Senator Therese Terlaje amends the budget bill to address GMH critical projects

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (August 28, 2019)– Committee on Health Chairperson Senator Therese M. Terlaje thanks her colleagues for their unanimous support in moving forward with a budget bill amendment to help the Guam Memorial Hospital. 

A day after being shut down for trying to lock up potential Fiscal Year 2020 excess revenues, Senator Terlaje amended the budget bill to provide $10-million of excess Fiscal Year 2019 income tax and business privilege tax revenues and deposit into a newly created Hospital Capital Improvement. Use of these funds require a public hearing and legislative appropriation. The amendment passed late Tuesday night during session. 

The latest version of the budget bill only appropriates $28-million to GMH primarily for operations. Bill 186-35 did NOT address GMH’s critical Capital Improvement Projects. GMH outlined $57-million worth of CIP; however set its top three priorities including a new electronic health records (EHR) system, electrical panel replacement, and structural roof repair. The EHR system is estimated to cost $21.8-million, the electrical panel at $6-million, and the structural roof repair at $5-million. These projects have been looming for years and are critical mandates raised by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 

According to the latest Consolidated Revenue and Expenditure Reports and further confirmed by the Bureau of Budget and Management Research during session, GovGuam is “tracking $14-million in revenue above the amounts appropriated for the general fund,” with two more months to go (until the end of FY2019). 

These projects are critical, and not a luxury. We can’t look the other way when we know there are critical issues that need to be addressed at Guam’s only public hospital. While these excess funds won’t address all of GMH’s critical projects, it’s a start to get at least one done for sure. With concerns raised by CMS, and more importantly the safety and care of our patients and doctors at risk, I want to thank my colleagues for prioritizing health and addressing these issues that have been ongoing for years.

Senator Therese M. Terlaje, Committee on Health Chairperson

FY2020 Budget Session: Senator Terlaje disappointed GMH amendment not added to Budget Bill

STATEMENT FROM SENATOR THERESE M. TERLAJE:

I am extremely disappointed this amendment didn’t pass in the Budget Bill. I want to thank my colleagues who voted in favor of helping the Guam Memorial Hospital. 

This amendment was aimed at holding our government accountable. This fight is not over. We need to stand our ground in this Legislature and demand that we see where any excess money is spent. More importantly, the people of Guam deserve to know this information. 

As we move forward with discussions, I’ll continue to work with my colleagues to address these issues whether in this budget bill or in separate legislation.

During discussion on Bill 186-35 or the Budget Bill for Fiscal Year 2020 on Monday, Senator Terlaje proffered an amendment to set aside excess income tax and business privilege tax revenues collected every month and deposit into a newly created “Hospital Capital Improvement Fund.” 

Senators who voted with Senator Terlaje in favor of the amendment include Vice Speaker Telena Nelson, Senator Amanda Shelton, Senator James Moylan and Senator Telo Taitague. 

The amendment would have required that excess money collected would be set aside into the Fund, and safeguarded or “locked away” from transfer authority or expenditure. For full transparency, the use of these funds would have to be subject to a public hearing and Legislative approval. 

Bill 186-35 currently does not address GMH’s critical Capital Improvement Projects. GMH outlined $57-million worth of CIP; however set its top three priorities including a new electronic health records (EHR) system, electrical panel replacement, and structural roof repair. The EHR system is estimated to cost $21.8-million, the electrical panel at $6-million, and the structural roof repair at $5-million. These projects have been looming for years and are critical mandates raised by CMS.

Watch discussion on the amendment in the Budget Bill: http://bit.ly/2U3O4io

Media Coverage:

5 senators vote to assist GMH with infrastructure funding http://bit.ly/2zqbyEM (Guam Daily Post)

Administration balks at monthly budget surplus set-aside http://bit.ly/2U3iL7s (KUAM News)

Senators start trying to divvy up excess revenues for hospital, village roads http://bit.ly/3257NkA (Pacific Daily News)

Senator Therese Terlaje’s Bill 159 passed by lawmakers, taking a major step to getting children into a safer living environment

STATEMENT FROM SENATOR THERESE M. TERLAJE:

Si Yu’os Ma’åse to my colleagues for passing Bill 159-35 today and taking a major step in getting our children out of harm’s way and into a safer living environment. This measure, co-sponsored by all your senators, will increase the capacity of emergency foster care shelters for children. We continue to acknowledge and send our appreciation for the work and vision of Sister Mary Brigid Perez, former First Lady Christine Calvo, the Rigalu Foundation, and DPHSS along with our foster families for opening their hearts and homes for our children. Bill 159 will now make its way to the Governor’s Office for signing.

For more details and testimony of Bill1 59-35, please view the Bill 159-35 Committee Report.

Senator Therese Terlaje’s Bill 159 expanding capacity of emergency foster care shelters receives unanimous support, placed in voting file

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (August 14, 2019)— Senator Therese Terlaje thanks her colleagues in the 35th Guam Legislature for their unanimous support of Bill 159-35 during session today.

Bill 159 would increase emergency shelter capacity for children, specifically granting the Director of the Department of Public Health and Social Services the discretion to allow more than 12 children to be sheltered in the new 7,000-sq. ft. I Guma Mina’åse’ Sr. Mary Brigid Perez, R.S.M.

Extending beyond the current maximum capacity of 12 is critical because there are an estimated 35 children on the foster home waitlist along with 294 children living homeless. The new children’s shelter, measured at 7,000-square feet, is set to be completed in October this year. Senator Terlaje notes the bill does not lessen any federal mandates in regards to the treatment of children placed in these shelters nor does it lessen the child to caretaker ratios currently set by law.

Thank you to all my colleagues for rising in support of Bill 159. While this is not a solution to the problem of abuse and homelessness with our children, anything we can do to promptly get them out of harm’s way and into a safer living environment is a big step while we continue to work on more permanent solutions. In addition to the support of Bill 159, I ask our community to pull together to support our children and ensure they’re given permanent safety, stability, and consistent love in their homes.

Senator Therese Terlaje, Chairperson for the Committee on Health, Tourism, Historic Preservation, Land and Justice

Senator Terlaje acknowledges and appreciates the work of Sister Mary Brigid Perez, former First Lady Christine Calvo, Rigalu Foundation, and DPHSS for their hard work and vision along with our foster families for opening their hearts and homes for our children. She also thanks her women colleagues in the last Guam Legislature for their special attention to the rape of a homeless child in an abandoned structure and inviting the help of the shelters, the homeless coalition, CPS, GHURA, Guam Housing Corp., and GPD to leave no stone unturned in seeking ways to prevent the abuse of homeless children.

Several Senators expressed support on session floor including Senator Kelly Marsh (Taitano) who said she feels close to this issue adding from experience that emergency shelters “can make a difference in the life of a child.” Senator Amanda Shelton noted when we put foster children in a home or even a group home, “that’s moving in the right direction.” Vice Speaker Telena Nelson added, “this is a very grave situation on our island and I commend the sponsor of this bill for the innovative approach to helping address the needs of children.”

The property in Barrigada Heights originally was part of the Chamorro Land Trust but transferred to Government of Guam for the shelter.

Senator Terlaje added all 14 senators to be co-sponsors for the Bill 159, which was sent to the voting file. Session resumes Thursday, August 15 at 10:30am.

Senator Therese Terlaje: Work is still required to prevent the removal of historic artifacts at Northwest Field

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (June 19, 2019 – Hagåtña) – Senator Therese Terlaje remains focused on preventing the removal of historic artifacts at Northwest Field and sent the following letter to the Governor calling for a pause on the clearing and construction at the proposed Live Fire Training Range Complex at Northwest Field to allow for a thorough assessment of the cultural significance of at least four recent discoveries.

See Senator Therese Terlaje’s letter attached here.

Senator Therese Terlaje’s Statement regarding dismissal of State Historic Preservation Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (June 19, 2019 – Hagåtña) – I acknowledge that there are personnel actions pending, however, I am deeply troubled by this recent move by the administration to dismiss the State Historic Preservation Officer in the midst of one of the largest construction projects in our recent history, including the bulldozing of 5000 acres of limestone forest and numerous historic sites.  We are in desperate need of persistent and loud voices pushing for historic preservation particularly as DOD continues to insist destruction is “unavoidable”. 

The SHPO has been one of Guam’s biggest and sometimes only advocate for the protection of precious cultural and historical resources while many remain silent.

The SHPO, in her official capacity, had to witness and carry the burden of representing Guam and the Chamorro people in the face of ten years of the largest buildup in the history of peace.  I had high hopes this new administration would help shore up the legal or other expert resources that office needs to truly represent Guam.  To put someone inexperienced in an acting capacity leaves Guam vulnerable to further bulldozing of historic sites and leaves Guam voiceless during a critical period of potential harm to our culture and our environment.  Silencing and intimidation are the opposite of standing up for the people of Guam.

SENATOR THERESE M. TERLAJE BILL PROVIDES IMMEDIATE SHELTER FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN AND THOSE ON WAITLIST FOR FOSTER HOMES.

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (June 14, 2019) Senator Therese M. Terlaje with the co-sponsorship of Senator Mary Torres, introduced Bill 159-35 (COR), to increase emergency shelter capacity, so that CPS can get children at risk of harm off the streets and into a home where they can sleep without fear of being raped by a drunken man, who enters their makeshift shelter, with no doors, in the jungle.

Senator Terlaje’s efforts were prompted by the sexual assault of a four (4) year old girl and a disabled girl who were living in an abandoned structure in the Dededo area back in April 2018. A series of meetings and roundtables with Senator Therese Terlaje, Senator Torres, and other woman senators in the previous term, GPD, CPS, GHURA, GHC, the Guam Homeless Coalition, and others, repeatedly highlighted the shortage of shelter for children living in an environment of harm or potential harm. This shortage was an impediment to CPS, who by law, has the authority to remove children found to be living in an environment of harm or potential harm without a court order and place them in protective custody, pending further investigation and long term solution.

The bill would immediately increase the capacity of a brand new children’s group home being constructed beyond the current limit of 12 children, in order to urgently address the 35 children on the foster home wait list and some of the estimated 294 children living homeless.

According to Terlaje, discussions with BOSSA/DPHSS indicate that additional capacity for children’s’ shelter will be available as early as this summer, upon the expected completion of the $1.4M federally funded DPHSS I Guma Mina’åse’ Sr. Mary Brigid Perez, R.S.M. The approximately 7,000 square foot facility, led by the efforts of the Rigalu Foundation and former First Lady Christine Calvo, can accommodate beyond the current maximum of 12 children under current law, rules and regulations. It is the intention of Bill No. 159-35 (COR), to authorize the Director of DPHSS the discretion to increase the capacity of this group child care facility or foster home to accommodate a greater number of children in need of emergency shelter.

photo of plans of I Guma Mina’åse’ Sr. Mary Brigid Perez, R.S.M.

DPHSS Director Linda DeNorcey has indicated her full support of the legislation’s intent to address the gaps in emergency shelters for children.

“No child should be subject to sexual or other abuse on Guam for lack of a safe shelter. It is our hope that this bill can be passed swiftly to immediately accommodate as many children as feasible in the facility, including temporary shelter of the 35 children on the waiting list for foster homes and those additional children who are currently homeless, who CPS determines are in need of immediate shelter. I commend BOSSA/DPHSS and the RigaluFoundation for their vision and work in the completion of the facility, and stand ready to help expedite the placement of children as soon as possible, ” Terlaje stated.

photo of plans of I Guma Mina’åse’ Sr. Mary Brigid Perez, R.S.M
June 14, 2019 photo of construction site of I Guma Mina’åse’ Sr. Mary Brigid Perez, R.S.M

Senator Therese Terlaje again urges Governor to pause construction of Live Fire Training Range Complex

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (June 14, 2019 – Hagåtña) – Senator Therese Terlaje continues to ask the Governor for a pause to be placed on the clearing of vegetation and construction of the Live Fire Training Range Complex (LFTRC) at Northwest Field to give more time for the State Historic Preservation Officer and community to consider the importance of the newly discovered historic artifacts, and for the Governor to lead discussions with the military as to whether the additional historic properties can be avoided at the proposed construction area adjacent to the ancient village of Ritidian.

Recently, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) was notified of at least three more new discoveries of additional historic sites during the clearing of the forest in the proposed Known Distance Rifle Range (KDRR) area which is one of five proposed firing ranges at LFTRC.  One of the sites discovered had at least 400 pieces of pottery found in a dense area, and another area encompassing 7 acres of artifacts needed further surveying.  The Marine Corps Activity Guam report noted that the 3 areas are probable sites or extensions of one larger site, pending confirmation by additional investigations. The properties found contained fire features (potential earth ovens), Latte Period ceramic scatters, various lithics, and shell artifacts.  In this proposed Northwest Field construction area are 94 known historic sites which is separate from the 3 new historic sites discovered.  Fourteen of the ninety-four historic sites have already been excavated and removed from the area. There is a concern that more new discoveries will be made as clearing continues for the 18-acre KDRR range.  Additionally, the Multi-purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) Range area, which is the largest of the five ranges at LFTRC encompassing 59 acres is slated to be cleared next. SHPO is concerned that there are already too many new discoveries of historic properties to ignore their frequency and has contended that more surveying is necessary to ascertain if the area was an ancient village.

“Many promises have been made by leaders to protect and defend our culture and environment. Despite numerous objections and public comments shared by Guam SHPO, Guam National Wildlife Refuge, fishermen, government agencies, original landowners and concerned community members over several years, DOD has continued to move forward with the clearing and construction of the Live Fire Training Range Complex at Northwest Field putting at risk historic sites along with at least 187 acres of limestone forests, and year round public access to Ritidian.  The time for action is now. As we have seen by the destruction of Magua, the clearing of 14 historic sites in the firing range area already, and the new discoveries of more historic sites, a week from now may be too late,” Terlaje states. 

See documents sent to the Governor:

June 12, 2019 Letter to the Governor Leon Guerrero

Summary of Concerns – Live Fire Training Range Complex

Marine Corps Activity Guam reports

May 24, 2019 Letter to Governor Leon Guerrero

Senator Therese Terlaje introduces bill to assist Office of the Attorney General in protecting Guam’s historic sites and environment

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (June 13, 2019 – Hagåtña)

In an effort to assert Guam’s position in response to the destruction of historic sites and environmental contamination, Senator Therese Terlaje has introduced Bill No. 163-35 (COR) to allow the Attorney General of Guam to hire a lawyer on a contingency fee basis to assist the government of Guam in the protection of historical sites and the environment. In a contingency fee arrangement, a lawyer is paid a portion of the amount awarded to the government of Guam if the outcome is successful.

“We must pursue every avenue possible to ensure our cultural and historic sites are protected from destruction and that our environment is safeguarded.  Our agencies often need legal assistance immediately or complex litigation, and this will give the Attorney General flexibility to explore all avenues of providing urgent legal response on behalf of the people of Guam,” stated Terlaje. 

lick here for copy of Bill No. 163-35 (COR). 

Terlaje insists that preserving our historic sites and artifacts in place must be the priority

 FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (May 24, 2019 – Hagåtña) 

Senator Therese Terlaje reiterated her concerns during the two day annual Programmatic Agreement workshop that the avoidance of adverse impacts to historic sites is not being fully achieved and instead the “data recovery” which is the removal of a sampling of archaeologically relevant material (i.e. latte, lusong, earth ovens, pottery pieces, etc.), is often the option being utilized for several important historic sites. This includes the Northwest Field live fire training range location on the plateau above to Ritidian/Litekyan, where over 100 historic sites have been discovered and 14 will not be protected.  

Senator Terlaje implored the DOD officials during the meeting to preserve the historic properties as they are, in their place and together with the landscape, for  people to experience in person and for future technology to help us decipher the history of the Chamorro people. She also advocated that historic sites adjacent to Ritidian and Finegayan near the proposed construction areas be prioritized to be nominated to the National Register of Historic Properties, such as the the entire archeological district near Pugua Point, Double Reef and Finegayan. Guam’s SHPO has recommended this whole area be nominated to the Register but it was rejected. SHPO again asked it be reconsidered as a traditional cultural property (TCP) for preservation because of its significance with at least 17 historic properties.  

“These PA meetings remind us that the Navy is not required to avoid historic sites in their construction. The DOD may clear and grade and bulldoze these properties regardless of historic significance, when their construction plans require it. Pursuant to the Agreement, some but not all artifacts are removed from the site and stored in bags and boxes for our children, but the Navy is not obligated to preserve for us the ability to stand next to a lusong and look at the cliff, ocean, and surroundings and imagine why our ancestors chose that location to live.  We cannot put an earth oven in a museum and fully appreciate that it was made from the earth and literally built into the earth. These historic and cultural sites are the last remnants of our story as a Chamorro people and must be preserved within the cultural landscape of our island to provide more depth and a better understanding of our ancestors,” Terlaje states. 

Updates were also provided at this year’s annual workshop meeting on the Live Fire Training Range Complex at Northwest Field near Ritidian. Clearing of vegetation, including the cutting down and uprooting of trees has begun in the last few weeks as DOD continues to move forward with clearing of some of Guam’s pristine limestone forests. Already, new discoveries of dense artifacts including at least 400 pieces of pottery pieces have been uncovered in the short time that clearing has started.  

Senator Terlaje has sent several letters over the last three years to the previous Governor and today to the current Governor detailing her concerns with the Programmatic Agreement, requesting for a halt of the clearing and construction where historic properties and limestone forest habitat will be impacted. She will continue to urge Adelup and DOD to use all resources available to stop any further destruction of our ancient villages, cultural sites and limestone forests and revisit the timeline and “data recovery” plan that is in place for the historic properties adjacent to Ritidian before further clearing is done. 

For the third consecutive year, at the invitation of the State Historic Preservation Office, Senator Therese Terlaje attended the Annual Guam Programmatic Agreement (PA) Workshop. This was the 7th annual PA Workshop hosted by the Department of Defense, pursuant to the 2011 Programmatic Agreement relative to historic properties affected by DOD buildup projects, with PA signatories, various leaders from the DOD regional command, representatives from the Governor’s office and members of the 35th Guam Legislature.