Congressman Michael San Nicolas is proposing that the Department of Defense be required to hire local workers for military projects in their host communities.
San Nicolas testified before the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) at 1:40 a.m. Guam time, during the hearing on the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Specifically, San Nicolas sought language to improve the likelihood of DOD hiring in the communities they are present in, establishing an Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System on the island, reporting on Department of Defense (DoD) efforts to secure Guam communication networks, and establishing aircraft and air wing assets and capabilities in the Guam Air National Guard.
"We were very pleased to hear bipartisan support for Aegis Ashore and getting our Guam Air Guard actual air capabilities," San Nicolas said. "We were also very happy for the opportunity to call attention to the need for local hiring by DoD, and the need for special attention to be paid to securing our critical telecommunication capabilities."
ADVERTISEMENT
"Each of our issues will improve the security and economic sustainability of our island, while keeping our advocacy focused on the big picture of Guam being a part of the solution in national security and national defense, and we are very happy to have on the record clear support and gratitude towards the people of Guam from our colleagues on HASC," San Nicolas said.