GUAM Delegate Madeleine Bordallo believes there should be more discussion on the broader strategic role of Guam rather than the bickering over funding for military construction.

Bordallo brought up the matter during a House of Representatives Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee hearing, which addressed the report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the U.S. force posture in the Asia-Pacific region.

Among those who testified were David J. Berteau, CSIS senior vice president and director of the International Security Program; Michael J. Green, CSIS senior advisor and Japan chairman; Robert Scher, deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Plans; and David F. Helvey, acting deputy assistant secretary of Defense for East Asia.

During the hearing, Bordallo asked if the U.S. lost anything after several years of inaction by the U.S. Senate when it came to the approval of certain projects tied to the redirection of the military in the Asia-Pacific region.

Green responded to her, saying “momentum matters,” with regard to moving forward with the buildup. He further emphasized that the U.S. military realignments in Guam and the Pacific still play an important role in ensuring allies remain committed to investing in the relocations.

Support

He and Berteau also indicated that support for civilian infrastructure funding historically has been provided by the Department of Defense where it is necessary to meet certain requirements.

Secretaries Helvey and Scher reiterated the administration’s support for the realignment and the need for Congress to invest in military construction projects.

“U.S. engagement in the Asia-Pacific is important to our country’s national security,” Bordallo said. “This hearing helped reaffirm that if we don’t begin investing in military and infrastructure projects critical to moving forward with this realignment on Guam, then we risk losing the support and confidence of our allies in the region. Specifically, it could risk further investment by Japan in the realignment of Marines from Okinawa to Guam.”

She added: “The hearing also helped clarify several of the recommendations included in the report and contextualized the importance of spending funds already received from the government of Japan. Although the CSIS experts and the DOD officials had their differences, I am encouraged that the two panels of witnesses agreed that it’s important to build on current U.S. force posture and develop a greater forward presence in the Asia-Pacific region.”