I think it is an indication of the government of Japan's commitment to the alliance and the changes necessary to make the alliance endure for the future.

The dry dock is necessary.

What is the timeline for these improvements, and how is the condition and the operating status of MOTCO affecting your readiness?

I would like to take this opportunity to thank General Fraser and Admiral McRaven for their leadership and service to our great country.

I am a strong proponent of this initiative, and I believe that it is the cornerstone of the rebalance effort, and it enhances our bilateral relations with Japan.

I really believe the U.S. needs to take a more proactive role and spend a little diplomatic capital to right the situation.

I would like to ask my colleagues to join me here as I deliver this eulogy for a former Member of Congress. I rise to pay tribute to the late Vicente ``Ben'' Garrido Blaz, Guam's former Congressman and a retired brigadier general in the…

Oh, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I always appreciate that because Guam is a small place and it is not mentioned very often.

I have no further speakers, but I do want to commend the author of this bill, this very worthwhile piece of legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support it. I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is…

The shutdown has negatively impacted Guam's tourism economy for something that could have been avoided entirely by passing a clean CR.

We have the votes to pass a clean CR.

We cannot continue to cherry-pick departments and agencies that we want to keep open.

With the exception of the pay freeze, these are all choices the Department is guilty of making.

We cannot continue to hold the debt ceiling hostage to unrelated matters.

If we could just vote on a clean continuing resolution [CR].

If we don't increase the debt ceiling, the impact on our military will be unprecedented.

It is clear that the challenge you face in implementing this provision of POMA would not exist if the Department were compliant with these requirements.

Well, thank you very much, and thank you for your long service with the National Guard.