On July 22, 2026, the US House of Representatives passed the NDAA Reauthorization (HB 8800) Text – H.R.8800 – 119th Congress (2025-2026): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress. The bill includes a provision in Section 1704 below.
SEC. 1704. INAPPLICABILITY OF DEFENSE BASE ACT TO GUAM. Section 1 of the Defense Base Act (42 U.S.C. 1651) is amended-- (1) in subsection (b)- (A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and the District of Columbia.'' and inserting ``, the District of Columbia, and Guam;''; (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(5) the term `Territory or possession outside the continental United States' does not include Guam.''; and (2) by adding at the end the following: ``(g) Limitation on Applicability.--This section shall only apply to Guam during periods in which Guam has in effect worker's compensation regulations that are comparable to the laws and regulations of worker's compensation regulations in any of the 50 States.''.
It is likely that this legislation will be enacted by the US Senate.
If enacted, a comparison of the laws in Guam with state workers’ compensation in the 50 states would be required.
