Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo today announced that President Donald Trump has signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2018.
The FY18 defense bill fully authorizes $354.6 million for military construction projects for Guam to support the ongoing progress on the Marine realignment as well as current operations which include the hardening of select military facilities. (table of Military Construction projects authorized below)
The law includes a provision championed by Bordallo to provide the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services with flexibility to provide up to 4,000 H-2B temporary workers per year to support construction or facility services that are directly connected to, or associated with, the Marine realignment. This would enable civilian infrastructure funded by the federal government, the Government of Guam, or non-governmental sources that are being done, in part, because of the increased number of military personnel and military families moving to Guam. USCIS has up to 120 days to implement this provision.
Governor Eddie Baza Calvo withdrew his public support for the Guam military buildup due to the federal government's virtual freeze on contract workers to build the facilities, but later extracted a promise from President Trump to change the apparent federal policy.
“Today President Trump signed into law the fiscal year 2018 defense bill, which includes provisions important to Guam," Bordallo said.
"Notably the law now provides USCIS with flexibility in applying of the H-2B visa program on Guam, and it permits up to 4,000 visas per year to be approved for military and civilian projects directly related to, or associated with, the Marine relocation. USCIS and the Trump Administration have up to 120 days to implement this law, and I look forward to building on this provision for all our civilian needs. While was a critical first step, I will continue working in Congress and with our partners in the Administration to ensure that Guam has an adequate workforce to meet labor demands.”
Fiscal Year 2018 Military Construction Authorization for Guam
Service: Navy
Project
Aircraft Maintenance Hangar #2
75,233,000
Corrosion Control Hangar
66,747,000
MALS Facilities
49,431,000
Navy-Commercial Tie-in Hardening
37,180,000
Water Well Field
56,088,000
Replace Andersen Housing PH2
40,875,000
Defense Logistics Agency
Construct Truck Load and Unload Facility
23,900,000
Air Force Reserve
Reserve Medical Training Facility
5,200,000
Total: $ 354,654,000