FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (August 10, 2021 – Hagåtña, Guam) Speaker Therese Terlaje has issued the following statement regarding RISE payments:

“The Governor has clearly had the authority to remove impediments to making RISE payments and had the ARP funds in the bank since May but failed to deliver the money to those in need.

Today, the Governor said they are still working on an application after seven months and won’t release the funds until September. It is a mockery of the real suffering and needs in our community and flagrant disregard for the truth that she held the funds this long without a legitimate reason yet started spending it for other purposes.

It is ironic that the Governor is alleging the motivation in passing legislation was about recognition and headlines then immediately took credit for pumping $1.2 Billion into the economy when that came from the federal government.

We sent two bills with two options to remove any perceived impediments on the RISE payments. All the Governor has to do is pick one and stop the games.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (August 9, 2021 – Hagåtña, Guam)  Speaker Therese Terlaje introduced a bill that would set aside the anticipated federal cash reimbursement of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for the sole purpose of swift payments of tax refunds beginning with tax year 2021.

Bill No. 175-36 (LS) would ensure that GovGuam has a sufficient amount of cash to quickly pay all tax refunds eligible for the EITC refund by requiring immediate deposits of the EITC cash reimbursements from the federal government into the Income Tax Refund Efficient Payment Trust Fund. Before the EITC cash reimbursement is used for any other purpose, Bill No. 175-36 will allow GovGuam to catch up on tax refund payments and ensure enough cash is available in the Trust Fund to make swift tax refund payments for the entire tax year.

“We should lock away the federal reimbursement for these EITC tax refunds so that the next years’ refunds can be paid within 30 days of processing. We have been told time and time again by multiple administrations that the timing of the payments for tax refunds is dependent on the amount of cash available to make the refund payments, but we know that the working families that qualify for the EITC are often the ones who are in dire need of their tax refunds and it should be our duty to ensure the government pay these refunds immediately, rather than borrow them for other government services.  This will also relieve the pressure on the General Fund ensuring that the payment of all types of refunds can be made sooner rather than waiting for up to 6 months,” stated Speaker Terlaje.

Part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 included language that would provide a 100% cost reimbursement from the federal government for EITC obligations to the government of Guam beginning in 2021 and for all following tax years. Prior to passage of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the EITC obligations for Guam would range between $55 and $60 million dollars annually and would be paid using local tax revenues.

In 2001, prior to being a senator, Speaker Terlaje successfully represented the 25^th Guam Legislature as legal counsel in the original Earned Income Tax Credit case brought before the Supreme Court of Guam to compel the government of Guam to implement the EITC program for working families. The EITC aims to reduce poverty by supplementing the earnings of low-wage workers and by rewarding work.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (August 9, 2021 – Hagåtña, Guam) Speaker Therese Terlaje introduced Resolution 143-36 (LS) Friday afternoon to express support and advocate for the passage of H.R. 3730, which was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives by the Honorable Delegate Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan from the Northern Marianas Islands on June 04, 2021. The bill is co-sponsored by ten other House members, including Guam’s own Honorable Delegate Michael F.Q. San Nicholas.

H.R. 3730 proposes an Advisory Committee on United States Outlying Areas and Freely Associated States to advise the Secretary on matters relating to covered veterans, including program and services improvement. The Advisory Committee will consist of 15 voting members appointed to represent covered veterans in eight remote areas of the world, including Guam. 

The resolution is co-sponsored by Senator Jose “Pedo” Terlaje who serves as Chairperson of the Committee on Military and Veteran’s Affairs. Senator Terlaje was “honored” to co-sponsor the resolution, stating that, “Our local veterans need a seat at the table when decisions are being made by Veterans Administration.  The people of Guam are always first to volunteer to defend our country, they should be first when it comes to taking care of veterans.”

“I want to thank Honorable Delegate Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan and his co-sponsors for introducing this bill to the House,” said Speaker Terlaje. “For years I have listened to the hardships experienced by our island’s veterans. From unprocessed medical claims to understaffed facilities to Agent Orange exposure, I have advocated for our veterans, and will continue to do so which is why I have introduced this resolution. I believe that H.R. 3730 will aid in getting our veterans the representation they deserve.”