The U.S. Congress decided Tuesday to lift a freeze on funding needed to transfer some Marines from Okinawa to Guam, a move that could reduce the U.S. military's giant footprint on the island.
The Armed Services committees of the Senate and House of Representatives agreed to ensure the passage of bills for the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes an outline of defense budgetary plans.
The act for fiscal 2015, which began on Oct. 1, is expected to clear the House this week and the Senate next week, congressional sources say.