By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

THE U.S. House of Representatives may make a decision today on the fate of H.R. 1595, or the Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act.
The House met on the bill yesterday but delayed a vote on the measure, according to Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo.
The bill was taken up under a procedure called “suspension of the rules” which allows for a more expedited consideration of bills, Bordallo said.
The bill received a voice vote, but the minority requested that a recorded vote be taken for final passage.
Under a previous agreement, recorded votes on the bills on the agenda have been rolled over until Tuesday, May 8, Washington time.
Bordallo said yesterday that she and other lawmakers supporting the bill will be working very hard over the next 24 hours to rally support for the legislation “on both sides of the aisle.”
“I am working closely with the chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Nick Rahall, and ranking member Don Young, as well as the leadership offices to whip this vote. Hopefully, we will have a positive outcome,” Bordallo said.
Bills brought up under suspension require a two-thirds vote for passage, or 290 votes. In the current House, the Democrats have 232 members and the Republicans have 201 members, with two seats vacant.
According to Bordallo, this will be the first vote on the Guam war claims issue for the full House of Representatives.
This developed after House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland scheduled the Guam war claims bill to be considered by the full House of Representatives.
H.R. 1595 was ordered reported to the full House by voice vote in the Committee on Natural Resources on May 2.
The bill was introduced by Bordallo in March and has bipartisan support, including support from Natural Resources Committee chairman Nick Rahall of West Virginia and ranking Republican member Don Young of Alaska.
Bordallo said she has been working with Rahall and Young to have the bill passed on the House floor without delay.
“I am grateful for the support of Chairman Nick Rahall and Ranking Member Don Young and their work with the House leadership on the bill,” the congresswoman said.
Majority Leader Hoyer is an original cosponsor of the Guam war claims bill, which is one of 17 bills being debated on the House floor.