<home> -- <press releases News from Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo Port of Guam Receives Strategic Port Designation FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 18, 2009 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo today announced that the Port of Guam has received approval for Strategic Port designation from the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC). With this designation, the Port of Guam becomes the 16 th commercial Strategic Seaport in the United States. The announcement of the Strategic Port designation comes two weeks after General Duncan J. McNabb, Commander of U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), toured the Port of Guam. Congresswoman Bordallo has supported this designation and included language in the FY10 National Defense Authorization Act that urged the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish additional strategic ports including the Port of Guam. Receiving Strategic Port designation will benefit the Port of Guam by allowing the port to develop a closer partnership with the Department of Defense. The Port of Guam will see a significant increase in cargo volume during times of military deployments as it will serve as a conduit for the distribution of forces and supplies. The Port of Guam will also be able to provide greater support for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions in the Pacific. The port’s strategic designation underscores the need for federal funding to make the necessary improvements at the Port of Guam. “Our community will benefit from the Strategic Port designation announced today,” Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo said today. “The military build-up will increase the volume of traffic at the port and resources will be needed to help the port meet future demand. The Transportation Command, the Maritime Administration, and the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command have all agreed that the Port of Guam meets the criteria for a Strategic Port designation. This designation will help the port to receive federal funding to modernize port infrastructure and cargo handling. I congratulate Governor Camacho, Port Authority of Guam General Manager Glenn Leon Guerrero, Board Chairman Monte Mesa, and the board members, who worked hard for this designation.”# # # matthew.mateo@mail.house.gov or andrew.tenorio@mail.house.gov |
