HR 5931 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To ensure appropriate implementation and oversight of the realignment of military installations and the relocation of military personnel on Guam, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

April 30, 2008

Ms. BORDALLO (for herself and Mr. ABERCROMBIE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To ensure appropriate implementation and oversight of the realignment of military installations and the relocation of military personnel on Guam, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the `Joint Guam Projects Oversight Act'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 2. Guam Defense Policy Review Initiative Account.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 3. Sense of Congress regarding use of Special Purpose Entities for military housing related to Guam realignment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 4. Sense of Congress regarding Federal assistance to Guam.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 5. Comptroller General report regarding interagency requirements related to Guam realignment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 6. Energy and environmental design initiatives in Guam military construction and installations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 7. Department of Defense Inspector General report regarding Guam realignment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 8. Eligibility of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands for military base reuse studies and community planning assistance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 9. Support for small businesses and local employment opportunities in Guam realignment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 10. HUBZone program limitation on construction contracts for small business concerns.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 11. Procurement Technical Assistance Center on Guam.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 12. Enhancement of Guam enforcement of tax, employment, and licensing laws against construction contractors of the military departments.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. GUAM DEFENSE POLICY REVIEW INITIATIVE ACCOUNT.

(a) Establishment of Account- There is established on the books of the Treasury an account to be known as the `Guam Defense Policy Review Initiative Account' (in this section referred to as the `account').CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Credits to Account-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) AMOUNTS IN FUND- There shall be credited to the account the following amounts:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) Amounts authorized for and appropriated to the account.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) Contributions received under section 2350k of title 10, United States Code, for the realignment of military installations and the relocation of military personnel on Guam.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) Amounts transferred to the account to support the realignment of military installations and the relocation of military personnel on Guam.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) NOTICE OF RECEIPT OF CONTRIBUTIONS- The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress written notice of the receipt of contributions referred to in paragraph (1)(B), including the amount of the contributions, not later than 30 days after receiving the contributions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Use of Account-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) AUTHORIZED USES- Subject to paragraph (2), in such amounts as may be provided in advance in appropriations Acts, amounts in the account may be used as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) To carry out or facilitate the carrying out of a transaction in connection with the realignment of military installations and the relocation of military personnel on Guam, including military construction, military family housing, unaccompanied housing, general facilities constructions for military forces, and utilities improvements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) To carry out improvements of property or facilities on Guam as part of such a transaction.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) To obtain property support services for property or facilities on Guam resulting from such a transaction.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) To develop military facilities or training ranges in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) COMPLIANCE WITH GUAM MASTER PLAN- Transactions authorized by paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the Guam Master Plan, as incorporated in decisions made in the manner provided in section 102 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) LIMITATION REGARDING MILITARY HOUSING- To extent that the authorities provided under subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 10, United States Code, are available to the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary shall use such authorities to acquire, construct, or improve family housing units, military unaccompanied housing units, or ancillary supporting facilities in connection with the relocation of military personnel on Guam.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) COMPLIANCE WITH WAGE RATE REQUIREMENTS- Subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code, shall apply to the use of all amounts in the account.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS REGARDING USE OF CONTRIBUTIONS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) TREATMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS- Except as provided in subparagraphs (C) and (D), the use of contributions referred to in subsection (b)(1)(B) shall not be subject to conditions imposed on the use of appropriated funds by chapter 169 of title 10, United States Code, or contained in annual military construction appropriations Acts.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) NOTICE OF OBLIGATION- Contributions referred to in subsection (b)(1)(B) may not be obligated for a transaction authorized by paragraph (1) until the Secretary of Defense submits to Congress notice of the transaction, including a detailed cost estimate, and a period of 21 days has elapsed after the date on which the notification is received by Congress or, if over sooner, a period of 14 days has elapsed after the date on which a copy of the notification is provided in an electronic medium.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) COST AND SCOPE OF WORK VARIATIONS- Section 2853 of title 10, United States Code, shall apply to the use of contributions referred to in subsection (b)(1)(B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) PREFERENCE FOR UNITED STATES CONTRACTORS- The general provision contained in annual military construction appropriations Acts that provides a limited preference for military construction in the United States territories and possessions in the Pacific shall apply to the use of contributions referred to in subsection (b)(1)(B).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Transfer Authority-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) TRANSFER TO HOUSING FUNDS- The Secretary of Defense may transfer funds from the Guam Defense Policy Review Initiative Account to the following funds:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) The Department of Defense Family Housing Improvement Fund established by section 2883(a)(1) of title 10, United States Code.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) The Department of Defense Military Unaccompanied Housing Improvement Fund established by section 2883(a)(2) of such title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) TREATMENT OF TRANSFERRED AMOUNTS- Amounts transferred under paragraph (1) to a fund referred to in that paragraph shall be available in accordance with the provisions of section 2883 of title 10, United States Code, for activities on Guam authorized under subchapter IV of chapter 169 of such title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING USE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE ENTITIES FOR MILITARY HOUSING RELATED TO GUAM REALIGNMENT.

(a) Nature of Special Purpose Entities- It is the sense of Congress that any Special Purpose Entity established to assist in the provision of military family housing in connection with the realignment of military installations and the relocation of military personnel on Guam should--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) be operated, to the extent practicable, in the manner provided for public-private ventures under subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 10, United States Code; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) be conducted as joint ventures between Japanese and United States private firms, except that any military family housing venture carried out by such a joint venture should be primarily managed by a United States private firm.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Scope of Activities- It is the sense of Congress that funding for such a Special Purpose Entity should not be limited to only utility improvements and the construction of military family housing in connection with the realignment of military installations and the relocation of military personnel on Guam.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Utility Infrastructure Improvements- It is the sense of Congress that funding for such a Special Purpose Entity should support proposed utility infrastructure improvements on Guam that incorporate the civilian and military infrastructure into a single grid to realize and maximize the effectiveness of the overall utility system.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Military Family Housing- It is the sense of Congress that the building requirements imposed for any military family housing constructed by such a Special Purpose Entity in connection with the realignment of military installations and the relocation of military personnel on Guam should be established by the Department of Defense in accordance with current building standards that are used with other projects.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO GUAM.

(a) Sense of Congress- It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Interagency Group on Insular Areas, should enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Guam to identify, before the realignment of military installations and the relocation of military personnel on Guam, local funding requirements for civilian infrastructure development and other needs related to the realignment and relocation. The memorandum of understanding would stipulate the commitment of Federal agencies to assist the Government of Guam in carrying out the Guam realignment in a responsible and consistent manner.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Interagency Group on Insular Areas Defined- In this section, the term `Interagency Group on Insular Areas' means the interagency group established by Executive Order No. 13299 of May 12, 2003 (68 Fed. Reg. 25477; 48 U.S.C. note prec. 1451). The term includes any sub-group or working group of that interagency group.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT REGARDING INTERAGENCY REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO GUAM REALIGNMENT.

(a) Report Required- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the status of interagency coordination through the Interagency Group on Insular Areas of budgetary requests to assist the Government of Guam with its budgetary requirements related to the realignment of military forces on Guam. The report shall address to what extent and how the Interagency Group on Insular Areas will be able to coordinate interagency budgets so the realignment of military forces on Guam will meet the 2014 completion date as stipulated in the May 2006 security agreement between the United States and Japan.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Interagency Group on Insular Areas Defined- In this section, the term `Interagency Group on Insular Areas' means the interagency group established by Executive Order No. 13299 of May 12, 2003 (68 Fed. Reg. 25477; 48 U.S.C. note prec. 1451). The term includes any sub-group or working group of that interagency group.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN INITIATIVES IN GUAM MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALLATIONS.

(a) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Principles- With respect to all new military construction projects on Guam and military housing to be constructed on Guam related to the realignment of military forces on Guam, the Secretary of Defense shall require the incorporation, into the design criteria for the projects, of principles developed by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design to achieve not less than the silver standard, as determined by the appropriate Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design committee. This requirement shall apply regardless of the source of funds for the project.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Renewable Energy Goal- The Secretary of Defense shall establish a goal for the use of renewable energy sources on all military installations on Guam. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the plan of the Secretary to achieve the renewable energy goal. The report shall identify the renewable sources of energy that will be utilized and describe how the renewable sources will be utilized and installed at military installations on Guam.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT REGARDING GUAM REALIGNMENT.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the efforts of the Inspector General to address potential waste and fraud associated with the realignment of military forces on Guam.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. ELIGIBILITY OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS FOR MILITARY BASE REUSE STUDIES AND COMMUNITY PLANNING ASSISTANCE.

(a) Inclusion in Definition of Military Installation- Section 2687(e)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after `Virgin Islands,' the following: `the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Inclusion of Facilities Owned and Operated by Commonwealth- Section 2391(d)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after `Guam,' the following: `the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 9. SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND LOCAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN GUAM REALIGNMENT.

(a) Sense of Congress- In connection with contracts to be entered into by the Secretary of Defense related to the realignment of military installations and the relocation of military personnel on Guam, it is the sense of Congress that the Secretary should grant a preference, to the maximum extent practicable--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to small business concerns domiciled on Guam or in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in awarding the contracts; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to the local workforce for employment under such contracts.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Training Programs- The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with other Federal agencies comprising the Interagency Group on Insular Areas, should develop and support programs for training of the local workforce to acquire the job skills needed for employment opportunities arising as a result of the realignment of military installations and the relocation of military personnel on Guam.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Interagency Group on Insular Areas Defined- In this section, the term `Interagency Group on Insular Areas' means the interagency group established by Executive Order No. 13299 of May 12, 2003 (68 Fed. Reg. 25477; 48 U.S.C. note prec. 1451). The term includes any sub-group or working group of that interagency group.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 10. HUBZONE PROGRAM LIMITATION ON CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS FOR SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.

Section 31(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657a(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) LIMIT HUBZONE PROGRAM CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS IN OR NEAR A HUBZONE- A small business concern may not obtain a construction contract by reason of the HUBZone program unless the construction project is located in or near the HUBZone in which the small business concern has its principal place of business. The Administrator shall prescribe standards for determining when a project is located `near' a HUBZone for purposes of this paragraph, except that under no circumstances can a project located more than 150 miles from a HUBZone be located `near' that HUBZone.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 11. PROCUREMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER ON GUAM.

(a) Cooperative Agreement- Using funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense shall enter into a cooperative agreement under section 2413 of title 10, United States Code, for the purpose of establishing a Procurement Technical Assistance Center on Guam.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Defense for fiscal year 2009 $600,000 to establish the Procurement Technical Assistance Center on Guam.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 12. ENHANCEMENT OF GUAM ENFORCEMENT OF TAX, EMPLOYMENT, AND LICENSING LAWS AGAINST CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS.

(a) Requirement for Tax-Related Clearance From Potential Construction Contractors- For purposes of section 2305 of title 10, United States Code, in order to be considered a responsible bidder or offeror for a contract for the construction of a public building, facility, or work on Guam, a bidder or offeror shall submit with the bid or offer a tax clearance from the Government of Guam indicating that the bidder or offeror is in compliance with all the tax laws of Guam.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Requirement To Withhold Final Contract Payment Until Receipt of Tax-Related Clearance and Certification of Compliance With Employment Laws From Contractor- The Secretary of a military department shall withhold final payment under any contract for the construction of a public building, facility, or work on Guam until the contractor submits to the Secretary both of the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) A tax clearance required by subsection (a).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) A certification stating that the contractor is in compliance (or was in compliance during the performance of the contract) with all applicable laws of Guam that require employers to make payments to or for the benefit of employees, including laws relating to unemployment insurance, workers compensation, health insurance, and disability insurance.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Authority To Withhold Payment to Contractor of Amounts Necessary To Meet Guam Tax Obligations- The Secretary of a military department may withhold, from any payment due to a contractor under a contract made by the Secretary for the construction of a public building, facility, or work on Guam, an amount considered necessary by the Secretary to pay to the Government of Guam the amount of the contractor's tax liability to Guam that is attributable to the contract. The Secretary may, upon request of the Government of Guam, and with such documentation as the Secretary considers necessary, pay such tax liability amount directly to the Government of Guam from the withheld payment. Any amount of a withheld payment that exceeds the actual tax liability amount shall be paid to the contractor.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Requirement for Construction Contractors To Obtain Applicable Licenses- In any contract entered into by the Secretary of a military department for the construction of a public building, facility, or work on Guam, the Secretary shall require that the contractor performing the type of work to be performed under the contract be licensed to perform such work.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Effective Date- This section shall apply with respect to contracts entered into after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink