NEWS Coverage: Senate Committee on the Judiciary Hearing on Senate Bill 197, also known as the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Amendments Act of 2017

VIEW NEWS COVERAGE ON THE HEARING:

KUAM News:
Robert Celestial urges senators in DC to pass nuclear testing legislation
http://www.kuam.com/story/38527336/robert-celestial-urges-senators-in-dc-to-pass-nuclear-testing-legislation

Pacific News Center:
Radiation Survivors president testifies before Senate subcommittee
https://pacificnewscenter.com/radiation-survivors-president-testifies-before-senate-subcommittee/

Guam Daily Post:
US Senate Committee to hear Guam voice on radiation-related illness
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/us-senate-committee-to-hear-guam-voice-on-radiation-related/article_8c413fe4-79eb-11e8-a593-2bd27d1b39fb.html

Guam advocate for radiation-related illness compensation heard in US Senate
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/guam-advocate-for-radiation-related-illness-compensation-heard-in-us/article_1c9e843c-7a6b-11e8-a2d9-73c55c32f868.html

Pacific Daily News:
Bordallo supports bill aimed at veterans affected by nuclear radiation
https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2018/06/28/nuclear-compensation-bill-receives-support-congresswoman/740639002/

Saipan Tribune:
PARS commends Celestial for testifying on behalf of the people of Guam
https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/pars-commends-celestial-for-testifying-on-behalf-of-the-people-of-guam/

Marianas Variety:
US Senate panel to hear Guam’s inclusion in radiation exposure compensation program
http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/105237-us-senate-panel-to-hear-guam-s-inclusion-in-radiation-exposure-compensation-program

Kilili urges US to address downwind inequities
http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/105650-kilili-urges-us-to-address-downwind-inequities

Newstalk K57:
Senator Therese Terlaje and Robert Celestial with Patti Arroyo
https://k57.com/sen-terese-terlaje-and-robert-celestial-with-patti-arroyo/

Robert Celestial with Andrea Pellacani
https://k57.com/robert-celestial-with-andrea-pellacani/

Pacific Island Times:
US Sent Panel to Hear Radiation Compensation Bill
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/single-post/2018/06/14/US-Senate-panel-to-hear-radiation-compensation-bill

Guam Pushing for Radiation Exposure Compensation in Washington
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/single-post/2018/06/27/Guam-pushing-for-radiation-exposure-comp-in-Washington-DC

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

VICE SPEAKER TERLAJE CONGRATULATES PARS AND AFFIRMS INCLUSION IN RECA IS OVERDUE

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (June 28, 2018 – Hagåtña) –Vice Speaker Therese Terlaje commends the Pacific Association of Radiation Survivors and their president Robert Celestial for his historic testimony today in front of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on Senate Bill 197, also known as the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Amendments Act of 2017, which would include Guam as one of the downwind areas.

“I congratulate Robert Celestial and the Pacific Association of Radiation Survivors and all of those who have helped them along the way, for their work and personal sacrifice in continuing to advocate for justice for Guam. These few work out of love for the benefit of many, many people on Guam who are suffering from cancer and other radiation related illness. I am very grateful, and am trying my best to ensure that we as leaders do all we can to support and continue this fight for justice, compassion, and health,” Vice Speaker Terlaje stated.

Vice Speaker Terlaje also submitted written testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee expressing her support for S. 197. According to the U.S. Census, the population of Guam between 1940 and 1960 ranged from 22,290 to 67,044 inhabitants. This is the number of people who were exposed to radiation as downwinders during the time of nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands. (Please see the attached written testimony from Vice Speaker Terlaje.)

“It’s an unsettling truth that our family members were exposed to radiation from U.S. nuclear testing, and suffer from cancer and other illnesses. The U.S. government provides free medical care and compassionate compensation to people from other jurisdictions that were exposed. Since the findings in 2005, Guam’s inclusion in RECA is overdue. Compassion, medical care, and justice for the people of Guam suffering from cancer is equally warranted,” Vice Speaker Terlaje stated.

Read Vice Speaker Terlaje’s written testimony here:
Terlaje RECA Senate Judiciary Written Testimony June 2018

Read Robert Celestial’s testimony here:
06-27-18 Celestial Testimony

VIEW NEWS COVERAGE ON THE HEARING:

KUAM News:
Robert Celestial urges senators in DC to pass nuclear testing legislation
http://www.kuam.com/story/38527336/robert-celestial-urges-senators-in-dc-to-pass-nuclear-testing-legislation

Pacific News Center:
Radiation Survivors president testifies before Senate subcommittee
https://pacificnewscenter.com/radiation-survivors-president-testifies-before-senate-subcommittee/

Guam Daily Post:
US Senate Committee to hear Guam voice on radiation-related illness
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/us-senate-committee-to-hear-guam-voice-on-radiation-related/article_8c413fe4-79eb-11e8-a593-2bd27d1b39fb.html

Guam advocate for radiation-related illness compensation heard in US Senate
https://www.postguam.com/news/local/guam-advocate-for-radiation-related-illness-compensation-heard-in-us/article_1c9e843c-7a6b-11e8-a2d9-73c55c32f868.html

Pacific Daily News:
Bordallo supports bill aimed at veterans affected by nuclear radiation
https://www.guampdn.com/story/news/2018/06/28/nuclear-compensation-bill-receives-support-congresswoman/740639002/

Saipan Tribune:
PARS commends Celestial for testifying on behalf of the people of Guam
https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/pars-commends-celestial-for-testifying-on-behalf-of-the-people-of-guam/

Marianas Variety:
US Senate panel to hear Guam’s inclusion in radiation exposure compensation program
http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/105237-us-senate-panel-to-hear-guam-s-inclusion-in-radiation-exposure-compensation-program

Kilili urges US to address downwind inequities
http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/105650-kilili-urges-us-to-address-downwind-inequities

Newstalk K57:
Senator Therese Terlaje and Robert Celestial with Patti Arroyo
https://k57.com/sen-terese-terlaje-and-robert-celestial-with-patti-arroyo/

Robert Celestial with Andrea Pellacani
https://k57.com/robert-celestial-with-andrea-pellacani/

Pacific Island Times:
US Sent Panel to Hear Radiation Compensation Bill
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/single-post/2018/06/14/US-Senate-panel-to-hear-radiation-compensation-bill

Guam Pushing for Radiation Exposure Compensation in Washington
https://www.pacificislandtimes.com/single-post/2018/06/27/Guam-pushing-for-radiation-exposure-comp-in-Washington-DC

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

GUAM TO MAKE ITS CASE IN WASHINGTON FOR RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (June 27, 2018 – Hagåtña) – Panelists are set to examine the requirements for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program in a hearing with the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary taking place at midnight, Guam time, tonight. Guam resident, longtime advocate, and president of the Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors (PARS), Robert Celestial will join other advocates from New Mexico, Arizona, and Idaho on a panel to discuss Senate Bill 197, also known as Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Amendments of 2017. The Act would allow those who resided in Guam between 1946 and 1962 and who suffered from cancer or other listed radiation-related illnesses, to apply for compensation that would include free medical care and up to $150,000 from the remaining funds in the RECA Trust Fund. The panelists will each have 5 minutes to provide testimony and answer questions. Guam residents can watch the live broadcast of the hearing at 12 a.m. on June 28 at: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/examining-the-eligibility- requirements-for-the-radiation-exposure-compensation-program-to-ensure-all-downwinders-receive- coverage.

Yesterday, Vice Speaker Therese Terlaje and Mr. Celestial met with staff members from the office of Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the main sponsor of S.197 who will also be chairing the hearing. There will be 2 panels at the hearing, the first panel led by Senator Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) who sponsored a similar bill in previous terms. The second panel will include Mr. Celestial and other representatives.

Please see the statement from the Office of Senator Crapo at: https://www.crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/reca-downwinder-hearing-to-be-carried-live

Vice Speaker Terlaje and Mr. Celestial also met with Congressman Greg Walden (R-Oregon), Chairman of House Energy and Commerce Committee, to discuss HR 2049, which is the RECA bill in the House of Representatives. Unlike the Senate where the bill was referred to one committee, HR 2049 was referred to 3 committees in the House, including the Energy, Judiciary, and Education committees. Also unlike the RECA bill in the Senate, HR 2049 would give healthcare parity to atomic cleanup veterans such as Celestial, who helped cleanup Enewetak after the nuclear testing. According to Terlaje, Congressman Walden thanked her and Celestial for bringing the scientific findings and recommendations by the National Academies of Science that Guam should be included as downwinders in RECA to his attention and promised that he would look into it. The Congressman also thanked Celestial for his military service, and said, “Our country is not done paying for World War II”.

Today, Vice Speaker Terlaje will meet again with the main sponsor of HR 2049, Congressman Ben Ray Lujan’s (D-New Mexico) staff. After tomorrow’s hearing, Vice Speaker Terlaje and Mr. Celestial will meet with Senators and members of the House to discuss healthcare parity for atomic cleanup veterans, which was fully supported by the Guam Legislature Resolution No. 40-34.

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

JUSTICE FOR GUAM RESIDENTS EXPOSED TO RADIATION FINALLY ONE STEP CLOSER TO BEING ACHIEVED

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (June 13, 2018 – Hagåtña) – Another step forward was achieved by the Pacific Association for Radiation Survivors’ (PARS) fight for justice and assistance for those exposed to radiation on Guam during nuclear weapons testing conducted by the U.S. government in the Marshall Islands. The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary will hold a hearing at 10:00 am on June 27, 2018 in Washington D.C. for S.B. 197, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments (RECA) of 2017, which would allow those who resided in Guam between 1945 and 1962 and who suffered from cancer or other listed radiation-related illness, to apply for compensation that would include free medical care and up to $150,000 from the remaining funds in the RECA Trust Fund.

Robert N. Celestial, president of PARS and longtime advocate for the inclusion of Guam in RECA, has been invited by the U.S. Senate Committee to testify on behalf of the people of Guam. He will be travelling to Washington D.C. to provide his expert testimony and many years of research.

Vice Speaker Therese Terlaje will also be attending the hearing and following up on lobbying that she participated in last October 2017 in furtherance of Resolution No. 39-34 (COR), passed unanimously by the 34th Guam Legislature in April 2017, which petitioned the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that would compensate those suffering from cancer and health issues due to radiation exposure from nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific.

“Guam has been united in this effort for many, many years through the leadership of the Pacific Association of Radiation Survivors (PARS), Mr. Robert N. Celestial, the late Dr. Chris Perez, the late Senator Angel Santos, former Speakers Ben Pangelinan, Mark Forbes, Judith Won Pat, Speaker BJ Cruz, and many others. Justice is long overdue,” stated Vice Speaker Terlaje.

Terlaje further stated, “Free medical care and compassionate payments of $150,000 will certainly help cancer patients on Guam. Mr. Robert Celestial and the people of Guam have been working for years to educate lawmakers and ensure justice and financial redress for Guam, as has been given to other downwind populations who have endured the environmental and health impacts from radiation. A Senate hearing on whether to include Guam is an historic first. ”

“I want members of Congress to recognize that this is a very important issue that warrants justice for Guam’s people and that Guam’s leaders are in full support” stated Terlaje.

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

Resolutions to Support Vietnam Veteran Upgrades to Medal of Honor

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (June 5, 2018– Hagåtña)- The case files of six native sons, who are recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) Award for extreme acts of valor in combat during the Vietnam War, are amongst those being championed for an upgrade to the Medal of Honor.

In compliance with the National Defense Authorization Act of 2017, the Department of the Army is currently reviewing the case files of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander War Veterans to determine if they were bypassed for the Medal of Honor due to racial, ethnic, religious or political biases.

CSM Martin A. Manglona, SGM Juan O. Blaz, Sergeant First Class Vicente T. Dydasco, Staff Sergeant Enrique Cruz, Staff Sergeant Tomas G. Reyes, and Specialist Fourth Class Joseph M. Perez are the six Vietnam Veterans, whose heroic acts in combat during the Vietnam War earned them the DSC Award.

In honor of their heroism and in support of the review effort, the 34th Guam Legislature will present commendatory legislative resolutions to the DSC Veterans and their families. The resolutions (Resolution Nos. 450-34 (COR) through 455-34 (COR)) were introduced by Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje, Senator Tom Ada, Senator Frank B. Aguon Jr., Senator Fernando Esteves, Senator Telena C. Nelson, Senator Joe S. San Agustin, and Senator Dennis G. Rodriguez Jr.

The presentation of resolutions will take place on June 11, 2018, 9:00 a.m. at the Guam Congress Building. The public is invited.

Retired Marine Colonel Joaquin Santos Jr., an advocate for the Medal of Honor upgrade of the six Chamorro veterans stated,”I am elated to know that Guam will finally recognize our heroes who shed their blood in the War in Vietnam. These six Chamorro men played a major role in the
accomplishment of their mission, and the Army awarded them the Distinguished Service Cross for their unselfish valorous and heroic acts above and beyond the call of duty.”

“The stories of these six courageous and sacrificing men are inspiring and should be recognized in our Guam archives. If they were bypassed unjustly then I hope that these efforts will help bring justice to them and their families,” stated Terlaje.

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

Terlaje Introduces Bill to Attempt to Force the Proper Deposits of Income Tax Receipts

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (May 25, 2018 – Hagåtña) – Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje introduced Bill No. 290-34 (COR) which will make it the ministerial duty of the Director of Administration to set aside income tax receipts to pay for tax refunds, pursuant to a formula set by the Department of Revenue and Taxation.

“There already is a strong statute in place that should compel the administration to set aside money for tax refunds. This amendment, by describing it as a ministerial duty, is an attempt to give the statute some teeth to allow for legal action if the law is not followed. This is one tool we can use to ensure income tax receipts are properly deposited,” stated Vice Speaker Terlaje.

View Bill 290-34 (COR) here:
http://www.guamlegislature.com/Bills_Introduced_34th/Bill%20No.%20290-34%20(COR).pdf

Vice Speaker Terlaje’s Statement on 6th Annual Programmatic Agreement Workshop

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (May 24, 2018– Hagåtña)-

Today, at the invitation of the State Historic Preservation Office, I attended the 6th Annual Guam Programmatic Agreement Workshop. The annual PA Workshop is a meeting closed to the general public that is hosted by the Department of Defense to discuss DOD’s compliance with the Guam Programmatic Agreement relative to historic properties affected by DOD Buildup projects, with PA signatories-various leaders from the DOD regional command, and the President’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation.

Last year, I raised questions at the annual workshop as to unfulfilled promises in the PA relative to DOD buildup projects affecting historic properties, including a repository and a museum. DOD announced last month that the repository would be built at UOG pursuant to a grant.

At todays workshop, DOD announced that it was unable to deliver any funds for the promised museum complex, and that no federal agencies had additional congressional authority or discretionary funds to support construction of the Guam Museum.

I also reiterated concerns during the 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, is the only option being utilized for several important historic sites. This includes the Northwest Field live fire training range location (adjacent to Ritidian/Litekyan), where over 100 historic sites have been discovered and 14 will not be protected.

Guam’s SHPO also raised objections relative to several military projects including, LFTRC (Live Fire Training Range, Northwest Field), Main Cantonment (Marine Base, Finegayan), Anderson South Training Complex, and Water Well Development (Anderson Air Force Base), invoking Stipulation XIII of the Programmatic Agreement, which requires parties 45 days to resolve objections.

I have sent a letter to the Governor detailing my concerns with the Programmatic Agreement, requesting that he address these concerns and halt clearing and construction, where historic properties and limestone forest habitat will be impacted.

Read Vice Speaker Terlaje’s Letter to the Governor:
Letter to Gov_PA Workshop and Issues

Senators Pass Bill to Authorize a Driving While Impaired (DWI) Treatment Court

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (May 23, 2018 – Hagåtña)
This afternoon the Legislature passed Bill No. 203-34 (LS) which will allow for the establishment of a DWI (Driving While Impaired) Treatment Court program to support the Judiciary’s efforts to reduce recidivism for medium and high-risk offenders, through the implementation of therapeutic treatment for addiction and rehabilitation.

Bill No. 203-34 (LS), referred to as the “Safe Streets Act of 2018”, was introduced by Vice Speaker Therese Terlaje and was initially drafted by the Judiciary of Guam’s DWI Treatment Court Executive Committee, Office of the Attorney General, Guam Public Defender Service Corporation, Alternative Public Defender, Office of Highway Safety Department of Public Works, Guam Police Department Guam Highway Patrol, Compiler of Laws, Department of Revenue and Taxation, and Department of Corrections.

The legislation continues to make it unlawful to drive while impaired by alcohol or controlled substance, or while having a blood alcohol content of .08 percent, or to drive under the influence of any substance that impairs a person’s physical or mental capabilities. The legislation also continues to mandate imprisonment, fines, and penalties for driving while impaired. Through the new Safe Streets Act of 2018, the DWI Treatment Court will be able to use tools like the breath alcohol ignition interlock device, penalties, and driving privileges to ensure DWI offenders are monitored and sentenced appropriately.

Terlaje stated, “These enhancements to the current law will give the Judiciary the tools it requested to properly address Driving While Impaired so that appropriate sanctions, incentives and therapeutic interventions are utilized to balance public safety concerns and stop repeated offenses of driving while impaired.”

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

Statement from Vice Speaker Therese Terlaje on Bill 204-34 (COR) and Bill 222-34 (COR)

FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (May 1, 2018 – Hagåtña)

Statement from Vice Speaker Therese Terlaje on Bill 204-34 (COR):
I commend the students of Simon Sanchez for their persistent efforts over the years to implore the Governor, the legislature and their superintendent to act in their best interest. I stand beside them in demanding that they promptly get a school campus that is safe and conducive to learning. It is also my job to ensure that special, unprecedented procurement policy includes accountability and efficiency that the people of Guam deserve.

Bill 204 does not directly address what got us here in the first place, the failures to follow procurement rules and regulations and the lack of clarity on what GDOE wanted, so that the SSHS project and future projects can move forward protest free. This bill also does not improve centralized procurement to benefit all of the Government of Guam.

Another point of concern is that under Bill 204, the funding previously allocated for the construction of Simon Sanchez and to fund Capital Improvement Projects for many other and older schools is now dedicated to Simon Sanchez alone.

I voted yes on Bill 204. I hope that with this vote of confidence, GDOE will use this expanded procurement power and spending authority in a way that preserves some resources for the improvement of other schools and that future graduating classes of Simon Sanchez will be able to see that.

Statement from Vice Speaker Therese Terlaje on Bill No. 222-34 (COR):
Encroachment has been occurring on this piece of government property without compensation since 1985. While this bill is meant to sell the parcel to the neighboring private business to attempt to address this encroachment, I do not believe the government should be in the business of selling off its land at the desire of private business owners without achieving justice for original landowners who after three generations from the US land takings are landless in their own home.

The amendment I proffered was intended to ensure the property would be surveyed and registered for the benefit of the government of Guam, at cost to the purchaser of the parcel and not the government, but it failed and therefore I could not support the bill.