FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (October 18, 2022 – Hagåtña, Guam) – Original landowners of the property known as Eagles Field and the surrounding area weighed in today at the Guam Congress Building during an oversight and public hearing on the proposed location of a new hospital.  The hearing was conducted by Speaker Therese Terlaje and the legislative oversight committee on land, who invited landowners, agency, and government officials as well as the general public to discuss their concerns on the siting of the proposed medical campus as well as the procurement of contracts pertaining to it.

The Oversight Chair on Land clarified that the Guam Legislature is not opposed to the construction of a new hospital, evident by the laws the body has passed to establish a health task force, and to authorize the government of Guam to enter into contract for the design, build, finance and lease of a medical campus.

Frank Tenorio Lujan, a member of the public with ties to land on Eagles Field, along with other landowners, urged the members of the legislature to advocate for them to which the Speaker stated that she is supporting what the people of Guam have supported for decades, the return of property to its original landowners stating, “we are with you.”  Terlaje had cited the position of I Liheslaturan Guahan since the passage of the Guam Ancestral Lands enabling act, P.L. 24-45 in 1999, that the government of Guam “memorialize the true history of land takings on Guam, in spite of well-settled legal protections, as a foundation for establishing a process for the recognition of indigenous Guamanians’ claims to their ancestral lands, also known as “ancestral titles” so that the property rights of all citizens residing on Guam may be fully and equally protected in the future.”

The committee chair noted that she was looking to determine what the landowners thought of the proposal of a 99-year lease, instead of the return of land, and the hospital being situated there.  Landowners resoundingly united in support that they wanted the government to advocate for the return of their property.

“I agree that we need a new hospital and have supported the efforts that have come before the legislature. However, if there is an intent and willingness to lease Eagles Field for 99-years, then that sounds like excess to me, as was already indicated in writing by the Secretary of the Navy in his January 15, 2021, letter.  If we were not bold, not unified, nobody would have gotten their land back. Unless the local law is changed, we should honor it.  This is justice for Guam and the landowners, and I thank them for reminding us of the real effects of the massive land takings and of generations that were displaced.” stated the Speaker.

The full 5 hour oversight and public hearing can be found at these links for Part 1 and Part 2.

Speaker Terlaje’s Bill Aims to Bring the ‘ER to your Door’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (October 4, 2022 – Hagåtña, Guam) – A public hearing was held today by the Legislative Oversight Chair for the Committee on Health, Speaker Therese Terlaje, who authored Bill No. 335-36 (COR).  The measure intends to make updates to the ‘Emergency Medical Services’ policy which align Guam with the national certification standards; facilitate local certification for paramedics, in addition to implementing licensure fees to fund special training programs that will enhance healthcare services on Guam.

According to Guam Fire Department (GFD) Fire Chief, Daniel Stone, the bill enables GFD to continue its goal of modernizing the Advanced Life Support (ALS) Units with licensed paramedics.  In addition, he stated that acknowledging the national standards for all emergency healthcare providers will greatly enhance the services provided to the community by both public and private entities.

Dorothy Duenas, Administrator of the School of Allied Health at Guam Community College, also testified in support of the bill.  She stated that GCC has partnered with the School of EMS based out of Tyler, Texas to educate and complete 15 of Guam’s GFD personnel to become paramedics of our island. According to GMHA, the National Registry Certified Paramedic is the highest national prehospital certification for medical first responders and until last month, Guam did not have any paramedic certified first responders for the community outside those working for military installations.

Assistant Fire Chief, Daren Burrier, noted in his testimony that Guam will be able to have a more “ER to the door” concept now.  He stated, “We’re going to have paramedics arrive with all the medications that they are going to need. They’ll be able to start IVs and perform advanced cardiac life support measures in the field prior to arrival” which will help patients increase their chances to survive outside the hospital.

Speaker Terlaje stated, “This bill is coupled with additional proposals by my Committee to modernize certification, licensing, and reporting efforts that address policy gaps with the ultimate goal of improving healthcare services on Guam. Thanks to the hard work and collaborative efforts of GFD and the Guam Community College, we will now be able to train and certify paramedics to support the island’s emergency services. If this bill should pass into law, it will be a major milestone in bringing lifesaving resources to the doorsteps of our residents.”

Bill No. 335-36 can be found here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (September 29, 2022 – Hagåtña, Guam) – Bill 277-36, the Guam Undersea Access for Homes Act (GUAHA), was signed by the Acting Governor this afternoon and became P.L. 36-108.  The measure passed on Monday with all senators present voting in favor of the bill.  Authored by Speaker Therese Terlaje, the bill is a culmination of a year and a half of research that was translated into a modern policy for the licensing of submerged lands under the jurisdiction of the CHamoru Land Trust (CLTC) for the purpose of landing telecommunications cables on Guam.  The final amended measure came before the legislature with urgency to provide resources for the CLTC to negotiate new and expiring leases.

While previous leases for submerged lands licenses were undervalued as low as $5000 per year, GUAHA brings the baseline for new or renegotiated leases up to $100,000 per year per cable with an escalation of 2% per annum.  The funds generated from these licenses would get deposited into the CHamoru Land Trust Survey and Infrastructure Fund since a lack of surveys on CLTC property is one of the primary roadblocks to the issuance of residential and agricultural leases.

“Providing resources for surveys is a critical need to get families into homes on CLTC properties.  The advantages of this bill are far reaching, and this measure is a steppingstone to lift our entire community up. Our residents continue to struggle with affordable housing options for their families and with record inflation, gas prices, and utility costs, it is my hope that we continue to enact policies that encourage fair and responsible development on Guam that directly impacts the lives of our families in a positive way,” stated the Speaker.

International consortiums join forces to provide connectivity across the globe that include companies such as Facebook, Amazon, and Google who fund these multimillion-dollar telecommunications projects.  The new law positions Guam appropriately in the global market to land cables for these companies without cost to Guam’s taxpayers, and ensures environmental safeguards are in place to protect precious land resources.

“It is my hope that the people of Guam will be encouraged by the major progress we have made today on their behalf.”

The Guam Undersea Access for Homes Act was cosponsored by Senators Telo Taitague, Sabina Perez, Telena Cruz Nelson, Christopher Duenas, and Joanne Brown.

The link to Public Law 36-108 can be found here.

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (SEPTEMBER 26, 2022 – Hagåtña, Guam)– Bill No. 309-36 (COR), which is relative to ensuring person or entities who have filed complaints with the Guam Board of Medical Examiners for alleged medical negligence or misconduct are promptly informed on the status of their cases, was debated and moved to the voting file on the Session floor today without objection.

Bill 309 was introduced by Speaker Therese M. Terlaje after several complainants had informed that they were subjected to a lack of efficient follow-up on the status of their cases or a complete absence of a response, even after several requests by complainants for updates. During the latest Committee on Health Oversight Hearing held on February 16, 2022, the Health Professional Licensing Office acknowledged that follow-up with complainants on the status of their cases have been delayed and that they were working to address the issue.

The bill received the support of senators who agreed that the prompt reporting of case statuses should be a standard of the Guam Board of Medical Examiners to ensure fairness, transparency, accountability, and dignity with the process.

Bill 309 is one of several bills introduced by Speaker Terlaje to address a range of complex challenges that appear to impede the Guam Board of Medical Examiners, and other health boards from fulfilling their mandates to improve and protect patient care.

“I want to again thank the very brave people in our community that have come forward to speak up, despite fear of retribution, who bore witness to their tragic stories to highlight where current laws or rules appear to work against them, so that they can be changed. I think we owe them advocacy for truth, justice, and for a process that is fair, a process that encourages action and at the very least, preserves the dignity of our people,” Speaker Terlaje stated.

Session resumes at 9 am tomorrow.

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For more information, please contact Speaker Therese M. Terlaje’s office at (671) 472-3586 or via e-mail at senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (June 28, 2022 – Hagåtña, Guam) – Below is a statement from Speaker Therese M. Terlaje who filed her candidacy with the Guam Election Commission earlier this afternoon:

“After careful consideration and consultation with my family, I have decided to seek re-election to the 37th Guam Legislature. 

The people of Guam have been tested and challenged the past two (2) years.  COVID-19 has caused our people hardship which is expected to continue as we see the rising costs of fuel, food, homes, and healthcare, our basic necessities.  The past 2 years have also consumed government resources for which much was dedicated to COVID response, exposing our fragile healthcare system and putting our people at risk.

We must now focus not just on recovery, but prosperity for the people of Guam, to have a bigger vision of what that means as many of our residents ask themselves what Guam’s economic recovery means for the future of their children and grandchildren.

I feel there is more that I can do for the people of Guam and one day, when life takes me down a different path, I want to be reassured that the work I did as a senator fostered the shared dream of a better future for our families.

If re-elected I would like to spend my term with a more focused approach to resolving some legacy issues our island has faced, ensuring our land resources are protected for future generations, as well as continuing to push for economic recovery and better opportunities for the people of Guam.

I want to extend my sincerest gratitude for your support over the last five and a half (5 ½) years and while I serve until the end of this term as your Senator and Speaker. As I promised, I have fought tirelessly for truth and justice, and I will not compromise your best interest over special interest.

I humbly ask for your support and vote once more to serve you in the 37th Guam Legislature.  Si Yu’os Ma’åse’”

For more information, please email: tmterlaje@gmail.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (June 13, 2022 – Hagåtña, Guam) – On Friday, June 10, 2022, the committee report for Bill No. 261-36 was being routed to members of the Committee on Appropriations. Speaker Terlaje introduced Bill No. 261-36 on February 22, 2022, which proposes a permanent repeal of provisions in the Liquid Fuel Tax bringing relief of twenty-three cents ($.23) per gallon of gas purchased at the pumps for every consumer. Bill No. 261-36 needs two more votes in order for it to be eligible for placement on the session agenda this month. The members who have not yet voted on the committee report are Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes, Senator Amanda Shelton, Senator Clynton Ridgell, Senator Jose “Pedo” Terlaje, and Senator Mary Torres.  

A strikingly similar liquid fuel tax bill by the Committee Chairman was introduced 62 days after Bill No. 261-36 was introduced, 17 days after the public hearing on Bill No. 261-36, and 12 days after Speaker Terlaje sent a draft substitute Bill No. 261-36 to the Chairman for consideration. Speaker Terlaje has been urging the Committee Chairman to make any amendments necessary and report out Bill No. 261-36 so that relief for gas prices could go into effect immediately.  Instead, a competing bill was introduced and has already been voted out of the Committee on Appropriations by members of the Committee.  The only fundamental difference between Bill No. 261-36 and the Chairman’s bill is that Substitute Bill No. 261-36 repeals liquid fuel taxes permanently as opposed to the Chairman’s bill that places a 180-day moratorium on liquid fuel taxes.  

False assertions have been made in recent media coverage about Speaker Terlaje’s Bill 261-36 with the Speaker clearing the record stating, “My liquid fuel tax bills never attempted to direct federal money for any potential gaps left by repealing the gas taxes, nor would it short any government agency funding for FY 2022 or beyond.  These statements mislead the people of Guam on the intent and actual provisions contained within the bill.” 

In addition, recommended changes were sent on April 12th by the Speaker to the Committee for consideration that would assuage concerns made at the public hearing, but would not have made any substantive changes to mechanics of the bill.  With the changes to Bill No. 261-36, the fiscal impact is estimated to be $8 M annually and only $2.8 M for the last four months of FY 2022, based on calculations using initial estimates provided by the Department of Revenue and Taxation. 
“It was clear from the public hearing on Bill No. 261-36 in April when the General Fund was showing $61 M in excess of adopted revenues that my bill was not going to impact the FY 2022 appropriations of any agencies funded by liquid fuel taxes. This is further evidenced with the competing bill by the Chairman which temporarily repeals the liquid fuel tax in FY 2022 and for a portion of FY 2023. If there was truly a threat to the agencies’ budgets as asserted in the media, he would not have introduced a bill to temporarily repeal the liquid fuel taxes using the same funding source (i.e. FY 2022 excess general fund revenues) as Bill No. 261-36,” stated Speaker Terlaje.

The Speaker had attempted to consider Bill 261-36 during the April and May sessions but the committee report was not provided by the Appropriations Chair.  Speaker Terlaje plans to call the next session on June 28 and will seek her colleagues’ support for swift passage of gas tax relief measures. 
“It is our duty as policymakers to decide on tax policy with diligence and responsibility, not by political gamesmanship and misleading statements.  Gas prices have been rising since the beginning of the year and we have had the opportunity to provide relief to our residents, families, and businesses for four months now. I urge the people of Guam to call their Senators to reconsider their position on providing permanent relief to all gas consumers and asking committee members to vote to report out Bill 261-36,” stated Speaker Terlaje. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (June 8, 2022 – Hagåtña, Guam)  

Speaker Terlaje extends her thanks to Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors (PARS) for their work in getting a 2-year extension for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). 

“For over 20 years PARS has put forth education campaigns, solicited community input to tell the stories of Guam radiation survivors, partnered with community groups in other impacted jurisdictions and lobbied Congressional leaders to include Guam in RECA. Thank you to PARS President Robert Celestial and PARS members, past and present, who have tirelessly advocated for Guam’s inclusion in RECA and this two-year extension to RECA.  This extension gives us more time to continue pushing for the passage of S. 2798 and H.R. 5338. I continue to be fully committed and engaged in ensuring the bills in both the House and the Senate are passed.  These bills would finally secure the justified compensation and benefits our island radiation survivors need. The $150,000 for each cancer patient or survivor would help offset the exorbitant costs of treatment in Guam and improve our island’s overall access to healthcare opportunities,” stated Speaker Terlaje.

FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE: (May 18, 2022  – Hagåtña, Guam) Speaker Therese Terlaje stated, “As the Chairperson of the Committee on Health, regardless of my personal views on the issue of abortion and this bill, I have carried through with my duty to create a fair and accurate record of all the testimony on Bill 291, for any subsequent legislative deliberation and debate on this bill, and so that senators contemplating any further action on the bill can be fully informed by the public hearing.”

The Committee Report for Bill No. 291-36 (LS)– “Relative to Abortion, including abortion after detection of an unborn child’s heartbeat; authorizing a private civil right of action, introduced by Senator Telena C. Nelson, Senator Amanda L. Shelton, Senator Christopher Dueñas, and Senator Frank Blas Jr.,” was sent to committee members for their vote at 7:00 a.m. today. As of 3:30 p.m., only two votes have been received, none of which are from the three bill sponsors that sit on the Health Committee. 

The report for Bill No. 291-36 (LS) holds more than 2000 pages and outlines the intervening circumstances of the leaked Supreme Court decision and the resulting complicated issue of the 1990 law (PL 20-134), amongst other relative documentation.  The committee report more importantly includes as official record, an overwhelming eight-hundred and eighty-one (881) written testimonies against and two-Hundred and eighty-four (284) in favor of the bill. It is required that the Committee Report for Bill No. 291-36 be reported out of committee, for there to be a permanent legislative record of this testimony and so that there can be deliberation on this divisive issue by all senators, to all be held accountable. 

Bill 291 was removed today from the May session agenda “potential items” listing by a vote during the Committee on Rules meeting, including two co-sponsors of the bill, Senator Amanda Shelton and Senator Frank Blas, Jr. The prime sponsor Senator Nelson was not present and is on military duty until tomorrow. This vote temporarily prevents action on the bill. 

“Absent withdrawal of the bill, a vote blocking the bill from the agenda merely puts it off for another day when conditions are more favorable to the sponsors. For example, one of the largest concerns stated at the public hearing, was that this bill was timed prior to the election. Placement of this bill on the agenda closer to the election may be the strategy. Unfortunately, that prolongs a very painful and divisive debate, as we have seen to be the goal in some states. I do not want that for our community,” stated Speaker Terlaje.