FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (March 14, 2019– Hagåtña)- Senator Therese M. Terlaje introduced Legislative Resolution 71-35 (COR), which expresses the support of the 35^th Guam Legislature for the passage of H.R. 1713, the “Lonnie Kilpatrick Central Pacific Herbicide Relief Act,” introduced today by Guam Delegate Michael San Nicolas and Florida Representative Gus Bilirakis.

H.R. 1713 seeks to correct injustice, clarify the eligibility of affected veterans, and expedite the processing of veteran claims of health conditions caused by Agent Orange exposure on Guam, American Samoa, Johnston Atoll or while serving in the territorial waters thereof.

Terlaje’s Resolution 71-35 (COR) further implores Congress to correct injustice by resolving the numerous health care needs of civilians exposed to Agent Orange on Guam.

“I want to thank Guam Delegate San Nicolas and Florida Representative Bilirakis for introducing this bill in Congress on behalf of the veterans who served in Guam. I am also deeply grateful for the advocacy of the Agent Orange Survivors of Guam Veterans’ group and the Military-Veteran Advocacy, Inc., who were instrumental in getting this legislation introduced. Their pursuit of justice for Mr. Kilpatrick, our Veterans and the people of Guam is admirable and greatly appreciated.

The Department of Defense continues to deny the existence of Agent Orange on Guam, despite the overwhelming testimony from veterans and residents. However the VA and the Court of Appeals have recognized in several cases, service connection associated with Agent Orange exposure on Guam,” stated Terlaje.

The late Lonnie Kilpatrick was a Navy veteran stationed on Guam in 1971-1972, who later in life, suffered from heart disease, kidney cancer and skin conditions he believed to be connected to Agent Orange exposure on Guam. Kilpatrick, who had never been stationed in Vietnam, recalled living near a jungle area on Guam that was sprayed at night and had turned brown by the next morning. For seven (7) years, the Veterans Administration denied Kilpatrick’s claim before a reversal in April 2018, granting him service connection associated with Agent Orange exposure on Guam. 

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (February 26, 2019 – Hagåtña)

Please see the transcript of Senator Therese Terlaje’s session remarks regarding Bill No. 30-35 (COR). 

“Good Morning and welcome back, Madam Speaker and good morning to my colleagues.

The government of Guam health insurance plan is the largest procurement by the government of Guam in a year and annually.  It’s estimated to be approximately $91 million dollars. It is also one of the most complex solicitations and negotiating schemes in government procurement.  The health insurance industry is a complex industry.  Experts make a living consulting state governments and our own local government in this field.  And I know that the negotiating team hires consultants every year to advise them and states hire consultants to advise them as to the impacts of different health policies.

We are, I wouldn’t say drowning, but we are being bombarded with arguments all around for and against the bill, even doctors seem to be divided on the issues.  The debate, of course, has highlighted many issues that must be solved.  Problems that exist in our current negotiation or contracts, problems in billings, problems in collections, all kinds of problems that the government of Guam must do better on.  And I believe that we can solve those, but they are not solved in this bill.  We cannot solve these issues with less competition in our procurement and we cannot solve our problems with unequal bargaining power in negotiations.

We know for a fact that federal law requires in emergency situations that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Account (EMTALA) explicitly forbids the denial of services to any patients in an emergency situation and thus GRMC must provide care to patients in an emergency situation regardless if whether the patient’s health insurer has an agreement with GRMC or if GRMC is part of its contracted network.  Also, we know that the current and previous GovGuam Health Insurance contract includes a provision that states, if “a carrier does not contract with the provider of any sole service in Guam, it must reimburse the sole source provider by such Guam provider as if the sole source provider were a participating provider.”  So, there is a lot of debate in the community about coverage at GRMC and access to it in emergencies, access to it under those circumstances.  And I think that, wisely, the negotiating team has ensured that there is access.

The bill that we are looking at today is very similar if not identical to the mandate that was proposed in the last legislative term by former Speaker Benjamin Cruz. That bill received considerable opposition from health insurance providers, by the Department of Administration and was withdrawn. This bill is a result of Bill 3-34, which was passed (P.L. 34-83) in the 34th Legislature, which requires that the Health Insurance Negotiating Team forward only the “lowest cost option of either the exclusive or non-exclusive proposal” to the Governor.  That was a huge change in our policy for negotiating health insurance. That law was intended to save $18 to 20 million.  It was passed in the midst of a fiscal crisis and the Legislature was making some very hard choices at the time to save money. We were cutting; we were foregoing the renovation of a labor and delivery ward at GMHA and many other things in our government.

I attended the public hearing for this bill and also was in attendance of a public hearing on the bill introduced during the 34th Legislature.  There were many concerns presented then from several health insurance providers and many of those concerns still remain regarding higher costs for the government and its employees and retirees, a reduction in choice because of the higher costs, and potential legal challenges that may delay the negotiating and selection process. Which is exactly what happened last year when the negotiating team put a very similar requirement in their RFP and it was contested. That was never really resolved because they settled, and the settlement was to carry over with the prior contract. So, that is what we are operating with for Fiscal Year 2019.

By mandating all health insurance providers to include the private hospital in their network, it creates a potential competitive advantage for that private hospital to negotiate whatever fees they may choose, potentially tying the hands of GovGuam and its employees and retirees.  The private hospital may be empowered to set their fees at whatever level they choose and as a private entity, they are not bound to the same requirements that GMH has in monitoring its fees through public hearings and transparency.

The fiscal note from BBMR in February (and we have since received two others) said that “there is a potential for cost escalation due to reduced competition” and “a potential for the overall pricing bases proffered by the qualified insurance providers to increase.”  It did not give an exact amount of the potential increase due to lack of data. Now, they are saying that they can’t do that due to the confidentiality of the information. 

However, there were estimates provided by Take Care which estimate an additional $20 M to the total premium for GovGuam and that some policy premiums for families would increase by $120 per month for employees and $140 per month for retirees.  Currently about 16% of GovGuam employees and retirees choose a health insurance plan that does not include the private hospital. We wonder why and are speculating that they feel that they cannot afford the premiums to go any other way.

We know at the very least, this 16% will see increased rates and it’s unclear if the other insurance companies’ negotiated rates will be affected if there is lack of competition or no incentive to negotiate lower rates. Should we speculate as to the impact of whether it would wash away the $18 to 20 million in savings that we were trying to obtain in the last term of the prior legislature?  This is really the crux of the issue here. In that bill we were trying to save money by forcing, perhaps, an exclusive contract with only one provider. And now, we are trying to undo that by forcing mandates with insurance providers we are going to contract with.

Perhaps, I think it is better for us to reconsider that choice instead of this bill. If we have this extra money, I would much rather go back and reconsider that choice and allow the government employees to have a choice of health insurance companies again. I think that would be a better use of a potential $18 to 20 million dollars rather than ending up with an exclusive insurance company. At this point, we do not know the impacts of other insurance company being left out and how that will impact the rest of the community in other ways. We don’t know the impacts to the government of Guam as to amounts. There are just too many unknowns.

If we want our employees and retirees to avail themselves of Government of Guam health insurance, we have to do all in our power to hold down the cost. Some suggestions have been made to allow the negotiation of prices before mandating a provider.

There have also been allegations that this bill will negatively impact GMHA. It is my understanding, hope and expectation that the government’s fiscal team is scrambling to find money the $13 million in Medicaid matching funds that we are going to need beginning April 1, 2019 and the critical GMHA CMS improvements that we have been discussing for years and the new maternity ward that we had to forego. They have not given their input as to whether funding this private hospital benefit for government of Guam employees should be prioritized over all of those other projects or if the Guam Memorial Hospital is at this point, foregoing its desire to rise to the challenge and provide services that it currently does not provide to the people of Guam. And of course, they are going to need our assistance to do this.

I believe it is imperative that we as policy makers, with the power of the purse strings, take the time necessary to be fully briefed about the fiscal impacts before we act. There has been much testimony received, even after the public, from different members of the community. A few of these are:

•                    SelectCare stated that the bill would be better if amended to “ensure that the requirement to include all private hospitals is fully vested and left in the hands of the negotiating committee.  They also mentioned they are “concerned with what would potentially become negotiating advantages for the new private hospital and the consequences of potentially higher fees” and recommended implementing safety nets and limits to cost increases. But none of these recommended amendments have been included at this time in this bill.

•                    Take Care’s testimony and concerns were the same as their testimony on the prior measure. Take Care testified that including the private hospital in their network would cause rates to rise exponentially. They outlined equal protection rights, violation of due process rights of health insurers, improper delegation of power and negative impacts to revenues at GMHA.

•                    The Guam Federation of Teachers has opposed the bill as written, citing potential cost increases to employees and retirees.

•                    Dr. Thomas Shieh has registered his opposition to the bill. His testimony suggests that if we are going to do this for a private hospital, why are we not going to do this for private providers such as his clinic, which has services that are not available anywhere else in Guam? I thought that example was very interesting.

•                    Other government of Guam employees have also expressed their concerns with being unable to afford increases in premiums.

•                    There have also been community members who have registered their support for the bill but have suggested we put a cap on GRMC fees. Unfortunately, that cap is not part of this bill.

I understand and commend the intent of the bill to ensure that GovGuam employees and retirees can access to the private hospital on Guam, however I am concerned that the costs to the Government of Guam and GovGuam employees and retirees may be too high and would preclude them from seeking all together, or preclude GMH from expanding its services.

I know that time is of the essence if the Legislature is to dictate the terms of the new solicitation for health insurance by the GovGuam negotiating committee.  Yet, I can’t help but feel that if all the insurance companies and some physicians are warning us to significant increase in costs and change in negotiating power, we should go back to the public hearing process and work some more to come up with the language that will avoid a spike in premiums or deductibles for both the employees and retirees and the government of Guam.

I believe we can do better if we do not buckle to pressure, act uninformed or to embed the government in another legal battle or forgo other solutions such as allowing negotiating team to negotiate private hospital rates. Those were just some of the suggestions that were made.

For these reasons, Madam Speaker, I would move that the bill go back to committee so that we consider the caps that have been suggested on the GRMC rates, consider who should negotiate rates if we are going to mandate that this private hospital be included in the contract or consider the rest of the testimony. Most of all, consider the financial impact on the government of Guam, which I feel is not available to us today.” 

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (February 18, 2019– Hagåtña)- The Legislatures Committee on Health held a confirmation hearing today for the Executive Appointment of Linda Unpingco-DeNorcey as Director of the Department of Public Health & Social Services (DPHSS).

DeNorcey, who has worked with the Department of Public Health & Social Services for over twenty-eight (28) years and who has played a lead role in the development and implementation of many significant programs, capital improvements and key service partnerships, presented a comprehensive plan to address the various critical needs of each of the agency’s five (5) divisions: Division of Public Health, Division of Public Welfare, Division of Environmental Health, Division of Senior Citizens, and the Division of General Administration.

“I am here to testify my commitment and readiness to serve as the Director of the Department of Public Health and Social Services, be a change agent, and lead the Department in achieving its mission to assist the people of Guam in achieving and maintaining their highest levels of independence and self-sufficiency in health and social welfare, “ DeNorcey stated.

Some objectives outlined by DeNorcey were as following:

·      Maximize the usage of federal funding by requesting Congress to extend the ACA timeline to maximize the usage of federal grant dollars and plans to pursue a new Medicaid Management Information System and Eligibility Enrollment System to improve medical claims processing and eligibility which would provide a 90% funding and a 10% local match.  

·      Address the Guam Community Health Care nurse shortage.

·      Implement a “Diabetes Management” module of the DPHSS Resource and Management System (RPMS) Electronic Health Record System to provide for care plans for every patient.

·      Create a “Guam Colorectal Cancer Screening” program for 50-70 year olds below 250% of poverty level through partnerships.

·      Increase routine and frequent compliance inspections of health regulated establishments that may pose potential health and safety hazards; enhance overall revenue; fill existing vacant-funded positions.

·      Control the outbreak of preventable diseases by improving the reporting of National Notifiable Diseases and strengthening the Electronic Laboratory Reporting and Public Health Surveillance System; increasing Immunization outreach to isolated areas and the frequency of extended outreach clinics.

·      Improve timelines of welfare application processing and reduce client complaints through the establishment of a Service Call Center; enhance existing processing system to improve client accessibility to assistance and streamline application processing.

·      Increase the number of foster care homes for children place under temporary custody of CPS through partnerships with the Rigalu Foundation, non-profit organizations. The Guma Mina’ase Shelter that protects children 1-17 years old from child abuse and neglect is currently under construction, set to open in July 2019.

·      Move the “Medicinal Marijuana” program forward and the appointment of members to the Medical Cannabis Regulation Commission.

According to DeNorcey, the DPHSS goals are also in line the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio Administration with regard to increasing public awareness and education in preventing infectious, communicable, sexually transmitted, and non-communicable diseases; promoting health and wellness so that individuals with medical condition (s) properly control their disease (s); lessening the unnecessary utilization of hospital emergency room; promptly having individuals seek medical attention to prevent hospitalization, and re-admission, which are far more costly than primary health care and preventive services.

Several oral testimonies were presented in overwhelming support of DeNorcey’s nomination by a collection of public health practitioners, medical professionals and community leaders, whom spoke of her dedication, deep work ethic, forward thinking approach and resourcefulness.

Dr. William E. Weare, long time Family Physician at the Southern Region Community Health Center endorsed DeNorcey’s nomination stating, “ I cannot over emphasize Linda Unpingco DeNorcey’s commitment to doing the right thing for the people of Guam.”

Dr. Suzanne Kaneshiro, Chief Public Health Officer at DPHSS stated, “ Linda has always put the welfare of patients first. She is committed to helping those who need it the most, the uninsured and underinsured population who have no where else to go.”

Former DPHSS Director James Gillan endorsed DeNorcey’s nomination stating, “ I have a lot of respect and admiration for her work ethic… it would be a good term under her leadership.”

Dr. Margaret Hattori-Uchima of the University of Guam, School of Nursing and Health Sciences speaking on DeNorceys guidance and assistance with medical care for Guam’s homeless population stated, “ it was her ingenuity and management skills that has helped Guam advance to provide 21^st century care in a public health setting.”

Joaquin Perez, of Santa Rita who met DeNorcey’s thirty-eight (38) years ago, when she worked with his late wife, lamented on how his late wife had predicted that a young, intelligent and driven DeNorcey would one day be the director of the agency.

 “This appointment by Governor Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Tenorio is probably the best Director and Deputy Director combination this entire government has ever seen or ever will see . . . not only [because of] their experience and educational qualifications, but their dedication to the type of work they do and their dedication to the people of this island, ” Perez further stated.

Senator Therese M. Terlaje, Chairperson on the Committee on Health concluded the hearing recognizing that Acting Director DeNorcey’s detailed plans to address critical areas, wealth of experience, determination and the overwhelming support in favor of her nomination gave her great confidence DeNorceys her leadership. I look forward to working with her and her team to improve the health and welfare of those most in need in our community, ” Terlaje stated.

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (February 7, 2019– Hagåtña) – Senator Therese Terlaje applauds Guam Memorial Hospital’s current and past staff, the Governor and past Governors, and all of the people of Guam on the great news regarding the increase in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) base rates for GMH. 

“The rebasing of CMS rates was worked on by many for so long that it is truly a testament to what we can achieve working together. This is a great start toward improvements in healthcare and more good things to come for our families who suffer illness or accident, and for our entire Community,” stated Senator Therese Terlaje. 

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (February 5, 2019– Hagåtña) – Senator Therese M. Terlaje introduced Bills No. 35-35 (COR) and 36-35 (COR) that dedicate any additional tax revenues and Section 30 revenues to address the urgent need the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) has to pay Medicaid claims through the end of Fiscal Year 2019 and address the needs of Guam Memorial Hospital to ensure its Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) certification is maintained.

Based on claims received, current processing, and expenditure projections, DPHSS needs approximately $16 million dollars for local matching requirements and only has enough funding through the 2nd quarter of FY 2019 for regular Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid and Medicaid Childless Adults.

The Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA) continues to be in dire need of capital improvements and equipment to meet the CMS requirements and ensure future Medicare funding.

The prior and current administrations have reported that the government of Guam may receive additional revenue in Section 30 Funds from the federal government in Fiscal Year 2019.  The actual impacts of the federal Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 on individual income taxes and corporate taxes in FY 2018 and projected for FY 2019 and the business privilege tax increases are still presenting themselves. 

“There are a lot of unknowns as to the state of government finances at this point, however, the one thing that remains clear and consistent is that in order to access ACA federal Medicaid funds we need local matching funds and in order to ensure GMH maintains CMS certification and funding for Medicare, we need to address the multitude of concerns listed in the CMS Plan of Correction,” stated Senator Terlaje. 

To read a copy of the bills, please click on the link below:

http://www.guamlegislature.com/Bills_Introduced_35th/Bill%20No.%2035-35%20(COR).pdf

http://www.guamlegislature.com/Bills_Introduced_35th/Bill%20No.%2036-35%20(COR).pdf

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (January 22, 2019– Hagåtña)- Senator Therese M. Terlaje, Senator Sabina Flores Perez and Senator Clynt Ridgell, introduced Bill 27-35 (COR) that will require the timely publication of environmental violation notices and settlement agreements on the Guam Environmental Protection Agency’s website and require regular reporting of these notices and agreements to the GEPA Board of Directors.

Bill 27-35 requires the online publication of Notices of Violations, Orders of Compliance, Notices of Defense, Voluntary Compliance Agreements, Settlement Agreements and Referrals to the Office of the Attorney General for Prosecution, allowing the public to follow the enforcement process from start to finish.

“By increasing agency transparency, we are prioritizing active participation by the public in their government and ultimately making agencies and their boards accountable for the level of enforcement that our entire community is depending on,” stated Senator Terlaje.

To read a copy of the bill, please click on the link below:

http://www.guamlegislature.com/Bills_Introduced_35th/Bill%20No.%2027-35%20(COR).pdf

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (January 19, 2019 – Hagåtña): Senator Therese M. Terlaje and members of the 35^th Guam Legislature presented two resolutions in support and appreciation of the numerous advocates working to alleviate violence against the most vulnerable in our community and worldwide in observance of January as “National Stalking Awareness Month” and “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.”

Legislative Resolution No. 10-35 (COR) was presented in support and recognition of the Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence, in partnership with the Office of Attorney General of Guam, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Governor’s Community Outreach-Federal Programs Office, as well as numerous community advocates, for their efforts to raise awareness about and encourage the prevention of stalking through community outreach and ongoing training, and on the observance of “National Stalking Awareness Month” in January.

According to statistics, a majority of stalking victims are teenagers and young adults, who are often unaware of the signs of stalking and the resources available to them in our community. 66.2 percent of female victims of stalking were stalked by a current or former intimate partner and 31 percent (31%) of the women who were stalked by an intimate partner were sexually assaulted by that partner.

Resolution No. 11-35 (COR) was presented to recognize the observance of “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month” and the efforts to combating human trafficking in our community and throughout the world and to emancipating the estimated forty (40) million people enslaved in today’s world, with between fourteen thousand five hundred (14,500) and seventeen thousand five hundred (17,500) of them trafficked into the United States each year; and to preventing additional women, children and men from being trafficked, by encouraging greater awareness of human trafficking, and all other forms of modern day slavery.

The International Labor Organization estimates that women and girls represent the largest share of forced labor victims, with 11.4 million trafficked victims (or 55%), compared to men and boys at 9.5 million (or 45%). The problem of human trafficking continues to reach epic proportions, and is the third largest international crime industry, behind illegal drugs and arms trafficking. It reportedly generates a profit of 32 billion dollars every year; and of that number, 15.5 billion dollars is made in industrialized countries.

“The continued violence against women, children and the most vulnerable in our society remains a barrier to achieving true equality, security and peace in our community and worldwide. I am truly grateful and support the countless do-gooders working to alleviate these barriers through the various outreach and prevention efforts, programs and partnerships, “ stated Senator Therese

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (January 16, 2019 – Tamuning)-  Senator Therese Terlaje met with AG Leevin Camacho and his Deputy Attorney Generals to discuss OAG’s priorities and initiatives for the new year.  Some highlights from the meeting included updates on OAG’s plans to assist the Department of Revenue and Taxation in tax collections, trainings on Open Government laws for boards and commissions and GovGuam, and regular updates regarding civil litigation cases and other important OAG matters.  During the FY 2019 budget session, Terlaje successfully advocated for additional monies to go towards a tax attorney from the Office of the Attorney General to assist the Department of Revenue and Taxation. General Camacho has announced that this will be a priority for his office and has already begun working with the Department of Revenue and Taxation.

In addition, Senator Terlaje and General Camacho pledged to work together to address the serious need for additional prosecutors.

Senator Therese Terlaje is the chairperson of the Committee on Health, Tourism, Historic Preservation, Land and Justice and has legislative oversight of Office of the Attorney General.

“I am excited to work with General Camacho and his experienced team of deputy attorneys. There is much work to be done, but I am confident we will make progress towards ensuring fairness and justice for the people of Guam,” stated Terlaje.

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (January 8, 2019 – Hagåtña):

The Office of Senator Therese Terlaje has relocated from The Guam Congress Building and has reopened at a new location.  Please update your records with the following location and contact information (please note that some information has remained the same):

LOCATION:                 Ada Plaza Center, Suite 207, Aspinall Avenue, Hagåtña, Guam 96910

MAILING:                   Guam Congress Building, 163 Chalan Santo Papa, Hagåtña, Guam 96910

PHONE:                      (671) 472-3586

FAX:                             (671) 969-3590

EMAIL:                       senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com

WEBSITE:                  http://senatorterlaje.com/

FACEBOOK:                https://www.facebook.com/truthforguam/

INSTAGRAM:            https://www.instagram.com/thereseterlaje/

In her first term, Vice Speaker Therese Terlaje introduced 23 bills in which 13 became Public Laws during the 34th Guam Legislature. Her legislation focused on increasing accountability, transparency and fairness in our government, strengthening protections for victims of family violence, supporting the addition of therapeutic treatment courts, and standing firm against injustice and the exploitation and contamination of our land and oceans.

WORKING FOR JUSTICE

• Introduced Bill No. 175-34 (COR) now Public Law 34-62 – Ensuring that Guam’s Family Violence laws are enforceable and that family violence cases are successfully prosecuted.
• Introduced Bill No. 177-34 (COR) now Public Law 34-71 – Ensuring the safety of victims and witnesses of family violence and other crimes by including electronic monitoring as a condition of pretrial release.
• Introduced Bill No. 93-34 (COR) now Public Law 34-28 – Improving Guam Parole Board processes
• Introduced Bill No. 137-34 (LS) – Authorizing the Attorney General to procure experts in federal litigation cases on behalf of the Territory of Guam, to fund such costs. Language from bill was incorporated as an amendment into FY 18 Appropriations Act.
• Introduced Bill No. 187-34 (COR) now Public Law 34-81 – Establishing the Guam Adult Reentry Court Program at the Judiciary of Guam.
• Introduced Bill No. 203-34 (LS) now Public Law 34-107 – Worked with courts, Attorney General, Public Defenders Service Corporation and Guam Police Department on complex revision of driving while intoxicated statutes to curb repeat offenders.
• Introduced Bill No. 344-34 (COR) now Public Law 34-143 – Expediting the distribution of Guam World War II Claims to awardees who die before receiving the award.
• Introduced Bill No. 360-34 (COR) – Clarifying exemptions of the Guam Bar Association, as a public body corporate
• Resolution No. 52-34 (LS) – Passed – supporting that the Government of Guam not enter into a consent decree without approval of the Guam Legislature and the Governor of Guam regarding the recent threatened lawsuit proposed by the United States Department of Justice over the Chamorro Land Trust Act
• Resolution No. 51-34 (LS) – Passed – supporting that the Government of Guam move forward to appeal the ruling of the District Court of Guam to assist in defending the rights of the native inhabitants of Guam
• Petition to the United Nations 4th Committee (Special Political and Decolonization), October 3, 2017 – Vice Speaker Terlaje, also serving as the Vice Chairperson of Guam’s Commission on Decolonization, testified as a petitioner along with Governor Eddie Baza Calvo, Senator Telena Nelson, Dr. Lisa Linda Natividad, and several other representatives from Guam

PROMOTING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN OUR GOVERNMENT

• Introduced Bill No. 101-34 (LS) now Public Law 34-32 – Requiring an additional public hearing for the promulgation of rules and regulations to increase transparency in the government
• Introduced Bill No. 91-34 (COR) now Public Law 34-27 – Promoting affordable access to updated and searchable laws, rules and regulations, executive orders, Attorney General opinions, and court decisions
• Introduced Bill No. 102-34 (LS) now Public Law 34-33 – Increasing public awareness of economic impact of rules and regulations
• Introduced Bill No. 71-34 (COR) now Public Law 34-16 – Ensuring immediate transmittal of Executive Orders to the Compiler of Laws and the Legislature
• Introduced Bill No. 258-34 (LS) now Public Law 34-97 – Allowing the immediate taxation of Short-term Vacation Rental Units
• Introduced amendment in FY 18 Appropriations Act requiring travel reports from all government agencies
• Introduced Bill No. 290-34 (COR) – Requires the deposit of income tax refunds as a ministerial duty of the Director of Administration Language from bill was incorporated as an amendment into FY 19 Appropriations Act.
• Introduced Bill No. 231-34 (LS) – Appropriating the sum of up to three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000) from the Guam Highway Fund to the Department of Public Works to ensure it is used solely for the repair of village roads
• Introduced Bill No. 345-34 (COR) – To limit the terms of members of boards and commissions and heads of executive branch agencies and instrumentalities, and public corporations in order to promote greater accountability in government
• Introduced Bill No. 372-34 (COR) – Mandating the timely publication of all notices of violation, orders of compliance, notices of defense, voluntary compliance agreements and referrals to the Office of Attorney General for prosecution, issued by the Guam Environmental Protection Agency and requiring that all voluntary compliance agreements be subject to the final review, approval and amendment by the GEPA Board of Directors

ENABLING SPACES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

• Informational Briefing with the Guam State Historic Preservation Officer, March 19, 2017 to discuss the disturbance of sites including Finegayan and Live Fire Training Range Complex at Ritidian, and the Public Access Plan to Historic and Cultural sites on military bases
• Informational Briefing on Historic Properties impacted by training at Andersen South and the Live Fire Training Range Complex, March 21, 2017 – Historic Properties to be adversely impacted by the proposed urban warfare training range at Andersen South, proposed mitigation plans, and the process by which public comments are due to the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas on April 24, 2017; Cultural and Historic resources impacted by the proposed Live-Fire Training Range Complex (LFTRC) at Northwest Field, AAFB, the Biological Opinion on critical habitat due to U.S. Fish & Wildlife in Fall 2017, the Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan (INRMP) between the U.S. Fish & Wildlife and the Department of Defense, and an update on the Programmatic Agreement for this project
• Informational Briefing with the Attorney General, June 8, 2017 to determine the status of land condemnation and inverse condemnation cases, to include property taken by the government for Route 4, and government compliance with Guam laws, which require for the relocation or repayment to landowners for properties taken for public use without compensation
• Informational Briefing with Guam Preservation Trust and Recipients of the Tourist Attraction Fund, August 3, 2017
• Informational Briefing with the State Historic Preservation Officer, original landowners, organizations and agencies about live-fire at Ritidian, September 7, 2017 to gather testimony and reports of the status and the historical, cultural, and environmental impacts of the Live-Fire Training Range Complex, and the potential implications for the original landowners of Ritidian/Litekyan and the surrounding areas
• Informational Briefing with I Kumision I Fino’ CHamoru yan I Fina’någuen I Historia yan I lina’la Taotao Tåno’ (The Commision on the CHamoru Language and the Teaching of the History and Culture of the Indigenous People of Guam), December 13, 2017
• Roundtable Discussion with the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Education, the Guam Police Department and the Judiciary’s School Resource Officers, March 7, 2018 to discuss the existing Guam laws, penalties, and standard operating procedures related to deterring or preventing gun violence in our schools
• Joint Roundtable Discussion on Emergency Shelter and Support Services for Homeless Children, April 17, 2018 to discuss strategies and services available to support the Child Protective Agencies and Housing Agencies efforts to prevent the threat of harm to children living without adequate shelter, and to expand emergency shelter and support services
• Status Briefing with the Attorney General, September 28, 2018 prior to the government of Guam’s oral arguments for the Davis v. Guam case on October 10th in Honolulu, Hawaii and a briefing to follow up on the status of government land registrations and the gambling litigation case
• Attended a majority of public hearings and confirmation hearings to listen to public and ensure relevant facts are stated on the record and made available to the public

CENTERING ON CULTURE AND HERITAGE

• Included in Public Law 34-42, FY 2018 Appropriations Act
  • Funding for annual Massacre Memorial events at various sites through the Mayors Council of Guam for FY 2018.
  • Rerouted funding to support the Guam Historic Resources Division, to hire additional historic preservation staff, and to assess and conduct surveys of historic properties, pre-contact, and latte sites.
  • Funding to conduct research on the nomination of latte of the Marianas Islands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    Funding for the development and construction of the Chamorro National Shrine, Nåftan Manaina-ta in FY 2018.
• Vice Speaker Terlaje met with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to request for assistance on the Programmatic Agreement and its affect on historic properties, October 16 – 18, 2017
• Vice Speaker Terlaje sent multiple letters to the Governor explaining her grave concerns with the Programmatic Agreement and asking him to use the resources of our GovGuam agencies to pause any construction projects that will destroy our historical and cultural sites.
• Introduced Bill No. 346-34 (COR) – Establishing the Inetnon Estudion I Umali’e’ Yan Umafana’ I Taotao Hiyong Yan Taotao Tano’ Commission to ensure Guam’s participation and Chamorro representation during the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan to Guam and the Marianas Islands.
• Resolutions to recognize:
  • Farmers Appreciation Month, March 2017
    Mes Chamorro (Chamorro Month), Silibrasion Gupot Chamoru, and to further commending the Chamorro Studies and Special Projects Division of the Guam Department of Education, the Department of Chamorro Affairs, the Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency, the Guam Community College, the University of Guam, the Guam State Historic Preservation Office, the Guam Preservation Trust, and all of Guam’s government and community organizations for their collaborative efforts to ensure the preservation and perpetuation of the Chamorro language, culture, and heritage, March 2017
  • Survivors of Guam’s Wartime occupation for their tremendous courage and perseverance through one of the most tragic and difficult times in our island’s history; and to extending Un Dángkolo Na Si Yu’os Ma’áse’ to the Guam War Survivors Memorial Foundation for their dedication and service to all those affected by this tragic event as we join them in celebrating “War Survivor Remembrance Day” on June 28, 2017
    Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency (CAHA) in commemoration of National Arts & Humanities Month, October 23, 2017
  • Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center (MARC) at the University of Guam for 50 years of growth as a safe-keeper of the rich and countless stories of Pacific Island people and as a nurturing space for the advancement of Pacific Islander scholarship and the contributions of Pale Eric Forbes and Dr. Lawrence J. Cunningham, August 21, 2018.
  • Guma Nina’en Acho Latte’, Guma Kinalamten I Taotao Tano’, and Guma Ininan I Saina-Ta as newly established cultural houses in Guam, June 21, 2017

FOCUSING ON VETERANS ISSUES

• Introduced Bill No. 217-34 (COR) now Public Law 34-86 – Supporting Guam Veteran Affairs Office’s outreach efforts to update the Guam Veteran Registry
• Introduced Bill No. 218-34 (COR) now Public Law 34-93 – Requiring the Department of Revenue and Taxation Motor Vehicle Division, Drivers License and Identification Card Branch to submit copies of the Veteran DD214 forms to the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of updating the Guam Veteran Registry. Public Hearing set for 9 a.m., January 10, 2018.
• Introduced Bill No. 219-34 (COR) now Public Law 34-130 – Authorizing Mayors to offer veterans status data on verification of residency forms, including the solicitation of veterans demographics in their annual census and conduct semi-annual community outreach efforts to verify the veteran population in their jurisdictions for the purpose of updating the Guam Veteran Registry and connecting the Guam veteran population to available services
• Resolution No. 455-34 (COR) – Passed – expressing posthumously the gratitude of the people of Guam and I Liheslaturan Guåhan for the unselfish valorous and heroic act of Specialist Fourth Class Joseph Meno Perez, United States Army, during the War in Vietnam; to further recognizing him posthumously for his professionalism, honor, courage, integrity, commitment and unselfish service to the United States of America and the Island of Guam; and to further honoring him posthumously for having been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross award.
• Resolution No. 454-34 (COR) – Passed – expressing posthumously the gratitude of the people of Guam and I Liheslaturan Guåhan for the unselfish valorous and heroic act of Staff Sergeant Tomas Garcia Reyes, United States Army, during the War in Vietnam; to further recognizing him posthumously for his professionalism, honor, courage, integrity, commitment and unselfish service to the United States of America and the Island of Guam; and to further honoring him posthumously for having been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross award.
• Resolution No. 453-34 (COR) – Passed – expressing posthumously the gratitude of the people of Guam and I Liheslaturan Guåhan for the unselfish valorous and heroic act of Staff Sergeant Enrique C. Cruz, United States Army, during the War in Vietnam; to further recognizing him posthumously for his professionalism, honor, courage, integrity, commitment and unselfish service to the United States of America and the Island of Guam; and to further honoring him posthumously for having been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross award.
• Resolution No. 452-34 (COR) – Passed – expressing posthumously the gratitude of the people of Guam and I Liheslaturan Guåhan for the unselfish valorous and heroic act of Sergeant First Class Vicente T. Dydasco, United States Army, during the War in Vietnam; to recognizing him posthumously for his professionalism, honor, courage, integrity, commitment and unselfish service to the United States of America and the Island of Guam; and to further honoring him posthumously for having been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross award.
• Resolution No. 451-34 (COR) – Passed – expressing the gratitude of the people of Guam and I Liheslaturan Guåhan for the unselfish valorous and heroic act of Sergeant Major Juan Ogo Blaz, United States Army, during the War in Vietnam; to further recognizing him for his professionalism, honor, courage, integrity, commitment and unselfish service to the United States of America and the Island of Guam; and to further honoring him for having been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross award.
• Resolution No. 450-34 (COR) – Passed – expressing the gratitude of the people of Guam and I Liheslaturan Guåhan for the unselfish valorous and heroic act of Command Sergeant Major Martin Ada Manglona, United States Army, during the War in Vietnam; to further recognizing him for his professionalism, honor, courage, integrity, commitment and unselfish service to the United States of America and the Island of Guam; and to further honoring him for having been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross award.
• Resolution No. 537-34 (COR) – Passed – expressing posthumously the gratitude of the people of Guam and I Liheslaturan Guåhan for the courageous military service of †Navy Steward Mate 1st Class Ignacio Camacho Farfan, who fought and died during the Battle of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941; and to further expressing a sincere Un Dángkolo Na Si Yu’os Ma’áse’ for the long-awaited return home of †Navy Steward Mate 1st Class Ignacio Camacho Farfan, after 77 years, to rest peacefully and honorably in his beloved motherland of Guam.
• Resolution No. 40-34 (COR) – Passed – advocating for the inclusion of veterans who participated in the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll as radiation exposed veterans for purposes of the presumption of service-connection of certain disabilities by the secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, and to expressing the support of I Mina’Trentai Kuåttro Na Liheslaturan Guåhan (The 34th Guam Legislature) for H.R. 632 and S. 283, The Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act, introduced in the United States Congress
• Vice Speaker Terlaje met with Senatorial and House of Representatives Offices to discuss S. 283 and H.R. 632, which are known as the Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act, from October 16 – 18, 2017

PROTECTING THE HEALTH OF OUR PEOPLE AND OUR ENVIRONMENT

• Resolution No. 39-34 (COR) – Passed – seeking compensation for cancer and other illnesses caused by exposure to ionizing radiation and to expressing the support of I Mina-Trentai Kuåttro Na Liheslaturan Guåhan (The 34th Guam Legislature) for S. 197, The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Amendments of 2017, introduced in the United States Congress on January 24, 2017, which would amend RECA to include Guam as a downwind area. Vice Speaker Terlaje accompanied Robert Celestial to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary hearing in Washington D.C. to advocated for passage of RECA amendments on June 27, 2018.
• Vice Speaker Terlaje met with Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), members of the State Judiciary Committee Senatorial and House of Representatives Offices, and members of both the State and House Judiciary Committees about S. 197 and H.R. 632 to advocate and include Guam as a downwind area in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, October 16 – 18, 2017
• Resolution No. 25-34 (COR) – Passed – supporting H.R. 809, the Fighting for Orange-Stricken Territories in Eastern Regions (FOSTER) Act, which provides presumptive Agent Orange exposure status to Vietnam War-era veterans who served in Guam, and show symptoms of medical conditions currently associated with exposure to Agent Orange in order to receive U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs benefits; and to seeking justice for veterans and civilians exposed to Agent Orange on Guam.
• Vice Speaker Terlaje met with House of Representatives offices regarding H.R. 809, also knows as the Fighting for Orange-Stricken Territories in Easter Regions (FOSTER) Act, advocating for compensation to veterans exposed to Agent Orange on Guam, from October 16 – 18, 2017
• Vice Speaker Terlaje has been working to ensure fair and accurate testimony and conclusions regarding Agent Orange through a series of meetings and correspondence with U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERLCA) lawyers, and Guam Environmental Protection Agency.
• Resolution No. 103-34 (LS) ceasing any further Department of Defense training and testing activities involving detonation of explosives in Guam’s land and waters.
• Introduced Bill No. 225-34 (COR) – To fund Guam Memorial Hospital Authority equipment and facilities from remaining $5 Million from Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) Bond Proceeds being held for the reconstruction of a Palasyo.
• Introduced Bill No. 265-34 (COR) seeking to ban bump-fire stock firearm attachments and increase penalties and fines for the possession of illegal firearms. Public hearing held on April 20, 2018.
• Included in Public Law 34-116, FY 2019 Appropriations Act that additional funding be appropriated towards mental health services
• Proffered amendment which was passed by the body to Bill No. 342-34 (COR) which would prohibit any mineral extraction in the terms of the lease for the Guam Raceway on the CLTC property.
• Resolutions to recognize:
  • “Kindness, Pass It On” and “Guam Bullying Prevention Month”, October 2017
    “Go Red for Women Month” on Guam to bring awareness into our community to end heart disease and stroke in women, February 2, 2018
  • Rosalia Fejeran Mateo also known as “Mama Chai” for her sixty-two (62) years of service as a Yo’Åmte (Traditional Healer) caring for thousands of island residents and being one of the First Yo’Åmte to open Guam’s First Traditional Healing Center – Guma YoAmte, March 24, 2018
  • Catholic Social Services, Guma’ San Jose Homeless Shelter for Thirty (30) years of service providing shelter and support to homeless families and individuals in our community and contributing to the improvement of the health, welfare and safety of families and individuals facing homelessness, July 24, 2018
  • Sanctuary, Incorporated of Guam upon the occasion of celebrating its 47th anniversary and for securing re-accreditation for three full years and for their notable contributions to the welfare of the youth and families of Guam, October 25, 2018