<home> -- <press releases> -- <March 13, 2003>

CONGRESSWOMAN BORDALLO PUSHES FOR
MILITARY TYPHOON RECOVERY FUNDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 13, 2003 – Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Bordallo joined with Admiral Fargo, Commander in Chief of the Pacific Command, in highlighting to Congress the need for supplemental typhoon recovery funds for the Air Force and Naval bases on Guam.

“ I am committed to working with you to keep up the pressure to deliver the emergency recovery funds for our troops. Their housing and base facilities must be repaired,” said Congresswoman Bordallo to Admiral Fargo as he testified before the House Armed Services Committee.

Earlier, at a hearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Admiral Fargo characterized Guam as, “a highly valuable strategic asset… whose value will continue to grow in future importance.” He further testified that Guam needs $337 million to recover from Supertyphoon Pongsona as well as to address deteriorated or missing infrastructure.

The request for supplemental funds was denied by the White House Office of Management & Budget. The Department of Defense is now working on a smaller request of approximately $40 million for the Air Force and $80 million for the Navy, which Congresswoman Bordallo fully supports.

Congresswoman Bordallo asked Admiral Fargo about Secretary Rumsfeld’s recent suggestion to develop an “air hub” and a “sea hub” to provide flexible support to troops on the Korean peninsula. She stressed Guam’s readiness to base permanent forces to meet this requirement.

Admiral Fargo responded that he saw a role for Guam in hosting intelligence and reconnaissance assets for use over North Korea such as unmanned aerial vehicles and reconnaissance aircraft.

Congresswoman Bordallo then advocated that the military make better use of the facilities on Guam by home porting surface combatants, guided missile submarines and an aircraft carrier, suggested in the most recent Quadrennial Defense Review.

Admiral Fargo acknowledged that those ideas were now being considered under a thorough review by the Navy. He said he thinks it makes a great deal of sense but they are not there yet. He committed to updating Congresswoman Bordallo on the military’s plans for the future as Guam remains a high priority.

Congresswoman Bordallo thanked Admiral Fargo for his continued service to the nation and said that she will be sure to call on him at Camp Smith when she is next passing through Hawaii.

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Contact: Neil Weare in Washington, D.C., at (202) 225-1188 or Joaquin Perez in Guam at (671) 477-4272.