HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Lawmakers are scheduled to once again set foot in the legislative session hall of the Guam Congress Building as they move ahead with regular session Monday, just about a week after emerging from an emergency session over critical issues at the Guam Memorial Hospital.
Lawmakers have several measures lined up on the agenda for regular session. One item, Bill 57-37, is a measure that provides temporary expedited procurement protest procedures for acquisitions funded by moneys from the American Rescue Plan Act.
While not a bill, Resolution 29-37 would request that Congress appropriate moneys for Guam’s nonmilitary residents who were exposed to Agent Orange and who are suffering from Agent Orange-related ailments.
Guam Del. James Moylan has said that he would eventually introduce legislation to address this issue at the federal level, although the process of finding a solution to the issue of compensating Guam residents for herbicide exposure is expected to take time.
What isn’t on the agenda are the nominees for the Port Authority of Guam board of directors. There weren’t enough votes to place them on the session agenda when the legislative Committee on Rules met last week to decide which bills, resolutions and nominees lawmakers would be voting on. One member of the rules committee was heard saying “We’ll do it on the (session) floor” as motions to place Port board nominees failed amid opposition from Republican committee members.
Other measures currently on the session agenda:
• Bill 54-37, which involves game and fishing regulations, protection of marine preserves and standardizing penalties for violations of game and fishing statutes.
• Bill 97-37, which aims to transfer Lot 106-1 Block 12 in Inalåhan, formerly known as the Inalåhan Baptist Church, to the Guam Preservation Trust.
• Bill 113-37, which involves restoring the Guam Department of Education management audit requirements.
The Guam Congress Building in Hagåtña on Oct. 4, 2023. Lawmakers are due to return to the Guam Congress Building for regular session Monday, Oct. 23, 2023.
