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-- <May 7, 2003> House Resources Committee
Passes Bill to FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 7, 2003 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Bordallo announced today the House Resources Committee passed H.R. 1189, legislation which would provide much needed relief to Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands by increasing the matching waiver requirements for Federal grants. Upon enactment the legislation would increase the existing waiver requirement from $200,000 to $500,000 and would further clarify that the waiver requirement applies to all federal agencies and departments, not just those grants administered by the Department of the Interior. “Reporting this bill to the full House by the Resources Committee is timely given the fact that the governments of the insular areas are facing declining revenues and confronting daily economic uncertainties,” remarked the Congresswoman before the full House Resources Committee. “Our fragile and uncertain economic conditions make it particularly challenging to access Federal grants given the matching requirements and current inflexibility in waiving these requirements. I can’t understate how important and meaningful this legislation is … just yesterday in the Small Business Committee I heard that the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program has never given a grant to Guam, American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands. With this legislation, I know our participation in this grant program and many others will be made possible.” The legislation was originally authored and introduced in the 107th Congress by former Congressman Robert A. Underwood. Congresswoman Bordallo joined Congressman Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa) as an original cosponsor on the reintroduction of this bill near the start of the 108th Congress. The bill now moves to the full House for floor consideration in the coming weeks. “I intend to keep working with the leadership in Congress to ensure timely passage of this legislation,” said the Congresswoman. “I remain hopeful that we can get this bill through the full House and Senate and then onto the President for enactment into law before the end of the year.” ### Contact: Neil Weare
in Washington, D.C., at (202) 225-1188 or Joaquin
Perez in Guam at (671) 477-4272. |
