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. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (May 4, 2022 – Hagåtña, Guam) – All testimonies on Bill 291-36 (LS) submitted to the Committee on Health, Land, Justice and Culture, chaired by Speaker Therese M. Terlaje, will be made available to the public via Google Drive link on Speaker Terlaje’s website. The website can be accessed here: http://senatorterlaje.com/. As of this morning the Committee has received 127 testimonies in favor of Bill 291-36 (LS) and 678 testimonies in opposition to Bill 291-36 (LS). So far, 36 people have testified in-person on Bill 291-36 (LS).

Following the two public hearings on Bill 291-36 (LS) completed from 1:00-5:00 and 6:00-10:00 PM on May 4, there will be two more public hearings on Bill 291-36 (LS) on Friday, May 6, 2022 from 1:00-5:00 and 6:00-10:00 PM. Those interested in providing oral testimony must register at (671) 472-3586 or senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com.

Unlimited written testimony may be submitted to the Committee via email: senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com or hand delivery to the Office of the Speaker Therese M. Terlaje at the Guam Congress Building before close of business on, Monday May 9, 2022. All oral and written testimony will be included in the Committee Report on the bill and made available for view to the public on the Guam Legislature’s website. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations can contact the Office of Speaker Therese M. Terlaje.

You can access the Bill 291-36 (LS) Committee Report pending completion of committee vote sheet here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (May 4, 2022 – Hagåtña, Guam) – Below is a statement from Speaker Therese Terlaje on behalf of the 36^th Guam Legislature:

“It is with sadness that we received the news of the passing of Popoy Zamora, former Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner of Dededo, and longtime Filipino community leader.  Mr. Zamora passed away on May 3, 2022, in Cavite, Philippines at the age of 94. 

Mr. Zamora graced our televisions as the host of Buhay Pinoy from 1976 – 2006 bringing us the latest coverage of cultural events, special appearances from visiting Filipino leaders and dignitaries, entertainers, and information for relief drives to help victims of several calamities in the Philippines. As a civic leader and one of Guam’s first “influencers”, Mr. Zamora was recognized for his charitable and humanitarian work as the recipient of the Presidential Award for Outstanding Filipino Overseas for exemplary services to advance the cause of Filipinos on Guam. In addition, the 28^th Guam Legislature commended Mr. Zamora’s work as the founder of the Pilipino Amateur Basketball League.

Our prayers go out to the family of Mr. Zamora.  The impact of his dedication to Guam and service to his community will last for generations.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – The Committee on Health, Land, Justice, and Culture will convene public hearings on WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and continued Friday, May 6, 2022, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., in the Guam Congress Building Public Hearing room, for the following agenda item:

·      Bill No. 291-36 (LS) – Telena Cruz Nelson / Christopher M. Dueñas / Amanda L. Shelton / V. Anthony Ada / Frank Blas, Jr.- “AN ACT TO ADD A NEW CHAPTER 91B TO DIVISION 4 OF TITLE 10 OF THE GUAM CODE ANNOTATED, RELATIVE TO ABORTION, INCLUDING ABORTIONS AFTER DETECTION OF AN UNBORN CHILD’S HEARTBEAT; AUTHORIZING A PRIVATE CIVIL RIGHT OF ACTION.”  Web link: https://www.guamlegislature.com/36th_Guam_Legislature/Bills_Introduced_36th/Bill%20No.%20291-36%20(LS).pdf

As stated in the published and email notices for these hearings, the registration deadline for both hearing days was set for Monday, May 2, 2022, or until all time slots have been filled. This notice is to update the public that the 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. time slots for both days has been filled. However, the Committee is continuing to accept registrations for the 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. time slots for both Wednesday, May 4, 2022, and Friday, May 6, 2022.  Please contact the Office of Speaker Terlaje at (671) 472-3586 or email senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com, if you would like to register to provide oral testimony at the public hearing, or for more information. Due to an anticipated high volume of individuals to provide testimony, oral testimonials are limited to a four (4) minute time slot on one (1) hearing day only, to allow as much public participation as possible. 

Unlimited written testimony may be submitted to the Committee via email: senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com or hand delivered to the Office of the Speaker Therese M. Terlaje at the Guam Congress Building before close of business on, Monday May 9, 2022. All oral and written testimony will be included in the Committee Report on the bill and made available for view to the public on the Guam Legislature’s website. A copy of the bill is attached to this notice and can also be accessed through the web link above. All hearings broadcast on GTA TV Channel 21, Docomo Channel 117/112.4, and livestream on the Guam Legislature YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GuamLegislatureMedia. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Individuals needing special accommodations can contact the Office of Speaker Therese M. Terlaje.