July 7, 2009

Governor Felix P. Camacho released the following statement regarding concerns of the amendments to the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act that seeks to raise construction costs and wages on Guam, and limit employment opportunities of H-2 workers. Officials from the Guam Department of Labor and the Office of the Governor have been following this issue heavily and have concluded that the amendments made to the Defense Authorization Bill has the potential to negatively impact Guam’s construction industry in regards to costs and wages:

Guam’s current H-2 wage rate is comparable to many areas in the United States. Raising the wage rate of H-2 workers will have a negative domino effect that will likely impact consumers by increasing construction costs which will limit our ability to provide affordable housing. Congressman Abercrombie further offers no methodology that justifies matching Guam’s H-2 wages to Hawaii.

In addition, the amendment’s proposed percentage cap to H-2 workers at 30% will adversely affect our ability to provide the skilled laborers needed for the military buildup. Like the wage rate increase, the justification and methodology that resulted in the proposed 30% cap are unclear and this is a critical component to making this far reaching decision.

My administration will continue to work with the GDOL, and Congresswoman Bordallo’s office.