FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (February 19, 2018 – Hagåtña)- Bill 217-34 (COR), introduced by Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje and co-sponsored by Senator Dennis G. Rodriguez and Senator Tom Ada, relative to updating the Guam Veteran Registry was unanimously passed on the legislative session floor today.
Bill 217-34 (COR) mandates Government of Guam entities that are providing benefits or services to the Veteran community, to forward a copy of the proof of Veteran status to the Guam Veteran Affairs Office (GVAO) for the purpose of updating the Guam Veteran Registry. Amendments were made to Bill 217-34 (COR) on the session floor, to ensure a Veterans “documented consent” to the transmittal of the proof of Veteran status to the GVAO.
According to Speaker Terlaje, Bill 217-34 (COR) is an effort to help bolster the GVAO’s outreach efforts to veterans and their families and strengthen the case for increased funding for Veteran services, which was the intent of the previous 32nd Legislature when the Guam Veteran Registry was created.
“I thank my fellow senators, particularly my Veteran colleagues, the GVAO and the Veteran community for providing their feedback and support to make the long-awaited registry and the benefits it may bring to veterans a reality,” stated Vice Speaker Terlaje.
For more information, please call the Office of Vice Speaker Therese M. Terlaje at (671) 472-3586.