congressional Address
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/gu00_bordallo/congressional_address.html
Guam - Serving her fourth term in office, Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo delivered her annual Congressional Report on issues she has been working on over the last year as well as projects she is currently working on or will work on in the future. Here is a summary of the issues she touched on in her address before the Guam Legislature Tuesday evening:
* Bordallo discussed the issue of War Reparations and how she is pushing for its inclusion in this year's National Defense Bill.
* She plans to request increase funding for Compact Impact
* She will assist DOE in getting help from USDOE to resolve its funding crisis
The biggest chunk of her address was dedicated to the military buildup and the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Bordallo listed off six areas of concern:
1. The Navy's Plans to acquire more land for the buildup: Bordallo said she will challenge the Navy to conduct the buildup within its existing footprint
2. Proposed Firing Ranges in Pagat and Sasayan: Bordallo said she is opposed to eminent domain and will ask the navy to re-evaluate the use of Naval Magazine as well as training ranges in Tinian as an alternative.
3. Air Craft Carrier Berthing: Bordallo plans to challenge the Navy to identify other alternatives that will minimize coral damage and take advantage are Kilo or Delta Wharves.
4. Lack of Financial Commitment from the Federal Government to fund civilian infrastructure projects: Bordallo is calling on the Navy to address this issue in a serious manner.
5. Lack of comprehensive housing for guest workers and providing healthcare needs in a manner that does not further overwhelm the island's infrastructure and healthcare system.
6. Socio-Economic Impact: Bordallo said the DEIS portion must be completely re-written in order to truly address the socio-economic impacts of the buildup.
The Congresswoman, meanwhile, said she supports the Governor's efforts to extend the construction timeline for the buildup. She said that in her comments she will submit on the Draft EIS she will request the Navy to provide a more realistic timeline and adjust the EIS analysis to reflect a realistic construction phase of eight to ten years.
In closing Bordallo mentioned President Barack Obama's upcoming visit next month which will give him an opportunity to hear the island's concerns. She ended by thanking the people of Guam and also recognized the men and women from Guam who are currently serving in harm's way in the Middle East.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Bordallo to deliver congressional report
Bordallo to deliver congressional report
Tuesday, 16 February 2010 00:57 by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
CONGRESSWOMAN Madeleine Z. Bordallo will deliver her biennial Congressional Report to the people of Guam at 6 p.m. tonight.
She will be escorted by vice speaker BJ Cruz and Sen. Frank Blas Jr.
Both lawmakers have been critical of Bordallo’s perceived lack of support for the people of Guam and the plight Guam faces regarding the military buildup.
Specifically, the zero funding from the United States federal government on the proposed buildup, her stance on the draft environmental impact statement and the hundreds of millions of dollars owed to the people of Guam because of the Compact Impact covenant.
While word circulated that the congresswoman wanted attorney Mike Phillips, her nephew, to escort her down the aisle tonight, the legislature informed the congresswoman’s office that they have purview as to who will walk her down the aisle.
Speaker Judi Won Pat, in a show of bipartisanship, chose Sens. Tina Muña-Barnes and Telo Taitague to walk Gov. Felix Camacho to the podium when he delivered his state of the island address yesterday.
Won Pat said that Cruz and Blas both volunteered to escort Bordallo to the podium.
Tuesday, 16 February 2010 00:57 by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
CONGRESSWOMAN Madeleine Z. Bordallo will deliver her biennial Congressional Report to the people of Guam at 6 p.m. tonight.
She will be escorted by vice speaker BJ Cruz and Sen. Frank Blas Jr.
Both lawmakers have been critical of Bordallo’s perceived lack of support for the people of Guam and the plight Guam faces regarding the military buildup.
Specifically, the zero funding from the United States federal government on the proposed buildup, her stance on the draft environmental impact statement and the hundreds of millions of dollars owed to the people of Guam because of the Compact Impact covenant.
While word circulated that the congresswoman wanted attorney Mike Phillips, her nephew, to escort her down the aisle tonight, the legislature informed the congresswoman’s office that they have purview as to who will walk her down the aisle.
Speaker Judi Won Pat, in a show of bipartisanship, chose Sens. Tina Muña-Barnes and Telo Taitague to walk Gov. Felix Camacho to the podium when he delivered his state of the island address yesterday.
Won Pat said that Cruz and Blas both volunteered to escort Bordallo to the podium.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Bordallo urged to push buildup resolution
Bordallo urged to push buildup resolution
By Dionesis Tamondong • Pacific Daily News • February 13, 2010
With the unanimous approval of Resolution 275, Sen. Frank Blas Jr. reminded Delegate Madeleine Bordallo of her promise to support and represent to Congress the many issues listed in the measure.
The resolution, which the Legislature approved on Thursday, raises many issues concerning the draft Environmental Impact Statement and the impact of the military's buildup plans on Guam.
Resolution 275 also urges Congress to address long-standing local issues, including war reparations, Compact-impact reimbursement, the removal of Medicaid funding caps and unreturned ancestral land.
"In light of your commitment to represent the position of the Legislature on behalf of the people of Guam as contained in Resolution 275 to members of both the House and Senate, I thank you for this promise and look forward to your introduction of measures that would address our concerns and also provide resolution to our long-standing issues," Blas wrote in a letter sent to her office yesterday afternoon.
The letter was just one of several sent by local senators to Bordallo's office this past week.
Foreign workers
Vice Speaker Benjamin Cruz, in a series of letters, called on Bordallo to reconsider her position on allowing the use of foreign workers on buildup-related construction projects.
Cruz cited estimates in the draft EIS report that H-2 workers will spend about 20 percent of their income in the local economy, while workers hired locally are estimated to spend 45 percent of their income here.
"Based on the (Department of Defense's) anticipated expenditures from 2010 through 2016, local workers are expected to infuse about $471 million into Guam's economy, while H-2 workers are anticipated to infuse about $294 million," Cruz said in his letter.
He said the decision to use H-2 workers represents a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars that otherwise would've contributed to Guam's economy.
Bordallo's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to her office Thursday.
Though Guam is exempt from the national annual cap on the hiring of foreign workers, the labor regulations require employers to hire local workers first.
For example, before employers file an application, they have to put out an advertisement and make efforts to recruit locally before applying to Guam's Department of Labor to hire foreign labor.
The Guam Contractors Association Trades Academy continues to train and prepare residents for thousands of construction jobs anticipated with the buildup.
But officials have said companies still will have to hire from off island because there aren't enough skilled construction workers to hire locally.
By Dionesis Tamondong • Pacific Daily News • February 13, 2010
With the unanimous approval of Resolution 275, Sen. Frank Blas Jr. reminded Delegate Madeleine Bordallo of her promise to support and represent to Congress the many issues listed in the measure.
The resolution, which the Legislature approved on Thursday, raises many issues concerning the draft Environmental Impact Statement and the impact of the military's buildup plans on Guam.
Resolution 275 also urges Congress to address long-standing local issues, including war reparations, Compact-impact reimbursement, the removal of Medicaid funding caps and unreturned ancestral land.
"In light of your commitment to represent the position of the Legislature on behalf of the people of Guam as contained in Resolution 275 to members of both the House and Senate, I thank you for this promise and look forward to your introduction of measures that would address our concerns and also provide resolution to our long-standing issues," Blas wrote in a letter sent to her office yesterday afternoon.
The letter was just one of several sent by local senators to Bordallo's office this past week.
Foreign workers
Vice Speaker Benjamin Cruz, in a series of letters, called on Bordallo to reconsider her position on allowing the use of foreign workers on buildup-related construction projects.
Cruz cited estimates in the draft EIS report that H-2 workers will spend about 20 percent of their income in the local economy, while workers hired locally are estimated to spend 45 percent of their income here.
"Based on the (Department of Defense's) anticipated expenditures from 2010 through 2016, local workers are expected to infuse about $471 million into Guam's economy, while H-2 workers are anticipated to infuse about $294 million," Cruz said in his letter.
He said the decision to use H-2 workers represents a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars that otherwise would've contributed to Guam's economy.
Bordallo's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to her office Thursday.
Though Guam is exempt from the national annual cap on the hiring of foreign workers, the labor regulations require employers to hire local workers first.
For example, before employers file an application, they have to put out an advertisement and make efforts to recruit locally before applying to Guam's Department of Labor to hire foreign labor.
The Guam Contractors Association Trades Academy continues to train and prepare residents for thousands of construction jobs anticipated with the buildup.
But officials have said companies still will have to hire from off island because there aren't enough skilled construction workers to hire locally.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Still no word on Guam demands
Still no word on Guam demands
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 05:22
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
COMPACT impact reimbursements, the military buildup, war reparations and political self-determination seem to be very touchy subjects in Washington D.C. but all Sen. Frank Blas Jr. wants to know is why Congressman Nick Rahall won't make a statement on compact impact after he had promised to do so.
During a congressional delegation visit to Guam in August last year, Blas was told that the congressman had a prepared statement regarding the matter and that he would be making it at some point during his visit.
Immediately after Rahall made his presentation during one of the lecture series held at the University of Guam, Blas asked one of Rahall's senior staff members about the promised discussion on Compact Impact. “I was informed then that a decision was made not to discuss the matter and that I was not to be told as to why,” said Blas.
Blas had brought this issue to the attention of Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo who assured him that a response will be forthcoming. However, Blas has yet to receive any response.
“I believe there has been sufficient time to gain a response as to why the Compact issue was not discussed during Mr. Rahall's visit and would appreciate an answer as promised,” wrote Blas to Bordallo.
Wednesday, 27 January 2010 05:22
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
COMPACT impact reimbursements, the military buildup, war reparations and political self-determination seem to be very touchy subjects in Washington D.C. but all Sen. Frank Blas Jr. wants to know is why Congressman Nick Rahall won't make a statement on compact impact after he had promised to do so.
During a congressional delegation visit to Guam in August last year, Blas was told that the congressman had a prepared statement regarding the matter and that he would be making it at some point during his visit.
Immediately after Rahall made his presentation during one of the lecture series held at the University of Guam, Blas asked one of Rahall's senior staff members about the promised discussion on Compact Impact. “I was informed then that a decision was made not to discuss the matter and that I was not to be told as to why,” said Blas.
Blas had brought this issue to the attention of Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo who assured him that a response will be forthcoming. However, Blas has yet to receive any response.
“I believe there has been sufficient time to gain a response as to why the Compact issue was not discussed during Mr. Rahall's visit and would appreciate an answer as promised,” wrote Blas to Bordallo.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Implied Complicity
Implied complicity .
Sunday, 22 November 2009 23:48 Editorial
The Marianas Variety
“WE CANNOT continue to cover up for their mistakes and cover for them on all the short falls. We’ve suffered for far too long,” Gov. Felix Camacho said about the ongoing financial crisis at the Guam Department of Education.
The USDOE refused to allow local public education officials to use existing federal grant monies to cover an anticipated shortfall in several program areas.
Implicit in Camacho’s statement is the notion that somehow the governor was able, in the past, to find a way to obfuscate and “cover” the financial incompetence at the largest government agency – so long as it served his purposes.
For years federal officials expressed concerns over interloping local elected leaders in the management of GDOE with the matter finally coming to a head with the fruition of an elected education policy board, which was created by Public Law 26-26.
When he was senator, Camacho was among those who signed the bill that created the independent education board, and removed the governor’s control over the education department.
However, not long after coming into office at Adelup he changed his tune and has repeatedly lamented his impotence to do anything because of the historic federal concerns and policy changes since that time.
Although the two-term governor has been unable to come up with an innovative effort to find solutions for public education – a key platform on which he established his successful run for Adelup twice already – he seems to have little problem with finding a way to block solutions proffered by others.
Assistant Secretary of Interior Tony Babauta and Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo proposed that the Compact Impact fund be tapped to avert a massive layoff that could have far-reaching economic implications.
But Camacho refused to allow the use of Compact-Impact monies, saying it would shortchange vital services in other areas depending on those monies.
This was the same governor who earlier tapped into the same limited critical resource to pay for the construction of a recreational sports center in Dededo.
Compared to education, it seems the joyriding governor has lost his way on the roadmap to success for our students and schools.
It is time for this governor to step aside if all he can do is plan obstacles to progress with little offer of solutions like competent bridge financing for the hard-pressed education agency.
GDOE superintendent Dr. Nerissa Underwood inherited a lifetime of difficulties and needs synergy and support – not silly political grandstanding and empty chatter to help right the course of public education on Guam.
It is time for local officials to step to the head of the class with positive ideas or move to the back before their legacy is topped with a dunce’s cap.
Sunday, 22 November 2009 23:48 Editorial
The Marianas Variety
“WE CANNOT continue to cover up for their mistakes and cover for them on all the short falls. We’ve suffered for far too long,” Gov. Felix Camacho said about the ongoing financial crisis at the Guam Department of Education.
The USDOE refused to allow local public education officials to use existing federal grant monies to cover an anticipated shortfall in several program areas.
Implicit in Camacho’s statement is the notion that somehow the governor was able, in the past, to find a way to obfuscate and “cover” the financial incompetence at the largest government agency – so long as it served his purposes.
For years federal officials expressed concerns over interloping local elected leaders in the management of GDOE with the matter finally coming to a head with the fruition of an elected education policy board, which was created by Public Law 26-26.
When he was senator, Camacho was among those who signed the bill that created the independent education board, and removed the governor’s control over the education department.
However, not long after coming into office at Adelup he changed his tune and has repeatedly lamented his impotence to do anything because of the historic federal concerns and policy changes since that time.
Although the two-term governor has been unable to come up with an innovative effort to find solutions for public education – a key platform on which he established his successful run for Adelup twice already – he seems to have little problem with finding a way to block solutions proffered by others.
Assistant Secretary of Interior Tony Babauta and Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo proposed that the Compact Impact fund be tapped to avert a massive layoff that could have far-reaching economic implications.
But Camacho refused to allow the use of Compact-Impact monies, saying it would shortchange vital services in other areas depending on those monies.
This was the same governor who earlier tapped into the same limited critical resource to pay for the construction of a recreational sports center in Dededo.
Compared to education, it seems the joyriding governor has lost his way on the roadmap to success for our students and schools.
It is time for this governor to step aside if all he can do is plan obstacles to progress with little offer of solutions like competent bridge financing for the hard-pressed education agency.
GDOE superintendent Dr. Nerissa Underwood inherited a lifetime of difficulties and needs synergy and support – not silly political grandstanding and empty chatter to help right the course of public education on Guam.
It is time for local officials to step to the head of the class with positive ideas or move to the back before their legacy is topped with a dunce’s cap.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Guam's 'Buildup & Beyond' Forum: A Fit Foray Into Impacts, Benefits & Challenges
Guam's 'Buildup & Beyond' Forum: A Fit Foray Into Impacts, Benefits & Challenges
Written by Jeff Marchesseault, Guam News Factor Staff Writer
Friday, 20 November 2009 20:12
GUAM - On Friday a two-day conference called The Military Buildup And Beyond: The Guam Perspective wrappred up at the Legislature. Hosted by Buildup Committee Chair Senator Judi Guthertz and the University of Guam, the free-admission conference was designed to empower local voices and perspectives on how the civilian community will be impacted, benefited, and challenged by the armed forces expansion.
Reality Check
The conference sounds the alarm that Guam needs to wake up and be alert as the buildup planning process winds down and massive construction begins. If Guam's local leaders and everyday citizens hope to be heard and helped, they must identify whatever they might find amiss with military planning, organize with one voice, and state their case for quality-of-life benefits. Those benefits include equal access to quality utilities and economic opportunity, an outdoor environment worth enjoying, and enough funding to sustain the social safety net as the population increases.
That process starts this weekend. On Friday, the Department of Defense posted online a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) spelling out how the land and coastal resources will be utilized for expanded regional defense purposes. Hard copies of the multi-volume DEIS will be available in local mayors' offices, libraries and even a shopping mall this weekend.
Hopes are high for quality outcomes. But a history of mutual mistrust and mismanagement has many local residents on the lookout for shortcomings to the DEIS.
The Compact-Impact Conundrum
An emotionally charged example of federal-territorial relations gone amok is the sticky issue of Compact-Impact reimbursement. Senator Frank Blas, Jr. has fought long and hard with the Federal Government to pay what he calls 'the the bare-minimum $400 million' in outstanding, un-reimbursed costs borne by GovGuam in hosting migrants from small, rural Pacific island nations.
The nations of these FAS citizens (citizens of Freely Associated States) bear benefit-laden Compacts of Free Association with the United States, including uninhibited resettlement rights to U.S. jurisdictions for their citizens. Perhaps ironically, the arrangement includes certain defense rights for the United States in the FAS region, according to Wikipedia.
Guam has traditionally been a favorite destination of FAS migrants. This is owing to its proximity to FAS states such as the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands; it is also due to Guam's cultural similarities to the FAS region; and to Guam's relatively robust economic and educational opportunities compared to those available in the less-populous, less-developed Freely Associated States.
The large-scale migration of FAS citizens has become a costly burden for Guam's infrastructure, public healthcare, and social institutions -- especially in light of slack reimbursements from a U.S. government that allows the migration to continue unfettered. And yet even the small federal funding Guam does receive for FAS absorption isn't entirely safe from reprogramming.
An Unwelcome Surprise
In a strange twist of fate, on Friday morning it was learned that the Department of the Interior had authorized Governor Felix Camacho to loan $5 million of Guam's paltry $16.8 million in annual Compact reimbursements to the Guam Department of Education at a time when that money has already been spoken for. The deal had been hammered out by Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs Tony Babauta and Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, reportedly without Governor Camacho's input.
Knowing that the limited reimbursement funding was programmed to underwrite capital improvements and social services -- and that he could expect no guarantee of timely repayment from Guam DOE, Governor Camacho rightly turned the arrangement down.
Through a pattern of financial mismanagement, the local school system has lost its control over the funding it receives from U.S. DOE. That authority won't be restored until a third-party administrator is appointed to manage the school system's federal funds.
A Bigger Perspective
Blas is fighting a worthy war for reimbursement. And despite financial mismanagement by school system administrators, Guam's public school students, including those from the FAS, deserve consistent financing for the federal programs that educate them. But it will take better overall financial management by the likes of Guam DOE and consistently unwasteful budgetary responsibility on the part of the Legislature to repair Guam's credibility with the U.S. government.
This is important because the federal system has the means and the know-how, if not the attention span, to get things done for players with mutual interests -- not only in democratic freedom -- but in the price of accountability that must be paid for this ideal.
Although the U.S. Government may not be entirely accountable with regard to Compact-Impact reimbursements to the Territory, the United States is arguably the world's most benificent nation. It is also inarguably the world's most powerful. Benificence and power go hand in hand and enable the U.S. to pick and choose what it wants to prioritize.
Insofar as a generous hegemon prefers to deal with players that have something valuable to offer in return, it behoves Guam to get its priorities straight and its house in order as the Department of Defense prepares to break ground on its $15 billion buildup this summer.
Michael Rudolph contributed to this analysis.
Written by Jeff Marchesseault, Guam News Factor Staff Writer
Friday, 20 November 2009 20:12
GUAM - On Friday a two-day conference called The Military Buildup And Beyond: The Guam Perspective wrappred up at the Legislature. Hosted by Buildup Committee Chair Senator Judi Guthertz and the University of Guam, the free-admission conference was designed to empower local voices and perspectives on how the civilian community will be impacted, benefited, and challenged by the armed forces expansion.
Reality Check
The conference sounds the alarm that Guam needs to wake up and be alert as the buildup planning process winds down and massive construction begins. If Guam's local leaders and everyday citizens hope to be heard and helped, they must identify whatever they might find amiss with military planning, organize with one voice, and state their case for quality-of-life benefits. Those benefits include equal access to quality utilities and economic opportunity, an outdoor environment worth enjoying, and enough funding to sustain the social safety net as the population increases.
That process starts this weekend. On Friday, the Department of Defense posted online a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) spelling out how the land and coastal resources will be utilized for expanded regional defense purposes. Hard copies of the multi-volume DEIS will be available in local mayors' offices, libraries and even a shopping mall this weekend.
Hopes are high for quality outcomes. But a history of mutual mistrust and mismanagement has many local residents on the lookout for shortcomings to the DEIS.
The Compact-Impact Conundrum
An emotionally charged example of federal-territorial relations gone amok is the sticky issue of Compact-Impact reimbursement. Senator Frank Blas, Jr. has fought long and hard with the Federal Government to pay what he calls 'the the bare-minimum $400 million' in outstanding, un-reimbursed costs borne by GovGuam in hosting migrants from small, rural Pacific island nations.
The nations of these FAS citizens (citizens of Freely Associated States) bear benefit-laden Compacts of Free Association with the United States, including uninhibited resettlement rights to U.S. jurisdictions for their citizens. Perhaps ironically, the arrangement includes certain defense rights for the United States in the FAS region, according to Wikipedia.
Guam has traditionally been a favorite destination of FAS migrants. This is owing to its proximity to FAS states such as the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands; it is also due to Guam's cultural similarities to the FAS region; and to Guam's relatively robust economic and educational opportunities compared to those available in the less-populous, less-developed Freely Associated States.
The large-scale migration of FAS citizens has become a costly burden for Guam's infrastructure, public healthcare, and social institutions -- especially in light of slack reimbursements from a U.S. government that allows the migration to continue unfettered. And yet even the small federal funding Guam does receive for FAS absorption isn't entirely safe from reprogramming.
An Unwelcome Surprise
In a strange twist of fate, on Friday morning it was learned that the Department of the Interior had authorized Governor Felix Camacho to loan $5 million of Guam's paltry $16.8 million in annual Compact reimbursements to the Guam Department of Education at a time when that money has already been spoken for. The deal had been hammered out by Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs Tony Babauta and Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, reportedly without Governor Camacho's input.
Knowing that the limited reimbursement funding was programmed to underwrite capital improvements and social services -- and that he could expect no guarantee of timely repayment from Guam DOE, Governor Camacho rightly turned the arrangement down.
Through a pattern of financial mismanagement, the local school system has lost its control over the funding it receives from U.S. DOE. That authority won't be restored until a third-party administrator is appointed to manage the school system's federal funds.
A Bigger Perspective
Blas is fighting a worthy war for reimbursement. And despite financial mismanagement by school system administrators, Guam's public school students, including those from the FAS, deserve consistent financing for the federal programs that educate them. But it will take better overall financial management by the likes of Guam DOE and consistently unwasteful budgetary responsibility on the part of the Legislature to repair Guam's credibility with the U.S. government.
This is important because the federal system has the means and the know-how, if not the attention span, to get things done for players with mutual interests -- not only in democratic freedom -- but in the price of accountability that must be paid for this ideal.
Although the U.S. Government may not be entirely accountable with regard to Compact-Impact reimbursements to the Territory, the United States is arguably the world's most benificent nation. It is also inarguably the world's most powerful. Benificence and power go hand in hand and enable the U.S. to pick and choose what it wants to prioritize.
Insofar as a generous hegemon prefers to deal with players that have something valuable to offer in return, it behoves Guam to get its priorities straight and its house in order as the Department of Defense prepares to break ground on its $15 billion buildup this summer.
Michael Rudolph contributed to this analysis.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Military buildup conference begins today
Military buildup conference begins today
Thursday, 19 November 2009 04:03
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
DISCUSSIONS on the military buildup begin today as community leaders and members gather for the two-day conference titled “The Military Buildup and Beyond,” which starts at 7:30 a.m. at the Guam legislature.
Co-sponsored by Sens. Judi Guthertz and Rory Respicio, the conference features a guest speakers including local leaders who will speak on a myriad of issues.
The political self-determination panel is led by Sen. Ben Pangelinan, while the Compact Impact issue will be headed by Sen. Fran Blas, Jr.
Dr. Mary Okada, president of the Guam Community College, will discuss GCC's efforts to build a competent workforce as Guam faces a shortage of skilled workers and will have to recruit from the mainland and other parts of the world.
Roger Natsuhara, acting assistant secretary of the Navy Installations and Environment, will keynote the event.
Natsuhara is expected to speak on the many opportunities Guam can reap which will stir the economy with the buildup as the military is able to command huge sums of money via private and independent contractors.
President Emanuel Mori of the Federated States of Micronesia is also among the featured speakers.
On the second day of the conference, Philippine labor undersecretary Romeo Lagman will speak on the Philippine labor workforce that will assist the military during the buildup and its impact on the island.
Other topics for the two-day conference will focus on issues such as the impact to Guam's health care system, protecting the island's community and focusing on the judicial system, affordable housing, being open to change while keeping our identity, Guam's economic forecast, and the potential impact of the buildup on utility rates.
“It's my hope that we'll get a lot of candid presentations by the various speakers and information that has not been discussed previously,” Guthertz said.
She said the community in general is not against the buildup, but are concerned and worried because they don't know how it's going to affect their lives. This is the real focus of the conference, said Guthertz.
Guthertz said it is the job of every elected leader to find ways to make the changes beneficial to the island community.
The inputs during the conference will be documented and will become part of the local community's comments that will be incorporated into the draft environmental impact statement that is expected to be released to the public for comments and review by Saturday.
“This conference is a conference for the people of Guam. It's different from the other ones, because the other ones focused on how to make money, how to get contracts, how to do business with the military,” Guthertz said.
“We're going to talk about what's going to happen to my life and my family and my community, and my village and the way we live. How much is Guam going to change and what can we do to make sure that the change is good for us, that the change doesn't become too drastic. That's what this conference is all about,” said Guthertz.
Thursday, 19 November 2009 04:03
by Therese Hart | Variety News Staff
DISCUSSIONS on the military buildup begin today as community leaders and members gather for the two-day conference titled “The Military Buildup and Beyond,” which starts at 7:30 a.m. at the Guam legislature.
Co-sponsored by Sens. Judi Guthertz and Rory Respicio, the conference features a guest speakers including local leaders who will speak on a myriad of issues.
The political self-determination panel is led by Sen. Ben Pangelinan, while the Compact Impact issue will be headed by Sen. Fran Blas, Jr.
Dr. Mary Okada, president of the Guam Community College, will discuss GCC's efforts to build a competent workforce as Guam faces a shortage of skilled workers and will have to recruit from the mainland and other parts of the world.
Roger Natsuhara, acting assistant secretary of the Navy Installations and Environment, will keynote the event.
Natsuhara is expected to speak on the many opportunities Guam can reap which will stir the economy with the buildup as the military is able to command huge sums of money via private and independent contractors.
President Emanuel Mori of the Federated States of Micronesia is also among the featured speakers.
On the second day of the conference, Philippine labor undersecretary Romeo Lagman will speak on the Philippine labor workforce that will assist the military during the buildup and its impact on the island.
Other topics for the two-day conference will focus on issues such as the impact to Guam's health care system, protecting the island's community and focusing on the judicial system, affordable housing, being open to change while keeping our identity, Guam's economic forecast, and the potential impact of the buildup on utility rates.
“It's my hope that we'll get a lot of candid presentations by the various speakers and information that has not been discussed previously,” Guthertz said.
She said the community in general is not against the buildup, but are concerned and worried because they don't know how it's going to affect their lives. This is the real focus of the conference, said Guthertz.
Guthertz said it is the job of every elected leader to find ways to make the changes beneficial to the island community.
The inputs during the conference will be documented and will become part of the local community's comments that will be incorporated into the draft environmental impact statement that is expected to be released to the public for comments and review by Saturday.
“This conference is a conference for the people of Guam. It's different from the other ones, because the other ones focused on how to make money, how to get contracts, how to do business with the military,” Guthertz said.
“We're going to talk about what's going to happen to my life and my family and my community, and my village and the way we live. How much is Guam going to change and what can we do to make sure that the change is good for us, that the change doesn't become too drastic. That's what this conference is all about,” said Guthertz.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Blas: Guam must have louder voice in Congress
Blas: Guam must have louder voice in Congress
Tuesday, 22 September 2009 04:48
by Zita Y. Taitano| Variety News Staff
SENATOR Frank Blas Jr. yesterday gave members of the Rotary Club of Northern Guam an update on his efforts to seek federal attention to local issues including his call for Congress to grant Guam voting rights on issues dealing with the military buildup.
“We took it a step further by introducing Resolution 30-160 that formally requests Congress to also look into providing Guam, our representative in Washington D.C., the opportunity to vote and fully participate in matters that affect Guam and the military buildup on Guam. That’s what we were asking for. Just on those matters,” Blas said.
Blas said his proposed resolution was prompted by Hawaii Rep. Neil Abercrombie’s amendments to the 2010 defense budget bill which seeks to increase local wages for military buildup-related jobs to prevailing rates in his home state of Hawaii.
Blas found it disturbing that Guam didn’t have a say in this as well as other decisions that are being discussed in Washington D.C. that affect the island directly.
It prompted him to write letter House Speaker Nancy Pelosi provide Guam’s delegate the opportunity to participate more in discussions concerning the island.
Blas also discussed the $400 million Compact Impact reimbursement that he has been demanding from the federal government.
“This is a cost that is associated for providing health care, education, public safety and social services programs to these individuals,” Blas said adding that Guam is set to receive about $16 million next year in compact impact funds. The senator further noted that this figure is short of the $30 million impact costs to GovGuam.
Blas cited a comparable situation in Hawaii and the Aloha state’s attempt to reduce and restrict the amount of healthcare services for migrants from the Micronesian region. The case is currently in federal court and is scheduled for a hearing next month.
Tuesday, 22 September 2009 04:48
by Zita Y. Taitano| Variety News Staff
SENATOR Frank Blas Jr. yesterday gave members of the Rotary Club of Northern Guam an update on his efforts to seek federal attention to local issues including his call for Congress to grant Guam voting rights on issues dealing with the military buildup.
“We took it a step further by introducing Resolution 30-160 that formally requests Congress to also look into providing Guam, our representative in Washington D.C., the opportunity to vote and fully participate in matters that affect Guam and the military buildup on Guam. That’s what we were asking for. Just on those matters,” Blas said.
Blas said his proposed resolution was prompted by Hawaii Rep. Neil Abercrombie’s amendments to the 2010 defense budget bill which seeks to increase local wages for military buildup-related jobs to prevailing rates in his home state of Hawaii.
Blas found it disturbing that Guam didn’t have a say in this as well as other decisions that are being discussed in Washington D.C. that affect the island directly.
It prompted him to write letter House Speaker Nancy Pelosi provide Guam’s delegate the opportunity to participate more in discussions concerning the island.
Blas also discussed the $400 million Compact Impact reimbursement that he has been demanding from the federal government.
“This is a cost that is associated for providing health care, education, public safety and social services programs to these individuals,” Blas said adding that Guam is set to receive about $16 million next year in compact impact funds. The senator further noted that this figure is short of the $30 million impact costs to GovGuam.
Blas cited a comparable situation in Hawaii and the Aloha state’s attempt to reduce and restrict the amount of healthcare services for migrants from the Micronesian region. The case is currently in federal court and is scheduled for a hearing next month.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Guam Leaders and Feds Discuss Compact Impact
Guam, feds discuss Compact impact
By Clynt Ridgell
Published Aug 28, 2009
KUAM News
The subject of Compact impact dominated discussions this morning between lawmakers and a delegation from Washington. Allan Stayman and Isaac Edwards, who are staffers with the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources along with Wendy Fink and Steve Sander from the Office of Insular Affairs are on island meeting with local elected leaders.
Speaker Judi Won Pat said, "The focus of our topic this morning was exactly that - the compact impact and a suggestion was actually made by Senator [Ben] Pangelinan and Senator BJ Cruz, that when Congress agreed to look at the war reparations, they actually created then a Commission and we were suggesting they need to do the exact same thing so they can bring in the major players Guam, Hawaii, the CNMI, and the other major players who are claiming that they have a large number of FAS citizens."
A meeting was held Thursday afternoon in the Speaker's Office with Senator Frank Blas, Jr., officials from GMH, Public Health and the consul generals of the FSM and Palau. Hawaii reportedly made the decision to cut the free services because the U.S. has not been living up to its obligations of fully reimbursing the state for Compact impact costs.
By Clynt Ridgell
Published Aug 28, 2009
KUAM News
The subject of Compact impact dominated discussions this morning between lawmakers and a delegation from Washington. Allan Stayman and Isaac Edwards, who are staffers with the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources along with Wendy Fink and Steve Sander from the Office of Insular Affairs are on island meeting with local elected leaders.
Speaker Judi Won Pat said, "The focus of our topic this morning was exactly that - the compact impact and a suggestion was actually made by Senator [Ben] Pangelinan and Senator BJ Cruz, that when Congress agreed to look at the war reparations, they actually created then a Commission and we were suggesting they need to do the exact same thing so they can bring in the major players Guam, Hawaii, the CNMI, and the other major players who are claiming that they have a large number of FAS citizens."
A meeting was held Thursday afternoon in the Speaker's Office with Senator Frank Blas, Jr., officials from GMH, Public Health and the consul generals of the FSM and Palau. Hawaii reportedly made the decision to cut the free services because the U.S. has not been living up to its obligations of fully reimbursing the state for Compact impact costs.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Blas Jr. Presents Compact Impact Petition to Congress
Blas, Jr. to Congress - Reimburse Guam
Top Stories
Written by Guam News Factor Staff Writer
Wednesday, 12 August 2009 11:32
GUAM - Senator Frank Blas, Jr. yesterday presented an historic petition signed by 7, 415 Guam residents to U.S. Congressman Nick J. Rahall, II, Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources.
The petition was presented at a working luncheon hosted by Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo for the visiting congressional delegation and island leaders.
The petition to Congress asks for the unreimbursed costs of services provided relative to the Compacts of Free Association. Senator Blas, along with Senator Tina Muna-Barnes organized the petition drive.
"The people of Guam are speaking loud and clear. ‘Reimburse our island for your mandates,'" Senator BIas said. "The amount of money the U.S. government owes Guam can almost fund the full operations of the local government for an entire year! It is a gross injustice Senator Barnes and I are fighting hard to correct."
Citizens from the Freely Associated States also are concerned about the federal government's failure to fulfill its obligations under the compacts. The lack of funding has created shortfalls in resources to provide the services all the people of Guam deserve and expect.
Many former FAS residents signed the petition, acknowledging the need for the U.S. government to abide by its fiduciary responsibilities.
The petition included signatures from former Governor Joseph Ada, former Lt. Governor Frank Blas, former Congressman Robert Underwood, Lt. Governor Michael W. Cruz, members of the Legislature and the Consul Generals of the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.
The original petition was submitted to Congress via Congressman Rahall, who is leading a Congressional delegation on Guam. Electronic copies were provided to the other members of the delegation.
Top Stories
Written by Guam News Factor Staff Writer
Wednesday, 12 August 2009 11:32
GUAM - Senator Frank Blas, Jr. yesterday presented an historic petition signed by 7, 415 Guam residents to U.S. Congressman Nick J. Rahall, II, Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources.
The petition was presented at a working luncheon hosted by Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo for the visiting congressional delegation and island leaders.
The petition to Congress asks for the unreimbursed costs of services provided relative to the Compacts of Free Association. Senator Blas, along with Senator Tina Muna-Barnes organized the petition drive.
"The people of Guam are speaking loud and clear. ‘Reimburse our island for your mandates,'" Senator BIas said. "The amount of money the U.S. government owes Guam can almost fund the full operations of the local government for an entire year! It is a gross injustice Senator Barnes and I are fighting hard to correct."
Citizens from the Freely Associated States also are concerned about the federal government's failure to fulfill its obligations under the compacts. The lack of funding has created shortfalls in resources to provide the services all the people of Guam deserve and expect.
Many former FAS residents signed the petition, acknowledging the need for the U.S. government to abide by its fiduciary responsibilities.
The petition included signatures from former Governor Joseph Ada, former Lt. Governor Frank Blas, former Congressman Robert Underwood, Lt. Governor Michael W. Cruz, members of the Legislature and the Consul Generals of the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.
The original petition was submitted to Congress via Congressman Rahall, who is leading a Congressional delegation on Guam. Electronic copies were provided to the other members of the delegation.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Reclaim Guahan, Reunification, the UN and the Marines
From K57:
“Interview between Ray Gibson, Victoria Leon Guerrero and Miget Lujan Bevacqua about the Reclaim Guahan rally which will be held at Skinner’s Plaza on Saturday May 23rd. They discussed how the rally will present cultural history, language, political status, and island politics. They also talked about the testimonies before the United Nations about Guam being a colony of the United States, lack of input from Guam during Compact of Free Association treaty negotiations, reunification of Guam with the CNMI and the Japan - U.S. accord for the relocation of the US Marines from Okinawa to Guam.”
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Guam Gears Up for Suit Vs. Feds
Guam gears up for suit vs feds
Friday, 02 January 2009
by Therese Hart
Variety News Staff
WASTING no time before the New Year kicked in, Gov. Felix Camacho has signed into law a bill that paves the way for the government of Guam to take legal action against the federal government for reimbursement of $400 million in Compact Impact funds.
Bill 385 was signed into law on Monday. The bill’s author, Sen. Frank Blas Jr., said the enactment of Bill 385 will now allow Guam to move forward.
Attached to the bill was an amendment that waives the government’s sovereign immunity protection as required by the financing contract that was negotiated with the Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority and the Bank of Guam for the $20 million bridge loan that must be deposited to federal receiver, Gershman, Bricker & Bratton’s trustee by next Monday.
“We must move forward with the closure of the Ordot Dump and the construction of a new landfill to comply with the federal consent decree obligations placed on this government,” Camacho said.
In an earlier interview, Blas said Guam has spent a total of $400.87 million for the social services rendered to Freely Associated States citizens between 1987 and 2007 but the amount that the federal government reimburses to the island is not commensurate to the actual cost of hosting Micronesians.
According to the Compact Impact Reconciliation Report, Guam spent $269 million from 1987 to 2003 for medical, educational and security services provided to FAS citizens. "The total amount owed to Guam now is $400.87 million when we include the un-reimbursed amounts from 2004 to 2007," Blas told Variety during an interview last August.
Guam has been receiving $14 million in Compact Impact money every year since 2004. That amount is part of the $30 million that the federal government releases annually and shared with Hawaii and the CNMI, which are also affected by migration of FAS citizens migration.
David B. Cohen, former deputy assistant secretary of the Department of Interior, disagreed with the local government’s claim that the federal government owed Guam money.
“I don’t agree that Guam is owed $400 million,” Cohen told Variety in an interview during his visit to Guam last month.
He said the law authorizes reimbursements for the impact of migration from Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, but did not require Congress to appropriate funds for that purpose. “So that’s not a debt,” Cohen said.
Cohen said Guam incurs costs just as other states do, but in return, there are benefits that come with the overall package.
“Guam is incurring expenses because of decisions that are made by the federal government, but all of us do. When we’re part of the American family we get benefits because the decisions by the federal government and we incur costs,” Cohen said.
“We get benefits like the military buildup will bring a lot of money here. And the federal government never says that we will indemnify you, in other words, we will make sure that you will incur no cost because of any decision we make,” Cohen said.
Cohen said that Guam could argue that because of the influx of migrants to Guam, that Guam should pursue the matter with the federal government using a moral argument.
“I do agree that Guam has a moral argument to make and I used to make that argument behind the scenes. I think it is a very legitimate argument to make,” he said.
He said the federal government’s role in fiscal policy has reached a new level of difficulty. But Guam, he added, should move forward in pursuing the feds help in shouldering some of the costs, not just Compact Impact funds, but the military buildup as well.
“It’s a difficult fiscal environment that’s just gotten a lot more difficult, so it’s a hard issue. The folks in DC, they don’t think they owe Guam the money as a legal matter, but we need to create more awareness of what Guam needs, not only because of Compact Impact and the impact of migration, but the civilian needs because of this buildup,” said Cohen.
Friday, 02 January 2009
by Therese Hart
Variety News Staff
WASTING no time before the New Year kicked in, Gov. Felix Camacho has signed into law a bill that paves the way for the government of Guam to take legal action against the federal government for reimbursement of $400 million in Compact Impact funds.
Bill 385 was signed into law on Monday. The bill’s author, Sen. Frank Blas Jr., said the enactment of Bill 385 will now allow Guam to move forward.
Attached to the bill was an amendment that waives the government’s sovereign immunity protection as required by the financing contract that was negotiated with the Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority and the Bank of Guam for the $20 million bridge loan that must be deposited to federal receiver, Gershman, Bricker & Bratton’s trustee by next Monday.
“We must move forward with the closure of the Ordot Dump and the construction of a new landfill to comply with the federal consent decree obligations placed on this government,” Camacho said.
In an earlier interview, Blas said Guam has spent a total of $400.87 million for the social services rendered to Freely Associated States citizens between 1987 and 2007 but the amount that the federal government reimburses to the island is not commensurate to the actual cost of hosting Micronesians.
According to the Compact Impact Reconciliation Report, Guam spent $269 million from 1987 to 2003 for medical, educational and security services provided to FAS citizens. "The total amount owed to Guam now is $400.87 million when we include the un-reimbursed amounts from 2004 to 2007," Blas told Variety during an interview last August.
Guam has been receiving $14 million in Compact Impact money every year since 2004. That amount is part of the $30 million that the federal government releases annually and shared with Hawaii and the CNMI, which are also affected by migration of FAS citizens migration.
David B. Cohen, former deputy assistant secretary of the Department of Interior, disagreed with the local government’s claim that the federal government owed Guam money.
“I don’t agree that Guam is owed $400 million,” Cohen told Variety in an interview during his visit to Guam last month.
He said the law authorizes reimbursements for the impact of migration from Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, but did not require Congress to appropriate funds for that purpose. “So that’s not a debt,” Cohen said.
Cohen said Guam incurs costs just as other states do, but in return, there are benefits that come with the overall package.
“Guam is incurring expenses because of decisions that are made by the federal government, but all of us do. When we’re part of the American family we get benefits because the decisions by the federal government and we incur costs,” Cohen said.
“We get benefits like the military buildup will bring a lot of money here. And the federal government never says that we will indemnify you, in other words, we will make sure that you will incur no cost because of any decision we make,” Cohen said.
Cohen said that Guam could argue that because of the influx of migrants to Guam, that Guam should pursue the matter with the federal government using a moral argument.
“I do agree that Guam has a moral argument to make and I used to make that argument behind the scenes. I think it is a very legitimate argument to make,” he said.
He said the federal government’s role in fiscal policy has reached a new level of difficulty. But Guam, he added, should move forward in pursuing the feds help in shouldering some of the costs, not just Compact Impact funds, but the military buildup as well.
“It’s a difficult fiscal environment that’s just gotten a lot more difficult, so it’s a hard issue. The folks in DC, they don’t think they owe Guam the money as a legal matter, but we need to create more awareness of what Guam needs, not only because of Compact Impact and the impact of migration, but the civilian needs because of this buildup,” said Cohen.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Bill seeks legal action against feds on COFA
Friday, 21 November 2008
by Therese Hart
Marinas Variety News Staff
SENATOR Frank Blas Jr. has introduced a bill appropriating $200,000 to the Office of the Attorney General for its representation of the govSen. Frank Blas Jr.
ernment of Guam in a legal action to claim more than $400 million in Compact Impact funds from the U.S. government. “We need to take this conversation to the next level. For many years, there continues to be that acknowledgement by the federal government that they owe us money,” Blas said.
Blas said the federal government owes Guam over $400 million in reimbursement costs for hosting Freely Associated States citizens who are using public services.
“And they think that what they’ve been giving us annually--$14.2 million--that it would suffice for the total cost of what we actually spend, and it’s not,” Blas said.
Bill 385 identifies fiscal year 2009 Guam Highway Fund revenues as the funding source for the legal expenses.
The AGO can hire personnel, procure professional services and incur other costs necessary to successfully pursue the case.
The bill also exempts AGO from the restriction on the hiring of limited term appointments and unclassified employees.
Blas has written to Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo regarding this issue but he said the congresswoman has done nothing to look into the matter.
“It’s like, we should be thankful we’re getting $14.2 million. I’m sorry, but no. We no longer should stand being treated this way-- that we’re going to continue to provide these services and not get paid properly,” Blas said.
The issue was raised this year during the Association of Pacific Island Legislators, hosted by Guam lawmakers and a resolution was passed and sent to the president and members of Congress. Another Resolution 141 passed by the 29th Guam Legislature dealing with the same issue was also transmitted to Washington.
“We’ve asked and we’ve pleaded for proper reimbursement for the cost of those services that we provide on their behalf. The message is, we’re not going to be taken lightly anymore. We need this money and (the federal government) owes it to us,” Blas said.
“And they are in violation of being able to reimburse us. This is the basis for us to say, this is your law, you say you’re going to reimburse us and now this lawsuit is being initiated so that we can get that reimbursement,” said Blas.
He said Guam us in the middle of a situation in which the community has to “debate among ourselves” as to where to find money to meet certain federal mandates.”
Friday, 21 November 2008
by Therese Hart
Marinas Variety News Staff
SENATOR Frank Blas Jr. has introduced a bill appropriating $200,000 to the Office of the Attorney General for its representation of the govSen. Frank Blas Jr.
ernment of Guam in a legal action to claim more than $400 million in Compact Impact funds from the U.S. government. “We need to take this conversation to the next level. For many years, there continues to be that acknowledgement by the federal government that they owe us money,” Blas said.
Blas said the federal government owes Guam over $400 million in reimbursement costs for hosting Freely Associated States citizens who are using public services.
“And they think that what they’ve been giving us annually--$14.2 million--that it would suffice for the total cost of what we actually spend, and it’s not,” Blas said.
Bill 385 identifies fiscal year 2009 Guam Highway Fund revenues as the funding source for the legal expenses.
The AGO can hire personnel, procure professional services and incur other costs necessary to successfully pursue the case.
The bill also exempts AGO from the restriction on the hiring of limited term appointments and unclassified employees.
Blas has written to Guam Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo regarding this issue but he said the congresswoman has done nothing to look into the matter.
“It’s like, we should be thankful we’re getting $14.2 million. I’m sorry, but no. We no longer should stand being treated this way-- that we’re going to continue to provide these services and not get paid properly,” Blas said.
The issue was raised this year during the Association of Pacific Island Legislators, hosted by Guam lawmakers and a resolution was passed and sent to the president and members of Congress. Another Resolution 141 passed by the 29th Guam Legislature dealing with the same issue was also transmitted to Washington.
“We’ve asked and we’ve pleaded for proper reimbursement for the cost of those services that we provide on their behalf. The message is, we’re not going to be taken lightly anymore. We need this money and (the federal government) owes it to us,” Blas said.
“And they are in violation of being able to reimburse us. This is the basis for us to say, this is your law, you say you’re going to reimburse us and now this lawsuit is being initiated so that we can get that reimbursement,” said Blas.
He said Guam us in the middle of a situation in which the community has to “debate among ourselves” as to where to find money to meet certain federal mandates.”
Monday, March 31, 2008
Hawai'i Senator Criticizes Feds
Hawaii senator criticizes feds for treaty failure on migration
Monday March 31, 2008
By Giff Johnson
For Variety
MAJURO — American states are footing a bill for hundreds of millions of dollars for services to migrants from U.S.-affiliated islands in the Pacific — a tab that the federal government is supposed to pick up, but has failed to, a Hawaii state senator told Marshall Islands and U.S. officials in Majuro at the weekend.
Nearly one-third of the 70,000 Marshall Islanders and about 25 percent of the 107,000 Micronesians now live in America, escaping stagnant economies, dismal public schools and limited health care by using visa-free entry privileges under a Compact of Free Association to move to locations as diverse as Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii to rural northwest Arkansas. The increasing out-migration to America — though the actual numbers remain small on a global scale — have sparked increasing debate in the U.S. about how to pay for services provided to newly arrived islanders.
“The federal government has not honored the Compact of Free Association,” said Hawaii state Sen. Kalani English at an oversight hearing in Majuro held by U.S. House Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Asia, Pacific and Global Environment Chairman Eni Faleomavaega, D-American Samoa. “Even though they are supposed to be treated as U.S. citizens, federal law says ‘Oh no,’ so states are forced to pick up the burden. Our estimate is it costs $91 million a year to provide services to all freely associated states, or FAS, citizens in Hawaii and we only get back $10 million from the federal government.”
Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Tony deBrum complained that different states in the U.S. have different interpretations of islanders’ status, causing hardships to accessing jobs and health care. In some states, islanders have full access to federal services, including job training, food stamps, low cost housing and others. “In other states, it is restricted,” deBrum said. “There is discrimination against Marshallese, especially where there are large populations such as Arkansas.” In some places, “We’re treated worse than aliens,” he added.
“Given the no-growth scenario projected (in the Federated States of Micronesia), it is reasonable to assume that large numbers of Micronesians will continue to emigrate in search of jobs, and perhaps also to afford their families a standard of health care and education that they will not easily find at home because of the increased financial pressure on government services,” said Fr. Francis Hezel, S.J., director of the Micronesian Seminar research institute in Pohnpei, in a recently published paper.
The U.S. Congress capped at $30 million what it calls “Compact Impact” aid provided to just three islands, Guam, Hawaii and the Northern Marianas.
But English believes that other states will soon begin demanding reimbursement from this limited fund.
“The Guam Legislature has just passed a resolution asking the U.S. government to reimburse it for $400 million (for services to FAS citizens),” English said. “Hawaii’s congressional delegation is proposing to lift the $30 million cap and reinstate eligibility for federal programs. It will be very helpful for the states for the federal government to fully implement the treaty. Hawaii is a willing partner but we ask the U.S. federal government to pay its share of the costs.”
U.S. Ambassador to the Marshall Islands Clyde Bishop told the hearing that no other countries in the world have the same visa-free access to the U.S. as these U.S.-affiliated islands that were formerly governed as a United Nations Trust Territory by the U.S. from World War II.
“If people from the freely associated states enter the U.S. under the Compact and are placed in a situation of uncomfortable challenges, it behooves both governments to look at it,” Bishop said. “The U.S. government can be more active with the states, and the Marshall Islands can invest in screening and ensuring that Marshallese are fully aware of their options. By working together we can improve the situation.”
U.S. states are particularly complaining about the high costs of treating contagious diseases such as tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections and Hansen’s disease (leprosy). Recently, Arkansas Deputy State Health Officer Dr. Joe Bates testified to the state legislature that between 2000 and 2005, Northwest Arkansas had nine cases of congenital syphilis, six of which involved Marshall Islanders; 38 people with infectious syphilis, 21 of whom were Marshall Islanders; and eight cases of leprosy, all among Marshall Islanders.
“Hawaii had a budget surplus the last few years, but now it’s disappeared,” English said. “The cost to deliver medical services for TB, sexually transmitted infections, and Hansen’s disease might be cheaper (by sending) medical teams to the Marshall Islands to do screening (instead of treating people in Hawaii).”
DeBrum, who was involved in negotiation of the first Compact of Free Association in the early 1980s that established the visa-free immigration status, said the original intent of the provision acknowledged the economies of the freely associated states could not provide jobs to their growing populations and that educational opportunities and access to full health care were extremely limited. “U.S. access was provided to make up for that shortfall,” deBrum said, calling the visa-free status a “safety valve” for the islands. “But we’re now faced with rules that stand in the way of enjoyment of these full privileges.”
Congressman Faleomavaega said it was clear that there was no appreciation of this on the U.S. side. He recommended that the immigration status of freely associated state citizens be changed to that of islanders from American Samoa.
“American Samoa is the only insular area where the people are not U.S. citizens,” Faleomavaega said. “They are classified as OU.S. nationals’ and receive all the benefits of U.S. citizens. Would classification of U.S. national help (the problems faced by freely associated state citizens in the U.S.)?” he asked.
While deBrum said the idea of Marshall Islanders being U.S. nationals “flies in the face of free association” and raised sovereignty issues, English said it was essential to get the U.S. government to define the status of migrating islanders from U.S.-affiliated islands.
“What (Congressman) Eni said is important,” English said. “We don’t have a definition of what a freely associated state citizen is entitled to.”
Monday March 31, 2008
By Giff Johnson
For Variety
MAJURO — American states are footing a bill for hundreds of millions of dollars for services to migrants from U.S.-affiliated islands in the Pacific — a tab that the federal government is supposed to pick up, but has failed to, a Hawaii state senator told Marshall Islands and U.S. officials in Majuro at the weekend.
Nearly one-third of the 70,000 Marshall Islanders and about 25 percent of the 107,000 Micronesians now live in America, escaping stagnant economies, dismal public schools and limited health care by using visa-free entry privileges under a Compact of Free Association to move to locations as diverse as Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii to rural northwest Arkansas. The increasing out-migration to America — though the actual numbers remain small on a global scale — have sparked increasing debate in the U.S. about how to pay for services provided to newly arrived islanders.
“The federal government has not honored the Compact of Free Association,” said Hawaii state Sen. Kalani English at an oversight hearing in Majuro held by U.S. House Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Asia, Pacific and Global Environment Chairman Eni Faleomavaega, D-American Samoa. “Even though they are supposed to be treated as U.S. citizens, federal law says ‘Oh no,’ so states are forced to pick up the burden. Our estimate is it costs $91 million a year to provide services to all freely associated states, or FAS, citizens in Hawaii and we only get back $10 million from the federal government.”
Marshall Islands Foreign Minister Tony deBrum complained that different states in the U.S. have different interpretations of islanders’ status, causing hardships to accessing jobs and health care. In some states, islanders have full access to federal services, including job training, food stamps, low cost housing and others. “In other states, it is restricted,” deBrum said. “There is discrimination against Marshallese, especially where there are large populations such as Arkansas.” In some places, “We’re treated worse than aliens,” he added.
“Given the no-growth scenario projected (in the Federated States of Micronesia), it is reasonable to assume that large numbers of Micronesians will continue to emigrate in search of jobs, and perhaps also to afford their families a standard of health care and education that they will not easily find at home because of the increased financial pressure on government services,” said Fr. Francis Hezel, S.J., director of the Micronesian Seminar research institute in Pohnpei, in a recently published paper.
The U.S. Congress capped at $30 million what it calls “Compact Impact” aid provided to just three islands, Guam, Hawaii and the Northern Marianas.
But English believes that other states will soon begin demanding reimbursement from this limited fund.
“The Guam Legislature has just passed a resolution asking the U.S. government to reimburse it for $400 million (for services to FAS citizens),” English said. “Hawaii’s congressional delegation is proposing to lift the $30 million cap and reinstate eligibility for federal programs. It will be very helpful for the states for the federal government to fully implement the treaty. Hawaii is a willing partner but we ask the U.S. federal government to pay its share of the costs.”
U.S. Ambassador to the Marshall Islands Clyde Bishop told the hearing that no other countries in the world have the same visa-free access to the U.S. as these U.S.-affiliated islands that were formerly governed as a United Nations Trust Territory by the U.S. from World War II.
“If people from the freely associated states enter the U.S. under the Compact and are placed in a situation of uncomfortable challenges, it behooves both governments to look at it,” Bishop said. “The U.S. government can be more active with the states, and the Marshall Islands can invest in screening and ensuring that Marshallese are fully aware of their options. By working together we can improve the situation.”
U.S. states are particularly complaining about the high costs of treating contagious diseases such as tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections and Hansen’s disease (leprosy). Recently, Arkansas Deputy State Health Officer Dr. Joe Bates testified to the state legislature that between 2000 and 2005, Northwest Arkansas had nine cases of congenital syphilis, six of which involved Marshall Islanders; 38 people with infectious syphilis, 21 of whom were Marshall Islanders; and eight cases of leprosy, all among Marshall Islanders.
“Hawaii had a budget surplus the last few years, but now it’s disappeared,” English said. “The cost to deliver medical services for TB, sexually transmitted infections, and Hansen’s disease might be cheaper (by sending) medical teams to the Marshall Islands to do screening (instead of treating people in Hawaii).”
DeBrum, who was involved in negotiation of the first Compact of Free Association in the early 1980s that established the visa-free immigration status, said the original intent of the provision acknowledged the economies of the freely associated states could not provide jobs to their growing populations and that educational opportunities and access to full health care were extremely limited. “U.S. access was provided to make up for that shortfall,” deBrum said, calling the visa-free status a “safety valve” for the islands. “But we’re now faced with rules that stand in the way of enjoyment of these full privileges.”
Congressman Faleomavaega said it was clear that there was no appreciation of this on the U.S. side. He recommended that the immigration status of freely associated state citizens be changed to that of islanders from American Samoa.
“American Samoa is the only insular area where the people are not U.S. citizens,” Faleomavaega said. “They are classified as OU.S. nationals’ and receive all the benefits of U.S. citizens. Would classification of U.S. national help (the problems faced by freely associated state citizens in the U.S.)?” he asked.
While deBrum said the idea of Marshall Islanders being U.S. nationals “flies in the face of free association” and raised sovereignty issues, English said it was essential to get the U.S. government to define the status of migrating islanders from U.S.-affiliated islands.
“What (Congressman) Eni said is important,” English said. “We don’t have a definition of what a freely associated state citizen is entitled to.”
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