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

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (October 30, 2018 – Hagåtña) – Today, the Guam State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) confirmed that Magua’, an ancient Chamorro settlement area, had been cleared of latte, artifiacts, and other cultural evidence, and then bulldozed. This clearing and grading was in direct contravention of discussions at the Programmatic Agreement Annual Meeting with signatories in April 2018, wherein the Guam Preservation Trust and the SHPO reiterated their written and verbal efforts to ensure this particular culturally significant site be preserved in place, amongst the numerous sites being cleared for the cantonment projects/Marine base at Finegayan.

With recent base access restrictions, the U.S. has made it almost impossible for the public to enjoy and the SHPO to monitor the disturbance of culturally significant areas behind the fencelines, and DOD insists that removing and relocating every last trace of Chamorro life in this area is “mitigation” and culturally responsible action.

Post WWII, the US military took more than 1/3 of our lands, and bulldozed ancient Chamorro villages including Ritidian, Sumay, NCS/Finegayan, Tarague, and Tumon. It is unconscionable that even now, 70 years after WWII and in contravention of International Law, this continued blatant disregard and erasure of the culture, resources, and 4000 year history of the indigenous Chamorro people persists.

I am again calling on the Governor to use all resources available to stop any further destruction of our ancient villages and cultural sites. I reiterate the concerns in my letter to the Governor in May 2018, attached, echoing those raised by our State Historic Preservation Officer and Guam Preservation Trust.

With every loss of our unique cultural sites, we rob future generations of their legacy and identity, and we fail our ancestors.

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

***

Click on the links below to view Senator Terlaje’s letter to the Governor and attached documents:

October 30, 2018 Senator Terlaje Letter to Governor_Magua’

1. May 24, 2018 Senator Terlaje Letter to Gov_PA Workshop and Issues

2. SHPO Ltr to Admiral Chatfield re. to continue consultation 2303

3. GPT Site Summary

4. Executive Summary Memorandum, Department of the Navy, April 16, 2018

5. SHPO Letter to Signatories Regarding Stipulation XIII Resolving Objections, May 24, 2018 with attachments

6. SHPO letter to ACHP, September 26, 2017

7. ACHP response to SHPO, October 13, 2017

8. Letter from Vice Speaker Terlaje to the Governor, September 5, 2017

9. Factsheet for Letter to the Governor, September 5, 2017

10. Annual Workshop Minutes for CY2016, April 27, 2017

11. PA Memo for Project J-755, February 2018

The Committee on Environment will conduct an Oversight Hearing on October 31, 2018 at 3:00pm. The Committee will review the following issues:

Agent Orange Testing

1. Request for Quality Assurance Project Plan for testing conducted on AAFB.

2. Documents or test results in GEPA possession that may indicate the presence of TCDD or Polychlorinated Dibenzo-P-Dioxins in water or land in Guam.

3. GEPA recommendations for testing of un-remediated areas.

4. Details of plan to test for Agent Orange outside of military bases.

Uncovered dumpsite near San Carlos Falls

1. Findings to date and mitigation plans.

The Committee request that all documentation be provided 3 days prior to the Oversight Hearing. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please contact my office at 473-3301, should you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter.

The hearing will broadcast on local television, GTA Channel 21, Docomo Channel 117/60.4 and stream online via I Liheslaturan Guåhan’s live feed.
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Listen to Senator Therese Terlaje discuss Agent Orange use on Guam with K57 host Andrea Pellacani:October 23, 2018 K57 interview

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (October 20, 2018 – Hagåtña)

I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Master Sergeant Leroy Foster yesterday evening. Master Sgt. Foster’s relentless fight to expose the truth of Agent Orange use on Guam and obtain justice for his fellow Veterans and the people of Guam, was instrumental to the introduction of H.R. 809- The FOSTER (Fighting for Orange-Stricken Territories in Eastern Regions) Act, named in his honor by Representative Dennis A. Ross, R-Florida.

Master Sgt. Foster served at Andersen Air Force base in Guam during the Vietnam War, where he says he sprayed tens of thousands of gallons of Agent Orange in and around the base and along the fuel lines that run through the island from the Navy’s Sasa Valley Fuel Farm to Anderson Air Force Base. He was later diagnosed with five (5) different cancers and twenty-eight (28) autoimmune diseases that he attributes to his exposure to Agent Orange while stationed on Guam.

H.R. 809-The FOSTER Act would allow eligible Veterans who served in Guam, the Northern Marianas and American Samoa during the Vietnam War to receive expedited consideration for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits if they suffer from diseases the U.S. government has linked to the herbicide Agent Orange.

We owe him a great debt of gratitude for his courage to speak the truth and pave the way to achieving justice for our Veterans and our people. I send my deepest condolences to the Foster family during this very difficult time.

See the October 2, 2018 article in the Pacific Daily News regarding the debate on Bill No. 292-34 (COR) at the link below:

https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2018/10/02/lawmakers-could-change-guams-open-government-law/1494335002/

Terlaje, during debate, said the open government law was written to benefit the public, and not for the convenience of government board members.

“We’ve had lawsuits over whether these agencies complied with the open government law,” Terlaje said, and a uniform open government law, which applies the same rules to all agencies, was necessary to avoid more lawsuits.

Allowing boards and commissions to independently develop rules for public meetings involving video conferencing is a huge departure from the principle of open government, she said.

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (October 1, 2018 – Hagåtña)– Acting Speaker Therese Terlaje congratulates the Office of the Attorney General and AG Elizabeth Barrett Anderson on the win against the Department of the Navy’s motion to dismiss, in a lawsuit the Attorney General brought on behalf of the Government of Guam against the US Department of the Navy seeking to declare the Navy liable for environmental response costs incurred by the Government of Guam in closing Ordot Dump, and for future environmental related costs. In an Order dated September 30, 2018, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson denied the Navy’s motion to dismiss.

“This is a great victory for the people of Guam and allows us an excellent and most significant avenue to proceed in our longstanding quest for justice against environmental contamination,” Terlaje stated.

The complaint was brought under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, also known as CERCLA, a federal statute, which makes a “potential responsible party” liable for remedial action. In 1988 the USEPA determined that the Navy is a potential responsible party for the contamination found in Ordot Dump. The Navy owned and operated Ordot Dump before and after WWII.

For more information regarding the CERCLA case see: https://pacificnewscenter.com/guam-ags-office-one-step-closer-in-implicating-us-navy-over-ordot-dump/

(September 14, 2018 – Hagåtña) We are very sad to see Speaker BJ Cruz leave the Legislative Branch and thank him for his tremendous service to our people. During his work as a lawmaker over the years, Speaker Cruz led with a rare combination of vision, courage and compassion. We look forward to great things for our island community as he continues his service to our people as the newly elected Public Auditor of Guam.

During this transition, and in the three-and-a-half months remaining, we must continue to work hard and work together in the Legislature for the benefit of the people of Guam. I am committed to doing my best in whatever capacity that is necessary and to be forthright about what we are facing going forward.

In the interim as Acting Speaker, I kindly ask that all official messages for the Speaker or the Legislature be transmitted to my office at the Guam Congress Building to ensure the appropriate distribution of information to all senators and the public.

Mandated electronic transmittals of reports or official messages and communications should be sent to speaker@guamlegislature.org. Unless otherwise directed by the Acting Speaker, all official messages, reports, or other documents received at this email address for the Speaker or the Guam Legislature will be posted on the Guam Legislature website under Messages and Communication. (http://www.guamlegislature.com/34th_mess_comms.htm)

All electronic communication intended for the senatorial office of Senator Therese Terlaje or the Committee on Culture and Justice should be sent to senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com.

My office is located at Guam Congress Building, 163 Chalan Santo Papa, Hagåtña, Guam 96910. Please do not hesitate to call (671) 472-3586 if any questions or concerns.

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (September 7, 2018– Hagåtña)– Today Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje introduced Bill No. 345-34 (COR) to limit the terms of members of boards, commissions, heads of executive branch agencies and instrumentalities and public corporations to two years, in order to promote greater accountability in government.

Executive Branch agency heads and board and commission members are appointed for terms between three and six years. These lengthy terms represented an attempt to remove political pressure from the boards and commissions and directors, but have in fact insulated some agency heads, especially in autonomous agencies, from public scrutiny.

Per the Competitive Wage Act of 2014, most directors receive a minimum of $90,000 a year. Yet, acquiring pertinent and timely information from agencies is difficult, with senators resorting to FOIA requests for information that should be made readily available.

“Limiting terms to two years will require more frequent confirmation hearings on appointments to these positions of public trust, significantly increasing the opportunity for the public to comment on the performance of public servants and for legislative oversight to take place,” stated Vice Speaker Terlaje.