U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), spoke of the many New Mexicans in her district that play vital roles in keeping the peace in the South Pacific, and emphasized what Congress can do to support United States’ military presence in that area as well as the Freely Associated States in a House Committee and Natural Resources Committee Hearing. 

“Some may be asking why two members from New Mexico are interested in the South Pacific and the compacts of Free Association,” Rep. Stansbury said. “That is, in part because many of our constituents back home play a vital role in national security—from the air men and women who served at Kirtland Air Force Base in my district, to the scientists at our national labs who helped to support these missions, and our proud service members across New Mexico of which we have many—including my own partner who is a proud veteran and Marine who served in the Pacific.”

In her line of questioning, Rep. Stansbury homed in on the most significant things Congress can do to support the troops and the people of the South Pacific. 

“I think the immediate term, ma’am, in the Freely Associated States, as I said, small units, engineering units, medical detachments put in there for some extended period of time, and you keep replacing them, this permanent presence, show that you’re there and that you’re interested,” witness Colonel Grant Newsham said. “And also, as I say, create something along the lines of a local defense force, so that you’re not just there doing all the work, have the locals brought into this as well. That would be something I really would stress. And there’s a lot of good young officers who want to be in these places using their initiative away from the headquarters.”

Rep. Stansbury ended her time by highlighting another benefit of the U.S.’ presence in the South Pacific: the opportunity for the people in the Freely Associated States to serve in the U.S. military. 

The full video can be found here.