<home> -- <press releases> -- <May 7, 2003>

Congresswoman Bordallo Passes Brown Tree Snake Amendment
During Sikes Act Reauthorization Mark-up

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 7, 2003 – Washington, D.C. – Today the House Resources Committee passed an amendment authored by Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo at their mark-up of H.R. 1497, legislation that reauthorizes the Sikes Act. Enacted in 1960, the Sikes Act requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to complete comprehensive Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans (INRMPs) for each of its installations, including Andersen Air Force Base and U.S. Navy property in Guam. INRMPs provide for DoD’s conservation programs at its installations and include components for fish and wildlife management, wildlife-oriented recreation, habitat enhancement, public use of natural resources, and enforcement of all natural resources laws. INRMPs are written in consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the applicable State or Territorial Fish and Wildlife Agency. “This consultation is key to the successful implementation of any INRMP,” stated Congresswoman Bordallo after today’s mark-up session.

Congresswoman Bordallo’s amendment requires that INRMPs for Guam’s military installations specifically address the control and eradication of invasive species, including the brown tree snake. “The brown tree snake introduced to Guam by military cargo after World War II is the single greatest threat to our environment,” remarked the Congresswoman before the committee today. “Their uncontrolled presence on military installations threatens readiness and thwarts recovery efforts of endangered and threatened species,” said Bordallo. “My amendment strengthens the Federal Government’s involvement in controlling for and eradicating the brown tree snake on Guam and further makes clear DoD’s responsibility to meet this objective through the INRMP process.”

Invasive species are the primary cause of the loss and failed recovery of endangered species on Guam, not military training or readiness activities, and their control and eradication stands to be a central part of the INRMPs for Andersen Air Force Base and the land under the command of U.S. Naval Forces Marianas with passage of Congresswoman Bordallo’s amendment today.

“I was pleased to have secured bipartisan support for my amendment today. This will mean more good news for Guam, supports local recovery efforts for the Guam Rail and our native bird life, and also confronts the brown tree snake issue from another level,” remarked the Congresswoman.

The House Resources Committee reported out the underlying legislation as amended by Congresswoman Bordallo by voice vote. The legislation is now expected to be marked-up by the House Armed Services Committee, of which Congresswoman Bordallo is also a member, next week before reaching the House floor for consideration.

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