By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

CONGRESSWOMAN Madeleine Z. Bordallo has been tapped to serve as the chairwoman of the subcommittee on fisheries, wildlife and oceans.
Nine Democratic and eight Republican members of Congress will sit on the subcommittee, which has oversight responsibility for programs administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Department of the Interior.
The subcommittee also oversees the many programs administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the Department of Commerce.
According to Bordallo, this subcommittee has been traditionally one of the most active subcommittees in the Committee on Natural Resources and has extensive jurisdiction, including jurisdiction over matters and legislation that pertain to fisheries management, international fishing agreements, coastal zone management, coral reef conservation, oceans research, the wildlife refuge system, and the protection and recovery of endangered species.
Bordallo has served as a member of the subcommittee for the past four years since her first term in Congress.
“I thank Chairman Rahall and my colleagues for their vote of confidence in me to chair this important subcommittee. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on legislation that will promote sustainable fisheries, help recover our endangered species, improve the health of coastal marine ecosystems, and meet the needs of our coastal communities across the United States,” Bordallo said in a statement.
“Our work on the subcommittee to protect ocean resources, and especially our coral reefs, is an important responsibility. It is one that impacts many aspects of the lives of Americans, most especially for us on Guam. I hope to use my new leadership position to advance and bring attention to the issues important to our community,” she added.
The subcommittee on fisheries, wildlife and oceans is one of five subcommittees organized under the rules of the House Committee on Natural Resources, which is chaired by Congressman Nick J. Rahall of West Virginia.
Bordallo was also officially appointed yesterday to the newly established subcommittee on insular affairs within the Committee on Natural Resources. Congresswoman Donna Christensen of the Virgin Islands, who is currently serving her sixth term in Congress, has been selected to chair this subcommittee.
Bordallo has now received all of her committee assignments for the 110th Congress in accordance with House Democratic Caucus rules. She has been appointed to serve on the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Natural Resources. She has also been appointed to a total of four subcommittees, including the leadership position in the Committee on Natural Resources.