Remarks Before the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and Guam-US-Asia Security Alliance (GUASA) 2015 Conference

Hafa adai and thank you for the opportunity to speak at this GUASA Conference.  I want to especially thank Juan Carlos Benitez, John Thomas Brown, Joe Arnett and Carl Peterson who with us today and for their leadership with this group.  I also want to welcome Senator Mike San Nicolas from the Guam Legislature as well as members of the Guam Chamber of Commerce who are in town for their annual visit to Washington DC and Hawaii.  In particular, I welcome Jeff Jones, Gerry Perez and Catherine Castro.

Previous GUASA Conferences on Guam have highlighted the Marianas’ strategic importance to the United States, its security and economic future.  Conferences have also highlighted the strategic importance of the Marianas to our regional allies and partners for future training opportunities.  These conferences occurred at a time where the future of the relocation of Marines from Okinawa to Guam was not clear.

I stand here today with optimism that we have finally made important strides forward in the relocation of Marines from Okinawa to Guam.  Last year’s defense authorization bill removed onerous restrictions on the obligation and expenditure of Government of Japan direct contributions to the relocation effort.  Additionally, on December 27, 2013 the Governor of Okinawa signed the landfill permit that allows for the initial construction of the Futenma Replacement Facility in Henoko.  Both of these events clearly signal that we are FINALLY MOVING FORWARD with the relocation of Marines from Okinawa to Guam.

These events underscore that efforts from GUASA, C-NAS and others are having a very real effect in getting leaders in Washington to acknowledge the strategic importance of Guam and take very real steps to demonstrate this strategic importance.  For too many years the rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region was mired in questions of is this the right thing to do, can we afford to do it or we can’t take our eyes off the Middle East.  Recently, I think leaders here in DC and in Congress are beginning to grapple with the real challenges of being a world power and that we must continue to demonstrate our world leadership, including putting real resources and political and diplomatic capital into the Asia-Pacific rebalance without sacrificing other priorities across the globe.  As C-S-I-S pointed out in a 2012 report to Congress on the US Force Posture Strategy in the Asia-Pacific Region, the relocation of the Marines from Okinawa to Guam was the most evident part of the rebalance strategy and last year’s defense bill reaffirms the U.S. commitment to this strategic endeavor.

However, challenges will remain to fully realize the security aspects of the US rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region.  Last November, the people of Okinawa choose a new Governor who has publicly stated his objection to the Futenma Replacement Facility and has tried to put roadblocks in place to halt or dramatically slow the development of the F-R-F in the Henoko location.  Further, in the United States we still face arbitrary budget challenges.  This Congress, both the House and Senate, passed budget resolutions that ultimately maintain sequestration in perpetuity.  While the Congress has provided temporary relief in additional funds through the Overseas Contingency Operations account, this does not allow the Department of Defense to plan appropriately and will have significant impacts down the road.  This year’s solution will not slow down the rebalance efforts but it certainly will inhibit the Department’s ability to plan future actions.  Further, as we move towards another Presidential election, it is imperative that we continue to highlight the strategic importance of the Marianas’ so that the rebalance strategy continues to be fulfilled during the next Administration.  Political changes can create gaps where naysayers of this important strategic initiative can create doubt and raise questions that have been answered time and time again.

But Congress and the Administration can take actions to address these challenges to the rebalance strategy.  Although the relocation of Marines from Okinawa to Guam has been de-linked from progress on F-R-F, progress in Okinawa remains important.  Grandstanding by the Okinawan Governor does not help the situation and can create needless doubt about the entire relocation.  As such, I am working with my colleagues in the House Armed Services Committee to make it clear that the Congress supports the 2012 “2+2 Agreement” that outlines consolidation of facilities and return of lands in Okinawa, as well as outlines the details for the relocation of Marines from Okinawa to Guam.  Taking such a step would be the first time that Congress is on record supporting the moves in Okinawa and would re-emphasize our commitment to the relocation.

Additionally, I am working with my colleagues to require the Obama Administration to develop an implementation plan to support and sustain the overall rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region.  As we get closer to the end of the Obama Administration, we must ensure that the strategy endures into the next administration, and that will require ensuring there is clear guidance to the bureaucracy on how they can appropriately resource for this important effort.  Unfortunately, I have come to recognize that it will take Congress pushing to get the Administration to make this strategy permanent and to get the “whole-of-government” approach done right.

This is just a quick sampling of some of the efforts that I am undertaking here in Congress to help support the rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region and to further advance the relocation of Marines from Okinawa to Guam.

Looking forward, and as I discussed at the first GUASA Conference, as we continue to make progress on relocating Marines from Okinawa to Guam, we must shift our focus to the ultimate long-term benefit of the Marianas and that is on its capabilities for training.  A key to our strategy in the Asia-Pacific region is forward deployed forces.  These forward deployed forces must be trained and ready to respond to a wide range of threats and requirements in very short timeframes.  We had a very public debate last year on Guam about the Navy’s proposal to site the live-fire training range on Guam at Northwest Field on Andersen Air Force Base.  Our community, despite some objections, clearly appreciated the Navy’s efforts to reduce their footprint and establish the live-fire training range on federal property.  This live-fire training range is critical to maintaining individual readiness requirements.

However, broader unit and combined level training capabilities need to be enhanced in the Marianas.  One of the significant downfalls of Okinawa is the severe limitations on training capabilities for the Marines.  This situation cannot continue if we are to fulfill the true intent and capabilities behind the distributed laydown.  If development of the enhanced training complex in the Marianas is achieved, it will greatly enhance our military’s readiness in the region and, arguably more importantly, provide partners with locations to train with U.S. forces.  This has great potential for our allies in Southeast and East Asia who have their own training shortfalls.  There is great potential, but the pathway to achieving this goal will not be easy.  We must continue to make progress on the relocation of Marines from Okinawa to Guam as we begin to discuss the “way forward” on the Joint Military Training range concept in the Northern Mariana Islands.  These actions are mutually exclusive programs, but sustaining our joint military forces in the Western Pacific will only endure as much as we can provide them with the training facilities that they need now and in the future. 

I understand that there has been some initial pushback on parts of this joint training plan, but the military must work with the local governments to truly understand their concerns and find solutions that are good for the military and good for the local community.  This is achievable but it will take time, collaboration and creative solutions.  We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of an achievable solution.  I commit to work with my colleagues in Congress, GUASA and experts in the field to make this plan become a reality.  As the Ranking Member of the Readiness Subcommittee, I take the matter of providing our military with the best training capabilities very seriously.  An inevitably smaller force must remain ready all the time.

I appreciate the opportunity to address this GUASA Conference and thank you all for your attention and commitment to the Asia-Pacific rebalance strategy.