<home> -- <press releases News from Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo H.R. 44 Faces Last Hurdle for Inclusion in Defense Bill FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 21, 2009 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Bordallo today urged the people of Guam to support the inclusion of H.R. 44, the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act in the Defense Authorization bill. This past June, Congresswoman Bordallo worked to insert the language of H.R. 44 as Title XVI of H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10 NDAA). Within the next two to three weeks, conference committee members of the House and Senate will be meeting to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the NDAA. Only the House bill, H.R. 2647, includes the language of the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act. H.R. 44 received bi-partisan support as stand-alone legislation at the beginning of the 111 th Congress, with the House of Representatives voting to pass the bill by over a two-thirds majority, in a recorded vote of 299 yeas to 99 noes. Before the August recess, Senate Democrats cleared the bill for full consideration on the Senate floor, but Senate Republicans have not acted on the Majority’s request to bring the bill to the floor. In order to build support for inclusion of H.R. 44 in the defense bill, Congresswoman Bordallo has called for a united front among Guam’s leaders and our community. Governor Camacho, Speaker Won Pat, Minority Leader Calvo and Senator Frank Blas, Jr. have all been involved in a letter writing effort to Senate leaders. Former Congressman Ben Blaz has been helping to reach out to his friends in the Senate, especially among GOP Senators. In addition, former Republican Governors Calvo and Ada, along with former Republican Lieutenant Governors Blas and Moylan, have written to Senator McCain to urge his support for keeping H.R. 44 in the Defense Authorization bill. “I urge our community to support the inclusion of H.R. 44, the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act, in the final Defense Authorization bill” Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo said today. “We are at a critical juncture and we are within reach. The next two or three weeks may well decide the success or failure of this effort. I commend our local leaders for joining with me to urge the Senate leadership and the Senate conferees to accept the House war claims provision in the Defense Authorization bill. I thank Governor Camacho and our local Republicans for reaching out to the Senate Republicans. I know that there is a grass roots effort underway to support H.R. 44 and I thank all those who have made phone calls and sent e-mails to the Senate leadership. It has been a long journey for justice for those who endured the occupation, and while we are closer than ever before, we must make every effort in these next two weeks to convince the Senate to accept the House provision.”# # # matthew.mateo@mail.house.gov or andrew.tenorio@mail.house.gov |
