DOI endorses San Nicolas war claims bill
Fresh from passage through its House natural resources committee mark-up hearing, H.R. 1365 introduced by Congressman Michael San Nicolas continues to get bi-partisan support, the latest of which comes from the Department of Interior.
In a June 18 letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Robert Bernhardt urged both the House and Senate “to expedite its consideration and approval” of H.R. 1365, which seeks to make technical corrections to the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act and expedite the distribution of Guam war claims.
In his letter, Bernhardt wrote: “The Department of the Interior respectfully requests prompt congressional action to enact H.R. 1365 and thereby allow Treasury to start distributing payments for certified claims before Guam’s historic (Liberation) event.”
Responding to the DOI endorsement, San Nicolas said he is deeply grateful for the “plain urgency” and “clear support” from the DOI and Secretary Bernhardt for H.R. 1365.