Congressman James Moylan called for measures to address the high cost of living in Guam during the 2026 Senior Plenary session of the Interagency Group on Insular Areas (IGIA). The IGIA brings together federal officials and territorial leaders annually to coordinate policies that affect U.S. territories.
“I encourage all stakeholders to focus on what matters most for Guamanians,” said Congressman Moylan, “that’s lowering the cost of groceries, fuel, housing, and healthcare.”
In his remarks, Moylan highlighted how federal transportation, shipping, and energy policies influence daily expenses for Guam residents. He urged support for a range of policy recommendations he has put forward to tackle these issues.
Moylan also promoted his Pacific Islands Flight Alternatives Act, introduced last year. The legislation would create an exception to air cabotage laws, permitting allied foreign carriers to stop in Guam and the CNMI while traveling between the States. According to Moylan, this bill aims to reduce airfares “that would allow families to visit loved ones in the States and our sister islands to the North, access medical treatments that are not available in our islands, and promote domestic and foreign tourism in the Marianas, stimulating our economy and strengthening American influence in the Western Pacific.”
The Congressman discussed his leadership on seven legislative measures targeting relief from certain provisions of the Jones Act. “To be clear, I am not recommending we abolish it entirely. Rather, we should have policies that make sense for the 21st century.” Moylan has advocated for targeted waivers allowing transport of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) through Guam, Hawaii, and other non-contiguous areas.
“Allowing these ships to stop in Hawai’i and Guam would benefit the American energy sector, supporting the President’s vision for energy dominance, drive down costs for ratepayers, and enhance energy resiliency,” Moylan said. “The cost of materials driven up by outdated maritime policies continues to be a source of pain for everyone on our island,” he added.
He noted that following a joint request with Governor Leon Guerrero, the Department of Defense is beginning work on an Economic Adjustment Committee aimed at improving coordination of federal support as defense-driven growth continues.
Moylan invited IGIA planners to hold future sessions within U.S. territories so federal officials can better understand local conditions. “Without focusing on the core issues, we risk failing to fulfill the mandate for IGIA,” he added. “I’m hopeful, really hopeful for the continued progress that we can make.”
