The Official Website of Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo

House Armed Services Committee Passes 2008 Defense Authorization Bill

$244 million in Military Construction for Guam

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—May 10, 2007–Washington, D.C–

The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) passed H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. The legislation, which authorizes defense spending and policy, includes multiple provisions important to Guam, and authorizes $503.8 billion in budget authority for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the national security programs of the Department of Energy (DoE) for fiscal year 2008.

“The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 supports our troops who are serving our nation with dedication,” Congresswoman Bordallo said, noting that $141.8 billion has been authorized to support ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for fiscal year 2008.

H.R. 1585 includes a provision that authorizes TRICARE recipients requiring non-emergency specialty medical care not available in Guam to have a higher priority than retirees currently have for Space-A (space available) seats on military aircraft flights to Hawaii and the mainland. The provision also requires the Defense Department to report back to Congress on a long-term solution to the TRICARE medical referral issue for retirees on Guam.

“Since 2005, military retirees in Guam referred off island for specialty medical care have had to travel to Hawaii and California at their own expense because the Department of Defense changed their reimbursement policy,” Congresswoman Bordallo said. “My amendment will help retirees on an interim basis by giving them a higher Space-A priority than they currently have until we can get DoD to fix their TriCare travel reimbursement policy.”

H.R. 1585 also includes authorization for Military Construction (MILCON) spending on Guam. MILCON projects are listed below.

$10 million to upgrade the Northwest Field infrastructure
$5.8 million to build a technical training facility at Northwest Field of Andersen Air Force Base
$45.2 million for a fitness center at Naval Base, Guam
$59.4 million to improve security of electrical systems at Naval Base, Guam
$51.8 million to build Phase I of the Kilo Wharf extension
$31.4 million to build Phase I of a potable water distribution system at Naval Base, Guam
$40.8 million to repair and upgrade the Naval Base, Guam wastewater treatment plant

The measure is now scheduled for floor debate and consideration next week.

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

joseph.duenas@mail.house.gov or cathy.gault@mail.house.gov

www.house.gov/bordallo

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