FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (January 22, 2024 – Hagåtña, Guam) – Today, Bill No. 116-37 (COR), which addresses gaps in regulating illegal quarrying, successfully progressed to the Third Reading file, signaling a concerted effort to tackle community concerns and enhance oversight of earthmoving activities, especially those above Guam’s aquifer.

Introduced on May 11, 2023, by Speaker Therese M. Terlaje, Bill 116-37 has undergone years of collaborative research involving government regulatory agencies, stakeholders, and dedicated professionals. This initiative responds to mounting concerns about mining operations in Guam, particularly those operating under permits for clearing and grading. With a surge in development projects, including those for the Department of Defense, Speaker Terlaje, Chairperson of the Committee on Land, recognized the heightened value of aggregate, crucial for both military and local developments and the heightened pressure on agencies to issue permits.  This bill closes loopholes in Guam law to better regulate operations where projects permitted for clearing and grading were unmistakably operating as quarries.

At the public hearing on July 19, 2023, all stakeholders recognized the pressing need to address inconsistencies in Guam’s laws concerning the permitting and regulation of quarrying and mining. Stakeholder testimonies stressed the importance of harmonizing enforcement capabilities to ensure best practices for mining and quarrying. “The substitute bill reflects our collective commitment to closing regulatory gaps and ensuring clarity in how we manage quarrying activities on Guam. It’s a pivotal step toward effective oversight and protection of public health and the environment,” said Speaker Therese M. Terlaje.

The substitute bill refines definitions for quarrying and mining, clarifies the threshold between grading and quarrying for effective enforcement, and aligns Guam EPA’s regulatory authority under the Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations. 

Speaker Therese M. Terlaje extended gratitude to Guam EPA, DLM, DPW, DOA, SHPO, WERI, GWA, and BSP for their support, hard work, and invaluable contributions to this pivotal legislation. As the bill advances to the Third Reading, she humbly calls upon her colleagues to endorse this measure for the benefit of Guam’s present and future.

Bill No. 116-37 was successfully placed onto the 3^rd Reading File. “This bill is landmark legislation that closes the gaps of illegal quarrying under a clearing and grading permit, and harmful quarrying on agriculturally zoned land. It is a pivotal step toward effective oversight and protection of the land and its resources, including the drinking water and food that we rely on. I am grateful for the technical assistance from those dedicated and experienced individuals in the agencies who do the regulatory work every day, which ensures the health and safety of Guam’s residents.” Speaker Terlaje stated.

Session resumes on Tuesday, January 22, 2024.

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For more information, please contact Speaker Therese M. Terlaje’s office at (671) 472-3586 or via e-mail at senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com.

You can access the Town Hall documents here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AOHY__quacE7QPvRRx5qSjEpmb_9xvQj?usp=sharing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (July 17, 2023 – Hagåtña, Guam) – Speaker Therese Terlaje makes the following statement regarding the Senate Armed Services Committee advanced version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024:

“I was shocked to see that the Senate Armed Services Committee version of the NDAA included very detailed provisions regarding Eagles Field (Lålo) land (referred to by the Senate as “transmitter site”) and an express provision that Eagles Field property shall not be deemed excess, contradicting earlier promise and action by the Secretary of the Navy. Several concerns struck me immediately. 

First, there are some very high level discussions and lobbying going on in Washington D.C. regarding land on Guam— behind our backs, and apparently without any knowledge of our Congressman. Neither the Congressman nor the Governor have announced this to us as part of their lobbying efforts. If Guam has such a high level, effective lobbying power, Congress should have included a provision expressly affirming that excess federal land returned to the Government of Guam may be transferred to the Guam Ancestral Lands Commission to meet the public purpose of rectifying the injustice done by military land takings years ago. 

Most concerning is, from what I have learned regarding their desire to station defense missiles in the same area, this offer for us to develop Eagles Field property may be connected to creating a buffer zone for them to put missiles in the adjacent area without fully addressing the environmental impact or the surrounding residents, and the people of Guam will bear the cost of bringing in infrastructure such as power, roads, and water, and the lease can be designed by the military to include the safety zone required for the missile stations.

Instead of getting more transparency as promised, we are getting less. We must unite our efforts to ensure the people of Guam are not again held carrying an unfair burden for national defense. All of this, together with the discussion in the June 2023 Senate Armed Services Committee NDAA 2024 Executive Summary on the use of nuclear microreactors on Guam should unite our Governor and Congressman to demand the truth. I know I will.” 

For more information, please contact Speaker Therese M. Terlaje’s office at (671) 472-3586 or via e-mail at senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com. 

Attached: 

Copy of Senate Armed Services Committee NDAA Bill text, advanced on June 23, 2023; see Section 2806

Copy of Senate Armed Services Committee NDAA Bill executive summary, published June 2023; see highlighted portion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (July 14, 2023 – Hagåtña, Guam)–

In response to Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero’s press release entitled “Governor Leon Guerrero Instructs Agencies to Attend Legislative Town Hall”, Speaker Therese Terlaje says the following: 

“We have learned from past Department of Defense projects that without complete details during the scoping, Draft EIS, and Final EIS periods, Guam’s leaders and public cannot effectively prevent the adverse impacts to health, safety, environment, land, and culture that result from these projects. This upcoming Legislative Town Hall seeks to ensure that those past mistakes do not happen again, and that conflicting information about the 360-degree EIAMD system can be addressed. It is important that all agencies work together to ensure that our community is well-informed so that our government and public responses can be effective to protect the safety of the people of Guam.”

The Legislative Town Hall on DoD’s proposed 360-degree EIAMD system will take place on Monday, July 17, 2023 at 5:30 P.M. in the Guam Congress Building. The public is encouraged to attend and participate.  

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For more information, please contact Speaker Therese M. Terlaje’s office at (671) 472-3586 or via e-mail at senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com.

If you are interested in watching the recordings of the Informational and Public Hearings that took place on Friday, June 23, 2023 regarding the Status of CLTC Eviction of GRF Lot No. 7161-R1, the Status of OPA Audit on Mineral Extraction Lot No. 7161-R1, and Bill 56-37 (COR), please see the two links to the Guam Legislature’s Youtube Channel:

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru95OUfzoLk&t=3s

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMDlgTOUm9E&t=910s

Bill No. 10-37 (COR) – Therese M. Terlaje / Chris Barnett

AN ACT RELATIVE TO AUTHORIZING LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRST RESPONDER, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION ACCESS TO NALOXONE TO PREVENT OPIOID OVERDOSE, INCLUDING FENTANYL, TO BE KNOWN AS “THE GUAM OPIOID OVERDOSE PREVENTION ACT OF 2023,” BY ADDING A NEW CHAPTER 16 TO DIVISION 1, TITLE 10, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED.

Bill No. 12-37 (COR) – Therese M. Terlaje

AN ACT TO AMEND § 60112 OF CHAPTER 60, TITLE 21, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED, RELATIVE TO REQUIRING PRIOR APPROVAL FROM THE LEGISLATURE BEFORE PURCHASING OR ENTERING INTO A LEASE, LICENSE, OR SUB-LEASE OF PROPERTY OWNED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FOREIGN GOVERNMENT, OR SUBENTITIES THEREOF FOR A TERM IN EXCESS OF FIVE (5) YEARS.

Bill No. 13-37 (COR) – Therese M. Terlaje

AN ACT TO AMEND § 83102(d) AND ADD A NEW § 83116, TO CHAPTER 83, ALL OF TITLE 12, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED, RELATIVE TO INCREASING PUBLIC NOTICE AND TRANSPARENCY OF THE ACTIONS BY THE GUAM TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY HEALTHCARE CENTER COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROPOSED MEDICAL HEALTHCARE CAMPUS.

I Liheslaturan Guåhan will be in Session on Friday, March 3, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. in the Speaker Antonio R. Unpingco Legislative Session Hall in the Guam Congress Building.   

The placement of bills, resolutions, and appointments on the session agenda will be pursuant to our standing rules. A copy of the session agenda is found below:

The session will be broadcast on GTA Channel 21, Docomo Channel 117 and at http://www.guamlegislature.com/live_feed.htm. A recording of the session will be available online via Guam Legislature Media on YouTube after the session. Please email senatorterlajeguam@gmail.com or call 472-3586, if you require any special accommodations or further information.

Si Yu′os ma′åse′.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (January 12, 2023 – Hagåtña, Guam) – In efforts to strengthen the relationship between the governments of Guam and Chuuk, Speaker Therese Terlaje and the 37^th Guam Legislature hosted a delegation of members of the 16^th Chuuk State Legislature led by its Speaker, Lester D. Mersai.

The informal gathering was scheduled upon request of the delegation who is traveling the region doing outreach and opening the doors for collaboration.  Chief of Staff Douglas Marar noted that through these meetings they hope to address issues “that both Guam and Chuuk residents residing in Guam are facing such as crime and migration impact.”  Additionally, the delegation is scheduling a meeting with the Chuukese community to further these discussions.

Speaker Mersai stated that today’s meeting is a start of a working relationship between the Guam and Chuuk legislature and that he is confident that they can start from here.  Mersai also noted that he would like to touch bases with people here, update them on what is going on back home and touch on issues, offer words of encouragement, create ways to help people, and find solutions for the issues they are facing so that they know that their leaders are not stuck in Chuuk.

Both Speakers acknowledged the Pacific Judicial Conference, especially on topics of family violence and the education system, with Mersai stating that they are working with their national government to build a strong education foundation both on Guam on also back home. There isn’t an early childhood program in Chuuk so they are working with the national government to push for it to be a priority.

Speaker Terlaje stated, “We are grateful for the opportunity to have open dialogue and collaboration and to discuss the issues impacting our region and look forward to further strengthening our relationship and cooperation with the government of Chuuk for the benefit of all those residing on Guam.”

Senators of the 37^th Guam Legislature in attendance include Senator Amanda L. Shelton, Senator Chris Barnett, Senator Joe S. San Agustin, Senator Sabina F. Perez, Senator Roy A.B. Quinata, Senator William A. Parkinson, Senator Dwayne San Nicolas, Senator Telo T. Taitague, Senator Jesse A. Lujan and Senator Thomas J. Fisher.

Members of the delegation include:  Lester D. Mersai, Speaker/Head of Delegation; Wayne Olap, Floor Leader; Andrew May, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee; Jesse P. William, Chairman, Judicial and Governmental Operations Committee; Hadley A. Francis, Chairman, Resources and Development Committee; Narciso Sebastian, Chairman, Education Committee; Arthur Irons II, Acting Chairman, Health Committee; Keswick Matus, Chairman, Transportation, Communication & Public Works Committee; Richiosy Pangas Chipen, Chairman, Federal & Foreign Affairs Committee; Raymond Otoko, Vice Chairman Transportation, Communication & Public Works Committee; Junior Nomau, Vice Chairman, Health Committee; Kerson Billy, Member, Ways and Means Committee; Mr. Douglas Marar, Chief of Staff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (January 5, 2023 – Hagåtña, Guam) – Today, the 37th Guam Legislature elected Senator Therese Terlaje to be its Speaker.  Terlaje will also continue on with her work as the Legislative Chairperson of the Committee on Health, Land, Justice and Culture.

In her address, Speaker Terlaje recalled the 1949 Walkout, stating that every legislature since then has inherited the responsibility to build upon the progress of its predecessors who fought for more legislative authority for what was at one time an advisory body to a plenary power.  The Speaker shared with her colleagues that it was the 37th Guam Legislature’s duty to uphold their legacy of fighting for self-governance as they work to promote opportunity and prosperity for all the people of Guam.

The Speaker announced that the 37th Guam Legislature must shift its strategy from recovery from the pandemic to prosperity for Guam’s families.  Additionally, she noted the commitments made by newly elected senators who were sworn in on January 2, 2023, to include fighting crime and drugs, inflation, transparency and accountability, affordable housing, sustainability, and balanced government powers.  Speaker Terlaje further stated, “if we are to accomplish this bold and diverse agenda, we must work in a bi-partisan effort, place personal politics aside, and engage in healthy debate based on truth and facts to find solutions.”

“I resolve to continue working to protect the power of the people, to continue to restore the people’s faith in their government, to bring transparency to our processes, and to practice truth and justice, so that the best ideas and solutions can be born from this 37th Guam Legislature.  I am ready to work to make Guam a home where the hopes and dreams of our families are realized,” said Speaker Terlaje.

Please find Speaker Therese Terlaje’s Inaugural Address below: