4 February – Military EIS Socio-Economic Appointment Request:

On February 4, 2008, John M. Knox and Associates contacted the Chairs of the Civilian Military Taskforce Sub-Committees to schedule meetings to discuss issues/concerns related to the Military Environmental Impact Statement Socio-Economic portion.  A team will be on Guam the week of Feb 11 -15, 2008 to meet with each Sub-Committee Chair.  The Labor Sub-Committee is scheduled to meet with the team on February 14, 2008 at 8:00 am., GDOL 4TH Floor Conference Room.
 
4 February - Bureau of Budget Management & Research Fiscal Year 2010 US Congressional Budget considerations:

Background:   During the January CMTF meeting, Sub-Committee Chairs were tasked with developing budget reports for the Governor to submit in time for the US Congress to consider the funding needs in preparation for the military buildup.  It is expected that the budget report will reflect Fiscal Year 2010 funding needs for each department or agency that will be impacted by the military buildup.  On February 4 & 7, 2008, the Sub-Committee Chairs and Finance/Administrative staff met to discuss the budget submissions.  The proposed budget will be submitted by the Governor for consideration in the US Congressional appropriations    Budgets are broken down into three (3) categories:
 
• Pre-construction
• Construction
• Post-Construction
 
For purposes of this budget only, sub-committees are submitting budget for FY10 as a stand-alone budget.  Budgets thereafter will be created in 3 year budget format, similar to federal budgets.  Stand alone budgets are due to BBMR on February 29, 2008.
 
5 February – Official Notification – Interim Policy for Labor Certification Filings

Background:  U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services (USCIS) is a bureau in the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  It performs many of the functions formerly carried out by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, (INS) which was part of the Department of Justice.  USCIS priorities are to promote national security, to eliminate immigration case backlogs, and to improve customer services.  USCIS is charged with processing immigrations visa petitions, naturalizations petitions, and asylum and refugee applications, as well as making adjudicative decisions performed at the service centers, and managing all other immigration benefits functions performed by the former INS.
 
USCIS is one of the Interagency Group for Insular Areas (IGIA) federal member representatives for the Labor/Workforce group.   Currently for action, USCIS is reviewing for approval the prevailing wage rates for positions occupied by temporary foreign hires under H-2B Visa Program.  In addition, Ms. Hiroko Witherow, Adjudication Officer, USCIS continues to provide technical assistance which resulted in the issuance of an interim local policy on early filing of Temporary Labor Certifications for Guam.  Ms. Witherow was instrumental in notifying Vermont and California Service Centers to accept early filings from Guam.  In the past, USCIS Service Centers were returning early filings from Guam.
 
Please click here to view or download this report.