Month: June 2018

VICE SPEAKER TERLAJE CONGRATULATES PARS AND AFFIRMS INCLUSION IN RECA IS OVERDUE

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (June 28, 2018 – Hagåtña) –Vice Speaker Therese Terlaje commends the Pacific Association of Radiation Survivors and their president Robert Celestial for his historic testimony today in front of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Senate Bill 197, also known as the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Amendments Act of 2017, which would include Guam as one of the downwind areas.

“I congratulate Robert Celestial and the Pacific Association of Radiation Survivors and all of those who have helped them along the way, for their work and personal sacrifice in continuing to advocate for justice for Guam. These few work out of love for the benefit of many, many people on Guam who are suffering from cancer and other radiation related illness. I am very grateful, and am trying my best to ensure that we as leaders do all we can to support and continue this fight for justice, compassion, and health,” Vice Speaker Terlaje stated.

Vice Speaker Terlaje also submitted written testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee expressing her support for S. 197. According to the U.S. Census, the population of Guam between 1940 and 1960 ranged from 22,290 to 67,044 inhabitants. This is the number of people who were exposed to radiation as downwinders during the time of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands. (Please see the attached written testimony from Vice Speaker Terlaje.)

“It’s an unsettling truth that our family members were exposed to radiation from U.S. nuclear testing, and suffer from cancer and other illnesses. The U.S. government provides free medical care and compassionate compensation to people from other jurisdictions that were exposed. Since the findings in 2005, Guam’s inclusion in RECA is overdue. Compassion, medical care, and justice for the people of Guam suffering from cancer is equally warranted,” Vice Speaker Terlaje stated.

Read Vice Speaker Terlaje’s written testimony here:
Terlaje RECA Senate Judiciary Written Testimony June 2018

Read Robert Celestial’s testimony here:
06-27-18 Celestial Testimony

VIEW NEWS COVERAGE ON THE HEARING:

KUAM News:
Robert Celestial urges senators in DC to pass nuclear testing legislation
http://www.kuam.com/story/38527336/robert-celestial-urges-senators-in-dc-to-pass-nuclear-testing-legislation

Pacific News Center:
Radiation Survivors president testifies before Senate subcommittee
https://pacificnewscenter.com/radiation-survivors-president-testifies-before-senate-subcommittee/

Guam Daily Post:
US Senate Committee to hear Guam voice on radiation-related illness
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/us-senate-committee-to-hear-guam-voice-on-radiation-related/article_8c413fe4-79eb-11e8-a593-2bd27d1b39fb.html

Guam advocate for radiation-related illness compensation heard in US Senate
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/guam-advocate-for-radiation-related-illness-compensation-heard-in-us/article_1c9e843c-7a6b-11e8-a2d9-73c55c32f868.html

Pacific Daily News:
Bordallo supports bill aimed at veterans affected by nuclear radiation
https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2018/06/28/nuclear-compensation-bill-receives-support-congresswoman/740639002/

Saipan Tribune:
PARS commends Celestial for testifying on behalf of the people of Guam
https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/pars-commends-celestial-for-testifying-on-behalf-of-the-people-of-guam/

Marianas Variety:
US Senate panel to hear Guam’s inclusion in radiation exposure compensation program
http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/105237-us-senate-panel-to-hear-guam-s-inclusion-in-radiation-exposure-compensation-program

Kilili urges US to address downwind inequities
http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/105650-kilili-urges-us-to-address-downwind-inequities

Newstalk K57:
Senator Therese Terlaje and Robert Celestial with Patti Arroyo
https://k57.com/sen-terese-terlaje-and-robert-celestial-with-patti-arroyo/

Robert Celestial with Andrea Pellacani
https://k57.com/robert-celestial-with-andrea-pellacani/

Pacific Island Times:
US Sent Panel to Hear Radiation Compensation Bill
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/single-post/2018/06/14/US-Senate-panel-to-hear-radiation-compensation-bill

Guam Pushing for Radiation Exposure Compensation in Washington
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/single-post/2018/06/27/Guam-pushing-for-radiation-exposure-comp-in-Washington-DC

For more information, please call the Office of Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje at (671) 472-3586.

GUAM TO MAKE ITS CASE IN WASHINGTON FOR RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (June 27, 2018 – Hagåtña) – Panelists are set to examine the requirements for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program in a hearing with the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary taking place at midnight, Guam time, tonight. Guam resident, longtime advocate, and president of the Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors (PARS), Robert Celestial will join other advocates from New Mexico, Arizona, and Idaho on a panel to discuss Senate Bill 197, also known as Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Amendments of 2017. The Act would allow those who resided in Guam between 1946 and 1962 and who suffered from cancer or other listed radiation-related illnesses, to apply for compensation that would include free medical care and up to $150,000 from the remaining funds in the RECA Trust Fund. The panelists will each have 5 minutes to provide testimony and answer questions. Guam residents can watch the live broadcast of the hearing at 12 a.m. on June 28 at: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/examining-the-eligibility- requirements-for-the-radiation-exposure-compensation-program-to-ensure-all-downwinders-receive- coverage.

Yesterday, Vice Speaker Therese Terlaje and Mr. Celestial met with staff members from the office of Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the main sponsor of S.197 who will also be chairing the hearing. There will be 2 panels at the hearing, the first panel led by Senator Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) who sponsored a similar bill in previous terms. The second panel will include Mr. Celestial and other representatives.

Please see the statement from the Office of Senator Crapo at: https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/reca-downwinder-hearing-to-be-carried-live

Vice Speaker Terlaje and Mr. Celestial also met with Congressman Greg Walden (R-Oregon), Chairman of House Energy and Commerce Committee, to discuss HR 2049, which is the RECA bill in the House of Representatives. Unlike the Senate where the bill was referred to one committee, HR 2049 was referred to 3 committees in the House, including the Energy, Judiciary, and Education committees. Also unlike the RECA bill in the Senate, HR 2049 would give healthcare parity to atomic cleanup veterans such as Celestial, who helped cleanup Enewetak after the nuclear testing. According to Terlaje, Congressman Walden thanked her and Celestial for bringing the scientific findings and recommendations by the National Academies of Science that Guam should be included as downwinders in RECA to his attention and promised that he would look into it. The Congressman also thanked Celestial for his military service, and said, “Our country is not done paying for World War II”.

Today, Vice Speaker Terlaje will meet again with the main sponsor of HR 2049, Congressman Ben Ray Lujan’s (D-New Mexico) staff. After tomorrow’s hearing, Vice Speaker Terlaje and Mr. Celestial will meet with Senators and members of the House to discuss healthcare parity for atomic cleanup veterans, which was fully supported by the Guam Legislature Resolution No. 40-34.

For more information, please call the Office of Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje at (671) 472-3586.

JUSTICE FOR GUAM RESIDENTS EXPOSED TO RADIATION FINALLY ONE STEP CLOSER TO BEING ACHIEVED

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (June 13, 2018 – Hagåtña) – Another step forward was achieved by the Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors’ (PARS) fight for justice and assistance for those exposed to radiation on Guam during nuclear weapons testing conducted by the U.S. government in the Marshall Islands. The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary will hold a hearing at 10:00 am on June 27, 2018 in Washington D.C. for S.B. 197, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments (RECA) of 2017, which would allow those who resided in Guam between 1945 and 1962 and who suffered from cancer or other listed radiation-related illness, to apply for compensation that would include free medical care and up to $150,000 from the remaining funds in the RECA Trust Fund.

Robert N. Celestial, president of PARS and longtime advocate for the inclusion of Guam in RECA, has been invited by the U.S. Senate Committee to testify on behalf of the people of Guam. He will be travelling to Washington D.C. to provide his expert testimony and many years of research.

Vice Speaker Therese Terlaje will also be attending the hearing and following up on lobbying that she participated in last October 2017 in furtherance of Resolution No. 39-34 (COR), passed unanimously by the 34th Guam Legislature in April 2017, which petitioned the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that would compensate those suffering from cancer and health issues due to radiation exposure from nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific.

“Guam has been united in this effort for many, many years through the leadership of the Pacific Association of Radiation Survivors (PARS), Mr. Robert N. Celestial, the late Dr. Chris Perez, the late Senator Angel Santos, former Speakers Ben Pangelinan, Mark Forbes, Judith Won Pat, Speaker BJ Cruz, and many others. Justice is long overdue,” stated Vice Speaker Terlaje.

Terlaje further stated, “Free medical care and compassionate payments of $150,000 will certainly help cancer patients on Guam. Mr. Robert Celestial and the people of Guam have been working for years to educate lawmakers and ensure justice and financial redress for Guam, as has been given to other downwind populations who have endured the environmental and health impacts from radiation. A Senate hearing on whether to include Guam is an historic first. ”

“I want members of Congress to recognize that this is a very important issue that warrants justice for Guam’s people and that Guam’s leaders are in full support” stated Terlaje.

For more information, please call the Office of Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje at (671) 472-3586.

Resolutions to Support Vietnam Veteran Upgrades to Medal of Honor

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (June 5, 2018– Hagåtña)- The case files of six native sons, who are recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Award for extreme acts of valor in combat during the Vietnam War, are amongst those being championed for an upgrade to the Medal of Honor.

In compliance with the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017, the Department of the Army is currently reviewing the case files of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander War Veterans to determine if they were bypassed for the Medal of Honor due to racial, ethnic, religious or political biases.

CSM Martin A. Manglona, SGM Juan O. Blaz, Sergeant First Class Vicente T. Dydasco, Staff Sergeant Enrique Cruz, Staff Sergeant Tomas G. Reyes, and Specialist Fourth Class Joseph M. Perez are the six Vietnam Veterans, whose heroic acts in combat during the Vietnam War earned them the DSC Award.

In honor of their heroism and in support of the review effort, the 34th Guam Legislature will present commendatory legislative resolutions to the DSC Veterans and their families. The resolutions (Resolution Nos. 450-34 (COR) through 455-34 (COR)) were introduced by Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje, Senator Tom Ada, Senator Frank B. Aguon Jr., Senator Fernando Esteves, Senator Telena C. Nelson, Senator Joe S. San Agustin, and Senator Dennis G. Rodriguez Jr.

The presentation of resolutions will take place on June 11, 2018, 9:00 a.m. at the Guam Congress Building. The public is invited.

Retired Marine Colonel Joaquin Santos Jr., an advocate for the Medal of Honor upgrade of the six Chamorro veterans stated,”I am elated to know that Guam will finally recognize our heroes who shed their blood in the War in Vietnam. These six Chamorro men played a major role in the
accomplishment of their mission, and the Army awarded them the Distinguished Service Cross for their unselfish valorous and heroic acts above and beyond the call of duty.”

“The stories of these six courageous and sacrificing men are inspiring and should be recognized in our Guam archives. If they were bypassed unjustly then I hope that these efforts will help bring justice to them and their families,” stated Terlaje.

For more information, please call the Office of Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje at (671) 472-3586.