At the 2026 Senior Plenary session of the Interagency Group on Insular Areas (IGIA), Congressman James Moylan called for greater attention to the cost-of-living challenges facing families in Guam. The IGIA brings together senior federal officials and territorial leaders annually to coordinate policy for 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.”
During his remarks, Moylan stressed that federal policies on transportation, shipping, and energy have a direct impact on everyday expenses for residents of Guam. He urged support for several policy measures he has introduced to address these concerns.
One legislative effort highlighted by Moylan is the Pacific Islands Flight Alternatives Act. Introduced last year, this bill would allow allied foreign air carriers limited exemptions from air cabotage laws so they could stop in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) when flying between those islands and the United States mainland. According to Moylan, this measure is designed to lower 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.”
Moylan also discussed his efforts related to maritime policy. “In Congress, I am leading and co-leading seven measures to provide targeted relief for the Jones Act,” he said. “To be clear, I am not recommending we abolish it entirely. Rather, we should have policies that make sense for the 21st century.” As an example, he has sought specific waivers that would permit shipments of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) from the U.S. 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 stated. He added: “The cost of materials driven up by outdated maritime policies continues to be a source of pain for everyone on our island.”
Moylan further noted early steps by the Department of Defense toward establishing an Economic Adjustment Committee—a move prompted by a joint request with Governor Leon Guerrero—to improve coordination of federal support as defense-related activities increase in Guam.
He invited IGIA planners to hold future sessions within U.S. territories so federal officials can gain firsthand understanding of local conditions: “Without focusing on the core issues, we risk failing to fulfill the mandate for IGIA,” he said. “I’m hopeful, really hopeful for the continued progress that we can make.”
