Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo today issued the following statement on the groundbreaking of the Port Authority of Guam’s Modernization Project.

“Today’s groundbreaking marks the long awaited beginning of the improvement to the Port of Guam and it is the first tangible sign of improving infrastructure here on Guam to support and sustain the realignment of military forces,” said Congresswoman Bordallo. “The groundbreaking was, in part, made possible by legislation that I sponsored and was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. The groundbreaking builds on the progress that was made in this year’s defense authorization bill, which loosens the restrictions on use of Japanese funding. Although it is not at the pace that many of us expected today, it is yet another demonstration of the Obama Administration’s continued support and focus on the rebalance of forces in the Pacific and to ensuring that Guam’s infrastructure requirements are supported. This federal to territory partnership will help improve economic conditions here on Guam, and I am committed to continue working with the Port and our federal partners to indentify future funding opportunities so that we can keep this modernization on track. ”