FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (August 29, 2019) — Hoping to lead by example, Committee on Health Chairperson Senator Therese M. Terlaje’s attempted amendment to cut the Guam Legislature’s budget in order to purchase medical equipment is ruled out of order.

Because the FY2020 appropriations for the Guam Legislature is above the FY2019 levels, Senator Terlaje moved to cut $424,345 and appropriate the funding to the Guam Memorial Hospital for medical equipment and supplies including an anesthesia machine and dialysis machine. The amendment was co-sponsored by Senator Amanda Shelton and Senator Sabina Perez.

With all due respect, everyone is working hard. We have seen a reduction in salary below many people in the Government of Guam, and we’re all in need of more staff. However, when we look at many of our government agencies, like GMH and DOE, who we’ve asked to tow the lines to 2019 levels with a reduced budget, we have to do the same in the Guam Legislature.

Senator Therese M. Terlaje, Committee on Health Chairperson

The attempted amendment was ruled out of order by the chairperson since it was not offered while on the page for the Guam Legislature’s budget. A motion to overrule did not receive enough senatorial votes.

While the amendment was not included in the budget bill, Senator Terlaje plans to introduce legislation regarding this proposal.

Lawmakers completed discussion on Bill 186-35 and rose from the Committee of the Whole. The budget bill was placed in the voting file. Session vote will resume Saturday, August 31, 2019 at 9:30pm.