<home> -- <press releases News from Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo House Passes Coast Guard Reauthorization Bill FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 23, 2009 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 3619, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. The bill authorizes appropriations for the U.S. Coast Guard, reauthorizes key programs, and addresses policy regarding its operations and acquisition programs. H.R. 3619 was introduced by Congressman James Oberstar of Minnesota, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. H.R. 3619 passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 385 to 11. Chairman James Oberstar and Chairman Elijah Cummings of Maryland, at the urging of Congresswoman Bordallo, included a provision in the bill that would require Coast Guard vessels homeported on Guam be repaired, maintained and overhauled in U.S. shipyards including Guam. This provision was originally offered by Congresswoman Bordallo as an amendment to the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007 during the 110th Congress and which was adopted by voice vote on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. The measure has been reintroduced this Congress due to inaction on the legislation by the U.S. Senate in the 110th Congress. “This provision corrects yet another loophole in statute that did not treat Guam in a manner consistent with the rest of the United States,” Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo said today. “Coast Guard vessels homeported on Guam should be maintained, overhauled or repaired on Guam or in another U.S. shipyard. The provision is similar to other efforts that I have taken to ensure “Repair American” mandates for Navy and MSC vessels. I thank Congressman Oberstar, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Congressman Cummings, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation for their support of this provision.” # # # matthew.mateo@mail.house.gov or derek.mandell@mail.house.gov |
