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Bordallo underscores Guam labor crisis with CODEL
Committee speaks during the CODEL’s briefing with Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU) and military leaders yesterday at the Hilton Guam Resort and Spa. (Contributed Photo)
HAGÅTÑA, Guam—Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU) met with a visiting congressional delegation, or CODEL, yesterday and underscored with the team the territory’s workforce challenges.
The delegation is led by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. The delegation also included Reps. Blake Farenhold (R-TX), Ted Yoho (R-FL), Jason Smith (R-MI), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
While in Guam, the delegation reviewed Guam’s labor issues and the region’s defense readiness and met with Bordallo and military leaders.
Bordallo underscored Guam’s civilian labor shortages. She impressed on her colleagues that while her provision in the fiscal year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act was a step in the right direction for military and civilian construction projects associated with the Marine relocation, a broader solution is necessary to meet Guam’s civilian labor demands.
Goodlatte committed to working with Bordallo to implement a legislative solution for Guam’s unique challenges this Congress.
“I thank Chairman Goodlatte and my House colleagues on the Judiciary Committee for coming to Guam to learn firsthand about our unique workforce issues and the security needs in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. While my provision enacted in last year’s defense bill provides some relief for civilian and military construction projects associated with the buildup, we need additional legislation for civilian workers not related to the Marine relocation. I impressed on my colleagues the impacts the labor shortage is having on everyday life [in] Guam, and I appreciate [ Goodlatte’s] commitment to work with me on a legislative solution this Congress. The CODEL members understand our unique situation as we deal with this skilled labor crisis, and the chairman assured me that he is committed to finding a permanent solution.” (PR)
