Subcommittee holds hearing on Guam visa waiver program, war claims

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo joined her colleagues on the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs of the House Natural Resources Committee on Friday to receive testimony regarding the implementation of Public Law 110-229, which established the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, and H.R. 44, the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act.

H.R. 44 was added to the hearing agenda at the request of Bordallo.

During the panel on P.L. 110-229, Bordallo asked witnesses to convey to the Subcommittee the importance of extending the Guam-CNMI visa waiver program to China and Russia.

Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo testified that including China and Russia within the visa waiver program is critical for Guam’s economy and future growth. Bordallo urged the Department of Homeland Security to implement parole authority on Guam in the short term so that congressional intent is achieved and there is truly a regional program.

During the panel on H.R. 44, Bordallo stressed to her colleagues that passage of Guam war claims would go a long way to maintaining support for the military buildup. She also emphasized the critical need for Congress to act swiftly on this legislation, as the number of living survivors continues to decline. During her statement, Bordallo highlighted the bipartisan nature of this legislation, as well as its already lengthy legislative history in Congress, as reason for speedy passage.

Former Guam congressman, Brig. Gen. Ben Blaz, USMC (ret.), provided testimony on behalf of survivors of the Japanese occupation of Guam. Blaz, who is a survivor himself, was 17 when Japanese forces overtook the island, and he witnessed many of the atrocities that were committed against Chamorros on Guam. As a former congressman, he expressed his sincere disappointment over continued Republican arguments against war claims because of its cost in this difficult fiscal environment.

Calvo, Mauricio Tamargo, former chairman of the Guam War Claims Review Commission, and Nik Pula, director of the Department of the Interior Office of Insular Affairs, also provided testimony in support of H.R. 44.

“The subcommittee held a hearing on two of our island’s most important and pressing issues: Guam war claims and the expansion of our visa waiver program,” said Bordallo. “The inclusion of China and Russia within the visa waiver program is essential for our tourism industry, and I continue to urge the Department of Homeland Security to include these emerging markets within the program.  I also encourage DHS to outline a clear timeline for allowing Chinese and Russian visitors under this program and to work with our stakeholder community to address any potential issues.  Further, the panel on H.R. 44 provided members of the Committee with a better understanding of the importance of this issue to the people of Guam. Resolving Guam war claims is critical to rectifying this longstanding injustice against the Chamorros who suffered a brutal thirty-two month occupation by the enemy during World War II, yet they remained steadfast in their loyalty to our country.  I believe that this hearing was an important step toward finally resolving this issue for our survivors.  However, the hearing highlighted to the people of Guam the challenge we face in passing this legislation given the fiscal concerns about the bill raised by Acting Chairman Landry.  I thank Chairman Fleming and Ranking Member Sablan for convening this hearing, and I also thank all the witnesses for their testimony.”

Written testimony for inclusion in the hearing record will continue to be accepted until Tuesday, July 26, 2011. Those wishing to submit statements may deliver them to Bordallo’s District Office at 120 Father Duenas Avenue, Suite 107 in Hagatña or by fax to 671-477-2948.