US House cuts funding for Marine transfer to Guam

July 29, 2010
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The US House of Representatives has voted to slash to around one-third the fiscal 2011 funding for the US Marines' relocation from Okinawa to Guam.

The House on Wednesday approved the budget for construction of defense facilities for the fiscal year that starts in October.

Under the plan, 150 million dollars were earmarked for the planned transfer of 8,000 Marines from the Japanese island of Okinawa to the US territory of Guam. The figure was about one-third the amount requested by the Defense Department.

The House says the Pentagon failed to give a clear explanation of the relocation plan although a final environmental impact assessment suggested possible delays until 2017.

But the House also says it continues to support the plan to transfer some of Okinawa's Marines to Guam.

The Senate is expected to approve a similar budget that involves a deep cut in relocation funding.

Observers say there is a growing likelihood that the relocation will be delayed beyond the 2014 deadline set by the US and Japanese governments.

2010/07/29 11:50(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)