The Official Website of Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo

Bordallo Fights for Change in Coast Guard Ship Repair Policy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 23, 2008– Washington, D.C. –

Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo is offering an amendment tomorrow to H.R. 2830, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007 that would keep the U.S. Coast Guard from sending vessels homeported on Guam to foreign shipyards for repair. H.R. 2830 is scheduled to be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives tomorrow after having been recently reported from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The bill reauthorizes key programs of the U.S. Coast Guard and addresses policy regarding its operations.

Current law does not recognize Guam as a U.S. port for the purposes of repairs, overhaul and maintenance of Coast Guard vessels. As a result, the Coast Guard cutter Sequoia is scheduled to soon undergo its first major repair at a foreign port with foreign workers. Congresswoman Bordallo believes, sending vessels to foreign yards when there is capable U.S. shipyard, like the Guam Shipyard, sets a bad precedent and is bad policy. The decision to send the Sequoia to a foreign yard for repair represents the first time a Coast Guard cutter will have left Guam for a major availability outside of the Guam Shipyard since Congresswoman Bordallo took office in 2003.

“This move jeopardizes American jobs and the critical ship repair capability on Guam. It is in our national security interest to maintain a viable ship repair capability on Guam – the Coast Guard’s actions are contrary to our national security,” Congresswoman Bordallo said on the Floor of the House of Representatives this morning. “My amendment would make the law regarding repairs to Coast Guard vessels consistent with changes I sought and Congress made to similar laws affecting repair of Naval vessels. I will continue my work to sustain a strong and critical ship repair capability on Guam.”

Congresswoman Bordallo’s amendment will be made part of a Manager’s amendment to be offered by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar of Minnesota tomorrow when the House begins debate on H.R. 2830.

# # #

Contact: Joseph E. Duenas in Washington, D.C. at 202-225-1188 or Audreya Taitano at 671-477-4272/4

joseph.duenas@mail.house.gov or audreya.taitano@mail.house.gov

www.house.gov/bordallo

Close Window