By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Speaker Therese Terlaje called an emergency session scheduled for Oct. 22 to address the funding shortfalls facing Guam Memorial Hospital and Guam Department of Education, which were underfunded under the fiscal 2025 budget law.
“I am certifying that an emergency condition exists which warrants an emergency session of I Liheslaturan Guåhan,” the speaker wrote to senators.
She said the urgency surrounds GMH’s ability to provide critical services amid its dire financial situation, the Guam Department of Education’s need to maintain safe and sanitary conditions for students, faculty and staff.
The session would also deliberate the Guam Cancer Trust Fund underfunding under the new fiscal year, which Terlaje said would result in significant gaps in essential cancer services.
“As you are aware, the FY25 budget did not sufficiently account for the Guam Memorial Hospital’s financial needs, nor did it fully address the financial obligations to the Guam Cancer Trust Fund or allocate necessary funding for GDOE maintenance and other critical priorities,” Terlaje said.
Senators have voted in favor of a motion for the Committee on Appropriations to introduce a supplemental budget bill to address all pending motions related to FY24 or FY25 excess revenues.
“However, not all pending motions such as the one for GMH were included in the supplemental budget Bill, 355-37,” Terlaje said.
During an Oct. 3 public hearing on Bill 355-37, GMH Administrator Lillian Posadas pleaded to include additional funding for the hospital in the supplemental budget bill.
The governor also submitted written testimony requesting “an additional $20 million to continue to provide the essential medical services that our residents deserve and depend upon as the only public hospital on Guam.”
Terlaje said there were also urgent pleas for funding for the education department and the Guam Cancer Trust Fund.
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