Bordallo addresses buildup at hearing on Navy funding

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo addressed the military buildup during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee Thursday last week on the budget request for the Department of the Navy for fiscal year 2013. She asked for further clarification on the Marine Corps’s planned relocation from Gen. James F. Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus. Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations, also testified at the hearing.

Bordallo continued the dialogue with Defense on proposed modifications to the realignment of military forces in the Pacific. She addressed Amos about the issue of a live firing range complex on Guam, noting that this plan was based on expectations that 8,600 Marines would be permanently stationed on Guam.

Bordallo reiterated that, as the U.S. and Japan work out negotiations for a new realignment plan, they must be cautious about relying too heavily on a rotational presence of Marines. She also expressed her concern about whether the reduction in force has changed the Navy’s plans for the buildup and if any requirements have changed since Defense released the Defense Strategic Review. She also questioned Greenert about the role the Navy will play in strengthening the military’s strategic posture in the Pacific.

Amos testified that it is critical to have Marines stationed on Guam to maintain a forward presence in the Asia-Pacific region. He clarified that although no plans have been finalized, the Marines will still need a live firing range to train in Guam regardless of the reduction in force.

Mabus also testified that the Administration’s recently released strategic guidance will not affect construction projects on Guam that are not tied to the military buildup.

“As the United States and Japan work to finalize plans to relocate Marines from Okinawa to Guam, I continue to stress my concerns about relying on a predominately rotational force on Guam,” said Bordallo. “I appreciate that the Marine Corps is taking a second look at the training requirements that will be needed on island. Our community made several recommendations for alternative site locations during discussions on the final EIS, which I hope will be taken into account. I look forward to reviewing the supplemental EIS, which will revisit the size and location of a firing range. I also appreciate that Secretary Mabus and Admiral Greenert continue to recognize Guam’s strategic importance in pivoting the Navy’s focus to strengthen its presence in Asia-Pacific region.” (PR)