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Bill seeks to expand transportation funding for American territories
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Posted on Aug 05 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo has introduced the “Territories Economic Development Opportunities Act,” which amends Title 23 of the U.S. Code to allow U.S. territories to participate in federal-aid highway discretionary programs.
Current statute bars Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands from competing for certain highway discretionary programs. These include funding for ferries or ferry terminals as well as the Federal Bridge Program. Bordallo’s bill would fix this inequity in transportation funding options available to the territories.
The bill is co-sponsored by Delegates Donna Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Eni Faleomavaega of American Samoa, and Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan of the CNMI.
“The Territories Economic Development Opportunity Act ensures that Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the [CNMI] are able to compete for discretionary programs administered by the Federal Highway Administration,” said Bordallo. “This bill ensures that the territories have the same opportunity as any other jurisdiction for federal resources to improve their infrastructure systems. We have serious and immediate infrastructure needs on Guam, and we should have the same opportunity as any state to compete for these critical funds.” [I](PR)[/I]
