FY 2004 National Defense Authorization Act Passes Senate
Senate Bill Includes Bordallo Amendments to Increase Military Academy Appointments
for Guam and Fund $1.7 Million Naval Warf Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 13, 2003 – Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate approved the conference report on H.R. 1588, the Fiscal Year 2004 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill now moves to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Passage of H.R. 1588 is good news for both active duty and retired members of the armed forces, as it provides for partial concurrent receipt of disabled and retirement pay for disabled veterans, active duty military pay increases by an average of 4.15%, $26 million for a new medical facility at Andersen Air Force Base and requires the Navy to submit a report within 120 days on its future plans to base aircraft carriers.

Two additional provisions attached to H.R. 1588 by Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, have been included. The first increases the number of Congressional appointments allotted to the Guam Delegate’s office to each of the U.S. military academies. Previously, the Guam Delegate was only allocated two slots at a given military academy at any one time. That number has been increased to three. The second provision will provide $1.7 million for the construction of the Victor Wharf Fender System to assist with the docking of the submarine fleet home ported in Guam. This is the first time since Guam originally gained territorial status that the number of positions at the military academies has been increased.

“I am pleased that the Senate has accepted the amendment I offered in the House Armed Services Committee. Guam has a tremendous legacy of military service to our country. Increasing the number of appointments afforded Guam will expand opportunities for Guamanians to become leaders at the military academies,” said Congresswoman Bordallo.

In achieving this new opportunity for Guam, Congresswoman Bordallo worked closely in a bipartisan effort with Chairman John McHugh (R-NY) and Ranking Member Vic Snyder (D-AR) of the Total Force Subcommittee, and Congressman Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS).

The construction of the $1.7 million Victor Wharf Fender System will assist with the docking of the submarine fleet home ported in Guam. “The Victor Wharf Fender System will help provide more advanced infrastructure to support the expansion of military operations on Guam, which will in turn help stimulate the local economy and create jobs. I am pleased with these developments, particularly during Defense Secretary Rumsfeld’s visit to Guam,” explained Congresswoman Bordallo.

Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, arrived on Guam on Thursday, November 13, accompanied by Congresswoman Bordallo. Secretary Rumsfeld is visiting Guam as part of his tour of Asia, and plans to visit Guam’s military bases and infrastructure.

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