Madeleine Z. Bordallo

Hillary Clinton is a friend of Guam and the right choice to be our Democratic nominee and the next president of the United States.

I have known Hillary for most of my years of public service. We were first ladies together when Bill Clinton was governor of Arkansas and Ricky was governor of Guam; she was first lady of the United States during most of my two terms as lieutenant governor; and she served as a U.S. senator from New York and then Secretary of State during my time as Guam’s representative in Congress. I have always known Hillary to be an intelligent and motivated individual who works hard to positively affect change for others.

Throughout her life of public service, Hillary has fought for justice and equality for women, children and families, the middle class and working Americans, and the poor and underprivileged. She has been a strong advocate for Guam and has supported many issues important to our island and our people. Throughout her career, she has visited Guam on several occasions, and she understands well the challenges that we face as an island in an increasingly volatile part of the world.

Bordallo criticizes actor Tim Robbins' joke on Guam's inability to vote

As a senator, she supported efforts to resolve war claims for the survivors of the Japanese occupation of Guam and to improve benefits and advocated for more assistance to be provided to the U.S. territories. She was also keenly aware of the challenges of Compact-Impact in the affected jurisdictions, and I know she would work with members of Congress from the affected jurisdictions to find innovative ways to solve this challenge.

As secretary of state, Hillary was a key architect of the rebalance strategy to the Asia-Pacific region. She understood that America must have a strong presence in our region and that the future of trade and security for our country will depend in large part on the stability of the Asia-Pacific region. I know that as president she would continue to focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition to supporting these issues, it is Hillary’s passion and devotion to making real change that will positively impact our residents and millions of Americans across our country that makes me confident that Hillary is the best candidate for president of the United States.

In 1995, I led the Guam delegation where Hillary gave her now-famous speech to the United Nations Fourth World Congress on Women in Beijing, where she proclaimed that “human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights.” This sentiment has been the foundation of her career of public service.

Bordallo addresses Compact funding, self-determination

She will fight for those who need it most and will not give up until everyone is treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve, and that everyone can compete on a level playing field. Hillary has demonstrated time and time again that she can get things done and has the results to prove it.

We need effective leadership in Washington, given the challenges posed by extremely conservative elements of the Republican Party.

I’m with Hillary Clinton this election. I encourage our Guam Democrats to join me in voting for her on May 7 to be our nominee and the next president of the United States. Let us help Hillary break the bamboo ceiling in national politics to become the first female president of the United States.

Madeleine Z.Bordallo is the Guam delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. She previously served as lieutenant governor of Guam, senator in the 16th, 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd Guam Legislatures, and first lady of Guam.