FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 16, 2025
Washington, D.C. / Hagåtña, Guam – During his recent mission to Washington, D.C., Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio engaged several members of Congress to advocate for various Guam priorities.
Meeting with Guam Delegate James Moylan Lieutenant Governor Tenorio met with Guam’s Delegate to Congress, Congressman James Moylan, to discuss military-related initiatives, advocacy under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), and concerns related to proposed deep-sea mining activities in the Pacific, along with other priorities requiring continued Congressional engagement. Congressman Moylan reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for Guam and supporting federal authorizations and appropriations that address the island’s infrastructure, environmental, and public health needs. The Lt. Governor emphasized the need to ensure Guam’s affected communities are fully and fairly recognized under federal policy.
“Our partnership with Congressman Moylan is essential to advancing Guam’s priorities in Washington,” said Lt. Governor Tenorio. “Working together ensures federal policies are informed by the realities facing our island community.”
Meeting with U.S. Senator Roger Wicker’s Senior Staff The Lt. Governor met with Al Davis Saab, Policy Advisor to U.S. Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker, to discuss Guam’s allocation under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and the NTIA’s current nationwide pause on BEAD non-deployment activities. They shared that Senator Wicker plans to introduce an amendment to ensure that Guam, as well as other states and territories, can fully utilize their BEAD allocations, particularly for national security and public safety projects. Lt. Governor Tenorio emphasized the importance of ensuring BEAD implementation reflects Guam’s geographic realities, infrastructure costs, and strategic role.
“For Guam, BEAD is not just about connectivity—it is an opportunity to utilize more than $120 million for digital modernization as well as cyber resilience, security, and readiness,” said Lt. Governor Tenorio. “Our geographic realities and higher infrastructure costs require flexibility so we can invest in the full range of broadband-related needs, including cybersecurity and other critical systems that support public safety and our strategic role in the Indo-Pacific.”
Meeting with Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (Hawai‘i) Lt. Governor Tenorio met with Congresswoman Jill Tokuda to discuss shared regional concerns, including the potential impacts of critical mineral extraction in the Pacific, environmental
stewardship, and the interconnected nature of Pacific Island ecosystems. The Lt. Governor also emphasized the urgent need for federal funding to support the planning and construction of a new hospital in Guam, noting its importance not only for residents’ access to quality health care but also for supporting military readiness and continuity of operations in the Indo-Pacific. Given Guam’s strategic role and the presence of major military installations, the island’s civilian health care infrastructure is a critical component of national security and emergency preparedness. Congresswoman Tokuda, as the Ranking Member of the House Rural Health Care Subcommittee, can advocate for federal resources and funding to support a new hospital in Guam.
“Guam and Hawai‘i share a responsibility to protect the health of our people, our environment, and our region,” said Lt. Governor Tenorio. “A modern hospital is essential to meeting the everyday needs of our residents while also ensuring Guam is prepared to support military operations, disaster response, and regional stability. Federal investment in health infrastructure is a matter of both public health and national security. Additionally, any regional development must be approached with care, transparency, and respect for the communities that depend on these ecosystems.”
Meeting with Congresswoman Kim King-Hinds (CNMI) Lt. Governor Tenorio met with Congresswoman Kim King-Hinds to discuss shared priorities affecting Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, including workforce stability through the H-2B program, equitable broadband support, and ongoing concerns related to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) Request for Information and Interest on deep-sea mining. The discussion reflected a shared regional perspective, with Congresswoman King-Hinds emphasizing the direct implications of proposed deep-sea mining activities for the environmental health, cultural resources, and coastal communities within her district. Both leaders underscored the importance of allowing sufficient time for scientific review, interagency coordination, and meaningful community engagement before federal actions move forward. Shortly after their meeting, BOEM officially extended its deadline to comment on the proposal for leasing waters near the CNMI for deep-sea mining by an extra 30 days. The new deadline for public comments is now January 12, 2026.
“Guam and the CNMI benefit when we advocate together,” said Lt. Governor Tenorio. “Our collaboration helps ensure federal policies support workforce needs, connectivity, and sustainable economic growth across our islands, while protecting the ocean resources that sustain our communities.”
Meeting with Congressman George Whitesides (California) Lt. Governor Tenorio met with Congressman George Whitesides, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. Tenorio provided the Congressman with updates on Guam’s civilian infrastructure needs, with focused attention on housing affordability and infrastructure needs. Tenorio raised concerns about deep-sea mining and the inclusion of eligible Guam residents in RECA. Tenorio also discussed the nuclear legacy issues attributed to the testing of
nuclear weapons in the Marshall Islands and requested for the Congressman’s advocacy in resolving this longstanding issue.
Whitesides is a former Chief of Staff for NASA during the Obama Administration and was the first CEO of Virgin Galactic. Lt. Governor Tenorio and Whitesides discussed opportunities for Guam’s aviation and aerospace industries and the importance of the NASA Guam remote station, which provides communication coverage to the International Space Station.
“I am pleased that Congressman Whitesides has taken an interest in Guam and our people. He contacted me after reading a Wall Street Journal article featuring Guam Marine Corps Veteran Vince Santiago and the inability of Guam’s people to vote for President or have voting representation in the U.S. Congress. As we advance our federal agenda in Washington, establishing support and interest with Congressional members will be key to our success.”
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