FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (October 25, 2021 – Hagåtña, Guam)– Today, session reconvened at 10am, however the Legislature lacked quorum to conduct business during most of the morning.  In an effort to push forward towards solutions, Speaker Therese Terlaje introduced Bill 217-36 (LS) to address the error in the engrossment of Bill 130-36 relative to the Guam World War II Reconciliation Act of 2021. 

Bill 217-36 (LS) is AN ACT TO ADD A NEW SECTION 13.2 TO CHAPTER 1 OF DIVISION 1, TITLE 5, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED, RELATIVE TO ESTABLISHING THE GUAM WORLD WAR II RECONCILIATION ACT OF 2021 TO COMPENSATE CLAIMS OF THE GREATEST GENERATION OF GUAM FOR THE ATROCITIES SUFFERED DURING THE WORLD WAR II OCCUPATION OF GUAM.

The measure is identical to Bill 130-36 (LS), as it was introduced, and qualified for a public hearing waiver by statute.  Once Bill No. 217-36 was introduced this morning, the Legislature reconvened right before lunch and had quorum to continue with the session agenda.  Speaker Terlaje moved Bill No. 217-36 onto the session agenda and requested that discussion on Bill 217-36 (LS) be suspended until Monday, November 1, 2021, to ensure the public is given five-day notification for agenda items as required by Section 4(d) of Public Law 36-34.

“Our manåmko’ have travelled the long, hard road to achieve justice and recognition for their suffering during the Japanese occupation. Their sacrifice demands our genuine effort and support. I have willingly put my name on this corrective measure when nobody else would, simply because it’s the right thing to do for our war survivors. And while I still believe there is much more work to be done to achieve true justice for them, this is one step,” said Speaker Terlaje.

All bills on the current agenda were passed on file until the November session.  All confirmations will be addressed on Monday, November 1, 2021.  Session will be in recess until November 1, 2021, at 1pm to discuss Bill 217-36 and all confirmations on the session agenda.