<home> -- <press releases News from Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo Obama Administration Endorses Inclusion of War Claims in Final FY10 National Defense Authorization Act FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 22, 2009 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo today announced that the Obama Administration has endorsed the inclusion of H.R. 44, the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act in H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10 NDAA). In June, Congresswoman Bordallo was successful in adopting the language of H.R. 44, the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act, as Title XVI in the FY10 NDAA. H.R. 2647 passed the U.S. House of Representatives on June 25, 2009, while the Senate’s companion bill, S. 1390, passed their chamber on July 23, 2009. Only the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act includes the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act. Ms. Rhea Suh, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, and Budget at the U.S. Department of Interior, sent a letter on behalf of the Obama Administration to Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator John McCain, Ranking Republican Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Congressman Ike Skelton, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Congressman John McHugh, Ranking Republican Member of the House Armed Services Committee. The letter sent by Assistant Secretary Rhea Suh offered the Administration’s comments on H.R. 2647, the FY10 NDAA, after the Department of the Interior reviewed the bill. According to Assistant Secretary Suh, “The Department of the Interior strongly supports the inclusion of Title XVI, the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act, in the final legislation.” “The endorsement of Guam war claims by the Obama Administration in the final defense bill is a major development as we head to conference,” Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo said today. “I believe that the Administration’s position will be an important factor in the conference committee’s deliberations. I thank Assistant Secretary Tony Babauta who was instrumental in gaining the Administration’s support.”# # # matthew.mateo@mail.house.gov or andrew.tenorio@mail.house.gov |
