Madeleine Bordallo: “Today I introduce the Guam Land Return Act of 2018. For decades, the people of Guam have worked to see their ancestral…”

“Today I introduce the Guam Land Return Act of 2018. For decades, the people of Guam have worked to see their ancestral lands returned. In Congress, I have made returning land from the Federal Government to our territorial government of Guam and Guam families a top priority. Since 2003, I have secured return of more than 1,000 acres from the Federal Government to the people of Guam. My Guam Land Return Act of 2018 would reduce Federal landownership on Guam and return those lands to GovGuam and, ultimately, our people. This important legislation builds upon the work of my predecessors, former Congressman Robert A. Underwood, in particular. The Guam Land Return Act would authorize the General Services Administration to transfer Federal land, buildings, vehicles, and other heavy equipment designated as surplus to GovGuam at no cost to the taxpayers. This would provide another avenue for the Federal Government to compensate GovGuam for expenses that our territorial government is required to bear in serving migrants under the Compact of Free Association, known as Compact Impact. It would also ask Federal agencies to return more Federal land to GovGuam more quickly. The Federal Government must finally live up to its commitment to Guam and other affected U.S. jurisdictions with Compact migrant residents. I continue working to secure full Federal reimbursements for GovGuam's costs in providing local services to Compact migrants.…”